Anees Hussain

Conventional wisdom says buying a 100-store retail company when quick commerce is reigning supreme is a huge risk, specially when the acquirer itself is just five years in the retailing business.

To support entrepreneurship, the state has also established a network of 15 LEAP centres located near educational institutions.

Muhammed noted that many Indian startups are poised to acquire and consolidate traditional businesses, as they position themselves for potential listings.

Somnath noted that despite India's reputation as a space power owing to recent successes, its share in the $386 billion global space economy remains at just 2%, or $5 billion.

AvantEdge's journey with Rapido began in 2016, when it invested Rs 1.3 crore in the company's Series A round, for an 8.2% stake, at a valuation of Rs 16 crore.

The company, which recently partnered with PhonePe to promote its core digital gold savings feature, is also exploring further partnerships with other UPI platforms and e-commerce companies.

Capital-efficient infra & AI leverage delivering results

Founded in 2012, LEAD Group has raised $172 million to date, with WestBridge Capital holding a 31.4% stake, Elevar Equity 24.2%, and the founders 29.8%, according to Tracxn.

Prior to the Series G round, the company was valued at $1.4 billion, when it raised $13 million in debt in May this year from Alteria Capital and Innoven Capital, as per data from Tracxn.

Unlike traditional coaching hubs concentrated in places like Kota, the company leverages online data to identify demand clusters across India, filling new centres within weeks.