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Tag: #news

  • Shubhanshu Shukla Rockets into History as India’s First Space Traveler in 40 Years

    As the pilot of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched for the highly anticipated Axiom 4 mission to reach the International Space Station (ISS), Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has written history. After several delays, the liftoff occurred on June 25 at 12:01 p.m.

    Following the renowned Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma, Shukla is the first person to visit the ISS in the past four decades. In 1984, Sharma was a member of the Salyut-7 space station, which was then owned by the Soviet Union, and spent eight days in orbit.

    Shukla, an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) astronaut, is joined by mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, as well as former NASA astronaut and mission commander Peggy Whitson. Poland and Hungary will also be returning to space with the Axiom 4 mission, in addition to India.

    Mission Might Inspire Many Young Space Enthusiast- Shukla

    Shubhanshu Shukla, a native of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, expressed his hope that the mission will motivate a whole generation of youth before departing for a historic voyage to the International Space Station (ISS), much like the first Indian to travel into space, Rakesh Sharma, did in the past.

    The journey has been incredible, Shukla said. A person might truly sense that he is becoming a part of something far bigger than himself during these moments. He can only express how incredibly lucky he is to be involved in this.

     Through his quest, he sincerely hopes to motivate a whole generation back in the nation. He wants to take advantage of this chance to encourage children’s curiosity.

    His narrative would be a big success even if it only changed one person’s life. He went on to say that the way this worked out for him was that he probably found out he was travelling to Axiom about a week before he really arrived.

    He was very happy to be here. This gave him the chance to actually fly to space, which made him extremely delighted.

    Shukla’s ‘Skyful’ Experience

    Shukla, one of the four astronauts selected for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, was born in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, on October 10, 1985.

     In June 2006, Shukla received his commission in the IAF jet wing. He has 2,000 hours of flight experience in a variety of aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. He is a combat leader and seasoned test pilot.

    Shukla started a year-long rigorous training programme at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Moscow, in 2019 to refine the talents that would define his destiny, according to a news agency.

    He was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2024, as one of India’s top astronauts training for Gaganyaan, the country’s first crewed spaceflight scheduled to launch in 2025.

  • Microsoft Hits Reset on Xbox Team with New Wave of Layoffs

    Next week, Microsoft Corporation will lay off a significant number of employees in its Xbox division as part of a larger restructuring effort.

    Deeper issues within the computer giant’s video game operations are indicated by the decision, which is the fourth significant round of layoffs to hit the gaming arm in as many months.

    An international media agency broke the story first, citing internal sources that said managers throughout the Xbox division were told to anticipate large layoffs.

    After Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. in 2023, the Xbox division, which is in charge of the company’s game consoles, first-party studios, and other entertainment platforms, has been under more pressure to increase profitability.

    Layoff Has Become a Regular Feature of Microsoft

    This most recent development follows earlier claims that Microsoft plans to cut thousands of jobs in customer-facing and sales professions by July 2025. The corporation had already laid off about 6,000 employees in May, and in the last two months alone, the number of job losses across all divisions has reached almost 7,000.

    One of Microsoft’s most affected divisions has been the Xbox team. The corporation let go of 1,900 workers at Xbox and the freshly acquired Activision Blizzard in January 2024. Microsoft later let off 650 more employees from its gaming division in September 2024.

    The division’s long-term capabilities were severely harmed by the closure of other Xbox subsidiaries as a result of earlier layoff waves. Although Microsoft has not issued an official comment, the reorganisation seems to be in line with a larger change in company policy that emphasises outsourcing and leaner teams.

    Microsoft said in April 2025 that it would reduce its in-house sales teams by depending increasingly on outside companies to offer software solutions to small and midsized organisations.

    The entire tech sector is still going through a difficult period. With weaker growth projections and increased demands for profitability, even the most profitable companies in the world are reassessing their cost structures.

    Microsoft is no exception, with its extensive portfolio that includes consumer games, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise applications.

    Microsoft’s Employees in a Panic Mode

    Microsoft’s long-term gaming strategy is called into question by the frequent waves of layoffs inside the Xbox division, which was originally thought to be a crucial pillar for customer involvement and upcoming metaverse efforts.

    Although the Activision Blizzard purchase was historic, analysts point out that the anticipated growth and synergy from the transaction have not yet materialised into observable financial gains.

    This might have led Microsoft’s executives to adopt a more stringent approach to cost management in the gaming industry. Employee worries are also anticipated to grow as a result of the impending cuts. Internal morale is said to be stressed as a result of multiple waves of layoffs in a very short amount of time, particularly within development and creative teams.

    As restructuring talks continue, many Xbox ecosystem personnel are still unclear about their future positions, according to Bloomberg. Broadly speaking, Microsoft’s drastic layoffs are part of a larger trend among large tech firms looking to simplify operations after the epidemic, as the hiring boom of 2020–2022 is now being replaced with efficiency and financial restraint.

  • AuraML Raises $1M Pre-Seed Round led by Turbostart to Power Generative Simulation for Industrial Robotics

    New Delhi June 25th 2025:- AuraML, a deeptech startup pioneering generative simulation for industrial and warehouse robotics, has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by global venture capital and accelerator fund Turbostart, with participation from DeVC, GSF Accelerator, IAN and other investors.

    Founded with the mission to reinvent how intelligent machines are trained and tested, AuraML’s simulation engine allows enterprises to model, test, and deploy robotic systems faster, safer, and more cost-effectively.

    With this funding, AuraML will double down on product development, expand its US footprint, and support enterprise pilots in warehouse automation, industrial robotics, and next-gen autonomous systems.

    Addressing the occasion, Mr Ganesh Raju, the founder of Turbostart, said, “There’s been a lot of chatter about India lacking deep IP-driven innovation. AuraML is a counterpoint. What they’re building has the potential to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best simulation platforms globally. Led by founders with incredible technical expertise, they’re proof that India’s tech stack is ready to take on the world.” 

    Developing high-performing robotic systems traditionally requires months of real-world testing and significant investment often amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars in physical infrastructure. AuraML is evidently transforming this paradigm. Consider a typical warehouse robotics company: to operate efficiently, they must deploy hundreds of robots functioning in seamless coordination around the clock. These systems must demonstrate resilience to harsh and unpredictable environments, including low lighting, airborne dust affecting sensors, complex multi-agent interactions, and irregular object placements. AuraML’s technology significantly accelerates this process while reducing the reliance on costly physical trials.

    These companies spend months and sometimes years testing the robots in the real world, doing soft deployments where the robots need constant human monitoring. Testing is painstakingly slow and each new deployment at a new facility needs the process to be repeated. Traditional simulators fall short too, lacking the precision and scalability to be able to accurately model the real world. There are large sim to real gap problems and performance limitations.

    Sharing his thoughts, Mr Ayush Sharma, the Co-Founder and CEO at AuraML, said, “At AuraML, we see Robotics and Physical AI as the next great leap for humanity. Our role is to help accelerate these innovations by giving researchers and engineers the tools they need to build better and more intelligent robots. Today, India’s deeptech ecosystem is rising, and we are glad to be at the forefront and receive so much support. At AuraML, we want to show it is indeed possible to build companies doing fundamental GenAI research from India and we hope people join us in this mission. Indian researchers abroad now have a place back home if they choose to return.“

    AuraML addresses these challenges with their simulation platform that enables robotics companies to test their AMRs and autonomous forklifts across multiple real-world-like scenarios. The platform helps companies build robots that are better prepared for complex, dynamic environments by providing automated testing capabilities that reduce both time and costs compared to traditional physical testing methods.

    AuraML’s platform offers a range of powerful capabilities designed to streamline robotics development and testing. These include Text-to-World generation, enabling the creation of diverse digital testing environments, and advanced sensor noise simulation for LiDAR and camera data. The platform also supports multi-robot deployment testing through scalable cloud infrastructure and integrates seamlessly with existing robotics workflows. By shifting testing from physical to virtual environments,

    Delivering substantial savings in both cost and time, the platform aims to reduce what typically takes 6 months and $500K into 1 week at a fraction of the cost while maintaining safety and real-world applicability.

    About Turbostart:

    Turbostart is a sector agnostic venture capital and accelerator fund investing globally.

    About AuraML:

    AuraML revolutionizes real-world AI and robotics training through AuraSIM, a generative platform that transforms simple text prompts into sensor-rich, physically accurate 3D environments. By combining advanced simulations of LiDAR, radar, thermal, and optical data with a powerful synthetic data engine, AuraML enables scalable, industry-ready training and validation.

  • Lenskart Aims for the Spotlight: IPO DRHP Filing Expected in Early July

    In the first two weeks of July, the unicorn in the eyewear industry, Lenskart, will file DRHP for its IPO. It will opt for a public DRHP rather than the confidential DRHP route.

    Lenskart is choosing full public disclosure over the confidential IPO filing path with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which is what several of its competitors, such as Swiggy, Groww, Meesho, PhysicsWallah, and Boat, have chosen.

    The confidential route gives businesses flexibility and protection during the pre-IPO stage while preserving the privacy of sensitive business information during early regulatory examinations.

    A public file, on the other hand, instantly makes the DRHP available to the public, exposing all financial data, corporate specifics, and strategic intentions to inspection. Lenskart’s decision to be transparent points to a solid and planned business strategy.

    Massive IPO Plan Marking Lenskart’s Valuation at $10 Billion

    According to reports, Lenskart is getting ready for a big $1 billion IPO with a $10 billion valuation target. Its tremendous development and market leadership are reflected in this aim, which is almost twice its prior private market valuation.

    A group of top investment banks, including Kotak, Axis Capital, Citi, Morgan Stanley, and Avendus, have joined forces with Lenskart to oversee this massive IPO.

    The company’s confidence stems from its growing global footprint and its leading position in the Indian omnichannel eyewear market.

    Lenskart has a distinct competitive advantage because it presently has no direct competitors in the new economy sector, and Titan Eye Plus, its closest listed competitor, works on a much smaller scale.

    Financial Dynamics of Lenskart

    With a sales base of INR 5,427.7 crore, the company posted a loss of INR 10.15 crore in FY24. Despite being a loss, it greatly reduced losses by 84% when compared to FY23’s INR 63.7 crore, indicating a concentration on both expansion and strict financial control.

    An excellent measure of the company’s market penetration is the revenue growth of 43.2% in FY24 compared to FY23. The company has not yet released its financial results for FY25.

    Lenskart, which was founded by Peyush and Neha Bansal, Amit Chaudhary, Ramneek Khurana, and Sumeet Kapahi, has grown outside of India. Japan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates are among the important foreign markets in which it works.

    The business has made significant investments in international growth, including the purchase of the majority of the Japanese eyewear company OWNDAYS, which was estimated to be worth $400 million in 2023.

    With ambitions to create up to 400 new stores in Southeast Asian nations over the next two years, this calculated move intends to further establish the company as a global leader in eyeglasses.

    In Hyderabad, Telangana, Lenskart just started construction of the biggest eyewear facility in the world, which will serve both the domestic and international markets.

    ADIA, ChrysCapital, SoftBank, Alpha Wave, Temasek, and Fidelity are just a few of the well-known investors that have helped Lenskart collect more than $1 billion in capital to date, demonstrating their tremendous faith in the company’s business plan and future growth.

  • Daily Indian Startup Funding Roundup & Key News – 24 June 2025: Fantail, Skippi, GoKwik Raise Capital; Google & Meta Make India Moves

    From textile innovation to e-commerce tech and EV mobility, Indian startups attracted fresh capital across diverse sectors today. Here’s a quick roundup of the key startup fundings in India on 24th June 2025.

    Daily Indian Startup Funding Digest – 24 June 2025

    Startup Amount Raised Round Type Lead / Key Investors Use of Funds
    Fantail ₹13.75 Cr (≈ $1.6 M) Seed Riverwalk Holdings, Incubate Fund Asia, All In Capital Enhance manufacturing capacity, tech, talent, SME support
    Skippi ₹12 Cr (~$1.4 M) Extended Pre‑Series A Dubai-based family offices of Surya, angels Brand building, R&D, leadership hiring, Middle East expansion
    Prozo Not disclosed Strategic investment Rohit Sharma (cricketer) Technology, warehouse expansion
    Fabheads $10 M Series A Accel (with Trifecta Capital) Scale composite manufacturing tech, expand team/operations
    GoKwik $13 M Growth RTP Global (lead), Z47, Peak XV Partners, Think Investments Global expansion, AI‑first R&D
    Evera Cabs $4 M Hybrid debt / CD Mufin Green Finance Expand EV fleet, acquire BluSmart assets, airport focus

    1. Fantail

    Surat‑based B2B man‑made fabric startup, founded in 2023 by Ramya Iyer, Fantail has raised INR 13.75 crore ($1.6 million) in a seed round led by Riverwalk Holdings, Incubate Fund Asia and All In Capital. The funds will develop upstream capacity, backend upgrades, and design/quality/technical hires to structure Surat’s INR 300,000 crore MMF textile ecosystem.

    2. Skippi

    Hyderabad‑based ice pops brand Skippi, which appeared on Shark Tank India, has secured INR 12 crore ($1.4 million) in an extended pre‑Series A led by Dubai’s Surya family offices (INR 10 crore) and angel investors (INR 2 crore). Facilitated by Bestvantage Investments, the round aims to support brand building, product innovation, senior hires, and Middle East expansion with a target INR 100 crore valuation.

    3. Prozo

    Logistics tech platform Prozo, founded in 2016 by Dr Ashvini Jakhar, has received a strategic investment from Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma. Prozo supports more than 150 fast‑growing and enterprise brands with its full‑stack supply chain services. Sharma’s move underscores the rising synergy between sports and supply‑chain technology. Prozo has raised a total of $20 million to date.

    Rohit Sharma Backs Prozo to Build India’s Integrated Supply Chain Operating System
    One of India’s best captains invests in a full-stack platform enabling seamless scale for over 150 brands
    StartupTalkyShubham Kumar

    4. Fabheads

    Chennai‑based deep‑tech startup Fabheads, founded by ex‑ISRO engineers, has closed a $10 million Series A led by Accel, with support from Trifecta Capital (including $2.3 million in venture debt). The company specialises in automated composite manufacturing for aerospace, automotive and renewables. Funds will scale production, expand engineering and R&D teams, and potentially enter Bengaluru and global markets.

    5. GoKwik

    New Delhi‑headquartered GoKwik, an e-commerce enabler founded in 2020 by Chirag Taneja, Vivek Bajpai and Ankush Talwar, has raised $13 million in a growth round led by RTP Global, with participation from Z47, Peak XV Partners and Think Investments. The funding (taking total funding to $68 million) will support international expansion and AI‑driven commerce R&D. GoKwik serves over 10,000 brands and 130 million shoppers.

    6. Evera Cabs

    Delhi‑based EV taxi service Evera Cabs, under Prakriti E‑Mobility and co‑founded by Nimish Trivedi, Vikas Bansal and Rajeev Tiwari, has secured $4 million via hybrid convertible debentures and debt from Mufin Green Finance. The firm plans to expand its airport‑centric EV fleet, including assets from BluSmart, and emphasises a no‑cancellation, surge‑free model.

    Key News Highlights – 24 June 2025

    Darwinbox completes INR 86 crore (US$10 million) ESOP buyback

    Hyderabad‑based HR‑tech unicorn Darwinbox has executed its third and largest ESOP buyback in four years, offering liquidity to over 350 employees worldwide.

    Dream11 parent launches real‑money casual gaming ‘Dream Play’

    Dream Sports has expanded beyond fantasy sports with the launch of Dream Play, offering real‑money casual games like carrom and (soon) pool, entering a direct competitive space with platforms like MPL and WinZO.

    FSN E‑Commerce (Nykaa) allots INR 10.33 crore in ESOP shares

    Nykaa’s parent company, FSN E‑Commerce Ventures, has granted 523,900 equity shares to employees under its ESOP scheme, valued at INR 10.33 crore.

    Google introduces AI Mode in Search Labs India

    Google has launched AI Mode for search in India through Search Labs, powered by Gemini 2.5 and offering advanced reasoning, multimodal inputs (text, voice, images), and interactive follow‑ups.

    Meta unveils Gaming Accelerator in India

    At the Meta Marketing Summit – Gaming Edition, Meta announced its Gaming Accelerator for India, partnering with VC firms Bitkraft, Kalaari, Lumikai and Elevation Capital to mentor 20–30 emerging gaming studios over three months.

    Daily Indian Funding Roundup and Key News – 23 June 2025
    Here’s a quick roundup of the key startup fundings and investments in India on 23rd June 2025. From biotech to co-living and EV infrastructure, startups across sectors attracted strong investor interest.
    StartupTalkyStartupTalky News

  • DataTech NBFC UGRO Capital Appoints Anuj Pandey as CEO to Lead MSME Lending Strategy

    UGRO Capital Limited, a leading DataTech NBFC focused on MSME lending, today announced the elevation of Mr. Anuj Pandey as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company. Anuj is one of the founding team members of UGRO and currently its Chief Risk Officer. The appointment reflects UGRO’s commitment to strengthening institutional leadership as it scales its MSME lending franchise.

    Anuj has been an integral part of UGRO since its inception, having built the Company’s risk governance framework and credit architecture. He brings around twenty-five years of diverse experience across companies like GSK Consumer, ABN AMRO Bank, Barclays Bank & Religare, where he held leadership roles in business and product strategy. He holds a B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering and is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow.

    In his elevated role as CEO, Anuj will lead UGRO’s pan-India MSME business operations, digital platforms, and partner ecosystem. He will report to Mr. Shachindra Nath, Founder, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, who will continue to guide the Company’s long-term strategy, investor partnerships, and governance.

    This appointment comes at a defining moment for UGRO, having crossed INR 12,000 Crores AUM in MSME financing, built over 300 branches, announced the strategic acquisition of Profectus Capital and a large capital raise.

    Commenting on the appointment, Shachindra Nath, Founder and Managing Director, UGRO Capital, said, “Anuj’s elevation as CEO is a natural progression in UGRO’s evolution as an institution. As a founding member and Chief Risk Officer, his deep understanding of MSME lending, risk, and technology-driven operations makes him ideally suited to lead execution. I will remain fully accountable for UGRO’s strategic and governance matters, while Anuj takes full charge of the business. With recently concluded acquisition of Profectus and a large capital raise, I along with my Board felt that UGRO should be steered under one strong hand who exclusively focuses on the operating performance while I continue to focus on the strategic agenda of making UGRO as India’s largest financial institution for MSME financing.”

    Anuj Pandey, CEO, UGRO Capital, added, “I have been working with Shachindra for last 7 years even prior to our formation. Being part of UGRO’s founding journey has been a privilege. I look forward to leading the next phase of growth — expanding our MSME reach, scaling embedded finance, and continuing our mission of ‘solving the unsolved’ credit gap with discipline and innovation.”

    This elevation reflects UGRO’s commitment to combining entrepreneurial spirit with institutional governance, as it accelerates its ambition to become India’s most trusted MSME lender.

    About UGRO Capital Ltd (NSE: UGROCAP I BSE: 511742) 

    UGRO Capital Limited is a DateTech Lending platform, listed on NSE and BSE, pursuing its mission of “Solving the Unsolved” for the small business credit gap in India, on the back of its formidable distribution reach and its Data-tech approach. 

    The Company’s prowess in Data Analytics and strong Technology architecture allows for customized sourcing platforms for each sourcing channel. GRO Plus module, which has uberized intermediated sourcing, GRO Chain, a supply chain financing platform with automated end-to-end approval and flow of invoices, GRO Xstream platform for co-lending, an upstream and downstream integration with fintechs and liability providers, and GRO X application to deliver embedded financing option to MSMEs. 

    The credit scoring model GRO Score (3.0) is a statistical framework using an AI / ML-driven statistical model to risk rank customers is revolutionizing the MSME credit by providing on-tap financing like consumer financing in India. 

    UGRO has executed a Co-lending model in India, which is prevalent in the West through Co-Lending relationships with a total of 17 Banks and NBFCs and built a sizeable off-balance sheet asset of 42% of its AUM through its Co-lending and Co-originating partners and GRO Xstream platform. The Company is backed by marquee institutional investors (raised INR 900+ Cr of equity capital in 2018, INR ~340 Cr in 2023 and INR ~1,265 Cr in 2024) and aims to capture 1% market share over the next three years.

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  • Malabar Gold & Diamonds Launches NUWA by Mine Diamonds Collection with Kareena Kapoor Khan as Brand Face

    Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the Responsible Jeweller and one of the world’s largest and most trusted gold and diamond jewellery retailers, has launched its latest exquisite natural diamond jewellery collection ‘NUWA by Mine Diamonds’. The collection, inspired by abstract patterns and modern forms, now brings a range of stunning designs that show minimalist luxury. With abstract silhouettes striking contemporary edges, every piece is a nod to fearless expression.

    With the launch of the special campaign for the latest NUWA collection featuring Bollywood icon and brand ambassador Kareena Kapoor Khan, Malabar Gold & Diamonds celebrates the elegance, bold individuality, versatility, power and grace of modern-day women. The campaign encourages women to #ShineOutLoud with this stunning collection. 

    Inspired by modern silhouettes, abstract designs with a contemporary edge, the latest NUWA collection boasts innovative designs such as 2-in-1 rings, zipper-inspired necklaces, modern earring styles, rotating bangles, etc. The collection also has intricately designed Italian chains, adding timeless elegance. At accessible price points, the collection is available at all 250+ Malabar Gold & Diamonds showrooms across India and in international locations.

    Commenting on the launch of the collection, MP Ahammad, Chairman, Malabar Group said, “Further building on the theme of abstract and contemporary forms and the resilience of modern women, our latest NUWA collection redefines versatility to match every mood, occasion, and ensemble, while also redefining luxury — grand in design, yet light in feel.” 

    The latest collection is a perfect blend of modern-day style, smart design, and wearability with designs painstakingly curated to resonate with the regional tastes and preferences. We invite all jewellery enthusiasts to experience the latest NUWA collection at our showrooms. 

    Each piece in the Nuwa collection is thoughtfully conceived and meticulously crafted at Malabar’s state-of-the-art diamond design studio in Mumbai. Every natural diamond above 0.30 ct used in NUWA and each piece of jewellery undergo a two-way certification process, ensuring that Malabar Gold & Diamonds delivers the highest quality to its customers. 

    With a global footprint of over 400 showrooms across 13 countries—including India, the Middle East, the Far East, the USA, the UK, Canada, and Australia—Malabar Gold & Diamonds is renowned for its wide-ranging collections, exceptional quality, and customer-centric approach. Backed by a dedicated team of 25,000 multilingual employees across 26 countries, the brand has served over 15 million satisfied customers worldwide. 

    Renowned for its unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, Malabar upholds its signature Malabar Promises—a suite of customer-first benefits including transparent pricing with detailed cost breakdowns, lifetime free maintenance across all global showrooms, and 100% exchange value for old gold and diamonds. 

    Every piece of jewellery is 100% HUID-compliant, ensuring full transparency and authenticity. Certified diamonds undergo a rigorous 28-point quality check, and each purchase is protected with one year of complimentary insurance. 

    As a responsible jeweller, Malabar Gold & Diamonds leads with integrity. The brand guarantees ethically sourced gold and diamonds through verified, authorised channels. Backed by international certifications and strict quality control, Malabar ensures every creation meets the highest standards of craftsmanship and conscience. 

    Beyond business, the Malabar Group is deeply rooted in giving back—contributing 5% of its profits towards CSR initiatives focused on education, healthcare, housing, environmental sustainability, hunger eradication, and women empowerment. 

    About Malabar Gold & Diamonds

    Malabar Gold & Diamonds was established in 1993 and is the flagship company of Malabar Group, a leading diversified Indian business conglomerate. With an annual turnover of $6.2 billion, the company is currently the 5th largest jewellery retailer globally and the 19th ranked brand in Deloitte’s Luxury Goods World Ranking. They have a strong retail network of over 400 showrooms spread across 13 countries in addition to multiple offices, design centers, wholesale units, and factories spread across India, the Middle East, the Far East, the USA, the UK, Canada & Australia. Malabar Gold & Diamonds also features an online showroom www.malabargoldanddiamonds.com, providing customers with the opportunity to purchase their favourite jewellery at any time and on any day from the comfort of their homes.  

    ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) and CSR have been the primary commitments of the group since its inception. The key focus areas of the Malabar Group are Health, Housing, Hunger Free World, Education, Environment and Women empowerment, integrating the principles of responsibility and sustainability into its core business.

    Malabar Group Commits INR 150 Cr to Hunger & CSR Push in 2025
    Malabar Group, India’s leading business conglomerate and the parent company of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, has allocated INR 150 crore in 2025-26 for scaling up its CSR initiatives.
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  • Arbour Investments Enters South India with INR 105 Crore in ELV’s Bengaluru Projects

    Arbour Investments, India’s first Capital-to-Consumer platform, engineered to institutionalise real estate investment through a proprietary blend of trust engineering, execution architecture, and capital governance systems, has announced an INR 105 crore investment commitment to ELV Projects Pvt. Ltd., a reputed Bengaluru-based developer. This also marks Arbour’s entry into the South Market. The partnership is aimed at funding two marquee residential developments—ELV  Highgarden and ELV Kingsland—in Whitefield, East Bengaluru. As part of the transaction, Arbour has already disbursed the first tranche of INR 20 crore, reinforcing its confidence in ELV’s delivery capabilities and the market’s growth trajectory. 

    The projects span a combined built-up area of 11,73,528 sq. ft., comprising 596 residential units across five towers. Designed to offer modern 2BHK to 4BHK homes, both developments are RERA registered and slated for completion by October 2026. 

    Strategically located in Whitefield, one of India’s fastest-growing urban micro-markets, the developments benefit from excellent connectivity to employment hubs such as ITPL Tech Hub and Divyasree Techno Park. The area has recorded a 60% increase in capital values since 2021, with prices rising from INR 6,400 to INR 10,300 per sq. ft., driven by sustained demand, infrastructure upgrades, and rising institutional interest. 

    “Our partnership with ELV Projects reflects Arbour’s conviction in backing execution-focused  developers in structurally sound micro-markets,” said Priyesh Chheda, Founder, Arbour Investments. “We prioritise capital deployment where delivery certainty, governance alignment, and stakeholder  value converge. Bengaluru continues to exhibit strong fundamentals, and this investment is an  extension of our strategy to build a performance-driven national portfolio rooted in discipline and  trust.” 

    E. Bhaskar, Chairman and Managing Director, ELV Projects, added, “We are proud to partner with  Arbour Investments in our next phase of growth. Their institutional rigour, transparent capital approach,  and strategic support offer meaningful momentum to our execution ambitions. Together, we aim to  redefine customer expectations in Bengaluru’s mid-premium housing market.”

    About ELV Projects

    Founded in 2009, ELV Projects Pvt. Ltd. has built a reputation for delivering quality residential and mixed-use developments across Bengaluru and Telangana. The firm has successfully completed over  1,800 homes and 1 million sq. ft. of built-up space, with a strong focus on urban design, timely execution, and customer trust. ELV Projects is known for integrating sustainable practices and is also the promoter of The Prodigies International School, reinforcing its broader commitment to long-term community development and social impact. 

    About Arbour Investments 

    Arbour Investments is India’s first Capital-to-Consumer platform, engineered to institutionalise real estate investment through a proprietary blend of trust engineering, execution architecture, and capital governance systems. With over INR 600 crore in funded assets, Arbour offers integrated solutions across private credit, private equity, and development management in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Founded by Chirag Mehta, Priyesh Chheda, and Tejas Patil, the firm operates through a vertically integrated model comprising Arbour Abode (Development Management), Justo Realfintech (Sales & Distribution), and AIMS (Arbour Investment & Monitoring System), India’s first institutional-grade governance stack for real estate.

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  • RazorpayX Corporate Cards Bring ₹2 Cr Credit to India’s Startups in Partnership with Mastercard, RBL Bank, and YES Bank

    INDIA, Bengaluru, 24 June 2025: In a significant step towards bridging the credit gap for India’s emerging businesses, RazorpayX, the business banking platform of Razorpay, today announced the launch of RazorpayX Corporate Cards in a strategic partnership with Mastercard, RBL Bank, and YES Bank. The cards are built for India’s tech-first and internet-first businesses, making it easier for them to get the credit they need. 

    Backed by YES Bank and RBL Bank, and powered by Mastercard’s globally trusted network, these corporate cards use Razorpay’s cutting-edge fintech platform to deliver reliable financial solutions, allowing founders to focus on building, not battling financial roadblocks. 

    Despite a record $254 billion in credit card spending in FY’25, a 15% year-over-year increase, and over 100 million credit cards in circulation, the majority of Indian businesses remain underserved by traditional financial systems. While India’s credit card market crossed $220 billion in FY’24, nearly 95% of startups and mid-sized businesses still face significant barriers to accessing credit, contributing to a substantial $530 billion credit gap.

    Addressing these challenges, the RazorpayX Corporate Cards are designed to empower founders and their finance teams with greater control, flexibility, and support in managing operational expenses. By leveraging Razorpay’s platform data, these cards offer credit limits of up to ₹2 crore, without the need for collateral, to businesses overlooked by traditional financial institutions. This ensures founders preserve their personal credit scores while unlocking growth capital. The RazorpayX Corporate Card is thoughtfully designed to support essential business spending needs, from managing day-to-day operations to enabling greater financial control. It is built to integrate seamlessly with the RazorpayX dashboard, empowering finance teams and founders with enhanced visibility over company-wide expenses.

    • Beyond credit access, these cards offer meaningful cost efficiencies through Razorpay’s exclusive Savings Negotiator Concierge, which helps startups negotiate and unlock up to 30% savings on over 500 curated SaaS, technology, and marketing platforms
    • Businesses benefit from cashback rewards on key technology and marketing expenses, competitive forex rates with a low markup fee of 2.5%, and the ability to pay GST returns directly using the card, streamlining complex financial operations

    “Startups shouldn’t have to depend on personal credit cards to fuel their growth,” said Ayush Bansal, VP & GM, RazorpayX. “With RazorpayX Capital, we’re embedding flexible, collateral-free credit right into the RazorpayX ecosystem, empowering businesses to manage procurement spends and employee expenses with industry-first rewards and offers. This enhanced offering strengthens RazorpayX as the go-to platform for founders to manage, grow, and scale their businesses seamlessly.”

    Highlighting the pressing need for innovative financing in the sector, Ravi Datla, Senior Vice President, Product and Solutions, South Asia at Mastercard, said, “India’s startups and small businesses are the driving force behind the nation’s socioeconomic transformation—creating jobs, sparking innovation, and enabling inclusive development. Empowering them with next-generation financial tools and solutions is not merely support; it’s a strategic imperative for sustained national growth. Mastercard is proud to be part of this initiative, which harnesses digital innovation to address the real challenges faced by existing and emerging entrepreneurs. These new corporate cards are designed to foster greater resilience, scalability, and long-term success for India’s vibrant business ecosystem.”

    Mr. Bikram Yadav, Head- Credit Cards, RBL Bank, said, “At RBL Bank, we understand that today’s digital-first businesses demand seamless, tech-enabled financial solutions. By partnering with RazorpayX, we are launching a solution that directly addresses this requirement. The Corporate Cards not only offer easy access to credit but also integrate effortlessly with digital platforms. This collaboration reflects our commitment of backing bold dreams and supporting the culture of entrepreneurship that is reshaping India’s economic landscape.”

    Mr. Anil Singh, Country Head – Credit Cards and Merchant Acquiring, YES BANK, said, “At YES BANK, we are focused on redefining credit access for India’s startup ecosystem. Our partnership with RazorpayX and Mastercard reflects our commitment to innovation-led banking that is responsive to the evolving needs of today’s digital-first businesses. These Corporate Cards are more than a line of credit—they are a strategic enabler for startups to scale responsibly, manage expenses smarter, and preserve liquidity for growth.”

    Annual cardable expenses in emerging sectors are estimated at $340 billion, including $2.4 billion in SaaS and marketing spends, highlighting the growing demand for accessible, flexible corporate credit. RazorpayX Corporate Credit Cards equip startups with tools to manage these expenses effectively while unlocking critical working capital for growth.

    This launch is part of RazorpayX’s ongoing efforts to simplify financial operations for MSMEs and startups, offering solutions that help them focus on growth instead of everyday financial hurdles. From introducing Automated Escrow+ for secure, real-time money transfers to launching a dedicated Forex service that streamlines foreign funding inflows to India and automating payroll processing, RazorpayX continues to remove financial friction at every step of the startup journey.

  • Search Gets Smarter: Google Launches ‘AI Mode’ in India

    Google just introduced AI Mode, its most potent search function to date, to Indian users.

    This experimental tool, which will be available in English through Search Labs starting from 24 June, is reportedly meant for individuals who want better responses to more complicated questions, such as how to keep two hyper youngsters entertained indoors, compare devices, or plan a trip.

    Supported by Gemini 2.5 and integrated into Search, AI Mode combines Google’s search infrastructure with sophisticated AI reasoning to split down user searches into subtopics and delve deeper into the web.

    According to Google, early adopters are already utilising AI Mode for things like product comparisons and travel planning, and their enquiries are two to three times longer than standard search queries.

    It’s not limited to written searches either. Because AI Mode is multimodal, users can ask questions by speaking or even by taking a picture. In India, where more people use Google Lens than elsewhere in the world, that is really helpful.

    If a user has an unfamiliar plant? AI Mode will identify the species and provide information on how to maintain it, including where to put it in his house. All he needs to do is to click a picture of the plant and upload the same by adding a question – how to take care?

    The user can express exactly what he wants, with all its details, and access the appropriate web content in a variety of formats by using AI Mode. This helps expand the types of enquiries individuals can ask, generating additional potential for content discovery.

    Users Already Enjoying the Latest Features

    Google reports that early adopters of the tool, which has previously been tested in the US, are asking far longer enquiries than they typically do, indicating a noticeable change in the way people choose to search.

    They are posing well-thought-out, real-world queries and anticipating intelligent responses rather than merely inputting brief keywords and assembling the answers themselves.

    Even though it’s still in the experimental stage, this function feels familiar because it’s integrated into Google Search. The system will just provide conventional search results if it is unsure of its AI response.

     According to Google, the purpose of this India launch is to identify what works and what doesn’t, then use user feedback to improve the function. Google claims that AI Mode goes beyond AI Overviews, which has more than 1.5 billion users worldwide, by offering deeper reasoning and real-time content discovery.

    Users participating in Search Labs can now access AI Mode on iOS and Android devices through the Google app. This is the ideal moment to try searching in a more organic manner or to ask a challenging question.