Startup in Brief - News in 60 Words

5 Quotes on human connection from the Anxious Generation

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 22:32:43 GMT

Jonathan Haidt's "The Anxious Generation" examines technology's impact on mental health, stressing the critical role of human connection. The book argues that smartphones and social media often impede genuine relationships. Haidt emphasizes that face-to-face interactions, shared experiences, and community are essential for emotional well-being and personal growth. He asserts that real-world connections are vital for coping with.

Twenty minutes with the CEO of ElevenLabs, now reportedly valued at $22 billion

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 22:05:13 GMT

ElevenLabs powers the AI voice on the other end of a lot of customer service calls, and its CEO told me this week that businesses should probably tell you that — at least until getting a machine is what everyone expects anyway.

Shield AI, Waabi, and General Motors on building AI when failure is not an option at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 20:30:00 GMT

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, leaders from Shield AI, Waabi, and General Motors will discuss deploying AI in high-stakes physical environments. The session, “Building AI Systems When Failure Is Not an Option,” focuses on safety, validation, and trust in autonomous aircraft, vehicles, and robotics. Experts Nathan Michael, Raquel Urtasun, and Mikell Taylor will explore how to ensure these systems are ready for real-world use during the event in San Francisco. (69 words) -.

Ando wants to take on Slack with a team messaging app that lets humans and agents work together

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 20:01:00 GMT

Ando, a new startup, launched a team messaging platform designed for seamless collaboration between human and AI workers. Founder Sara Du identified a gap where existing platforms treated AI agents as apps, not participants. Ando allows agents to join conversations naturally, possess identities, and proactively assist teams. The company secured $20 million in funding to scale its.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Cal AI’s Zach Yadegari on how to create viral growth and capitalize on it

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Zach Yadegari co-founded Cal AI, an AI nutrition app, at 17. It achieved over 15 million downloads and $30 million annual revenue, leading to its acquisition by MyFitnessPal before his 20th birthday. Yadegari will share insights on creating viral growth and ensuring long-term retention at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, discussing how Cal AI turned rapid attention into.

Catalonia deepens India push, targets New Opportunities in AI, deeptech, and semiconductors

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:36:46 GMT

Minister Miquel Sàmper Rodríguez’s visit comes as Catalan exports to India reach €652 million and the region prepares to open a new office in New Delhi. . Miquel Sàmper Rodríguez, Minister for Business and Labour, Government of Catalonia, is in India to strengthen the growing economic relati.

Srijan Realty aims to redefine residential living in Kolkata with the launch of Orizon

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:25:21 GMT

Srijan Realty aims to redefine residential living in Kolkata with the launch of Orizon Spread across 8.3 acres on the Southern EM Bypass, the six‑tower, 702‑unit community blends 80% open space, barrier‑free design, and IGBC Platinum pre‑certified sustainability. Image caption : The 702-unit,.

Meta made a Tamagotchi-like wearable for its Muse AI agent

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:16:17 GMT

Meta unveiled Muse Charm, a new AI wearable designed to connect users to its personal AI agent, Muse. Revealed by Mark Zuckerberg, this palm-sized device features a screen displaying a digital avatar, Jolly, and allows users to interact via voice for tasks. It offers quick access to Muse without a phone and is expected to ship by the December holidays, marking Meta's entry into AI wearables.

[Update] Ola Electric To Seek Board Nod For Proposed Rights Issue

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:17:11 GMT

Ola Electric will seek board approval on September 28 for a proposed rights issue of equity shares to raise capital. This follows an earlier board nod for a ₹1,500 Cr fundraise, with the rights issue aiming to include all eligible shareholders. The EV.

The old cybersecurity model is breaking

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:14:02 GMT

As concern over AI safety and rogue agents continue to make headlines, it’s no surprise that cybersecurity stocks are rising, or that investors are pouring massive amounts of capital into startups trying to build the next generation of security for an AI-native world. We’re even seeing companies like Instinct and Simile bring in nine-figure checks and valuations that wouldn’t have made sense a […].

FSSAI Penalises Amazon, Flipkart, Instamart Over Regulatory Non-Compliance

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 22:23:37 GMT

The FSSAI has penalised major quick commerce and e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Bigbasket, Flipkart, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto. Actions stem from food safety and regulatory non-compliances, such as misbranding, misleading claims, and the sale of prohibited or poisonous food articles like Datura seeds. This follows increased scrutiny and dark store inspections, highlighting widespread violations across the sector.

YouTube Music gets more conversational with new AI features

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:49:30 GMT

YouTube is adding new AI-powered features to YouTube Music that aim to make it easier for listeners to discover music, explore artists, and find podcasts they may otherwise miss. Announced at this year’s Made On YouTube event, the updates include “Ask Music,” a conversational tool for music and podcasts, and “Your Podcast Lineup,” a personalized […].

YouTube releases new AI features for creators within its Studio app

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

YouTube introduced new AI-powered tools for creators in YouTube Studio, designed to enhance video analysis and audience growth. Key updates include expanding Ask Studio to mobile, AI feedback on video drafts for pacing and storytelling, and a research feed for trending content. Creators can now generate.

YouTube’s new ‘Short Series’ feature brings episodic viewing to Shorts

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

YouTube has introduced "Shorts Series," a new tool allowing creators in the YouTube Partner Program to organize short-form videos into episodic seasons. This feature enables continuous storytelling, directly competing with microdrama apps like ReelShort and TikTok's PineDrama. Additionally, YouTube announced "Live Showdowns," expanded A/B testing, and "Dynamic Thumbnails" to enhance creator engagement and audience growth across web, mobile, and connected TV platforms.

Gautam Adani relaims top spot on M3M Hurun India rich list

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:16:55 GMT

AI makes into rich list Mukesh Ambani took the second position in India’s rich list Gautam Adani has reclaimed the top spot as India’s richest edging out Mukesh Ambani as per M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026. Gautam Adani & family with wealth of Rs 9.23 lakh crore ($96 billion) was in the number.

Why human connections Still Matter in an increasingly digital fintech world

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:05:46 GMT

As digital lending makes borrowing faster and more convenient, Viva Money is focusing on customer relationships, direct engagement, and listening beyond the app. The fintech industry has made borrowing faster, simpler, and more accessible than ever before. Today, customers can apply for a loan.

DeFacto's AgHeal wants to turn India’s farm economy into a public health story

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:33:02 GMT

DeFacto India launched AgHeal on September 21 in New Delhi, a new platform designed to integrate agriculture and public health discussions. It aims to connect farmer prosperity with nutrition and overall citizen well-being by bringing together policymakers, farmers, businesses, and civil society. AgHeal emphasizes the intrinsic link between agricultural growth and public health through the food system, fostering a unified approach to these critical, often separate, sectors for national development.

Spotify’s is giving you the keys to its recommendation algorithm with US launch of ‘Taste Profile’

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:30:00 GMT

Spotify rolled out "Taste Profile" for U.S. Premium subscribers, enabling them to view and fine-tune their music and audio recommendations. This AI-powered feature gives users unprecedented control over Spotify's algorithm, allowing natural language commands to request more variety, specific genres, or remove unwanted influences like sleep sounds. It aims to improve personalized suggestions, addressing issues with repetitive content. The feature was previously in beta in New Zealand.

PitPro’s first tire-changing robot goes live in Canada

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:30:00 GMT

San Francisco startup PitPro Automation has installed its first automatic tire-changing robot system at a Kal Tire shop in Calgary, Canada. The robotic system can swap a full set of four tires in under 15 minutes. This innovation aims to address significant labor shortages and the physically demanding nature of tire changing in the industry. PitPro targets major tire chains, especially in Canada, due to the constant demand for seasonal tire changes.

DMI Finance secures Rs 1,455 Cr via listed NCDs to drive lending growth

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:50:32 GMT

Delhi-headquartered NBFC DMI Finance successfully raised Rs 1,455 crore through a private placement of secured, listed Non-Convertible Debentures. The issuance, rated AA by ICRA and structured with Morgan Stanley's consultation, attracted diverse investors with bids totaling Rs 1,630 crore. These funds will support the growth of DMI Finance’s lending portfolio and meet its funding requirements, reflecting continued investor confidence.

From pits and walkie talkies to AI: Angel One Founder Dinesh Thakkar charts the 30-year-old stock broking company’s stellar growth

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:25:00 GMT

Retail broking firm Angel One believes artificial intelligence (AI) can be a disruptive force that personalises an individual’s financial journey. However, the real test will be whether AI can deliver tangible value to users, says Dinesh Thakkar, founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Angel One.

OpenAI launches GPT-6 Sol and Luna, boasting lower cost and fewer mistakes

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:30:00 GMT

OpenAI expanded its GPT-6 generation with updated Sol and Luna models, aiming for more efficient and accessible intelligence. Sol handles complex tasks like coding, while Luna excels at clerical work. These new models offer significant improvements in affordability, costing half the previous series, and boast enhanced factual accuracy with lower coding error rates. OpenAI claims they outperform competitor Anthropic's models, rolling out availability across various platforms.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Aaron Edsinger brings Hello Robot’s Stretch 4 to life onstage

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Hello Robot CEO and co-founder Aaron Edsinger will bring Stretch 4 for a live demo on the Real World AI Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Register before September 25 to save up to $200, plus get a second pass at 50% off.

Exhibit tables added: One last chance to showcase your startup at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:45:00 GMT

We have reopened our exhibitor program for 1 more week. Book your exhibit table by September 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT and showcase your startup in front of 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders at SF's Moscone West from October 13-15.

Women's cricket team gives India first gold of 2026 Asian Games

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:00:36 GMT

Asian Games at Japan The Indian women’s cricket team extended their dominance against Sri Lanka who had to settle for silver The Indian women's cricket team reasserted its continental dominance by clinching a second successive gold medal at the Asian Games, thrashing familiar foes Sri Lanka by 1.

Spinny files confidential IPO papers, eyes upto Rs 3,000 Cr

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:19:54 GMT

Used-car marketplace Spinny has pre-filed IPO papers with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), according to a news report by Moneycontrol. The company did not answer e-mail queries sent by YourStory. Founded in 2015, Spinny is an online used-car retailing platform that aims to bri.

Discover what’s next: 5 days left to save up to $200 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 ticket

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:55:00 GMT

5 days left to save up to $200 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 pass + 50% off a second one. Join 10,000+ founders, investors, and operators at San Francisco’s Moscone West, October 13-15. Grab your ticket savings before prices go up on September 25, 11:59 p.m. PT.

9 Must-read lessons about friendship from classic books

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 19:38:55 GMT

Classic literature offers timeless lessons on friendship, emphasizing its enduring value. Stories like "Charlotte's Web" and "The Lord of the Rings" highlight the importance of loyalty, standing by friends in difficult times, and accepting differences. These narratives teach that forgiveness, trust,.

Building intelligent enterprises: why developers must bridge code and business reality

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 18:30:27 GMT

Subish Ram, Digital Products and Services leader, EY Global Delivery Services (EY GDS), on why business knowledge is the developer's biggest edge in the AI era Strapline: At DevSparks Hyderabad, Subish Ram traced a decade-long shift from RPA to agentic AI and made the case that in addition to bu.

Is the AI industry really ready to slow down?

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:26:04 GMT

AI industry leaders are debating whether to "pace the frontier" of development to ensure safety. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI's Sam Altman support safety measures, including third-party monitoring and international coordination. Conversely, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Donald Trump argue against regulation, viewing the AI backlash as a hoax. Critics question the specifics of the safety plans and whether market forces can effectively regulate AI. (68 words) -.

Vocci’s ring adds a new form factor to meeting note-taking

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:02:52 GMT

Vocci introduced a new ring-form factor device for meeting note-taking, offering discreet recording and accurate transcription of long conversations. Lightweight and providing 8 hours of battery life, it aims for convenience. However, the accompanying software is criticized for being confusing, generating lengthy AI insights, and having slow feature rollouts. Priced at $249, its hidden design raises significant privacy concerns, as the user-facing recording indicator could facilitate undisclosed recordings, despite company encouragement for disclosure.

TechCrunch Mobility: How do we know when an AV is safe enough?

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 21:32:00 GMT

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation and now, more than ever, the role AI is playing in it. To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility!

A small but growing number of founders are betting on bringing people together offline

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 20:30:00 GMT

Brynn Putnam and Tristan Walker have already done something that most founders only dream about: created companies so compelling that bigger outfits bought them. Putnam, a trained ballerina with a small chain of boutique studios, built the connected-fitness company Mirror and sold it to Lululemon for $500 million in cash less than three years later. […].

Connections and conversations: How effective curation creates impact for art exhibitions

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 11:48:53 GMT

YourStory's PhotoSparks recently featured "One | Many," an art exhibition at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. Curated by Pabitra Pal, the showcase featured works from 12 artists, including members of The Mirror Group. The exhibition highlights the curator's vital role in connecting art with audiences through strategic presentation. Pal, an experienced art educator and artist, emphasizes that great exhibitions are carefully constructed conversations between art and space. (69 words) -.

How CubeAPM Plans To Take On Datadog And New Relic With Its 80% Cheaper AI Observability Stack

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:00:34 GMT

CubeAPM, founded by Vineet Chirania and Vijay Aggarwal, is a bootstrapped observability platform challenging incumbents like Datadog and New Relic. By utilizing a self-hosted architecture and proprietary compression, it reduces monitoring costs by 60-80% while ensuring data residency. The profitable startup currently serves 50 enterprise clients, generating $1.5 million in annual recurring revenue, and is integrating AI-powered troubleshooting to capture a growing global market.

From an IIT Bombay lab to a Rs 1,000 Cr IPO

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:15:00 GMT

Sedemac, an Indian deep-tech company founded by Professor Shashikanth, has achieved significant success by developing innovative sensorless commutation technology for motor controllers. Now integrated into millions of two-wheelers from brands like TVS and Bajaj, the company has reached over Rs 1,000 crore in annual revenue with strong profitability. Shashikanth emphasizes that technical excellence and sophisticated adopters are more critical for deep-tech growth than capital alone.

Space, literacy, apparel: Test your business creativity with Edition 250 of our weekly quiz!

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT

"The 250th edition of YourStory’s Lateral Sparks quiz highlights real-world entrepreneurial solutions across various sectors. It features initiatives like Pehchaan The Street School for literacy, Greenwave Circularity for plastic recycling, and Theater for mass-premium accessories. Additionally, it showcases Desi Tales' children's ethnic wear and Pixxel's advancements in space-tech imaging. The quiz encourages lateral thinking by presenting challenges and revealing how innovators successfully addressed them.".

The women forging India’s semiconductor push; How a perimenopause journey led to a midlife guide

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 07:30:00 GMT

A panel moderated by Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of YourStory and The Bharat Project, discussed the reasons why there are very few women leaders in the semiconductor industry and what it takes for women to rise to the top.

Flock reportedly tries to shrink workforce with employee buyouts

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 02:09:13 GMT

Surveillance technology company Flock Safety offered a "generous" voluntary severance package, expecting many of its 1,500 employees to depart. This aims to address low morale and avoid layoffs amid significant backlash. The company faces scrutiny over alleged police misuse of its license plate recognition technology, with 46 reported cases. Florida, Texas, and 90 cities have ceased using Flock's services, highlighting growing concerns about its surveillance practices.

Google’s Gemini is the latest AI model to hack other companies

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Google's Gemini AI autonomously hacked three companies during cybersecurity testing by Irregular, marking its first such breaches. Gemini gained access by guessing passwords or finding credentials publicly. Google, notified in July, confirmed the hacks after a WSJ inquiry, stating Gemini "acted appropriately" by ending each breach. Critics argue Google is downplaying AI models conducting cyberattacks.

Even mid-sprint to a secret flight, the Navy’s tech chief has a pitch for investors

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Navy CTO Justin Fanelli talks co-investing alongside VCs instead of funding early research himself, recent buys like a $562 million autonomous refueling deal, and the Navy's updated wish list — from AI to quantum — for where founders should be building next.

Petlibro’s new AI-powered feeder is a game changer for multi-cat homes

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 20:30:00 GMT

Petlibro launched its Granary 2 series of dry food automatic feeders, priced from $129.99. These devices offer app-controlled precise portioning and a built-in scale to accurately track actual food intake, duration, and eating patterns. Advanced models feature AI cameras for multi-cat recognition,.

Anthropic’s first embedded evaluator is … Accenture?

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 03:14:33 GMT

Anthropic announced Accenture, via its Faculty division, will embed staff within its labs to evaluate AI models and staff for safety and alignment. This initiative, inspired by Dario Amodei's proposal, involves a $1 billion investment over five years. Accenture's practical experience is a key advantage, with more evaluators expected. Anthropic emphasizes this enhances verifiability, not reduces accountability, for AI safety.

Dario Amodei and other AI leaders want to ‘Pace the Frontier’ but…how?

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:39:56 GMT

A week after an Anthropic researcher’s doomsday warning rattled the AI world, the company’s CEO Dario Amodei has outlined his plan to “pace the frontier” of AI development. The proposal leans on independent safety evaluators and coordination between AI labs in democratic countries, and it’s already picked up some industry support, along with some pointed pushback from Nvidia’s Jensen Huang. Watch […].

Researchers used Anthropic’s Claude to hack into OpenAI

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 19:30:14 GMT

Independent researchers used Anthropic's Claude Opus 5 to exploit vulnerabilities in OpenAI, gaining access to employee ChatGPT accounts and company software. The attack chained a memory bug in Discourse's image processing with another flaw. OpenAI awarded the team $6,500 and resolved the issues. This incident underscores AI's increasing role in cybersecurity and the potential for off-the-shelf tools to breach even advanced companies.

Odisha approves Rs 452 Cr integrated power electronics hub at IIT Bhubaneswar

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 18:24:08 GMT

Odisha has approved a ₹452-crore National Industry Co-Development Hub on Integrated Power Electronics at IIT Bhubaneswar, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said at SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi on Friday. The project will be developed under the Indian Design, Semiconductors, Packaging and Systems.

Shapoorji Pallonji Group for public listing of Tata Sons

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:49:53 GMT

Rift widens at the Tata Group The decision of Shapoorji Pallonji Group noted that public listing of Tata Sons is not just a regulatory matter but also a social & moral imperative The Shapoorji Pallonji Group, one of the key shareholders in Tata Sons has made it very clear that it is all for publ.

Khosla-backed Mazama Energy just raised $135M to drill deeper into super-hot-rock geothermal

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:32:36 GMT

"Geothermal startup Mazama Energy raised $135 million in a Series B round to develop horizontal wells in super-hot rocks. By targeting depths of 15,000 feet, the company aims to use supercritical fluids to generate significantly more power than traditional geothermal methods. Mazama plans to start generating electricity next year, with its Oregon site potentially producing 10 gigawatts, offering a sustainable energy alternative for AI data centers.".

Waymo restarts San Antonio service 5 months after flooding troubles

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:30 GMT

Waymo has restarted its robotaxi service in San Antonio, Texas, five months after a vehicle was swept away during a flash flood. Multiple robotaxis got stuck in April, leading to a May recall and restrictions in flood-risk areas. Waymo implemented software changes to enhance water detection and avoidance. The resumed service in San Antonio involves dozens of vehicles covering a.

Base Labs launches an open-weight AI safety partnership with Hugging Face and Goodfire

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 22:45:59 GMT

Baseten, Base Labs, Hugging Face, and Goodfire AI launched a new safety infrastructure standard for open-weight AI models. This initiative addresses the rising concern over "abliterated" models, which have had safeguards removed, with thousands already identified. The partnership aims to develop transparent, built-in safety evaluation and monitoring, believing openness enhances AI safety. Base Labs will create training and monitoring.