Startup News
Venture Capitalists Fuel AI Startups, Poised to Reshape India's IT Services Landscape
VCs are heavily backing Indian AI startups to disrupt the IT services industry. These AI-native firms aim to automate complex tasks, offering "price like services, earn like software" models. With strong AI talent & focus on niche applications, India is poised to redefine its traditional IT landscape, despite challenges in data access and enterprise adoption.
Indian Staffing Industry Advocates for 5% GST to Boost Formal Employment
The Indian Staffing Federation urges the Finance Ministry to cut GST on employment services from 18% to 5%. This move, ahead of the 56th GST Council meeting, aims to boost formal job creation, enhance industry competitiveness, and formalize the economy, with minimal fiscal impact on government revenue.
Smartworks' Pre-IPO Performance: Revenue Soars 32% to ₹1,374 Crore, But Losses Widen to ₹63 Crore
Smartworks, an IPO-bound coworking major, reported a 32% revenue surge to ₹1,374 crore in FY25, but net losses widened to ₹63 crore. As it prepares for a July 10 IPO, the company aims to reduce expenses and achieve profitability. Funds will fuel expansion and debt repayment in India's growing flexible workspace market.
Amazon India Shifts Gears: From Marketplace to Comprehensive MSME Enabler
Amazon India is transforming from a marketplace to a full-stack enabler for Indian MSMEs. Led by Gaurav Bhatnagar, this shift provides comprehensive support, from AI-powered listing optimization and vernacular onboarding to enhanced logistics and accessible financing, empowering MSMEs to thrive in the digital economy and contribute to India's economic growth.
Smartworks Coworking Spaces to Launch IPO on July 10, Eyes Public Listing Amidst Sector Growth
Smartworks Coworking Spaces' IPO opens July 10, aiming to raise capital for expansion and debt repayment. The managed office solutions provider, focusing on large enterprises, reported ₹1,409.67 crore revenue in FY25. With 8 million sq ft leased across 13 cities, this listing signifies a major step for India's flexible workspace sector amidst growing demand.
NASSCOM Foundation and Tech SMEs Unite to Empower Marginalized Youth in Emerging Technologies
A new Nasscom Foundation CSR initiative, "Ascend," partners with nine tech SMEs to skill 150 marginalized youth in Data Analytics & Java Full Stack across Delhi-NCR, Trivandrum, & Pune. This collaborative model tackles SME CSR challenges, focusing on inclusive growth, soft skills, and placement, aiming for 60% women beneficiaries.
Steady Returns in Volatile Times: RBI Floating Rate Savings Bond Offers 8.05% for Conservative Investors
India's RBI Floating Rate Savings Bond offers conservative investors 8.05% interest (July-Dec 2025), a rate tied to NSC. This government-guaranteed bond provides high safety, semi-annual payouts, and adjusts with rising rates, making it an ideal choice for stable, income-focused returns despite its taxable nature and 7-year lock-in for most.
India's New Employment-Linked Incentive Scheme: Who Gains from the ₹99,446 Crore Job Push?
India's ₹99,446 crore ELI Scheme aims for 3.5 crore jobs by July 2027. It benefits first-time formal employees with a 1-month EPF wage (up to ₹15K) and employers with ₹3K/month per additional hire for 2-4 years. Focus on manufacturing. This formalizes labor, boosts youth employment, and encourages savings.
Government Partnerships Propel 80% of India's Top Nonprofit Unicorns to Faster Growth: Report
A Change Engine report states 80% of India's top "nonprofit unicorns" achieve large-scale impact via government partnerships. These organizations, reaching 1M+ people, use government for policy, budget, & infra. The study shows partnerships are accessible, proving government collaboration is key for societal change.
Boards Prioritize CEO Succession as Disruption and Complexity Mount: Global Study Reveals
A Korn Ferry study highlights CEO succession as boards' top priority globally, driven by rising disruption. 83% of chairs see it as a strategic imperative, emphasizing high-trust boards, diverse skills (digital, cultural), strong risk management, and tech readiness for future leadership in complex times.
India's Startups Eyeing Over ₹18,000 Crore Through Public Listings in Major D-Street Surge
Indian startups are gearing up for a significant D-Street push, aiming to raise over ₹18,000 crore via IPOs. This surge includes major players like Pine Labs, Shadowfax, Urban Company, Shiprocket, and Wakefit. Driven by scaling and a new focus on profitability, these listings reflect growing confidence in public markets and mark a maturing phase for India's startup ecosystem.
Leadership Boost for Pine Labs: Payments Giant Set to Appoint Avendus' Sameer Kamath as New CFO
Pine Labs, the fintech giant preparing for an IPO, is set to appoint Sameer Kamath, Avendus Capital's Group CFO, as its new CFO. This strategic hire strengthens its leadership ahead of the anticipated ₹2,600 crore public listing, aiming for a $4.5-5 billion valuation. Kamath's vast experience is crucial for this pre-IPO phase.