 "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 3 - Peerzada Abrar
Gen Z drives growth in India's online beauty market: Myntra report
Gen Z shoppers are spending more on beauty, embracing premium minis and driving demand beyond metros, while sunscreen and K-Beauty searches surge, according to a Myntra report
 "Gen Z drives growth in India's online beauty market: Myntra report")
Moneyview's first backer eyes India's next 500 million borrowers after IPO
Accel's Subrata Mitra backed the digital lender at a $6 million valuation in 2014. It listed this month at a market value of about $1.01 billion
 "Moneyview's first backer eyes India's next 500 million borrowers after IPO")
Even Healthcare raises $50 mn in Khosla Ventures-led Series B funding
The managed care company plans to open five hospitals across Bengaluru over the next six months as its valuation triples from its previous fundraise, taking total funding past $120 million.
 "Even Healthcare raises $50 mn in Khosla Ventures-led Series B funding")
India is shaping how OpenAI builds products, says CTO Vijaye Raji
Applications chief Vijaye Raji says the company is building Hindi voices and courting Indian developers and enterprises
 "India is shaping how OpenAI builds products, says CTO Vijaye Raji")
OfBusiness's AI-powered BidAssist expands reach beyond India's big cities
More than 60% of BidAssist's 1.7 million users are in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. The AI-powered platform tracks over 50,000 live tenders daily to help SMEs identify orders and assess bids
 "OfBusiness's AI-powered BidAssist expands reach beyond India's big cities")
Tonbo Imaging IPO subscribed 4 times on Day 1, led by strong NII demand
The defence electronics maker's ₹852 crore offer attracted strong demand across investor categories, while secondary share deals valued the Bengaluru-based firm at ₹4,000 crore
 "Tonbo Imaging IPO subscribed 4 times on Day 1, led by strong NII demand")
Flipkart narrows FY26 losses as revenue rises 18%, margins improve
Walmart-backed e-commerce company reports group results under Flipkart Internet after its move to India
 "Flipkart narrows FY26 losses as revenue rises 18%, margins improve")
Prosus Ventures leads $1.5 million funding in space startup Cosmochute
Cosmochute is developing its LEAP lunar mobility platform to support payload transportation and deployment on the Moon, with funding aimed at accelerating development and hiring.
 "Prosus Ventures leads $1.5 million funding in space startup Cosmochute")
Construction-robot startup Origin raises $20 mn to automate interior work
Accel and Zacua Ventures co-led the funding round, which will help Origin scale deployment of its OG-1 robot, expand its fleet and run customer pilots in overseas markets
 "Construction-robot startup Origin raises $20 mn to automate interior work")
Myntra customer base grows 30% in 2026, eyes 100 million monthly users
The fashion platform's Big Fashion Festival opened with four times its usual demand, with smaller cities accounting for more than half of first-day orders
 "Myntra customer base grows 30% in 2026, eyes 100 million monthly users")
Circle raises ₹25 crore from Nexus to expand pre-owned marketplace
The startup plans to expand beyond Bengaluru and invest in AI, verification and logistics after facilitating ₹25 crore in sales in its first year
 "Circle raises ₹25 crore from Nexus to expand pre-owned marketplace")
Shoes that grow with kids: Aretto eyes Rs 100 crore revenue by FY27
The children's footwear brand, backed by Peak XV Surge and Veltis Capital, plans to cross 100 retail touchpoints and expand internationally while exploring adult footwear using its patented technology
 "Shoes that grow with kids: Aretto eyes Rs 100 crore revenue by FY27")
Toothsi parent MakeO raises ₹90 crore to expand dental care operations
The company, operating across India and Southeast Asia, has crossed ₹500 crore in revenue and turned Ebitda profitable. It aims to double revenue in the next two to three years
 "Toothsi parent MakeO raises ₹90 crore to expand dental care operations")
Nandan Nilekani-backed Fundamentum raises ₹3K crore for AI, deeptech
The Nandan Nilekani-backed growth-stage fund plans to invest ₹100-200 crore each in 12-15 AI and deeptech companies over the next two to three years, with a hard cap of ₹3,500 crore
 "Nandan Nilekani-backed Fundamentum raises ₹3K crore for AI, deeptech")
NuSynth Technologies raises ₹36.5 crore in seed funding led by two VCs
Avaana Capital and Shastra VC co-led the funding round, which will help NuSynth expand R&D, develop proprietary chemical processes and build AI-enabled scale-up capabilities
 "NuSynth Technologies raises ₹36.5 crore in seed funding led by two VCs")
B2B ecom platform Udaan targets IPO by early 2028 as turnaround takes hold
The B2B e-commerce firm expects FY26 revenue to grow 10 to 12 per cent as losses narrow by about 20 per cent, with CEO Vaibhav Gupta targeting profitability by end-2027
 "B2B ecom platform Udaan targets IPO by early 2028 as turnaround takes hold")
Tier-2 cities lead digital credit adoption, outpace metros: Report
While 88% of urban consumers are aware of digital credit, only 31% use it. Tier-2 cities lead in buy now, pay later usage at 60 per cent and credit applications at 41 per cent, as per report
 "Tier-2 cities lead digital credit adoption, outpace metros: Report")
Defence startup Tonbo Imaging fixes IPO price band at ₹665-700 a share
The offer for sale of up to 12.17 million shares opens on October 15. The Bengaluru-based company has deployed more than 28,000 systems across 24 countries.
 "Defence startup Tonbo Imaging fixes IPO price band at ₹665-700 a share")
1,000 ex-Flipkart staffers approach Walmart over stock option liquidity
Former employees of Flipkart and group firms Myntra and Cleartrip have approached Walmart and Flipkart seeking liquidity for vested stock options amid uncertainty over the IPO timeline
 "1,000 ex-Flipkart staffers approach Walmart over stock option liquidity")
Around 1,000 ex-Flipkart staff approach Walmart over stock option liquidity
Former employees of Flipkart and group firms Myntra and Cleartrip have approached Walmart and Flipkart seeking liquidity for vested stock options amid uncertainty over the IPO timeline
