
PB Healthcare raises $218 million in one of India's largest seed rounds
Policy bazar
BENGALURU: In one of the largest
seed funding
rounds in India,
PB Healthcare
Services has secured $218 million to build an integrated, value-based care platform targeting the country's underserved middle class.
The round was led by US-based venture capital firm General Catalyst, with participation from PB Fintech among others.
PB Healthcare is the latest venture from Yashish Dahiya, founder and CEO of PB Fintech, which operates
Policybazaar
, a digital insurance marketplace. The new health entity aims to address structural gaps in affordability and access to healthcare by combining hospital infrastructure with low-cost insurance offerings.
Operation Sindoor
IC-814 hijacking mastermind Abdul Rauf Azhar killed in Op Sindoor
Pahalgam attack: India flays Pak for opposing TRF mention in UN statement
Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said
The company plans to establish a nationwide network of high-quality secondary care hospitals bundled with targeted insurance plans, operating within a closed-loop model from care to claims. General Catalyst described this as part of a broader shift from 'reactive healthcare to health assurance' – with a focus on proactive, affordable, and accessible care delivery.
'India's middle class – over 400 million people – still lacks affordable access to basic healthcare services,' General Catalyst said in a blog post.
'PB Health is building one of the country's first truly integrated care platforms to change that.'
Neeraj Arora, managing director at General Catalyst, said the firm believes India has an opportunity to leapfrog legacy healthcare models. 'Yashish has already built one of India's largest insurance platforms and is uniquely positioned to deliver impact at scale.'
Dahiya noted that the investment will go toward building a tech-first, patient-centric healthcare system. 'Our focus remains on improving outcomes, enhancing trust, and redefining the care journey for millions across India,' he said.
PB Healthcare's leadership team includes seasoned hospital executive Rajeev Bhandari as head of operations, bringing over two decades of healthcare management experience across global markets.
Stay informed with the latest
business
news, updates on
bank holidays
and
public holidays
.
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Economic Times
22 minutes ago
- Economic Times
After losses in FTX, which went bankrupt in 2022, Temasek slashes early-stage startup investments by 88%
Conservative Approach Replaces High-Risk Betting Live Events Temasek's Shift After FTX Fallout A Broader Trend Across Venture Capital FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel After the collapse of crypto exchange FTX , Singapore's state-owned investment firm Temasek has significantly scaled back its involvement in early-stage startups, cutting investments by 88% over three years, as per a which is one of the world's biggest investors, has changed its strategy to focus more on conservative investments as it now makes bigger commitments to a smaller number of companies that are closer to going public, as per the Financial investment group pointed out that it has reduced its early-stage investments to 6% of its portfolio in 2021 because it is 'cognisant of the risks and challenges early-stage companies face,' as quoted in the READ: Ray Dalio joins Jamie Dimon in warning U.S. debt nearing point of no return, approaching death spiral Temasek said, 'We have seen a market pullback in investment flows into early-stage investing since 2022 and, as a result, have adopted a more cautious approach to new investments,' quoted Financial firm's investments in early-stage startup companies declined to $509 million in 2024 from $4.4 billion in 2021 and this year, Temasek has committed $70 million to these companies, reported Financial Singapore-based company's strategy changed after it had to write off its $275 million investment in FTX, which went bankrupt in 2022, according to the this has become a trend as the number of active US venture capital investors has fallen since 2021, which was a peak year for the VCs, according to Pymnts per data from PitchBook, the number of VCs investing in US-based companies fell from 8,315 in 2021 to 6,175 in 2024, reported the Financial 88% over three years. It dropped from $4.4 billion in 2021 to just $509 million in conservative investments. It's putting more money into fewer companies that are more stable and closer to going public.


Hindustan Times
31 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Trump signs order to double steel, aluminium import tariffs to 50%
New Delhi: A 50% tariff on steel and aluminium imports into the United States went into effect on Wednesday, doubling the previous rate as President Donald Trump cited national security concerns for the dramatic escalation in trade protections. The new tariff rates, increased from an earlier 25% rate, were announced by Trump in a statement on Tuesday. The president claimed legal authority to impose the tariffs through Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the president to address national security risks arising from imports. 'In my judgement, the increased tariffs will more effectively counter foreign countries that continue to offload low-priced, excess steel and aluminium in the United States market and thereby undercut the competitiveness of the United States steel and aluminium industries,' read Trump's statement released by the White House. Trump said the earlier 25% tariff rates, first announced in February and implemented on March 12, had helped America's steel industry but had not enabled companies to maintain the capacity needed to meet national defence needs. 'I have determined that increasing the previously imposed tariffs will provide greater support to these industries and reduce or eliminate the national security threat posed by imports of steel and aluminium articles and their derivative articles,' Trump said. The tariff increase comes amid broader trade disputes at the World Trade Organisation. Several countries, including India, have formally challenged the US measures, characterising them as 'safeguard measures' that violate WTO rules and threaten retaliatory action. In May, India formally notified the WTO that it viewed America's tariffs on steel and aluminium as safeguard measures and indicated it could suspend 'concessions and other obligations' given to the US and that it retains the right to enforce retaliatory measures. On May 22, America rejected India's characterisation of the tariffs as safeguard measures and refused to engage in talks on the matter. The introduction of tariffs has proven controversial within the US. The America Iron and Steel Institute, an industry group, has welcomed the increased tariffs as a necessary measure to protect domestic producers from cheaper foreign competition. However, manufacturers using steel as input for production have publicly raised concerns that more expensive steel will impact competitiveness across other domestic industries. For India specifically, the consequences are direct and substantial. According to the Global Trade Research Institute (GTRI), a New Delhi-based research group, India exported $4.56 billion worth of iron, steel, and aluminium products to the US in FY2025, with key categories including $587.5 million in iron and steel, $3.1 billion in articles of iron or steel, and $860 million in aluminium and related articles. 'These exports are now exposed to sharply higher US tariffs, threatening the profitability of Indian producers and exporters,' the GTRI said in a brief.


Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
After US, Amul launches milk in Spain, EU
Vadodara: After making waves in the United States, home-grown dairy giant Amul has now stepped into Europe, launching its fresh milk products in Spain and the European Union (EU). The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (Amul Fed) announced a strategic partnership with Spain's premier dairy cooperative, Cooperativa Ganadera del Valle de los Pedroches (COVAP), to bring Amul milk to European shelves. The official launch ceremony was held at the Indian Embassy in Madrid and was attended by dignitaries including Dinesh K Patnaik, India's ambassador to Spain; D Fernando Heredia Noguera, deputy director for International Relations and Community Affairs at the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Ricardo Delgado Vizcaíno, president of COVAP and senior executives from Amul. Initially, Amul milk will be available in Madrid and Barcelona, with plans to expand soon to Malaga, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Córdoba, and even Lisbon in neighbouring Portugal. Looking ahead, Amul aims to spread its presence to Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and beyond. Jayen Mehta, managing director of GCMMF, expressed pride in the collaboration: "Partnering with COVAP, a respected Spanish dairy cooperative, allows us to nourish Spanish consumers with the goodness of Amul milk. This is the first time Amul fresh milk is being launched in Europe and it aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to make Amul a truly global dairy brand." Marking the United Nations' International Year of Cooperatives in 2025, Mehta added, "We are confident that Amul will connect with Indians worldwide and showcase the power of cooperation between dairy cooperatives." Ricardo Delgado Vizcaíno highlighted the mutual benefits: "This partnership helps both COVAP's farmer-members and Indian dairy farmers grow their brands, combining COVAP's technology and high-quality milk with Amul's renowned global reputation." Founded in 1959 in Córdoba, COVAP is a key player in Andalusia's agri-food sector with over 2,000 farmer-members. Its state-of-the-art dairy plant processes more than 400 million litres of milk annually and exports to over 30 countries, including the US, UK, and Asia. Amul, the world's largest farmer-owned dairy cooperative, processes over 12 billion litres of milk annually. With a brand turnover exceeding $11 billion, Amul ranks as the eighth-largest milk processor globally, operating 112 dairy plants across India and handling 42 million litres of milk per day.