lightspeed
10 ARTICLES
Pocket FM’s model doesn’t need humans
Multiple former employees of the audio series startup have been complaining about a gruesome and callous work culture. A deeper look suggests that this dynamic may be the result of the business model itself.
15 Jun 2025
Pocket FM faces multiple legal complaints in the US
At least 10 former contractual workers of the audio series startup are alleging employment violations in the state courts of California.
07 Apr 2025
Peak XV’s inescapable transition
The recent spate of exits at the newly independent VC firm is not a surprise. It is a reset for a fund that’s so far operated as if it is special and now has to adjust to new realities.
02 Mar 2025
VCs on startup boards: what do they even do?
Indian startup boards have been repeatedly caught sleeping on the job in the face of irregularities, weak processes and unethical practices. A number of factors—ranging from emotion to self-interest—are to blame.
24 Nov 2024
Pocket FM lets go of over 200 writers
The layoffs have affected writers based in the US who had been working with the six-year-old audio entertainment platform.
26 Jul 2024
ShareChat raises $49 million at 60% valuation cut
ShareChat knows that this is the company’s last attempt at a turnaround. It is unlikely that investors will buy ShareChat’s story after this and the company will receive more funding; so the business needs to start sustaining itself soon.
15 Apr 2024
The unlearning of Indian venture capital investors
Venture capital investors have learnt the hard way that making money in India is a slog and putting all their eggs in tech will barely ever return the desired multiples for a fund.
21 Mar 2024
Udaan is shrinking to survive
The B2B e-commerce startup is set to raise fresh funds on the back of a revamp across its operations and workforce.
21 Oct 2022
The founder split and culture shift at Udaan
The B2B e-commerce startup has in the past year seen two co-founders step back entirely, top-level churn and looming competition from Reliance.
23 May 2022
