Startup News: March 16-22, 2020

#Corona

• Startup founders and investors team up to build an application to use location tracking to keep an eye on the movement of those who have been advised to be under self-quarantine or those have tested positive https://inc42.com/buzz/startup-founders-team-up-to-make-coronavirus-quarantine-app-for-india/. 
• The #Ahmedabad-based startup, CoSara Diagnostics Pvt Ltd, becomes the first Indian licensee to develop #Covid-19 testing kits.  https://yourstory.com/2020/03/ahmedabad-startup-covid-cosara-diagnostics
• #OYO Wants To Turn Its Hotels Into Quarantine Centres https://inc42.com/buzz/indian-unicorn-oyo-offers-to-turn-hotels-into-quarantine-centres-amid-coronavirus/

Investments

• #Edtech startup #Univariety secures $1.1M from India’s premier online giant Info Edge. https://yourstory.com/2020/03/startup-funding-univariety-secures-11m-info-edge 
• #Curefit Bags $110 Mn From Temasek, Accel Partners and Others https://inc42.com/buzz/curefit-bags-110-mn-from-temasek-accel-partners-and-others/ 
• OYO has raised $806.75 Mn funding from #SoftBank and RA Hospitality Holdings https://inc42.com/buzz/oyo-bags-806-75-mn-series-f-funding-from-softbank-ra-holdings/ 
• #Craftsvilla Gets INR 29.4 Cr Infusion From Singapore Parent Entity https://inc42.com/buzz/craftsvilla-gets-inr-29-4-cr-infusion-from-singapore-parent-entity/ 
• #Bounce has raised $6.5 million (Rs 47 crore) in debt funding from InnoVen Capital to fund its expansion in India https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/347069 
• #Agnikul Cosmos Pvt Ltd, an IIT-Madras incubated space tech startup developing low-cost satellite launch vehicles, has raised ?23.4 crores in a pre-series A funding round led by pi Ventures. https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/space-tech-startup-agnikul-raises-rs-23-4-cr-pre-series-a-led-by-pi-ventures-11584504112530.html 
• Microlending Platform SmartCoin Raises $7m in series A Funding From Unicorn India Ventures, Others https://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/smartcoin-lgt-lightstone-aspada-180192/ 
• MultiLiving, a home rental platform for professionals and millennials, raised $6 million from Lodha Ventures https://yourstory.com/2020/03/startup-funding-real-estate-multiliving-lodha-ventures 
• Fintech startup Chqbook.com raised $5 million (Rs 37 crore ) in a growth funding round from Aavishkaar Capital https://www.vccircle.com/fintech-startup-chqbook-com-bags-series-a-funding-from-aavishkaar/ 
• Dhoni has invested in Bengaluru-based fintech startup Khatabook, an app for small businesses to manage Business & Personal ledgers https://yourstory.com/2020/03/funding-alert-ms-dhoni-fintech-startup-khatabook 
• CoreStack raised around $8.5 million in a Series A round of funding led by VC firm, Naya Ventures  https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/corestack-raises-8-5-mn-led-by-naya-ventures-11584544472134.html 
• MobiKwik Is Raising Nearly $30 Mn To Fuel Growth Plans https://inc42.com/buzz/mobikwik-is-raising-nearly-30-mn-to-fuel-growth-plans/ 

Acquisitions

• POKKT Acquired By Singapore-Based AnyMind Group In Expansion Bid https://inc42.com/buzz/pokkt-acquired-by-singapore-based-anymind-group-in-expansion-bid/ 
• BigBasket Close To Acquiring Milkbasket, DailyNinja To Dominate Daily Deliveries https://inc42.com/buzz/bigbasket-close-to-acquiring-milkbasket-dailyninja-to-dominate-daily-deliveries/ 
• Urban Company has acquired Australia-based on-demand beauty service provider Glamazon https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/startups/urban-company-snaps-up-australian-on-demand-beauty-venture-glamazon/74660014 
• Bharti Airtel acquired a strategic stake in fitness start-up Spectacom Global Pvt Ltd, under the Airtel Start-up Accelerator Program. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/airtel-acquires-stake-in-fitness-startup-spectacom-global/articleshow/74594763.cms 

Programs

• 24 Indian Startups got selected to Y Combinator’s Winter Batch 2020 https://inc42.com/buzz/meet-the-24-indian-startups-in-y-combinators-winter-batch-2020/ 
• The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance has teamed up with their subsidiary exchange in India – WazirX, to announce a joint initiative $50 million (backed by BNB, BUSD, and WRX digital assets)  “Blockchain for India” (BFI) fund to support the development and growth of blockchain startups in India https://cointelegraph.com/news/binance-and-indian-exchange-wazirx-announce-50m-blockchain-for-india-fund 
• Britannia Marie Gold has announced the launch of the second season of its annual initiative which provides financial assistance to homemakers with entrepreneurial ideas. This year, the brand has partnered with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to launch India’s first-ever skill development programme customized for women. https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/britannia-marie-gold-in-partnership-with-nsdc-announces-india-s-1st-skill-development-program-for-homemakers-to-startup-867391720.html 

Others

• Dunzo to start testing Drone delivery In India https://inshorts.com/en/news/drone-delivery-tests-in-india-by-dunzo-throttle-get-dcgas-approval-1576753385167 
• Startups, Companies Told To Declare Readiness To Tackle Coronavirus Pandemic https://inc42.com/buzz/startups-company-told-to-declare-affirmations-readiness-to-tackle-coronavirus-pandemic/ 
• India’s First 5G Testing Lab to setup by Cavli Wireless and Kerala-based Maker's Village will Be Free For IoT Startups https://inc42.com/buzz/indias-first-5g-testing-lab-to-be-free-for-iot-startups/ 
• Govt plans to hire a consulting firm to assess Startup India drive and help the government develop policies for Indian startups https://inc42.com/buzz/consultancy-firm-to-be-roped-in-to-boost-startup-india-plans/

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