Nitro Launches AI Platform To Let Shopify Merchants Build Apps With Prompts

Source: inc42

Nitro Launches AI Platform To Let Shopify Merchants Build Apps With Prompts

Business

"Nitro Commerce has launched Nitro Apps, an AI-powered platform enabling Shopify merchants to build private, custom applications using prompts. By introducing 'vibe coding,' the tool reduces the time and cost associated with traditional software development for both internal workflows and customer experiences. Over 700 applications were created during the private beta, allowing merchants to maintain ownership of their code while bypassing the need for extensive development teams.".

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TN launches AI, deep-tech push with new initiatives

Startups

Tamil Nadu is launching several initiatives to become a national leader in AI and deep-tech innovation. Key measures include the Rs 50 crore Vetri Tamil Nadu Deep-Tech Innovation Fund, with 25% reserved for SC/ST founders. The state plans an AI Technology City, a Rs 20 crore program for AI Centres of Excellence, a high-performance GPU cluster, and a Rs 5 crore Super App for government services.

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Ventures Platform goes bigger — and broader — with its second Africa fund

Startups

Ventures Platform has raised an oversubscribed $83 million second fund to expand its early-stage investments beyond Nigeria into Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt. The firm will target fintech, healthcare, SaaS, and AI-driven businesses that improve cost structures. With check sizes up to $3 million, the fund emphasizes capital efficiency and proven returns, reflecting a more selective venture market. Key backers include Norfund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

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Goyal proposes India-Japan 'Shark Tank' style startup series to boost investments, business ties

Startups

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal proposed a virtual, Shark Tank-style pitching series to connect Indian and Japanese startups with investors and business partners. This initiative aims to deepen commercial ties by facilitating investments and scaling innovations. Goyal also suggested establishing a deeptech capital corridor to attract Japanese patient capital for early-stage funding, leveraging India's vast market and design capabilities to foster mutual economic prosperity.

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India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world with strong investment opportunities: Nirmala Sitharaman

Startups

"Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged Canadian investors to capitalize on India's status as the world's fastest-growing major economy. Highlighting India's digital infrastructure and young population, she emphasized opportunities in fintech and banking. Sitharaman noted the strengthening bilateral ties, including CEPA negotiations and a goal to double two-way trade to CAD 70 billion by 2030, while positioning the Indian diaspora as a strategic bridge between nations.".

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The Vertical Turn In Enterprise AI

Business

Vertical foundational models are emerging in India as cost-effective alternatives to general-purpose AI for sectors like healthcare, payments, and agriculture. Companies like Razorpay and Fractal are developing domain-specific LLMs that offer better performance, lower token costs, and improved security. These models handle proprietary data and real-time decision-making more efficiently than versatile models like ChatGPT, providing specialized intelligence tailored to specific enterprise needs and operational processes.

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Voice AI startup Ringg AI raises $10M in Series A led by Peak XV Partners

Startups

"Bengaluru-based voice AI startup Ringg AI has raised $10 million in a Series A extension led by Peak XV Partners. The company develops context-aware AI agents for voice, WhatsApp, and browser interactions to automate enterprise customer conversations. Ringg AI plans to use the funding to enhance its proprietary models and expand its global market presence, serving clients like Flipkart and CRED across various industries.".

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[Update] Ringg AI Nets Additional $10 Mn, Closes Series A At $15.5 Mn

Business

Bengaluru-based Ringg AI has raised an additional $10 million, bringing its extended Series A funding to $15.5 million. Led by Peak XV Partners and Arkam Ventures, the capital will enhance its no-code, multilingual voice AI platform and expand international market presence. Ringg AI provides enterprises with human-like voice bots for sectors like BFSI and healthcare, aiming to scale to 100 million conversations over the next two years.

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What’s next for Chandra after Ta-ta

Startups

India's data center market is expanding rapidly, with projections reaching 100 million square feet by 2030. Infineon Technologies is acquiring C2i Semiconductors to enhance AI power solutions. Meanwhile, Kedaara Capital invested $200 million in Tynor Orthotics for global expansion. Other news includes a $7 billion French-Saudi entertainment deal, Bitcoin surpassing $80,000, and N. Chandrasekaran's upcoming departure as Tata Sons chairman in February 2027.

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Mamaearth Parent Honasa Calls Off ₹135 Cr Fluence Pharma Acquisition

Business

Honasa Consumer, the parent company of Mamaearth, has cancelled its proposed ₹135 crore acquisition of a 58% stake in nutraceuticals startup Fluence Pharma. The deal was called off due to the non-fulfillment of specific closing conditions. Despite this setback, Honasa remains committed to expanding into the nutraceuticals market as part of its long-term growth strategy to diversify its portfolio and increase overall revenue by FY31.

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Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop Parent Sets IPO Price Band At ₹546-₹575

Business

Purple Style Labs, the parent company of Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, has announced a ₹680 crore IPO with a price band of ₹546 to ₹575 per share. The offering, open from August 31 to September 2, seeks a valuation of up to ₹4,604 crore. Proceeds will primarily fund lease liabilities and marketing. Despite widening losses, the omnichannel luxury fashion platform aims to expand its designer brand portfolio.

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India’s Ringg gets backing from Peak XV as it pushes voice AI past the phone call

Startups

Voice AI startup Ringg has raised $10 million from Peak XV Partners, bringing its total Series A funding to $15.5 million. Targeting the Indian market, where phone calls remain the preferred communication method, Ringg provides AI agents for complex enterprise workflows like healthcare booking and fintech onboarding. The company serves major clients including Flipkart and Practo, while expanding into chat and WhatsApp to offer outcome-driven automation.

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Why embracing change is the only way to understand it

Startups

Many people instinctively resist change due to uncertainty and a desire for stability. However, true clarity and growth often emerge only through direct experience and action. By embracing adaptability and taking the first step, individuals can overcome overthinking and discover hidden strengths. While change can be uncomfortable, moving forward allows people to navigate transitions effectively and find stability through their ability to adjust to new circumstances.

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The Ecommerce Squeeze, Supertails Chases Profits & More

Business

Amazon, Flipkart Tighten Seller Rules With the festive season just around the corner, India’s ecommerce giants appear to be shifting.

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Ten years of UPI: The infrastructure that quietly rewrote how India lives

Startups

"India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionized financial inclusion, growing from 1.78 crore transactions in FY17 to over 20 billion monthly. By facilitating seamless digital retail payments and supporting the economy during the pandemic, UPI now serves 504 million users. India is now exporting this infrastructure to multiple countries, demonstrating its capability to build scalable deep technology. Future developments include AI-led payments and programmable money.".

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How AssessPrep is turning test scores into data schools can use

Startups

AssessPrep is a Gurugram-based AI assessment platform serving over 800 schools across 85 countries. It streamlines the testing cycle by creating, delivering, grading, and analyzing assessments for international curricula. By tagging questions to specific standards, the platform provides detailed insights into student learning gaps. Bootstrapped and profitable, AssessPrep uses AI to reduce teacher workloads while maintaining human oversight to ensure grading accuracy and data privacy.

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AI is changing both sides of the job hunt. Applying more won’t fix it

Startups

India's graduate unemployment persists as traditional high-volume job application strategies fail against modern keyword-based filtering. While ATS auto-rejection myths are common, the real issue is a lack of precision in applications. As both candidates and recruiters adopt AI, the resulting volume of mismatched applications increases. Success now requires using AI selectively to prioritize fit and tailoring over quantity to effectively connect with hiring managers.

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Robotics startup Generalist reaches $3B valuation, sources say

Startups

"Robotics startup Generalist is now valued at $3 billion after raising nearly $200 million in additional capital led by 8VC. This extends a previous Series B round, bringing total funding to $600 million. Founded by former DeepMind and Boston Dynamics experts, the company is developing a general AI foundation model. Its Gen 1.5 model allows robots to learn new tasks from brief video demonstrations for various customers.".

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OpenAI loses a top data center exec, as stream of high-profile departures continues

Startups

"OpenAI's head of data centers, Chris Malone, has departed following an infrastructure reorganization. His exit adds to a string of over a dozen senior executive departures this year, including key leaders in revenue, operations, and ethics. This significant talent flight occurs as the company prepares for a potential 2027 IPO, raising external concerns regarding the firm's valuation and profitability amidst massive infrastructure investments and organizational instability.".

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Zerodha Fund House FY26: Revenue Up 79% YoY To ₹17 Cr, Loss Narrows

Business

Zerodha Asset Management Pvt Ltd reported significant growth in FY26, with operating revenue jumping 78.7% to ₹16.8 crore. The company narrowed its losses by 37.8% to ₹5.1 crore, despite total expenses rising 29.4% to ₹21.1 crore. Notably, its quarterly average assets under management surged 196% to ₹14,448 crore. The firm, a partnership with CASE Platforms, focuses on passive mutual fund products, including index funds and ETFs.

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