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Tag: #news

  • Aravam Tech Solutions Introduces Triptronic: Smart Mobility Solution to Corporate Employee Transportation

    Triptronic is a cutting-edge app developed by Aravam Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd to meet the increasing need for tech-driven, eco-friendly, and effective employee transportation solutions for companies. During the launch ceremony, the brand demonstrated how Triptronic combines electric vehicles, cutting-edge technology, and real-time updates to provide a holistic solution catered to business travel requirements. Triptronic began operating throughout India in order to satisfy the increasing demand. Better corporate mobility solutions are becoming more and more necessary as more workers return to their offices and companies depend on organised transportation.

    In order to provide businesses with affordable and environmentally friendly transportation, the company also hopes to grow worldwide by entering the United Arab Emirates and Southeast Asia. Although India’s ride-hailing sector is just 7% developed, compared to 40% in China and 28% in the United States, it has enormous growth potential and is valued at $13.4 billion. Triptronic hopes to service more corporate clients and treble its revenue by expanding into new markets.

    Combination of Three Apps Forms Triptonic

    The three main apps that make up Triptronic are the Employee App, which lets staff members book, track, and pay for rides, get real-time updates, and give feedback; the Driver App, which helps drivers manage routes, assignments, and environmentally friendly travel options; and the Supervisor App, which lets companies keep an eye on staff travel in real-time, track cars, control costs, and optimise routes for greater efficiency.

    According to Triptronic’s founder, Ankush Mendiratta, companies today seek to cut expenses, protect workers, and implement environmentally friendly transportation options. With a clever, technologically advanced platform that streamlines operations, reduces transportation expenses, and lessens its environmental effect, Triptronic assists them in achieving this. As the company develops, it intends to raise $2 million in capital to broaden its offerings, encourage the use of EVs, and penetrate international markets. In the next five years, the company hopes to be valued between $100 and $125 million with these investments. India’s economy is predicted to quadruple from $3 trillion in 2023 to $6 trillion by 2030, which is in line with this. Triptronic will continue to develop, enhance its offerings, and become a robust, long-lasting company that benefits its partners, investors, and clients by fortifying its financial position.

    The demand for effective, environmentally friendly transportation is rising as companies adopt smarter mobility solutions, according to Sorabh Kothari, co-founder of Triptronic. Triptronic lowers expenses, streamlines logistics, and assists businesses in implementing sustainable practices. With corporate services accounting for 80% of our income, the brand hopes to onboard more than 50 corporate clients over the course of the next two years. Triptronic is poised to take a significant chunk of the expanding employee transport industry in India, which is estimated to be worth over $1 billion. Beyond efficiency, its mission is to make business travel more economical, easier, and environmentally friendly. Businesses that select Triptronic are selecting sustainability and innovation for their employees.

    Offering Seamless, Cost-Effective, and Sustainable Employee Transportation

    Triptronic helps companies meet the growing need for smooth, economical, and environmentally friendly staff mobility. By integrating electric vehicles (EVs), it helps businesses to better plan routes, monitor and control travel costs, and guarantee safe, on-time commutes—all while lowering carbon emissions. The Triptronic platform enhances the overall work experience for employees while assisting companies in achieving their sustainability objectives.

    The future of corporate transportation is about sustainability, growth, and shared success, according to Sahil Mendiratta, co-founder of Triptronic. In order to boost their income and long-term stability, the company wants to assist 20% of its vendor partners in owning their cars by 2027 through finance support. Additionally, the business is launching a Loyalty & Earnings Growth Model to provide superior incentives, profit-sharing, and special advantages to highly regarded vendor partners.

    Zaggle and Google Team Up to Boost Business Operations
    Zaggle collaborates with Google to enhance business operations, leveraging advanced technology to drive efficiency and innovation.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • IRDAI Introduces Bima-ASBA Through UPI to Facilitate the Payment of Insurance Premiums

    One-Time Mandate (OTM) via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is now permitted for insurance businesses by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). Policyholders will be able to block money in their bank accounts for particular transactions thanks to this function. According to IRDAI, funds are transferred from the prospect to the insurer only after an insurance policy is issued under the Bima Applications Supported by Blocked Amount (Bima-ASBA) program. With this service, insurers can provide a one-time order to block a specific amount in the concerned prospect’s bank account via UPI. It further said that only if the insurer accepts the request will the money for the insurance premium be deducted. The sum will be unblocked and made accessible to the prospect in the event that the insurer rejects the proposal.

    Facility is Open for Both Health and Life Insurance

    Insurers are required to provide the facility to both life and health insurance policyholders and have been instructed to provide a proposal form to policyholders via a standard declaration in order to block the amount through UPI. To be included in the request for approval, the Life and General Insurance Councils must both release a standard declaration within a week following IRDAI’s circular. Additionally, the regulator stated that policyholders who choose not to use Bima-ASBA will not have their bids denied.

    According to the circular, insurance firms must collaborate with several banks, have suitable procedures and systems in place, and have the required contracts with partner banks. According to the relevant statutes and legislation, this is necessary for the creation of the OTM by UPI exclusively in the insurer’s favour and for the prospect’s verification through a one-time mandate. The OTM has a maximum validity duration of 14 days or until the underwriting decision, whichever comes first.

    Amount Blocking Cycle

    After 14 days have passed after the funds were first stopped, or within one working day of the proposal form’s non-acceptance date, the sum under Bima-ASBA will automatically be unblocked. The insurer must use the facility to change the mandate with the prospect’s one-time approval or authorisation if the premium to be charged exceeds the banned amount. The insurer will automatically unblock the blocked amount through the partner bank if the application is not processed within 14 days. Customers will have access to this facility by March 1, 2025, at the latest.

    ITU and DoT Partner to Develop AI-Powered Digital Twins
    ITU and DoT collaborate to develop AI-powered digital twins, enhancing virtual modeling and simulation capabilities for smarter decision-making.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • Zaggle and Google Collaborate to Enhance Business Operations

    Through its Indian distributor, Redington (India) Limited, SaaS fintech giant Zaggle has teamed up with Google to launch a scheme that would increase business productivity while giving staff members access to high-end technology through structured lease alternatives. By integrating with Zaggle’s employee benefits plan, this application, Smart Employee Purchase (EPP+), will assist companies in cost management and enhancing employee engagement. In terms of business optimisation, companies can maximise cash flow by using structured leasing models to take advantage of tax benefits and lease payments that are predictable. In addition, risks will be reduced with the aid of enterprise-grade security, frequent upgrades, and full lifecycle management. Additionally, companies will be able to purchase and manage devices’ lifecycles with a single provider.

    With the five-year deal, Redington will act as a middleman between Google and Zaggle in a domestic relationship. The business affirmed that there are no related party transactions involved in the agreement and that Redington is not of interest to promoters or promoter group entities.

    How Collaboration can Benefit Employees?

    Employee benefits include discounted access to Google Pixel devices, which come with theft and ADLD (Accidental Damage and Liquid Damage) coverage. Compared to market prices, workers in higher tax groups could save up to 35%. The concept promises to improve financial planning by lowering the total cost of ownership and providing tax savings through salary packaging. According to Godkhindi, managing director and CEO of Zaggle, the company is providing organisations with a complete device management solution that combines cost-effectiveness, security, and easy administration through the Smart Employee Purchase (EPP+) program. This program gives businesses the ability to make investments in their employees, increasing employee satisfaction and engagement while making sure they are prepared for the future.

    Recent Developments at Zaggle

    Raj Narayanam founded Zaggle in 2011, and the company now offers businesses solutions for payments, costs, and corporate employee perks. It provides a variety of SaaS tools, including Zaggle Propel for employee incentives and rewards, Zaggle EMS for cost management, and Zaggle Save for managing expenses and rewards. The company claimed to have over 3,300 clients at the end of Q3 FY25, including BigBasket, Mumbai Metro One, Zomato’s Blinkit, and HT Media. The board recently approved the SaaS giant’s all-cash acquisition of a 16.67% share in Mobileware Technologies Private Limited, a supplier of digital payments services. In addition, Zaggle’s third-quarter (Q3) financial results for the fiscal year 2024–2025 (FY25) showed excellent financial performance. For the quarter in question, its consolidated profit increased 30% year over year (YoY) to INR 19.74 Cr. Similarly, in Q3 FY25, operating revenue jumped 69% YoY to INR 336.89 Cr.

    ‘Made-in-India’ Chip Set for Launch by Sep/Oct: Vaishnaw
    Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announces that India’s first indigenous semiconductor chip will be introduced by September-October, marking a major tech milestone.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • Bira’s Rebranding Issues: Losing INR 80 Crores After Dropping “Private”

    Prior to its anticipated 2026 IPO, the firm that makes Bira 91 beer rebranded itself from B9 Beverages Private Ltd. to B9 Beverages Ltd. According to a media report, the company had to write off INR 80 crore in inventory and cease sales for a few months as a result of this name change, which proved to be quite costly. There were problems with compliance until a new product label was registered. According to the research, this led to a 22% decline in revenue and a 68% increase in losses during the fiscal year 2023–2024.

    IPO for Generating Adequate Working Capital

    The IPO strategy was implemented at a time when craft beer producers, microbreweries, and international breweries introducing premium brands in India’s expanding market were posing a serious threat. The company planned the IPO to generate new finances for its expansion objectives, stating that beer requires a significant level of working capital allocation and capital investment to grow. In 2023 alone, the beer sector made INR 92,324 crore in GDP contributions to India. According to a media citation, B9 Beverages experienced a net loss of INR 748 crore in 2023–2024, surpassing even its total sales of INR 638 crore. According to Ankur Jain, the founder of B9 Beverages, the business had to re-register labels and reapply across states for 4-6 months as a result of the name change, which led to absolutely no sales for several months even though there was a demand for its products.

    Tough Time Ahead

    In its first greenfield project in ten years, United Breweries, owned by the multinational conglomerate Heineken, said on 14 February that it would invest INR 750 crore in a new brewery in Uttar Pradesh. Carlsberg, a Danish beer company, stated that it plans to invest more in India by 2025. At a time when more consumers are looking for craft alternatives to major labels, B9 Beverages has lost money and maybe market share as a result of its name change error.

    History of Bira

    Due to cost savings, Bira began brewing in India after first importing the Hefeweizen-style beverage from Belgium ten years ago. Eventually, six outside breweries were added. According to the report, new companies like Bira make a substantial contribution to the industry not just through sales but also by launching creative goods and cutting-edge strategies.

    Vinod Giri, Director General of the Brewers Association of India (BAI), was mentioned in a media article as saying that these enterprises need to remember that the attractiveness of a fresh, diverse flavour palette, whether it be wheat, dark lager, or craft, is rooted in its uniqueness. Therefore, its development plan and growth goals should withstand the pressure to quickly scale up in order to become a popular product. That would be neither here nor there and would only weaken the product’s distinctiveness in the eyes of customers.

    ITU and DoT Partner to Develop AI-Powered Digital Twins
    ITU and DoT collaborate to develop AI-powered digital twins, enhancing virtual modeling and simulation capabilities for smarter decision-making.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • Mira Murati, Former CTO of OpenAI, Starts Startup for AI Research and Products

    Mira Murati has started her own artificial intelligence (AI) company, “Thinking Machines Lab,” over five months after leaving her position as CTO of OpenAI. The company’s objective, according to Murati, who announced the launch on X, is straightforward: develop AI by making it widely applicable and intelligible through sound foundations, open science, and real-world applications. The goal of the AI research and product startup is to close the current gaps in AI and increase the systems’ general capability, understandability, and customisability.

    Although AI skills have significantly improved, there are still significant gaps, according to the company’s blog post. The fast-developing capabilities of frontier AI systems are not well understood by the scientific community. The best research labs hold the majority of the knowledge on how these systems are educated, which restricts both the public conversation about AI and people’s capacity to use it efficiently. Furthermore, despite their potential, people still find it challenging to adapt these systems to their own needs and values.

    What Thinking Machine Lab will Offer?

    Rather than concentrating on creating completely autonomous AI systems, Thinking Machines Lab will create customised AI systems with sophisticated multimodal capabilities. According to the AI firm, it intends to regularly release technical papers, blog entries, and code that emphasise cross-industry human-AI collaboration. Many of the roughly 30 workers at Thinking Machines Lab have prior experience with firms like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Character AI, and Mistral AI. After working with OpenAI for six years, Murati departed the company in September of last year. She stated that she was taking a break to “do her own exploration” at the time of her departure. She is Thinking Machines Lab’s CEO.

    Barret Zoph, the CTO of Thinking Machines Lab, left OpenAI in September of last year. The company’s principal scientist is John Schulman, who departed OpenAI for rival company Anthropic in August of last year. According to reports, Murati is negotiating to raise $100 million for her new AI business from unidentified VC firms. The corporation did neither confirm nor deny if it had raised money in its blog post.

    Growing Network of AI Startup

    The most recent addition to the already saturated AI startup market is Thinking Machines Lab. In the global competition to develop generative AI models, it will face off against industry titans including OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, Google, and Microsoft. India’s increasing need for AI hardware and software has opened the door for a new wave of entrepreneurs that prioritise using GenAI technology in consumer and corporate applications over infrastructure development. India is home to more than 200 GenAI businesses, which have earned a total of $1.2 billion in funding since 2020, according to the report “The Rise of India’s GenAI Brigade.”

    ITU and DoT Partner to Develop AI-Powered Digital Twins
    ITU and DoT collaborate to develop AI-powered digital twins, enhancing virtual modeling and simulation capabilities for smarter decision-making.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • DoT Orders Social Media Companies to take Action Against Telecom Act-Violating Content

    According to a media outlet, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has ordered all social media companies, including Meta, Instagram, Google, and X, to take down particular apps or content that help users commit violations of the Telecommunications Act of 2023. This warning comes after some social media influencers were reported to have given users instructions on how to change their calling line identity (CLI) while making calls, which would result in the recipient seeing a different number. According to the advice, this is technically known as CLI spoofing, which is the altering of telecommunication identity. Such tampering is expressly prohibited by the Telecommunications Act.

    Why DoT has Directly Stepped in?

    Since social media platforms are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, the DoT normally does not deal with them; however, in this case, it stepped in since the content on the sites allowed users to break the Telecommunications Act. According to a source cited in the paper, any person or platform that promotes the misuse or manipulation of telecommunication identification must be stopped. By February 28, social media companies are expected to verify that they are complying with the directive.

    According to the advice, tampering with telecommunication identification is expressly prohibited by Section 42(3)(c) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023. While Section 42(7) of the Act stipulates that such offences are cognisable and non-bailable notwithstanding anything contained in the 1973 Code of Criminal Procedure, Section 42(3)(e) forbids obtaining subscriber identity modules or other telecommunication identification through fraud, cheating, or impersonation. These charges carry a maximum sentence of three years in prison, a maximum fine of INR 50 lakh, or both. The advice stated that “those who abet any offence under the Act also envisage the same punishment under Section 42 (6) of the Act.”

     According to DoT, social media sites and application hosting platforms must remove any content or programs that encourage or permit the tampering of telecom identifiers (such as CLI, IP address, IMEI, etc.) because doing so aids users in committing crimes. The advice further stated that action against such companies may be taken for creating or disseminating content that aids in the commission of offences under the Telecommunication Act, 2023, in addition to removing such content or applications.

    ITU and DoT Collaborate on AI-Powered Digital Twins

    A strategic relationship aimed at improving AI-driven digital twin technologies has begun with the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The goals of this partnership are to advance sustainable development, create international standards, and stimulate innovation in infrastructure planning. The LoI will lay the groundwork for a number of projects that will incorporate next-generation technologies—such as digital twins, AI-driven solutions, and IMT-2030 technologies—into frameworks that will help vital industries like healthcare, urban development, and transportation.

    In an effort to bolster India’s position as a global leader in digital connectivity, Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications, signed the LoI while on an official visit to Geneva. Dr. Mittal talked on India’s leadership in 5G and 6G technologies, AI for digital transformation, and cybersecurity frameworks in talks with ITU leadership, including ITU Secretary-General Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin.

    ITU and DoT Partner to Develop AI-Powered Digital Twins
    ITU and DoT collaborate to develop AI-powered digital twins, enhancing virtual modeling and simulation capabilities for smarter decision-making.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • Licious, Supported by Temasek, Plans to go Public in India for $2 Billion

    As it gets ready to go public in 2026, Licious, an online meat and seafood vendor in India supported by Temasek Holdings Pte, is looking to turn a profit and join a number of consumer-focused businesses vying for market share in the nation.

    To compete with rapid commerce rivals, Delightful Gourmet Pvt., the company that runs Licious, is expanding its physical shopfronts, increasing delivery times, and hoping to turn a profit at the Ebitda level by August, according to CEO and co-founder Vivek Gupta. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation are referred to as EBITDA. In an interview, Gupta stated that the brand aims to be ready for an initial public offering (IPO) within a year.

    The Bengaluru-based company is aiming for a listing valuation of more than $2 billion. According to statistics from Tracxn Technologies Ltd., Avendus Capital Pvt. and Kotak Investment Advisors are among the investors in Licious, which was valued at $1.5 billion in its most recent funding round in 2023. After a record-breaking year for listings in 2024, when local companies raised over $20 billion, making it the second-busiest market in the world after the US, Licious, which was launched in 2015, is the newest company to enter the Indian initial public offering (IPO) market.

    Licious Betting on Smartphone-Savvy Population

    Almost 75% of India’s 1.4 billion people eat meat, fish, or poultry, the majority of which they purchase from small businesses. Licious is placing a wager on India’s increasingly well-off and tech-savvy populace, who are prepared to spend more to stay indoors. According to statistics provider Statista, the meat market in India was valued at $26 billion, while the fish and seafood market is expected to generate $59 billion year. With locations in 20 Indian towns, Licious offers a variety of cuts of fish and other shellfish, chicken and goat meat, spice mixes, spreads, and prepared foods.

    According to Hanjura, the company intends to utilise the IPO money to buy smaller offline businesses and expand throughout India’s extremely disorganised meat and fish market. Additionally, the listing will provide an exit chance for some of its investors. Licious promises consumers an average delivery time of 90 minutes, but as it competes with fast commerce rivals like Zomato Ltd. and Swiggy Ltd., it is pushing towards 30-minute deliveries. According to Gupta, the business has already begun making speedy deliveries in Gurugram, a satellite city outside of New Delhi, and plans to expand to the majority of Licious’ markets by June.

    How the Brand is Planning its Future Business Operations?

    Sales growth at Licious, which derives around one-fifth of its revenue from 10-minute delivery apps like Zomato and Swiggy, has slowed from peak levels during the pandemic. It is struggling with a slower migration to online meat purchases in smaller towns and a wider consumption slack in India’s major centres. Peers including Amazon.com Inc.-backed FreshtoHome and Zepto, a rapid commerce business with its own meat brand Relish, are also vying for a bigger share of this industry. In addition to additional products like momos—Tibetan-style dumplings that are popular in India—Licious plans to offer more marinated dishes that are ready to cook. For the more conventional meat eaters who might like to choose their own cuts, it plans to expand from its current three locations to 50 by March 2026. Last year, it purchased My Chicken and More, a 22-store retailer based in Bengaluru.

    Lenskart Targets $10 Billion Valuation for Upcoming IPO
    Lenskart is intensifying efforts to achieve a $10 billion valuation for its IPO, positioning itself as a major player in the eyewear industry.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • ITU and DoT Collaborate on AI-Powered Digital Twins

    A strategic relationship aimed at improving AI-driven digital twin technologies has begun with the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The goals of this partnership are to advance sustainable development, create international standards, and stimulate innovation in infrastructure planning. The LoI will lay the groundwork for a number of projects that will incorporate next-generation technologies—such as digital twins, AI-driven solutions, and IMT-2030 technologies—into frameworks that will help vital industries like healthcare, urban development, and transportation.

    In an effort to bolster India’s position as a global leader in digital connectivity, Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications, signed the LoI while on an official visit to Geneva. Dr. Mittal talked on India’s leadership in 5G and 6G technologies, AI for digital transformation, and cybersecurity frameworks in talks with ITU leadership, including ITU Secretary-General Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin.

    India Cementing its Strong Base in Telecommunication Field

    The ITU’s Partner2Connect program, which attempts to close the global digital gap, was another topic of debate. India reiterated its dedication to backing ITU projects, especially those pertaining to skill development and global connectivity.

    Dr. Mittal suggested during his visit that India host the ITU-Plenipotentiary Conference in 2030. Positive reactions were received to this suggestion, and more talks will take place at the next ITU Council Meeting. This plan has a strong basis thanks to India’s recent achievement in hosting the World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA-2024) in New Delhi. By hosting the conference, India would further solidify its position as a focal point for international policy discussions on ICT legislation and telecommunications, thus influencing the direction of global connectivity.

    An important development in the function of telecommunications is the partnership between the DoT and ITU. Next-generation mobile communication technologies are platforms for flexible and dynamic infrastructure planning, not just for connectivity. AI and digital twins can be used to deliver real-time, intelligent data that radically alters the planning, design, and implementation of infrastructure and cities. Better planning, monitoring, and management of infrastructure projects are made possible by digital twins, which provide virtual versions of actual systems, increasing sustainability and efficiency.

    What AI-driven Digital Twin Technologies can Offer?

    Pervasive intelligence can be produced by AI-driven digital twin technologies, enabling open, networked systems that transform stakeholder collaboration on infrastructure projects. These developments make it possible to approach infrastructure and urban planning with greater flexibility and responsiveness, resulting in solutions that are better able to adjust to shifting circumstances. By opening up new business models, this strategy makes it possible to provide scalable, data-driven solutions that support long-term growth in vital industries. By using a comprehensive approach, future infrastructure will be durable and innovative, able to adapt to changing needs.

     The LoI lists a number of important areas for cooperation. Knowledge sharing and capacity building will be a key focus, promoting the sharing of ideas from projects such as the ITU’s Citiverse platform and the DoT’s Sangam project. Better data integration and cross-sectoral cooperation will be made possible by this partnership. The creation of international standards through contributions to ITU-T Study Group 20, which focuses on digital twins, smart cities, and the Internet of Things, is another crucial topic. The objective is to develop international standards and procedures that guarantee the interoperability and scalability of AI-driven solutions. In order to verify the revolutionary potential of digital twin technologies, DoT and ITU will also set up sandbox environments for testing and trial initiatives. In order to promote more participatory government, AI-powered platforms will also be utilised to involve individuals in urban planning.

    Lastly, by customising solutions to fit the unique requirements of various nations, the partnership will concentrate on privacy-enhancing methods in ICT measurement and AI model integration for digital twins. This partnership ushers in a new era of global infrastructure planning that promotes sustainability and creativity. An important step towards building a more sustainable and interconnected future for global infrastructure is this alliance.

    India and US to Deepen Ties in AI, Semiconductors, and Space
    India and the US are strengthening partnerships in AI, semiconductors, and space technology, fostering innovation and strategic collaboration.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • Sirona Founders Reacquire Feminine Hygiene Brand from Good Glamm Group Amid Financial Challenges

    Sirona, a leading feminine hygiene brand, has been bought back by its founders, Deep and Mohit Bajaj, from the financially troubled Good Glamm Group. This buyback, valued between INR 150 crore and INR 180 crore, comes after Good Glamm faced significant debt and decided to offload several brands, including Sirona. The move allows Sirona to return to its original founders, enabling them to refocus on growing the brand independently.

    Good Glamm’s Financial Troubles

    The Delhi-based Good Glamm Group, which became a unicorn in 2021, has struggled with a debt exceeding INR 500 crore, despite once being a major player in the D2C space. Along with this, the company faced executive exits and challenges in scaling its acquisitions. As part of its efforts to streamline operations and raise funds, Good Glamm sold off some of its brands, with Sirona being one of the key sales.

    Deep and Mohit Bajaj, the founders of Sirona, had originally sold their company to Good Glamm in 2022 for INR 450 crore. However, due to shifting priorities at Good Glamm, the Bajaj brothers decided it was the right time to reacquire Sirona and lead its next phase of growth. This marks a full-circle moment, with Sirona returning to its roots under the leadership of its original founders.

    The reacquisition signals a strategic shift, allowing Sirona to pivot back to its original vision. With the founders back in charge, Sirona aims to expand its range of feminine hygiene products, including menstrual cups and period pain relief items, and increase its presence in India’s growing femtech market.

    Looking Ahead: Sirona’s Future

    Sirona’s buyback from Good Glamm comes at a time when the femtech industry is experiencing significant growth. Consumers are increasingly looking for sustainable and eco-friendly feminine hygiene products. With Sirona’s renewed focus on innovation and product expansion, the company is well-positioned to capture a larger share of the market.

    The Bajaj brothers plan to introduce new products and expand their customer base, both in India and internationally. This buyback is also an opportunity for Sirona to emphasise its core values, which include quality and customer trust.

    The future of Sirona looks bright as it seeks to capitalise on the growing demand for sustainable feminine hygiene products. With control back in the hands of its founders, the brand can continue to innovate and expand its product offerings while maintaining its focus on women’s health.

    Looking ahead, the Sirona buyback could signal a new wave of consolidation and growth within the femtech and D2C sectors in India. Startups that specialise in niche products like feminine hygiene are expected to see increasing consumer interest as awareness around women’s health and hygiene continues to rise. Sirona’s future success will depend on its ability to utilise its strong brand identity, innovation, and understanding of its target audience.

    Priyanka Gill: Mission to Support Women in Business and Beyond | Biography | Education |POPxo |
    Discover the inspiring journey of Priyanka Gill, founder of POPxo and co-founder of the Good Glamm Group. Explore her path from launching a digital platform for millennial women to leading roles as CEO at Good Media Co. and in the beauty industry.
    StartupTalkyShevaughn Pimenta

  • Device Tokenisation is Introduced by PhonePe for Secure Card Payments

    The largest digital payments provider in India, PhonePe, on 17 February, announced the release of PhonePe SafeCard, a tokenisation solution for credit and debit card transactions conducted online. Both PhonePe customers and merchant partners will be able to continue enjoying the ease of stored card transactions with enhanced security and in accordance with the new RBI rules thanks to this solution.

    Every major card network, including Visa, RuPay, and Mastercard, is supported by this solution. By transforming private cardholder information into a token—a string of randomly generated numbers—tokenisation gives users an extra degree of security. To tokenise their debit and/or credit card for the first time, a client only needs to complete a transaction and give their one-time approval via OTP. Users will be able to use their saved card information for smooth transactions throughout the PhonePe ecosystem thanks to this capability.

    SafeCard the Real Game Changer

    Through a straightforward Application Programming Interface (API) integration, SafeCard will also allow PhonePe merchant partners to offer and utilise tokenisation on their own platforms. With the approval of customers, merchant partners can use this solution to generate, process, remove, and alter tokens for online card payments. In addition to guaranteeing complete compliance with RBI regulations, this will save the merchant partners a great deal of time and effort by eliminating the need to integrate with numerous card networks.

    The RBI’s new regulation requiring tokenisation is progressive and timely for the Indian digital payments ecosystem, according to Ankit Gaur, Director of Online Business at PhonePe, who spoke about the launch. With the extra security that tokenisation offers, this will enable the ongoing expansion of digital payments. Importantly, PhonePe SafeCard makes sure that the enhanced security has no negative effects on the clientele’s experience. In order to get our sizable merchant base active on this platform, we are also collaborating closely with them.

    Moving Away From Account Aggregator Business

    About two years after obtaining its NBFC-AA licence, Walmart-owned PhonePe stated on 7 February that it was leaving the account aggregator (AA) industry and turning it over to the RBI. Financial information providers (FIPs) send their consumers’ financial data to financial information users (FIUs) through account aggregators, which are non-banking financial corporations (NBFCs).

    The largest fintech company in India said that its decision to leave the AA industry was due to the competing nature of its priorities, which prevented it from onboarding as many FIPs as it “would have liked.” “We have started to wind down our AA operations and have chosen to turn over our NBFC-AA licence to the RBI.” In a statement, the business added, “We will be contacting our AA user base soon to let them know about our decision and to assist them in accordance with regulatory guidelines.”

    Paytm Money Pays ₹45.50 Lakh Fine for SEBI Rule Violation
    Paytm Money has settled a SEBI regulation violation case by paying a ₹45.50 lakh fine, resolving compliance issues with the market regulator.
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde