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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Trump scraps $800 import exemption, may dent India's e-commerce exports
The move may impact Indian online sellers and e-commerce companies, many of whom have built businesses around shipping small parcels
 "Trump scraps $800 import exemption, may dent India's e-commerce exports")
Quick commerce burns weigh on Swiggy in Q1; Instamart AOV jumps 25%
Revenue up 52% YoY to ₹5,048 crore; Quick commerce sees ₹896 crore loss even as Instamart GOV doubles
 "Quick commerce burns weigh on Swiggy in Q1; Instamart AOV jumps 25%")
Metaforms raises $9 mn to transform market research with AI automation
Backed by Peak XV Partners, Metaforms will triple its India team and expand AI capabilities for survey, voice, and report automation as it signs top global research firms
 "Metaforms raises $9 mn to transform market research with AI automation")
SAFE Security bags $70 mn to build AI tools for autonomous cyber governance
Backed by Avataar Ventures and others, SAFE to invest in agentic AI for real-time, autonomous cyber risk assessment as demand for boardroom-level solutions grows
 "SAFE Security bags $70 mn to build AI tools for autonomous cyber governance")
India bets on AI to build first $10 bn cybersecurity firm by 2030
Accel-backed Indian startups are using AI-first innovation to take on global rivals in cybersecurity as the country aims to create a $10 billion firm within five years
 "India bets on AI to build first $10 bn cybersecurity firm by 2030")
Lenskart files for IPO to raise ₹2,150 crore, eyes valuation of $10 billion
SoftBank-backed Lenskart plans to raise Rs 2,150 crore through IPO to expand CoCo stores, tech infrastructure, and branding amid rising Asian demand for prescription eyewear
 "Lenskart files for IPO to raise ₹2,150 crore, eyes valuation of $10 billion")
Education tech company Byju's alleges 'corporate raid' by debt buyers
Raveendran announces plans to seek $2.5 billion in damages
 "Education tech company Byju's alleges 'corporate raid' by debt buyers")
Drizz raises $2.7 million to automate mobile app testing with AI
Drizz, founded by ex-Amazon and Coinbase engineers, uses AI and computer vision to enable code-free mobile app testing and has raised $2.7 million to enhance its platform
 "Drizz raises $2.7 million to automate mobile app testing with AI")
DeepMind finds its India accent where AI trains in culture, not just code
Google DeepMind expects artificial general intelligence (AGI) within four to five years, with significant AI development being driven from its expanding India operations
 "DeepMind finds its India accent where AI trains in culture, not just code")
Swiggy adds Noon CEO to Board as SoftBank, Accel representatives exit
The food delivery giant moves to strengthen board independence following public listing
 "Swiggy adds Noon CEO to Board as SoftBank, Accel representatives exit")
AI platform iTuring raises $5 million Series A for financial services push
iTuring.ai, an AI platform targeting the BFSI sector, raises $5 million in Series A funding led by Dallas Venture Capital and Mela Ventures to expand product development
 "AI platform iTuring raises $5 million Series A for financial services push")
From comics to chatbots, startups adopt Google AI for local impact
At Google I/O Connect India 2025, Indian startups demonstrated AI apps built on Google's platforms, powering innovations in translation, entertainment, and enterprise
 "From comics to chatbots, startups adopt Google AI for local impact")
Google unveils AI initiatives to target India's booming tech sector
Google is localising Gemini data processing, expanding AI tools and teaming up with Indian startups and institutes to strengthen its presence in the country's AI ecosystem
 "Google unveils AI initiatives to target India's booming tech sector")
AI-first startups challenge India's $300 billion IT services giants
Venture capital pours into companies like Atomicwork and Nurix AI as autonomous agents promise to reshape enterprise workflows and force legacy players to adapt
 "AI-first startups challenge India's $300 billion IT services giants")
Former Puma India head Abhishek Ganguly eyes a long run with new company
Abhishek Ganguly is planning to scale up multiple sports apparel brands to multimillion-dollar levels through his venture Agilitas Sports
 "Former Puma India head Abhishek Ganguly eyes a long run with new company")
Amazon Prime Day breaks records with 18,000 orders per minute in India
Amazon Prime Day 2025 saw a record 18,000 orders per minute, with significant growth in tier-2 cities and a surge in premium consumption, as delivery infrastructure pays off
 "Amazon Prime Day breaks records with 18,000 orders per minute in India")
Byju's founders plan $2.5 billion lawsuit against investors, lenders
Education startup's creators blame financial backers for the company's collapse from $22 billion valuation to insolvency
 "Byju's founders plan $2.5 billion lawsuit against investors, lenders")
Udaan acquires retail technology startup ShopKirana ahead of IPO
Udaan has acquired ShopKirana in an all-stock deal, aiming to enhance its FMCG expertise, tech capabilities, and supply chain strengths as it prepares for an IPO in the coming years
 "Udaan acquires retail technology startup ShopKirana ahead of IPO")
Startup coalition builds IPO runway for 40 firms eyeing $90 bn market
Startup Policy Forum launches Centre for New-Age Public Companies to guide tech firms through IPOs as India's markets attract listings worth over $90 billion
 "Startup coalition builds IPO runway for 40 firms eyeing $90 bn market")
60% users say e-commerce platforms block negative reviews: Survey
As India nears 900 million internet users, e-commerce platforms face scrutiny over fake or censored reviews, with calls for mandatory government enforcement of BIS standards
 "60% users say e-commerce platforms block negative reviews: Survey")
