India’s VerSe Innovation raises over $450 million to expand Dailyhunt and Josh apps globally

India’s VerSe Innovation raises over $450 million to expand Dailyhunt and Josh apps globally

VerSe Innovation, the parent firm of popular news aggregator Dailyhunt and short video app Josh, said on Thursday it has raised over $450 million in a new financing round, just five months after securing $200 million, as the Indian startup looks to expand its offerings to international markets.

Siguler Guff, Baillie Gifford, affiliates of Carlyle Asia Partners Growth II and others financed VerSe Innovation’s Series I round, while existing investors Sofina Group, Qatar Investment Authority and BCap participated.

VerSe Innovation said in a statement that its valuation has more than doubled in the past five months (without disclosing a precise figure). The startup was valued at over $1 billion in its Series H financing round. Update: VerSe Innovation's valuation is "nearing $3 billion" in the new round, said a person familiar with the matter.