 "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
Rize raises $31 mn to grow sustainable rice platform across Southeast Asia
BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts led the Series B round as Rize expands exports, develops AI tools and scales carbon initiatives across Vietnam, Indonesia and other markets
 "Rize raises $31 mn to grow sustainable rice platform across Southeast Asia")
Groyyo raises ₹90 cr to expand AI-powered fashion supply-chain platform
Cornerstone Ventures led the first close of Groyyo's Series B round as the startup plans to expand globally, strengthen its manufacturing network and invest in AI capabilities
AI hardware startup Aina raises $5.5 mn to build next-generation interface
The startup, founded by a former Ultrahuman executive, is developing a context-aware computing interface as AI agents reshape how people interact with smartphones and computers
 "AI hardware startup Aina raises $5.5 mn to build next-generation interface")
AI coding startup Emergent hits $1.5 bn valuation in Series C round
Emergent has raised $130 million at a $1.5 billion valuation as rapid global adoption of its AI-powered software development platform drives strong revenue and user growth
 "AI coding startup Emergent hits $1.5 bn valuation in Series C round")
Google expands AI push in India with enterprise and security tools
At Google I/O Connect India 2026, the company unveiled enterprise AI, cybersecurity and education initiatives while expanding in-country AI infrastructure for businesses
 "Google expands AI push in India with enterprise and security tools")
Udaan secures $160 million in funding, simplifies capital structure
Existing investors M&G Prudential and Lightspeed joined new backer BlackRock in the financing, combining equity, debt and bond conversion as Udaan moves closer to a potential IPO
 "Udaan secures $160 million in funding, simplifies capital structure")
Singapore court declines stay of Byju Raveendran's six-month jail sentence
The Byju's founder faces legal battles across multiple jurisdictions, including a US dispute over a soured $1.2 billion loan
 "Singapore court declines stay of Byju Raveendran's six-month jail sentence")
Nexus bets AI's biggest winners will be built beneath the chatbots
The venture capital firm's investments in TensorWave and Neysa reflect its belief that compute, cloud, power and security infrastructure will capture AI's long-term value
 "Nexus bets AI's biggest winners will be built beneath the chatbots")
Tonbo Imaging, Zetwerk, 2 others get Sebi approval to float IPOs
The market regulator approved four IPO proposals, paving the way for companies in defence, retail, manufacturing and metals to tap the public markets
 "Tonbo Imaging, Zetwerk, 2 others get Sebi approval to float IPOs")
Amazon India's Prime Day gets faster as smaller cities drive growth
Amazon India said one in two Prime Day items were delivered within minutes in Amazon Now cities, while over 70 per cent of new Prime memberships came from Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets
 "Amazon India's Prime Day gets faster as smaller cities drive growth")
Nilekani-backed Fundamentum launches third fund of ₹2,200 crore
Nilekani made his largest personal commitment to a venture firm as Fundamentum expanded its leadership team and reaffirmed its focus on backing Series B startups
 "Nilekani-backed Fundamentum launches third fund of ₹2,200 crore")
India's e-commerce market to touch $250 bn by 2030 as AI reshapes retail
Shiprocket-Deloitte report says personalised recommendations, smarter fulfilment and rising digital adoption in smaller cities and rural India will fuel the next phase of growth
 "India's e-commerce market to touch $250 bn by 2030 as AI reshapes retail")
Flipkart sees small towns drive premium food demand ahead of IPO push
Vice president Nishant Dalal says Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are fueling gourmet and premium food sales
 "Flipkart sees small towns drive premium food demand ahead of IPO push")
Flipkart expands zero-commission policy for sellers across fashion category
The move will benefit about 90,000 fashion sellers by removing commissions across all price points, months after Amazon India cut seller fees to attract more merchants
 "Flipkart expands zero-commission policy for sellers across fashion category")
Cult.fit files for ₹4,000 crore IPO, Hrithik among those selling stake
An offer for sale by existing shareholders could take the fitness company's IPO size to as much as ₹4,000 crore
 "Cult.fit files for ₹4,000 crore IPO, Hrithik among those selling stake")
CCI approves upGrad's acquisition of Unacademy after months of review
The competition watchdog clears the proposed combination between upGrad and Unacademy, allowing the companies to move towards closing the education-technology deal
 "CCI approves upGrad's acquisition of Unacademy after months of review")
Udaan reaches restructuring deal as BlackRock plans fresh financing
Existing investors are set to inject about $40 million in equity, while BlackRock is expected to provide up to $50 million through its private-credit platform ahead of Udaan's IPO plans
Anti-qcom startup is betting on India's price-conscious millions
CityMall says serving 'the belly of India' will drive its next level of growth
 "Anti-qcom startup is betting on India's price-conscious millions")
Flipkart approves second employee stock sale after meeting board milestones
The Walmart-owned ecommerce company will allow eligible employees to cash out up to 5 per cent of vested stock options at Rs 713.4 apiece, with payouts scheduled for August
Ola Electric faces insolvency petitions from two suppliers over unpaid dues
The suppliers allege the EV maker's operating arm owes more than Rs 40 crore in unpaid dues and have asked the NCLT to initiate insolvency proceedings
 "Ola Electric faces insolvency petitions from two suppliers over unpaid dues")