 "Peerzada Abrar")
Peerzada Abrar
Peerzada Abrar
Peerzada Abrar is a technology and business reporter at Business Standard. He covers the intersection of technology, AI, business and society, and their impact on our lives. This includes tracking top tech firms and startups. He joined Business Standard in 2019 after having worked at The Economic Times and The Hindu, where he covered the entrepreneurship ecosystem, start-ups, new technologies, venture capital, and private equity. A storyteller at heart, he is captivated by the potential of innovation to address global challenges. His narrative spans from resilient communities combating epidemics and natural disasters to groundbreaking initiatives that empower the underserved and transform humanitarian landscapes.
Peerzada Abrar is a technology and business reporter at Business Standard. He covers the intersection of technology, AI, business and society, and their impact on our lives. This includes tracking top tech firms and startups. He joined Business Standard in 2019 after having worked at The Economic Times and The Hindu, where he covered the entrepreneurship ecosystem, start-ups, new technologies, venture capital, and private equity. A storyteller at heart, he is captivated by the potential of innovation to address global challenges. His narrative spans from resilient communities combating epidemics and natural disasters to groundbreaking initiatives that empower the underserved and transform humanitarian landscapes.
Peerzada Abrar
Groww builds AI-powered platform across trading, wealth and fixed income
The firm outlined its next phase of growth centred on building "responsible intelligence" for every kind of investor
 "Groww builds AI-powered platform across trading, wealth and fixed income")
Stride Ventures partners Saudi sovereign fund to scale global pvt credit
Stride Ventures partners with Saudi Arabia's PIF to deploy over $1 bn worldwide across venture and private credit, including $200 mn aimed at Saudi Arabia's entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem
 "Stride Ventures partners Saudi sovereign fund to scale global pvt credit")
Tattvam AI raises $1.7 million to speed up semiconductor chip design
Seedcamp-backed Tattvam AI is building a reasoning-driven AI system to automate complex semiconductor design tasks, aiming to compress multi-year development cycles into weeks
 "Tattvam AI raises $1.7 million to speed up semiconductor chip design")
MeltPlan raises $10 mn in seed funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners
Seed round led by Bessemer backs MeltPlan's AI 'planning engine' to optimise preconstruction decisions across code, cost, schedule and value systems
 "MeltPlan raises $10 mn in seed funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners")
Wootzwork raises $6.6 mn to bring predictability to offshore manufacturing
Wootzwork is scaling a new manufacturing model that gives global OEMs a single, accountable partner for complex industrial programmes across India and Southeast Asia
 "Wootzwork raises $6.6 mn to bring predictability to offshore manufacturing")
"Platforms that combine scale with sustainable unit economics will win"
Kapil Thirani, vice president for Shopsy and Flipkart Marketplace, shares insights about Flipkart's zero-commission push to capture India's value-conscious Gen Z and first-time rural shoppers
 "\"Platforms that combine scale with sustainable unit economics will win\"")
Xflow raises $16.6 mn in Series A at $85 million valuation led by GC
General Catalyst leads Xflow's $16.6 mn Series A at an $85 mn valuation, as the fintech backed by Stripe and PayPal Ventures plans expansion after a breakout year
 "Xflow raises $16.6 mn in Series A at $85 million valuation led by GC")
How Meesho's co-founder built e-commerce for price-conscious India
Sanjeev Kumar engineered AI-led systems tailored to low-end smartphones, regional languages and first-time shoppers, helping Meesho scale to 250 million annual transacting users
 "How Meesho's co-founder built e-commerce for price-conscious India")
India's single-specialty healthcare market to triple to over $12 bn by 2030
Report points to a structural shift in India's $54 billion healthcare market as focused, asset-light providers scale alongside large hospitals
 "India's single-specialty healthcare market to triple to over $12 bn by 2030")
Ather Energy narrows Q3 loss as revenue, volumes and margins improve
The electric two-wheeler maker reported record quarterly deliveries and higher revenue in Q3 FY26, helping narrow losses as operating leverage, margins and market share strengthened across regions
 "Ather Energy narrows Q3 loss as revenue, volumes and margins improve")
Budget 2026 boosts startups, MSMEs with ₹10,000 crore funds, credit push
FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced a ₹10,000 cr SME Growth Fund and additional credit and equity support for micro enterprises and startups to cushion them against global economic uncertainty
 "Budget 2026 boosts startups, MSMEs with ₹10,000 crore funds, credit push")
Meesho swings to ₹490 crore Q3 loss as costs outpace revenue growth
Recently listed e-commerce firm reports higher logistics, employee and restructuring costs in the December quarter despite strong revenue growth
 "Meesho swings to ₹490 crore Q3 loss as costs outpace revenue growth")
Swiggy revenue rises to ₹6,148 cr in Dec quarter as losses widen 33%
December-quarter revenue surged across food delivery and logistics, though aggressive spending on quick commerce widened losses year-on-year
 "Swiggy revenue rises to ₹6,148 cr in Dec quarter as losses widen 33%")
Economic Survey flags rising risks for startups in technology and AI
The report backs innovation as a growth driver but warns that costly capital, long-duration investments and narrow margins of safety could test India's early-stage enterprises
 "Economic Survey flags rising risks for startups in technology and AI")
Easy Home Finance raises $30 million in Series C led by Investcorp
Mortgage-technology lender plans pan-India expansion as investors double down on India's housing finance growth
 "Easy Home Finance raises $30 million in Series C led by Investcorp")
Flipkart group appoints two senior executives ahead of planned IPO
Jason Chappel joins as group controller and Amer Hussain as VP of supply chain for grocery and Minutes
 "Flipkart group appoints two senior executives ahead of planned IPO")
Nivaan Care raises $7 million to expand pain management clinics in India
Series A round led by Sorin Investments backs the rollout of minimally invasive, single specialty centres
 "Nivaan Care raises $7 million to expand pain management clinics in India")
Cropin unveils AI agriculture platform to rewire global food supply chains
New ecosystem with Google, BCG, Wipro and others aims to reduce climate, data and procurement risks in agriculture
 "Cropin unveils AI agriculture platform to rewire global food supply chains")
ToneTag bets sound waves will power next generation of digital payments
Bengaluru-based ToneTag processes over $3 billion a month using sound wave technology, enabling secure, cardless payments in India and emerging markets while expanding globally
 "ToneTag bets sound waves will power next generation of digital payments")
Bike taxis set to make a comeback in Karnataka as High Court lifts ban
Court calls blanket prohibition a restraint on trade; firms welcome move
 "Bike taxis set to make a comeback in Karnataka as High Court lifts ban")