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  • 50% of India’s Workforce Remains Unskilled in FY24-25 Despite Skilling Push, Says upGrad Enterprise Report

    New report urges India Inc. to rethink skilling strategies as participation gaps, generational divides, and ROI concerns widen

    upGrad Enterprise, the corporate skilling division of Asia’s leading integrated lifelong learning company, upGrad has launched a groundbreaking industry report titled ‘Skilling Smarter: A Strategic Guide to Training Across Generations’. 

    Based on insights from 12,300+ professionals across sectors, the report exposes the growing disconnect between employee needs and existing corporate training frameworks, driven by the evolving expectations of a multigenerational workforce.  

    Despite widespread recognition of upskilling as a business imperative, the report reveals that 50% of India’s workforce remained untrained in FY24- 25, while 75% of employees engaged in learning only when mandated. Nearly 1 in 2 Indian workplaces still lack formal skilling strategies, resulting in inconsistent access and widening capability gaps. The findings highlight a lack of personalisation, access, and relevance in training models across generational cohorts, be it the pragmatic Gen X, the independent Gen Y, or the digital-first Gen Z.

    Key findings include:

    • 1 in 4 workplaces lack formal strategies: 50% of professionals receive no training in FY24–25; only 16% engaged in quarterly learning
    • Mandates outweigh motivation: 75% train only when required; top barriers include irrelevance (51%), limited access (43%), and lack of time (42%)
    • Mismatch in priorities: Organisations invest in technical and industry-focused skilling, while employees seek leadership, soft skills, and strategic thinking
    • One workforce, many learners: Gen X values expert-led formats, Gen Y prefers structured flexibility, and Gen Z wants immersive, on-demand learning — yet 63% of HR leaders do not tailor programs by generation
    • Skilling design vs learner preference: While 80% of GenZ train under managers, nearly 50% prefer self-paced or third-party learning formats
    • Low investment, low ROI: 60% of HR Leaders allocate under 5% of HR budgets to skilling; 61.5% of CHROs report no measurable impact
    • Format fatigue: 50% of GenZ equate skilling with preset digital modules, but 45% want interactive, real-world learning
    upGrad Enterprise Report Highlights
    upGrad Enterprise Report Highlights

    “There’s a serious skilling gap emerging; we see companies budgeting annually but there’s very little to no skilling provided to employees. Let’s not forget that the pace of technology is outstripping organisational readiness, and we are not ready for the ripples it’s going to create very soon. With this report, we want to go out with a strong message that in a multigenerational workplace, skilling — AI-focused and embedded with soft skills — must adapt to the learner’s needs, and not the other way around,” said Srikanth Iyengar, CEO, upGrad Enterprise.

    “Without personalized, real-time, and career-aligned learning, training becomes a checkbox activity – ineffective at best, costly at worst. This is where, our decade-long experience has been enabling us to design industry-relevant pedagogy and content, rooted in deep learner intelligence. We leverage workforce data effectively to craft adaptive learning journeys that align individual career aspirations with organisational goals, and ensure skills are not just acquired, but applied meaningfully for business impact,” highlighted Iyengar.

    “Our goal with this report was to spark action, not just conversation, by grounding our insights in unassailable data and living our belief that ‘data or it didn’t happen.’ What sets ‘Skilling Smarter’ apart is its dissection of the multifaceted challenges of a multigenerational workforce, built upon insights from over 12,300 professionals. This was a deliberate effort to ensure diverse representation and bring serious numbers to bear on serious issues. This rigorous foundation allows us to provide concrete, actionable frameworks for India Inc. As a leader in lifelong learning, upGrad understands the imperative of tailoring education to the learner. This report is our contribution to helping CHROs, L&D heads, and CXOs unlock the full potential of their talent investments by fostering a culture of relevant, outcome-linked, and truly impactful learning” added Shirin Rai Gupta, Director – Marketing, upGrad Enterprise. 

    The report serves as a strategic guide for CHROs, L&D heads, and CXOs, offering practical frameworks to future-proof their talent investments. It advocates for deeper personalisation, cross-generational thinking, and outcome-linked learning. 

    About upGrad Enterprise

    upGrad Enterprise, the Corporate Skilling and Development division of upGrad, Asia’s leading integrated skilling and workforce development company with over 10 million learners enrolled to date, creates impact at scale through its world-class learning programs and tailor-made training solutions. upGrad Enterprise partners with mid and large organisations to equip their workforce with market-ready skills and mindsets that drive success.

    With a network of 3000 corporate partners and an impressive 90%+ training completion rate, upGrad Enterprise excels in delivering tailored skilling programs in high-demand fields such as AI and technology. Its offerings include corporate upskilling, government projects, and a train-and-deploy model for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) of leading and Fortune 500 brands, strengthening organisational leadership with new-age skill sets as they spread their footprint across Indian metropolitan cities.

    These solutions span the employee lifecycle to facilitate digital and business transformation in alignment with organisational goals, leading to capability building and value generation. A two-gold Award recipient at the Brandon Hall, upGrad Enterprise trained over 600,000 professionals in a single year during FY24.

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  • Jony Ive Joins OpenAI as Design Chief After $6.5B Company Acquisition

    According to a renowned media outlet, OpenAI is purchasing io, a gadget firm that CEO Sam Altman and renowned Apple designer Jony Ive have been secretly working on for two years, in an all-equity deal valued at $6.5 billion.

    Ive and his design company, LoveFrom, will now oversee creative and design work at OpenAI as part of the unique agreement that was revealed on May 21. In a post on X on May 21, Altman said he was excited to be working with Jony, the world’s best designer. “I am eager to try to develop a new generation of AI-powered computers,” he continued.

    New Partnership all Set to Transform AI World

    One of Apple’s past design leaders, renowned for creating numerous iPhones, iPods, iPads, and Apple Watches, is now at the leading edge of the newest technological trend, generative AI, thanks to OpenAI and Ive’s partnership.

     OpenAI has greatly increased its consumer business since the 2022 launch of ChatGPT. Fidji Simo, the CEO of Instacart and a former Meta executive, was hired by the company earlier this month to head its consumer applications. In the consumer hardware market, Ive might enable OpenAI to directly compete with Apple, increasing pressure on the iPhone manufacturer.

    Apple has had difficulty creating AI features in recent years that can compete with the newest OpenAI and Google technologies. According to a report published by a media house, Io employs about 55 engineers, scientists, researchers, physicists, and product development specialists, all of whom will join OpenAI.

    Numerous workers at io are former Apple designers who contributed to the creation of the company’s most recognisable products, such as Scott Cannon, Evans Hankey, and Tang Tan. Ive is still in charge of his design company, LoveFrom, which will carry on on its own.

    Io will create AI-powered consumer electronics and other initiatives under OpenAI. According to reports, Altman and Ive have been developing a tool that takes users “beyond screens.” The first products from Ive and Altman are expected to launch in 2026, according to a media outlet. According to the Wall Street Journal, Ive will play a wide range of responsibilities, contributing to ChatGPT’s future iterations and more.

    OpenAI to $5 Billion to Fully Acquire io

    According to a source in a prominent media outlet, OpenAI already possessed a 23% ownership in io as part of an agreement between the two businesses last year. Accordingly, OpenAI will make the largest acquisition in its history by paying $5 billion to entirely acquire io, the company that makes ChatGPT.

    According to reports, last year, the OpenAI Startup Fund invested separately in io. Altman stated in an OpenAI video that the goal of io is to develop a line of AI tools that will enable users to create “all sorts of wonderful things” using AI. He is certain that all he has learnt “over the last 30 years has led me to this place and this moment,” Ive stated.

    Ive claimed that the first AI gadget he is developing has “completely captured” his imagination. AI technology is still in its early stages of development.

    Altman was an early investor in Humane, another AI hardware startup that created an AI-powered “pin” and was started by former Apple employees. Humane was sold to HP, and its gadgets were sunsetted following a string of missteps.

  • Data Sutram Secures $9M to Power Fraud Detection in BFSI Sector

    Data Sutram, a B2B SaaS firm with a focus on Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), has raised $9 million (about INR 77 crore) in Series A funding, headed by Lightspeed Venture Partners and B Capital. There were both primary and secondary agreements in the round.

    Rajit Bhattacharya, the founder and CEO of Data Sutram, told a media outlet that several of the original angel investors have also partially left the current fundraising effort, although he would not reveal their names.

    With the new funding, the Kolkata-based business intends to improve its fraud detection system. It also seeks to serve a broader range of high-risk industries, such as insurance, e-commerce, gaming, real-time payments, cryptocurrencies, and fast commerce. The company’s previous concentration was only on the banking and lending industries.

    With about 65 employees now, Data Sutram also wants to increase its personnel. Bhattacharya stated, “This investment will enable us to expand our customer base, improve our product offering, and fortify our global presence in order to serve more businesses and institutions worldwide.”

    Growing Fraudulent Activities in BFSI Sector

    The banking industry has seen an increase in fraud instances involving mule accounts. Additionally, the number of non-performing assets in NBFCs has increased to a concerning level.

    In order to provide risk and fraud detection services to the nation’s BFSI industry, three college friends—Bhattacharya, Ankit Das, and Aisik Paul—founded Data Sutram in 2018. The firm protects consumer onboarding and gives banking and financial institutions a “Trust Score” with its flagship product, DS Authenticate.

     Data Sutram’s AI-powered tool, which is supported by data gathered from over 250 sources, alerts its clients to any fraudulent behaviour when they open accounts or disburse loans. Additionally, the startup offers a suite of products called DS Find, DS Markets, and DS Collect, which aid in client acquisition, offer superior market insights, and create opportunities for cross-selling and upselling, respectively.

    According to the IIFL-backed business, its clients have seen a 45% decrease in fraud instances. Among the clients are companies such as HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Tata Capital, and Amazon Pay.

    Financial Outlook of Data Sutram

    In 2023, under the direction of the Bharat Fund, Data Sutram last raised $3 million. To date, it has garnered over $15 million in fundraising, with investors including Indian Angel Network, IIFL Fintech Fund, and 100X.VC.

    Financially speaking, Tofler reports that the startup’s standalone operational revenue increased by about 23% to INR 5.4 Cr in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2024 (FY24), from INR 4.4 Cr in the prior fiscal year. Nonetheless, Data Sutram’s net loss more than doubled from INR 4.75 Cr in FY23 to INR 10.83 Cr over the reviewed period.

    According to Bhattacharya, the firm has successfully decreased its increasing deficit in FY25 and plans to break even within the next year. As investors rush to support AI-driven SaaS firms, SaaS startups in India raised $2.1 billion in funding last year, a 31% YoY increase, according to the “Indian Tech Startup Funding Report 2024”. In addition, the SaaS industry in India is anticipated to expand quickly.

  • IREDA Drags Gensol to Debt Recovery Tribunal Over INR 729 Cr Recovery

    The Delhi Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) has been contacted by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) to recover around INR 729 Cr from Gensol Engineering after the agency filed an insolvency plea against the company.

    The company filed an original application under Section 19 of The Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993, before the Hon’ble Debt Recovery Tribunal Delhi on May 20, 2025, for a default amount of INR 510 Cr and INR 218.95 Cr against M/s Gensol Engineering Limited and M/s Gensol EV Lease Pvt Limited, respectively, according to an exchange filing from IREDA.

    The DRTs can be contacted by banks and other financial organisations to collect secured debt from borrowers. Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is also looking into recovery via the DRT route, according to a media outlet.

    Owners of the Firm Used Company’s Money for Own Benefits: SEBI

    More than a month has passed since the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) declared in an interim decision that Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi, the promoters of Gensol, had exploited the company’s money as a “piggybank.”

     Between FY22 and FY24, Gensol borrowed INR 977.75 Cr from PFC and IREDA. The business planned to lease 6,400 EVs to BluSmart for INR 663.89 Cr. However, according to a SEBI decision, only 4,704 vehicles were purchased, leaving INR 262.13 Cr unaccounted for.

     The market’s watchdog claimed in an interim decision that the promoters fabricated documents, manipulated the company’s stock price, and misled rating agencies and shareholders. The Jaggi siblings were also prohibited by SEBI from serving on any boards and from trading in securities.

    BluSmart taken a Massive Hit

    BluSmart, a Gensol-affiliated EV ride-hailing firm, was likewise impacted owing to the ongoing chaos. In addition, the Jaggi brothers are among the startup’s cofounders. BluSmart ceased operations after the SEBI ruling, which left 800 full-time employees and thousands of drivers in the dark.

    The Enforcement Directorate (ED) then raided the home of the Jaggi brothers in late April and a number of locations connected to Gensol. The searches also resulted in Puneet’s arrest. When the Delhi High Court (HC) gave him anticipatory bail and ordered the Delhi Police to give him a seven-day notice before making an arrest, he was given temporary protection a week later.

     Following the rumours, the Jaggi pair resigned and left the company earlier this month. In recent weeks, the Delhi High Court has issued consecutive orders prohibiting BluSmart and Gensol from alienating third parties or establishing third-party rights over their rented cars.

  • Reddit Whistleblower Raises Concerns Over Zepto’s Toxic Hustle Culture & Mental Health

    India’s popular quick-commerce startup Zepto is once again sparking fresh concerns about its workplace environment following a detailed Reddit post from May 2025. A user shared how a short stint at Zepto severely impacted their mental health and career, raising questions about how the company operates behind the scenes, especially for junior contract employees.

    This comes months after a December 2024 Reddit post described widespread issues within Zepto’s internal culture. The post surfaced before the CEO’s later public remarks, which were widely seen as endorsing hustle culture and downplaying work-life balance, sparking further backlash.

    “Zepto Ruined My Mental Health and Confidence”

    The latest Reddit post by a fresh engineering graduate recounted being contacted by an HR consultancy for a “Data Analyst” role at Zepto. However, the job description was titled “MIS Executive” and included tasks like Excel work, SQL, dashboards, reporting, and data validation.

    The job description itself raised early red flags: a plain PDF with bullet points, no company logo, no department details, and no clear context.

    “Red flag, in hindsight,” the user wrote.

    Despite concerns, they accepted the role on a contractual basis, with no clear information provided upfront about working hours or reporting structure. The post alleges they worked six to seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. or later, often without lunch breaks or holidays.

    “No holidays. No structure. If someone from the team took a break, it was fine—but if I took one, I’d get a call from a senior asking why I’m not ‘committed,’” the user recalled.

    Instead of meaningful data analysis, they were relegated to repetitive logistics coordination and administrative tasks.

    The user described verbal abuse, team exclusion, and a complete lack of HR support. They said a senior frequently insulted them with demeaning language and made intimidating hand gestures.

    “Managers communicated in slurs and treated me like I was trash, especially because I wasn’t part of their ‘inner circle,’” the user said.

    The psychological toll was immense, leaving them anxious, fearful, and mentally shattered.

    On their last day, despite being unwell with a 100°F fever, they were pressured to return the company laptop within an hour—an impossible demand considering a two-hour commute in heavy rain—with what the user described as “zero empathy.”

    The HR reportedly said, “I don’t care about your health. Our company data is with you and you are no longer an employee because you have absconded. Return the laptop now.”

    The user attached their original offer letter, which was unbranded and vague, confirming the position was contractual without any formal clarity on terms.

    Offer Letter Shared by the Reddit User

    Earlier Post Paints Deeper Concerns

    This latest post follows an earlier Reddit submission from December 2024, which detailed systemic issues within Zepto, such as excessive late-night shifts, 14-hour workdays, forced PR activities, and a high turnover rate among junior employees.

    In response to the backlash over those comments, the CEO later publicly acknowledged that the intense work culture might not be suitable for everyone and expressed regret over his choice of words.

    Flashback: The Comments That Sparked It All

    In December 2024, Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha posted online:

    “I have nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors.”


    The comment quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from netizens and former employees who viewed it as a tone-deaf endorsement of hustle culture.

    Later, in April 2025, Palicha addressed the backlash during a podcast with Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, admitting:

    “It was a stupid idea to write that post.”

    He further clarified:

    “Join Zepto if you’re looking to do the best work of your life… But I know it’s not realistic to expect everyone to work seven days a week or love every moment of it.”

    Palicha acknowledged that Zepto’s high-intensity culture may not be a fit for everyone and that his personal enthusiasm is not universally shared.

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    What It Means for Startup Work Culture

    Zepto has not publicly responded to these specific Reddit allegations. However, the posts highlight urgent issues around:

    • Weak HR oversight, especially for contract workers
    • Burnout, miscommunication, and unclear job roles
    • Toxic leadership and its impact on employees

    While these problems are not unique to Zepto, repeated claims from contract and full-time employees alike suggest a larger systemic issue needing attention from investors, regulators, and leadership.

    A Pattern or an Exception?

    Taken together, the CEO’s public regret over his pro-hustle post, anonymous reports of burnout and toxic leadership, and allegations of vague hiring practices paint a troubling picture.

    The recurring concerns suggest these may not be isolated incidents, but a pattern requiring serious scrutiny.

    Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly shared Reddit posts and past media reports. Individual claims have not been independently verified.

    IPO-Bound Zepto Hit with Labour Complaint in Delhi Over Worker Exploitation Claims
    Alleging exploitative tactics under Zepto’s Rural Mobilisation Programme (RMP), the Rajdhani App Workers’ Union (RAWU) has filed a complaint against Zepto and its third-party vendor, Kilton Geo Engineering Pvt. Ltd., with the Delhi labour department. According to the union, gig workers—whom Zepto refers to as “delivery partners” and who
    StartupTalkyNitin Konde

  • Planck and Swiss Vault Team Up for Sustainable Data Infrastructure in India

    Partnership to power smarter, greener, and faster data solutions for India’s digital growth.

    In a major step toward building the future of digital infrastructure, Planck, an infra-tech startup focused on sustainable Quanta-range edge data centres, has partnered with Swiss Vault, an award-winning, global leader in low-power, high-efficiency data management and sustainable long-term data storage technologies.

    With this collaboration, a cost-effective, highly sustainable, geographically distributed data-storage and streaming solution is possible. A perfect match for healthcare, media, education, government and corporate alike, that want to leverage AI on premises without compromising Data Sovereignty and Privacy.

    This partnership is set to bring advanced, enterprise-level digital solutions to sectors like UN Sustainable Development programs, OTT platforms, data warehousing, and citizen data management (CDM). 

    By combining Planck’s Quanta-range edge data centres with Swiss Vault’s energy-saving storage technology, achieving lower than 300 Watts per Petabyte of storage, the two companies aim to deliver faster, smarter, and more eco-friendly data infrastructure.

    Swiss Vault’s innovation lies in making large-scale data access possible while keeping power consumption remarkably low. When paired with Planck’s vision of modular, net-zero infrastructure across India, the result is a powerful, future-ready system for managing data at scale and bringing Edge data capabilities to every village.

    Shishir Miglani, CEO of Planck, shared, “This partnership is about building something better not just for today’s data needs, but for the planet’s future. Together with Swiss Vault, we’re bringing sustainable, intelligent digital systems to the heart of India’s digital transformation.”

    Bhupinder Bhullar, CEO & Co-Founder, Swiss Vault, said, “Our mission is to radically reduce the environmental footprint of data. With Planck, we’re enabling high-performance, low-power data solutions tailored for India’s future. Together, we can build solutions that truly work for people, businesses, and the environment.”

    From smart cities to rural connectivity, the solutions developed through this partnership will help bridge digital gaps and support long-term goals aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    About Planck

    Planck is a digital infrastructure startup building fully sustainable, scalable Quanta-range edge data centres designed to meet the growing needs of modern businesses. With a net-zero focus that aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Planck offers innovative solutions in data storage, disaster recovery, OTT streaming, and private cloud setups. The company is rapidly establishing itself as a leader in the enterprise data centre space, catering to a wide range of industries, from telecom and media to healthcare and financial institutions.

    With a team of seasoned industry leaders, including Global Advisors Nasser Bostan (Ex-Neom), Imran Hussain (Ex-BT, Deloitte), Bharat Gupta (Telecom Policies) and Rakesh Pujari, Planck is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in enterprise analytics and digital infrastructure innovation.

    About Swiss Vault

    Swiss Vault is a deep-tech company at the forefront of innovation in data storage solutions. Specialising in software-defined data management and innovative low-cost servers, Swiss Vault is committed to creating sustainable, efficient, and resilient storage technologies that help companies reduce their carbon footprint and electronic waste.

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  • IPO-Bound Zepto Hit with Labour Complaint in Delhi Over Worker Exploitation Claims

    Alleging exploitative tactics under Zepto’s Rural Mobilisation Programme (RMP), the Rajdhani App Workers’ Union (RAWU) has filed a complaint against Zepto and its third-party vendor, Kilton Geo Engineering Pvt. Ltd., with the Delhi labour department.

    According to the union, gig workers—whom Zepto refers to as “delivery partners” and who were primarily hired from rural states—were misinformed about their pay, housing, and working conditions.

    The file was made at a time when fast commerce companies are struggling with a short-term delivery staffing scarcity because of increased demand. The issue has been forwarded to a labour inspector by the labour department. As part of the investigation process, RAWU anticipates notifying Zepto, the third-party provider, and a subset of impacted employees.

    Zpeto’s Response to Such Allegations

    Zepto explained that while it offers the technology and clear standards, store management is in charge of day-to-day operations and vendor control. According to a Zepto representative who spoke to a media outlet, the company does not have a concept for “temporary IDs” and does not provide riders with a joining bonus under RMP.

    The spokesperson went on to say that this seems to be a local problem and does not represent the RMP’s larger goals or operations. According to the corporation, an audit into the issues surrounding Kilton Geo Engineering has been started.

    Involvement of Third-Party Vendors Creates Complex Situation: Experts

    Experts point out that although Zepto considers third-party vendors to be partners, their participation creates a complicated scenario in which workers are neither truly platform employees nor expressly covered by labour regulations.

    At the moment, vendors are not considered “aggregators” or “employers” under the law. Platforms in the gig economy frequently use outside vendors to hire workers, according to a media report. There are no formal agreements between the vendor and the employees, according to Sunand, president of the RAWU, which is connected to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

    The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act of 1970 forbids businesses from exporting work in order to avoid accountability and safeguards contract workers, who are frequently denied formal employment rights.

    Interstate Migrant Workmen Act

    When labourers are hired from one state to work in another, as is the case with many gig workers travelling to Delhi from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, the Interstate Migrant Workmen Act is applicable, according to a media report.

    According to this rule, contractors must get permits and give migrant workers benefits. Even though the platform distances itself from direct hiring, it could still be held accountable because Section 18 holds the principal employer accountable if the contractor fails to fulfil these obligations.

    This development coincides with a broader delivery staff scarcity brought on by the rapid commerce industry’s growing demand.

    Deepinder Goyal, the founder and CEO of Eternal Ltd., wrote a letter to shareholders after the Q4FY25 results, stating that the growth of food delivery had slowed down for three main reasons.

    One of these was the temporary lack of delivery partners, which was caused by the high demand for delivery partners in quick commerce given the industry’s recent rapid expansion.

  • Oben Electric Gears Up to Introduce Its Second Indigenous Platform, ‘O100’, Targeting India’s 100cc Equivalent Electric Motorcycle Market

    Built in-house at Oben’s Bengaluru R&D centre, this platform will power a new line of affordable electric motorcycles under INR 1 lakh for the mass commuter segment.

    Oben Electric, India’s leading homegrown R&D driven electric motorcycle manufacturer, today announced that it is working on its second indigenous electric motorcycle platform, O100 (Pronounced as O Hundred). Conceptualised and engineered at Oben’s state-of-the-art R&D center in Bengaluru, this new platform will mark the company’s strategic entry into the 100cc equivalent motorcycle segment, a category that makes up nearly 30% of India’s two-wheeler market.

    O100 is built to power a new generation of affordable electric motorcycles under INR 1 lakh, catering to the needs of India’s mass commuter base. With scalability at its core, enabling faster product iterations and manufacturing ramp-up, the platform allows Oben Electric to deliver high-quality electric motorcycles that cater to a wide range of commuter needs. With a modular and versatile architecture, O100 supports multiple variants, different battery options, and functionalities tailored to different customer segments. Future-ready by design, the platform also allows seamless integration of emerging technologies and infrastructure upgrades, making it a robust foundation for long-term EV adoption in India’s most cost-sensitive segments.

    Madhumita Agrawal, Founder and CEO, Oben Electric, said, “At Oben Electric, we design and build with intent – to solve real-world mobility challenges. Our new platform, O100 is engineered for India’s mass daily commuters and aims to make electric motorcycles a practical reality for every Indian. Leveraging our proprietary LFP battery technology and other critical components, including motor, VCU, and chargers, all developed and manufactured in-house, we’ve built a robust, vertically integrated foundation for a new generation of electric motorcycles, accelerating EV adoption across urban and rural India alike.”

    Oben Electric is rapidly expanding in Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities across India, with plans to cross 100+ showrooms by the end of the year. The new platform will give multifold growth to Oben and its dealers, increasing sales per store and providing one of the best ROIs for the highly optimised and already profitable distribution network.

    Oben’s first motorcycle platform, ARX, powered the performance-centric Oben Rorr and Rorr EZ, electric motorcycles that redefined the premium commuter segment with top-tier performance, advanced LFP battery, design and superior range. Building on this engineering legacy, the new platform has been conceptualised from the ground up for reliability, affordability and utility.

    Motorcycles built on O100 platform are set to launch in the latter half of 2025.

    Oben Electric Facility
    Oben Electric Facility

    About Oben Electric

    Oben Electric is an R&D-driven electric motorcycle organisation founded in August 2020 and headquartered in Bengaluru. Oben Electric specialises in designing, developing, and manufacturing performance electric motorcycles and its critical EV components in-house, here in India. With a team of passionate technologists with over 25 years of collective hands-on experience in the electric vehicle R&D, Oben Electric focuses on “Design in India for the World.”

    The company has been at the forefront of transforming the electric two-wheeler landscape in India by introducing several groundbreaking initiatives. Oben Electric pioneers the use of advanced battery chemistry, such as LFP, in electric two-wheelers, offering enhanced safety, longer range, and cleaner operation compared to other widely used battery chemistries. Additionally, the company holds more than 25 patents for its proprietary technology and EV components.

    As an early entrant in the electric motorcycle market, Oben Electric is leading the adoption of electric motorcycles in India, which happens to be the world’s largest motorcycle market. With limited competition at present, the company aims to become the largest electric motorcycle OEM globally. Their vision is to revolutionise the industry by providing cutting-edge electric mobility solutions that cater to the diverse needs of riders.

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  • Nike Slashes Tech Jobs as America’s Largest Shoe Giant Streamlines for the Future

    According to reports, Nike, the biggest footwear manufacturer in America, is cutting employees in its technology branch. The corporation has acknowledged the layoffs, according to Reuters, but it has not yet revealed how many staff would be affected.

    The corporation disclosed that the layoffs are a component of a larger restructuring initiative. According to the article, the business has announced that it will contract with other contractors to handle some of the tech-related tasks.

    The layoffs coincide with Nike CEO Elliott Hill’s ongoing efforts to restructure the organisation’s operational and leadership strategies since taking over in October 2024. In an effort to promote innovation in Nike’s product selection and rekindle consumer enthusiasm, Hill recently announced a number of top management moves.

    Reasons for the Layoff

    According to a media source, Nike is laying off some of its technology division employees, according to an email from a Nike spokesperson. The number of workers impacted by the layoffs is not disclosed by the spokesperson.

    He added that Nike intends to use a few outside vendors to handle the tech-related tasks. Nike has had to contend with dwindling revenue forecasts; the company’s fourth-quarter estimate indicates a more severe decline than anticipated.

    With competitors gaining ground in the sports apparel sector, the corporation is trying to re-engage with changing consumer demands and streamline processes.

    The layoffs coincide with Nike CEO Elliott Hill’s ongoing efforts to restructure the organisation’s operational and leadership strategies since taking over in October 2024. In an effort to promote innovation in Nike’s product selection and rekindle consumer enthusiasm, Hill recently announced a number of top management moves.

    Layoffs have Become a New Normal for Bigger Players

    This layoff announcement coincides with employment cuts by a number of multinational corporations, such as Amazon, Intel, and Goldman Sachs. Such developments are happening mainly owing to the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and uncertainties in the global economy. Intel is getting ready for a massive restructure following a large financial loss in 2024.

    Similarly, Amazon also plans to eliminate about 14,000 administrative roles in order to save $3 billion yearly.

    Companies are increasingly focusing on cost optimisation and automation as a result of the rapid growth in AI adoption. This adoption is resulting in job losses across a number of industries.

    Goldman Sachs is also getting ready to lay off employees, with intentions to trim staff by 3–5% after an annual performance review. About 150 junior banker positions were recently cut by Bank of America; nevertheless, the majority of impacted workers were offered opportunities outside of investment banking.

    Given the unpredictability of the world economy, more businesses might do the same in the months to come.

  • Google Unveils Beam: Real-Time Translation and Next-Gen AI Break Language Barriers

    As Google I/O 2025 gets underway, CEO Sundar Pichai has made three significant announcements that are focused on the needs of consumers.

    These efforts, which are driven by Google’s Gemini AI models, include Project Mariner, which updates agentic AI capabilities that can assist users in automating tasks.

    It also includes Google Beam (formerly Project Starline) updates and real-time speech translation in Google Meet; and the ‘better’ Project Astra, which will be rebranded as Gemini Live camera conversation. Pichai revealed that HP will be bringing Google Beam, formerly known as Project Starline, to computers.

    In essence, it is a technological project created to improve remote communication by making it more organic and engaging. This technology simulates in-person interactions during video chats by combining artificial intelligence, 3D imagery, and other cutting-edge technologies.

    Key Features of Google Beam

    Pichai emphasised that Google Beam’s primary advantages include lifelike depiction through realistic 3D imaging and the ability to make authentic eye contact, which is frequently lacking in traditional video chats.

    The project’s second component is real-time speech translation in Google Meet, which enables communication between persons who do not speak the same language.

    Additionally, Google said that the AI-generated translation will maintain user voices, tones, and facial expressions. Subscribers can presently access the functionality in both Spanish and English. Later this year, Google plans to test this capability with Workspace users in Portuguese, German, and Italian, among other languages.

    Gemini Live for iPhones and Android

    Project Astra, a fascinating research initiative that was initially presented at I/O, examines the potential of a universal AI assistant that can comprehend your surroundings.

    The camera and screen-sharing features of Project Astra are now integrated into Gemini Live. From preparing for interviews to training for marathons, people are utilising technology in intriguing ways.

    All Android users currently have access to this feature, and iOS users will begin to receive it from now on.

    Project Mariner

    Updates to Project Mariner, a Chrome plugin created by Google DeepMind that enables users to automate web browsing tasks using an AI agent, are the third major announcement.

    An AI agent that can comprehend and interact with websites to do tasks like research, booking, and purchasing is created using the Gemini AI paradigm. According to Pichai, the AI tool can now handle up to ten jobs concurrently.

    For instance, the Gemini app’s new Agent Mode will enable users to accomplish even more. If they are looking for a flat, it will be helpful to locate properties on websites such as Zillow that fit their requirements, modify filters, and use MCP to view the listings and even arrange a tour.

    Subscribers will soon be able to access an experimental version of Agent Mode via the Gemini app. Additionally, it helps businesses like Zillow by increasing conversion rates and attracting new clients.