Startup in Brief - News in 60 Words

Khosla Ventures is opening a New York office this fall — its first outpost outside Sand Hill Road

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 02:49:05 GMT

"It's actually allegedly being built out now," said Rabois, who has clearly dealt with a missed construction timeline or two.

Y Combinator’s Garry Tan wants U.S. open-weight AI labs to ‘distill’ frontier models, too

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 02:29:47 GMT

Tan argues that frontier models themselves trained on public human knowledge so access to capable AI should be "a form of public good.".

OpenAI’s feud with mathematicians is only escalating

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 02:27:36 GMT

Twenty-five leading mathematicians signed an open letter arguing that AI labs are threatening their intellectual work.

One week left to book your exhibit table at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 02:03:18 GMT

Only one week left to secure your exhibit table. Tables are limited and can sell out before the September 18 deadline.

Final, final, final call for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Side Events

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 02:00:17 GMT

The absolute last chance to apply to host an official Side Event during TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is tonight, September 11, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Accel Offloads ₹156 Cr Stake In BlackBuck Via Block Deal

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:11:34 GMT

Early backer Accel India yesterday sold 27 Lakh shares of logistics giant BlackBuck via an open-market transaction for ₹155.5 Cr.

Kimi-maker Moonshot AI targets $2 billion in annual revenue

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:05:54 GMT

While K3's usage figures have declined slightly in recent months, OpenRouter data currently shows as many as 300 billion tokens being generated each day by K3 models on the system.

Central Eurasia names its 2026 Road to Battlefield winners: Cerberus, WeGlobal AI, and LOOQ

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:28:01 GMT

Cerberus, WeGlobal AI, and LOOQ took the top three spots at the regional final of Road to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2026 and will represent Central Eurasia in the Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco this October.

Amazon Pay To Double Down On Insurance With New Offerings

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:02:01 GMT

With an eye on expanding its financial services offerings, Amazon Pay is now reportedly doubling down on insurance in India.

Nscale adds former OpenAI exec Fidji Simo to its board ahead of potential IPO

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:16:25 GMT

The No. 2 exec at OpenAI also led Instacart through its IPO in 2023.

Mitti Labs Enters Deal With Google For 1 Mn Carbon Credits

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 21:57:05 GMT

Climate tech startup Mitti Labs has signed a four-year agreement with Google to supply 1 Mn Carbon credits till 2030,.

GFF 2026: Here Are The New Launches Announced On Day 3

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 21:35:03 GMT

The Global Fintech Festival (GFF) 2026 came to a close today with three days of conversations, launches, and partnerships. Following.

Roblox is making it easier to build games with AI — and play them outside Roblox

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Roblox will allow creator to deploy their games across PC< consoles, and mobile as standalone apps.

Matt Mullenweg tells Automattic staff in Slack he’s back in control after CEO ouster

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 20:49:00 GMT

In a Slack message seen by TechCrunch, Matt Mullenweg told Automattic employees he’s back in control of the company, days after its board put him on leave. Automattic has not yet confirmed the apparent reversal.

Army Design Bureau visits Garuda Aerospace’s Chennai drone facility

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 20:28:23 GMT

Major General Gopal Kapoor visited Garuda Aerospace’s Chennai facility to review its indigenous defence drone manufacturing, testing and R&D capabilities.

Karnataka launches Rs 25 crore Government First startup initiative

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 20:27:22 GMT

Karnataka launched the "Government First Initiative" to make government a first customer for startups. This Rs 25 crore program supports 100 startups over three years, offering up to Rs 25 lakh for pilot implementation of deployment-ready solutions. It allows startups to propose ideas or respond to problem statements, removing prior experience requirements. Successful pilots can lead to wider government procurement, connecting innovation with public service delivery.

[Weekly funding roundup Sept 5-11] VC inflow doubles this week

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:29:47 GMT

Indian startup funding doubled to $392M this week, with Pixxel, Popo Global, and Nua among the biggest deals. Spacetech, restaurants, and women’s wellness drew investor interest, while Series A startups accounted for $104M of the funding.

Scammers target hundreds of thousands of crypto owners after Trezor confirms data breach of email provider

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:02:54 GMT

This is the second data breach affecting a company that hardware crypto wallet maker Trezor relies on.

Navi is using AI to build credit and fraud models, says Sachin Bansal

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:56:10 GMT

The Navi founder said access to AI will become less of a differentiator as the technology gets easier to use.

Graph AI raises $13.3M in Series A funding

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:58:43 GMT

The tech startup focused on the pharmaceutical industry will use the funding to expand its presence across the US and Europe and accelerate product development.

Fintech Stocks Rally On Report Of 40 Basis Point MDR On UPI, Paytm Touches 52-Week High

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:21:52 GMT

Fintech stocks, including Pine Labs, Mobikwik, AvenuesAI, and Paytm, rallied significantly following reports that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) fees on UPI transactions could soon be notified. The proposed 40 bps MDR for P2M transactions, with third-party apps receiving around 12 bps, is expected to unlock a substantial ₹5,000-10,000 Cr revenue stream for payment.

How Rapido’s Super App Model Is Taking Shape

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:07:39 GMT

In April 2016, a bike taxi startup barely a few months old persuaded some established names in Indian business to.

GFF 2026: NPCI Unveils Unified Ticketing, Takes RuPay Credit Card On UPI To US, UAE

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 17:06:55 GMT

Adding to the spree of UPI launches at the Global Fintech Festival (GFF) 2026 in Mumbai, Reserve Bank of India.

Triptii Dimri Backs D2C Brand Peep Beauty As Investor, Co-Creator

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:52:22 GMT

Actor Triptii Dimri has joined D2C eye-focused beauty brand Peep Beauty as an investor and co-creator as the startup looks.

NSE sets IPO price band at Rs 1,700-1,785; issue to open on September 17

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:20:25 GMT

The Rs 22,569-crore IPO will be the country's second-largest public issue after Hyundai Motor India's Rs 27,870-crore IPO. It will be entirely an offer for sale of up to 12.64 crore equity shares by existing shareholders.

EaseMyTrip Cofounder Nishant Pitti Pledges Shares Worth ₹212 Cr To Motilal Oswal

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:11:20 GMT

EaseMyTrip cofounder and chairman Nishant Pitti has pledged 34.51 Cr shares of the online travel aggregator, worth ₹211.9 Cr, to.

Pizza Bakery founders Popo Global raise Rs 532 Cr from Artal Asia

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:03:42 GMT

Popo Global, which has 40 outlets across Bengaluru, plans to use the capital to expand beyond the city.

ESDS Touches Upper Circuit Again, Now Up 306% From IPO Price

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:23:31 GMT

ESDS Software Solution extended its post-listing surge into a sixth consecutive trading session today, with its shares touching the upper.

Exclusive: Ultraviolette To Raise ₹373 Cr As Manufacturing Facility BIGGA Takes Shape

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:16:33 GMT

Electric two-wheeler (E2W) maker Ultraviolette Automotive is set to raise an additional ₹373.04 Cr as part of its ongoing Series.

RentoMojo IPO Subscription Hits 17.18X On Final Day, NIIs Lead Demand

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:54:54 GMT

Online furniture and appliance rental platform RentoMojo’s IPO was subscribed 17.18X by 13:27 IST on the final day of bidding.

Paris Panini Parent Popo Global Raises ₹532 Cr From Artal Asia

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:44:52 GMT

"Bengaluru-based restaurant company Popo Global, operator of brands like The Pizza Bakery, Paris Panini, and Smash Guys, has raised ₹532 crore from Artal Asia. Founded in 2017, the company currently operates 41 outlets in Bengaluru. Popo Global intends to use the investment to scale its portfolio of gourmet food brands across India, leveraging a model that blends quick-service convenience with a fine-dining customer experience.".

OpenAI Open To Slowing AI Development Amid Safety Concerns: Sam Altman

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:51:28 GMT

OpenAI's CEO indicated openness to slowing advanced AI development with other companies to ensure adequate safeguards, citing competitive pressures. Separately, OpenAI paused new Pro plan subscriptions due to "unprecedented" demand for its Astra model, aiming to maintain service quality for existing users. Meanwhile, concerns about AI misuse intensify, with.

Namma Yatri launches retail platform for drivers

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:48:12 GMT

Namma Yatri has entered the retail space with Namma Santhe, a physical and online shopping platform offering everyday products to its drivers in Bengaluru.

UPI MDR May Be Set At 40 Bps; Banks Could Get Largest Share: Report

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:31:48 GMT

The government may soon notify a framework for levying a merchant discount rate (MDR) on select Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

Pocket Entertainment crosses $500M in ARR fuelled by AI

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:28:20 GMT

Pocket Entertaiment attributed its growth to audio platform Pocket FM and the increasing use of AI across content creation, production, personalisation and distribution. It noted that AI has reduced the time required to launch in new markets from about 12 months to two.

Hero Motors’ Rs 1,000 Cr IPO to open on September 16; price band fixed at Rs 79–84 per share

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:36:15 GMT

The IPO comprises a fresh issue of equity shares worth up to Rs 600 crore, and an offer-for-sale of shares worth up to Rs 400 crore by promoters. Hero Motors’ initial public offering will open for subscription on Wednesday (September 16, 2026) and close on Friday (September 18). The company has s.

Loss is change, & change is nature's greatest delight today

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Explore how loss and change shape growth, resilience, and new beginnings through the wisdom of nature's constant transformation.

GFF 2026 Day 2 Unpacked, RentoMojo’s IPO & More

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:16 GMT

AI Takes The Stage At Global Fintech Fest It was an action-packed second day at the Global Fintech Fest 2026.

Stellar lineup at TechSparks 2026; How Jagriti is helping women build digital businesses

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 07:30:00 GMT

TechSparks 2026, YourStory’s flagship startup-tech summit, returns to Bengaluru from October 13 to 15 with the theme ‘The New Tech Order’ and an stellar lineup of speakers. Meawnhile, Jagriti Sewa Sansthan’s Women’s Centre of Excellence is helping women in eastern UP build sustainable businesses.

Thrive Capital led VCs into pro sports ownership; Collaborative Fund just upped that play

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Collaborative Fund just bought into D.C. United and its stadium, with firm founder Craig Shapiro pitching it as a way to showcase for the firm's startups.

Jensen Huang explains why Nvidia will grow an astounding 70% next year

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 03:21:59 GMT

Nvidia has its finger in every pie, and sees another year of plenty in its future, Jensen Huang says. But, he insists, its deals are not circular.

Mark Wahlberg is coming to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, and he wants to talk about your work, not his

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 03:05:00 GMT

Mark Wahlberg joins Bruce K. Lee at Disrupt to discuss investing, entrepreneurship, healthcare, wellness and building businesses.

PhonePe Shuts Down Engineering Office In The US: Report

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:42:34 GMT

Fintech major PhonePe has reportedly shut down its engineering office in the US, winding down a four year-old team. Sources.

OpenAI puts Pro subscriptions on hold due to Astra demand

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:29:51 GMT

The company said Pro subscriptions put the most strain on its systems, so it's pausing sign-ups while adding more capacity.

Anthropic details distillation campaigns from Alibaba, Moonshot AI, and DeepSeek

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:27:30 GMT

A new report released Thursday by Anthropic alleges persistent distillation attacks by China-based AI companies, which have escalated in recent months as competition in the space has intensified.

Furo’s founders left Silicon Valley — and it’s paying off

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:18:00 GMT

The three 28-year-old founders behind energy startup Furo moved from Silicon Valley and back to Germany, and yet secured $4 million in funding from mostly U.S. backers.

Meta’s AI agent Muse is now the No. 2 app in the US

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 01:20:04 GMT

Meta's newest app Muse is off to a slower start than the company's other apps, like Meta AI or Threads.

Proxima Fusion bets €140M on a critical fusion ingredient dominated by Asian suppliers

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:08:00 GMT

Proxima Fusion plans a €140 million factory in Germany to produce high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape. This critical component will generate powerful magnetic fields for its fusion reactors, enabling smaller, more efficient designs. The move follows a significant €411 million funding round and includes €21 million from Lower Saxony.

Govt Tightens Ecommerce Rules Ahead Of The Festive Season

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:51:27 GMT

The Indian government has introduced the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, effective January 2027, to combat dark patterns and enhance transparency. Online marketplaces must now disclose sponsored listings, provide genuine discount pricing, and conduct annual self-audits. Additionally, platforms must obtain express consent for data use and partner with the national consumer helpline to resolve grievances, addressing rising consumer complaints during peak festive sales.

Amazon makes it easier to buy what you see on Prime Video

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:40:36 GMT

Amazon is enhancing its TV shopping experience, integrating product discovery directly into Prime Video. New features allow customers to find items from thousands of titles via an updated X-Ray experience and "Shop the Scene" using Amazon Lens technology. These updates make product recommendations more prominent and accessible, improving upon the previous "Shop the Show" feature. This move aims to create additional revenue streams, aligning Amazon with other services offering shoppable content.