Mastercard, boAt enable tap and pay⌚
Mastercard, boAt enable tap and pay⌚
Unicommerce profits grew 22%, PayU eyes consumer payments, RBI’s Unified Lending Interface, Funding Deals and more.
Good morning and welcome to Monday’s edition of Rise & Shine!
"If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful after all."
— Michelangelo
Today, Michelangelo’s reflection on the hard work behind his artistic mastery provides a sobering reminder of the dedication required to achieve greatness.
They remind us that behind every "overnight success" is usually a long journey filled with dedication, hard work, and countless hours of practice.
Tech Updates
Mastercard, boAt enable tap and pay on wearables
Mastercard has teamed up with wearable brand boAt to bring tap-and-pay functionality to its smartwatches. Mastercard cardholders using boAt’s payment-enabled smartwatches will be able to use Crest Pay, boAt’s official app, to make seamless payments directly from their devices, according to a press release from Mastercard.
Unicommerce profits grew 22% in Q1 FY25
Unicommerce, the e-commerce SaaS platform, has announced its results for the first quarter of the ongoing fiscal year. The Gurugram-based company saw a 3% increase in revenue and 22% increase in profit in the first quarter of the ongoing fiscal year as compared to Q1 FY24. Unicommerce’s revenue from operations increased to Rs 27.4 crore in Q1 FY25, from Rs 26.5 crore in Q4 FY24.
PayU eyes full-stack consumer payments through its LazyPay
Digital payments company PayU is looking to expand its consumer fintech offerings through LazyPay, while maintaining its core focus on merchant payments. The Naspers-owned fintech firm plans to leverage LazyPay to develop a consumer payments and credit platform.
All you need to know about RBI’s Unified Lending Interface
Unified Lending Interface (ULI), the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) technology platform to enable frictionless credit, will be launched nationwide soon. Currently in pilot mode, ULI cuts down the time taken for credit appraisal, especially for smaller and rural borrowers.
Funding Deals
Global investment platform Verlinvest has led a $35 million round in specialty coffee and bakery brand Blue Tokai. Existing investors Anicut Capital and A91 Partners also joined the Series C funding.
AGRIM, a B2B platform for agri-inputs, has secured $17.3 million in its Series B funding round led by Asia Impact, with participation from existing investors such as Kalaari, India Quotient, Omnivore, and Accion Venture Lab.
Energy storage solutions startup Clean Electric has raised Rs 48.5 crore (approximately $6 million) from existing and new investors. Info Edge and Pi Ventures co-led the Series A with Rs 14.16 crore each while existing backer Kalaari Capital has pumped in Rs 14 crore. Angel investors Panjak Chaddah, Amit Kumar, Rama Advisors, and Lok Capital cumulatively have put in Rs 6.18 crore.
Direct-to-consumer retail brand Nutrabay has secured $5 million in Series A funding round led by RPSG Capital Ventures along with participation from Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Limited.
💃🏻 Short Story: The Dancer’s Dedication
Lila, a professional ballet dancer, was often praised for her effortless performances. To her audience, her movements seemed to defy gravity, a natural talent that left spectators in awe.
However, what they didn’t see were the years of rigorous training, the early mornings, the late nights, the injuries, and the relentless practice that shaped her into the performer she was.
Inspired by Michelangelo’s quote, Lila began sharing her journey through a blog, detailing the sacrifices and the hard work required to master ballet. Her stories resonated with many, offering a more realistic picture of the demands of her art form.
This not only enhanced her audience’s appreciation of her performances but also inspired young dancers to persist in their training with a clearer understanding of the path to excellence.
Tweet of the day🐥
As you start your week, consider the areas in your life where you strive for excellence.
Remember, true mastery is the result of perseverance and hard work, often performed away from the applause. Let Michelangelo’s insight motivate you to embrace the effort required to achieve your goals.
Rise & Shine is here to support you in acknowledging and celebrating the hard work behind your successes.
Have a dedicated and inspired Monday!
Thanks for reading till the end!