Ola Electric Under Fire: 14 Scooters Seized in Jabalpur, 36 in Maharashtra Amid Allegations of Operating Without Trade Certificates
Ola Electric’s challenges seem far from over. After dealing with a series of customer complaints throughout 2024, the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer is now under scrutiny from regulators.
According to NDTV Profit, regional transport officials conducted inspections at multiple Ola Electric outlets, with six stores in Madhya Pradesh and 26 in Maharashtra coming under the scanner in mid-March. As a result, authorities seized 14 scooters in Jabalpur and another 36 in Maharashtra.
However, sources familiar with the situation told Inc42 that these weren’t raids but routine inspections initiated after an anonymous complaint. The allegation? That Ola Electric failed to maintain proper documentation.
NDTV Profit further reported that Gurugram-based Pritpal Singh & Associates had accused Ola Electric of operating stores, showrooms, and service centers in Maharashtra using a single trade certificate — a violation under motor vehicle regulations.
This is not the first time the Bhavish Aggarwal-led company has faced such issues. Similar incidents occurred in Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, and Bihar, with state authorities scrutinizing Ola Electric’s compliance.
Bloomberg recently reported that transportation officials across the country have intensified their investigations, claiming that Ola Electric has been operating stores without the mandatory trade certificates required under the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The act mandates manufacturers and distributors to obtain these certificates before displaying or selling unregistered vehicles.
The report alleged that roughly 95% of Ola Electric’s 3,400 outlets were either selling scooters or offering test rides without valid certification.
Ola Electric, however, has pushed back against these claims. A company spokesperson dismissed the Bloomberg report as “misleading” and “biased.” The representative asserted that the company stores unregistered vehicles at its distribution centers and warehouses in full compliance with the Motor Vehicles Act, with all necessary approvals in place.
Adding to the controversy is Ola Electric’s aggressive expansion. Despite mounting concerns about delivery delays and poor after-sales service, the company rapidly grew its retail network from 800 to 4,000 stores in late 2024. This expansion, while ambitious, now faces increased regulatory scrutiny.
Amazon Fashion’s ‘Next Gen Store’ Sees Three-Fold Rise in Gen Z Shoppers, Demand Surges in Tier-Two Cities
Amazon Fashion’s Next Gen Store, a digital hub designed exclusively for Gen Z fashion enthusiasts, has sparked significant growth for the e-commerce giant. Since its launch in 2023, the platform has witnessed a three-fold increase in Gen Z shoppers and a four-fold surge in demand from tier-two cities, according to a company press release.
Bridging the Fashion Gap for Gen Z
Recognizing the rising influence of young consumers, Amazon created the Next Gen Store to offer a carefully curated collection of fashion that blends global trends with local tastes. The platform currently boasts a diverse catalog featuring over 340 domestic and international brands and more than 2 million products.
To keep the momentum going, Amazon Fashion has announced the Next Gen Online Shopping Event from March 20 to 24, offering discounts of up to 60% on collections specifically designed to resonate with youth fashion preferences.
Fashion Without Boundaries
“The rapid growth of our Next Gen Store highlights a major shift in how fashion is consumed in India,” said Siddharth Bhagat, Director of Amazon Fashion and Beauty India. “Gen Z shoppers are redefining style and using fashion as a means of self-expression. What’s exciting is that this shift isn’t limited to metros — we’re seeing an incredible surge from smaller cities and towns.”
Bhagat added that cities like Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Surat have emerged as significant contributors to this growth. The success in these regions shows how e-commerce is breaking barriers and making trendy, affordable fashion accessible across India.
Since entering the Indian market in June 2013, Amazon has established itself as a major player in the country’s e-commerce space. The company now serves 100% of India’s serviceable pin codes, with 97% of orders eligible for two-day delivery.
As Amazon Fashion continues to scale, the Next Gen Store is positioned to further influence how young India shops, blending the latest trends with the convenience of online shopping. With the upcoming sale event, the brand aims to make fashion-forward choices even more accessible to its rapidly expanding customer base.
Myntra’s Home Category Booms with 60% YoY Growth, Launches AI-Powered ‘Dream Room Inspirations
Myntra’s home segment is turning into one of its fastest-growing categories, with demand skyrocketing by 60% year-on-year (YoY). In response to the increasing interest, the fashion e-commerce giant has introduced ‘Dream Room Inspirations’, a generative AI-powered feature designed to enhance the home shopping experience.
A Visual-First Shopping Experience
Recognizing that home decor shopping is driven by visual aesthetics and personal style, Myntra’s Dream Room Inspirations offers users a curated, theme-based shopping experience. Instead of browsing isolated products, shoppers can now explore entire room looks — including furnishings, décor, serveware, and more — that align with their style preferences. With just a few clicks, users can visualize their dream spaces and purchase all the products featured in the look.
The platform has rapidly expanded its home segment, now offering more than 500,000 styles from over 1,700 brands. To keep up with evolving trends, around 40,000 new styles are added every month. Top categories in Myntra Home include furnishings, décor, kitchen essentials, appliances, furniture, and mattresses.
“Our deep market reach and strong connection with premium shoppers, backed by a massive base of 70 million monthly active users, have given us the confidence to strengthen our position in the lifestyle segment,” said Sharon Pais, Chief Business Officer at Myntra.
She emphasized how the brand’s tech innovation is helping customers navigate their home decor journeys more efficiently. “With homes becoming an essential part of personal expression, we are using cutting-edge AI to simplify the discovery-to-purchase process while offering curated, on-trend selections,” Pais added.
Myntra’s aggressive expansion in the home space is reflective of a larger shift in consumer behavior. Shoppers are increasingly seeking products that not only meet functional needs but also reflect their personal tastes. By integrating AI into the shopping experience, Myntra is positioning itself as a one-stop destination for both fashion and lifestyle products.
With the Dream Room Inspirations feature and an ever-growing catalog of brands and designs, Myntra is well on its way to redefining how India shops for home products.
How Genefied is Revolutionizing Supply Chain Tracking for Bisleri and 100+ Brands, 2.5M Retailers, and 150+ Projects Later
In today’s fast-moving consumer market, supply chain transparency is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Enter Genefied, a tech-driven company founded in 2018 by Ayush Jhawar, with a mission to revolutionize how businesses track, authenticate, and optimize their supply chains.
Genefied’s name—derived from “Gene-Modified”—reflects its approach to enhancing traditional supply chain methods through digital innovation. The company provides smart, scalable solutions designed to help brands combat counterfeiting, improve customer engagement, and gain real-time insights into product movement.
At its core, Genefied offers:
• Anti-Counterfeiting Technology – A QR code-based system that verifies product authenticity, ensuring customers receive genuine products.
• Instant Consumer Rewards – A loyalty-driven mechanism that offers customers incentives, fostering brand engagement and repeat purchases.
• Retailer Loyalty Programs – Strengthens brand-retailer relationships by rewarding loyalty and improving supply chain efficiency.
• Digital Warranty Activation – Streamlines the warranty registration process, enhancing the post-purchase experience for consumers.
• Supply Chain Track & Trace – Delivers full visibility from manufacturing to retail, reducing inefficiencies and securing distribution channels.
With over 100 major brands and 2.5 million retail outlets leveraging its technology, Genefied is making a significant impact across industries like FMCG, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, and electronics.
Most brands lose visibility of their products once they leave primary distribution points, making it difficult to track movement through retailers and end consumers. This creates challenges in inventory management, counterfeiting prevention, and customer engagement.
Genefied bridges this gap by embedding unique, encrypted digital identities into every product. These unique IDs—similar to a product’s DNA—generate data points at every stage of the supply chain, enabling real-time tracking and decision-making.
The Idea: Born from a Real-World Challenge
The concept of Genefied took shape when Ayush Jhawar worked on a project for Skoda India. The brand wanted to encourage mechanics to use genuine Skoda spare parts by rewarding them through barcode scans. The success of this initiative revealed a broader opportunity—many industries could benefit from similar smart tracking and authentication solutions. This realization led to the creation of Genefied.
How Genefied’s Technology Works
Unlike traditional digital verification tools, Genefied doesn’t just confirm authenticity—it makes products “smart.” Each product receives a 256-bit encrypted QR code, acting as a digital fingerprint. As the product moves through the supply chain, every interaction (from manufacturer to retailer to end consumer) is recorded, providing brands with unprecedented insights.
This technology operates like blockchain, securing data integrity and allowing brands to track each product’s journey, optimize operations, and eliminate counterfeit risks.
Industries Benefiting from Genefied
Genefied’s platform is widely adopted by major brands, including Bisleri, Borosil, Amul International, Crompton Greaves, and Vega Helmets. The company’s expertise spans mass-market and niche industries, with a strong focus on General Trade (distributor-retailer networks), which drives 80-85% of revenue for most consumer brands in India.
For businesses seeking better supply chain visibility, retailer engagement, and consumer interaction, Genefied provides an all-in-one platform to drive growth and efficiency.
Fighting Counterfeiting with Gamification
Counterfeiting remains a persistent problem, evolving as quickly as the solutions designed to stop it. Instead of relying on static anti-counterfeiting measures, Genefied gamifies product authentication. By embedding loyalty and reward mechanisms into the verification process, retailers, influencers, and consumers are actively encouraged to check product authenticity.
With every scan and verification, counterfeit products are flagged before they reach store shelves, ensuring that only genuine items enter the market. This proactive approach strengthens supply chain security while fostering trust between brands and their customers.
The Business Impact
For brands working with Genefied, the results are measurable. By transforming supply chain data into actionable insights, companies can:
• Enhance decision-making through real-time analytics.
• Reduce inefficiencies by identifying weak points in distribution.
• Increase customer trust by ensuring product authenticity.
• Free up management bandwidth to focus on strategic growth instead of firefighting operational issues.
Traditional businesses that once relied on manual tracking are now leveraging Genefied’s data dashboards to streamline operations and improve profitability.
The Road Ahead
Genefied is poised for significant expansion in the next few years. With AI-powered advancements in supply chain intelligence, the company aims to further refine its technology, making it even more adaptive and scalable.
By staying at the forefront of digital transformation in supply chain management, Genefied continues to shape the future of product tracking, authenticity verification, and business intelligence—one smart product at a time.
Nobero, the athleisure brand under TMRW House of Brands, has taken a bold step into offline retail with its first exclusive brand outlet (EBO) at Hyderabad’s Sarath City Capital Mall. The brand, known for blending fashion and comfort, now plans to expand rapidly, aiming to establish 25 stores across India by the end of FY26.
Prashanth Aluru, CEO and Co-founder of TMRW House of Brands, highlighted this launch as a major milestone in Nobero’s growth journey. “We’ve built Nobero as a category leader in fashleisure, and expanding our presence beyond digital platforms is a natural next step,” he said. “At TMRW, we are committed to a strong omnichannel strategy — providing customers with a seamless shopping experience across D2C, EBOs, and major e-commerce marketplaces.”
Aluru further noted the company’s broader retail ambitions. “In the past few quarters, we’ve rolled out nearly 30 stores across the TMRW portfolio. By the end of FY26, we plan to cross 125 stores nationwide, doubling down on our commitment to omnichannel expansion.”
Nobero has built a loyal following among millennials who value both style and comfort, particularly in the growing travel-inspired athleisure segment. Its decision to enter offline retail reflects the brand’s confidence in tapping into the experiential side of shopping, offering consumers a hands-on look at its product range.
TMRW House of Brands, part of the Aditya Birla Group, is a digital-first venture focused on growing disruptive fashion and lifestyle labels for Gen Z and millennials. With a sharp focus on the D2C market, it continues to support brands like Nobero in scaling their presence both online and offline.
Swiggy Takes On Zomato’s Hyperpure with ‘Assure’: A Bold Move in the ₹50,000 Crore Restaurant Supply Market
Swiggy has stepped into the B2B space with a new platform called ‘Assure,’ designed to supply kitchen essentials directly to restaurants. This move puts it head-to-head with Zomato’s Hyperpure, which operates in the same space.
The company has rolled out dedicated apps for Assure, available on both Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store, branded as Assure and Resto Assure. While the app quietly launched back in September last year, it’s now gaining attention as more food businesses start using it.
According to its Play Store listing, the app enables hotels, restaurants, and catering services to source fresh, locally procured ingredients. Users can order a variety of products including vegetables, fruits, dairy items, oils, pulses, rice, flour, and even imported goods.
Deliveries are handled by Scootsy Logistics Private Limited, which is a Swiggy-owned company operating the Assure platform. The app’s terms mention that Scootsy has full control over product listings and pricing, and reserves the right to adjust prices without notifying merchants in advance.
This latest venture by Swiggy signals a strong push into the restaurant supply chain, directly challenging Zomato’s established presence in the sector.
Beautywise’s ₹1,200 Crore Vision: How Anousha & Shreyansh Chauhan Are Disrupting India’s Beauty Supplement Industry
Beauty and wellness brand Beautywise, which recently made waves on Shark Tank India, is setting its sights on crossing ₹1,200 crore in revenue by FY30. This ambitious target is fueled by a multi-channel expansion strategy, key partnerships, and an aggressive push into both domestic and international markets. Founded by Anousha Chauhan and Shreyansh Chauhan, the company has grown an astonishing 28 times in just three years, solidifying its position in the premium professional beauty space.
“Our goal is to establish Beautywise as a leader in advanced beauty supplements—ones that are backed by science and clinically tested,” said Anousha Chauhan. “Our unique formulations and targeted solutions are already winning over professionals and consumers alike.”
A major part of Beautywise’s growth plan is increasing its offline presence, particularly in high-end pharmacy chains. The brand, which already enjoys strong traction in clinics, salons, and dermatology centers, sees organized pharmacy retail as the next big opportunity in the premium beauty and wellness sector.
“Most D2C brands start online and then move offline. We did the opposite,” explained Shreyansh Chauhan. “By focusing on professional beauty and clinic partnerships first, we built credibility and a loyal customer base early on. Now, we’re leveraging that trust to expand into pharmacy chains and organized retail, which we believe will be a game-changer.”
Eyeing Global Markets
Beautywise is also making a strong push internationally, with the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region as its primary target. The brand already sources ingredients from leading markets like the USA, Spain, France, and Japan, reinforcing its premium positioning.
“There’s a growing demand for dermatologist-approved beauty supplements in the Middle East,” said Anousha Chauhan. “We’re seeing strong early traction, and by FY26-FY27, we expect exports to become a key revenue driver.”
With an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of ₹25 crore as of February 2025, Beautywise is on track to reach ₹100 crore by FY27. Growth has been explosive across multiple channels:
Direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales have skyrocketed, growing 5.7x year-over-year.
• E-commerce platforms like Amazon, Nykaa, and Flipkart remain key revenue sources.
• Quick commerce platforms such as Zepto, Blinkit, and Swiggy Instamart are driving a significant portion of quarterly sales.
• Professional beauty and wellness services, including clinics and salons, contribute over ₹1.6 crore per quarter.
The Road Ahead
With a strong foundation built on clinical research, influencer marketing, and a solid omnichannel strategy, Beautywise is reshaping the beauty supplement industry in India. As it races toward its ₹1,200 crore goal for FY30, the company continues to differentiate itself with innovative formulations and deep expertise in the nutraceutical space.
The brand recently secured ₹3 crore in funding from boAt co-founder Aman Gupta, following an oversubscribed ₹6 crore round in early 2024. The fresh capital will be invested in R&D for new products, expanding its field team, and strengthening partnerships with clinics and pharmacies to enhance nationwide accessibility.
Rishabh Pant Joins Goibibo as Brand Ambassador in a Hilarious ₹100 Crore Campaign Featuring Sunil Gavaskar
Goibibo, one of India’s leading online travel booking platforms, has signed star cricketer Rishabh Pant as its new brand ambassador. The company has also roped in legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar for its latest campaign, which puts a cheeky spin on one of his most famous commentary moments. The ad, packed with humor and nostalgia, aims to connect with cricket fans and travel enthusiasts alike while showcasing Goibibo’s exciting deals.
A Campaign with a Playful Twist
Goibibo is known for its quirky, youth-friendly advertising, and this campaign takes it up a notch by reimagining Gavaskar’s iconic commentary phrase—“Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.” In a lighthearted manner, the ad uses the phrase to nudge travelers into making smart booking choices and planning their trips more efficiently.
Raj Rishi Singh, Goibibo’s Chief Marketing Officer, believes Rishabh Pant’s energetic personality makes him the perfect fit for the brand. “Rishabh’s enthusiasm and charm resonate with young travelers. His dynamic presence, paired with Sunil Gavaskar’s legendary stature, makes for an entertaining and unforgettable campaign,” said Singh.
Pant and Gavaskar Weigh In
Sharing his excitement about the partnership, Rishabh Pant said, “I’m thrilled to be a part of Goibibo’s campaign. It’s a brand that represents fun, ease, and smart travel choices, which I personally connect with. Working alongside Sunil Sir made this experience even more special. The way Goibibo has taken a famous cricket moment and turned it into something fun for travelers is just brilliant.”
Sunil Gavaskar also had a laugh about the campaign’s concept. “I’ve always believed that players should be able to have some fun with the banter that comes their way. I’ve done it myself many times during my playing days. So, when I saw how Goibibo played around with my commentary, I had to smile. It’s all in good spirit, and I love how they’ve used it to make travel planning more engaging.”
More Than Just a Booking Platform
Goibibo, which operates through its website and mobile app, offers a full suite of travel services, including flight and train bookings, hotel reservations, bus tickets, and car rentals. With this new campaign, the brand aims to cement its place as the go-to choice for hassle-free and affordable travel solutions.
Yummy Bee Raises ₹18 Crore to Expand India’s First Guilt-Free Café Chain
Hyderabad-based café chain Yummy Bee, known for its health-focused indulgences, has secured a total of ₹18 crore in funding, with ₹11 crore coming from its latest round. The investment was led by Mile Deep Capital, a prominent Hyderabad-based VC firm, along with Mohan Krishna (Executive Director, Continental Coffee), Ajitha Challa (Founder & MD, Karafa Coffee), and Praveen Jaipuriar (Group CEO, Continental Coffee & former Dabur marketing head).
A Menu Designed for Guilt-Free Indulgence
Launched in 2022 under VLOGS Food Private Limited, Yummy Bee has carved out a niche in the café space by offering a 100% guilt-free menu. The brand caters to health-conscious consumers with sugar-free, gluten-free, and preservative-free options that don’t compromise on taste. Some of its signature offerings include millet pizzas, protein-packed pastas, tacos, and a range of decadent-yet-healthy desserts like Double Chocolate Brownies, Blueberry Cheesecake, and Chocolate Truffle Pastry.
Currently, Yummy Bee operates in Jubilee Hills, Kondapur, Kokapet, and Kukatpally in Hyderabad.
Aggressive Expansion Plans in Metro Cities
With fresh funding in hand, Yummy Bee is preparing for an ambitious expansion. The brand is set to launch new outlets in Mumbai and Bengaluru, marking its entry into key metro markets.
Beyond physical stores, Yummy Bee is stepping into the FMCG space with a growing lineup of packaged consumer goods. The company plans to introduce new retail products, including millet puffs and almond rocks, while also strengthening its presence in quick commerce platforms like Blinkit and Zepto, as well as modern trade outlets.
The café chain has set its sights on achieving ₹50 crore in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by March 2026. To fuel this growth, Yummy Bee aims to expand to 20 outlets nationwide by the end of the year.
“This investment is a major step toward making guilt-free indulgence accessible to more people across India,” said Sandeep Jangala, Founder & CEO of Yummy Bee. “We are committed to proving that healthy food can be delicious, and we’re excited to bring our concept to more cities.”
With its unique positioning and strong investor backing, Yummy Bee is poised to disrupt India’s café culture, offering a rare combination of clean eating and indulgent flavors—without the guilt.
Slikk Club Raises $3.2M to Disrupt Fashion E-Commerce with 60-Minute Delivery – Lightspeed and Multiply Ventures Bet Big
Bengaluru-based Slikk Club, which is making waves with its promise of fashion delivered in under an hour, has secured $3.2 million in seed funding. The all-equity round was led by Lightspeed, with backing from Multiply Ventures and existing investors. A group of high-profile angel investors, including Abhishek Goyal (Tracxn), Abhinav Pathak (Perpule), Madhav Tandan, Nikhil (Panthera), and Saurabh Gupta (DST Global), also participated in the round.
Building the Future of Instant Fashion
With fresh capital in hand, Slikk Club is ramping up its operations in Bengaluru, aiming to make 80% of the city’s pincodes serviceable through a network of dark stores. The startup is also strengthening its leadership team across technology, category management, supply chain, and operations to support its rapid growth.
Founded by Akshay Gulati (CEO), Om Prakash Swami (CTO), and Bipin Singh (CPO), Slikk Club is changing how people shop for fashion, promising ultra-fast deliveries of clothing and accessories in just 60 minutes. The brand offers a Try & Buy model, allowing customers to test products before making a purchase—a game-changer in India’s e-commerce space.
Beyond delivery speed, Slikk Club is rolling out instant returns and refunds, making the post-purchase experience as seamless as possible. The company has already partnered with 80+ brands, including Snitch, The Souled Store, Freakins, Uptownie, Off Duty, Bonkers, and Bewakoof, giving customers access to a diverse catalog of trendy, fast-moving fashion.
Founder’s Vision: Instant Fashion, Zero Hassle
“At Slikk Club, we’re not just delivering clothes; we’re reinventing how people shop for fashion—making it as instant and effortless as their urge to buy,” said Akshay Gulati, Co-founder & CEO.
“This investment is a major step toward expanding our 60-minute delivery model, reaching more shoppers in Bengaluru, and broadening our lifestyle offerings. We’re thrilled to have Lightspeed and our investors backing our vision of making last-minute fashion a seamless and delightful experience.”
Slikk Club has ambitious plans to scale beyond Bengaluru, eyeing expansion across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities in the coming years. The company also intends to diversify into seven or more lifestyle categories, leveraging cutting-edge technology to ensure a seamless shopping and fulfillment experience.
Rahul Taneja, Partner at Lightspeed, highlighted what sets Slikk Club apart:
“The team at Slikk has built a thoughtfully curated shopping experience—not just about speed, but about delivering style, quality, and convenience in a way that truly excites customers. From better merchandising to lightning-fast deliveries and hassle-free returns, Slikk Club is redefining what shoppers expect. We’re excited to be part of this journey.”
With strong investor backing and a unique, hyper-fast approach to fashion e-commerce, Slikk Club is poised to shake up India’s retail landscape, making instant shopping the new normal
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