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Kyash, a Tokyo-based digital wallet, announced a $41.2 million usd, or 4.9 billion yen, raise in a Series D round. Since launching in 2015, the cashless mobile app and corresponding credit card has grown its total funding to an estimated $108 million, or 12.8 billion yen. 

Mint had reported that the grocery delivery company is looking to set up larger dark stores to stock a larger assortment of grocery and e-commerce products like cosmetics and gifting items.“If we are able to achieve this while continuing to delight customers, I believe we will be ready to go public relatively soon," he added.Founded by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra in 2021, Zepto shot to fame after it secured upwards of $150 million in funding from marquee investors such as Y Combinator and Nexus Venture Partners within months of inception. It attained unicorn status last year after bagging $200 million in Series E funding led by US private equity firm StepStone Group, along with Goodwater Capital, Nexus Venture Partners and Glade Brook Capital.The startup is now planning an initial public offering sometime next year, aiming for a multi-billion dollar listing on the back of a healthy balance sheet, Palicha said.Over the last few months, Zepto has introduced several new initiatives to diversify its revenue streams and improve its margins.For instance, Zepto Pass, its loyalty programme with monthly prices starting at ₹19, saw more than a million customers sign up to it within a week of launch in February, according to the company.

SuperKalam, an AI-led personal mentor for students preparing for competitive exams, has concluded a seed funding round raising Rs 16.3 crore or $2 million. The funding round was led by YCombinator and Fundersclub with participation from notable investors, including YC Partner Puneet Kumar, GoodWater Capital, Nurture Ventures, SuperCapital, Pareto Ventures, among others. The company says that the secured funding will be utilised to boost SuperKalam's AI-led educational platform, expand its reach, enhance user experience, and foster continuous innovation in personalised learning services. Unlike traditional edtech platforms that rely on one-size-fits-all content delivery, SuperKalam places students at the center of a customised learning experience. By utilising AI-driven analytics, the platform adapts to each student's unique needs, offering tailored learning paths, instant doubt resolution, and progress tracking.

BENGALURU : Audio entertainment platform Pocket FM has raised $103 million in its Series D funding—its largest yet—providing more evidence of the funding freeze easing up for startups demonstrating a clear path to growth. The company’s valuation has nearly doubled in the latest fundraise, to about $750 million from $390 million when it previously raised $65 million in its Series C round in March 2022.

Quick commerce unicorn Zepto has raised $31.25 million in a fresh funding round from existing investors such as Goodwater Capital and Nexus Venture Partners. The round also saw participation by Mangum II LLC as well as angel investors such as Oliver and Lish Jung, according to company filings. It was also at the same valuation as the last funding round in August, a person in the know told ET. The development was first reported by Deal Street Asia.

New Delhi: Online grocery delivery company Zepto has raised $200 million in Series-E fundraise, valuing the company at $1.4 billion, and making it the first unicorn of 2023. The fundraise was led by US-based private markets investment firm StepStone Group, Zepto, set up in the aftermath of the pandemic, on Friday said. The investment also marks StepStone Group’s first direct investment in an Indian company.

Fintech startup Defy on Thursday said it has raised $5.5 million (around Rs 40.79 crore) in a funding round to build India’s first social crypto exchange.