Startup news and updates: daily roundup (June 18, 2025)

From Bounce eyeing a revival in scooter rentals, to Tooused rewarding people for recycling clothes, and Reddit bringing on Sachin Tendulkar as brand ambassador, YourStory brings you today’s headlines with the latest developments across sectors.

Featured stories

Bounce hopes for a bounceback in scooter rentals, targets gig segment

In April, electric vehicle maker Bounce Infinity re-entered the EV rental segment—three years after it had put the brakes on this service and shifted gears to EV sales. 

The company is now determined to correct the wrongs from its earlier stint with scooter-sharing and cash in on the burgeoning demand for EVs in the commercial segment, particularly among gig workers—this time around with its own scooters. 

After a pilot run earlier this year, Bounce Infinity is currently offering the 'Bounce Daily' service in Bengaluru and Delhi. Read more.

With Tooused, you can recycle old clothes and earn credits

It is often said in social circles that good things happen when you least expect them. This rings especially true for the sustainability startup Tooused, which, strangely enough, was born out of an argument. 

Recalling the incident, Founder and CEO Mayank Singh says, “My wife and I got into an argument and started blaming each other for not taking care of our old clothes. Eventually, I realised how common the situation was in households. I was researching the sustainability space and decided to do something about it.” 

In 2023, Singh joined hands with Co-founder and CBO Ayush Saxena to launch the New Delhi-based startup. Read more.

How CSF is bringing joy and AI literacy to Indian classrooms

In the government primary school at Dugdha village, Madhya Pradesh, students have a unique way of learning maths—through songs. Inside the classroom, they can be heard singing lessons aloud, with their teacher Babita Verma playing conductor. This is just one of the ways Verma makes foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) enjoyable and accessible. 

Verma’s methods are inspired by Mission Ankur—a state-level foundational learning programme launched by the Madhya Pradesh government in 2022 and implemented by Central Square Foundation (CSF), a Delhi-based nonprofit working across 11 Indian states and supporting governments in strengthening early education through systemic, evidence-driven reform. Read more.

Latest news

Reddit ropes in Sachin Tendulkar as brand ambassador

Social media platform Reddit has announced Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador. 

Sports fans will now have exclusive opportunities to engage with Tendulkar in Reddit communities, the company said in a statement. 

Through his official Reddit profile, batting icon Tendulkar will share personal reflections, match insights, and exclusive content. Read more.

Urban Company posts first full-year profit, revenue jumps 38% ahead of IPO

Urban Company Ltd. recorded its first full year of profitability, posting a net profit of Rs 239.8 crore for the financial year ending March 2025, compared to a net loss of Rs 92.7 crore in FY24. 

The home services platform saw its revenue from operations grow by 38.2% year-on-year to Rs 1,144.5 crore in FY25, up from Rs 828 crore in the previous fiscal. 

According to the company’s consolidated financial statements, other income rose 16.24% to Rs 1,162.12 crore in FY25, up from Rs 999.73 crore in FY24. Read more.

FirstCry subsidiary GlobalBees faces Rs 64.9 Cr insolvency plea

Online retailer FirstCry’s parent company, Brainbees Solutions’ material subsidiary Globalbees Brands is facing an insolvency petition filed by the directors of home and kitchen products’ manufacturer Kuber Mart Industries, for an alleged claim of Rs 64.9 crore, according to a BSE filing. 

The directors of Kuber Mart Industries, Ashutosh Garg, Paritosh Garg and Manju Agarwal, have filed a plea against Globalbees Brands Private Limited under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. Read more.

Funding news

Oben Electric closes Rs 100 Cr Series A round with fresh capital infusion

Bengaluru-based electric motorcycle manufacturer Oben Electric has secured an additional Rs 50 crore in May 2025 through an extended Series A round. This follows a Rs 50 crore raise in January 2025, bringing the total Series A funding to Rs 100 crore and the company's overall capital raised to Rs 200 crore, according to a statement by the company. 

The round saw continued backing from existing investors, alongside new participation from Helios Holdings, the Sharda Family Office, and the Kay Family. The investment reflects growing investor confidence in Oben Electric’s market traction, product strength, and financial performance. Read more.

Other news

Simplilearn Launches SimpliMentor GPT

Upskilling firm Simplilearn has launched SimpliMentor GPT, an AI-powered career coach specifically designed to provide real-time, personalised guidance to support professionals at various stages of their career.

It claims to help users identify what to learn next, which certifications are most relevant, and how to progress towards their career goals. The AI-driven tool offers personalised career roadmaps and recommendations across in-demand fields by assessing individual skill sets against market trends and salary data.

Built using OpenAI’s GPT Builder and trained on Simplilearn’s course and career data, it offers context-aware career guidance that adapts over time through memory of past user interactions. 

It supports five key functions: career path recommendations in high-demand fields; personalised skill gap analysis; real-time market insights including salary and certification value; interactive mock interviews with feedback; and tailored course and certification suggestions aligned with users’ goals and current skills.

BikeWo Green Tech partners with Flipkart Group

Green mobility startup BikeWo Green Tech has partnered with Instakart Services Private Limited, a logistics subsidiary of the Flipkart Group, to support last-mile delivery activity in India with an array of electric and green vehicles.

The partnership will operate through BikeWo's technology platform, which enables AI-based route optimisation, capacity planning by hub, and real-time performance tracking. 

The company has begun operations in seven states, using over 1,300 delivery partners and tech-enabled green vehicles across its delivery hubs. The process follows a structured framework that includes trained personnel, integrated route planning, and service-level compliance.

Flipkart plans to transition a significant share of its last-mile delivery fleet to electric vehicles by 2030. Its partnership with BikeWo supports this goal by integrating technology-led logistics with a focus on sustainability.

(This article will be updated with the latest news throughout the day.)