Tuco Kids, an Innovative kids’ personal care brand for children aged 3–13, has raised $4 million in a Series A funding round led by RTP Global, with continued participation from existing investors Fireside Ventures, Whiteboard Capital and MG investments.
The funding will be used to deepen Tuco’s brand presence, product innovation, and expand its presence across both online and offline channels – making the brand accessible to parents wherever they choose to shop.
Founded in 2023 by Aishvarya Murali (ex-Unilever, Ola, ZestMoney, Furlenco), Tuco was born from a personal mission to address a clear gap in the market — safe, effective personal care for children who have outgrown baby products but aren’t yet ready for adult formulations. The company recently appointed Chanakya Gupta, a former executive at Curefit and Flipkart, as Co-founder to spearhead growth and scale business operations.
Over the last year, Tuco Kids has grown 10x, earning the trust of over 2 lakh parents across India. The kids 3-13 year old segment is vast and underserved, with India’s under-14 population estimated at 351 million in 2025 and makes up for nearly 25% of the total population. The interest in the category is driven by increased awareness about the availability of harsh chemical-free options in the market.
“Kids deserve the truth about what goes on their skin. That’s what Tuco has always stood for, complete transparency and products made specifically for their unique needs,” said Aishvarya Murali and Chanakya Gupta, Co-founders at Tuco Kids. “With RTP Global joining us as partners, we’re ready to take this belief to more families across India, scaling our mission to provide safe, natural, and age-appropriate personal care that kids can trust and parents can feel good about.”
“Tuco is unlocking a high-potential, underserved category with purpose,” said Pavitra Gupta, Director, RTP Global. “They are creating this market through sharp product innovation and deep consumer insight, evident in the trust they are building with both mothers and kids. With brand-first thinking and deep operator experience, Aishvarya and Chanakya are uniquely positioned to scale and shape this category for the long term.”
“Tuco Kids is one of the first successes from our Early Venture investment program and has demonstrated strong traction over the past year,” said Adarsh Menon, Partner, Fireside Ventures. “We are very happy with how the team has built a clear proposition in this underserved space. We’re excited to continue partnering with them as they scale and shape this category.”
Designed for the evolving needs of school-going kids between the ages of 3-13 years, Tuco develops safe, age-appropriate, and effective products. All formulations are developed in-house and packaged in 100% landfill and ocean-reclaimed plastic.
Its portfolio spans hair care, bodywash, soaps, face creams, sunscreens, mosquito repellents, kids makeup, deodorants, kajals, and curated gift packs — available through Tuco’s own D2C platform and leading marketplaces such as Amazon, Flipkart, Nykaa, Myntra, FirstCry, Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart.
Tuco had previously raised $2 million in seed funding from investors including Fireside Ventures, Whiteboard Capital, MG Investments and prominent angel investors.
About Tuco Kids
Founded by Aishvarya Murali in 2023, Tuco Kids is a kids’ personal care brand offering a range of products including soaps, lotions, creams, skincare, and deodorants. Chanakya Gupta, a Flipkart Veteran joined the company as co-founder in Jan 2025. All of Tuco’s products are packaged in 100% landfill- and ocean-reclaimed plastic, reflecting the brand’s commitment to create a healthier planet for children. Tuco Kids focuses on addressing the unique personal care needs of school going kids aged 3-13, a segment with few tailored options in the market.
Tuco Kids products are available through their website and major e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, and Firstcry as well as on all major quick commerce platforms. The company is backed by RTP Global, Fireside Ventures and Whiteboard Capital.
About RTP Global
RTP Global is an early-stage venture capital firm, backing the founders who use technology to reimagine how the world works. Since 2000, RTP Global has made over 150+ investments worldwide, with one in 10 becoming multi-billion-dollar companies and one in 20 publicly traded at over $10bn. Notable investments include Datadog, DeliveryHero, Cred and SumUp. RTP Global has offices in New York, London, Paris and Bangalore.
The corporate world has various hiring requirements and demands. Some want an experienced professional for less pay, while others offer good pay for a part-time role. Some also offer health insurance, and some don’t. Well, here’s a story unique to itself, offers everything, good pay, health insurance, equity, but…
But wants the employees to work for 12 hours in the office for 6 days a week. Daksh Gupta is the CEO of Greptile, a US-based AI startup, which is ready to pay new graduates Rs 1.5 crore per year. Will you take such an offer? Before you think that’s doable, you’ll need to know the long-term pros and cons of the offering. Learn more.
What Is the Big Deal About Daksh Gupta’s Offer?
Daksh Gupta is mainly looking for freshers who can work 12 hours a day in the office (headquartered in San Francisco), 6 days a week, and no work-from-home option. The schedule is a bit too extensive, and so is the pay. Here’s how the salary structure looks:
The salary for freshers is:
The basic salary for the role is ₹1.23 crore – ₹1.59 crore per year.
The equity for the role stands at ₹1.15 crore – ₹1.59 crore.
For professionals with 7+ years of experience, the pay is ₹2.12 crore – ₹2.38 crore.
Apart From the High Salary, Greptile Is Also Offering:
Healthcare insurance
401k retirement contributions
Free meals
Transport facilities
Bold Opinions of Daksh Gupta
In an interview with The San Francisco Standard, Gupta spoke about the “9-9-6” rule, meaning employees are expected to work from a.m. to 9 p.m., every day for 6 days a week. He stressed that work-life balance, an easy job, does notbelong in his company. He would rather have fully dedicated employees working at Greptile.
Such bold opinions drive mixed opinions; as always, the internet is divided. One criticizes the demands, and others support them.
Pros & Cons of Daksh Gupta’s Job Offers at Greptile
Since the internet is half and half, we would like to provide a Pros & Cons breakdown of Daksh Gupta’s job offers at Greptile:
Pros (Good Side) ✅
First and most important, a huge pay scale of ₹1.5 crore per year for a fresher. This could be an excellent start because it’s higher than what most companies offer.
Equity of ₹1.15 – 1.59 crore worth is another bonus, and that value is going to grow as the company grows.
Expectations are clearly put up front, so there’s no confusion about what is expected out of an employee, overall.
Extra benefits like healthcare cover, 401 (k) contributions (retirement savings), free meals, and transport facilities are all covered by the company itself.
Very apt for those who are ready to excel in their careers (“career is everything for”), pouring in time without tracking or calculating it.
❌ Cons (Downside)
12 hours a day is very long working hours; employees are mandated to work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
6 Days a week is too extensive, given that you’ll only get 24 hours to recharge for another round of 12 hours, every day.
Compromised sleep, “you time,” family time, friends, and basically a no social life. And managing all these within those 24 hours of a Sunday is quite impossible.
No remote work or at least hybrid can be a huge problem when asked to dedicate all of your time to the company.
Little to no flexibility in terms of work-life balance is a strict no, according to many health experts, especially in 2025.
Only people who are ready to give their all (energy and precious time) will survive. Do you want to?
The dating app, co-founded by Karan Johar, Raghav Chaturvedi, and Ramya Chaturvedi, launched earlier this year to build safe and meaningful relationships amidst digital dating fatigue
Elevn, a fresh entrant in India’s digital dating space, is making a statement with its bold approach to modern romance. Founded earlier this year by Karan Johar, Raghav Chaturvedi, and Ramya Chaturvedi, the startup is designed to tackle the challenges of online dating fatigue by creating a safer, more intentional, and community-led platform.
In a country where dating apps are often dominated by men, Elevn stands out with a simple but disruptive idea: women invite, approve, and endorse men. This makes the app highly curated and encourages meaningful connections, supported by AI-driven profile building, compatibility-based matching, and exclusive offline experiences across major cities.
The startup’s latest campaign, featuring Karan Johar at the center, captures this unique philosophy with humor and cinematic flair. The ad takes a tongue-in-cheek look at what happens when women take the lead in romance, flipping traditional dating narratives on their head. With Johar’s trademark storytelling and charm, the campaign makes the brand’s core message engaging, relatable, and impossible to ignore.
For Elevn, this is more than an ad; it’s a statement about disrupting the dating space and redefining how modern relationships can be built safely, respectfully, and meaningfully.
“My movies are larger than life but I’m also a hopeless romantic at heart who believes that behind all that rosy picture, love must be safe and secure and love must feel like home. Being single can be frustrating and dating in the present is very overwhelming and cacophonous, but the atmosphere shifts when women take centre stage. Elevn is a platform where women drive the narrative, and I am glad to be part of something that feels like a cultural shift,” said Karan Johar, Co-Founder of Elevn.
“Dating shouldn’t feel like a battlefield – it should unfold like a story you’re excited to talk about. With Elevn, every woman is the writer of her own journey, empowered to choose who enters her world, who stays and who exits. Because when you’re in control of your narrative, finding connections becomes truly extraordinary,” said Ramya Chaturvedi, Co-Founder of Elevn. “The campaign is a fun take on a wider cultural change. Online dating is usually a chaotic and tiresome experience, but Elevn flips the experience on its head by placing the woman at the forefront”, added Co-FounderRaghav Chaturvedi.
Elevn is India’s first women-led dating app. Conceptualised by Ramya Chaturvedi, Raghav Chaturvedi and co-founded with Karan Johar, Elevn is a safe space where women get to choose who enters. By turning dating rules around, Elevn is creating a space that is safer, smarter and more real for contemporary romance.
~5.5 lakh jobs generated through its seller network and ~6.7 lakh in the logistics sector
~70% of these opportunities created in tier 3 and 4 regions
Ahead of the festive season, Meesho has announced the enablement of ~12 lakh seasonal job opportunities within its seller and logistics network, with more than 70% of these coming from tier 3 and tier 4 regions. This represents a ~40% increase in seasonal jobs compared to last year.
This year, Meesho’s sellers have hired ~5.5 lakh seasonal workers as part of their requirements for the festive season. They are providing short and comprehensive training sessions to equip them in various capacities, including sorting, manufacturing, and packaging. Moreover, sellers have also undertaken additional preparations, such as introducing new products and venturing into new categories, curating festive collections, and conducting inventory checks to fulfil increased customer demands.
Aligned with its commitment to serve customers in the deepest corners of the country, Meesho continues to work with prominent third-party logistics (3PL) providers. These logistics partnerships, along with Valmo, have helped generate ~6.7 lakh seasonal job opportunities, a ~90% growth over last year’s festive season hiring in logistics. The roles will largely involve first-mile, middle-mile, and delivery associates, responsible for duties such as picking, sorting, loading, unloading, and handling returns.
Commenting on this, Sourabh Pandey, CXO, Fulfilment and Experience, Meesho said “The festive season is when many Indian households place their trust in e-commerce. With that trust comes the responsibility to ensure seller readiness and seamless logistics at scale. In anticipation of this peak period, we have created over ~12 lakh seasonal opportunities, with a significant share emerging from India’s tier-3 cities. By empowering Indian businesses, manufacturers, and logistics partners, our focus remains clear, to make e-commerce inclusive and accessible for every stakeholder.”
As India gears up for its most vibrant shopping season, Meesho is enabling many Indian businesses to scale their operations with the aim of fulfilling customers’ demands. The e-commerce platform is committed to offering quality products at the lowest prices and ensuring accessibility to customers across the country.
Following an inquiry that found that he had an “undisclosed romantic relationship” with a subordinate, Nestlé fired CEO Laurent Freixe. His actions were against company policy. Philipp Navratil, the CEO of Nespresso, was named as his successor by the Swiss multinational.
After 40 years with the company, Mr Freixe left after an examination led by lead independent director Pablo Isla and Nestlé chair Paul Bulcke, with assistance from outside counsel.
This was a necessary decision, Bulcke stated. Nestle’s governance and values serve as solid pillars for the business. “I thank Laurent for his years of service.” Nestlé is well-known for its brands, which include KitKat chocolate bars and Nespresso coffee capsules.
Laurent Freixe’s Career Journey
It was in Paris, France, that Laurent Freixe was born in 1962. He is French and speaks German, Spanish, English, and French. He finished the Program for Executive Development at IMD, Switzerland, and studied business administration at the Ecole de Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord (EDHEC) in Lille, France.
Prior to joining the Executive Board for Zone Europe, Mr Freixe led Nestlé Hungary and the Iberian Region after joining the company in 1986 after working in sales and marketing in France. According to his LinkedIn profile, he also started Nestle’s youth programme, Nestle Needs YOUth. With responsibility for the US, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean, Mr Freixe was appointed Executive Vice President and CEO of Zone Americas in 2014.
In 2022, he was appointed Executive Vice President and CEO of Zone Latin America, where he also assisted the CEO with zone coordination. In 2018, he was designated International Youth Ambassador. Mr Freixe succeeded Ulf Mark Schneider as CEO of Neste on September 1, 2024. Exactly one year later, he was let go.
Boards and Contributions
Mr Freixe has held positions on a number of boards, such as Froneri SA, the Consumer Goods Forum in Latin America, and Cereal Partners Worldwide. He chaired the Global Apprenticeship Network since 2019 and joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Executive Committee in 2023. Additionally, he is a member of the IMD Foundation Board, the European Roundtable, and the EDHEC Business School Advisory Board.
Quick
Shots
•Nestlé CEO dismissed over undisclosed
romantic relationship with a subordinate.
•Inquiry led by Pablo Isla (lead
independent director) and Paul Bulcke (Nestlé chair) with external counsel.
•Philipp Navratil, Nespresso CEO,
appointed as new Nestlé chief.
•Joined in 1986; led Hungary, Iberian Region,
Zone Europe, Americas, and Latin America.
•Studied at EDHEC Business School;
completed IMD’s Executive Development Program; fluent in 4 languages.
As AI replaces customer service positions, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff eliminates 4,000 jobs. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff recently revealed that 4,000 customer service representatives would be let go, bringing the total number of support people down from 9,000 to about 5,000, an almost 45% reduction.
Why Salesforce Cut 4,000 Jobs?
The move comes as AI agents increasingly manage routine customer interactions and tackle a backlog of more than 100 million uncalled sales leads that has accumulated over 26 years, according to a Fortune interview with Benioff. This development underlines how customer service positions are becoming increasingly vulnerable to automation.
AI vs. Human Workforce: What’s Changing?
About 50% of all client discussions are now handled by the company’s AI-human collaboration system. Human agents may now concentrate on more complex or exceptional instances since routine duties like responding to frequently asked questions, recording client contacts, and following up on leads are becoming more and more automated.
Despite Benioff’s long-standing emphasis that AI would complement human workers rather than replace them, this employment drop shows that jobs involving repetitive tasks are most vulnerable to automation. Approximately 5% of Salesforce’s workforce, which as of January 2025 had over 76,000 employees, will be laid off.
Industries at Risk Beyond Salesforce
This trend indicates wider hazards for customer service representatives in sectors where regular, process-driven jobs predominate, not just Salesforce. As AI technologies become more accurate and efficient, comparable changes may occur in the banking, e-commerce, telecom, and IT support sectors. Long seen as entry-level or stable jobs, customer service positions are now more vulnerable to disruption from automation.
Why AI Cannot Fully Replace Humans?
Even with automation, human control is still very important. Similar to hand-off procedures in other AI-driven processes, such as self-driving technology, Salesforce’s AI system steps in when situations call for judgement, accuracy, or nuance. Only some tasks are safe from automation, according to this approach, which guarantees that AI increases productivity without completely eliminating the need for human expertise.
How Workers Can Stay Relevant in an AI-Driven Economy?
A broader trend in the business sector is reflected in Salesforce’s recent personnel changes: AI is changing job structures and drawing a line between ordinary and difficult roles. At the heart of this change are customer service representatives, who run a greater risk of being laid off if their jobs mostly require repeated duties. Adaptability, ongoing skill improvement, and the capacity to work well with AI technology are now necessary in the evolving nature of work.
This moment indicates that getting ready for an AI-driven workplace is no longer optional—it is necessary for career sustainability for millions of workers in customer-facing roles. The use of AI in customer service emphasises how crucial it is for workers in vulnerable positions to upgrade their skills. Problem-solving, complicated query handling, critical thinking, and AI supervision skills are becoming increasingly important.
While workers who can collaborate with AI systems to handle more complex jobs are better positioned for career resilience, those who only concentrate on repeated interactions may find their chances diminish.
Quick
Shots
•Marc Benioff confirms 4,000 customer
support job cuts.
•Nearly 45% reduction in support staff
as AI agents take over routine tasks.
•AI now handles 50% of client
interactions and manages a 100M+ sales lead backlog.
•Customer service jobs increasingly
vulnerable if focused on repetitive tasks.
Glance, a global consumer technology leader pioneering the future of AI-powered commerce, today announced the appointment of Mansi Jain as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Her elevation signals a pivotal moment for Glance as it doubles down on its ambition to build and lead the global AI commerce category.
Mansi has spent more than 13 years at the InMobi Group, driving some of its most ambitious bets. Most recently, as Senior Vice President & GM of Glance, she launched Glance AI, a one-of-its-kind AI commerce platform, reimagining shopping through inspiration-led discovery. Under her leadership, Glance AI has quickly emerged as a category creator, shaping how consumers will shop in the future.
“Mansi has been at the center of Glance and InMobi’s most defining breakthroughs,” said Naveen Tewari, Founder & CEO of InMobi Group and Glance. “She brings unmatched strategic clarity, bold vision, and the ability to inspire teams to reimagine what’s possible. As COO, she will be instrumental in scaling Glance globally and cementing our leadership in AI commerce.”
Mansi’s appointment comes at a time when AI commerce is set to disrupt trillion-dollar consumer industries worldwide. Speaking about her new role, Mansi Jain, COO, Glance, said: “I am energized to take on this role at such a pivot time for Glance. In just a few months, we have seen the immense potential of Glance AI come alive globally. We are at the dawn of a commerce revolution, one that will be led by AI. My vision is to make Glance AI synonymous with AI commerce and to shape the future of how the world shops and discovers.”
Her career trajectory is a testament to InMobi’s deep culture of nurturing leaders from within. An IIT Delhi alumna, she joined the company in 2012 after stints at Bain & Company and Essex Lake Group. Since then, she has built the remarketing platform for InMobi, served as Chief of Staff leading corporate strategy, transformed Roposo into a global social commerce platform, and ultimately launched Glance AI, consistently driving category-shaping innovation and growth.
As COO, she will now lead Glance’s global expansion and sharpen its mission of becoming the world’s most trusted AI commerce platform, setting new benchmarks for the industry.
About Glance
Glance is a consumer technology company, creating an industry defining AI commerce platform to help consumers and businesses reimagine shopping using generative AI. Built on a proprietary AI architecture fusing predictive intelligence, neural visualization and real-time orchestration across devices from mobile, TV to apps, Glance AI is leading disruption in commerce. Glance is backed by Google, Jio Platforms, and Mithril Capital, and is an unconsolidated subsidiary of InMobi.
A study conducted by McKinsey and Company shared a report, which explains why employees have quit their jobs, and the most common reason was a lack of career growth and advancement. Hence, it becomes important for companies to track the performance of their employees and groom them for future roles.
Monitoring the performance of an employee in an organization and aligning their skills according to the goal of the company are crucial tasks. The efficiency of employees depends on how accurately you monitor their performance and help them to achieve their goals. As a decision-maker in the company, you need to make data-driven decisions. So to push the right employee to the forefront and reward them with appropriate incentives, performance management software eases this task for you with valid data points.
For your convenience, we have handpicked some of the best performance review software that will eventually pave the way for your company’s growth.
Top Performance Review Software and Their Comparison
Performance Management Software by HRone is the one-stop solution to review the performance of the existing workforce. Goal setting on a monthly, quarterly, or half-yearly basis is easier by just choosing the relevant templates. You only need to map the template with any department or designation you want to track the performance.
HROne – Best Performance Management Software
Acquire feedback from the clients or from the people you serve for better transparency and accurate performance statistics. Let your customers decide which of your employees is performing better using automatic feedback.
Features of HROne
It automatically assigns the goal to a recruit after the specific period you decide.
Capture customized feedback based on the role of an employee and modify the questions whenever you want.
9-box matrix to evaluate the best-performing employees with high potential and poor-performing employees.
Gauge the improvement of an employee and reward the high-performing employee in the organization with an appraisal or other rewards.
PossibleWorks
Rating
4.5/5
Best For
Performance review, Appraisals and Feedback
Keep your employees motivated and engaged with incentives and rewards based on their performance, and measure their performance with the robust PMS software of PossibleWorks. Set the goal and make the employee clear with their task. A clear goal assigned to an employee will increase efficiency and keep them motivated.
PossibleWorks – Best Performance Management Software
Align your workforce with the company’s vision and boost the productivity level with a goal-centric approach. Managers are enriched with performance and progress data, which helps them give extra attention to poor employees.
Features of PossibleWorks
Visually appealing data insights indicating top and poor-performing employees.
Continuous feedback between employees and managers creates a healthy work culture and improves worker efficiency.
Easy to track the performance throughout the year and gives proper insight for better appraisal decisions.
Cornerstone PMS
Rating
3.9/5
Best For
Recruitment, Onboarding, Performance and Goal Analysis
Cornerstone PMS is the software solution to assess your workforce properly and make better decisions. Assessment of the employee is important to upskill them with proper training and learning. The data-driven performance insights are sufficient enough to evaluate the best from the whole company.
Cornerstone PMS – Best Performance Management Software
This software will help to create healthy competition within the organization. Healthy competition encourages employees to work at their true potential. Award your best-performing employee and motivate the whole team to do their best. The dashboard is equipped with amazing filters to sort the employees based on different criteria.
Features of Cornerstone PMS
Make your review process in autopilot mode and automate the workflow.
Flexibility to set goals by the manager as well as by the employee.
Honour the employee with badges based on the feedback and their experience.
Zimyo PMS
Rating
4.6/5
Best For
Small companies and Multiple Channel Integration
Zimyo PMS comes with the most innovative dashboard with quick insight into goals and performance through charts. Easily create goals for employees and monitor the progress on the go. Help employees stay focused on their goals and achieve success with quality feedback and reviews.
Zimyo PMS – Best Performance Management Software
This software will help to identify the employees who need the training to improve their skills. A skilled employee is a valuable asset for a company that generates huge profits in the long run. Create goals, engage the employee, monitor the progress, and reward the best performer.
Timely compensation and appraisal of employees based on their performance review.
Fully automatic appraisal process.
Modern design with an intuitive user interface.
AssessTeam
Rating
4/5
Best For
Team Performance and project specific productivity Tracking
Evaluate your employee’s strong points and pain points to utilize their potential for the benefit of the company with the help of the top performance management software, AssessTeam. This software will help you build an empire full of skilled employees.
AssessTeam – Best Performance Management Software
It will track your project in real time and match the progress with the budget allotted to the project by comparing it to the timesheet of an employee. 360-degree evaluation of employees to provide them with optimum feedback and help them achieve their assigned goals.
Features of AssessTeam
1000s of preconfigured indicators to start tracking the performance with no difficulties.
Analyze the productivity in real-time and maximize the business growth.
Fully customizable according to the needs of the industry and your requirements.
Accessible on every device, including smartphones and tablets.
PerformYard
Rating
4.7/5
Best For
Customized performance and review process
PerformYard is one of the best performance management tools, offering a comprehensive software solution to track the performance of employees and align them with the goals of the company. Assigning responsibility to every employee, defining who needs to do what in the prescribed timeline, and monitoring the progress are straightforward with this intuitive tool.
PerformYard – Best Performance Management Software
1 on 1 feedback review to share important feedback about any employee in the organization before the review time. One can easily request feedback for their past performance on any specific work. This will create a continuous flow of feedback that eventually helps the software to provide the best results.
Features of PerformYard
High-end performance insights give a clear picture of an individual or team’s goals with colourful charts and figures.
Feedback tag to star performers to let other employees know their achievements.
Performance notes to save some important things for future review.
Send the review form to the right reviewer with a single click of a button.
Effy is an all-round top performance management system with an advanced and interactive user interface you must consider. Engage your employees, upskill their talent, and achieve employee retention by continuously monitoring and providing valuable feedback. Effy helps to create self-assessment reviews to identify strengths, weaknesses, and skills.
Effy – Best Performance Management Software
Use the skill matrix to align the available skill information and analyze which of your employees is lacking with which skills. This information is crucial for effective task assignment, ensuring that each employee is given responsibilities that align with their skill set. The performance review platform is the main part of any PMS software, offering a variety of templates to choose from and allowing you to set the frequency based on your specific requirements. This tool enhances the performance management process by providing valuable insights into employees’ skills and facilitating targeted task assignments for optimal productivity.
Features of Effy
Only 60 seconds are required to set up the software, and you’re good to go.
Insightful articles to help you with every aspect of performance management and utilize the true potential of the software.
Free templates of skill matrix to quickly put the skills information and analyze it further.
1-1 meeting with an employee to gauge the performance more efficiently.
Leapsome
Rating
4.8/5
Best For
Performance Management and Employee Engagement
Leapsome is a software solution dedicated to increasing the engagement, productivity, and skills of an employee. Loaded with all the features of simple management software, Leapsome is delivering remarkable results in improving the productivity of an employee. Also, recognize the best-performing employee with appropriate rewards and encourage others to do the same.
Leapsome – Best Performance Management Software
Unleash the true potential of the people in the organization and create a great place to work. Upscale your business growth by consistently polishing the skills of the workforce.
Features of Leapsome
Easy integration with your other tools to import employee data seamlessly.
Knowledge hub with all the essential resources to get the best out of this tool.
Compensation and promotion management while tracking performance and analytics.
Seamless integration with your existing HR software.
ReviewSnap
Rating
4.1/5
Best For
Tracking employee review and goals
ReviewSnap is another great addition to our list. As an employee performance evaluation software with its performance-centric approach of delivering the best service for goals, feedback, review, and evaluation, this software is perfect for managing the performance of your employees. Whatever the objective of your goal is, it helps to achieve it by monitoring it at any time.
ReviewSnap – Best Performance Management Software
SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-Sensitive) goal setting to align the team in the right direction and measure the performance and progress of the goal periodically. Consistently improve the performance of an individual employee and the whole team by providing continuous feedback.
Features of ReviewSnap
Review templates that are fully customizable according to your goal and objective.
A Robust Dashboard to have a quick insight to evaluate employees’ performance and areas of improvement.
The pricing structure is designed in such a way that you only pay for the services you need.
Easy self-assessment by the team to gauge everyone’s expertise.
How to Design a Performance Management System
Engagedly
Rating
4.4/5
Best For
Real-time feedback and productivity analysis
Engagedly is a well-known and trusted performance review software that believes in engaging employees with clear objectives and goals. If an employee is aware of how their contribution is affecting the growth of a company, they tend to work with better efficiency. This software empowers managers to train their employees on their shortcomings with a 360-degree assessment and continuous feedback.
Engagedly – Best Performance Management Software
It offers a 3E platform. Execute performance for performance review, OKRs and goal assignment, talent analytics & Mobility, and CXO insights. Enable development for real-time feedback and online learning. Engage People for rewards and recognition, remote work collaboration, and employee surveys.
Features of Engagedly
Capture innovative ideas from anyone in the organization.
Enhance employee engagement through badges and rewards.
Align your workforce with the organization’s culture.
A mobile app to use the software anywhere, anytime.
Lattice
Rating
4.7/5
Best For
Tracking performance and growth of employee
Turn on the productivity of your employees with Lattice. Set Goals and OKRs to align the workforce to fulfil the objective of a business. Lattice offers a performance-oriented solution to cater to businesses’ demands to measure the performance of employees and teams.
Lattice – Best Performance Management Software
Get every employee’s latest report and evaluate their progress and performance. It helps to conduct surveys at different levels to know the work experience and other useful information.
Features of Lattice
The interactive dashboard is loaded with the latest and essential features.
The initiative Engagement feature is used to build strong relationships between employees and the company.
Make your employee stay Anonymous to get honest feedback from the manager.
An immersive way is available for employee development.
Namely
Rating
3.9/5
Best For
HR and workforce management
Namely – Best Performance Management Software
Namely, it is a platform that offers HR, payroll, benefits, and talent management services. Launched in 2012, it is currently used by over 1,200 midsized companies. Their entry-level plan provides basic features like a company news feed, employee directory, task lists, and more. The platform also offers general features such as an HR employee portal, analytics and reporting, and a self-service employee portal. If you opt for the HR Complete plan, you can access more advanced features such as HR payroll, benefits administration, compliance advice, and recruiting capabilities.
Features of Namely
Namely’s HRIS stores employee data, including attendance, performance, and benefits.
Payroll Management ensures accurate processing of payments, bonuses, and taxes.
Namely, HR streamlines Benefits Administration for health insurance, retirement plans, and perks.
Performance Management aligns employee goals with company objectives.
Namely HR’s Time Off Management simplifies leave requests and tracking for efficient management.
Synergita
Rating
4.6/5
Best For
Employee Performance Management
Synergita – Best Performance Management Software
Synergita, a cloud-based software company, specializes in aiding organizations in effectively managing employee performance, development, and engagement. Using innovative solutions, Synergita enables organizations to seamlessly track and monitor employee performance through regular and insightful feedback. The platform fosters a dynamic environment for performance management, facilitating ongoing development and engagement initiatives that contribute to the overall growth and success of the workforce.
Features of Synergita
Set ambitious objectives for accelerated growth.
Ensure continuous alignment for shared goals.
Use data-driven insights for agile adjustments.
Monitor performance in real-time for goal achievement.
Foster collaboration and transparency for effective problem-solving.
As a publicly traded HR company, Paycor has secured over $250 million in funding and presently serves a user base exceeding 2 million. Going beyond traditional payroll services, Paycor extends support across various HR functions, including benefits administration, time tracking, and comprehensive features for career and talent development. With its robust offerings, Paycor provides organizations with a comprehensive HR solution that addresses diverse needs and contributes to streamlined and efficient workforce management.
Features of Paycor
User-Friendly Platform: Paycor’s intuitive dashboard simplifies onboarding and tasks for employees.
Compliance Assurance: Ensure tax and regulatory compliance with Paycor’s reporting tools.
Efficient Onboarding: Streamlined online process with personalized messages for new hires.
Tax Handling: Paycor manages tax calculations, filing, payments, and form distribution.
Time Management: Paycor Time enables clock-in/out, tracking PTO, and attendance.
Bamboo HR
Rating
4.5/5
Best For
HR management
Bamboo HR – Best Performance Management Software
BambooHR streamlines operations by consolidating various solutions into one platform, utilizing a single data source. This enables efficient employee data management, seamless talent acquisition, simplified payroll and benefits tracking, and insightful employee experience and performance evaluation. The platform, continuously enhanced with new features and integrations monthly, stands as a comprehensive and customizable solution, eliminating the challenges of siloed systems and disconnected workflows.
Features of Bamboo HR
BambooHR’s HR module centralizes employee records and documents.
Workday, a California-based cloud HCM solution established in 2005, seamlessly integrates with business applications. Ideal for medium to large-sized companies, it offers a unified platform for workforce management, covering recruitment, onboarding, performance evaluation software, and compensation. Workday provides a versatile solution for basic needs like time tracking and payroll or advanced features like analytics and HR management.
Features of Workday
Talent Management: Tools for employee development, onboarding, and rewards.
Core HR: A cloud-based system for organization-wide data management.
Integration: Workday Studio manages interfaces with other systems.
Recruiting: Cloud-based solution for user-friendly talent acquisition.
Time Tracking: Integrated system optimizing labor costs and ensuring compliance.
Trakstar
Rating
4.2/5
Best For
Employee performance management
Trakstar – Best Performance Management Software
Trakstar, a cloud-based performance review software, aids organizations and HR professionals in monitoring employee performance and facilitating feedback, goal management, and reviews. It fosters motivation and retention of top talent, aligns individual goals with organizational objectives, and offers real-time data insights.
Features of Trakstar
Applicant Tracking: Web-based system for collaborative hiring and organization.
Integrations: Trakstar integrates with job boards, Slack, Zoom, and PandaDoc.
Performance Reviews: Streamlines feedback with forms, surveys, and automated reminders.
Goal Management: Facilitates personal and team goal setting for HR and large enterprises.
360 Degree Feedback: Free tool for real-time feedback and recognition by managers.
Performly
Rating
4/5
Best For
Performance Management and HR
Performly – Best Performance Management Software
Performly, a cloud-based HR management software, integrates modules for talent and performance management, communication, employee services, employee review software, and logic services. Users can align daily tasks with objectives or projects using the talent management system, with ready-to-use meeting templates for performance reviews and feedback discussions.
Features of Performly
Talent management
Object and competency management
360-degree performance reviews
Feedback collection
Internal process management
Teamflect
Rating
4.8/5
Best For
Performance Management and Employee Engagement
Teamflect – Top Performance Management Systems
Teamflect, an all-in-one performance management software for Microsoft Teams, allows users to manage OKRs, conduct performance reviews, exchange feedback, and more without leaving the Teams interface. As an official Microsoft partner, Teamflect ensures seamless integration with Teams chat and an intuitive dashboard, keeping performance management within the workflow. Notably, Teamflect’s free plan provides full functionality for up to 10 users with no time constraints.
Features of Teamflect
OKR Integration: Teamflect seamlessly tracks OKRs in Microsoft Teams.
360 Feedback: Facilitates easy collaboration through quick feedback.
Feedback Tool: Teamflect enables swift sharing and requesting of feedback.
Task Management: Effortlessly manage tasks in Microsoft Teams with Teamflect.
Teams Add-On: Streamlines employee activities as a Microsoft Teams add-on.
15Five, a performance management software, enhances organizational performance through continuous employee engagement. With a focus on holistic people management, the tool fosters collaboration, especially among remote teams, contributing to the overall advancement of the business.
Features of 15Five
Performance Management: 360° reviews, goal/OKR tracking, and feedback tools.
Survey Management: In-depth engagement surveys with customization.
Meeting Management: Weekly 1-on-1s and pulse ratings.
Employee Awards: Pulse surveys and social recognition.
Cultural Alignment: Coaching and manager training.
Reflektive
Rating
4.4/5
Best For
Continuous Feedback and Performance Management
Reflektive – Best Performance Tracking Software
Reflektive is a performance management tool that helps companies grow by keeping employees engaged and improving performance. It focuses on continuous feedback and building high-performing teams to boost productivity. It is one of the best performance management software for small businesses.
Key Features:
Share real-time feedback with teammates
Simple employee recognition system
Tag multiple people in feedback or recognition
Performance and talent calibration tools
Employee engagement surveys to measure and improve workplace culture
Conclusion
Performance appraisal software plays a vital role in monitoring and evaluating employee performance. Employees are like engine oil for the business, helping it run smoothly. So monitoring the performance and developing it further is most important. Every organization needs Performance Appraisal Software, irrespective of the size of the business, to achieve the best results possible, so choose the right tool from the above list and align your employees toward the business goal.
FAQs
What is Performance Review Software?
Performance Review Software is designed to improve business performance by tracking and evaluating employee productivity and performance. It ensures individual employees and teams are engaged and aligned with organizational goals.
What is the best Performance Review Software?
The following are the best Performance Review Software
HROne
PossibleWorks
Cornerstone PMS
Zimyo PMS
AssessTeam
PerformYard
Effy
Leapsome
ReviewSnap
Engagedly
Lattice
Namely
Performly
15Five
Teamflect
What is 360-degree feedback?
360-degree feedback means in the feedback process, not only the management can give feedback, but also peers or sometimes customers can even give their feedback for a team or individual.
How do you choose a good Performance Review Software?
Before choosing a performance review software for your company, do check these features:
Goal Management
Competency Management
Detail employee appraisal review
Good feedback system
What is the use of Employee Review Software?
Employee review software streamlines performance evaluations, facilitating goal tracking, feedback, and efficient assessment. It enhances communication between employees and managers, fostering continuous improvement and alignment with organizational objectives.
Are you thinking of launching your own food business, but also stressed about the funding? Well, you are not alone. Some aspiring entrepreneurs hold back because they think stepping into the food industry demands huge investments, modern equipment, or a big commercial kitchen. However, the truth is that’s only half the story.
Nowadays, most profitable food ventures operate with a tight budget. There are plenty of opportunities that don’t require draining your savings, for example, home-based tiffin services and street food stalls, to online food consulting and cloud kitchens. All it takes is the right idea, a bit of creativity, and the willingness to get started.
In this blog, we will look at the best 10 low-cost food business ideas that are in high demand right now, along with simple steps to kickstart your journey without burning a hole in your pocket.
Why Small Profitable Food Businesses in India Are Perfect for Beginners?
Starting a small food business is easier than ever, thanks to low overheads and high consumer demand for niche, artisanal products. People are willing to pay more for quality, locally sourced, and sustainable food.
Popular low-cost options include specialty baked goods, home-based catering, and artisanal snacks. Some ventures can begin with as little as $100, while others, like meal kits or food carts, may need up to $15,000. With the right idea and quality focus, even a small setup can turn into a profitable business.
How to Start a Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment ?
Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
Food Truck
Food trucks – Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
Food trucks have become a popular entry point into the food business, with the global market growing around 6.2% annually. They allow chefs to showcase their own unique menu while enjoying the flexibility of mobility.
Instead of waiting for customers to come to a restaurant, a food truck brings your food directly to where people are downtown, at parks, on beaches, or at events, making it easier to attract hungry crowds.
Benefits:
Mobility: Serve customers wherever they gather, adapting to events, trends, and busy locations.
Creative Control: Design a unique menu without the high costs of running a full-scale restaurant.
If you enjoy a hands-on, personal approach, offering cooking classes can be a rewarding food business. You can teach in-person or online, with options ranging from live sessions to pre-recorded courses that students can watch anytime. Beyond sharing your skills, teaching helps you refine your own expertise and build meaningful connections with your audience.
Benefits:
Scalability: A single class can grow into a digital platform, franchise, or brand. You can also boost revenue by selling related products or services to your students.
Bakery
Bakery – Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
If you love baking, starting a bakery can be a rewarding food business. With good recipes, an oven, and basic baking tools, you can create cakes, biscuits, and other treats for local customers. Focusing on corporate orders and small events can help you generate steady income, as many companies regularly place bulk orders for meetings and celebrations.
Benefits:
Steady Revenue: Serving corporate clients and events ensures consistent orders and reliable income.
Creative Freedom: You can experiment with new flavors, designs, and specialty products to stand out in the market.
Ice Cream Shop
Ice Cream Shop – Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
Ice cream is one of the world’s most loved desserts and a highly profitable food business idea. The global ice cream industry is projected to reach $112 billion by 2030, offering huge growth potential. You can serve ice cream alongside other desserts or specialize in varieties like frozen yogurt, gelato, sorbet, or frozen custard, giving you plenty of room to create a niche.
Benefits:
Creative Control: With endless flavor combinations and presentation options, ice cream allows inventive entrepreneurs to stand out.
Cloud kitchens are delivery-only restaurants that operate entirely online, making them one of the top food business ideas in 2025. With rising demand for food delivery through platforms like Swiggy and Zomato, cloud kitchens help entrepreneurs to serve a large customer base without the high costs of a traditional restaurant.
By focusing on a functional kitchen, necessary licenses like FSSAI, and consistent food quality, you can build a strong brand. Lower overheads, no rent for prime locations, no waitstaff, and minimal decor make this an attractive option for first-time food business owners.
Benefits:
Lower Operating Costs: Savings on rent, staff, and dining infrastructure reduce financial risk.
Scalability: Easy to expand menu offerings and reach more customers via multiple delivery platforms.
Chocolate Making
Homemade chocolates are always in demand, making chocolate-making a great small-scale food business. If you have the skills to craft delicious chocolates, you can run this business from home with minimal investment. You can experiment with flavors, fillings, and packaging to create a unique brand. Seasonal products for festivals, birthdays, and special occasions can help boost sales further.
Benefits:
Low Startup Cost: This business can be started from home with basic equipment and ingredients.
High Demand: Chocolates are a favorite treat for all ages and occasions, ensuring steady customer interest.
Farsan Shop – Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
Farsan, or savory snacks, are a popular treat across India. Homemade namkeen and farsan are especially sought after, as many people prefer buying them ready-made rather than preparing them at home. This makes a farsan shop a lucrative home-based food business with strong local demand.
Benefits:
High Demand: Savory snacks are a staple for festivals, gatherings, and everyday snacking.
Low Startup Cost: Can be prepared at home with basic kitchen equipment and ingredients.
Meal Kits
Meal Kits – Low-Cost Food Business with Minimal Investment
Meal kits offer pre-portioned ingredients and recipes, allowing customers to prepare high-quality dishes at home with ease. This business blends the convenience of fast food with the satisfaction of home-cooked meals.
Meal kits can be sold via subscription, providing recurring revenue, or offered à la carte for more flexibility. With creative recipes and themed kits, you can target specific dietary preferences or cuisines to stand out in the market.
Benefits:
Niching Opportunities: Meal kits are a relatively young business with plenty of room for new brands and untapped food niches.
Sauces
Sauces are a versatile and profitable product for first-time food entrepreneurs. Food lovers are always eager to try new flavors, and unique sauces can quickly build a loyal following, think of popular hot sauces or dessert toppings like butterscotch and custard. Sauces can be savory, sweet, spicy, or a combination, and they easily adapt to different cuisines and dietary preferences, making them a flexible product to sell.
Benefits:
Customer Loyalty: Once customers find a sauce they love, they often become repeat buyers due to its versatility.
Adventurous Clientele: Unique flavors and branding attract customers who are open to trying new products.
Potato Fry-Based Business
Potatoes are affordable, versatile, and perfect for creating various snack options. French fries, a favorite among fast-food lovers, are a simple yet highly popular choice. Many outlets use less-than-fresh potatoes and charge premium prices, creating an opportunity to offer a fresher, tastier alternative.
Starting a fry stall or small potato-based snack business lets you experiment with flavors like peri-peri, tandoori, cheesy, or honey chili fries, appealing to a wide range of customers.
Benefits:
Low-Cost Ingredient: Potatoes are inexpensive and widely available, keeping startup costs low.
Creative Menu Options: Endless flavor combinations and styles allow you to stand out in a crowded snack market.
Conclusion
The food industry is ever-evolving, offering endless opportunities for creativity, growth, and profitability. With a huge customer base and countless niches to explore, even first-time entrepreneurs can find a space to thrive.
Few ventures are as fulfilling as turning your passion for food into a business. Whether you are an at-home chef, a foodie with a unique recipe, or someone looking for a low-cost entry into entrepreneurship, starting a food business allows you to make money doing what you love, while delighting customers with flavors they can’t resist.
What are some Top 10 Low-Cost Food Business Ideas with High Demand?
Top 10 Low-Cost Food Business Ideas with High Demand are:
Food Truck
Cooking Classes
Bakery
Ice Cream Shop
Cloud Kitchen
Chocolate Making
Farsan Shop
Meal Kits
Sauces
Potato Fry-Based Business
Do I need professional culinary training to start a food business?
Not at all. While training helps, many successful entrepreneurs rely on family recipes, self-learning, or unique creativity to build their brand.
How long does it take to start earning profit in a small food business?
Most small ventures can start earning within 3–6 months, depending on investment, demand, and marketing. Home-based businesses may break even even faster.
The first day of September brought a mix of funding activity, strategic acquisitions, and industry milestones across India’s startup and business ecosystem. From fresh capital inflows into consumer electronics, semiconductor services, and venture funds, to large-scale layoffs, retail consolidation, and UPI’s record-breaking performance, the day highlighted both opportunities and challenges shaping the Indian market.
Daily Indian Funding Roundup – 1st September 2025
Company
Amount
Round
Lead investor(s)
Sector
Cuzor
₹5 Cr
Seed
Info not disclosed
Consumer Electronics
Tessolve
$150 Mn
Funding
TPG
Semiconductors
Elev8 Venture Partners
$160 Mn
Maiden Fund
Info not disclosed
Venture Capital Fund
Blue Tokai
$25 Mn
Bridge
Existing investors
Coffee / Consumer Brand
Cuzor raised ₹5 crore in a seed round
Consumer electronics brand Cuzor secured ₹5 crore from Ramesh Kannan, MD of Kaynes Technology. The funding will be deployed toward R&D, talent acquisition, and brand building as the Bangalore-based startup deepens its presence in chargers and mobile accessory segments.
Tessolve received $150 million in funding from TPG Growth
Tessolve, the semiconductor engineering services arm of Hero Electronix, has raised $150 million from TPG Growth to support its expansion in semiconductor engineering.
Elev8 Venture Partners closes maiden fund of $160 million
Founded by Navin Honagudi (formerly of Kae Capital), Elev8 Venture Partners raised $160 million for its first fund, which aims to invest in consumer internet, enterprise software, and fintech startups.
Blue Tokai raised $25 Mn in Bridge round
Blue Tokai, a specialty coffee brand, has raised $25 million in a bridge funding round from its existing investors. The fresh infusion will be used to expand its retail footprint, enhance coffee offerings, and strengthen its supply chain.
Key Business News for 1st September 2025
MPL to give pink slips to 60% of its India employees
Gaming company Mobile Premier League (MPL) plans to lay off 60% of its India workforce following the government’s ban on online real-money games (RMG). The announcement reflects the significant impact of regulatory changes on the company’s operations.
Star Localmart acquires DusMinute, expands to 170 stores
Star Localmart, the retail arm of the Sanjay Ghodawat Group (SGG), has acquired DusMinute, a Bengaluru-based retail chain operating within gated communities. The acquisition—amount undisclosed—expands Star Localmart’s footprint, bringing its total store count to 170 across India.
UPI crosses 20 billion monthly transactions for the first time in August
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) achieved a new milestone by processing over 20 billion transactions in August 2025—the first time it’s crossed that threshold. This follows steady growth in prior months, such as June when UPI recorded 18.40 billion transactions worth ₹24.04 lakh crore.
