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Context is everything.
Detailed stories on technology startups, business and economic current affairs.
Detailed stories on technology startups, business and economic current affairs.
Editor's note: Occasionally, amid the relentless announcements of X company raises Y million dollars, there will be one that flies under the radar but shouldn’t. A month ago, online furniture seller Pepperfry raised $40 million in a Series F funding round. The ups and downs of India’s furniture and home decor startups—as they realized that selling beds and sofas online is not quite the same as selling smartphones and books—make for an interesting story in and of itself. But what stood out about Pepperfry’s fundraise, decidedly modest by the standards of tech startups today, is that the lead investor was not your usual venture capital or private equity fund, but Pidilite Industries. Pidilite is the last name you would think of in startup funding. The 60-year-old publicly listed company is best known for manufacturing adhesives, particularly under the iconic Fevicol brand. Apart from a handful of consumer brands (think glue sticks and Fevikwik super glue), is a stolidly B2B, or business-to-business, company. “Why Pepperfry?” is an obvious question, but with a particularly interesting answer. In a nutshell, as the internet economy grows …
Dubai and Abu Dhabi markets bounce back on real estate strength and central bank support, but sentiment remains fragile amid ongoing conflict.
For years, the country has been insulated from West Asia’s conflicts. Six days into the Iran war, that status is under strain—and investors could be recalibrating.
India’s market regulator is looking to ramp up hiring at the entry level. But what really needs attention is the constant uncertainty at the top and the lack of domain experts.
