5 rising startups in India – April 1, 2017

Photo credit: greenartphotography / 123RF.

It’s April Fool’s Day. But this is no prank. Here are five startups making merry with funding.

BigBasket

Photo credit: rklfoto123 / 123RF.

India’s leading online grocery delivery site BigBasket has secured US$7 million in venture debt from Trifecta Capital. The money will go towards building its warehousing and cold storage infrastructure. BigBasket had raised US$150 million in a series D round led by UAE-based Abraaj Group last year.

A number of grocery delivery startups have shut shop over the last year as funding dried up and unit economics did not add up. The biggest to fall was PepperTap backed by Sequoia and Snapdeal. BigBasket could face a challenge from Amazon which has been experimenting with grocery delivery in India.

See: Here comes the grocery price war in India

Rooter

Photo credit: Chubby Chandru.

Mumbai-based Rooter, a social engagement app for sports fans, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from consumer electronics manufacturer Intex. “Intex’s understanding of the smartphone world in Tier-2 and 3 cities of India will help us to promote and develop Rooter,” says Rooter CEO and founder Piyush Kumar in a statement.

The funding is timely as the cricket season is in full flow with the Indian Premier League starting next week. Intex director Keshav Bansal is also the franchise owner of Rajkot-based IPL team Gujarat Lions which ended up on top of the league table last season.

See: India’s startups learn to play in the IPL

Icertis

Photo credit: Pixabay.

Adurcup

Hasiru Dala