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BabelEar Launches Real-Time In-Ear Translation App to Break Global Language Barriers
- KapTable AI, founded by Arjun Gopinath, has launched BabelEar, a real-time in-ear translation app using OpenAI's infrastructure.
- BabelEar offers instant translation across 100+ languages, is available on Android and iOS, and emphasizes privacy and a BYOK payment model.
- The app targets various sectors like travel, hospitality, and healthcare, providing fast and efficient translation experiences.
- Despite challenges with idioms, BabelEar aims for improved accuracy through advances in generative AI.
- Founder Arjun Gopinath envisions a future where learning multiple languages is optional due to AI advancements.
- KapTable AI plans to customize BabelEar for airports, hospitals, businesses, and government institutions, with upcoming features like offline translation packs and voice cloning.
- BabelEar sets itself apart by dynamically translating any spoken language to the user's preferred language without rigid language pair models.
- All audio processing is done through OpenAI's WebRTC service, and privacy measures include only tracking app downloads and avoiding data logging.
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SiliconCanals
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Delft’s QuantWare extends Series A to €23.3M to unlock the path to million-qubit quantum processors
- QuantWare, a Delft-based company focusing on quantum processors, raised an additional $4.5M, totaling their Series A funding to $27M.
- The funding will be used to enhance chip fabrication facilities, expand the team, and recruit talent.
- QuantWare aims to deliver 1M qubit systems in the near future and is focusing on developing quantum hardware and VIO large quantum processors.
- VIO technology enables scaling for any qubit design and paves the way for systems with over 1 million qubits.
- Existing quantum computers have between 100 and 1,000 qubits, while QuantWare's VIO technology supports larger quantum processors with enhanced computational capabilities.
- Founded in 2020 by Alessandro Bruno and Matthijs Rijlaarsdam, QuantWare operates in 20 countries across four continents, providing quantum computing technology.
- QuantWare offers VIO technology through its quantum processors and provides services to third-party customers.
- The company focuses on addressing the limitations of quantum processors without VIO, which require multiple systems connected, leading to reduced computational efficiency.
- QuantWare's recent funding boost reinforces its mission of developing powerful quantum processors to tackle significant challenges.
- Matthijs Rijlaarsdam, CEO of QuantWare, emphasizes the importance of VIO in advancing quantum computing and building key partnerships in the quantum ecosystem.
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Silicon
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Italy Opens DeepSeek Probe Over False Information
- Italy's antitrust and consumer rights regulator has launched an investigation into Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek for allegedly not adequately warning users about the risk of false information generated by its chatbot's 'hallucinations'.
- DeepSeek faces a separate probe from Italy's data protection regulator for insufficient answers regarding user data processing, leading to a restriction on processing Italian users' data and a call to block the app in Italy.
- Italy's Garante data protection agency took action due to DeepSeek's perceived non-compliance with EU regulations, which led to fines and temporary bans in cases involving AI models like OpenAI and Replika AI.
- Garante fined OpenAI 15 million euros previously and last month fined the company behind Replika AI 5 million euros for failing to safeguard against children's misuse of the service.
- In a legal move, leading AI chip maker Nvidia has filed a lawsuit against the European Commission for investigating its acquisition of Run:ai beyond permitted limits, citing AGCM's role in triggering the probe.
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ISN
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ISN Exclusive: KFC, Pizza Hut operator Devyani International to bring Warren Buffett’s Dairy Queen to India
- Devyani International, the operator of KFC and Pizza Hut, plans to bring Warren Buffett's Dairy Queen to India to expand its fast-food offerings.
- Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway acquired Dairy Queen in 1997 for $585 million, and Buffett is known to be a fan of the brand.
- Devyani International aims to capture more of the fast-food market in India with Dairy Queen.
- Buffett is a fan of Dairy Queen's vanilla soft serve and banana split, which may soon be available in India.
- Devyani International did not respond to queries regarding the move.
- The company is looking to diversify its portfolio amidst increasing losses.
- In Q4FY25, the company's net loss widened to Rs 14.7 crore while revenue increased by 16% to Rs 1,213 crore.
- Devyani's management hinted at expanding its portfolio of international brands.
- Devyani International has recently acquired a majority stake in Biryani By Kilo to enhance its portfolio.
- The company has partnerships with brands like New York Fries, Tealive, and Sanook Kitchen.
- The expansion with Dairy Queen follows the company's trend of collaborating with international brands.
- Devyani International is set to introduce more international brands in the current year.
- The move to bring Dairy Queen to India comes after the acquisition of a majority stake in Biryani By Kilo.
- Devyani International is focused on increasing its presence and offerings in the fast-food segment.
- The company's decision to diversify its portfolio aligns with its strategy of entering new segments and collaborations.
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AllTopStartups
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Losing Customers? Expert Reveals 5 Key Data Mistakes That Could be Hurting Your Online Business
- Adobe's 2024 Digital Trends report reveals that only 26% of customers rate their digital brand experience as 'excellent.'
- Key data mistakes can drive potential customers away, impacting customer loyalty.
- Personalization plays a vital role in attracting customers; companies achieving personalization see ten times more conversions.
- Utilizing customer data for personalized marketing can lead to increased loyalty and upsell opportunities.
- Artificial intelligence aids in analyzing data for refined customer targeting and increased revenue from personalization.
- Supplying various online support options can enhance the customer experience, with shoppers willing to pay more for exceptional service.
- Omnichannel marketing strategies can lead to increased revenue and profitability, yet a significant percentage fail to implement a cohesive strategy.
- Spelling mistakes in onsite copy can harm a brand's credibility; businesses should review and optimize content regularly to maintain professionalism.
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AllTopStartups
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UK Ranks Among Most ‘Investing-obsessed’ Nations – Beating US and India: Study
- Younger generations are increasingly turning to investing for long-term wealth amidst financial uncertainty, with under-40s investing monthly tripling over the past decade.
- In the UK, 61% of individuals are now investing, with a significant interest in cryptocurrencies, stocks, and forex.
- BrokerChooser analyzed global search volumes for investment-related phrases to identify the top 10 countries most curious about investing.
- Australia leads as the most investment-curious nation, with a high interest in stocks and cryptocurrencies.
- Singapore ranks second in investment curiosity, showing interest in crypto, forex, and general investing queries.
- Kenya takes third place, with a focus on forex-related terms, surpassing other countries in forex interest.
- New Zealand ranks fourth, with cryptocurrency searches dominating and significant investments made in Wall Street.
- Canada closes the top five, with popular assets being stocks and crypto, as many Canadians are willing to take on more risk for financial goals.
- Globally, interest in investing is increasing, with people overcoming hesitations through knowledge and expert guidance to build sustainable wealth.
- Adam Nasli from BrokerChooser emphasizes the importance of understanding key concepts like risk management and diversification to make informed investment decisions for long-term goals.
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Inc42
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Zepto Defers IPO To Focus On Profitability, Boost Domestic Shareholding: Aadit Palicha
- Zepto's IPO is delayed to 2026 to focus on profitability and boost domestic shareholding, as cofounder and CEO Aadit Palicha revealed.
- The delay is due to a private funding opportunity, not lack of readiness, as the company aims to increase domestic ownership.
- Recent domestic funding injections from Motilal Oswal's founders and expected capital from Edelweiss and HeroMoto will bolster Zepto.
- Palicha emphasized that the IPO will follow a major private funding round.
- About 65% of the IPO draft (DRHP) has been completed, indicating readiness for the public offering.
- Zepto, nearing EBITDA breakeven, has achieved substantial growth, launching stores and reaching $4 billion in GMV.
- The company targets EBITDA profitability in the final quarter of FY26, with reduced cash burn.
- Zepto disputes claims of high cash burn compared to industry peers and plans to increase domestic ownership to over 50%.
- The company doubled revenue in FY24 and aims for over 50% domestic ownership before listing.
- Zepto relocated its domicile to India and renamed the entity in preparation for the IPO.
- The FDA revoked a food business license at Zepto's parent warehouse but later reinstated it following compliance measures.
- Zepto's IPO, initially planned for 2025, was set to be valued between $800 Mn-$1 Bn.
- The company's domestic shareholding was around 20% after the $100 Mn fund injection in May.
- Zepto's growth trajectory and strategic funding delays signal a strong emphasis on financial stability and growth before going public.
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Eu-Startups
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French FoodTech startup Fungu’it raises €4 million to reinvent natural flavorings through fungi fermentation
- French FoodTech startup Fungu’it raised €4 million in funding to build an industrial pilot plant and accelerate the commercialization of its natural flavorings.
- The funding round was led by Asterion Ventures with participation from Evolem and UI Investissement.
- Fungu’it focuses on producing natural flavorings through solid-state fungi fermentation, promoting sustainable and organic ingredients.
- The startup uses filamentous fungi to transform agricultural by-products into high-value ingredients, reducing water and energy consumption.
- Fungu’it's innovative approach aims to create flavors that are accurate, vibrant, and accessible, enhancing the agro-food sector's transformation.
- The startup stabilized flagship ingredients, including a meaty umami flavor for plant-based alternatives and an innovative chocolate flavor that reduces cocoa usage.
- The global market for natural flavorings is growing rapidly, driven by the demand for healthier and more sustainable solutions.
- Fungu’it plans to build an industrial pilot plant, patent its process, and strengthen its sales team to accelerate commercialization.
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Startup Pedia
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Netflix’s Ted Sarandos lauds Aryan Khan’s directorial debut ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’ on Nikhil Kamath podcast
- Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos praised Aryan Khan's directorial debut 'The Ba**ds of Bollywood' during a podcast with Nikhil Kamath.
- The series promises a satirical take on the Indian cinema world, described as fun, sharp, and full of humor.
- The show is expected to blend drama, humor, and industry satire, exploring the contradictions behind Bollywood's glamour.
- Sarandos emphasized India's potential in entertainment, recognizing the country's imminent growth.
- Netflix's adaptive streaming technology caters to India's diverse digital infrastructure, ensuring high-quality viewing even in low bandwidth areas.
- Aryan Khan aims to establish a creative identity through directing, distinct from his father's on-screen career.
- The release date for 'The Ba**ds of Bollywood' is pending announcement.
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Silicon
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OpenAI ‘Considers’ Making Antitrust Allegations Against Microsoft
- OpenAI executives have reportedly considered leveraging antitrust accusations against Microsoft to loosen the firm's control under their six-year investment deal, which includes seeking a federal regulatory review and conducting a public campaign.
- The disagreement stemmed from Microsoft's access to all of OpenAI's intellectual property, including that of the acquired coding start-up Windsurf, which OpenAI aims to keep separate to enhance its coding offerings competing with Microsoft's GitHub Copilot.
- Microsoft's investments in OpenAI total over $10 billion, and OpenAI requires Microsoft's approval to transition into a public benefit corporation, with more than $20 billion in funding depending on the conversion by year-end.
- Microsoft allowed OpenAI to initiate the Stargate data center project, despite an obligation for Microsoft to be the sole cloud provider under their agreement, while also expanding its AI offerings independently.
- OpenAI seeks to offer its products through other cloud providers like Google Cloud, leading to conflicts with Microsoft, known for hiring talent to strengthen its AI projects in competition with OpenAI.
- OpenAI's plans to broaden its cloud provider reach have led to disputes with Microsoft over ownership proportions post-public-benefit conversion, with Microsoft and OpenAI negotiating crucial terms amid regulatory examinations.
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Economic Times
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German defence startup Helsing raises $693 million in latest investment round
- German defence start-up Helsing has raised 600 million euros ($693.30 million) in its latest investment round, led by Spotify founder Daniel Ek.
- The investment round has increased Helsing's value to $12 billion, positioning it among the top five private tech companies in Europe.
- Prima Materia, an investment company by Daniel Ek and Spotify investor Shakil Khan, led the investment round and doubled its investment in Helsing.
- Other investors in the round included Lightspeed Ventures, Accel, Plural, General Catalyst, and SAAB.
- Helsing, based in Munich, specializes in AI software and is expanding to produce drones, aircraft, and submarines.
- The start-up aims to capitalize on increased government defense spending due to rising geopolitical tensions.
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ISN
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WhatsApp to start showing ads in parts of the app as Meta pushes for revenue growth
- WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is introducing new features in its 'Updates' tab to generate revenue without affecting user experience.
- The Updates tab, used by 1.5 billion people daily, will support paid channel subscriptions, promoted channels, and ads in the Status format.
- The subscription model allows channel admins to offer exclusive content for a monthly fee, helping creators and businesses earn revenue.
- Meta is rolling out tools to promote Channels within the directory, allowing admins to pay for placement.
- WhatsApp will display ads in the Status section of the Updates tab, similar to Instagram Stories format, to help users discover products and services.
- Monetization tools will not compromise user privacy, with personal messages and call metadata remaining encrypted and excluded from ad-targeting criteria.
- WhatsApp will use limited signals like country, city, language, followed Channels, and ad interaction to show relevant ads.
- Users may see personalization based on Instagram or Facebook activity if linked to Meta Accounts Center.
- WhatsApp assures it does not sell or share phone numbers with advertisers, keeping ad-targeting confined to the Updates tab.
- The introduction of monetization features in WhatsApp signifies a shift from the initial no-advertising stance of its founders, Brian Acton and Jan Koum.
- WhatsApp's new features will be gradually rolled out globally in the coming months.
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Startup Story
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Karnataka Bike Taxi Ban Spurs ‘Jugaad’: Rapido Rebrands as Parcel Service to Skirt Court Order
- In response to the Karnataka bike taxi ban, Rapido has rebranded as a parcel service to bypass the court order.
- The Karnataka High Court upheld the ban on two-wheeler taxi services, leading Rapido to offer 'bike parcel' courier services.
- Individuals can book themselves as parcels for commuting under the guise of deliveries.
- This workaround, known as 'parcel rides' or 'desi jugaad,' gained viral attention on social media.
- Critics argue that the ban on bike taxis disproportionately affects daily wage workers and students who rely on them for transport.
- The Karnataka government has been reluctant to introduce specific regulatory guidelines on bike taxis.
- The court has declined to lift the ban, with a further hearing scheduled for June 24.
- A video emerged showing a Rapido rider allegedly assaulting a woman passenger, leading to the rider's arrest.
- While the 'parcel' hack is helping commuters, its legality and sustainability are uncertain.
- The incident highlights the need for clear regulations in the urban mobility sector.
- Rapido's move showcases the innovative approach of Indian startups in overcoming regulatory challenges.
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SiliconCanals
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Rotterdam-based umob secures €3.5M to deliver MaaS for the masses across Europe
- Rotterdam-based umob has secured €3.5M in funding to accelerate its Mobility-as-a-Service platform across Europe.
- The funding will support expansion into major European cities and development of its mobility booking platform.
- umob aims to build upon its presence in eleven European countries and strengthen partnerships with providers like Dott, Voi, and Lime.
- The platform offers access to over 500,000 shared mobility vehicles and public transport networks across Western Europe.
- The demand for MaaS solutions is increasing due to urban space limitations and sustainability goals.
- umob's platform integrates various transport modes for easy journey planning and payment through one application.
- The company acquired Finnish company MaaS Global to enhance its platform with the 'Whim' app technology.
- Both founders have experience in developing scalable mobility solutions, with umob headquartered in Rotterdam.
- umob aims to expand its services throughout Europe, focusing on sustainable and accessible mobility.
- The platform positions itself as a strategic partner for municipalities and mobility providers, offering in-house developed technical solutions.
- umob aims to combat traffic congestion and emissions through partnerships with major mobility providers and public transport networks.
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Inc42
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Image Credit: Inc42
Blinkit’s Balewadi Dark Store Resumes Operations : Report
- Blinkit's Balewadi dark store in Pune had its food business licence suspended by the FDA in Maharashtra due to regulatory and food safety concerns.
- The store has now obtained the necessary licence to resume operations after addressing the issues.
- The FDA found the dark store lacking proper licensing, with food items on the floor and workers not following safety protocols.
- Blinkit previously faced backlash for unhygienic practices in a warehouse in Telangana.
- Authorities have been conducting surprise inspections at dark stores of quick commerce companies recently.
- Zepto's warehouse in Mumbai faced a similar issue with its food operating licence being revoked due to unhygienic conditions but later restored.
- The Indian quick commerce industry is projected to reach $40 billion by 2030.
- Dark stores are struggling with maintaining quality, hygiene, and compliance standards.
- Food businesses in India are required to adhere to specific regulations regarding food storage, handling, and manufacturing.
- Consumers have raised concerns about receiving expired or stale food products from quick commerce platforms.
- Social media complaints also point out hidden charges and price discrepancies on these platforms.
- The Central Consumer Protection Authority issued an advisory to ecommerce players to prevent deceptive trade practices.
- Blinkit's Balewadi store's resumption of operations has been reported by Business Standard and Inc42 Media.
- The story is set to be updated with comments from Blinkit and the FDA.
- Compliance with food safety regulations remains a key focus for companies in the quick commerce sector.
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