scapia

Bengaluru-based scapia, a travel-fintech innovator, has secured $63 million in a funding round led by General Catalyst. This capital infusion will fuel the expansion of its integrated travel and financial services, including co-branded credit cards and AI-driven product development. The company aims to enhance user experience across bookings and payments, with domestic travel bookings showing significant growth.

Three former Peak XV Partners managing directors are launching Mettle Capital. Ashish Agrawal, Ishaan Mittal, and Tejeshwi Sharma have formed an equal partnership. This structure is uncommon in Indian venture capital. The firm aims for transparency in governance and economics. Mettle Capital plans to invest in Series A and Series B startups. They are targeting a corpus of $350-400 million.

Ola Electric is launching a 'Sona Weekend' sale with up to Rs 50,000 in benefits and a chance to win a gold-themed scooter. Special pricing on S1 X and Roadster X models, plus discounts and extended warranties, are available for a limited time. A unique gold-plated S1 Pro Sona edition is also featured.

As unpredictability hovers over international trips due to the West Asia conflict and rising airfares, travellers are not cancelling their plans but readjusting their itineraries

Travel fintech startup scapia has raised $40 million in a Series B round led by Peak XV Partners, with support from existing investors. The funding aims to boost team expansion, product development, and AI investment. scapia targets younger consumers with its co-branded credit card, integrating travel bookings and financial tools.

Demand for outbound foreign travel has increased due to the visa-free travel options offered by various Asian countries. The recent announcement of visa-free entry for Indians to Thailand has led to a 30% increase in demand compared to last year. Similarly, the visa-free entry to Malaysia from December 1 has been seen as a smart move to attract Indian travelers. Travel companies have also observed relaxed visa guidelines being issued by many countries in 2023.

Indian women are increasingly taking control of their travel, with solo trips growing ninefold. Beach destinations remain popular, but spiritual and cultural journeys are also on the rise. Gen Z favors value and heritage sites, while Millennials opt for premium experiences and iconic European cities

Binny Bansal, the co-founder of Flipkart, has launched a new startup called OppDoor. OppDoor aims to assist e-commerce companies in expanding globally by providing comprehensive solutions. The company, previously known as Three State Ventures Pte Ltd, is registered in Singapore and was founded in May 2021. OppDoor will offer design, product, and backend support to e-commerce businesses planning to expand to countries such as the US, UK, Canada, and more.

Vijay Sales announces its special Holi sale offering up to 70% off on electronics and appliances. Customers can join the MyVS loyalty program to earn 0.75% loyalty points. Discounts are available on various products like party speakers, smartphones, air conditioners, and cooking appliances. Additionally, several banks offer instant discounts on specific transactions.

Forex cards allow preloading of foreign currency, while credit cards offer rewards. Some credit cards offer low or even zero forex markups. But the decision is not that straightforward. Consider factors such as TCS and rewards before taking a call