Craftsvilla.com, an online marketplace for ethnic products, has raised ₹100 crore in Series B funding led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from Nexus Venture Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners and GFC. It will use the money to grow its team in India, and to invest in improving its technology platform.

Practo acquires FitHo

Practo, a leading doctor search engine, has acquired Fitho Wellness, a leading digital fitness solution. The acquisition will help Practo expand its offerings and move into the preventive healthcare space. It will also bring Practo closer to its goal of making Practo the single health app consumers need. Practo did not reveal the deal size. FitHo’s current offering will phase out over the next six months and Practo will launch a new preventive product that will leverage some technology from FitHo.

Headout gets $1.8-m funding

Headout, one of the few US-based global consumer start-up founded by Indian entrepreneurs, has raised $1.8 million in seed round from Version One Ventures, 500 Startups, Nexus Venture Partners and other US-based funds and angel investors. Headout is a mobile marketplace for tours, activities and experiences. The angel investors who have participated in this seed round include Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal of Snapdeal. Headout’s app is currently live in New York and Las Vegas and the company will use the money to expand to 12 cities in the US by the year-end and to grow the team in its New York, San Francisco and Bengaluru offices.

Ratan Tata invests in Xiaomi

Former Tata group Chairman Ratan Tata has picked up a stake in Chinese smartphone-maker Xiaomi for an undisclosed amount. This is the first investment by an Indian in Xiaomi. Over the last one year, Tata has invested in a handful of start-ups, including Bluestone.com, CarDekho and Urban Ladder and is also an adviser to venture capital firm Kalaari Capital.

Naaptol raises funds from Mitsui

Naaptol Online Shopping Pvt Ltd, a leading multi-channel home shopping company, has raised a new round of equity funding from Mitsui of Japan. Existing investors New Enterprise Associates, Canaan Partners and Saama Capital also participated in this round. Naaptol will use the money to improve its studio capabilities, expand the supply chain and invest in technology.

GIC of Singapore buys stake in Nirlon

Reco Berry Pvt Ltd, an affiliate of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC has acquired a 63.9 per cent stake in Nirlon Ltd for ₹1,280 crore. Nirlon, originally a textile yarn and conveyor belt maker, turned sick in 1980s and become a real estate company using its land in Mumbai to build office complexes. Nirlon Knowledge Park is spread over 2.2 million sq ft. Our Bureau

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