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In an age dominated by digital resumes and LinkedIn DMs, a Bengaluru-based Zomato delivery partner chose a refreshingly old-school method to apply for a marketing internship — a handwritten note. The story unfolded when an employee at shopflo, a tech startup, received his food delivery along with a small surprise: a slip of paper with a bold message. "I am a college student looking for a summer internship in marketing (NOT sales). Do contact me. 6261724837 (Only WhatsApp)." On the back, the note humbly added, "Sorry for the terrible handwriting." The Bold Simplicity of the Ask The handwritten message didn’t come with a resume or a linktree portfolio. But it had something far more powerful — hustle. Shared on LinkedIn as “handwritten, bold, and hopeful,” the note quickly went viral, earning admiration for its raw authenticity and determination. The sender’s clarity was unmistakable — he wanted a marketing role, not sales. And he wasn’t waiting around for job boards or HR rounds. He created his own opportunity, mid-shift, penning his dream on a piece of paper and delivering it — quite literally. The Audacity to Hope What makes this moment so impactful is the sheer courage behind it. Between order pickups and deliveries, this young student carved out a way to market himself without a portal, recruiter, or referral. It’s a modern hustle story — not powered by keywords or automation, but by intent and initiative. And it just might be the most heartfelt cover letter of the year. #zomato #summerintern #zomatohiring #marketingInternship #salesInternship #startupHiring #startupnews #startupro

In a strategic move to support India’s gig economy, the Indian government, through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), has partnered with Rapido, India’s leading bike taxi service. This collaboration aims to provide critical skill development to Rapido's driver-partners, empowering them with essential training in safety, technical skills, and customer service. Key Objectives of the Partnership: Comprehensive Skill Development: The partnership will provide certified training for Rapido's "Captains" to ensure their readiness for safe and efficient operations. Job Creation & Economic Growth: The initiative is designed to enhance employability and provide both part-time and full-time job opportunities within the gig economy. Empowerment & Support: In addition to skills, Rapido’s Captains will have access to infrastructure like vehicles, food, and accommodation, facilitating smoother entry into the workforce. This collaboration underscores the government's commitment to uplifting gig workers while driving inclusive growth and providing sustainable income sources across India. #gigWorkers #gigEconomy #rapido #rapidoCaptains #skillDevelopment #rapidoNews #startupnews #indianGovernment #nsdc #startupro

Defence technology startup Vayudh has secured $10 million in fresh funding, with Dharana Capital leading the round. The investment also drew participation from notable names such as Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal, Action TESA MD Ajay Aggarwal, Sumit Jalan , LetsVenture, and Navam Capital. Previously, Florintree Advisors had backed the company. Founded in 2016 by Tanmay Bunkar , Anuj Barnwal, and Sarita Ahlawat, Vayudh specializes in developing drone platforms for battlefield intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). The startup has been making notable strides in swarm drone technology and has accumulated over 300,000 autonomous flying hours. In 2023, the company received the prestigious iDEX Grant for building India’s smallest surveillance drone, further cementing its role in the domestic defence tech ecosystem. One of its latest innovations is Atri, a nano surveillance drone aimed at enhancing the capabilities of India’s security forces. With the newly raised capital, Vayudh plans to accelerate its R&D, expand manufacturing capacity, and scale deployments for Indian defence forces. The company prides itself on being a Made-in-India operation, conducting both drone development and testing domestically. Vayudh is committed to strengthening India’s defence through cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies tailored for national security applications.

As Flipkart gears up for a potential public listing in India and evaluates shifting its domicile from Singapore back to the country, the company’s board has asked CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy to significantly cut down its monthly cash burn. Currently, Flipkart reportedly burns around $40 million (approx. ₹340 crore) every month. In a recent board meeting, leadership requested Krishnamurthy to bring this figure down to $20 million (₹170 crore) in the coming quarters — effectively halving the company’s operational expenses to make the business more sustainable. The move comes at a time when Flipkart is preparing for its IPO, which could take place as early as 2026. The board’s directive is aimed at making Flipkart leaner and more efficient, especially in light of its aggressive plans to scale up business verticals like Flipkart Minutes, its quick-commerce initiative. Reducing cash burn is critical for high-growth firms and startups, particularly those not yet profitable. It signals how long a company can operate without fresh capital infusion. By slashing its burn rate to $250 million annually, Flipkart aims to position itself as a more attractive and stable candidate for public markets. While the company is eyeing expansion and innovation, it must now balance growth with profitability — a shift in mindset that has become increasingly important in today’s capital-conscious investment environment. #flipkart #flipkartCEO #flipkartIPO #flipkartLosses #cashBurn #startupnews #startupro

A two-year-old handwritten note from BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover has resurfaced online just as BluSmart and Gensol Engineering Limited co-founder Anmol Jaggi finds himself in serious trouble over alleged fund diversion. The note, written inside a copy of Grover’s book Doglapan, expressed his ambition to “beat Ola and Uber” in partnership with Anmol Jaggi. Grover wrote, “To Anmol Jaggi, I get along fabulously with Sardar Jees. Jaspal Bindra Ke Saath PMC Bank Bachaya. Tere Saath Ola + Uber Ko beat Karna Hai. Think and do big.” He signed it and gifted the book to Jaggi, who later posted the signed copy on LinkedIn thanking Grover and calling him a source of wisdom. However, that warm gesture has now taken on new meaning after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) revealed that Anmol Jaggi, along with his brother Puneet Jaggi, allegedly diverted ₹50 lakh from listed entity Gensol Engineering into Grover’s startup, Third Unicorn, during its seed funding round in February 2023. SEBI’s investigation suggests that the funds used to buy 2,000 shares of Third Unicorn were improperly moved out of Gensol. As a result, BluSmart—one of Jaggi’s co-founded ventures—has suspended operations amid the controversy. Importantly, Ashneer Grover has not been directly charged by SEBI in connection with this transaction. Still, the revelations have added further scrutiny to his startup, Third Unicorn, and raised broader concerns around founder-led investments and transparency. As the regulatory probe continues, the ambitions once outlined in Grover’s motivational note may now be overshadowed by growing legal and reputational questions facing the entrepreneurs involved. #ashneerGrover #blusmartCrisis #blusmart #jaggiBrothers #gensolFraud #foundersFraud #startupnews #startupro

**New Fund Alert For Your Startup** A91 Partners has announced the final close of its third fund at $665 million, reinforcing its commitment to backing growth-stage Indian startups. With this fresh capital, the firm aims to support founders scaling enduring businesses across consumer, healthcare, fintech, and tech sectors. Founded in 2018 by ex-Peak XV (formerly Sequoia India) partners Gautam Mago, Abhay Pandey, Kaushik Anand, and VT Bharadwaj, A91 Partners was built on the belief in patient capital and the long-term potential of Indian entrepreneurship. “These beliefs have only strengthened over the last six years,” the firm said in a LinkedIn post. A91 has invested in a wide range of sectors, from home appliances and insurance to F&B brands like Blue Tokai, Atomberg, Digit Insurance, Sugar Cosmetics, Exotel, and Paper Boat. One of its portfolio companies, Go Digit, went public recently. The firm also revealed that IFC (International Finance Corporation) is considering investing up to $35 million in Fund III, with an additional $30 million earmarked for co-investments—showing strong global confidence in A91's strategy. With Fund III, A91 is poised to deepen its impact on India’s startup ecosystem by enabling the next wave of category-defining companies. Team A91 Partners✅ Gautam Mago | Abhay Pandey | Kaushik Anand | VT Bharadwaj | Ruchi Khajanchi | Prasun Agarwal | Krunali Shah | Shivani Agarwal |

Uniqus Consultech Inc., a fast-growing global consulting firm, has raised $20 million in a Series C funding round led by Nexus Venture Partners with participation from Sorin Investments. Both venture capital firms are existing backers of Uniqus, having supported its previous rounds. The fresh capital will be used to drive the company’s expansion across geographies, enhance its service offerings, and continue developing proprietary tech platforms that power its consulting capabilities. Founded in 2022 by seasoned industry veterans Jamil Khatri (ex-KPMG) and Sandip Khetan (ex-EY), Uniqus offers consulting services in areas such as accounting, reporting, finance operations, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and emerging technologies. Despite being a relatively young player in the market, the firm has already made a strong impression by blending deep domain expertise with advanced tech solutions. Uniqus has developed multiple in-house platforms to differentiate its offerings: UniQuest – A GenAI-powered tool for intelligent search and analysis Risk UniVerse – For managing financial controls and compliance Reporting UniVerse – Focused on financial and data reporting ESG UniVerse – Tailored for environmental and governance metrics and disclosures The company also collaborates with firms like Cranium AI to enhance capabilities in AI risk management, signaling its intent to stay ahead of the curve in regulatory tech solutions. Currently, Uniqus serves over 250 clients across 11 cities in India, the US, and the Middle East with a team of over 550 professionals. The company had earlier raised $12.5 million in Series A and $10 million in Series B funding. Financially, Uniqus reported INR 17 crore (approx. $2.5 million) in revenue in FY24 from India, with a profit of INR 35 lakh. The company now aims to scale aggressively and is targeting a revenue milestone of $100 million by 2026—up from its current estimated revenue of $86.6 million. Competing with established giants like Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, and Infosys, Uniqus is positioning itself as a tech-first, agile alternative in the consulting space. Team Uniqus✅ Jamil Khatri | Sandip Khetan | Anu Chaudhary | Kunal Gandhi | Janmin Shah | Abhijit Varma | Amrapali Jain | Sanjukta Kadam | Drishti Bareja |

This founder is not building a unicorn—he’s building a banana empire. Aryamman Agarwaal also known as the “Chief Farmer” and a proud second-generation entrepreneur, returned from the UK to take the less glamorous, yet deeply impactful route—transforming the fruit value chain in India. At the heart of his mission is one goal: to make India the global leader in banana exports. Under his leadership, Trident Fruits Official has built a powerful ecosystem—from cultivating their own farms in Maharashtra to managing over 10,000 farmers, setting up modern packhouses, cold storages, and building a robust logistics and export network. Their most recent move? Setting up India’s first agri-terminal in partnership with JNPA- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority aiming to simplify export logistics for farmers and make Indian bananas more competitive globally. This isn’t just about bananas—it’s about creating a self-reliant, export-ready agricultural model that supports farmers, reduces waste, and brings Indian produce to international shelves. While most startups chase tech valuations, this one is quietly building something real, long-lasting, and rooted in the soil. AALOKE AGARWAAL For More info:-www.tridentagro.co.in

In a significant ruling, the Karnataka High Court has ordered bike taxi aggregators—including Rapido, Ola, and Uber—to cease operations in the state within six weeks. The court emphasized that these services cannot operate until the state government formulates specific guidelines under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 . Court's Directive and Government's Role Justice B.M. Shyam Prasad, presiding over the case, stated that the transport department cannot be compelled to register motorcycles as transport vehicles or issue contract carriage permits without appropriate regulations in place. The court has granted the state government three months to establish the necessary rules and guidelines for bike taxi operations. Impact on Riders and Aggregators This decision poses a substantial challenge for bike taxi platforms, particularly Rapido, which has a significant presence in Karnataka. According to Rapido, over 1 million riders are associated with its platform in the state, collectively facilitating around 20 million rides weekly. The suspension of services could lead to considerable employment and income disruptions for these riders. Industry and Government Responses A Rapido spokesperson expressed concern over the livelihoods of the bike taxi riders and indicated that the company would explore appropriate legal avenues once the detailed order is released. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy, acknowledged the court's directive and stated that the government would proceed with formulating suitable guidelines for bike taxi services within the stipulated timeframe. #rapido #bikeTaxi #bikeTaxiBan #highCourtOrder #rideHailingStartup #startupnews #startupro

Hailing from Delhi, Kohli’s early cricketing journey wasn’t easy. He trained rigorously at the West Delhi Cricket Academy, showing promise from a young age. In 2006, the nation was moved when Kohli played a Ranji Trophy match just a day after his father passed away — scoring a crucial 90 runs. That moment defined his hunger for the game. Kohli made his international debut in 2008 and soon became a pillar of the Indian cricket team. Known for his unmatched consistency and aggression, he led India to historic victories, topped batting charts, and earned the nickname “Chase Master.” From winning the U-19 World Cup as captain to becoming one of the greatest batsmen in history, Kohli's dominance is undisputed. But the legend didn’t stop at cricket. Over the years, Kohli transformed into a savvy entrepreneur. He co-founded Chisel, a premium fitness chain, and launched One8, a lifestyle brand in partnership with Puma. His brand portfolio expanded into fashion, fitness, and wellness. Beyond founding, he's also backed several startups. Kohli has invested in: Blue Tribe Foods (plant-based meat) Rage Coffee Hyperice Digit Insurance Sport Convo, and more. Virat Kohli is now more than a cricketing icon — he’s a brand, a business mogul, and a symbol of disciplined excellence. From chasing scores to chasing startup success, Kohli’s second innings looks just as legendary. #viratKohli #businessManKohli #viratKohliInvestements #agilitas #pumaIndia #sportsStartups #celebrityInvestements #startupFunding #startuPro