Startup in Brief - News in 60 Words

WestBridge-Backed Way2News Restrained From Using AppsForBharat’s Confidential Data

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 18:58:38 GMT

A Bengaluru commercial court has temporarily restrained hyperlocal news startup Way2News from using confidential information and intellectual property belonging to.

BRICS should help 100 startups scale across member markets every year: PM Modi

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 15:17:40 GMT

Prime Minister Modi urged BRICS nations to help 100 startups expand into member markets annually. He also tasked the BRICS Business Council with identifying top trade barriers and facilitating 1,000 new business partnerships yearly. India, with its robust startup ecosystem, aims to drive innovation and has proposed a BRICS Incubator Network and Startup Innovation Fund. The expanded 11-nation BRICS group seeks deeper economic ties, with Iran advocating for national currency use and simplified trade.

Zomato Starts Charging Cash-On-Delivery Customers Up To ₹21 Extra

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 15:01:30 GMT

Eternal’s food delivery arm Zomato has begun charging an additional ‘Pay on delivery’ fee on some cash-on-delivery (COD) orders, with.

NPCI’s FY26 Profit Drops 32% YoY To ₹989 Cr As Tax Outgo, BHIM Loss Surge

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 14:58:14 GMT

The National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI’s) consolidated net profit fell 32.4% to ₹989.4 Cr in the financial year ended.

New ecommerce rules could add compliance load for small sellers, say industry experts

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 13:46:06 GMT

The new disclosure parameters will be difficult to met by small and unorganised players while it may favour the larger entities.

Airtel bats for sovereign stack to process data from India

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 13:42:07 GMT

According to Airtel it would be incorrect to equate local data residency with data sovereignty as it is about controlling the data with a sovereign technology stack.

Flipkart Minutes records 4X YoY growth with presence in 150 cities

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 13:39:43 GMT

Gen Z has emerged as the fastest-growing customer cohort on Flipkart Minutes, with the customer base growing nearly 5X year-on-year in the past twelve months.

From Pixxel To Swish — Indian Startups Raised Over $321.9 Mn This Week

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:59:46 GMT

Startup funding activity rebounded back sharply in the second week of September. Between September 7 and September 11, Indian startups.

Charm, warmth and design: Inside Slohh by Roach and Hilton’s Curio Collection

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:30:00 GMT

In this photo essay, we showcase the Hilton Curio Collections’ first property in India, Slohh by Roach in Bengaluru.

China’s AI labs siphoned Claude’s intelligence?

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 07:58:22 GMT

Anthropic’s report reveals that major Chinese AI developers operated illicit proxy networks to harvest Claude’s reasoning capabilities, unintentionally leaking sensitive military, government, and corporate secrets in the process.

Process and precision: Artisera exhibition showcases contemporary Indian printmaking

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In this photo essay, we showcase artistic highlights from a printmaking exhibition at Bengaluru’s Artisera gallery.

Mecka AI nears $500M valuation in Sequoia-led deal amid rush for robot training data

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 04:28:17 GMT

The round for the two-year-old startup is coming together months after Mecka announced its Series A.

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.