Aryaman Gupta, Nivedita Mookerji

Stories by Aryaman Gupta, Nivedita Mookerji

Competitors unfazed by Flipkart's 10-min delivery foray

Competitors unfazed by Flipkart's 10-min delivery foray

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2024

At a time when Flipkart has entered the quick-commerce race with a service called "Minutes", executives at rival players said they are in a wait-and-watch mode. They said they would be concerned only once the e-commerce firm is able to succeed in this space. The Walmart-owned firm's quick-commerce service has gone live in some parts of Bengaluru, putting it in competition with firms such as Zepto, Swiggy's Instamart, and Zomato's Blinkit.

Zepto upsizes, to shift core operations to Bengaluru

Zepto upsizes, to shift core operations to Bengaluru

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2024

Flush with funds, quick commerce unicorn Zepto is planning to relocate from Powai in Mumbai to a larger office space in Bengaluru's Sarjapur to accommodate its imminent new hires. While the company will maintain an office in Mumbai, its primary operations will shift to the new space in Bengaluru. A spokesperson for Zepto confirmed the development

ADIF files complaint with CCI against Google for anti-competitive practices

ADIF files complaint with CCI against Google for anti-competitive practices

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2024

The Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), an industry body for startup ecosystem and app developers, on Monday filed a complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against technology major Google for alleged anti-competitive practices in online advertising. The complaint outlined Google's dominant position and alleged abusive behaviour in both the online search and online display advertising.

'Jobs Have To Be Created Everywhere'

'Jobs Have To Be Created Everywhere'

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2024

'I found it unbelievable that L&T said 45,000 jobs were waiting to be filled because of unavailability of suitable skillsets.' 'So, when the Opposition sweepingly says there are no jobs, I'm sorry... I'm not saying it's raining jobs, but there are jobs. The (skill) gap has to be bridged.'

Budget: Time To Bet On Big Ideas

Budget: Time To Bet On Big Ideas

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2024

The generation of quality jobs and skill development should be the focal point, cutting across ministries and departments, asserts Nivedita Mookerji.

Startups Likely To Step Up Hiring

Startups Likely To Step Up Hiring

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2024

'In the second half of 2024, about 60% of startup jobs will be taken by entry-level candidates with 0-3 years of experience.'

IPO-bound startups find favour with investors amid funding resurgence

IPO-bound startups find favour with investors amid funding resurgence

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2024

The tide of startup-funding is turning in India, with a rising trend of overall funding while the deal sizes grow bigger. However, the spotlight now is on late-stage startups, many of which are seen to be headed for initial public offerings (IPOs). Record surge in stock markets and consistently improving performances of listed startups are understood to have turned the sentiment for the better, especially for those that exhibit a clear path to an IPO.

Bucking the trend: Indian startups regain lost funding ground, says report

Bucking the trend: Indian startups regain lost funding ground, says report

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2024

Finally, some good news for the Indian startup ecosystem. After four consecutive half-year periods of declining funding since 2022, the first half (H1) of 2024 has shown an upward trend compared to the second half (H2) of 2023. According to the India Tech Semi-Annual Funding Report H1 2024 by Tracxn, Indian technology (tech) startups raised $4.1 billion in H1 2024, marking a 4 per cent increase from $3.96 billion in H2 2023.

Value-add target in new PLI scheme for electronics manufacturing may double

Value-add target in new PLI scheme for electronics manufacturing may double

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2024

In a move to deepen manufacturing in electronics in India, the Centre is targeting 35-40 per cent value-addition through the yet-to-be launched production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for electronics components, sources in the government

D2C brands hitch a ride on the quick commerce wagon

D2C brands hitch a ride on the quick commerce wagon

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2024

As quick-commerce players find their foothold among consumers, brands are all set to step up their presence on these platforms.

History Unfolds At Rashtrapati Bhavan

History Unfolds At Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2024

With the strain and anxiety of the longest Lok Sabha polls now behind the leaders, governance, with consensus, is the next step.

Premium devices to dial up growth in India's smartphone market in 2024

Premium devices to dial up growth in India's smartphone market in 2024

Rediff.com   23 May 2024

Indian smartphone sales, traditionally dominated by the entry and mid-range segments, are set to change as high-end and super-premium devices capture consumer attention. The premium category is expected to grow by more than 20 per cent in calendar year (CY) 2024 compared to the previous year. While the overall smartphone market is expected to w

'Kirana Stores May Adopt Quick Commerce'

'Kirana Stores May Adopt Quick Commerce'

Rediff.com   23 May 2024

'Traders must adopt digital payments as soon as possible within a set timeframe, as the nation is moving rapidly towards digitisation.' 'Ignoring digital systems is not an option for strengthening trade.'

BJP, Congress Pull Up Sleeves In Gujarat

BJP, Congress Pull Up Sleeves In Gujarat

Rediff.com   7 May 2024

After BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal's Surat win, Gujarat will see 25 Lok Sabha seats go to polls on May 7 with 266 candidates in the fray.

Swiggy gets one step closer to $1.25 bn IPO

Swiggy gets one step closer to $1.25 bn IPO

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2024

Food delivery major Swiggy has received approval from its shareholders for a $1.25 billion initial public offering (IPO), according to filings made with the Registrar of Companies sourced by Tofler. The Bengaluru-based firm plans to raise as much as Rs 3,750 crore (around $450 million) via a fresh issue and up to Rs 6,664 crore (around $800 million) through an offer-for-sale (OFS) component, the filings stated.

Investors In India Needs Red Carpet, Not Red Tape

Investors In India Needs Red Carpet, Not Red Tape

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2024

'India needs many more job creators, both in manufacturing and services, to make it big.' 'For that, the red carpet must be rolled out fully and for all investors without holding back,' suggests Nivedita Mookerji.

Time to speak up: What women want from elections

Time to speak up: What women want from elections

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2024

Ahead of the upcoming elections, political parties have started announcing incentives to benefit women, but what do women truly seek for genuine gender parity, asks Nivedita Mookerji.

Can Voda Idea play on the front foot in a market fast resembling a duopoly?

Can Voda Idea play on the front foot in a market fast resembling a duopoly?

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2024

In August 2021, Nick Read, chief executive of Vodafone Plc at the time, did not mince his words while speaking about the India business in an earnings call. Replying to an analyst's question on Vodafone Idea, a venture with the Aditya Birla Group that had piled on huge debts and worrisome losses, Read described it as a highly stressed situation that "they (Vodafone Idea) are trying to navigate... "We, as a group, try to provide them as much practical support as we can, but I want to make it very clear, we are not putting any additional equity into India.''

Q3 sees startups turn a profitable corner

Q3 sees startups turn a profitable corner

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2024

The third quarter (Q3) of 2023-24 (FY24) has proven to be pivotal, witnessing some startups turning profitable and others enhancing their performance as their businesses finally begin to deliver. Startups like Delhivery, Zomato, PolicyBazaar, Mamaearth, and Nykaa have either become profitable or improved their profit margins in Q3FY24. A renewed focus on profitability, supported by operational efficiencies, expense rein-in, and robust demand during the festival season, has empowered companies to strengthen their performance.

Fintech major PhonePe takes on Google, Apple with homegrown Indus Appstore

Fintech major PhonePe takes on Google, Apple with homegrown Indus Appstore

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2024

Fintech major PhonePe on Wednesday announced the launch of its homegrown Indus Appstore specifically for the Indian market, in a bid to compete with global incumbents like Google Play Store and Apple's App Store. The Indus Appstore is PhonePe's attempt at creating a more competitive and localised mobile app store economy for India, which is already the world's largest market for mobile apps.