 "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
altM raises $10.3 mn to turn agricultural residue into industrial chemicals
The Bengaluru startup will use the funding to expand manufacturing as it moves its agricultural-residue-based products towards commercial production
 "altM raises $10.3 mn to turn agricultural residue into industrial chemicals")
Consumers lap up festive offers on ecom platforms despite higher prices
Festive sales surge at Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho as shoppers embrace discounts, EMIs and online deals
 "Consumers lap up festive offers on ecom platforms despite higher prices")
ShareChat eyes late-2027 IPO as micro dramas drive profitability turnaround
ShareChat parent Mohalla Tech is eyeing a late-2027 IPO after two profitable Ebitda quarters, with micro dramas driving revenue growth and a turnaround in cash flows
 "ShareChat eyes late-2027 IPO as micro dramas drive profitability turnaround")
Lenskart Q2FY27 net profit more than doubles to ₹232 cr, revenue up 32.5%
Ebitda rises 65 per cent to ₹392 crore as margins widen to 13.8 per cent; India same-store sales grow 20.8 per cent and international margins stay above 10 per cent for a second straight quarter
 "Lenskart Q2FY27 net profit more than doubles to ₹232 cr, revenue up 32.5%")
Hornbill, NBCUniversal back India's EloElo in $80 mn bet on phone dramas
The Story TV owner plans more original shows, deeper AI production and a push into the US
 "Hornbill, NBCUniversal back India's EloElo in $80 mn bet on phone dramas")
FirstClub enters beauty and personal care with ingredient-first approach
FirstClub is entering beauty and personal care with more than 80 brands priced from ₹300 to ₹3,500, applying ingredient screening, product testing and customer-rating criteria
 "FirstClub enters beauty and personal care with ingredient-first approach")
Amazon's festive sales jump despite conscious spending sentiment
Amazon says festive shopping volumes rose over 50 per cent, driven by premium products and easy credit, even as a survey projected a 6 per cent fall in urban festive budgets
 "Amazon's festive sales jump despite conscious spending sentiment")
Upsurge India leads ₹50 cr iD Fresh Food deal as Blue Ashva Capital exits
The secondary transaction involved the transfer of about 1 per cent equity in iD Fresh Food, whose revenue crossed ₹870 crore in FY26, as early investor Blue Ashva Capital exited
 "Upsurge India leads ₹50 cr iD Fresh Food deal as Blue Ashva Capital exits")
Azim Premji Foundation launches programme to support social startups
The programme will help young development professionals establish grassroots organisations in underserved areas, with applications open until 31 December 2026 for its first cohort
 "Azim Premji Foundation launches programme to support social startups")
Razorpay gets final licence to expand cross-border payments from GIFT City
The approval allows Razorpay to facilitate foreign currency transfers and offer multi-currency accounts from GIFT City under a single regulatory framework
 "Razorpay gets final licence to expand cross-border payments from GIFT City")
Two Point O Capital raises $10 million to expand clean energy platform
The company plans to enter battery energy storage and expand its solar, energy efficiency and wastewater treatment businesses
 "Two Point O Capital raises $10 million to expand clean energy platform")
India proposes framework to unlock data for AI training, protect privacy
The government's draft DEPA framework proposes secure data environments and privacy safeguards to unlock data for AI training, potentially generating $500 billion in value by 2030.
 "India proposes framework to unlock data for AI training, protect privacy")
Uber expands driver earning options, strengthens safety features in India
New features include flexible subscription passes, WhatsApp onboarding, ambulance assistance and encrypted in-app video recordings, alongside additional earning opportunities.
 "Uber expands driver earning options, strengthens safety features in India")
Ola Electric's ₹1,000 cr rights issue fully subscribed as shares rally 23%
The electric scooter maker's rights issue drew bids for 37.14 crore shares against 37.03 crore on offer, with founder Bhavish Aggarwal participating fully in the offering
 "Ola Electric's ₹1,000 cr rights issue fully subscribed as shares rally 23%")
Meesho Q2 net loss narrows 68% to ₹132 crore as revenue rises 34%
Quarterly net loss narrowed to Rs 132 crore, while revenue jumped 34 per cent to Rs 4,132 crore as higher orders, festive demand and improving margins strengthened platform economics
 "Meesho Q2 net loss narrows 68% to ₹132 crore as revenue rises 34%")
Indian startups listing younger, AI firms could follow: Accel's Swaroop
Accel partner Prayank Swaroop says Indian startups are listing publicly faster as the venture capital ecosystem matures, but AI firms will need to prove they can sustain growth and profitability
 "Indian startups listing younger, AI firms could follow: Accel's Swaroop")
PhonePe rebrands Indus Appstore, expands into digital goods and webstore
The app marketplace, now present on more than 200 million devices through OEM partnerships, is adding gift cards, top-ups and a webstore as it seeks to broaden its reach among consumers and developers
 "PhonePe rebrands Indus Appstore, expands into digital goods and webstore")
Simplismart raises $14 million in Series B to expand AI inference platform
Led by Dallas Venture Capital, the Series B round will help Simplismart expand its AI inference platform, strengthen cloud partnerships and grow across North America and global markets
 "Simplismart raises $14 million in Series B to expand AI inference platform")
Cent raises $15 million to expand AI-powered preventive healthcare platform
Blume Ventures and South Park Commons led the funding round as Cent plans to expand its AI-powered medical imaging, diagnostics and preventive healthcare services in India
 "Cent raises $15 million to expand AI-powered preventive healthcare platform")
Protectt.ai makes majority stake investment in security firm AIShield
AIShield will operate as an independent company under Protectt.ai, with fresh capital aimed at research, global expansion and sovereign AI security capabilities
 "Protectt.ai makes majority stake investment in security firm AIShield")