﻿ SRI Capital Newsletter - April, 2020
Early stage capital for global innovation
Focused on tech startups in the US and in India
NEWSLETTER - April, 2020

Fakespot identifies counterfeit respiratory masks and gloves amid Covid-19

A number of Amazon products in high demand amid the novel coronavirus outbreak are being counterfeited. Saoud Khalifah, founder and CEO of counterfeit finder and app Fakespot, said his company identifies counterfeit respiratory masks and gloves every day. Fakespot has also identified counterfeit hand sanitizer, COVID-19 information books and test kits, though those are less frequent.

Zuppler develops coronavirus response to help restaurants and caterers serve their communities

In response to the challenges facing restaurants and caterers caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic, Zuppler is offering free setup and specialized pricing for restaurants and caterers currently without online ordering or Google ordering. Online ordering menus will be integrated to client websites and added to Google for direct ordering.


In addition, Zuppler has also enabled both "contactless delivery" and "curbside pickup" for all of its current and future restaurant clients at no cost. Zuppler will also waive any upgrade fees that might be required to enable this service. Where needed, Zuppler will also assist current and new clients with modified menus designed to assist the needs of their communities.

Fitness app HealthifyMe launches immunity assessment test

HealthifyMe, an AI-led health and fitness app, has launched a slew of initiatives to help people improve their immunity and adopt a healthy lifestyle during the 21-day lockdown to combat Covid-19.


The startup has launched Immunity Assessment tests which can be taken by anyone free of cost. Those who score low will also receive a free consultation by a trained coach. HealthifyMe has also launched home workouts on its app and daily live workouts with coaches, along with trackers for sleep, smoking and handwashing, factors that are the bedrock of long-term immunity.

Fischer Identity partners with Identropy

Fischer Identity announces partnership with Identropy, an innovative leader providing consulting services for Identity and Access Management.


“Fischer is proud to have Identropy join our growing partner community. Identropy provides consulting services helping customers navigate the Identity and Access Management landscape. As one of the top-rated Identity and Access Management consultancy with a like-minded philosophy of putting client’s success first, their vast knowledge of the IGA solution market provides our current and potential clients with an invaluable resource.”

AR, VR and new-age tech companies gain ground amid Covid-19 outbreak

Imagine sitting in your room, wearing a virtual reality (VR) headset and getting the feel of walking into a conference, or an expo, or watching a product demo. This isn’t science fiction. As the Covid-19 outbreak grounds millions of people worldwide, VR technology and other new-age technologies are now increasingly in demand as business continuity takes priority.


Companies selling these technologies are speeding up rollouts and are also expanding their product lines. Companies like Hyderabad-based Imaginate and Gurgaon-based Queppelin are now seeing unprecedented demand for VR, augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) technology from companies in India and abroad.


Coronavirus forces $600B Higher Education Industry online

To promote social distancing during the pandemic, universities are sending students home en masse to learn on their laptops. In a matter of weeks, as spring breaks end, the $600 billion-plus higher education industry must suddenly turn to an approach many have long resisted: online education.


Evangelists of distance learning have lauded its promise of expanded access and lower costs. They hope the crisis could spur reluctant institutions to fully sign on to the web, but also fear a potential disaster if things go poorly.

How Coronavirus is impacting gig workers

Millions of Americans are staying home to minimize the spread of Covid-19. As a result, gig workers have become a crucial lifeline delivering food and other supplies to people living in self-isolation. But while there’s a huge demand in some services, like take-out and grocery delivery, others like ride-sharing are seeing a dramatic drop.


Many companies — including Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, Postmates and Instacart — have announced emergency assistance policies for independent contractors. However, some worry these measures protect only workers who become sick and don’t do enough to help those facing reduced hours and wages. Others feel they’re being incentivized to continue working until they become sick.

India Crypto Renaissance: Industry sees rebirth as RBI Crypto ban lifts

Among industry participants and investors, India is emerging as a market to watch for following the overturn of a crypto ban that was placed by the Reserve Bank of India back in April 2018. The prominent investors looking to get a piece of India’s nascent crypto space include Tim Draper, a billionaire investor who obtained thousands of Bitcoin from 2014’s Silk Road auction.


It is evident that the recent interest from investors and companies toward India’s crypto market is as a result of the March 4 ruling by India’s Supreme Court. The ban that had previously been placed by the Reserve Bank of India on all crypto-related bank services was declared unconstitutional, much to the reprieve of the country’s crypto community. However, in addition to the court ruling, industry watchers and experts believe there is more to India than a seemingly positive regulatory environment.

How the coronavirus outbreak will stress-test startups

The economic impacts of coronavirus are in part related to disruption in demand for goods due to quarantines and travel restrictions. However, more nefariously, economic pundits have expressed concern for supply-side disruptions: including staff productivity losses, supply-chain dysfunction, and facility closures.


The coronavirus pandemic is likely to strain the capabilities of startups for the foreseeable future. Supply-side disruptions will present distinctive challenges to startups unlike those that typically crop up in a globalized economy. Nonetheless, through keen vigilance, rapid adaptation, and comprehensive contingency planning, startups can survive the impending stress test. And in so doing, like white blood cells after a severe infection, surviving startups can develop resistance against the subsequent challenges they will inevitably face in their lifetime.

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