StartupTalky

Tag: whatsapp

  • Top Sequoia Capital Investments

    Sequoia Capital has invested in some of the greatest ideas that this planet has ever seen. Don Valentine founded Sequoia Capital in 1972 and it has been creating history since then. It seems they have some ‘magic formula’ to predict the immense success of start-ups that get pitched to them. Of course, they don’t pick all of them but they sure do have a good hand.

    Sequoia Capital Portfolio is bejewelled with many start-ups that changed the face of the world. Sequoia Capital investments are not necessarily done in fancy places. They are willing to meet start-up owners anywhere they want. They understand that young start-ups need to save money.

    But just like everything in this world, Sequoia Capital investments are not perfect. It let go of some great opportunities like:

    • Investing in Apple, which it dropped out of after a short period
    • letting go of twitter because they wanted 20-30% share and the company offered 10%
    • Investing in Facebook

    All in all, this hasn’t stopped the venture capital from making some great investment deals.

    Paypal
    Reddit
    Tumblr
    Zoom
    Whatsapp
    Yahoo
    Google
    Glossier
    Youtube
    Instagram
    Linkedin
    Zomato
    Picsart
    FAQ

    Here’s a list of the top 13 Sequoia Capital Investments ventures that got big

    Paypal

    PayPal revolutionized the way we pay for things. It made cashless transactions easy and Hassel-free. Sequoia Capital investments are majorly made in companies that provide solutions to a problem.

    Companies like PayPal simplify peoples’ lives therefore they are bound to make profit.

    Founder: Elon Musk, Max Levchin, Peter Theil

    Founded in: 1999

    Partner: Michael Moritz

    Partnered in: 1999

    Reddit

    Reddit has become the core of funny online content. Although it’s a site where people discuss and comment on all kinds of topics, its GIFs are the most popular. Recently, Reddit users shook up the stock market which made clear the power that it possesses.

    Founder: Steve Huffman

    Founded in: 2005

    Partner: Alfred Lin

    Partnered in: 2014

    Tumblr

    Tumblr provides creative people all around the world to create, share and follow the content of their choice. The venture capital calls this idea authentic and said that when the idea was pitched in, it was, “equivalent of love at first sight”.

    It’s beautiful to see when an investor shares the vision of the founder. It’s bound to be a success.

    Founder: David Karp

    Founded in: 2007

    Partner: Roelof Botha

    Partnered in: 2010

    List of top Business Ideas with zero or minimal capital investment
    There are hundreds and millions of ways and ideas to start any business for anentrepreneur. But the most important factor intervenes is capital investment forthe business. It is never easy collect the required amount for the investment.Many people hesitate because of the risk and that risk is of …
    StartupTalkyVibhavari Madki

    Zoom

    Zoom is a video conferencing app. It provides group messaging and online meeting services that became our survivor in the Covid situation. Its top-of-the-class video and audio qualities make meetings effortless.

    Founder: Eric Yuan

    Founded in: 2011

    Partner: Carl Eschenbach, Pat Grady

    Partnered in: 2016

    Top 10 Active Venture Capital Firms In India – StartupTalky
    Startup companies need a certain amount of investment for growth. Wealthyinvestors like to invest their capital in such businesses with a long-termgrowth perspective. This capital is known as venture capital and the investorsare called venture capitalists. The venture capital investment is made w…
    StartupTalkySouvik Dey

    Whatsapp

    Who doesn’t know what WhatsApp is? If you don’t, you might be living under a rock. It an online messaging, calling, and video calling app. Recently, WhatsApp has launched its new payment feature.

    It has more than 100 million active users. It’s the most used messaging app in India. Sequoia Capital funded WhatsApp and helped it reach phenomenal heights.

    In 2014, WhatsApp was bought by Facebook.

    Founder: Brian Acton, Jan Koum

    Founded in: 2009

    Partner: Jim Goetz

    Partnered in: 2011

    Yahoo

    Yahoo is an information site that brings together all the information on one platform for users to benefit from. Yahoo is creating personalized user experiences to make the task easier.

    Founder: David Fello, Jerry Yang

    Founded in: 1994

    Partner: Michael Moritz

    Partnered in: 1995

    Google

    Google, the world’s biggest search engine is also among Sequoia Capital Investments. You can find out information about everything on Google. By organizing different websites and indexing their content, Google provides the best possible results for user search. It is dedicated to improving the overall user experience and caters to all their needs.

    Founder: Sergey Brin, Larry Page

    Founded in: 1998

    Partner: Michael Moritz

    Partnered in: 1999

    Glossier

    Glossier is another company under Sequoia Capital Investments. It is a beauty brand that customizes beauty according to the person. It focuses on individual needs rather than providing one product that is to be used by everyone.

    Founder: Emily Weiss

    Founded in: 2014

    Partner: Sonya Huang

    Partnered in: 2019

    Indian Startups – Funding & Investors Data [April 2021 Updated]
    Ideas, creativity, and execution are essential for a startup to flourish. Butare they enough? A startup succeeds in the long run only if it can scale as andwhen required. Investors provide startups and other entrepreneurial ventureswith the capital—popularly known as “funding”—to think big, grow …
    StartupTalkyJeenal Jain

    Youtube

    YouTube is the world’s greatest video-sharing site. It allows users to effortlessly upload videos for users to see. Sequoia Capital Investments helped the site become a platform for learning, entertainment and message spreading that also created tons of jobs.

    Founder: Chad Hurley, Javed Karim, Steve Chen

    Founded in: 2005

    Partner: Roelof Botha

    Partnered in: 2005

    Instagram

    Instagram has become extremely popular in very little time. It is the go-to app to upload art and photos for the huge audience that is at your disposal. Brands and small businesses can also promote their products through influencers.

    Founder: Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger

    Founded in: 2010

    Partner: Roelof Botha

    Partnered in: 2012

    Linkedin

    Sequoia Capitals investments are about bringing unique ideas to life. It’s something that we all need but just cannot put a finger on. An online platform for businesses and employees that promotes jobs and servicepersons was much needed.

    LinkedIn made it possible to link talented individuals to the employers that need them.

    Founder: Reid Hoffman, Jeff Weiner

    Founded in: 2002

    Partner: Michael Moritz

    Partnered in: 2003

    Zomato

    Zomato made the option of food delivery, wide open in India. It was present before but wasn’t used much. The brilliant idea of linking the restaurant to a hungry person worked wonders. What’s the use of good food without a foodie, right?

    Zomato is a unicorn company now.

    Founder: Deepinder Goyal, Pankaj Chaddha

    Founded in: 2010

    Partner: Mohit Bhatnagar, Abheek Anand, Ashish Agarwal

    Partnered in: 2013

    Recent Investment Trends in Indian Market
    India is fast becoming a home for startups. [https://startuptalky.com/tag/indian-startups/] With several initiatives were undertaken by the Government to strengthen theeconomic state of the country, startups have witnessed a growth in mobility, foodtech, [https://startuptalky.com/tag/foodtech/…
    StartupTalkyShubham Kumar

    Picsart

    PicsArt Website
    PicsArt Website

    PicsArt is a popular online image editing app. It provides a wide range of features to present a simple photograph in the most creative way possible.

    Founder: Hovhannes Avoyan, Artavazd Mehrabyan

    Founded in: 2011

    Partner: Mike Vernal, Stephanie Zhan

    Partnered in: 2014

    FAQ

    How many employees does Sequoia have?

    Sequoia Capital has around 760 employees.

    What is sequoia capital

    Sequoia Capital is an American venture capital firm.

    Who founded Sequoia?

    Sequoia was founded by Don Valentine in 1972. In the mid-1990s, Valentine gave control of the company to Doug Leone and Michael Moritz.

    Conclusion

    These were some amazing companies that made a mark in the world. Sequoia Capital Investments ventures have shaped these companies’ future for the better. It takes a great ‘eye’ to identify the true potential behind an idea. This venture capital continues to support bright minds with their finances.

    Some recent sequoia capital investments include CoinSwitch Cuber, Pristyn Care, Druva, and Razor pay.

  • BroEat! – India’s first WhatsApp based eCommerce Platform!

    The food delivery segment will not be the same, even after the lockdowns lift — largely because of the startups which have innovated to adapt to physical distancing and hygiene upgrades. One of the startups front lining this change is BroEat!.

    It is India’s first Whatsapp based home-delivery platform to discover menus & order food directly from your favorite local restaurants & support the community! The idea is to make sure restaurants, home chefs, and small businesses earn the margins they deserve and help save jobs.

    Read this article to know everything about BroEat!, what it does, how was it started, services, founders, business model, pricing, plans, and achievements.

    BroEat! – Company Highlights

    Startup Name BroEat!
    Headquarter Mumbai, India
    Sector Hospitality
    Founders Karan Tanna & Pawan Shahri
    Founded 2020
    Website broeat.com
    Contact Email ready@broeat.com

    BroEat! – Vision and Mission
    BroEat! – Target Market Size
    How was BroEat! Started?
    BroEat! – Product/Services
    BroEat! – Founders and Team
    BroEat! – Name, Tagline, and Logo
    BroEat! – Business Model and Revenue Model
    BroEat! – Startup Launch
    BroEat! – Recognition and Achievements
    BroEat! – FAQs

    Mumbai Based Startups | Entrepreneurs & Startups in Mumbai
    Mumbai is the financial hub of India and among the wealthiest city globally[https://startuptalky.com/richest-person-india-list/]. Headquarters of the mostof the financial institutions like Bombay Stock Exchange, RBI, National StockExchange, and the Mint are located in Mumbai. Even the HQs giant b…
    StartupTalkyLakshya Singh

    BroEat! – Vision and Mission

    The company’s vision is to build a platform that the Indian F&B industry can depend on with transparency, open business practices & sustainable methods.
    Its mission is to help this platform scale to a PAN India level where all the restaurants in India can benefit from this and grow their home-delivery business most sustainably.

    “Our core belief is that by providing sustainable tech solutions to the F&B industry will help them not only thrive and become profitable and more sustainable but also help them save jobs”, says BroEat co-founder Karan Tanna.

    BroEat! – Target Market Size

    As per a recent survey, the Indian online food delivery market size is USD 2.9 Billion. The entire business is largely shared between 2 major market players right now. BroEat! will be the only third platform with a countrywide presence and the first-ever WhatsApp based platform in India.

    In the next 5 years, the home delivery industry is going to gain major share and might become equal to the dining out industry as more and more people find great convenience in ordering in. This boom will encourage bigger brands in the home delivery segment and we might see more home-grown brands scaling up to 2000+ outlets which currently are only done by the likes of Domino’s & McDonalds.

    Aiosell Technologies – Taking the Hospitality Industry to the Next Level!
    Just when we thought the hospitality industry couldn’t get any better andautomized, Siddharth Goenka launched Aiosell Technologies in 2019. This ventureis all about automated pricing & revenue management for hotels, combined with anall-in-one integrated hotel marketing platform. The hotel indus…
    StartupTalkyRishabh Rathi

    How was BroEat! Started?

    Being in the restaurant business himself, BroEat co-founder Pawan Shahri, soon into the lockdown, figured out that the home-delivery business is going to be a major chunk of the revenues to be make. To ensure that the module is sustainable, they had to figure a way out to increase the margins there and avoid their dependability on aggregators who charge 25-28% commission per order.

    It was about time that the industry needed a platform that had reduced commissions, and was transparent with consumer data. Also, keeping the services unbundled is necessary for the restaurants to be able to take up more responsibility. Soon the co-founders got sketching on base structure and started seeking various stakeholders in the industry from different business categories. When Karan and Pawan realized that this was a unanimous pain point, they decided to jump into it and take it head on.

    “Our conversations with our colleagues from the industry and a deep understanding of the business had validated our idea. We also got in touch with many people to understand a consumer point of view”, says Pawan Shahri, co-founder of BroEat.

    During the pandemic, it is only in a human to understand the pain of local business and to do their bit to help and support them. The consumer sentiment helped them drive this further and that’s the motive to run the platform.

    BroEat! – Product/Services

    BroEat! is the first-ever WhatsApp based platform in the online home delivery space. Since WhatsApp is easier to use, it is a more approachable platform, and the consumer need not download any apps. BroEat! helps restaurants earn the margins they deserve as the startup charges a bare minimum platform fee starting INR 5/- per order. This brings down the overall expense a brand might have to as low as 5-6% per order.

    Karan and Pawan are trying to craft business for a new type of supply chain to make sure the consumers get the experience and service they need. Simultaneously not hitting the pockets of the merchant partners and restaurants. When anyone orders from BroEat!, they help restaurants make deserving margins, which helps them save jobs & sustain the business. That supply chain going forward supports a lot of local workers and vendors in the restaurant network.

    Airbnb Success Story – Personalizing accomodations in your budget!
    The idea of welcoming a couple of strangers into your home is scary. And so itletting yourself stay in a strange home is. But almost a decade ago, somebrilliant minds saw an entrepreneurial opportunity in this and launched Airbnb.These brilliant minds are none other than Brian Joseph Chesky, Jose…
    StartupTalkyVidhi Punamiya

    BroEat! – Founders and Team

    Karan Tanna and Pawan Shahri are the Founders of BroEat!.

    Pawan and Karan - Founders of Bro Eat!
    Pawan(right) and Karan(left) – Founders of Bro Eat!

    Karan Tanna – Karan founded the nationwide Ghost Kitchens chain, a frontrunner in the dark kitchens segment, and his Yellow Tie Hospitality manages a host of F&B franchises, working with over 200 restaurants Karan featured on Forbes 30 Under 30, Entrepreneur 35 Under 35 & also was a part of the GQ’s most influential young Indian’s list.

    Pawan Shahri – Pawan’s portfolio includes some of Mumbai’s more intimate, popular casual dining restaurants like Butterfly High, London Taxi, The Bigg Small Cafe + Bar & Oi Lat-Am Kitchen & Bar. Currently, 26, his journey started at the age of 16 running one of the most successful experiential marketing firms in the F&B business,

    Both the co-founders were friends and industry colleagues who often shared their expertise in their various fields. The current company size varies between 8-10, but they have an expansion plan of 100+ employees. Karan looks more into operations & the tech front and Pawan look into marketing, brand positioning & building a strong consumer connect for the platform.

    BroEat! – Name, Tagline, and Logo

    BroEat! Logo
    BroEat! Logo

    The name BroEat! Was born out of a conversation between Karan & Pawan that stuck along. Rather than a story, it was a night of brainstorming and pushing one to the other to eat. It clicked and stuck on.

    BroEat! – Business Model and Revenue Model

    The BroEat business model is tier pricing model. The charges for order generation platform fee are:

    • INR 5/- upto an order value of INR 300/-
    • INR 10/- upto an order value of INR 1000/-
    • INR 20/- upto an order value of 2000/-
    • INR 30/- for an order value above INR 3000/-

    PAJASA Apartments Success Story – Serviced Apartments for corporates
    Business tourism is booming in India. The corporate sector is expanding and manyneed to travel to different places for meetings, conferences and exhibitions.India is “projected to become the fifth fastest growing business traveldestination from 2010-2019,” according to reports by TRIFAC[https://traveltips.usatoday.com/business-tourism-india-30290.html…
    StartupTalkyChayanika Goswami

    BroEat! – Startup Launch

    As social media has a stronghold in today’s world, the company is in a continuous process of building a strong social media presence. Also with the founders having 10+ years of experience in the hospitality sector, word-of-mouth publicity holds a major hand in getting the restaurants on-board. The platform goes live in a week and the founders are quite certain that their marketing activities will get them the desired results.

    BroEat! – Recognition and Achievements

    BroEat! has been featured with Forbes, The Hindu, The Economic Times, and many more as India’s first Whatsapp based e-commerce platform to discover menus & order food directly from your favorite local restaurants & support the community!

    BroEat! – FAQs

    What is BroEat?

    India’s first Whatsapp based home-delivery platform to discover menus & order food directly from your favorite local restaurants & support the community!

    How do you order from BroEat?

    The process is simple. You need to add the BroEat business account number as a contact, you reach out with a simple ‘hello’ via WhatsApp and you are sent a link to their platform. You can then proceed as with a normal food order and make your payment. Then you are redirected to WhatsApp where you receive confirmation messages, receipt, and delivery updates.

    When was BroEat founded?

    BroEat was founded in 2020 amidst the lockdown.

    Who are the Founders of BroEat?

    Karan Tanna and Pawan Shahri are the Co-Founders of BroEat.

  • Why You Should Choose Signal Over WhatsApp

    Messaging applications have been an integral part of smartphones since they first hit the market. From SMS to Hike messenger, Smartphone users have had the privilege to choose from a number of different chatting applications, and though WhatsApp has been the more popular choice, this has lead to a major competition of providing the best services.

    The most recent WhatsApp update has people concerned about their privacy since this update allows for data sharing of WhatsApp with its parent company, Facebook. A lot of WhatsApp users have thus reconsidered their messaging application choices, and are searching for alternatives to WhatsApp. Although there are a plethora of options including Hike, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat among various others, many users have considered Signal as the replacement for the popular messaging application.

    Signal Messaging Application
    How to Use Signal App?
    Signal Messenger Features
    WhatsApp
    How To Use WhatsApp?
    Features Offered by WhatsApp Messenger
    Pros and Cons of Both WhatsApp and Signal

    Signal Messaging Application

    Signal Messaging Application
    Signal Messaging Application

    Signal Messaging application has been making rounds as the more popular choice as a chatting application, and for good reason. Signal allows you to share texts, voice messages, gifs, videos, and other files with efficient speed and ease. Be it the quality of video calls through Signal Messenger, or sending encrypted stickers with group chats, Signal offers you state of the art services, only rivaled by the best in the industry.

    Concern for Privacy in Signal

    In this data-driven world we live in, privacy has become a major concern, and while messaging applications including WhatsApp are losing their active user owing to security and privacy risks in the newer WhatsApp update, Signal has no policy that should concern its users. Signal offers top-notch end-to-end encryption to keep your conversations secure, even from Signal. Every call you make, every voice message or text you send, even Signal cannot read them. Moreover, there are absolutely no ads, affiliate marketers or trackers with Signal, and neither a parent company to share your data with.

    WhatsApp Pay Available For Indian Users: All You Need To Know
    Facebook Inc has finally launched WhatsApp Payments service in India, afteryears of struggle to bag a permit to run the service in India. WhatsApp Payfinally got the approval for the roll-out in the country and is available forall iOS and Android users. > “Starting today, people across India wi…
    StartupTalkyTanusha Verma

    How to Use Signal App?

    Signal Messenger Features

    Signal Messenger offers you a whole bunch of features including viewing message details, managing groups and storage, font size and language options, and a lot more. Below is a brief discussion of Signal messaging application features.

    • Message details can be viewed including the timestamp, sent, delivered and seen status.
    • Groups can be created and participants can be added using a group link, QR codes and then later, you can also reset the group link to stop anymore participants from joining.
    • Group Management features include viewing group members and chat settings, admin, adding and removing members, view pending members and troubleshooting.
    • Mentions in groups and notification management, forwards, pinning/unpinning texts and various other chatting features are also embedded in the messenger.
    • You can even mark messages as unread, along with using message reactions and send view once media.
    • Note to self is another feature that Signal offers which you can use to keep notes and tabs of anything you wish to remind yourself of or take down notes.

    WhatsApp

    WhatsApp Messenger
    WhatsApp Messenger

    WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging application, with a user base of over 1.3 billion active monthly users. The range of features that it offers instantly made it the popular choice for chatting, and has thus far continued to offer free chatting services. However, in its latest update, the change in its Privacy Policy has a lot of users questioning and addressing security concerns and misuse of their data. The update makes it mandatory for the users to share their data such as phone number and contacts with their parent company, Facebook.

    How To Use WhatsApp?

    Features Offered by WhatsApp Messenger

    • WhatsApp offers simple reliable, and intuitive interface, with free messaging; all you need is an internet connection.
    • Group chats allow you to include 256 people in a single group, be it a classroom, colleagues or work acquaintances.
    • Send voice notes, make audio and video calls, send audio and video files and communicate without being much concerned about expenses.
    • The built-in end-to-end encryption helps keep your chat out of the wrong hands, considering even WhatsApp cannot read them.
    • Efficiently share pictures, pdf, and other files up to 100 MB, and add stories with its built-in camera.

    Pros and Cons of Both WhatsApp and Signal

    Pros of WhatsApp

    • WhatsApp offers a very easy and intuitive interface. It is fast, doesn’t need any setup, and automatically lists all your contacts that use WhatsApp.
    • Since it has an established user base of over 1.5 billion users, your friends and family are most likely already using WhatsApp.
    • WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption using Signal Protocol and implements the same in texts, such that even WhatsApp cannot read the messages.

    Cons of WhatsApp

    • The most recent setback that WhatsApp received was due to its updated Privacy Policy, that suggests WhatsApp can share user data with Facebook, its parent company.
    • WhatsApp can’t be used without a smartphone, and if your phone is damaged, or even the number that you use with WhatsApp is unavailable, you can’t use it.
    • It can be tough to transfer chat history from Android to iOS, or vice versa.
    • WhatsApp messages are not stored over the server, and while you can share files, the shareable file must be below 100 MB.

    Comparing Whatsapp and Whatsapp Business
    Ever since the inception of the Whatsapp Messenger in 2010 even till the pointof it’s acquisition by the administration of FACEBOOK and onward, the fastestgrowing messenger platform has undergone its cycles of ups, downs, booms andcriticisms. Meanwhile, as Whatsapp and Whatsapp Business has to ru…
    StartupTalkyChristianah Adeneye

    WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business

    Pros of Signal Messaging Application

    • Signal is a free, open source, and secure messaging application which offers end-to-end encryption, for utmost security of the users’ messages.
    • Signal supports encrypted group chats, and is one of the very few messengers that use open source cryptographic protocols for data privacy.
    • Signal can also act as your default SMS and MMS sender, which you can use as an alternative of the one that you have on your smartphone.
    • Share and explore different media files including audio, video, pictures, and gif files all over the country, without any regional censorship.

    Cons of Signal Messaging Application

    • Signal needs you to register with your phone number, and can be operated with just one device at a time.
    • Sometimes, when you haven’t used the application in a long time, the messages might not reach you.

    Hike Messenger – An Indian Messaging App That Has Gained Popularity Worldwide!
    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified informationon different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by the organization it is based on. Development in the communication sector has been fast and amazing. From letters,to landline phon…
    StartupTalkyRishabh Rathi

    Hike Messenger

    FAQs

    What is Signal?

    Signal is an encrypted app that lets you send messages and make calls via the Internet.

    Is Signal encrypted?

    Yes

    Signal app is from which country?

    California, USA

  • WhatsApp Or Telegram: Which is Better and Why?

    Instant messaging is a common thing in the current communication landscape. Also, real-time messaging is one of the simplest ways to connect with our friends or coworkers. WhatsApp and Telegram are considered as the major apps in instant messaging apps. They both are constantly working on updates to improve the user experience.

    Currently, there are so many messaging apps and services are available. But this field becomes a bit narrow if privacy and security are your main concerns. Using SMS and email as a means of communication is not a very secure option. Both are easily disrupted. And it is passing through mediators, so there is a scope for intrusion into privacy.

    WhatsApp and Telegram are major rivals in instant messaging apps industry. Both apps have strengths and weaknesses, but there is one common thing. That is encryption. That means that the messages you send are being scrambled so that they cannot be read even if someone intercepts them. Let us discuss more about these two messaging tools.

    WhatsApp Messenger
    Telegram Messenger
    FAQ’s
    Conclusion

    WhatsApp Messenger

    WhatsApp Messenger is a freeware application for messaging and Voice over IP service.  WhatsApp is founded by Brian Acton and Jan Koum in 2009. Currently, it is owned by Facebook, Inc. It enables users to make voice and video calls, send voice messages and text messages, share documents, images, user locations, and other media. We can access the application from mobile devices and desktop computers.

    Number of WhatsApp users from 2014 to 2020

    The application allows you to communicate with anyone in your contact list, who uses WhatsApp. The users need to provide a standard cellular mobile number for registering and using the service. WhatsApp launched a business app named WhatsApp Business in January 2018. It enables companies to communicate with consumers who utilize the standard WhatsApp client.

    Advantages

    • The interface is very fast, simple, and easy to use. The application can be easily used by people of all ages without any external help.
    • By 2015, it had become the most popular messaging app in the world. WhatsApp has  2 billion users worldwide as of 2020.
    • The application is not only for sending text messages. Users are also able to make video and audio calls through WhatsApp.

    Brian Acton: Co-founder of WhatsApp | Brian Acton Story
    Spare yourself a minute or two and make a note of the mobile applications youconsistently use. There’s a high chance of WhatsApp being one of them. Want totext someone? WhatsApp. Want to do a video call? WhatsApp. Eager to share thelatest joke? WhatsApp. The one stop solution for messaging, voice…
    StartupTalkyPiyush Mishra

    • It enables us to listen to an audio message without earphones in public areas. If you bring the phone close to your ear when the audio message is being played, the audio volume will decrease and you can listen to it as on a call.
    • All your conversations on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted.  So, your messages are safe and cannot be read or accessed by anyone except you and the person with whom you communicate.  Even WhatsApp can’t see your chats.
    • WhatsApp is free of cost. We are able to use WhatsApp without spending a single penny.
    • We can keep important messages by starring them.  It enables us to find those messages under a specific category. Also, it becomes more easily discoverable.
    • WhatsApp supports stories.  So we are able to share what’s happening in the last 24 hours with contacts on WhatsApp.
    • iOS users can use WhatsApp hands-free with the help of Siri.  Siri can read and send messages. Also, it can make calls.
    • It has a delivery status feature.  Users can confirm that their message has been sent to the desired contact and ensure whether they have read it or not.

    The Insider’s Guide to WhatsApp Business | How WhatsApp Business Works
    WhatsApp is not just for staring at memes, chats and watching stories of yourcontacts. You can use WhatsApp for a better reasons. Back in the old days,entrepreneurs used their personal WhatsApp for engaging with their customers. Seeing this, WhatsApp launched its dedicated version of WhatsApp bu…
    StartupTalkyParnas Ghosh

    Disadvantages

    • We are not able to send documents larger than 100 MB and video files that are more than 16 MB through WhatsApp.
    • The stickers are available on WhatsApp. But, WhatsApp doesn’t have animated stickers that are available on Facebook messenger.
    • If you don’t have a cell phone number of a person, you are not able to connect with that person through WhatsApp. We can’t find people by searching their username.

    BroEat! – India’s first WhatsApp based home-delivery Platform
    The food delivery segment will not be the same, even after lockdowns lift —largely because of the startups which have innovated to adapt to physicaldistancing and hygiene upgrades. One of the startups front lining this change is BroEat!. It is India’s first Whatsapp based home-delivery platform …
    StartupTalkyRishabh Rathi

    • There is no logout option to sign out from our account in WhatsApp. That isn’t good for our privacy.
    • If we don’t opt out of the settings, WhatsApp will share our messaging meta data with Facebook. Profiles will be easily linked if you use the same phone number for Facebook and WhatsApp.
    • It is not easy to migrate our chat history from Android to iOS.  In some times, this may require a third-party application.
    • There is no cloud sync in WhatsApp. The messages will not be stored on WhatsApp server, because of security and privacy reasons.
    • The number of members who can join in a single group is limited to 256 people.

    Facebook-Jio deal to Turn WhatsApp into Super App like WeChat in China
    On April 21, US social media giant Facebook [/tag/facebook/] announced a $5.7billion(Rs 43,574 crore) investment in Jio which is India’s youngest but biggestmobile operator. The race to become India’s top superapp has kicked into highgear. Facebook and Jio plan to transform India’s most popular a…
    StartupTalkyVarad Kitey

    Telegram Messenger

    Telegram is a software for instant messaging, voice over IP, and video telephony service. Telegram client apps are available for GNU/Linux, Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS. It is developed by Telegram FZ LLC in 2013. The application allows users to send messages and exchange videos, audios, photos, stickers, and different types of files. The client-side code of Telegram is a free software. But, the server-side code is a closed-source. Also, it offers APIs to independent developers. Telegram had reached 400 million active users on April 2020.

    Number of Telegram users from 2014 to 2020

    Advantages

    • It allows us to share large files of size up to 2 GB. It includes images, videos, documents, gifs, executable files and geo location.
    • The app has self-destructing timers for chats. It has the ability to permanently delete messages of theirs and yours, from the device.
    • The user interface of Telegram is customizable with so many clean looking options
    • We are able to create groups of up to 200,000 people.
    • The users are able to set an extra password for our account. We can reset it through our email. Also, there is no need to use an email if you aren’t interested.


    Facebook launches Messenger Rooms to Compete Zoom
    During lockdown imposed due to COVID-19 [/tag/covid-19/], video calling softwareis hugely popular at the moment especially Zoom has seen the boom in its usage.Now the world’s largest social network Facebook has released a new videoconferencing tool Messenger Rooms that resembles Zoom. Due to loc…
    StartupTalkyVarad Kitey

    • We can save our time with link previews and inline bots. The users are able to look things up without leaving the chat that they are in, with the help of inline bots such as @pic/bing, @gif, @vid/YouTube, etc.
    • There is a built-in setting to scale the UI of the app up to 200% in the desktop app. It enables users with 4k screens to utilize the app without scaling problems.
    • Limitless number of files can be stored permanently in the cloud, when using telegram.
    • Telegram has an open source MTProto encryption protocol.  It gives end-to-end encryption for secret chats.
    • You are able to write messages to yourself. You can add links, and write notes.
    • The users are able to pin messages to the top of groups. All members can see that when opening the group.
    • We can find peoples by searching their username.
    • Telegram allows the users to edit or delete messages at any time.
    • The users are able to upload a video to their profile and select a frame for the profile picture in chats.


    Disadvantages

    • 100% of privacy cannot be assessed, because the backend software is not open-source.
    • We require a phone number to create an account. We are not able to activate and use the telegram by using mail.

    Facebook Invests $5.7 billion in Reliance Jio for 9.99% Stake
    The social media giant Facebook will invest $5.7 billion which is Indian Rs43,574 crore for 9.99% of Reliance Industries Limited’s(RIL) telecom businessReliance Jio. By partnering with Jio, Facebook[https://startuptalky.com/tag/facebook/] plans to take advantage of its popular WhatsApp messenger…
    StartupTalkyVarad Kitey

    • We need to use secret chat function to get end-to-end encryption. Secret chat only works on mobile applications, which means there is no way to encrypt messages end to end when using web browser client or desktop client.
    • It is difficult to share code snippets through telegram, because the source code syntax highlighting is not available in it.
    • Spherical 360° photos don’t work in telegram. Because, it doesn’t support that format.
    • Telegram doesn’t have group video call feature.

    Top 10 Most Downloaded Apps 2020
    Covid-19 has been a great deal for all of us since March 2020. Now all that weare left with is our mobile phones and our idleness. The trend of downloadingapps in 2020 has been a little different than before, especially after thelockdown worldwide and many people are connecting online through var…
    StartupTalkyAvantika Bhardwaj

    In short, WhatsApp has more user base, group video calls, and ubiquitous end-to-end encryption. But it lags behind with features like cloud storage, limited file sharing. On other hand, telegram has various bots, platform compatibility, file sharing and privacy. But, it is far behind in group video call support and their user base is small. So you need to pick depending on your choices.

    FAQ’s

    Who owns Telegram?

    Telegram is owned by the same two people who founded the company in Russia back in 2013, Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai. Pavel is also the company’s CEO.

    Why do people use Telegram?

    The reason for this is Telegram’s enhanced use of the cloud. Essentially, it stores all of your messages and photos on a secure server. This means you can access them from any connected device, making Telegram much more multi-platform friendly than other chat apps like WhatsApp. Another security feature is usernames.

    Why use telegram over WhatsApp?

    Even though WhatsApp has more than 1.3 billion users worldwide, the features offered by Telegram like secret chat, self-destructing messages, encrypted backup ensure more secured chats. Apart from security features, Telegram is also ahead of WhatsApp in terms of other features like Dark Mode and larger group capacity.

    Is it safe to use WhatsApp?

    Although end-to-end encryption makes WhatsApp more secure than other communication apps, no app is 100 percent safe to use. Like any app or digital device, WhatsApp is often targeted by bad actors.

    What’s the point of using WhatsApp?

    WhatsApp is a free, multiplatform messaging app that lets you make video and voice calls, send text messages, and more — all with just a Wi-Fi connection. With over 2 billion active users, WhatsApp is especially popular among friends and family who live in different countries and want to stay in touch.

    Who uses WhatsApp the most?

    There are over 340 million WhatsApp users in India alone, making it the leading country in terms of WhatsApp audience size. Second-ranked Brazil had 99 million WhatsApp messenger users. Mobile messenger is the most popular messaging service worldwide.

    Can strangers contact you on WhatsApp?

    Whatsapp is integrated with the address book in your phone. So, If a stranger wants to add you to his Whatsapp account, you must first share your cellphone number with that stranger, then he may add it to his address book and in a couple of minutes, your name will be visible in his Whatsapp messenger.

    How do WhatsApp earn?

    WhatsApp doesn’t earn revenue through advertisements. The founders hated advertisements and created this ad-free platform focusing just on great user experience and interface. They wanted to create an instant messaging platform for the users and not for the big companies to place ads.

    How much money does Telegram make?

    The venture founded by the Russian duo of brothers Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov is valued in the range of $3-5 Billion and according to the founders will never be up for sale. These facts are astonishing since Telegram spent even 0 cents on promotion and the user base is growing organically based on the product.

    How does Telegram make a profit?

    Telegram does not generate revenue as it stands, with a purported commitment to keeping the company free of the influence of money. As of September 2019, funding is 100% privately generated by Pavel Durov.

    Conclusion

    Nowadays, most people who use smartphones are addicted to Messenger Apps. If it is a personal message or professional message, we need a platform to send texts, documents, photos and videos. All messaging platforms provide various services. But the question to be asked is. Are these platforms secure and authentic? Is WhatsApp secure? Is Telegram secure? To find that, we should do research and understand the messaging platforms accordingly. Based on the findings from research you should decide for yourself.

  • Privacy Focused Messaging Apps you should use in 2021

    We all have private discussions, yeah, private! If it’s an embarrassing story, a bureau gossip, or opening your emotions, and the last thing you expect is someone to see or use your messages to serve your ads. You can leave anything exposed unless you use an encrypted chat program.

    As per the most recent update of 2021: WhatsApp now holds the freedom to share its collected data with users across the wider facebook network, primarily in order to boost Facebook advertising and product experience, described as the fifth most protected message app below. We retained this program on our list with more detail on the current data sharing policies and at the discretion of the reader, we maintained its protection status. For more information, see the WhatsApp section of this article.

    9 Best Ways to Boost App Downloads for Android & iOS
    Creating a mobile application is a career field of the 21st century and everyday new opportunities are available in this stream. The tech folks nowadaysearning plenty of money by getting their apps downloaded on iOS and Androiddevices. Nearly 2,000 apps are submitted to the Google Play Store and …
    StartupTalkyParnas Ghosh

    What do you mean by Secure Messaging?

    What is Secure Messaging
    What is Secure Messaging 

    You and your customer login to an encrypted folder where the messages are stored by secure messaging. You and your client can only read documents in an encrypted folder.

    When a client logs (records), opens (records) and replies (records) to a request, all the activity is accompanied by the activity. This provides you with proof that your customer reads and answers your message if necessary.

    Privacy focused Messaging apps can be used to exchange confidential information. You and your client can be saved and encrypted independently in the cloud and available whenever necessary. They may be electronically distributed and registered without transmitting details on the web or by posting.

    Mark Zuckerberg- The Founder and CEO of Facebook
    Mark Zuckerberg is famous for Facebook. He was one of the youngest self-madebillionaire just at the age of 23. This year in the month of August, he cameunder the centibillionaire list. He’s an American media magnate, internetbusinessman, and philanthropist. He serves as Facebook’s president, chie…
    StartupTalkyMeghashree Das

    Here we enjoy the benefits of today’s best secure Messaging apps:

    1. Signal

    Signal Logo
    Signal Logo

    Many millions use Signal for immediate, unrestricted and encrypted communication, as it is considered as one of the safest messaging applications on the market. Signal secure message is one of the few software that is still accessible for its privacy-preserving technologies, which means that a non-intentional receiver does not risk exchanging moments or transferring messages.

    Signal will modify the default SMS app, but simple SMS texts are not encrypted – you and the chatman must have the Signal enabled, or the Signal does not have enough power over both sides of the message to allow the encryption feature to function properly.

    Features:

    • Conducts group talks, text messages, voice, video, paperwork, and images
    • Appears to offer disappearing messages (with a timer)
    • Protocol signaling
    • Stickers encrypted
    • Media view-once

    WhatsApp vs Signal Messenger: Why you Should Use Signal Over WhatsApp
    Messaging applications have been an integral part of smartphones since theyfirst hit the market. From SMS to Hike messenger, Smartphone users have had theprivilege to choose from a number of different chatting applications, and thoughWhatsApp has been the more popular choice, this has lead to a m…
    StartupTalkyANSH MEHREY

    2. Whatsapp

    WhatsApp Logo
    WhatsApp Logo

    Whatsapp is one of the most popular chat applications with more than 1 billion users. It is simple to use with features including file sharing, gifs, and even desktop support. The strong encryption protocol by Open Whisper Systems Signal, the industry standard, is still used.  The encryption features Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS). This helps WhatsApp to save their messages in a manner that allows them to be backed up to the server by iOS or Android. Even if someone tries, in any way to break the key to your confidential chat, they can only see the last message that you received.

    What will give you a break when it comes to using this app is, of course, Facebook-owned and that means that you add to the processing of data from the largest social network in the world. Facebook cannot read your message, but it does log other details about you for the purposes of the ads (end-to-end encryption avoids it), such as where your phone is located.

    Feature:

    • It is currently used by your contacts already
    • Quite secure standard encryption
    • Free video calls using an Internet connection instead of voice minutes using a cellular plan to prevent the fee.
    • Camera built-in
    • Sharing of report

    The New WhatsApp Updates, New Features and How it Will Use Your Data
    Smartphones have utterly transformed the way we communicate as opposed tocommunication at the time of landlines and keypad phones. They have enabled theuse of several applications which have been of assistance in various waysincluding messaging, phone calls, video calls and others. Today, a messa…
    StartupTalkyANSH MEHREY

    3. Telegram

    Telegram Logo
    Telegram Logo

    Telegram is a common forum for strongly encrypted chats. End-to-end encryption of phone calls and group chats (if both parties have Telegram). The possibility of autodestructing texts, folders, images, and videos is available for a period of time after sending and receiving them. It also has texts that self-destruct.

    For a more protected messaging experience, users can use the advanced app settings to allow secret chats, which would require you to remove messages from the app across the secret chat if you want to. These types of chats are computer specific, meaning only your device of origin allows you to view them. You can still have hidden chats if your computer is safe.

    If you’re looking for more of a messager’s bells and whistles like stickers and audio notes, and even simple tools for picture and video editing, Telegram is a decent option. Only make sure the hidden mode is enabled for the safest post.

    Features:

    • Connection secure
    • Usage of minimum data
    • Messaging anonymous
    • Enable protocol and API
    • No limitations on media size and chats
    • The capability of managing groups of up to 200,000

    The Comparison Between WhatsApp And Telegram
    Currently, there are so many messaging apps and services are available. But this field becomes a bit narrow if privacy and security are your main concerns. WhatsApp and Telegram are considered as the major apps in instant messaging apps. Let us discuss more about these two messaging tools.
    StartupTalkyATHUL C K

    4. Wickr Me

    Wickr Logo
    Wickr Logo

    Wickr is one of the few fully private encrypted chat applications. This application enables users to connect independently or in groups through entirely encrypted text messages, voice messages, and memos with others. Instead of just a chat app, Wickr can be a platform for teamwork, as you can share screens, locations, and the status online.

    When you log, Wickr does not use an email address or a phone number, meaning the user information is not collected and that the app has no access to it. The default encryption is activating, so every user that uses Wickr has access to transparency reports.

    Beneficence, Wickr ME can safely preserve the privacy of this platform, because it does not log IP addresses or Specific System ID or record user metadata. Centered on its anonymous username, the app characterizes its customers.

    Wickr is just not so famous as Signal(#1) or Telegram(#3) is the only drawback. It was originally conceived by corporations and companies and was thus not as widely marketed for daily people.

    Features:

    • No user data or metadata is obtained
    • Locates all files and messages
    • Safe transmission of images, videos, and files (free plan: 1GB file transfer)
    • Develop teams and networks to represent your business
    • Stable online status and screen sharing
    • Data retention for up to 30 days
    • Pro edition deals for corporations

    5 Founders shared Opinions on how to Keep Data and Business Cyber Secured when WFH is becoming a norm
    Covid-19 [/tag/covid-19/] has shaken the whole world and brought everyone’s lifeto a halt. This highly contagious disease is spreading so fast that IndianGovernment has ordered 1.3 billion residents to stay home for more than 40 daysnow. Malls, theaters, companies, shops, restaurants, and manufac…
    StartupTalkyAshwini

    5. Threema

    Threema Logo
    Threema Logo

    Threema, a networking application such as WhatsApp, seriously takes safety and encrypts all data, including texts, files exchanged, and even status updates. You don’t even need to type a number or email address to set up an account. This creates a much more anonymous dimension.

    The fact that Threema is open-source and does not log IP Addresses or metadata that help trace or profile users makes Threema one of the better choices. However, Threema is not a free app, and neither is it a free trial. Unlike the aforementioned applications.

    Threema goes a long way to make sure that secure communications are the keystone of many message services. Therefore, the data that travel through them are automatically discarded as they are sent without any contact information being stored on their servers.

    Features:

    • Connection protected
    • Minimum use of details
    • Messaging anonymous
    • Cover and use passwords to secure private talks
    • Check contacts by QR code

    6. iMessage

    iMessage Logo
    iMessage Logo

    iPhone users already know iMessage and it’s an exclusive Apple service, but it’s always worth remembering as we talk about Whatsapp in 2021. It is a clear reason: Apple more often than not gets to know the privacy game correctly.

    The most significant security issue for consumers is the iMessage backup to iCloud. Messages saved in the cloud are encrypted via Apple-controlled keys such that messages can be exposed if the iCloud has been compromised at all. However, the alternative is to stop saving private messages for improved security controls on web-based sites like iCloud.

    Features:

    • Mute or leave group chats updates
    • Block contact numbers
    • iMessages backup via iCloud
    • Size Settings for iMessage
    • For connecting with other iOS or maOS users, the Internet is used instead of a phone network
    • “Read Receipts” command
    • Default encryption enabled

    Block Or Unsubscribe From Unwanted Promotional Messages
    Using smartphones has made our lives easier. At the same time, promotionalmessages or SMS from companies like Airtel, [/tag/bharti-airtel/] Vodafone,Safaricom, etc. (except those which tells us about discount codes) havecluttered our devices and become a nuisance. These messages not only occupys…
    StartupTalkyLakshya Singh

    7. Viber

    Viber Logo
    Viber Logo

    Viber is one of the oldest messaging applications and continues to be one of WhatsApp’s top alternatives in 2021. All Viber messages are encrypted from end to end and can be configured with a timekeeper in self-deletion mode. The app also features the function of a confidential contact to aid you in chatting the identity of other users by exchanging private keys. So, if your friend updates your account information in the future, Viber will update you.

    The organization has improved its play when it comes to end-to-end encryption when only single messages have been encrypted, but group chats now often have E2E covered.

    Features:

    • Calls with HD video
    • Chat extensions are used to browse through web pages without ever exiting chat for GIF’s, photographs, restaurants, etc.
    • Confidential contacts confirm identity by sharing hidden codes with whom you are communicating
    • Instant message
    • Voice message instantaneously

    Brian Acton: Co-founder of WhatsApp | Brian Acton Story, Net Worth, Education
    Spare yourself a minute or two and make a note of the mobile applications youconsistently use. There’s a high chance of WhatsApp being one of them. Want totext someone? WhatsApp. Want to do a video call? WhatsApp. Eager to share thelatest joke? WhatsApp. The one stop solution for messaging, voice…
    StartupTalkyPiyush Mishra

    Conclusion

    The fact that the old, big-name platforms have no robust privacy has contributed to the creation of new applications with more security features. Day after day in our technologically linked world, headlines about security threats come out, but we are compelled to be more vigilant about the risks of identification and data theft.

    Although all of the security applications listed in the article have encoded messages end-to-end, it is clear that messages will synchronize between a multitude of devices and platforms as well as multi-mode communication (voice, text, video). You can only select which one to use by calculating the additional features that are the most important to you.

    Why Appointment Scheduling apps are must in today’s world and their features
    Technology is a marvellous thing that always makes our lives easier andefficient. This is particularly true for daily routine tasks. Humans can simplydepend on computers or smartphones to do just about everything. One can look upinformation, check the forecast, connect with friends, and even book…
    StartupTalkyVibhavari Madki

  • List of the biggest Startup Data Leaks

    The costliest and fastest-growing outcome of cybercrime is the theft of information. Millions of people’s personal and confidential data are stolen and a fast buck is substituted. To deter cybercriminals from building solutions against them, cybercriminals are continually evolving and discovering new ways to exploit online security. But hackers aren’t the product of all data violations. ‘loopholes’ and unprotected servers most frequently provide wrong actors with access without even breaking-in. The pandemic has shaken the nation, leaving private and government entities with trouble conducting their daily operations. With the unforeseen COVID 19 circumstances, corporations and organizations, including layoffs, pay cuts, and more, are among the most affected industries. The pandemic has forced companies and organizations, by using remote operations, digital platforms, etc., to transition their working formats, accelerating adoption of the technology. Sources say that 94% of organizations are currently using a cloud service, and 83% of businesses’ workloads will be in the cloud.

    1. Big Basket user data for sale online

    On October 2020 around 20 million users account information were leaked

    In October 2020 around 20 million users’ account information was leaked. According to the Atlanta-based cyber intelligence company Cyble, consumer data from the online grocery platform Big Basket is for sale in the online cybercrime market. With a price tag of 3 million rupees ($40,000), part of a database containing personal details of nearly 20 million users was available, Cyble said on November 7. The data included names, email IDs, hashes for passwords, PINs, mobile numbers, addresses, birth dates, locations, and IP addresses. Cyble said it discovered the data on October 30 and disclosed the apparent violation to Big Basket on November 1 after comparing it with the details of Big Basket users to confirm it.

    2. Twitter Breach

    130 Twitter accounts were targeted due to the twitter breach

    The attack on July 15, 2020, targeted a small number of employees through a phone spear-phishing attack. This attack relied on a significant and concerted attempt to mislead certain employees and exploit human vulnerabilities to gain access to their internal systems. Via a phone spear-phishing attack, the famous microblogging site came under cyberattack in July this year. 130 Twitter accounts were targeted, eventually Tweeting from45, accessing DM inbox 36, and downloading Twitter Data from 7. To access the internal systems and obtain knowledge about the processes, the attackers used special employee passwords. This information then allowed them to target additional staff who had access to the support resources for the Twitter account.

    3.Whatsapp Breach

    The new policy effectively takes away the discretion that users

    The new policy effectively takes away the discretion that users had until now not to share their information with other apps owned by Facebook and third parties. While the revised privacy policy of Facebook-owned WhatsApp has stoked fears about privacy and data sharing with other apps, what is missing in the midst of the clamour is this: if India had a data protection law in place, WhatsApp would not have been able to go forward with this update in the first place. In reality, for two years now, India’s data protection law has been languishing.

    4. Zoom Credential-Based Breach

    More than 500,000 Zoom accounts were hacked in April

    More than 500,000 Zoom accounts were hacked in April and then sold for either free or less than a penny each on the dark web and hacker forums. The compromised credentials are gathered through password stuffing attacks, according to reports, where threat actors attempt to login to Zoom using accounts leaked from older data breaches. The efficient logins are then collected into lists that are marketed to other hackers.

    5. Unacademy Data Breach

    Over 20 million user accounts were exposed and sold to the Dark Web

    Unacademy, one of the prominent online educational platforms based in Bengaluru, suffered a data breach in January this year. Over 20 million user accounts, including usernames, SHA-256 hashed passwords, date entered, last login date, email addresses, first and last names, and whether the account is active, a staff member, or a superuser, were exposed to the breach and sold on the Dark Web. The big data breach was revealed by the US-based cybersecurity company Cyble, according to reports. There are also several accounts using corporate emails in the exposed database, including those of Wipro, Infosys, Cognizant, Google, and Facebook.

    6. Tetrad Data Breach

    Market research company Tetrad experienced a data breach on February 3 that included data from Tetrad customers, and it differs by the form of business and their data collection methods. The data included a spreadsheet detailing over 4,000 current and expected locations related to IBM Tririga deployments, according to reports. Other critical data, such as the sum of 130 million rows of data on US households, were compromised in addition to the data collected by retail companies.

    7. Sina Weibo Data Breach

    In March, the Chinese Weibo social network suffered a major breach of data containing 538 million Weibo users’ information. Personal details, such as real names, site usernames, gender, location, phone numbers, among others, were included in the data. The hacker was selling the Weibo data for just ¥1,799($250), according to reports.

    8. Easyjet Data Breach

    EasyJet also reported that 2,208 traveler’s credit card details were revealed

    The British low-cost airline group EasyJet experienced a large-scale data breach on May 19 this year, compromising data from nine million customers. The data included email addresses, travel information, and, in certain cases, payment card information, according to reports. EasyJet also reported that 2,208 travelers’ credit card details were revealed.

    9. MGM Grand Data Breach

    MGM announced a data breach in February for about 10.6 million customers who stayed at MGM resorts. The data, which included personal information ranging from home addresses and contact details to driver’s licenses and passport numbers, appeared online.

    10. Marriott Data Breach

    In January this year, Marriott International faced a major data infringement. In January this year, Marriott International faced a major data infringement. Contact details such as name, mailing address, email address, and phone number were included in the information, as well as loyalty account information, and additional personal details such as business, gender, and birthday, day and month, relationships and affiliations, and so on.

    11. Nintendo Data Breach

    300,000 Nintendo Network ID accounts were compromised

    Nintendo, the Japanese video gaming giant, reported in April this year that by using unauthorized logins, 300,000 Nintendo Network ID accounts were compromised. The additional Nintendo Network ID (NNID) accounts that were compromised had their passwords reset, according to reports and the related users were directly contacted.

    Conclusion

    While our hope is eternal, with the rise in data insecurity, from exposed databases to phishing attempts, from malware to data leaks from third parties, the odds do not look good. In the first quarter of2020, an increase of 273 percent over the previous year was reported. Data breaches aren’t going anywhere and we’re here to keep you up-to-date on the worst data breaches of the year putting you at risk of identity theft.

  • The evolution and future of short video platforms

    There is no denying Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, etc. are dominating today’s social platform. The future of social media will probably be bifurcation with performing sites such as TikTok on one side to fulfill our insatiable need for social capital and interstitial media and message platforms like WhatsApp on the other to manage interpersonal contact and improve our social ties. The social media future would probably be one of bifurcation. This dual set of social roles, which today in most social media are conventionally under one roof, can no longer tolerate a shifting user’s desire and must therefore be unbundled.

    The evolution and future of short video platforms

    Users from all over the world are using these platforms to promote their brand, blogs, creating challenges and getting viral. TikTok and reels have completely taken over today’s short video platforms. Nowadays, live streaming video is fast becoming king in the world of social media, as innovators like Snapchat pave the way and push rivals to innovate quickly and adjust to remain important. Facebook released its feature Stories, an almost accurate copy of the model from Instagram. The rivalry is strong and consumers have plenty of choices, with live video streaming and disappearing content on social media. We must first understand how social video has begun, struggled, and succeeded to predict how it will evolve.

    Interacting using Social Media Stories:

    It can be hard to stand out on Instagram stories, especially if you are a brand. As a brand, you have to compete with influencers and friends and a follower’s family for publicity. What makes it even harder is that brands on Instagram Stories are supposed to deliver consistently high-quality, entertaining content. If the content of your brand is not the same as a user’s friend or power, you can expect to swipe next. Social Media helps influencers and bloggers interact with users on a day-to-day basis. Help them grow their fan base and grow their business too.

    Instagram Stories as a platform for users to reach their fans

    It is really easy to concentration on what you can do and not what others can do for you when you find out how to use your Instagram to promote your blog! In fact, you can expose your content to new audiences who could benefit from your latest blog post to create a powerful community with others in your niche! Instagram Stories provide your fans with a true, direct relationship and help to build a clearer image of what people really are like. The stories provide more precise insight into life behind the scenes and more possibilities for manipulating the viewer, instead of just a carefully edited and a formulated snapshot of your Instagram feed.

    Creating Social Media Stars:

    It’s definitely nice to blog from Instagram. There is no need to think about website maintenance or the development of more than 1.000 words! Also, it is simple these days to take good images of yourself and yourself, so you can ride without the need: a photographer

    Short videos changing how creators use their platform

    With the debut of YouTube, video became a popular choice of content. The video-sharing site has allowed the user to experiment with content created by themselves, resulting in a new age. YouTube reveals that only about anyone or something can be ‘viral’ on the site, from beauty tutorials to viral dance crazes. The channel currently has over a billion views per day and more than one billion users all over the world.

    Bloggers have established themselves through these platforms. Where they can put out their content for their fanbase. These platforms help the users to create something out of themselves and to put out content every day.

    Content that Vanishes:

    The first to launch picture and video material disappears was Snapchat in 2011. While the app initially had a scandalous stigma, it soon became the favoured communication tool among millennials. This addictive method for sharing content gained popularity, with companies realizing the opportunity to reach their younger target audiences and starting ads on the app.

    Though Snapchat has 158 million active users per day, Facebook dominates the social media industry with 1,23 billion active users per day. Instagram has 400 million active users daily, with 150 million using Posts. As Snapchat slowly started to incorporate advertisements and paid content, Instagram monetized the history feature easily and sold ads at a cost per 1,000 impressions. The inspection button on their profiles also allowed advertisers to track the review of their stories.

    Conclusion

    You have to take chances to succeed in social media. Most importantly, the audiences must generate useful material. Content development itself is not the problem—it creates content that is really connected to markets that are of greatest importance in building commitment. If you are making a video on Snapchat or Facebook Live, if you cannot respond, then it probably doesn’t make you and your audience any difference. People don’t just look at videos any more–they connect. The video is the last storyteller if the camera is like a keyboard and the image is worth a thousand words.

  • The Insider’s Guide to WhatsApp Business

    WhatsApp is not just for staring at memes, chats and watching stories of your contacts. You can use WhatsApp for a better reasons. Back in the old days, entrepreneurs used their personal WhatsApp for engaging with their customers.

    Seeing this, WhatsApp launched its dedicated version of WhatsApp business and now they are coming with WhatsApp Ads for its business application. Therefore, here in this post, we are going to evaluate everything about WhatsApp Business account and WhatsApp Ads.

    WhatsApp to Rollout WhatsApp Ads for its Business Application
    The Story Behind The Speculation
    WhatsApp Business
    Features of WhatsApp Business
    Uses of WhatsApp Business
    How to Register Landline Number on WhatsApp Business?
    A Foothold to Monetize The Application
    Conclusion

    WhatsApp to Rollout WhatsApp Ads for its Business Application

    Whatsapp Story Ads
    WhatsApp Story Ads

    WhatsApp users could soon notice a big change creeping into the most popular Android and iOS chat app with ’WhatsApp Ads for Business’. It is considered to be the world’s most popular chat app, with over 1.5 billion users each month. A controversial change is coming to the Facebook-owned Android and iOS chat app. Unlike the other widely popular social networking apps like Facebook and Instagram, WhatsApp has so far remained an ad-free programme. However, a drastic change is about to happen to the people-friendly application. It will feature a landing page where WhatsApp Ads can take the potential buyers to the requisite business with an Ad Manager to manage ads for target customers.

    How to Create a WhatsApp Channel: A Step-By-Step Guide
    In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of creating and managing WhatsApp Channels, enabling you to harness this powerful feature effectively.
    StartupTalkyAbira Dutta

    When it all started

    In September 2017, WhatsApp announced a forthcoming business platform that will enable companies to provide customer service to users at scale.

    The proposal was to enable larger companies, not only small businesses, to integrate a new API [application programming interface]. And Facebook’s Vice President of messaging products, David Marcus, has said WhatsApp will be more open to advertisers.

    Due to the difference of opinion on ad-based revenue and data targeting Jan Koum, the Founder of WhatsApp left Facebook. Jan has explicitly explained the reasons behind keeping the app free of ads.

    Rumours have started to spread about the role adverts will play in the future of WhatsApp since the executive’s departure. Consequently, speculation started to grow all around after his withdrawal leaving a controversy behind him.

    The Story Behind The Speculation

    The freeware and cross-platform messaging app was a paid-for service from when it was launched in 2009. The founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton started WhatsApp to create an advertisement-free application.

    The founders spent their time building a service people wanted to use because it worked and saved them money and made their lives better in a small way.

    WhatsApp was created to chat and interact with people. It was all about exciting people every day the very morning till they make their bed. By making them stay in touch with their loved ones. Their entire day revolves around their own set of people and their emotions. No one likes to wakes up excited to see more advertising, no one goes to sleep thinking about the ads they’ll see tomorrow. It is a more emotionally connected encrypted app.

    No one jumps up from a nap and runs to see an advertisement. Evidently, WhatsApp was found with an intention to be opened every morning only to connect with people.

    After 5 years the messaging was purchased by the social networking giant, Facebook back in 2014 for $1.5 billion. Later on, Voice calls and video calling was introduced. Status updates in WhatsApp became very popular amongst WhatsApp addicts.

    Jan realized WhatsApp was starting to find more ways than he could have imagined with Facebook’s acquisition. He believed team to be stronger than ever and it’ll continue to do amazing things. Consequently, he left the social media giant, Facebook. WhatsApp is more likely to show adverts in the wake of Koum’s departure.

    How to Generate Leads – 100 Proven Ways of Lead Generation
    Generating leads and achieving consumer interest is not an easy task. Accordingto some studies, if you generate more leads, but have an average product – youstill win. This shows the importance of lead generation or any business. 85% ofexpert marketers believe that lead generation is the most imp…
    StartupTalkyShubham Kumar

    WhatsApp Business

    Whatsapp Business Account
    Whatsapp Business Account

    WhatsApp’s high number of fervent daily users in India which is about 9 million.

    Many small business owners use the WhatsApp platform to handle orders, address customer service inquiries, and manage customer relationships. However, the process can be tiresome through a personal account.

    WhatsApp Business allows us to personalize the business brand on the platform and stop using a personal phone number to communicate with your customers. Firstly, WhatsApp Business crept in Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the UK, and the U.S. and is now accessible in many more countries.

    The app is Facebook’s maiden attempt to help small- and medium-sized businesses improve their customer service on WhatsApp. Business people can create a business profile with relevant information for the customers such as contact information, a description, a business category, and more. They can also do automatic messaging and create custom labels to monitor conversations. Check out the features below.

    Features of WhatsApp Business

    • Quick Replies: As an entrepreneur, you are always busy. You can set some basic replies which will help you to reply quickly.
    • Auto Replies: Not just a quick reply, you can even automate some messages to save time. Some basic greeting messages, sorry messages and others can be automated.
    • Analytics: Analytics is a big part of business these days. You can check the performance of your WhatsApp Business in the app itself. It will let you know about the sent, delivered, seen and received messages.
    • Profile Info: You can customize your profile which your customers will see. You can set the opening and closing time, your social media or website link, description of your business and the address and location of your office or shop.
    • Landline Number: This is the best feature by far. You don’t have to get a new business number if you have a business’s landline number. Whatsapp lets you easily register your landline number. Furthermore, you can also use the mobile number, of course.

    Uses of WhatsApp Business

    • Customer Service: Certainly, the most obvious and important use of WhatsApp Business is its ability to serve customers. You can solve your customer’s problems. Also, as you can send images, videos, docs, etc. it becomes easy to help them.
    • Review: You can take the reviews of your product from the customers. It becomes easy as many people use WhatsApp daily, so they will remember about you if you are on their chat list.
    • Promotion: Every business runs more on marketing than the capital. You can promote your upcoming products, offers, events, etc. on WhatsApp.
    • Order Updates: You can send the order tracking link through WhatsApp to the customers. Moreover, you can simply update them with the text message too.

    How to Register Landline Number on WhatsApp Business?

    If you use a landline number for your business, you can still use the WhatsApp Business app in your phone using the landline number. You just need to follow this easy instruction:

    • Download WhatsApp Business from in your Smartphone.
    • Insert your landline number (or business mobile number).
    • As you cannot receive verification message on the landline, you can choose to get a confirmation through the call on the landline. Receive the call and listen carefully to the code number they will give you.
    • Set up your profile according to your need.

    A Foothold to Monetize The Application

    These days companies know literally everything about you, your friends, your interests, and they use it all to sell ads. Facebook and WhatsApp previously disagreed on how to monetize the messaging app. It’s likely that WhatsApp will start using ads now that its founder has left Facebook. Likely, the influx of ads for WhatsApp ads could greatly benefit Facebook’s impressive growth.

    While the future of WhatsApp’s business model is still unclear, the app’s high number of daily active users and strong engagement could increase Facebook’s overall impression growth significantly with WhatsApp ads.

    Conclusion

    WhatsApp has become an important part of our daily life. Why not make it a part of your business too? You can reach a big amount of people at once if you connect with them on the phone. Let them know about the new dish you got in your restaurant or the new collection of clothes in your store or maybe the antique’s collection you just got. The more you update your audience, the more they will come to you.

    A great person once said, “If you are on their phone, you are probably in their mind”. This might be a very hypothetical thing to commit and may not be relatable to But it’s still true that if you are in their chat list, they will see you again and again. So, download the WhatsApp Business app now and create a profile. Do you use WhatsApp Business? What changes did you observe in your business? Share this post with all your friends.

    WhatsApp Sets Foot In Indian Commercial Market, Launches Shopping Button
    As part of Facebook Inc’s strategy to improve revenue flow, WhatsApp, thein-demand communication app, has launched a shopping button in India, just daysafter receiving a nod from authorities to launch its payment services. According to reports, the launch of shopping button will kickstart WhatsAp…
    StartupTalkyTanusha Verma

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How WhatsApp for business works?

    WhatsApp Business is free to download app available on Android and iPhone and was built with the small business owner in mind. WhatsApp Business makes interacting with customers easy by providing tools to automate, sort, and quickly respond to messages. Messaging tools to quickly respond to customers.

    Is WhatsApp business free?

    WhatsApp Business is free to download and was built with the small business owner in mind. WhatsApp can also help medium and large businesses provide customer support and deliver important notifications to customers.

    How WhatsApp works?

    WhatsApp uses your phone’s cellular or Wi-Fi connection to facilitate messaging and voice calling to nearly anyone on the planet, alone or in a group and is especially nice for families and small collaborative workgroups. The app lets you make calls, and send and receive messages, documents, photos, and videos.

    How to create WhatsApp business account?

    1. To get started, simply download the WhatsApp Business app from the Google Play Store.
    2. Sign up using your mobile phone number.
    3. Create your profile by entering your business details under Settings > Business Settings > Profile.

    What is the difference between WhatsApp and WhatsApp business account?

    WhatsApp has officially launched a new app, called WhatsApp Business. It’s completely separate to the standard version of WhatsApp, but it works in much the same manner – only its purpose is connecting businesses and customers, rather than friends and family. The app is aimed at small business owners.

    How to Use WhatsApp to Generate More Leads and Queries?

    Using WhatsApp for Lead Generation: Without any doubt, WhatsApp is rated as a diverse platform that allows businesses to establish one to one connection with customers. This instant messaging platform can lead to conversational marketing, and it helps to boost lead generation opportunities.

    How do I advertise on WhatsApp?

    Under Ad Type, select Click to Message. In the Messaging Apps section, select WhatsApp. Choose your Audience, Placements, Budget, and Schedule and click Next. Select your ad format and complete your ad setup.

    Is WhatsApp business free to use?

    WhatsApp Business is free to download and was built with the small business owner in mind.  WhatsApp can also help medium and large businesses provide customer support and deliver important notifications to customers.

    What is business model of WhatsApp?

    The way WhatsApp used to make money was through a subscription model. It cost $1 to download and then $1 a year going forward. Potential revenue for WhatsApp is estimated to be $5 billion and the average revenue per user to be $4 in 2020.

    Can I use a landline for WhatsApp business?

    You can also sign up using your WhatsApp business with landline, which means you can keep your existing personal WhatsApp account, and run a WhatsApp Business account on the same device.

  • WhatsApp Pay Available For Indian Users: All You Need To Know

    Facebook Inc has finally launched WhatsApp Payments service in India, after years of struggle to bag a permit to run the service in India. WhatsApp Pay finally got the approval for the roll-out in the country and is available for all iOS and Android users.

    “Starting today, people across India will be able to send money through WhatsApp. This secure payment experience makes transferring money just as easy as sending a message. People can safely send money to a family member or share the cost of goods from a distance without having to exchange cash in person or going to a local bank,” WhatsApp mentioned in a blog.

    The US social media giant WhatsApp can gradually expand its UPI base starting with as many as 20 million users. Facebook has been testing WhatsApp payments in India since early 2018 and has designed  its payments feature in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

    WhatsApp Payments
    WhatsApp Payments

    “To send money on WhatsApp in India, it’s necessary to have a bank account and debit card in India. WhatsApp sends instructions to banks, also known as payment service providers, that initiate the transfer of money via UPI between sender and receiver bank accounts,” WhatsApp said.

    Facebook Decides To Charge WhatsApp Business To Boost Revenue
    Facebook shops were launched with an expectation to re-boot e-commerceinfrastructure using a messenger app in COVID[/tools-employed-ecommerce-sector-post-covid19/]-hit economic climate andsupport businesses big and small worldwide. However, the initiative whichenables purchases directly from a W…
    StartupTalkyTanusha Verma

    WhatsApp Pay has also collaborated with five leading banks in India which also includes Axis Bank, the State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Jio Payments Bank.

    According to media reports, WhatsApp will make users enter UPI Pin for every payment. The company has said that “Payments is designed with a strong set of security and privacy principles”.

    How to set up WhatsApp Pay:

    In order to start using the WhatsApp Payments service on your mobile phones, you need to follow these simple steps:

    WhatsApp To Offer In-Chat Purchases Via Facebook Shops
    In a bid to boost revenue and e-commerce infrastructure across the company,Facebook Inc has announced that the popular WhatsApp, messaging app would startto offer in-app purchases and hosting services. WhatsApp[/whatsapp-business-versus-whatsapp/] has around 50 million business customersworldwid…
    StartupTalkyTanusha Verma

    1. Update your WhatsApp on Play Store to get the Payments feature
    2. For Android: Open the chat window and click on the three vertical dots on the top right
    3. Tap on the Payments option
    4. Open the Payments window, click on Add new payments method
    5. Tap on accept and continue to proceed further
    6. You will be taken to a new window with a list of banks that have partnered with WhatsApp
    7. Select the bank from the list and verify the account using the phone number. Also, use the number that is registered with the bank
    8. Click on allow to let WhatsApp verify your account and send texts to authenticate
    9. Once you enter the number, WhatsApp will verify with your bank and set up the payment.

    10. Hit done and access your Payments page.

    How to send money on WhatsApp:

    The Insider’s Guide to WhatsApp Business | How WhatsApp Business Works
    WhatsApp is not just for staring at memes, chats and watching stories of yourcontacts. You can use WhatsApp for a better reasons. Back in the old days,entrepreneurs used their personal WhatsApp for engaging with their customers. Seeing this, WhatsApp launched its dedicated version of WhatsApp bu…
    StartupTalkyParnas Ghosh

    1. Choose the contact you want to send money to, In the chat window, tap on the clip icon.
    2. Choose the rupee icon, Enter the amount you want to send along with a note if need be.
    3. Enter your UPI Pin to process the transaction.
    4. Wait till you get a confirmation message on your chat window.

  • Brian Acton: Connecting People Through WhatsApp

    Spare yourself a minute or two and make a note of the mobile applications you consistently use. There’s a high chance of WhatsApp being one of them. Want to text someone? WhatsApp. Want to do a video call? WhatsApp. Eager to share the latest joke? WhatsApp. The one stop solution for messaging, voice calls, video calls, and whatnot, WhatsApp is now an indispensable part of our life. WhatsApp is in a league of its own, racing past competition.  By 2011, approximately one billion messages were being sent per day on the app.

    Indians are the most active users in WhatsApp according to country wise survey; they are 10% of the total users worldwide. By 2013, WhatsApp had 200 million active users and according to a recently concluded survey, WhatsApp has over 1.5 billion monthly active users. WhatsApp was co-founded by Brian Acton and Jan Koum. It was then acquired by Facebook in 2014 for a whopping $19 billion. Presently, Acton is associated with the Signal Foundation. According to Forbes (2020), Brian Acton is the 836th-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $2.5 billion.

    Brian Acton – Biography

    Name Brian Acton
    Born February 17, 1972 – Michigan
    Age 48 (2020)
    Nationality American
    Education Stanford University (BS), Lake Howell High School
    Known for Co-founded WhatsApp with Jan Koum in 2009, Co-founded Signal Foundation with Moxie Marlinspike in 2018, Founder Sunlight Giving
    Net worth US$2.5 billion (Forbes,2020)
    Wife Tegan Acton

    Who is Brian Acton?
    Brian Acton – Journey
    Brian Acton – Education
    Brian Acton – Involvements/Career
    Brian Acton as Founder of WhatsApp
    Brian Acton – Net Worth and Influence
    Brian Acton Story

    Who is Brian Acton?

    Brian Acton is the co-founder of WhatsApp, a freeware platform to send messages and files. He is a computer programmer and an internet entrepreneur. Brian is currently is the executive chairman of the Signal Foundation, a company wants to secure global communication across the world. Brian is a former employee of Yahoo! and was rejected by Facebook for employment.

    Brian Acton – Journey

    Brian Acton - Education, Networth
    Brian Acton – Journey 

    Brian Acton – Education

    A child prodigy, Brian was brought up in Central Florida and studied at Lake Howell High School. Even after receiving a full scholarship to pursue studies at the University of Pennsylvania, he chose Stanford University. He has a degree in Computer Science from Stanford University, 1994.

    Jack Dorsey | Twitter Co-Founder | Square CEO
    Writing when you have a word limit to stick to is stimulating and challenging atthe same time. Leveraging character limit for your own good is simply at anotherlimit. And that’s the idea behind Twitter. This social media[https://startuptalky.com/tag/social%20media/] platform has revolutionizedco…
    StartupTalkyPiyush Mishra

    Brian Acton – Involvements/Career

    Brian was a system administrator at Rockwell International, before switching to the tech giant, Apple Inc. and Adobe where he was a product tester. He was also associated with Yahoo! as its 44th employee. He worked for over nine years at Yahoo! and unfortunately, lost millions when he had invested in the dotcom boom. The dotcom bubble was a period of excessive speculation in the United States where there was a massive growth of the internet world; it lasted over a decade. After a loss in investments, Brain and Jan took a year off and went to the neighboring continent of South America. Post this vacation, Brian and Jan applied at Facebook, but both were rejected.

    Brian Acton as Founder of WhatsApp

    The Facebook rejection was disappointing but not enough to deter Brian.  When Jan Koum brought an iPhone in the year 2009, Brian recognized the endless opportunities the App Store had. The duo along with Alex Fishman pondered over an app of theirs. Brian Acton along with Jan Koum announced the coming of WhatsApp by setting up its headquarters in California on the 24thof February, 2009.

    Brian sold WhatsApp to the social media giant Facebook in 2014 at a valuation of $22 billion. Life’s a full circle in the end, the company that rejected Brian ended up buying his own venture!

    Brian Acton - Founder of Whatsapp
    Whatsapp Logo

    Brian Acton – Net Worth and Influence

    Brian’s net worth is $2.5 billion (As per Forbes 2020). He is ranked 551st by Forbes. By owning a 20% stake in WhatsApp, he was one of the most influential people in the company. He was later offered jobs at companies like Twitter and Facebook, which he turned down. He even left WhatsApp due to a dispute with Facebook regarding the monetization of WhatsApp, voluntarily parting away with $850 million in unvested options.

    Kevin Systrom: Co-Founder of Instagram- Biography
    The social media segment continues to develop at an exponential rate withmind-boggling advancements being announced every other day. The first decade ofthe 21st century saw the emergence of Facebook, Twitter, Hike, and Snap Inc.While everyone was busy with Facebook [startuptalky.com/tag/facebook/…
    StartupTalkyPiyush Mishra

    Brian Acton Story

    With success comes great power, and with great power comes great responsibility. A venerated entrepreneur ought to serve the society. This attribute is deeply entrenched in all the successful entrepreneurs we’ve seen till date. Brian lays great emphasis on philanthropy.

    In 2014, Brian and his wife Tegan Acton started the Sunlight Giving. This organization provides basic services to the children in  the range of 0-4 years who belong to families with low income. After leaving WhatsApp in 2017, he started another foundation named the Signal Foundation in 2018.


    Even after multiple setbacks, Brain didn’t back down. He learned from his mistakes, not repeating them again.

    “You never know what’s coming up, just don’t forget to try harder the next day”, advocates Brian.

    The fact that Facebook rejected Brian but ended up buying his startup is inspiring. Brian and Koum focused on user satisfaction, denying advertisements on WhatsApp. The Facebook-WhatsApp partnership wasn’t one Brian wished for due to conflict in opinions (Facebook is known for advertisements and the duo of Brian and Koum never supported ads on WhatsApp). A man true to his words, Brian has always placed his consumers over publicity and money. A luminary, Brian Acton has left an indelible mark on the digital space.