 "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
Kuku revenue jumps sixfold to ₹1,484 crore as AI fuels microdrama expansion
The Kuku TV and Kuku FM parent reported FY26 net revenue of ₹1,484 crore and a profit of ₹182 crore, as it builds a 1,000-member AI-led production unit ahead of its planned IPO
 "Kuku revenue jumps sixfold to ₹1,484 crore as AI fuels microdrama expansion")
Homegrown brands bet on smaller towns for festive growth through Flipkart
Flipkart says homegrown brands have grown 60 per cent in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, while its beauty and general merchandise category is growing nearly 50 per cent
 "Homegrown brands bet on smaller towns for festive growth through Flipkart")
Amazon expands ultra-fast delivery service Amazon Now to over 120 cities
Amazon Now has doubled its footprint in two weeks, bringing minute-level deliveries to customers in cities including Amritsar, Abohar, Jalandhar, Ambala, Mangalore, Manipal, Vizag, Kochi, Changanasser
 "Amazon expands ultra-fast delivery service Amazon Now to over 120 cities")
India's digital public infrastructure enters connected, AI-enabled phase
An IIM Bangalore report says the next phase of DPI will link identity, payments, health care, agriculture, commerce and education, with AI adding an intelligence layer
 "India's digital public infrastructure enters connected, AI-enabled phase")
Arivihan raises $10 million to expand AI-powered learning platform
The edtech startup, backed by Accel and Prosus Ventures, plans to enter new states and CBSE while strengthening its AI research and vernacular-language capabilities
 "Arivihan raises $10 million to expand AI-powered learning platform")
Flipkart's uncertain IPO timeline leaves employee stock options tied up
Listing could be delayed by another one to two years as Walmart takes a wait-and-see approach; some former employees may seek clarity on the IPO timeline
 "Flipkart's uncertain IPO timeline leaves employee stock options tied up")
Quick commerce becomes the new battleground as festive season approaches
The race for speedy delivery gathers pace for the festival season as quick commerce firms expand beyond metros
 "Quick commerce becomes the new battleground as festive season approaches")
Flipkart gears up for festive season with massive supply-chain expansion
Logistics arm Ekart adds 14 million cubic feet of storage and 900 delivery hubs to push same-day shipping into remote regions
 "Flipkart gears up for festive season with massive supply-chain expansion")
Ola Electric board approves ₹1,000 crore fundraise via rights issue
The move comes weeks after the company approved plans to mobilise up to ₹1,500 crore
 "Ola Electric board approves ₹1,000 crore fundraise via rights issue")
Arovia Consumer raises ₹100 cr from Fireside to scale regional food brands
Former Soulfull founder Prashant Parameswaran launches platform to take significant stakes in regional packaged-food businesses and help them expand beyond home markets
 "Arovia Consumer raises ₹100 cr from Fireside to scale regional food brands")
IIT Madras, Unicorn India mark ₹450 cr first close of ₹1,000 cr fund
IITM Unicorn Frontier Fund I has deployed nearly Rs 55 crore in four deep-tech startups and is targeting a final close by December 2026
 "IIT Madras, Unicorn India mark ₹450 cr first close of ₹1,000 cr fund")
Myntra creates 26,000 seasonal jobs ahead of Big Fashion Festival
Online fashion retailer more than doubles its seasonal workforce from last year as it expands fulfilment, delivery and customer-service capacity for the festive event
 "Myntra creates 26,000 seasonal jobs ahead of Big Fashion Festival")
Ultraviolette raises $85 mn to expand EV production, enter US market
Yali Capital and TDK Ventures led the funding round as the Indian electric two-wheeler maker prepares to enter the US in 2027 and expand across Latin America and Southeast Asia
 "Ultraviolette raises $85 mn to expand EV production, enter US market")
On AI, we are Navy SEALs, never the army: Publicis Sapient CEO Nigel Vaz
Publicis Sapient CEO Nigel Vaz on why his company skipped the low-cost, headcount-driven model that built India's IT industry, and bet on AI instead
 "On AI, we are Navy SEALs, never the army: Publicis Sapient CEO Nigel Vaz")
Indian founders account for $560 billion of company value abroad
Founders who grew up in India account for $560 billion of founder-share-attributed value across 205 current and former unicorns abroad, Prosus and Dealroom find
 "Indian founders account for $560 billion of company value abroad")
For India's ecomm players, the new race is to deliver iPhones in minutes
Bigbasket delivered more than five iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max devices a minute after sales opened as quick-commerce firms expand beyond everyday essentials
 "For India's ecomm players, the new race is to deliver iPhones in minutes")
Meesho's Valmo helps 10,000 delivery partners file income tax returns
The programme has helped partners claim Rs 2 crore in refunds, with nearly 70 per cent of those who initiated income tax return filing being first-time tax filers.
 "Meesho's Valmo helps 10,000 delivery partners file income tax returns")
Practo names Jagnoor Singh CEO, Shashank ND Singh executive chairman
The leadership reshuffle comes as Practo grows 40 per cent year-on-year and remains profitable, while expanding in the UAE and US and investing in artificial intelligence.
 "Practo names Jagnoor Singh CEO, Shashank ND Singh executive chairman")
An 11-year bet on rented sofas pays off for Accel as RentoMojo lists
RentoMojo shares jumped nearly 19% on debut as Accel, the platform's earliest institutional backer, sold about ₹317 crore of stock, the single largest stake in the IPO
 "An 11-year bet on rented sofas pays off for Accel as RentoMojo lists")
Flipkart creates over 250,000 festive jobs as ecommerce demand rises
Nearly 75,000 opportunities are for first-time workers, as the Walmart-owned company expands its delivery network with 900 new hubs
 "Flipkart creates over 250,000 festive jobs as ecommerce demand rises")