Mark Zuckerberg revealed on Thursday that Facebook’s corporate name will henceforth be Meta. As a result, when CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed “one more thing” late Thursday during the Facebook Connect 2021 event, many guessed right that the rebranding was set to be announced. However, as multiple viral social media posts indicate, this does not imply that Facebook social media will become Meta. However, the rebranding doesn’t seem to go well, since Facebook lost out on the @meta Instagram handle since a motorcycling magazine had already taken it. Interestingly, Facebook obtained…
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WhatsApp will stop working on Older iOS and android phone from November 1st
WhatsApp will stop working on older iOS and Android smartphones from November 1. Such rumours circulate every year, but this time WhatsApp has revised its FAQ page to clarify that some older smartphones will no longer support the messaging service, and the company has also advised users to update their apps or move to a compatible device. WhatsApp’s FAQ page has been revised to state that the messaging application will only operate on Android phones running OS 4.1 or later. From November 1, 2021, WhatsApp will no longer support Android…
Read MoreRealme to launch its electric scooter soon
Popular smartphone brand Realme plans to launch its electric scooter in India. It’s not surprising given that Realme’s biggest opponent, Xiaomi, already offers electric scooters in China, and Realme’s parent company, Oppo, recently launched its Carlink smart vehicle solution. According to RushLane, Realme registered a trademark with the Indian regulator for “vehicles, apparatus for locomotion by land, air, or water” just a few months after launching its first smartphone in India. Realme entered the Indian smartphone market in 2018, indicating that the business has long had intentions for an EV….
Read MoreB Capital leads $50 Mn round in neobank Fi
Neobanking startup Fi has secured roughly $50 million in what looks to be a Series B round lead by B Capital. This is the Bengaluru-based startup’s second round in 2021. It raised a $12 million Series A round in June. According to regulatory filings with RoC, Fi has approved the allotment of 1 equity and 3,90,531 Series B CCPS with a face value of Rs 10 and a premium of Rs 9,485.25 per share to raise Rs 370.81 crore, or close to $50 million. B Capital led the round with…
Read MoreNew Delhi based startup raised huge investments
Vanity Wagon, a clean beauty startup based in New Delhi, announced today that it has raised Rs 5.5 crore in a pre-Series A fundraising round headed by Inflection Point Ventures. Venture Catalysts, Lotus Herbals, and the existing investors – Agility Ventures (headed by Mr. Dhianu Das) and a consortium of HNIs – also participated in the investment round. Vanity Wagon was founded in September 2018 by Prateek Ruhail, Naina Ruhail, and Sahil Shrestha, promises to be India’s first true information-oriented clean beauty marketplace with an emphasis on non-toxic products and…
Read MoreSocial commerce startup Meesho set to buy back ESOPs worth $5.5 Mn
Social commerce platform Meesho has launched a $5.5 million employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) liquidity programme for all qualifying current and past employees holding vested stock. The ESOP buyback scheme is scheduled to begin in November. According to two people familiar with the details of the liquidity strategy, Meesho employees who are currently on roll and have vested ESOPs as of November 30 would be eligible for the buyback, along with former employees. This is Meesho’s second ESOP buyback in less than a year, and its third since 2020. It…
Read MoreD2C Brand generate huge operational profit
Direct to consumer (D2C) brands in the beauty and grooming segment are more likely to achieve profitability than e-commerce marketplaces. MamaEarth came close to breaking even in FY20 despite a 5.6X increase in operational revenue to Rs 110 crore, while Beardo made a profit for the first time during the same year (FY20). The financial results of Coimbatore-based Juicy Chemistry in FY21 further demonstrate that D2C businesses may develop swiftly while maintaining strong economics. According to its annual financial accounts submitted with the RoC, the company’s operational revenue increased by…
Read MoreOnline cosmetic startup Purplle raised $75 million investment
Purplle, an online cosmetics and grooming marketplace for women, has raised $75 million in a Series E round headed by private equity company Kedaara Capital. This is the Mumbai-based startup’s second investment round in 2021, following a $45 million Series D deal in March. According to industry reports, Purplle has raised the new round at a valuation of $600 million. During the last round, the startup was valued at roughly $300 million. Purplle says the new capital will be used to fund the company’s development as well as investments in…
Read MoreKrafton has announced a crossover of Battlegrounds Mobile India and Dune
Krafton has announced that Battlegrounds Mobile India would be getting the Dune treatment. When players complete objectives, they will be able to use Dune-themed rewards. Dune is the newest sci-fi film based on the eponymous novel, directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Jason Momoa. Its partnership with Battlegrounds Mobile India not only makes it popular in India, where it was released on October 22, but it also lets BGMI players collect new rewards. Krafton said in a video teaser that when players join the EvoGround mode,…
Read MoreApple sets record revenue during September quarter
Apple revealed that it achieved a record quarter with $83.4 billion in revenue during the September quarter results call, a 29 percent increase year on year. In terms of the Indian market, CEO Tim Cook confirmed on the earnings call that Apple has doubled its business in India. The record-breaking quarter in India may be attributed to holiday season online sales as well as attractive deals that enticed Indian shoppers. During the Christmas discounts, the iPhone 12 was available for less than Rs 50,000, and Apple’s offer of free AirPods…
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