WhatsApp to make it easier for you to message unsaved contacts

WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow users to contact friends whose phone numbers they haven’t saved on their device. When you receive an unsaved phone number in a conversation, you can now send that individual a message. WhatsApp will also include a calling feature, which will give users yet another way to connect. If you choose to call that person, it will direct you to the dialer app. Of course, you’ll be able to store the phone number to your address book as well. However, the…

Agritech startup Agrizy raises $4 mn from investors including Ankur Capital

Agrizy, an agritech firm, raised $4 million (about Rs. 30 crore) in a seed round sponsored by Ankur Capital. Omnivore and angel investors Rajesh Yabaji (CEO, BlackBuck), Zetwerk Co-founders Srinath Ramakkrushnan, Amrit Acharya, Rahul Sharma, and Vishal Chaudhary, among others, participated in the round. The cash will be used by the Bengaluru-based startup to expand its business, hire engineers, develop a suite of digital services for the processed agro trade, and increase client growth. “The funds raised will be utilized to build strong business and engineering teams, develop a suite…

Gupshup acquires VC-backed Active.ai; eyes $100-200 mn in pre-IPO round

Webaroo Inc.’s conversational messaging platform Gupshup has acquired Active.Ai, a conversational AI platform for banks and fintech organisations, and is in talks with possible investors for a pre-IPO investment round of $100 million to $200 million or potentially more, according to a top official. Gupshup co-founder and CEO Beerud Sheth stated the “mid-sized” transaction was largely cash-based. “We wanted Active.founders AI’s and workers to continue,” he said. In the process, several institutional investors have pulled out. Active.ai was founded in 2016 by Ravi Shankar, Shankar Narayanan, and Parikshit Paspulati, with…

Amid IPO plans Netcore eyeing another $100 million acquisition

Netcore Cloud will begin filing for its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in two months, according to Rajesh Jain, the bootstrapped Software as a Service company’s founder and global managing director. In order to broaden its software products ahead of the IPO in the first quarter of the following calendar year, the company is looking to make numerous acquisitions, including one worth up to $100 million and several smaller ones. For the acquisitions, Jain said the company was focusing on product analytics, customer data platforms, email intelligence, and loyalty. As digital…

CARD91 raises $13 million in Pre Series A funding

CARD91, a payment issuance infrastructure platform, has raised $13 million in a Pre-Series A funding round led by  Infinity Ventures, Point72 Ventures, Sabre Partners, EMVC and Commerce Ventures along with marquee angel investors. Founded in August 2020 by Vineet Saxena, Ajay Pandey and Kush Srivastava, CARD91 offers a plug and play payment issuance infrastructure that helps businesses and banks launch co-branded cards and simplify business payments. This is an end-to-end solution for businesses that want to roll out their own Card programs. CARD91’s solution helps companies to launch the card faster….

Ankur Capital, Omnivore help Agrizy raise $4 million seed fund

Ankur Capital led a $4 million seed round for Bengaluru-based agri-tech start-up Agrizy. Omnivore and angel investors such as Rajesh Yabaji (CEO, BlackBuck) and Zetwerk co-founders Srinath Ramakkrushnan, Amrit Acharya, Rahul Sharma, and Vishal Chaudhary took part in this round. The funds raised will be used to grow strong business and engineering teams, develop a suite of digital services for the processed agro industry, and increase customer traction in specific value chains across India. The funds will be used to expand the product and speed up business in specific value…

Tata’s super app ‘Neu’ is all set to launch this week

The Tata group will launch their super app ‘Neu on April 7th’. In the digital e-commerce industry, Neu will compete with Flipkart, Amazon, and Jio platforms. The news was made via a teaser graphic on the Google Play Store page. The Neu’s first public announcement coincided with the ongoing Indian Premier League cricket tournament. The Neu’s first public announcement coincided with the ongoing Indian Premier League cricket season. Tata Neu is a centralised platform that will integrate different brands across the Tata product and service portfolio. This super app, according…

Bombay Play raises $7 million led by Kalaari Capital

Bombay Play, a hyper-social gaming platform, has secured $7 million in a round headed by Kalaari Capital. Lumikai Fund, Leo Capital and PlayCo, AdvantEdge VC, and AMEA Ventures all participated in the round, as did online gaming platform Winzo. The fresh funds will be used to expand the company’s existing “hyper-social” game offerings, support prospective ventures, and allocate cash to product development. The Bengaluru-based startup, founded in 2018 by Oliver Jones and Abhas Saroha, employs 50 individuals. By the end of 2023, it intends to double its workforce. Bombay Play…

Tesla CEO Elon Musk takes 9.2 per cent stake in Twitter

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), has built a 9.2% stake in Twitter Inc (TWTR.N), according to a regulatory filing released on Monday, sending the microblogging site’s shares up 16% in premarket trading. Late in March, the Silicon Valley billionaire stated that he was “considering” creating a new social networking site. Musk was responding to a Twitter user who asked whether he would consider creating a social media platform based on an open source algorithm that prioritised free expression and had less propaganda. Musk, a prolific user of…

upGrad sets up not-for-profit foundation, commits Rs 50 crore corpus fund

UpGrad, an upskilling and higher learning edtech company, announced the opening of upGrad Foundation, a philanthropic and non-profit division on Monday. The foundation plans to focus on a variety of working professionals, including first-generation students, women returning to the workforce, and those in the public sector or the military forces, with a capital of Rs 50 crore. “LifeLongLearning, upskilling, and career enhancements can no longer be the right of only those who can afford it. Online learning has changed the perspective of all working professionals around the world and how…