Grofers Raises $120m; Valuation Jumps Threefold In Less Than A Year

Grofers has wrapped up a $120 million (Rs.800 crore) funding led by Japan’s SoftBank, thus taking the ecommerce stores to a valuation of $400 million. Other investors included Apoletto Asia, the personal investment vehicle of DST Global’s partners, Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, along with existing backers Tiger Global Management and Sequoia Capital India, according to Grofers CEO Albinder Dhindsa.

Snapdeal Launches Its Image Search Tool, SnapSearch

If Flipkart does it, can Snapdeal be far behind? After Flipkart had launched its image search tool this July, Snapdeal has also come out with its own version. Called SnapSearch, the tool will allow desktop users to upload pictures of clothes they fancy, and will show up suggestions of similar products available on Snapdeal.

Travel Food Services Looks To Raise Rs.150 crore For Expansion Plans

Travel Food Services, a subsidiary of Mumbai based K Hospitality, has big plans for the coming year, looking at raising investments of Rs.150 crores for its hospitality food service and travel retail businesses. The company manages brands such as Smoke House Bar & Cafe, KFC, Domino’s, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Cafe Coffee Day and Haagen-Dazs at the country’s airports

TN Industry Stalwarts To Help Government Kick Start Startups

A team of entrepreneurs which include founders of companies like Cognizant’s Lakshmi Narayanan and Arun Jain of Polaris are in talks with the Tamil Nadu state authorities to conceive a plan that will help startups reduce registration time. This initiative is in alignment with the Centre’s plan to help startups speed their registration and other processes enabling them to go-to-market sooner.