Startup Spectrum

Quick commerce platform Blinkit, a subsidiary of Zomato, has ventured into healthcare with the launch of a 10-minute ambulance service. The initiative, announced by Blinkit cofounder and CEO Albinder Dhindsa on X, aims to provide quick and reliable emergency medical assistance in urban areas. The service debuts today in Gurugram with a fleet of five Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances. Equipped with essential life-saving equipment such as oxygen cylinders, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), stretchers, monitors, suction machines, injections and essential emergency medicines. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/d3zrbWMp

Founded in 2013 by Ezhil Subbian and Vinod Kumar, String Bio, a Bengaluru-based startup, is dedicated to revolutionizing industries through innovative, nature-inspired solutions. Leveraging the power of biology, engineering, fermentation, and chemistry, String Bio is turning environmental challenges into business opportunities, creating sustainable solutions that address some of the world’s most pressing issues. In the face of a rapidly changing climate, the world is grappling with the dual challenges of increasing food demand and diminishing natural resources. As global populations rise, traditional agricultural practices, animal farming, and manufacturing methods are being scrutinized for their environmental impact. The need for cleaner, more sustainable alternatives has never been more urgent. String Bio recognized early on that greenhouse gases, particularly methane and carbon dioxide, were often seen as waste products or by-products. But String Bio’s founders envisioned a different path – what if these gases could be transformed into valuable raw materials for creating high-performance products? By harnessing the power of biology and cutting-edge fermentation processes, String Bio has pioneered a new way to manufacture a wide range of products, from food ingredients to cosmetics and packaging, all while reducing carbon emissions. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dFMZuGXw

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced an extension for the implementation of the 30% market share cap for third-party app providers (TPAPs), such as PhonePe and Google Pay. The new deadline is December 31, 2026, marking the second postponement of the regulation initially proposed in November 2020. This regulation was introduced to curb market dominance by any single player and to ensure a competitive and equitable UPI ecosystem. The initial deadline of December 31, 2022, was first extended to December 31, 2024. Now, TPAPs exceeding the 30% volume cap have been granted an additional two years to comply. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/d8Eg5B5K

Founded in 2017 by Anand Singh, Sunny Kumar Jadoon , Ahmad Raza, Rahul Mishra, and Ankit Vaish, Probus is at the forefront of transforming India’s energy sector through innovative and sustainable technologies. The startup aims to address some of the most critical challenges facing the energy industry today, that is efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility, by introducing advanced solutions that optimize energy consumption and reduce environmental impact. As India grapples with rapid urbanization, increasing energy demand, and the pressing need to combat climate change, Probus is tackling these challenges head-on. Traditional energy systems are often inefficient, leading to substantial energy losses, high operational costs, and negative environmental impacts. To meet growing demands, while adhering to sustainability goals, industries need smarter, more reliable energy solutions. Probus is addressing these issues with its suite of solutions, focusing on energy efficiency, smart grid integration, solar energy, and IoT-powered automation. Their mission is clear: to reduce energy losses by 50%, decarbonize the grid by 40 million tonnes, and empower industries and communities to consume energy 10 times more efficiently. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dWwMpTJu

BluSmart, a leading electric vehicle (EV) ride-hailing service provider, is all set to expand its operations to Mumbai, with the launch scheduled for January 1, 2024. The company announced the rollout in a post on X, revealing that the initial phase of the launch will be limited to an invite-only group of users. The announcement comes after months of preparation and the company expressed its excitement to introduce the service to Mumbai residents. BluSmart’s EV fleet will be available to a select group of participants during the initial phase, with plans for a broader public rollout following the initial test phase. Founded in 2019 by Anmol Jaggi and Punit K Goyal, BluSmart has made a significant mark in the electric ride-hailing sector, offering eco-friendly alternatives to traditional taxis. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/d5GRqd-k

Founded in 2016 by Chetan Anand, Vaibhav Singh, Anurag Prasad, and Shashvat Tripathi, Visit Health is making significant strides in transforming the corporate wellness landscape in India. As a one-stop wellness and OPD benefits platform, Visit is helping businesses provide comprehensive health benefits to their employees, addressing the growing demand for holistic health solutions in the workplace. In a rapidly evolving world, employee well-being has become a cornerstone of successful businesses. However, many companies face challenges in offering comprehensive, accessible, and affordable healthcare benefits to their workforce. Traditional insurance plans often fall short in addressing employees’ day-to-day healthcare needs, including doctor visits, lab tests, fitness, mental health support, and wellness tracking. This gap in accessible healthcare creates friction for employees and limits the overall impact of employee wellness programs. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dgQ3abge

DeHaat, an innovative Agri-Tech startup, is transforming the agricultural landscape of India with its AI-powered solutions that empower farmers and enhance supply chain efficiency. Founded in 2012 by Shashank Kumar, Amrendra Singh, Adarsh Srivastava, and Shyam Sundar Singh, DeHaat is one of the fastest-growing startups in the Agri-Tech sector. The company is based in Gurgaon, Haryana, and operates in 12 Indian states, impacting millions of farmers with its comprehensive, tech-driven services. Indian agriculture faces numerous challenges, including inefficient supply chains, lack of timely information, limited access to high-quality inputs, and market unpredictability. Farmers, especially those in rural areas, often struggle to access the right resources and advice for crop production, resulting in suboptimal yields and economic strain. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dFQwCy2M

Kritsnam Technologies, an innovative startup based in Hyderabad, is transforming water management with advanced, data-driven solutions. Founded in 2015 by Vinay Chataraju, K. Sri Harsha, and Prudhvi Sagar, Kritsnam is at the forefront of the fight against water scarcity. The company aims to help businesses across India and Southeast Asia manage their water resources more effectively through the power of technology. Water scarcity is one of the most pressing global challenges, and India, in particular, is facing a severe water crisis due to rapid urbanization, climate change, and inefficient water management practices. Businesses, municipalities, and agricultural sectors struggle to keep track of their water consumption and waste, often relying on outdated manual methods that lead to errors, inefficiencies, and overuse. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dxAvsuTg

Founded in 2015 by Neeraj Jain, Nikhil Nahar, and Shreya Mishra, SolarSquare Energy is revolutionizing the solar energy landscape in India. The startup’s mission is simple yet ambitious: to make rooftop solar energy accessible to every home, business, and housing society, while helping the country transition to clean, renewable energy. SolarSquare was born out of the pressing need to address two major issues: rising electricity costs and environmental sustainability. In a country like India, where power bills are consistently increasing and environmental concerns are mounting, the company offers a practical solution that allows homeowners, housing societies, and businesses to generate their own power using solar energy. The company aims to ease the transition to solar by offering an end-to-end service with transparency, affordability, and safety at its core. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dt86E48M

Gaurav Munjal, cofounder and CEO of edtech startup Unacademy, has refuted reports suggesting the company is exploring a sale or merger. Munjal took to LinkedIn on December 7 to address the speculation, branding the rumors as baseless and reiterating Unacademy’s focus on long-term growth. “We are building Unacademy for the long run. We are not doing any Sale or M&A. Ignore the Rumours.” wrote Munjal. He expressed confidence in the company’s trajectory, forecasting significant growth for 2024, particularly in its offline business and unit economics. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dSXVqvjY