Microblogging and social media app Koo is aiming to offer a feature that will allow users to self-verify their profiles, as opposed to rival Twitter, which requires users to go through a lengthy Twitter Verified procedure. A verified profile on social networking sites like Twitter and Instagram, which is usually indicated by a badge or tick next to the profile name, lends legitimacy to the user because it signifies the service has authenticated the person’s identity. Verified profiles are only available to celebrities and other influencers on Twitter, and obtaining…
Read MoreAuthor: FutureTech
Aavishkaar raises $130 mn for first close of latest fund
Aavishkaar Capital has raised more than 1,000 crore ($130 million) for the first close of its latest impact investing fund, which is the firm’s sixth India-focused fund and eighth overall. British International Investment (previously CDC Group Plc), Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets, Fund of Funds for Startups Managed by Small Industries Development Bank of India, and Self Reliant India Fund led investments in Aavishkaar India Fund VI, the group’s largest fund to date. The fund will primarily invest in medium and small enterprises that use technology as a key…
Read MoreTwitter edit button is finally coming, testing to begin soon
Twitter has confirmed that it is working on an edit button, a feature that users have been seeking for quite some time in order to correct not only mistakes but also incorrect context in their tweets. Users now have to delete tweets that include typos and retype them with corrections, but an edit button would eliminate this hassle. Twitter, on the other hand, is concerned that the edit button could be used to “change the public conversation’s record.” The news comes nearly a day after Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who…
Read MoreGoogle Maps will soon display toll prices to help you plan your trips better
Users will now be able to plan their trips more conveniently with Google Maps. Google Maps has been updated with new features, including the addition of toll prices. Users will be able to calculate the toll cost even before they begin their journey using this function. Local tolling authorities will assist in the display of toll-related information. So, if you’re planning a vacation, you can find out how much toll you’ll have to pay on the road and then pick whether you want to take the road with the most…
Read MoreRaise Financial Services acquires upskilling platform Valuationary
Raise Financial Services, based in Mumbai, has signed a definitive agreement to buy Surat-based online learning firm Valuationary for cash and stock, according to a prepared statement. Valuationary, together with its 15-member team, including the founders, will join and operate from Raise Financial’s headquarters in Mumbai following the acquisition. Valuationary is an online learning platform that helps young professionals in the financial sector upskill. It was founded in 2020 by Pratik Bajaj, Kunal Shah, and Mahip Gupta. Upskilling is possible through the startup’s courses and live sessions, which aim to…
Read MoreConversational messaging platform Gupshup acquires Active.Ai in all-cash deal
Gupshup, a conversational messaging platform, has paid full cash for Active.Ai, a conversational AI business. The financial information was kept under wraps. Gupshup, which provides businesses with conversational messaging services, expects the purchase to boost its customer experience solutions for banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) clients. Active is a Singapore-based company. Ai supports BFSI customers in 43 countries, including Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tata Capital, and IndusInd Bank. The company claims to have facilitated more than 300 million audio, video, and messaging interactions. Gupsshup has made three acquisitions…
Read MoreNazara invests $2.5 million in US-based gaming, web3 fund Bitkraft Ventures
Nazara Pte. Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nazara Technologies, announced on Tuesday that it has invested in Bitkraft Ventures, a gaming and Web3 investment platform based in the United States. Nazara, a company based in Mumbai, will invest $2.5 million in Bitkraft Ventures over three years. Bitkraft Ventures usually invests in gaming, Web 3, and blockchain ventures all over the world. Nazara hopes to get access to the global gaming ecosystem by establishing a network with limited partners (LPs) or sponsors in funds, as well as investee firms, through this…
Read MorePet care super app Wagr.ai raises Rs 4.2 crore funding from Inflection Point Ventures
Super-app for pet care based in Bengaluru Wagr.ai stated today that it has raised Rs 4.2 crore in a fundraising round led by Inflection Point Ventures, with IvyCap Ventures also participating. Stanford Angels and Ashish Sharma also took part in the round (MD, Innoven Capital). Wagr, which was founded in 2016 by Siddharth Darbha and Advaith Mohan, claims to offer a variety of products and services, including 15-minute veterinary video consultations. The company also has an e-commerce platform that sells pet supplies such as food, treats, grooming, and accessories, as…
Read MoreAI system inspects astronauts’ gloves for damage in real-time
Microsoft and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HSE) are collaborating with NASA scientists to create an artificial intelligence system for checking astronaut gloves. Space is a harsh environment, and equipment failures can have disastrous consequences. Gloves are especially vulnerable to wear and tear because they’re used for so many things, including repairing and installing new equipment. Currently, astronauts will send photos of their gloves back to Earth, where NASA analysts will evaluate them manually. “This process gets the job done with the ISS’s low orbit distance of about 250 miles from Earth,…
Read MorePlayVerse raises $1.5 million in a funding round from Japan’s Akatsuki
PlayVerse, a technology-enabled entertainment firm, has raised $1.5 million in a funding round led by Akatsuki Inc., a Japanese gaming company. In India, PlayVerse sells content, toys, games, and technology. PlayVerse will now attempt to maximise the monetisation potential of popular Japanese IPs and brands in India in order to increase cross-border cooperation between India and Japan. “Thanks to the advent of blockchain technology and the scalability offered by promising L2 protocols, we have some moonshot ideas of IP monetisation that we are exploring,” said Jaineel Aga, founder, PlayVerse. “At…
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