All posts by : Empowering Indians

FollowG, a B2B retail solutions provider, has launched a seller app tailored for the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This app aims to support small and medium-sized electronics retailers across India by connecting them with buyers nationwide via the ONDC Network.

Founded by industry veteran Poonam Gugale in early 2022, FollowG offers an integrated retail operating platform powered by AI that connects brands, retailers, and consumers.

The platform features a B2B app, a cloud-based ERP system, support for ONDC Network integration, along with Retailer Credit. This addresses critical challenges faced by small and medium-sized retailers in the digital age.

The company aims to empower retailers and enhance their sales, purchase and operations through its comprehensive digital and physical distribution system. To achieve this, FollowG is implementing blockchain, IoT, AI, and advanced technology across India.

These solutions optimize operations, enhance profitability, and facilitate seamless digital transformation. FollowG’s cutting-edge, comprehensive platform offers a user-friendly interface, robust features, and integrated tools to streamline operations, manage inventory, and fulfill orders efficiently.

“FollowG by integrating with ONDC Network is democratising e-commerce in India by providing a level playing field for electronic sellers. Our goal is to simplify the technology play for electronic retail which is biggest industry in E-commerce and retail in India and make it accessible to stakeholders at an affordable cost,” said Poonam Gugale, CEO of FollowG.

She added, “We believe ONDC Network has the potential to transform the industry. FollowG is committed to contributing to the success of ONDC Network by empowering manufacturers and retailers with the tools they need to thrive.”

By partnering with FollowG, the retailers can sell across India through their stores and online via ONDC Network. These retailers carry more inventory than the combined inventories of sellers of all significant e-commerce platforms.

FollowG’s Seller app is a key link between sellers and India’s vast market through the ONDC Network. With FollowG, businesses can quickly join the ONDC Network, set up stores, create product catalogues, and seamlessly start selling through buyer apps like Paytm.

In addition to its core seller app, FollowG offers white-label solutions for electronic brands seeking to establish their presence on ONDC Network. This strategic approach is expected to attract major players in the electronics market and further strengthen FollowG’s position within the ONDC ecosystem.

FollowG has sold over 70,000 mobile phones through its B2B platform and achieved a GMV of Rs 336 crore within a year of its B2B App launch with PAT positive.

Dressfolk, celebrated as one of India’s most loved handloom clothing brands, has secured a fresh round of undisclosed funding led by Eternal Capital, along with prominent D2C founders Ghazal Alagh (Founder, Mamaearth) and Dhruv Koli (Founder, Boba Bhai), with participation from Nobody Ventures and Eagle Wings Ventures.

Additionally, 3 Peaks Ventures also joined the round while existing investors All In Capital, Sidhant Keshwani (of Libas) and Vidur Kataria (of Master Chow) doubled down their trust in the brand.

Nitin Mehrotra, Dressfolk’s founder and CEO said “Dressfolk focuses on marrying design and comfort, which deeply resonates with our customers. Wearing authentic handlooms and craftsmanship is a matter of pride for the people and the newly raised funds will enable us to rapidly expand our offerings beyond sarees and build a broader portfolio of contemporary Indian wear.”

While many new-age fashion brands focus on fast fashion trends. Dressfolk saw a gap in the market for quality Indian wear for people over 25 that is timeless and classic. By introducing differentiated designs in natural, handwoven fabrics, the brand has introduced a fresh take on Indian wear, slowly replacing the age-old ones made in synthetic fabrics.

“Our conviction in Dressfolk comes not only from their unique business model, which places Bharat and its artisanal heritage at the core, but also from their stellar team, led by Nitin, whose deep and contextual experience gives the company an edge over its peers.” – Dhruv Dhanraj Bahl, Managing Partner at Eternal Capital.

Besides its website, the brand has scaled its distribution through leading marketplaces such as Aza Fashions, Nykaa, and Myntra, while also hosting pop-ups across India.

Having grown close to 200% in FY24, the brand has an AOV of over INR 7,000 and is on a mission to modernise timeless Indian weaves while empowering the local weavers community. Currently, it collaborates with a network of over 800 weavers and 120 artisans across six states.

Dressfolk aims to take Indian handloom global by expanding into international markets through a brand-new international website. The brand’s low order return rate is a testament to the deep customer love and trust it enjoys, including from A-list celebrities. Dressfolk’s long-term vision is to build the most desirable destination for high-quality Indian handlooms and crafts.

Bambinos Learning Solutions, an online English tutoring platform for kids between age 4-14, aims for an ARR of Rs 100 crore by the end of 2025 on the back of a major expansion plan and innovative product launches.

Bambinos distinguishes itself in the EdTech landscape with its AI-driven advanced teaching pedagogy, tailored to each child’s unique learning style focusing on essential life skills like Confidence, Problem Solving, and Character Building.

By focusing on these foundational life skills, Bambinos ensures that children are well-prepared for future challenges while excelling in literacy, numeracy and character development.

Bambinos is tackling a critical challenge in India, where less than 10% of the population speaks English fluently. By delivering high-quality education in the K-5 space, the platform aims to bridge the linguistic divide and equip children with essential skills for a globalized world.

“Our mission is to provide every child in India with the right start in life by mastering written and spoken English, which is critical for their future success,” said Ashish Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Bambinos.

Gupta co-founded Bambinos in 2020 with Gaurav Brar to address the challenges of learning English, inspired by his own experiences during school.

Recognizing this urgent need for effective English education, Bambinos aims to empower over 15 million young learners to enhance their English communication skills.

In a short period, Bambinos has established itself as a leader in the tutoring industry, with more than 6,000 monthly active students and over 250 tutors.

In 2024, the company, which is bootstrapped so far, has generated revenue of Rs 24 crore and it is one of the rare edtechs in the country that is already EBITDA positive with a 15% margin that reflects its strong financial performance.

With a mission to expand to 100 cities across India by 2025, Bambinos is positioned to play a transformative role in the early education sector. Through innovative programs and a strong commitment to excellence, Bambinos is set to empower millions of children with the skills they need for success in an increasingly interconnected world.

Sanlayan Technologies, an emerging strategic electronics startup founded in 2023, has acquired a majority stake in 20-year-old Dexcel Electronics, an embedded systems company founded in 2000, to boost innovation in Aerospace, Defense, and Space in India.

Founded by IIT/IIM alumni and former Zetwerk employees Abhijit Kothawale, Rohan Gala, and Rahul Vamsidhar, Sanlayan raised $4.4 million in its seed round last year from prominent institutional investors, including Gemba Capital, Singularity Ventures, and others, to drive its expansion into embedded systems and the vertical integration of electronics solutions across India’s Aerospace, Defence, and Space sectors.

This acquisition will strengthen Sanlayan’s ability to deliver advanced indigenous solutions that support national security and drive technological innovation in critical sectors.

Dexcel has contributed to major defence and space projects, including Jaguar and Sukhoi aircraft upgrades and ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 missions.

“Joining forces with Sanlayan represents a transformative step for Dexcel. This partnership will manifold our R&D investments, enabling us to deliver impactful solutions to our customers,” said Amit Kumar Sinha, CEO & Managing Director of Dexcel Electronics Designs.

“It will not only accelerate the design-to-deployment pipeline but also drive innovation and efficiency and position Dexcel to address complex challenges in Avionics, Radar electronics, Naval systems, and signal processing,” he added.

“In Dexcel, we found a company whose products and capabilities have immense potential yet have only scratched the surface. This strategic investment allows us to scale Dexcel’s core capabilities, aligning perfectly with our mission to solve end-user challenges in embedded electronic systems,” said Rohan Gala, Co-founder & CEO of Sanlayan.

“Together, we are poised to build a strong vertically integrated strategic electronics company that supports PM Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, a testament to Sanlayan’s commitment to enhancing national security with the development of indigenous product solutions for Air, Water, Land, and Space applications.”

Sanlayan and Dexcel will showcase their innovations at Aero India 2025 from February 10 to 14.

KIKO Live, India’s first live commerce platform for retailers to sell online and also on ONDC has launched its ONDC Buyer app. Through ‘kikoshop.in,’ the company aims to revolutionise the online shopping experience.

Founded in 2020, Kiko Live has been helping small retailers build, manage, and scale their home delivery businesses with innovative SaaS solutions. Users will be able to paste an entire grocery list directly into the search box, eliminating the need to search and select individual items. The app also suggests stores with inventories matching the list. The USP of the app is the seamless user experience it offers, making shopping more efficient and user-friendly. Soon users will also be able to take photos of the grocery list and directly add items to the cart.

The Kiko buyer app has launched Quick Commerce services in limited pincodes in Delhi, where buyers can get deliveries under 30 minutes from nearby stores. Prices of the products will be matching or lower than Quick commerce platforms.

With quick logistics powered by ONDC, users will get a similar experience like quick commerce platforms but sourced from local grocery stores.

“We are excited to launch the ONDC buyer app on Kiko Live. We are confident that this will take the shopping experience to the next level. The app is already loaded with innovative features, and we are in the process of rolling out quick commerce to many more pincodes in Delhi and other cities as well,” said Alok Chawla, Co- Founder & CEO, Kiko Live. The Kiko Live buyer app will be launched in other cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, and Indore in the coming quarter.

According to Forrester, the home delivery business for neighborhood retail stores is largely unorganised and is valued at $70 billion annually. Many small retailers currently rely on phone calls and WhatsApp to manage their orders, with no digital presence or reliable logistics. This results in slow deliveries, falling short of customer expectations for quick, 30-45 minute deliveries. Kiko Live is working on solving this big challenge that the industry faces. By end of 2025, Kiko targets to associating with over 10,000 stores targeting an increase of 10-15% sales.

Going forward, Kiko Live plans to add many more features on the buyer app. Through voice search, users will be able to search for products through voice commands on the app. Kiko Live is also enabling image search via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. This technology is expected to be launched by the end of January and will allow searches from handwritten grocery lists. With these innovative solutions planned, Kiko Live intends to become the largest non dark store led Quick Commerce platform in the country. Kiko Live’s asset light model ensures that Quick Commerce can be enabled even in Tier 2 towns, and areas with low population density, and with a wide product assortment.

Kiko Live has been focused on helping Kirana stores, pharmacies, stationery shops, and electronics vendors to create digital storefronts in as little as 24 hours. The platform also supports sellers with a product repository, a user-friendly interface, and hyperlocal logistics solutions for quick deliveries.

Robot System Products (RSP), a global leader in high-performance industrial robot accessories, has officially opened its first production facility outside of Sweden, located in Chennai, India, through its subsidiary company, Scandinavian Robot Systems India Private Limited.

RSP’s Indian subsidiary began operations in November 2023 in Tamil Nadu, one of India’s primary automotive hubs. Since then, the company has been supplying its industry-leading range of robot accessories to customers across India. In 2024, RSP experienced significant growth, especially within the automotive and automotive ancillary (Tier-1) sectors in India. To further enhance customer service, the company also established a branch office in Pune, strengthening its presence in western India.

The new facility in Chennai will focus on manufacturing key products or modules such as automatic tool changers, swivels, tool parking stands, and cable & hose management solutions. RSP is leveraging the established supplier network in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to ensure high-quality production.

According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), India was the fastest-growing industrial robot market in 2023, with annual installations increasing by 50%, reaching 8,500 units. This surge in demand has positioned India as the 10th largest robotics market globally. “We are confident in our decision to establish operations in India, and the rapid market growth reinforces that India will deliver on its potential,” said Eddie Eriksson, President and CEO of Robot System Products AB.

RSP’s products are designed to enhance manufacturing flexibility and reliability across all major robot brands. As a leading innovator in the industrial automation space, RSP delivers cutting-edge solutions that improve robot performance and versatility. Among its key products, the automatic tool changers stand out for their efficiency, enabling robots to seamlessly switch between various tools—such as grippers, welders, and drills—without downtime, optimizing productivity and throughput.

Arvind Vasu, Managing Director of RSP’s India subsidiary, commented, “Indian industries are poised to boost productivity through robot-based automation, particularly in automotive electric vehicles, electronics, and other manufacturing sectors. With India’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ initiative, RSP is well-positioned to offer local industries reliable, high-quality, and flexible solutions to help them automate and achieve their goals.”

Cloud-based post-production software company Postudio announced that it has raised $1 million funding in a pre-seed round led by media-tech focused venture capital firm Audacity Venture Capital. The company also has crossed a milestone of $1 million ARR within two years of its launch and plans to double the revenues in 2025 on the back of growing demand for remote collaboration and its commitment to affordability and data security measures.

The new capital will be used for rapid scale-up, product development and expansion of the team.
Founded by media veterans Dhawal Gusain and Harish Prabhu, Postudio is revolutionizing the post-production industry with its web-based platform that provides unprecedented flexibility, scalability and affordability to creators.

Commenting on Postudio’s success and expansion plan, Dhawal Gusain, Co-founder of Postudio, said “We’ve scaled quickly  in the Indian enterprise segment in a very capital efficient manner. In 2025, we plan to sustain this momentum and expand into the U.S. market in the second half of this year.”

Co-founder Harish Prabhu, added, “At Postudio, our goal has always been to empower creative teams with tools that simplify and enhance their post-production workflows. Our platform already supports key processes like virtual editing, real-time collaboration, and seamless camera-to-edit data transfer. We’re now doubling down on innovation, integrating cutting-edge AI and Gen AI workflows to redefine post-production. For instance, our AI-driven content localization tool, currently in beta testing with clients, has received promising feedback. With an ambitious roadmap for 2025, we’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cloud-based post-production.”

Given Postudio’s flexibility, scalability and affordability, Postudio is seeing rapid adoption among media enterprises as well as many independent production houses in India. Postudio is now set to expand its reach globally with a plan to launch in the US market in H2 2025.

“Postudio has found its product-market fit and is scaling rapidly. We are optimistic about the company’s future, thanks to the founders’ industry expertise and the perfect timing of their offerings. With the growing demand for scalable, AI enabled, cloud-based solutions, we believe Postudio is poised for success, and we’re committed to supporting them throughout their journey,” said Kabir Kochhar, Founder of Audacity Venture Capital.

The global post- production market, currently valued at $30 billion, is projected to surpass $50 billion by 2030. Traditional on-premise studios and offline workflows, which have long been the industry standard, are increasingly outdated—costly, rigid, and ill-suited for the rise of remote work and AI-driven tools. Postudio is disrupting this growing market by delivering a comprehensive, on-demand, cloud-based platform that covers all post-production workflows, setting it apart from competitors.

Major media enterprises have realized 20-40% cost savings by transitioning from on-premise solutions to Postudio. The platform’s turnkey design and intuitive interface make implementation seamless, while advanced security features and robust access controls ensure unparalleled content protection for enterprise clients.

Krvvy, India’s first new-age functional innerwear & shapewear brand for women, has announced that it has raised Rs 6.1 crore in funding in a pre-seed round co-led by Titan Capital and All In Capital.

Other angel investors, such as Nikita Gupta (Co-founder of Housepital), Emmanuel Suraj (CEO of DefinEquity), Anuj Jain (VP of Investwell), and Anubhav Arora (Head of Credit at Metalbook), also participated in the round.

Founded by two engineering graduates Yash Goyal and Anant Bhardwaj in May 2024, Krvvy (pronounced Curvy) aims to redefine the innerwear experience by offering high-quality, innovative products that cater to Indian body types with a focus on comfort, and inclusivity.

Innerwear solutions tailored for Indian women. Krvvy’s brand ethos revolves around listening to customer feedback to effectively address their unique needs and creating seamless yet functional garments.

With fresh funds, the D2C brand plans to expand its online and offline presence nationwide, primarily serving Indian women. Currently, Krvvy sells its products mainly through its website and major marketplaces such as Amazon and Myntra.

“We are thrilled to welcome Titan Capital and All In Capital to our mission of redefining the women’s innerwear industry through innovative designs focused on functionality and comfort. This funding will primarily be allocated to research and development, allowing Krvvy to expand its product range and introduce innovative functional innerwear products to the Indian market,” said Yash Goyal, Krvvy’s Co-founder and CEO, a former investment banker.

Krvvy is filling a major gap in the market by focusing on practicality and comfort in its designs. It caters to the increasing demand for shapewear among Indian women, a category that has experienced significant growth in Western markets.

Titan Capital spokesperson said, “With a sharp focus on combining functionality, comfort, and style, Krvvy is transforming the women’s shapewear and innerwear market.
Yash and Anant’s ability to iterate fast and stay close to the consumer’s needs makes us confident in their ability to redefine this market.”

“Lately, Indian female consumers have started prioritizing function and comfort over fashion when it comes to innerwear, influenced by personalized options, increased awareness, and the growing movement of body positivity. Conversations around investing in quality products are also driving this shift. With these rising trends, we believe that Krvvy’s designs can potentially disrupt India’s women’s innerwear market, which is currently valued at over ₹50,000 crore. Krvvy has already achieved impressive growth, with a 40-fold increase in less than a year, and is well-positioned for significant future expansion,” added Aditya Singh, Co-founder of All In Capital, a leading early-stage micro-VC.

Krvvy’s product portfolio includes bras, underwear, and shapewear, all designed with a solution-first approach that emphasizes on comfort, functionality, and style. As the brand prepares for its next chapter, it remains committed to empowering women through thoughtfully designed innerwear that supports their lifestyle choices.

Poshn, a pioneering company dedicated to simplifying the food value chain, has announced the appointment of AnitKunj Gupta as Senior Director – Finance & Accounts. With nearly two decades of expertise in financial planning, FMCG sourcing finance, and strategic advisory, Anit’s appointment is poised to transform Poshn’s financial framework and propel the company toward becoming a global leader in the food value chain system.

AnitKunj Gupta brings unparalleled expertise in the food supply chain sector, having worked closely with SMEs to optimize operational efficiencies and drive profitability. His deep understanding of the intricacies of the food value chain, combined with a proven track record in streamlining processes for small and medium enterprises, positions him as an invaluable asset for Poshn’s ambitious growth trajectory. He has held senior finance roles in industry leaders like Zydus Wellness, Whirlpool Corporation, Udaan, and Carlsberg Group.

Shashank Singh, Co-founder of Poshn, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Anit to the Poshn family. His extensive experience in the food supply chain and his work with SMEs in the sector will be instrumental in reshaping Poshn’s future. Anit’s expertise, particularly in FMCG and sourcing finance, will solidify our position as a global leader in the food value chain. With his leadership, we are confident of achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and delivering unmatched value to our stakeholders.”

AnitKunj Gupta, Senior Director – Finance & Accounts, Poshn, said, “I am delighted to join Poshn at such a pivotal phase of its journey. Poshn’s mission to simplify the food value chain resonates deeply with my professional ethos. I look forward to leveraging my experience in food supply chain finance and working with SMEs to build robust financial systems and contribute to the company’s expansion across global markets.”

Founded by Shashank Singh and Bhuvnesh Gupta in 2020, Poshn provides comprehensive, full-stack solutions for wholesale agro-commodities, offering a seamless commerce platform that connects wholesale buyers, millers, and stockists. With a strong focus on innovation, Poshn is dedicated to organizing and optimizing the food value chain while upholding the highest standards of governance and operational excellence.

To date, the company has successfully raised $8 million (approximately ₹65 crores) in equity and an additional $8 million in debt. its pre-Series A round, co-led by prominent investors Prime Venture Partners and Zephyr Peacock India.enabling it to empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and optimize food supply chain across the country. As an extension to their existing business the company is aggressively looking to build is Private label business and expand in new geographies.

Anit’s appointment underscores Poshn’s dedication to strengthening its leadership team and driving innovation. With his vast expertise in food supply chain finance and his work with SMEs, Anit will play a crucial role in shaping Poshn’s future and positioning it as one of the biggest global players in the food value chain.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Anit is known for his love of driving, his strategic thinking as a chess enthusiast, and his lively personality, reflected in his passion for comedy.

SS Tractor Factory Private Limited, known as Tractor Factory, has announced that it has raised ₹4 crore (around $500,000) in funding in a pre-seed round led by early-stage investment firm All In Capital.

Several marquee investors, including Bharat Founders Fund, Devc, and family offices such as Dhingra Partners Prosperity Trust (associated with the Kirloskar Generators family office), participated in the round. Additionally, angel investors like Samir Sood (Founder of Venture Highway), Abhishek Goyal (Founder of Tracxn), Aayush Phumbra (Founder of Chegg), and Puneet Kumar (from Steadview Capital) also joined the fresh investment.

Founded by IIT and IIM alumnus Shailesh Tiwari in 2024, Tractor Factory aims to become India’s leading platform for buying and selling pre-owned tractors and farm equipment to address the uncertainties and risks prevalent in the current market.

The company plans to use the funds to enhance its technology, expand its market reach, and improve customer experience. These efforts will facilitate a smoother transaction process for farmers.

“We have seen the challenges that mid-income farmers meet due to the lack of access to reliable, low-cost tractors, contributing to generational poverty. At Tractor Factory, we aim to address this issue and are pleased to have the support of credible investors who believe in our mission. We aimto generate ₹1000 crores in revenue over the next three years,” said Shailesh Tiwari, who has over a decade of experience in the tractor and farm equipment industry.

He added that the company aims to eliminate the uncertainties involved in transactions, thereby empowering small landholding farmers who often struggle to buy reliable used tractors from broker-driven, unfragmented sources.

Tractor Factory offers an omnichannel marketplace that caters to farmers’ mechanization needs by making buying and selling used tractors more accessible and affordable.

On the rationale for investing in Tractor Factory, Kushal Bhagia, Founder of All In Capital, said, “India is largely an agri-dominated economy. However, more than 95% of farmers in the country fall under the middle-income category and do not have the resources to buy new tractors, thus limiting their production capacity. Tractor Factory is solving this major problem and addressing the vital needs of small farmers nationwide.”

To this, Samir Sood, Founder of Venture Highway added, “Pre-owned tractors constitute a $10B market in India that remains untapped and unorganized. Shailesh and his team at Tractor Factory possess a remarkable understanding of this sector, positioning themselves to lead the transformation of the landscape for farmers.”