Varthana Raises USD 15 Million from BlueOrchard Microfinance Fund to Revolutionize India’s Education Sector

Bengaluru, India
9 December, 2024

Varthana, a leading Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) dedicated to transforming affordable private education in India, has successfully received USD 15 million (120 crores) funding from BlueOrchard Microfinance Fund, managed by BlueOrchard, a leading impact investor, through the External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) framework. Varthana provides loans to affordable private schools and students pursuing domestic higher education in India.

This funding marks a significant milestone for Varthana as it advances its mission to make quality education both accessible and affordable in underserved communities across India. The funds will be strategically utilized to expand Varthana’s lending portfolio, providing private schools and vocational students in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with essential financial support for infrastructure enhancement and skill-based learning initiatives.

This partnership with BlueOrchard Microfinance Fund underscores the trust in Varthana’s vision to bridge the education gap in India by empowering affordable education institutions and improving learning outcomes for millions of students. Through its innovative solutions, Varthana has enabled thousands of private schools to upgrade their facilities and enhance teaching standards, driving measurable improvements in student success.

Commenting on the significance of this funding, Mr. Steve Hardgrave, the CEO of Varthana, said: “We are thrilled to receive this second round of funding from BlueOrchard Microfinance Fund, which strengthens our commitment to transforming education in underserved communities. These funds will allow us to reach more schools and families, enabling them to access the resources they need to create impactful learning environments. We are driving meaningful change and empowering the next generation with better opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.”

Varthana has played a crucial role by financing more than 11,000 affordable private schools and facilitating over 16,500 loans for school expansion and renovation. With a presence in 16 states/union territories and 40 branches, Varthana also extends its services to Tier III and Tier IV cities, significantly contributing to fostering accessible education in India.

Yan Kit Lee, Head of Originations, Asia, at BlueOrchard Investments (Singapore) Pte Ltd, stated: “This facility represents BlueOrchard and Varthana’s mutual commitment and recognition of inclusive education’s crucial role in achieving sustainable development, and uplifting the future generations of India. We are excited to journey alongside Varthana as they continue to transform the affordable education sector at scale.”

Mount Litera Zee School Launches Revolutionary ‘Litera Nova’ Pedagogy and New Visual Identity

National, 09 December 2024 – Mount Litera Zee School (MLZS), Zee Learn Limited’s flagship brand and a pioneer in the field of K-12 education, marked a significant milestone today with the introduction of its transformative curriculum, Litera Nova. The LiteraVerse unveiling marked the dual launch celebration of innovation, symbolizing the institution’s commitment to shaping future-ready learners through cutting-edge pedagogy. Zee Learn also unveiled new brand and visual identity of MLZS, keeping in mind the changing times & requirements of the sector.

The LiteraVerse event showcased the philosophy behind Litera Nova – a unique curriculum, an innovative pedagogy and a feature-laden and adaptive learning app that empowers learners to unleash their potential and shine as stars in their respective domains. The launch at the LiteraVerse event was received with applause by all the business partners of the network who said they were privileged to be a part of history being created, symbolizing the spirit of Litera Nova. The word “Nova,” derived from Latin, signifies “new” and reflects the transformative journey of an individual toward brilliance, akin to a star radiating newfound energy.

Mr. Manish Rastogi, CEO and Whole-Time Director, Zee Learn Limited shared his enthusiasm, “Litera Nova is more than a curriculum—it’s a movement which draws inspiration from the needs of society in the coming future. It equips every Mount Literian with the tools to discover their unique potential and to shine brightly in an ever-evolving world.” He also added “Our new brand and visual identity represents not just a visual change but a commitment to our vision of the future of education. It embodies our belief that every learner is unique and has the potential to shine as a star in their unique light.”

The Brand Identity and Visual Identity: A Symbol of Aspiration

The redesigned brand identity of Mount Litera Zee School encapsulates the vision of a modern, learner-centred education system. It symbolizes uniqueness, unity, growth, and the boundless potential within every child. With its sleek and dynamic design, the brand identity aligns with the institution’s mission to create an environment where learners are inspired to excel in all dimensions of life.

The visual identity of the Mount Litera Zee School has also been transformed to create a campus that makes a statement. Ergonomically designed classrooms and furniture foster an environment of comfort and happiness. The vibrant ambience of the various facilities like the cafeteria, music/art room, swimming pool, basketball court, football field and more unleashes creativity and energy paving the way for unrelenting champions and superstars.

Mr. Anish Shah, CFO, Zee Learn Limited said, “The rebranding exercise was undertaken keeping in mind the changing times and requirements of the sector. Litera Nova’s most striking feature is that it places learners at the center of their educational journey by leveraging equitable education and brain-based learning principles. With diagnostic tools grounded in neuroscience, the curriculum identifies a student’s Unique Learner Profile (ULP), enabling personalized learning pathways that nurture each child’s unique talents and aspirations.”

This innovative curricular and co-curricular program offering has positioned us as a one-stop learning solution provided for our partners, parents and students. Programs like leadership skills, language fluency, motion animation, cricket, robotics and AI/coding and human skills development are aimed at nurturing the well-rounded personality of every learner.

Aligning with Zee Learn’s overarching vision, the Litera Nova pedagogy is a leap forward in redefining education. It equips learners not just to thrive academically but to become empathetic, innovative, and socially responsible leaders of tomorrow. As Mount Litera Zee School embarks on this exciting journey, it reaffirms our commitment to transforming education and empowering learners to create a brighter future.

Investors Eye NHC Foods Rights Entitlement (NHCFO-RE) as a Potential Multibagger Stock

Mumbai, 9th Dec, 2024: NHC Foods Limited is emerging as a promising multibagger stock, driven by impressive financial performance and strategic growth initiatives.

The Rights issue of this prominent exporter of agricultural commodities and spices, NHC Foods offers a lucrative opportunity for new investors through the Rights Entitlement (RE) mechanism.

Right share priced at ₹1 per share, well below its market value of ₹3.21 as of December 3, 2024, this offering allows investors to buy shares at an attractive price of Rs. 1. Investors can purchase few NHC Foods REs (NHCFO-RE) and buy any portion of the Rights Issue at ₹1 per share, offering a strategic and cost-efficient way to gain exposure to a rapidly growing company.

NHC’s 6 months PAT of H1FY25 is 405 lacs which already surpasses the full year PAT of 235 lacs achieved in FY24. For long-term investors, this rights issue presents a valuable proposition to enhance their portfolios while benefiting from the company’s growth trajectory. This approach broadens the investor base and offers a chance to benefit from NHC Foods’ ongoing success, which includes over 375% profit growth and 50% plus revenue gains in the recent quarters.

With strategic plans focusing on innovation and global expansion, the company presents a compelling case for those looking to tap into its growth potential through this rights issue. Management’s focus on technology, R&D, and product innovation, alongside an emphasis on global market diversification, positions NHC Foods for sustained long-term growth.

The subscription window for NHCFO- RE (Rights Entitlement) will remain open from December 5 to December 12, 2024. The record date for NHC Foods Limited’s ₹47.42 crore rights issue was November 26, 2024.

The 3 Star Export House, NHC Foods with exports to 30+ countries is famous for some leading and signature brands like Indi Bite, Eat’mor and Saaz.

To conclude, investors must purchase few NHCFO-RE and then buy and apply for any amount of right issue at Rs.1 against current market price of Rs. 3.21.

Hummel Chooses Unicommerce to Streamline and Power Its E-Commerce Operations

9th December ­2024, New Delhi: Denmark headquartered sportswear brand Hummel has partnered with Unicommerce, one of India’s leading e-commerce enablement SaaS platforms, to streamline its e-commerce operations and enhance its end customers’ post purchase experience across India.

Hummel India has deployed Unicommerce’s multi-channel order management and warehouse management systems to automate its order processing from across its brand website as well as multiple marketplaces. Unicommerce’s technology will allow the brand to process orders placed across different channels through a unified dashboard, which can lead to error-free and faster deliveries of its sports and athleisure wear products.

Additionally, the brand has opted for Unicommerce’s UniShip technology, which is a post-shipment journey solution to help end consumers track and return orders, providing a marketplace-like experience for orders placed on its brand website.

The sports and athleisure wear segment has been witnessing continuous growth in e-commerce order volumes with both new-age digital first brands and traditionally offline brands leveraging technology to manage and fulfil the rising demand. As per Unicommerce’s recent analysis of the Black Friday sale 2024, the sportswear and fitness products category has observed over 65% order volume growth as compared to the same period of the sale last year.

With Hummel India planning to expand its footprint across the country with its exclusive brand stores, the brand’s present focus is on growing its ‘team sports’ and ‘institutional business’ segments. It has currently integrated its brand website, and 3 warehouses with Unicommerce’s platform.

Talking about the recent partnership, Soumava Naskar, Managing Director at Hummel India said, “While our exclusive range of sportswear targets the younger generation which is more tech savvy and digitally driven, our partnership with Unicommerce will help us enhance our operational efficiency making our products widely available to aur audience.”

“The Indian e-commerce market is changing with newer categories making a strong impact, one of which is the sportswear segment”, said Kapil Makhija, MD & CEO of Unicommerce. “We are excited to be a part of Hummel’s growth journey as we offer our technology expertise to power their e-commerce operations.”

With a 930 Mn+ annual transaction run rate, 3550+ clients, 8800+ client warehouses and 3150+ client stores, Unicommerce works with India’s marquee brands, leading marketplaces, and logistics service providers to technologically enable end-to-end management of their e-commerce operations. Beyond India, Unicommerce also serves clients in the Middle East & Southeast Asia.

India Tops the List as Largest FDI Investor in London

National, December 09, 2024 – New Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) data from London’s growth agency, London & Partners, reveals that India has become its leading source country for FDI companies, ahead of the US and China.

Over the past three years, the India office has supported 77 Indian companies in scaling their operations and establishing a presence in the UK capital. One such company is the Indian IT giant Mphasis, which opened a new London office in September and has expanded its UK presence over the past year.

Mumbai, often referred to as India’s financial hub, and Bangalore, known as the Silicon Valley of India, are key source cities of FDI, with the Southern and Western regions of India together accounting for the majority of companies expanding to London. Their contributions have steadily grown over the years, with much of the investment concentrated in high-growth sectors such as financial services, enterprise software, creative, fintech, and life sciences.

London & Partners’ India office has also supported two significant trade delegations from London in the past year: The Creative Trade Delegation and the ongoing Fintech and Enterprise Trade Delegation. These missions aim to strengthen the UK capital’s trade links with India.

The Fintech and Enterprise Trade Delegation currently underway this week is connecting London-based companies, including AutogenAI, Builder.ai, Carbon Responsible, and Digiseq, with private enterprises such as banks, large tech companies, and key stakeholders, including governing bodies, in Mumbai and Bangalore.

Janet Coyle CBE, Managing Director, Grow London, London & Partners, said: “We’re bringing some of London’s most innovative fintech and enterprise companies to explore one of the world’s most dynamic markets – India. Mumbai and Bangalore are the perfect entry points into India’s rapidly evolving financial and enterprise tech sectors. This mission is a key priority for us, and I’m excited to be in-market, uncovering the incredible growth opportunities for both trade and FDI ahead.”

Hemin Bharucha, Regional Director – India and Middle East, London & Partners, added: “India is a thriving global leader in enterprise technology and financial innovation. This trade mission is a unique opportunity to strengthen ties between London and India’s rapidly advancing tech ecosystems, further solidifying our partnership as India continues to be an important investor in London.”

Ninjacart’s New Startup Program Aims to Accelerate Growth of FoodTech and AgTech Ventures

India, December 9, 2024 – Ninjacart, India’s leading agri-tech startup transforming the agricultural ecosystem through technology and data, announced the launch of its Ninjacart Startup Program.This agri-tech-focused startup program aims to accelerate the growth of early-stage FoodTech and AgTech startups by providing access to cutting-edge technology, venture capital partners, financial backing, and expert business advisory.

With nearly a decade of experience in transforming agricultural ecosystems through technology and data, Ninjacart has partnered with agri-tech innovators globally to optimize supply chains and solve complex distribution challenges. The Ninjacart Startup Program leverages this expertise, network, and proven solutions to help startups scale faster, drive meaningful change, and lead the future of food distribution.

The Ninjacart Startup Program offers four key benefits to participants:

Access to Ninjacart’s Advanced Technology: Renowned for its comprehensive and innovative technology across the agri-tech ecosystem, Ninjacart’s proprietary solutions set an industry benchmark. Through the Startup Program, startups gain access to a focused suite of Ninjacart’s supply chain management tools to drive growth or enhance operational efficiency. Growth tools include demand forecasting, sales management, pricing intelligence, campaign management, and customer app modules. For operational efficiency, modules for procurement, inventory management, workforce management, logistics, and catalog management are available.

Pitch to VC Partners: Startups will have the chance to present to top VC partners such as Syngenta Group Ventures and Base Capital on Demo Day, scheduled for February 2025.

Financial Backing: Ninjacart offers credits up to $50,000 to offset platform and implementation fees during the first six months of participation.

Expert Business Advisory: Participants will gain access to Ninjacart’s domain expertise and leadership to build scalable supply chains for fresh produce, meat, and staples, offering tailored guidance to shorten their path to profitability.
The program is open to emerging startups that were founded in 2020 or later, have raised up to $1 million in funding, and operate outside India. Eligible startups must be post-revenue and focused on innovating the food supply chain.

“At Ninjacart, we’ve always believed in the transformative power of technology to solve critical supply chain inefficiencies,” said Kartheeswaran KK, Co-Founder and CEO, Ninjacart. “The Ninjacart Startup Program is designed to empower innovators who are driving systemic change in food systems. By offering our expertise, technology, and network, we aim to help startups accelerate their startup journey and propel the collective transformation of the global agriculture ecosystem.”