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Gritdaily
2w
100
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Demonstrating Excellence: Jefferson Harte Nielson’s Contributions to Information Technology
- Jefferson Harte Nielson is a strategic leader excelling in information technology and creating software solutions for life sciences research.
- He founded Ario Health in 2024, focusing on AI for medical research, and serves as a strategic advisor at Karlsgate Inc.
- Nielson previously led business development at Karlsgate Inc. and co-founded Echelon Technology Advisors.
- His academic background includes a bachelor's degree in political science, premedical studies, and an MBA.
- Starting in life sciences, Nielson transitioned to technology roles at IBM and Veeva Systems, excelling in leadership and innovation.
- At Veeva Systems, he developed a global services program for Veeva Vault, showcasing exceptional leadership and project management skills.
- Nielson's professional journey includes diverse roles and achievements, reflecting deep expertise and exceptional leadership abilities.
- He is actively engaged in industry organizations and has received awards for his contributions to the field.
- Nielson's commitment extends to civic activities, such as serving as a fundraising consultant and medical assistant.
- Future endeavors include expanding AI solutions in life sciences and launching the industry blog Artificially Real.
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Inc42
2w
95
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[Update] D2C Jewellery Startup GIVA Nets INR 530 Cr From Creaegis, Others
- D2C jewellery startup GIVA raised INR 530 Cr in its latest funding round led by Creaegis.
- Existing investors like Premji Invest, Epiq Capital, and Edelweiss Discovery Fund also participated.
- The funds will be used to enhance retail and digital presence, upgrade supply chain tech, and expand product offerings.
- GIVA plans to open 145-150 stores targeting tier II cities, adding to its current 240+ stores.
- COO Aditya Labroo has been promoted as a co-founder of the Bengaluru-based startup.
- GIVA is valued at $374 Mn, up from $254 Mn in its last funding round.
- A resolution was passed to issue Series C CCPS to raise INR 450 Cr, with Creaegis leading the investment.
- Premji Invest and Epiq Capital are among the backers injecting funds.
- GIVA widened its product range to include gold and lab-grown diamond jewellery alongside silver.
- Currently, GIVA operates 199 stores across tier I & II cities and sells through various channels including its website and shop-in-shop setups.
- The company raised funding from Alteria Capital and Northern Arc earlier to expand its retail presence.
- GIVA's operating revenue increased by 66% YoY to INR 273.6 Cr, but its net loss widened due to increased metal procurement costs.
- The Indian online jewellery market sees GIVA competing with various players like Palmonas, Voylla, and BlueStone.
- BlueStone, GIVA's competitor, is preparing for a public listing in 2025 after receiving SEBI approval.
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Economic Times
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339
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Deeptech startup Sthyr Energy raises $1 million from Speciale Invest, Antares Ventures
- Sthyr Energy, a deeptech startup, raised $1 million in seed funding from Speciale Invest and Antares Ventures.
- Founded by researchers from IIT Madras, the startup is developing Zinc-Air battery systems for energy storage.
- The batteries use water-based electrolytes for safety and have modular deployment capabilities.
- The funding will be utilized for research, pilot projects, and product scaling.
- Potential applications include grid operators, renewable energy farms, microgrids, and defense sectors.
- Sthyr aims to provide a competitive cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries for long-duration storage.
- Globally, various technologies are being explored for energy storage, with a limited direct competition in Zinc batteries in India.
- The need for long-duration energy storage is high in countries with increased renewable energy penetration.
- Sthyr's technology could support the acceleration of renewable energy adoption in India.
- Speciale Invest highlighted Sthyr's team for their technical excellence and mission-driven approach.
- The funding will aid Sthyr Energy in furthering research and development, as well as in piloting and scaling up its product.
- Grid operators, asset management companies, microgrids, and defense sectors are potential users of Sthyr's Zinc-Air battery systems.
- Sthyr's batteries are expected to offer a competitive levelized cost of energy for long-duration storage.
- The company's architecture enables modular deployments at different scales, enhancing its versatility and applicability.
- Sthyr Energy's technology could play a vital role in tackling the bottleneck in clean energy adoption, as per Speciale Invest's managing partner.
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SiliconCanals
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65
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Sweden’s Norrsken commits €300M to support European startups using AI for global good
- Norrsken Foundation commits €300M to invest in European startups using AI for good.
- Funding drawn from Norrsken VC, Accelerator, and Launcher for companies addressing global challenges with AI.
- Focus areas include climate, health, food systems, education, and societal infrastructure.
- In 2024, AI startups raised over $110B, a significant portion of global VC funding.
- Norrsken believes AI can transform systems and create real impact by addressing critical issues.
- Norrsken Partners emphasize using AI to solve urgent challenges, not just for productivity gains.
- Criteria for investments align with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure impact and sustainability.
- Norrsken Foundation, founded in 2016, aims to solve pressing global challenges and support startups.
- Global impact ecosystem provides founders with knowledge, capital, and networks to address world issues.
- Norrsken House in Sweden and Kigali support startups, with Norrsken VC investing in impactful startups.
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SiliconCanals
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182
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Netherlands-based AIKON Health secures €1.2M to advance remote heart failure monitoring technology
- Netherlands-based AIKON Health secures €1.2M in seed funding led by TTT Medtech fund for remote heart failure monitoring technology.
- Funding round includes participation from BOM, BSF, RIL, and TNO Ventures.
- AIKON Health's wearable for heart failure monitoring receives support for its clinical relevance from investors.
- The company aims to shift heart failure care from hospital to home with its wearable device.
- Heart failure affects over 15 million Europeans with monitoring challenges, leading to avoidable costs.
- AIKON's technology allows continuous monitoring of patients' health indicators from home to enable remote clinical decision-making.
- The wearable device uses TNO's expertise in printed and flexible electronics for remote patient monitoring.
- AIKON Health focuses on achieving FDA approval for its technology to enter European and American healthcare markets.
- Funds will support product development and clinical validation towards FDA approval.
- The company targets reducing heart failure patients' hospital readmissions by 25% through its modular wearable solution.
- AIKON Health is part of TNO Ventures' efforts to commercialize breakthrough technologies and strengthen the Dutch innovation ecosystem.
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Inc42
2w
306
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Former ideaForge Executive’s Armory Bags Funding To Build Defence Tech Systems
- Former ideaForge executive Amardeep Singh's defense tech startup Armory has secured INR 13 Cr funding in a round led by growX ventures.
- The funding round also included participation from Industrial 47, Antler, AC Ventures, and Dexter Ventures.
- Armory plans to utilize the funds for R&D and expanding its manufacturing capacity.
- The startup focuses on developing indigenous Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) for detecting and destroying rogue drones.
- Armory's flagship system SURGE has completed trials with multiple army regiments and the startup has also developed an AI-based defense operating system called Samaritan OS.
- The investment in Armory comes amid growing interest in defense tech startups due to recent geopolitical situations and operations like Operation Sindoor.
- India's defense tech sector is booming, offering opportunities for investors as deeptech startups raised $2 Bn between 2014 and 2024.
- The Make-in-India initiative has spurred the growth of over 1,000 defense tech startups, reducing defense equipment imports and boosting indigenous product usage.
- India's defense production reached a record INR 1.27 Lakh Cr in FY24, with exports hitting an all-time high of INR 23,622 Cr in FY25.
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Startup Pedia
2w
118
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Google launches AI Mode in India for users to ask multi-layered questions at once
- Google has launched AI Mode in India as part of a Labs experiment in English.
- AI Mode allows users to ask multi-layered questions and receive detailed responses with links for further exploration.
- The feature uses a custom version of Gemini 2.5 and Google's proprietary query fan-out technique.
- Users can ask nuanced or layered questions at once instead of searching multiple terms separately.
- AI Mode supports text, voice, or image-based queries and provides structured answers.
- It enables smarter follow-up questions for deeper conversations.
- Users can utilize Google Lens for image inquiries about objects, plants, products, or documents.
- The steps to enable and use AI Mode include opening the Google app, tapping on the Labs icon, and enabling AI Mode.
- Once enabled, users can input queries through text, voice, or images and review AI-powered overviews and links.
- AI Mode is currently available in English as an experiment to refine the user experience based on feedback.
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Inc42
2w
209
Image Credit: Inc42
Trading Platform Sahi Bags $10.5 Mn From Accel, Elevation
- Trading platform Sahi raised $10.5 Mn in Series A funding round led by Accel and Elevation Capital.
- The funding will be used to enhance product automation, scale up market size, and expand the workforce.
- Sahi aims to redefine the trading customer experience by offering faster, efficient trading workflows.
- The startup was founded in 2024 by Dale Vaz and Manish Jain, providing professional-grade trading tools and AI-driven insights.
- Sahi's platform features a proprietary chart engine, one-click trading experience, and real-time data.
- The platform claims to charge 50% lower brokerage fees compared to major competitors.
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Inc42
2w
278
Image Credit: Inc42
Amicus Capital Marks Close Of Second Fund At $214 Mn
- Amicus Capital Partners has closed its second fund at $214 Mn, surpassing its initial target of $200 Mn.
- The fund, Amicus Capital Partners India Fund II, was launched in March 2023 to support small and medium-sized private companies.
- This fundraise success is attributed to the trust investors have in Amicus, according to cofounder Mahesh Parasuraman.
- Amicus Capital has invested in 14 companies, including Aequs, mCaffeine, MoEngage, and Wonderchef, with assets under management of $302 Mn.
- National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIF) has contributed INR 207 Cr to Fund II.
- The Indian tech startup funding landscape has seen 23 funds launched in Q1 2025 worth over $3.2 Bn.
- Other recent fundings include Multiples' $430 Mn fund, Physis Capital's INR 200 Cr fund, and Campus Fund's $100 Mn fund for student-led startups.
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Hitconsultant
2w
234
Image Credit: Hitconsultant
NPHub Secures $20M to Tackle Nurse Practitioner Shortage and Modernize Clinical Placement
- NPHub, a digital platform connecting nurse practitioner students with clinical rotations, has secured a $20M investment from Edison Partners.
- The funding aims to streamline the process of clinical placement for the growing population of nurse practitioners in response to the projected physician shortage in the U.S.
- NPHub's technology platform matches NP students with preceptors for clinical rotations, improving efficiency and increasing student growth by over 100% in the past year.
- The company is expanding services with NPHire, focusing on connecting NP graduates with job opportunities, positioning NPHub as a comprehensive career resource for nurse practitioners.
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Economic Times
2w
149
Image Credit: Economic Times
New Zealand's Xero to buy US fintech Melio for $2.5 billion
- New Zealand's Xero has agreed to acquire US fintech Melio for $2.5 billion, marking one of the country's biggest outbound deals.
- The acquisition fills a gap in Xero's offerings by integrating payment solutions into its accounting software, boosting growth in the U.S. market.
- Xero anticipates doubling its 2025 financial sales by 2028 through this strategic buyout.
- The deal aims to combine Xero's accounting capabilities with Melio's accounts payable and receivable solutions for enhanced services in the U.S.
- Xero CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy highlighted the potential to assist millions of U.S. small-to-medium businesses in managing cash flow and accounting on a unified platform.
- Shares of Xero were temporarily suspended as the company sought A$1.85 billion from institutional investors to fund the acquisition.
- Analysts offered a cautious endorsement of the deal, acknowledging the benefits of expanding U.S. exposure with a leading payments player but also highlighting the complexities and future challenges.
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Inc42
2w
26
Image Credit: Inc42
Behind The Collapse Of Builder.ai, Cost Of 12-Hour Workday & More
- Builder.ai, once backed by giants like Microsoft and QIA, is now grappling with insolvency amid allegations of tech faking and fund round-tripping.
- With weak internal controls and tech lapses, the company faced a creditor's accusations of breaching loan covenants, resulting in layoffs and a mere $5 Mn in funds.
- Builder.ai's downfall began with an AI illusion upheld by non-payroll engineers, leading to client exodus due to subpar software and late deliveries.
- Revenue inflation and mismanagement are evident with adjusted revenue figures being drastically reduced for FY23 and FY24.
- Accusations of faked billing to companies like Josh and DailyHunt parent VerSe Innovations have put Builder.ai under US regulators' scrutiny.
- The article also covers BluSmart's app shutdown, Karnataka's proposal of 12-hour workdays, Meesho's board reorganization, funding rounds for GoKwik and Fabheads, and Darwinbox's ESOP buyback.
- India's progress in AI with over 17,300 GPUs installed is highlighted, along with industry updates like Mirae Ventures' CEO reshuffle.
- The article also features a startup spotlight on ParvAI Labs, focusing on vision intelligence technology for industries like aviation, defence, and logistics.
- ParvAI leverages AI for eye-tracking tech to monitor fatigue, attention, and engagement in humans, aiming to enhance safety and decision-making in critical sectors.
- Usage examples of ParvAI's solutions include DRDO, Pfizer, BARC, FedEx, and ISRO, with plans to tap into India's growing AI market.
- The article delves into the potential of ParvAI's tech stack in reducing errors and optimizing workflows across various industries.
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Medium
2w
169
Image Credit: Medium
Inside the EdTech Landscape: Where Real Growth Will Happen Next
- The EdTech market is extensive and diverse, not a unified sector.
- EdTech is classified into four primary arenas: Credential Platforms, Skill Marketplaces, Enterprise Workforce Platforms, and Passion Economy / Mastery.
- Successful EdTech platforms focus on dominating one quadrant before expanding.
- Leaders in EdTech follow an adjacent expansion model to grow sustainably.
- EdTech businesses build defensibility differently in terms of partnerships, content, integration, and brand loyalty.
- Investors prioritize different key metrics based on the quadrant’s economic engine.
- Each EdTech model carries specific risks that need to be addressed early.
- Pricing models in EdTech vary based on the quadrant and target audience.
- The market size for various EdTech segments is projected to grow significantly by 2025.
- Exit scenarios in EdTech typically involve strategic M&A, private equity rollups, or IPOs.
- EdTech founders are advised to follow a checklist emphasizing quadrant understanding, building strong moats, logical expansion, pricing strategies, and credible exit plans.
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Inc42
2w
396
Image Credit: Inc42
The Missing AI In Builder.ai: How Microsoft Backed Unicorn Blew $450 Mn
- Builder.ai, formerly Engineer.ai, has faced insolvency proceedings amid allegations of faking AI tech and revenue inflation.
- Accusations include using human workers instead of AI in their platform and inflating revenue to attract investors.
- The company's relationship with DailyHunt owner VerSe Innovations has been scrutinized, leading to corporate governance issues.
- Builder.ai's downfall was attributed to weak internal controls despite raising significant funds from investors like Microsoft.
- The company misreported revenue and faced debt issues, with lenders seizing funds and causing mass layoffs.
- Builder.ai's use of AI has been questioned, with claims that it heavily relied on human workers and misrepresented its technology capabilities.
- Allegations of revenue inflation, roundtripping funds, and billing practices have surfaced, impacting the company's credibility.
- Facing bankruptcy, liquidators may auction assets to settle debts owed to vendors, lenders, and investors, including Microsoft and Jungle Ventures.
- Employee layoffs, an ongoing ED probe against the former CEO, and impending dissolution signal a grim future for Builder.ai.
- The company's collapse serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of the AI hype and its repercussions on the India AI ecosystem.
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Economic Times
2w
65
Image Credit: Economic Times
Pop-ups, ads, banners and games: How quick commerce app designs have changed
- Quick commerce app designs are resembling TV news channels with ads, pop-ups, and banners, causing consumer dissatisfaction.
- 62% of survey respondents noticed an increase in visual elements on quick commerce apps.
- Users find the cluttered app screens challenging for navigation and prefer simpler interfaces.
- Market leader Blinkit's interface is perceived as less cluttered by users.
- Apps like Zepto and Instamart have been criticized for increased pop-up ads and graphics.
- The inclusion of more graphics, games, and sponsored content aims to retain consumers and drive profitability for quick commerce apps.
- Increased discounts, sponsored posts, and advertising revenues are key strategies for quick commerce platforms.
- Quick commerce apps are evolving into marketplaces, expanding to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and focusing on improving user experience.
- Some users and experts are wary of the tactics used by quick commerce apps, such as 'dark patterns,' to boost sales of non-essential items.
- The industry is balancing between offering a wide assortment of products and maintaining a clean user interface for better user engagement.
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