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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Nandan Nilekani's master key to help unlock India's $8 trillion future
Nilekani believes the combination of AI, smartphones will help unlock digital access, but challenges like income disparity remain; Nilekani's 'The Great Unlock' aims to overcome these barriers
 "Nandan Nilekani's master key to help unlock India's $8 trillion future")
Binny Bansal unveils new venture Opptra to tap consumer brand growth
At Opptra, Bansal aims to empower brands to unlock global growth and thrive in the ever-evolving, digitally disrupted retail landscape
 "Binny Bansal unveils new venture Opptra to tap consumer brand growth")
Bessemer raises $350 million in India fund to back new-age companies
Will focus on investments across AI, SaaS, fintech, digital health, consumer, and cybersecurity
 "Bessemer raises $350 million in India fund to back new-age companies")
Was pressured to select process advisor, alleges Byju's former IRP
Khaitan & Co, EY refute allegations
 "Was pressured to select process advisor, alleges Byju's former IRP")
Swish secures $14 mn in Series A funding from Hara Global and Accel
This funding will support Swish's expansion across Bengaluru, with plans to extend its quick food delivery model to more pincodes in the coming month
 "Swish secures $14 mn in Series A funding from Hara Global and Accel")
Swiggy expands food delivery to 100 railway stations across 20 states
Train passengers can choose from over 7 million menu items from over 60,000 brands and across more than 35 cuisines across the country
 "Swiggy expands food delivery to 100 railway stations across 20 states")
Top talent moving to the US: Sachin Bansal on India's brain drain
He also pointed out that Indians are highly successful in the US, often holding top leadership positions
 "Top talent moving to the US: Sachin Bansal on India's brain drain")
Sorin Investments leads $7 mn Series A round funding in AI firm Beacon.li
Beacon aims to expand its AI capabilities, scale its global footprint, and further enhance enterprise automation
 "Sorin Investments leads $7 mn Series A round funding in AI firm Beacon.li")
Legal net tightens around Byju Raveendran after US court ruling on fraud
Raveendran has called for an investigation into what he alleged is a "criminal collusion" between accounting firm EY India, GLAS Trust which represents US lenders, and the IRP
 "Legal net tightens around Byju Raveendran after US court ruling on fraud")
Leap Finance secures $100 mn debt facility from HSBC to help int'l students
Lack of affordable and flexible financing is one of the biggest challenges faced by many high-quality students in their pursuit of a global education
 "Leap Finance secures $100 mn debt facility from HSBC to help int'l students")
Byju Raveendran faces legal risks after US court ruling on fund fraud
Lenders may argue that as the ultimate decision-maker, Raveendran had knowledge of or actively participated in the diversion of funds, potentially justifying a 'corporate veil-piercing' claim
 "Byju Raveendran faces legal risks after US court ruling on fund fraud")
Ola Electric likely to lay off over 1,000 employees to reduce losses
The layoff news saw the SoftBank Group-backed firm's stock hit a 52-week low in intraday trading
 "Ola Electric likely to lay off over 1,000 employees to reduce losses")
Have 5-6 portfolio firms planning IPOs: ChrysCapital's Sanjay Kukreja
The common thread is backing grounded founders who are hands-on and have a relentless focus on execution
 "Have 5-6 portfolio firms planning IPOs: ChrysCapital's Sanjay Kukreja")
AI venture Krutrim struggles with senior talent exits over the past year
Bengaluru-based Krutrim has about 1000 employees and about 20 people including executives and senior employees may have left in the last one year, according to the sources
 "AI venture Krutrim struggles with senior talent exits over the past year")
US court finds Riju Ravindran, Camshaft, Think & Learn guilty of fraud
Think & Learn Pvt Ltd (Byju's) unlawfully orchestrated and benefited from a fraudulent scheme. Sham hedge fund Camshaft Capital facilitated the fraudulent scheme to defraud term loan lenders
 "US court finds Riju Ravindran, Camshaft, Think & Learn guilty of fraud")
Byju Raveendran accuses IRP, EY India, Glas Trust of criminal collusion
Raveendran alleges he and employees received proof of criminal collusion involving EY India, GLAS Trust, and the IRP, urging authorities to investigate the evidence
Ola Electric sells 25,000 units in February, retains 28% market share
The electric vehicle (EV) maker said this was backed by a strong S1 portfolio and a sales-and-service network of 4,000 stores across the country
 "Ola Electric sells 25,000 units in February, retains 28% market share")
Electric scooter maker Ather Energy expands facility to boost R&D
Spanning 38,692 sq ft, the facility is designed to validate durability and safety across vehicle, system, and component levels
 "Electric scooter maker Ather Energy expands facility to boost R&D")
Swiggy to invest Rs 1K crore in Scootsy Logistics in one or more tranches
This investment is for working capital and other capital expenditures as part of the company's business expansion, said the food and grocery delivery firm
 "Swiggy to invest Rs 1K crore in Scootsy Logistics in one or more tranches")
Flipkart Ventures picks AI startups for third accelerator programme
Companies will get financing and business advice from e-commerce giant's leaders
 "Flipkart Ventures picks AI startups for third accelerator programme")
