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Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts expands with six new properties in 2025

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Shikhar Kumar, Managing Director, Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts

Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts, a fast-growing hospitality chain in India known for its boutique and experiential stays, is gearing up for a major expansion in 2025. The brand has unveiled plans to open six new properties, strengthening its footprint in key destinations. Three of these upcoming locations will be prime leisure spots across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, renowned for their scenic landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and increasing demand for luxury accommodations.

Reflecting on this expansion, Shikhar Kumar, Managing Director, Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts, shared, “At Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts, our commitment to exceptional hospitality drives us to expand into new destinations. Our focus remains on offering unique and enriching experiences for travelers while maintaining our asset-light strategy. The upcoming properties will further enhance our ability to cater to the evolving needs of modern travelers.”

Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts’ 2025 expansion aligns with its ambitious growth plans, adding six new properties, including key locations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Currently managing 16 properties across six states and 11 cities, the group will expand its inventory to over 500 rooms. This growth is expected to drive a minimum 10% increase in top-line revenue for 2025, along with improvements in Average Room Rate (ARR) and Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR). The brand will continue its asset-light approach, focusing on lease and revenue-share partnerships to ensure sustainable and flexible expansion. Strategic collaborations will support the investment for these new properties. 

The MICE sector and destination weddings have become key revenue drivers for Stone Wood Hotels. The brand’s success fuels its expansion with 16 properties across six states and 11 cities. 

The new properties will include dedicated event spaces catering to the rising demand for MICE and weddings. Known for its vibrant F&B and immersive hospitality, Stone Wood aims for a 10% revenue boost in 2025 while introducing offbeat destinations like Jawai, Tadoba, and Coorg. The group continues redefining boutique luxury with personalized, nature-centric retreats.

NBFC sector strengthens as RBI’s support fuels growth: Jefferies

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The growth in non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are improving as macroeconomic challenges subside, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) adopts a more supportive approach, according to Jefferies.

Jefferies Group LLC, a New York-based multinational investment bank and financial services firm, noted that stabilizing asset quality, improved liquidity and favorable interest rate trends position the sector for steady growth. The overall macroeconomic outlook is strengthening, supported by increased government spending and RBI’s efforts to ease liquidity constraints.

The RBI’s recent decision to reduce risk weights on bank lending to NBFCs reflects a constructive stance, enhancing funding accessibility, particularly for smaller NBFCs.

Additionally, a recent 25-basis-point interest rate cut and the potential for further reductions will support net interest margins (NIMs) across the sector.

Despite improvements in some regions, the transition to MFIN 2.0 regulations in April 2025 may pressure the microfinance (MFI) segment. However, the impact of unsecured MFI loans on secured loan products remains limited. NBFC exposure to MFI overlaps is highest in gold loans (9%), small-ticket loans like micro LAP/PL (6-7%), affordable housing (4-5%), and two-wheeler loans (2%), while commercial vehicle (CV) loans remain largely unaffected.

The vehicle financing sector is seeing mixed trends. While demand for light commercial vehicles (LCVs) is improving, medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCVs) continue to struggle with weak demand and rising competition.

Following RBI’s 25bps rate cut, public sector banks have reduced home loan rates to 8.1-8.2%, while private banks have yet to adjust their rates.

Larger housing finance companies (HFCs) with fixed liabilities may face pressure on NIMs, making affordable housing finance companies (AHFCs) a preferred choice due to their stronger pricing power. Among AHFCs, Home First Finance remains a top recommendation.

Although NBFC stocks have declined by 3-41% from their six-month peaks, leading retail and auto-focused NBFCs have outperformed the broader market.

Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer leads AI in $10t fund industry

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The adoption of AI by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer drives technological advancements in China’s US$10 trillion fund management sector.

High-Flyer, the founder of AI startup DeepSeek, has significantly increased its use of AI to manage a multi-billion dollar portfolio.

DeepSeek’s cost-effective large language model has gained popularity among financial institutions, prompting firms such as Baiont Quant, Wizard Quant, and Mingshi Investment Management to expand their AI research. Mutual funds like China Merchants Fund, E Fund, and Dacheng Fund have also integrated DeepSeek into their operations. 

Baiont Quant CEO Feng Ji highlighted that skepticism toward AI is diminishing, with firms now considering it crucial for survival. Companies leverage AI to analyze market data and generate trading signals, increasing demand for AI researchers and engineers.

Additionally, the Shenzhen government provides subsidies of 4.5 billion yuan (US$620.75 million) to cover computing expenses for hedge funds investing in AI.

Klarna seeks IPO with impressive 24% revenue growth

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Klarna Group Plc has publicly filed for a US IPO, which could become one of the largest financial company listings of the year. The Stockholm-based digital payments firm reported a 24% increase in revenue last year. For 2024, Klarna posted a net income of $21 million on revenue of $2.81 billion, compared to a net loss of $244 million on $2.28 billion in revenue the previous year, according to its filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday. Klarna initially filed confidentially for the IPO in November.

Bloomberg News reported that the company aims to raise at least $1 billion through the IPO and targets a valuation of over $15 billion. The company and some of its shareholders are offering shares in the public sale.

This listing comes as Wall Street evaluates the potential effects of recent market volatility on a group of large companies looking to go public in the US, including AI cloud provider CoreWeave Inc. and medical supply company Medline Inc.

Klarna, led by Co-Founder and CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski, provides “buy now, pay later” financing. This lending model gained popularity early in the decade and surged further during the pandemic, driven by the rise in online shopping.

In October, analysts valued Klarna at around $14.6 billion, a rise from $6.7 billion in 2022 but a significant drop from its $45.6 billion valuation in 2021. According to PitchBook data, the firm has raised $4.8 billion in capital.

Klarna serves 93 million active consumers and partners with over 675,000 merchants. In preparation for its IPO, the company refocused by forming a new British holding company, divesting certain businesses, and investing in AI. It sold its Checkout payments business for $520 million and acquired New Zealand’s Laybuy assets.

Klarna has strengthened partnerships with major tech firms, including Google Pay and Apple, and has collaborated with Adyen NV, Xero Ltd., and Worldpay Inc. The company also discusses new products and services with banks and payment networks. It has long worked with Visa Inc. and WebBank for credit card and lending offerings.

“We are currently in advanced stages of establishing business relationships with a second bank partner in the United States, through which we expect to offer our Fair Financing products in that market, and with a second payment network, on which we plan to issue the Klarna card in select markets,” Klarna said in the filing. “We expect that, as a result of these negotiations, we will enter into a binding agreement with the relevant partner in the first quarter and second half of 2025, respectively.”

In February, JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s payments processing unit partnered with Klarna to expand buy-now, pay-later options for about 900,000 businesses, allowing them to offer Klarna’s fast-credit solutions to customers.

Klarna also disclosed a partnership with Milkywire AB, an environmental platform founded by CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski’s wife. Since 2022, the company has paid Milkywire $2.6 million for services. Major investors in Klarna include Sequoia Capital, which owns 78.8 million shares; Heartland A/S, with 37.1 million shares; and co-founder Victor Jacobsson, with 31.4 million shares.

The IPO filing follows a turbulent period for the company, including a boardroom dispute and the recent removal of board member Mikael Walther, who had clashed with Chairman Michael Moritz.

Klarna informed potential investors that the Swedish Consumer Agency is investigating its compliance with marketing laws in the country.

After the IPO, Klarna plans to implement a new policy requiring board approval for certain related party transactions. The offering is being led by Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley, with 11 other firms involved. Klarna aims to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol KLAR.

Purple Style Labs secures $40M in Series E funding

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Abhishek Agarwal, founder of Purple Style Labs

Purple Style Labs (PSL), the parent company of Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, has raised approximately $40 million in a Series E funding round. SageOne Flagship Growth OE Fund, Alchemy Long Term Ventures Fund, Bajaj Holdings & Investment, and Minerva Ventures Fund led the investment, which included contributions through secondary investments.

The round also attracted backing from S Four Capital, Sopariwala Exports, Kemfin Family Office, Cordelia Family Trust, Weikfield Family Office, Salil Taneja Family Office, PKM Capital (Mehta Family Office), Satyen Kanoria, Ritesh Kamani, and several renowned designers, celebrities, sports figures, and prominent investors.

Additionally, existing investors such as Singularity Growth Opportunities Fund I, NeeleshBhatnagar, Pidilite Family Office, Signet Family Office, Rupa Family Office, Kiran Gems Family Office, Utpal Sheth, Rahul Garg, Rahul Kayan, Utsav Mitra, Mukesh Sawlani, Vineet Gautam, and Atul Gupta reaffirmed their support in this funding round.

“Post acquiring Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop in 2018, we have scaled it over 100 times in less than seven years, transforming it into one of India’s largest luxury fashion destinations,” said Abhishek Agarwal, founder of Purple Style Labs. “This capital infusion will fuel our expansion plans, both domestically and internationally, while strengthening our omnichannel capabilities to bolster the shopping experience for Indian fashion globally.”

Since acquiring Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, Purple Style Labs (PSL) has expanded its presence by establishing over 15 experience centers worldwide. These stores showcase womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessories across key cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Surat, and Indore, along with an international outlet in Mayfair, London.

Agarwal highlighted that PSL has significantly strengthened its retail footprint across major cities over the past two financial years. In 2025, the company is gearing up to unveil India’s largest multi-designer luxury retail store at the iconic Ismail Building in Fort Mumbai.

“Looking ahead, we are committed to expanding our footprint in key global fashion capitals like New York, Los Angeles, Dubai, Mumbai, and Delhi, alongside deepening our presence in India with new stores in Tier-II markets,” said Agarwal. “With this strategic growth, our vision remains clear – to build India’s largest and most influential luxury fashion powerhouse, seamlessly bridging Indian craftsmanship and global luxury retail.”

Purple Style Labs (PSL) has achieved a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 100% from FY21 to FY24, reaching a consolidated revenue of over ₹500 crore in FY24.

Rangsons Aerospace secures Rs 300-Cr funding led by ValueQuest

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Rangsons Aerospace, a technology firm specializing in aerospace, defense, and homeland security, has raised Rs 300 crore ($36.5 million) in funding, led by ValueQuest Investment

Advisors, with Anand Rathi Advisors as the financial advisor.

The funds will be used to develop products and solutions for both commercial and military aviation markets worldwide and explore new growth opportunities through strategic acquisitions.

Part of the NR Group based in Mysore, Rangsons Aerospace operates three facilities in Bangalore and Mysore. Its product portfolio includes satellite communication systems, airborne thermal management, and fluid distribution solutions.

Rangsons is a tier I partner to major global aerospace companies like Boeing, GE, and Honeywell and also provides critical systems to Indian organizations such as ISRO, the Indian Navy, and HAL.

Ladhani Group to invest Rs 3000-Cr in hotel expansion

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Ladhani Group plans to invest approximately Rs 3,000 crore in its hospitality business and increase its room capacity to 1,500 over the next three to five years as part of its expansion strategy, according to a senior company executive.

The Group has signed agreements with the Taj Group for two new properties in Haridwar and Ayodhya and is also in talks with other international hotel chains.

“So, if everything goes on time, we will add another 1,000 rooms in the next three years. From the present 500, we will have 1,500 rooms,” its executive director Paritosh Ladhani said.

Regarding the investment, Ladhani said, “The overall investment for 1,000 keys would be around Rs 3,000 crore”.

Earlier this month, East India Hotels Limited (EIH), which operates the Oberoi group of hotels, announced two new resorts in Rishikesh in partnership with the Ladhani Group.

“We have great plans for hospitality. Apart from Taj, we have just tied up with Oberoi, and I am in touch with a few large international chains, specifically Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons for Agra,” said Paritosh Ladhani, who is also Joint Managing Director of the Group’s flagship firm SLMG Beverages.

Ladhani said that he is “bullish” on the hospitality business of the Group.

The Group has also secured agreements for two additional hotel properties set to open in Lucknow.

“We are coming up with a Taj in Haridwar and a Taj in Ayodhya. We have two Taj signed up in Lucknow,” he said, adding that “we are also planning to expand our partnership with Taj and Oberoi brands in other cities.”

Ditto secures $82M to enhance edge-to-cloud data synchronization

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Adam Fish, CEO and co-founder, Ditto

Ditto, a company focused on providing “resilient” connectivity for edge devices, has raised $82 million in a Series B funding round, bringing its post-money valuation to $462 million—more than double its Series A valuation from 2023. In this context, “edge” refers to a distributed computing approach that brings data processing and storage closer to where it’s created (such as IoT sensors, 5G routers, or smartphones) rather than relying on centralized data centers and cloud platforms. This method reduces latency and optimizes bandwidth by processing data directly on the device or edge servers near the data’s source.

In the era of AI and resource-heavy machine learning models, speed is crucial, especially in scenarios requiring real-time decision-making or unreliable connectivity.

According to CEO and co-founder Adam Fish, Ditto skips the need for physical edge servers, a costly and labour-intensive solution that customers can avoid.

“Imagine your local fast food restaurant chain — if they’ve added in additional servers and built out Wi-Fi networks in all their locations, when something goes wrong, no one on-site is equipped to fix it,” Fish said.

Instead, Ditto uses the hardware companies’ workforce, such as smartphones, that are already employed.

“We replace hardware with software — a no-brainer choice,” Fish added.

Ditto’s platform includes a key “edge sync” component, an embeddable software development kit (SDK) that device manufacturers can incorporate into their applications. This enables companies to leverage the devices’ built-in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or local LAN capabilities to form “ad-hoc mesh networks,” allowing apps to discover and communicate with each other without relying on a centralized cloud server. Ditto acts as a mobile database, enabling apps to read from and write to it locally.

This approach has led Ditto to attract several major airlines as customers, including Delta, Japan Airlines, and Lufthansa.

“Airlines require constant crew collaboration, especially while in-air, but cabin connectivity is often unstable,” Fish said. “This means the apps [that] cabin crew use to stay in touch during takeoff, in-flight, and landing can often be disrupted, leading to poor communication among the team and, at times, a poor customer experience.”

Delta, for example, has built a mobile app for its flight attendants that integrates Ditto’s SDK and works on standard company-issued iPhones.

“Flight attendants can now chat with each other from anywhere in the cabin, making it easy to collaborate with team members consistently during the flight and provide the best customer experience,” Fish added.

With the new $82 million, Fish says Ditto plans to expand its team and scale its core product, including forming partnerships with cloud database vendors. This builds on its collaboration with MongoDB, which recently launched the MongoDB Connector to synchronize data between edge devices and MongoDB databases.

As AI increasingly impacts society, edge computing will become more critical for real-time data processing, low latency, and enhanced data privacy, as sensitive information can be processed locally instead of in the cloud.

“There are massive tailwinds to edge computing, especially with the rise of AI,” Fish said. 

“Running models at the edge adds resiliency, improves privacy and lowers costs. Our vision with Ditto is that it becomes the de facto company and platform you turn to when thinking about the edge.”

Ditto’s Series B round was led by Top Tier Capital Partners and Acrew Capital, with participation from Advance Venture Partners, Amity Ventures, Friends & Family Capital, Fundrise, USIT, IIJ, and True Ventures.

Binny Bansal launches Opptra to drive consumer brand growth

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Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal has launched a new venture called Opptra, a franchising business designed to revolutionize how consumer brands expand across Asia. Opptra is creating a portfolio of franchised businesses specializing in specific categories within local markets. The venture equips these businesses with centrally developed technologies and a shared global supply chain infrastructure.

“Many consumer brands have the potential to scale globally, but navigating new markets is tough—cultural, infrastructural, and regulatory differences make it complex, especially in a rapidly evolving retail landscape. Opptra unlocks Asia for brands by combining deep market expertise, cutting-edge tech, and a powerful supply chain. But Asia is just the start—our longer-term vision is to take brands from anywhere to everywhere worldwide,”  said Binny Bansal, Opptra founder and chairman.

Bansal, who co-founded the Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart and exited in 2019 after its $20 billion sale to Walmart, is now focused on helping brands unlock their global growth potential through Opptra. His goal is to equip these brands to thrive in a retail landscape that is rapidly evolving due to digital disruption.

Opptra has attracted several top industry experts, including Ranjit Babu, a retail veteran with senior roles at Nokia, Apple, and Amazon India, who now serves as CEO of Electronics and General Merchandise at Opptra. The technology team is led by Giridhar Yasa, formerly with Lendingkart and Flipkart, while Anand Raj, who has experience at Flipkart and Swiggy, will oversee the supply chain. Puneet Khanna, Vice President and Head of Exporio GCC, brings expertise from the Apparel group, and Rahul Gupta, previously with Amazon and Upscalio, is Vice President and Head of Terraspan.

At Opptra, each franchising business will act as a master franchisee or licensing partner, fully committed to the brands’ success. Unlike traditional distribution partners focused on brick-and-mortar stores, Opptra will use its e-commerce expertise to speed up market entry. With Asia driving 70% of global consumer growth, the rise of e-commerce has reduced expansion barriers, offering brands lower entry costs, wider reach, and faster adaptability. Each business will blend online and offline channels to suit local consumer behavior and category needs.

Opptra’s franchising businesses will offer end-to-end capabilities, including product adaptation, import compliance, omnichannel distribution, and manufacturing when necessary. The company distinguishes itself by enabling faster launches and smarter long-term growth through AI-driven localization, digital-first branding, rapid fulfillment, and strong data analytics.

Two businesses are already operational: Exporio, focused on fashion and lifestyle brands expanding into the GCC region, and Terraspan, which serves home and kitchenware brands entering India, the GCC, and Southeast Asia. Additional franchise businesses in Electronics, Sports, Babycare, and General Merchandise are in development. Each aims to be the preferred partner for brands entering any Asian market.

Opptra is developing advanced technology to support its franchise businesses, enabling faster market entry, smarter product decisions, efficient operations, and long-term growth. At its core is a tech-driven global supply chain integrating robotics, automation, and smart logistics, built on Binny Bansal’s experience scaling Flipkart.

In addition to Flipkart, Bansal has co-founded, supported, or advised ventures such as xto10x, Udhyam Learning Foundation, Three State Ventures, 2GUD, and 021 Capital.

Sterling Launches new resort in Tipeshwar

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Sterling Holiday Resorts has unveiled Sterling Tipeshwar, a luxury wildlife retreat nestled in the pristine surroundings of the Tipeshwar Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. With this launch, Sterling further cements its reputation as a leading name in wildlife hospitality, boasting 14 resorts across India’s top jungle destinations.

Strategically located along the NH44 highway, Sterling Tipeshwar offers a convenient escape—just 3.5 hours from Nagpur and 5 hours from Hyderabad. Unlike larger reserves, Tipeshwar promises exclusive tiger sightings with minimal crowds, making it one of India’s best-kept wildlife treasures. Spanning 7 acres, the resort seamlessly blends luxury with sustainability. Guests can stay in elegantly designed safari tents, opulent villas, and luxury accommodations, each adorned with wildlife-inspired motifs and featuring private sit-outs for an immersive nature experience. Personalized barbecues under the stars add to the charm.

At the heart of the resort lies “Adavi,” a green sanctuary with over 50 fruit-bearing trees, attracting diverse birdlife and enriching the local ecosystem. Expert naturalists curate guided safaris, nature walks, and storytelling sessions about Tipeshwar’s legendary Golden Tiger and Phantom Paws.

Sterling Tipeshwar’s in-house restaurant, Sparrow, offers a gastronomic journey through Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh flavors. Dishes like Khandesi Mutton Sukka and Nellore Chepala Pulusu, prepared by local village women, bring regional authenticity to the table. As an all-inclusive resort, guests can indulge in curated dining, high-tea experiences, and in-room gourmet delights, making it a truly unforgettable retreat.

“This resort is more than just a wildlife retreat; it’s an invitation to experience nature at its most raw and beautiful. In line with increasing demand for sustainable and experiential travel, I am proud to introduce Sterling Tipeshwar – a feather in the cap for our wildlife portfolio & a must-visit destination,” said Mr. Vikram Lalvani, MD & CEO of Sterling Holiday Resorts.

With year-round tiger sightings, exclusive lounge spaces, and wellness getaways during monsoons, Sterling Tipeshwar promises an unforgettable escape for wildlife lovers, photographers, and city dwellers seeking tranquility.

“Tipeshwar is a hidden gem on India’s wildlife map. With a high-density tiger population, the reserve offers a great opportunity for tiger sightings. The resort is located just outside the forest and has a unique design inspired by local fauna and flora. We are delighted to collaborate with Sterling Holiday Resorts for this wildlife resort,” said Mr. TVN Rao IFS Retd & CP Reddy, Palavelli CPR Pvt Ltd.

With this latest addition, Sterling redefines luxury in the wild, blending immersive nature experiences with world-class hospitality.

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