StartupTalky

Tag: #news

  • MapMyCrop Raises US$1.8 Million in Pre-Series A Funding led by YourNest Venture Capital

    MapMyCrop, the world’s first MaaS-based 360-degree Imagery Agro suite, has announced the closure of its Seed funding round, raising $1.8 million. The round was led by YourNest Venture Capital with a contribution from other angel investors, including Eaglewings Ventures. The investment will be used to expand operations, close pilot orders, strengthen the sales and operations team, and advance the platform’s technology. The company is also planning to launch new solutions, including an AI-based farm credit score tool and a dedicated forest monitoring system. The funding comes as part of the YourNest-SanchiConnect Velocity Program 2024, an accelerator initiative to support high-growth DeepTech startups.

    MapMyCrop is positioned as the world’s first 360-degree imagery agro suite, centralising critical agricultural data into a single, user-friendly platform. With a mission to make precision farming accessible to farmers of all scales, the company currently supports over 4.7 million farmers globally and collaborates with organisations such as the US FDA on crop monitoring and sustainability initiatives.

    Headquartered in New York, MapMyCrop was inspired by a personal challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unable to visit his farm due to lockdown restrictions, Swapnil Jadhav, leveraging his expertise in geoinformatics, used satellite imagery to monitor his farm remotely. Encouraged by the results, he collaborated with co-founder Rajesh Shirole to refine the technology further, ultimately creating MapMyCrop. The platform combines satellite imagery, IoT and AI-driven insights to help farmers and enterprises monitor, predict and optimise crop health with unmatched precision.

    Swapnil Jadhav, Founder & CEO of MapMyCrop, said, “This investment is a step towards transforming agriculture into a high-precision, data-driven industry that benefits farmers, enterprises, and the planet. Our plan is to scale our cutting-edge solutions, delivering unparalleled accuracy and impact to drive sustainability and productivity. Together, we are shaping the future of farming, making innovation accessible to millions worldwide.”

    Girish Shivani, Executive Director & Fund Manager, YourNest Venture Capital, commented, “Investing in MapMyCrop offers us a compelling opportunity to capitalise on the future of sustainable agriculture. Their scalable, user-friendly satellite-based solution provides farms with precise insights for optimised yields, overcoming traditional AgriTech limitations. This approach addresses food security and climate change, driving market growth and improving farmer livelihoods. Their global presence and the customers across multiple geographies gives them the launchpad to scale exponentially.”

    As part of its growth strategy, the company aims to penetrate emerging markets in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia while deepening its presence in the US and Europe. The company is also working on localised solutions for different regions, addressing specific agricultural challenges with tailored AI-driven insights.

    MapMyCrop is tapping into the rapidly growing AgriTech market, estimated to reach $45 billion globally by 2028. By offering scalable, affordable and high-accuracy solutions to farmers worldwide, the company is filling critical gaps in the market, such as cost, complexity and poor scalability of existing technologies.

    About MapMyCrop:
    Map My Crop, the leading brand of Hardcastle Agrotech Solutions Inc., is pioneering AgriTech innovation globally, with offices across New York, Pune, London, and Singapore. With our world-first 360-degree Imagery Agro Suite and cutting-edge AI/ML, we’ve become a trusted partner to over 4 million farmers and 30+ agro-enterprises. Our groundbreaking solutions drive sustainable farming practices worldwide. MapMyCrop is the leading AI-Satellite Imagery Precision Agriculture Platform designed for comprehensive field monitoring. It boasts the world’s first complete 360-degree Imagery Agro Suite, which includes five suites: onboarding, crop monitoring, detection, prediction and sustainable agriculture add-ons. Our onboarding suite offers automated crop field boundary delineation, crop type detection, and a historical data repository for easy land use comparison.

    About YourNest:
    YourNest, established in 2011 as a technology-focused Pre-Series A fund house, has pioneered investing in DeepTech and IP-led product innovations. Focused on emerging technologies to enhance the way mankind leverages the value of time, YourNest Innovative Products VC Fund III aims to create an opportunity for Indian entrepreneurs to scale into global markets. Many of YourNest’s portfolio companies across its three funds have secured patents and attracted Fortune 500 Companies as customers. In its first Fund, YourNest has provided a DPI of 1.9x with five complete exits and one partial exit. Its second Fund is fully invested with one full exit and two partial exits. YourNest’s funds consistently feature amongst the best-performing AIFs as per the CRISIL AIF Performance Reports.

    About Sanchi Connect:
    Sanchi Connect is a leading accelerator and community for DeepTech startups, investors, mentors and key stakeholders. Backed by Baring PE partners and prominent VCs, and headquartered in Noida, the company has invested in IP-led pre-seed startups earlier through its thematic accelerator cohorts, and also serves multiple corporates in managing their startup-centric programs and open innovation needs.

  • Cellecor Gadgets Limited partners with Zepto to expand Quick Commerce presence

    New Delhi, 06th March 2025: Cellecor Gadgets Limited, one of India’s fastest-growing consumer electronics brands, has partnered with Zepto, India’s leading quick commerce platform, to enable users to purchase Cellecor’s range of products seamlessly through Zepto’s rapid delivery network.

    Through this partnership, Cellecor aims to enhance accessibility and convenience for its customers, ensuring they can get their favorite gadgets delivered almost instantly. The move aligns with Cellecor’s commitment to providing advance technology, affordability, and seamless customer experiences.

    This collaboration marks another milestone in Cellecor’s journey towards becoming a household name in India, reinforcing its presence in both offline and online retail channels. Cellecor Gadgets Limited is one of India’s leading consumer electronics brands, offering a diverse portfolio of smart gadgets, electronics, and home & kitchen appliances. With a strong distribution network across the country and a commitment to innovation and quality, Cellecor is rapidly becoming a preferred choice for Indian consumers.

    Zepto, founded in 2021, has transformed India’s quick commerce space with its advanced technology and strategically optimised delivery hubs. With a presence in 50+ cities and an extensive catalog of 45,000+ products, Zepto delivers essentials—including groceries, electronics, beauty products, and more—within 10 minutes, redefining convenience and efficiency in online shopping.

    About Cellecor Gadgets Limited

    Cellecor Gadgets Limited’s journey in the electronics device business, and selling products in its own brand, including Smart TVs, Smart Gadgets, Wearables, Mobile Phones, Home and Kitchen Appliances, and more outsourced from various electronic assemblers and manufacturers, started in 2012 as M/s Unity Communications-its founder Mr. Ravi Agarwal’s proprietorship firm. The company is promoted and managed with an enduring sustainable business strategy, wherein the company aims to synergetic amalgamate business potential embedded in the ever-growing demand for electronic products with a modern business approach of sourcing, producing, and marketing with an objective to provide quality products at affordable prices.

    Today, Cellecor Gadgets Ltd is a leading name in the consumer electronics industry, known for its innovative and cutting-edge technology. With a commitment to making happiness affordable, Cellecor offers a diverse range of products, including mobile phones, smart TVs, speakers, neckbands, TWS, soundbars, smartwatches, Washing Machines, and many more.

    Zepto Business Model | How Zepto Makes Money | Zepto Revenue Model | USP | SWOT Analysis
    Through this article, we will go over the basics of Zepto, including its business model, how it generates revenue, revenue model, USP, SWOT Analysis, and more.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • MS Dhoni Backed Garuda Aerospace Invests in Indigenous Defence Drone Startup Zuppa

    India’s most valuable drone startup, Garuda Aerospace, announces a strategic investment in Zuppa, an indigenous deep-tech startup specializing in cyber-secure drones and advanced autopilot systems. Garuda Aerospace’s investment in Zuppa marks a major milestone in strengthening the Make in India drone ecosystem, aligning with the government’s vision of advancing innovative indigenous defence technologies. 

    Through this investment, Garuda Aerospace and Zuppa now partner to drive innovation, expand market reach, and position India as a global leader in secure drone technology. As the only Indian company among a select seven worldwide with proprietary deep-tech in secure autopilot systems, vital for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), Zuppa brings unmatched expertise. Focused on joint development and market expansion, this collaboration will fast-track next-generation drone solutions. Zuppa leads in cyber-secure autopilot advancements, while Garuda Aerospace scales adoption through its strengths in financing, operations, and customer acquisition. 

    Speaking on the company’s investment in Zuppa, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder & CEO of Garuda Aerospace, said “At Garuda Aerospace, we strive hard with concentrated efforts to not just be at the forefront of India’s drone revolution but also in ensuring we have state of the art secure and safe technologies to offer. Our investment in Zuppa aligns with our vision of strengthening our defence capabilities and offering through homegrown, secure, and cutting-edge solutions. This investment reinforces our focus on building a robust, self-sufficient drone ecosystem that can cater to both domestic and global markets.”

    Sai Pattabiram, Founder and Managing Director of Zuppa, stated, “India has a unique opportunity to emerge as a ‘Global Hub for Secure Drones by 2030.’ However, achieving this goal requires the ecosystem to shift from assembling imported components to a well-structured, cooperative, tiered system similar to those in the aerospace and automotive industries. This partnership between two pioneering Indian drone companies sets a benchmark for future collaborations, driving the growth of the indigenous drone sector.”

    Venkatesh Sai, Co-founder and Technical Director at Zuppa, added, “This partnership holds immense potential for mutual success. Our collaboration with Garuda Aerospace is a true win-win, enabling us to focus on core technological advancements and maintain our competitive edge in autopilot and cyber-secure drone technology. Meanwhile, Garuda Aerospace leverages its strengths in financing, operations, and customer acquisition to drive expansion across diverse applications and geographies.”

    With the government’s strong push for Atmanirbhar Bharat and growing strategic partnerships in defence, Garuda Aerospace’s investment in Zuppa signals a transformative shift in India’s drone industry. The company partnered with Tata Elxsi to establish a design and engineering center for developing indigenous drone technologies, supporting defence, agriculture, and smart cities under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Strengthening its commitment, Garuda Aerospace also launched eight advanced drones for defence, safety, and logistics at Aero India 2025, showcasing cutting-edge technology for disaster management and military operations this year. Additionally, in a key discussion with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the company outlined its vision to become a market leader in the defence drone segment within two years.

    About Garuda Aerospace 

    Garuda Aerospace is India’s leading Drone tech start-up focused on disrupting two major multi-billion-dollar sectors, Precision Agri Tech and Industry 4.0 upgradation. Garuda Aerospace is asset-light, recession-proof, and agnostic and focuses on eliminating labourers in the agricultural field with drones focusing on designing, building, and customisation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Founded in 2015 with a team of 5, Garuda has scaled to a 200+ member team, having the largest drone fleet in India with over 400 drones and 500 pilots operating in 84 cities.

    Garuda Aerospace manufactures 30 types of drones and offers 50 types of services. Having served over 750 clients, including TATA, Godrej, Adani, Reliance, Swiggy, Flipkart, Delhivery, L&T, Survey of India, SAIL, NTPC, IOCL, Smart cities, Intel, Amazon, Wipro, IISC, MIT Boston, NHAI for various projects, the company recently partnered with global giants such as Lockheed Martin, Cognizant and Elbit Systems.

    Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji launched the drone yatra, where 100 drones were flagged off simultaneously across 100 villages in India. Garuda Aerospace is the first drone company to get DGCA approvals for Type Certification and Remote Pilot Training Organisation. Garuda is on a mission to impact 1 billion lives positively using affordable precision Drone Technology. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has invested in the company and is the Brand Ambassador.

    List of MS Dhoni Investments: From Cricket to Business – A Look at His Strategic Moves
    MS Dhoni is not only famous for ruling the cricketing world but is also known for his great investment skills. Explore the list of Dhoni’s investments in companies. Check out MS Dhoni’s investment portfolio.
    StartupTalkyMuskaan Kapoor

  • Jabil to Invest $125 Million to Establish Silicon Photonics Unit in Gujarat

    According to a senior Jabil official on 6 March, the US electronics manufacturer Jabil wants to invest about $125 million to establish a silicon photonics production facility in Gujarat. Jabil has decades of experience in silicon photonics technologies, according to Matt Crowley, Executive Vice President, Global Business Unit, who spoke at the IESA Vision Summit. According to Crowley, the company is thrilled to declare that it intends to establish a new factory in Gujarat. Today, the business is thrilled to announce a Memorandum of Understanding specifically for the fabrication of silicon photonics in Gujarat.

    This year, the factory will be in operation. In order to establish the factory, the firm and the Gujarati government signed a memorandum of agreement at the event. According to Crowley, Jabil began operations in India in 2003 and currently has over 75,000 employees there. He went on to say that Jabil thinks photonics has a lot of potential in cutting-edge fields, including medicine, driverless cars, 5G networks, and artificial intelligence applications. He described India as the “right spot for investments to scale,” citing the nation’s robust labour market, expanding economy, and government’s “willingness” to make investments.

    Deals Worth INR15000 Cr Signed by Gujarat Government

    On the first day of the massive semiconductor conference in Gandhinagar, the Gujarat government signed proposals with both domestic and foreign companies totalling INR 15,000 Cr. Of this, NextGen alone pledged INR 10,000 Cr to establish an optoelectronics facility and compound semiconductor fabrication in the state. On the first day of the conference, Mona Khandhar, principal secretary in the state’s department of science and technology, stated that several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) indicating a possible investment of INR 15,000 Cr in Gujarat’s semiconductor sector were signed with stakeholders, including the state government. Furthermore, Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology reportedly revealed plans to invest more than INR 500 Cr to establish a new electronics manufacturing services facility in the state. In the meantime, IIT Gandhinagar and Tata Electronics inked a deal to improve semiconductor-related skills. In addition, a three-way Memorandum of Understanding was signed for display semiconductors between Himax Technologies, Taiwanese company PSMC, and Tata Electronics.

    Gujarat Preferred Destination for Semi-Conductor Manufacturers

    According to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat has become the most popular place in India to establish semiconductor plants, and the state is ready to join the global semiconductor supply chain. Patel emphasised Gujarat’s rise as a technology powerhouse while speaking at the three-day Gujarat SemiConnect 2025 in Gandhinagar. He added that Gujarat had established a Global Capability Centre Policy to promote AI, machine learning, analytics, and related industries, and that under the Prime Minister’s direction, India is solidifying its position globally in cutting-edge fields like semiconductors, AI, machine learning, and drone technology. By highlighting Gujarat’s potential as a desirable travel destination, the three-day event aims to attract investments, stimulate capital inflow into the state’s semiconductor industry, integrate regional businesses into global value chains, and strengthen the state’s ability to innovate in the semiconductor sector.

  • Ambani’s Reliance Retail Plans to Reduce Staff and Limit Growth

    Mukesh Ambani and his daughter Isha Ambani are reportedly considering job and cost reductions as sales of Reliance Retail declines sharply. This includes reducing marketing expenditures, postponing the opening of new stores, combining Reliance Brands Ltd. with the bigger retail company, and reevaluating international brand alliances. Additionally, higher-paying staff will only be employed with the chairman’s office’s consent. According to a media agency, Reliance Retail is concerned about a slowdown in sales after brokers valued the company at only $50 billion, half of what it was worth when it raised capital two years ago.

    Cutting Down on Expenses

    According to the media agency’s claim, which cited company documents, Reliance Retail reduced the number of new stores it opened and laid off 38,000 workers in 2024. The business also reduced marketing expenditures on its web platform called Ajio. Recruiting staff members making more than $22,890 a year now requires direct approval from Ambani’s office as of October. Even hiring more employees than the authorised plan requires permission from V. Subramaniam, Managing Director of Reliance Retail. Previously, lower-level supervisors were in charge of making these choices. The report further states that these changes are an attempt to demonstrate to investors that the business is progressing, particularly in light of the fact that last year a number of brokerages, including Sanford C. Bernstein and Kotak Institutional Equities, reduced its valuation.

    Decline in Sales in Retail Sector

    Sales growth in organised retail categories like clothing, footwear, cosmetics, and QSR fell to a mid-single digit last year, down from 15% in 2022, according to the Retailers Association of India (RAI). The majority of merchants consequently shut down a number of unprofitable locations; this trend is anticipated to continue as businesses look to increase profitability. Businesses attribute the slowdown in spending to a number of causes, including high food inflation, low pay increases, consumer debt, a sluggish pace of job creation, and rising housing costs and rental prices. At the same time, prices continued to rise, particularly for real estate.Since these leases are long-term—seven to nine years—and corporations were hesitant to sign them, the market saw rental prices sort of soar following FY23 and the COVID boost.

    As a result, most of the companies chose to slow down. Simply hitting a number and signing a document that will later come back to haunt the company is not a sensible course of action. Kaushal Parekh, chief financial officer at Metro Brands, elaborated on that point by saying that the market is currently witnessing a minor falling off in terms of rental expectations. Players are thus given the chance to press the paddle. Additionally, businesses have consistently stated that you may notice retailers moving a little more slowly when there is excessive market enthusiasm. Additionally, businesses will endeavour to promote the greatest rental deals when they observe the market getting a little more pessimistic and the environment improving.

  • With Tesseract, Ultraviolette Joins the E-Scooter Market

    At its FAST FORWARD India ’25 Product and Technology exhibition, EV manufacturer Ultraviolette unveiled its latest motorcycle model, Shockwave, along with Tesseract, the first scooter in its lineup. Among its other features, the Tesseract has a range of 261 kilometres, an acceleration time of 2.9 seconds from 0 to 60 miles per hour, and a top speed of 125 kmph. It was first offered for INR 1.45 lakh, with the first 10,000 buyers receiving it for INR 1.2 lakh. In addition, the scooter has Omnisense mirrors, an integrated radar and dashcam, and safety features like lane change, blind spot identification, overtaking assistance, and real-time collision alerts. According to the manufacturer, it also has dynamic regen and traction control for increased safety and energy efficiency.

    Shockwave Motorcycle

    Shockwave is a motorcycle with a top speed of 120 kmph and a range of 165 km. It weighs 120 kg and has a rear wheel torque of 505 Nm. In 2.9 seconds, the bike can go from 0 to 60. Shockwave has a launch price of INR 1.75 lakh, and the first 1,000 clients can purchase it for roughly INR 1.5 lakh. For both vehicles, prebooking has already started. According to Ultraviolette’s CEO and co-founder, Narayan Subramaniam, the company’s top-down strategy has allowed it to leverage the fundamental technology it has created over the previous seven years. With its distinctive appearance, segment-defining features, and category-leading performance, the brand’s revolutionary scooter and lightweight motorbike platform promises an unmatched riding experience. Ultraviolette is happy to showcase this portfolio on a national and international level, emphasising technical brilliance, indigenous technological acumen, and Indian research and development. Deliveries of both the vehicles will begin from first quarter of 2026.

    India’s EV Vehicle Sector

    In 2025, it is anticipated that the number of electric vehicle (EV) debuts in India will surpass that of petrol and diesel automobile launches. Of the 28 scheduled car releases, 18 are electric. Compared to the four to five EV models that were introduced yearly over the previous two years, this is a substantial increase. Additionally, it outpaces the 11 and 15 total vehicle debuts (including models with internal combustion engines and electric vehicles) in 2023 and 2024, respectively. It is anticipated that the auto industry will rise due to zero-emission vehicles, which will account for more than half of the increase in sales.

    This year, analysts predict that 200,000 more passenger vehicles will be sold thanks to EVs. According to a media report, this will increase the proportion of EV sales to 4% of all car sales by the end of 2025. By 2030, the market for electric vehicles is anticipated to reach 932,000 units, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43%. It is anticipated that electric SUVs will account for 61% of this demand. In contrast, only 107,000 EVs were sold in 2024, compared to almost 4.3 million cars—including sedans and SUVs—sold throughout India.

  • Info Edge-Backed NoPaperForms Appoints Bankers and Starts the IPO Process

    For its impending initial public offering (IPO), NoPaperForms has hired two investment bankers. The company offers SaaS-based enrolment automation solutions under the Meritto name, has hired two investment bankers. According to a media report, which cited people familiar with the situation, the Naveen Goyal-led business has chosen IIFL Capital and SBI Capital for its initial public offering (IPO), which is anticipated to cost between INR 500 Cr and INR 600 Cr. By the end of this year, the Gurugram-based business intends to launch on the stock market. According to the report, the company is looking for a valuation of INR 2,000 Cr and may submit draft IPO papers in the upcoming months. In the midst of the IPO preparations, Info Edge, the company’s current investor, is unlikely to sell its shares in the business.

    How NoPaperForms Operate?

    NoPaperForms was established in 2017 by Goyal and Suraj Sapra to assist edtech companies in streamlining their student enrolment and money-collecting processes. Meritto and Collexo are the company’s two main products. Organisations can access solutions related to the recruitment and enrolment of students under Meritto. Enrolment cloud, education CRM, application and post-application process management, including group discussions and in-person interviews, fee collecting, and a live chat platform are just a few of the services provided by this product arm. Conversely, Collexo provides finance and payment solutions for the education industry. Among the services it provides are automated fee collection, student EMI options, automatic fee deduction on due dates, and more.

    More than 1200 academic institutions, including Manipal University, Shiv Nadar University, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, and PhysicsWallah, are reportedly served by NoPaperForms. Notably, the business last year extended its offerings in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.

    Roller-Coaster Ride for India’s Edtech Sector

    In recent years, there have been challenges in India’s edtech industry. BYJU’s is a well-known illustration of how offline institutions dominate the education market and how startups are fighting for survival. A bright spot for the edtech sector, however, is PhysicsWallah, which plans to go public by the end of 2025. The edtech giant transformed into a public company in December of last year in anticipation of its $400–$500 million initial public offering. Additionally, the business has chosen investment bankers to oversee its public offering.

    Indian startups Opting For IPO

    According to a survey by venture debt firm InnoVen Capital, despite global obstacles, a number of high-quality startup companies are expected to go public in 2025, and the funding environment is also expected to improve this year. Additionally, it stated that 47% of the 100 startup entrepreneurs who took part in the study anticipate hiring to pick up speed this year. According to the India Startup Outlook Report, 63% of people who tried to raise money in 2024 had a positive experience. Seventy-nine percent of founders believe that by 2025, the fundraising climate will improve. According to the report, 73% of startup founders now choose domestic initial public offerings (IPOs) as their preferred exit strategy, up from 64% in 2023. According to the report, 28% of respondents think AI would significantly affect their business models over the next two to three years, mainly in the fintech and enterprise sectors, given the speed at which AI capabilities are developing. Hiring is also anticipated to increase in 2025.

  • By June, Satellite Internet Services Might be Introduced in India

    Satellite internet may be available in Indian skies as early as June. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is finalising a series of recommendations regarding the cost and usage of satellite communications that have been in the works for almost two years. The introduction of a framework and the distribution of spectrum will pave the way for Elon Musk’s Starlink, Sunil Bharti Mittal’s Bharti Airtel, and Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio Infocomm to launch satellite internet services. Several media outlets have reported that the suggestions are almost complete. Because the proposals will include information on the revenue-sharing model of satcom services, the pricing and allocation of spectrum, and other relevant regulations, the regulator is taking its time.

     TRAI wants to swiftly submit the pricing and operational framework to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for approval with minimal opposition after it is released. TRAI may present its proposals in March, and the Digital Communications Commission is expected to adopt them with minimal modification following a brief consultation period. This will organise the auction procedure, which, including operator final testing, should take no more than two to three months. Satellite service providers should begin making money by June as well.

    Why India’s Satcom Battle is Getting Intense?

    Satcom uses satellites that link to a ground-based receiver that can provide data to gadgets like computers and cell phones. Between 2020 and 2022, India’s space industry was liberalised to grant access to satellite infrastructure and spectrum. Reliance Jio was persuaded to enter into a cooperative venture with Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES in February 2022 by the prospect of these services. A month prior, Bharti Airtel and Hughes Communications India, its joint venture partner, had inked a distribution agreement with OneWeb in the United Kingdom. OneWeb was purchased by Eutelsat of France in September 2023. Because it owned all of OneWeb’s India division, Airtel continued to be the largest shareholder of the newly established company after the purchase was completed. The third major rival in this market is Musk’s satellite internet services company, Starlink. Due to the Centre’s regulations, preorders were halted even though the service had briefly begun to receive security deposits from clients in preparation for a launch. Starlink has not yet received its Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence.

    Pricing is the Key

    At a press conference held during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 3, Union telecoms minister Jyotiraditya Scindia declared that all satcom operators “will be treated equally” and that no one will receive preferential treatment. Analysts and industry participants anticipate the implementation of satcom services to occur soon as well, but they stress that cost is a crucial consideration. While the Telecommunications Act guarantees administrative allocation, which should result in the TRAI framework being implemented shortly, T.V. Ramachandran, president of the Broadband India Forum, stated that nominal pricing is necessary to guarantee access to the greatest number of users who would otherwise remain unconnected. An executive of the Airtel-OneWeb partnership reportedly told the media that Bharti Airtel has been prepared with its services, to the point where it can launch its operations in a very short amount of time. While the company’s satellite constellation and network are operational for enterprise use, regulatory uncertainty has only been impeding the sector.

  • Microsoft’s Antitrust Allegations are Dismissed by CCI

    An antitrust action against Microsoft for including its antivirus software with the Windows 10 operating system (OS) has been dropped by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). According to the regulator, there is no proof that Microsoft has imposed any limitations or requirements on customers’ usage of the antivirus program Microsoft Defender. According to the ruling, customers are allowed to install and utilise whatever third-party antivirus software they like, free from contractual or technical restrictions. The Commission does not believe that Microsoft has violated any of the provisions of section 4 of the Competition Act. Section 4 of the Act forbids companies from abusing their position as the market leader.

    What Filed Complaint States?

    When Microsoft debuted its Windows 10 operating system in 2015, the informant claimed in a complaint against the company that Microsoft Defender was pre-installed. According to the complaint, third-party developers may have their software pre-installed through agreements, but not pre-activated, because Windows devices are only permitted to have one default antivirus app. For an antivirus program to function, including to carry out automated background system scans—a key characteristic that sets antivirus software apart—it must be set as the default. It went on to say that the default antivirus program has access to crucial functions like automatic updates, real-time protection, and on-demand scanning, but third-party apps without default status cannot. Because of their incapacity to perform at their best, third-party antivirus programs may find it difficult to compete and may eventually be removed from devices.

    Response from Microsoft

    Microsoft defended itself by claiming that Microsoft Defender is a fundamental security component built into the Windows OS that offers real-time protection rather than a stand-alone offering. Microsoft underlined that Defender comes pre-installed on Windows OS and is not advertised or sold separately, so consumers do not have to pay more for it. Furthermore, Microsoft asserted that it does not hold a dominating position in the relevant market and that there is no compelling element requiring Windows customers to use Microsoft Defender as their only or primary antivirus program.

    Who is CCI?

    In India, the CCI serves as the competition watchdog. Although the Commission was created in 2003, it wasn’t until 2009 that it was completely operational. By actively engaging with all stakeholders, the government, and international jurisdiction, it seeks to create a competitive environment in the Indian economy. Preventing anti-competitive behaviour, fostering and maintaining market competition, safeguarding consumer interests, and promoting freedom of trade are the goals of the Commission.

  • Adani Wilmar will Purchase G.D. Foods, Manufacturer of Tops Ketchup

    On February 4, the packaged goods business Adani Wilmar Ltd. agreed to acquire G.D. Foods Manufacturing (India) Pvt. Ltd., a smaller competitor that produces Tops noodles and ketchup. According to a stock exchange filing by Adani Wilmar, the acquisition would be carried out in many phases, with 80% of the shares to be purchased in the first tranche at an enterprise value of INR 603 crore and the remaining 20% to be purchased over the following three years. The Adani Group had amassed a $1 billion war fund for acquisitions to expand the conglomerate’s food and packaged goods division, according to a September media report.

    The Tops brand, owned by G.D. Foods, was established in 1984 and offers a variety of products, including tomato sauce, snack sauce, speciality and culinary sauces, pickles, jams, noodles, instant mixes, corn and chocolate flakes, and cooking supplies like vinegar, baking powder, cake mix, and corn flour. With more than 150,000 retail locations and its headquarters in Delhi, the corporation primarily sells in seven North Indian states.

    Specifics of the Acquisition Deal

    G.D. Foods made INR 386 crore in revenue and INR 32 crore in EBITDA in 2023–2024. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation is known as EBITDA. The first tranche is anticipated to close in 60 days, and the acquisition is contingent upon fulfilling standard closing conditions. Either internal accruals or the revenues from a public listing will finance the deal. The agreement represents Adani Wilmar’s approach to meeting the changing demands of Indian homes. As the industry develops, reputable national food FMCG brands are clearly needed to provide high-quality, reasonably priced products that meet the basic requirements of Indian kitchens, according to Angshu Mallick, managing director and chief executive of Adani Wilmar. Adani Wilmar’s best-in-class manufacturing operations and wide distribution network are essential for achieving this.

    About Adani Wilmar

    The Adani Group of India and the Wilmar Group of Singapore have partnered to form Adani Wilmar. Edible oil, wheat flour, rice, legumes, besan, and sugar are among the kitchen necessities that the company sells. It markets its goods under the Fortune and Kohinoor labels. Mallick went on to say that the business will make additional investments in the brand and greatly expand the reach of all of its products’ distribution. The margin-accretive goods will be a major addition to Adani Wilmar’s portfolio as a result of this acquisition. The company’s 2023–24 sales were INR 51,262 crore; during the same period, its profit decreased from INR 582 crore to INR 148 crore. In the market for packaged goods, Adani Wilmar has competition from businesses like Marico Ltd., ITC Ltd., and Tata Consumer Products Ltd.