#Ola Pre IPO

[freddiemark]

Analyzing the Trajectory and Influences on Ola Share Price

Introduction to Ola Share Price:

Ola, an Indian-based ride-hailing and mobility company, has been a prominent player in the transportation sector, offering services across various cities in India and expanding globally. Its impact on the transportation industry, coupled with strategic advancements and market fluctuations, has often caused significant interest in the company's performance, specifically its share price. This article aims to dissect the trajectory of Ola Share Price, exploring key influences, and forecasting potential future trends.

Overview of Ola:

Founded in 2010 by Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati, Ola has emerged as a major player in the ride-hailing sector, offering diverse services such as cabs, auto-rickshaws, and more. The company's expansion beyond its original services into electric vehicles, financial services, and food delivery has showcased its commitment to innovation and diversification.

Recent Share Price Performance:

Ola Share Price has seen fluctuations in line with various factors impacting the global and local market conditions. Factors such as regulatory changes, competition within the ride-hailing sector, and broader economic trends have influenced the company's stock performance. In recent quarters, the Share Price experienced volatility, with periods of surge and decline. 

Key Influencing Factors:

1. Market Competition: The ride-hailing industry has become increasingly competitive, with Ola facing stiff competition from rivals both within India and globally. Rivalry in pricing strategies, service offerings, and market penetration often impacts Ola's Share Price.

2. Regulatory Environment: Changes in government regulations related to transportation, safety norms, and licensing requirements can significantly affect Ola's operations and, subsequently, its Share Price. Compliance issues or regulatory hurdles may cause market uncertainty.

3. Technological Advancements: Ola's approach to technology, including innovations in app development, integration of new services, and investments in electric vehicles, heavily influences investor perception. Technological advancements often impact operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness, reflecting in the stock price.

4. Financial Performance: Ola's financial reports, including revenue growth, profitability, and cash flow, are crucial indicators for investors. Positive financial outcomes typically lead to increased investor confidence and higher Share Prices.

5. Market Sentiment and Pandemic Impact: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the entire transportation industry. Lockdowns, travel restrictions, and changing consumer behavior affected Ola's operations and, consequently, its Share Price.

Future Outlook:

Despite short-term fluctuations, Ola remains well-positioned for growth due to its diversified services and continued innovation. The company's focus on electric vehicles, expansion into new markets, and investments in technology augur well for its long-term prospects.

Ola's commitment to sustainability and its aggressive expansion plans into multiple sectors, including electric mobility, financial services, and food delivery, reflect a vision for sustained growth and resilience against market challenges.

Conclusion:

Ola Share Price is subject to various market dynamics, including competition, regulations, technological innovations, and global economic conditions. Understanding these factors is crucial for investors seeking insights into the company's performance and future trajectory. Ola's resilience, diversification, and commitment to innovation make it an intriguing prospect for investors, despite short-term fluctuations in its Share Price.

Please note that investing in stocks involves risks, and it's advisable for investors to conduct thorough research and seek professional financial advice before making investment decisions based on Share Price movements.

[gazetteweekly]

Ola Electric IPO: Prices Set at Rs 72-76 Per Share, Aiming to Raise Over Rs 6,100 Crore

Ola Electric Mobility Limited, the Bengaluru-based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has announced the price band for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO). The shares will be offered at a price range of Rs 72–76 each, with the IPO set to open for subscription on August 2 and close on August 6. Investors can bid for a minimum of 197 shares and in multiples of 197 shares thereafter.

IPO Details

. Price Band: Rs 72–76 per share

. IPO Opening Date: August 2

. IPO Closing Date: August 6

. Minimum Bid: 197 shares

At the upper end of the price band, Ola Electric aims to raise Rs 6,145 crore, while the lower end targets Rs 6,111 crore. The IPO will consist of a fresh issue of up to Rs 5,500 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to 8.49 crore shares worth Rs 645 crore. There is also a reservation for eligible employees.

Use of Proceeds

According to Bhavish Aggarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of Ola Electric, the proceeds from the fresh issue will be allocated as follows:

Rs 1,227.6 crore for capital expenditure by subsidiary OCT

Rs 800 crore for repayment or pre-payment of debt

Rs 1,600 crore for research and product development

Rs 350 crore for organic growth initiatives and general corporate purposes

Company Overview

Ola Electric specializes in manufacturing electric vehicles and core EV components, including battery packs, motors, and vehicle frames, at its Ola Futurefactory. The company aims to capitalize on the growing trend of EV adoption in India and plans to expand into select international markets.

Since delivering its first model, the Ola S1 Pro, in December 2021, Ola Electric has quickly become a leading electric two-wheeler (E2W) brand in India. The company has also introduced additional models, including the Ola S1, Ola S1 Air, and Ola S1 X+.

Future Plans

Ola Electric’s vertically integrated business model includes in-house R&D, manufacturing, supply chain management, and a direct-to-consumer (D2C) omnichannel distribution platform. The company plans to use its Generation 2 platform, initially developed for the Ola S1 scooter, for a new motorcycle range featuring four models: Diamondhead, Adventure, Roadster, and Cruiser.

The company’s facilities include a Futurefactory, Gigafactory, and a Battery Innovation Centre in Bengaluru, with ongoing construction of an EV hub in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.

As Ola Electric prepares for its IPO, the company’s focus on innovation and expansion continues to position it as a key player in the EV industry.

[consultantssigma]

Unlocking the Potential of Capital Gain Ventures

In the dynamic world of startups and innovation, capital gain ventures have emerged as a powerful investment strategy. By focusing on early-stage companies with high growth potential, investors can achieve significant financial returns. This blog explores the role of venture capital in capital gain ventures, highlights leading venture capital firms in India, and explains the different types of venture capital available to startups and investors.

What Are Capital Gain Ventures?

Capital gain ventures involve investing in startups and emerging businesses with the goal of realizing substantial capital gains when these companies grow and succeed. The strategy is to invest early, support the company's growth, and exit at a higher valuation, typically through acquisitions or IPOs.

Why Are They Important?

High Return Potential: Early investment in high-potential startups can lead to significant financial returns.

Economic Growth: By supporting innovative businesses, venture capital drives economic growth and job creation.

Innovation Catalyst: Venture capital funding fuels innovation, allowing startups to develop new products and technologies.

Venture Capital in India: A Thriving Ecosystem

India has become a global hotspot for venture capital investment. With a rapidly growing economy, a young and tech-savvy population, and a flourishing startup ecosystem, India offers immense opportunities for venture capital firms.

Key Trends in Indian Venture Capital:

Tech Boom: Investment in technology sectors, including fintech, e-commerce, and AI, is surging.

Increased Deal Sizes: The average deal size has grown as startups scale and seek more substantial funding rounds.

Diverse Sectors: While tech dominates, there is rising interest in sectors like healthcare, edtech, and clean energy.

Leading Venture Capital Firms in India

Sequoia Capital India: Known for its investments in companies like Zomato, Byju's, and Ola.

Accel Partners: Early investors in Flipkart and Swiggy, focusing on tech startups.

Nexus Venture Partners: Backed companies like Unacademy and Delhivery, supporting both early and growth-stage startups.

Matrix Partners India: Invested in Razorpay and Ola Electric, with a focus on early-stage tech companies.

SAIF Partners (Elevation Capital): Known for investments in Paytm and UrbanClap, supporting companies across various stages.

Types of Venture Capital

Understanding the different types of venture capital is crucial for both investors and startups. Each type of capital serves a specific purpose and aligns with different stages of a company’s growth.

1. Seed Capital

Purpose: Provides initial funding to turn an idea into a viable product.

Stage: Early concept or prototype phase.

Impact: Helps startups refine their business model and prepare for market entry.

2. Early-Stage Capital

Purpose: Financing for product development and initial market launch.

Stage: Early operations, typically pre-revenue or early revenue.

Impact: Supports startups in scaling operations, building teams, and launching products.

3. Growth Capital

Purpose: Funding for scaling, market expansion, and operational growth.

Stage: Established businesses with proven revenue models and growth potential.

Impact: Enables startups to expand their operations, increase market share, and drive significant revenue growth.

4. Late-Stage Capital

Purpose: Capital for mature companies preparing for an IPO or acquisition.

Stage: Well-established businesses with significant market presence and approaching profitability.

Impact: Supports companies in maximizing their market valuation and preparing for successful exits.

Benefits of Capital Gain Ventures

Investing in capital gain ventures offers several advantages:

Access to High-Growth Opportunities: Investors gain exposure to innovative startups with high growth potential.

Portfolio Diversification: Venture capital investments can diversify an investor’s portfolio, reducing risk and enhancing returns.

Active Involvement: Venture capitalists often play an active role in guiding startups, providing strategic advice, and leveraging their networks.

Challenges and Considerations

While capital gain ventures offer significant opportunities, they also come with challenges:

High Risk: Investing in early-stage startups can be risky, with the potential for loss if the business fails.

Long Investment Horizon: Returns on venture capital investments may take several years to materialize.

Market Dynamics: The success of venture capital investments can be influenced by market trends, regulatory changes, and economic conditions.

Conclusion

Capital gain ventures represent a powerful avenue for achieving substantial financial returns through strategic investments in high-growth startups. In India, the venture capital landscape is thriving, with a rich ecosystem of startups and investors driving innovation and economic growth.

Whether you are an entrepreneur seeking funding or an investor looking for high-potential opportunities, understanding the different types of venture capital and the trends in the market is crucial. By leveraging the expertise of leading venture capital firms, you can navigate the complexities of capital gain ventures and unlock significant value.

For more insights and support on venture capital and capital gain ventures, explore our services at Sigma Consultants. Join us in shaping the future of venture capital and driving the success of tomorrow’s innovators.

[atomxmedia]

Ola Electric Becomes First Two-Wheeler EV Startup In India To Receive SEBI Approval For IPO Aiming For Rs 7250 Cr.

Ola Electric Raises Rs 410 Crore

Bengaluru-based Ola Electric has reportedly become India’s first two-wheeler electric vehicle maker to receive SEBI’s approval for an IPO launch. According to a Moneycontrol report, the EV giant is looking to raise Rs 7,250 crore. This development comes nearly six months after Ola Electric filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI.

Ola Electric’s IPO consists of a fresh issue of Rs 5,500 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of Rs 1,750 crore, totaling Rs 7,250 crore. As outlined in the firm’s DRHP, existing shareholders are expected to sell 95.19 million shares in the OFS. Ola Electric’s founder, Bhavish Aggarwal, will sell 47.3 million shares. Additionally, the company is considering a pre-IPO placement of shares worth Rs 1,100 crore, which would reduce the size of the fresh issue by that amount.

Shareholder Participation

Ola Electric’s early investors, which include AlphaWave, Alpine, DIG Investment, and Matrix, among others, will sell 47.89 million shares through the OFS. According to the DRHP, the proceeds from the IPO will be used for capital expenditures (capex), debt repayment, and research and development (R&D). Specifically, the company intends to spend about Rs 1,226 crore on capital, Rs 800 crore on debt reduction, Rs 1,600 crore on R&D, and Rs 350 crore on inorganic development.

Read more: Marketing News, Advertising News, PR and Finance News, Digital News

[peterkumar544]

Buy Sell Top Unlisted Equities/Shares | Pre IPO Share Price List | No.01 Stock Dealer Rurash Financials

Get in touch with India's leading stockbrokers Rurash Financials which will help to Buy/Sell Unlisted stocks at the most competitive prices across India basically unlisted shares are not listed on the formal stock exchange such as Jio, OLA has unlisted shares,

!!Reach out to our relationship manager now for the trading of pre ipo stock and share in the stock market!!

Unlisted Equities Investments Mumbai India

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Unlisted stocks and Shares Brokers services Mumbai India

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[stockifyinvestment]

101 Guide To Buy Unlisted Shares In India

Unlisted shares are newfag among Indian equity investors. The shift from listed to unlisted stocks can easily be seen in the last two to three years. As the demand for unlisted shares in India is surging, many companies/ firms are preparing to become public. Since unlisted stocks are neither recorded on stock trade nor monitored and regulated by the Securities And Exchange Board Of India (SEBI), they come with higher risk, unlike listed stocks. However, unlisted stocks come with excellent growth opportunities for investors who want long-term gains to diversify portfolios. 

If you are a potential investor looking to buy unlisted shares, this will be a helpful guide for you. Here we will talk about how to buy unlisted shares in India. 

What is an unlisted share? 

Unlisted shares or over-the-counter (OTC) securities or any other financial instruments are shares that are available for sale on over-the-counter marketplaces. Investing in equities in unlisted markets/ grey markets is riskier than listed stocks; however, it can be profitable for long-term investment per the market analysis. Moreover, unlisted or pre-IPO stocks are not traded on any recognized stock market. It is because similar or younger businesses may not be able to comply with specific standards like market capitalization, listing costs, etc. 

Many big companies like BYJU’s, OLA, Flipkart, and PhonePe are offering unlisted shares for potential buyers to invest in to gain maximum profit. 

Investing in unlisted companies is not a cupcake process; you need proper guidance when you route towards such an option. 

How to buy unlisted stocks? 

As aforementioned, you can’t buy unlisted stocks on the stock exchanges. So, if you want to buy unlisted shares online, you must follow the ways mentioned below. 

Buy directly from promoters 

There are many private companies that allow investors to invest directly in their firms by purchasing unlisted shares from promoters. For that, you will make connections with the promoter, investment bank, and wealth manager in allocating funds so they can assist you with price discovery. 

Buy from existing employees 

Undoubtedly, many companies offer stock ownership to their employees, and you can connect with these employees willing to sell their shares at a specific price. Further, you can take help from unlisted shares brokers to connect with employees of the companies who are willing to sell their shares. This is one way of buying unlisted shares in India from top companies. 

Investing in pre-IPO shares 

Pre-IPO refers to the buying and selling of shares of a company before it goes public or gets listed on the stock exchange. There are plenty of companies that offer platforms for potential investors on which they can trade unlisted shares. This way, you will be able to get the unlisted shares of the company directly delivered to your Demat account even if the transaction is off the record. Want to learn more about pre IPO or unlisted shares, check out the frequently asked questions here.

Invest in PMS and AIF schemes 

PMS stands for Portfolio Management Services, and AIF stands for Alternative Investment Funds. PMS refers to a customised portfolio of stocks that are operated by professional portfolio managers based on specific investment objectives. 

AIF, on the other hand, refers to a pooled investment for high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors. Today, many companies offer PMS and AIF schemes to capture pre-IPO valuations and profits from a rise in valuation following a listing. 

The aforementioned are some of the best ways to invest in unlisted shares in India. Whichever method you like, just follow it. 

Mistakes to avoid when buying unlisted shares 

Undoubtedly, unlisted shares come with risk; if you’re not careful about your investment, you will end up making huge losses due to horrible mistakes. Whether it’s a minor or a big mistake, they tend to be costly and risky. Therefore, we’ve mentioned major mistakes that you must avoid making while investing in unlisted shares in India. 

Avoid following ‘the herd’ mentality. Firstly, do your homework and research well about the company before investing. 

If you’re getting shares at a low rate, don’t jump all of a sudden. There might be a chance that an existing investor would be taking an exit at a lower price. 

Do not plan to invest in the unlisted shares for a short-term investment horizon. Do not forget that unlisted shares prove to be profitable at the time when the company grows and establishes itself in the market. Have patience and a long-term perspective. 

Also, do not invest in unlisted shares without taking advice from a trusted unlisted shares broker. In case you need advisory services, Stockify is the best service provider for you. 

To conclude, unlisted shares are considered risky, but they offer the potential to earn a profit/ significant return upon the company’s listing on the stock exchange. Further, if you’re looking for the best place to buy unlisted stock online, Stockify is your top solution. Connect with them now. 

[salam2050]

Ola To Raise Over $1 Billion Through Equity, Debt In Pre-IPO Round: Report

Ola To Raise Over $1 Billion Through Equity, Debt In Pre-IPO Round: Report

Ola is in discussions to raise a pre-IPO round of over $1 billion Ola is in talks to raise over $1 billion in funding through a mix of equity and debt over the next few months as the ride-hailing platform prepares for hitting the IPO route next year, according to sources.The company has recently raised over Rs 1,049 crore (about $139 million) from Edelweiss and others at a valuation of over $7…

[investkal]

Zomato'S Grey Market Shares Jump Ahead Of Ipo, Ola Raises $500 Million In Pre-Ipo Funding, Strip Heads For A Listing

Zomato’S Grey Market Shares Jump Ahead Of Ipo, Ola Raises $500 Million In Pre-Ipo Funding, Strip Heads For A Listing

[freddiemark]

Analyzing Ola Share Price: Factors Influencing Its Growth and Potential Future

Introduction to Ola Share Price

Ola, a well-known name in the ride-sharing industry, has been making headlines not only for its innovative services but also for its share price performance in the stock market. As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, Ola was preparing for its initial public offering (IPO), which generated significant interest among investors and the public alike. In this article, we will delve into Ola share price, exploring the factors influencing its growth and discussing its potential future prospects.

The Ola Story

Ola, founded in 2010 by Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati, has emerged as one of India's leading ride-sharing platforms. Over the years, the company has expanded its services to include not only traditional cab services but also auto-rickshaws, two-wheelers, electric vehicles (EVs), and even food delivery through Ola Foods. This diversification has allowed Ola to become a comprehensive mobility platform, giving it a strong competitive edge.

The IPO Buzz

In 2021, Ola announced its plans to go public through an IPO. The IPO market in India has been quite active, with several technology companies, including Zomato, getting listed successfully. The buzz around Ola IPO was significant, as it was expected to be one of the largest tech IPOs in India, drawing attention from both institutional and retail investors.

Factors Influencing Ola's Share Price

   a. Market Sentiment: Like all publicly traded companies, Ola's share price is influenced by market sentiment. Positive news, strong financial performance, and investor confidence can drive the share price up, while negative developments or economic uncertainties can have the opposite effect.

   b. Competition: Ola operates in a fiercely competitive market, with rivals like Uber and various local players. The company's ability to maintain or expand its market share in the face of competition can significantly impact its share price.

   c. Regulatory Environment: Ride-sharing companies are subject to various regulations in different regions. Changes in regulations can affect Ola's operations and, consequently, its share price. Investors closely monitor the company's ability to navigate regulatory challenges.

   d. Financial Performance: Ola's financial performance is a critical factor in determining its share price. Key metrics such as revenue growth, profitability, and cash flow play a pivotal role in shaping investor perceptions.

   e. Innovation and Diversification: Ola's ability to innovate and diversify its services can drive investor confidence. Initiatives like Ola Electric, which focuses on electric mobility, can be a significant catalyst for share price growth.

The Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for the ride-sharing industry as people reduced their travel and opted for safer transportation options. Ola, like its competitors, faced a dip in demand during the pandemic. However, the company also adapted by introducing safety measures and expanding its delivery services to offset some of the losses incurred in its core ride-sharing business.

Ola's Commitment to Electric Mobility

One of the exciting developments at Ola is its commitment to electric mobility. Ola Electric, a subsidiary of Ola, aims to promote the use of electric vehicles in India. As the world shifts towards sustainable transportation, Ola's focus on electric vehicles can position it favorably in the eyes of environmentally conscious investors.

Potential Future Prospects

   a. EV Revolution: As the adoption of electric vehicles accelerates, Ola's investment in electric mobility can pay off handsomely. If Ola Electric succeeds in establishing itself as a leader in the EV space, it could drive significant share price growth.

   b. International Expansion: Ola has ambitions beyond India. Expanding into international markets could open up new revenue streams and potentially lead to a more favorable valuation in the stock market.

   c. Profitability: Like many tech startups, Ola has focused on growth over profitability. Investors will be keenly watching its path to profitability, as sustained losses can put downward pressure on the share price.

   d. Regulatory Clarity: Clarity on regulatory issues, especially in key markets, will be crucial for Ola's future growth. Positive regulatory developments can boost investor confidence.

Conclusion

Ola share price is subject to a multitude of factors, ranging from market sentiment to regulatory changes and financial performance. As of my last update in September 2021, Ola was gearing up for its IPO, and its share price was eagerly anticipated by investors. However, it's important to note that the stock market is inherently volatile, and share prices can fluctuate rapidly in response to news and events.

Investors considering Ola as a potential investment should conduct thorough research, stay informed about the latest developments, and assess the company's long-term prospects. Ola's commitment to electric mobility and diversification into various services make it an intriguing player in the mobility sector with the potential for significant growth, but like all investments, it comes with its own set of risks.

[inventivaindia]

Ola raises Rs 35.88 Cr from Seoul-based ‘pre-IPO’ fund

Ola raises Rs 35.88 Cr from Seoul-based ‘pre-IPO’ fund

Bengaluru-based ride-hailing unicorn Ola has raised Rs 35.88 crore from an investment fund named ‘ARK Ola Pre-IPO Private Investment Trust’, indicating that the company might have started preparing for public listing.

In July last year, Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO and Co-founder of Ola, had said that he and Co-founder Ankit Bhati were aiming for an IPO in the next three years.

Ola has issued 16,885…

[entrackrme]

Number of Unicorns is growing in India. About half a dozen consumer Internet companies had raised fundings over $1 billion since 2018. The list includes the likes of BYJU’s, Dream11, BigBasket and Ola Electric. While we have over a dozen Unicorns in B2C segment, none of them even remotely ready for public listing if you look at their balance sheets.

Read more at: Business News

[toomanysinks]

Startups Weekly: Flexport, Clutter and SoftBank’s blood money

The Wall Street Journal published a thought-provoking story this week, highlighting limited partners’ concerns with the SoftBank Vision Fund’s investment strategy. The fund’s “decision-making process is chaotic,” it’s over-paying for equity in top tech startups and it’s encouraging inflated valuations, sources told the WSJ.

The report emerged during a particularly busy time for the Vision Fund, which this week led two notable VC deals in Clutter and Flexport, as well as participated in DoorDash’s $400 million round; more on all those below. So given all this SoftBank news, let us remind you that given its $45 billion commitment, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is the Vision Fund’s largest investor. Saudi Arabia is responsible for the planned killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Here’s what I’m wondering this week: Do CEOs of companies like Flexport and Clutter have a responsibility to address the source of their capital? Should they be more transparent to their customers about whose money they are spending to achieve rapid scale? Send me your thoughts. And thanks to those who wrote me last week re: At what point is a Y Combinator cohort too big? The general consensus was this: the size of the cohort is irrelevant, all that matters is the quality. We’ll have more to say on quality soon enough, as YC demo days begin on March 18.

Anyways…

Pinterest is going public!

Surprise! Sort of. Not really. Pinterest has joined a growing list of tech unicorns planning to go public in 2019. The visual search engine filed confidentially to go public on Thursday. Reports indicate the business will float at a $12 billion valuation by June. Pinterest’s key backers — which will make lots of money when it goes public — include Bessemer Venture Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, FirstMark Capital, Fidelity and SV Angel.

Lyft’s IPO is imminent 

Ride-hailing company Lyft plans to go public on the Nasdaq in March, likely beating rival Uber to the milestone. Lyft’s S-1 will be made public as soon as next week; its roadshow will begin the week of March 18. The nuts and bolts: JPMorgan Chase has been hired to lead the offering; Lyft was last valued at more than $15 billion, while competitor Uber is valued north of $100 billion.

Deal of the week: DoorDash

Despite scrutiny for subsidizing its drivers’ wages with customer tips, venture capitalists plowed another $400 million into food delivery platform DoorDash at a whopping $7.1 billion valuation, up considerably from a previous valuation of $3.75 billion. The round, led by Temasek and Dragoneer Investment Group, with participation from previous investors SoftBank Vision Fund, DST Global, Coatue Management, GIC, Sequoia Capital and Y Combinator, will help DoorDash compete with Uber Eats. The company is currently seeing 325 percent growth, year-over-year.

Clutter & Flexport

Here are some more details on those big Vision Fund Deals: Clutter, an LA-based on-demand storage startup, closed a $200 million SoftBank-led round this week at a valuation between $400 million and $500 million, according to TechCrunch’s Ingrid Lunden’s reporting. Meanwhile, Flexport, a five-year-old, San Francisco-based full-service air and ocean freight forwarder, raised $1 billion in fresh funding led by the SoftBank Vision Fund at a $3.2 billion valuation. Earlier backers of the company, including Founders Fund, DST Global, Cherubic Ventures, Susa Ventures and SF Express all participated in the round.

Here’s your weekly reminder to send me tips, suggestions and more to kate.clark@techcrunch.com or @KateClarkTweets. 

Fresh funds

Menlo Ventures has a new $500 million late-stage fund. Dubbed its “inflection” fund, it will be investing between $20 million and $40 million in companies that are seeing at least $5 million in annual recurring revenue, growth of 100 percent year-over-year, early signs of retention and are operating in areas like cloud infrastructure, fintech, marketplaces, mobility and SaaS. Plus, Allianz X, the venture capital arm attached to German insurance giant Allianz, has increased the size of its fund to $1.1 billion and London’s Entrepreneur First brought in $115 million for what is one of the largest “pre-seed” funds ever raised.

Startup cash

Flipkart co-founder invests $92M in Ola Redis Labs raises a $60M Series E round Chinese startup Panda Selected nabs $50M from Tiger Global Image recognition startup ViSenze raises $20M Series C Circle raises $20M Series B to help even more parents limit screen time Showfields announces $9M seed funding for a flexible approach to brick-and-mortar retail Podcasting startup WaitWhat raises $4.3M Zoba raises $3M to help mobility companies predict demand

Indian delivery men working with the food delivery apps Uber Eats and Swiggy wait to pick up an order outside a restaurant in Mumbai. ( INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)

Uber Eats India may sell to Swiggy

According to Indian media reports, Uber is in the final stages of selling its Indian food delivery business to local player Swiggy, a food delivery service that recently raised $1 billion in venture capital funding. Uber Eats plans to sell its Indian food delivery unit in exchange for a 10 percent share of Swiggy’s business. Swiggy was most recently said to be valued at $3.3 billion following that billion-dollar round, which was led by Naspers and included new backers Tencent and Uber investor Coatue.

New unicorn

Lalamove, a Hong Kong-based on-demand logistics startup, is the latest venture-backed business to enter the unicorn club with the close of a $300 million Series D round this week. The latest round is split into two, with Hillhouse Capital leading the “D1” tranche and Sequoia China heading up the “D2” portion. New backers Eastern Bell Venture Capital and PV Capital and returning investors ShunWei Capital, Xiang He Capital and MindWorks Ventures also participated.

Founders Fund gets Keith Rabois

Longtime investor Keith Rabois is joining Founders Fund as a general partner. Here’s more from TechCrunch’s Connie Loizos: “The move is wholly unsurprising in ways, though the timing seems to suggest that another big fund from Founders Fund is around the corner, as the firm is also bringing aboard a new principal at the same time — Delian Asparouhov — and firms tend to bulk up as they’re meeting with investors. It’s also kind of time, as these things go. Founders Fund closed its last flagship fund with $1.3 billion in 2016.”

Listen to me talk

If you enjoy this newsletter, be sure to check out TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, Equity. In this week’s episode, available here, Crunchbase News editor-in-chief Alex Wilhelm and I discuss Pinterest’s IPO, DoorDash’s big round and SoftBank’s upset LPs.

Want more TechCrunch newsletters? Sign up here.

source https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/23/startups-weekly-flexport-clutter-and-softbanks-blood-money/

[fmservers]

Startups Weekly: Flexport, Clutter and SoftBank’s blood money

The Wall Street Journal published a thought-provoking story this week, highlighting limited partners’ concerns with the SoftBank Vision Fund’s investment strategy. The fund’s “decision-making process is chaotic,” it’s over-paying for equity in top tech startups and it’s encouraging inflated valuations, sources told the WSJ.

The report emerged during a particularly busy time for the Vision Fund, which this week led two notable VC deals in Clutter and Flexport, as well as participated in DoorDash’s $400 million round; more on all those below. So given all this SoftBank news, let us remind you that given its $45 billion commitment, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is the Vision Fund’s largest investor. Saudi Arabia is responsible for the planned killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Here’s what I’m wondering this week: Do CEOs of companies like Flexport and Clutter have a responsibility to address the source of their capital? Should they be more transparent to their customers about whose money they are spending to achieve rapid scale? Send me your thoughts. And thanks to those who wrote me last week re: At what point is a Y Combinator cohort too big? The general consensus was this: the size of the cohort is irrelevant, all that matters is the quality. We’ll have more to say on quality soon enough, as YC demo days begin on March 18.

Anyways…

Pinterest is going public!

Surprise! Sort of. Not really. Pinterest has joined a growing list of tech unicorns planning to go public in 2019. The visual search engine filed confidentially to go public on Thursday. Reports indicate the business will float at a $12 billion valuation by June. Pinterest’s key backers — which will make lots of money when it goes public — include Bessemer Venture Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, FirstMark Capital, Fidelity and SV Angel.

Lyft’s IPO is imminent 

Ride-hailing company Lyft plans to go public on the Nasdaq in March, likely beating rival Uber to the milestone. Lyft’s S-1 will be made public as soon as next week; its roadshow will begin the week of March 18. The nuts and bolts: JPMorgan Chase has been hired to lead the offering; Lyft was last valued at more than $15 billion, while competitor Uber is valued north of $100 billion.

Deal of the week: DoorDash

Despite scrutiny for subsidizing its drivers’ wages with customer tips, venture capitalists plowed another $400 million into food delivery platform DoorDash at a whopping $7.1 billion valuation, up considerably from a previous valuation of $3.75 billion. The round, led by Temasek and Dragoneer Investment Group, with participation from previous investors SoftBank Vision Fund, DST Global, Coatue Management, GIC, Sequoia Capital and Y Combinator, will help DoorDash compete with Uber Eats. The company is currently seeing 325 percent growth, year-over-year.

Clutter & Flexport

Here are some more details on those big Vision Fund Deals: Clutter, an LA-based on-demand storage startup, closed a $200 million SoftBank-led round this week at a valuation between $400 million and $500 million, according to TechCrunch’s Ingrid Lunden’s reporting. Meanwhile, Flexport, a five-year-old, San Francisco-based full-service air and ocean freight forwarder, raised $1 billion in fresh funding led by the SoftBank Vision Fund at a $3.2 billion valuation. Earlier backers of the company, including Founders Fund, DST Global, Cherubic Ventures, Susa Ventures and SF Express all participated in the round.

Here’s your weekly reminder to send me tips, suggestions and more to kate.clark@techcrunch.com or @KateClarkTweets. 

Fresh funds

Menlo Ventures has a new $500 million late-stage fund. Dubbed its “inflection” fund, it will be investing between $20 million and $40 million in companies that are seeing at least $5 million in annual recurring revenue, growth of 100 percent year-over-year, early signs of retention and are operating in areas like cloud infrastructure, fintech, marketplaces, mobility and SaaS. Plus, Allianz X, the venture capital arm attached to German insurance giant Allianz, has increased the size of its fund to $1.1 billion and London’s Entrepreneur First brought in $115 million for what is one of the largest “pre-seed” funds ever raised.

Startup cash

Flipkart co-founder invests $92M in Ola Redis Labs raises a $60M Series E round Chinese startup Panda Selected nabs $50M from Tiger Global Image recognition startup ViSenze raises $20M Series C Circle raises $20M Series B to help even more parents limit screen time Showfields announces $9M seed funding for a flexible approach to brick-and-mortar retail Podcasting startup WaitWhat raises $4.3M Zoba raises $3M to help mobility companies predict demand

Indian delivery men working with the food delivery apps Uber Eats and Swiggy wait to pick up an order outside a restaurant in Mumbai. ( INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)

Uber Eats India may sell to Swiggy

According to Indian media reports, Uber is in the final stages of selling its Indian food delivery business to local player Swiggy, a food delivery service that recently raised $1 billion in venture capital funding. Uber Eats plans to sell its Indian food delivery unit in exchange for a 10 percent share of Swiggy’s business. Swiggy was most recently said to be valued at $3.3 billion following that billion-dollar round, which was led by Naspers and included new backers Tencent and Uber investor Coatue.

New unicorn

Lalamove, a Hong Kong-based on-demand logistics startup, is the latest venture-backed business to enter the unicorn club with the close of a $300 million Series D round this week. The latest round is split into two, with Hillhouse Capital leading the “D1” tranche and Sequoia China heading up the “D2” portion. New backers Eastern Bell Venture Capital and PV Capital and returning investors ShunWei Capital, Xiang He Capital and MindWorks Ventures also participated.

Founders Fund gets Keith Rabois

Longtime investor Keith Rabois is joining Founders Fund as a general partner. Here’s more from TechCrunch’s Connie Loizos: “The move is wholly unsurprising in ways, though the timing seems to suggest that another big fund from Founders Fund is around the corner, as the firm is also bringing aboard a new principal at the same time — Delian Asparouhov — and firms tend to bulk up as they’re meeting with investors. It’s also kind of time, as these things go. Founders Fund closed its last flagship fund with $1.3 billion in 2016.”

Listen to me talk

If you enjoy this newsletter, be sure to check out TechCrunch’s venture capital-focused podcast, Equity. In this week’s episode, available here, Crunchbase News editor-in-chief Alex Wilhelm and I discuss Pinterest’s IPO, DoorDash’s big round and SoftBank’s upset LPs.

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Via Kate Clark https://techcrunch.com

[katyslemon]

A Comprehensive Guideline to Launch an ICO 2018: Structure, Overview and Planning

Brave, a browser startup successfully raised a jaw dropping $35 million from investors in less than 30 seconds. Tenx, a fintech startup received $34 million in under 7 minutes. Status.im, a messaging app for Ethereum raised $100 million in under three hours. So, what is this business model that demonstrates record-breaking capital financing confidence? Three words, ICO — initial coin offering.

Land a meeting, pitch your idea to an entrepreneur and negotiate with venture capital firms for fair deals is undoubtedly a difficult path to go through. As investors might ask for a huge bite of cake and will simply eat away your equity. Sometimes not offering stock options to the employees is the most viable solution you can have.

Cryptocurrency tokens and ICO’s are literally replacing stock shares and IPO’s in funding new companies. Owning to the latest trend, recent startups are choosing to go to the public through ICO. Recently, Oscar Insurance, Square and Blue Apron have felt the pinch. Regardless to raise funding, there is a viable alternative called ICO. Initial Coin Offering — ICO can help you raise money quickly while preserving your equity. The market has already exploded with a whopping $1.2 billion and more than 94 ICOs have launched in 2017, up from $102 million and 69 launches last year. ICO is a new way to raise capital, preserve your autonomy and finance your vision. In this post we will discuss in detail that how to launch an ICO.

Disclaimer: This blog is not any form of legal advice. This blog highlights what sort of industries can use ICO and leverage its benefits as well as what you should be your thought procedure when launching an ICO.

Cryptocurrency

To understand the concept of ICO, first of all you are required to understand cryptocurrency.

A cryptocurrency is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange using cryptography to secure the transactions, to control the creation of additional units and to verify the transfer of assets. Wikipedia

Bitcoin and Ethereum are the most popular forms of cryptocurrency and all the transactions are stored in a blockchain, an encrypted public ledger. Cryptocurrency works as an exchange for real money with the businesses that accept them.

So, you are planning to start an ICO? Congratulations! ICO is an exciting opportunity for a talented investment team with a cool idea to get funded. Your organization will get funds faster and so do your investors get opportunity to become involved in something at its inception. There are myriad ways to launch an ICO. Let me get you through the procedure of launching your own ICO.

Initial Coin Offering

ICO is completely different from raising funds through Venture capitals. In this fund-raising procedure, you are not giving any extra advantage of equity, but you are going to the public on the launch day. Once you are committed to the ICO, you will need to focus on offering token design, whitepaper, legal precautions against hackers and numbers of avenues of communication like social media, slack, press, interviews and etc.

Some of the most important questions to ask at this stage are;

How much capital you are actually planning to raise through an ICO?

What do you want to accomplish with the launch?

Are you interested in raising capital?

Do you plan to establish a potential network user who will be interested in using your product?

Whitepaper

The whitepaper is the single most significant piece of your ICO journey. This document will help you put the whole application together. It is described as how the token will be used within the system and how the system will work. Your whole team should work towards writing this document. Hire professional editors to edit the document; however, you should write it yourself.

Legal

You will be required a reputable law firm to guide you through the process of incorporating Blockchain/ Ethereum and running the whole process of the ICO. The most significant thing will be required to take care is whether your token is in a security or not. Will you be geographically limiting the offering? Will you be using a SAFT?

Unique ICO Strategy

When launching an ICO, there should be a clear strategy in place that helps you through the pre-ICO and ICO phase. Some of the important points to focus upon are:

You need to make sure that your ICO has at least sold 50% of your tokens

If your ICO is a Blockchain based, then you need to start with discounted SAFTs

You need to authorize whether you plan to set up a cap and if yes, then what would it be?

It is completely dependent on the amount you plan to raise.

Financial Policy

As a lot of investors would have capitalized in ICO, so you would be required to decide on how you are planning to freeze, spend, buy, discount and burn tokens. So, will you create all the tokens at once or would it be ongoing procedure? Additionally, what would be the procedure to maintain the tokens? If a huge number of tokens will remain in your treasury, it will panic to your users as the rest token would be released quickly into the market?

If large established investors have invested in your token, then there is a chance that they might offload quickly. So, it is advisable to device a lockup for them.

Discuss your project goals to the audience

You must ensure that your goals are precisely defined and realistic. Use the white paper to clearly outline 360 technical aspects of the product. As it will work as a proof of concept for your ICO. Presenting a working and a tested product to the audience is the best thing you could wish for when planning to launch an ICO. It is advisable to make the prototype and focus on the campaign to get the best investors.

Protect the investors’ interests

Early bird discounts for investors is must thing to offer. Another convention that has by now became a requirement is contribution in a multi-signature escrow wallet with the names of all key holders announced to the public. And some of those keys have to be held by people as it serves an additional guarantee for investors’ funds safety.

Significant factors to follow during the actual ICO

In the most cases ICO’s comes in the limited time that means, timing is too much significant. Your crowd sale campaign should be your PR. Getting enough attention is one of the hardest parts as the market is widely growing and every other day there is almost an ICO launch. So, ensure to constantly communicate with your audience both before and throughout the campaign.

The main channels of communication are social media are Twitter and Facebook and the forums — Bitcointalk and Reddit. Hire a digital agency whose only job is to monitor and participate in the dialogue with your audience on those websites and there’s nothing worse than having a well-prepared campaign.

Things you should avoid when launching an ICO

Breaking the law might lose the trust of your investors. Do not break the law is one of the most obvious things. When you are dealing with other people’s money, you must make sure that you aren’t breaking any laws, so it is strongly recommended to hire the services of an actual lawyer while preparing a campaign.

So, be genuine, always keep in touch with the contributors and update them on the progress of your project are some of the most significant steps you should follow for your crowdsale campaign.

Make sure to follow the listed above steps to turn your ICO idea into a success. Following the above advice will give you an overview of the various aspects involved. Launching an ICO is similar to obtain funding from investors. It is an immense opportunity to raise money within minutes and reserve majority ownership of your company.

If the procedure does not seem your cup of tea, then get in touch with our organization as have mastered in successfully launching 5 IPOs.

Industries that could use ICO to transform themselves

So many industries apart from Banking and Payments can benefit from the use of Blockchain and smart contracts. Here are a few industries that could launch their own ICO.

Music and Entertainment Rights and Intellectual Property Rights:

Business entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry are turning to blockchain using smart contracts to distribute the revenue on purchase of creative works to determine licensing parties. Ascribe.io, a product of BigchainDB is working in the same direction by offering a verifiable and trackable record of ownership between artists and their IP.

Samsung and IBM are using a unique concept called ADEPT that uses similar technology like a Blockchain. The blockchain serves as a distributed ledger for an astonishing number of devices that communicate through the blockchain instead of communicating through the central hub.

Uber, Ola and Lyfe, are currently working based on a centralized system that controls a network of drivers. Such applications work as a dispersal hub that establishes ride fares and control their fleet through an algorithm. Startups like Arcade City is facilitating all the riding transactions through a blockchain system. It will appeal all drivers to run an independent business instead to be controlled by a central authority.

The complete records of transactions available in the form of blockchain could act as an analysis, consulting, foundation for research and forecasting. It also provides a strong foundation for targeted prediction, insights and machine learning algorithms.

Elections demand for authentication of the voter’s identity to keep the record and collect the votes and to confirm the total number of votes. There arise some potential problems of foul play and voter fraud during the counting. If you capture votes as transactions in a blockchain, then it will provide you a trusted decentralized solution by verifying authenticity of voter’s identity, maintaining the distributed ledger of votes, and maintaining a verifiable audit trail that make sure that votes are not altered or removed in any way.

There are numbers of industries where the Blockchain and Smart Contracts can be used. If you have an idea to launch your own ICO and wondering what the best can be done, then you should undoubtedly get in touch with our expert at Bacancy Technology.

Epilogue

We, at Bacancy Technology can help you launch your own ICO successfully. We are early adopters of ICO Development Services and we have already helped various industries to launch their own ICO successfully.

At Bacancy Technology, we provide an all-inclusive infrastructure such as token creation, distribution, ICO platform hosting, landing page design and an extensive list of digital marketing services. Our team of skillful developers have in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in developing and maintaining various blockchain applications in Fintech, insurance, DMS, Gaming and ICO. We provide an all-inclusive development support for your ICO. From conceptual token design and ICO smart contracts to website deployment and maintenance of infrastructure for your ICO campaign.

If you are already convinced with what I am saying above, and planning to launch your own ICO, then Hire Blockchain Developers from us bring the revolutionary Blockchain technology into business or you can Hire Ethereum Developers from us to create a coin and launch an ICO through Ethereum. You should definitely try it out to find out why.

Originally published at www.bacancytechnology.com.