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1 week ago | 
the-captable.com | Nikhil Patwardhan
Key Takeaways Anita Kishore, once Byju's most trusted aide, is now formally implicated in a US case against the troubled edtech The complaint alleges that Kishore played an active role in executing and concealing the transfer of funds from Byju’s Alpha Inc to a sham hedge fund, even after the company’s lenders had taken control of the former Her inclusion in the case marks the first time someone outside Byju’s founding family has been formally pulled into the legal proceedings Once hailed as...
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2 weeks ago | 
the-captable.com | Nikhil Patwardhan |Anuj Suvarna
Key Takeaways India's VC firms are grappling with a new Sebi-mandated exam that has disrupted the industry, pushing seasoned fund managers back into academic mode The exam has been criticised for its theory-heavy, hedge-fund-centric syllabus, seen as misaligned with the practical realities of fund management As firms rush to comply before the May 9 deadline, VCs are promoting compliance professionals; some are even considering shifting fund domiciles offshore Though Sebi has shown openness to...
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3 weeks ago | 
yourstory.com | Nikhil Patwardhan
US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on India, though among the highest globally, are still lower than those imposed on Vietnam and China, giving India’s growing new-age manufacturing sector a competitive edge, according to venture capital investors.
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3 weeks ago | 
the-captable.com | Nikhil Patwardhan
Key Takeaways Despite claims of "double-digit growth," VerSe Innovation’s revenue declined 13% in FY24, attributed to reduced ad spends from key sectors and a focus on cost-cutting While the company’s focus on cost-cutting saw revenue decline, its loss almost halved to Rs 710 crore in FY24 VerSe’s growth strategy in FY25 relies heavily on acquisitions, particularly ValueLeaf, which is expected to contribute significantly to revenue alongside the expansion of Dailyhunt Premium VerSe is...
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1 month ago | 
the-captable.com | Nikhil Patwardhan |Sayan Sen
Key Takeaways Walmart is looking to monetise its Indian investments and has started discussions to list Flipkart and PhonePe The retail giant sees PhonePe’s IPO as a more viable option and wants to list the company by the end of FY26 at the latest PhonePe is expected to file its draft prospectus by June and Walmart’s aspiration is to see the fintech list at a $15 billion valuation The retailer may not push for Flipkart’s IPO before PhonePe as the company believes that the e-commerce giant is...
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1 month ago | 
the-captable.com | Sai Keerthi |Nikhil Patwardhan
Key Takeaways India's funding landscape has become more challenging, with longer gaps between Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds, forcing startups to prove revenue potential early Investors are now favouring capital-efficient businesses over heavily-funded ventures, leading to a decline in valuations and more scrutiny on unit economics Exits have become harder due to delayed funding cycles, pushing VCs toward secondary sales and alternative strategies to return capital to their LPs This has...
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2 months ago | 
the-captable.com | Nikhil Patwardhan
Key Takeaways Angel investors in India are likely to stare at losses due to unfavorable deal structures in strategic acquisitions, which often leave them with little to no returns Unlike institutional investors, angels lack strong legal protections such as liquidation preference and board representation, making them vulnerable in acquisitions The rise of angel syndicates and AIFs offers some protection, but they still lack the power that major institutional investors hold in deal negotiations...
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2 months ago | 
the-captable.com | Nikhil Patwardhan
Key Takeaways Peak XV Partners’ transition far from Sequoia Capital India has been far from smooth, leading to uncertainties within the organisation While some prominent departures have made headlines, the VC has seen many other senior and mid-level folks moving on over the past 20 months Several problems with high-profile portfolio companies such as Byju’s, BharatPe among others, have further exacerbated Peak XV’s issues How India’s largest venture capital firm evolves from here will be...
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2 months ago | 
yourstory.com | Sai Keerthi |Nikhil Patwardhan
Peak XV’s Managing Directors Abheek Anand and Shailesh Lakhani are leaving the venture capital firm, almost two years after it broke ties with its US partner Sequoia Capital, in what will be a big blow to one of India's biggest venture capital companies. Lakhani, who was with Peak XV for over 17 years, sits on the boards of 15 portfolio companies including Zetwerk, Ixigo, and HealthKart, among others.
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Jan 22, 2025 | 
the-captable.com | Nikhil Patwardhan
Key TakeawaysRazorpay and Cashfree have ended their partnerships with Juspay, opting instead for direct integration with merchantsPaytm and PayU are also expected to take a similar approach, bypassing Juspay’s third-party payment routing in favour of direct integrationFor years, Juspay facilitated traffic to payment aggregators like Razorpay and Cashfree.
