 "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/1000
Services sectors feel ripple effects as West Asia crisis hits operations
Aviation, hospitality, travel, e-comm, q-com, logistics prepare for dent to bottomlines; IT services insulated for now
 "Services sectors feel ripple effects as West Asia crisis hits operations")
UpGrad plans to acquire edtech platform Unacademy in all-stock deal
If the deal closes, upGrad's integrated model will be on a strong trajectory, said Ronnie Screwvala, cofounder of upGrad, on X
 "UpGrad plans to acquire edtech platform Unacademy in all-stock deal")
Accel, Google AI Futures Fund back five startups in India AI program
Early-stage companies selected from more than 4,000 applicants will receive up to $2 million each and access to Google's AI models and computing resources
 "Accel, Google AI Futures Fund back five startups in India AI program")
IISc incubator to up funding for truly deep-tech startups: C S Murali
From academia to enterprise, the institute's deep-tech portfolio of 140 startups targets strategic self-reliance in satellite tech, turbines, and medical diagnostics
 "IISc incubator to up funding for truly deep-tech startups: C S Murali")
IPO still a few quarters away: Razorpay's Cofounder and MD Shashank Kumar
Razorpay's MD and Co-Founder Shashank Kumar on why AI agents will do more for India's small merchants than traditional search, the company's IPO plans, and why the conflict in West Asia makes it hard
 "IPO still a few quarters away: Razorpay's Cofounder and MD Shashank Kumar")
Razorpay unveils AI platform to automate payment operations for businesses
Fintech firm launches 'Agent Studio' built on Anthropic's Claude technology to deploy AI agents that manage tasks such as dispute resolution, cart recovery and cash-flow forecasting
 "Razorpay unveils AI platform to automate payment operations for businesses")
Gig workers warn LPG, CNG shortage may hit Ola, Uber, Rapido rides
Drivers linked to Ola, Uber and Rapido warn LPG and CNG shortages could hurt earnings as long queues at fuel stations and rising costs threaten ride availability
 "Gig workers warn LPG, CNG shortage may hit Ola, Uber, Rapido rides")
Practo adds former health secy CK Mishra to board as independent director
Appointment comes as the digital health platform expands operations in the US and UAE and strengthens governance and institutional capacity
 "Practo adds former health secy CK Mishra to board as independent director")
Startups may get to access 'stalled' capital under new PN3 regime
Revised policy may ease startup funding and support IPO-bound companies while maintaining security oversight
 "Startups may get to access 'stalled' capital under new PN3 regime")
Blue Earth Capital backs Captain Fresh with €27 mn sustainability financing
Funding will help the seafood distributor expand global distribution while promoting traceable sourcing and reducing waste across the supply chain
 "Blue Earth Capital backs Captain Fresh with €27 mn sustainability financing")
Mozark raises $40 million to expand digital performance testing platform
Use proceeds for global expansion of its AI-enabled digital performance testing platform
 "Mozark raises $40 million to expand digital performance testing platform")
Flipkart's holding firm back home after Press Note 3 nod for Tencent
Walmart-backed ecommerce firm may target listing in 2026 end or 2027
 "Flipkart's holding firm back home after Press Note 3 nod for Tencent")
Cars24's India used-cars chief Himanshu Ratnoo resigns amid rejig
Cars24's India used-cars chief Himanshu Ratnoo has resigned as the SoftBank-backed firm restructures leadership while pushing for profitability targets and preparing for a potential IPO
 "Cars24's India used-cars chief Himanshu Ratnoo resigns amid rejig")
Snabbit rolls out Kavach, a safety system for women home-service workers
Snabbit has launched Kavach, a platform-embedded safety system that proactively monitors risk and triggers escalation during home-service jobs, strengthening protection for women workers
 "Snabbit rolls out Kavach, a safety system for women home-service workers")
StrideOne raises ₹100 crore, appoints Rajesh Sud co-founder, chairman
StrideOne has raised ₹100 crore in equity and structured debt and appointed industry veteran Rajesh Sud as co-founder and chairman as it strengthens governance and scales its MSME credit platform
 "StrideOne raises ₹100 crore, appoints Rajesh Sud co-founder, chairman")
Numeros Motors ties up with Royal Sundaram for rider insurance cover
With a premium of ₹1,200, the policy targets buyers of the n-First electric scooter, offering accident cover, hospital cash benefits, and a cancer plan for women riders
 "Numeros Motors ties up with Royal Sundaram for rider insurance cover")
Flipkart lays off 250-300 employees after reviewing performance
Layoffs affect roughly 2% of workforce as Walmart-backed e-commerce firm tightens operations and prepares for a potential IPO
 "Flipkart lays off 250-300 employees after reviewing performance")
Cent launches AI-led platform for early detection of cancer, heart risk
Founded by Practo's Shashank ND with Arpit Garg and Anshul Khandelwal, Cent combines advanced imaging, 120+ biomarkers and AI to detect cancer and cardiac risks before symptoms appear
 "Cent launches AI-led platform for early detection of cancer, heart risk")
Rozana raises ₹290 cr in Series B to scale rural retail across Bharat
Round led by Bertelsmann India Investments with participation from Fireside Ventures, Spark Growth Ventures, Bikaji Family Office, FE Securities
 "Rozana raises ₹290 cr in Series B to scale rural retail across Bharat")
"India missed out on chips, models but real opportunity is in applications"
Nitin Sharma, partner at venture capital firm Antler India, discusses where Indian AI startups can compete globally and why founder quality matters more than age
 "\"India missed out on chips, models but real opportunity is in applications\"")