VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Bangalore, India-based mobile payment startup Ezetap Mobile Solutions is raising an unknown amount of additional capital from credit card giant American Express just a month after it had closed $8 million in its Series B round.

GoPeppers.com, an Indian startup that has been operating for more than a year, is already making waves in the e-grocery market of Noida by achieving 300 daily clients that provide an individual volume of INR1,500.

Bangalore, India-based online jewelry retailer BlueStone bagged $10 million in its Series B funding round led by venture capital firm Kalaari Capital to beef up its marketing and branding campaigns.

Chennai, India-based local language speech-based software solutions provider Uniphore Software Systems grabbed an undisclosed amount of funding from angel investors Indian Angel Network, Ray Stata, and YourNest Angel Fund for its international expansion.

San Francisco, US-based digital music service Rdio picked up troubled Chennai, India-based music streaming startup Dhingana for an undisclosed sum as part of its strategy for international expansion.

Indian entrepreneur and angel investor Sashi Reddi is backing Hyderabad-based fast food restaurant chain Hello Curry with INR3 crore from his seed-stage venture fund Sri Capital.

Former Apple chief John Sculley is teaming up with former HTC India head Ajay Sharma and Singaporean investment firm Inflexionpoint to launch a yet-unnamed smartphone brand in India, which will release its first units in April.

Arkansas, US-based retail giant Walmart is planning to establish an e-commerce marketplace in India in a bid to compete with online retail giants for a share in India's e-commerce industry.

Wetzikon, Switzerland-based cable solutions provider Reichle & De-Massari (R&M) acquired Bangalore, India-based fiber optic products manufacturer Advanced Fiber Systems (AFS) for an undisclosed sum as part of its efforts to expand in India.

Bangalore, India-based social media marketing and analytics firm Salorix Inc closed down its operations after it failed to raise fresh capital due to the founder's feud with investors.

Important lessons can be learned from the failed acquisition deal of India-based social media analytics firm Salorix by Facebook, especially in India where the startup ecosystem is still in its infancy, TechCrunch reported.

Waltham, US-based venture capital fund Matrix Partners invested an undisclosed amount in Chennai, India-based micro and small business financing firm Five Star Business Credits Ltd (FSBC).

Mumbai, India-based private equity fund manager ASK Pravi Equity Opportunities Fund picked up a minority stake in Chandigarh-based children's clothing firm Indian Clothing League Pvt Ltd for INR50 crore ($8.08 million).

Mumbai, India-based impact investment fund Ankur Capital shelled out INR50 lakh for a 30% stake in each of the Indian rural startups cloud farm-management systems firm Cropln, home compost company Daily Dump, and eye-care service provider ERC.

Tokyo, Japan-based staffing firm Outsourcing Inc invested $5 million (INR30 crore) for a majority stake in Bangalore, India-based search and staffing company Alp Consulting Ltd to gain access to the Indian market.