The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will host the inaugural Startup India Innovation Week from January 10 to 16. Anurag Jain, DPIIT Secretary, told the media via virtual press conference that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to interact with startups and address Startup India Innovation Week on January 15 at 10.30 a.m. via video conferencing. This virtual week-long innovation celebration aims to commemorate the 75th year of India’s independence, dubbed ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,’ and is intended to highlight the breadth and depth of entrepreneurship…
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Startups can play important role to socialise, democratise availability of healthcare: Piyush Goyal
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday that startups can play a critical role in socialising and democratising the availability of healthcare around the world at a time when the world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic,. Entrepreneurs should also focus on strengthening the Make in India programme, innovating in India, and mentoring young startups, according to him. “As the world is facing successive waves of this pandemic, our entrepreneurs must start thinking of making our startups more resilient… I think our startups can play a very important…
Read MoreFintech startup Pine Labs to seek $500 million in US IPO
Pine Labs Pvt, an Asian digital payments provider backed by Sequoia India and Mastercard Inc., is moving forward with preparations for a US listing and hopes to raise $500 million, as per sources familiar with the matter. According to the people, the company has filed confidentially with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering in New York as early as the first half of this year. The listing could result in a valuation of $5.5 billion to $7 billion for Pine Labs, they said, declining to…
Read MoreThe Swiss army has banned the use of WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and other foreign messaging apps
The Swiss army has decided to prohibit the use of popular messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram. Due to data protection concerns, the new rules, which went into effect in December, require all employees to switch to a locally developed alternative. In December, Swiss army commanders and chiefs of staff were advised via email from headquarters to ensure that their troops switched to the Swiss messaging app ‘Threema.’ The rationale was given as information security. The instruction explicitly prohibits the use of other apps: “all other services are…
Read MoreKoo to get a Whatsapp like groups : says Aprameya Radhakrishna
Indian microblogging platform Koo plans to introduce ‘WhatsApp Group like experiences’ on the platform for users with common interests this year, in addition to introducing live videos and other new product features According to CEO Aprameya Radhakrishna. The social media company is also looking for people from various backgrounds, such as former bureaucrats, journalists, and other personalities, to form an advisory board to “handle” a few situations involving hate speech or free speech that may arise each year, he said. “2021 was a very exciting year for us right from…
Read MoreIndia First Tech startup conclave & awards coming to you this February.
All India Council for Robotics and Automation (AICRA) is set to organize “IndiaFirst Tech Startup Conclave & Awards’22” (IFTSC’22) on 17th – 18th February 2022, with support of “Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology”. The event is designed to focus on the spread and depth of Indian startup ecosystem in terms of technology and innovation. IFTSC’22 is a platform to bring Innovators, Investors & Buyers under one roof, which is expected to feature industry’s big names, speakers that are the best breed of innovators, venture capitalists, representatives from various government…
Read MoreGoogle is rolling out Chrome OS 97 update
Google has begun to roll out the stable Chrome OS 97 update. It adds a few new features to Chrome OS 97 that will enhance the user experience. It was released only a week after Google released Chrome 97 for desktops, Android, and iOS. Chrome OS 97.0.4692.77 has been released on Google’s stable channel. The update, according to 9to5Google, includes an improved version of the Gallery app. In contrast to the previous version, which only opened a dedicated client for playing music, users will now be able to play their…
Read MoreMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella joins Grows as an investor
Groww’s founder, Lalit Keshre, announced that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has joined the company as an investor and advisor. “Groww gets one of the best CEOs in the world as an investor and advisor. Glad to see @satyanadella joining us in our mission to make financial services accessible in India,” Keshre tweeted. Groww joined the coveted unicorn club in April of last year after raising $83 million led by Tiger Global. Within six months, the investment platform raised another $251 million in a new round of funding, bringing its valuation…
Read MoreAndreessen Horowitz raises $9 billion for investments in startups
Andreessen Horowitz raised $9 billion to invest in a diverse range of startups, completing one of the largest venture capital fundraising campaigns. According to the firm’s announcement on Friday, the money is being invested in three new funds. More than half is invested in a growth fund aimed at more mature startups. The remainder is split between a general venture fund and a biotech and health fund. The fundraising effort outperforms one completed by Sequoia Capital in 2020, which raised approximately $7 billion. Andreessen Horowitz’s total assets under management now…
Read MoreShiprocket to acquire 75 percent stake in Wigzo Tech
Shiprocket, an ecommerce shipping company, announced on Friday that it has “committed” to acquiring a 75 percent stake in Wigzo Tech, a customer data platform (CDP). Shiprocket said in a release that the proposed strategic acquisition will allow it to expand its product stack for online retailers onboarding its platform, among other things. Wigzo Tech specialises in meeting the ever-changing needs of ecommerce and direct-to-consumer brands. Shiprocket raised $185 million in a Series E round last month, with the proceeds going toward acquisitions and business expansion, among other things. According…
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