MAM
WebEngage raises $20 mn in Series B round led by Singularity Growth & SWC Global
Mumbai: WebEngage announced a $20 million Series B round led by Singularity Growth Opportunities Fund and SWC Global, with participation from existing investors India Quotient, Blume Ventures, and IAN Fund recently.
The round also saw participation from a few family offices, including the likes of Unmaj Corporation, NB Ventures, Shashwat Nakrani (cofounder of BharatPe), and Gopal Srinivasan (chairman, TVS Capital), amongst others.
WebEngage has showcased unusual frugality and resilience in its 11-year journey filled with ups and downs, burning only six million dollars in capital to reach a $20 million annual revenue run rate, an enviable position to be in.
Peers in SaaS spend about 3x to 5x more to get to the same scale. The company is working with over six hundred clients, including new-economy and internet-first businesses, as well as propelling the digital transformation journey for enterprise clients.
The funds will be used to maintain WebEngage’s rapid growth—it is up 100 per cent year-on-year and has expanded operations to India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The company’s team strength has increased 2.5x since 2020 with strategic high-profile hires across the marketing, sales, product, engineering, and support functions. Recent customer wins like Adani Group in India and IKEA in Saudi Arabia have validated enterprise acceptance of the WebEngage offering.
Speaking about this new milestone, WebEngage co-founder and CEO Avlesh Singh said, “We are absolutely delighted to have Singularity Growth Opportunities Fund and SWC Global as our new partners and are blessed to have existing partners double down on their confidence in us. The ride has just begun and we have the tickets to the front row seats for anyone who wants to join our journey of simplifying retention for the world.”
Commenting on the engagement with WebEngage, Singularity Growth Opportunities Fund managing partner Apurva Patel said, “WebEngage’s comprehensive customer engagement platform truly empowers companies to listen to their customers better, to understand their behaviour deeply by smartly segmenting customers, and to act on that knowledge in a way that is personal. What fascinated us about Avlesh and his team is their ability to gain traction with not only digital businesses, but also with large traditional enterprises. We were also very impressed with customer feedback on the company’s superior customer service and support, and believe this to be their key competitive advantage. Singularity Growth is thrilled to be part of WebEngage’s growth journey in both India and overseas.”
“We have always believed that the best teams build the best products, and in the long run, it’s the best product that wins. This is our 4th investment in WebEngage and we will continue to back them as far as we can. WebEngage also demonstrates our belief that companies that win SaaS in India can go global and repeat their performance,” concluded India Quotient founding partner Anand Lunia.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
