Startup
Hearzap acquires majority stake in Speech and Hearing Care
Hearing care provider Hearzap has acquired a majority stake in Speech and Hearing Care for an undisclosed amount.
Speech and Hearing Care is a renowned player in Bihar and Jharkhand. Hearzap funded the acquisition entirely through internal cash flows. The deal is expected to drive Hyderabad-based Hearzap’s revenue past ₹100 crore this fiscal year, securing a 30% market share in key regions.
“This expansion ensures access to top-quality hearing care provided by professionally trained audiologists and supports the company’s target of expanding to 250 stores by 2026, doubling its growth by exploring more partnerships,” said the company in a press note.
Speech and Hearing Care has strong presence in cities like Patna, Ranchi, and Dhanbad. The acquisition will facilitate integration of operations of the two companies and enable Hearzap to offer services in the hearing care industry in the eastern region.
“By combining our advanced technology with the local expertise of Speech and Hearing Care, we are set to elevate industry standards and provide even better service to our customers,” said S Raja, Founder and Managing Director of Hearzap.
Hearzap raised around Rs 50 crore in a funding round from 360 One Asset Management Ltd. in November 2023. It operates over 130 locations nationwide.
Startup
Ex-PM Manmohan Singh dies at 92, leaves behind a legacy of economic reforms
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, the architect of India’s economic reforms, died on Thursday night. He was 92.
Singh’s death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, where he was admitted to the emergency ward around 8.30 PM in a critical condition.
An AIIMS bulletin said “he was treated for age-related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home” on December 26.
“Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to medical emergency at AIIMS Delhi at 8.06 pm. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 pm,” said the bulletin.
Singh, who was prime minister for two terms in the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014, had been in poor health for the last few months.
He is survived by his wife Gurcharan Singh and three daughters.
Singh, who was finance minister under the then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, was the architect and the brainchild of economic reforms in 1991 that pulled India from the brink of bankruptcy and ushered in an era of economic liberalisation that is widely believed to have changed the course of India’s economic trajectory.
Startup
Peak XV Partners sells 1.5% stake in MobiKwik for Rs 82 Cr
Peak XV Partners on Thursday divested 1.5% stake in fintech company One MobiKwik Systems for Rs 82 crore through an open market transaction.
Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India & Southeast Asia) through its arm—Peak XV Partners Investment Holdings III—offloaded 12.01 lakh shares, or 1.55%, stake in One MobiKwik Systems through a bulk deal on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).
The shares were disposed of at an average price of Rs 679.38 apiece, taking the deal value to Rs 81.63 crore.
After the transaction, Peak XV Partners’ holding in Gurugram-based MobiKwik has declined to 1.26% from 2.81%.
Details of buyers of MobiKwik’s shares could not be ascertained on the exchange.
One MobiKwik Systems shares rose 2.40% to close at Rs 623.50 apiece on the NSE.
Last week, MobiKwik’s shares listed with a premium of nearly 60%.
The initial public offering (IPO) by MobiKwik was entirely a fresh issuance of equity shares worth up to Rs 572 crore with no offer-for-sale (OFS) component.
Founded by Bipin Preet Singh and Upasana Taku, MobiKwik is a digital banking platform, offering a wide range of financial products for both consumers and merchants, including payments, digital credit, and investments.
Startup
Govt orders probe into ride-hailing apps over alleged price discrimination
Consumer protection watchdog CCPA will investigate ride-hailing apps for allegedly charging different fares for identical rides on Android and Apple devices, Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday.
“This prima facie looks like unfair trade practice,” Joshi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, calling it a “blatant disregard” for consumers’ right to transparency.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has been directed to conduct a detailed inquiry and submit a report at the earliest. The investigation will extend to other sectors including food delivery and ticket booking apps.
“Zero tolerance for consumer exploitation!” Joshi added.
The probe follows media reports highlighting price disparities between mobile platforms for the same journey.
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