When A Sale ‘Dies’: Did Flipkart’s Dark Humour Go Too Far?

Source: inc42

When A Sale ‘Dies’: Did Flipkart’s Dark Humour Go Too Far?

Business

Flipkart's obituary-style advertisement for its Freedom Sale has sparked significant controversy, dividing opinions on whether the campaign was a clever subversion or insensitive. While the ad successfully grabbed attention by mimicking memorial notices to signal ending deals, critics and brand experts argue that using death-related imagery risks damaging long-term trust. The debate highlights the tension between generating immediate visibility and maintaining brand civility.

Read Full Story

This startup wants to turn idle user car inventory into rental revenue

Startups

When Igor Dobrianskyi looks at a car dealership lot, he doesn't see rows of cars — he sees millions of dollars just sitting there, depreciating, while people who only need a car for a few months are stuck paying too much for too little choice, so he built MyMonthlyCar, a platform that lets dealers rent out their idle used cars month to month (with an option to buy), and it's now one of the startups showing off at this year's TechCrunch Disrupt, running October 13 to 15 in San Francisco.

Read Full Story

Shopify debuts Canvas, a way to build online stores by chatting with AI

Startups

Shopify launched Canvas, a new AI-powered site-building tool allowing merchants to create online stores by chatting with its Sidekick AI agent. Canvas displays real-time, interactive previews of the actual store code, adaptable across various screen sizes. This innovation simplifies store setup, making e-commerce more accessible for individuals without coding skills or developer budgets, aligning with a broader industry trend towards AI-driven website creation.

Read Full Story

Jio IPO nears launch: DRHP filed, SEBI clears path

Startups

Reliance’s digital arm moves closer to listing with a Rs 37,700‑crore fresh issue; final price band and subscription dates expected soon. One of the most anticipated IPOs in India is the Jio IPO. In 2019, at the AGM of Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh Ambani, Managing Director of Reliance I.

Read Full Story

The new Kindle ditches the bezel in a push toward a smaller, lighter e-reader

Startups

Amazon has significantly redesigned its Kindle e-readers, introducing a flush-front, bezel-free display across its lineup. New models are thinner, lighter, and feature 30% faster page turns. Amazon uses "Cap" touch technology to create a "dead zone" for finger placement. The updated standard Kindle, Paperwhite, and Colorsoft offer new colors.

Read Full Story

Practical tips every Indian household should know How to choose the right family health insurance plan

Startups

From sum insured and hospital networks to waiting periods, exclusions, and claims support, here are key factors Indian families should consider before choosing a health insurance plan. Choosing a health plan for the family is among the most important financial decisions a household can make, y.

Read Full Story

Why procurement and legal teams still struggle to work as one

Startups

Despite the necessity of working together, legal and procurement teams often find themselves at odds. While both play a critical role in the business, their different priorities can create friction. Can technology bridge the gap and help them work together more effectively?

Read Full Story

Razorpay enables Apple Pay for online and in-store payments in India

Startups

From Zepto to IndiGo, shoppers can now skip OTPs and pay with Face ID or Touch ID, marking a new chapter in India’s digital payment authentication. Razorpay has enabled Apple Pay for online and in-store payments in India, allowing eligible shoppers to complete transactions using Face ID, Touch ID.

Read Full Story

The Pentagon taps Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to help decide what the military should do next

Startups

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just launched a 120-day study on the future of warfare, led by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich, and while it makes sense given their ties to the administration, critics could point out that Musk's and Luckey's companies already sell the kinds of technology the study is likely to recommend.

Read Full Story

Valor, Atreides, and Sequoia back AI startup Flow Engineering at $750M valuation

Startups

Flow Engineering, an AI startup for hardware design, raised a $50 million Series B round at a $750 million valuation. Valar Equity Partners and Atreides Management co-led the funding, with Sequoia Capital also participating. Former Sequoia partner Roelof Botha joined Flow's board. The company provides AI agents that automate CAD drawing alignment with product requirements and testing. Its customer roster includes notable names like Anduril, Rivian, Joby Aviation, and General Motors PPU.

Read Full Story

Is Neko Health’s body scan worth it? Spotify billionaire’s startup has come to America

Startups

Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s Neko Health raised $700 million to build a business around scanning your body, but it’s not the only company centering its roadmap around a new kind of preventative healthcare. Midjourney is building its own body scanner, while Function Health has also raised significant capital to build out its preventative-health platform. Why are investors betting so big on this category? On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, […].

Read Full Story

Home interiors startup Gravity raises $15M led by 3one4 Capital and Info Edge Ventures

Startups

Home interiors startup Gravity raised $15 million in funding, led by 3one4 Capital and Info Edge Ventures, with other investors participating. The capital will strengthen technology, distribution, and infrastructure, support category expansion, and build brand capabilities. Founded by former Livspace executives, Gravity aims to simplify India's fragmented interior materials ecosystem, initially focusing on kitchens and wardrobes, by providing a shared technology and operating backbone for specialist businesses.

Read Full Story

Tinder adapts to a social, IRL dating future with ‘Group Hangouts’ feature

Startups

As younger users grow increasingly tired of the endless scroll, dating apps are scrambling to adapt to a generation that increasingly wants dating to feel more social and rooted in real-world experiences. The latest example comes from Tinder, which on Wednesday announced the launch of “Group Hangouts,” a new feature that lets groups of friends […].

Read Full Story

WillJini raises first round at $3.5M valuation, without pitching a single VC

Startups

WillJini raises first round at $3.5M valuation, without pitching a single VC Estate-planning startup WillJini grew from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 50 lakh in monthly revenue over three years using client money, before raising from SPJIMR batchmates, friends, and its own channel partners. Less than 1% of I.

Read Full Story

Startup Funding Crawls Up 5% YoY To $2.2 Bn In Q3 As Investors Get Picky

Business

Indian startups raised $2.2 Bn in Q3 2026, a 5% YoY increase, despite declining deal counts and active investors. Growth stage funding surged 38%, while AI, deeptech, and cleantech attracted strong interest. M&A activity rose 69% YoY, and six new tech companies went public, providing investor liquidity. Bengaluru led funding with over $1.4 Bn, and two startups achieved.

Read Full Story

Apple Pay Launches In India, Partners With Axis Bank

Business

Apple Pay has launched in India, with Axis Bank as its first banking partner. The service initially supports Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank, allowing iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users to make payments in apps, online, and at contactless stores. Payment infrastructure providers like Juspay and Cashfree are facilitating its rollout across various merchant networks, with Mac support expected soon.

Read Full Story

Why the next commerce battle will be for the gap between discovery and access

Startups

Digital content has made product discovery increasingly accessible across India, but affordability, assortment and convenience remain gaps for consumers beyond the metros. The next phase of ecommerce will depend on how effectively businesses bridge that gap between aspiration and access.

Read Full Story

OpenAI’s latest features take direct aim at the app store model

Startups

"At OpenAI's Dev Day, the company unveiled plans to disrupt traditional app stores by transforming ChatGPT into a central hub for software discovery and execution. New features include in-chat app suggestions, an enterprise marketplace, and 'Sign in with ChatGPT' for identity management. Additionally, OpenAI introduced 'Dots,' autonomous AI agents capable of navigating the web and utilizing over 4,000 connected apps to complete complex tasks for users.".

Read Full Story

Will Amend IT Rules To Bar Under-18s From Social Media: Centre To SC

Business

The Centre informed the Supreme Court it plans to amend IT Rules, prohibiting individuals under 18 from opening social media accounts. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that agreements with minors are void, emphasizing the need to protect children from online risks. This move, prompted by an NGO petition, would place India among nations tightening social media access for youth, with an 18-year threshold being notably higher than most international standards.

Read Full Story

AI-powered app maker Wabi pivots to a messaging experience

Startups

AI startup Wabi is pivoting to Wabi 2.0, an AI messenger that dynamically builds apps for users. Founder Eugenia Kuyda describes it as a personal agent creating interfaces on demand, moving beyond chat-only interactions. It aims to combine conversation and productivity, allowing users to.

Read Full Story

Can a chatbot fix the government maze? The White House is about to find out

Startups

President Trump announced America.gov, an AI chatbot designed to simplify access to government services and information. Google confirmed its partnership, utilizing its Gemini AI model. Trump described it as "one front door" for all inquiries. However, the article raises concerns about AI chatbots' susceptibility to hallucinations. Errors from America.gov could lead to serious consequences for users seeking vital information on food stamps, visas, or taxes, potentially causing missed deadlines or denied benefits.

Read Full Story

Categories