 "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.
Peerzada Abrar/workspace/business Standard Web/video
India e-commerce hit by fuel, logistics strain amid West Asia crisis
Fuel shortages, tighter diesel credit and LPG constraints are disrupting logistics and delaying expansion, squeezing margins as demand shows early signs of softening
 "India e-commerce hit by fuel, logistics strain amid West Asia crisis")
E-commerce firms shift hiring to engineering, AI as demand rises 35%
E-commerce and quick-commerce firms are prioritising engineering, AI and operations talent, shifting away from expansion-led hiring to build resilience, fulfilment precision and digital capability
 "E-commerce firms shift hiring to engineering, AI as demand rises 35%")
'India can test AI with a billion people, be a gateway to Global South'
Indian diaspora has moved up the management and investment stack with every technology cycle. AI, says MR Rangaswami, is no different - but the disruption this time will spare no one, not even doctors
 "'India can test AI with a billion people, be a gateway to Global South'")
India start-ups raise $9.1 billion funding as focus shifts to execution
Selective capital is backing scalable ventures, while AI-led DeepTech gains momentum as investors prioritise proven models, monetisation, and commercial readiness
 "India start-ups raise $9.1 billion funding as focus shifts to execution")
Plum bags ₹193 cr from Peak XV in Series B funding after turning profitable
Health benefits platform plans to scale AI-driven claims, expand healthcare services, and deepen enterprise integrations after achieving profitability milestone
 "Plum bags ₹193 cr from Peak XV in Series B funding after turning profitable")
Rocketlane raises $60 mn in Series C funding to expand AI services platform
Insight Partners-led funding comes as enterprises rely more on services teams to deploy AI and improve operational outcomes across global markets
 "Rocketlane raises $60 mn in Series C funding to expand AI services platform")
Prosus, Accel pick six startups for Atoms X deep-tech LeapTech cohort
Early-stage ventures span climate infrastructure, satellite communications, healthcare and space systems, with focus on long-horizon deep-tech innovation
 "Prosus, Accel pick six startups for Atoms X deep-tech LeapTech cohort")
Meesho bets on Voice AI to bring conversational shopping online
Meesho launches "Vaani-Your Meesho Dost", a generative AI voice assistant to simplify online shopping, improve engagement, and drive conversions among new internet users
 "Meesho bets on Voice AI to bring conversational shopping online")
Uber India shifts from reactive to predictive safety: Sooraj Nair
Uber India is embedding AI across its safety stack-from teen rides to driver compliance-as it expands beyond 125 cities
 "Uber India shifts from reactive to predictive safety: Sooraj Nair")
Flipkart CFO Venkataraman steps down; Ravi Iyer to take interim role
Leadership reshuffle comes as Walmart-owned e-commerce company prepares for potential India listing and strengthens senior team
 "Flipkart CFO Venkataraman steps down; Ravi Iyer to take interim role")
Ola Electric diverts IPO funds from R&D to debt amid mounting pressures
EV maker reallocates ₹575 crore from R&D to debt repayment and growth as sales slow, market share slips and fundraising challenges persist
 "Ola Electric diverts IPO funds from R&D to debt amid mounting pressures")
Flipkart sets bonus multiplier at 105% as it signals steady performance
Walmart-backed e-commerce firm cites progress across key metrics and journey toward sustainable profitability as it prepares for a potential IPO
 "Flipkart sets bonus multiplier at 105% as it signals steady performance")
Quick-commerce boom reshapes India's packaged food market: Redseer report
Quick-commerce segment may grow to $25 billion by 2030, reshaping consumption patterns across health, convenience and indulgence categories, says Redseer report
 "Quick-commerce boom reshapes India's packaged food market: Redseer report")
Company, customers, and professionals can all win: Pronto's Anjali Sardana
Pronto's 23-year-old founder says daily bookings have grown 18-fold in seven months, as the startup targets 70,000 bookings a day by June
 "Company, customers, and professionals can all win: Pronto's Anjali Sardana")
BlackSoil Capital raises ₹200 crore from Danish DFI Impact Fund Denmark
Funds will support climate-aligned lending and expand credit access in Tier-II and Tier-III markets, with a focus on women-led businesses and underserved sectors
 "BlackSoil Capital raises ₹200 crore from Danish DFI Impact Fund Denmark")
Emergence to set up autonomous AI research lab in India, plans 500 hires
New York-based Emergence will set up a Bengaluru AI lab focused on autonomous agents, aiming to expand frontier research, collaborate with IISc, and hire about 500 scientists
 "Emergence to set up autonomous AI research lab in India, plans 500 hires")
Atlys raises $36 mn to expand visa platform globally, invest in AI tools
Susquehanna Asia VC leads Series C round as Atlys expands globally and invests in AI tools to streamline visa applications and build infrastructure for cross-border travel
 "Atlys raises $36 mn to expand visa platform globally, invest in AI tools")
Services sectors feel ripple effects as West Asia crisis hits operations
Aviation, hospitality, travel, e-comm, q-com, logistics prepare for dent to bottomlines; IT services insulated for now
 "Services sectors feel ripple effects as West Asia crisis hits operations")
UpGrad plans to acquire edtech platform Unacademy in all-stock deal
If the deal closes, upGrad's integrated model will be on a strong trajectory, said Ronnie Screwvala, cofounder of upGrad, on X
 "UpGrad plans to acquire edtech platform Unacademy in all-stock deal")
Accel, Google AI Futures Fund back five startups in India AI program
Early-stage companies selected from more than 4,000 applicants will receive up to $2 million each and access to Google's AI models and computing resources
 "Accel, Google AI Futures Fund back five startups in India AI program")