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Jupiter partners with CSB Bank to launch its most rewarding RuPay credit card
- Indian fintech firm Jupiter has partnered with CSB Bank to launch the Edge+ CSB Bank RuPay Credit Card, described as their most rewarding and no annual fee card.
- The card integrates UPI and traditional card transactions, providing over Rs 50,000 in annual rewards and financial insights.
- Jupiter's Founder & CEO, Jitendra Gupta, stated that the card represents the company's focus on simple, powerful, and rewarding money experiences.
- The Edge+ card is exclusively available on Jupiter's app and targets digital native and rewards-savvy consumers.
- Rohit K Pandey, President of Jupiter Money, highlighted the innovative rewards program benefits on platforms like Amazon, Myntra, Nykaa, MakeMyTrip, and others.
- Cardholders can enjoy 10% cashback on Amazon, Myntra, and Nykaa, 5% on MakeMyTrip and Yatra, and 1% on other eligible spends, redeemable in various ways.
- Jupiter, founded in 2019, provides financial services such as debit cards, SIPs, mutual funds, savings options, expense management, and UPI payments.
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VC Cafe
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The Series A Crunch Just Got Tighter — Blame (or Thank) GenAI
- The road to Series A funding in 2025 has become steeper and faster, with benchmarks set against the pace of generative AI startups.
- Only 15.5% of companies that raised seed funding in Q1 2023 achieved Series A in 2025, leading to increased milestones and time to reach them.
- GenAI enterprise startups have raised the bar with benchmarks like reaching $2.1 million ARR, raising $4 million in pre-Series A capital, and going from Seed to Series A in 9 months.
- Investor expectations have shifted across all sectors, requiring faster time-to-product-market-fit and execution velocity.
- Key takeaways for GenAI founders include focusing on speed to revenue, having a focused go-to-market strategy, and prioritizing clarity of vision over flexibility.
- A structured GTM sprint model is recommended for Seed to Series A startups, emphasizing the importance of starting narrow, planning aggressively, reviewing weekly, and cutting non-productive efforts.
- Founders are advised to evaluate their strategies to reach $2 million in ARR within 9 months by adjusting ICP, pricing, onboarding, sales processes, and refocusing on revenue.
- For startups not on track to meet Series A benchmarks, adjusting runway expectations, exploring financing options, and considering different growth strategies are suggested.
- Israeli startups are encouraged to establish a presence in the US to enhance growth opportunities, emphasizing the importance of quick market entry.
- The Series A crunch presents challenges but also serves as a catalyst for founders to improve focus, speed, and overall performance.
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Inc42
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PhonePe, Google Pay Lead UPI Race In May
- PhonePe and Google Pay accounted for about 85% of the UPI market share in May, continuing their duopoly.
- PhonePe registered 868.20 Cr transactions worth INR 12.56 Lakh Cr, seeing a 4.2% increase from April.
- Google Pay's UPI transactions rose 4% to 674.04 Cr in May from 648 Cr in April.
- Overall UPI transactions grew 4.4% to 18.68 Bn in May, reaching a new high, with a value of INR 25.14 Lakh Cr.
- Out of the total UPI transactions, app players recorded 18.38 Bn transactions.
- Paytm held onto the third spot with 125.75 Cr transactions worth INR 1.38 Lakh Cr.
- Navi followed with 38.6 Cr transactions valued at INR 21,350.35 Cr.
- Flipkart's super.money and CRED also participated in the UPI race.
- FamApp By Trio remained the eighth largest UPI player with 11.03 Cr transactions in May.
- The debate on MDR for UPI payments continues, with concerns on financial sustainability and promoting digital payments.
- PCI is pushing for the introduction of MDR on UPI transactions above INR 2,000.
- There are reports suggesting potential MDR implementation on UPI transactions above INR 3,000.
- The finance ministry dismissed the reports on MDR implementation as speculative and baseless.
- Paytm's founder mentioned that MDR could increase revenue but also intensify competition in the fintech sector.
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Eu-Startups
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Spanish startup Multiverse Computing raises €189 million to scale technology that compresses LLMs by up to 95%
- San Sebastian-based Multiverse Computing secures €189 million in investment to further develop CompactifAI, a compression technology reducing LLMs by up to 95%.
- Bullhound Capital leads the Series B funding round with support from investors like HP Tech Ventures, SETT, and Forgepoint Capital International.
- Enrique Lizaso Olmos, Founder and CEO of Multiverse Computing, highlights the efficiency improvements offered by their AI model compression technology.
- Multiverse Computing, founded in 2019, specializes in quantum-inspired AI model compression, with their CompactifAI compressing LLMs by up to 95% with minimal precision loss.
- The company has over 160 patents, 100 global customers, and aims to advance efficiently compressed AI models for various industries.
- Multiverse's CompactifAI models offer significant performance improvements and reduce computing requirements, enabling new AI use cases across industries.
- CompactifAI models are highly compressed versions of open-source LLMs, remaining accurate, faster, and decreasing inference costs by 50%-80%.
- HP Inc. has praised Multiverse Computing for its innovative approach to making AI applications more accessible at the edge, potentially benefiting companies of all sizes.
- CompactifAI utilizes Tensor Networks, a quantum-inspired technique developed by Multiverse's Co-founder Román Orús, to simplify neural networks and optimize AI models.
- Compressed versions of top AI models like Llama, DeepSeek, and Mistral are currently available, with more models in development.
- Investors recognize Multiverse Computing's breakthrough in AI processing efficiency and its potential to revolutionize the global deployment and application of AI models.
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Siliconcanals
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London-based Perci Health secures €3.5M to expand virtual cancer clinic across the UK
- London-based virtual cancer care clinic, Perci Health, secures £3M (approximately €3.5M) in fresh funding.
- Funding backed by Macmillan Cancer Support, Guinness Ventures, Conduit Fund, Octopus Ventures, and NHS specialists.
- New funding to be used for AI integration, team expansion, user outreach, and research support.
- Perci aiming to collaborate with insurance providers and partner with the NHS in the future.
- Company founded by Kelly McCabe and Morgan Fitzsimons in 2020 to offer multidisciplinary care across cancer continuum.
- Perci's services include psychological support, physical rehabilitation, nutrition, fertility, and genetic counselling.
- Over 3,000 individuals accessed Perci's services last year alone.
- Platform now available to over 500,000 people in the UK through partnerships with insurers and employers.
- 100% of directors, 80% of leadership team, and 60% of executive board at Perci Health are women.
- Company mission is to transform the cancer care experience with innovative digital solutions and specialist-led support.
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VC Cafe
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Steve Blank at LBS: Lessons from a Lean Startup Legend
- Steve Blank, a serial entrepreneur and key figure in the Lean Startup and Customer Development movements, shared insights at London Business School.
- Blank highlighted the importance of mindset over intelligence or funding in startup ecosystems like Silicon Valley vs Europe.
- In Silicon Valley, failure is embraced as a learning experience, while European culture tends to stigmatize failure.
- The intensity and execution urgency in Silicon Valley and China set them apart in the startup landscape.
- Being a founder is described as a calling requiring grit and resilience, not just a career choice.
- Blank emphasized the brutal realities of the founder journey alongside the passion required to endure.
- AI is underlined as the transformative platform shift of our time by Blank.
- AI is seen as a catalyst with democratized power for founders and the application layer being crucial for value creation.
- Founders are urged to focus on the problem, not just the solution, as they navigate uncertain times and AI-driven disruptions.
- The event served as a reminder to stay agile, lean, and committed to building in the face of change and uncertainty.
- Steve Blank's insights reinforced the enduring relevance of customer development, validated learning, and founder resilience for startups.
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Hackernoon
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The 3 Traits I Never Compromise On When Hiring a Dream Team
- Hiring the right people is both an art and a system.
- Recognizing potential before it turns into performance is crucial.
- Traits to never compromise on include inner drive, thinking in motion, and sometimes valuing potential over experience.
- Inner drive, or intrinsic motivation, is essential as it can't be taught.
- Look for individuals with a thirst for life, who care about creating, building, and improving.
- Spot intrinsic motivation by observing candidates' enthusiasm when discussing their work.
- Thinking in motion, or cognitive flexibility, is vital in navigating changing goals.
- Seek candidates who explore possibilities, narrate their thoughts, and remain calm in uncertain situations.
- Experience is important, but potential paired with the right environment can be more valuable.
- Coaching individuals with strong thinking and real energy can lead to successful hires.
- Great leaders attract star employees by recognizing their potential early on.
- Be the kind of leader candidates want to grow with by nurturing their potential.
- Dream teams are formed by hiring individuals with inner drive, cognitive flexibility, and potential for growth.
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Inc42
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Delhivery Dissolves Its UK Subsidiary
- Delhivery has dissolved its UK subsidiary, Delhivery Corp, as confirmed in an exchange filing.
- The liquidation of the UK subsidiary follows a disclosure made by Delhivery on the BSE in May last year.
- Delhivery Corp's dissolution will not impact the company's revenue as it is not considered a significant subsidiary.
- In the same month last year, Delhivery announced the establishment of Delhivery Robotics India, focusing on drones and air freight services.
- Delhivery, a logistics company founded in 2011, competes with rivals such as Xpressbees, Blue Dart, Ekart Logistics, and Amazon Shipping.
- Delhivery reported profits in all quarters of FY25, marking its first profitable fiscal year.
- The company's net profit for Q4 FY25 was INR 72.6 Cr, significantly higher than the loss in the same quarter a year ago.
- Delhivery's operating revenue in Q4 FY25 grew 6% YoY but declined 9% sequentially.
- The EBITDA doubled YoY to INR 119 Cr in the quarter under review, with an expanded EBITDA margin of 5.4%.
- Including other income, Delhivery's total revenue in Q4 FY25 stood at INR 2,303.5 Cr.
- Delhivery recently proposed to acquire a controlling stake in Ecom Express for INR 1,407 Cr pending CCI approval.
- Both companies stated to the CCI that the acquisition would not significantly impact competition in the logistics industry.
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Economic Times
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Eye on IPO shores, companies set sail for Cayman
- Indian startups building global software products are considering the Cayman Islands for registration, offering flexibility for accessing capital markets worldwide.
- Venture backers like Accel Partners are encouraging early-stage SaaS startups to register in the tax-neutral Cayman Islands.
- Previously, US was the preferred destination for Indian SaaS companies, but now Cayman Islands is gaining traction due to various factors.
- Indian stock markets are becoming more attractive for startups, leading to a shift in preferences for IPO destinations.
- Moving back to India can be costly due to tax implications, with examples of companies paying significant amounts when relocating.
- Cayman Islands is appealing for SaaS startups due to its tax benefits and flexibility in managing global footprints.
- US investors are increasingly comfortable with Cayman Islands as a parent entity for startups with subsidiaries in different countries.
- Setting up in Cayman Islands allows startups the flexibility to move to the US or India as needed.
- The shift in domicile back to India involves inbound mergers to benefit from tax exemptions under the Income Tax Act.
- Certain downsides include the lack of a double taxation avoidance treaty between India and Cayman Islands, leading to potential tax issues for Indian subsidiaries.
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Eu-Startups
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EU-Startups Podcast | Episode 121: Niklas Terrahe, CEO and Co-founder of Pick’em
- Niklas Terrahe, CEO and Co-founder of Pick’em, was featured on the EU-Startups Podcast to discuss their brand reinventing toothpicks.
- Pick’em, founded in 2023 as a student project, has quickly grown into a popular Gen Z-led brand with a unique approach to flavoured toothpicks.
- The brand has gained attention through social media, with millions of views on TikTok and endorsements from influencers like Ryan Reynolds.
- Pick’em focuses on brand storytelling, a social-first strategy, and execution to connect with consumers effectively.
- Key takeaways from the podcast include reinventing 'boring' markets, building entertaining brands, and the importance of genuine sustainability efforts.
- The success of Pick’em showcases that innovative storytelling and connecting with consumers can drive brand growth.
- Flexibility and feedback loops are highlighted as essential for success in direct-to-consumer (D2C) businesses.
- The podcast emphasizes that building buzz doesn't necessarily require a large budget but rather compelling storytelling.
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Inc42
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How GIVA Crafted An INR 500 Cr+ Brand On Silver Jewellery And Lab-Grown Diamonds
- GIVA, founded by Ishendra Agarwal, Nikita Prasad, and Sachin Shetty, grew into a successful INR 505 Cr brand in the silver and lab-grown diamond jewellery space by modernizing silver jewellery and building trust while buying online.
- The company's revenue surged by 100% in FY25 to INR 250 Cr, securing a strong market position alongside competitors like CaratLane and Bluestone.
- India's jewellery market is projected to grow, with GIVA tapping into the trend of lab-grown diamonds and introducing a loyalty program to drive repeat purchases.
- With a focus on lab-grown diamonds, GIVA captured 20% of its FY25 revenues and strategically expanded offline to complement its online presence.
- The company's data-driven approach and product diversification, including sub-brands like Heer By GIVA, contributed to its growth and customer appeal.
- Despite past successes, GIVA faces challenges in India's gold-centric jewellery market and the need for sustained investment in branding and differentiation.
- The startup plans to enter the capital market for further expansion and faces the task of maintaining its competitive edge in a rapidly evolving industry.
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AllTopStartups
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Meet Best Coloring Pages AI: Transform Your Ideas Into Beautiful Coloring Pages
- Best Coloring Pages AI is an AI-powered tool that generates stunning, printable coloring pages.
- It caters to parents, teachers, artists, and coloring enthusiasts, allowing them to create personalized designs.
- The tool offers a library of free printable coloring pages with themes like animals, cartoons, holidays, and flowers.
- Users can upload images or describe their ideas, and the AI transforms them into coloring pages.
- Different coloring styles are available for kids and adults, from simple designs to detailed patterns.
- Pages are downloadable in high-quality PDF format for easy printing and immediate use.
- Best Coloring Pages AI is recommended for those who enjoy coloring or need quick, customizable designs.
- The AI tool simplifies customization and consistently delivers impressive results.
- It offers value for various purposes, including entertainment, education, and relaxation.
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Economic Times
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Spain's Multiverse raises $217 million for compressing AI models
- Spanish AI firm Multiverse Computing has raised 189 million euros ($217 million) to compress AI language models.
- The company has a compression technology that can reduce the size of large language models by up to 95% without performance loss and cost reduction of up to 80%.
- Multiverse's approach combines quantum physics and machine learning concepts, mimicking quantum systems without the need for a quantum computer.
- This funding round makes Multiverse the largest Spanish AI startup, aligning with top European AI startups like Mistral, Aleph Alpha, Synthesia, Poolside, and Owkin.
- Multiverse has already launched compressed versions of popular LLMs like Meta's Llama, China's DeepSeek, and France's Mistral, with more models planned.
- CEO Enrique Lizaso Olmos stated their focus is on compressing widely-used open-source LLMs.
- The compression tool is also accessible on the Amazon Web Services AI marketplace.
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ISN
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Dream11 CEO slams Tesla for refunding $1,000 fee; says, 'Tesla is turning all its fans in India into haters'
- Dream11 CEO, Harsh Jain, criticized Tesla for refunding the $1,000 reservation fee he paid in 2017 for a priority slot in anticipation of Tesla's India launch.
- Jain expressed disappointment over Tesla's decision to cancel the reservation after nearly eight years of waiting.
- He mentioned that investing the $1,000 in Tesla stock in 2017 would be worth nearly $20,000 today.
- Jain clarified that he remains a Tesla fan and wants the opportunity to buy the first Tesla in India once it's available.
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TechCrunch
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Multiverse Computing raises $215M for tech that could radically slim AI costs
- Spanish startup Multiverse Computing raises $215 million in Series B funding for its CompactifAI technology.
- CompactifAI is a quantum-computing inspired compression technology that reduces the size of LLMs by up to 95%, without affecting model performance.
- Multiverse offers compressed versions of well-known open-source LLMs like Llama 4 Scout, achieving a 50%-80% reduction in inference costs.
- Their 'slim' models are faster and more energy-efficient, suitable for applications ranging from PCs to drones.
- CTO Román Orús, known for his work on tensor networks, co-founded Multiverse with CEO Enrique Lizaso Olmos.
- The Series B funding round was led by Bullhound Capital, with the participation of HP Tech Ventures and other investors.
- Multiverse boasts 160 patents and 100 customers globally, including Iberdrola, Bosch, and the Bank of Canada.
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