 "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
Zetwerk's Q2 loss widens 43% to ₹88 crore; order book hits record high
In its first earnings report since listing, Zetwerk reported an 18 per cent rise in revenue to ₹4,599 crore, while adjusted Ebitda grew 31 per cent to ₹171 crore and its order book hit a record high
 "Zetwerk's Q2 loss widens 43% to ₹88 crore; order book hits record high")
India's emerging VC managers face tougher test as seed funding declines
India's startup base crossed 250,000 in October, but seed funding fell 37 per cent in the first nine months of 2026, raising challenges for first- and second-time VC managers
 "India's emerging VC managers face tougher test as seed funding declines")
IPO-bound Atomberg looks beyond appliances with ₹100 crore R&D push
The company plans to use IPO proceeds to deepen its engineering capabilities and expand into new consumer categories and proprietary components
 "IPO-bound Atomberg looks beyond appliances with ₹100 crore R&D push")
Indian military pushes for fully indigenous drones amid supply chain risks
Army and Air Force urge manufacturers to develop critical drone components domestically as industry warns that foreign suppliers could halt shipments during a conflict
 "Indian military pushes for fully indigenous drones amid supply chain risks")
India's festive online sales rise 17%, but shoppers spend less per order
Datum Intelligence says festive online sales reached ₹1.41 lakh crore, missing its forecast, as average card payments fell 13 per cent and mobile phone sales weakened
 "India's festive online sales rise 17%, but shoppers spend less per order")
Greenjoules raises ₹150 crore in Series B round to expand renewable fuels
Amazon's Smbhav Venture Fund and Climate Pledge Fund co-lead funding round; ₹100 crore government loan to support Pune plant producing 200,000 litres of biocrude daily from farm waste
 "Greenjoules raises ₹150 crore in Series B round to expand renewable fuels")
ValueQuest commits ₹775 cr to 3 Indian manufacturing, defence companies
The investments in Sagar Defence Engineering, Rational Engineers and TASE Global span autonomous defence systems, power infrastructure and precision engineering
 "ValueQuest commits ₹775 cr to 3 Indian manufacturing, defence companies")
Amazon's new shopping list for sellers: AI agents, lower fees, small towns
Small-town businesses, women entrepreneurs and artisans drive festive growth, its seller-services leaders say
 "Amazon's new shopping list for sellers: AI agents, lower fees, small towns")
Amazon Pay's next customers are in small towns, and they want credit
Three in four Amazon Pay customers now live outside India's big cities, says chief executive Vikas Bansal
 "Amazon Pay's next customers are in small towns, and they want credit")
Bengaluru startup Aina unveils AI ring to predict users' next actions
Founded by former Ultrahuman executive Apoorv Shankar, Aina has unveiled an AI-powered ring that anticipates user needs and controls apps and devices, with pre-orders from $399
 "Bengaluru startup Aina unveils AI ring to predict users' next actions")
Venomics AI raises $2.7 million to discover drugs from animal venom
The IISc spinout will use the pre-seed funding to expand its Venom Atlas molecular database, strengthen AI-led drug discovery and laboratory screening, and validate potential drugs.
 "Venomics AI raises $2.7 million to discover drugs from animal venom")
altM raises $10.3 mn to turn agricultural residue into industrial chemicals
The Bengaluru startup will use the funding to expand manufacturing as it moves its agricultural-residue-based products towards commercial production
 "altM raises $10.3 mn to turn agricultural residue into industrial chemicals")
Consumers lap up festive offers on ecom platforms despite higher prices
Festive sales surge at Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho as shoppers embrace discounts, EMIs and online deals
 "Consumers lap up festive offers on ecom platforms despite higher prices")
ShareChat eyes late-2027 IPO as micro dramas drive profitability turnaround
ShareChat parent Mohalla Tech is eyeing a late-2027 IPO after two profitable Ebitda quarters, with micro dramas driving revenue growth and a turnaround in cash flows
 "ShareChat eyes late-2027 IPO as micro dramas drive profitability turnaround")
Lenskart Q2FY27 net profit more than doubles to ₹232 cr, revenue up 32.5%
Ebitda rises 65 per cent to ₹392 crore as margins widen to 13.8 per cent; India same-store sales grow 20.8 per cent and international margins stay above 10 per cent for a second straight quarter
 "Lenskart Q2FY27 net profit more than doubles to ₹232 cr, revenue up 32.5%")
Hornbill, NBCUniversal back India's EloElo in $80 mn bet on phone dramas
The Story TV owner plans more original shows, deeper AI production and a push into the US
 "Hornbill, NBCUniversal back India's EloElo in $80 mn bet on phone dramas")
FirstClub enters beauty and personal care with ingredient-first approach
FirstClub is entering beauty and personal care with more than 80 brands priced from ₹300 to ₹3,500, applying ingredient screening, product testing and customer-rating criteria
 "FirstClub enters beauty and personal care with ingredient-first approach")
Amazon's festive sales jump despite conscious spending sentiment
Amazon says festive shopping volumes rose over 50 per cent, driven by premium products and easy credit, even as a survey projected a 6 per cent fall in urban festive budgets
 "Amazon's festive sales jump despite conscious spending sentiment")
Upsurge India leads ₹50 cr iD Fresh Food deal as Blue Ashva Capital exits
The secondary transaction involved the transfer of about 1 per cent equity in iD Fresh Food, whose revenue crossed ₹870 crore in FY26, as early investor Blue Ashva Capital exited
 "Upsurge India leads ₹50 cr iD Fresh Food deal as Blue Ashva Capital exits")
Azim Premji Foundation launches programme to support social startups
The programme will help young development professionals establish grassroots organisations in underserved areas, with applications open until 31 December 2026 for its first cohort
 "Azim Premji Foundation launches programme to support social startups")