Tag: #news

  • Fastest.Health Raises ₹1.2 Crore in Pre-Seed Funding Round Led by Inflection Point Ventures

    • Fastest.Health is an on-demand diagnostic platform providing 15-minute doorstep sample collection and 90-minute report delivery across the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai regions. 
    • The funds will be utilised for strengthening sales and marketing, geographical expansion, technological enhancement, and onboarding of key resources. 
    • Fastest.Health has conducted hundreds of tests and has partnered with NABL-accredited laboratories to provide fast and accurate test reports.
    • So far, Inflection Point Ventures has invested over INR 800 Cr across 250+ startups. 

    India’s first Quick Service Diagnostics platform (QSD), Fastest.Health has raised INR 1.2 Crore in a Pre-seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures. The funding will be utilised to scale marketing initiatives, improve sales, invest in technological advancement and onboard key resources to streamline operations. Currently, Fastest.Health is operational in the regions of Navi Mumbai and Mumbai’s suburban areas and plans to expand in new markets to meet India’s growing demand for quick, reliable, and convenient diagnostic solutions. 

    Fastest.Health is co-founded by a team of industry veterans who specialise in Diagnostics, Logistics, Ecommerce and technology. The leadership team includes Jayesh Kamat, CEO, Sandeep Krishna, CBO, Mazhar Faruqi, COO, Dr. Santosh Wakchaure, CMO and Mohit Lala, CTO. Together, they bring a holistic mix of leadership, business insight, healthcare and technology experience to the company. 

    Vinay Bansal, Founder IPV, says, “The healthcare sector has undergone a paradigm shift post the covid crisis. Now, the emphasis is not only on accuracy but also on speed, convenience and reliability. Tech plays a major role in making healthcare accessible. Fastest.Health exemplifies this evolution by delivering faster diagnostic results without compromising credibility thereby eliminating delay in starting the treatment which is one of the most important factors in healthcare especially during crucial moments.” 

    Sandeep Krishna, Co-founder and CBO Fastest. Health says, “Our journey with IPV has been seamless, their support has helped Fastest accelerate its vision of redefining diagnostics in India. At Fastest.Health, everything revolves around one core belief: healthcare should move at the speed of need. With our 15-minute doorstep collection and 90-minute report delivery, we’re not just delivering reports faster, we’re building India’s first true quick-commerce diagnostics network. Our goal is to make Fastest.Health the first and fastest responder for any medical need, ensuring care reaches people exactly when it matters most.” 

    The Mumbai-based health-tech startup has been offering its services since Jan 2025, and provides on-demand diagnostic services, that is redefining the standards of swiftness and precision in the healthcare industry. All Fastest partner labs are NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration for Laboratories) accredited and only offer certified lab reports, thus ensuring the highest quality and accuracy for its customers. Furthermore, Fastest.Health is working towards establishing a 24/7 on-demand service that will empower customers to access diagnostic services anytime. 

    The firm has developed and launched its proprietary app, which is available to both IOS and Android users, and has successfully conducted hundreds of tests, marking significant strides made in establishing its base and launching operations. The company’s strength lies in its experienced founding team, home-grown custom technology and optimised blood transportation system enabling rapid sample collection within 15 minutes and report issuance in 90 minutes for most routine tests. 

    The Indian diagnostics market in 2023 was approximately worth USD 14 billion and is projected to increase to nearly USD 20 billion in 2026, showcasing the increasing demand for testing services. Fastest.Health stands apart with its capability supported by speed and accessibility to tackle the diagnostics markets in the ever-evolving healthcare industry and contribute to making patient care more accessible and efficient.


    Bharatsure Raises ₹6 Crore from IPV and Capital A, Partners with Battery Smart to Launch Insurance Cover for EV Stations Across India
    Mumbai, 24th July 2025 – Bharatsure, one of India’s leading Insurtech companies offering Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) solutions has raised INR 6 Crores from Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) and other investors including Capital A and Atrium Angels. Bharatsure is pioneering transformation in India’s insurtech landscape, unlocking vast market


  • Aavishkaar Group Launches ‘OneAavishkaar’, Partners with Jamwant Ventures to Launch India’s First Veteran-Led Defence and Deep-Tech Fund

    Aavishkaar Group, a pioneering fund management platform, has announced the launch of ‘OneAavishkaar’, a comprehensive solution designed to accelerate the growth of emerging venture funds through seamless support in fundraising, investments, operations, ESG, and compliance. The initiative specifically caters to early-stage fund managers aiming to scale their impact.

    The first partnership under the ‘OneAavishkaar’ initiative is with Jamwant Ventures, to launch ‘Jamwant Ventures Fund 2’—India’s first veteran-led defence and deep-tech focused fund, with a target corpus of ₹500 crore.

    The new fund aims to be a catalyst for defence and deep-tech startups by providing strategic mentorship and early-stage capital to innovators responding to India’s push for indigenous defence production.

    This partnership brings together Aavishkaar Capital’s extensive track record of over 80+ investments and 53 successful exits, and Jamwant Ventures’ deep domain expertise in the defence and deep-tech sector. The collaboration is expected to enable startups with not just capital, but also a strong ecosystem of partners, pilots, and policy linkages to help them scale commercially viable technologies.

    “India seeks to strengthen its indigenous defence tech capabilities, which require both capital and a robust support system,” said Vineet Rai, Founder, Aavishkaar Group. “Through ‘OneAavishkaar’, we aim to empower the venture ecosystem in the defence tech industry by partnering with Jamwant Ventures. We believe that strategic capital combined with deep sectoral insight can unlock transformative potential and accelerate innovation in India’s defence and deep-tech ecosystem.”

    Jamwant Ventures, founded by senior Indian Navy veterans and former Technology Development Board (TDB) officials, is a sector-specialist investment firm focused on defence and deep-tech innovation. Backed by a curated pipeline and government-linked deal flow (through iDEX, TDF, and DST), the firm offers mentorship and strategic guidance to dual-use technology startups from the early stage through scale.

    “Jamwant Ventures Fund 2 is strategically positioned to invest in the next wave of innovation fuelling India’s defence and technology self-reliance,” said Cdr Navneet Kaushik, Founder, Jamwant Ventures. “Our partnership with OneAavishkaar will seed and scale high-potential startups, helping them grow commercially while contributing to national security.”

    The first fund, Jamwant Ventures Fund 1, has already deployed capital across several promising startups aligned with India’s national security and indigenisation goals. Its portfolio includes companies such as Spacefields Pvt. Ltd. (Solid Rocket Propulsion), TIEA Connectors (Military-Grade Connectors), Axial Aero (Aerospace Simulators), Aeronero (Air Water Generation), Thrustworks Dyentics (Liquid Rocket Propulsion), AstraYAN (Marine Technologies), Suhora Technologies (Earth Observation & Geospatial Analytics), and Green Aero Propulsion Pvt. Ltd. (Gas Turbine Engines).

    Through this partnership, OneAavishkaar brings Aavishkaar Capital’s institutional strength and governance capabilities, while Jamwant Ventures contributes its sectoral knowledge and operational expertise. Together, they aim to accelerate investments into innovative, cutting-edge defence enterprises and drive India’s defence and deep-tech scale-up ecosystem forward.

  • Tata Group Faces New Boardroom Battle as Leadership Rift Widens

    According to reports, internal conflicts within Tata Trusts, the largest stakeholder in Tata Sons, have gotten so bad that the government is stepping in to help the Tata Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates, deal with a governance crisis.

    According to sources close to the Tata Group, who have been cited in numerous media publications, the government is keeping an eye on events out of concern that the dispute may affect how Tata Sons and the larger conglomerate operate.

    With a nearly 66% controlling position in Tata Sons, the Tata Group’s parent company, Tata Trusts has long served as a compass, ensuring the organisation stays true to its long-term strategic and charitable values.

    Why Tata Group has Turn into a Battlefield?

    The group’s hundreds of businesses, which include those in consumer products, steel, autos, IT services, and other industries, are managed by Tata Sons. This division of responsibilities is essential; Tata Sons oversees operational execution, while the Trusts provide ownership control. However, media reports have cited sources that indicate this equilibrium has been strained. A power struggle within Tata Trusts, the charitable arm that owns a majority share in Tata Sons, the holding company that manages the Tata Group’s activities, is the root cause of the current crisis.

    Allegedly, four trustees—Darius Khambata, Jehangir HC Jehangir, Pramit Jhaveri, and Mehli Mistry—went above their customary supervision responsibilities, thus establishing themselves as a “super board” that attempts to sway important Tata Sons decisions. According to reports, these trustees attempted to review the minutes of Tata Sons’ board meetings and approve independent directors who were selected by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the company—tasks that are typically performed by Tata Sons’ management.

    According to sources, such actions would directly question Noel Tata’s power as chairman of Tata Trusts, posing “serious corporate governance concerns”. The possibility of operational friction at the top is evident, but it’s unclear if these measures have really hindered or obstructed important decisions. Since the death of former Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata in October 2024, tensions within Tata Trusts have been simmering, but in recent months they have grown increasingly noticeable. There is now a governance vacuum at the top as a result of this impasse, raising worries that if the divide persists, strategic choices and daily operations across the hundreds of firms in the Tata Group—from Tata Steel and Tata Motors to TCS and Titan—may be delayed or complicated.

    Government Stepping in to Ease the Situation at the Tata Group

    According to reports, the government has chosen a tough stance on the issue. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata, Vice-Chairman Venu Srinivasan, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, and trustee Darius Khambata that internal conflicts must not cause Tata Sons to become unstable during a nearly hour-long meeting at Home Minister Amit Shah’s house.

    The ministers urged the leadership to restore stability “by whatever means necessary”, even hinting that it could be necessary to take drastic measures like firing destabilising trustees. According to reports, officials reminded the Tata leadership that, considering the Trusts’ impact on the Indian economy and corporate governance norms, their majority stake bears a “public responsibility”.

    It should be mentioned that the government, investors, and the Tata Trusts itself would all be keenly monitoring the company’s October 10 board meeting.

    Quick Shots

    •Internal conflicts within Tata Trusts, the majority
    stakeholder in Tata Sons, trigger leadership tensions.

    •Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Home
    Minister Amit Shah meet Tata leadership to restore stability.

    •Four trustees allegedly overstepped duties, forming
    a “super board” to influence Tata Sons’ decisions.

    Hundreds of Tata Group firms—including Tata Steel,
    Tata Motors, TCS, and Titan—could face delays or operational friction.

  • Daily Indian Funding Roundup & Key News – 8th October 2025: Stackbox Raises $2.63 Mn, Meolaa Secures $6 Mn, TCS Cancels Q2 Press Conference & More

    India’s startup ecosystem saw notable activity on 8th October 2025, with funding in logistics tech, FMCG, clean tech, healthtech, and e-mobility. Key rounds included Stackbox raising $2.63 million, Meolaa securing $6 million, and Membrane Group obtaining $50 million. In corporate news, TCS canceled its Q2 FY26 press conference to honor Ratan Tata, while Amazon Pay India reported a slight revenue decline but reduced losses.

    Daily Indian Funding Roundup – 8th October 2025

    Company Amount Round Lead investor(s) Sector
    Stackbox $2.63 Mn Series A Enrission India Capital; White Whale Ventures Logistics tech / SaaS
    Meolaa $6 Mn Pre-Series A General Catalyst FMCG / Direct-to-consumer
    Theia Ventures $15 Mn Maiden fund first close Theia Ventures Venture capital / Early-stage fund
    Jaagruk Bharat INR 1.5 Cr Pre-seed AJVC Healthtech / Social impact
    Membrane Group $50 M Commitment funding GEF Capital Clean technology / Membrane solutions
    BattWheelz INR 2 Cr Early-stage Finvolve E-mobility / EV-as-a-service

    Stackbox to raise $2.63 Mn in Series A to expand logistics SaaS

    Bengaluru-based logistics technology startup Stackbox is raising $2.63 million in its Series A round led by Enrission India Capital and White Whale Ventures. The funds will accelerate the expansion of its cloud-based SaaS solutions for supply chain automation, distribution optimization, and inventory management, enabling efficient logistics for FMCG, retail, and e-commerce companies.

    Meolaa raises $6 Mn to scale FMCG direct-to-consumer operations

    FMCG startup Meolaa has raised $6 million in a pre-Series A round led by General Catalyst. The funding will be utilized to expand its homegrown consumer products portfolio, strengthen supply chain capabilities, scale D2C operations, and enhance its brand presence across India, providing customers with high-quality, affordable FMCG products efficiently.

    Theia Ventures announces $15 Mn maiden fund first close

    Venture capital firm Theia Ventures has announced the first close of its maiden fund at $15 million. The fund aims to provide early-stage Indian startups with strategic capital, mentorship, and market guidance across sectors including technology, healthcare, and consumer services, helping entrepreneurs scale operations, attract talent, and achieve long-term sustainable growth.

    Jaagruk Bharat raises INR 1.5 Cr pre-seed round led by AJVC

    Healthtech startup Jaagruk Bharat has secured INR 1.5 Cr in a pre-seed round led by AJVC. The funding will help the company expand its digital health awareness initiatives, improve healthcare accessibility through technology, scale preventive care solutions, and create a stronger impact on public health awareness, particularly in underserved communities across India.

    Membrane Group secures $50 M commitment from GEF Capital

    Membrane Group has raised $50 million in a commitment funding round led by GEF Capital. The capital will support the company in scaling its membrane-based clean technology solutions, targeting industrial wastewater treatment, water purification, and sustainable resource management projects. The funding aims to drive innovation and sustainable water management practices globally.

    BattWheelz raises INR 2 Cr to expand EV logistics operations

    EMAAS provider BattWheelz has raised INR 2 Cr at a valuation of INR 60 Cr. The startup plans to expand its fully electric fleet across Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune, focusing on sustainable last-mile delivery solutions. The funding will enhance fleet operations, strengthen technology-driven logistics management, and accelerate adoption of e-mobility in urban supply chains.

    Key Business News for 8th October 2025

    TCS Cancels Q2 FY26 Press Conference on Ratan Tata’s Death Anniversary

    Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has canceled its scheduled press conference for the second-quarter FY26 earnings, which was set for October 9, 2025. The decision was made to honor the memory of Ratan Tata, whose death anniversary coincides with the event. However, the earnings call for analysts will proceed as planned. This marks the second consecutive year TCS has adjusted its earnings schedule in remembrance of Ratan Tata.

    Amazon Pay India Reports Flat Growth in FY25

    Amazon Pay India, the digital payments arm of Amazon, experienced a 9% decline in its standalone operational revenue for the fiscal year 2025, amounting to INR 2,096 crore. Despite the revenue drop, the company managed to reduce its losses to INR 865 crore, a slight improvement from the INR 911 crore loss recorded in the previous year. The company’s return on capital employed (ROCE) and EBITDA margin stood at -39.58% and -45.40%, respectively.


    Daily Indian Funding Roundup & Key News – 7th October 2025
    India’s startup ecosystem witnessed a dynamic day of funding activity on 7th October 2025, with emerging ventures across clean energy, AI, healthcare, and EV marketplaces securing early and growth-stage investments


  • Google to Invest $15 Billion in Mega Data Center Cluster in Visakhapatnam

    According to reports, Google intends to invest $15 billion, or around INR 88,774.2 crore, to construct a data centre cluster with a 1 GW capacity spread across three campuses in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. According to sources cited by ET, the cluster will have three data centre campuses with high-capacity underwater cables, specialised cable landing stations, and a vast network of metro fibre and telecommunications lines.

    The data centres will be a key component of India’s aspirations to become a global powerhouse for digital and artificial intelligence infrastructure, and they are anticipated to be operational by July 2028. On October 14, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh is scheduled to conclude the deal with Google executives. The State Investment Promotion Board, which is led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, will sanction the project today, the newspaper also stated.

    Google’s Visakhapatnam’s Data Centre Cluster to be Asia’s Largest Centre

    According to reports, Visakhapatnam’s data centre cluster would be the biggest in Asia. Alphabet was reportedly on track to invest $6 billion in Andhra Pradesh to construct a 1 GW data centre and related power infrastructure in July. “We’ve made certain announcements like Sify (a 550 MW data centre to be built in the state), which are public,” Lokesh told Reuters at the time. Some announcements are not yet available to the general public. We will make such announcements in October.

    This occurs at a time when the need for data centres is increasing due to the rapid adoption of AI and the growing prevalence of smartphones. The data centre industry in India is expected to increase from $4.5 billion in 2023 to $9.3 billion by 2027 and over $11.6 billion by 2032, making it one of the largest markets in terms of smartphone usage and AI adoption.

    OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, is also seeking to establish a data centre in India with a minimum capacity of 1 GW, while Reliance is constructing a data centre in Jamnagar. After Sam Altman’s trip to India, the new facility would be finalised, which would be a significant step forward for “Startgate” in Asia.

    Quick Shots

    •Google to invest $10 billion (INR 88,774.2 crore)
    to build a mega 1 GW data centre cluster in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

    •The cluster will comprise three campuses with
    underwater cables, cable landing stations, and metro fibre networks.

    •Project expected to be operational by July 2028.

    •Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh to finalise
    the deal with Google executives on October 14.

    •State Investment Promotion Board, chaired by CM N.
    Chandrababu Naidu, to approve the project today.

    The Visakhapatnam cluster will be Asia’s largest
    data centre.

  • Google Offers up to INR 26 Lakh Reward for Finding Security Flaws in its AI Systems

    To identify and address security vulnerabilities in its artificial intelligence (AI) systems, Google has started a new incentive programme. The organisation is rewarding those who find significant flaws that have the potential to cause actual harm with incentives of up to $30,000 (about INR 26 lakh).

    Rogue actions—situations in which an AI system is deceived into performing an action it shouldn’t—are the focus of this new AI bug reward programme. Examples include a secret command that compels an AI to summarise a user’s private emails and forward them to an attacker, or an AI question that might cause Google Home to unlock a door.

    Google has given precise examples of what constitutes an AI bug. These comprise any flaw that allows a huge language model or other generative AI tool to be exploited to get around security, change data, or do undesirable behaviours. For example, in the past, researchers discovered vulnerabilities that made it possible to manipulate smart home equipment by manipulating calendar events, opening shutters, or turning off lights without authorisation. Keep in mind that not all AI problems will result in compensation.

    It isn’t enough to just make Gemini make a mistake or produce unpleasant text. Instead, these kinds of problems ought to be reported via Google’s AI products’ regular feedback features, which allow safety teams to examine and correct model behaviour over time.

    CodeMender by Google

    In addition to the recently launched bug bounty programme, Google also unveiled CodeMender, an AI agent that automatically fixes security vulnerabilities in code. According to the business, 72 vulnerabilities in open-source projects have already been fixed by CodeMender after it was reviewed by human specialists.

    Serious rogue action defects in Google’s main products, including Search, Gemini Apps, Gmail, and Drive, are eligible for the top award of $20,000. The sum can reach $30,000 with bonuses for exceptionally creative or high-quality reports. Smaller problems or faults in other products, such as NotebookLM or Jules, are eligible for lower awards.

    Researchers have already made over $400,000 from Google’s AI-related reports in the past two years. Simply put, this new initiative makes things more competitive and official. Our daily lives are increasingly involving AI technologies.

    They can be found in home appliances, laptops, phones, and even the instruments we use at work. Attackers can become more inventive as these systems become more powerful. In essence, Google is promising that we will compensate someone who can break it before the bad people do.

    Quick
    Shots

    •Bugs include AI being tricked to perform harmful or
    unintended actions, e.g., exposing private data or controlling smart devices.

    •Flaws that allow large language models or
    generative AI tools to bypass security, alter data, or behave undesirably.

    •Google’s AI agent automatically fixes
    vulnerabilities; 72 open-source issues resolved so far.

    Serious defects in Search, Gemini, Gmail, Drive
    eligible for $20k–$30k; smaller flaws in other products get lower awards.

  • General Catalyst leads $6M Pre-Series A round in HIRA’s parent company, Meolaa, to build a digitally native FMCG powerhouse

    Meolaa, an end-to-end technology-powered FMCG company, today announced that it has secured $6 million in Pre-Series A funding to advance its digital-first growth strategy. The round was led by General Catalyst (GC), alongside participation from Claypond Capital (family investment office of Dr. Ranjan Pai), Colossa Ventures, entrepreneur Kunal Shah, Turbostart Global, and other existing investors. This marks a significant step in Meolaa’s evolution into an end-to-end technology-powered Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) business, harnessing AI and data science to generate actionable consumer market intelligence, accelerate execution, and increase the probability of success for every new brand and product.

    The company’s strategy is further aligned with the evolving preferences of Gen Z consumers, who are driving demand for cleaner, more conscious, and innovative offerings that combine sustainability with novelty. Meolaa remains committed to addressing this demand by building a new generation of FMCG brands distinguished by agility, precision, and measurable outcomes.

    Ishita Sawant, Founder and CEO, Meolaa, said “At Meolaa, we believe consumer brands must be built with precision — powered by data, insights, and culture. With General Catalyst’s support, we are accelerating our transition into a modern, AI-enabled FMCG house designed to disrupt the value chain end to end. HIRA, our flagship brand, is just the beginning — proof that products rooted in real consumer needs can scale fast, resonate deeply, and travel globally. By reimagining the assembly line of brand creation, we are solving for agility, speed, and scale — while reverse-engineering success to tilt the odds in our favour. This partnership gives us the conviction and resources to build India’s first FMCG powerhouse for the world.

    Meolaa is augmenting AI and advanced analytics across its business verticals, integrating consumer market intelligence, new product development, packaging and branding innovation, and supply chain and distribution optimization. This end-to-end technology-powered framework creates a unified workflow that accelerates decision-making, strengthens product design, and ensures that every stage of the brand lifecycle is informed by actionable insights.

    “What excites us about Meolaa is Ishita’s vision to build an AI-native FMCG powerhouse, replacing traditional R&D with intelligent systems that compress brand development from years to months,” said Neeraj Arora, Managing Director at General Catalyst“Her consumer-first approach and global brand insights, combined with her bias for action, position her uniquely to identify whitespace opportunities and execute rapidly. Under Ishita’s leadership, they’re reimagining how consumer brands are built and scaled for the modern economy.”

    Large FMCG companies operate through long, sequential brand creation and product development cycles that can take upwards 18 to 24 months. The process involves extensive market research, R&D, packaging design, consumer testing, and nationwide rollout, often slowing the response to shifting consumer demands. Meolaa addresses this gap through a unified AI-powered brand creation framework that combines real-time consumer intelligence, structured innovation processes, and intelligent go-to-market orchestration. This integrated approach compresses timelines from years to months while effectively reverse engineering product–market fit.

    The newly raised capital will be deployed across three key priorities:

    1. AI and Data Science Infrastructure: Serving as the central engine of Meolaa’s business model, the AI and data science infrastructure redefines the foundations of FMCG. It unifies predictive analytics, proprietary algorithms, and automation into a seamless intelligence-driven system that replaces traditional manual processes. This backbone powers the entire brand journey, positioning the company to set new benchmarks in how consumer brands are built and grown.
    2. Brand Expansion: The company plans to expand into adjacent personal care categories, guided by actionable insights to compress development cycles and increase success rates. Each new brand will target sizeable market opportunities with focused value propositions and curated product portfolios built for scale.
    3. Operational Agility and Scale: Strategically expanding into high-potential distribution networks by identifying the most relevant consumer cohorts and geographies, while leveraging AI-driven operational intelligence to optimize performance across core business functions. This enables the company to achieve greater agility, efficiency, and responsiveness to evolving consumer demand.

    Meolaa’s insights-driven approach has already delivered strong results by identifying and capturing emerging opportunities in underserved categories such as the Indian fragrance market. Valued at $281 mn in FY2024 and projected to reach $ 873.3 mn by FY2032, India’s fragrance segment is witnessing the rise of a “mass-premium” segment, driven largely by the aspirations of Gen Z professionals, whose strong entry-level salaries are prompting them to invest in premium categories that boost confidence, including fragrances. This generation is turning to premium experiences not only for quality, authenticity, and sensorial richness, but also as tools for self-expression, social currency, and aspirational consumption. A BCG and Snapchat study corroborates the influence of GenZ on emerging consumer trends, with the generation accounting for 43% of the country’s total consumption.

    Recognizing this market opportunity, Meolaa’s first and flagship brand, HIRA, serves as definitive proof of concept to the company’s approach, achieving INR 1 Cr in monthly recurring revenue within just three months of launch by capturing the underserved premium fragrance segment. Much like the disruption witnessed in categories such as sneakers and bags over recent years, HIRA has emerged as the force redefining the fragrance category, scaling at a pace the market had not imagined. Together with the upcoming digital-first brands, the extended portfolio is now projected to achieve significant near-term growth targets.

    Meolaa is building a full-stack AI layer that functions as the intelligence backbone for brand teams, supporting the entire lifecycle from actionable intelligence generation and product development to execution and scale. The platform manages core functions such as brand creation, scenario analysis, and routine decision-making with greater speed and accuracy. While data infrastructure for forecasting and trend analysis already exists in the industry, Meolaa operationalizes this information, turning fragmented processes into a unified system with measurable outcomes. This marks the emergence of a new-age house of brands in FMCG that prioritizes building from scratch and owning intellectual property from day one, fundamentally differentiating from acquisition-driven growth strategies.

    Additional Commentary

    “We are pleased to expand our investment in Meolaa as it steps into a powerful new chapter of championing sustainable brands for the next generation of consumers. From day one, Meolaa’s AI-driven insights platform has tapped into emerging cultural and consumer trends, offering personalized experiences and building meaningful engagement, especially with millennials and Gen Z. These insights inspired the creation of HIRA, a clean, enduring fragrance brand meeting a real need in the largely untapped sustainable fragrance category. At Colossa, we believe the future of consumer products in India will be shaped by sustainability and innovation! And women founders like Ishita are well positioned to lead that future,” said, Ashu Suyash, Founder- Colossa Ventures

    “From backing Meolaa at its seed stage to witnessing its rapid evolution, it’s been remarkable to see Ishita and her team challenge the fundamentals of an industry as entrenched as FMCG,” said Dr. Ranjan Pai“Meolaa combines deep consumer understanding with technology to accelerate brand creation and scale – bringing a level of agility and precision rarely seen in this space. Under her leadership, Meolaa is building the blueprint for how the next generation of consumer companies will operate.”

  • OpenAI Launches Agent Builder to Simplify Creation of Custom AI Agents

    As a component of the AgentKit, OpenAI has introduced the Agent Builder, which gives developers the means to create agentic processes, enhance performance, and create agents using a visual-first canvas.

    In a blog post announcing the capability, OpenAI stated that up until now, creating agents required balancing disparate tools, including intricate orchestration without versioning, unique connectors, manual evaluation pipelines, timely tweaking, and weeks of frontend work prior to launch. Developers can now more quickly integrate agentic UIs using new building pieces and graphically design workflows with AgentKit.

    Features of OpenAI’s Agent Builder

    The drag-and-drop functionality of the Agent Builder allows developers to design multi-agent workflows. It makes it simple for teams to test agents, see how they operate, and make adjustments. ChatKit makes it simple for developers to incorporate chat-based agents into websites or applications for conversation experiences.

    These can be applied to knowledge assistants, research, onboarding, and customer service. In order to create agents on the visual canvas and integrate them into their applications using the Agents SDK for Node.js or Python, advanced users can also select Agent Builder. Reinforcement fine-tuning (RFT), which enables programmers to teach models to follow specific rules and make better decisions, is being expanded by OpenAI.

    Some models already have the feature, while GPT-5 is presently under beta testing. The new function incorporates pertinent context, such as file and online searches, using the most recent AI models. In order to pull in both internal and external context, it may also link to well-known corporate programmes and MCP servers.

    OpenAI’s Connector Registry

    Additionally, OpenAI unveiled the Connector Registry, which aids businesses in managing data across various workspaces and applications, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint. Guardrails, a security layer that stops agents from disclosing private information or performing dangerous actions, was developed by OpenAI to keep agents safe.

    Guardrails to identify jailbreaks, implement personalised security measures in the Canvas, conceal personally identifiable information, and more are integrated into the Agent Builder. All developers have access to the Evals capabilities, and Agent Builder is presently under beta testing. Standard API pricing includes the new tool.

    Quick
    Shots

    •Part of AgentKit, Agent Builder enables developers
    to create AI agents using a visual-first canvas.

    •Drag-and-drop interface allows multi-agent workflow
    design, testing, and adjustments without complex orchestration.

    •Easily add chat-based agents for knowledge
    assistants, customer service, research, and onboarding.

    •Supports Agent SDK for Node.js/Python and
    Reinforcement Fine-Tuning (RFT) for better decision-making.

    •Agents can access internal and external data,
    including files, online searches, and corporate systems.

    Manages data across Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft
    Teams, SharePoint, and more.

  • TCS Cancels Q2 Results Press Conference Amid Ratan Tata Death Anniversary Observance

    According to media sources, Indian IT powerhouse Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has cancelled its post-results news conference for the second quarter profits (Q2), which was scheduled for October 9, because the date falls on the anniversary of Ratan Tata’s passing. At 5:30 p.m., the press conference was planned.

    However, the Business Line report also stated that the analyst call will happen that same day. In honour of Ratan Tata, TCS has modified their earnings-day schedule for the second consecutive year. Following his death, the business also cancelled its Q2 news conference last year, but other investor-related events went forward as planned.

    TCS Already Notified the Stock Exchanges

    On September 22, Tata Consultancy Services notified the stock exchanges that the Board of Directors will meet on October 9 to review and approve the company’s audited standalone financial results for the quarter and six months ending September 30, 2025.

    The announcement of a second interim dividend to equity owners will also be discussed by the company’s board. The executive team will speak to the media in a press conference at 5:30 p.m., and the earnings conference call will take place at 7:00 p.m., according to a separate filing on September 23. Despite share losses and ramp-downs in a few clients, analysts predict modest revenue growth.

    Axis Securities anticipates that BFSI, Hi-Tech, and cross-currency tailwinds would propel TCS’s 3.5% QoQ topline growth. It further stated that salary increases, increased investments, and decreased utilisation are projected to cause the EBIT margin to drop by 21 basis points over the course of the quarter.

    TCS Cutting 2% of its Global Workforce

    The justification for the anticipated separation of 12,000 employees, the effect on employee morale, and the separation’s expenses will also be of interest to investors. As the corporation now seeks to concentrate on restructuring plans amid the push for artificial intelligence (AI), TCS announced layoffs of about 2% of its global workforce in the fiscal year 2025–2026.

    According to Kotak Institutional Equities (KIE), investors are likely to monitor a number of important factors, including (1) the reasons behind the underperformance in growth in developed markets and any potential share losses; (2) whether the impact of the US tariffs on demand subsided; (3) the rate of adoption of GenAI and the deflationary effect on spending; (4) the impact of the GCC ramp-up on company growth and the GCC as a growth lever; (5) H-1B dependence and plans for further de-risking; and (6) margin aspirations in light of elevated competitive intensity.

    Quick
    Shots

    •TCS cancels Q2 results media briefing on Oct 9 due
    to Ratan Tata death anniversary.

    •Earnings call for investors scheduled at 7:00 p.m.
    as planned.

    •CS Board to review and approve Q2 & H1
    financial results and discuss interim dividend.

    Analysts predict around 3.5% QoQ topline growth
    driven by BFSI, Hi-Tech, and cross-currency tailwinds.

  • US Government Shutdown & Halts NASA Operations, Leaving Space Agency Offline

    Following the US government’s shutdown on October 1st due to Congress’s failure to adopt a budget or temporary funding package, NASA ceased the majority of its operations. NASA is “closed” until further notice, according to a notification on the agency’s website. The closure comes as federal agencies in Washington shut down for the first time in almost six years due to a lack of agreement among lawmakers on spending.

    According to NASA, only operations necessary to safeguard people and property are still underway. This includes keeping an eye on the ISS, assisting spacecraft that are presently in use, and doing planetary defence tasks like watching asteroids. Public involvement, teaching, and research initiatives have all been put on hold.

    NASA’s Social Media and Daily Updates on a Mute

    According to Reuters, NASA has restricted its communications to critical notifications and stopped posting daily mission updates and social media posts. According to the Associated Press, thousands of NASA workers are currently on unpaid furlough due to the closure.

    According to the New York Times, the closure would cause delays in the Artemis program, which aims to send humans back to the Moon. Until funds are restored, testing, scheduling, and logistical work have been put on hold. According to the Wall Street Journal, studies that rely on ongoing financing have been impacted by the suspension of research funded by NASA grants at colleges and labs.

    Disruption may also affect contractors who work with the agency. Businesses connected to NASA’s supply chain are evaluating the effects of postponed contracts and funding shortages, according to a Bloomberg report. Similar shutdown have occurred at NASA during previous budget disagreements.

     According to CNN, the 35-day government shutdown in 2018–2019 caused thousands of employees to halt work and postponed research missions. According to officials, most scientific and technological advancements are halted during these times, even as critical safety procedures continue.

    Staff Left with Limited Work Option

    NASA has about 18,000 employees. The majority of public servants have been told not to report to work until funding is restored, according to the Washington Post. During the time off, workers are unable to access government systems or work on their tasks.

    A congressional budget standoff preceded the shutdown. Neither a short-term funding package nor a new yearly budget plan could be passed by lawmakers. Noting that essential government functions are impacted, President Joe Biden has encouraged lawmakers to break the impasse. NASA’s operations will continue to be restricted to critical safety functions until a solution is found, and all scientific, research, and exploratory initiatives will be put on hold.

    Quick
    Shots

    •ISS monitoring, active spacecraft support, and
    planetary defense continue.

    •Daily mission updates and public engagement paused;
    only critical alerts shared.

    •Moon mission testing, scheduling, and logistics on
    hold until funding resumes.

    University and lab projects funded by NASA grants
    suspended.