• Startup Pulse
    EloElo Group raises $80 million in a Series C round led by Hornbill Capital and NBCUniversal, with MIT Investment Co. and existing investors participating. Peppermint Robotics raises ₹100 crore (approximately $10.5 million) in a Pre-Series B round led by pi Ventures and Crane Venture Partners, with Asiana Fund participating. Traversal raises $120 million in a Series B round at a $1 billion valuation, led by Kleiner Perkins, Redpoint and Khosla Ventures, with Sequoia Capital, Battery Ventures and Amex Ventures participating. GIVA raises over $100 million in a round led by Multiples Alternate Asset Management. The Croffle Guys raises ₹14 crore in a round led by V3 Ventures, with N.A.N Partners participating. Solgram raises over $1 million in a pre-seed round led by DSG Consumer Partners and Saama Capital, with Kapil Chopra participating. Sachin Tendulkar makes a strategic investment in Metasports Interactive, the company behind Hitwicket. The amount was not disclosed. Hyeglo Beauty raises ₹7 crore in a round led by Sauce, with Giga Capital, Consumer Collective, Reckitt's Arjun Purkayastha and The Patient Capital participating. Unify Foodworks raises ₹5 crore in seed funding through convertible debentures from Atrium Ventures, SailThru Ventures, Arjun Vaidya and Abhishek Goyal. OBSESS raises approximately ₹3 crore in an angel round from Pushpendra Singh, Amit Goel and Harshit Vij. EloElo Group raises $80 million in a Series C round led by Hornbill Capital and NBCUniversal, with MIT Investment Co. and existing investors participating. Peppermint Robotics raises ₹100 crore (approximately $10.5 million) in a Pre-Series B round led by pi Ventures and Crane Venture Partners, with Asiana Fund participating. Traversal raises $120 million in a Series B round at a $1 billion valuation, led by Kleiner Perkins, Redpoint and Khosla Ventures, with Sequoia Capital, Battery Ventures and Amex Ventures participating. GIVA raises over $100 million in a round led by Multiples Alternate Asset Management. The Croffle Guys raises ₹14 crore in a round led by V3 Ventures, with N.A.N Partners participating. Solgram raises over $1 million in a pre-seed round led by DSG Consumer Partners and Saama Capital, with Kapil Chopra participating. Sachin Tendulkar makes a strategic investment in Metasports Interactive, the company behind Hitwicket. The amount was not disclosed. Hyeglo Beauty raises ₹7 crore in a round led by Sauce, with Giga Capital, Consumer Collective, Reckitt's Arjun Purkayastha and The Patient Capital participating. Unify Foodworks raises ₹5 crore in seed funding through convertible debentures from Atrium Ventures, SailThru Ventures, Arjun Vaidya and Abhishek Goyal. OBSESS raises approximately ₹3 crore in an angel round from Pushpendra Singh, Amit Goel and Harshit Vij.
  • Dhananjay Datar to Mentor Indian Entrepreneurs for Exports to Dubai and GCC

    Dhananjay Datar to Mentor Indian Entrepreneurs for Exports to Dubai and GCC

    Dubai: Renowned as the “Masala King” of the Gulf, Dr Dhananjay Datar, CMD of Adil Group of Superstores, has extended his full support to Indian entrepreneurs looking to export products to Dubai and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations.

    In a meeting with a visiting business delegation from Solapur, Maharashtra, Dr Dhananjay Datar expressed his willingness to mentor and guide exporters, providing insights on logistics, compliance, and global retail strategy.

    “Dubai offers a strategic entry point into international markets,” said Dhananjay Datar, addressing the delegation led by MLA Subhash Deshmukh. “My goal is to help Indian entrepreneurs understand the export process and build sustainable, successful businesses that align with global quality standards.”

    The delegation showcased a variety of Solapur’s popular products – including Shenga Chutney, Kadak Bhakari, and premium jowar, rice, and pulses – alongside innovative packaging solutions.

    Impressed by the product quality, Dr Dhananjay Datar expressed his intent to procure and retail them through his Adil Group stores.

    He offered valuable guidance on crucial aspects of exports including documentation, quality norms, shelf-life standards, packaging requirements, and market preferences in the GCC region.

    Dhananjay Datar emphasizes demand for health-oriented products

    He emphasized the demand for natural, chemical-free, and health-oriented products, and stressed the importance of avoiding perishable items due to shipping durations of up to 20 days.

    “Our Adil Group has earned trust in the Middle East by delivering hygienic, authentic, and organic products. Exporters must meet stringent regulatory standards, and packaging must be secure and tamper-proof,” Datar added. “With proper preparation, Indian products can thrive in the Gulf retail space.”

    Dr Datar also highlighted the upcoming Wadhwan International Port and Mumbai’s growing connectivity through two international ports and airports, which will provide Indian exporters a major competitive edge in the coming years. He urged young entrepreneurs to start learning about import-export frameworks immediately to tap into global opportunities early.

    “India is entering a high-growth era. My dream is to mentor hundreds of entrepreneurs and help them establish a global footprint,” Datar concluded.

    Delegation Members Included:
    Amit Jain (Solapur Garments Manufacturers Association), Dr Rajesh Gurani (Udyam PAHSUI Foundation), Alpesh Sanklecha, Vijay Patil, Yash Jain, Pradeep Jain, Anand Zaad, and Chandrashekhar Jadhav.

    Author

    • Salil Urunkar

      Salil Urunkar is a senior journalist and the editorial mind behind Sahyadri Startups. With years of experience covering Pune’s entrepreneurial rise, he’s passionate about telling the real stories of founders, disruptors, and game-changers.

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