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  • CCPA Fines Rapido INR 10 Lakh for Misleading Advertisement

    The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has ordered Rapido (Roppen Transportation Services Pvt. Ltd.) to pay a penalty of INR 10 lakh for printing deceptive advertisements and engaging in unfair trade practices, in a move to defend consumer rights.

    Misleading ‘Auto in 5 Min’ Promotion Explained

    The Authority has additionally instructed the online ride-hailing platform to guarantee that any customer who used the “AUTO IN 5 MIN OR GET INR 50” promotion and did not obtain the promised INR 50 compensation will receive a complete reimbursement of the money without any further conditions or delays.

    Consumer Complaints Against Rapido Surge

    Rapido’s deceptive advertising, which promised customers “AUTO IN 5 MIN OR GET INR 50” and “Guaranteed Auto”, was brought to the attention of the CCPA. Following a thorough analysis, the CCPA determined that these commercials were unfair to consumers, untrue, and misleading. As a result, the CCPA ordered that the deceptive commercials be removed immediately.

    Shocking Revelation by National Consumer Helpline (NCH)

    Complaints
    Against Rapido

    •575 complaints against Rapido between
    April 2023 and May 2024.

    •1,224 complaints between June 2024
    and July 2025.

     According to the CCPA’s investigation, Rapido’s adverts featured the notice “T&C Apply” in an incredibly small and unreadable font. Even then, the reward was “up to INR 50” and not necessarily precisely INR 50. The promised INR 50 benefit was not actual currency (in rupees), but rather “Rapido coins”. These coins had a seven-day validity period and could only be used for Rapido bike rides. These limitations significantly diminished the offer’s value and essentially forced customers to switch to another Rapido service in an unreasonable amount of time.

    Customers were deceived into selecting Rapido by these omissions, which gave the false sense of guaranteed service. Furthermore, the Terms and Conditions made clear that individual captains, not Rapido, were providing the guarantee, even though the advertisement made the bold claim, “Auto in 5 minutes or get INR 50.” By deceiving customers about the precise guarantee stated in the advertisement, this paradoxical position sought to shift responsibility away from the business.

    What the Advertising Guidelines Say?

    According to the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertising and Endorsements, 2022, advertising cannot utilise disclaimers to rectify a misleading claim, hide important facts, or contradict the main claim.

    In Rapido’s case, the statements “Auto in 5 min or get INR 50” and “Guaranteed Auto” gave the idea that customers would always be charged ₹50 if the car was not delivered within 5 minutes.

    Nevertheless, the important restriction that the benefit was limited to “up to INR 50” and only in the form of Rapido coins with a brief validity was either left out or not made as prominently known. The commercial was misleading due to its lack of clarity and concealment, which was a clear violation of the guidelines.

    Quick
    Shots

    •Ads promised “AUTO IN 5 MIN OR GET
    INR 50” and “Guaranteed Auto”, but compensation was unclear and misleading.

    •Rapido directed to reimburse all
    customers who were denied the promised INR 50 benefit.

    •“T&C Apply” displayed in tiny,
    unreadable font; compensation was Rapido coins, not actual money.

    •Rapido coins valid for 7 days and
    usable only for bike rides, reducing consumer value.

  • Cisco Announces Major Layoffs Despite CEO’s Denial of AI-Related Job Cuts

    Days after CEO Chuck Robbins publicly rejected the idea of laying off employees to make room for artificial intelligence, Cisco Systems announced a new wave of layoffs, removing 157 positions in California.

    The action has drawn legal attention, which has made the company’s attempts to strike a balance between cost containment, shareholder returns, and an expansion strategy driven by AI even more difficult. Employees at a number of Cisco locations will be impacted by the layoffs, with the Milpitas facility seeing the most. According to CRN, 64 more jobs will be lost in San Francisco, while employees at the company’s Pleasanton branch and previous Redwood City headquarters will also be affected.

    According to sources, the positions being terminated range widely, from entry-level workers to top executives, including vice presidents. The layoffs’ timing has drawn criticism. Robbins only stated to CNBC this week that he has no plans to use AI as a cover for cutting staff. He emphasised that he wanted engineers to “innovate faster and be more productive” rather than “fire a bunch of people right now.”

    Strauss Borrelli, a Chicago-based legal firm, has declared that it is looking into whether Cisco complied with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which mandates that companies in the United States give 60 days’ notice before executing mass retirements. In the past, Scott Herren, the chief finance officer at Cisco, referred to job losses associated with AI deployment as a “reallocation versus a headcount savings” effort.

    However, the most recent round comes after two significant worker reductions in the last year: a 5% global decrease in February 2024 and a 7% cut announced in August 2024, both of which the business claimed would maximise shareholder value. Strauss Borrelli stated in a statement that it was investigating whether impacted Cisco workers had been given enough notice and were eligible for benefits and severance pay for 60 days.

    According to reports, employees were notified of the layoffs on August 13th, before the mid-October employment terminations were scheduled. The law firm has questioned whether the correct procedures were followed, even if the dates seem to meet WARN’s standards.

    “We are looking into whether Cisco violated the WARN Act by terminating 157 employees without giving at least 60 days’ notice,” Strauss Borrelli stated. Regarding the legal investigation, the business has not made any public remarks.

    Cisco’s AI Growth Amid Job Cuts

    The layoffs take place as Cisco’s AI-related business is expanding rapidly. The business recently revealed that its AI-related revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 totalled $800 million, bringing its yearly total to $2.1 billion. Robbins informed investors that the majority of this revenue was derived from hyperscaler clients, with the other two-thirds being connected to Cisco’s optical portfolio.

    Impact on Employees and Leadership Shake-Up

    Cisco’s strategic investment in AI infrastructure as a long-term growth engine is highlighted by the financial gain. However, it also draws attention to the paradox of reducing employment while announcing record profits from one of the sectors of the economy with the strongest rate of growth.

    Cisco has announced changes to its senior levels in addition to the job losses. According to CRN, Tim Coogan, senior vice-president for U.S. commercial operations, will succeed Rodney Clark as global partner sales head.

    Quick
    Shots

    •Layoffs follow CEO Chuck Robbins’
    public denial of AI-driven job cuts just days earlier.

    •Job losses affect employees across
    levels, including senior executives and vice presidents.

    •Law firm Strauss Borrelli
    investigating potential WARN Act violations over insufficient layoff notice.

    •Cisco reports $2.1B annual revenue
    from AI-related business, highlighting contrast between growth and job cuts.

  • Meta’s AI Hiring Spree Hits the Brakes. Restructuring, Layoffs, What’s Going On?

    Meta went on a major hiring spree early this year to supercharge its “Superintelligence” AI team. The team onboarded 50 brightest AI minds from its top rivals (like Google, Apple, xAI, and Anthropic). Not just that, Meta has plans to invest around $72 billion in AI by the end of the year, though experts fear ‘no’. Just two days ago (August 19), Meta internally announced a team reshuffle and restructuring, sparking fears of layoffs. Now, Meta has also paused its AI hiring. Do these signs point to upcoming layoffs? Will Meta join other giants like Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, and Google, who have fired thousands this year? Or is it just a strategic move? Learn more.

    Who Has Meta Hired Recently?

    This year, Meta hired a wave of AI talent, bringing in the brightest minds from competitors. The superintelligence team added 50 new members:

    • 20+ researchers and engineers from the famous OpenAI (who developed ChatGPT).
    • 13 from Google.
    • 3 from Apple.
    • 3 from Elon Musk’s xAI (who developed Grok).
    • 2 from Anthropic (another AI startup).

    The recent reports also speculated that Meta went as far as spending $300 million on some top hires. However, Meta dismissed the rumors, saying they are just rumors. One thing is clear: Meta would spend a generous amount on these hires from elsewhere.

    Meta’s AI Spending and Financial Outlook 2025

    • As per the Meta Investor Relations page, it secured a revenue of $47.52 billion (increased by 22% year-over-year) in the second quarter. And its stocks are at a record high and have surpassed Wall Street expectations.
    • In just the second quarter of 2025, Meta spent around $17 billion on data centers, servers, chips, and other hardware.
    • Meta plans to spend (in AI) a total of $72 billion in 2025, which could exceed the GDP of over 100 countries.

    Could this be a substantial financial risk? Notably, experts are worried if this is a good investment in the long term.

    Meta on Freezing Its AI Hiring and Restructuring

    According to Meta, nothing dramatic is happening inside, just some organizational planning and structuring for “superintelligence.”

    A spokesperson for Meta mentioned in an emailed statement to Reuters, “All that’s happening here is some basic organizational planning: creating a solid structure for our new superintelligence efforts after bringing people on board and undertaking yearly budgeting and planning exercises.”

    On August 19, Meta gave a mini shocker with the AI team reorganizing into four divisions, sparking panic (fear of layoffs). The news was shared by Alexandr Wang, Meta’s new Chief AI Officer. According to him:

    Large Language Models team

    Works on AI technology like Llama. It powers Meta’s AI assistant, just like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

    FAIR (Fundamental AI Research) team

    This is Meta’s 10-year research lab and will continue to focus on its deep, long-term AI research.

    Consumer AI team

    Led by Nat Friedman (former GitHub CEO), Meta will integrate its AI models into everyday products like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook.

    Infrastructure team

    Led by Aparna Ramani, head of Meta’s all AI Infrastructure, the focus will be on data centers, computing, and hardware.

  • Elon Musk’s Starlink Ties Up with UIDAI to Enable Aadhaar-Based Customer Verification in India

    According to an official announcement cited by news agency PTI, billionaire Elon Musk’s satellite internet service business Starlink would use Aadhaar authentication to validate Indian consumers before onboarding them. Starlink has been given permission by the government to start providing satellite-based broadband services domestically.

    As per the release, Starlink Satellite Communication Pvt Ltd, a satellite-based internet provider, has been onboarded by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). For customer verification, Starlink will adopt Aadhaar Authentication, which will streamline, secure, and simplify the procedure.

    In India, Starlink can currently enrol about 20 lakh consumers, according to an official estimate. The onboarding of Starlink with Aadhaar identification, according to the statement, represents a potent synergy: India’s reliable digital identity collaborating with international satellite technology.

    In addition to providing high-speed internet to homes, businesses, and institutions, Aadhaar e-KYC will make user onboarding easier and guarantee regulatory compliance.

    In front of UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, UIDAI Deputy Director General Manish Bhardwaj, and Starlink India Director Parnil Urdhwareshe, Starlink Satellite Communication was designated as a sub-authentication and sub-eKYC user agency. To provide its services within the nation, Starlink has partnered with Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.

    The Elon Musk-led satellite internet company can offer speeds of up to 200 Mbps, according to Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, the Minister of State for Rural Development and Telecommunications.

    Impact on Telecom Players Jio, Airtel, and BSNL

    According to PTI, the government doesn’t think this will affect other telecom providers. “Starlink can only serve 20 lakh customers in India while providing speeds of up to 200 Mbps. “Telecom services won’t be impacted by it,” Minister Pemmasani told the news agency during a BSNL review meeting.

    Customers in rural and distant areas of India, a sizable market for the state-owned telecom carrier BSNL, are the target market for the company’s satellite internet services.

    Starlink’s Role in Rural Connectivity in India

    According to earlier reports from a number of media outlets, Starlink intends to use its satellite technology to expand the local telecom industry and address connection issues in rural and isolated parts of India.

    Quick
    Shots

    •Will use Aadhaar Authentication &
    e-KYC for Indian customer verification.

    •Starlink expected to enroll up to 20
    lakh customers initially.

    •Combines India’s digital identity
    system (Aadhaar) with global satellite internet tech.

    •Ensures secure, simplified, and
    regulatory-compliant customer onboarding.

  • PM Modi to Inaugurate ₹1,870 Crore 6-Lane Ganga Bridge to Boost Bihar Connectivity

    New link to cut travel by over 100 km, boost trade and connectivity across Bihar

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 8.15-km Aunta–Simaria highway project on NH-31 in Bihar on Friday, 22 August 2025. The project includes a 1.86-km six-lane bridge across the Ganga, built at a cost of over ₹1,870 crore. It will provide direct connectivity between Mokama in Patna district and Begusarai.

    The bridge, India’s widest extradosed cable-stayed structure, stands 34 metres wide with segment lengths ranging from 57 to 115 metres and 70-metre cantilever arms, making it a landmark in highway engineering. Constructed parallel to the ageing two-lane Rajendra Setu, which is under repair and closed for heavy vehicles, the new bridge will ease long-standing traffic bottlenecks. Heavy vehicles will no longer be forced to take detours of more than 100 km, cutting travel time between north Bihar districts such as Begusarai, Supaul, Madhubani, Purnea and Araria, and south Bihar regions including Patna, Sheikhpura, Nawada and Lakhisarai.

    Officials said the project is expected to drive economic growth in adjoining areas, particularly in north Bihar, which depends on south Bihar and Jharkhand for raw materials. It will also open up new opportunities for farmers, especially makhana growers, by providing faster access to national and international markets. Industrial hubs like Barauni are also expected to benefit from smoother freight movement.

    Built with high-performance concrete incorporating silica fume to enhance durability, the bridge has been designed to withstand heavy traffic volumes for years. Construction also included a Railway Under Bridge using push-box technology, ensuring uninterrupted train movement during the project’s execution.

    The new link will further improve access to Simaria Dham, a prominent pilgrimage site and the birthplace of celebrated poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar.

    Terming the inauguration as the new chapter in Bihar’s development journey, Bihar’s Road Construction Minister Nitin Navin said, “From laying the foundation in 2017 to inaugurating it, the Hon’ble Prime Minister has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment and enduring vision to strengthening Bihar’s connectivity and growth. This bridge will significantly reduce the distance between north and south Bihar and stand as a signature project of progress. It is a reminder of how far the state has travelled from the lantern age, when craters passed for roads. The Prime Minister envisions Bihar as the next growth engine, and every effort is being directed towards building a strong launch pad for that future.”

    The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the four-lane Bakhtiyarpur to Mokama section of NH-31, worth around Rs 1,900 crore, which will ease congestion, reduce travel time, and enhance passenger and freight movement. Further, improvement to the two-lane with paved shoulders of Bikramganj–Dawath–Nawanagar–Dumraon section of NH-120 in Bihar will improve connectivity in rural areas, providing new economic opportunities for the local population.

  • Chennai IT Employees’ Union Protests Against Mass Layoffs at TCS

    According to a New Indian Express story, the Union of IT & ITES Employees (UNITE) protested Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on 19 August in a number of Indian cities, claiming that almost 30,000 workers may be impacted by current layoffs. TCS, however, has denied the allegation, stating that the cut will only affect around 12,000 jobs, or 2% of its global workforce.

    The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) provided backing for the protests, according to the New Indian Express article. UNITE officials cautioned that the true number of layoffs may be more than reported and called for the government to step in and force TCS to reverse its decision.

    Skilled Employees Also Impacted, Say Workers

    UNITE Joint Secretary Chandra Shekar Azad told The Hindu Business Line that experience has been the only thing that those impacted have in common thus far. He went on to say that teams were becoming uncertain, as even workers with demonstrated abilities and leadership credentials were being let go.

    Alangunambi Welkin, the general secretary of UNITE, told the publication that if authorities do not intervene, the union, which has roughly 300 members, including 50–60 from TCS, intends to expand its fight internationally by working with international trade groups.

    Concerns regarding deficiencies at TCS’s Siruseri campus were also voiced by a few union members. They said that workers were forced to rely on other equipment since they had restricted access to the required upskilling tools on their own devices. These assertions have not been confirmed.

    TCS Denies Large-Scale Job Cuts

    TCS called the union’s claims “inaccurate and misleading” in a statement to Business Line. According to the corporation, changes to the workforce would only affect 2% of its workers. TCS is one of the biggest employers in the private sector in India, employing about 600,000 people worldwide. With an emphasis on cloud, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation, TCS stated that the reorganisation aims to create a “future-ready organisation”.

    Labour Authorities Step In Under Industrial Disputes Act

    The business also stated that impacted workers will receive transition assistance and severance pay. According to a previous ET story, executives from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) informed Karnataka’s labour regulators that they are unsure of the exact number of workers who will be let go in various locations. The business will respond to an IT union’s complaint alleging infringement of labour laws.

    HR executives Mahesh GK, assistant manager, and Boban Varghese Thomas, general manager of HR, represented TCS at the meeting earlier this month. They met with representatives of the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU), which had brought up the complaint, as well as officials from the Karnataka labour department.

    A list of grievances from impacted employees was requested by labour authorities from the union. It is necessary to address the impacted employees’ basic concerns. G Manjunath, Additional Labour Commissioner (Industrial Relations), presided over the conciliation. In accordance with the 1947 Industrial Disputes Act, the matter is being examined.

    Quick
    Shots

    •Union of IT & ITES Employees
    (UNITE) staged protests in Chennai and other cities on 19 August.

    •Nearly 30,000 jobs at TCS may be at
    risk.

    •TCS denies large-scale layoffs; says
    only 12,000 jobs (~2% of workforce) will be impacted.

    •TCS calls union’s claims “inaccurate
    and misleading.”

  • 96% of Indian Retailers Embrace AI, Outpacing Global Peers: Honeywell Report

    96% of large retailers in India have already developed AI capabilities and solutions, according to Honeywell’s Global Retailer Technology Survey

    Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) released its Global Retailer Technology Survey, which found that India’s major retailers are fully invested in artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to make operations more efficient. Almost all (96%) in-country retailers said they are using AI, with plans to either expand in the near future or maintain current usage of the technology, as compared to 85% globally. 

    The survey also highlights how Indian retailers are using AI, from smarter inventory and demand forecasting to enhanced customer service and optimized last-mile delivery.

    • Retailers in India said demand planning (50%), customer experience (41%) and logistics and distribution centers (41%) were the business areas that stand to benefit most from AI and digitization. 
    • Survey respondents in India attributed more value to AI for demand planning and supply chain logistics than other regions did (+14% and +7%, respectively, from the global average). 
    • By contrast, fewer retailers in India than in other regions said AI had the potential to improve procurement activities (20% in India vs. 28% globally).      

    “Retailers are looking to AI to better understand what their customers want and how to best meet their needs in a constantly changing market,” said Ritwij Kulkarni, General Manager, Industrial Automation, Honeywell India. “In a country as large and diverse as India, AI has tremendous potential to create hyper-personalized customer experiences and optimize the flow of retail goods throughout the supply chain so they reach shoppers in the most efficient way.” 

    Other advanced technologies are making a significant impact on the retail landscape in India, with a majority of retailers already invested in machine and camera vision (CV) technologies (68%) and optical character recognition (OCR) (64%). While less common overall, augmented reality (AR) is also gaining traction, in use by 39% of surveyed Indian retailers.

    OCR can significantly speed up retail workflows when replenishing the shelf inventory or identifying mislabeled prices by quickly reading labels and other product information. CV can help mitigate the growing challenge with retail shrinkage, while AR can help shoppers or employees visualize a product in a space. 

    Data Capture Technologies in Use by Retail Companies: India vs. Global
    Data Capture Technologies in Use by Retail Companies: India vs. Global

    While the results showed overall continued momentum for AI, Indian retailers expressed some concerns about its adoption. 

    • Nearly half of respondents (48%) anticipated that the greatest challenge for future AI implementation in the industry would be customer acceptance, compared with 40% globally—suggesting there is an opportunity for Indian retailers to demonstrate to customers the benefits AI can bring. 
    • Other top challenges for in-country retailers in implementing AI were regulatory compliance (43%) and complexity of AI models (38%). 

    Honeywell’s Global Retailer Technology Survey focused on large retailers throughout the U.S., Europe, Latin America, India and the Middle East and how they are using advanced technologies throughout their operations, including AI, automation, augmented reality, machine vision and sensors. Indian retailers participating in the survey had a minimum annual revenue of $10 million USD.

    Methodology

    Honeywell commissioned Wakefield Research to conduct the Global Honeywell Retailer Technology Survey in May 2025. This Omnibus survey polled 450 executives at large retailers about their use of AI and other technologies via an email invitation and online survey. The following markets are represented in survey data: the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, India, United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The threshold of “large” retailer varied by country, ranging from a minimum annual revenue of $100 million in the U.S. to minimum annual revenue of $5 million in the UAE and KSA.

    About Honeywell

    Honeywell is an integrated operating company serving a broad range of industries and geographies around the world. Our business is aligned with three powerful megatrends – automation, the future of aviation and energy transition – underpinned by our Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Forge IoT platform. As a trusted partner, we help organizations solve the world’s toughest, most complex challenges, providing actionable solutions and innovations through our Aerospace Technologies, Industrial Automation, Building Automation and Energy and Sustainability Solutions business segments that help make the world smarter and safer, as well as more secure and sustainable.

  • Edge AI Computing Startup Edgehax™ Raises INR 1.39 Crores in Seed Round Led by Inflection Point Ventures

    • The company builds a modular Edge AI hardware platform – integrating compute, network, and storage into a single board.
    • With fresh backing, Edgehax aims to accelerate adoption among startups, OEMs, and enterprises experimenting with hardware-driven innovation by scaling up production, advancing new product development, and expanding market access.
    • This hardware is already being used in areas such as industrial gateways, humanoid robots, autonomous vehicles, drones, Indian defence applications across NavIC-based tracking systems, 4G/5G connectivity, and the company’s in-house DvarOS™ built specially to address Industrial Edge Gateways.
    • So far, Inflection Point Ventures has invested over INR 800 Cr across 220+ businesses.

    Edgehax, an Edge AI hardware platform, has raised INR 1.39 crore in a seed round led by Inflection Point Ventures. The funds will be used to boost manufacturing, accelerate product development, and scale into international markets across Singapore, the US and Europe. Edgehax is already used by 150+ startups, OEMs, and large enterprises to rapidly prototype, develop, and scale hardware-first products, all on a single integrated board with compute, connectivity, and storage. 

    Edgehax has recently won the NXP Silicon Seeds Startup Program 2025 to build an exclusive low-cost Edge AI compute module based on NXP chips for global automotive and consumer IoT applications. The product launch is planned in Singapore alongside NXP by December this year. The Company is also backed by Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and has secured the MeitY Bhashini Startup Velocity 1.0 program award to build hardware that enables mass-market adoption of the Digital India Bhashini Voice AI platform.

    Prabhu Stavarmath, CEO and Co-founder of Edgehax, added, “At Edgehax, our goal is to become a global pioneer in Edge AI Gateways and Single Board Computers by delivering fully integrated hardware platforms with open-source firmware and scalable cloud software – enabling rapid product development for startups, enterprises, and OEMs worldwide. By 2029, Edgehax aims to empower over 100 million developers using its boards and tools across APAC, the US, and Europe. The bigger goal is straightforward: become the go-to design and manufacturing partner for enterprises and OEMs that need hardware which is ready to use and easy to customise. Step by step, through consistent product development and local manufacturing, Edgehax is working to showcase its Make in India capabilities to a global stakeholders ecosystem.”

    Edgehax is India’s answer to Raspberry Pi — a globally competitive, homegrown edge AI computing platform for developers, tinkerers, hobbyists and the student community globally.

    Edgehax has enabled 100,000+ students and faculty development programs across 30+ universities and IITs using Edgehax dev kits. It also provides a hardware distribution platform for fabless OEMs to mass market their products and drive rapid adoption through its developer community across top-tier research institutions in India. The Edgehax community has been at the centre of shaping its products. Developers, students, and researchers using its kits are not just early adopters but also key drivers of awareness, which has helped the brand grow mostly through word-of-mouth. This bottom-up approach is now creating a hardware ecosystem where new products can be tested and scaled faster.

    Vikram Ramasubramanian, Partner, Inflection Point Ventures says “Despite India being one of the largest markets for tech and AI, it lacks a domestic hardware prototyping platform. Startups, OEMs, and enterprises have to rely on foreign-made boards and compute modules. Our investment in Edgehax comes at a pivotal moment in time where the government also underlines India’s need for domestically designed and manufactured flexible hardware that is accessible, reliable and affordable. Edgehax is at the forefront of this, with not only product development but also community-led ecosystem that helps scale quickly and reliably.’’

    Prabhu Stavarmath, Co-founder and CEO of Edgehax, with more than 15 years of experience in IoT hardware, product development, and enterprise sales, has previously built two startups that served over 100,000 customers and generated revenues of over half a million dollars, besides helping scale IoT and cloud solutions for global clients.

    Savitri Patil, COO and Co-founder of Edgehax, has extensive experience in managing operations, supply chain, logistics, and team workflows. With a background in electronics and roles spanning manufacturing and IoT prototyping, she now drives Edgehax’s mission to streamline hardware development for innovators across India.

    On the product side, Edgehax has managed to design and prototype its boards entirely in India, a step that adds weight to the country’s push for electronics independence. At present, more than 5,000 edge gateway boards are already in production, and about 10,000 compute modules meant for consumer appliances are expected to roll out by December 2025.

    The global edge hardware market is expected to more than double by 2030, touching nearly USD 59 billion from around USD 26 billion in 2025. The rise of connected devices from smartphones and industrial machines to everyday IoT products is driving this demand for real-time data processing closer to where it is generated.

    About Edgehax

    Founded in 2025 by Prabhu Stavarmath and Savitri Patil, Edgehax is India’s first full-stack Edge AI hardware platform that combines compute, connectivity, and storage on a single board. Built to address the challenges of local prototyping and scaling, it helps startups, OEMs, and enterprises bring hardware products to market faster without relying on overseas supply chains. With locally manufactured hardware, assured long-term supply, and on-ground technical support, Edgehax delivers a plug-and-play experience that simplifies hardware development from idea to production. 

    About Inflection Point Ventures and Physis Capital

    Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) is an angel investing platform with over 24,000+ CXOs, HNIs, and Professionals to together invest in startups. The firm supports new-age entrepreneurs by providing them with monetary & experiential capital and connecting them with a diverse group of investors. IPV has launched a $50 Mn CAT 2 VC fund, Physis Capital, to invest in Pre-Series A to Series B growth-stage start-ups. The fund has already deployed capital in six startups so far, with a few deals in advanced stages of pipeline.

  • Mitra Raises INR 14 Crore in Bridge Round Ahead of Series A, Expands Production to Meet Rising Demand

    Mitra, one of India’s fastest-growing FMCG startups, has raised INR 14 crore in a bridge round of equity funding to scale its operations, strengthen its product portfolio, and expand its distribution network. The round was led by Bestvantage Investments, a boutique investment advisory firm connecting high-growth startups with strategic capital. The round also saw participation from existing investors, Mr. Surya (Dubai-based family office), and other marquee investors. 

    The funds will primarily be deployed towards expansion of Mitra’s current facilities, the launch of a new 3000-ton refined flour (maida) plant in October, entry into millet-based and lifestyle product categories (gluten-free, sugar-free, diabetic-friendly flours, and organic spices), as well as strengthening its distribution network across India and new markets in the GCC. Mitra also plans to integrate smart technology to enhance manufacturing and operational efficiency.

    Speaking on the funding, Abhishek Kaushik, Founder & CEO of Mitra, said: “This funding is a key pillar in Mitra’s journey as we prepare for our next phase of growth. It will enable us to expand production capacity, launch new health-oriented product lines, and strengthen our presence across India and international markets. Our vision is to make Mitra one of the top 5 FMCG companies in India within the next 2–3 years, with a clear roadmap towards an IPO.”

    Raman Sharma, Founder & CEO of Bestvantage Investments, said: “We are delighted to back Mitra in this bridge round. The FMCG sector in India is poised for significant disruption, and Mitra’s ability to blend traditional food preparation methods with modern quality standards makes it a brand with immense potential. Their growth trajectory speaks volumes of the scalability and demand for their products.”

    Founded in 2023 with a mission to make health affordable for all, Mitra has disrupted India’s FMCG sector with its unique stone-grinding methodology (‘Chakki Fresh’), which preserves the original essence, freshness, and nutritional value of products. By catering to Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets with premium-quality products at mid-range pricing, the brand has built strong customer loyalty, boasting 92% repeat purchases.

    The company has shown exponential growth, scaling revenues from INR 11 crore in its first year to INR 40 crore in the second year, and is on track to cross ₹120+ crore this financial year. With 500+ distributors and 40,000+ retail touchpoints across NCR, Mitra currently holds the No. 2 market position after ITC in its operating segment. The upcoming flour plant alone is expected to increase Mitra’s monthly recurring revenue from INR 12 crore to at least INR 17 crore by November 2025, with the company already EBITDA positive.

    Mitra is gearing up for a Series A round in April 2026 at a targeted valuation of INR 500 crore, while continuing to expand its product categories, manufacturing footprint, and geographical presence.

    The company has also been recognized for its achievements, with its founder recently awarded Best Emerging Brand and Leader of the Year by Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta.

    About Mitra

    Founded in 2023, Mitra is a fast-growing FMCG brand with the mission of making “health affordable for all.” The company manufactures and markets a range of health-focused food products using its unique ‘Chakki Fresh’ stone-grinding method, ensuring freshness and nutrition retention. With strong distribution across 40,000+ retail outlets and exports in the pipeline, Mitra is on a journey to become one of the most loved FMCG brands in India.

  • Living Better, Not Just Longer: Transforming India’s Elderly Care with Active Ageing

    This article has been contributed by Mr. Adarsh Narahari, Founder & Managing Director at Primus Senior Living.

    India has been undergoing a monumental demographic transition over the past few decades – from being a youth-led nation to now accommodating a rapidly ageing population. India is home to the world’s second-largest elderly population at present and is expected to double its senior citizens’ count by 2050.

    Ageing in India comes with numerous personal challenges – including physical and cognitive health decline, mobility issues, feelings of social isolation, loneliness, emotional and financial dependence and much more. These factors are further compounded by the country’s evolving social conditions and suboptimal geriatric care facilities, rising healthcare costs, and continued surge of nuclear families, making elderly care in India a task. 

    Emphasis on ‘Healthspan’ 

    Despite the challenges, India’s elderly population deserves to age with dignity while remaining fit and healthy, focusing on ‘healthspan’ more than ‘lifespan’. ‘Lifespan’ refers to how many years one remains alive, whereas ‘healthspan’ demonstrates for how long one remains healthy and disease-free. In India, the gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy has continued to widen in recent years. Data from 2022 indicates this gap now stands at roughly a decade, meaning India’s elders are, on average, spending 10 years or more burdened by various diseases or disorders. 

    Even as medical and longevity research advances worldwide, attempting to increase life expectancy, the concept of healthspan, which emphasizes not just living a longer life but also a healthier and productive one, is also gaining traction. Essentially, improving one’s healthspan is focused on boosting vitality and overall quality of life. To that end, while adopting certain healthy habits like getting enough sleep, exercising daily, having a balanced diet and saying no to alcohol and smoking are helpful, these aren’t always full-proof solutions.  

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    Ushering the Active Ageing Revolution in India

    When it comes to improving the quality of life amongst the elderly, ‘active ageing’ has the potential to be a game-changer. Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation, and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age”, active ageing entails a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach that simultaneously promotes physical fitness, mental wellness and social engagement of seniors. Interestingly, this is in contrast to the popular perception of older people being inactive or lacking in movement.  

    The United Nations has declared 2021-2030 as the ‘Decade of Healthy Ageing’, while the government too has emphasized elder care as an integral part of the nation’s progress and development. The collective desire to see our seniors thrive – which constitutes the foundation of active ageing – is deep-rooted in India’s socio-cultural heritage. Here are some strategies India can embrace to optimally leverage active aging principles: 

    Senior Citizen Support Initiatives
    Senior Citizen Support Initiatives
    • Encourage seniors to participate in offline social/collaborative activities, contribute to community projects and social initiatives, and form their own social circle, peer groups/clubs
    • Conduct regular health check-ups and preventive screening camps, preferably at/near the doorstep of seniors, which can help in detecting potential health issues early
    • To aid mobility and pain reduction for seniors, organize Yoga and physiotherapy sessions – either in a group or a personalized format
    • Foster inter-generational connection and bonding opportunities at homes, family gatherings, community events, multi-generational communities, among other places, wherein senior citizens can interact with the younger generations 
    • Create dedicated age-friendly infrastructure at residential projects to ensure accessibility and convenience for seniors, including features like anti-skid tiles, emergency panic alerts, etc. 
    • Establish support networks and helplines to address the mental health and companionship needs of the elderly
    • Help seniors pursue their passion projects or creative pursuits such as art, music, etc. and also encourage them to take up new hobbies 
    • Organize sessions/workshops aimed at enhancing digital and tech literacy amongst the elderly community, including topics like usage of smartphones, software, etc.

    As per the latest McKinsey finding, India has roughly a generation before it becomes an ‘old’ country like Japan. Implementing the concept of active and healthy ageing is closely linked to ensuring India is able to reap its demographic dividend, not only to meet its economic aspirations but also the societal goals of living with health, wealth, happiness and purpose. India must continue to build inclusive and sustainable elder care facilities while complementing it with the various active aging strategies as shared above, in order to lead by example towards turning its demographic challenges’ story into one of demographic resilience. 

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