Scapia Announces ₹20 Cr ESOP Buyback

Source: Startup

Scapia Announces ₹20 Cr ESOP Buyback

Business • via Startup • Anne Florentyna

Travel-focused fintech startup Scapia has launched a ₹20 crore ESOP buyback program, allowing eligible employees to liquidate up to 10% of their stock options. This move follows a recent $63 million funding round, bringing the company's total raised to over $135 million. Scapia, which offers travel-centric co-branded credit cards, aims to reward its team and improve retention, mirroring a growing trend of liquidity events among Indian startups.

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Indian-origin Anil Chakravarthy to take over as Adobe CEO

Startups

Adobe has named Indian-origin executive Anil Chakravarthy as CEO, succeeding Shantanu Narayen as the software giant enters a new AI-driven phase of growth.

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Google Cloud Startup Summit to explore how agentic AI can reshape startup growth

Startups

At Google Cloud Startup Summit 2026, founders will explore how agentic AI can help startups move beyond AI wrappers, reduce operational friction, and build more capital-efficient businesses.

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PhysicsWallah Shares Jump 6% As Motilal Oswal Sets ₹200 Target

Business

PhysicsWallah shares rose up to 6% after Motilal Oswal issued a ‘Buy’ rating with a ₹200 target price, citing strong online growth and AI-led monetization. The company reported Q1 FY27 revenue of ₹1,054 crore, a 24.4% year-on-year increase, while its net loss narrowed to ₹88.3 crore. With EBITDA turning positive at ₹52 crore, PhysicsWallah expects to achieve group-level PAT profitability by the third quarter of FY27.

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Piyush Goyal urges auto makers to increase localisation

Startups

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal urged automakers to deepen localisation and expand exports to meet global standards. He warned "black sheep" companies failing to indigenise, noting that the government uses AI to monitor import-export data. Praising Maruti Suzuki's export leadership, Goyal emphasized the "four Ms of mobility"—molecules, modules, megawatts, and markets—while offering government support for infrastructure to drive India's automotive growth and export targets.

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RentoMojo Sets Price Band At ₹384-₹404 For ₹1,256 Cr IPO

Business

RentoMojo, a furniture and appliance rental startup, has announced an IPO with a price band of ₹384-₹404 per share. The issue is valued at ₹1,255.6 crore at the upper end, targeting a post-offer market capitalization of ₹4,206.3 crore. Opening September 9, the IPO includes a fresh issue and an offer for sale. FY26 financials show operating revenue of ₹387 crore and a profit of ₹104.3 crore.

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WhatsApp launches bill payments in India, enables in-app payment of household, utility bills

Startups

"WhatsApp has launched a bill payments feature in India, integrated with the Bharat Connect network. Users can now manage and pay utility bills across 30 categories, including electricity and water, from over 22,000 billers directly within the app. Rolling out on Android and iOS, the feature allows for multiple account management and one-tap access, aiming to simplify routine household payments as easily as sending a message.".

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Finance Ministry notifies norms allowing ecommerce firms to maintain inventory only for exports

Startups

The Indian Finance Ministry has updated Foreign Direct Investment norms, allowing e-commerce firms to use inventory-based models exclusively for exporting goods produced in India. While this move aims to help domestic manufacturers scale globally, restrictions on inventory-based models for domestic B2C sales remain to protect small retailers. Companies must strictly adhere to Foreign Trade Policy and FEMA regulations to avoid penalties for non-compliance.

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ESDS Software Makes Stellar Debut, Lists At 76% Premium On NSE

Business

ESDS Software Solution made a strong stock market debut, listing at premiums of 74% on the BSE and 76.5% on the NSE over its ₹429 IPO price. The IPO was oversubscribed 135.88 times, raising ₹720 crore. The company plans to allocate ₹576 crore toward cloud computing equipment and data center infrastructure. ESDS reported a consolidated net profit of ₹120.8 crore in FY26, reflecting significant growth in revenue and profitability.

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Ultrahuman bags $70M from Qualcomm Ventures, Alpha Wave, and others

Startups

Bengaluru-based health intelligence company Ultrahuman has raised $70 million from investors including Qualcomm Ventures and Labcorp. The funding will support research and development in AI, sensing technologies, and clinical science as the company evolves into a human-computer interface firm. Ultrahuman aims to leverage its flagship Ring and other sensors to provide continuous, personalized health insights, transforming body-based computing into a major platform for physiological monitoring.

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8 Taylor Jenkins Reid quotes to help men understand women

Startups

, she explores themes of ambition, identity, and vulnerability. Her writing emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and authenticity, rejecting perfection in favor of human contradiction. Ultimately, Reid's work resonates by depicting the diverse, nuanced experiences of women.

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The sameness problem behind those unappetizing AI-generated menus

Startups

While restaurant owners might look to generative AI as a shortcut to sprucing up their menu, customers can viscerally sense that something is wrong with the food.

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RentoMojo Files RHP, Uber India Axes 200 Jobs & More

Business

RentoMojo is preparing for an IPO from September 9-11, despite legal disputes. In other business news, Uber and PayPal are cutting staff in India, while Simple Energy launches mass-market electric scooters. Furlenco reported significant profit growth, but The Ayurveda Co has shut down. Meanwhile, slice faces a valuation drop in its new funding round, and Zerodha enters merchant banking. Red Balloon is innovating in stratospheric technology. (68 words) -.

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Lending beyond the top 100 markets; How India is defining the future of work

Startups

Nvidia acquired Hugging Face for $12.93 billion, while Adobe bought Indian AI startup Rilo. In India, VLCC and Business Nextgen Finance raised significant funding, but The Ayurveda Co is shutting down. Uber is cutting 3,400 jobs to focus on robotaxis. Additionally, a Microsoft report highlights India's leadership in AI workforce transformation, and AMD is partnering with the University of Delhi to train students in semiconductor technologies.

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Get AI to work on your terms: Microsoft Puneet Chandok's advice to everyone in the modern tech race

Startups

Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India & South Asia, emphasizes a "human-AI barbell" approach, balancing technical AI capabilities with essential human judgment and empathy. India leads globally, with 32% of AI users identified as "frontier professionals." Chandok advocates for redesigning corporate workflows around AI, focusing on ROI, and skilling millions to ensure AI amplifies human potential rather than replacing critical analytical and emotional skills.

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Crusoe reportedly raises $3B at a $30B valuation

Startups

"Data center developer Crusoe has raised $3 billion at a $30 billion valuation, led by Atreides Management and Valor Equity Partners with Mubadala Capital's participation. The AI infrastructure provider, which serves clients like Meta and OpenAI, recently secured a $13 billion cloud contract with Jane Street. Originally a crypto mining operation, Crusoe is now exploring a potential near-term IPO through discussions with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.".

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Oura files to go public

Startups

"Oura, the smart ring manufacturer, has filed for an IPO, seeking a $16 billion valuation and aiming to raise $3 billion. The company reported significant revenue growth, reaching $1.2 billion in a recent nine-month period. While Oura plans to expand its AI-driven health platform into clinical sectors, it faces a class action lawsuit alleging that its sleep tracking capabilities are inaccurate and rely on estimates.".

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Tesla is asking people if they want to buy and run Cybercab fleets

Startups

"Tesla has released an interest form for businesses seeking to purchase Cybercab fleets or provide network infrastructure. This move suggests a strategic shift from operating an in-house robotaxi service toward partnering with third-party operators to scale more rapidly. While Elon Musk previously focused on personally owned vehicles and internal fleets, Tesla now appears open to collaborating with fleet management companies to saturate autonomous vehicle markets faster.".

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Leanwatts Bags $2 Mn To Build Portable EV Chargers In India

Business

"Clean tech startup Leanwatts has raised $2 million in seed funding led by Trivest Partners to advance its EV power electronics business. The Hyderabad-based company will use the capital to accelerate R&D, enhance its supply chain, and expand manufacturing. Currently producing chargers for electric two-wheelers and tractors, Leanwatts aims to enter public charging and power modules, targeting an annualised revenue run-rate of ₹60 crore by March 2027.".

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RentoMojo’s FY26 Profit Zooms 142% YoY To ₹104 Cr, Revenue Up 46%

Business

RentoMojo, an IPO-bound furniture and appliance rental platform, reported strong growth in FY26, with operating revenue rising 45.5% to ₹387 crore. Profit after tax surged 142% to ₹104.2 crore, supported by a one-time tax credit. The company has filed for an IPO featuring a ₹150 crore fresh issue and an offer for sale, potentially becoming India's first listed furniture rental startup.

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Startup ARR is less secure than ever, new research shows

Startups

Enterprise IT spending is projected to reach $4.25 trillion by 2026, primarily driven by AI. While budgets are expanding, many AI pilots fail to reach production, and 77% of companies re-evaluate vendors every six months. This "fast in, fast out" dynamic creates revenue insecurity for startups. Consequently, buyers are increasingly demanding outcome-based pricing over traditional usage-based models to ensure economic value and long-term viability.

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