Startups Tap into Lucrative Gov't Contracts
Startups with dual-use applications are increasingly targeting the government as a lucrative customer, with the Department of Defense being a prime target.
Max Carter
Indian quick-commerce startup Zepto has raised $350 million in its third round of funding in six months, maintaining its $5 billion valuation. The funding round, which is the largest fully-domestic primary round in India, was led by Indian family offices, wealthy individuals, and asset manager Motilal Oswal.
The investment comes as Zepto prepares for a planned initial public offering (IPO) next year. The startup has now raised over $1.35 billion since June, with foreign ownership currently exceeding two-thirds. The funding push is aimed at adding more Indian investors to its cap table.
The quick-commerce market in India is expected to surpass $6 billion this year and reach $42 billion by 2030, according to Morgan Stanley. Zepto, which serves over 7 million orders daily in 17 cities, is on track to record annualized sales of $2 billion and projects 150% growth over the next 12 months. However, the rapid growth of quick-commerce has raised concerns about its impact on traditional retail stores, with over 200,000 neighborhood stores closing in the past year.
Startups with dual-use applications are increasingly targeting the government as a lucrative customer, with the Department of Defense being a prime target.
New research from Stanford University claims 10% of software developers do 'virtually nothing' and collect high salaries, but experts argue the methodology is flawed and misleading.
Skylight, a new short-form video app, launches publicly after 10 weeks of development, offering an open alternative to TikTok built on the AT Protocol and backed by Mark Cuban and others.
Copyright © 2024 Starfolk. All rights reserved.