On September 15, Ford Motor Company declared that it would lay off up to 1,000 workers at its Cologne, Germany, electric vehicle production. According to the firm, the decision was made because battery-powered car sales are falling short of projections.
According to an AP story, the automaker clarified that it will use buyout packages and voluntary departures to try to lessen the impact on workers. Additionally, production will be reduced at the Cologne facility that manufactures the electric Explorer SUV. The facility will switch from two daily shifts to one starting in January.
Ford: Weak Electric Vehicle Demand in Europe
EV sales have not increased as rapidly as many automakers had anticipated, despite significant investment. According to the company’s official statement, the demand for electric vehicles in Europe is much lower than what the industry had predicted. This round of layoffs comes after Ford’s November 2024 announcement of its reorganisation plan.
The corporation announced at the time that it will eliminate roughly 4,000 jobs across Europe and the UK, with 2,900 of those positions being in Germany. Prior to an agreement with the IG Metall union that guaranteed employment for almost 10,000 workers at the Cologne facility until 2032, workers had gone on strike earlier this year, according to news agency AFP.
About $2 billion (2.3 billion euros) has already been spent by Ford to update the Cologne facility for the manufacture of electric vehicles. Sales momentum has been lower than anticipated, despite the fact that the modifications were done in anticipation of increased demand for low-emission automobiles.
Why Electric Vehicle Demand is Not Picking up in Europe?
In Europe, EV adoption has been hampered by high initial costs and a dearth of charging points. The elimination of purchase subsidies in Germany is another factor that has further hindered growth.
Through July of this year, electric vehicles made up 15.6% of the European market, up from 12.5% the previous year. But the growth hasn’t been as rapid as anticipated. In the first seven months of the year, Ford sold 260,000 cars of all kinds, a slight 0.7% rise. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, its market share stuck at 3.3%.
India’s EV Market: A Contrast to Europe
The electric vehicle (EV) market in India is expanding quickly thanks to government subsidies, growing environmental awareness, and technology breakthroughs. India hopes to dramatically boost EV adoption through programs like the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme, transforming its transport system in the direction of sustainability and innovation.
By 2030, India wants to increase the percentage of sales of electric vehicles (EVs) to 30% for private automobiles, 70% for commercial vehicles, 40% for buses, and 80% for two- and three-wheelers. By 2030, there will be 80 million EVs on Indian roadways, which is an ambitious goal.
Quick
Shots
•Production of electric Explorer SUV
reduced; plant to move from two shifts to one in January 2026.
•Layoffs to be managed via buyouts and
voluntary exits to soften impact.
•Ford cites EV demand in Europe
falling short of industry forecasts despite heavy investments.
•$2 billion invested in upgrading
Cologne facility for EV production, but sales momentum lagging.
One of the major companies in the airport services industry, Dreamfolks Services Limited, has announced a big operational shift that will likely have a big effect on its operations. With effect from September 16, 2025, the corporation has stopped providing its customers with domestic airport lounge services.
Dreamfolks Services claimed that the termination of domestic airport lounge services will have a significant impact on its business operations in a regulatory filing to the BSE and NSE. This action is a response to the company’s August 29, 2025, revelation that such a change was previously being considered.
Dreamfolks Services stressed that its other domestic services and worldwide lounge operations will continue to run normally in spite of this major shift. This implies that while reorganising its domestic products, the corporation is keeping some of its service portfolio.
Dreamfolks Looking for Alternative Options
Stakeholders have been reassured by the business that current client contracts are still in effect. Affected clients are currently being consulted by Dreamfolks in order to investigate alternate consumer value propositions. Despite the operational changes, the company’s proactive approach shows that it is committed to preserving its client relationships.
In the regulatory filing, Dreamfolks Services’ Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, Harshit Gupta, said that the disclosure is being made for the sake of investor knowledge, governance, and transparency. The business has promised to keep the lines of communication open with its stakeholders and investors and to provide more updates as they become available.
Reasons Behind the Dreamfolks Closure
Access to domestic airport lounges in India has been the mainstay of DreamFolks’ operations, serving as the foundation for the company’s services. But when airport operators and service providers realised they could merely serve banks and card issuers directly—the same customers DreamFolks served as a middleman for—problems started to arise. More recently, DreamFolks’ contract was cancelled by Travel Food Services Ltd due to unsuccessful talks.
Together, operators like Adani Airport Holdings, GMR Airports, and TFS oversee between 80 and 85% of foot traffic in airport lounges nationwide. DreamFolks lost its most important resource when it lost access to these operators. The company’s shares have fallen more than 65% year-to-date as a result of DreamFolks’ loss of its core business. Additionally, the stock has fallen 72% in a year.
What Next for Dreamfolks?
Investors and market analysts will probably be closely monitoring Dreamfolks Services’ business model adaptation in order to evaluate the long-term effects of this strategic change. According to the company’s stated material impact, this adjustment may have a major influence on its financial performance in the upcoming quarters.
For a thorough grasp of how this operational shift may impact the company’s market position and financial prospects, investors are keeping a close eye on any additional announcements made by the business.
Quick
Shots
•Company warns of significant material
impact on business operations.
•Other domestic services and
international lounge operations remain unaffected.
•Disclosure made in regulatory filing
to BSE and NSE for investor transparency.
•Investors watching closely for
financial impact in upcoming quarters.
Physics Wallah, known as PW, is recognizable to anyone familiar with India’s formerly thriving (but now reorienting) EdTech businesses. There are a lot of big companies in the EdTech industry that are worth a lot more than this young company. Many of them raised billions of dollars from venture capitalists, but the funding dried up quickly due to massive burnout. When the EdTech industry was going through a bad phase, Physics Wallah achieved the unprecedented feat of turning a profit in FY21 and FY22, proving that aggressive selling and high-octane promises could not create sustainable businesses during the funding dip.
About Physics Wallah
Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari launched Physics Wallah in 2014. It’s an educational technology firm that provides high-quality, reasonably priced online education to students from 6th to 12th grade. Offering live and planned lessons, question-solving sessions, organized materials, and tests for self-evaluation, they cover JEE, NEET, and other exams. Over six million students have benefited from Physics Wallah’s YouTube channel. With its headquarters located in Delhi NCR, Physics Wallah has 13,700 video lectures, some of which are free and others of which cost money. The firm has won the confidence of numerous pupils due to its knowledgeable and high-quality tutoring.
The business model of Physics Wallah is to provide guidance and education to students in an online, offline, or hybrid format. Additionally, they earn a living by providing tutoring for entrance tests at the national level. Localizing instruction, particularly for students interested in regional languages, became obvious to PW following the early success of NCERTWallah. As a result, multilingual YouTube channels like TeleguWallah, PW Gujarati, and PW Bangla were created to assist students in grades K-12 and those preparing for the IIT-JEE/NEET. Physics Wallah now has 81 channels on YouTube, covering 12 regional languages. The total number of subscribers is over 36 million, and the count of daily active users (DAU) is quickly approaching 2.1 million. While most of Physics Wallah’s content is free to access, there are some premium courses available for a fee. Additional practice materials, question and answer sessions, and thorough topic coverage are common premium features of these courses.
How Does Physics Wallah Make Money
Physics Wallah generates revenue by providing students with premium courses and subscriptions that allow for personalized learning. They supplement their income from internet content by earning from YouTube advertisements. On top of that, it monetizes its platform by displaying advertisements. Physics Wallah can continue offering its services thanks to the advertising revenue it receives from companies. In addition to their main source of income, Physics Wallah can supplement it by selling branded merchandise such as T-shirts and accessories. In exchange for a commission on sales generated through its referral links, it also collaborates with companies or publishers to promote appropriate products or services to its user base.
Physics Wallah Financials
Physics Wallah Financials
FY25
FY24
Operating Revenue
INR 2,887 crore
INR 1,941 crore
Total Expenses
INR 3,265 crore
INR 3,279 crore
Profit/Loss
Loss of INR 243 crore
Loss of INR 1,131 crore
Physics Wallah Financials
Key Highlights:
Revenue Growth: Operating revenue surged by 49% year-on-year, driven by strong performance in both online and offline coaching segments.
Expense Management: Total expenses remained relatively flat, increasing by just 0.4%, despite significant investments in expanding offline centers and faculty.
Profitability Improvement: Losses narrowed by 78%, from INR 1,131 crore in FY24 to INR 243 crore in FY25, reflecting improved operational efficiency and scale.
Employee Costs: The company spent INR 1,426 crore on salaries, accounting for approximately 44% of total expenses, supporting a workforce of over 15,000 employees.
Offline Expansion: The average revenue per offline user increased to INR 40,405, indicating the success of its hybrid education model.
Students from tier-2 and tier-3 cities are particularly drawn to PW, as they face significant challenges in terms of accessibility and affordability when trying to pursue their education. Even while PW’s larger competitors have been offering discounts, price cuts, and courses in additional regional languages continually, they have been unable to attract this audience. PW provided students with free education on YouTube, while the other giants sold tablets and expensive courses. For the third year running, EdTech unicorn Physics Wallah (PW) has maintained a profit in FY23.
SWOT Analysis of Physics Wallah
Physics Wallah SWOT Analysis
Physics Wallah Strengths
Physics Wallah takes great satisfaction in providing students with fascinating and well-organized content, guaranteeing that they will receive an excellent education.
Physics Wallah helps students from all walks of life connect by offering content in regional languages, ensuring that everyone has equal access to high-quality education.
By removing financial barriers, the freemium model expands access to quality education for all students.
Students are more actively involved and have a better learning experience with live courses and personalized doubt-solving sessions.
Physics Wallah Weakness
Physics Wallah may turn off students who are looking for a more diverse curriculum due to its singular emphasis on physics and related fields.
With Alakh Pandey as the public face and main driver behind the platform, any decrease in his involvement could hurt its success.
There is a constant need for innovation and adaptability in the EdTech market due to the intense competition.
Physics WallahOpportunities
A more diverse student body can be attracted by broadening the curriculum to include more STEM subjects and other fields.
Collaborating with other educational institutions can bring new ideas and viewpoints, which can enhance the learning process.
Putting money into a solid infrastructure will make sure the platform can handle more users without lowering quality.
Physics Wallah Threats
International competitors pose an obvious danger to PW as the company seeks to expand in the Gulf area.
One incorrect step might be fatal for PW as its competitors closely monitor its business operations.
The future seems bright for Physics Wallah thanks to its unique business model, dedication to providing top-notch educational content, and fresh take on online learning. Physics Wallah can further establish itself as a pioneering force in the EdTech sphere by resolving complaints and broadening its boundaries. Physics Wallah’s constant commitment to equipping students with information positions it to influence the trajectory of education in India and abroad.
FAQs
Who is the founder of Physics Wallah?
Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari founded Physics Wallah in 2014.
What is the USP of Physics Wallah?
Students from tier-2 and tier-3 cities are particularly drawn to PW, as they face significant challenges in terms of accessibility and affordability when trying to pursue their education. PW provides students with free education on YouTube, while the other giants sell tablets and expensive courses.
What is Physics Wallah valuation?
The valuation of Physics Wallah is $2.8 billion as of October 2024.
What is Physics Wallah PW revenue?
PW’s operating revenue rose to INR 2,887 crore in FY25, up from INR 1,941 crore in FY24, according to its financial reports.
What is Physics Wallah franchise cost in India?
The PW franchise cost in India would be around INR 3.3-8 Lakhs. Physics Wallah (PW) does not offer a traditional franchise model. Instead, it operates a partnership model through its PW Vidyapeeth centers.
What are Physics Wallah app features?
The Physics Wallah (PW) app offers live classes, recorded sessions, test series, sample papers, and 24/7 doubt-solving support for JEE, NEET, and Foundation exams. It also includes study material, file sharing, and a student dashboard for easy learning management.
How to get PW franchise?
Physics Wallah does not offer a traditional franchise but operates a partnership model through PW Vidyapeeth centers. Entrepreneurs can run coaching centers under the PW brand by investing INR 20–50 lakh, typically in Tier 2 or Tier 3 cities, with a space of 1,000–3,000 sq. ft. Partners receive curriculum, faculty training, marketing, and operational support. Ideal candidates are graduates or postgraduates with education or business experience and the financial capacity to invest. Applications are submitted through the official form, detailing personal, financial, and property information, after which PW’s team connects with eligible candidates.
PlaySuper, a gaming commerce platform that embeds real-world rewards directly into games, has raised $1 million in seed funding to expand its rewards-as-a-service model across India and Southeast Asia.
The round was led by Singapore-based gaming VC Chimera, with participation from Audacity VC, IAN Capital Fund, and Dhruv Vohra, Meta’s Managing Director for APAC Emerging Markets.PlaySuper, led by CEO Shouradeep Chakraborty, addresses one of gaming’s toughest challenges: sustainable monetization and retention. Traditional in-game ads are underperforming, while cash incentives face regulatory and scalability limits.
PlaySuper offers a third path by enabling free-to-play and skill-based gaming platforms to integrate branded, non-monetary rewards – from gift cards to consumer products – directly into gameplay.
The platform has already crossed $350,000 in monthly GMV, with early partners reporting significant improvements in user retention and monetization.“Gaming in India and Southeast Asia is at an inflection point. Ads and cash incentives are no longer enough.
With PlaySuper, every gaming session becomes a chance to win something aspirational and real, which keeps users engaged while driving commerce at scale,” said Abhir Das, Co-founder & CBO, PlaySuper.
Speaking on the investment, Krish Anurag, General Partner at Chimera, said:“We see gaming commerce as the next big monetization unlock for emerging markets. PlaySuper has built a category-defining solution that sits at the intersection of gaming, brands, and consumer behavior. Their early traction proves the model, and we believe they are well-positioned to become the backbone of monetization for free-to-play and skill-based games across India and SEA.”
PlaySuper is building the commerce backbone for the next generation of gaming, positioning itself as the monetization engine for both free-to-play and skill-based games in fast-growing emerging markets.
About PlaySuper
PlaySuper is a gaming commerce platform that embeds real-world rewards directly inside mobile games, helping free-to-play and skill-based titles unlock sustainable monetization without disrupting gameplay. Instead of relying on intrusive ads or volatile cash incentives, PlaySuper enables players to earn branded rewards – from gift cards to consumer products- while they play, driving higher retention and engagement for studios. Founded by Shouradeep Chakraborty (CEO), Upamanyu Chatterjee (COO), and Abhir Das (CBO). The trio is building what they call the “commerce layer for gaming”—a plug-and-play SDK that connects millions of gamers with leading brands, transforming gameplay sessions into meaningful shopping moments. With rapidly growing partnerships across India and Southeast Asia, PlaySuper is redefining how games monetize and how brands reach digital-first audience
Lucira Jewelry, a design-first fine jewelry brand redefining sustainable luxury in India, today announced the completion of its $5.5 million fundraise, the largest ever seed round raised by a jewelry startup in the country to date. The round was led by Blume Ventures and Spring Marketing Capital, with participation from SiriusOne Capital Fund and a network of marquee angel investors including founders of Dot & Key, Livspace, Snitch, and Bewakoof.com.
Founded by jewelry veterans Rupesh and Vandana Jain, Lucira is on a mission to disrupt India’s fine jewelry market by blending world-class design, sustainability, and trust. The fundraise marks a high-conviction bet on Rupesh Jain’s “second innings” after building Candere into one of India’s earliest digital jewelry success stories, later acquired by Kalyan Jewellers.
Rupesh Jain, Co-Founder, Lucira expressed, “This fundraise is a strong validation of the white space we see in India’s fine jewelry market. Indian consumers are moving beyond buying jewelry only for investment, they are seeking design, authenticity, and a brand they can emotionally connect with. With this backing, we aim to make Lucira the most trusted design-first fine jewelry brand from India.”
In a short span since launch, Lucira has created a portfolio of more than 1,000 customizable lab grown diamond designs, each certified by IGI / GIA / SGL / BIS and backed with lifetime exchange and buyback guarantees.
The brand is launching its first retail store in Mumbai this month, signalling the beginning of its retail journey. With fresh capital, Lucira plans to open four new flagship stores by the end of FY2026, further strengthening its digital-first buying experience, and investing in technology-led personalization.
“Rupesh has already proven his ability to build and scale in this category with Candere’s successful exit,” said Karthik Reddy, Managing Partner at Blume Ventures. “What excites us most is Lucira’s omnichannel vision that is seamlessly blending cutting-edge digital experiences with physical retail. The speed of execution, combined with Rupesh’s deep understanding of Indian jewelry consumers, makes Lucira a strong contender to build the next category-defining brand.”
Building for the Long Term
The fresh capital will power Lucira’s next phase of growth. Plans include opening new flagship retail stores in FY2026, enhancing its digital-first customer journey, and strengthening its technology backbone. The company is also investing in scaling its design studio and hiring top talent to build a culture of craftsmanship and innovation.
“Our vision is to cement Lucira as India’s most design-first fine jewelry brand, and that requires building strategically on three fronts, design leadership, omnichannel presence, and consumer trust. This fundraise is a vote of confidence from partners who understand we’re not just selling jewelry, we’re shifting mindsets.” added Rupesh Jain. “We’re investing heavily in our design studio, scaling physical retail alongside digital, and ensuring every piece comes with trusted certification and guarantees. This structured approach is how we see Lucira becoming the go-to fine jewelry brand for a new generation of Indian consumers.”
Cumulative Ventures acted as the sole advisor to the transaction. Novolex served as legal advisor to Lucira Jewelry.
About Lucira
Lucira is a modern design-first fine jewelry brand redefining what luxury means for today’s conscious consumer. Founded by Rupesh Jain, Lucira blends ethical craftsmanship with digital-first innovation to create jewelry that celebrates life’s most meaningful moments.Currently available online with nationwide delivery, the brand will soon debut flagship experience stores across key metros, followed by an aggressive two-year roadmap for phased omnichannel expansion. Made with certified lab-grown diamonds, recycled gold and transparent practices, Lucira proves sustainability and sophistication can coexist, crafted for those who choose meaning over materialism.
Urban Company, previously UrbanClap, has made our at-home services so easy. It has revolutionized the way we use our various services.
Earlier, we had to go out to get our services done. But with Urban Company, we get to enjoy them at home. The services include beauty, spa, repair work, cleaning, and more.
It aims to provide authentic and affordable services to the users. To enable these home services and manage the processes, the company possesses a great business model. Its model ensures the connectivity of skilled professionals with service users.
Urban Company is making its stock market debut on September 17, 2025, on the BSE and NSE, following the completion of its IPO allotment on September 15.
Let’s look at the business model of Urban Company, the company that involves proper planning, management, and business strategies. This helped them become one of the most popular startups.
The company, founded in November 2014, is a home services company. The Urban Company came into existence to connect local services with technology. It enables the customers to get their required services at home.
Founders and Team
Varun Khaitan, Raghav Chandra, and Abhiraj Bhal – Urban Company Founders
The masterminds behind this startup are Varun Khaitan, Raghav Chandra, and Abhiraj Bhal. They co-founded the company with an early-stage budget of INR 10 lakhs.
Varun Khaitan
Varun Khaitan is an IIT Kanpur alumnus who completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering and then went on to join Qualcomm as an Engineer. Leaving Qualcomm, Khaitan joined The Boston Consulting Group, where he served as an Associate and a Consultant. After serving the role for more than 2 and a half years, Khaitan left the company and started up with Urban Company.
Raghav Chandra
Raghav Chandra, another co-founder of Urban Company, served as a Software Engineer at Twitter before founding Urban Company, teaming with the other co-founders. Raghav has also founded another company, Buggi, in the interim. Raghav has interned in a series of companies, including Roamware, Infosys SETLabs, UC Berkeley, and Yelp Inc., after completing his BS in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Abhiraj Singh Bhal
Abhiraj Bhal is another co-founder of Urban Company. Bhal also has a background in Engineering, and that too in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur, much like the previous co-founder. After completing his graduation, Abhiraj opted for an MBA in Business Administration from IIM Ahmedabad. He first joined as a Consultant at The Boston Consulting Group, where he served in the role of Consultant for 3 years. After quitting, he co-founded Urban Company.
The Urban Company, founded in 2014, is the largest at-home services company in India and the UAE. The company operates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Singapore, and fourteen cities in India.
Services and Audience
The Urban Company provides over 100 services now. These include beauty, grooming, cleaning, repairs, home educators, fitness trainers, and many more.
This new-age startup has a solution for almost all our services with one click. These various services have enabled the company to have a broad audience overall.
The main idea of the startup was to enable people to hire any service from the comfort of their homes. Indeed, it is doing a great job and has shown amazing growth.
The Urban Company has made a big name for itself in the service industry. It has developed an amazing amount of reliability among the customers.
By looking at all this, a few questions come to our minds. For example, how did a startup that started with a mere INR 10 lakhs grow so much? In this uncertain era, how are people even trusting the platform?
All such questions have a simple answer. It is the company’s simple yet super-effective business model backed by huge investments.
The company launched another service in 2022, where it would be offering free medical consultation, focusing on the hair and skin problems of women. As per the reports, Urban Company onboarded some dermatologists to give free medical counseling in a few Indian cities. Renowned cosmologist Dr Amit Karkhanis has been roped in by Urban Company to head its medical team.
How Urban Company Works | Urban Company Business Model Canvas
The Urban Company has a straightforward business model. This is to connect the customers with their required services at home. The company helps you to bring in beauticians, fitness trainers, educators, electricians, plumbers, photographers, and many more.
It is a full-stack startup that uses algorithms for automated matchmaking. To make the platform more trustworthy, the company ensures public safety. The company performs background checks and also police verification of all the service providers.
The Business Model of Urban Company | How Urban Company Works
Urban Company Business Model
The Urban Company works on a two-fold model. This involves:
Services with Fixed Charge
Whenever a person uses the services of hiring a beautician, cleaner, or anything, they get charged through the app. It means they pay for the availed services through the app.
In this way, the company takes a fixed commission from this revenue.
Services without the Fixed Charges
There is a lead generation and sponsored listing. For this, the company charges the experts. The company makes sure that the users do not have to pay till they are satisfied with the services.
There is a process. In this, at first, the service providers have to pay a fee to accept the customer’s request. If the professional can satisfy the user and get paid for the services, then the monetization will be worth it.
Therefore, the urban company has created a successful business model for itself. It has begun to use the technology of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. This helps the app discover data insights and patterns of the users. This, after all, helps the company to know its customers’ needs better.
How does Urban Company Make Money | Urban Company Revenue Model
Urban Company’s revenue model comprises four key methods for generating income:
Commissions
Urban Company generates the majority of its revenue from subscription fees. They employ a commission-based model, charging a percentage of the service’s total price to the business owner. This approach ensures swift and dependable service for all customers. Urban Company determines specific commissions from each vendor or service provider based on their respective tasks. Thus, the more services they perform, the greater the rewards they receive for providing home services.
Lead Generation
Urban Company primarily earns revenue through commission charges, with lead generation as a secondary income stream. In the lead generation process, customers outline their needs, and the platform suggests suitable service providers. Customers can then directly contact these experts or be contacted by them. This approach facilitates connections between service providers and customers. As a result, Urban Company charges professionals and service providers for lead generation opportunities.
Reverse Auction
Service providers have the option to invest a fixed amount in promoting their skills through the Urban Company platform. In return for this investment, the company assists service providers in enhancing their conversion rates and generating leads.
Ads or Commercials
In addition to the previously mentioned revenue streams, another avenue for generating income is through advertisements. Various big businesses and manufacturers run their ads on the company’s platform. The company thus gets a fee in exchange for this.
Urban Company Revenue
Urban Company Financials
FY25
FY24
FY23
Revenue from operations
INR 1,144.5 crore
INR 827 crore
INR 636.6 crore
Total Expenses
INR 1,223.47 crore
INR 1,020.8 crore
INR 1,038.9 crore
Profit/Loss
INR 28.5 crore
Loss of INR 92.8 crore
Loss of INR 312.5 crore
Urban Company has been on quite a growth journey! In FY25, Urban Company reported revenue from operations of INR 1,144.5 crore, up from INR 827 crore in FY24 and INR 636.6 crore in FY23. Its total expenses stood at INR 1,223.47 crore in FY25, compared to INR 1,020.8 crore in FY24 and INR 1,038.9 crore in FY23. After years of losses, the company turned profitable in FY25, posting a profit of INR 239.8 crore, against a loss of INR 92.8 crore in FY24 and a loss of INR 312.5 crore in FY23.
Urban Company has raised around US$560 million across 14 funding rounds so far. In September 2025, Urban Company raised US$56.7 million in a Pre-IPO round from investors including SBI Mutual Fund, Permira, Prosus, and Elevation Capital. The company recently became a unicorn, reaching a $2 billion valuation.
What are the Main Resources of Urban Company?
There are two main and most important resources of the Urban Company. The first is their official website. The second is their application, which is available for both Android and iOS.
The resources are made with similar technologies. These help the company in lead generation, promotions, and knowing the customers better.
The Urban Company has created a huge name for itself in the market. It made this possible because of its simple yet effective planning. The company did not make a complex business model for itself in the beginning, and it intends to keep it that way only.
This model helps to bring in cleaners, yoga trainers, educators, electricians, and many more. One can do all this from the comfort of one’s home with one’s smartphone.
The Urban Company’s business model aims to make the connectivity between customers and service providers faster and more efficient.
FAQs
What is Urban Company?
Urban Company is an Indian-based technology company that operates a platform connecting customers with a wide range of home services and skilled professionals. Founded in 2014, it offers services such as beauty and wellness, home cleaning, repairs and maintenance, fitness, tutoring, and more.
What is the business model of Urban Company?
Urban Company connects users or service seekers to service providers for daily services. The service list includes beauty, grooming, cleaning, repairs, home educators, fitness trainers, and many more.
What is the revenue model of Urban Company?
Urban Company’s revenue model comprises four key methods for generating income, which are from commissions, lead generation, reverse auction, and ads or commercials.
How Urban Company works?
Urban Company offers a platform that connects skilled and experienced professionals with users seeking specific services.
How to get an Urban Company franchise?
Urban Company doesn’t follow a traditional franchise model where individuals own and run physical stores. Instead, it operates a platform-based model where independent service professionals—like beauticians, cleaners, and plumbers—register on the app and offer their services directly to customers through the platform.
What is the business of Urban Company?
Urban Company is an online marketplace for home services where customers can book beauty, cleaning, repair, and maintenance professionals through its app/website.
What is Urban Company owner name?
Urban Company was founded by Abhiraj Singh Bhal, Varun Khaitan, and Raghav Chandra.
Urban Company is from which country?
Urban Company is based in India, with its headquarters inGurugram (Haryana), India.
From disco lights beaming to Bollywood music, the midnight before the Big Billion Day sale was undeniably a party scene in the Walmart-owned Flipkart’s Bengaluru headquarters. Costume parties to Zumba classes galore, food supply, and everything humanly possible were provided by the company to keep up the spirits of its employees to not succumb to the pressure of the sale.
This was not a regular sale. It was a sale where two eCommerce behemoths – Walmart (Flipkart) and Amazon were going to fight a big battle for the first time in India. It might be a war for the eCommerce giants, but it was a win-win situation for the consumers. Flipkart’s Big Billion Days vs Amazon’s Great Indian Sale are often contrasted and studied. This is an excellent example of two giants attempting to demolish each other for a competitive advantage.
Amazon vs Flipkart
The Great Indian Festival of Amazon was counted as the biggest sale of the year in India. However, Flipkart introduced another big sale in India to give a befitting competition to the Great Indian Sale.
Earlier, Flipkart claimed to create history by outperforming and setting new benchmarks, even though Flipkart had made its entry into the Indian market way earlier than Amazon.
The successful journey Amazon has traveled in India has been tremendous. But it does not mean that Flipkart falls behind in the race. Flipkart also has its share of popularity in India.
It is believed that there was a statement passed by Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy a few years back when asked about the competition with Amazon.
He replied that Flipkart is expecting a big spike in ‘Big Billion Days’ sales over last year. Do we worry about them? On a scale of 0 to 10, it is close to 0 today. We don’t see that much relevance for the Indian user coming from our competition today. We see them as becoming a global platform for premium Indian books and home goods buyers.
The Big Billion Days of Flipkart
The Big Billion Days of Flipkart
The festival season mainly starts around September or October each year. To enhance the festive experience, the eCommerce platforms also introduce multiple sales to help.
Flipkart’s Big Billion Days has been given the tag of a festival that provides several beneficial deals to its customers. The success of Flipkart’s Big Billion Sale can be estimated from the various reports shared by its officials. The Big Billion Days of Flipkart sale starts on 23rd September 2025 with early access from 22nd September 2025 for Plus and BLACK.
One of the Flipkart spokespeople, after the event in 2023, said
Flipkart has recorded over 70% share of the entire Indian eCommerce market in the 5-day event, matching scale with global marquee retail events. Gross merchandise value (GMV) grew 80% over the last year, whereas units grew by close to two times year on year. Around 25 million people visited the platform during the period.
Here’s a Pros & Cons Comparison Table of Amazon Great Indian Festival (GIF) vs Flipkart Big Billion Days (BBD):
Factor
Amazon Great Indian Festival (GIF)
Flipkart Big Billion Days (BBD)
Pros
• Wider category coverage (electronics, grocery, fashion, daily essentials) • Strong Amazon Prime benefits & early access • Aggressive bank tie-ups (esp. SBI, ICICI) • Better EMI & cashback offers via Amazon Pay • Trusted delivery & after-sales service
• Heavy discounts on smartphones & electronics • Strong demand in Tier 2/3 cities • High GMV & customer traffic
Cons
• Slightly weaker in smartphone deals compared to Flipkart • GMV often trails behind BBD • Less aggressive marketing campaigns
• Service/delivery delays in smaller towns • Limited reach in daily essentials & groceries compared to Amazon • Return/refund issues during peak rush
The Great Indian Festival of Amazon
Amazon Great Indian Festival
The Great Indian Festival of Amazon also provides a similar pattern for the festive season sale and carries several tricks within its period to offer benefits to its customers.
Amazon’s Great Indian Sale is considered the biggest online sale in India. The sale is known to give tough competition to its competitors while still maintaining its position. Great Indian Festival does provide numerous savings on each product, and we can assume this from the statement released by Amazon. The Great Indian sale of Amazon starts on 23rd September 2025 with early access to Prime members.
Commenting after the sale 2023, Amazon India Senior Vice President and Country Head Amit Agarwal said more than 80 percent of the new customers came from small towns, and we received orders from 99 percent of the serviceable pin-codes in the country in just four days.
Taglines of Amazon and Flipkart Sale
The official tagline for the Amazon Great Indian Festival 2025 is yet to be announced, as the sale is still upcoming.
While Flipkart has its tagline for its campaign- ‘Big Billion Days’ with “Yahaan Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai.”
The tagline of the Amazon Great Indian Festival
The Great Indian Festival and the Big Billion Days were both started during the festive season and have additional benefits for the Prime members. The actual date for both keeps changing each year, and the days are also not fixed for the sale period. The only thing permanent with the sale is the unlimited options to take advantage of the discounts.
While it’s not known who gained the upper hand, the two companies did use some absurd metrics to perform their role. From Mount Everest to the Empire State Building to the Eiffel Tower to International Cricket Stadiums to elephants, anything and everything but rupees.
This not only helped the companies to remain vague about the actual sales figures but also made ludicrous but otherwise interesting comparisons.
The two eCommerce giants, Flipkart and Amazon, have their dedicated portion of loyal customers and are still in fierce competition. There is always the chance of performing better than the other present for both platforms, and if it is to be believed, that is what keeps both of them ahead of other eCommerce businesses.
Both platforms have their marketing strategies with different types of sales to boost their sales. However, if not to be forgotten, the “Big Billion Days” and the “Great Indian Festival” are still the most popular days among shoppers.
FAQs
What is the Amazon Great Indian Festival?
The Great Indian Festival is one of the biggest online sales available in India using the eCommerce platform Amazon. It includes several discounts, coupons, and sales for customers.
Which is better Flipkart Big Billion Days or Amazon Great Indian Festival?
It is difficult to identify which event is larger. However, based on numerous industry estimates and statistics, it is widely assumed that Flipkart’s Big Billion Day is the larger of the two events in terms of both gross merchandise value (GMV) and customer traffic.
What is the Flipkart Big Billion Days?
Flipkart Big Billion Days is an online sale provided by the platform Flipkart to its customers. It is sometimes also regarded as the festival of Flipkart by its customers because of the awesome deals provided to them.
What is the date of Big Billion Days 2025?
Big Billion Days 2025 starts on 23rd September 2025 with early access on 25th September.
What is the date of the Great Indian Festival 2025?
Great Indian Festival 2024 starts on 23rd September 2024, with early access to Prime members.
What if you can make a YouTube video and share it with just as much ease as typing a prompt? Yes, right! YouTube is joining the AI trend for the same. It is pushing big AI upgrades to keep its creators, advertisers, and viewers hooked. Example, turning words into videos, podcasts into highlight reels, and even speech into songs. YouTube announced that it is working with major AI tools like Veo 3 Fast, Ask Studio, and DeepMind’s music AI model Lyria 2. Does that mean YouTube is becoming an all-in-one tool for content creators and podcasters? Well, learn more.
Key Features That YouTube Announced
To compete with its rival (Meta, xAI, TikTok, and more), YouTube has come up with major updates like:
For Video Creators (YouTubers)
Veo 3 Fast
According to Bloomberg, people are watching a lot of video podcasts, and it’s about 100 million hours per day. This massive number has driven YouTube to add such interesting features:
Now you can add backgrounds, props, and special effects to short videos like YouTube Shorts.
From the upcoming year, podcasters can use the tool to turn their audio into matching video clips.
Auto-generate highlight reels for your video podcasts for easy sharing.
Ask Studio (AI Helper)
Now this AI gives you comprehensive feedback and analytics on your content in a very conversational manner.
It is now marketed as a “creative partner” or “trusted companion” for YouTubers.
AI Dubbing Improvements
Notably, YouTube has successfully translated about 60 million+ videos into 20 different languages.
YouTube is testing and training its AI to make the dubbing of its videos look and sound more natural.
Speech-to-Song Feature
With DeepMind’s music AI model Lyria 2, you can turn different words and phrases from your videos into any background music.
For Brands & Advertisers
AI in Google Ads
Now, YouTube will make personalized suggestions about creators, influencers/brands to work with.
AI in YouTube Shopping
It has become easier to tag products in your videos, so if you’re a creator or seller, you can directly link items you’re promoting.
For Viewers & Safety
With AI comes different risks, like:
Lots of fake and misinformation.
Rise of Deepfakes, meaning AI uses faces of people or voices without permission.
These two are recipes for lawsuits.
YouTube’s Response:
YouTube’s chief product officer, Johanna Voolich, said in a blog post on Tuesday, “Twenty years ago, YouTube launched with the idea that everyone should have the opportunity to create and find a global stage. Since then, we’ve seen creators shape culture and entertainment in ways we never thought possible.”
How Do These AI Features Benefit the YouTube Community?
For Content Creators → More powerful, easy-to-use tools for editing, making Shorts on the go, dubbing, and relevant background music.
For Brands → Better AI-powered ads and product placements than before.
For Viewers → More creative and entertaining content.
However, Challenges Remain → Risks of fake, abusive AI content and non-consensual videos, which YouTube is apparently trying to address.
Frauds in the corporate world are a problem. According to PwC India, about 59% of Indian organizations have faced financial fraud in 2024. And it happens rarely that the one who committed comes to surrender themselves. Gameskraft Technologies’ (an online gaming platform in Bangalore) former Chief Financial Officer, Ramesh Pradbhu, admitted that he secretly took ₹250 crore from the company for his own futures and options (F&O) trading. That’s what happens when guilt kicks in; there’s no other option but to come clean and submit to fate. While all this was happening, what was the company doing without verifying its accounts? Is the faith of the investors in the company shaken? Learn more.
How Did Ramesh Prabhu Steal ₹250 Crore From Gameskraft?
Ramesh Prabhu, between FY20 (2019-20) and FY25 (2024-25), faked company records and diverted about ₹231.39 crore to his personal bank account.
He controlled the transactions (done to his personal account in RBL Bank) himself. To cover the crime, he created false mutual fund statements to make it look like a genuine investment.
Ramesh Prabhu later used the money to invest in F&O (a high-risk stock market trading) and lost the money.
How Ramesh Prabhu Got Caught?
The act was never caught until March 2025. Several media reports suggest that he wanted to personally benefit from the money, and when he makes profits, he would return. Instead, he suffered major losses and now feels guilt. He sent a confession email (in March 2025) directly to Gameskraft. In which he admitted what he did.
According to Gameskraft, Ramesh Prabhu:
₹231.39 crore was stolen in unauthorised transactions between FY20 and FY25.
₹211.53 crore wrongly booked as “investments” in company books.
₹270.43 crore ultimately written off in FY25 accounts.
What Action Did Gameskraft Take?
First things first, Ramesh Prabhu has been untraceable since March. Gameskraft officially filed a complaint (FIR) at Marathahalli Police Station on September 9, 2025. It is still unclear why the company took so long to file a complaint. Here are the serious charges the company booked him under the Indian Penal Code (IPC):
Theft
Criminal breach of trust
Forgery
Falsification of accounts
Financial Impact on the Company
The company, by all means, is answerable to all of its venture capital investors. After fact-checking the fraud, Gameskraft wrote off ₹270.43 crore in its FY25 financial statements as losses. If we look at the financial performance of the company in FY25:
Revenue: ₹3,896 crore (up 12% from FY24’s ₹3,475 crore).
Profit Making: ₹706 crore (down 25% from FY24).
Especially, the ₹270 crore was reported under “exceptional items,” which means a big-time loss that is not part of the business.
Bigger Challenges for Gameskraft
The online gaming industry has already taken a major hit in India since the government passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. For Gameskraft, learning about the fraud is another slap on the face. The company had to shut down some of its major platforms, such as:
Nithin Kamath, Founder and CEO of Zerodha, recently shared insights on LinkedIn about what makes the brokerage firm stand out, why it remains profitable, and why it has avoided the public markets. His remarks were in response to a Reddit user questioning Zerodha’s approach.
Zerodha’s Success Built Over 25 Years in the Stock Market
Kamath stressed that Zerodha’s achievements cannot be explained by shortcuts.
“Hmmm… so you forget that we have spent 15 years getting here. And maybe another 10 years, before Zerodha, I was involved in the markets in some form. So, 25 years in all,” he wrote.
He added that consistency, passion, and being in the right place at the right time shaped the company’s growth. “Things in business compound over time, especially if you like or love what you are doing and if you are lucky to be in the right place and time,” Kamath explained.
Zerodha’s Low-Cost Startup Model and Middle-Class Roots
Reflecting on its early days, Kamath recalled how Zerodha began as a partnership firm to reduce costs. “When we started Zerodha, we started off as a partnership firm because the exchange deposit requirement was lower, INR 90 lakh compared to INR 1.5 crore,” he said.
The company relied on free and low-cost platforms in its initial phase. NSE’s Now trading platform came at no cost to brokers, while a back-office vendor provided services at almost zero cost in return for testing the product.
Kamath highlighted the frugal approach: “The money we have spent on Zerodha is maybe ~Rs 10 lakh, and that is all the money that has gone into the business till date. Rs 2.5 lakh for our website, Rs 5 lakh for our office interiors, and Rs 2.5 lakh for miscellaneous.”
Coming from a modest background, Kamath added, “We had no rich uncles. Dad was a bank manager, and Mom taught Veena.”
Timing and Luck Behind Zerodha’s Growth
According to Kamath, Zerodha’s rise coincided with India’s broader economic expansion. “Our rise coincides with India’s rise. We were present at the right place and time with the right products and initiatives,” he said.
He stressed the importance of timing in entrepreneurship, drawing parallels with Nvidia’s CEO. “Jensen Huang survived in the business for 30 years until he hit the right place and time. For a long time, people might have questioned what he was doing until very recently,” Kamath noted.
Why Zerodha Has Not Launched an IPO
One of the most debated topics is why Zerodha has avoided going public. Kamath explained that staying private helps the firm focus on customers instead of investors. “Now that there is no pressure to give any exit to any investor, we can continue doing what is right for the customer, sometimes even at the cost of the business,” he said.
He pointed to initiatives such as the company’s “no spam” and “no tracking” policies.
“I believe that the philosophy with which we run Zerodha will be our real moat as a business. It is very tough to stick to it as a public company,” Kamath concluded.
Conclusion
Kamath’s note shows that Zerodha’s success comes from simple beginnings, steady growth, and a focus on customers over investors. By avoiding an IPO and keeping costs low, the company continues to stick to its core values and long-term approach.
