Categories
Business motivation

Success Story: How this Indian Discount Brokerage Firm Joined the Elite Unicorn Club 2020

Trading and investments are the two terms that appeal to everyone. However, due to insufficient knowledge, brokerage charges, hefty commissions, and a reluctance to take the market risks are a few reasons why people refrain from testing the rivers.

When the world was facing the biggest global financial crisis during 2008 and 2010, the stockbroking companies experienced a downfall. While this challenge was faced by almost every broker in India, Bangalore-based discount broking firm, Zerodha was born during the same year.

Founded by the brothers Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath, Zerodha is India`s first discount brokerage firm. This decade-old bootstrapped startup emerged as one of the unicorns in India in 2020.

Considered one of the most valued online stock trading solutions in the Indian fintech ecosystem, Zerodha`s journey started with a team of five people. Today, it has more than 1,300 employees.

What makes Zerodha different from other full-service brokerage firms?

Zerodha is a discount brokerage firm that does not offer research services such as buy and sell recommendations to its client. This helps them save the cost of having a research team. Hence, it passes on the profit it makes by saving funds.

“In today’s day and age, it’s no more about the big beating the small – it’s about the fast beating the slow,” Nithin says.

“The foundation of any financial services business is built out of creditability and trust. The process was time taking and it took around eight years for the company to reach where it is today. In our first year, we opened 3,000 accounts and when the cost of the product is less, people tend to be suspicious about the quality”, Nithin said.

“Luckily, we have managed to build a community around us that strives on trust, and that eventually helped us in the long run. Even today, we don`t spend money on the advertising”, Nithin, CEO & co-founder of Zerodha added.

Earlier in June 2020, the company announced an ESOP buyback plan at around 5X the booking value, thereby putting its valuation at $1 billion. According to Harun List, shared in August 2020, Zerodha was evaluated at $3 billion.

In FY19, Zerodha recorded a net profit of Rs.350 crore on a revenue of Rs.850 crore. Over the past five years, the total client base was increased by nearly 40X to 2.8 million. Even during the pandemic, it has witnessed its average monthly user addition to be increased by double.

 

Zerodha has also launched an incubator fund Rainmatter in April 2019. The fund was created to invest in early-stage startups. The fund has invested in more than 14 startups.

Zerodha has four registered entities: Zerodha securities, Zerodha Commodities, Zerodha Broking, and Zerodha Capital.

“If you try to be the best, you will be number One, but if you try to be unique, you will be the only One”. With a firm belief in this statement, the founder-siblings are aiming to add 5-10 million new Indian investors in 2021.

For more inspiring stories that showcase the innovative thinking and creative approach of young Indian entrepreneurs, stay updated with our latest blog posts.

You can also learn the current business trends, challenges entrepreneurs encounter and solutions that can help any business grow by visiting https://www.badabusiness.com/psc?ref_code=ArticlesLeads

Categories
Finance

Kerala Becomes the 8th State in India To Complete Ease of Doing Business Reforms, Becomes Eligible for Additional Borrowing Limit of Rs 2,261 Cr

Kerala has become the 8th State in India to successfully undertake ‘Ease of Doing Business’ reform stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. The ease of doing business is an important indicator of the investment friendly business climate in the country. Improvements in the ease of doing business will enable faster future growth of the state economy. Therefore, the government of India had in May 2020, decided to link grant of additional borrowing permissions to States who undertake the reforms to facilitate ease of doing business. Kerala has become eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of Rs 2,261 crore through Open Market Borrowings.

An official release by the government stated that the permission for the same was issued to Kerala by the Department of Expenditure on January 12, 2021. Kerala has now joined the seven other States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, who have completed this reform. On completion of reforms facilitating ease of doing business, these eight States have been granted additional borrowing permission of Rs 23,149 crore.

State wise amount of the additional borrowing permitted is as under:

Sr. No. State Amount (Rs in crore)
1. Andhra Pradesh 2,525
2. Karnataka 4,509
3. Kerala 2,261
4. Madhya Pradesh 2,373
5. Odisha 1,429
6. Rajasthan 2,731
7. Tamil Nadu 4,813
8. Telangana 2,508

 

The reforms stipulated in this category are:

(i)      Completion of first assessment of ‘District Level Business Reform Action Plan’

(ii)     Elimination of the requirements of renewal of registration certificates/approvals/licences obtained by businesses under various Acts.

(iii)    Implementation of computerized central random inspection system under the Acts wherein allocation of inspectors is done centrally, the same inspector is not assigned to the same unit in subsequent years, prior inspection notice is provided to the business owner, and inspection report is uploaded within 48 hours of inspection.

Categories
Startup

Agriculture Business: 5 Budget Friendly Businesses You Can Start in Agriculture Sector

One of the most important and reliable source of income of millions of people in India is agriculture. Various families have been involved in agriculture and related activities from generations. The business of agriculture and farming has evolved from being a source of subsistence to one of the biggest commercial activities in the country. Apart from providing employment and income to people who are directly involved in it, agriculture also ensure employment generation through various allied activities such as transportation, warehousing, construction among others. Home Business Ideas: 4 Brilliant Work From Home Ideas That You Should Consider Taking Up.

Today agriculture is not merely restricted to harvesting and sowing of crops, rather the sector has diversified and incorporated various other activities. Here are five profitable business ideas related to the field of agriculture –

Ornamental Flower Business

One of the most profitable and low cost businesses in agricultural sector is of growing and selling ornamental flowers. They are used as decorations in almost every celebration and have a strong demand all over the year. From birth anniversaries, marriages to get-togethers, flowers are used as decorations in personal and professional celebrations. Apart from celebrations, ornamental flowers are used for gifting purposes as well. Start-up this business would cost merely Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000.

Nursery Business

Another business stemming out from agriculture is starting a nursery and selling plants. As more and more people are growing eco-friendly and environment conscious, they are buying plants and sapling for their homes and offices, thereby providing a good business to the nurseries. A fair knowledge about the various species of plants and their growth requirements is, however needed to start and sustain the nursery business. COVID-19 Impact: 5 Tips to Help Your Businesses Recover from Coronavirus Pandemic.

Organic Fertilisers

As people are becoming more environmentally conscious they are moving away from chemical and synthetic fertilisers towards organic and natural ones. Starting an organic fertiliser business is also very profitable and simultaneously contributes towards the conservation of the precious natural resources. Farmers are increasingly taking up organic farming, government is also encouraging traditional and eco-friendly methods of agriculture therefore producing and selling organic fertilisers is a sure shoot success venture.

Organic Vegetables/Fruit Supplier

An offshoot of organic farming, organic vegetables and fruits are in huge demand all over the country. People are drifting away from processed and packaged foods and looking forward to consuming more natural and organic vegetables and fruits. The demand for organic food products have surged over the last few months. Various restaurants and hotels also look out to but fresh and organic vegetables.

Online Grocery Store

Though not directly related to agricultural practices, but a grocery store does use the finished products from framing as its goods. People now prefer to buy anything online and avoid going out. Opening a local grocery e-store and providing fresh vegetables and fruits to people will prove to be a profitable venture. All one has to do is make an app, contact some local vegetable, fruits vendors and establish a delivery network.

Agriculture and allied activities still employ more than half of the population in the country. Starting a venture in this sector is mostly budget friendly and ensure profits to the entrepreneur. These are all season business and ensure steady and regular stream of business.

Categories
Technology

Flipkart and Niti Aayog Collaborate To Enhance Women Entrepreneurship Platform To Help Women Entrepreneurs in India; All You Need To Know About the WEP

New Delhi, January 12: With an aim to enhance community experience for women entrepreneurs in India, e-commerce marketplace Flipkart and NITI Aayog have joined hands to launch the revamped Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP). The WEP is a unified access portal which brings together women from parts of India to realise their entrepreneurial aspirations. Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Chief Executive Officer of the Flipkart Group, said MSMEs and start-ups have enabled the industry to better understand their challenges and needs.

The vision of the two partners- Flipkart and NITI Aayog is to make ‘Community’ a very interactive, rewarding and intuitive question and answer platform leveraging WEP resources. Through this, the entrepreneurs can utilise it for fruitful discussions and for sharing knowledge, ultimately benefiting the women entrepreneurs’ ecosystem in India.

Women entrepreneurs face unique obstacles, right from a lack of networking opportunities and mentors to the challenge of balancing work and family. When women come together or form communities, they are better equipped to tackle challenges that come their way, and shared experiences from mentors and professionals can further help them to take their passion and entrepreneurial ambition to new heights.

The idea of the platform was first mooted by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant who announced the setting-up of a Women Entrepreneurship Platform at 8th Global Entrepreneurship Summit held in Hyderabad during 2017, with an overarching theme of ‘Women First, Prosperity for All.’

Here’s all you need to know about Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP):

  1. The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) is a first of its kind, unified access portal.
  2. It aims to bring together women from different parts of India to realize their entrepreneurial aspirations.
  3. The revamped version will also include an additional feature to offer mentorship to the women mentees with specific knowledge concerning a problem area through a dedicated online mechanism facilitated under FICCI-FLO’s empowering the Greater 50% mission, it added.
  4. The ‘Community’ on the WEP platform aims to connect women entrepreneurs seeking clarifications on aspects of setting up new businesses with those who have experience in setting up businesses and hence can contribute by solving queries.
  5. These include queries like registering businesses, GST, funding, effects of the pandemic, progressing already established businesses.

Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant hopes that the WEP will become a digital place for entrepreneurs to not only seek information and support, but also help each other out. He said the WEP will serve as a forum for people’s voices to be heard – helping inform policies and programs to better suit the needs and requirements of people.

Meanwhile, Krishnamurthy said as a homegrown company, the constant and intense engagement with local Indian businesses, MSMEs and start-ups has enabled us to better understand their challenges and needs, adding that the WEP plays a critical role in uplifting and empowering women-led businesses in their growth ambition.

Categories
Startup

Kerala Government’s NORKA-Pravasi Start-Up Scheme Helped 4,179 Expatriates to Establish Business in the State

The Non-Resident Keralite Affairs (NORKA)-led Pravasi Start-Up Scheme launched by the state government in Kerala has proven to be a boon to the start-up ecosystem in the state. The scheme has been able to create 4,179 expatriate entrepreneurs over the last five years. It was introduced with the aim to rehabilitate expatriates in Kerala who can contribute to the economic development of the state according to their professional skills. Prarambha: Everything you must know about the Startup India International Summit!

Over the last five years, the Kerala government has sanctioned Rs 220.37 Crore for the start-up projects initiated by citizens in Kerala, who have returned to the state after spending a lot time abroad. During the last financial year 2019-20, 1,043 entrepreneurs were sanctioned Rs 53.40 Crore under this scheme. “Since the LDF government came to power, this government has distributed 45.21 Crore as subsidy to 2,895 entrepreneurs till November 2020,” said NORKA Chairman and senior leader of CPM, K Varadarajan during a media briefing.Tech Startups in India Report Nearly 10% Growth in 2020 Despite COVID-19 Pandemic, Over 1,600 Tech Startups Added in a Year: Nasscom.

Under the Non-Resident Keralite Affairs (NORKA)-led Pravasi Start-Up Scheme, loans up to Rs 30 Lakh with a capital subsidy of 15 per cent (Subject to a maximum of Rs 3 Lakh), are available for start-ups by expatriates who have returned to the state after working for a minimum 2 years in a foreign country. It also offers a 3 per cent interest rebate for the first four years for those who pay the interest on time. Kerala Bank, Canara Bank and the Travancore Pravasi Development Cooperative Society are some of the financial institutions which provide loans to under the provisions of the scheme.

It was started as a joint venture between NORKA and the Kerala Startup Mission to create self-employment opportunities for Pravasis who return to the state from foreign countries and who are looking forward to start their own business. Under the scheme, NORKA undertakes field camps for easier distribution loans and increased reach. It also aims to provide loans in a single day. Seven camps were conducted during 2019-2020 and around 500 expatriates benefited from these camps.

Categories
Startup

Prarambha: Everything you must know about the Startup India International Summit!

New Year brings new opportunities as the Department of Industry & Internal Trade  (DPIIT) is set to host “Prarambh”- the Startup India International Summit on the 15th & 16th of January 2021 in a virtual format.

The summit, which is likely to be addressed by the Hon`ble Prime Minister of India will also mark the 5th Anniversary of “Startup India’ which was launched on 16th, January 2021.

This startup India program has not only brought the entire concept under the limelight but also accelerated the entire Indian startup ecosystem to expand. It has also motivated Indian entrepreneurs to build innovative solutions for domestic and international needs.

The significance of the startup India international summit 2021- Prarambh is such that even the Prime Minister of India has urged the youngsters to join the summit. In his latest post shared on the social networking site LinkedIn, he emphasized the work-from-home culture that has become the new normal during the lockdown, courtesy to COVID 19 global pandemic.

“With most of the events held virtually, it has given a golden chance to all the youngsters to be a part of many interesting domestic as well as global forums. Prarambha is also one such opportunity that is coming up on 15-16 January. I urge our youth to be a part of it”, he further added.

The summit aims to bring together the sharpest minds from distinct industries, investment, academia, finance, and banking along with young start-up leaders on a common platform. Its main goal is to inspire the youth and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.

As the event will be held online, anyone can join the event without having to travel anywhere.

The spirit of India`s youth is unmatched. The curiosity to come up with innovative ideas has led to outstanding results. Our start-up heroes not only coming from big cities but also hail from smaller cities, which is a good sign, he added.

Here is how to register for the startup India international summit 2021:

  • Interested youngsters can visit the official site https://www.theprarambh.in to register for the event.
  • Fill in the required details (name, address, e-mail id, sector, city, state, country).
  • Submit the details and click on ‘Register Now’.

To get more details about panelists, speakers, partners & agenda associated with Startup India International Summit, check the official website: www.theprarambh.in

Join Everything about Entrepreneurship Course and arm your start-up idea with the right tools and see the possibilities grow. Visit https://www.badabusiness.com/?ref_code=ArticlesLeads

Categories
Startup

How this Gaming Startup Raised $10 Million funding from WestCap Group

Backed by Matrix Partners India, skills-based online gaming platform Zupee has raised $10 million funding in a second-round which was led by WestCap Group, a US-based growth equity firm. The existing investment partner Matrix Partners India also took part in it.
With this second round of funding by existing investors, Zupee has managed to raise a total of $19 million, as the firm had received funding of $8 million in April 2020. The firm that runs live quiz tournaments on its app where the users can win cash prizes has other investors like Smile Group, Venture Partners, Orios, and Falcon Edge Capital among its investors.

Founded in 2018, by IIT Kanpur graduates, Siddhant Saurabh and Dilsher Singh Malhi, Zupee offers more than 2,000 live quiz-tournaments on a diverse range of topics that includes sports, movies, mathematics, spellings, and general interest topics on their smartphones.

Following the latest round of funding, Zupee plans to use the funds to expand its market reach, scale its platform, build a stronger team, and provide an improved user experience. The company is also planning to launch its product in several other languages in the future.
“We have driven an exponential month-on-month growth this year. This fresh round of funding enables us to accelerate our scaling efforts,” said CEO and co-founder Dilsher Singh Malhi.

“The year of 2020 witnessed the rise of online gaming truly in India at a great momentum, and Zupee’s accelerated growth is a clear testament to the growing trend,” Tarun Davda, managing director at Matrix India, said.

Despite an uncertain regulatory landscape in India, the skill-based gaming segment has attracted a lot of funding in India. In the past couple of years, online gaming platforms like Mobile Premier League, Dream11, and Winzo gained popularity. While MPL raised $90 million led by SIG, Dream11`s valuation was raised to $2.5 billion after receiving funds from Tiger Global, Chrys Capital, FootPath Ventures, and TPG Tech Adjacencies in 2020.

Do you also have a unique idea to come up with your start-up? Then here’s how you can learn everything you need to know and achieve success in your entrepreneurial journey.
Join Everything about Entrepreneurship Course and arm your start-up idea with the right tools and see the possibilities grow. Visit https://www.badabusiness.com/?ref_code=ArticlesLeads

Categories
Business motivation Startup Strategy Technology

PM Narendra Modi Urges Youngsters To Join ‘Prarambh’, the Startup India International Summit on January 15-16; Here’s How To Register Online

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon youngsters of India to attend ‘Prarambh’, the Startup India international summit on January 15 and 16. The Prime Minister asserted that the summit seeks to bring together top minds from industry, academia, investment, banking and finance besides young start up leaders. Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister shared his LinkedIn post in which he noted that virtual interactions have become the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic and said a big advantage of this is that people can be a part of programmes sitting at home. “With most events being held virtually, it has given a great opportunity for youngsters to be a part of many interesting domestic & global forums. One such opportunity is coming up in the form of Prarambh on 15-16 Jan. I urge our youth to be a part of it,” Modi tweeted on Monday.

Referring to the ‘Prarambh’ summit, the prime minister said India would also be marking five years since the Startup India initiative began. He said that this initiative has propelled India to being among the most attractive start-up eco-systems globally. Lauding the capabilities of the youths in India, the Prime Minister said that no words can do justice to the spirit of India’s youth. “Their penchant for innovation has led to outstanding results. Our start-up heroes are not merely coming from big cities but also from smaller towns. This is a good sign,” he added

Talking about the work from home opportunities, the Prime Minister noted and said work from home is in, so is greater adapting to technology. “For me, it meant more programmes online, which were extremely productive and insightful. There were interactions with scientists, medical professionals, COVID warriors, academics, industry leaders, young innovators, spiritual leaders and more,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister added that there were virtual summits, both bilaterals and multilaterals with world leaders, he noted, adding that “path-breaking” development schemes were launched through public events organised digitally.

About Prarambh:

‘Prarambh’ – Startup India International Summit – on 15 and 16 January 2021 in a virtual format. It will be organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. ‘Prarambh’ means ‘an auspicious beginning’. As a verb, it implies ‘to start’.

The idea is to attain attention of global capital for startups in India, mobilize domestic capital, provide opportunities for accessing international markets to our startups and evolve enabling policy provisions.  The first day of the Summit has been devoted to host dignitaries and stakeholders from BIMSTEC member States. The day will witness participation of renowned stakeholders from startup communities of BIMSTEC member states engaging in multilateral discussions and showcasing best of their innovations.

Here’s How You Can Register for the Prarambh Summit:

  1. Youngsters can registered themselves on the official site i.e. https://www.theprarambh.in
  2. Click on ‘Register Now’ at the top of the page and fill in all the details that have been asked.
  3. Enter details like your name, address, email-id, sector, select country and state, city and category and then click on ‘Submit’.
  4. Youngsters can check the official website as it has all the details of the 2-day Start-up India International Summit.

The main objectives of the Prarambh Summit are given below:

  • Encouraging and inspiring the youth for innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Exchange knowledge on best practices on nurturing startup ecosystems
  • Develop capacities of entrepreneurial ecosystem
  • Mobilize global and domestic capital for investments into startups
  • Provide opportunities to startups for entering domestic (private and public) and international markets
  • Showcasing high-quality, high technology and frugal innovations from India
  • Enable ease of doing business for startups and investors.

The who’s who of the Indian as well as global Startup ecosystem are making a beeline for this event. Please mark this date for a marathon of in-depth knowledge sessions and exchange of global ideas! Prarambh is expected to bring together top policy makers, industry, academia, investors, startups and all stakeholders from across the globe. In addition to deliberating on good practices from best of the ecosystems across the world, the sessions of the Summit are designed to showcase the spread and depth of entrepreneurship based on innovation in India.

Categories
Business motivation

A Success Story of Indian Startup that Braved the Pandemic to enter the Elite Unicorn Club!

In 2020, when the global pandemic of COVID gave birth to revenue crunch and economic slowdown due to the resultant lockdown, some Indian Startups acquired the status of Unicorns.

11 Indian startups in 2020 managed to brave the storm and raise funding to gain a valuation of more than $1 Billion to enter the elite Unicorn club. Today, in our Unicorns 2020 series, we are going to talk about ‘FirstCry’.

The successful startup FirstCry achieved its unicorn status after a decade since its inception. This Indian startup achieved its status in2020 by acquiring a funding deal of $400 million from SoftBank and raising its valuation to $1.2 billion in February, last year.

Founded by Supam Maheshwari and Amitava Saha in 2010, this Pune-based startup is an online and offline platform that offers a wide range of products for babies, kids, and moms. Supam Maheshwari, an IIM Ahmedabad pass out did engineering from Delhi College of Engineering began his entrepreneurship journey, early in his career.
His first company was an e-learning company called Brainvisa Technology. However, Brainvisa was acquired by Indecomm Global for $25 million in 2007.

Now a successful startup, Initially, FirstCry was full of struggle! Supam was facing challenges on an individual level, as he was about to become a father. His occupation at that time required him to travel abroad, frequently.

Many times, he would carry stuff for his new-born baby girl as the products available in the foreign country was more trust-worthy. Some of the products that he brought from abroad, did not exist in the local Indian market.

Hence, The idea of FirstCry was conceived with a desire to resolve the problems of millions of Indian parents who struggle to find the best product for their babies and kids.

Today, FirstCry has emerged as an undisputed leader in the omnichannel baby and mother care products segment. The brand offers more than two lakh baby and kid`s products across 2,000 brands. It has more than 300 stores, spread across 125 cities.

While the first tranche of $300 million has already been received by the company, the remaining Rs 703 crore ($100 million) has been reserved by SoftBank and is expected to be released on the second anniversary of the transaction in January 2021.

‘When failures hit you, you hit the failures back with Bounce Back’. FirstCry is the best example of how an Indian startup can succeed with a clear goal and a concrete business plan. For more such inspiring stories, visit www.badabusiness.com .

To know what it takes to establish a successful business, join our Everything about Entrepreneurship course. To know more, click here: https://www.badabusiness.com/?ref_code=ArticlesLeads !

Categories
HR & People Management

3 Facts about ESOPs everyone should Know!

ESOPs, the Employee Stock Ownership Plans is the current term that has created a lot of buzz in the business world. ESOPs is the term that offers employees a chance to have ownership in the firm. It recognizes the best performing employees and rewards them with an equity stake or cash based on an equity stake.

The definition of ESOP was originally introduced in the Companies Act, 1956, which underwent a complete change in the Companies Act, 2013.

An Employee Stock Ownership Plans aids to retain high-performing employees and provides cost-effective company benefits. There are two types of ESOPs- selective plans and all-employee plans. While the selective plan is only for the senior executives, all employee plans provide the same facility to all employees of the company.
However, various myths and facts are revolving around ESOPs that need to be addressed. Here are 3 facts every employer and employee must know about ESOPs:

1. ESOPs are for everyone

ESOPs are for every organization that is generating profit to support the annual costs of maintaining the ESOP. The profitability of the company is more important than a company`s size. In a profitable ESOP organization, the tax savings alone can be enough to offset the annual costs.

2. Company`s Operations Remain Unaffected

Many company owners feel that after establishing an ESOP, they will have to consult their employees on regular basis regarding the company`s operations. However, the matter of fact is that the management remains in control of the company. Even when the ESOP owns a majority, there is no loss of control of the company.

3. No detailed financial information is to be disclosed

An ESOP is a qualified retirement plan. Hence, the participants must be provided with the annual statement demonstrating the number of shares and the value for their benefits. No other financial disclosures are required by the organization to its employees who are a share-holder.
The companies offer ESOPs to attract more qualified employees. They do it in a phased manner and provide stocks at the end of the financial year to reward their impressive performance.
Many companies startups and companies that can`t provide high packages, offer ESOPs to their employees. We hope we have shed some light on the current trending term- ESOPs. For more information, visit www.badabusiness.com

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