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Lemonridge Hotels expands footprint with new launch in Balanagar, Hyderabad

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Lemonridge Hotels Group has officially launched its third property in Hyderabad—Lemonridge Hotels IDPL Balanagar Hyderabad—situated in the lively IDPL Balanagar Chintal area. The hotel offers 30 well-appointed rooms, a multi-cuisine restaurant, and event spaces designed to host gatherings ranging from 30 to 300 guests, all supported by 24/7 personalized service.

Strategically positioned, the hotel is located approximately 36 kilometers from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, 7 kilometers from Secunderabad Junction Railway Station, and just 4 kilometers from Balanagar Metro Station—making it easily accessible for both local and out-of-station guests.

V. V. Narayana Srinivas Reddy Uppathi and Vijay Kumar Garine, co-founders, jointly stated on the occasion, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our third hotel in Hyderabad. IDPL Balanagar (Chintal) is renowned for its robust economy, rapidly expanding pharma & other hardware sector, and significant tourist attractions, making it an ideal destination for both leisure and business travelers.

They further added, “It is also conveniently connected to other major parts of the city through National Highway 65 (NH-65), ensuring easy access to key locations such as Begumpet and Ameerpet.”

Lemonridge Hotels IDPL Balanagar Hyderabad is poised to attract both business and leisure travelers with its strategic location, versatile event spaces, and personalized service. This launch further strengthens Lemonridge Hotels Group’s presence in Hyderabad, reinforcing its vision of delivering exceptional hospitality experiences across key urban centers.

EPIC Brand Institute Launches Globally With Inaugural Training Cohort in New Delhi

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New Delhi, 9th June, 2025 – The EPIC Brand Institute (EBI) is pleased to announce its global launch, along with the public release of its flagship framework, the EPIC Brand Map™ (EBM), an effective system created to deliver clarity, structure, and precision to brand building. The launch coincides with the first in-person training cohort scheduled for 9–11 June 2025 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, followed by a second cohort in Dubai from 19–21 September 2025.

Originally developed in 2020, the EPIC Brand Map has been used by leading Indian business groups, including the Tata Group, Aditya Birla Group, Mahindra Group, Reliance Group, and HCL, as well as global multinationals such as Medtronic, Sun Life Financial, Walmart, Mars, Coca-Cola, and Nokia.

The EBM framework, created by Saurabh Uboweja, global brand strategist and founder of BOD Consulting, is now being made available to founders, marketers, consultants, and creative professionals worldwide through the newly established EPIC Brand Institute. Over a three-day immersive experience, participants will learn to craft their own strategic Brand Maps aligned with the EBM framework that emphasizes Evocativeness, Precision, Insight, and Clarity.

Saurabh Uboweja shared his excitement about the launch, stating, “We’re launching not just a course, but a global movement to empower founders and brand professionals with a practical system that demystifies brand strategy. After years of private application with legacy businesses and high-growth ventures, we’re excited to open up the EPIC Brand Map to a wider community.”

The New Delhi cohort will host 30 carefully selected founders and practitioners, while the Dubai edition will attract brand-led business builders from across the Middle East and South Asia.

About the EPIC Brand Institute (EBI)

The EPIC Brand Institute is a global center for brand clarity, founded to advance the practice of structured brand building through its flagship framework—the EPIC Brand Map™. EBI certifies professionals, trains organizations, and drives thought leadership across industries, helping brands become more Evocative, Precise, Insight-driven, and Clear. With a mission to make brand clarity accessible and actionable worldwide, EBI stands at the forefront of the next wave of global brand transformation.

Tivoli Hospitality expands in Delhi with launch of Omnia by Tivoli in Dwarka

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Akshay Gupta, Director, Tivoli Hospitality Group

Tivoli Hospitality Group has unveiled Omnia by Tivoli in Dwarka, a premium event destination that has rapidly emerged as a top choice for luxury celebrations in Delhi. Ideally situated on Main Bijwasan Road near the Dwarka Expressway, the venue underscores Tivoli’s commitment to delivering design-driven spaces and large-scale event infrastructure tailored to modern preferences.

Since its recent debut, Omnia by Tivoli has quickly gained recognition as one of Delhi’s most in-demand venues for weddings, corporate events, and high-end social gatherings—solidifying Tivoli Hospitality Group’s growing presence in the capital’s premium hospitality market.

Omnia by Tivoli redefines Delhi’s luxury event scene with its striking glasshouse-inspired architecture and state-of-the-art design. The venue features two marquee banquets—360 and Mansion—both fully operational and already hosting a series of high-profile events. Enhancing its appeal, the property also offers opulent guest rooms, enabling a seamless stay-and-celebrate experience.

360, the first venue to open at Omnia, seamlessly blends contemporary interiors with natural light and open-air charm. The venue offers 4,000 sq. ft. of indoor space along with a 15,000 sq. ft. landscaped lawn, making it ideally suited for gatherings of 100 to 350 guests. As a result, its fluid indoor-outdoor layout and refined aesthetic have quickly made it a top choice for curated weddings and upscale soirées.

Soon after, Mansion was introduced—a grand, futuristic banquet featuring 14,000 sq. ft. of indoor space and a massive 40,000 sq. ft. lawn. Designed to accommodate 500 to 1,500 guests, Mansion is already gaining popularity as Delhi’s go-to venue for large-scale luxury celebrations, thanks to its monumental scale and iconic design.

Speaking on the concept, Akshay Gupta, Director, Tivoli Hospitality Group, said, “Omnia by Tivoli is not just a venue — it’s a visual and experiential revolution. From its awe-inspiring design to the scale of its banquets, it’s changing the way celebrations are experienced in Delhi. We’ve created a destination that delivers elegance, functionality, and unforgettable memories.”

With bookings steadily rising and social media buzz continuing to grow, Omnia by Tivoli has firmly established itself at the forefront of Delhi’s luxury event landscape. Moreover, by combining versatility, elegance, and signature Tivoli hospitality, the venue seamlessly delivers an all-in-one experience for high-end celebrations and unforgettable gatherings.

Mizuho to acquire Avendus from KKR in $700 Mn deal

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Masahiro Kihara, CEO, Mizuho Group

Japanese financial powerhouse Mizuho Financial Group is poised to acquire KKR-backed Avendus Capital in a deal that values the Indian investment bank at approximately ₹6,000 crore ($700 million).

According to a report, this move—following prolonged negotiations—will represent Mizuho’s largest-ever investment in India.

Mizuho CEO Masahiro Kihara will visit India this week to make the official announcement.

As part of the transaction, KKR will exit its 60% stake in Avendus, along with other early investors and co-founder Ranu Vohra. However, co-founders Kaushal Aggarwal and Gaurav Deepak will continue to lead the company’s operations. Mizuho, expected to hold up to 70% ownership post-deal, will also receive veto rights.

Established in 1999, Avendus offers services across investment banking, credit solutions, institutional equities, wealth management, and asset management. Its acquisition of Spark Capital in 2022 significantly enhanced its footprint in capital markets. For the nine months ending December 2024, Avendus posted revenues of ₹1,035 crore and a net profit of ₹170 crore.

KKR, which invested between ₹950 crore and ₹1,000 crore in Avendus in 2015, expects to earn a 3.5x return on its investment. While other contenders such as Carlyle and Nomura were in the running, the group ultimately took the lead—driven by strong strategic alignment and opportunities for cross-border collaboration, according to the report.

The acquisition also underscores Japan’s increasing interest in India’s financial services landscape.

Recently, Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) invested in Yes Bank, while Mizuho acquired a 15% stake in Kisetsu Saison Finance. With five branches across India, Mizuho has already committed $500 million to its Indian operations and appointed former KKR India head Sanjay Nayar as an advisor.

Decentro raises ₹30-Cr, plans domicile shift to India

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Rohit Taneja, Founder, Decentro

Fintech startup Decentro has secured ₹30 crore in a Series B funding round led by InfoEdge Ventures, with additional participation from Stargazer Growth and existing backer Uncorrelated Ventures. This fresh capital will support Decentro’s efforts to deepen its presence in India’s financial sector.

Backed by global accelerator Y Combinator, Decentro plans to use the funds to drive enterprise adoption, expand its product suite, and strengthen its engagement with financial institutions. The company simplifies the process for banks, fintechs, and NBFCs to build financial services through its API-first infrastructure.

Founded by Rohit Taneja and Pratik Daudkhane, Decentro offers API-based solutions that automate workflows for customer and business verification, online payments, and AI-driven debt recovery. These tools help businesses eliminate manual processes, enhance compliance, and improve efficiency.

Decentro currently facilitates over ₹50,000 crore in annual payments for more than 1,300 clients—including digital lenders, banks, NBFCs, and financial service firms. It has become a go-to platform for fintechs looking to scale quickly without building financial infrastructure from the ground up.

In a significant strategic shift, Decentro now plans to relocate its parent company’s domicile from Singapore to India within the next 12 to 18 months. This move not only underscores its growing commitment to the Indian market but also aligns with its broader objective of navigating local regulations more effectively and addressing customer needs more closely.

The company has also introduced two key applications for financial institutions:

  • Scanner: A real-time risk assessment engine that enables lenders to evaluate customer risk swiftly.
  • Neobot: An AI-powered voice agent that facilitates debt collection through automated conversations in regional languages.

According to startup data platform TheKredible, Decentro’s revenue jumped 47% in the last fiscal year—from ₹12 crore in FY23 to ₹17.7 crore in FY24. However, it reported a loss of ₹2.46 crore in FY24, likely due to increased spending on product development and market expansion.

Despite the short-term loss, Decentro’s revenue growth, product innovation, and upcoming move to India signal its strengthened role in shaping the country’s digital financial infrastructure. With new capital and strategic realignment, the company is poised for broader impact in the fintech ecosystem.

IPO-bound OYO aims to double revenue share from company-serviced hotels to 44%

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IPO-bound global travel tech company OYO announced on Friday that it aims to increase booking revenue from its company-serviced hotels to 44%—up from the current 22%—by the end of this financial year. This move aligns with its growing emphasis on the Indian market and expanding its portfolio of premium properties.

Currently, the company operates more than 1,300 company-serviced hotels across India, primarily under its mid- to premium-segment brands such as Townhouse, Townhouse Oak, Capital O, Palette, and SUNDAY.

OYO plans to double the number of company-serviced hotels in its portfolio by expanding their presence from 124 cities to over 300 cities across India. Introduced in FY23, these company-serviced hotels initially accounted for less than 2% of OYO’s booking revenue. However, the segment has witnessed rapid growth, making it the company’s fastest-growing business globally.

Currently, the company is concentrating its company-serviced model expansion in high-demand areas such as leisure destinations, pilgrimage spots, and key business corridors. The targeted cities include Mohali, Faridabad, and Jalandhar in the north; Cuttack, Asansol, and Darjeeling in the east; Mangalore, Kollam, Port Blair, and Kasaragod in the south; and Bhilwara, Vapi, Junagarh, and Jalgaon in the west.

Varun Jain, Chief Operating Officer, OYO, said, “The program is in line with OYO’s strategic focus for 2025 for the India market, which aims to drive profitability by enhancing the overall guest experience.

With an aggressive push to scale its company-serviced hotel segment, OYO is strengthening its presence across India’s key travel and business hubs. By doubling both its revenue share and city coverage, the company is positioning itself for sustained growth and deeper market penetration, reinforcing its strategy ahead of a much-anticipated IPO.

TGI Hotels Announces the Grand Opening of TGI SPS Grand in Coimbatore

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Coimbatore, June 6, 2025 — After the successful operations of Fressotel Seetharam, TGI Hotels & Resorts proudly announces the launch of its second property in Coimbatore — TGI SPS Grand, now open in Ram Nagar, a strategic and vibrant location in the heart of the city. This marks another milestone in TGI’s growing presence in Tamil Nadu, offering a perfect blend of affordability, comfort, and exceptional hospitality.

Whether guests are in town for business or a weekend escape, TGI SPS Grand promises a seamless stay experience. The hotel offers 53 well-appointed luxury rooms, warm and personalized service, and smart pricing — making it the ideal choice for both business and leisure travellers.

Guests can enjoy:

Ø 53 stylish and spacious rooms tailored for both business and leisure travellers

Ø Silver Oak Restaurant, serving a delectable multi-cuisine spread

Ø Shooters Bar, a perfect place to unwind

Ø Modern amenities, conference spaces, and everything needed under one roof

Speaking on the occasion, Amit Kumar, Chief Marketing Officer, said, “Coimbatore has always been a key market for us. With the launch of TGI SPS Grand, we aim to elevate the hospitality experience for travellers and further strengthen our commitment to this vibrant city.”

Cursor’s Anysphere soars to $9.9 Bn valuation with $500M+ ARR milestone

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L-R: Aman Sanger, Arvid Lunnemark, Sualeh Asif and Michael Truell, Co-founders, Anysphere

Anysphere, the company behind the AI coding assistant Cursor, has raised $900 million at a valuation of $9.9 billion. The funding round was led by returning investor Thrive Capital, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Accel, and DST Global.

This marks Anysphere’s third funding round in under a year. The three-year-old startup previously raised $100 million at a pre-money valuation of $2.5 billion late last year.

AI coding assistants, often called “vibe coders,” have become one of the most widely adopted applications of artificial intelligence, with Cursor emerging as a category leader. According to sources familiar with the company, Anysphere’s annual recurring revenue (ARR) has been doubling approximately every two months. The company has now surpassed $500 million in ARR, a 60% jump from $300 million reported just a couple of months ago.

Cursor provides developers with tiered pricing options. After a two-week free trial, users can subscribe to either a $20 Pro plan or a $40 monthly business plan.

Previously, most of Anysphere’s revenue came from individual subscriptions. However, the company has recently started offering enterprise licenses, enabling teams and organizations to adopt the tool at higher price points.

Earlier this year, Anysphere reportedly received acquisition interest from companies including OpenAI, but declined the offers. Meanwhile, OpenAI acquired Windsurf, another fast-growing AI assistant, in a deal valued at around $3 billion.

Inflexor eyes $150 Mn Fund-III first close in Q2 2025

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Early-stage venture capital firm Inflexor Ventures is targeting the first close of its $150 million (₹1,250 crore) Fund III by the end of Q2 FY26. With this new fund, the firm aims to double down on emerging and high-tech sectors such as healthcare devices, EV battery technology, and foundational large language models (LLMs)—marking a strategic shift towards less saturated, innovation-driven verticals.

Fund III plans to invest in 25 to 27 startups, primarily in the pre-Series A to Series A stages, with average cheque sizes ranging between $2.5 million to $3 million for approximately a 15% equity stake. Additionally, Inflexor’s existing portfolio features prominent startups including Atomberg, Bellatrix Aerospace, CredFlow, and Bioprime Agrisolutions. With this expansion, the firm expects its total portfolio to grow beyond 50 startups.

In addition, Inflexor has completed the closure of its ₹350 crore Opportunities Fund. HDFC Asset Management Co. led the acquisition of Inflexor’s first fund portfolio (Parampara Capital), enabling the firm to provide early liquidity to its initial investors.

Founded by Venkat Vallabhaneni, Jatin Desai, and Pratip Mazumdar, Inflexor Ventures currently manages over $120 million in assets under management (AUM). The firm has invested in more than 25 startups across deeptech, spacetech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and consumer technology, reinforcing its reputation as a key player in India’s early-stage venture ecosystem.

With the launch of its $150 million Fund III and the successful closure of its ₹350 crore Opportunities Fund, Inflexor Ventures is poised to deepen its footprint in India’s early-stage startup ecosystem. By focusing on emerging technologies and providing strategic capital at critical growth stages, the firm aims to foster innovation and build a robust portfolio of future-ready companies across high-impact sectors.

Khari Foods Raises ₹3 Crore in Seed Round to Expand Healthy Snacking Footprint Across India

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L-R: Yash and Sunil Bansal, co-founders, Khari Foods

Delhi, India – 5th June 2025 — Grahill Wellness Pvt. Ltd., the parent company of Khari Foods, a rapidly growing clean-label snacking brand, has announced the successful closure of its ₹3 crore Seed funding round, led by Meri Punji Pvt. Ltd. The capital will be strategically allocated across key growth areas including research and development, new product innovation, expansion of the core team, and scaling of marketing and distribution efforts, positioning Khari Foods for accelerated growth and deeper penetration in Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets across India.

The company is currently on track to achieve an Annual Revenue Run Rate (ARR) growth of approximately 208% in the current financial year, further underscoring its strong market momentum and scalable business model.

“From day one, our focus has been on building a brand that delivers nutritious, flavourful snacks made for Indian tastes without cutting corners,” said Yash, Co-Founder and CEO of Khari Foods. “Over the past three years, we’ve grown sustainably and stayed profitable while bootstrapped. This ₹3 crore fundraise marks a pivotal moment for us, enabling faster growth, stronger distribution, and the launch of exciting new products crafted for the modern Indian consumer.”

Khari Foods differentiates itself through custom product formulations, innovative snack formats, and complete supply chain ownership, backed by a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Haryana. The brand’s commitment to ingredient integrity and functional nutrition has resonated with its target customer base of 20- to 40-year-olds in urban and semi-urban areas.

Commenting on the investment, the spokesperson from Meri Punji Pvt. Ltd said, “We’re excited to back a brand that has proven its potential through strong fundamentals and consistent growth. Their clear vision, consumer-first approach, and product innovation make them well-positioned to lead the next wave of healthy snacking in India.”

The funding will be instrumental in ramping up R&D capabilities, introducing new product categories tailored to evolving consumer needs, expanding the internal team, and intensifying brand awareness campaigns across digital and retail channels. With these efforts underway, Khari Foods aims to reinforce its leadership in the better-for-you snacking space.

About Khari Foods

Founded in 2022 by Yash (Co-Founder and CEO) and Sunil Bansal (Co-Founder and COO), Khari Foods was created to redefine the way Indians snack by offering nutritious, palm oil-free, maida-free products enriched with fibre and essential micronutrients. With a wide portfolio including Ragi Crispies, Beetroot Crispies, Oats Crispies, Jowar Puffs, Snack Mixes, Dried Berries, and Snack Bars, the brand serves a growing demographic of health-conscious consumers seeking convenient, clean-label options without compromising on taste.