Uber and Pony.ai plan to bring 2,000 robotaxis to Europe

Source: Tech Crunch

Uber and Pony.ai plan to bring 2,000 robotaxis to Europe

Startups

Pony AI and Uber are expanding their partnership to deploy 2,000 robotaxis across four European cities. Under a joint-deployment model, Pony AI will provide the autonomous vehicle technology while Uber offers its ride-hailing platform. Local providers may manage fleet maintenance and charging. While specific cities and timelines remain undisclosed, the companies previously announced a commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, as part of their global expansion.

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Meet the former military people who are now entrepreneurs and industry leaders

Startups

Several former Indian armed forces personnel have successfully transitioned into entrepreneurship and corporate leadership. Anthony Anish co-founded Factoryal and MyGate, while Col Sanjeev Govila launched Hum Fauji Initiatives to provide financial services for military families. Chandan Singh Rathore founded Coreshield, an AI-driven security startup, and Teja Manakame became a prominent tech executive at Dell and Curriculum Associates, applying military discipline to their careers.

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Forgotten, Fierce, Unstoppable: 10 Indian women who fought the Raj and were left out of the textbooks

Startups

Indian history textbooks often overlook the vital contributions of women during the freedom struggle. Beyond a few famous names, numerous women led rebellions, operated underground radio stations, and engaged in revolutionary violence. Figures like Matangini Hazra, Rani Gaidinliu, and Usha Mehta demonstrated immense bravery through guerrilla warfare and strategic espionage. These women played indispensable roles in challenging British colonial rule to secure India's eventual independence.

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5 Books that reveal the power of uncomfortable truths

Startups

Personal growth often stems from confronting uncomfortable truths and challenging long-held beliefs. Several influential books explore these themes: *The Courage to Be Disliked* addresses the need for approval, *Thinking, Fast and Slow* examines cognitive biases, and *The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck* highlights the necessity of struggle. Additionally, *Man’s Search for Meaning* and *The Road Less Travelled* emphasize finding purpose through suffering and discipline.

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Shiprocket IPO Subscribed 25.8X So Far On Final Day Of Bidding

Business

Shiprocket’s ₹1,617.5 crore IPO saw strong demand, becoming 25.8 times subscribed by the final day of bidding. The offering, comprising a fresh issue and an OFS, received bids for 243.83 crore shares. Non-institutional investors led the surge with a 50.27x subscription, while retail and employee quotas were subscribed 28.99x and 34.46x, respectively. Allotment is expected on August 17, with listing scheduled for August 19.

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Zetwerk files updated IPO papers with SEBI

Startups

Zetwerk Manufacturing Business Ltd has filed updated IPO papers with Sebi, featuring a Rs 2,600 crore fresh issue and an offer for sale of 9.68 crore shares. The company intends to use the proceeds primarily to repay debt and fund acquisitions. With FY26 revenue reaching Rs 15,913 crore, the tech-led platform operates a global manufacturing network across sectors like aerospace, defense, and renewable energy.

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Peak XV Leads $45 Mn Bet On US-Based AI Code Testing Startup Blacksmith

Business

<summary> Peak XV led a $45 million Series B funding round for US-based AI code testing startup Blacksmith, valuing it at $55

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ixigo To Sell 17.39% Fresh Bus Stake For ₹36.6 Cr

Business

"ixigo's parent company, Le Travenues Technology, has agreed to sell a 17.39% stake in electric intercity bus startup Fresh Bus to Twelve Stone LLP for ₹36.6 crore. This transaction will reduce ixigo's holding from 25.66% to 8.27%, meaning Fresh Bus will no longer be an associate company. The deal is expected to close by August 30, occurring amid ixigo's broader expansion into AI and European markets.".

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India’s Biggest Startup Backer Is Hiding in Plain Sight

Startups

For a decade, the Indian government supported venture capital through a fund-of-funds model, primarily via SIDBI, to avoid direct company selection and mitigate risk. This arm's-length approach provided critical credibility and capital to the ecosystem. However, recent initiatives like the RDI and semiconductor programs signal a shift toward direct equity ownership in strategic sectors, mirroring trends in the US and China while balancing institutional discipline.

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Uber, Rapido Held Talks To Combine India Operations, Says Report; Rapido Denies

Business

"Uber and Rapido reportedly discussed combining their Indian ride-hailing operations in May, but talks collapsed over the deal's structure. Uber proposed a combination under Rapido's management, while Rapido suggested acquiring Uber's India business. Uber rejected this, unwilling to cede control. Despite the failed talks, Uber is expanding its bike-taxi services to over 220 cities to challenge Rapido's dominance in the growing Indian mobility market.".

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LEAP India Shares List At 4.4% Premium To Issue Price Of ₹159

Business

LEAP India debuted on the BSE and NSE at a 4.4% premium over its ₹159 IPO price, reaching a market capitalization of approximately ₹7,011 crore. The ₹2,480 crore public issue was oversubscribed 8.38 times. Specializing in tech-enabled supply chain solutions, the company reported strong FY26 growth, with net profit rising 66% to ₹62.3 crore and operating revenue increasing 56.4% to ₹729.5 crore.

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10 Landmark books that document India's tech evolution

Startups

India has evolved into a global technology hub through ambition and innovation. A collection of ten landmark books documents this journey, detailing the rise of the IT services industry, the influence of the IITs, and advancements in telecommunications and space exploration. These works also explore digital identity systems and the transformative impact of smartphones, illustrating how technology has reshaped India's economy, governance, and daily life.

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Razorpay’s ChatGPT Gambit, Snapchat’s Next Big Quest & More

Business

The primary focus of the text is Razorpay's move into AI commerce. However, it's a news roundup. A professional summary of a roundup should either focus on the lead story or touch upon the major highlights. Given the structure, the Razorpay story is the most detailed. But since it's a collection of news, I should try to capture the essence of the main story and perhaps mention the other business updates.

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Can Razorpay Turn ChatGPT Into India’s Next Commerce Channel?

Business

Razorpay is developing AI-native commerce infrastructure enabling merchants to create storefronts and complete transactions directly within AI interfaces like ChatGPT. By integrating NPCI’s UPI Reserve Pay and UPI Circle, the company allows seamless, secure checkouts without leaving the chat. Currently piloting with 50 brands and 200 businesses on its Agent Studio, Razorpay aims to simplify AI-led customer acquisition and product discovery for digital-first brands.

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How Fabindia sees itself at 66; Life at Tata after Chandra

Startups

Google is accelerating its Gemini AI efforts with leadership changes to compete with OpenAI. Meanwhile, Microsoft is retreating from China. In finance, Mirae Asset and Bluehill.VC are raising funds for frontier-tech startups. Honasa Consumer and Veranda Learning reported strong Q1 FY27 growth, while FirstCry reduced losses. Additionally, Tata Group considers future leadership, and Twitch faces criticism for using user content to train Amazon's AI.

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Investors sue Selena Gomez alleging fraud tied to her mental health startup

Startups

"Selena Gomez and her mother are facing a lawsuit over their mental health startup, Wondermind. Investors claim they lost nearly $1.2 million, accusing Gomez of securities fraud and breach of contract. The lawsuit alleges that the company misrepresented its finances and failed to build its promised app or execute marketing plans. Plaintiffs seek to recover their investments and legal fees after allegedly being misled about the company's collapse.".

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Flock says its new tool will help identify police abuse, but hasn’t explained how it works

Startups

Surveillance startup Flock has introduced new policies to prevent the abuse of its license plate reader systems. Key changes include reducing data retention to seven days and mandating an "Audit Assistance" tool to flag abnormal user activity. While Flock claims these measures increase accountability, privacy advocates and legal experts argue that the tool lacks transparency and requires independent auditing to prove its actual effectiveness against misuse.

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If Apple sends you a push notification alerting you to a spyware attack, take it seriously

Startups

Apple has issued new notifications to users in 110 countries suspected of being targeted by government-used mercenary spyware. These alerts, delivered via push notifications, email, and account logins, urge users to take immediate protective actions, including enabling Lockdown Mode. Apple has now notified customers in over 150 countries. Experts from Citizen Lab highlight that these alerts are critical for uncovering surveillance abuses and securing compromised devices.

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Writer introduces new AI model and upgraded harness to contain token costs

Startups

Writer has launched Palmyra X6, a new flagship AI model based on Z.ai’s open-source GLM-5.2. Designed to lower enterprise deployment costs, the model and accompanying harness infrastructure upgrades could reduce expenses by up to 50% for basic tasks. CEO May Habib emphasized the need for cost stability over benchmark chasing, focusing on efficiency for complex, multi-step tasks to provide a more sustainable alternative to major AI labs.

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Rapido Bags Karnataka Cab Aggregator Licence Till 2031

Business

Rapido has obtained a cab aggregator license from the Karnataka government, valid until August 2031, allowing the mobility unicorn to operate four-wheeler services legally across 21 cities. While the company has joined the state's Urban Mobility Mission and reported revenue growth to ₹934.4 crore in FY25, its bike taxi operations continue to face regulatory scrutiny and safety concerns from local authorities and the Supreme Court.

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