5 rising startups in India – Nov 24, 2016

Definitely not as easy as it used to be. Photo credit: Senorset Jahnsen.

Demonetization is an added bonus for a funded healthcare ecommerce startup, while three companies centered on lending a hand to businesses also nab some money. Finally, a networking app for millionaires tries to ease the pressure of being a high achiever in today’s society.

Netmeds

Photo credit: Treasure

Healthcare ecommerce portal Netmeds has acquired Delhi-based Pluss, a hyperlocal health and medical supplies delivery app.

The deal involves an undisclosed amount of Netmeds stock. Some Pluss senior staff will relocate to Chennai and work out of their new parent’s headquarters. The acquisition brings Netmeds’ staff count to 450.

The acquisition will enable Netmeds to scale and improve efficiency in first-tier cities, said its founder and CEO Pradeep Dadha in a statement. He added that demonetization and India’s move toward a cashless economy are fueling the company’s growth.

Founded by Atit Jain and Madhulika Pandey, Pluss has IDG Ventures India as one of its advisors.

See: Airtel Bank opens its doors as India grapples with demonetization crisis

BetterPlace

Data analytics-enabled background verification startup BetterPlace Safety Solutions has raised an undisclosed investment amount from Venture Highway through VH Capital.

Venture Highway has previously backed companies including Plabro, Tracxn, Deal4Loans, and Gingercrush.

Founded in January last year by Uday Singh and Pravin Agarwala, BetterPlace provides personal, employment, educational, criminal, and training verification services. It claims to have created over 200,000 profiles since its launch and is aiming to have a million profiles by next year. The startup looks at Aadhaar information (India’s national identification system), tracks a person’s digital information, and crowdsources social media data in addition to a traditional background check.

To pull up someone’s information, employers can search by name, mobile number, or a valid ID. Users may also create profiles that BetterPlace will then verify.

Unitus Seed Fund invested in the company in February.

Udaan

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