Waymo accelerates robotaxi expansion with launches in Denver, San Diego and Tampa

Source: Tech Crunch

Waymo accelerates robotaxi expansion with launches in Denver, San Diego and Tampa

Startups

Waymo has expanded its commercial robotaxi service to Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, bringing its total U.S. presence to 14 cities. The Alphabet-owned company now operates a fleet of over 4,000 vehicles, including the new Ojai minivan. This growth occurs as Waymo competes with Tesla's autonomous efforts and plans further expansions into Las Vegas, London, and Munich to solidify its position as the market leader.

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Microsoft 365 outage drags on, but things are improving

Startups

"Microsoft is working to resolve a multi-day outage affecting Outlook and various Microsoft 365 services, including Teams and SharePoint. The disruption was caused by a core authentication configuration misconfiguration that hindered infrastructure deployment. While Microsoft has implemented mitigations and reports improving service availability and mail flow, the company has not yet declared a full recovery and is currently entering a period of extended monitoring to ensure stability.".

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Fambot introduces an ‘AI chief of staff’ for families

Startups

Fambot, an AI-powered "chief of staff" for parents, helps families manage information overload from emails, calendars, and WhatsApp groups. Founded by former executives from Uber, Instagram, and Google, the startup provides daily checklists and proactive scheduling via a mobile app and web interface. Backed by $3.5 million in pre-seed funding, Fambot is currently in free beta testing across iOS, Android, and the web.

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Florida and Texas move to block Flock cameras over privacy concerns

Startups

"Florida and Texas are terminating their partnerships with surveillance company Flock due to escalating privacy concerns and reports of technology misuse. Florida’s Department of Transportation is removing license plate readers, while Texas has halted funding for the cameras following an officer's indictment for unauthorized tracking. These decisions reflect broader bipartisan worries over civil liberties, cybersecurity, and the company's expansion into tracking individuals beyond vehicle license plates.".

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This startup is fuel-injecting hydrogen to make cargo ships more efficient

Startups

San Francisco startup Newlight has developed a hydrogen-injection retrofit for cargo ship diesel engines to increase efficiency and lower emissions. A recent 8,500-nautical mile voyage demonstrated a 24% reduction in fuel consumption and a 28% drop in carbon dioxide emissions. Having secured $9 million in seed funding, the company has signed agreements for 12 vessels and plans to expand its fleet rollouts next year.

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Odisha's Lok Bhavan becomes India's first Platinum certified green Lok Bhavan

Startups

Lok Bhavan in Bhubaneswar has become India's first government campus to earn the IGBC Platinum green certification under the strict Green Campus v1 rating system. Achieving a score of 88/100, the facility underwent extensive retrofitting, including solar energy installation, rainwater harvesting, and a transition to an all-electric carcade. This transformation serves as a documented template for upgrading existing government infrastructure to achieve environmental sustainability.

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Minimac Systems Raises ₹30 Cr To Scale Lubricant Recycling Infrastructure

Business

Pune-based startup Minimac Systems has raised ₹30 crore ($3.2 million) in a funding round led by Zerodha’s Rainmatter. The company specializes in lubricant recycling and circularity infrastructure, offering onsite treatment and fluid analytics. Minimac will use the capital for research and development of miniaturized fluid-treatment systems and fleet automation. The startup aims to reduce India's base oil imports and abate 860 gigagrams of carbon emissions by 2034.

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Help build the future of startups: Volunteer at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Startups

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, held October 13-15 at Moscone West, invites volunteers to support founders, investors, and the broader startup community. Volunteers facilitate crucial connections and pitches, helping shape the future of technology. Requirements include 12 hours of service, an October 12 orientation, and being 18+. Benefits include free admission to the three.

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India’s Unacademy sells to rival upGrad for $206M, about 94% less than its peak valuation

Startups

upGrad has acquired Unacademy in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $206 million, representing a 94% decline from its 2021 peak valuation of $3.44 billion. The transaction includes Airlearn, PrepLadder, and Graphy, while the Unacademy brand will be retained. CEO Gaurav Munjal will continue leading the company. The move aims to scale operations and expand educational offerings following a significant downturn in India's edtech sector.

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[Update] ESDS IPO Closes With 135.9X Oversubscription

Business

ESDS Software Solution’s ₹720 crore IPO was oversubscribed 135.88 times by the end of its third bidding day. Qualified Institutional Buyers led the demand at 261.51 times, followed by Non-Institutional Investors at 192.94 times and retail investors at 39.68 times. Priced between ₹408 and ₹429 per share, the cloud and AI company plans to use ₹576 crore for infrastructure expansion. Shares are expected to list on September 4.

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Reliance Consumer enters ice cream market with Bombay Creamery

Startups

Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), the FMCG arm of Reliance Industries, has launched its ice cream brand, Bombay Creamery. Offering cones, cups, tubs, bars, and sticks starting at Rs 10, the brand emphasizes global quality and real dairy cream at affordable prices. Currently available in Western India, RCPL plans a pan-India rollout, leveraging its extensive distribution network to establish a long-term presence in the mass-market ice cream segment.

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Icertis Replaced CEO After Whistleblower Alleged Favouritism: Report

Business

"Icertis CEO Anand Subbaraman has stepped down to an advisory role following whistleblower allegations of misconduct, inappropriate behavior, and favoritism toward a junior employee. Subbaraman, who assumed the leadership role in August 2025, was under board investigation before his transition. Currently, CFO Rajat Bahri and board member Jim Moffatt serve as interim co-CEOs while the SoftBank-backed contract management firm, valued at $5 billion, seeks a permanent replacement.".

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Whatfix Cofounder Khadim Batti Passes Away

Business

"Khadim Batti, the cofounder and former CEO of the AI-powered digital adoption platform Whatfix, has passed away at approximately 50 years old due to cardiac arrest. Batti cofounded the San Francisco-based SaaS soonicorn with Vara Kumar Namburu in 2013, growing it to serve over 700 enterprises. He is remembered as a pivotal mentor and supporter within the Indian startup ecosystem, inspiring many founders through his professional journey.".

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VinFast Halts Cars Production In India To Reassess Costs: Report

Business

Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast is pausing production of its VF3, VF6, and VF7 models in India to reassess costs after failing to meet local sourcing targets. While the company has asked suppliers to halt activities, it will continue assembling the VF6 and VF7 using imported kits from Vietnam. This decision follows significant investments in its Tamil Nadu facility, which aims for an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles.

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Meta Pulls 39 Scam Ads Promoting Malicious Porn Apps After India’s Warning

Business

Meta removed at least 39 Facebook and Instagram ads promoting malicious Android apps after warnings from India's Ministry of Home Affairs. These ads used sexually explicit content to lure users to phishing sites for APK downloads. The malware could steal banking credentials, capture OTPs, and facilitate unauthorized financial transactions. This action follows a surge in cyber fraud in India, which recorded nearly $2.4 billion in losses in 2025.

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NPCI To Launch Agentic Payments On UPI: Report

Business

NPCI plans to launch the Unified Agent Protocol at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, enabling AI agents to execute small-ticket UPI payments without manual user approval for every transaction. Leveraging UPI Circle and Reserve Pay, the framework allows users to delegate payment authority within pre-set limits for high-frequency purchases. Additionally, NPCI may introduce UPI AutoPay interoperability, advancing its vision for intelligent commerce alongside global payment networks.

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If space data centers feel far-fetched, why not interstellar travel?

Startups

Fermi Explorer, a new non-profit founded by Starcloud's creators, plans to launch a small spacecraft toward Alpha Centauri in 2029. Costing $15 million, the mission aims to be the first human-built object explicitly targeted at another star. Using proven technologies and electric propulsion, the vehicle will embark on an 80,000-year journey. The team seeks partners and payloads to test the Fermi paradox and inspire future civilizations.

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Unacademy-upGrad deal began with an audacious pitch in 2020, says Screwvala

Startups

upGrad acquired Unacademy for $200 million in 2026, concluding a process that began with a 2020 proposal from Gaurav Munjal. While the companies initially differed in focus—Unacademy on test preparation and upGrad on higher education—their structural fit became evident as the edtech market shifted toward sustainable economics. The merger combines Unacademy's product savviness and consumer reach with upGrad's professional learning depth to enhance India's workforce.

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InsuranceDekho, RenewBuy announce merger to build pan-India insurance distribution platform

Startups

"Insurtech startups InsuranceDekho and RenewBuy have merged to create a pan-India insurance distribution platform operating under the InsuranceDekho brand. Led by Ankit Agrawal, the combined entity boasts a premium book exceeding Rs 6,600 crore and coverage across 98.57% of India's pin codes. By integrating AI-powered advisory and an extensive partner network, the Gurugram-based company aims to streamline policy issuance and expand insurance accessibility nationwide.".

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Pernia’s Pop Up Shop Parent IPO: Issue Subscribed 20% On Day 2 So Far

Business

Pernia’s Pop Up Shop parent Purple Style Labs’ initial public offering (IPO) continued to see steady investor interest on the.

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