Warburg Pincus Eyes ₹850 Crore Investment to Spark Candere’s Next Phase

Global private equity firm Warburg Pincus is in talks to acquire a ~10% stake in Kalyan Jewellers’ lifestyle arm, Candere, valued at ₹800–850 crore. The investment will comprise both secondary purchase from Kalyan and new equity issuance. Proceeds are earmarked to fuel Candere’s aggressive expansion, including 80–90 franchise-led store openings across India.

Seekho Scores $28M Series B Led by Bessemer to Supercharge Short-Form Learning

Short-form learning startup Seekho has raised $28 million in a Series B round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from Goodwater Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Elevation Capital. The funds will power AI-driven content innovation, launch new interactive formats, and expand Seekho’s vernacular learning footprint across user segments and geographies. The company’s post-money valuation stands at $120–130 million.

StockGro Taps ₹50 Cr Venture Debt from Trifecta Capital to Boost AI-Driven Investing Tools

Fintech platform StockGro, known for its gamified social investing and AI research engine Stoxo, has raised ₹50 crore (~$5.7 million) in venture debt from existing investor Trifecta Capital via issuance of non-convertible debentures. The Bengaluru-based company has previously raised ₹205 crore in debt from Trifecta and Hindustan Media, ramping up its tech-led product expansion.

CityMall Secures $47M from Accel to Deepen Value-Driven E-Commerce Reach

India’s community-focused e‑commerce startup CityMall raised $47 million in a Series D round led by Accel, with backing from existing investors. The funding reinforces its flat valuation at approximately $320 million. The capital will help the value-first platform expand into adjacent regions, strengthen low-cost supply chains, enhance private labels, and forge brand partnerships across Tier II–IV towns.

Flipkart Levels Up: Acquires Majority Stake in Pinkvilla to Captivate Gen Z

Walmart-owned Flipkart has acquired a majority stake in digital infotainment platform Pinkvilla, aiming to deepen its connection with Gen Z and millennial shoppers. Leveraging Pinkvilla’s strong content IPs and loyal audience—over 60 million users and 7 million Instagram followers—Flipkart plans to harness trend insights and drive content-to-commerce integration, reinforcing its digital media footprint. Valuation details remain undisclosed

TBO Tek Jets Up: Seals $125M Classic Vacations Deal to Elevate Luxury Travel Edge

Gurugram-based travel-tech firm TBO Tek is acquiring U.S. luxury travel wholesaler Classic Vacations from The Najafi Companies in an all-cash deal worth up to $125 million. Classic Vacations, which generated $111 million in revenue and $11.2 million in EBITDA in FY24, will retain its independent brand while aligning with TBO’s tech-led distribution push. Shares jumped over 11% post-announcement