Puttur techie Hafiz KA appointed sub-lieutenant of Indian Navy

Bengaluru, Jan 15: The Indian startups secured 12.7 billion in funding last year -- a 15% growth compared to 2018 - and Bengaluru startup community topped the list, with securing $5.3 billion across 267 deals, a new report said on Tuesday.

In total, the Indian startups attracted 766 deals in 2019, taking total deal count between 2014-2019 to 5,011, said DataLabs by Inc42 in its annual startup funding report.

Sequoia took the top spot as the most active VC in 2019 with 53 deals, followed by Accel that participated in 38 deals. Blume Ventures, Matrix Partners and Tiger Global were in the top five VCs in 2019.

"The Indian startup economy is entering new decade with over $58 billion in fundraising and 2,984 funded startups between 2014-2019," the findings showed.

With an average of $21 million, the ticket size value of funding increased by 15% in 2019.

Ecommerce and fintech -- with $2.6 billion funding each -- took the top slot with 93 deals and 125 deals, respectively.

"Ecommerce continued to remain at the top by the end of 2019. The growing investor confidence towards sub-sectors such as vertical ecommerce, social commerce and private label businesses is one major factor for ecommerce maintaining its lead," a DataLabs spokesperson said in a statement.

According to the estimates, the funding amount and deal count in 2020 will be around $12.6 billion at a 1% decline from 2019.

"Nevertheless, the investment activity is expected to rise in 2021," said the report.

The data suggests that 2019 had lowest number of startups funded (664) in the last five years, with seed-stage funding deals dropping by 53%, compared to 2016.

With $252 million in funding, seed-stage deal value fell by 44% (compared to 2018) as only 306 seed funding deals were recorded, the report said.

The enterprise tech had a blockbuster year with total funding of $1.15 billion across 114 deals in 2019. The sector recorded a 49% surge in total funding amount, compared to 2018.

The Indian startup economy saw 275 unique VCs participating in funding in 2019, said the report.

Udupi, July 18 A 15-year-old boy lost his life due to electrocution after he came in contact with a live wire last evening near his house at Laxminagar under the limits of Malpe police station in Udupi. 

The deceased has been identified as Gautham (15), son of Manjunath Naiak, a resident of Laxminagar.  

Police sources said, the electrocution occurred while he was lifting a pump set from the well at his neighbour’s house. He died on the spot. 

A case has been registered at Malpe Police Station and investigation is on.

Gautham had recently appeared for SSLC examinations.

Belagavi, Apr 30: Police Sub-Inspector attached to Sadalaga Police Station Anil Kumbar was suspended on Wednesday pending inquiry for negligence and misbehavior in Examba incident, Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi said.

According to him, the PSI was suspended as he misbehaved with Sachin Sawant a Centeral Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Cobra Commando on April 23 at his native village Yakshamba village and arrested him on charges of not wearing mask. On scuffle with the constable the commando was handcuffed and chained at Sadalaga police station.

Sachin Sawant was sent to Hindlaga Jail by the Court and was released on conditional bail on Tuesday.