Saturday, May 2, 2026
Home Blog Page 398

Storytelling platform Wattpad lays off 15% of workforce 

0

Canada-based online storytelling platform Wattpad has announced that it has laid off nearly 15 per cent of the staff — 42 employees of its 267-people workforce — amid challenging economic conditions.

“As you all know, the global economic reality over the past year has fundamentally changed — and like other businesses, we are not immune. We’ve made the difficult but necessary decision to reduce our workforce. Of the 267 amazing people who work for Wattpad, 42 will be leaving the company,” Wattpad Interim President KB Nam said in a blogpost.

“This does not mean that these team members haven’t been an important part of our work. It’s important to note that these decisions are in response to changing business realities and needs and are in no way a reflection of individual contributions. Everyone at Wattpad has accomplished a tremendous amount and had a positive impact on our company,” he added.

Moreover, according to the company, it would provide the departing employees with at least 12 weeks of severance and six months of continued benefits. They will also be able to keep their laptops and other devices.

In January, Canada-based Clearco, an e-commerce investor providing equity-free capital solutions to e-commerce businesses, laid off 30 per cent of its workforce.

Ayurvedic lifestyle brand T.A.C raises ₹100-Cr in Series A funding

0

Direct-to-consumer omnichannel Ayurvedic lifestyle brand T.A.C announced raising ₹100 crores in its Series A funding round from VC fund Sixth Sense Ventures.

The round also saw participation from actress Kajal Agarwal, start-up founders and venture debt funds.

The funds raised will improve product manufacturing, increase digital awareness of ayurveda and T.A.C in the ecosystem, expand research and development, and strengthen offline presence. Based on Dosha Consultations, T.A.C plans to incorporate and automate personalized skin, hair, and wellness routines.

The brand says that its portfolio of 100 unique SKUs and strong omnichannel distributor network, which spans 20+ EBOs, 5,000+ retail touchpoints, and online platforms, has resulted in a growth of 300% for the brand. T.A.C recently launched in Dubai, making its first entry into the MEA region’s global markets.

“Though there is a huge clutter of digital-first BPC brands, only a handful have been able to get shelf space in the offline world, where 90% of the market still resides. GT presence is critical to drive real scale for any consumer brand. Having moved offline early, establishing distribution across offline retail formats and geographies, T.A.C is garnering shelf space in areas dominated by incumbents to become an omnichannel BPC brand,” said Nikhil Vora, founder and CEO of Sixth Sense Ventures.

“Furthermore, with rapid evolution of consumer preferences towards natural, and now Ayurveda-driven, T.A.C is addressing this with affordable pricing and accessibility across all TGs. Thrilled to partner with the super passionate and determined duo, Param and Shreedha, to realize their vision!” he added.

“This Series A funding is a significant milestone for T.A.C and will enable the company to further its mission of bringing Ayurvedic wellness to a wider audience, especially Millennials & Gen Z, to make Ayurveda mainstream. We are very excited to have Sixth Sense Ventures onboard, with their expertise in the consumer space, T.A.C is poised to be the Most Loved Ayurveda brand in the years ahead,” said Shreedha Singh, co-founder and CEO.

Tech Mahindra appoints former Infosys President Mohit Joshi as MD and CEO

0

The IT services company Tech Mahindra announced on Saturday that former Infosys President Mohit Joshi had been appointed as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and key managerial personnel under the Companies Act of 2013, with effect from 20 December 2023 to 19 December 2028 (both days inclusive). After C P Gurnani retires on December 19 of this year, Mohit Joshi will take charge.

Mohit Joshi will replace Gurnani, one of the longest-serving chief executive officers of the Indian IT sector. “The Appointment of Mr. Mohit Joshi, as Managing Director (Designate) of the Company effective his date of joining the Company up to 19 December 2023,” according to a company statement.

“Mohit Joshi joins Tech Mahindra from Infosys, where he is currently the President. Mohit has over two decades of experience in the Enterprise technology software and consulting space and has worked with the largest corporations in the world in driving digital transformation and building thriving businesses,” the statement further said.

Mohit is the head of the Global Financial Services & Healthcare, and Software businesses at Infosys, which include the AI/Automation portfolio and Finacle (the banking platform). Along with overseeing Infosys’ sales operations and transformation, Mohit held executive responsibility for the organization’s major deals. Also, he is in charge of the Infosys Knowledge Institute and the Internal CIO function.

Since 2020, Mohit has served as a Non-Executive Director for Aviva Plc and is a member of the company’s Risk & Governance and Nomination committees.

In 2014, Mohit joined the prestigious Young Global Leader program at the World Economic Forum, Davos and was also a Young Presidents Organization (YPO) member. Previously, Mohit has also held the office of the Vice Chair of the Economic Growth Board of the CBI (Confederation of British Industry).

Mohit worked for ABN AMRO and ANZ Grindlays in their corporate and investment bank before he joined Infosys in 2000.

Mohit has lived and worked in Asia, America and Europe and lives with his wife and two daughters in London.

IHCL announces the launching of its first Ginger Hotel in Chandigarh at Zirakpur

0

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, announced the opening of Ginger Chandigarh, Zirakpur. The hotel’s design is based on the company’s lean luxe design and service philosophy, which aims to provide guests with a vibrant, contemporary, and seamless hospitality experience.

Ginger Chandigarh, Zirakpur is ideally situated at a short drive from Chandigarh International Airport and offers convenient access to Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula, as well as the major corporate hubs in these cities. The hotel is a part of Dhillon Plaza, a densely populated mixed-use development complex.

Commenting on the occasion, Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, stated, “IHCL remains committed to the immense commercial potential of Chandigarh. This opening is in line with our strategy of being present in all key cities across India. The hotel marks the debut of the Ginger brand in Zirakpur, a fast-growing satellite town neighbouring the Chandigarh Capital Region. We are delighted to open our second hotel in the city.”

The hotel is developed in partnership with the Dhillon Group, an industrial house in Northern India with its presence across multiple sectors, including Retail, Real Estate, Entertainment, IT and Chemicals.

The architecture and urban design of Chandigarh, one of India’s earliest planned cities built after independence, is well known around the world.

In Chandigarh, IHCL will have two hotels with the addition of this hotel.

Women employees constitute 34% of Westlife Foodworld’s workforce 

0

Westlife Foodworld, the owner and operator of McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India, has said the company now employs 3,899 women, constituting 34 per cent of its total workforce, as of March 5.

According to a statement, the company had 2,893 women employees in 2022 (32% of the total workforce) and 2,385 women employees in 2021 (30% of the entire workforce).

Westlife recognizes the impact that its female employees have made on both the lives of their coworkers and the company as a whole. According to the statement, the company’s commitment to inclusivity goes beyond simply promoting equality and includes offering an environment and structure that encourages women to succeed at all levels.

Smita Jatia, Managing Director, Westlife Foodworld, said, “We at McDonald’s India place utmost importance on promoting a culture of gender equality and diversity. We recognize and celebrate the essential role of women in our workforce and are ever committed to creating equal opportunities that empower our employees and foster an inclusive culture that provides a level playing field.”

Almost 11,000 people work for Westlife Foodworld, and 34% are women, which is crucial to the business’s success.

The representation of women at mid-manager levels has increased by 150% over the previous year.

A 31% increase in the proportion of women serving as front-line managers in its restaurants can be seen throughout West and South India.

In June 2022, the company opened its first All-Women Gold Standard Drive-Thru Restaurant near the Statue of Unity in Gujarat’s Ekta Nagar. This restaurant is helmed and independently run by 28 women trained as per FSSAI guidelines on all the necessary safety, hygiene and other restaurant procedures. According to the statement, 90% of the restaurant’s female employees are recruited from the GMR Foundation.

Garuda Aerospace, Ninjacart join to bring drone tech to farmers

0

Garuda Aerospace, a manufacturer of drones for the agritech sector, and Ninjacart, a startup in the agritech e-commerce space, have partnered to make advanced drone technology available to farmers all over India. 

Garuda Aerospace and Ninjacart will provide farmers with short-term financing options through this partnership, enabling them to afford the latest drone technology. Drones in the fields increase efficiency, lower costs, and increase crop yields. Farmers can take advantage of these benefits at a lower cost by using short-term financing. Young entrepreneurs in rural areas will also have access to training and opportunities through the partnership. The individuals will get drone operation training, which will help in their success as drone pilots. This will enable them to make between 50,000 and 1 lakh rupees a month and progress within the farmer community.

“This partnership will not only help farmers improve their yields and reduce costs, but it will also provide young entrepreneurs with skills and business opportunities. We believe that this collaboration will help develop an ever-lasting impact on the agricultural sector in India,” said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace.

“At Ninjacart, we believe in leveraging technology to make agriculture more efficient and profitable for farmers. Our partnership with Garuda Aerospace will bring the latest drone technology to farmers and help them increase their yields and reduce costs. Using drones in agriculture will also help in soil analysis, water management, and precision agriculture. We are excited to be a part of this initiative and bring the benefits of technology to the agricultural sector,” said Kartheeswaran KK, CEO and Co-Founder of Ninjacart.

Garuda Aerospace boasts a fleet of 400 drones and a well-trained team of over 500 pilots across 84 cities. Garuda Aerospace DGCA approved (Type certification and RPTO) Made in India Drones disrupt several multi-billion dollars sectors like Agri, Infra, Industry 4.0, and Defence. Garuda’s growth plan is to become India’s 1st ever Drone Unicorn Startup by impacting 1 billion lives.

InCred Capital acquires 20% stake in HR SaaS platform TeamNest

0

Financial services firm Incred Capital said it had acquired a 20% stake in TeamNest, a payroll and HR SaaS platform, as part of its Series A round.

The platform will be able to expand its reach and enhance its product portfolio due to the investment.

InCred’s extensive network in the Indian market would also be accessible to TeamNest, giving the platform the resources it needs to compete effectively in the HR tech industry.

Founded in 2017, TeamNest is a cross-border, multilingual platform that leverages cutting-edge analytics to help businesses of all sizes and sectors efficiently manage their payroll and human resources.

“We are delighted to have InCred Capital as our investor and partner in this journey. Their extensive experience and network in the Indian market will be invaluable to us as we work towards capturing the HR tech market in India,” said Prashant Shah, Co-founder, CMO, and Director of TeamNest.

TeamNest, the Mumbai-based platform, has witnessed more than 10% month-on-month growth for the last 15 months.

“We are excited to partner with TeamNest and support their growth in the Indian market. With its innovative technology and dedicated team, TeamNest has the potential to transform the HR tech landscape in India, and we are thrilled to be a part of this journey,” Saumya Mittal, Head, Structured Finance at InCred Capital, said.

Emeritus partners with Vahani to offer scholarships worth Rs 1 Cr to young women

0

Edtech company Emeritus is launching a scholarship programme for young women through Vahani Scholarship, a non-profit organisation that educates students from less-privileged socio-economic backgrounds.

As part of this collaboration, the company will provide alumni of the Vahani Scholarship with scholarships totalling Rs 1 crore so they can enrol in the educational programmes it offers in partnership with top universities worldwide in various subjects, including data analytics, digital marketing, and technology.

Emeritus started a programme in 2021 to grant scholarships to individuals and give Vahani Scholarship alumnae one-on-one mentoring where the former’s team members provided the mentees guidance and advice.

Speaking about the scholarships for girl students, Ashwin Damera, Co-Founder and CEO of Emeritus, said, “At Emeritus, we believe that education is transformational, and we are on a mission to make it more accessible. We are proud to partner with Vahani, to help women across India learn new skills to unlock career opportunities and bridge gender gaps in skill training.”

Mintifi raises $110M in Series D funding

0

Mintifi, a supply chain financing platform, has raised $110 million in a Series D funding round led by Premji Invest and included participation from current investors, including Norwest Venture Partners, Elevation Capital, and International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Mintifi said that this new fund infusion would enable it to expand its capital base to over $600 million.

The Mumbai-headquartered company will use the funds to expand its presence in some key sectors and improve its new offerings, such as business-to-business (B2B) payments and a dealer management system, it said in a statement.

It aims to strengthen its tech infrastructure and build “an ecosystem of end-to-end fulfilment products” to “enhance engagement across the supply chain network”.

“Our unique plug-and-play approach allows us to scale rapidly by tapping into huge outstanding receivable pool of blue-chip corporates while maintaining profitability. This round of funding will allow us to accelerate our growth, expand our team, and deliver even greater value to our customers,” said Anup Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO at Mintifi, in a press note.

The company, founded in 2017, offers financing options to distributors and retailers in addition to services like electronic invoicing, payment solutions, and payment digitization.

The digital lending platform said it has grown over 4X year-on-year “with annualized purchases financed of over $1 billion”, expected to reach $3 billion by the end of the financial year 2023-24.

Mintifi works with over 100 Indian companies, such as Tata Motors, Finolex, TVS Motorcycles, Bridgestone, Berger Paints, Parle Agro, Varun Beverages, Jockey, and Prince Pipes.

In February 2022, the B2B company raised $40 million in Series C funding, led by Norwest Venture Partners and Elevation Capital. As of February 17, 2022, the private market data platform Tracxn evaluated its post-money value as $123 million.

The company reported that it had received $175 million in equity and debt before this round.

ParaBooking raises INR 50 lakh to make adventure tourism safer in the country 

0

ParaBooking, an online paragliding booking portal from FlutterBuy Ecom Ventures, has announced that it has raised seed funding of INR 50 lakh under the Him Startup Yojna of the Department of Industries, Himachal Pradesh. This is the first time a tech startup based in Himachal Pradesh has developed sophisticated SaaS-based tools that can be scaled nationwide to bring safety and regulations to the adventure sports sector.

The startup has undergone incubation at IIT Mandi Catalyst in Himachal Pradesh and received world-class mentoring to develop its technology and business model. ParaBooking operates through a two-pronged model for generating revenues: adventure sport (paragliding) and SaaS tools for adventure tourism operators/agencies nationwide.

With an 8-member team, ParaBooking is looking to use the funds to expand its technology and enter the market. 

ParaBooking.com, founded in 2021 by Ankush Rana, Deepak Abrol, Sohail Lalani, and Vikram Thakur, enables customers to book paragliding flights in some of India’s most popular destinations, including Bir-Billing, Dharamshala, and Manali. Bringing safety and standards to India’s adventure tourism industry is one of the key goals of ParaBooking. In addition to a website for paragliding flight reservations, ParaBooking also provides a SaaS-based application enabling tourism operators to digitize and automate their operations.

ParaBooking has facilitated over 5,000 flights around India in its first 18 months of operations and is rapidly expanding. The company has entered the trekking and adventure sports sectors, including kayaking. Although adventure sports in India have enormous potential, public safety is still a huge concern. FlutterBuy plans to thrive as a venture in this area. Regarding paragliding, it is imperative to analyze several factors that aren’t currently taken into account, including the equipment’s airworthiness, the pilot’s level of expertise, their knowledge of the weather, awareness of the terrain, and more. Due to this important concern, the Government of Himachal Pradesh invested in organizations that offer safe adventure tourism experiences.

“The safety of travellers visiting our state will remain a priority for our tourism board, and towards this goal, we will focus on enabling ventures that are catering to the needs of the safe adventure sports in the state,” says Rakesh Prajapati (IAS) Director, HP Industries.