https://startupinbrief.com Latest Indian startup and tech news summarized in 60 words. en-us https://startupinbrief.com/news/elon-musks-x-money-app-is-rolling-out-in-the-us https://startupinbrief.com/news/elon-musks-x-money-app-is-rolling-out-in-the-us X is launching X Money for paid US subscribers, offering a Visa debit card with Apple Pay integration and free peer-to-peer transfers. Premium+ and Premium users can earn 6% APY, with the latter requiring direct deposit. The app also provides up to 3% cash back and free worldwide ATM withdrawals. This move aligns with Elon Musk's ambition to transform X into an "everything app" for financial services. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 20:27:12 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/whatsapp-now-lets-you-make-calls-using-its-web-app https://startupinbrief.com/news/whatsapp-now-lets-you-make-calls-using-its-web-app Meta is expanding WhatsApp's calling capabilities by introducing audio and video calls to WhatsApp for Web, including screen-sharing and reactions. New updates allow users to transfer calls between devices and implement waiting rooms for group calls via approval links. Additionally, the platform now features background noise suppression and immediate high-definition video. WhatsApp is also rolling out usernames to facilitate easier calling across different platforms. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 20:23:22 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/cursor-doubles-down-on-india-launches-india-specific-ai-coding-plan https://startupinbrief.com/news/cursor-doubles-down-on-india-launches-india-specific-ai-coding-plan AI coding platform Cursor has launched "Cursor Start," a subscription plan exclusively for India priced at ₹649 per month. This move follows SpaceX's $60 billion agreement to acquire the startup. The plan offers Grok 4.5 and cloud agents to India's growing developer base, which has tripled to 3 million. This expansion reflects a broader trend of global AI firms targeting the Indian market, projected to reach $126 billion by 2030. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:42:04 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/flipkarts-ekart-opens-logistics-network-to-d2c-brands-via-franchise-model https://startupinbrief.com/news/flipkarts-ekart-opens-logistics-network-to-d2c-brands-via-franchise-model Flipkart Group’s supply chain arm Ekart has opened its pan-India logistics network to MSMEs, D2C brands, FMCG companies, and enterprises,. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:34:11 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/fish-audio-raises-50m-seed-to-build-ai-voice-models-for-creators-and-enterprises https://startupinbrief.com/news/fish-audio-raises-50m-seed-to-build-ai-voice-models-for-creators-and-enterprises Fish Audio, a Palo Alto startup specializing in expressive AI voice models, has raised $50 million in seed funding led by Coreline Ventures and Capital Today. With over 8 million users and $21 million in annual recurring revenue, the company offers natural language controls for creators and enterprises. Despite facing challenges regarding voice consent, Fish Audio is expanding its product line to include audio understanding and speech-to-speech models. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:30:00 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/apple-launches-upgrade-device-leasing-program-in-partnership-with-klarna https://startupinbrief.com/news/apple-launches-upgrade-device-leasing-program-in-partnership-with-klarna Leasing prices start at $17.99 per month for iPhone, $11.99 for Apple Watch, $24.99 for Mac, and $11.99 for iPad. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:20:27 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/recursive-superintelligence-signs-410-compute-deal-with-amazon https://startupinbrief.com/news/recursive-superintelligence-signs-410-compute-deal-with-amazon Recursive Superintelligence has announced a $400 million compute deal with Amazon Web Services to scale its open-ended self-improving AI systems. The company prioritizes compute resources over headcount to automate product development. While AWS is not investing, the two entities will co-develop specialized infrastructure. Recursive, which raised $650 million in May, expects to release its first tangible, useful AI products to the public by October. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:49:17 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/granola-launches-an-apple-watch-app https://startupinbrief.com/news/granola-launches-an-apple-watch-app "AI note-taking app Granola has launched an Apple Watch application to allow users to record and transcribe meetings without needing their smartphones. The app integrates with watch faces and provides meeting reminders, facilitating hands-free capture during in-person interactions. This move follows Granola's recent unicorn status after a $125 million Series C funding round. The company chose watch integration over developing proprietary hardware to streamline the user experience.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:30:00 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/delhi-hc-orders-winding-up-of-paytm-payments-bank https://startupinbrief.com/news/delhi-hc-orders-winding-up-of-paytm-payments-bank The Delhi High Court has ordered the winding up of Paytm Payments Bank, appointing former SBI executive Girikumar M. Nair as the official liquidator. This follows the RBI's April decision to revoke the bank's license due to persistent regulatory non-compliance and governance lapses. While banking operations end, the court-supervised process aims to protect customers. Meanwhile, Paytm has migrated its digital payments to partner banks and seeks a new wallet license. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:11:01 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/bigbasket-losses-widen-as-revenue-grows-marginally-in-fy26 https://startupinbrief.com/news/bigbasket-losses-widen-as-revenue-grows-marginally-in-fy26 BigBasket, Tata Digital's online grocery arm, reported a 66% increase in losses to Rs 3,073 crore for FY26, despite a 7.7% revenue rise to Rs 8,223 crore. The company faces intense competition from quick commerce rivals like Blinkit and Zepto. Meanwhile, Tata Digital reported a total loss of Rs 4,974 crore and plans to refocus the Tata Neu app on financial services, loyalty, and insurance expansion. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:08:06 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/pine-labs-q1-net-profit-jumps-4x-revenue-up-20 https://startupinbrief.com/news/pine-labs-q1-net-profit-jumps-4x-revenue-up-20 Pine Labs reported a significant profit jump in Q1 FY27, with profit after tax reaching Rs 20 crore, a fourfold increase year-on-year. Revenue grew 20% to Rs 737 crore, driven by increased merchant digitization and UPI adoption. The fintech company expanded its international presence across 22 countries, seeing revenue rise 21%. Additionally, Pine Labs launched new payment protocols and credit lines on UPI to strengthen its market position. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:23:16 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/crisprbits-is-using-crispr-to-build-faster-tests-for-drug-resistant-infections https://startupinbrief.com/news/crisprbits-is-using-crispr-to-build-faster-tests-for-drug-resistant-infections CrisprBits, a Bengaluru-based company founded in 2020, utilizes CRISPR technology to combat antibiotic resistance. Its primary platform, PathCrisp, enables early detection of hospital-acquired infections to reduce broad antibiotic prescribing. After raising $3 million in a pre-Series A round, the company plans to expand into Africa and Latin America. Additionally, CrisprBits is partnering with JNCASR to establish a Centre of Excellence for CRISPR innovation and translation. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:08:52 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/decode-age-sells-gut-microbiome-tests-and-supplements-built-around-the-biology-of-ageing https://startupinbrief.com/news/decode-age-sells-gut-microbiome-tests-and-supplements-built-around-the-biology-of-ageing Bengaluru-based Decode Age focuses on measuring biological aging through gut microbiome sequencing and biomarkers. The company offers testing, research, and longevity supplements, with revenue growing to ₹11.9 crores in FY24. After appearing on Shark Tank India, it raised ₹14.48 crore in a pre-Series A round to expand its research and infrastructure. Decode Age partners with the Indian Institute of Science to advance longevity studies. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:07:18 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/cellogen-therapeutics-is-developing-car-t-cell-therapies-for-blood-cancers-in-india https://startupinbrief.com/news/cellogen-therapeutics-is-developing-car-t-cell-therapies-for-blood-cancers-in-india Cellogen Therapeutics, a New Delhi-based company, is developing affordable CAR-T and gene therapies for blood cancers and inherited blood disorders. Utilizing an in-house manufacturing facility in Noida, the company aims to reduce costs and target two cancer markers to prevent relapse. Backed by investments from Natco Pharma and Kotak, Cellogen plans a Phase I trial with Christian Medical College, Vellore, targeting a price of $60,000 to $70,000. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:05:49 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/trusterra-is-building-a-battery-health-score-to-make-used-electric-vehicles-resellable https://startupinbrief.com/news/trusterra-is-building-a-battery-health-score-to-make-used-electric-vehicles-resellable TrusTerra, founded in 2024, aims to revitalize India's used electric vehicle market by introducing TruEV Score, a standardized battery health rating. This tool helps buyers, dealers, and insurers accurately price EVs, reducing depreciation and uncertainty. Having raised Rs 9 crore in pre-seed funding, the company plans to expand its marketplace to 20 cities and certify 20,000 vehicles within 18 months to establish an industry-wide valuation standard. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:03:44 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/nykaa-appoints-ankit-jain-to-lead-quick-commerce-arm-nykaa-now https://startupinbrief.com/news/nykaa-appoints-ankit-jain-to-lead-quick-commerce-arm-nykaa-now Nykaa has appointed Ankit Jain, a supply chain veteran from Unilever and Swiggy's Instamart, to lead its quick-commerce vertical, Nykaa Now. The company aims to expand its 30-60 minute delivery service nationwide by FY30. Additionally, Nykaa is targeting same-day or next-day delivery for 90% of orders via "Nykaa Next Day" and leveraging its retail stores for "Nykaa Express" to provide hyperlocal deliveries within three hours. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:34:07 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/delhi-high-court-orders-winding-up-of-paytm-payments-bank-rbi https://startupinbrief.com/news/delhi-high-court-orders-winding-up-of-paytm-payments-bank-rbi "The Delhi High Court has ordered the winding up of Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) following the Reserve Bank of India's cancellation of its banking license. The RBI cited non-compliance and actions detrimental to depositors' interests. Girikumar M Nair has been appointed as the official liquidator. This decision follows a series of regulatory restrictions imposed on the bank since March 2022 due to material supervisory concerns.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:29:18 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/ai-firm-krutrim-lays-off-nearly-half-of-its-workforce https://startupinbrief.com/news/ai-firm-krutrim-lays-off-nearly-half-of-its-workforce Bhavish Aggarwal's Krutrim has reportedly cut 20 to 25 jobs, affecting product and engineering teams. This marks the second round of layoffs this year for the AI unicorn, which previously reduced its sales and operations staff. Despite these cuts and previous restructuring, the company reported a 3X revenue increase to Rs 300 crore in FY26 and its first annual net profit, maintaining a margin over 10%. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:23:30 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/table-space-to-file-draft-papers-for-350-mn-ipo-next-month-report https://startupinbrief.com/news/table-space-to-file-draft-papers-for-350-mn-ipo-next-month-report Managed workspace provider Table Space plans to file for an IPO by early August, seeking to raise up to $350 million. The public issue will likely include a ₹1,000 crore fresh equity component and an offer for sale. Despite a reported net loss in FY25 due to exceptional items, the company's operating revenue grew 51% to ₹1,360 crore, reflecting strong demand for enterprise office solutions in India. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:44:35 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/meta-summoned-after-pm-modi-post-removed-govt-rejects-glitch-explanation https://startupinbrief.com/news/meta-summoned-after-pm-modi-post-removed-govt-rejects-glitch-explanation The Indian government summoned Meta's global head of public policy after the company erroneously removed a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding paper leaks. While Meta attributed the removal to an automated filter glitch, officials found the explanation insufficient. This incident occurs amid broader regulatory scrutiny of Meta in India, including concerns over WhatsApp features, Instagram advertisements, and AI tools, as the government emphasizes platform accountability. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:44:33 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/flipkarts-supply-chain-arm-ekart-opens-logistics-network-to-external-brands https://startupinbrief.com/news/flipkarts-supply-chain-arm-ekart-opens-logistics-network-to-external-brands "Ekart, the logistics arm of Flipkart Group, is opening its pan-India network to external businesses, including MSMEs, D2C brands, and FMCG companies. Through a new franchise model and expanded warehousing, Ekart aims to reach 1,000 outlets by 2026. External partners will gain access to dedicated fulfillment centers and AI-powered technology for shipment tracking and demand forecasting, enabling them to scale operations and reduce delivery turnaround times.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:34:42 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/antler-india-bets-on-ai-climate-tech-and-deeptech-with-new-startup-cohort https://startupinbrief.com/news/antler-india-bets-on-ai-climate-tech-and-deeptech-with-new-startup-cohort VC firm Antler India has unveiled nine early-stage startups across sectors including AI, climate technology, mobility, and healthtech. This new cohort emphasizes a shift toward solving complex industrial and infrastructure challenges over traditional consumer internet models. Featuring innovations like autonomous cargo aircraft and long-duration batteries, the startups reflect India's growing deeptech landscape and global ambitions, supported by a broader national push toward AI infrastructure and indigenous development. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:28:51 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/centre-summons-meta-over-removal-of-pm-modis-facebook-post https://startupinbrief.com/news/centre-summons-meta-over-removal-of-pm-modis-facebook-post The electronics and IT ministry (MeitY) has summoned Meta’s global head of public policy after Facebook temporarily removed a video. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:08:38 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/pine-labs-q1-profit-surges-4x-yoy-to-20-cr-revenue-up-20 https://startupinbrief.com/news/pine-labs-q1-profit-surges-4x-yoy-to-20-cr-revenue-up-20 Fintech major Pine Labs reported a significant surge in Q1 FY27 net profit, which rose over fourfold year-on-year to ₹19.6 crore from ₹4.8 crore. Operating revenue grew 20% YoY to ₹736.9 crore, reflecting a 5% sequential increase. Despite this growth, net profit declined by 203% compared to the previous quarter. Total income reached ₹765.9 crore, while total expenses increased by 11% year-on-year to ₹728.1 crore. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:01:54 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/nykaa-ropes-in-ex-instamart-coo-ankit-jain-to-helm-nykaa-now https://startupinbrief.com/news/nykaa-ropes-in-ex-instamart-coo-ankit-jain-to-helm-nykaa-now Ankit Jain, former COO of Swiggy Instamart, has joined Nykaa as the business head for Nykaa Now and executive vice president for supply chain of Nykaa Beauty. His appointment aligns with Nykaa's strategy to aggressively expand its quick commerce operations in FY27. This move follows significant executive turnover at Swiggy Instamart. Meanwhile, Nykaa reports strong growth projections for its beauty and fashion segments, targeting $5 billion in GMV by FY30. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:59:52 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/why-qosmic-pivoted-from-building-satellites-to-ground-infrastructure-for-satellite-data https://startupinbrief.com/news/why-qosmic-pivoted-from-building-satellites-to-ground-infrastructure-for-satellite-data Modern satellites generate massive data volumes that exceed current radio-based downlink capacities. To solve this bottleneck, Indian startups like Astrogate Labs and Olee Space are developing laser communication. Specifically, QOSMIC is building low-cost optical ground stations to enable high-speed data transfer from space to Earth. By offering ground-station-as-a-service, QOSMIC aims to reduce costs and increase efficiency for global satellite operators through a distributed network. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:55:23 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/upgrad-unacademy-merger-nears-completion https://startupinbrief.com/news/upgrad-unacademy-merger-nears-completion Edtech major upGrad is in the final stages of acquiring edtech rival Unacademy in a transaction valued at ₹1,955 Cr,. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:41:12 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/delhi-hc-grants-bharatpe-interim-relief-in-unity-sfb-shareholding-dispute https://startupinbrief.com/news/delhi-hc-grants-bharatpe-interim-relief-in-unity-sfb-shareholding-dispute "The Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to BharatPe by restraining Unity Small Finance Bank from increasing its authorized share capital and amending its memorandum of association. BharatPe argues that such changes require its prior consent and could dilute its 49% stake to 21%. Unity SFB contends the move only facilitates warrant conversion into non-voting shares. The court will hear the matter again on October 28.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:09:03 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/access-to-growth-capital-and-market-expansion-are-top-priorities-for-hyderabads-startup-ecosystem https://startupinbrief.com/news/access-to-growth-capital-and-market-expansion-are-top-priorities-for-hyderabads-startup-ecosystem Hyderabad's startup ecosystem, comprising over 10,000 startups, is transitioning toward global scaling and market expansion, according to Endiya Partners' Hyderabad Startup Readiness Index 2026. While the city boasts strong infrastructure, talent from 355 global capability centres, and $3 billion in venture funding since 2014, stakeholders emphasize the need for increased growth capital. Improving capital access and collaboration remains critical for building globally competitive companies. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:06:40 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/snitch-acquires-d2c-womens-fashion-brand-berrylush-to-expand-beyond-menswear https://startupinbrief.com/news/snitch-acquires-d2c-womens-fashion-brand-berrylush-to-expand-beyond-menswear Menswear brand Snitch has acquired a 100% stake in D2C women’s fashion label Berrylush to enter the women's apparel market. While financial terms remain undisclosed, Berrylush will maintain its brand identity and existing team. Snitch intends to scale the brand into a ₹1,000 Cr business by providing support in technology, supply chain, and marketing, leveraging Berrylush's established customer base to accelerate its growth and omnichannel expansion. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:35:19 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/lyft-and-baidu-enter-londons-robotaxi-battleground-as-testing-begins https://startupinbrief.com/news/lyft-and-baidu-enter-londons-robotaxi-battleground-as-testing-begins Baidu has begun testing its Apollo Go RT6 autonomous vehicles in London through a partnership with Lyft and Freenow. Currently operating with human safety drivers in Brent, the service aims for a public launch by 2027, pending regulatory approval. This move places Baidu in competition with Waymo and Uber in the UK market. The final service will utilize a hybrid network, combining robotaxis with professional human drivers. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:30:00 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/anicut-capital-takes-control-of-bira-91-founder-ankur-jains-stake https://startupinbrief.com/news/anicut-capital-takes-control-of-bira-91-founder-ankur-jains-stake "Anicut Capital has acquired a stake of over 17% in B9 Beverages, the parent company of Bira 91, from founder Ankur Jain and his family. This transition follows Jain's resignation from the board and the relinquishment of executive control amid a severe financial crisis and debt exceeding ₹1,000 crore. Anicut Capital will now lead restructuring efforts and nominate three directors to revive the debt-laden craft beer maker.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:18:10 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/inflexor-ventures-raises-rs-400-cr-as-first-close-of-fund-iii https://startupinbrief.com/news/inflexor-ventures-raises-rs-400-cr-as-first-close-of-fund-iii Inflexor Ventures has announced the first close of its third fund, the Inflexor Technology Discovery Fund, securing Rs 400 crore toward a Rs 1,250 crore target. Backed by the SRI Fund and HDFC AMC, the fund targets pre-Series A and Series A investments with cheque sizes between Rs 15 crore and Rs 45 crore. The firm aims to build a portfolio of 22–25 globally ambitious technology companies. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:17:59 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/swiggy-instamart-onboards-former-myntra-ceo-nandita-sinha-as-chief https://startupinbrief.com/news/swiggy-instamart-onboards-former-myntra-ceo-nandita-sinha-as-chief "Swiggy Instamart has appointed former Myntra CEO Nandita Sinha as its new chief executive to drive the platform's next growth phase. Sinha succeeds Amitesh Jha, who recently resigned to take a personal break and spend time with his family. Sinha, who left Myntra in April after a five-year tenure, is expected to further develop Instamart's differentiated assortment strategy and maintain the company's current growth momentum.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:08:04 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/icici-prudential-mf-raises-shadowfax-stake-to-856-after-buying-89-lakh-shares https://startupinbrief.com/news/icici-prudential-mf-raises-shadowfax-stake-to-856-after-buying-89-lakh-shares ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has increased its stake in logistics firm Shadowfax to 8.56% after acquiring 89.44 lakh shares for approximately ₹192 crore. This move follows significant stake sales by Flipkart and Eight Roads Ventures. Shadowfax's stock has risen 84% since its January listing, driven by strong financial growth and a shift to profitability in Q4 FY26, with revenue increasing 73.6% to ₹1,237 crore. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:37:20 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/krutrim-cuts-nearly-half-of-remaining-workforce-in-fresh-layoffs https://startupinbrief.com/news/krutrim-cuts-nearly-half-of-remaining-workforce-in-fresh-layoffs Bhavish Aggarwal's AI startup, Krutrim, has laid off 20-25 employees in its second round of cuts this year, nearly halving its remaining workforce. Primarily affecting product and engineering teams, the restructuring aligns with a strategic pivot toward enterprise AI and cloud infrastructure. Despite reporting increased revenue and profit, the unicorn faces allegations of delayed salary and reimbursement payments while reducing its dependence on Ola Group companies. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:26:25 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/two-fund-managers-who-handled-rs-135-lakh-crore-for-others-just-built-a-company-for-indias-rich https://startupinbrief.com/news/two-fund-managers-who-handled-rs-135-lakh-crore-for-others-just-built-a-company-for-indias-rich "Veriqus, a new wealthtech platform co-founded by industry veterans Ashish Gumashta and Roshi Jain, aims to consolidate wealth management, asset management, business advisory, and lending for India's high-net-worth individuals. Unlike typical startups, it is led by experienced money managers. The company recently raised Rs 387 crore, led by Norwest Venture Partners, to target underserved high-growth cities and provide an integrated, AI-enabled financial ecosystem for wealthy families.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 11:19:08 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/fashion-commerce-finds-its-plus-size-fit https://startupinbrief.com/news/fashion-commerce-finds-its-plus-size-fit Indian D2C fashion brands are shifting from treating plus-size clothing as a separate category to integrating inclusive sizing into their core design and data strategies. By leveraging AI-led tools and low-inventory models, brands like Virgio and NEWME are focusing on precise fit and trend-led designs. This evolution addresses a growing market for both extended sizes and relaxed silhouettes, aiming to build customer loyalty through better proportions. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 11:00:05 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/cursor-makes-its-biggest-india-push-yet-ahead-of-spacex-acquisition-with-localized-pricing https://startupinbrief.com/news/cursor-makes-its-biggest-india-push-yet-ahead-of-spacex-acquisition-with-localized-pricing "AI coding startup Cursor has launched "Cursor Start," a localized subscription for India priced at ₹649 per month. This move targets one of the world's largest developer markets to drive growth before Cursor's acquisition by SpaceX closes in Q3. The plan offers essential AI tools at a lower cost than the Pro version. Cursor is also expanding its local presence by hiring sales and support staff across India.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/how-entrepreneurs-turn-dreams-into-successful-startups https://startupinbrief.com/news/how-entrepreneurs-turn-dreams-into-successful-startups The startup journey begins with a vision and the courage to move from imagination to execution. Entrepreneurs transform beliefs into reality by identifying problems and creating solutions, often facing uncertainty and failure. Success requires resilience, constant adaptation, and a purpose-driven mindset. By taking small, consistent steps and learning from setbacks, founders build momentum, ultimately proving that persistence and determination can turn ambitious dreams into tangible, impactful businesses. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/temples-valuation-jackpot-phonepes-fy26-losses-more https://startupinbrief.com/news/temples-valuation-jackpot-phonepes-fy26-losses-more Deepinder Goyal’s wearable startup, Temple, reached a $375 million valuation, initiating an ESOP buyback. Meanwhile, PhonePe reported a widened FY26 loss of ₹2,792 crore, pausing its IPO. In other news, the CBDT introduced new crypto reporting norms, Omega Seiki raised ₹50 crore for EV expansion, and Zepto won a trademark battle. Additionally, IndiaMART invested in Fleetx, and TakeMe2Space is developing orbital AI data centers. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 08:00:41 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/cracking-the-economics-of-rocket-science-indians-with-income-above-rs-100-cr https://startupinbrief.com/news/cracking-the-economics-of-rocket-science-indians-with-income-above-rs-100-cr Tech giants including Nvidia and Microsoft launched the Open Secure AI Alliance to improve AI safety. In India, Visage Lines Personal Care reported significant revenue growth, while Urban Harvest secured Rs 341.4 crore in funding. India's private space sector achieved orbit via Skyroot, emphasizing commercial scalability. Additionally, over 500 Indians earned above Rs 100 crore in FY26, and China's CXMT became the nation's most valuable listed company. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 07:30:00 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/anthropics-dario-amodei-responds-doesnt-oppose-open-weight-models-but-fears-chinese-ai https://startupinbrief.com/news/anthropics-dario-amodei-responds-doesnt-oppose-open-weight-models-but-fears-chinese-ai Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei clarified that his company does not advocate for banning open-weight AI models, describing them as a public good. While he supports restricting chip access and distillation to counter authoritarian governments, particularly China, he distinguishes these threats from open-weight models. Amodei expressed concerns over AI-enabled biological attacks and advocated for a global safety testing organization to ensure security and prevent military superiority. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:43:33 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/tata-digital-posts-nearly-5000-cr-loss-in-fy26-as-bigbasket-bleeds https://startupinbrief.com/news/tata-digital-posts-nearly-5000-cr-loss-in-fy26-as-bigbasket-bleeds Tata Digital's FY26 revenue rose 11.9% to ₹35,990 crore, yet net losses grew to ₹4,974 crore, primarily driven by BigBasket's quick commerce expansion. While GMV reached ₹46,515 crore, several subsidiaries remained unprofitable. Consequently, the group is pivoting the Tata Neu super app toward financial services and loyalty offerings. Meanwhile, Tata Electronics saw revenue surge 97% to ₹1.31 lakh crore as it scales semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 03:34:44 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/satya-nadella-says-companies-that-trust-one-ai-for-everything-may-not-survive https://startupinbrief.com/news/satya-nadella-says-companies-that-trust-one-ai-for-everything-may-not-survive "Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warns that businesses relying exclusively on proprietary AI labs risk failure by 'outsourcing their thinking.' He urges companies to maintain control over their data, prompts, and metadata to eventually build their own models. By using AI gateways and open-weight models, firms can avoid dependency on single providers and prevent AI labs from competing against them, though Nadella notes consumers still trade data for services.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:47:11 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/thea-energy-lands-20m-federal-grant-to-build-its-magnets-for-fusion-reactors https://startupinbrief.com/news/thea-energy-lands-20m-federal-grant-to-build-its-magnets-for-fusion-reactors "Thea Energy, a fusion power startup, has received a $20 million ARPA-E grant from the Department of Energy to manufacture modular high-temperature superconducting magnets. These components are critical for its stellarator reactor design. By utilizing fewer magnet templates and software-controlled small magnets, Thea aims to lower production costs. Having raised $120 million in funding, the company plans to build a commercial-scale fusion power plant by the mid-2040s.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:10:12 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/as-rivals-chase-acquisitions-peacock-bets-on-bundles-through-a-new-deal-with-youtube https://startupinbrief.com/news/as-rivals-chase-acquisitions-peacock-bets-on-bundles-through-a-new-deal-with-youtube "NBCUniversal and YouTube have announced a multi-year global partnership to integrate Peacock into the YouTube platform. Starting in early 2027, U.S. YouTube Premium subscribers will receive Peacock Premium, featuring live sports and popular series. Additionally, Peacock Premium will launch as a separate add-on via YouTube Primetime Channels this summer. This strategic move expands Peacock's distribution reach following its first-ever quarterly profit in early 2026.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 02:10:00 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/psa-your-claude-shared-chats-and-artifacts-may-have-ended-up-on-google https://startupinbrief.com/news/psa-your-claude-shared-chats-and-artifacts-may-have-ended-up-on-google Numerous Claude chats and Artifacts, including sensitive health records and private company documents, were recently found searchable on Google. The exposure stemmed from Claude's "share chat" feature, which creates public links. Anthropic claimed links only appear in search results if users post them publicly. While the issue now appears remediated, the incident highlights ongoing privacy concerns regarding AI-generated content and the public indexing of shared links. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 01:49:42 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/microsoft-launches-its-first-cybersecurity-model-plus-a-new-agentic-cybersecurity-system https://startupinbrief.com/news/microsoft-launches-its-first-cybersecurity-model-plus-a-new-agentic-cybersecurity-system "Microsoft introduced MAI-Cyber-1-Flash, a specialized AI model for finding vulnerabilities in complex code, and Perception, a new cybersecurity platform. Perception utilizes agentic red, blue, and green teams to automate threat simulation, bug detection, and remediation. Designed to counter AI-powered cyberattacks, these tools aim to increase efficiency for enterprise defenders. The new offerings, available in preview November 3, compete with solutions from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic.". Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:02:11 GMT https://startupinbrief.com/news/apple-sued-after-alleged-app-store-crypto-scam-cost-users-18m https://startupinbrief.com/news/apple-sued-after-alleged-app-store-crypto-scam-cost-users-18m Three plaintiffs are suing Apple for negligence after losing over $1.8 million to a fraudulent crypto wallet app on the App Store. The lawsuit claims Apple failed to maintain its promised security standards by allowing a fake Sparrow Wallet app to be distributed. While the plaintiffs seek damages and better disclosures, Apple defends its review process, noting it actively removes impersonating apps to protect its users. Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:58:15 GMT