Ecommerce order volumes up 31% during Independence Day sales

Source: Your story

Ecommerce order volumes up 31% during Independence Day sales

Startups

"India's ecommerce sector saw a 31% year-on-year increase in order volumes and a 30% rise in gross merchandise value during the 2026 Independence Day sale, according to Unicommerce. Fashion and accessories, particularly apparel, led in total order volumes, followed by beauty and personal care. The FMCG segment was the fastest-growing category, increasing nearly 100%, with healthy food products emerging as a significant trend among consumers.".

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6 Books that explore the connection between art and emotions

Startups

Art serves as a powerful language for expressing complex human emotions and experiences. Various books explore this connection, ranging from historical perspectives and personal perception to therapeutic uses and neuroscience. These works highlight how creativity helps individuals process grief, find healing, and understand their inner worlds. Ultimately, art acts as a bridge between internal feelings and external expression, fostering deeper connections between people and their surroundings.

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The RDI Fund Row, PM’s I-Day Address & More

Business

The prompt asks to summarize the "news article content." Usually, this means the primary lead story, but since it's a newsletter/digest, I should focus on the main controversy regarding the RDI fund as it's the most detailed part, or provide a high-level overview of the digest. However, the lead story is the most substantial. Let's focus on the RDI fund controversy as the core "news" while acknowledging the broader context if possible, but the RDI fund is the primary focus.

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7 IPOs eye Rs 6,400 Cr this week

Startups

India's IPO market is surging with seven companies raising ₹6,400 crore, while investors speculate on a massive potential IPO for AI firm Anthropic. AI continues to disrupt industries, from Hollywood filmmaking to Tagbin's 3D building designs and Kusho AI's software testing. Other highlights include Bangladesh's historic cricket win over Australia, China's neutrino research breakthroughs, and new Indian tax policies alongside energy security measures to combat supply disruptions.

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Lenskart’s Scale Meets Profits

Business

"Lenskart's Q1 FY27 results show a strategic shift toward productivity-led growth, with revenue rising 34% and net profit jumping 182% to ₹228 crore. The eyewear giant is diversifying its market reach by pursuing both premiumization and a new ₹500 budget offering. Additionally, Lenskart is scaling its international business and enhancing supply-chain control through increased in-house production and data-driven store selection to improve overall operational efficiency.".

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Stripe will reportedly acquire AI gateway startup OpenRouter for $7B+

Startups

"Stripe has reportedly finalized a deal to acquire OpenRouter for over $7 billion, according to Bloomberg. OpenRouter provides a single access point for over 400 AI models, serving 8 million global users and preventing vendor lock-in. Previously valued at $1.3 billion after a $113 million Series B round, the startup helps customers optimize AI tasks based on budget. Stripe has declined to comment on the acquisition rumors.".

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Why people aren’t buying Mark Zuckerberg’s AI future

Startups

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently published an optimistic essay envisioning a future where personal AI agents empower everyone. However, TechCrunch analysts remain skeptical, citing Zuckerberg's history of unmet promises regarding social connection. Critics argue the vision is overly abstract and ignores potential risks, suggesting Meta is attempting to reposition itself in the AI market despite lacking a dominant consumer presence or accessible hardware for all users.

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Anthropic CEO says AI backlash is ‘fundamentally a crisis of trust’

Startups

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei defended his balanced approach to discussing AI's risks and benefits after investor Gavin Baker accused him of fueling public backlash. Amodei argued that negative perceptions of AI stem from a general crisis of trust in institutions rather than his warnings. He emphasized that AI companies must deliver on their promises and stated that Anthropic's regulatory proposals aim to support smaller competitors.

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TechCrunch Mobility: The shifting flight path of electric air taxis

Startups

The electric aviation sector is consolidating as Archer Aviation acquired Wisk Aero from Boeing, and Joby Aviation purchased Resonant Sciences for $500 million to expand into defense. Meanwhile, Uber sold its stake in Serve Robotics and invested in Chilean fintech Galgo. In autonomous driving, Waymo expanded its California operations, while Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI received permits to test self-driving trucks on public roads in California.

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IPO wave: Seven cos eye to raise Rs 6,400 Cr next week

Startups

Seven companies, including Horizon Industrial Parks and Lalithaa Jewellery Mart, plan to raise over Rs 6,400 crore through initial public offerings between August 17 and 21. Other participants include Augmont Enterprises, Gaja Alternative Asset Management, Shankesh Jewellers, Sunshine Pictures, and Tempsens Instruments. The funds will support business expansion and debt repayment. This surge brings the expected 2026 IPO total to 55, with Skyways Air Services following on August 24.

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RDI Fund Row: Deeptech Investors Seek More Transparency, Independent Oversight

Business

India's ₹1 Lakh Cr Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) fund faces scrutiny after 15 of 22 companies in its first ₹2,192 Cr allocation were linked to selection committee members. These companies received 62% of the funds. While the government maintains that conflict-of-interest safeguards were followed, investors warn that a lack of transparency could favor established networks and undermine trust in government-backed deeptech capital.

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Can Astrotalk Chart A Future Beyond Astrology?

Business

Astrotalk has become India's 133rd unicorn through an internal ESOP buyback rather than external funding. The company's operating revenue surged from ₹283 crore in FY23 to ₹1,176 crore in FY25. As it prepares for an IPO, Astrotalk is diversifying its core astrology consultation business into e-commerce via the Astrotalk Store and expanding internationally, particularly in the US, to drive future growth and valuation.

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Efficiency, lifespan, environment: test your business creativity with Edition 245 of our weekly quiz!

Startups

YourStory’s 245th edition of Lateral Sparks highlights five startups solving real-world challenges. Reneonix improves glass recycling traceability, while WalkAbout India supports active lifestyles for seniors. Aule Space extends satellite lifespans via propulsion technology, and SunCharge Motors integrates solar panels into electric three-wheelers to increase efficiency. Finally, GetVantage provides cash-flow-based financing for MSMEs, addressing traditional lending gaps to foster business growth and economic development.

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PM Modi’s AI bet: Train 1 crore youth in one year

Startups

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans to train one crore youth in AI and provide free coaching for competitive exams. The government also aims to expand the Lakhpati Didis scheme to six crore women. Meanwhile, Indian venture capital funding dipped to $146 million recently, though Yulu secured $93 million. Other news includes Swakshatra’s work with trauma survivors, heat affecting French champagne grapes, and NVIDIA’s $21 billion SpaceX stake.

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Curiosity is more important than expertise: insights from the inspiring Ritz-Carlton art walk

Startups

"The Ritz-Carlton in Bengaluru transforms luxury hospitality into a living art gallery, featuring over 1,200 artworks integrated into its design. Guests can experience a curated Art Walk led by Surekha Sundaram or participate in an interactive Art Hi-Tea featuring edible art. Designed by WATG and inspired by Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, the hotel blends architecture and fine art to provide an immersive, multi-sensory cultural journey.".

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Ola Electric Unveils Three New Energy Storage Products

Business

Ola Electric has launched three new battery energy storage systems: the residential Ola Shakti Gen 2, the industrial Shakti Rack, and the utility-scale Mahashakti. Utilizing in-house 4680 Bharat lithium-ion cells, these products aim to diversify revenue streams and increase Gigafactory utilization. Residential variants are priced from ₹99,000, with deliveries starting in November 2026, while industrial solutions are expected by March 2027 to bolster the company's energy portfolio.

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Woman claims her stepfather used Grok to transform childhood photo into explicit imagery

Startups

"Jane Doe 4 has joined a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI, filed by three Tennessee teenagers, alleging the chatbot Grok facilitated the creation of child sexual abuse material. The woman claims her stepfather used the tool to generate thousands of explicit images of her as a child. The plaintiffs argue xAI lacked necessary precautions to prevent such abuse and are currently seeking class action status for their suit.".

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Anthropic shares more details about how Claude’s new watermarks will work

Startups

Anthropic is implementing text watermarking for its Claude chatbot to comply with the EU AI Act’s Transparency Code. Using Google DeepMind's SynthID-Text approach, the system creates undetectable patterns in word choices without affecting output quality. While complete rewrites can remove the watermark, light editing typically cannot. Anthropic plans to release a detection API, noting that other major AI developers will also adopt similar transparency measures.

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IPO-Bound Zypp Electric Slashes FY26 Loss By 45% YoY To ₹60 Cr

Business

EV logistics startup Zypp Electric significantly reduced its consolidated net loss to ₹59.7 crore in FY26, a 44.4% decrease from the previous year. Operating revenue grew 5.2% to ₹461 crore, driven largely by a 24% increase in EV rental income. As the company prepares for a $200 million IPO within the next 22 months, it continues to optimize costs while expanding its battery-swapping infrastructure.

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SpaceX officially closes its Cursor acquisition

Startups

"AI coding startup Cursor has officially been acquired by SpaceX for $60 billion. Following a partnership established in April, the deal closed after SpaceX transitioned to a public company. By joining SpaceX, Cursor gains access to one of the world's largest GPU fleets and advanced computing infrastructure. This move aims to scale artificial intelligence capabilities, with Cursor serving as a primary tool to make that intelligence useful.".

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