The EDGE Express | October Edition
Ideas, Allies, and You
October 2023 | Vol 01, #03
Hello people!
Apologies for the delayed update on the Newsletter, but better late than never, right?
To make it up to you, we’ve got some exciting tales and tool combo this time!
Founders’ Forum: A founder’s story from Bharat
EDGE Exclusive: Introducing the new player in the Ride-hailing Race
Entrepreneur’s EDGE: Discover the tool to design, prototype & collaborate
Startup Savvy: Stay in the know of the latest startup news
For those unfamiliar with EDGE, here is a brief introduction!
EDGE is an idea-market validation program where early-stage founders can experiment and validate their ideas based on genuine customer and market needs.
So, if you are in a dilemma about your startup idea, let’s get in touch!
Founders Forum: From Brainstorms to Breakthroughs
A significant portion of India’s unicorn (valuation at/over $ 1 Billion), gazelle (valuation at/ over $500 Million), and minicorn (valuation at/over $1 Million) startups are a contribution of urban areas, primarily Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Dehli.
They account for 83% of the unicorns, 78% of the gazelles, and 74% of the minicorns produced in India!
These statistics raise questions about tapping the potential talent and opportunities available in rural and semi-urban India, approximately 69% of the country’s demographic.
However, Sameer Pitale, founder of Rowido, is one of those contrarians who defied the odds and earned the rare achievement of being one of the 80 founders chosen in the Stanford SEED Spark Program - a prestigious program that selects a handful of founders from across the globe!
Click this link to learn more about Sameer Pitale’s inspiring journey as a founder!
EDGE Exclusive!
NammaYatri vs Uber & Ola
Ride-hailing in India has long been dominated by the duopoly of Uber and Ola.
But Namma Yatri has quickly gained significant traction and carved a niche for itself in the fiercely competitive sector.
And the results are staggering!
With more than 21 Lakh users, 99K registered drivers, and 1.2 Crore completed trips, the value generated for the drivers is more than 184 Crores!
But there’s always a catch!
Click this link to learn more about this and five reasons why we think NammaYatri has disrupted the auto-hailing industry!
Quick Announcement!
Deshpande Startups has collaborated with FiiRE Goa to bring you the first-ever theme-based cohort!
So, if your idea belongs to travel & tourism, electric vehicles, sustainability, or waste management sectors, YOU belong here!
Hurry! Limited seats are available!
Entrepreneur's EDGE
Tool of the Month: Figma
Online presence is crucial in reaching a wider audience and is a critical factor in the growth of your business. If you're looking to cut costs, design your own application, or develop product design, Figma is a great start for more reasons than just being easy on the pocket!
Anywhere Access
Figma is a cloud-based platform, so you don’t have to worry about syncing files or being tethered to a specific device. Connect to the Internet, and you’re good to go!
Real-time Collaboration
You get to collaborate with multiple teammates in real time.
Effortless Prototyping
Create interactive prototypes to test the user flows, receive feedback, and refine your product to be more user-centric.
Figma Community
Speed up the design process by accessing the vast library of free design assets, templates, and UI kits available through the community.
Plugins and Integrations
Integrate with other essential tools like Slack and Jira, and customize your workflow.
Watch your design and development processes become more efficient and effective!
Startup Savvy
Global Equity Markets Jittery as Israel-Hamas Conflict Escalates. Time to be cautious: Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.
Zepto raises $200 Million in fresh funding, becoming India's First Unicorn of 2023.
Despite global fatigue in gaming, UAE is set to reach $6.8 Billion by 2030, says Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy Gaming Group
India Climbs to Fourth Place in Global Fintech Funding, Sees 68% Surge in Q3 Investments
Dunzo’s valuation slashed to $200 Million, with five board members exiting in 2 months.
Give Back to the Community
We are always looking for people who take the initiative to extend their knowledge and make a difference!
Fill out the form below, and we will get back to you.
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Penny for your thoughts
Dear readers, we want our Newsletter packed with content that interests YOU! And so, we are reaching out for your feedback!
Don't be shy! We are all ears!
If we missed out on any way you could contribute, feel free to comment below or drop a mail!
Cheers!