In a groundbreaking move for the logistics industry, Yotuh Energy Private Limited, a pioneering cleantech startup specializing in electric refrigeration systems for mid-mile and last-mile cold chain logistics, has secured a significant ₹1.53 crore in funding. The round was led by Campus Angels Network and is set to propel the startup’s innovative solutions to new heights.

Empowering Sustainable Cold Chain Logistics

This fresh injection of capital will be utilized to accelerate Yotuh Energy’s product development, rigorous testing, and operational scaling. The funding will also support team expansion as the company continues its mission to transform the cold chain logistics landscape. Yotuh Energy’s cutting-edge electric refrigeration technology is designed to eliminate traditional fuel usage, reduce operational costs, and drive the logistics industry towards a more sustainable and efficient future.

Visionary Founders and Industry Recognition

Founded in 2022 by IIT Delhi alumni Vivek Mahindrakar, Shaivee Malik, and Dharmik Bapodara, Yotuh Energy has quickly established itself as a leader in sustainable technology innovation. The startup has already garnered several grants and accolades from prestigious institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology (DST), MeitY, Acumen, ACIR (US Embassy to India), IIT Madras Incubation Cell, and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles.

Co-founder Dharmik Bapodara expressed his enthusiasm for the funding milestone, stating, “This investment is a major leap forward for Yotuh Energy. It will significantly bolster our product development, testing, and operations, enabling us to make cold chain logistics more accessible, affordable, and sustainable. We are excited to lead the industry into a future powered by innovation and advanced electric refrigeration technologies.”

Industry Leaders Support Yotuh Energy’s Vision

The transformative potential of Yotuh Energy’s solutions has attracted the attention of industry heavyweights. Chandran Krishnan, Managing Director and CEO of Campus Angels Network, believes that Yotuh Energy’s electric refrigeration systems are poised to revolutionize cold chain logistics, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and delivering substantial cost savings.

Vinod Dasari, former Managing Director of Ashok Leyland and ex-CEO of Royal Enfield, who now serves as an advisor to Yotuh Energy, echoed this sentiment. He remarked, “Yotuh Energy’s focus on sustainability and efficiency is exactly what the logistics industry needs to move forward. Their innovative solutions are set to transform the market and lead the charge toward a greener future.”

1. How do you think electric refrigeration systems will impact the future of cold chain logistics?
2. What are the potential challenges Yotuh Energy might face as they scale their operations?
3. Do you believe that the logistics industry is ready for a widespread shift to sustainable, fuel-free technologies?
4. How can startups like Yotuh Energy influence other sectors to adopt greener practices?
5. What role do you see for electric vehicle technology in transforming other areas of logistics and transportation?

Electric vehicle (EV) startup Simple Energy has successfully raised $20 million in a Series A funding round, with plans to ramp up production of its cutting-edge electric scooters. This significant funding milestone highlights Simple Energy’s growth trajectory and ambitious plans for the future.

A Leap Forward for Simple Energy

Following a successful Seed Round, this Series A funding demonstrates that Simple Energy is on solid ground and ready to scale its product offerings. The round saw participation from existing investors, including high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) from prominent family offices such as the Haran family office, A Velumani’s family office, Vasavi family office, and the Desai Family office, among others.

Scaling Production and Expanding Markets

The newly raised funds will be instrumental in scaling up the production of Simple Energy’s flagship e-scooters – the Simple One and Simple Dot One. Additionally, the capital will support the company’s expansion into new markets across India, enhance its nationwide presence, and facilitate the development of new products.

“As the adoption of electric vehicles accelerates significantly in India, we are committed to playing a pivotal role in this burgeoning ecosystem,” stated Suhas Rajkumar, Founder and CEO of Simple Energy. “The capital raised will be strategically deployed to bolster our production capacity and expand our dealership network nationwide,” he added.

Ambitious Growth Targets

With this fresh infusion of capital, Simple Energy aims to achieve a top line of Rs 150 crore in the current financial year. Balamurugan Arumugam, Chief Growth Officer at Klarity and an HNI participant in the round, expressed confidence in Simple Energy’s growth prospects. “With a clear vision and a strategic roadmap for the next phase of growth, Simple Energy is primed to redefine the landscape of technologically advanced EV two-wheelers in India and beyond,” he said.

Leading the EV Revolution

Simple Energy boasts of India’s longest-range electric scooter, the Simple One. The company manufactures 95% of its scooter components in-house, setting it apart as the only original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the country with a state-of-the-art motor manufacturing line within its 200,000 square foot plant located in Shoolagiri, Tamil Nadu.

Currently in a pilot phase in Bangalore, Simple Energy has begun deliveries in the city and is preparing to open dealership stores in Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, Vijayawada, Goa, Vizag, Kochi, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Delhi, and Hyderabad in the coming weeks.

Previous Funding Milestones

This Series A round follows Simple Energy’s previous funding efforts, including over $20 million raised in a Bridge round in February this year, $21 million in a Pre-Series round in October 2021, and an undisclosed amount in March 2022.

1. What impact do you think Simple Energy’s innovative approach to EV manufacturing will have on the Indian electric vehicle market?
2. How do you see the growth of electric scooters influencing urban mobility in India?
3. What are your thoughts on Simple Energy’s strategy to manufacture 95% of its scooter components in-house?
4. How important do you think funding rounds like these are for the advancement of sustainable transportation solutions?
5. Which city do you think will benefit the most from Simple Energy’s expansion, and why?

Fibr, an innovative artificial intelligence-powered personalization platform, has successfully raised $1.8 million in a funding round spearheaded by Accel. The round also included investments from 2am VC and prominent angel investors like Kunal Shah, founder of Cred.

Revolutionizing Personalization with Cutting-Edge AI

Fibr plans to utilize the funds to advance its AI personalization platform, broaden its customer base, and recruit top-tier talent, including engineers, product marketers, and sales and go-to-market experts. The platform aims to create unique, tailored experiences for website visitors, delivering personalized content and marketing messages based on individual preferences and behaviors.

Founded in January 2023 by Ankur Goyal and Pritam Roy, Fibr’s flagship product, Pilot, enhances conversions by offering personalized landing pages for every ad, email, SMS, notification, or any other communication channel.

Challenging the Status Quo of Personalization Tools

“Most personalization tools available are quite outdated,” stated Goyal. “They excel in one area, be it web, ads, or email, but miss the comprehensive picture. They often resort to generic pop-ups, adding names in emails, or running basic A/B tests. That’s not true personalization,” he told ET.

Fibr primarily serves lead generation clients across sectors such as insurance, broadband, home improvement, and consumer services. The company is currently targeting markets in the US, Canada, and India, with plans to expand into Europe.

“For us, the US remains the primary focus, but Europe is also a great target due to our alignment with general data protection regulation (GDPR),” Goyal explained. “By the end of this year, we aim to have 60-70% of our operations in the US, 10-20% in India, and potentially start in Europe.”

Expanding Product Line with AI-Powered Tools

The Bengaluru-based startup is developing the beta version of its second product, Blocks. “Our second product includes AI tools that help marketers scale their content across various formats, such as converting a high-performing Facebook ad into a blog, Google ad, or social media post,” Goyal elaborated.

A Gamechanger in the Ad Ecosystem

Prayank Swaroop, partner at Accel, expressed his optimism about the investment, saying, “We believe Fibr’s landing page for every ad proposition could revolutionize the ad ecosystem for consumer companies, especially given the customer acquisition cost (CAC) challenges arising from privacy policies and cookie deprecation. Fibr’s affordable sachet pricing model, where users only pay for usage, disrupts traditional SaaS pricing, making it accessible for all marketers.

• What are the biggest challenges you see in the current personalization tools market that Fibr aims to address?
• How do you think AI-powered personalization tools like Fibr will change the landscape of digital marketing?