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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Lenskart eyes ₹70K crore valuation as it plans fifth-largest IPO of 2025
Indian eyewear retailer aims to raise $830 million amid a surge of listings, with plans to expand its retail footprint and invest in technology and brand marketing
 "Lenskart eyes ₹70K crore valuation as it plans fifth-largest IPO of 2025")
Eyewear retailer Lenskart promoters set to cash in on $830 million IPO
SoftBank-backed eyewear giant aims for $8 billion valuation as co-founders and early investors book multibillion-rupee gains
Accel partners with Prosus to co-invest in Indian science-led startups
Firms will match investments up to $2 million in founders building breakthrough technologies from semiconductors to robotics
 "Accel partners with Prosus to co-invest in Indian science-led startups")
Eternal's Deepinder Goyal bets $25 mn on venture to extend human lifespan
Eternal founder Deepinder Goyal's Continue Research aims to extend healthy human function through open-source biological research
 "Eternal's Deepinder Goyal bets $25 mn on venture to extend human lifespan")
AI firm Uniphore secures $260 mn from Nvidia, AMD, Snowflake and Databricks
Uniphore values at $2.5 billion as it boosts its Business AI Cloud platform and ecosystem for enterprise-scale adoption
 "AI firm Uniphore secures $260 mn from Nvidia, AMD, Snowflake and Databricks")
Venture funding slowed in September quarter; exit activity at 7-year high
Geopolitical uncertainty weighs on new investment, but strong IPO activity drives record exit value, says KPMG report
 "Venture funding slowed in September quarter; exit activity at 7-year high")
UnifyApps raises $50 mn to scale AI platform for enterprise automation
WestBridge leads Series B as UnifyApps ramps up its AI-native platform, expands in Europe, and deepens enterprise integrations to unify automation workflows
 "UnifyApps raises $50 mn to scale AI platform for enterprise automation")
Premium products, fast deliveries fuel ecommerce boom during Diwali
Amazon, Flipkart, Instamart, Zepto report sales surge across smartphones, gold coins
 "Premium products, fast deliveries fuel ecommerce boom during Diwali")
Flipkart-backed Shadowfax gains regulatory approval for IPO in India
Logistics firm clears Sebi hurdle to launch offering estimated at up to ₹2,500 crore; updated draft prospectus expected soon as company targets valuation near ₹8,500 crore
 "Flipkart-backed Shadowfax gains regulatory approval for IPO in India")
Meesho files updated IPO papers, aims to raise up to $800 million
E-commerce firm targets December IPO as filing details equity structure, investor stake sales via offer for sale.
 "Meesho files updated IPO papers, aims to raise up to $800 million")
Licious reports 16% revenue growth at ₹795 cr in FY25; losses narrow 45%
Licious' growth reflects the early impact of its omnichannel strategy, which integrates its online delivery network with an expanding retail presence
 "Licious reports 16% revenue growth at ₹795 cr in FY25; losses narrow 45%")
India-Japan Fund invests ₹500 crore in electric vehicle maker Eka Mobility
The investment by NIIF-managed India-Japan Fund will help Eka Mobility scale manufacturing, boost R&D, and expand its global footprint in the EV segment
 "India-Japan Fund invests ₹500 crore in electric vehicle maker Eka Mobility")
ShareChat reduces losses by 72%, revenue rises slightly to ₹723 crore
Homegrown social media firm turns cash positive, eyes ₹1,000 crore annualised revenue as it expands into micro drama and ad-supported content formats
 "ShareChat reduces losses by 72%, revenue rises slightly to ₹723 crore")
Amazon India's festival sale draws 70% of traffic from smaller cities
The company facilitated over ₹1,000 crore in customer savings through bank offers, goods and services tax (GST) benefits, and cashback rewards
 "Amazon India's festival sale draws 70% of traffic from smaller cities")
Ola Electric enters $12 bn energy storage market with home batteries
Ola Shakti batteries use the same 4680 cell technology deployed in the company's electric scooters
 "Ola Electric enters $12 bn energy storage market with home batteries")
Graph AI raises $3 mn from Bessemer to target $8 bn drug safety market
California-based Graph AI raised $3 million in seed funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners to scale its AI-driven pharmacovigilance platform for global drug safety and compliance
 "Graph AI raises $3 mn from Bessemer to target $8 bn drug safety market")
Granite Asia leads $85 mn Series C funding in Kuku content platform
Granite Asia led Kuku's $85 million Series C round joined by Vertex Growth, IFC, Krafton, and others, to expand AI infrastructure and grow its vernacular storytelling ecosystem
 "Granite Asia leads $85 mn Series C funding in Kuku content platform")
Festive demand, tech push lift India's PE-VC deal value to $26 bn in 2025
During the first nine months of 2025, PE and VC investments have already exceeded the aggregate investment amount recorded in the whole of 2023 and 2024, respectively
 "Festive demand, tech push lift India's PE-VC deal value to $26 bn in 2025")
Biopeak bets bespoke longevity plans can go beyond bold-and-beautiful set
The company uses AI and cellular diagnostics to optimise performance for professionals by going to the root causes of poor health, with individually-targeted programmes starting at ₹40,000
 "Biopeak bets bespoke longevity plans can go beyond bold-and-beautiful set")
Eyewear retailer Lenskart accelerates store expansion ahead of $10 bn IPO
The eyewear retailer plans its biggest store expansion in three years as it prepares for a $900 million IPO, one of India's largest public issues in 2025
 "Eyewear retailer Lenskart accelerates store expansion ahead of $10 bn IPO")