BigBasket’s Retreat

Business • Gargi Sarkar

Tata-backed BigBasket is shifting its strategy to prioritize sustainable profitability over rapid expansion. Facing intense competition from quick commerce rivals like Blinkit and Zepto, the company is reportedly reducing its operational footprint to focus on high-density urban markets. Under new CEO Amit Nanda, BigBasket aims to improve operational efficiency and leverage private labels to offset significant losses and compete in a crowded delivery market.

Read Full Story

Startups • Kate Park

Current AI, a nonprofit funded with $400 million, is developing open-source AI infrastructure to provide a public alternative to private tech giants. By partnering with governments and organizations, it launched Suno Sutra, an offline device supporting 22 Indian languages. The organization also provides grants for community-led AI projects in Africa and South America, focusing on data sovereignty and the preservation of endangered languages and cultures.

Read Full Story

Startups • Your story

General Fusion debuted on the Nasdaq, aiming for fusion power plants by 2035 to meet AI energy demands. Meanwhile, Google employees are seeking layoff protections as AI shifts the tech landscape. In India, Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched the Vikram-1 orbital rocket, and Shunya Labs is developing multilingual voice AI. Additionally, US protesters oppose data center expansion, while Meta explores leasing computing capacity to AI startup Anthropic.

Read Full Story

Startups • Your story

"The Art Bengaluru Collective is hosting its 11th annual exhibition, ABC Chitra-Colors 2026, at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath. Featuring 300 works from over 45 artists, the show includes mixed media, acrylics, and charcoal art. Founded by Rasheed Kappan and Ranji David, the collective aims to democratize art access and support creators by charging no commission on sales, fostering a vibrant, inclusive cultural community in Bengaluru.".

Read Full Story

Startups • Your story

"YourStory’s 241st edition of Lateral Sparks highlights five entrepreneurial solutions to real-world problems. Elevate Education addresses educational relevance through industry-aligned training, while Saregama Carvaan provides a retro music player for older users. The Sweet Change offers natural sweeteners for diabetics, MetaGO provides a metabolic health platform for obesity, and Gabit introduces a smart ring for comfortable health tracking, showcasing diverse innovations across various sectors.".

Read Full Story

Startups • Anthony Ha

"Waymo has temporarily paused its robotaxi service and disabled freeway routes in San Francisco following a power outage affecting approximately 7,000 customers. This incident follows previous service disruptions caused by blackouts in December and July. Consequently, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is calling for stricter state regulations to ensure autonomous vehicles can operate safely and effectively during major planned or unplanned city-wide incidents.".

Read Full Story

Startups • Anthony Ha

Moonshot AI has released Kimi K3, an open-source model demonstrating performance competitive with leading proprietary AI. The announcement triggered a dip in chip stocks and reignited debates over the US-China AI race. While some critics warn of "AI communism" and the risks of distillation, others argue that US regulatory hurdles hinder progress. The release highlights ongoing tensions regarding national security and the future of open-weight models.

Read Full Story

Startups • Kirsten Korosec

Honda has discontinued the Prologue, marking a broader retreat of electric vehicles from the U.S. market. Factors like the end of federal tax credits, tariffs, and shifting consumer preferences have led several automakers to cancel models. Companies including Tesla, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Nissan are reducing their EV lineups, while Polestar faces regulatory bans. Despite these exits, some new entries and a slow sales recovery continue.

Read Full Story

Startups • Anthony Ha

The Department of Justice announced that federal employees may now download TikTok on government devices, reversing a 2022 ban. This change follows a deal transferring TikTok's U.S. operations to a joint venture backed by Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, with ByteDance retaining a minority stake. President Trump authorized the move for Executive Branch agencies, though individual agencies maintain discretion over the app's use according to workplace policies.

Read Full Story

Startups • Tim De Chant

Public EV charging infrastructure in the United States has seen significant improvements in both availability and reliability. Recent data shows that the number of DC fast chargers has more than doubled since 2023, while reliability rates have risen from 85% to the mid-90s. This progress, driven by Tesla opening its network and increased competition, has transformed the road-trip experience for electric vehicle owners, making long-distance travel more seamless. (69 words) -.

Read Full Story

Startups • Your story

Happiness is often fleeting and tied to external circumstances, whereas peace is a sustainable state rooted in acceptance and inner stability. Five influential books, including works by Alan Watts and the Dalai Lama, explore this distinction. They suggest that while happiness is valuable, practicing mindfulness, stillness, and presence allows individuals to maintain a steady sense of peace regardless of life's inevitable challenges and unpredictable changes.

Read Full Story

Business • Vandana Batra

Inc42 has launched the eighth cohort of its D2CX accelerator, welcoming 50 early-stage direct-to-consumer brands across various categories. The 12-week program offers mentorship and tactical playbooks to help founders navigate the "D2C 3.0" era. With India's D2C market projected to reach $310 billion by 2031, D2CX aims to bridge operational gaps and improve unit economics for over 400 founders since its inception.

Read Full Story

Business • Akshit Pushkarna

Most of the 58 new-age tech companies tracked by Inc42 saw declines this week, with 39 stocks ending in the red and cumulative market capitalization dropping to $142.41 billion. While Go Digit was the worst performer, Fino Payments Bank surged 29.16%. Despite overall caution, several companies hit 52-week highs. Other key updates include PhysicsWallah's stake increase in Sarrthi IAS and Zepto's anticipated IPO at a lower valuation.

Read Full Story

Business • Akshit Pushkarna

Over 60 Indian new-age tech companies have gone public, reaching a cumulative market capitalization exceeding $161 billion. Fintech, enterprise tech, and ecommerce lead the listings, with 64% of these companies now reporting profitability. Geographically, Delhi NCR is the primary hub, hosting 25 listed firms and contributing $89.5 billion to the total market cap. This trend reflects a broader shift toward financial sustainability within India's startup ecosystem.

Read Full Story

Startups • Your story

Skyroot Aerospace has achieved a historic milestone with the successful orbital launch of Vikram-1 under Mission Aagaman, India’s first privately developed orbital rocket. This achievement validates the Indian Space Policy 2023, transitioning the nation's space program from ISRO-led dominance to private sector participation. The four-stage vehicle carried various commercial and symbolic payloads, signaling India's growing competitiveness in the global small satellite launch market and expanding space economy.

Read Full Story

Business • Shrishti Bisht

The Supreme Court has sought a response from Snapdeal regarding Karnataka's challenge to a High Court ruling that quashed criminal proceedings over the unlicensed sale of a prescription drug. The case centers on whether e-commerce platforms can claim safe harbour protection under the IT Act when third-party sellers violate public health laws. This decision could redefine the liability of online marketplaces for illegal products sold by third parties.

Read Full Story

Business • Debarghya Sil

Skyroot, India's first spacetech unicorn, successfully launched Vikram-1, the country's first private orbital rocket mission, as part of Mission Aagaman. Blasting off from Sriharikota, the four-stage vehicle aims to place payloads into Low Earth Orbit while validating critical flight systems. This milestone follows India's space sector reforms and positions the nation as a global commercial launch destination, with Skyroot planning further upgrades and launches.

Read Full Story

Startups • Connie Loizos

Index Ventures co-founder Neil Rimer warns that the massive wealth generated by AI will eventually be redistributed, either voluntarily through philanthropy or involuntarily via legislation. As wealth concentration reaches historic levels and traditional charitable giving declines, proposals like California's wealth tax emerge. Rimer argues that tech leaders should proactively share their fortunes to avoid the forced redistribution seen during the Gilded Age's "soak-the-rich" era.

Read Full Story

Business • Lokesh Choudhary

Indian startups saw a sharp funding rebound between July 11 and 17, raising $281.4 million across 24 deals. AI startups dominated the week, securing $172.4 million, nearly 60% of the total. Notable activities included Elevation Capital launching a $500 million fund and Aurum PropTech acquiring Locon Solutions for ₹458 crore. Additionally, Ather Energy approved a ₹1,200 crore fundraise, while InsuranceDekho prepares for a potential IPO.

Read Full Story

Startups • Your story

The Four Seasons Hotel at Embassy One in Bengaluru integrates luxury hospitality with contemporary art to serve as a cultural landmark. Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, the hotel features works from over 25 Indian artists and hosts rotating exhibitions via its CUR8 gallery. By blending regional aesthetics with international modernism, the property offers immersive experiences through art, literature, and gastronomy, reflecting the creative and innovative spirit of Bengaluru.

Read Full Story

Categories

BigBasket’s Retreat

Nonprofit Current AI is racing to build the World Wide Web of AI, free for all

Liftoff for Skyroot’s Vikram-1; Building AI voice infra for Indian languages

Art Bengaluru Collective kicks off its 11th annual art exhibition

Education, AI, health: test your business creativity with Edition 241 of our weekly quiz!

Waymo appears to pause San Francisco service amidst power outage

Kimi: Threat or menace?

All the EVs that were discontinued or killed off in the U.S. this year

Federal employees can download TikTok on their work phones again

A 600-mile road trip (and data) proves EV charging doesn’t suck anymore

5 Books that tell the difference between happiness & peace

Meet The 50 D2C Brands From D2CX By Inc42’s 8th Cohort

New-Age Tech Stocks: Fino Payments Bank Surges 29%, Go Digit Leads Weekly Losers

Indian Listed New-Age Tech Company Tracker: Market Cap, Revenue & More

Skyroot’s Vikram-1 lifts India’s private space ambitions into orbit

Supreme Court Seeks Snapdeal’s Reply In Prescription Drug Sale Case

History Beckons: Skyroot Lifts Off With India’s First Private Orbital Mission

Neil Rimer thinks the AI money is coming back out

From Emergent To Neo Group — Indian Startups Raised $281 Mn This Week

Art and design: How this Four Seasons hotel celebrates the creativity of Bengaluru