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.
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Byju's in talks to raise up to $700 mn, valuation may cross $15 bn
The funding is expected to help Byju's to fund its acquisitions, including the up to $700 million deal to buy Aakash Educational Services, according to sources
 "Byju's in talks to raise up to $700 mn, valuation may cross $15 bn")
Byju's acquires Aakash Educational Services for $1 billion over Zoom call
With over 215 centres and a student count of more than 250,000, Aakash provides test preparatory services to students preparing for a host of competitive exams
 "Byju's acquires Aakash Educational Services for $1 billion over Zoom call")
Indian edtech giant Byju's expands globally, launches Future School
Byju's Future School will be available in the US, UK, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico in May and will progressively expand to more geographies in the near future
Unicorn fintech firm Pine Labs acquires Fave in deal valued over $45 mn
Malaysia-based company Fave, which provides QR payments and loyalty cashback to restaurants and retailers, has enabled 6 million consumers in Southeast Asia to save over $400 million since 2016
 "Unicorn fintech firm Pine Labs acquires Fave in deal valued over $45 mn")
Digital payments grew by 76% in the past 12 months: Razorpay report
Tier-2 & 3 cities and towns continued to contribute over 50% of all online transactions
 "Digital payments grew by 76% in the past 12 months: Razorpay report")
Amazon to cover Covid-19 vaccine cost for more than a million in India
The e-commerce firm is supporting cost coverage for Covid-19 treatment, hospital search and coverage of prescribed Covid-19 tests
 "Amazon to cover Covid-19 vaccine cost for more than a million in India")
Amazon digitises 2.5 mn small firms in India, enables exports worth $3 bn
Amazon top executive Amit Agarwal sees a massive opportunity to empower millions of SMBs across the country
 "Amazon digitises 2.5 mn small firms in India, enables exports worth $3 bn")
PhonePe sees rapid demand for Coronavirus insurance products as cases rise
The claims from customers of more than Rs 3.5 crore have already been paid
 "PhonePe sees rapid demand for Coronavirus insurance products as cases rise")
Flipkart V-P and group general counsel Bijoya Roy quits e-commerce giant
Roy has joined French spirits group, Pernod Ricard, as general counsel for South Asia and will take up the new role on April 12, 2021, according to the sources
 "Flipkart V-P and group general counsel Bijoya Roy quits e-commerce giant")
Flipkart Wholesale starts shopping sale to boost savings for small kiranas
Aim is to enhance savings for small retailers across the country and ensure their safety through e-commerce orders and speedy doorstep delivery.
 "Flipkart Wholesale starts shopping sale to boost savings for small kiranas")
This aerospace engineer's firm saves fishermen's lives using satellite tech
Thousands of fishermen perish at sea every year due to poor connectivity technology. Parthsarathi Trivedi is addressing this issue via his firm Skylo Technologies, which runs a satellite-based network
 "This aerospace engineer's firm saves fishermen's lives using satellite tech")
Numerology helped close Byju's deal: Aakash Educational's J C Chaudhry
JC Chaudhry, the chairman, and MD of Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) who is also a motivational speaker and numerologist said that he did the deal with Byju's based on numerology
 "Numerology helped close Byju's deal: Aakash Educational's J C Chaudhry")
Ola Electric names Hyundai veteran Yongsung Kim as global sales head
With 35 years at Hyundai Motor and Kia, Yongsung brings global auto sales experience from North America, Europe, UK, Middle East, Africa, ASEAN and Asia Pacific
 "Ola Electric names Hyundai veteran Yongsung Kim as global sales head")
E-commerce, food delivery cos studying Maharashtra lockdown rules for staff
The current government guidelines allow only people above the age of 45 to get vaccinated
 "E-commerce, food delivery cos studying Maharashtra lockdown rules for staff")
Byju's acquires Aakash Educational Services for $1 bn via strategic merger
The addition of Aakash is a significant step towards strengthening Byju's product offering
Top UPI players stare at uncertain future over 30% cap in market share
When an app breaches 30 per cent market share by volume, NPCI will ask third party apps to stop onboarding of new customers.
 "Top UPI players stare at uncertain future over 30% cap in market share")
Phone sales down to near zero, Covid was Xiaomi India chief's acid test
The pandemic has triggered an urgent need for devices supporting activities such as work from home, remote learning, entertainment and playing games and Xiaomi India is betting big on this opportunity
 "Phone sales down to near zero, Covid was Xiaomi India chief's acid test")
Walmart's PhonePe leads UPI payments, crosses 1 bn transactions in March
The development comes at a time when UPI has broken a new record, crossing Rs 5 trillion in value in March across 2.73 billion transactions
 "Walmart's PhonePe leads UPI payments, crosses 1 bn transactions in March")
Uniphore raises $140 million as demand for enterprise AI increases
2020 sped up digital imperatives for companies as it put focus directly on AI and automation to drive that transformation of what experts agree is projected to be a $500 bn-plus market opportunity
 "Uniphore raises $140 million as demand for enterprise AI increases")
B2B startup Udaan witnesses huge surge in business across Bharat
Categories such as lifestyle, food and electronics accounted for over 1,350 sellers across the country last year, says Udaan co-founder
 "B2B startup Udaan witnesses huge surge in business across Bharat")