On 29 January, the Securities and Exchange Board of India released additional explanations regarding the finfluencer rules. Brokers, mutual funds, investment advisers, exchanges, and other market participants are prohibited from having a direct or indirect relationship with unregistered influencers, according to the document on the SEBI website.
The regulator’s goal is still to shield investors from deceptive financial advice and promises of assured returns, even with these stronger safeguards in place. First of all, the rules are applicable to all market players governed by SEBI, including distributors of mutual funds, sub-brokers, and marketing firms that work with them. Simply put, it is against the law for SEBI-registered firms to associate with unregistered entities that make stock market recommendations or suggest assured returns.
According to the regulator, unless the individual is registered with or otherwise authorised by the Board to provide such advice or recommendation, no person regulated by the Board (Sebi) or the agent of such a person may have a direct or indirect association with another individual who provides advice or recommendations, directly or indirectly, regarding or related to a security or securities, or make any explicit or implicit claims of returns or performance regarding or related to a security or securities, unless the Board has given the individual permission to do so.
Bodies that Fall Under the Umbrella of New Guidelines
Any cash exchanges, client recommendations, information sharing, and the use of services for marketing or promotions are all included in this relationship. Actually, SEBI has stated that it is prohibited to cooperate with an agency that collaborates with influencers.
SEBI has tightened its control over the educator’s abilities and responsibilities, with investor protection remaining an exception. Any investor educator is not permitted to make any statements regarding investor returns, suggest particular stocks and securities, or forecast future trends using market data from the previous three months.
However, a brief window has been made available for investor education through this cooperation. This is contingent upon the fact that these influencers do not offer recommendations or make any claims regarding returns or performance.
Impact on Marketing and Advertisement
The barriers may also have an intriguing effect on marketing and advertising. If they have control over where their ads appear, all SEBI-registered businesses are permitted to run them. It would be against the law if they had no control over where the advertisements were displayed and could not identify influencers.
When there is a violation, SEBI has the authority to ban offenders from the market, terminate registrations, or issue penalties. On August 29, 2024, these restrictions were introduced, and on October 22, 2024, an additional alert was released. These regulations are already in effect because the regulator requested that registered participants get their acts in shape within three months after the October circular.
Quick, a 10-minute food delivery service from Zomato, is currently available in several cities. Customers can get fast food and pre-cooked instant meals, including snacks, desserts, beverages, etc., delivered within 15 minutes from restaurants and cloud kitchens within a 2-kilometre radius of their location by using the “Quick 10 Minute Delivery” feature on the Zomato app’s home screen.
Currently, consumers can access the service in a few locations in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Indore, Chennai, Pune, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and more. In response to a question from the media, Zomato stated that it is allowing restaurants that are listed on the platform to offer delivery times of less than 15 minutes by carefully selecting their menu items and assigning a dedicated delivery fleet. This will be scaled over time and is live in a few locations right now.
Launched in 2023, the company’s “Everyday” service already provides home-cooked meals in around 20 minutes. It was introduced following the company’s 2022 discontinuation of its first attempt, called “Instant,” in the 10-minute meal delivery market.
Focussing on Hyperlocal Delivery Business
One of Zomato‘s main areas of interest is the hyperlocal delivery industry. Even though Blinkit reported an EBITDA loss of INR 103 crore in the December quarter of FY25 compared to an operating loss of Rs 8 crore in Q2, the company still plans to expand to 2,000 dark stores by the end of 2025.
Quick commerce companies are attempting to replicate the success they have observed in the capital-intensive rapid grocery delivery business with the 10-minute food delivery.
Apart from Zomato’s Quick and Blinkit’s Bistro, Swiggy is entering the 10-minute food delivery market by improving delivery speed and extending service areas with its Bolt function within its app and a stand-alone app called Snacc, Zepto Cafe by Zepto, Zing, and Swish. In order to cut down on the amount of time needed to prepare the food and deliver the order to customers, the delivery schedule is based on the number of restaurants and dark kitchens.
NRAI Tacking Both Food Delivery Giants on Legal Battlegrounds
However, earlier this month, the restaurant association National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) voiced resistance to private-label food delivery through quick-commerce platforms like Bistro and Snacc, criticising Zomato and Swiggy’s 10-minute meal delivery initiative.
Bistro is not an existential danger to the restaurant business, Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal responded in a letter to restaurant partners. “Bistro is neither a “Zomato kitchen” nor a “private label.” I have already stated that, in contrast to companies like Amazon, which offer their own private labels on Amazon, Zomato, as a restaurant aggregator, will never compete with its own restaurant partners,” Goyal wrote.
According to a news agency, Chinese internet giant Alibaba on 29 January unveiled an updated version of its Qwen 2.5 artificial intelligence model, which it said outperformed the much-lauded DeepSeek-V3. The Qwen 2.5-Max’s odd release date—the first day of the Lunar New Year, when the majority of Chinese are off from work and spending time with their families—indicates how much pressure DeepSeek’s explosive growth over the last three weeks has put on both its domestic and international competitors.
Alibaba’s cloud unit released a statement on its official WeChat account stating that “Qwen 2.5-Max outperforms… almost across the board GPT-4o, DeepSeek-V3, and Llama-3.1-405B,” alluding to the most cutting-edge open-source AI models from OpenAI and Meta. Alibaba has invested heavily in its cloud services division with Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Baidu Inc., and it is in a fierce competition to hire Chinese AI developers to utilise its tools.
Locking Horns with Set Players
This week, the 20-month-old startup DeepSeek, which was established in Hangzhou, Alibaba‘s hometown, rocked US tech companies. Alibaba Cloud also disclosed results indicating that, in some benchmarks, its AI outperforms OpenAI’s and Anthropic’s models.
In an effort to attract more customers, cloud service providers like Tencent and Alibaba have recently lowered their prices. Along with six other promising AI businesses in China that have raised money at unicorn values, DeepSeek has already participated in that pricing war.
Comparing DeepSeek with Domestic Rivals
When DeepSeek‘s V3 model’s predecessor, DeepSeek-V2, came out in May of last year, it set off a pricing war for AI models in China. Alibaba’s cloud division announced price reductions of up to 97% on a variety of models due to DeepSeek-V2’s open-source nature and historically low cost of just 1 yuan ($0.14) for 1 million tokens, or units of data processed by the AI model.
Other Chinese tech giants followed suit, such as Tencent, the most valuable internet company in the nation, and Baidu (9888.HK), which launched China’s first ChatGPT-like app in March 2023. In a rare interview with Chinese media site Waves in July, Liang Wenfeng, the mysterious creator of DeepSeek, stated that the company “did not care” about price wars and that its primary objective was to achieve artificial general intelligence, or AGI.
AGI is defined by OpenAI as autonomous systems that outperform humans in the majority of economically significant tasks. Young graduates and PhD students from prestigious Chinese universities make up the majority of DeepSeek’s workforce, which functions more like a research lab than the hundreds of thousands of workers employed by major Chinese internet businesses like Alibaba.
Liang contrasted DeepSeek’s lean operations and flexible management style with the exorbitant costs and top-down structures of China’s major tech companies, saying in his July interview that he thought they might not be well suited to the future of the AI business. Liang went on to say that IT giants’ skills have their limits and that large foundational models require ongoing innovation.
Prashasta Seth, the former CEO of IIFL Asset Management, formed Prudent Investment Managers, which has launched a fund of INR 500 Cr, or around $57.8 million, to invest in early-stage companies. Seth told a media outlet that the fund, which will be a Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF), has already obtained INR 250 Cr in pledges from several family offices and will close sometime in June of this year.
Prudent is currently submitting a CAT II licence application to SEBI. PE funds, real estate funds, and funds for distressed assets are all included in Category II AIF. According to Seth, despite not having a formal fund structure, Prudent has invested over INR 160 Cr in unlisted companies since its founding. Among its most recent startup investments are Snapmint and The Money Club. The business intends to strengthen its strategy of combining the investment philosophies of venture capital and private equity with the new fund.
According to Seth, pre-Series A and Series A firms with viable business plans and solid unit economics will be the main targets of funding. By assisting founders that value long-term viability over quick, unsustainable growth, the fund seeks to close the gap in early-stage investing.
A Methodical Investment Strategy
Prudent intends to use a focused investment strategy, providing early checks of INR 30 Cr to INR 50 Cr each to support 10 to 15 businesses. According to Seth, Prudent’s strategy places a strong emphasis on large bets and steady follow-on funding over several rounds, in contrast to standard VC companies that distribute investments across a wide portfolio.
The fund will concentrate on businesses with “sound unit economics” and will not be sector-specific. At the concept stage, we don’t compete. Rather, we concentrate on businesses that have solid unit economics, real revenue, and tested business concepts. “We want to minimise losses and provide consistent returns of 5X to 20X,” Seth continued.
Investors’ Profile
Speaking of investors, Seth stated that Prudent counts roughly 25 family offices as clients and has over INR 750 Cr in assets under management (AUM). This corresponds to an average cheque size of INR 20 Cr to INR 30 Cr, he stated. On the unlisted side, a large number of these clients have also invested in the business throughout all of the transactions the firm has completed.
Small family offices with portfolios ranging from INR 50 Cr to INR 200 Cr make up the majority of these, not the well-known ones. They will act as the brand’s anchor investors. After leaving IIFL Asset Management in 2020, Seth founded Prudent. It offers advising and portfolio management services. Seth says that during his time at IIFL Asset Management, the company’s AUM increased from INR 500 Cr to INR 25,000 Cr.
According to a media report, used automobile marketplace Droom plans to submit the draft documents for its INR 1,000 Cr (about $115 Mn) IPO by June of this year. Both a fresh issue and an offer for sale will be included in the IPO offer; the fresh issue will probably make up more than half of the offer. Droom has already selected two middle-market banks for the public offering and is aiming for an IPO valuation of between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion. According to the report, it is also actively negotiating with another investment banker.
By November of this year, the unicorn hopes to be listed on the exchanges. The fact that this will be Droom’s second effort to go public should be noted. To finance INR 3,000 Cr, the firm submitted its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) to market watchdog SEBI in late 2021. However, because of the market’s volatility, it postponed its intentions for an IPO. The startup’s main motivation for lowering the size of its initial public offering (IPO) is that it doesn’t require a lot of funding at this time because it is anticipated to attain EBITDA profitability in the fiscal year 2025–2026 (FY26).
Droom Eyes for INR 200Cr as Pre-IPO Round
Droom also hopes to raise about INR 200 Cr (about $23 Mn) from both new and current investors in a pre-IPO transaction prior to filing the draft papers. “Droom wants to see more Indians control a larger share of the business. For this round, they want to reach out to Indian family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and top Indian stock market investors, according to a different source. In order to enhance domestic shareholding, Zepto raised $350 million from Motilal Oswal, HNIs, and family offices in a similar manner.
Sandeep Aggarwal founded Droom in 2014, and it runs an online marketplace that links buyers and used car dealers. Early in 2022, it stopped selling low-cost vehicles, which accounted for 85% of company sales, and switched to offering luxury and mid- to high-end vehicles in order to boost its profit margin. This move has caused the startup’s margin on each auto sale to nearly quadruple from INR 40,000 to INR 1.6 lakh. Droom is expected to end FY25 with INR 250 Cr in sales.
Other Services Provided by Droom
In addition to selling automobiles, Droom also operates an advertising agency, a SaaS vertical, and a vehicle financing division. The firm also started offering car rentals earlier this month. To date, Droom has raised around $300 million in fundraising, with Lightbox, 57 Stars, and Seven Train Ventures among its supporters.
Under many employee stock option plan (ESOP) strategies, online travel aggregator (OTA) ixigo has distributed 10.58 lakh equity shares to qualified employees. The travel tech startup stated in a filing with the markets that the shares were offered at a premium of INR 0.25 per share and an exercise price of INR 1.25 per share.
The company announced that 10,58,143 fully paid-up equity shares with a face value of INR 1/- each have been allotted to the option holders under the Le Travenues Technology – Employee Stock Option Scheme 2013,…, ESOS 2016,…, 2020,…, 2021…, according to the company’s statement. The board of directors of the company has approved the allocation. Since the allocation, the travel tech platform’s entire paid-up share capital has increased from INR 38.87 Cr to INR 38.97 Cr.
Step is Taken to Encourage and Retain
ixigo added that the purpose of the ESOPs was to “motivate and retain” bright workers and give them “additional deferred rewards.” This comes after the business distributed over 4.6 lakh equity shares under different ESOP plans in December 2024. Before this, in November, the OTA granted 17.57 lakh more stock options under the ESOP 2024 scheme, increasing the size of its ESOP pool.
Financial Outlook of ixigo
The announcement coincided with the OTA’s financial results for the third quarter (Q3) of the fiscal year 2024–2025 (FY25). Ixigo’s consolidated net profit fell by half to INR 15.54 Cr in the quarter under review from INR 30.65 Cr in Q3 FY24 due to increased tax charges. In the meantime, operating revenue increased 42% to INR 241.76 Cr in Q3 FY25 from INR 170.55 Cr in Q3 FY24. In terms of operations, Ixigo’s gross transaction volume (GTV) increased by 48% from INR 2,718.3 Cr in Q3 FY24 to INR 4,036.3 Cr during the quarter.
ESOP is Getting Popular Among Startups
According to a 2024 survey of 160 companies, 78% of them offered employee stock option plans (ESOPs) to their staff, a considerable increase from 59% in 2021. This indicates that ESOPs are becoming more and more popular among startup owners. More firms are now offering ESOPs to all employees, not only senior management, according to a survey done by Saison Capital, XA Network, and Carta. Compared to one in four in 2021, one in three firms now provides these plans to all employees.
Furthermore, the median ESOP pool size grew from 9% in 2021 to 12.6% in 2024, and 90% of founders now talk about ESOPs with candidates during interviews or job offers, up from 75% in 2021. Additionally, the reasons for providing ESOPs have changed; in 2024, 40% of founders cited cost reductions, up from 28% in 2021.
The founders cited the necessity to retain people as the second most important reason for putting these plans into action, behind creating a sense of ownership and company culture. Even with this increase, fewer than 30% of founders still fully understand the complexity of ESOPs, a percentage that hasn’t changed since 2021.
Dallas (Texas) [USA], January 30: In an era defined by technological innovation, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing have emerged as the driving forces behind industrial transformation. Together, these technologies are reshaping how businesses operate, delivering unprecedented efficiency, scalability, and insights. Avinash Khanderi, a senior data engineer and industry thought leader with over six years of experience implementing advanced solutions for global organisations, shares his insights to explore this powerful synergy.
Khanderi, who has worked with industry giants like Walmart, shares his perspectives on how AI and cloud computing will revolutionize industries and create new possibilities across sectors.
The AI-Cloud Synergy: A New Era of Innovation
AI and cloud computing have individually revolutionized industries, but their true potential lies in their integration. “AI thrives on data, and the cloud is the ultimate enabler of data storage, processing, and accessibility,” says Khanderi. “Together, they form the backbone of modern digital transformation.”
Khanderi explains that the cloud’s scalability and flexibility allow businesses to deploy AI models and algorithms without the constraints of on-premises infrastructure. “The cloud democratizes access to AI tools, making them accessible to businesses of all sizes,” he says. “It’s no longer just for tech giants—startups and SMEs can now leverage AI to compete and innovate.”
Industry Transformation: Key Areas of Impact
Khanderi highlights several industries where the integration of AI and cloud computing is driving significant transformation:
1. Retail and E-commerce
The retail sector has been a frontrunner in adopting AI and cloud technologies. From personalized recommendations to inventory optimization, these tools are reshaping customer experiences and operational efficiency.
“At Walmart, I developed AI-driven predictive models on Google Cloud Platform to optimize inventory levels,” Khanderi shares. “This not only reduced costs by 30% but also ensured products were available when customers needed them. It’s a win-win for businesses and consumers.”
2. Finance and Banking
AI and cloud computing are transforming the financial sector by enhancing fraud detection, automating processes, and improving customer service.
“Using cloud-based tools like Databricks and Azure, I worked on deploying machine learning models at Visa that improved fraud detection accuracy by 40%,” Khanderi explains. “The cloud’s ability to process real-time transactions at scale is crucial for financial institutions.”
3. Healthcare
In healthcare, AI and cloud computing are enabling breakthroughs in diagnostics, personalized medicine, and operational efficiency.
“AI-powered analytics on cloud platforms are helping healthcare providers make data-driven decisions faster,” says Khanderi. “From predicting patient outcomes to optimizing hospital resources, the potential is enormous.”
4. Manufacturing
AI and cloud technologies are driving automation and predictive maintenance in manufacturing. By analyzing data from IoT devices, manufacturers can optimize production lines and prevent costly equipment failures.
“Edge computing combined with the cloud is a game-changer for real-time monitoring and decision-making in manufacturing,” Khanderi notes.
5. Education
The education sector is also benefiting from these technologies, with AI-powered platforms delivering personalized learning experiences and the cloud enabling remote access to resources.
“The pandemic showed us the importance of scalable, cloud-based solutions in education,” Khanderi says. “AI can further enhance these systems by tailoring content to individual learners.”
Emerging Trends: The Future of AI and Cloud Computing
Looking ahead, Khanderi identifies several trends that will shape the future of AI and cloud computing:
Edge Computing and AI: “As IoT devices proliferate, edge computing will become critical for processing data locally,” Khanderi explains. “This will reduce latency and improve efficiency, especially in industries like autonomous vehicles and smart cities.”
AI Democratization: Cloud providers are increasingly integrating AI tools into their platforms, making advanced technologies accessible to non-technical users. “No-code and low-code AI platforms will empower more people to leverage AI in their work,” Khanderi predicts.
Ethical AI and Data Governance: With the rise of AI, concerns about ethics and data privacy are growing. “The cloud offers robust tools for data governance, but businesses must also adopt ethical AI practices,” he emphasizes.
AI for Sustainability: Khanderi foresees AI and cloud computing playing a pivotal role in sustainability initiatives, from optimizing energy use to reducing waste in supply chains. “These technologies can help us tackle global challenges,” he says.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite their potential, Khanderi acknowledges that the integration of AI and cloud computing comes with challenges. “Data security, integration complexity, and skill gaps are significant hurdles,” he notes. “However, these challenges also present opportunities for innovation and collaboration.”
Khanderi advocates for businesses to invest in talent development and adopt best practices to fully realize the benefits of AI and cloud technologies.
Avinash Khanderi’s Vision: A Collaborative Future
As a leader in data engineering, Khanderi envisions a future where AI and cloud computing work seamlessly across industries to solve real-world problems. “Technology should enable collaboration and innovation,” he says. “The future lies in creating ecosystems where businesses, governments, and individuals can work together to drive progress.”
Khanderi’s work continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, proving that the integration of AI and cloud computing is not just a technological shift—it’s a fundamental change in how industries operate.
A Transformative Journey
The intersection of AI and cloud computing represents a transformative journey for industries worldwide. Leaders like Avinash Khanderi are at the forefront of this revolution, demonstrating how these technologies can drive efficiency, innovation, and sustainability.
As businesses navigate this new landscape, the insights and expertise of professionals like Khanderi offer a roadmap to harnessing the full potential of AI and the cloud.
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], January 30: In a rapidly evolving real estate landscape, NearEstate.in, a rising star in India’s PropTech sector, has achieved a significant milestone—surpassing 2,000 property listings on its immersive virtual platform. With its innovative RealView360° technology, the startup is setting new standards for how buyers, sellers, and investors engage with properties, bringing the power of 360° virtual tours to the forefront of real estate transactions.
This achievement underscores NearEstate.in’s commitment to bridging the gap between traditional real estate practices and cutting-edge digital experiences. As Indian property markets embrace remote accessibility and digital-first engagement, the startup is transforming property discovery into a seamless, interactive, and transparent process.
Bridging the Gap Between Buyers and Sellers
For years, real estate transactions have been marred by time-consuming site visits, inconsistent listings, and a lack of transparency. NearEstate.in’s RealView360° technology addresses these issues head-on by enabling potential buyers to virtually explore homes in high-definition, 360° immersive detail—eliminating the need for excessive travel and guesswork.
Interactive Virtual Walkthroughs: Users can navigate properties remotely, experiencing layouts, interiors, and design elements in an authentic and life-like manner.
Neighborhood Insights: The platform integrates geospatial mapping, allowing buyers to explore nearby schools, healthcare facilities, shopping centers, and public infrastructure.
Remote Buyer Engagement: Whether a first-time homebuyer in Mumbai or an NRI investor in London, users can shortlist and evaluate properties without stepping foot in India.
“Crossing 2,000 listings is a strong validation of our mission to revolutionize property exploration,” says Mr. VenkataRamana Guddeti, Founder of NearEstate.in. “This is more than just a number—it’s proof that buyers, sellers, and developers are ready to embrace a digital-first real estate experience that saves time, builds trust, and enhances decision-making.”
Catering to Global & Domestic Real Estate Markets
The demand for real estate in India remains strong both domestically and internationally, particularly among NRIs looking to invest in metropolitan cities. With NearEstate.in’s RealView360°, global buyers can now experience properties in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, and Chennai from the comfort of their homes—no flights required.
“RealView360° removes geographical barriers,” adds Mr. Rajesh Myakala, Co-Founder and CEO of NearEstate.in. “We are enabling real estate professionals and sellers to present their properties to a global audience, ensuring that buyers get a real sense of what they are investing in—even from miles away.”
Unlocking Value for Developers & Realtors
For real estate developers, brokers, and agents, NearEstate.in is more than just a listing platform—it’s a marketing powerhouse that elevates how properties are presented to prospective buyers.
Higher Buyer Engagement: Properties with 360° virtual tours receive twice the inquiries as traditional listings.
Increased Conversion Rates: Buyers make more informed decisions, reducing the need for multiple in-person visits and improving transaction efficiency.
Competitive Differentiation: In a crowded market, developers and agents leveraging NearEstate.in gain a distinct technological edge over traditional listings.
Growth & Future Roadmap
As a DPIIT-recognized startup under Startup India (DIPP165602) and a leading T-Hub incubated venture, NearEstate.in has rapidly expanded its presence across India’s key property markets, with a strong focus on Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, and Mumbai.
Looking ahead, NearEstate.in is set to roll out augmented reality (AR) features, allowing buyers to customize interiors virtually and visualize spaces in different layouts. The startup is also exploring AI-driven property recommendations and blockchain-backed transactions to enhance security and transparency in real estate dealings.
“This milestone is just the beginning,” says Guddeti. “With emerging technologies like AR and AI, we are committed to making NearEstate.in the most innovative and trusted PropTech platform in India.”
About NearEstate.in
NearEstate.in is a leading PropTech startup based in T-Hub, Hyderabad, dedicated to transforming India’s real estate sector through VR and geospatial mapping technologies. Its flagship platform, RealView360°, enables buyers to explore properties in unparalleled virtual detail, helping developers and agents showcase listings with advanced digital marketing solutions.
The Malpani Group brings America’s biggest entertainment Hub, Dave & Buster’s to India.
Bangalore, Karnataka, 30th January 2025: Dave & Buster’s, America’s premier entertainment and dining destination popular for its arcade games, social gaming, bowling, and immersive experiences, announces its highly anticipated entry into the Indian market with its flagship outlet at Mantri Avenue in Koramangala, Bangalore. This marks a significant milestone for the brand as it expands internationally for the first time, to India, offering guests a unique blend of American and locally inspired Pan-Asian cuisine alongside a wide array of exciting entertainment options.
This expansive 27,000 sq ft venue will offer a state-of-the-art midway filled with world-class games, many of which are being introduced to India for the first time, such as Godzilla VR, NBA hoops, Pacman roller, and so on. Guests can also experience competitive social gaming and India’s first bowling experience, which features Nitro Lighting and Sparks combined. These cutting-edge attractions promise a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere designed to create lasting memories for friends and families.
“The Malpani Group is committed to bringing new experiences and entertainment to India. By bringing Dave & Buster’s to India, we look forward to elevating the gaming and arcade experience,” said Shreya Malpani, the Director of the Malpani Group. “With Bangalore’s booming food and beverage scene, there is a strong demand for a place where friends and families can have fun and spend time together. Dave & Buster’s perfectly fills this gap, offering a space for families, friends, colleagues, and people of all ages to enjoy. Dave & Buster’s will also be progressively expanding across India, with plans to open 15 new locations shortly, beginning with the next store launching in Mumbai. The inaugural store in Bangalore will pave the way for an exciting journey that promises growth and success for both our companies.”
Talking further about Dave and Buster’s opening in India, the Chief International Development Officer at Dave & Buster’s, Antonio Bautista, says, “This is a momentous occasion for Dave & Buster’s as we expand into India, a market with a dynamic culture and a growing appetite for premium entertainment. Bangalore, known for its energy and innovation, is the ideal city to launch our journey in India. Partnering with the Malpani Group marks a pivotal milestone in our global growth strategy, as we continue to bring the ‘Eat, Drink, Play, and Watch’ experience to new audiences worldwide. With a robust pipeline spanning seven countries across four continents in 2025, this launch reinforces our commitment to delivering world-class experiences and introducing our brand to one of the most vibrant and exciting regions in the world.”
This partnership between Malpani Group and Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Inc. supports Dave & Buster’s expansion strategy of combining global expertise with local market insight. Each Indian location will feature a tailored menu with regional flavors, localized pricing models, and unique gaming experiences designed to resonate with local audiences.
Founded in 1982, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. operates over 200 venues globally, offering a blend of dining, drinking, gaming, and socializing. Dave and Buster’s India will offer a diverse menu at the in-house restaurant with a seating capacity of over 300 pax. From American classics, Pan-Asian specialties, a lively cocktail bar, with their signature dishes like the Buster’s Smashed Burger, Chicken Wings, Kebab Platter, 5 Cheese Flatbread, and the Bangalore Summer Fresco. Beyond the delicious food, the curated drinks menu features signature cocktails like Mr. Perfect, What the Fish, Happiness in Hand, Saffron Sour, and various mocktails as well.
Dave and Buster’s offers a wide range of games, starting from a price range of Rs 160 up to Rs 799, featuring Mario Kart, Halo 4P standup, D&B Vw Plush crane, Fruit Ninja, Jurassic Park Theater, Super Mania, Dance Dance Revolution and so much more.
With Bangalore leading the charge, Dave & Buster’s is poised to become a household name in India, offering guests a one-of-a-kind destination to eat, drink, play, and socialize like never before.
For more information on Dave & Buster’s India visit www.daveandbustersindia.com
About Dave & Buster’s
Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Coppell, Texas, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc., is the owner and operator of over 200 venues in North America that offer premier entertainment and dining experiences to guests through two distinct brands: Dave & Buster’s and Main Event. Dave & Buster’s locations feature a unique combination of dining, games, and immersive entertainment, making it a global leader in the competitive socializing space.
About The Malpani Group
The Malpani Group from Sangamner, India is a well-diversified business house with interests in renewable energy, FMCG products, real estate, hotels, and more. However, the group’s success story goes beyond its diverse portfolio of businesses. Currently, the Malpani Group is one of the leading owners and operators of amusement and waterparks in India. They operate India’s largest theme and water park, Imagicaa, along with five other parks in India. Their amusement and water parks have become popular destinations for families, thrill-seekers, and tourists, offering a unique and immersive experience for all ages.
The fleet management company trackNOW has received an undisclosed investment from the Poonawalla Group. The new investment would allow trackNOW to expand its operations and have “access to invaluable mentorship and industry expertise,” according to a statement from the Poonawalla Group. TrackNOW, which was founded in 2016 by Pooja and Suyash Khemka, provides logistics platforms and merchants with fleet management and tracking solutions.
TrackNOW’s real-time monitoring solutions provide insight into the location, status, and condition of their clients’ assets by using technologies including cloud computing, GPS, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The Poonawalla Group’s investment, according to trackNOW cofounders, is a major affirmation of the company’s concept and a credit to the diligence and commitment of its whole staff.
It is an honour for the brand to have such a well-known and esteemed group support it. In addition to giving trackNOW the funding it needs to expand, this relationship will give the business access to priceless industry knowledge and coaching.
Poonawalla Group Expanding its Portfolio
According to the Poonawalla Group, it plans to increase the size of its holdings and make large investments in additional “notable and high-potential ventures” soon. It intends to concentrate on supporting businesses in a variety of industries and provide them with networking opportunities, industry knowledge, and mentorship.
Regarding the investment in trackNOW, Yohan Poonawalla, chairman of the Poonawalla Group, stated that financial returns are not the only consideration when making an investment in potential startups like trackNOW. It’s about inspiring and mentoring young, creative businesspeople and giving them the tools and assistance they require to be successful.
The team is dedicated to creating an atmosphere where ground-breaking ideas can thrive because they believe in the transformational potential of innovation. The statement was made in the midst of several changes in the Indian logistics industry. CriticaLog India Private Limited, a transportation and logistics firm, was acquired by Shadowfax earlier in the day.
Investors Betting High on Indian Logistic Startups
Evolvence India and Mirabilis Investment Trust led the INR 100 Cr Series C investment round that supply chain and storage startup Emiza concluded on January 27. The AI logistics platform Netradyne secured $90 million in its Series D round last week, backed by its current investor, Point72 Private Investments, making it the first Indian unicorn of 2025.
In general, there is still a solid level of investor interest in the Indian startup scene. A media outlet said that domestic new-age tech firms raised over $12 billion in 2024, a 20% increase from $10 billion in 2023. Last year, the nation’s startup scene also produced six new unicorns.
Nitin Konde
