Startup news and updates: daily roundup (April 19, 2023)
YourStory presents the daily news roundup from the Indian startup ecosystem and beyond. Here's the roundup for Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
Winzo files lawsuit against Google
Indian online gaming platform has sued Google in the Delhi High Court. It has asked the search giant to stop showing ads of rival businesses on its Google App Campaign Ads.
Winzo claimed that Google was using its monopoly in the search engine market to promote competing products, including Rummy and Fantasy, which were recently added to the Google Play Store.
Winzo co-founder Saumya Singh Rathore said that when users searched for Winzo's trademark, they were being shown alternative competitive apps instead. Winzo had previously filed a lawsuit seeking to be included in Google Play Store as a game of skill.
Legal tech firm DISCO expands to India
AI-enabled legal technology firm has announced the opening of its new office in Gurugram, India, which will operate as CS Disco India PVT LTD.
This move would enable DISCO to enhance its services and provide round-the-clock professional support to customers worldwide.
Its India-based employees will join DISCO's global workforce of around 600 people, and the office will seek to promote diversity and inclusion, personal and professional growth, and innovation, in line with DISCO's existing values, as per a company statement.
Nazara founder Nitish Mittersain backs Knocksense
Founder and Managing Director Nitish Mittersain has invested in Knocksense, the hyperlocal content-driven commerce platform announced.
The company said it is currently in the process of raising $1 million in a Pre-Series A funding round, with backing from We Founders Circle, Lets Venture, Mumbai Angels Network, and Imperial Holdings.
Knocksense plans to expand to newer markets such as Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Bhubaneshwar, Agra, and Bhopal, and claims it has already gained over 25,000 paid subscribers and over 80 lakh monthly impressions across its existing four cities in India.
Nitish Mittersain, CEO and Joint MD, Nazara Technologies
Zypp Electric appoints new senior VP of tech
Electric, an Indian EV-as-a-service startup, has appointed Gajendra Arya as Senior Vice President of Technology.
The move is part of the company's ongoing efforts to strengthen its leadership and expand its EV-as-a-service tech ecosystem across the country, it said in a statement.
Arya brings over 10 years of experience in building startups, including time with CarDekho as Senior Associate Director and Escrowpay as CTO.
DLAI appoints new CEO, COO
The Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) has made changes to its leadership team to increase engagement with regulators and policymakers and promote responsible lending in the digital lending ecosystem.
It has appointed Jatinder Handoo as the CEO, while Priyashmita Guha will serve as the COO. Both appointments will take effect immediately.
Additionally, DLAI has added Alok Prasad, a senior banker and former CEO of MFIN, and Meena Hemchandra, a retired executive director of the RBI and current part-time Chairman of Karur Vysya Bank, as members of the DLAI Governance Council.
The council will be responsible for ensuring higher governance standards among DLAI members.
(The copy will be updated throughout the day with the latest news.)
