 "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.
Page 2 - Peerzada Abrar
Dashboards, drum jams and delivery convoys kick off India's shopping season
From Bengaluru to Kargil, Flipkart and Amazon race to deliver as online festive sales are projected to grow up to 29%
 "Dashboards, drum jams and delivery convoys kick off India's shopping season")
Flipkart, Amazon bet on delivery speed as India's festive sales kick off
Online festive sales could rise 29 per cent to ₹1.55 trillion, with quick commerce taking a 16 per cent share as Flipkart and Amazon expand their rapid delivery networks
 "Flipkart, Amazon bet on delivery speed as India's festive sales kick off")
Flipkart Fashion seller base jumps 77% after zero-commission move
Its fashion seller base has grown 77% this year, and new listings have more than doubled, as its Big Billion Days (BBD) sale begins October 8
 "Flipkart Fashion seller base jumps 77% after zero-commission move")
Meesho content commerce surges 152% as non-metro creators drive growth
About 90 per cent of Meesho's active creators are nano-creators, while 81 per cent come from non-metro India and 66 per cent of orders come from Tier-III and Tier-IV markets
 "Meesho content commerce surges 152% as non-metro creators drive growth")
Startup Policy Forum unveils DeepVerse to boost India's deep-tech ecosystem
The new centre brings together founders, investors, government, academia and global technology companies to shape policy, research and ecosystem initiatives
 "Startup Policy Forum unveils DeepVerse to boost India's deep-tech ecosystem")
As India's edtech giants stumble, Manipal's UNext bets on discipline
Backed by MEMG, the company is betting on AI, university partnerships and lower acquisition costs while avoiding the high-spend consumer model that hurt several edtech rivals
 "As India's edtech giants stumble, Manipal's UNext bets on discipline")
Flipkart invests in TravClan to strengthen international travel offerings
The investment will strengthen international travel supply, on-ground support and holiday offerings for customers across Cleartrip and Flipkart Travel
 "Flipkart invests in TravClan to strengthen international travel offerings")
Kuku revenue jumps sixfold to ₹1,484 crore as AI fuels microdrama expansion
The Kuku TV and Kuku FM parent reported FY26 net revenue of ₹1,484 crore and a profit of ₹182 crore, as it builds a 1,000-member AI-led production unit ahead of its planned IPO
 "Kuku revenue jumps sixfold to ₹1,484 crore as AI fuels microdrama expansion")
Homegrown brands bet on smaller towns for festive growth through Flipkart
Flipkart says homegrown brands have grown 60 per cent in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, while its beauty and general merchandise category is growing nearly 50 per cent
 "Homegrown brands bet on smaller towns for festive growth through Flipkart")
Amazon expands ultra-fast delivery service Amazon Now to over 120 cities
Amazon Now has doubled its footprint in two weeks, bringing minute-level deliveries to customers in cities including Amritsar, Abohar, Jalandhar, Ambala, Mangalore, Manipal, Vizag, Kochi, Changanasser
 "Amazon expands ultra-fast delivery service Amazon Now to over 120 cities")
India's digital public infrastructure enters connected, AI-enabled phase
An IIM Bangalore report says the next phase of DPI will link identity, payments, health care, agriculture, commerce and education, with AI adding an intelligence layer
 "India's digital public infrastructure enters connected, AI-enabled phase")
Arivihan raises $10 million to expand AI-powered learning platform
The edtech startup, backed by Accel and Prosus Ventures, plans to enter new states and CBSE while strengthening its AI research and vernacular-language capabilities
 "Arivihan raises $10 million to expand AI-powered learning platform")
Flipkart's uncertain IPO timeline leaves employee stock options tied up
Listing could be delayed by another one to two years as Walmart takes a wait-and-see approach; some former employees may seek clarity on the IPO timeline
 "Flipkart's uncertain IPO timeline leaves employee stock options tied up")
Flipkart gears up for festive season with massive supply-chain expansion
Logistics arm Ekart adds 14 million cubic feet of storage and 900 delivery hubs to push same-day shipping into remote regions
 "Flipkart gears up for festive season with massive supply-chain expansion")
Ola Electric board approves ₹1,000 crore fundraise via rights issue
The move comes weeks after the company approved plans to mobilise up to ₹1,500 crore
 "Ola Electric board approves ₹1,000 crore fundraise via rights issue")
Arovia Consumer raises ₹100 cr from Fireside to scale regional food brands
Former Soulfull founder Prashant Parameswaran launches platform to take significant stakes in regional packaged-food businesses and help them expand beyond home markets
 "Arovia Consumer raises ₹100 cr from Fireside to scale regional food brands")
IIT Madras, Unicorn India mark ₹450 cr first close of ₹1,000 cr fund
IITM Unicorn Frontier Fund I has deployed nearly Rs 55 crore in four deep-tech startups and is targeting a final close by December 2026
 "IIT Madras, Unicorn India mark ₹450 cr first close of ₹1,000 cr fund")
Myntra creates 26,000 seasonal jobs ahead of Big Fashion Festival
Online fashion retailer more than doubles its seasonal workforce from last year as it expands fulfilment, delivery and customer-service capacity for the festive event
 "Myntra creates 26,000 seasonal jobs ahead of Big Fashion Festival")
Ultraviolette raises $85 mn to expand EV production, enter US market
Yali Capital and TDK Ventures led the funding round as the Indian electric two-wheeler maker prepares to enter the US in 2027 and expand across Latin America and Southeast Asia
 "Ultraviolette raises $85 mn to expand EV production, enter US market")
On AI, we are Navy SEALs, never the army: Publicis Sapient CEO Nigel Vaz
Publicis Sapient CEO Nigel Vaz on why his company skipped the low-cost, headcount-driven model that built India's IT industry, and bet on AI instead
 "On AI, we are Navy SEALs, never the army: Publicis Sapient CEO Nigel Vaz")