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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Priyank Kharge: Govt-industry ties vital for India's deeptech growth
Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge said the State aims to lead globally in deeptech innovation, emphasising collaboration between government and industry to boost entrepreneurship and talent
 "Priyank Kharge: Govt-industry ties vital for India's deeptech growth")
Bombay Shaving Company raises ₹136 cr ahead of IPO, hits ₹550 cr run-rate
The grooming brand raised Rs 136 crore from Sixth Sense Ventures, founder Shantanu Deshpande, Rahul Dravid, and others as it plans an IPO after achieving profitability and Rs 550 crore run-rate
 "Bombay Shaving Company raises ₹136 cr ahead of IPO, hits ₹550 cr run-rate")
Ensono bets $250 mn on AI to modernise IT services, expand in India
The US-based IT services firm will invest $250 million in AI over five years and launch a dedicated AI and Innovation Division, with more than half its 3,800 global employees based in India
 "Ensono bets $250 mn on AI to modernise IT services, expand in India")
India's defence startups attract government contracts, investor funding
A clutch of domestic private firms are challenging state-run suppliers with advanced tech-driven hardware for India's defence services, signalling growing confidence in homegrown military technology
 "India's defence startups attract government contracts, investor funding")
Flipkart doubles electric vehicle fleet to over 20K in sustainability push
E-commerce firm steps up drive toward a fully electric last-mile network by 2030, launching pilot for long-haul EV trucks on key routes
 "Flipkart doubles electric vehicle fleet to over 20K in sustainability push")
Uber gives teens in India more independence - with parental control
New feature lets teens book rides under parental oversight as company seeks stronger foothold in key growth market
 "Uber gives teens in India more independence - with parental control")
Porter, HealthKart deliver multi-fold returns on Kae Capital's first fund
Maiden Fund I achieves more than 3x distribution to paid-in capital, establishing one of India's strongest early-stage track records
 "Porter, HealthKart deliver multi-fold returns on Kae Capital's first fund")
Study finds widespread 'dark patterns' in India's ride-hailing apps
Forced cancellations, hidden fees and manipulative prompts plague users as survey shows eight in ten riders report deceptive design practices
 "Study finds widespread 'dark patterns' in India's ride-hailing apps")
E-scooter maker Ather Energy narrows losses in Q2 as revenue rises 57%
Ather's net loss for the quarter stood at ₹154 crore, narrowing from ₹197 crore in the same period last year
 "E-scooter maker Ather Energy narrows losses in Q2 as revenue rises 57%")
Razorpay hires Google veteran Rambadran to lead engineering, AI innovation
Fintech major Razorpay has appointed Google Cloud's Prabu Rambadran as senior vice president of engineering to lead AI-first innovation, product growth, and global technology expansion
 "Razorpay hires Google veteran Rambadran to lead engineering, AI innovation")
Ola Electric rebuts South Korea's LG Energy Solution tech leak claims
Ola Electric has rejected reports linking it to a South Korean probe into alleged battery technology leaks from LG Energy Solution, saying it is focused on its own 4680 Bharat Cell, now in commercial
 "Ola Electric rebuts South Korea's LG Energy Solution tech leak claims")
'Prime is building for Bharat': Amazon Prime VP on localising service
Jamil Ghani says Prime in India will evolve through ultra-fast delivery and local content
 "'Prime is building for Bharat': Amazon Prime VP on localising service")
Fashion ecom firm Myntra appoints Kannan Ganesan as chief financial officer
After seven years with the Flipkart Group, including four at Myntra, CFO Abhishek Gupta to pursue new career opportunities, according to the sources
 "Fashion ecom firm Myntra appoints Kannan Ganesan as chief financial officer")
Tiger Global offloads entire 5.09% Ather Energy stake for ₹1,204 crore
Tiger Global has sold its entire 5.09% stake in Ather Energy for ₹1,204 crore, exiting months after the EV maker's IPO even as the company's valuation nearly doubled to ₹24,800 crore
 "Tiger Global offloads entire 5.09% Ather Energy stake for ₹1,204 crore")
Ola Electric's auto segment posts first-ever operating profit in Q2 FY26
Gross margins in the auto business expanded 510 basis points sequentially to 30.7 per cent, outperforming most internal combustion engine (ICE) two-wheeler manufacturers
 "Ola Electric's auto segment posts first-ever operating profit in Q2 FY26")
Giga raises $61 million to scale AI-driven customer support platform
Series A round led by Redpoint Ventures will help expand the technical team and accelerate enterprise deployments of Giga's AI customer support agents
 "Giga raises $61 million to scale AI-driven customer support platform")
Lenskart opens smart-glasses platform to developers in AI wearables push
The eyewear firm aims to build an AI-driven wearable ecosystem with its 'B by Lenskart' smart-glasses platform, inviting Indian developers to innovate
 "Lenskart opens smart-glasses platform to developers in AI wearables push")
MeshDefend raises $2.3 million to bring AI intelligence to enterprise data
Kalaari Capital leads the pre-seed round as the startup, founded by former Dell executives, builds an AI-native platform to secure and automate enterprise data infrastructure
 "MeshDefend raises $2.3 million to bring AI intelligence to enterprise data")
Lighthouse Canton secures $40 million from Peak XV to fuel global expansion
The investment firm's first external raise will fund technology upgrades, senior hires, and market growth across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe
 "Lighthouse Canton secures $40 million from Peak XV to fuel global expansion")
AI marketing firm MoEngage secures $100 mn funding for global growth
Customer engagement platform plans to expand its technology suite and teams
 "AI marketing firm MoEngage secures $100 mn funding for global growth")
