Physics Wallah Files IPO Papers, Zomato's Insolvency

Welcome “India” Bulls!

In a surprising twist, venture capital funding for Indian startups plummeted to $110 million across 25 deals during the week of March 15-21, marking a sharp decline from the previous week's $412 million. This downturn underscores the challenges startups face amid an uncertain macroeconomic environment.

Let’s dive into this week’s Startup Drama!

P.S. The Sunday Special is designed to help you discover the most important Startup insights outside of Share Markets. Our regular Share Market updates will resume as usual on Monday.

Startup Menu

• Startups this Week: Amul, Euler Motors, UL CyberPark

• Funding Space

• Policy Talks

• Everything else you need to know

• Life Hack in Video: Ways to Scale up your startup

• Startup Resources: 70 Small Business Ideas for Beginners

STARTUPS THIS WEEK

1. Amul's Name: A Bold Indian Identity: Defying marketing norms of the 1950s that favored Western-sounding names, Dr. Verghese Kurien insisted on christening the dairy cooperative 'Amul,' derived from 'Anand Milk Union Limited' and resonating with the Sanskrit word 'Amulya' (invaluable). This decision cemented Amul's identity as a proudly Indian brand.

2. Hero MotoCorp's Electrifying Investment: Accelerating its electric vehicle ambitions, Hero MotoCorp is set to invest up to ₹525 crore (approximately $60 million) in Euler Motors, securing a 32.5% stake. This strategic move marks Hero's entry into the electric three-wheeler market, complementing its existing stake in Ather Energy.

3. Kerala's IT Park: A Digital Revolution: UL CyberPark in Kozhikode is pioneering a smart, scalable infrastructure for digital-first businesses by integrating cloud-enabled workspaces, high-speed connectivity, IoT-driven building management, and AI-powered operations. This initiative positions North Kerala as a burgeoning IT hub.

FUNDING SPACE

💰 Weekly Funding Spotlight: Major Startup Investments (March 15–21)

The past week witnessed significant investments across various sectors:

▪️ Euler Motors: Secured $60 million from Hero MotoCorp to bolster its electric vehicle lineup.​

▪️ Servify: Raised $7.8 million to enhance its device management services.​

▪️ Rangsons Aerospace: Attracted $36.5 million for advancements in aerospace and defense solutions.​

▪️ Nivara Home Finance: Received $28.47 million to support affordable housing finance initiatives.​

▪️ Pilgrim: Garnered $23 million to expand its beauty and personal care product line.​

▪️ Protectt.ai: Obtained $9.27 million to advance mobile application security solutions.

POLICY TALKS

🇮🇳 Sovereignty: In a landmark move towards digital sovereignty, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has initiated the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC), aiming to create a secure, indigenous web browser. Zoho Corporation emerged as the winner, with Team PING and Team Ajna as runners-up.

🤝🏻 InnovateTogether: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasizes the need for academia, startups, students, and researchers to collaborate in developing new solutions, moving beyond the traditional mindset of relying solely on government institutions.

🗼 SkyNet: In a strategic move to enhance connectivity, India's leading telecom operators, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, have partnered with Elon Musk's Starlink to bring satellite internet services to India.

FROM THE WAR ZONE

Everything else you need to know

📖 EdTechIPO: Edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah has discreetly filed draft IPO papers with SEBI via a confidential pre-filing route, allowing the company to withhold public disclosure of details under the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP). ​

🛑 BanHammer: In a robust move against misuse, WhatsApp banned approximately 9.96 million Indian accounts in January 2025, targeting fraudulent activities and scams.

🧲 BrandMagnet: Cricket sensation Shubman Gill is rapidly becoming a favorite among top brands, endorsing names like MuscleBlaze, Casio India, TVS, CEAT Tyres, Nike, Beats, JBL, My11Circle, Fiama Men, ITC Engage, beatXP, Gillette, Capri Loans, Bajaj Allianz, Coca-Cola, MRF, Tata Capital, Wings, and The Sleep Company.

🚀 SpaceLeap: ISRO is gearing up for the LVM3-M5 mission, set to launch the advanced American communications satellite, BlueBird Block-2, into Low Earth Orbit, enhancing global satellite-to-smartphone connectivity.

💥 D2CRise: The FAST42 2025 list highlights India's rapidly expanding direct-to-consumer brands, showcasing innovation and growth in the D2C sector.

🛵 RebrandRevolution: Food delivery giant Zomato has received regulatory approval to rebrand as Eternal Ltd., reflecting its diversified business interests beyond food delivery.

🔋 BatteryBreakthrough: Tesla plans to introduce dry cathode technology in its Cybertrucks this year, aiming to reduce manufacturing costs and enhance battery efficiency.

LIFE HACKS

5 Ways to Scale ANY Business

STARTUP RESOURCES

70 Game-Changing Small Business Ideas for 2025 to Spark Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Looking to start your own business in 2025? Entrepreneur.com’s latest list of 70 small business ideas covers everything from financial consulting and personal training to e-commerce and app development. It’s a goldmine of practical, beginner-friendly inspiration for turning your passion into a thriving venture.

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Thanks for reading.

Until next week!

Mohit & the OneZero-F team

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