Shark Tank Victory: How Annu Grover’s Nurturing Green Won Vineeta Singh’s Heart and ₹1 Crore

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January 18, 2025

Image of shark tank — Shark Tank Victory: How Annu Grover’s Nurturing Green Won Vineeta Singh’s Heart and ₹1 Crore

In the latest episode of Shark Tank India Season 4, two trailblazing plant-based businesses, Nurturing Green and Kyari, went head-to-head in the season’s first intense pitch battle. Esteemed investors Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, Peyush Bansal, Vineeta Singh, and Kunal Bahl were on hand to assess the potential of these innovative companies. The episode was all about unique, plant-based ventures, with Nurturing Green’s founder, Annu Grover, taking the spotlight in the opening pitch.

Annu, the driving force behind Nurturing Green, shared his passion for plants, positioning them as much more than just decor. He explained, “We’re not just selling plants; we’re offering a lifetime of memories. These plants are more than just gifts—they bring joy, comfort, and peace into our customers’ lives.” With over 14 years in the business, Nurturing Green has made a mark in home decor, gardening, and corporate gifting, creating a loyal customer following thanks to their unique approach.

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A touching moment followed when Kunal Bahl, an old acquaintance of Annu, shared a personal connection. “I met Annu about 10 years ago when he was just starting out in Cybercity,” Kunal recalled. “What stood out to me was how, year after year, he would send me updates, and I always took the time to read them.” This nod to long-term dedication and building relationships really resonated.

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Seeking ₹1 crore for a 1% stake, Nurturing Green found a willing investor in Vineeta Singh. She proposed ₹50 lakh for a 1.25% stake, plus ₹50 lakh in debt at a 10% interest rate for three years. With no other offers, Annu happily accepted Vineeta’s deal, marking a major achievement for Nurturing Green.

Food’s Old News: Quick Commerce is the New $3 Billion Cash Cow for Zomato and Swiggy

Quick Commerce

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January 18, 2025

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Image of zomato & swiggy — Food’s Old News: Quick Commerce is the New $3 Billion Cash Cow for Zomato and Swiggy

Quick commerce heavyweights like Zomato’s Blinkit, Swiggy’s Instamart, and Zepto are witnessing explosive growth in their gross order value (GOV).

Zepto, in particular, announced that its annualized GOV hit $3 billion (approximately ₹24,500 crore) as of January 2025, a remarkable threefold increase in just eight months.

The momentum isn’t limited to Zepto. Quick commerce as a whole has been outpacing traditional food delivery in growth. Blinkit’s GOV for FY24 soared by an impressive 169% year-on-year, while Swiggy’s Instamart reported a robust 57.6% increase during the same period.

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This surge highlights a shift in consumer preferences, as instant delivery becomes an integral part of urban lifestyles.This surge in instant delivery highlights how consumer behavior is evolving rapidly. With a growing appetite for convenience, urban shoppers are increasingly choosing quick commerce platforms for groceries and daily essentials.

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Industry experts predict this trend will only accelerate, as competition between players like Blinkit, Instamart, and Zepto continues to intensify. The race to dominate this space is heating up, and it’s reshaping the dynamics of India’s e-commerce landscape at a staggering pace.

Blinkit Gets a ₹500 Cr Boost: Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal Takes on Swiggy’s Sriharsha and Zepto’s Aadit

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January 18, 2025

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Image of blinkit & zomato CEO — Blinkit Gets a ₹500 Cr Boost: Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal Takes on Swiggy’s Sriharsha and Zepto’s Aadit

Gurgaon-based Zomato has injected ₹500 crore into Blinkit, its quick commerce division, according to a recent filing with the Registrar of Companies (RoC).

This latest investment brings Zomato’s total spend on Blinkit to ₹2,800 crore since acquiring the company in August 2022. The infusion comes shortly after Zomato raised ₹8,500 crore through a qualified institutional placement (QIP) in November to strengthen its finances as competition heats up in the industry.

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Blinkit faces stiff competition from players like Swiggy’s Instamart and Zepto, both of which are vying for dominance in the rapid delivery market. In response, Blinkit is doubling down on expansion, with a goal of launching 1,000 dark stores by March 2025. The company is also entering the race to deliver meals in under 10 minutes through its new venture, Bistro, which will compete with Swiggy’s Snacc app and Zepto’s recently launched Cafe platform.

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The quick commerce battlefield is getting more crowded, with big names like Walmart (Flipkart Minutes), Tata (BigBasket), and Amazon (Tez) all pivoting to meet shifting customer demands. However, the path forward is far from smooth. On January 6, brokerage firm Jefferies downgraded its outlook on Zomato, pointing to profitability challenges in Blinkit despite its current market leadership.

Captain Fresh Nets ₹20 Cr: Seafood Startup Hooks New Funding Wave

Investors & Capital

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January 18, 2025

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Image of captain fresh — Captain Fresh Nets ₹20 Cr: Seafood Startup Hooks New Funding Wave

Bengaluru-based seafood startup Captain Fresh has raised ₹20 crore ($2.3 million) in debt funding from VentureSoul Partners. This marks the third investment from VentureSoul’s inaugural debt fund and is part of a larger funding round that includes both equity and debt.

When approached for comment, Captain Fresh declined to respond to Inc42’s queries. However, Kunal Wadhwa, co-founder and managing partner at VentureSoul Partners, expressed confidence in the startup’s potential. “Captain Fresh has shown impressive execution with large acquisitions. Their diverse product range and global footprint position them well for growth in both revenue and profitability,” said Wadhwa. He also highlighted the strength of the company’s leadership and management team as a key factor in the funding decision.

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Founded in 2019 by Utham Gowda, Captain Fresh is a tech-driven, vertically integrated seafood company. Its brand portfolio spans multiple international markets, including CenSea in the US, Koral in Europe, and Senecrus in France. The new funding will be used to fuel expansion and drive growth initiatives.

Captain Fresh’s notable backers include Accel, Prosus, Matrix Partners, Tiger Global, SBI Japan, Ankur Capital, British International Investment (BII), and Nekkanti Group. Recently, the startup raised ₹12 crore from Motilal Oswal Alternates in December 2024, following a $32 million funding round in February 2024 led by BII and Nekkanti Seafoods Group.

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Initially launched as a farm-to-retail platform for fish, shrimp, and seafood, Captain Fresh primarily operated through B2B and B2B2C channels in India. However, the company has since scaled back its B2B operations, with B2B2C services now restricted to select locations.

Deepinder Goyal’s Veg Tax U-Turn: Zomato CEO Responds to Online Outrage

Quick Commerce

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January 17, 2025

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Image of zomato — Deepinder Goyal’s Veg Tax U-Turn: Zomato CEO Responds to Online Outrage

Zomato’s CEO, Deepinder Goyal, recently addressed an issue that sparked a debate online: an extra fee being charged for vegetarian meal deliveries. The controversy came to light after Rohit Ranjan, Assistant Vice President of E-commerce at Route To Market, shared his frustration in a LinkedIn post. His complaint quickly gained traction, prompting Goyal to respond directly.

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Ranjan’s post expressed the plight of vegetarians, humorously calling out the additional charge. He wrote, “Being a vegetarian in India feels like a curse these days. Zomato’s genius move of introducing an ‘extra charge’ for the veg fleet has officially made us a premium subscription plan. Fellow herbivores, get ready—we’ve gone from ‘green and healthy’ to ‘green and expensive.’ Thanks, Zomato, for turning vegetarianism into a luxury tax.”

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The post caught Goyal’s attention, and he wasted no time in apologizing. “This is completely absurd on our part. I’m really sorry about this. The charge will be removed today itself. I’ll also make sure we address the internal issues so this kind of nonsense doesn’t happen again,” he wrote.

Ranjan acknowledged Goyal’s swift action, saying, “Thank you for stepping in and resolving this. Honestly, the most surprising part of this was how this idea made it all the way to execution with senior stakeholder approval.”

The exchange didn’t end there, though. It opened up a flood of reactions from LinkedIn users, with many sharing their thoughts. One user cheekily commented, “Looks like someone at Zomato had a very awkward meeting today.”

Absolut Mixers’ latest campaign advocates for a world with no labels

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January 17, 2025

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Image of absolut — Absolut Mixers’ latest campaign advocates for a world with no labels

Absolut Mixers has launched its new campaign #UNLABEL, #BORN COURLESS, speaking about the long-standing commitment of the brand towards challenging and breaking biases, beginning with the ‘Born Colourless’ campaign in the year 2018. The campaign #UNLABEL #BORN COURLESS encourages individuals to look beyond stereotypes and labels and rather put their focus on getting the opportunity to know people for their true selves. By insisting individuals to go beyond mere casting labels and judgments, Absolut has the objective of fostering a more accepting and open-minded world where everybody gets to flourish without the limitations of predetermined notions.

The campaign depicts as many as four strong films aspiring to lead a movement where people are encouraged to look beyond labels. Often people are ready to make assumptions about somebody based on their name, sex, age, profession, or origin but in most cases, these labels do not narrate the entire story.

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The campaign further unravels the misconceptions and limitations surrounding stereotyping and labeling via personal stories from impactful and influential voices. Ankush Bahuguna shares the experience of getting judged for his passion and love for makeup, throwing a light on the assumption and stigma that makeup is only associated with women and not men. The ‘item girl’ label is challenged by Sunny Leone, depicting her dynamic life as an accomplished mother and businesswoman. The traditional opinions and views of masculinity are challenged by Navtej Singh Johar, whereas Deepa Mail offers a ray of inspiration with her story highlighting how one’s potential is not defined by their physical limitations. These stories remind us that everyone is #BornColourless devoid of biases or labels.

Speaking about the campaign, Pulkith Modi, General Manager – Marketing, International Brands at Pernod Ricard India said: “We are living in a world where labels that are based on societal expectations, gender, and race define people. At Absolut, we have the belief in a world that expresses its true selves freely, not burdened by these restrictions. The campaign is a call for shifting towards inclusivity and is a call to action that inspires people to look beyond their stereotypes and assumptions to celebrate authenticity and individuality. We feel exhilarated for partnering with such inspiring voices to bring this message to life.”

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Abhishekh Bachchan soulful message in ‘Dhoti’ for Ramraj Cotton’s new TVC

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January 17, 2025

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Ramraj Cotton, the traditional ethnic wear brand has unveiled its latest 360 degree campaign which features actor Abhishek Bachchan along with the players from the Chennaiyin FC football team. The campaign will be released across digital, GEC and print media platforms in several regional languages.

The TVC portrays Abhishekh Bachchan arriving at his friend’s doorsteps for attending a party and is dressed in a Ramraj Cotton dhoti and shirt. Seeing this the guests comment in a playful manner pointing at his South Indian attire, associating it with the ownership of the Chennaiyin FC football team. To this the actor responds in a heartwarming manner explaining that cultural traditions go beyond attire or regions and act as an unifying thread entwined within the cultural diversity of India. In the end Abhishek Bachchan is seen narrating that ‘No matter from which part of the world we come from, our Dhoti is our identity’.

KR Nagarajan, Founder and Chairman of Ramraj Cotton commented on the campaign by saying” “Our objective has been to promote and celebrate traditional Indian attire always. Since the inception of the brand, the dhoti which is an emblem of heritage has been at the centre of our brand. We feel proud to reintroduce this attire to the younger generation, turning it into a statement of style and elegance while being still rooted in tradition. Right from our humble start, we have constantly endeavoured to revive and elevate our cultural roots and we view this campaign as a way for merging modernity with tradition.

He also said: “Dhoti is not just a South Indian attire, it reflects the diversified Indian culture. In partnership with actor Abhishek Bachchan and the Chennaiyan FC football team, we intend to depict how this enduring garment can establish strong connections between people across regions and generations in celebration of our unity in diversity.

Watch the TVC here : https://youtu.be/387ItkDLr8A?si=4K3Craiu8JO_hJS_

B R Arun Eashwar, MD commented: “At Ramraj Cotton, the dhoti is celebrated by us with more than 4,000 distinctive varieties as a way of reflection of the diversified traditions and styles of India. This campaign is a way to reintroduce the dhoti to the younger generation, by offering them an inspiration for embracing this iconic attire with pride. By portraying its timeless appeal and versatility, we aim to make the dhoti a preferred choice for both modern fashions and traditional occasions.”

He also emphasised how in the Chennaiyin FC team, players come from differing cities portraying that the dhoti is not exclusive to South India but reflects the collective heritage of the country.

The campaign called as “Abhishek Bachchan Celebrates the Timeless Elegance and Culture with Ramraj Cotton’ is a 360 degree campaign that has been rolled out across digital, print, TVC platforms in numerous languages, resonating with audiences across the nation.

Shout ‘Pongalo Pongal’ and get a surprise gift on the spot with Swiggy Instamart!

A&M

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January 17, 2025

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Image of swiggy instamart — Shout ‘Pongalo Pongal’ and get a surprise gift on the spot with Swiggy Instamart!

Swiggy Instamart is coming up with an innovative Pongal celebration in Chennai with an interactive installation at the Express Avenue Mall. Visitors will get to experience a life-sized Pongal pot from January 14th to January 17th.

The voice-activated installation by Swiggy has been inspired by the milk-overflowing custom constituting Pongal. Moreover once one shouts “Pongalo Pongal!”, the installation comes alive and dispenses a surprise gift.

The participants get to feel the frenzy and excitement surrounding Pongal with one pot dispensing a gift per shout. Each time a visitor shouts “Pongalo Pongal”, the festive sound will be picked up by the audio detector on the pot, further triggering the dispensing system and giving out a gift on the spot. This brings alive the freshness and happiness that arrives with Pongal, giving people a boost to indulge in the festivities.

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This new initiative by Swiggy Instamart has led to unique conversations on social media with visitors sharing how they feel and sharing their appreciation for Swiggy for establishing creative connections with cultural traditions ingeniously.

Pongal is a harvest festival that Tamils have celebrated for more than a thousand years now and is associated with the start of the Tamil month of Thai and the harvest of rice as well as other crops. The overflowing of milk and rice on Pongal is a symbol of prosperity, abundance, and good luck.

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Swiggy Instamart brings alive the festival of Pongal with a voice-activated life-sized pot.

Swiggy Instamart is coming up with an innovative Pongal celebration in Chennai with an interactive installation at the Express Avenue Mall. Visitors will get to experience a life-sized Pongal pot from January 14th to January 17th, blending tradition with technology.

The voice-activated installation by Swiggy has been inspired by the milk-overflowing custom that is a sign of prosperity. The most fun part is once one shouts “Pongalo Pongal!”, the installation comes alive and dispenses a surprise gift.

The participants get to feel the frenzy and excitement surrounding Pongal with one pot dispensing a gift per shout. Each time a visitor shouts “Pongal Pongal”, the festive sound will be picked up by the audio detector on the pot, further triggering the dispensing system and giving out a gift on the spot. This brings alive the freshness and happiness that arrives with Pongal, giving people a boost to indulge in the festivities.

The clay pot is considered to be an important element of the Pongal festivities and has been recreated for the creation of moments of joy and thrill for attendees of all age groups. It is the ideal place for engaging in the Pongal spirit for families and friends, all alike, given the installation is a blend of technology, festivity, and surprise.

This new initiative by Swiggy Instamart has led to unique conversations on social media with visitors sharing how they feel and appreciating Swiggy for establishing creative connections with cultural traditions ingeniously.

Pongal is a harvest festival that Tamils have celebrated for more than a thousand years now and is associated with the start of the Tamil month of Thai and the harvest of rice as well as other crops. The overflowing of milk and rice on Pongal is a symbol of prosperity, abundance, and good luck.

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South Korean brand Innisfree unveils its first-ever brand film featuring Wamiqa Gabbi.

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January 17, 2025

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image of innisfree — South Korean brand Innisfree unveils its first-ever brand film featuring Wamiqa Gabbi.

Innisfree, the South Korean brand that is known for its skincare powered by nature has unveiled its first ever brand film that features Wamiqa Gabbi, its debut brand ambassador. Social Whistle’s Studio has produced and created the brand film and it is a blend of fiction and facts, taking the audiences to Innisfree’s island which is considered to be the birthplace of the natural ingredients of Innisfree.

Watch the ad film here : https://youtu.be/i724sOQto8o?si=h4Lsm8MB1JwscpVa

In the brand film, Wamiqa is transported into the lush green island in a magical way where she gets to explore the charming landscape and the story behind Innisfree and its natural ingredients. The brand film consists of symbolism such as the rabbit that accompanies Wamiqa in her journey. This emphasizes the commitment of Innisfree to an animal-friendly and cruelty-free beauty.

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Commenting on her role, Wamiqa Gabbi said: “Filming this was like stepping into a fairytale. The film encapsulates the promise of purity and care of Innisfree which is rooted in nature. Being part of this film was a great experience and I feel honored to be related with a brand that cares for the environment as well as the animals as much as I do”.

Speaking on the brand film, Paul Lee, Managing Director & Country Head of Innisfree shared, “This brand film is more than just a campaign – it’s a celebration of the treasures of nature and the purity defining Innisfree. We wanted to create something immersive, bringing our audience closer to the origins of our products. We hope this film inspires Indian consumers to embrace skincare that is not only effectual but also kind to the planet”.

Mini Sood Banerjee, Assistant Director & Head of Marketing added, “Nature is not just an inspiration at Innisfree—it’s our collaborator. From green tea seeds to volcanic clusters and cherry blossoms, every ingredient is an emblem of the effectiveness and purity of nature. The song ‘Isle Be There’ isn’t just a creative touch in the film – it makes a promise that Innisfree will continue to bring the goodness of Island to skincare lovers across India”

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Eveready Siren Torches light up and bolster security at Maha Kumbh Mela 2025

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January 17, 2025

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Image of eveready siren — Eveready Siren Torches light up and bolster security at Maha Kumbh Mela 2025

The Maha Kumbh Police has collaborated with Eveready Industries India Limited to ensure the security and safety of millions of devotees who will attend the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. The grand event will witness the police personnel being equipped with around 5,000 Eveready Siren Torches constituting a powerful safety alarm. The initiative intends to strengthen crowd management augmenting security measures across the event.

Additionally, the safety alarms will also be applied in a meticulous way in as many as 56 police stations present across the Mela premises. This is done to ensure a smooth and safe experience for the expected 400 million pilgrims who will be attending the holy event.

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To provide support to the huge task of handling one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, Siren Torch DL102 with dual functionality is being provided by Eveready. Besides serving as the usual flashlight, the Siren Torch has a 100dbA sound alarm which is activated easily by pulling an attached keychain. This simplistic yet powerful device increases the ability to raise an alert in very critical situations, offering empowerment and safety.

“Large scale arrangements have been made by us for the security and safety of the pilgrims. Eveready’s Siren Torch will be a crucial part of this arrangement, helping to bolster our efforts” commented SSP Kumbh Mela, Shri. Rajesh Dwivedi.

Anirban Banerjee, Sr. Vice President & SBU Head (Batteries & Flashlights) at Eveready Industries India Ltd emphasized: “The Maha Kumbh Mela is a distinctive and enormous event and this year it will attract a number of visitors. We feel really proud for supporting the Maha Kumbh Police by making them equipped with the Siren Torch which is a powerful tool for effectual crowd management and for the maintenance of safety of a million pilgrims.”

Eveready Siren Torch’s Key Features

User-Friendly: Alarm that gets activated with a simple keychain pull.
Dual Functionality: Merges a high-intensity flashlight with a 100dbA sound alarm.
Strong Design: A flexible and affordable tool serving as a source of safety.

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Eveready Siren Torch’s Key Features