Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], December 19: In an entrepreneurial landscape that is constantly evolving, the ability to streamline business operations and navigate the complexities of finance and compliance can be the difference between success and failure. Abhishek Boddu, the founder and CEO of OnEasy.AI, is transforming the startup ecosystem by providing innovative solutions that simplify these critical aspects of running a business. With his fintech platform, OnEasy.AI, Abhishek is helping entrepreneurs focus on what matters most—growing their businesses.
Abhishek, a seasoned Chartered Accountant, built OnEasy.AI out of a deep understanding of the struggles faced by startups. Having worked with over 1,000 businesses and recognized the pain points in managing financial operations, he set out to create a platform that would eliminate these barriers and empower entrepreneurs to succeed. With a combination of cutting-edge technology and expert financial guidance, OnEasy.AI is bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and the often complicated world of business finance and compliance.
OnEasy.AI: A Game-Changer for Startups
At the heart of OnEasy.AI is its commitment to simplifying the financial and regulatory processes that often overwhelm startups. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of services, from business registrations and compliance management to CFO services and payroll solutions. Entrepreneurs can easily navigate tasks such as GST registration, Income Tax Returns (ITR), and other essential financial operations, all through a single, user-friendly platform.
By using artificial intelligence and automation, OnEasy.AI eliminates the need for manual intervention in tasks that traditionally require significant time and expertise. This technology-driven approach not only reduces human error but also speeds up the process, allowing startups to focus on scaling their business without getting bogged down by administrative burdens.
Empowering Entrepreneurs to Grow
Abhishek’s vision for OnEasy.AI is rooted in empowering startups to grow without the constant worry of compliance and financial setbacks. He believes that business owners should be able to concentrate on innovation, strategy, and customer acquisition, rather than being overwhelmed by the complexity of taxes, registrations, and other regulatory hurdles. With OnEasy.AI, entrepreneurs are equipped with the right tools to handle the administrative aspects of running a business efficiently.
“We want to enable startups to focus on their core operations by taking the burden of finance and compliance off their shoulders,” says Abhishek Boddu. “Through OnEasy.AI, we are not just offering services, but providing the knowledge, support, and technology entrepreneurs need to thrive.”
A Holistic Approach to Business Finance
One of the key differentiators of OnEasy.AI is its holistic approach to business finance. The platform not only assists with regulatory compliance but also provides strategic financial insights that help startups grow sustainably. Abhishek’s team works closely with entrepreneurs, offering CFO services to help guide financial decisions, optimize cash flow, and manage financial risks.
OnEasy.AI also provides sector-specific solutions for industries like software, healthcare, hospitality, and more, ensuring that businesses receive financial advice tailored to their specific needs. Whether a startup is just getting off the ground or looking to scale, OnEasy.AI offers the expertise and tools necessary to navigate each stage of growth.
Expanding Global Horizons
As OnEasy.AI continues to make waves in India’s startup ecosystem, Abhishek is setting his sights on global expansion. The platform’s services are already available to entrepreneurs in markets such as the USA, Singapore, and Dubai, where OnEasy.AI is helping businesses manage their operations and expand into new territories. With its global reach and tailored solutions, OnEasy.AI is positioned to become a trusted partner for startups worldwide.
OnEasy.AI’s Impact on the Startup Community
Since its inception, OnEasy.AI has already helped over 1,500 businesses globally. Abhishek Boddu’s commitment to supporting startups through efficient financial and regulatory management has garnered praise from entrepreneurs across industries. Many have shared how OnEasy.AI has allowed them to focus on growth and innovation, knowing they have a reliable partner handling their financial operations.
Abhishek’s leadership in this space is helping reshape the startup ecosystem, where the focus is shifting from the struggle of financial management to building scalable, sustainable businesses. With OnEasy.AI’s support, entrepreneurs are better equipped to face the challenges of starting and scaling a business in today’s competitive market.
About Abhishek Boddu and OnEasy.AI
Abhishek Boddu is a Chartered Accountant with a wealth of experience in auditing, compliance, and financial strategy. As the founder and CEO of OnEasy.AI, Abhishek is committed to simplifying business operations for startups and small businesses. OnEasy.AI offers a wide range of services, from business registrations and compliance management to CFO services and sector-specific financial solutions. With a focus on innovation and customer service, OnEasy.AI has become a trusted partner for entrepreneurs worldwide.
This article has been contributed by Mahima Bhatia, Founder, Brand To Bytes.
“If marketing is a game of chess, content alone cannot be the king.” While phrases like CTAs, Buyer Journey Mapping, Buying Intent or Brand Credibility might be very critical to B2B companies across industries, ‘Strategy’ and ‘Distribution’ surely add impact in the closing sale.
You’re not alone if you’re struggling to create a content strategy. Learn how to regularly publish content while managing SEO changes and multiple channels.
Trying to push content without a strategy is like throwing darts blindfolded and hoping to hit your target, which takes up a lot of effort that gets wasted. As a leader, there are so many pressing matters that you need to attend to, and the lack of a strategy can hurt you right from when you begin to post.
It’s understandable to put off setting this up, especially because creating a content strategy in today’s time can feel so difficult. In fact, the lack of content strategy has greatly troubled over 25% of businesses across the world. There are AI generators for most formats, and there seems to be a ton of content that is not written by humans for humans and is instead written to rank higher on search.
Which channel is right for you? And how can you use that channel well? All these questions and concerns complicate and add frustration to your content marketing efforts, especially if you’ve just launched a new brand and are setting up everything from scratch.
But it doesn’t have to be this confusing. Creating good tech content today depends on a number of platforms and formats, but these are just the tools you need to reach and add value to your audience. When you take this analogy further, remember that the best tools need to have some level of calibration. In this article, we’ll go through how to calibrate your marketing efforts and create a high-impact content strategy.
Are You Updated With The Latest SEO Across Different Channels?
To create an informed strategy, let’s first understand what’s changed recently with how content marketing and SEO have functioned.
To combat the hundreds of thousands of posts written only to get higher SERP rankings, Google launched an update in August 2024.
John Mueller, a Search Advocate at Google, mentioned this as the exact reason for releasing the update. In the post announcing the update, Mueller said:
Google wants to focus on pushing content that people genuinely find useful.
The team took time to understand feedback from users and creators alike.
They want to showcase content from a variety of sources, and not just keep it to whoever has the higher domain authority or the most number of keywords.
In late 2023, they released the Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines, where they further emphasized the need for content to have a high level of ‘Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.’ Google has placed importance on this right since 2014. But the involvement of new software and how SERP functioned itself, made matters quite complicated. Now, with the new update, businesses are left questioning: what does this mean for us? What should be done next?
Checking On Marketing Budget Trends
According to the latest LinkedIn Benchmark Report, over 70%of B2B organizations upped their lead generation budget, and nearly 44%of B2B marketers are set on increasing their budget for SEO.
While we must focus on the side of creativity and new ideas, SEO is still a key factor in reaching audiences regardless of any new additions or updates. This opinion was echoed by most marketers responding to a survey by Neil Patel as well.
However, there is a marked change in how content strategies will be set moving forward.
Using Agility, Personalization And A Well Thought out GTM Strategy for Content Creation
Having excellent writing skills and a creative bent of mind are highly valuable, regardless of the amount of marketers depending on genAI to write content end to end. And given the new search update, the latter style of content cannot be the end-all-be-all for any brand’s content strategy.
Focusing entirely on ads is also not the way to go. Nearly 70% of customers prefer learning about a company’s offerings through an article rather than an ad, according to a report by the Content Marketing Institute.
A high-impact content strategy needs to be built on the foundation of good writing, great ideas, but also on the technical aspects of SEO and lead-gen experimentation.
Over the past two or so years, businesses have heavily prioritized only agility. However, successful content combines technology with creativity to create pieces that resonate with audiences and add to your reputation as a brand.
A Clear Value Proposition For Positioning
As a leader, you would have already painstakingly mapped out your customer journey, defined and understood your ICP, and interacted with a lot of users from your target audience.
To create a content piece that is valuable to them, you’ll have to go through a list of questions such as:
Are there subject matter experts you can reach out to for a comment?
Is the research behind this something you would have to develop from scratch?
What channels would be fit for the piece?
Do you need to spend on this?
When is the best time to push this out?
Is this the right time in the market to be pursuing the topic?
Which part of the funnel will this piece fit into?
Topical posts and articles are excellent top-of-the-funnel content to generate brand awareness, while bottom-of-the-funnel content would involve useful product pages and case studies.
Repurposing With An Intention
If you look at one of the oldest principles of marketing, The Rule of Seven, it simply states that your potential customers will need to hear your message an estimated seven times before making a purchase.
If you had to create a new article every time for this, then your content calendar would have gaps worth weeks and make you lose out on any customers you could have gained in that time.
Repurposing content is something that is a known technique, but getting started with it when you’re dealing with a multitude of other tasks can get overwhelming.
Here are some quick ways to do it.
Adding Infographics, Pie Charts, and Data-Driven Graphs For A Comprehensive Read
This is one of the easiest ways to create a piece that still engages with your audience but in an entirely different way on another channel.
For this, you just need to have the takeaways and pointers from your article ready, make them more crisp, and get an infographic designed to match it.
A good example of this is the report by Neil Patel referenced earlier in this article, which was pushed as a graphic on LinkedIn.
Infographics like this are also often used by other founders and creators in their decks, articles, and their research to support their claims. This would mean you’d get more visibility not just from the platform, but from people using both your infographic and potentially your article by linking them.
Long-Form Guides Are A Saviour And Fuels The SEO
If you’ve written content that spans over thousands of words for a long-form guide, just know that it is a goldmine for all types of content.
Multiple snippets can be pushed as text posts. One section of the article discussing a topic briefly can be expanded on as a separate article. You could even fully expand the topics discussed to turn the guide into an ebook and distribute it for a premium. The options are endless.
Summing Up
To create a solid content strategy for B2B companies today, you need to have an insight into the current SEO best practices, the channels where your customers are most active, and an idea of how you can engage with them in a way that is human-like and valuable. The best way to engage with your customers the most is to publish regular content in ways they understand and appreciate.
The quote by a content legend #AnnHandley sums this up very well, “When we create something, we think, ‘Will our customers thank us for this?”
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We all love watching and playing cricket right? “Cricket is my favorite sport” yelled a guy from that corner. Of course yes, it’s almost the entire Indian’s favorite sport! Imagine when the IPL‘s last over is on and there’s a power cut. Can you imagine how annoying, it’s for you, me, or any cricket lover?
Anyway, no worries about that anymore. Cricbuzz is an Indian cricket news platform. It will provide you with all the desired news you want, in case of a power cut or you might be out of the station without a television.
Learn more about Cricbuzz, its founders, business and revenue model, startup story, growth, revenue, challenges, and more.
How Cricbuzz became the Biggest Cricketing News Sensation
Cricbuzz – Company Highlights
Company Name
Cricbuzz
Headquarters
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Founders
Pankaj Chhaparwal, Piyush Agarwal, and Pravin Hegde
Cricbuzz is an Indian cricket news website owned by Times Internet. It features articles, news, and live coverage of cricket matches. This includes scorecards, videos, text commentary, team rankings, and player stats. This website also provides a mobile app. Cricbuzz is one of the most popular mobile apps for cricket news and scores in India.
Cricbuzz Logo
Cricbuzz – Founders And Team
Pankaj Chhaparwal, Piyush Agarwal, and Pravin Hegde are the founders of Cricbuzz.
Pankaj Chhaparwal | Founder and CEO, Cricbuzz
Pankaj Chhaparwal is the founder and CEO of Cricbuzz. He has beenworking here from the beginning itself. He pursued his education at L D College of Engineering, Gujarat University.
STAR has taken Piyush Agarwal. He pursued his education at the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University.
Pravin Hegde is the co-founder and CTO at Cricbuzz.
Sarah Waris is a Freelance Contributor at Cricbuzz. She joined the company in March 2019.
Abhideep Das is the Content Strategist and the Senior Producer at Cricbuzz. Before he was the Creative Producer of Digital Content for Kolkata Knight Riders. He was also an Editorial Consultant at Bayside Media Private Limited.
Cricbuzz – Owner
Times Internet is the owner of Cricbuzz. Times Internet is India’s largest digital products company. Its subsidiaries include Economic Times, Bangalore Mirror, Gaana, MX Player, MensXP, Times of India, Cricbuzz, IndiaTimes, CricPlay, Databack, Dineout, ETMoney, and more.
Times Internet – Cricbuzz Owner
Cricbuzz – Startup Story And History
Three former Infosys employees started Cricbuzz. In November 2014, Times Internet, part of the Times of India group, bought a big share in Cricbuzz.
In January 2015, Times Internet merged its cricket platform, GoCricket, with Cricbuzz. GoCricket’s website started redirecting users to Cricbuzz, and the GoCricket mobile app was also combined with Cricbuzz.
Later, in August 2015, Cricbuzz sponsored the India-Sri Lanka test series.
Cricbuzz’s business model is mainly concerned with giving updated scores of the matches. It sells to OnMobile which has got a relationship with different mobile operators. Under this, users get the latest live score updates for a charge. This is the primary source of their income. Other than this source, the company runs various advertisements on its platform, which is also a source of revenue generation for the company. The company is in a partnership with InMobi to monetize mobile advertisements.
Cricbuzz makes money mainly through advertising and sponsorships:
Advertising: Cricbuzz earns a lot from display and video ads on its platform. Cricbuzz grabs a huge amount via Adsense and Admob on its site and app. The strategic placement of advertisements in a user-friendly manner near the content helps Cricbuzz Monetize.
Sponsorships: Big brands like Google, ESPN, Star Sports, BCCI, and ICC partner with Cricbuzz. These deals bring in more money, boost trust, and help Cricbuzz create more content.
High-Traffic Platform: Cricbuzz has many cricket fans visiting its platform, making it a great choice for advertisers.
Cricbuzz’s revenue modelmainly revolves around Advertisements something ubiquitous from which the companies usually earn. It also earns through the display of the Cricbuzz scores on Hike Messenger. Cricbuzz creates value for users, which also promotes itself to customers.
It also earns money by sharing live cricket scores with telecom operators. These operators send score updates as messages to their users. Google AdSense also plays a big role in helping Cricbuzz make money.
Cricbuzz Financials
Metrics
FY 2019-20
FY 2018-19
FY 2017-18
FY 2016-17
FY 2015-16
Revenue
INR 156.6 crore
INR 133 crore
INR 97.3 crore
INR 70.5 crore
INR 66.4 crore
EBITDA
INR 70.6 crore
INR 69.6 crore
INR 41.4 crore
INR 15.4 crore
INR 18.7 crore
Net Profit
INR 49.9 crore
INR 48.6 crore
INR 25.8 crore
INR 11 crore
INR 11.6 crore
Cricbuzz Financials
Cricbuzz’s revenue grew steadily from INR 66.4 crore in FY 2015-16 to INR 156.6 crore in FY 2019-20. Its EBITDA also rose from INR 18.7 crore to INR 70.6 crore during the same period. Net profit increased from INR 11.6 crore in FY 2015-16 to INR 49.9 crore in FY 2019-20, showing strong financial growth over the years.
Cricbuzz – Achievements
With 496.25M organic traffic, Cricbuzz was ranked 26th worldwide by RankRanger for The Top Websites by Organic Rank.
In October 2019, the company was ranked 406 globally.
It was ranked 40 in India by Alexa Internet.
The site was the 7th most searched site in India for the year 2014.
The mobile app has over 100 million downloads and more for October 2019.
The website is used by more than 50 million users all over the world. It generated 2.6 billion page views in January 2015. Unbelievable!
The top competitors of the company are the International Cricket Council, ESPNcricinfo, Cricket Exchange, and Onecricket.
The International Cricket Council is the world governing body of cricket.
ESPNcricinfo is a sports news website only for the game of cricket.
Cricket Exchange provides its users with the fastest Live scores. With accurate Odds and sessions and everything. It keeps the users in touch with cricket.
Onecricket is something more than fantasy sports. It’s the best platform to follow cricket games, compete with your friends, and showcase your cricket knowledge.
Cricbuzz – Growth
During the 2015 World Cup. Cricbuzz was the most used cricket score website for cricketing news and updates. The company also received a massive number of visitors during the World Cup at a time. It was the most desired destination of all cricket lovers on mobile with over 1 billion visits during the World Cup alone.
Cricbuzz – Creative Marketing Strategy and Active Social Media Presence
To increase its popularity out of the circle of cricket fans, Cricbuzz started a social media campaign “Strategic Timeout”. Strategic Timeout is called out by IPL teams during mid-game to reformulate the strategy. The content was based on how social media influencers used the lockdown period strategically. This content leads the influencer followers to the Cricbuzz app and social media pages.
Social Media Campaigns by Cricbuzz
Cricbuzz has very active and interactive social media pages. It keeps posting new challenges and campaigns along with cricket world updates and talks. Some of the challenges are “Guess the champion”, “Strategic Timeout”, “Mask India” and “AbCricketBuzzega”. To hype up the upcoming season of IPL 2020 Cricbuzz recorded a rap “AbCricketBuzzega”.
There was a possibility. There is a possibility. And there will always be a possibility to pump up money through cricket. Pitches are always the priority in this aspect. Now we see advanced synthetic pitches. These are used for shorter formats. A tinge of grass and sponge pitch is required for bowlers. This kind of thing will make the sport more interesting than before. Of course, it needs deep and strategic planning. Games are suspended due to rain. Soon, there will be closed-roof stadiums to avoid the most annoying part of live cricket.
Cricbuzz is a popular website and mobile application that provides up-to-date news, scores, and statistics for cricket matches around the world. It is a reliable source of information for cricket fans and offers a wide range of features such as live scores, commentary, and player profiles. It is considered one of the most popular cricket websites which provides all the information related to cricket.
FAQs
Who are the Cricbuzz founders?
Pankaj Chhaparwal, Piyush Agarwal, and Pravin Hedge are the founders of Cricbuzz.
How does Cricbuzz make money?
Cricbuzz grabs a huge amount via Adsense and Admob on its site and app. The strategic placement of advertisements in a user-friendly manner near the content helps Cricbuzz Monetize.
Who owns Cricbuzz?
Pankaj Chhaparwal, Piyush Agarwal, and Pravin Hegde are the founders of Cricbuzz. Times Internet is the Parent Organisation/Owner of Cricbuzz.
Who are the Top Competitors of Cricbuzz?
The top competitors of Cricbuzz are the International Cricket Council, ESPNcricinfo, Cricket Exchange, and Onecricket.
How much is Cricbuzz’s Revenue?
Cricbuzz’s Revenue is nearly $22 million as of 2020.
How does Cricbuzz website work?
The Cricbuzz website features articles, news, and live coverage of cricket matches. This includes scorecards, videos, text commentary, team rankings, and player seats.
To support manufacturing startups, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has partnered with SaaS giant Tally Solutions and HDFC Bank by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU). Tally will provide training, case studies, and expert-led sessions to assist the chosen new-age tech companies in streamlining operations, implementing scalable business practices, and addressing startup challenges in areas like financial management, compliance, marketing, and digitisation, according to a statement from DPIIT.
Along with networking possibilities with colleagues and mentors in the sector, the SaaS platform will also provide users with free one-year rental licenses of Tally Prime software. Speaking about the collaboration, DPIIT joint secretary Sanjiv Singh stated that it will provide entrepreneurs with in-depth knowledge and useful resources to help them deal with the intricacies of markets. Tally is committed to providing business owners with the information, resources, and technology they need to expand their enterprises. Tally Solutions’ managing director, Tejas Goenka, remarked, “Tally is proud to partner with DPIIT to support entrepreneurs in their journey. Their efforts to support this ecosystem have been incredible.”
Joining Hands With HDFC
Additionally, DPIIT signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HDFC Bank, which would provide “customised” banking and financial products for domestic startups as part of the new partnership. To further improve the start-up scene in India, HDFC is happy to partner with DPIIT. According to Sunali Rohra, head of startups and gig banking at HDFC Bank, DPIIT-supported start-ups will easily access the bank’s tailored range of products designed to help speed their growth. The flurry of collaborations comes only a day after Kotak Mahindra Bank joined forces with incubators IIMA Ventures, NSRCEL, and T-Hub to launch the Kotak BizLabs accelerator program to support early-stage entrepreneurs.
The chosen entrepreneurs from industries like agritech, climate tech, fintech, edtech, healthcare, and sustainability will get mentorship, thematic workshops, and “guaranteed” seed investment from Kotak BizLabs as part of this initiative.
DPIIT’s Slew of Partnerships to Further Support Startup Ecosystem
However, in an effort to support the domestic startup scene, DPIIT has recently signed a number of collaborations. The department partnered with e-commerce giant Flipkart earlier this month to support and guide emerging businesses. Before that, DPIIT had collaborated with Moglix, a B2B e-commerce platform, to provide manufacturing firms with assistance. The government also partnered with HCLSoftware in October to advance its manufacturing incubation program.
MagicNOW, a new 15-minute meal delivery service that is being piloted in major Indian cities and metros, was unveiled by magicpin, the country’s third-largest food delivery app. In order to preserve freshness and culinary integrity, magicNOW strives to deliver fast meals within a 1.5–2 km radius. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, and Pune would be the first cities to host it. Between November 14 and December 15, magicNOW successfully performed 75,000 deliveries from more than 1,000 local restaurants and a network of more than 2,000 food brands, such as Wendy’s, Chaayos, and Faasos.
Catering Demand for Ultra-Fast Delivery
The magicNOW service was created to meet the need for popular, easy-to-prepare meals to be delivered incredibly quickly without sacrificing freshness or quality. MagicNOW will not use any dark storage and will only bring freshly made meals from the eateries. The company’s goal with magicNOW is to distribute only freshly prepared food from restaurants; it will not use any dark storage.
According to Anshoo Sharma, co-founder and CEO of Magicpin, the service is solely focused on food delivery and will only operate within a 1.5–2 km radius of the customer for a speedy delivery of 15 minutes in order to preserve freshness and culinary integrity. According to him, magicNOW successfully performed 75,000 deliveries during the test period from a network of more than 2,000 food brands and 1,000 local, unbranded eateries.
According to Sharma, the service has accomplished the set goal by collaborating closely with food brands and restaurant partners and utilising its logistics capabilities to provide an unparalleled delivery experience.
Specialised Restaurants Selected for Partnership
The success of the pilot program has been largely attributed to Magicpin’s collaboration with eateries that specialise in fast turnaround times and dishes that require little preparation time. In order to preserve a fair and stress-free approach, delivery partners are also not given any distinction between magicNOW and standard deliveries.
Velocity by magicpin, an aggregator of third-party logistics (3PL) providers, will enable delivery on magicNOW, guaranteeing dependable, fast service that benefits both local businesses and consumers. For the supply side, Magicpin serves as an aggregator of its 3PL partners, including Shadowfax, Dunzo, Rapido, Porter, Ola, Zypp, and others, bringing all 3PL services together under a single roof for sellers and brands. Currently, Magicpin provides Velocity to a number of brands. On the magicpin app’s food page, the “magicNOW” tile will be prominently displayed.
Quick Commerce Expansion in India
Swiggy, a food and grocery delivery company, has announced that it has expanded its 10-minute meal delivery service, Bolt, to more than 400 cities and towns nationwide. According to a survey by financial services company Chryseum, revenues of India’s rapid commerce sector have increased by more than 280% in the last two years, indicating the industry’s impressive expansion.
India’s rapid commerce business is expected to develop at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 4.5% from 2024 to 2029, from its current valuation of $3.34 billion in 2024 to $9.95 billion by 2029.
On December 17, the government told the Parliament that more than 1.63 lakh direct jobs had been created in Bengaluru by more than 13,000 startups approved by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). In response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Jitin Prasada, the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, revealed the information. The minister stated, “As of October 31, 2024, the DPIIT has identified 13,649 entities as startups in the Bengaluru district (Rural and Urban), which have reportedly created over 163,345 direct jobs.”
He went on to say that the following significant government programmes have provided financial support to these startups: SISFS, or Startup India Seed Fund Scheme: 281 businesses have received approval of INR 63.99 Cr under SISFS to boost their early-stage development. Through SEBI-registered alternative investment funds, the Fund of Funds for firms (FFS), which is overseen by SIDBI, has enabled investments of INR 6,470.8 Cr into 346 firms. Launched as a pilot program in April 2023, the Credit Guarantee Scheme for businesses (CGSS) has given 24 businesses in the Bengaluru urban district INR 49.24 Cr in loans without collateral.
Tax Exemptions to Further Strengthen Startups Growth
The Income Tax Act’s tax concessions have also helped Bengaluru entrepreneurs. 1,601 businesses obtained exemptions under Section 56(2)(viib), and 348 companies obtained certificates of eligibility under Section 80-IAC. In order to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in India, the government started the “Startup India” initiative in 2016 and offers financial assistance, tax breaks, and streamlined procedures to new companies.
Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry
In order to support the expansion of the Indian startup ecosystem, the government most recently introduced the Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR), a digital platform for startups. The platform, which was created internally by the DPIIT as part of the “Startup India” initiative, is intended to help companies, investors, mentors, tech enablers, government agencies, and other important players in the Indian startup scene work together. The Centre just launched its second startup registry, BHASKAR. The Bharat Startup Ecosystem Registry was piloted by the Ministry of Commerce in February. The register was established to exhibit innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship by uniting all the players in the startup ecosystem.
About DPIIT
Established in 1995, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade amalgamated with the Department of Industrial Development in 2000. It operates under the auspices of the Indian government’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This department is in charge of creating and carrying out developmental and promotional strategies to support the expansion of the industrial sector while taking into account the socioeconomic goals and national priorities.
Chinese retailer Shein, which intends to re-enter India soon in collaboration with Reliance Retail, will not have access to the data gathered from Indian users, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal informed the Parliament. According to the agreement, the platform (Shein India) will always be housed on Indian infrastructure, and all platform data—both personal and non-personal—generated by the platform’s operations, including all data gathered from Indian customers, will stay in India. “Shein will not have access to or control over this data,” Goyal stated.
This implies that all data produced by the app and the future platform will be housed and kept in India. The minister noted that the license agreement between Reliance Retail and Shein requires the two parties to guarantee localisation of the infrastructure and platform data in response to a query from Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil. The minister added that “any” government-appointed cybersecurity auditor may conduct the security examination of Reliance Retail’s infrastructure and that the company has also been “advised” to guarantee adherence to local regulations.
Re-Entering Indian Market After 4 Years
Shein’s return to India occurs over four years after the platform was “banned” in 2020 due to concerns raised by the Centre that Shein’s parent business was sending or storing Indian users’ data to China. Goyal clarified this on 17 December, stating that although the sale of “branded products” from the Chinese online fashion retailer was never prohibited, Shein’s app was stopped on June 29, 2020. According to him, Shein’s Singapore-based company, Roadget Business Pte Ltd, has signed a technology agreement with Reliance Retail Ventures Limited’s (RRVL) subsidiary Reliance Retail Limited (RRL) to create an Indian e-commerce retail platform. In 2023, the contract was signed. The textile ministry then conferred with the electronics and IT ministry (MeitY) on the issue, Goyal said in the Lok Sabha. Following the home ministry’s permission, MeitY expressed no opposition to RRVL’s plan to repatriate Shein.
Promoting Indigenisation
According to Goyal, this indigenous platform would establish a network of regional suppliers and manufacturers that would produce goods under the Shein brand and market them both domestically and internationally. “It is anticipated that this will contribute to the expansion of the Indian textile manufacturing industry, encompassing regional handicrafts, and generate substantial job opportunities,” Goyal continued. Reliance Retail, which now only receives a licence fee as a portion of earnings made within India, will now offer the Chinese retailer’s products on its apps and in physical locations. However, all data and the app itself will be housed and stored in India, and operations will be fully run by a Reliance Retail subsidiary. Nevertheless, it is unclear if Shein would be able to re-enter the Indian market and achieve the same level of success as during its initial presence there. In 2021, the Chinese company made a second attempt to enter India in collaboration with Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, but it was unsuccessful.
On December 18, 2024, sources notified a media outlet that Manipur’s security forces had retrieved Starlink internet devices from the Imphal East district, along with sniper guns, pistols, grenades, and other weapons. According to the report, the retrieval took place on December 13 during a concerted operation in multiple districts, including Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal East, and Kangpokpi. The first satellite constellation in the world, Starlink is owned by US tech tycoon Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, and offers broadband internet anywhere in the world where the service has a licence to operate.
Refuting the Claims
When asked if militants in India use Starlink, Musk responded that the claims are “false” and that Starlink satellite beams are switched off over India. Security authorities said the recovery of the Starlink gadget has led the appropriate agencies to look into how the technology got to the state that is riven by conflict. Starlink is not authorised to conduct business in India. The discovery of sophisticated satellite internet gear represents a concerning increase in insurgent capabilities, even though such seizures usually contain weapons and ammunition. The insurgents’ use of Starlink, which offers high-speed satellite internet, suggests a possible change in their operating approach by allowing them to get past conventional communication obstacles.
The Security Consequences of Startlink
In India’s insurgency-prone areas, Starlink’s capacity to deliver dependable internet connection in isolated and disconnected locations presents a special risk. The satellite internet provides end-to-end encryption, which makes it more difficult for intelligence services to monitor rebel conversations than traditional communication systems that are susceptible to disruption or interception. The Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) and its armed component, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), one of the most active rebel groups in Manipur, were identified by markings on the discovered device.
Given that Starlink does not currently have a satellite broadband licence in India, the use of such technology sparked concerns about how the terrorists obtained the gadget. Security experts think that in order to get around restrictions, the device might have been smuggled into the nation or activated using phoney geotagging. According to a senior officer, this is more than just a technological seizure; it’s a window into the evolution of insurgency groups. The official also noted that the ability to access high-speed internet from distant locations alters the dynamics of coordination and communication for these organisations.
Additional Consequences of Security Agencies
Counterinsurgency operations face a number of difficulties when militants use satellite internet. Now, insurgent organisations may share real-time intelligence, run propaganda campaigns, and more efficiently coordinate operations across vast places.
Conventional techniques for tracking insurgent communications, like phone interceptions and internet usage surveillance, might lose their effectiveness. Instead of depending on local networks, rebels may use Starlink to communicate directly with outside organisations, sponsors, or supporters.
The civilian population may potentially be at risk from this trend, according to security experts. Insurgents’ unfettered access to the world internet creates opportunities for cyberattacks, the dissemination of false information, and even recruitment efforts aimed at young people who are particularly vulnerable.
According to reports, fintech unicorn InCred Financial Services has started the process of going public and intends to generate between INR 4,000 Cr (about $470 million) and INR 5,000 Cr (roughly $590 million) through an initial public offering (IPO) in the latter part of next year. According to a source cited by various media reports, the fintech giant InCred Finance is considering a valuation between INR 15,000 Cr (about $1.78 billion) and INR 22,500 Cr (around $2.6 billion). By January 2025, the business intends to select merchant bankers to lead its public offering. According to reports, “the company wants to launch a Diwali 2025 initial public offering and aims to appoint four banks by January.” An offer for sale (OFS) component is also anticipated to be included in the IPO, allowing investors to sell their firm shares and record returns. Notably, in September, Bhupinder Singh, the founder and group CEO of InCred, stated that the fintech startup would only list on the stock exchanges if KKR, a prominent global private equity (PE) firm that owns 13.4% of the company, agreed to sell its position during the initial public offering (IPO).
Entering the Unicorn Club
A year after InCred announced that its lending division had joined the exclusive unicorn club after raising $60 million in its Series D round, which was led by Ranjan Pai of Manipal Education and Medical Group, the company decided to list on stock exchanges. As a fierce funding winter dried up money across the startup ecosystem, InCred became one of only two firms (the other being Zepto) to become unicorns in 2023, with a $1.04 billion fundraising campaign.
InCred’s Business Operations
Bhupinder Singh founded InCred Group in 2016, and through its three distinct verticals, it operates in the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) industry. InCred Finance and InCred Capital are the loan and wealth and asset management verticals, respectively, while InCred Money deals in retail bonds and alternative investments. In addition, InCred has investors including Moore Capital, Elevar Equity, Investcorp, OAKS, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). At the conclusion of the fiscal year 2023–24 (FY24), InCred Finance reportedly had assets under management (AUM) of INR 9,039 Cr, up 52% year over year (YoY). In FY24, InCred’s consolidated net profit increased 162% to INR 316.3 Cr from INR 120.9 Cr the year before. Operating revenue increased from INR 864.6 Cr in FY23 to INR 1,270 Cr, a 47% increase.
With the IPO, InCred reaches a major milestone and establishes itself as a prominent player in the fintech and NBFC sectors in India. The company hopes to attract market attention for its eagerly awaited public debut in 2025 with its robust financial performance, diversified business plan, and support from international investors.
Info Edge (India) Limited is a pioneering Indian technology company renowned for its diverse portfolio of online businesses and strategic investments.
Its flagship platform, Naukri.com, is one of India’s largest online job portals, complemented by other innovative platforms like 99acres.com for real estate classifieds, Jeevansathi.com for matrimonial services, and Shiksha.com, an education-focused portal. Info Edge’s operational excellence is amplified by its strategic approach to digital advertising, subscription-based services, and premium offerings tailored to meet the evolving needs of users and businesses alike.
Beyond its core platforms, Info Edge has a robust track record of identifying and nurturing high-growth ventures and the company has made notable investments in transformative startups, demonstrating a sharp eye for innovation and long-term value creation.
In this Startuptalky, we will learn more about Info Edge’s success story, its founders, business model, innovative revenue model, growth, challenges, investments, strategic partnerships, and more.
Info Edge, a trailblazer in India’s consumer internet space, has been shaping the online classifieds market for nearly three decades. Established on May 1, 1995, as Info Edge (India) Private Limited, it transitioned into a public limited entity on April 27, 2006. The journey began with Naukri.com, India’s first online recruitment portal and since then, the company has carved a remarkable path, expanding into diverse sectors like matrimony, real estate, education, and more.
What sets Info Edge apart is its culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, backed by a seasoned leadership team and a sharp focus on leveraging technology. With a footprint spanning 62 offices across 43 Indian cities and a workforce of over 4,000 professionals, the company thrives on creating cutting-edge products and solutions. From integrating mobile-first strategies to harnessing the power of social media, Info Edge remains at the forefront of digital transformation.
The company’s reach isn’t limited to India. Through NaukriGulf.com, Info Edge has ventured into international markets, establishing a presence in key Gulf regions with offices in Dubai, Bahrain, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi. Whether driving recruitment, enabling property searches, or facilitating lifelong partnerships, Info Edge continues to redefine how online platforms serve users, setting the standard for excellence in the industry.
Info Edge – Industry
India’s real estate sector is a powerhouse, ranking second globally in generating employment and significantly contributing to the nation’s GDP. Currently accounting for around 5% of the GDP, this industry is projected to soar to a staggering $1 trillion by 2030. By 2025, its share in the GDP is expected to rise to an impressive 13%, underscoring its critical role in the country’s economic landscape.
The growth trajectory of Indian real estate has been remarkable, with the sector expanding at an annual rate of approximately 30%. This upward momentum is fueled by the booming outsourcing industry, which encompasses technical consultancy, medical transcription, and call centers. These sectors alone have driven the demand for an additional 10 million square feet of real estate, further propelling the industry’s expansion.
Info Edge – Founders and Team
Sanjeev Bikhchandani
Sanjiv Bikhchandani – Founder and Executive Vice Chairman, Info Edge
Sanjiv Bikhchandani is the Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Info Edge.
Sanjeev’s journey began in Delhi, where he graduated from St. Columba’s School in 1981. He pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, in 1984, followed by an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad in 1989. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to leave a marketing role at Hindustan Milkfood Manufacturers (now GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare India) in 1990 to embark on his ventures.
Initially venturing into pharmaceutical trademarks and salary surveys, Sanjeev founded Info Edge in 1995. Two years later, he launched Naukri.com, a pioneering jobs portal hosted on an Indian server. The platform quickly gained traction and by 2005, it was India’s largest web-based employment site. Info Edge expanded its portfolio with platforms like 99acres.com (real estate), Jeevansathi.com (matrimony) and Shiksha.com (education).
Beyond his success with Info Edge, Sanjeev is an accomplished investor, backing unicorns like PolicyBazaar and Zomato. He also supports budding innovators as part of the ‘Vision Circle’ of FYI (Foundation for Young Innovators), a unique initiative encouraging high school students to develop social enterprises.
Hitesh Oberoi is the Managing Director and CEO of the company.
Hitesh Oberoi, an accomplished leader in the internet industry, serves as the Co-Promoter, Managing Director, and CEO of Info Edge, the company behind iconic platforms like Naukri.com, 99acres.com, and Jeevansathi.com. With nearly two decades of experience in the internet space, Hitesh has been instrumental in shaping India’s digital ecosystem.
Before joining Info Edge, Hitesh spent almost four years at Hindustan Unilever Limited, where he worked as Regional Planning and Distribution Manager for the Ice Cream Division. His strong academic foundation includes a B.Tech from IIT Delhi (1994 batch) and an MBA from IIM Bangalore.
Hitesh’s contributions extend beyond business operations. He is a charter member of TiE (New Delhi) and has previously served as Chairman of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). He is also a founding member of the Board of Trustees at Ashoka University, further reflecting his commitment to fostering education and innovation.
Info Edge – Startup Story
Info Edge was founded by Sanjeev Bikhchandani in 1995, initially by reproducing classified ads from newspapers on its website. Together with Hitesh Oberoi and their CFO, Ambarish Raghuvanshi, Sanjeev built Info Edge into a dotcom enterprise that, by 2008, employed 1,500 people, generated revenues of INR 273 crores and boasted a market capitalization of INR 2,100 crores. Info Edge’s flagship platforms include Naukri.com, Jeevansathi.com, Brijj.com, 99acres.com, and Shiksha.com.
Reflecting on the early days, Sanjeev recounted the challenges, including the difficulty of securing an INR 30,000 bank limit in 1991. At the time, Naukri was a small operation and he realized the need for like-minded individuals and a fundamentally different business model. That’s when Hitesh joined the journey.
Hitesh, then working at Hindustan Unilever, considered an offer to join a new venture started by Pradeep Kar of Microland. However, after consulting with Sanjeev, who suggested he consider joining Naukri instead, Hitesh decided to take the leap. He set up operations from Sanjeev’s home and took charge of marketing. Drawing from his commercial experience, Hitesh hired a few sales representatives who sold annual subscriptions for INR 6,000. By investing INR 20,000 per salesperson, including office costs, they were able to generate INR 50,000 in revenue per hire. Realizing the profitability of this model, the team continued scaling the salesforce, which eventually became a cornerstone of the company’s growth. Today, Naukri.com is responsible for one in three lateral hires in corporate India.
Ambarish Raghuvanshi, who became the third pillar of Info Edge, joined after Sanjeev persuaded him to consider the company’s headhunting division. At the time, Ambarish had taken voluntary retirement from Bank of America and was exploring new opportunities. Sanjeev convinced him to lead the financial services practice within the headhunting division and later invited him to take on the role of CFO—a position Ambarish accepted, bringing fiscal discipline that gained recognition in the stock market.
Sanjeev described his decision to bring Hitesh on board as pivotal, recognizing his energy, ambition, and willingness to leave a stable corporate job to join a startup. These qualities reminded Sanjeev of himself a decade earlier. He emphasized that the team’s hiring philosophy evolved, prioritizing values such as teamwork, competence, humility, and an entrepreneurial spirit while steering clear of self-promoters and those unwilling to share credit.
Under Sanjeev’s leadership, Info Edge launched Naukri.com in 1997 with support from family and friends, followed by Jeevansathi.com in 1998, 99acres.com in 2005, and Shiksha.com in 2008. The company went public in 2006 under the ticker symbol “Naukri” and expanded its reach with ventures like NaukriGulf.com in 2006 and FirstNaukri.com in 2009 for campus recruitment.
Info Edge – Mission and Vision
Vision Info Edge envisions creating world-class platforms that transform lives, empowering individuals and organizations through innovative and impactful solutions.
Mission Info Edge strives to continuously delight its customers in both current and new businesses by delivering superior value through enhanced offerings on the internet and other platforms.
Info Edge – Name, Tagline and Logo
Info Edge Logo
The sleek and modern design of Info Edge’s logo mirrors its forward-thinking approach and innovative spirit. Its carefully chosen color palette conveys trust, stability, and dynamism—qualities integral to the company’s identity. Each element of the logo is thoughtfully crafted to resonate with their core values: customer delight, entrepreneurship, knowledge, results, and trust.
Info Edge Tagline: The tagline “Transform Lives” reflects Info Edge’s unwavering commitment to making a meaningful impact. Through platforms like Naukri.com, Jeevansathi.com, and 99acres.com, they connect job seekers with opportunities, help families find compatible matches, and assist in real estate transactions. These endeavors empower users and foster positive transformations in their lives.
Info Edge – Business Model
Info Edge is a leader in the recruitment sector with platforms such as:
Naukri.com: A premier employment website catering to job seekers and recruiters.
Naukrigulf.com: A job portal tailored to the Middle East market.
Quadrangle: An offline executive search service connecting top talent with organizations.
FirstNaukri.com: A dedicated platform for fresher hiring, bridging the gap between employers and new graduates.
The company has extended its expertise into real estate, education, and matrimony through:
99acres.com: A comprehensive real estate classifieds platform for buying, selling, and renting properties.
Shiksha.com: An educational portal aiding students in making informed decisions about courses and institutions.
Jeevansathi.com: An online matrimonial service facilitating meaningful connections.
Info Edge has made strategic investments in numerous successful online ventures, including:
Zomato: A leading food delivery and restaurant discovery platform.
Policybazaar: An innovative insurance aggregation and comparison service.
Shopkirana, Shipsy, Gramophone, and Adda247, among others, expanding their footprint in diverse digital domains.
Info Edge – Revenue Model
Info Edge is an Indian technology powerhouse with a diversified revenue model built on multiple streams that capitalize on its robust online platforms and strategic investments.
Info Edge Revenue Breakdown
Advertising Info Edge leverages display ads, sponsored listings, and banner advertisements across its websites, such as Naukri.com and 99acres.com, to generate substantial revenue from advertisers seeking to reach its vast user base.
Subscription Fees These features, offered on platforms like Naukri.com and 99acres.com, include premium search tools, analytics, and targeted user engagement functionalities.
Premium Services These include profile boosters for job seekers and premium matchmaking services on Jeevansathi.com.
Strategic Investments Info Edge’s forward-looking investment strategy involves holding minority stakes in successful ventures like Zomato and PolicyBazaar.
Info Edge – Challenges Faced
Writing Off Investments Info Edge recently wrote off an investment of INR 276 crore in 4B Networks. This decision was driven by concerns over the company’s sustainability, high cash burn rate, and difficulties in raising capital, reflecting the challenges of managing portfolio investments in dynamic markets.
Slowdown in IT Hiring As the operator of Naukri.com, Info Edge has been affected by reduced hiring activity in the IT sector. This slowdown is attributed to softer demand within the IT industry, impacting one of the company’s core revenue streams.
Evolving Consumer Preferences Meeting the rapidly changing preferences of users has been a persistent challenge. Info Edge has had to focus on creating products that are device-agnostic and adaptive to modern consumer behavior, which requires continuous innovation and agility.
Quarterly Financial Performance Info Edge has encountered challenges in its quarterly financial results, including a decline in profit and earnings per share (EPS). This underscores the difficulty of balancing growth with operational efficiency in fluctuating economic conditions.
Info Edge has made investments in the following companies:
Date
Name
Funding Round
Money Raised
November 7, 2024
Nexstem
Seed Round
$3.5 million
August 30, 2024
Clean Electric
Series A
Rs. 48.5 crore
July 27, 2024
Gnani.ai
Series A
Rs. 30 crore
May 16, 2024
Gramophone
Venture Round
Rs. 15 crore
October 1, 2023
RayloT Solutions Inc.
Seed Round
$400K
September 4, 2023
Sploot
Seed Round
$800K
July 10, 2023
BrainSightAI
Venture Round
Rs. 99 lakhs
April 4, 2023
Stealthed
Pre Seed Round
Rs. 5 crore
January 24, 2023
Gramophone
Corporate Round
Rs. 9.31 crore
October 1, 2022
Adda247
Series B
Rs. 280 crore
Info Edge – Acquisitions and Mergers
Info Edge has acquired the following companies:
Acquiree Name
Date
Price
Coding Ninjas
Oct 6,2022
Rs. 140 crore
Aisle
Jan 24, 2022
Rs. 150 crore
DoSelect
July 6,2021
Rs. 21 crore
Zwayam
Jun 14, 2021
Rs. 61 crore
iimjobs.com
May 28,2019
Rs. 91 crore
Ambition Box
Apr 13, 2017
–
Info Edge – Growth
Info Edge Financials
2023
2024
Operating Revenue
INR 2345 crore
INR 2536 crore
Total Expenses
INR 1858 crore
INR 1830 crore
Profit/Loss
INR -70 crore
INR 594 crore
In FY23, Info Edge reported an operating revenue of INR 2,345 crore, which grew by 8.2% to INR 2,536 crore in FY24. Total expenses decreased slightly from INR 1,858 crore in FY23 to INR 1,830 crore in FY24, a 1.5% drop. The company moved from a loss of INR 70 crore in FY23 to a profit of INR 594 crore in FY24, showing significant financial improvement.
Info Edge Financials FY24
Info Edge – Advertisements and Social Media Campaigns
Advertising and Marketing Strategies:
CTV Advertising and Live Sports Marketing: Info Edge used CTV advertising and live sports marketing for its brand 99acres.com, targeting a male audience interested in buying or renting homes.
Co-branded Vignettes: For Naukri.com, Info Edge partnered with CreativeWorks to create a co-branded vignette for the Hotstar Special Ghar Waapsi.
Revenue Streams:
Display Ads, Sponsored Listings, and Banners: Info Edge generates revenue from advertising on its platforms, including display ads, sponsored listings, and banners across websites like Naukri.com and 99acres.com.
Subscription Fees: Info Edge collects subscription fees from employers and real estate agents who pay for advanced features and tools on Naukri.com and 99acres.com.
Premium Services: Info Edge offers premium services such as Naukri FastForward and Jeevansathi eAdvantage, which are available for a fee.
Info Edge – Awards and Achievements
Info Edge has been awarded with the following awards:
World’s Best Workplaces 2024
ICAI Excellence Award 2015
Info Edge – Competitors
Some competitors of Info Edge (India) Ltd include:
Just Dial Ltd
Matrimony.com Ltd
IntraSoft Technologies Limited
Jupiter Infomedia Limited
PB Fintech Ltd
Affle (India) Ltd
Tanla Platforms Ltd
Info Edge – Future Plans
Info Edge (India) is projected to experience robust growth, with earnings expected to grow by 37.6% per annum and revenue increasing by 13.7%-13.8% annually. Additionally, Earnings Per Share (EPS) is forecast to rise by 31.8% per year, with a projected Return on Equity (ROE) of 4.7% over the next three years. This optimistic outlook aligns with the company’s strategic investments and diversified portfolio, including Naukri.com, 99acres, and stakes in Zomato and PolicyBazaar.
Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder of Info Edge, emphasized that profitability in real estate and a resurgence in IT hiring would be pivotal drivers for this growth trajectory in the next 3-4 years.
Long-Term Investment Strategy
The flagship platforms, Naukri.com and Jeevansathi, are expected to continue expanding, driven by signs of recovery in the IT sector. The job market is showing green shoots of growth, signaling a potential rebound from the slowdown. Info Edge’s strategy of early investments in promising ventures, increasing stakes in successful businesses, and maintaining a patient, long-term approach has been a cornerstone of its success.
FAQs
What is Info Edge?
Info Edge is an India-based company that provides internet-based services through its mobile applications and web portals. Its services include recruitment, real estate, matrimonial, and education.
When was Info Edge founded?
Info Edge was founded by Sanjiv Bikhchandani in 1995.
Piyush Mishra
