A naukri.com initiative
Startup News
Inc42
1M
49
Image Credit: Inc42
Centre To Reinitiate Discussions On National Ecommerce Policy
- The Centre has restarted discussions on the national ecommerce policy due to rapid growth in the sector.
- Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal indicated that the ecommerce and retail trade policies are interconnected.
- The ecommerce sector has evolved significantly since the draft ecommerce policy was released in 2019.
- The 2019 draft policy aimed to address data governance, infrastructure development, regulatory concerns, boosting the digital economy, and promoting exports.
- The policy faced opposition, particularly from groups like CAIT, over concerns about foreign investment limits and lack of enforcement mechanisms.
- CAIT criticized Amazon and Flipkart for alleged FDI policy violations, leading to CCI scrutiny.
- Morgan Stanley forecasts a 30% CAGR for the Indian ecommerce market to reach $200 billion by 2026.
- The quick commerce sector is also growing rapidly, with a projected market size of $57 billion by 2030.
- Key players like Blinkit, Instamart, Zepto, and Flipkart Minutes are driving growth in quick commerce.
- Rapid ecommerce expansion has raised concerns about counterfeit goods, deceptive ads, unfair trade practices, and data security.
- The new policy aims to address consumer protection, competition, data security, and regulatory clarity.
- The discussions on the policy aim to revise and make it more contemporary in light of industry developments.
- The Centre sought feedback on the draft policy from stakeholders, leading to debates and criticism.
- The ecommerce sector's growth is driven by internet penetration, digital payments, and increased online shoppers from non-metro areas.
- The discussions will focus on ensuring fair competition, data security, and clear rules for local and global ecommerce players.
- The Centre's reconsideration of the policy indicates the importance of adapting to the evolving ecommerce landscape.
Read Full Article
2 Likes
Alleywatch
1M
72
GrailPay Raises $6.7M Seed to Build Risk Infrastructure for the $86T ACH Payment Market
- GrailPay raises $6.7 million in seed funding to develop risk infrastructure for the $86 trillion ACH payment market, aiming to address fraud, credit risk, and operational challenges in bank payments.
- The company offers a modern intelligence platform for ACH payments, providing predictive analytics and real-time signals across account enrollment, transaction monitoring, and merchant underwriting.
- GrailPay's tools are modular, allowing businesses to integrate intelligence-driven risk management without changing their payment processors.
- Investors in the $6.7 million seed round included Construct Capital, Commerce Ventures, Broadhaven Ventures, Soma Capital, and experienced fintech operators and angels.
- GrailPay targets payment platforms, fintechs, lenders, and software vendors operating in the ACH payment space, which moved $86 trillion last year alone.
- The company generates revenue through a combination of SaaS and usage-based pricing for its intelligence tools and payments stack.
- GrailPay plans to focus on product expansion and market growth in the next six months, aiming to enhance account validation, monitoring, and underwriting capabilities.
- The funding process was relationship-driven, emphasizing the urgency of modernizing ACH infrastructure to investors understanding the complexity and importance of the market.
- GrailPay differentiates itself by offering real-time risk signals and predictive intelligence specific to ACH payments, with an emphasis on automating risk decisions and reducing payment failures.
- The company's core focus on critical infrastructure tools aimed at revenue impact, fraud reduction, and operational automation positions it well for potential economic slowdowns.
Read Full Article
4 Likes
Futurefundraisingnow
1M
67
Why long letters work better in fundraising
- There is a misconception that fundraising letters should be short, but longer letters often perform better.
- Lisa Sargent from the Better Fundraising Blog explains that longer letters can tell a compelling story with emotion, clarity, resonance, truth, and urgency.
- It is important to present a strong offer and provide repeated calls to action in fundraising letters.
- Formatting for readability is crucial in fundraising letters, including proper margins, type size, paragraph indentation, and page elements.
- A one-page letter may not have enough space to convey the necessary information effectively.
- A standard fundraising letter should be four pages long, while longer letters can also be effective.
- Lisa also recommends longer emails for fundraising, with specific advice on structure.
- Short fundraising messages are often considered necessary but may not be as effective as longer, more detailed communications.
Read Full Article
4 Likes
Eu-Startups
1M
130
French Wandercraft raises €64.3 million to take robotics from hospitals to homes and factory floors
- Paris-based robotics company Wandercraft raises €64.3 million in Series D funding to expand its robotic mobility innovations.
- Key backers in the funding round include Renault Group, Bpifrance, and the European Investment Bank.
- Wandercraft's CEO, Matthieu Masselin, emphasizes the company's global expansion and mission to transform people's lives through robotics.
- The company is known for its clinical exoskeletons deployed in over 100 hospitals worldwide.
- The funding will support Wandercraft's move towards consumer and industrial applications, shifting from clinics to homes and workplaces.
- Eve, a self-balancing personal exoskeleton powered by AI, is nearing commercialization and aims to assist individuals with mobility impairments.
- Wandercraft's industrial robot, Calvin-40, developed in collaboration with Renault, is set to enter production soon for factory tasks.
- Renault Group becomes a strategic investor and a commercial customer for Wandercraft's industrial humanoid robot.
- The partnership with Renault will facilitate the scaling of robotic mobility solutions and industrial-grade robotics in Europe.
- Wandercraft's focus on pushing boundaries in robotic mobility is evident through FDA clearances, clinical studies, and revenue growth.
- The company's innovations aim to not only aid individuals with disabilities but also revolutionize industrial work settings.
Read Full Article
7 Likes
Hitconsultant
1M
81
Image Credit: Hitconsultant
Zorro Secures $20M for AI-Powered Benefits Adminstration Platform
- Zorro, a benefits administration platform, secures $20M in Series A funding led by Entrée Capital.
- The platform uses Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRA) combined with AI to offer personalized healthcare plans.
- Zorro aims to shift employers to a defined contribution model for healthcare, providing budget predictability and personalization.
- Zorro's CEO highlights the need for a new approach to healthcare coverage amid rising costs.
- Zorro's platform empowers brokers to compare group plans with ICHRA, helps employers set budgets, and guides employees in selecting suitable plans.
- The company has seen over an 800% increase in enrollments and significant premium savings for clients.
- Over 75% of Zorro's enrolled employees chose plans recommended by the platform without human intervention.
Read Full Article
4 Likes
TechCrunch
1M
157
Image Credit: TechCrunch
Uptime Industries wants to boost localized AI usage with an ‘AI-in-a-box’ called Lemony AI
- Uptime Industries introduces Lemony AI, an 'AI-in-a-box' portable device for on-premise AI infrastructure.
- Lemony AI can run large language models, AI agents, and workflows on a single node, with each device requiring only 65 watts of power.
- Clusters of Lemony nodes can be interconnected to form larger AI clusters, with each node capable of sustaining an LLM up to 75 billion parameters.
- Partnerships with IBM and JetBrains allow easier access to AI models, including closed models, for Uptime's customers.
- The idea for Lemony AI originated from a side project of Uptime's co-founders, leading to the development of a compact device for local AI processing.
- The emphasis on data privacy and ease of adoption aims to encourage organizations, especially those wary of cloud-based models, to embrace AI technologies.
- The device targets businesses in regulated sectors like finance, healthcare, and law, offering a self-contained solution for AI processing.
- Uptime has secured $2 million in seed funding and plans to further develop its devices, expanding compatibility to other hardware like Nvidia DGX Spark.
- Lemony AI is priced at $499 a month for up to five users, with future plans to enhance the software for multi-user team collaborations.
Read Full Article
9 Likes
Startup Pedia
1M
63
Image Credit: Startup Pedia
“If it was a startup, there’d be 20 threads and Netflix doc,” Anupam Mittal talks about HDFC CEO fraud charges
- Anupam Mittal, CEO of Shaadi.com, discussed the fraud allegations against HDFC Bank CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan.
- Mittal highlighted the financial fraud allegations and emphasized the media's relatively subdued response to the incident.
- He pointed out the disparity in reactions between allegations involving legacy institutions like HDFC Bank versus those involving startup founders.
- Mittal criticized what he perceives as a double standard in how allegations against startups versus established institutions are perceived by the media and the public.
- The Shaadi.com CEO noted that startup founders are often unfairly targeted and portrayed negatively in comparison to other stakeholders when businesses face challenges or failures.
- Mittal questioned how differently the situation would be portrayed if the individual involved were a startup founder, suggesting there would be more sensationalized coverage.
Read Full Article
3 Likes
Eu-Startups
1M
76
Paris-based Arlequin AI secures €4.4 million to fight disinformation with sovereign, unsupervised AI
- Paris-based Arlequin AI secures €4.4 million in Seed funding to combat disinformation and restore trust in data insights.
- The funding round was led by Vsquared Ventures and saw participation from various investors and business angels.
- Arlequin AI, founded in 2024, focuses on AI models that require no training data and are resource-efficient.
- The startup aims to address challenges like fragmented data access, data volume overload, and content manipulation.
- Disinformation is identified as a significant threat with potential to destabilize governance systems.
- Arlequin's unsupervised AI models aim to provide comprehensive insights and enable informed decision-making.
- The platform operates without pre-trained datasets, black boxes, and is fully auditable.
- The technology is currently deployed in three European countries and supports various public and private entities.
- Arlequin is establishing research partnerships with prestigious institutions like Princeton University and Sciences Po.
- Their technology is adaptable to sectors beyond data operations, including finance, healthcare, logistics, and marketing.
- The funds raised will support team expansion, R&D efforts, and international expansion.
- The company aims to enhance Europe's independence in technology and combat information chaos.
- Arlequin's approach combines technological prowess with geopolitical understanding to tackle strategic challenges.
- The startup plans to roll out new products regularly, akin to a medical imaging scanner.
- Vsquared Ventures lauds Arlequin for its strategic technology that aligns with Europe's need for independence.
- In conclusion, Arlequin AI is poised to make advancements in the fight against disinformation using its sovereign, unsupervised AI technology.
Read Full Article
4 Likes
Economic Times
1M
266
Image Credit: Economic Times
Andhra govt signs pact to boost startup ecosystem, entrepreneurial skills
- The Andhra Pradesh government signed an agreement with Cyient Foundation and AICTE to enhance entrepreneurial and innovation skills.
- The tripartite agreement aims to boost startup culture and intellectual property generation in academic institutions.
- Innovation clusters will be launched, starting with Visakhapatnam, to promote entrepreneurial thinking.
- The initiative focuses on bridging industry-academia gaps and strengthening partnerships in Andhra Pradesh.
- Specialized i-CARE and i-CAFE centers will support entrepreneurship and idea incubation statewide.
- IPR and Technology Transfer cells will be set up in engineering colleges, particularly around Visakhapatnam.
- The initiative includes boot camps, hackathons, conclaves, and mentorships to nurture creativity among young innovators.
- APSSDC will coordinate efforts to achieve scalable innovation outcomes across the state.
Read Full Article
16 Likes
Medium
1M
234
Image Credit: Medium
9 Industry Sectors in the UAE That Are Being Transformed by Mobile Apps
- Mobile apps are revolutionizing various industry sectors in the UAE, transforming how businesses operate in the digital economy.
- Key sectors like e-commerce, healthcare, property, finance, transportation, education, tourism, food delivery, and utilities are experiencing significant changes through mobile applications.
- In the e-commerce sector, mobile apps are reshaping consumer shopping experiences due to high smartphone penetration and a tech-savvy population.
- Healthcare apps offer digital consultations, appointment bookings, and better patient care while adhering to government regulations in the UAE.
- Property apps have revolutionized property transactions and management in markets like Dubai.
- Financial services in UAE are shifting towards cashless transactions, with fintech companies developing innovative mobile-first solutions.
- Transportation apps are enhancing mobility, optimizing routes, and improving commuting experiences in fast-paced cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Education institutions are adopting mobile apps for remote learning, skill development, and improving student engagement.
- Tourism in the UAE is leveraging mobile technology to enhance visitor experiences and streamline bookings.
- Food and grocery delivery apps are transforming the dining experience, offering discovery, customization, and quick service.
- Utility management apps are contributing to smart city initiatives and enhancing customer engagement in the UAE.
- Developing a mobile app is becoming essential for businesses in the UAE to drive growth, improve customer satisfaction, and stay competitive in the digital era.
- Collaborating with experienced app development companies in the UAE is crucial for designing, launching, and optimizing mobile apps tailored to specific industry needs.
- Investing in a mobile app is seen as a strategic move to ensure business scalability, customer retention, and brand differentiation in the evolving market.
- The UAE is at the forefront of mobile transformation, with a focus on building smart government systems, consumer apps, and sustainable solutions across industries.
- To remain competitive beyond 2025, businesses in various sectors need to embrace mobile app development and work with trusted partners in the UAE.
- Partnering with reputable app development companies in the UAE can help businesses achieve their goals, scale operations, and drive real results through innovative mobile strategies.
Read Full Article
14 Likes
SiliconCanals
1M
194
Image Credit: SiliconCanals
Munich-based Omnisent raises €2.6M to help machines ‘hear’ the world around us
- Munich-based Omnisent, with roots in Cambridge University and Imperial College, secures $3M in a pre-Seed round led by Atlantic Labs.
- Omnisent is lauded for its category-defining technologies by Christophe F. Maire from Atlantic Labs.
- The startup leverages proprietary acoustic hardware and algorithms to unlock a new sensing dimension.
- Omnisent is dedicated to acoustic intelligence, using custom hardware and software to interpret environmental sounds.
- Founded in 2024, the company merges Physics, Machine Learning, and Mechanical Engineering expertise.
- Omnisent employs ultra-low-power sonic devices and a Large Acoustic Model for sound interpretation.
- Applications of Omnisent's technology include infrastructure monitoring, manufacturing, health diagnostics, and environmental sensing.
- The company aims to create a new AI category focused on understanding non-speech audio.
- The funding will aid Omnisent's R&D, team expansion, operational growth, and commercial launch in Q4 2025.
- Omnisent plans to address electricity loss from air leaks in the manufacturing industry with its technology.
- The startup intends to expand into energy, defense, space, and smart cities sectors.
- Prof. Tim Minshall commends Omnisent for transforming cutting-edge research into real-world impact.
Read Full Article
11 Likes
Medium
1M
196
Image Credit: Medium
Tech Startup IPOs in Emerging Venture Markets: A Deep Dive on Talabat and the Broader Opportunity
- The MENA region has become a hub for tech startup IPOs with exchanges like DFM, ADX, and Tadawul being important for listing activity.
- Tech startups are at the forefront of a shift in emerging venture markets, making public markets more accessible to digital-first businesses.
- The Talabat IPO is seen as part of a broader trend indicating increasing IPOs in emerging markets.
- Future success in IPOs for tech startups from emerging markets will likely stem from sectoral innovation, regulatory changes, and increased participation by investors.
Read Full Article
9 Likes
Eu-Startups
1M
63
The rise of dual-use innovation: Latvia’s startups making global strides (Sponsored)
- Latvia is gaining recognition for dual-use innovation, combining civilian and defence technologies, with startups excelling in mobility, security, and simulation sectors.
- European VC investments in defence startups reached €4.8 billion in 2024, supporting Latvia's agile startups with scalable technologies for military and commercial use.
- Deep Tech Atelier 2025 showcased AI, autonomous systems, and modular design in the defence-tech ecosystem, focusing on operational efficiency and international collaboration.
- Latvian universities signed a cooperation memorandum to boost defence and security research, highlighting the country's commitment to innovation in these fields.
- The event featured five Latvian startups shaping dual-use technology, including electric mobility, unmanned ground platforms, autonomous drones, XR trauma simulation, and military e-scooters.
- These startups offer innovative solutions that cater to a range of sectors from extreme terrains to urban security, showcasing their adaptability and engineering potential.
- Latvia's tech ecosystem, supported by university collaborations and public funding, is driving defence innovation to mainstream markets, positioning the Baltics as a significant player in European security innovation.
- Deep Tech Atelier events serve as platforms for breakthroughs and demonstrate the growing influence of Baltic nations in the realm of dual-use technologies.
- The conference drew over 2,000 attendees from 62 countries, highlighting the global interest in Latvia's dual-use innovations and defence technology advancements.
- The next Deep Tech Atelier is scheduled for May 2026 in Riga, continuing to showcase the latest advancements in dual-use technology and innovation.
Read Full Article
3 Likes
Economic Times
1M
342
Image Credit: Economic Times
Rapido will need to go all out to battle Zomato, Swiggy in food delivery, say brokerages
- Rapido, a mobility company, is gearing up to enter the competitive food delivery market currently dominated by Zomato and Swiggy.
- Brokerages believe Rapido will face challenges in attracting customers and may need to heavily rely on discounts to compete.
- Analysts suggest Rapido's entry may not significantly impact the market share of Zomato and Swiggy.
- Rapido plans to pilot its food delivery service in Bengaluru with a competitive flat commission structure.
- To achieve even 5% of Zomato's gross merchandise value, Rapido will need to invest $30-40 million.
- Rapido raised Rs 125 crore from Nexus Venture Partners for its food delivery venture.
- A rapid scale-up by Rapido through discounts could affect the financials of Zomato and Swiggy.
- Zomato and Swiggy are expected to retain high take rates compared to global peers despite the competitive landscape.
- HSBC Global Research anticipates muted growth in the food delivery sector.
- Kotak does not foresee a threat to Zomato and Swiggy's take rates from Rapido or other competitors.
Read Full Article
20 Likes
Inc42
1M
379
Image Credit: Inc42
Exclusive: On-Demand Salary Startup Refyne Bags INR 35 Cr Debt
- Fintech startup Refyne, offering on-demand salary access, secures INR 35 Cr debt from Stride Ventures.
- Refyne to issue 3,500 Series A debentures at INR 1 Lakh each according to MCA filing.
- The capital will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.
- Refyne allows employees to access earned salaries on-demand through its platform.
- The startup caters to over 1 Cr employees from 500+ companies in India.
- Refyne charges a convenience fee when employees withdraw funds and offers loans with interest.
- It secured $82 Mn in Series B funding led by Tiger Global and has raised over $100 Mn to date.
- Refyne competes with multiple players in the EWA and lending tech space in India.
- The company reported a 27% decrease in net loss in FY24 and revenue surged by 59%.
- The lending tech market in India is booming with a projected $2.1 Tn market opportunity by 2030.
- Startups like CRED and Fibe have recently raised significant funds in the lending space.
Read Full Article
22 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app