Wyndham strengthens India footprint with Ramada Hotel & Suites in Kochi

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December 16, 2025

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Kochi Infopark, thereby marking the official entry of the Ramada Hotel & Suites brand into India. The company plans to open the 69-room property by mid-2026 and is developing the project in partnership with AGA Hotels and Apartments Pvt. Ltd.

Moreover, Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Kochi Infopark will offer a well-balanced combination of guestrooms and suites. The property will also include an all-day dining restaurant, modern meeting and business facilities, a fully equipped fitness centre, and a range of amenities specifically designed to support long-term and extended-stay guests. As a result, the hotel aims to cater to both business and leisure travellers visiting Kochi’s growing Infopark corridor.

Commenting on the signing, Rahool Macarius, Market Managing Director, Eurasia, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said, “AGA Hotels and Apartments brings strong local market expertise and a clear commitment to quality development. Kochi’s expanding IT and corporate landscape makes it an ideal location for the Ramada portfolio, particularly for a hotel designed to serve business and longer-stay guests. We are pleased to collaborate with AGA on this project and further strengthen Wyndham’s presence in key commercial markets across India.”

Askar Gulabali, Managing Director, AGA Hotels and Apartments Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are proud to introduce India’s first Ramada Hotel & Suites at Kochi Infopark. As Kochi continues to evolve as a major IT and commercial hub, there is a clear demand for high-quality, business-friendly, and extended-stay accommodation. Partnering with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts allows us to combine our strong local expertise with a globally trusted brand to deliver a hotel that meets international standards while addressing local market needs.”

The signing underscores Wyndham’s continued expansion strategy in India. By introducing the Ramada Hotel & Suites format in Kochi, the group strengthens its presence in key commercial hubs while addressing rising demand for high-quality, extended-stay hospitality solutions.

Chai Discovery raises $130M Series B at $1.3B valuation

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December 16, 2025

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Chai Discovery raises $130M Series B at $1.3B valuation — Joshua Meier, co-founder and CEO, Chai Discovery

Chai Discovery, a biotech startup backed by OpenAI, announced a $130 million Series B funding round at a $1.3 billion valuation on Monday. The round was led by General Catalyst and Oak HC/FT, the company confirmed in its statement.

In addition, existing and new investors, including Menlo Ventures, OpenAI, Dimension, Thrive Capital, Neo, Yosemite Venture Fund, Lachy Groom, SV Angel, Glade Brook, and Emerson Collective, participated in the raise. As a result, Chai Discovery’s total funding has now crossed $225 million.

Notably, Chai operates within a rapidly expanding biotech segment that leverages artificial intelligence to accelerate drug discovery timelines. Earlier, in August, Menlo Ventures led the company’s $70 million Series A round and highlighted Chai’s focus on building foundation models purpose-built for drug discovery. Specifically, the startup develops AI systems that predict interactions between biochemical molecules, enabling researchers to reprogram them for potential cures.

Moreover, Chai has articulated a clear long-term vision to “build the ‘computer-aided design suite’ for molecules.” In line with this ambition, the company unveiled its first AI model, Chai 1, last year. It has since introduced Chai 2, its latest and more advanced model. According to the company, Chai 2 delivers significantly higher success rates than existing approaches for de novo antibody design, which involves creating entirely new antibodies rather than modifying existing ones.

“Our latest models can design molecules that have properties we’d want from actual drugs and tackle challenging targets that have been out of reach,” Joshua Meier, Chai’s co-founder and CEO, said in a prepared statement.

Meanwhile, Meier brings a strong technical background to the venture. He previously worked in research and engineering roles at Facebook and earlier contributed to OpenAI, according to his LinkedIn profile. The company profile further notes that Chai Discovery was founded in 2024, positioning it as a relatively young but fast-scaling player in the AI-driven biotech space.

Chai Discovery’s latest funding round underscores growing investor confidence in AI-first approaches to drug development. By advancing foundation models for molecular design and antibody discovery, the company continues to strengthen its position as a category-defining biotech startup at the intersection of artificial intelligence and life sciences.

Haircare brand Moxie Beauty raises $15 Mn in Series A funding

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December 16, 2025

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Haircare brand Moxie Beauty raises $15 Mn in Series A funding — Nikita Khanna and Anmol Ahlawat, co-founders, Moxie Beauty

Moxie Beauty, a direct-to-consumer haircare brand, has secured $15 million in Series A funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Additionally, existing investor Fireside Ventures participated in the round, alongside angel investors Navin Parwal, Sangeet Agarwal, and Arjun Purkayastha. Earlier angels, including Shantanu Deshpande, Suhasini Sampath, and Rohit Kapoor, continue to back the company.

The company will deploy the fresh capital toward accelerating product innovation and research, strengthening its talent pool, and expanding its distribution footprint across channels. Consequently, Moxie aims to sharpen its competitive edge in India’s fast-growing beauty and personal care market.

Founded in November 2023 by Nikita Khanna and Anmol Ahlawat, Moxie Beauty develops haircare products specifically designed for Indian hair textures and climatic conditions. Its portfolio includes shampoos, conditioners, leave-in treatments, and styling solutions that effectively address concerns such as dryness and frizz. As a result, the brand continues to resonate strongly with Indian consumers seeking targeted, high-performance haircare.

Notably, Moxie has crossed ₹100 crore in annual recurring revenue within two years of launch, underscoring its rapid scale and market traction. Moreover, the brand has quadrupled its monthly revenue over the past year since November 2023, driven by robust demand across leading online marketplaces. At present, ten Moxie products feature on bestseller lists across multiple categories on Nykaa and Amazon, highlighting sustained consumer trust and strong repeat purchases.

Commenting on the milestone, Nikita, co-founder of the company, said, “We started Moxie to create something that still didn’t exist—clean, salon-grade haircare that’s made specifically for Indian hair textures and weather, which are very unique. With this raise, we are excited to deepen our R&D capabilities and continue to innovate the next generation of high-performance hair care and styling products for our community.”

Anant Vidur Puri, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, said, “Our partnership with Moxie lies squarely on our consumer brands roadmap, where we believe that aspirational and discerning consumers will fuel the rise of iconic India-first brands. The team’s laser-sharp focus on innovation and formulation excellence is evident in the customer love they have. We wish them all the best for the journey ahead.”

Moxie Beauty’s Series A funding marks a significant step in its growth journey. The brand combines deep consumer insight, formulation-led innovation, and strong investor confidence to position itself strongly as it builds a scalable, India-first haircare powerhouse in an increasingly competitive D2C ecosystem.

Lawyered secures IdeaBaaz’s biggest-ever Rs 8.5-Cr Titan deal

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December 15, 2025

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Legal-tech startup Lawyered has raised Rs 8.5 crore on the business reality show IdeaBaaz at a Rs 120 crore pre-money valuation, marking the largest funding deal ever secured on Indian television.

In a rare and unanimous move, all the IdeaBaaz Titans came together to make an All-Titans investment, signalling strong conviction in the scale and urgency of the problem Lawyered is addressing within India’s mobility compliance and legal access ecosystem.

The funding round brought together notable investors, including Pawan Jaggi (US-based VC and Global Director, Turbostart), Sandesh Sharda (VC investor, Washington, D.C.), Priyanka Salot (Co-founder, The Sleep Company), and Arjun Vaidya (Partner, V3 Ventures). Additionally, IIT Madras has extended validation and technical support to the company, further reinforcing industry confidence in Lawyered’s technology and nationwide scalability.

Commenting on the milestone, Himanshu Gupta, Founder & CEO of Lawyered, said, “This Rs 8.5 crore All-Titans deal is not just a funding milestone; it is validation of a mission to make legal access and mobility compliance seamless for every Indian. When every Titan on IdeaBaaz chose to back us together, it reaffirmed that the infrastructure we are building is essential at a national level. This capital will accelerate our efforts to scale LOTS247, expand ChallanPay, and strengthen our transition into India’s most trusted mobility-compliance ecosystem.”

Going forward, Lawyered plans to deploy the fresh capital toward product innovation, technology infrastructure expansion, nationwide distribution, and brand building. In particular, the company will accelerate the growth of LOTS247, India’s first roadside legal assistance service, and ChallanPay, its traffic challan discovery and resolution platform. Both offerings have already witnessed rapid adoption among vehicle owners, logistics and transport operators, gig workers, and small businesses.

Reflecting on the deal, Mudit Kumar, co-founder & COO of Ideabaaz, said, “Lawyered created a first-of-its-kind moment on Indian television by bringing together every Titan on the panel. Their clarity of mission, traction across Bharat, and strong technology backbone made it evident that Lawyered is building for a massive and urgent need.”

Jeet Wagh, founder & CEO of IdeaBaaz, further noted that Lawyered’s All-Titans deal strongly aligns with the show’s core vision of spotlighting transformational startups that are developing category-defining solutions for India.

As mobility governance and legal compliance gain increasing importance across India’s transport and logistics landscape, consequently, Lawyered’s record-breaking raise positions the company to scale rapidly and thereby build a robust, accessible, and technology-driven legal services infrastructure nationwide.

Three hospitality groups secure bids to develop luxury resorts in Andamans

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December 15, 2025

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Three prominent hospitality groups have secured bids to develop luxury, eco-friendly tourism resorts at Long Island, Aves Island, and Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, according to an official statement.

In addition, another hospitality group has won the bid to redevelop the existing Megapode Resort in Sri Vijaya Puram under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO) has finalised three proposals for the design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) of five-star eco-tourism resorts on a PPP basis across these prime island locations.

Highlighting the significance of the development, an official said, “In a major stride toward sustainable tourism-led growth, we have finalised successful tenders for four flagship ecotourism projects across the Islands. Three hospitality groups/investors have won the bid to build three luxury eco-friendly tourism resorts at Long Island, Aves Island, and Shaheed Dweep. Letters of Award for the development of ecotourism resorts have been issued. We also got one of the highest bidders to develop the existing Megapode Resort in Sri Vijaya Puram on PPP mode.”

Further detailing the concession framework, the official added, “In addition to the annual concession fee, concessionaires will share revenue at the rates of 3.6 per cent for Megapode Resort, 3 per cent for Shaheed Dweep, and 2 per cent each for Long Island and Aves Island. The concession period is 50 years for Megapode Resort and 75 years for the other projects, including construction time.”

At the same time, the administration has placed sustainability at the core of these developments. Emphasising the long-term vision, the official said, “Our aim is the archipelago as a premier global destination for responsible, nature-centric tourism. These projects are designed to meet international sustainability standards, including LEED, GRIHA, and Green Globe certifications, and comply fully with Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and environmental norms.”

Accordingly, each resort will follow low-impact architectural principles and operate on self-sustaining systems, primarily powered by renewable energy sources such as solar installations. As a result, the projects aim to ensure minimal ecological impact while blending seamlessly with the islands’ natural ecosystems.

Notably, Aves Island, one of the four locations, is currently uninhabited. This marks one of the rare instances in recent decades where the local administration has opened an uninhabited island for tourism development. Also known as Coconut Island due to its dense coconut plantations, Aves has so far remained closed to tourists and lacks any accommodation infrastructure. However, the proposed five-star eco-tourism resort is expected to position Aves as one of the most sought-after destinations after Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island).

With an investment of nearly ₹36 crore, the proposed five-star eco-tourism resort at Aves Island will span 2.75 hectares and feature 50 rooms. Moreover, the concessionaire will offer curated activities such as local souvenir shopping, scuba diving, game fishing, forest trekking, nature camping, and wellness experiences.

Meanwhile, the resort planned at Long Island, part of an overall investment of approximately ₹391 crore across five-star ecotourism projects, will offer up to 220 rooms. Similarly, the resort at Shaheed Dweep, with a projected investment of around ₹172 crore, will feature 120 rooms, further expanding the region’s premium hospitality capacity.

360 ONE raises Rs 2,300-Cr fund through real assets platform

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December 15, 2025

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360 ONE Asset’s real assets platform has raised around ₹2,300 crore through its Category II alternative investment fund (AIF), achieving this milestone within just four months of commencing its fundraising exercise.

The fund focuses on investments across infrastructure and income-generating commercial real assets, aligning with investor demand for stable, long-term, yield-oriented opportunities. Notably, the platform has already deployed nearly the majority of its committed capital, while the remaining corpus is expected to be invested progressively over the coming months.

So far, key deployments include transactions with Knowledge Realty Trust, Vertis Infra Trust, Maple Infrastructure Trust, and Brookfield’s Bluegrass Business Park, highlighting the platform’s ability to partner with established and high-quality counterparties. In parallel, the real assets platform has mobilized capital from its proprietary network of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs) and family offices across India, further strengthening its investor base.

As a result of these efforts, the platform’s assets under management (AUM) have reached ₹10,000 crore as of September 2025, reflecting rapid scale-up and strong market acceptance. Commenting on the performance of the fund, Niraj Murarka, CIO – Real Assets, 360 ONE Asset, said, “The strong response to our fund reflects the confidence investors have in real assets as a durable, income-oriented allocation and in our ability to execute with discipline. Our early deployments with top-tier counterparties underscore the depth of our sourcing network and our focus on risk-adjusted value creation across market cycles.”

Overall, the swift fundraising, accelerated capital deployment, and growing AUM underscore 360 ONE Asset’s positioning as a significant player in India’s real asset investment landscape. Going forward, the platform aims to continue leveraging its sourcing strength and disciplined execution to deliver stable, risk-adjusted returns across economic cycles.

Analog watch startup Rotoris raises $3 Mn in seed funding

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December 15, 2025

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Analog watch startup Rotoris has secured $3 million in seed funding in a round led by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, actor-investor Vivek Anand Oberoi, Venture Catalysts, 100 Unicorns, and Tanmay Bhat.

In addition, the round drew participation from over 30 startup founders, including Varun Alagh (Mamaearth), Gaurav Khatri (Noise), Siddharth Dungarwal (Snitch), Nitin Jain (OfBusiness), Vishesh Khurana (Shiprocket), Chirag Taneja (GoKwik), Akash Gupta (Zypp), and Arjun Vaidya (Dr. Vaidya’s), reflecting strong founder-led confidence in the brand.

The company plans to deploy the fresh capital to scale its manufacturing and assembly capabilities, enhance engineering processes, and expand supply chain partnerships. Furthermore, Rotoris will build its initial inventory and strengthen teams across product development, design, and branding. As part of its offline strategy, the brand is also preparing to launch its first experience store in New Delhi, which will function both as a retail destination and a brand showcase.

Founded by Aakash Anand, Prerna Gupta, Anant Narula, and Kunal Kapania, Rotoris positions itself as an engineering-first analog watch brand with a strong emphasis on mechanical movements and in-house assembly. Notably, Anand previously scaled the fragrance brand Bella Vita Organic, bringing prior consumer-brand building experience to the venture.

Looking ahead, Rotoris has lined up its commercial launch for January 2026. The debut lineup will include five collections—Auriqua, Monarch, Astonia, Arvion, and Manifesta. The watches will feature sapphire crystal, automatic and quartz movements, and 316L stainless steel cases, aligning durability with refined aesthetics.

Moreover, each timepiece will be produced in limited numbers and individually numbered, reinforcing the brand’s focus on exclusivity, craftsmanship, and precision engineering.

With this seed funding in place, Rotoris aims to carve out a distinct position in India’s premium watch segment by blending engineering excellence, luxury craftsmanship, and contemporary design to appeal to discerning watch enthusiasts.

Lords Hotels & Resorts Makes Its Debut in Himachal Pradesh with Two New Hotel Signings in Mandi and Chintpurni

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December 15, 2025

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Lords Hotels & Resorts proudly announces its entry into the picturesque state of Himachal Pradesh with the signing of two new properties—Lords Studio Inn Mandi and Lords Studio Inn Chintpurni. This strategic expansion marks the brand’s debut in the region and reinforces its commitment to strengthening its footprint across key leisure and pilgrimage destinations in North India. Both hotels are scheduled to open in January 2026.

Nestled amidst the scenic landscapes of Himachal Pradesh, Lords Studio Inn Mandi is situated along the serene riverbank, offering guests a peaceful retreat at the gateway to Kullu, Manali, and various adventure circuits. Lords Studio Inn Chintpurni is located near the revered Mata Chintpurni Temple, making it an ideal destination for pilgrims and travellers seeking comfortable and reliable accommodation in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Commenting on the significant milestone, Mr. Pushpendra Bansal, COO – Lords Hotels & Resorts, shared his excitement:

“We are delighted to enter Himachal Pradesh with two promising properties that reflect our commitment to expanding across emerging and high-potential destinations. We look forward to delivering Lords’ Exhilarating Hospitality to travellers visiting these beautiful hill towns.”

Speaking on the brand’s continued growth momentum, Vikas Suri, VP – Lords Hotels & Resorts, added:

“Signing two hotels simultaneously in Mandi and Chintpurni marks a proud moment for us. Himachal Pradesh holds immense tourism potential across pilgrimage, leisure, and adventure categories. With both hotels set to open in January 2026, we look forward to showcasing the Lords experience and contributing to the region’s tourism development.”

Highlighting the group’s development plans, Kumar Roushan, General Manager – Development, stated:

“Our expansion into Himachal Pradesh aligns with our strategy of thoughtfully entering high-demand circuits. These new signings strengthen our presence in North India and reaffirm our commitment to delivering warm, reliable hospitality across all destinations we operate in.”

About Lords Hotels & Resorts

Lords Hotels & Resorts is one of India’s leading mid-market hospitality chains, known for delivering exceptional guest experiences across leisure, business, and pilgrimage destinations in India and Nepal. With a growing portfolio of hotels, the brand continues to expand with a commitment to quality, affordability, and warm hospitality.

Pride Hotels strengthens Gujarat footprint with Gandhinagar launch

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December 15, 2025

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Pride Hotels Limited, in partnership with Ekarth Group, has announced the grand opening of Pride Elite Gandhinagar, further consolidating the group’s presence in Gujarat and the wider Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar corridor.

With this launch, Pride Hotels marks its second managed property in Ahmedabad’s immediate region, following the successful opening of Biznotel by Pride, Motera. Consequently, the new property represents another milestone in the brand’s calibrated expansion across high-potential urban centres and emerging destinations. Moreover, Pride Hotels Limited has now scaled its Gujarat portfolio to 19 operational hotels, underlining its focused market-penetration strategy across high-growth business hubs and key administrative locations.

Strategically located in Gandhinagar, Pride Elite Gandhinagar is designed to cater to business travellers, government officials, MICE groups, and leisure guests alike. In addition, the hotel offers contemporary interiors, efficient service delivery, and convenient access to major commercial and civic centres.

Commenting on the launch, Atul Upadhyay, Executive Director, Pride Hotels Limited, said, “The launch of Pride Elite Gandhinagar is a significant milestone in our growth journey. Gandhinagar is rapidly emerging as a key destination driven by governance, infrastructure development, and tourism initiatives, and we see strong potential for quality hospitality in the region. This addition reflects our strategy of strengthening our presence in high-growth markets while offering guests reliable service, well-located hotels, and thoughtfully designed experiences.”

Pride Elite Gandhinagar features 72 well-appointed rooms, crafted to deliver a balanced blend of comfort, functionality, and understated elegance. Notably, the hotel’s food and beverage offerings stand out as a key differentiator. Casablanca, the property’s train-themed, purely vegetarian fine-dining restaurant, brings together global favorites and regional flavours in a refined yet relaxed ambience.

Additionally, Café Pride serves as a lively all-day dining venue, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner through buffet and à la carte formats. The outlet also features an inviting rooftop dining experience with a strong emphasis on both global and regional cuisine.

Beyond dining, the hotel provides a range of flexible banquet and event spaces, making it suitable for corporate meetings, social gatherings, and celebrations. These include a private dining room for intimate events and a spacious open-air rooftop venue ideal for evening functions and wedding day setups. Furthermore, the rooftop dining area introduces a distinctive experiential element with a Jacuzzi paired with table setups, curated for candle-lit dinners, date nights, and special occasions such as haldi ceremonies and bachelorette celebrations.

Highlighting the regional strategy, Koustuva Mukherjee, Associate Vice President, Gujarat, Hyderabad, Goa & Telengana, said, “Gujarat continues to be a priority market for Pride Hotels Limited, and Gandhinagar, in particular, offers a unique blend of administrative importance, cultural depth, and proximity to Ahmedabad. Pride Elite Gandhinagar has been curated to meet the evolving needs of business and leisure travellers alike, with strong F&B offerings and versatile event spaces that cater to the city’s growing demand.”

Logistics startup Shiprocket moves ahead with Rs 2,342-Cr IPO plan

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December 13, 2025

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Logistics startup Shiprocket moves ahead with Rs 2,342-Cr IPO plan — L-R: Akshay Ghulati, Vishesh Khurana, Saahil Goel and Gautam Kapoor, co-founders, Shiprocket

E-commerce enablement platform Shiprocket has submitted an updated draft red herring prospectus to the Securities and Exchange Board of India for its proposed Rs 2,342.35 crore initial public offering.

According to the filing, the IPO includes a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 1,100 crore, along with an offer for sale of Rs 1,242.35 crore by existing shareholders, including both investors and founders. Earlier, the Gurugram-based startup had approached SEBI in May 2025 through the confidential filing route and subsequently received regulatory observations in the last week of October.

Founded in 2012 by Saahil Goel, Gautam Kapoor, Vishesh Khurana, and Akshay Ghulati, Shiprocket operates as a horizontal e-commerce enablement platform with a strong focus on direct-to-consumer and merchant-led online commerce. The company provides services such as courier integrations, real-time shipment tracking, and automated logistics solutions for merchants selling through their own websites, mobile applications, and social media platforms.

As outlined in the UDRHP, Lightrock will anchor the offer for sale and plans to divest shares worth Rs 258.49 crore. In addition, Arvind Ltd and Tribe Capital will sell shares valued at Rs 161 crore and Rs 120 crore, respectively. March Capital and Bertelsmann will also offload shares worth Rs 95 crore and Rs 85.43 crore, respectively. Furthermore, other selling shareholders include 500 Startups, Agility Global, AFOS Group, Moore Strategic Ventures, and boAt co-founder Sameer Mehta, among others. Co-founders Gautam Kapoor and Saahil Goel will each sell shares worth Rs 144 crore, while Vishesh Khurana will divest shares valued at Rs 36.93 crore. Notably, Eternal, formerly known as Zomato, will not participate in the offer for sale.

In terms of shareholding, Bertelsmann Nederland remains the largest shareholder with a 21.32% stake. Tribe Capital holds 14.14%, while Eternal and Temasek, through its subsidiary MacRitchie Investments, own 6.85% and 5.29% stakes, respectively. Meanwhile, the company’s ESOP pool represents 8.48% of the total shareholding.

Looking ahead, Shiprocket plans to utilise Rs 505 crore from the IPO proceeds to scale its platforms. This allocation includes Rs 294 crore towards marketing and customer acquisition and Rs 211 crore for strengthening its technology infrastructure. Additionally, the company will deploy Rs 210 crore for debt repayment. As of September 2025, Shiprocket’s total borrowings stood at Rs 233.8 crore. The remaining proceeds will support inorganic growth through acquisitions and meet general corporate requirements. The company may also explore a pre-IPO placement of up to Rs 220 crore as part of the fresh issue.

On the financial performance front, Shiprocket recorded a 15% year-on-year rise in operating revenue to Rs 942.7 crore during the six months ended September 2025. During the same period, the company reduced its losses to Rs 38.3 crore from Rs 42.3 crore a year earlier. For FY25, Shiprocket reported revenue of Rs 1,632 crore, reflecting a 24% increase over the previous year, while its net loss narrowed significantly to Rs 74.4 crore from Rs 595.1 crore in FY24.

Axis Capital, BofA Securities India, JM Financial, and Kotak Mahindra Capital Company are managing the IPO, while KFin Technologies has been appointed as the registrar.

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