Disney+ looks to TikTok creators to bring fan content to its short-form video feed

Source: Tech Crunch

Disney+ looks to TikTok creators to bring fan content to its short-form video feed

Startups

"Disney is partnering with TikTok to integrate fan-made content from Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars into the Disney+ 'Verts' short-form video feed. Starting with a U.S. pilot, the collaboration includes the Disney Creator Ambassador Program, offering creators library access and career opportunities. This move follows a failed AI partnership and aligns with Disney's growing SVOD income, which recently doubled to $712 million in the third quarter.".

Read Full Story

Zoox to start charging for robotaxi rides in Las Vegas

Startups

"Amazon-owned Zoox will begin charging for its robotaxi services in Las Vegas on August 10, marking the start of its commercial operations. This move follows a temporary NHTSA exemption from federal safety standards, as the custom-built vehicles lack traditional steering wheels and pedals. While services in San Francisco and Austin remain free, Las Vegas fares will be based on distance and time to compete with traditional ride-hail comfort pricing.".

Read Full Story

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026’s Real World AI Stage features robots, automated factories, and extinct animals

Startups

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will take place from October 13 to 15 at San Francisco’s Moscone West. To address the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, the event is expanding its AI programming into two separate stages. The new Real World AI Stage will explore the intersection of digital and physical technologies, featuring experts in autonomous hardware, defense, and biology. Other specialized stages will cover finance, security, and scaling.

Read Full Story

PB Fintech net profit up 92% in Q1 of FY27

Startups

PB Fintech, the parent company of PolicyBazaar, reported a 92% increase in net profit to Rs 163 crore and a 40% revenue rise to Rs 1,888 crore for Q1 FY27. Total insurance premiums grew 41% to Rs 8,372 crore, driven by strong protection and health segments. Credit revenue rose 25%, while the UAE business remained profitable. The company now serves 158.9 million registered consumers with 1.13 lakh active partners.

Read Full Story

As Gen Z reconsiders dating apps, Tinder’s IRL events expand to dozens more cities

Startups

Match Group is expanding Tinder's in-person events to dozens of cities by September to attract Gen Z users who prefer real-world connections over online dating. Despite declining revenue and a stock drop, CEO Spencer Rascoff believes these low-cost partnerships will reverse user losses. The "Events" tab, currently scaling globally, aims to make connecting easier and encourage non-users to join the app by 2026.

Read Full Story

Trump EPA wrongly canceled $20B in climate funds, appeals court rules

Startups

"A U.S. appeals court ruled that the Trump administration lacks the authority to claw back funds already disbursed to climate nonprofits. The decision allows eight groups to regain access to billions from the Inflation Reduction Act's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which the EPA had frozen in February 2025. While the ruling prevents the government from reclaiming disbursed money, several organizations suffered significant layoffs and leadership losses during the freeze.".

Read Full Story

Pinegap raises $8M in Series A led by Stellaris Venture Partners

Startups

Pinegap, an AI-driven equity research platform based in New York and Bengaluru, has raised $8 million in Series A funding led by Stellaris Venture Partners. Founded in 2024, the startup automates institutional buy-side workflows using custom, push-based AI agents tailored to specific investment styles. The company plans to use the capital to expand its engineering and sales teams while scaling its infrastructure for institutional asset managers.

Read Full Story

ArisInfra Q1 Profit Surges 4X YoY To ₹20 Cr, Revenue Grows By 37%

Business

B2B ecommerce firm ArisInfra Solutions reported a consolidated profit after tax of ₹20 crore for Q1 FY27, a fourfold increase from ₹5.1 crore year-on-year, though it declined 8% sequentially. Operating revenue grew 37% YoY to ₹290.8 crore, despite a 15% sequential drop. Total expenses rose 30% year-on-year to ₹268.5 crore, while decreasing 16% from the previous quarter. Total income for the period reached ₹295.2 crore.

Read Full Story

5 Timeless horror classic books you must read in 2026

Startups

* Role: Professional editor. * Task: Summarize a news article about five classic horror novels. * Length: Exactly 60 to 70 words. * Tone: Neutral. * Focus: Key facts. * Constraints: No introductory phrases, no conclusions, no bullet points, no lists, no metadata. * Formatting: Wrap in `<summary>` and `</summary>` tags. * Topic: 5 horror classic books to read in 2026. * Books mentioned: 1. *Dracula* (Bram Stoker) - Gothic horror, vampires, atmosphere. 2. *Frankenstein* (Mary Shelley) - Sci-fi horror, ethics, humanity. 3. *The Haunting of Hill House* (Shirley Jackson) - Psychological/supernatural, ambiguity. 4. *The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde* (Robert Louis Stevenson) - Duality, inner darkness. 5. *The Turn of the Screw* (Henry James) - Psychological, perception, ghosts. * Overall point: These classics laid the foundation for modern horror by exploring universal fears. * *Draft 1:* Classic horror novels continue to influence modern storytelling by exploring universal fears. Essential reads for 2026 include Bram Stoker's *Dracula*, Mary Shelley's *Frankenstein*, and Shirley Jackson's *The Haunting of Hill House*. Additionally, Robert Louis Stevenson's *The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde* and Henry James's *The Turn of the Screw* offer timeless psychological dread. These foundational works blend supernatural terror and moral complexity to remain enduringly unsettling. (69 words) * *Word Count Check (Draft 1):* 1. Classic 2. horror 3. novels 4. continue 5. to 6. influence 7. modern 8. storytelling 9. by 10. exploring 11. universal 12. fears. 13. Essential 14. reads 15. for 16. 2026 17.

Read Full Story

Anthropic is hiring an AI chip design team

Startups

Anthropic is establishing a custom silicon team to design its own AI chips, aiming to improve the speed and efficiency of its Claude models. While the company maintains partnerships with AWS, Google, Nvidia, and AMD, it seeks greater scalability to meet rising demand. This move mirrors strategies by OpenAI, Google, and Meta. Reports suggest Anthropic may partner with Samsung to develop this specialized hardware.

Read Full Story

Exclusive: Pain Care Startup Zanskar In Talks To Raise $6 Mn In Round Led By Bessemer

Business

"Delhi NCR-based pain care startup Zanskar is negotiating a funding round of approximately $6 million, led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Founded by IIT Delhi alumni, the company provides a technology-driven platform for personalized at-home pain management and sells relief products via various e-commerce channels. This potential raise follows a seed round and reflects increasing investor interest in chronic pain solutions within India's expanding healthtech market.".

Read Full Story

Exclusive: AC Maker Optimist In Talks To Raise $10 Mn From TDK Ventures

Business

Delhi NCR-based cooling startup Optimist is in talks to raise approximately $10 million from TDK Ventures, the venture arm of Japan's TDK Corporation. Founded by Ashish Goel and Pranav Chopra, the company develops air conditioners tailored for India's specific climate and energy costs. This potential investment follows a previous $12 million round and highlights growing investor interest in India's underpenetrated home appliance market and energy-efficient cooling solutions.

Read Full Story

EV startup River Mobility raises $120M in Series C co-led by Elev8 Venture and Claypond Capital

Startups

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle manufacturer River Mobility has raised $120 million in a Series C funding round co-led by Elev8 Venture Partners and Claypond Capital. The company plans to use the capital for capacity expansion, building a new manufacturing facility, and launching new utility lifestyle products. River Mobility currently sells 5,000 units monthly and aims to expand its store network from 75 to over 350 by March 2028.

Read Full Story

PB Fintech Q1 Profit Doubles YoY To ₹163 Cr, Revenue Jumps 40%

Business

PB Fintech reported a net profit of ₹162.9 crore for the June quarter (Q1 FY27), nearly doubling from ₹84.7 crore year-on-year, though it fell 38% sequentially. Operating revenue rose 40% year-on-year to ₹1,888.3 crore, despite an 8% sequential decline. Total revenue reached ₹1,981.3 crore, while total expenses increased 33% year-on-year to ₹1,800.3 crore, reflecting the company's current financial performance and growth trends.

Read Full Story

MacPaw taps Liquid AI to offer on-device inference to devs building for its app store

Startups

"Ukraine-based developer MacPaw has partnered with Liquid AI to integrate locally hosted AI models into its products, including the AI assistant Eney. This collaboration focuses on on-device inference for enhanced privacy and offline functionality. MacPaw also plans to offer this technology to other developers via its SetApp store, which is introducing credit-based pricing for AI apps and providing access to various cloud-based AI models.".

Read Full Story

Robinhood to list a fund that lets anyone back Y Combinator startups

Startups

"Robinhood is launching the Robinhood Venture Fund II (RVII) on August 13, aiming to raise $200 million to invest in Y Combinator startups. Publicly traded at $25 per share, the fund allows retail investors to gain exposure to YC companies. Robinhood will collect over 4% in management fees and 20% carried interest. Unlike traditional VC funds, RVII has no set end date or guaranteed cash distributions.".

Read Full Story

EV industry to generate up to 40M jobs by 2030: Report

Startups

India's electric vehicle sector is projected to create 30 to 40 million jobs by 2030, with annual hiring growing by 15-20%. A report by Adecco India highlights a shift toward specialized roles in battery technology and energy systems. While manufacturing hubs remain central, growth is expanding into Tier II and III cities. This industrial evolution supports India's Net-Zero 2070 goal and reduces crude oil import dependence.

Read Full Story

EV Startup River Mobility Bags $120 Mn To Expand Manufacturing Capacity

Business

River Mobility has raised $120 million in a Series C funding round co-led by Elev8 Venture Partners and Claypond Capital. This mix of equity and venture debt includes participation from Indian institutional investors for the first time. The company plans to use the funds to expand manufacturing capacity, launch new utility lifestyle electric vehicles, and achieve EBITDA profitability while growing its retail footprint to 350 stores by 2028.

Read Full Story

Google emerges as India's most attractive employer brand, followed by Tata Group, Amazon: Report

Startups

Google has been named India's most attractive employer brand in the Randstad Employer Brand Research 2026, followed by Tata Group and Amazon. The survey reveals that 46% of Indian workers plan to change jobs within six months. Key drivers for talent include work-life balance, career progression, and competitive pay. Companies must now evolve into "balanced employers" to attract and retain talent by integrating flexibility, fairness, and growth.

Read Full Story

Indian EV startup River raises $120M Series C to scale production, launch more models

Startups

Indian electric vehicle startup River has raised $120 million in Series C funding to scale manufacturing and expand its growth. The company, which focuses on its utility-oriented "Indie" moped, has sold over 50,000 units and currently produces 300 vehicles daily. River plans to introduce two new models next year, build a larger production facility by 2027, and increase its retail network to 400 stores by 2028.

Read Full Story

Categories