Startup news and updates: daily roundup (Sep 2, 2021)

Paytm to create new subsidiary for payment aggregator business

Digital payments and financial company Paytm is looking to hive off its payment aggregator business into a new subsidiary Paytm Payments Services Limited, according to a notice sent to shareholders for approval. The company is seeking approval of the same from its shareholders through an extraordinary general meeting on September 23.

Fintech startup PhonePe unveils data repository of Indian digital payments trends

Fintech giant PhonePe on Thursday launched an interactive data website called PhonePe Pulse, which captures trends and insights in the Indian digital payments ecosystem at large, and presents it in a way that is easy to understand.

Amazon unveils plans to hire 55,000 people in corporate, tech, and other roles

Amazon is going on another hiring spree. The company on Wednesday said it plans to hire 55,000 people around the world, with about 40,000 of those roles in the US. The positions range from tech jobs and corporate roles to warehouse work packing and shipping orders for the online shopping giant.

Google Pay users can get FD benefits of Equitas SFB without bank account

Google Pay users can take the benefits of fixed deposit rates offered by Equitas Small Finance Bank by booking FDs on the payments platform without opening a bank account. The bank said it has been offering this initiative by connecting APIs built by fintech infrastructure provider Setu for Equitas Bank.

Invest-tech platform dezerv. raises $7M co-led by Elevation Capital and Matrix Partners India (Funding)

Mumbai-based dezerv., a new-age, expert investing platform, has raised $7 million in a seed funding round co-led by Elevation Capital and Matrix Partners India, with participation from investors such as Whiteboard Capital and Blume Founders Fund. 

AppsForBharat raises $10M in Series A round led by Elevation Capital (Funding)

Bengaluru-based AppsForBharat, a product studio focused on building apps for spiritual and devotional needs of Indian users, has raised $10 million in a Series A round led by Elevation Capital with participation from existing investors Sequoia Capital India, BEENEXT and Matrix Partners India.

The startup will use the funding for creating content IPs, building the product, and hiring talent across the product, data, and engineering verticals.

Experiential learning startup Habbit raises $320K in pre-seed round (Funding)

Habbit, an interactive online learning platform for new-age digital skills and hobbies, has raised $320,000 in pre-seed round led by Ashok Goyal, ex-Supervisory Board Member, Sanjeev Goenka Group; ex-Managing Director, Philips Carbon Black; and ex-President of KEC International, with participation from a clutch of well-known angel investors.

The startup will use the funding towards growing its community of users, onboarding new mentors, and to further develop the product.