BigBasket to launch 10min food delivery by 2026.

Bigbasket plans to launch a 10-minute food delivery service by 2026, challenging Swiggy, Blinkit, and Zepto in India’s $7.1 billion quick-commerce market. Co-founder Vipul Parekh aims to attract Zomato and Swiggy users, leveraging dark stores. BigBasket intends to expand its dark store network from 700 to 1,000-1,200 by 2025, with Starbucks and Qmin on the menu. Parekh dismissed fundraising rumors, reaffirming plans for an IPO in 18-24 months, backed by Tata Group’s internal capital. The pilot program in Bengaluru will extend to 40 dark stores by July-end.

Kazam an electric mobility startup is set to raise $6 million.

Kazam, an electric mobility startup, is set to raise $6 million in a funding round led by Vertex Ventures, with Avaana Capital and Chakra Growth Capital participating. This investment aims to fuel Kazam’s growth and expansion. Founded by Akshay Shekhar and Vaibhav Tyagi, Kazam provides EV charging solutions, including hardware and software for fleet and battery management. To date, Kazam has onboarded 68,000 chargers, managed 5 million charging sessions, delivered 45 GWh of energy, and reduced 46,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, serving 170,000 users. Kazam’s clients include bigbasket, Zypp Electric, and Mahindra Group.

India approves SEZ proposals from Micron & Aequs

The Indian government has approved SEZ proposals from Micron Technology and Aequs Limited to boost semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. Micron will invest INR 13,000 Cr in Gujarat for semiconductor manufacturing, while Aequs will invest INR 100 Cr in Karnataka for electronic components. Recent SEZ rule amendments, including reduced land requirements and eased restrictions, aim to catalyze industry growth. IESA’s Ashok Chandak welcomes these reforms. Micron’s $825 Mn investment in Sanand, supported by government incentives, will create 5,000 jobs. Aequs is preparing for a $200 Mn IPO.

ZEE entertainment dives in to micro drama world.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited is making a strategic move into the microdrama space by investing in content startup @Bullet. Founded by Azim Lalani and Saurabh Kushwal (ex-Fanory), Bullet is developing a platform for short, vertical-format video content to be hosted on Zee5. Zee’s investment highlights the growing potential of microdramas, already a $6.5 billion market globally. Bullet focuses on creator-led content, AI personalization, and gamified experiences. Other platforms such as MX Player and JioStar are also exploring similar short-form content.ZEE

CRED has secured $72 million in a down round led by GIC’s Lathe Investment

CRED has secured $72 million in a down round led by GIC’s Lathe Investment, valuing the company at $3.5 billion, a 45% drop from its previous $6.4 billion valuation in 2022. Alongside GIC’s INR 354.4 Cr investment, RTP Global Capital, Sofina, and Kunal Shah‘s QED Innovation Labs also participated. This funding arrives as CRED eyes a potential IPO, having grown FY24 revenue by 71% to INR 2,397 Cr, while losses rose to INR 1,644 Cr. Recent initiatives include partnerships with CARS24 and Spinny, the launch of CRED Cash+, and the introduction of CRED e₹ wallet with RBI.

Flick TV, a microdrama OTT platform, secured $2.3M in seed funding

Flick TV, a microdrama OTT platform, secured $2.3M in seed funding led by Stellaris Venture Partners. Co-founder Kushal Singhal plans to scale content production, targeting 100 original productions in four regional languages. The funds will optimize smartphone streaming, expand the team, and increase user acquisition. Launched by ex-ShareChat executives, Flick TV addresses the demand for snackable content, competing with Reelies and Kuku. Targeting demographics like housewives and shopkeepers, the platform offers content across genres such as love and drama. The platform uses a micropayment model, aiming for monthly subscriptions as user trust grows.

Meesho transforms in to a public entity, Eyeing towards IPO.

Meesho is advancing towards its potential $1 billion IPO by converting into a public entity, changing its name from “Meesho Private Limited” to “Meesho Limited.” While the IPO process remains unapproved, this move ensures regulatory readiness. Supported by SoftBank Investment Advisers, Meesho plans to issue bonus shares worth Rs 411 crore. Targeting a $10 billion valuation, it has reportedly shortlisted Morgan Stanley, Kotak Mahindra Capital, JP Morgan, and Citi as bankers. The company saw a 33% YoY revenue growth to Rs 7,615 crore, reducing losses by 97% to Rs 53 crore. Meesho is also shifting its domicile from the US to India.

Piyush Goyal announced revisions to India’s national e-commerce policy

Piyush Goyal announced revisions to India’s national e-commerce policy, citing the sector’s rapid evolution. Simultaneously, the retail trade policy is under review due to its interconnectedness with e-commerce. The DPIIT has sought input from the National Traders’ Welfare Board for the retail policy, aiming to streamline trade, improve ease of business, and promote digitization. A 2021 draft retail trade policy aimed to harmonize the sector. The 2019 draft e-commerce policy targeted data management, infrastructure, marketplaces, and regulatory frameworks. These efforts signal a holistic approach to fostering growth.

Jio BlackRock Investment Advisers Pvt Ltd (JBIAPL) has been approved by SEBI

Jio BlackRock Investment Advisers Pvt Ltd (JBIAPL) has been approved by SEBI to operate as an investment advisor. Incorporated in September 2024, the company got its certificate in June 2025. Parent companies Jio Financial Services and BlackRock also have JVs in mutual funds and broking, with Jio BlackRock Asset Management Pvt Ltd recently gaining SEBI approval. JFS aims to tap into India’s growing mutual fund sector, launching JioBlackRock Liquid Fund and JioBlackRock Money Market Fund. The liquid fund invests in instruments maturing within 91 days, while the money market fund focuses on instruments up to one year.

PedalStart’s ‘Founder-Investor Fusion’ concluded

PedalStart‘s ‘Founder-Investor Fusion’ concluded, connecting 350+ participants and 220+ investors across four cities. Ninety-plus startups gained valuable exposure, with ₹6 Crores in soft commitments secured. The series, designed to bridge gaps between early-stage ventures and resources, featured startups like Flowwat and InsightAI. Co-Founders Manas Yash Sunita Pal and Aditya Darolia aim to foster a connected community, facilitating growth and fundraising. Through initiatives like PedalInvest, PedalStart supports founders, enhancing collaboration and entrepreneurial success, selecting high-potential startups annually for mentorship and investment.

Kiss Apparels secures ₹13 crore funding to expand offline presence

Kisah Apparels, a men’s ethnicwear brand, raised ₹13 crore in a pre-Series A round led by Sagar J Daryani (Wow! Momo). Participation included Apoorv Salarpuria and Inflection Point Ventures. Founded in 2018 by YASH SARAWAGI and Yashwi Sarawagi Ladsaria, Kisah will use the funds to expand offline, scale D2C, and build its brand, targeting Gen Z and millennials with accessible fashion. Starting marketplace-first, Kisah is transitioning to omnichannel, leveraging data-driven insights from its platforms. The brand reports growth from ₹40-45 crore to over ₹100 crore, with positive cash flow and PAT.

Hotmail co-founder’s critical view on India’s economy

Hotmail co-founder’s critical view on India’s economy, highlighting that 415 million Indians live on ₹265/day, ignited a social media firestorm. His post triggered intense debate, with many questioning his contributions to India. User reactions ranged from personal attacks to defenses of India’s progress, some referencing World Bank data. Some social media users agreed with his viewpoint. The businessman Sabeer Bhatia, currently residing in California, co-founded Hotmail, later sold to Microsoft.

Google is offering buyouts to U.S. employees in ‘Search’ and ‘Engineering’

Google is offering buyouts to U.S. employees in Search and engineering as part of cost-cutting efforts amid AI investments. The “Voluntary Exit Program” targets those not aligned with the company’s strategy. This follows similar programs in Pixel and Android units. Despite buyouts, Google plans to continue hiring engineers through 2026, with CEO Sundar Pichai emphasizing AI as an accelerator. Finance chief Anat Ashkenazi highlighted cost reduction as crucial for balancing AI infrastructure spending. Google aims to streamline operations while maintaining its competitive edge in AI.

Karnataka Bike Taxi Riders Demand Ban Reversal

Bike taxi drivers in Karnataka are urging the government to reverse the ban on their operations. Represented by Mohammed Salim of the Namma Bike Taxi Association, they’ve appealed to ministers like Dinesh Gundu Rao and petitioned for clear policies after the High Court forced Rapido, Ola, and Uber to halt services. Approximately 150,000 riders are affected. The ban followed the withdrawal of an electric bike taxi scheme due to safety concerns and conflicts with auto unions. Despite legal challenges, the ban remains, with Salim vowing to continue fighting for riders’ rights.

Ola Krutrim Acquires BharatSahAIyak to Boost AI Assistant

Ola Krutrim has acquired BharatSah’AI’yak, an AI platform from Samagra | Transforming Governance, to enhance its LLMs and AI assistant, Kruti. This acquisition aims to democratize AI across public services and enterprise applications. Samagra’s AI team joins Krutrim, focusing on Krutrim Cloud integration. BharatSah’AI’yak specializes in India-centric RAG AI bots, exemplified by KumbhSah’AI’yak for pilgrim assistance and AMA Krushi for agricultural advice. Krutrim’s new AI assistant, Kruti, can handle tasks like booking cabs and generating images. A company spokesperson emphasized expanding AI accessibility across India.