Thursday, May 7, 2026
Home Blog Page 106

CYK Hospitalities strengthens presence in Bengaluru with strategic expansion

0
Simranjeet Singh (Left) & Pulkit Arora (Right), Directors, CYK Hospitalities

CYK Hospitalities has expanded its operations to Bengaluru, a strategic move aimed at strengthening its foothold in southern India’s food and beverage (F&B) market. Having previously worked with local brands, the company has now set up a permanent base in the city. This shift signals its transition from a pure consultancy role to a long-term partner in building and sustaining restaurants, cafés, quick service restaurants (QSRs), and bars nationwide.

On expanding to a new city, Pulkit Arora, Director of CYK Hospitalities, said, “Bengaluru is the heart of modern dining culture in India. Our increased presence here means we can now better serve, act faster, and design immersive experiences for brands and audiences. Having a direct presence here would officially position us to deliver a stronger impact—building on what we have previously done in partnership.”

Simran Jeet Singh, Director of CYK Hospitalities, added, “This expansion is about deepening our capabilities, not just extending our geographical reach. It’s about fortifying our ability to provide sharper strategies, optimal spaces, and sustainable growth models for brands aiming to distinguish themselves in an increasingly competitive F&B landscape.”

Founded more than a decade ago, CYK Hospitalities has established itself as a trusted partner for end-to-end F&B solutions. Its expertise covers concept development, menu curation, brand building, and growth strategies—all designed to deliver unique yet commercially sustainable dining experiences. The company’s decision to strengthen its presence in Bengaluru reflects its strategy of blending regional culinary strengths with global standards.

Recognized as a vibrant cultural and technology hub, Bengaluru offers a natural base for CYK Hospitalities’ southern expansion. The company has set up a dedicated office in the city, positioning itself to better support existing partners and foster new collaborations across the region.

The move also mirrors a broader industry shift, where F&B service providers are deepening their regional footprint to keep pace with India’s evolving dining landscape. Bengaluru, in particular, has emerged as a critical growth market for domestic and global hospitality brands—creating opportunities for players like CYK to design scalable, innovative concepts.

CYK Hospitalities has launched its new Bengaluru operations to play a stronger role in shaping the future of India’s food and beverage industry while expanding its network and service offerings in the southern market.

Offgrid Energy Labs raises $15M to develop lithium-optional battery storage solution

0
L-R: Rishi K Srivastava, Brindan Tulachan, Ankur Agarwal, and Tejas Kusurkar, co-founders, Offgrid Energy Labs

Offgrid Energy Labs, a deep-tech startup from India, is working to reduce dependence on lithium, particularly in the battery storage segment.

The seven-year-old company, incubated at IIT Kanpur, has created a proprietary zinc-bromine-based battery system as an alternative to lithium-ion. Known as ZincGel, the solution delivers 80–90% of the energy efficiency of traditional lithium batteries while offering a far lower levelized cost of storage, according to the startup.

With global power demand on the rise, countries are intensifying efforts to scale renewable energy storage. India is a frontrunner in this space, aiming to increase its non-fossil energy capacity tenfold—from 50 GW to 500 GW—by 2030. By 2031–32, the country also plans to add 236 GWh of battery energy storage capacity, supported by a ₹54 billion ($612M) government initiative announced in June to build 30 GWh of battery storage systems. However, like much of the world, India grapples with China’s dominance in the lithium supply chain.

Offgrid Energy Labs believes its ZincGel technology can help ease these constraints by leveraging widely available materials and offering a cost-efficient alternative to lithium.

The startup has now raised $15 million in Series A funding to expand its operations. It plans to set up a 10 MWh demonstration facility in the UK by Q1 2026, followed by commercial rollout of ZincGel. The next phase includes building a gigafactory in India to scale production.

“Not only should we be addressing a gap in the market from an application standpoint, but we should also make it financially viable, because there have been technologies and batteries in the past globally, which have the solution, but they’re so expensive that they’re not widely adopted,” said Tejas Kusurkar, co-founder and CEO of Offgrid Energy Labs, in an interview.

Kusurkar, who holds a Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur, co-founded Offgrid Energy Labs in 2018 at the institute’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Center, alongside Brindan Tulachan (also a Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur), Rishi Srivastava, and Ankur Agarwal. Kusurkar said the team realized that lithium batteries work well for mobility but the stationary storage segment remains underserved and requires safer, more resilient solutions built on a more accessible supply chain.

The startup dedicated its first six years to developing its battery technology and has secured over 25 IP families and more than 50 IP assets across markets including the U.S., U.K., India, China, Australia, and Japan.

According to Kusurkar, ZincGel can support long-duration discharges of 6–12 hours, performed multiple times across its lifecycle, and has a lifespan twice that of conventional lithium-ion batteries. The battery also features a carbon-based cathode, enabling both fast charging and discharging.

Zinc-based batteries are not entirely new, with companies such as Nasdaq-listed EOS Energy Enterprises already offering zinc-bromide battery solutions. However, Kusurkar emphasized that Offgrid Energy Labs leverages its patented innovations to significantly lower costs. In addition, ZincGel batteries reduce reliance on graphite, further driving down production expenses.

“Ultimately, customers care about the same performance, better price, or better performance, same price,” Srivastava told.

Offgrid Energy Labs’ technology is designed to be flexible, allowing batteries to be tweaked or optimized based on application needs. As a result, these zinc-based batteries can function reliably even in extreme environments, providing energy storage at temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius, according to Srivastava.

The startup is targeting industries with net-zero goals, aiming to help them maximize renewable energy adoption by integrating storage solutions. Potential use cases include peak shifting and decentralized, off-grid energy systems. Early testers include Shell—which invested in Offgrid during its seed round through its corporate venture arm—and Tata Power. The company is also in discussions with global players such as Europe’s Enel Group to co-develop batteries tailored to specific applications.

Until now, Offgrid has manually built its battery technology at a tinkering lab in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. However, it plans to leverage its upcoming U.K. facility to showcase its innovation to early customers starting next year. This facility will have a carbon footprint 50% lower than a typical lithium battery gigafactory, thanks to simpler manufacturing processes that reduce both capital and operating costs.

Explaining why the U.K. was chosen over India, Srivastava highlighted Europe’s strong ecosystem for battery manufacturing and the fact that co-founders Kusurkar and Tulachan are already based in the U.K. to oversee operations. Still, the company sees India as a key market once commercial rollout begins in 2026.

The Series A round was led by Archean Chemicals, a Chennai-based specialty chemicals manufacturer that now holds a 21% stake in Offgrid, with additional participation from Ankur Capital. Srivastava said Archean’s involvement represents a strategic alignment, given its deep expertise in bromine manufacturing and supply chain management.

Khetika Targets 50% Clean Batter Market Share in Bengaluru with the Launch of its Dedicated FRESH Plant in the City!

0
Darshan Krishnamurthy, Co-founder & CTO, Prithwi Singh, Co-founder & CEO, Raghuveer Allada, Co-founder & CFO, Khetika

Using traditional stone-grinding with IoT-driven automation and local sourcing, the plant is a part of Khetika’s national expansion roadmap of eight facilities catering to 40 cities across the country.

Bengaluru, 25th August 2025: Khetika, one of India’s largest clean and healthy food brands in the staples category, has announced the opening of its new manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. The plant is a part of Khetika’s push to be the No. 1 player in the fresh foods category in the region, guaranteeing delivery of fresh chutneys and batters to retail partners within 24 hours of production.

The brand recently completed its Series B funding round and aims to capture 50% of the market share in the clean-label batter & chutney space within the first year of operations—a niche category that Khetika leads with innovation, authenticity, and trust.

Dedicated to Khetika’s expanding portfolio of stone-ground batters, chutneys, and other fresh category products, the plant is India’s largest in the stone-ground batters & chutney category and has an initial capacity of 30 tons per day, with the scalability built in to expand up to 100 tons per day of production. The Bengaluru facility combines modern automation with traditional stone-grinding techniques to preserve the maximum nutritional value of the products through the production process—one of Khetika’s key market differentiators. Advanced IoT-based SCADA systems ensure real-time monitoring of pH and temperature, delivering unmatched consistency and quality.

A key ingredient in Khetika’s millet-based portfolio—ragi—is 100% sourced from Karnataka farms, ensuring freshness and traceability while using high-quality, regionally grown produce. This also aligns with growing consumer demand for sustainable, millet-based products and reinforces the brand’s commitment to authenticity.

“This launch is a key step in our journey to bring clean, authentic, and sustainable Indian food closer to urban homes and expand our offerings in the regional Indian markets,” said Dr. Prithwi Singh, co-founder and CEO of Khetika. “With Bengaluru’s strong appetite for high-protein, millet-based batters and fresh chutneys, this facility enables us to serve local preferences with unmatched freshness, quality, and traceability. We are committed to making a strong impact in the region and are targeting 50% of the clean-label batter and chutney market within our first year.”

Darshan Krishnamurthy, co-founder and CTO of Khetika, added: “As a son of Karnataka, this plant holds a special place for me. It’s not just about scale; it’s about setting new benchmarks for authenticity, transparency, and innovation in the fresh food category. By blending our traditional food wisdom with cutting-edge automation and IoT-driven quality controls, we’re ensuring freshness at scale. This facility is a key step in our national roadmap to build eight fresh food production units across India, enabling hyper-local production and same-day distribution to 40 cities in the next 12 months.”

The brand continues to be the only player offering clean-label, stone-ground batters and chutneys, along with India’s first fresh, preservative-free chutneys made with traditional methods. With strong partnerships across leading quick-commerce, e-commerce, modern trade, and regional channels, Khetikahas ensured widespread availability for Bengaluru consumers and is making a strong impression within the new market expansion marked by this launch.

About Khetika

Founded in 2017 by Dr. Prithwi Singh (CEO), Darshan Krishnamurthy (CTO), and Raghuveer Allada (CFO), Khetika has grown into a pan-India clean and healthy food brand with a strong focus on authenticity, innovation, and technology. Both South Indian founders bring unique cultural insight into the brand’s portfolio:

Darshan Krishnamurthy, a proud Karnataka native, leads technology development and supply chain innovation, building a robust infrastructure to deliver freshness at scale. Raghuveer Allada, hailing from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, brings expertise in finance, strategy, and product innovation, ensuring Khetika’s growth and long-term sustainability. Dr. Prithwi Singh brings his strategic vision, consumer brand-building expertise, and deep understanding of agritech and food ecosystems, driving Khetika’s mission to transform the way India eats with clean-label, authentic, and sustainable food solutions.

Khetika offers a wide range of preservative-free, clean-label food products—including stone-ground batters, fresh chutneys, millet-based staples, spices, dry fruits, and makhana—all crafted with a balance of traditional methods and cutting-edge technology.

The brand operates through a tech-enabled supply chain across ambient and chilled categories, ensuring real-time distribution through quick-commerce platforms, e-commerce, modern trade, and general trade (via SuperZop). With a trusted farmer network across 14 Indian states, Khetika guarantees traceability, quality, and fair value sourcing, making it one of India’s most transparent and responsible food brands.

Urban Company and Boat receive SEBI approval for upcoming IPO

0

At-home services platform Urban Company has received SEBI approval for its initial public offering (IPO), according to a notification from the market regulator.

The company had filed its draft red herring prospectus in April for a Rs 1,900-crore IPO, including a primary issue of Rs 429 crore, after reducing the total IPO size from the earlier Rs 3,000 crore.

Based in Gurugram, Urban Company won Startup of the Year at the ET Startup Awards 2025 on August 28 and counts prominent investors such as Bessemer Venture Partners, Accel, and Elevation Capital among its backers.

The company’s operating revenue jumped 38% in 2024-25 to Rs 1,144 crore, while it turned profitable with a net profit of Rs 240 crore, compared to a loss of Rs 93 crore in FY24.

Meanwhile, wearables and audio brand Boat, which had filed its IPO through SEBI’s confidential route, also received approval. This route allows companies flexibility in determining the issue size initially and permits revisions of up to 50% in fresh shares until an updated DRHP is filed.

Boat counts Fireside Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, and Warburg Pincus among its backers and is reportedly targeting a valuation exceeding $1.5 billion. Earlier, in January 2022, the brand had filed draft papers for a Rs 2,000 crore IPO but paused the plan due to market conditions, instead raising $60 million in private funding from Warburg Pincus and new investor Malabar Investments at a minimum valuation of around $1.2 billion.

These two startups join a growing roster of new-age companies, including Meesho, Groww, Lenskart, PhysicsWallah, and Pine Labs, preparing to go public this year. Notably, edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah received SEBI approval for its IPO on July 18.

Venturi Partners raises $150 Mn in first close of second fund

0
L-R: Lauren Burns (Partner & Chief Operating Officer), Nicolas Cator (Founder & Managing Partner), Sarvesh Nevatia (Managing Director) and Rishika Chandan (Managing Partner)

Venturi Partners, a leading consumer growth fund, has achieved the first close of its second fund at $150 million. Backed by both existing and new investors, this milestone reflects strong progress toward the firm’s overall $225 million target.

Building on the success of its first fund, Fund II will invest in disruptive, purpose-driven brands across India and Southeast Asia, tapping into structural growth drivers such as rising consumer spending and favorable demographics. The fund plans to deploy $15–40 million as initial investments in 10 high-growth consumer companies, while also offering investors the option to co-invest on a 1:1 basis.

Venturi’s strategy is strengthened by its unique value creation model, which focuses on close collaboration with founders and active board-level engagement, supported by the team’s deep operating expertise in the consumer sector.

Nicholas Cator, Founder & Managing Partner of Venturi Partners, commented: “We are grateful for the continued trust and confidence of our existing investors and welcome our new partners. This strong response validates our investment thesis and the strength of our unique team.”

Rishika Chandan, Managing Partner of Venturi Partners, commented: “Amidst global volatility, India continues to emerge as a strong growth market, creating a compelling long-term opportunity that aligns well with our strategy. With our hands-on operating expertise, we are confident in delivering strong returns.”

In June 2022, the investment platform raised its debut fund at $180 million, supported by prominent European and Asian families, including Frédéric de Mévius of the AB InBev family and Ackermans & van Haaren, a listed Belgian investment firm.

Fund I’s portfolio spans several high-growth companies such as Livspace, Country Delight, JQR, Believe, and K-12 Techno Services, along with two leading ventures in the Philippines: Pickup Coffee, a disruptive chain offering premium coffee at affordable prices with over 400 outlets, and Dali, a fast-growing hard discount retailer helping consumers lower grocery costs with a network of more than 1,000 stores nationwide.

Child personal care brand Tuco Kids raises $4 Mn in funding round

0
Chanakya Gupta & Aishvarya Murali, co-founders, Tuco Kids

Child personal care brand Tuco Kids has secured $4 Mn (INR 35.27 Cr) in a Series A round of funding led by RTP Global.

The round also witnessed participation from MG Investments, along with existing backers Whiteboard Capital and Fireside Ventures.

Tuco Kids cofounder Chanakya Gupta said, “Our primary investment will go into marketing, awareness and distribution, research, and distribution of new products. Rolling out new categories and team building are aligned next.”

Founded in 2023 by Aishvarya Murali, Tuco Kids provides a diverse range of personal care products designed for children aged 3–13 years. Its portfolio features soaps, lotions, body mists, shampoos, gels, and more, along with a beauty segment that includes kajal and beetroot tints.

“We want to deploy in building the kids category under personal care across our own D2C platform, marketplaces, quick commerce, and then eventually by the next year sometime into offline space, selected offline space,” the cofounder added.

Notably, Gupta joined as the child personal care brand’s cofounder in February this year. He previously served as the business head at Cult Play (formerly Fitso) and as the group chief human resource officer at Curefit.

The child personal care brand distributes its products through its own website, along with e-commerce and quick commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, and others.

In terms of the startup’s reach, Gupta claimed that, “In the last 12 to 14 months, we would have served close to 200K mums, in the scale of our customer segment. This is divided across marketplaces and in our own channel.”

Earlier, in September 2024, Tuco Kids secured $2 Mn in a seed round co-led by Fireside Ventures and Whiteboard Capital.

Although the startup has been operating in the market for over two years, the cofounders chose not to disclose details about its topline and bottom line performance.

However, Gupta said that, “I think our target by another 18 months is to get into the INR 100 Cr club, as per our growth trajectory.”

The kids-focused BPC segment presents significant growth potential, as only a handful of brands, such as Johnson’s Baby and The Moms Co., primarily cater to children. Larger players like Mamaearth and Himalaya offer kids-specific products as part of their broader personal care portfolios.

Meanwhile, babycare-focused quick commerce startup Peeko recently came out of stealth and raised $3.2 Mn (INR 28 Cr) in a seed round led by Stellaris Venture Partners in August 2025.

Polo Hotels and Varun Tea Plantations to open Polo Planters Lodge Resort in Doars

0
Deval Tibrewalla-CEO and Director, Hotel Polo Towers Group

Polo Hotels and Varun Tea Plantations Private Limited have partnered to launch the Polo Planters Lodge Resort in Doars, West Bengal. This collaboration blends Polo Hotels & Resorts’ immersive, locally inspired hospitality with Ellenbarrie’s legacy of tea craftsmanship, creating a destination that combines indulgence with authenticity.

The new resort spans 20 acres and will feature an all-villa layout, including pool villas with tranquil views of surrounding “chai bagan.” Guests will enjoy experiences rooted in the planter lifestyle and designed to celebrate authenticity and luxury.

Polo-Curated Experiences

  • Space to Unwind: A villa-only retreat offering privacy and peace.
  • Cuisine Offerings: Menus crafted with fresh produce, heritage recipes, and tea-inspired pairings.
  • The Planter’s Lounge: An elegant lounge overlooking tea fields, serving Ellenbarrie’s finest blends.
  • Tea & Wellness Rituals: Spa therapies, infusions, and meditations inspired by tea’s healing essence.

Every stay aims to immerse guests in the rhythms of planter life, where time slows to the sound of rustling leaves and clinking teacups.

Deval Tibrewalla, CEO, Hotel Polo Towers Group, said, “Our vision for Polo has always been to create not just hotels, but experiences that capture the local essence of surroundings. With Polo Planters Lodge Resort, we are opening a new chapter, where Ellenbarrie’s planter heritage and Polo’s narrative-driven hospitality will together create an immersive experience in the Doars.”

Aradhita Agarwal, Ellenbarrie Tea, added, “The Doars have always been the heart of India’s planter culture, and Ellenbarrie has been a proud custodian of this tradition. By collaborating with Polo, we are transforming that heritage into an experience guests can live, breathe, and carry home.”

Meesho generates 12 Lakh seasonal jobs for festive season

0
Sourabh Pandey, CXO, Fulfilment and Experience, Meesho

Meesho has created 12 lakh seasonal job opportunities ahead of the festive rush. More than 70% of these roles come from tier 3 and tier 4 regions. This marks a 40% jump in seasonal hiring compared to last year.

Sellers on the platform hired 5.5 lakh workers to manage festive demand. They are offering short but focused training in sorting, manufacturing, and packaging. In addition, sellers have rolled out new products, entered fresh categories, curated festive collections, and checked inventory to meet rising customer needs.

Meesho also strengthened logistics to handle the festive surge. The company worked with leading third-party logistics (3PL) providers and Valmo to generate 6.7 lakh seasonal jobs. This reflects a 90% rise in festive season hiring compared to last year. The roles cover first-mile, middle-mile, and last-mile operations such as picking, sorting, loading, unloading, and processing returns.

Sourabh Pandey, CXO, Fulfilment and Experience, Meesho, said, “The festive season is when many Indian households place their trust in e-commerce. With that trust comes the responsibility to ensure seller readiness and seamless logistics at scale. In anticipation of this peak period, we have created over ~12 lakh seasonal opportunities, with a significant share emerging from India’s tier-3 cities. By empowering Indian businesses, manufacturers, and logistics partners, our focus remains clear, to make e-commerce inclusive and accessible for every stakeholder.”

As India prepares for its biggest shopping season, not just Meesho but also Flipkart, Myntra, and Amazon are supporting businesses to scale operations and fulfil growing customer demand.

Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel partner with Queensland Tourism

0

Thomas Cook (India) Limited and SOTC Travel have signed a long-term MOU with Queensland Tourism (Tourism and Events Queensland). This partnership aims to grow Indian travel to Queensland, Australia, a market seen as high-potential.

Senior leaders from both companies signed the agreement alongside Katie Mills, International Director at Tourism and Events Queensland, in the presence of Hon David Crisafulli MP, Premier of Queensland and Minister for Veterans.

The MOU takes a multi-pronged approach. It focuses on content creation, education and training programs, and joint marketing. The partners will leverage their phygital model—digital platforms combined with an extensive retail network—to showcase Queensland as a destination for leisure, MICE, B-leisure, and sports tourism.

Queensland stands out for its diverse attractions. The Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, headline its natural wonders. The Gold Coast is famous for beaches and adventure, the Whitsundays for sailing, and Brisbane for a cosmopolitan riverfront lifestyle. Cairns and Port Douglas serve as gateways to reef and rainforest adventures.

The destination appeals to families, couples, millennials, GenZ, and corporate groups. Sports tourism is another strength, especially with India’s passion for cricket and the upcoming 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said: “Experiential travel is a key demand driver, highlighted in our India Holiday Report – with 75% respondents seeking experiences over traditional tours. And Queensland offers just this: from spectacular natural vistas, world-class gastronomy to global sporting events and more! Our MOU with Queensland is a great opportunity to expand our product portfolio and showcase Queensland as a year-round destination. Our intent is to create innovative, immersive, experience-led itineraries that appeal to our range of segments across multi-generational families, millennials and GenZ, couples, working professionals and our powerful MICE corporates.”

S.D. Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays and Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel Limited, said: “We are excited to partner with Queensland Tourism! With our powerful legacy of over 75 years and our extensive pan-India reach, we look forward to inspiring Indians, not just from metros, but also our regional tier 2 and 3 markets. Our strategy will focus on the key pivots of product development, education and marcom. We intend to spotlight Queensland’s iconic natural beauty while also showcasing the state’s hidden gems and exciting experiences—ensuring truly memorable and repeat visitations.”

Craig Davidson, CEO, Tourism and Events Queensland, added: “This strategic connection with Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel is a powerful step forward in our mission to position Queensland as the destination of choice for India travellers. From the Great Barrier Reef to the Scenic Rim, Queensland offers unforgettable experiences across every season. Through collaborative marketing, education and content creation, we’re excited to inspire more India visitors to discover ‘Australia’s Holiday Feeling’, which can only be experienced in Queensland.”

Groww gets SEBI approval for $1B IPO, will file updated DRHP soon

0
Co-Founders, Groww

Groww has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch its initial public offering (IPO). This move sets the stage for one of India’s biggest fintech listings, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Bengaluru-based platform plans to raise up to $1 billion through the IPO. This could value the company between $7 billion and $8 billion. Groww will file an updated draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) in the coming weeks. The firm had first submitted its IPO papers confidentially on May 26 under SEBI’s pre-filing mechanism.

Groww’s parent, Billionbrains Garage Ventures Pvt Ltd, recorded strong financial growth in FY25. Net profit tripled to Rs 1,819 crore, while revenue rose 31% year-on-year to Rs 4,056 crore.

The company has secured over $390 million from leading investors such as Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, ICONIQ Growth, and Ribbit Capital. Groww was last valued at $3 billion in 2021 during its Series E funding round. The planned IPO would mark a significant milestone for the firm.

Founded in 2016 by ex-Flipkart executives Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Neeraj Singh, and Ishan Bansal, Groww has quickly become one of India’s fastest-growing investment platforms. It began as a mutual fund distribution app but now offers stock broking, ETFs, futures and options, US equities, and fixed-income products.

This IPO could become the second major startup listing of 2025, after electric vehicle maker Ather raised Rs 2,626 crore from public markets earlier this year.