Mindhelix raises over $100,000 via Kickstarter campaign
Kochi-based startup Mindhelix, which develops the home security device Rico, has raised over $100,000 from nearly 750 backers on the crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter. The funding campaign, which started with the goal of $100,000, reached it with three days to spare and will end on the 30th of October.
Rico is a small ‘toy-like’ looking device, which works on its own or with a spare smartphone to detect changes inside a user’s home like humidity, temperature, noise level, presence of smoke, movement, cooking gas or carbon monoxide, and alert the user. It also allows users to view a live stream of the rooms and control home appliances remotely. Currently the product is estimated to ship to Kickstarter backers in November 2015.
HotelsAroundYou raises seed funding from angel investors
Last minute hotel booking service HotelsAroundYou, has raised an undisclosed amount in seed funding from over 10 angel investors, including Fame Cinemas founder Shravan Shroff, Amit and Arihant Patni and Bharat Banka among others, via the early-stage accelerator VentureNursery, reports the Economic Times.
Founded in 2013 by Animesh Chaudhary, Mohsin Dingankar and Harsha Nallur, the startup connects travellers with hotels which have unsold spare rooms for the day. Currently one hotel from each category like luxury or budget hotels, in different locations throughout the city, are showcased for consumers. The startup gets a cut per booking made by customers. As of now, the app only showcases hotels from Mumbai.
People10 raises angel funding through Ideaworks Partners
Bangalore-based software services startup People10 Technosoft Pvt Ltd., provider of custom solutions in the web, cloud, mobile and data analytics fields, raised an undisclosed amount in a round of early-stage funding from a group of US-based HNIs (high net-worth individuals), through the newly formed angel network, Ideaworks Partners, reports Techcircle. The startup said it will use the funds to ramp up its partnership, sales and marketing activities in the US.
Founded in 2011 by Nisha and Dahiya Shoukath, the startup currently claims to provide web applications, cloud-based development, mobile apps and data analytics, to its clients. As of now, it lists over 30 companies as its clients, including Barclays, PwC, HP and Fidelity and has offices in Bangalore, Canada, New York and Germany.
Indian Angel Network invests in London-based Lowdownapp Ltd.
London-based Lowdownapp Ltd has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from the angel investment group, Indian Angel Network. IAN, which recently established an UK office, made this investment with the help of UKTI Innovation Gateway, as its first investment in the country.
Lowdownapp currently provides the iPhone-first Lowdown app, which helps professionals plan, prepare and navigate to meetings. The app works by creating real-time data based on publicly available information, including public profiles from social networks, contacts and iPhone calendar to display information about the user’s meetings. It gives the user an idea when to leave for the meeting, a map, the time it will take, profiles of companies/individuals to be present, tweets by them, shared connections and recent email correspondences. The app claims to save 2 hours of preparatory time every week spent preparing for meetings, though its service.
GourmetItUp raises $300,000 from a group of investors.
Restaurant reservations platform GourmetItUp has raised $300,000 in its first round of funding from a group of angel investors including the MD at Nomura Prabhat Awasthi and founder of Genome Capital Atul Kumar and MD of IIFL Private Wealth Management Karan Bhagat. The startup said it will use the funds to expand its operations to new markets, along with investing in greater technology integration and scaling up its marketing efforts.
Founded in 2012 by Deepa and Kunal Kain, the startup focuses on curated fine-dining experiences at hand-picked restaurants. It works by listing various high-end restaurants, the cost per person and the food to be served, in the selected city. On selecting the restaurant, full details about the restaurant and its menu are displayed. Bookings can be made directly online, which also gives users ‘Gourmet Points’, that can be used to redeem various rewards. The company currently provides its services in Mumbai, Delhi and Pune.
