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 its 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. There, he covered the entrepreneurship ecosystem, including startups, 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 its 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. There, he covered the entrepreneurship ecosystem, including startups, 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.
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Urban Company crosses $2.1 bn valuation, plans international expansion
Home services startup plans to go to 100 more Indian cities after raising $255 million in funding
 "Urban Company crosses $2.1 bn valuation, plans international expansion")
Walmart's PhonePe crosses 300 mn registered users, merchant network grows
The service now has over 20 million offline merchants across 11,000 towns and talukas in India
 "Walmart's PhonePe crosses 300 mn registered users, merchant network grows")
Edtech firm Byju's and Google tie up to offer learning solution to schools
Integration of Google Workspace for Education with Byju's will offer a personalised digital platform for classroom organisation, available free to participating institutions
 "Edtech firm Byju's and Google tie up to offer learning solution to schools")
Indian Defence has a 'Sputnik Moment' as it adopts artificial intelligence
The new-generation platforms of the Indian Navy give it an edge in developing new AI technologies that are becoming increasingly popular with military and industry
 "Indian Defence has a 'Sputnik Moment' as it adopts artificial intelligence")
Google-backed Dunzo to pilot drone delivery of medicines in India
The impetus will be on enabling emergency medical deliveries which could include Covid-19 vaccines under the "Medicine from the Sky Project"
 "Google-backed Dunzo to pilot drone delivery of medicines in India")
Wise launches low cost and fast international money transfers from India
Co-founded by Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Kaarmann, Wise launched in 2011 under its original name TransferWise
 "Wise launches low cost and fast international money transfers from India")
Ananth Narayanan starts Mensa Brands after exit from PharmEasy-Medlife deal
Mensa aims to create a tech-led 'House of Brands' for e-commerce industry; has closed Series A round, raising $50 mn from Accel, Kunal Shah, Mukesh Bansal and Scott Shleifer of Tiger Global
 "Ananth Narayanan starts Mensa Brands after exit from PharmEasy-Medlife deal")
SIS completes 100k vaccinations for employees across India in record time
The company has also pledged over Rs 10-cr Covid welfare fund to assist and provide employees with a safety net during the second wave of the pandemic
 "SIS completes 100k vaccinations for employees across India in record time")
Jai Kisan, startup for financial services in rural India, raises $30 mm
Jai Kisan said it will use the funds to expand in tier-2, tier-3 cities and rural parts of the country.
 "Jai Kisan, startup for financial services in rural India, raises $30 mm")
Covid: China learnings help Indegene save lives of its employees in India
At a time when the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc across the country, Indegene's practices can become a template for the corporate industry to manage the pandemic
 "Covid: China learnings help Indegene save lives of its employees in India")
Flipkart expands financial support for sellers, offer credit up to Rs 5 cr
Sellers get secured and unsecured loans at interest as low as 9%; sanctions and disbursals within 24 hours of application
 "Flipkart expands financial support for sellers, offer credit up to Rs 5 cr")
Yalo raises $50 mn funding led by existing venture investor B Capital Group
Yalo will use the financing to deepen its presence in Latin America and Southeast Asia
 "Yalo raises $50 mn funding led by existing venture investor B Capital Group")
Covid-19 impact: Many startups, MSMEs stare at closure, says survey
Startups and MSMEs have been in the race for survival, especially since the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020
 "Covid-19 impact: Many startups, MSMEs stare at closure, says survey")
SoftBank-backed Ola completes vaccination for over 50% staff and dependents
The drive is live in Bengaluru where most of its employees are, and will expand to other cities in the weeks ahead as vaccine supplies improve
 "SoftBank-backed Ola completes vaccination for over 50% staff and dependents")
India is one of fastest-growing regions for us: Google's Debanjan Saha
While Covid is impacting overall activities, it isn't deterring growth in India, where a large engineering and product team in India is support Google's local customer base
 "India is one of fastest-growing regions for us: Google's Debanjan Saha")
Slice, credit provider for young professionals, eyes $1 bn gross transactions
Despite the pandemic, the company grew by 125 per cent in 2020 and has recorded a 40-50 per cent increase in average customer spends
 "Slice, credit provider for young professionals, eyes $1 bn gross transactions")
SoftBank-backed Ola strengthens UK Board with senior appointments
Names include luminaries such as S&P Global director Mike Rake who takes over as non-exec chairman and global transport expert Leon Daniels, an independent director
 "SoftBank-backed Ola strengthens UK Board with senior appointments")
Zomato begins vaccination drive for 150,000 frontline staff and employees
Initiative will start in Mumbai and Bengaluru, and then be taken other cities next week
 "Zomato begins vaccination drive for 150,000 frontline staff and employees")
Flipkart kirana partners post 30% rise in monthly delivery incomes in 2020
Kirana partners from Hyderabad saw the highest growth followed by those from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Pune
 "Flipkart kirana partners post 30% rise in monthly delivery incomes in 2020")
Swiggy begins vaccination drive for delivery partners, frontline staff
Food delivery startup will enable quick and free vaccine access and cover loss of pay for the period the delivery partner spends in getting both the doses
 "Swiggy begins vaccination drive for delivery partners, frontline staff")