In a world where technological advancement is now advancing at a very high rate, data compliance is now a very sensitive issue to organizations across the globe. This is especially important in recent years as there are more data breaches and the laws become more strict on how data can be managed. Data compliance has shifted from being a mere tick-boxing exercise; it has now become a measure of organizational governance and sustainability. It can be said that adherence to the rules and regulations related to data protection of international character, proper storage of data and their handling, non-disclosure, and privacy of details are gradually becoming crucial for the organizations that want to remain competitive and safeguard their clients.
Dharmitha Ajerla has emerged as a leading force in shaping the future of data compliance. With a wealth of experience as a software engineer and data compliance expert, she brings a unique blend of technical proficiency and regulatory insight. Her deep understanding of the intersection between data innovation and compliance has enabled her to lead pivotal initiatives in the tech industry, helping companies navigate complex data sovereignty issues and adhere to privacy laws.
Her career trajectory has been marked by significant achievements in ensuring robust data compliance frameworks. She has a proven track record of developing systems that allow organizations to safely migrate data across borders, ensuring full compliance with local regulations and maintaining stringent privacy standards. Her unique approach to data compliance emphasizes the importance of an adaptive, ongoing process rather than a one-time solution. She firmly believes that collaboration between legal, technical, and business teams is essential for achieving sustainable and scalable data compliance. This holistic approach has become a hallmark of her work, ensuring organizations remain ahead of changing data privacy regulations while optimizing their data management processes.
Another area of development where She has made significant contributions is telemetry compliance and brought together a team to ensure massive data from products and services respect global data protection laws. She was able to mitigate the risk of data violation while sustaining product performance data by incorporating compliance checks into real-time data telemetry systems. Ajerla’s contribution in this regard made it possible for businesses to carry on using important data while observing privacy and compliance at the same time; thereby contributing a substantial blow in both technical and legal arenas.
Ajerla’s insights into the future of data compliance are just as forward-thinking. She anticipates that compliance will increasingly become a competitive differentiator, with companies that prioritize data protection winning customer trust and loyalty. Furthermore, Ajerla sees artificial intelligence and machine learning as key drivers of future compliance efforts. By automating routine compliance tasks and continuously monitoring data practices, these technologies will enhance accuracy and efficiency, ultimately making compliance processes more streamlined and less prone to human error. In her view, AI-driven compliance solutions will be the standard, helping organizations keep up with the dynamic regulatory environment.
She remains focused on the growing challenges posed by cross-border data flows and the ever-changing landscape of global data protection laws. She envisions compliance frameworks that are not only adaptive to these legal shifts but also scalable across different regions. Additionally, Ajerla believes that blockchain technology holds significant potential for data compliance by providing transparent, immutable records of data transactions, something that will be particularly transformative for industries like healthcare and finance, where data integrity is paramount.
In conclusion, Dharmitha Ajerla’s work in data compliance stands as a testament to her innovative approach to navigating the complexities of global data regulations. Her ability to balance technical expertise with a deep understanding of privacy laws has established her as a leader in the field. Through her contributions, Ajerla is shaping the future of data compliance, ensuring that businesses can continue to innovate while upholding the highest standards of data privacy and security. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, her vision will play a pivotal role in guiding companies toward a more secure and compliant future.
This article has been contributed by Ishan Sahni, Co-Founder & CEO, Comswoms Media.
As we conclude 2024 with valuable marketing insights; we turn our focus to 2025, a year that promises to be shaped by transformative trends driven by technological progress, strategic brand growth, and shifting consumer habits. With technology continuing to redefine consumer behavior and businesses evolving within an increasingly connected digital ecosystem, innovation will undoubtedly remain at the forefront. At Comswoms Media, we are committed to uncovering and embracing the trends that will set the stage for the future of marketing.
Here are some of the key predictions and trends that we foresee dominating 2025, viewed not only from an industry-wide perspective but through our unique approach to crafting impactful strategies for our clients.
Building Communities Will Trump Mere Audiences
Marketing has always been about building connections and creating meaningful experiences for customers rather than merely selling products or services. In 2025, this approach will evolve further, with a strong focus on cultivating lasting communities instead of isolated interactions. This shift began gaining momentum in 2024, evident in the rise of niche groups such as running clubs, fitness-specific communities, marketing-focused networks, and many more. Movements like Bhag Club, The Thirties Club, and Xcited exemplify how these communities are creating spaces for shared interests and values.
Brands and entrepreneurs that invest in fostering loyal, value-driven communities will thrive; as customers today are looking for a sense of belonging. By creating spaces where people connect over common passions, brands, and their endorsed products can build trust and advocacy. To succeed in this new era, businesses should prioritize initiatives such as exclusive events, interactive online forums, and user-generated content campaigns that encourage open, two-way communication, strengthening relationships with their audiences.
Dominance of Video Content in 2025
Video content will remain a dominant force in content consumption, driving significant investments in video marketing strategies. Brands will increasingly leverage video formats such as live streaming and short-form videos to capture audience attention and deliver impactful messages. According to Kantar’s Media Reactions 2024 report, a net 55% of marketers plan to increase their spending on TV streaming.
This trend reflects a shift in broadcast TV advertising budgets being redistributed across the broader TV and video portfolio. For marketers, the key will be to experiment and identify the optimal video mix tailored to their brand’s needs and specific objectives, ensuring maximum engagement and effectiveness.
Artificial Intelligence as a Driver of Growth
Artificial intelligence is set to become the backbone of marketing, revolutionizing every stage of the process, from strategy and execution to post-campaign follow-up. In the pre-marketing phase, AI will be pivotal in optimizing research, predicting consumer behavior, and identifying emerging trends with remarkable accuracy. During campaign execution, AI will enhance personalization, enabling brands to deliver tailored content and advertisements that align with individual customer preferences and behaviors. Dynamic creative optimization will allow marketers to adjust their messaging and visuals in real time, ensuring relevance and maximizing impact. Post-marketing efforts will see AI automating campaign analysis, aggregating customer feedback, and crafting retention strategies based on comprehensive data insights. Additionally, AI will facilitate predictive modeling, enabling brands to forecast outcomes and refine their approaches before challenges arise.
Live Streaming Will be the Future of E-commerce
Live streaming is evolving beyond entertainment to become a vital tool for e-commerce. By 2025, live-streaming orders will likely become a standard practice, especially in industries like fashion, technology, and lifestyle. Influencers or brand representatives will showcase products in real-time, engaging with viewers and answering their queries while enabling immediate purchases. The real-time interaction and transparency foster trust, helping buyers make informed decisions on the spot, and making this trend a powerful driver of sales.
Mini-Drama Series Will Become an Ideal Storytelling Format
The rise of short-form content will give birth to a new wave of mini-drama series, produced by brands to capture and retain audience attention. Instead of relying on traditional advertisements, brands will focus on telling engaging stories that entertain while subtly promoting their products or values. Platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels will be the stage for these episodic narratives, complete with cliffhangers to keep audiences coming back for more, blending storytelling with marketing innovation.
The Rise of Exclusive IPs From Content Creators
Content creators, particularly YouTubers, are poised to transition from collaborations and sponsorships to creating their intellectual properties (IPs). By developing original merchandise, exclusive series, or even standalone platforms and apps, creators can gain more control over their revenue streams and brand positioning. This shift represents a move toward greater independence and long-term value creation, allowing creators to establish stronger, more enduring connections with their audiences. Some of the key examples of creating an exclusive IP is Trakin Tech’s India’s Biggest Tech Roundtable (IBTR) and Samay Raina’s India’s Got Latent.
Personal Branding Will Be the Key to Entrepreneurial Influence in 2025
Personal branding for entrepreneurs will become a critical trend in 2025. CEOs and founders will increasingly focus on building their own public personas rather than relying solely on their company’s identity. By leveraging platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, and podcasts, entrepreneurs will position themselves as thought leaders and influential voices in their industries. A strong personal brand will humanize the company, fostering trust and credibility among customers, partners, and investors, and creating new opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Brands, entrepreneurs, and marketers can tap into the possibilities of some of the trends listed above to position themselves as industry pioneers. By embracing these emerging trends early, they can seize the first-mover advantage, outpace competitors, and craft innovative strategies that resonate with the next wave of consumer habits, driving growth and building long-lasting brand loyalty.
StartupTalky presents Recap’24, a series of exclusive interviews where we connect with founders and industry leaders to reflect on their journey in 2024 and discuss their vision for the future.
As workplaces evolve, HR technology has become essential for simplifying operations and improving employee experiences. Leading this change is greytHR, an HRMS platform supporting over 27,000 businesses in 25+ countries. With a mission to provide a complete hire-to-retire HR solution, greytHR is helping HR professionals tackle modern challenges.
In this edition of Recap’24, Sayeed Anjum, Co-founder and CTO of greytHR, shares greytHR’s journey, insights into the HRMS industry, and how the platform stays ahead with innovation. From key industry trends to customer success strategies, this interview is packed with lessons for SaaS founders and HR leaders.
StartupTalky: What service does greytHR provide? What was the motivation/vision with which you started greytHR?
Mr. Anjum: greytHR is a full-suite HRMS platform offering comprehensive ‘Hire-to-Retire’ solutions for managing people operations. The platform simplifies every aspect of HR, including recruiting, onboarding, engaging, paying, appraising, retaining, and retiring employees ‒ all seamlessly integrated into a single solution.
When we started greytHR, the vision was clear: to address the everyday challenges faced by HR professionals with a simple and scalable solution.Over time, this vision has evolved into a mission to create a global HR ecosystem that helps organizations build thriving, people-first workplaces. At greytHR, we believe businesses succeed when their people succeed, and everything we do is focused on enabling that success for our customers.
StartupTalky: How has the HRMS industry changed in recent years, and what trends do you see for the future?
Mr. Anjum: The HRMS industry has evolved significantly, shaped by the rise of remote work, shifting workplace models, and advancements in technology. Cloud-based platforms are now the norm, providing businesses with the flexibility to scale while ensuring security and compliance. HRMS tools have also become more employee-focused, offering mobile-first, self-service options that make it easier for employees to manage tasks on their own.
One of the biggest changes has been the integration of AI, which is transforming how HR teams operate. From automating routine processes to offering predictive insights and personalized employee experiences, AI is helping businesses stay ahead.
Looking ahead, the industry is expected to further embrace AI and machine learning, leading to hyper-personalized employee interactions and more intuitive self-service platforms. Furthermore, the integration of advanced people analytics will provide deeper insights into workforce trends, enabling organizations to make proactive decisions about talent management and development.
In essence, the future of HRMS lies in its ability to combine advanced technology with a deep understanding of evolving workplace dynamics, fostering environments that are both efficient and employee-focused.
StartupTalky: What key metrics do you track to monitor greytHR’s growth and performance?
Mr. Anjum: As a SaaS company, we focus on metrics that reflect both business growth and customer success:
Customer Metrics
Customer Growth: Serving 27,000+ customers in 25+ countries, we track acquisitions to measure market reach.
Net Promoter Score (NPS): Gauges customer loyalty and identifies improvement areas.
Customer Satisfaction (CSAT): Currently 95%+ reflecting excellent support.
Response and Resolution Time: Ensures timely, effective problem-solving.
By monitoring these metrics, we stay data-driven, focused on improving our product, and committed to delivering exceptional value to our customers.
StartupTalky: What opportunities do you see for future growth in the HRMS industry, both in India and globally?
Mr. Anjum: The HRMS industry is witnessing significant growth, both in India and globally. In India, the market is expanding beyond metropolitan areas into Tier-I and Tier-II cities, with businesses actively seeking tools to streamline their people operations, ensure compliance, and boost productivity.
At greytHR, we are proud to be trusted by over 27,000 businesses and to support more than 2.5 million users across 25+ countries.
Our growth strategy is multi-faceted. Domestically, we aim to deepen our presence in cities across India. Globally, we are expanding our reach into Southeast Asia. Furthermore, we are well-equipped to support larger clients, including enterprises with over 1,000 employees, through our comprehensive full-suite HRMS. The future of HRMS is promising, and we are excited to be at the forefront of this transformation!
StartupTalky: What new features have been added in 2024 to greytHR?
Mr. Anjum: At greytHR, we focus on delivering value through an evolving ecosystem of accessible and cost-effective solutions. Over the past two years, we’ve introduced a variety of features and enhancements tailored to meet the diverse needs of businesses. Here are some of the key modules launched recently:
Performance Management System (PMS): A comprehensive module to manage employee goals, track progress, and conduct appraisals seamlessly.
greytHR Recruit: An all-in-one recruitment solution designed to streamline the hiring process.
Unite Marketplace: A hub for third-party apps, enabling businesses to integrate and expand their ecosystem effortlessly.
Pan-Aadhar Link Validation: Bulk validation of Pan-Aadhar link status for compliance needs.
Multiple Attendance Cycles: Enhanced management of varied attendance cycles within the organization.
Request Hub: An upgraded support ticketing system for efficient resolution tracking.
GTPro: A specialized solution to help Payroll Service Providers (PSPs) manage multiple clients effectively.
StartupTalky: What are the unique selling points (USPs) of your HRMS?
Mr. Anjum: Our focus has always been on delivering a platform that is versatile, user-friendly, and future-ready. Here’s what makes greytHR stand out:
Scalability: Whether you’re a team of 5 or 50,000, greytHR adapts effortlessly to your needs, making it suitable for organizations of any size.
Compliance-Friendly: Our platform is designed to stay ahead of statutory requirements and changes, helping businesses remain compliant without effort.
Comprehensive Coverage: greytHR handles every aspect of HR and payroll, from onboarding to offboarding, offering a truly all-inclusive solution.
Mobile-First Design: Critical HR tasks can be performed on the go using the greytHR app, ensuring accessibility and convenience.
Intuitive UX: With a user-friendly interface, greytHR is easy to navigate, even for those with low technical expertise.
By combining innovation with a customer-first approach, greytHR continues to deliver solutions that simplify HR operations and empower businesses to focus on what they do best.
StartupTalky: Customer success has become more important than ever. How do you ensure that your clients, particularly CHROs and CFOs, are engaged and satisfied?
Mr. Anjum: Ensuring that CHROs and CFOs are engaged and satisfied starts with truly understanding their goals and challenges. A B2B HRMS needs to go beyond being a product ‒ it must deliver real, measurable value that aligns with their strategic priorities. At greytHR, we focus on being a partner that CHROs and CFOs can depend on to drive success. Here’s how we do it:
Solve their biggest challenges: For CHROs, success often hinges on improving employee engagement, simplifying HR processes, and gaining better workforce insights. CFOs, on the other hand, prioritize controlling costs, ensuring compliance, and maintaining financial clarity. A great HRMS like greytHR tackles these challenges head-on by automating compliance, optimizing payroll, and providing data-driven workforce analytics that aligns with these priorities.
Deliver an intuitive and reliable platform: HR platforms handle critical operations like payroll, compliance, and employee management. That’s why we ensure greytHR is easy to use and reliable, minimizing friction for both HR teams and employees. With a mobile-first design and self-service capabilities, we empower CHROs and CFOs to stay connected and informed — anytime, anywhere.
Build a thriving customer success ecosystem: Engagement doesn’t end with implementation. We’ve built an entire ecosystem that includes a dedicated support team, community, and expert-led resources like training programs and webinars. Our webinar series, Parichay, invites CHROs from across industries to share best practices and expertise, creating a space for collaboration and learning. Similarly, our award-winning podcast series, greytFM, brings thought leaders together to inspire and educate HR professionals.
StartupTalky: What are the different strategies you use for marketing greytHR? Tell us about any growth hack that you pulled off.
Mr. Anjum: At greytHR, our marketing is rooted in the philosophy that the best marketing comes from delivering exceptional value. Our deep, feature-rich HRMS, coupled with robust compliance capabilities, ensures that our product becomes our strongest advocate.
We’ve created a vibrant HR ecosystem that goes beyond software. It includes greytFM, our award-winning podcast, where industry leaders share actionable insights, and Parichay webinars, led by CHROs and experts, to explore best practices. Through the greytHR Community, we connect HR professionals to share knowledge and collaborate. Our extensive compliance resources and tools further empower businesses to stay ahead of regulations with confidence.
With platforms like greytHR Academy, offering training and certifications, we ensure our customers and prospects are equipped to succeed. This value-driven approach makes greytHR more than a product ‒ it’s a trusted partner dedicated to the growth and success of businesses.
Parichay Webinar by greytHR
StartupTalky: What advice would you give to other SaaS founders looking to build successful products in the HR tech space?
Mr. Anjum: The HR tech space is an exciting domain to build in today because we’re not just creating tools — we’re shaping how people work, grow, and thrive.
The most successful products are those that are built with the customer at the center of everything they do. In the HR tech space, this means deeply understanding the evolving needs of HR professionals, employees, and organizations.
Start with trust. Whether it’s data security, compliance, or reliability, your customers need to know they can depend on you. Trust is the foundation of every great SaaS product, and in HR, where you’re handling sensitive employee data, it’s non-negotiable.
Innovate relentlessly, but with purpose. Technology should be a force for good ‒ something that simplifies processes and enhances people’s lives. Focus on delivering solutions that not only solve today’s problems but also anticipate the challenges of tomorrow. AI, automation, and analytics are powerful tools, but their true value lies in how they empower people.
Finally, adaptability is key. The tech landscape is constantly changing. What works today might need to evolve tomorrow. Therefore, stay curious, listen to your users, and be ready to adapt when necessary.
In an effort to further promote the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, the recently established Startup Policy Forum (SPF) has partnered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Through this partnership, the two organisations hope to increase manufacturing capacity in India, promote innovation, accelerate technology adoption, and strengthen linkages with global stakeholders and ecosystem enablers. SPF and DPIIT announced in a joint statement that they will be creating specialist immersion programs aimed at introducing international investors to India’s thriving startup scene. Additionally, as part of the cooperation, the two organisations will work together to facilitate a startup debate called SPF Startup Baithak. As part of National Startup Week, the event is scheduled for January 15–16, 2025, at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam.
SPF Startup Baithak
“The SPF Baithak will be a platform for new collaborations, global investor engagement, and to showcase the innovations within the Indian startup ecosystem,” said Sanjiv, joint secretary of DPIIT, in a LinkedIn post. This strategic partnership with SPF demonstrates DPIIT’s unwavering dedication to fostering an environment that is conducive to startups’ growth and allows them to significantly contribute to India’s goal of being a worldwide centre for innovation. In his remarks about the alliance, Sanjiv stated that the SPF members embody the spirit of entrepreneurship in India and that their involvement in this mission will be essential to reaching the objective of building India by 2047.
In order to close the gap between founders, legislators, and regulators, former Peak XV chief public policy and communications officer Shweta Rajpal Kohli founded SPF in December 2024. It seeks to assist the government’s efforts to put Indian startups on the international scene. Among its members are prominent startups such as Razorpay, CRED, Groww, Zerodha, Pine Labs, OYO, Acko, Swiggy, Dream11, Mobile Premier League (MPL), Livspace, Cars24, Cardekho, and Mobikwik.
Central Government Backing the Startup Culture
DPIIT and SPF’s common goal of creating a robust and prosperous startup ecosystem is demonstrated by this partnership. According to Kohli, the partnership with DPIIT aims to help entrepreneurs to realise their full potential and place India prominently on the global innovation map by creating effective collaborations. The collaboration coincides with the central government’s continuous initiative to support the domestic new-age technology sector. The DPIIT has collaborated with businesses such as HCLSoftware, Flipkart, bOAt, and Tally in recent months. The second annual Startup Mahakumbh event is now scheduled to take place at Bharat Mandapam from April 4–6, 2025.
According to various media reports, Zepto, the unicorn of rapid commerce, has established Zepto Marketplace Private Limited as a new company to streamline its business practices before going public later this year. Currently, the business uses a business-to-business (B2B) form of operation. Under a licensing arrangement for consumer-facing sales, its Indian subsidiary, Kiranakart Technologies Pvt Ltd, which was established by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, purchases products from brands and sells them only to a specific group of businesses that run the Zepto platform.
Its competitors, like Swiggy Instamart and Blinkit, which is owned by Zomato, have long used a marketplace model that allows several suppliers to post goods directly for customers. Zepto now seems to be doing the same. In an apparent indication of a potential departure from its business-to-business approach, it registered Zepto Marketplace Private Limited on October 22, 2024. As it completes preparations for an India IPO later this year, this change may bring Zepto’s operations closer to those of its publicly traded competitors, Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart.
The Move will Help Investors to Evaluate Zepto’s Operations
Investors, particularly those in the public market, will be better able to compare Zepto‘s operating data to those of its competitors once a consistent business model is established. Another media article, however, made it clear that the new corporation was simply registered in order to transfer the company’s tech-related intellectual property (IP) and online platform. According to this report, the decision to place the company’s technology division on a separate balance sheet will aid in separating the various business divisions.
Current Business Model of Zepto
Geddit Convenience, Drogheria Sellers, and Commodum Groceries are the three businesses to which Zepto licenses its brand name and business operations under the current arrangement. These three businesses use the Zepto platform to sell to final customers after buying their merchandise from Kiranakart Technologies Pvt Ltd.
Kiranakart Technologies is essentially a business-to-business (B2B) company that sources and purchases goods directly from brands and resells them to Zepto’s three licensee businesses. These businesses subsequently sell to final customers. The three businesses pay Zepto a licensing fee for each sale they make through the latter’s platform.
According to sources, Zepto has already added additional sellers and plans to continue growing its seller and distribution base with the assistance of the new organisation. It also plans to lessen its focus on the three businesses (Geddit Convenience, Drogheria Sellers, and Commodum Groceries). Other than Geddit Convenience, Drogheria Sellers, and Commodum Groceries, more sellers are probably going to start selling on the Zepto platform in the upcoming months.
Competitors Adopting Different Approach
Blinkit is a platform where businesses like Hands On Trade, 90Minutes Retail, and others buy products from brands and resell them to B2B wholesalers, who resell them to other businesses (B2C sellers). Zomato, the holding company of Blinkit, appears to have structured its operations to guarantee adherence to foreign direct investment (FDI) regulations while avoiding the purview of related party reporting and consolidation.
International e-commerce firms are able to function autonomously as marketplace enterprises in India. However, international retail corporations are not allowed to operate independently in offline retail due to restrictions governing foreign direct investment (FDI). Only 51% of foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail is permitted, and only through local partnerships. Even then, permission from the government is needed.
Under the government clearance method, however, 100% FDI is permitted in food retail to function and operate both online and offline for food that is made and manufactured in India. With businesses like Scootsy, Lynk Logistics, and others that function as B2B wholesalers, Swiggy Instamart has also created a company structure that is similar. These businesses then sell their goods to other businesses that run dark stores, which in turn sell to the B2C vendors on the Swiggy network.
In short, there is an extra layer of sellers and distributors on both Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart. Although Zepto lacks this additional layer, it is possible that the structure will alter if Zepto Marketplace Pvt Ltd is established.
For small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the industrial and infrastructure industries, the Gurugram-based B2B marketplace OfBusiness has introduced Nexizo, a new AI-powered discovery tool. Through the use of cutting-edge AI technology, the platform seeks to expedite procurement procedures, simplify the process of finding qualified buyers, and offer market insights for competitive intelligence and raw material price discovery.
BidAssist was a comparable platform that OfBusiness had previously introduced. The team did, however, clarify that Nexizo targets larger private-sector companies and offers more sophisticated features tailored to their intricate requirements, in contrast to BidAssist, which concentrates on government tenders.
While Nexizo may be for larger, more established organisations as the complexity and sophistication of the solution increase multifold, BidAssist will always be geared towards government contractors (natural market mechanisms slant its user structure towards tiny & mid-sized companies). Furthermore, in a social media post, Pyuish Upadhyay, CBO, Digital at OfBusiness, stated that Nexizo will eventually target the private sector.
Platform Focuses on Building Cohesive Vertical Commerce Ecosystem
The platform, according to the company, is a step in the direction of creating a unified vertical commerce ecosystem that combines software, finance, and materials. From an insights platform to a full-fledged digital shop, OfBusiness has developed to enable end-to-end transactions for high-value marketplaces. According to the CBO, the brand is already targeting INR 2,000 crore this fiscal year (in just 24 months).
The announcement coincides with OfBusiness’s preparations for a possible $1 billion initial public offering (IPO) in the second half of 2025. The company generated revenue of INR 19,296 crore in FY24, up from INR 15,343 crore in FY23, and its profit increased by 30% to INR 603 crore in FY24.
More About OfBusiness’ IPO
Asish Mohapatra and Ruchi Kalra founded OfBusiness in 2015, and to date, the company has raised over $800 million from investors. SoftBank, Tiger Global, Z47 (previously Matrix Partners), Creation Investments, Alpha Wave Global, and Norwest Venture are among the investors in the business. Through its IPO, which will include a new $200 million issue, it hopes to raise up to $1 billion. It wants to be valued between $6 billion and $9 billion. Five investment bankers—Axis Capital, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Bank of America—were named the book runners for OfBusiness’s initial public offering (IPO) bid in November. Cofounder Jain stated at the time that OfBusiness will prioritise increasing its profitability prior to pursuing an IPO.
Amarendra Sahu, the co-founder and former CEO of the home renting platform NestAway, has taken an uncommon step for a startup founder by filing a criminal lawsuit against his fellow co-founders Jitendra Jagadev and Smruti Parida, as well as lead investors Tiger Global, Goldman Sachs, and Chiratae Ventures. In his native state of Odisha, Sahu has submitted a First Information Report (FIR) to the Bhubaneswar Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Tiger Global, Goldman Sachs, Chiratae Ventures, and the other co-founders of the company are accused of fraud, deception, document forgery, and criminal intimidation in the complaint.
Since December 10, 2024, the Orissa High Court has been considering petitions pertaining to the issue. The case will be reviewed once more on January 9. According to Sahu’s allegation, NestAway’s June 28, 2023, INR 90-crore sale to proptech startup Aurum was fraudulently completed using his signature as a company director. He made it clear that he had left his position as director on June 19, 2023, more than a week before the agreement was finalised.
NestAway’s Valuation Decline After the Acquisition
NestAway’s valuation dropped by 95% following its acquisition by Aurum. Since its founding in 2015, the Bengaluru-based business has raised a total of $116 million in investment. NestAway raised $220 million (INR 1,810 crore) in its most recent investment round in 2019 from well-known investors like Yuri Milner, Flipkart, Goldman Sachs, Tiger Global, and UC-RNT Fund.
Sahu claimed in the FIR that the company experienced significant losses as a result of the disruptions to its operations caused by the pandemic in 2020–2022. Additionally, Sahu worked remotely from his home office in Odisha because of the epidemic and his elderly parents. Investors Goldman Sachs and Tiger Global resigned from the board when the company was in serious financial trouble in order to protect their own money and reputation. Jitendra Jagadev, Smruti Parida, and Deepak Dhar, the other three partners, also departed the business.
However, Sahu persisted in running the business without receiving any compensation, and the FIR claimed that because of his genuine efforts and commitment, the business survived and was restored to a sustainable state.
How the Acquisition Deal was Cracked Without Informing Sahu?
Sahu claimed that without consulting him or the more than 250 shareholders, the investors obtained a direct offer to sell their shares to Aurum at a very cheap price through cooperation with one of the directors, Jitendra Jagadev. Sahu stated that the investors convinced him to sell his shares and help sell others’ shares because they were worried that the deal might not go through.
According to Sahu’s complaint, the principal investors—Tiger Global, Goldman Sachs, and Chiratae Ventures—convinced him to pay an extra INR 11.72 crore over the value of his 5% investment through phone calls, WhatsApp messages, and emails. However, when the deal was completed, they allegedly denied this commitment.
Chiratae Ventures, acting on behalf of all investors, persuaded Sahu to sell the business to a third party they had arranged through a number of in-person and virtual meetings out of concern that Sahu and other shareholders’ rejection would delay their plan to sell their shares. In the FIR, Sahu stated, “They promised to give me an additional INR 11.72 crore from their portion of the sale proceeds in appreciation of my prior work and the efforts necessary for the sale.”
Sahu unwittingly consented, believing their words and their reputation, and carried out all of the work of pitching the business through WhatsApp chats, phone calls, and emails while continuing to work from Bhubaneswar. As a stockholder, he sent over all signed papers, including the sale agreement. On June 28, 2023, Sahu stated in the FIR that the investors, Tiger Global, Goldman Sachs, Chiratae Ventures, and Schroders Adveq, forcibly closed the sale transaction in favour of Aurum at a consideration of INR 90 crore after denying Sahu their promise of INR 11.72 crore after obtaining the signed documents and consent forms.
According to the investigation, Sahu owes Tiger Global INR 4.8 crore, Chiratae Ventures and its affiliates INR 2.18 crore, Goldman Sachs INR 2.04 crore, UC-RNT Fund INR 1.81 crore, and Schroders Adveq INR 0.89 crore.
A 10-minute ambulance service has now been introduced by Blinkit, Zomato’s rapid commerce division. In a post on X, Albinder Dhindsa, cofounder and CEO of Blinkit, stated that the firm is making the initial move to address the issue of delivering prompt and dependable ambulance service in several locations. He stated that the ambulance service, which would begin with five vehicles in Gurugram on January 2, will soon be extended to other locations. Users will “start seeing an option to book a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance” on the app, according to Dhindsa. AEDs (automated external defibrillators), oxygen cylinders, stretchers, monitors, suction machines, and necessary emergency medications and injections are among the life-saving devices he said the ambulances are outfitted with.
Operating at Affordable Cost
In addition, every ambulance has a qualified driver, a paramedic, and an assistant. According to the CEO, the brand will provide this service at a price that is reasonable for consumers and make long-term investments to truly address this pressing issue. Dhindsa added that the business is carefully developing the service in order to roll it out in the key cities in the upcoming two years. Over the past year, Blinkit has been progressively adding new features and extending its services to further cities. But according to Dhindsa, the new launch is more about finding a long-term solution to this “critical problem” than it is about making money.
Blinkit Continues to Rollout New Initiatives
In addition to launching its services in Jammu earlier this week, Blinkit also introduced a function that lets consumers remove their order history. Over the past several years, the rapid commerce market has seen a dramatic increase in popularity throughout the nation. In light of this, Blinkit generated INR 1,156 Cr in revenue during the second quarter (Q2) of the fiscal year 2024–25 (FY25), which is more than twice as much as the INR 505 Cr it generated during the same period last year. Additionally, it was able to reduce its adjusted EBITDA loss from INR 125 Cr in Q2 FY24 to INR 8 Cr in the reporting quarter.
A lot of experts are worried about the rapid commerce model since they think the ten-minute delivery won’t be profitable. However, Blinkit’s most recent figures seem to have disproved this theory. Many people have already hurried to predict that Blinkit will soon be the group waggon puller. Zomato’s other diversifications may surprise as well, in addition to the near-duopoly that Swiggy and Zomato have been experiencing in the Indian market lately.
The fast commerce market in India is estimated to be worth $3.34 billion and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 4.5% to reach $9.95 billion by 2029. Despite this growth, statistics indicate that the industry only accounts for 7% of its projected $45 billion total addressable market, indicating significant room for expansion.
Palo [Alto], January 4: Businesses are increasingly realizing the potential of AI and automation for their growth. One such revolutionary Tech platform making work easier and life better for both businesses and employees is TechStack. It recently achieved a major milestone by being accepted into the prestigious UC Berkeley Skydeck Accelerator program. Through SkyDeck’s mentorship and extensive network, TechStack is accelerating its vision—the vision of transforming workplaces with AI-powered digital workers.
TechStack was founded by Rishabh Bansal in March 2024. Within just four months of commercial launch, this revolutionary AI Company has scaled to over $100,000 in annual recurring revenue. This rapid growth further firmed the company’s innovative approach. Also, it showcased the demand for its solutions in the market. The company’s impact is visible. On October 1, 2024, Skydeck’s Demo Day; they presented to a distinguished audience of investors. This move further solidified their bold vision for the future of work.
Rishabh Bansal’s digital mindset enabled him to start TechStack. Having previously worked as an Investment Banker in San Francisco, he was well-versed in the inefficiencies of business operations. Working closely with software companies on capital raising and mergers, he identified a major problem—the problem of time-consuming, repetitive tasks. With a background in engineering and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, he set out to create a solution.
That solution became TechStack, a company dedicated to deploying digital workers. These are the AI-driven systems designed to handle monotonous, routine tasks. With the platform in place, businesses operate more efficiently, allowing employees to focus on strategic and high-impact activities.
As the founder shares, “Our digital workers free up human potential. So there’s more room for problem-solving and collaboration.”
The company has growth-oriented clients across various industries benefiting from its innovative solutions. These clients have experienced significant improvements, including reduced IT operational costs, improved communication, and enhanced efficiency. As a result, they have seen a noticeable increase in overall business productivity.
Today, the company is a driving force in transforming the workplace with its cutting-edge AI solutions. With a growing client base across diverse industries, TechStack continues to help businesses streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance productivity. Backed by UC Berkeley’s robust startup ecosystem and led by an experienced team with deep expertise in AI and business operations, this AI Company is poised to be the next big thing in workplace transformation.
According to Piyush Goyal, the minister of commerce, over 7 lakh vendors and service providers have joined the open network for digital commerce (ONDC) thus far. According to Goyal’s post on X, these vendors come from over 600 cities and villages spread all around the nation. He went on to say that over 15 crore transactions had been handled by the state-backed network so far. Additionally, ONDC has 200 network members. The Modi government established ONDC in 2021 with the goal of democratising e-commerce in India. In addition to hitting many milestones over the last three years, Goyal stated in a post on X that it has empowered businesses—particularly small businesses—by giving them an even playing field on the network. The minister of commerce also mentioned that in the three years after ONDC began operating, customers from 1,100 towns and cities have made purchases on the network.
PM Applauding ONDC
After Goyal’s tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised ONDC for “revolutionising” e-commerce. According to the PM, ONDC has played a crucial role in advancing growth and prosperity by empowering small enterprises and transforming e-commerce. This comes a few weeks after ONDC CEO Thampy Koshy claimed that since December 2023, the network’s transaction volume has increased by almost three times. By December 2025, he predicted, the state-backed network’s transaction volume would have increased 7X-8X. According to earlier reports, the festive season sales were a major factor in ONDC’s 1.4 Cr transactions in October 2024. The mobility segment accounted for 55 lakh of these transactions, while the non-mobility segments accounted for the remaining 84 lakh.
Founded in 2021, ONDC is an open protocol-based network that facilitates local business in a variety of sectors, such as grocery and transportation. Under the auspices of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), ONDC is essentially the government’s idea to create a rival to the e-commerce behemoths and provide MSMEs and small merchants with greater visibility.
Challenges Faced by ONDC
With businesses and unicorns like Zerodha, PolicyBazaar, and Physics Wallah drawn to the platform’s democratising strategy, it has expanded its offerings into industries including food delivery, e-commerce, and taxi hailing. Even with this remarkable growth, ONDC still faces challenges, especially in terms of performance and awareness.
Brands like True Elements, which reported a sharp drop in revenue through the platform in 2024 when compared other marketplaces with better performance, presented one such difficulty. Even while ONDC provides an affordable means of reaching a big consumer base, a major barrier to achieving its full potential is still its low consumer visibility.
