India Dealbook: Agri-tech startup FarmLink, hospitality firm FreshUp raise funds

Photo: Reuters

By Ishita Russell

November 8, 2017

While agritech startup FarmLink has raised $3 million, Chennai-based hospitality firm FreshUp has raised $1.5 million in seed funding.

FarmLink raises $3m led by Pioneering Ventures, Syngenta

Agritech startup FarmLink has raised Rs 20 crore ($3 million) in a funding round led by Pioneering Ventures and Swiss-based agrochemical firm Syngenta, said a report in The Economic Times.

This investment marks the first institutional round of funding by the Mumbai-based firm that controls end-to-end supply chain of fruits & vegetables.

Incubated by Pioneering Ventures in 2014, FarmLink, plans to use this latest funding  to expand its geographical reach in South India and the North as also strengthen its technology and analytics capabilities in the supply chain, said the news report.

At present, FarmLink has four distribution cum collection centres across Maharashtra, Telengana and Karnataka and procures supplies from over 700 farmers.

Hospitality firm FreshUp raises $1.5m seed funding

Chennai-based hospitality firm FreshUp has raised $1.5 million in seed funding from Singapore-based investor Lotus Global Investments Ltd, as per a report in The Economic Times.

“We are using the investment to expand into other geographies including Guruvayur, Bengaluru, Chennai, Sabarimala. The ecosystem does not offer much for travellers just seeking to freshen up for a couple of hours and our offering at room rates starting from Rs 249, according to the number of hours used has helped us rake in investments,” said Vinil Reddy, CEO, FreshUp.

FreshUp offers pay per use accommodation in pilgrimage cities and near airports for travellers looking for short-term stays. It currently has properties at Hyderabas and Tirupathi, and plans to expand its presence in South India.

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Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW