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TReDS sees a festive boost; Nykaa’s growth strategy
Happy Friday! Festive inventory demand has lifted invoice financing on TReDS platforms. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Stop AI from Eroding Your Brand
Artificial intelligence is changing how companies operate and how customers experience their brands. New research suggests that companies with lower levels of “brand debt”—the trust, relevance, and consistency lost when products, experiences, and decisions drift away from customer expectations—are significantly more likely to outperform their peers. Drawing on a benchmark of 60 companies and lessons from Bose’s digital transformation, the lessons here are that managing brand debt should become an enterprise-wide priority rather than a marketing exercise. As AI increasingly shapes customer interactions, companies that manage brand debt deliberately will be better positioned to strengthen trust, sustain growth, and preserve competitive advantage
FICCI makes recommendations to FM ahead of Budget 2027-28, highlights LTCG exemption, TDS relief and faster tax appeals
FICCI has recommended the restoration of long-term capital gains tax exemption on listed shares in Budget 2027-28. The organization highlighted concerns regarding the withdrawal of foreign portfolio investments and the impact of capital gains tax. Additionally, it requested the government to implement lighter TDS rules and resolve backlog issues in tax appeals. FICCI emphasized the need for measures to provide certainty to investors over the long term.
Google loses nearly half a trillion in market value: What went wrong with Alphabet?
Alphabet lost $482 billion in market value after its shares plunged nearly 13% following disappointing third-quarter results. Despite 103% growth in Google Cloud and more than 1 billion Gemini users, weaker search revenue and negative free cash flow raised fresh concerns about AI spending and Google’s advertising business.
Deep use cases vault India to ChatGPT’s top global market: OpenAI's India MD
During a visit to India last year, the ChatGPT maker’s cofounder Sam Altman said that India was the fastest growing market for the frontier lab and was already the second largest in terms of users globally. Market estimates had earlier put the India user base at 100 million.
JioHotstar launches StreamToCart Ads, enabling in-stream shopping through Instamart
Introducing a game-changer in digital advertising, JioHotstar has launched StreamToCart Ads, an interactive format that merges streaming with online shopping. Viewers can now browse and directly add products to their shopping carts without interrupting their viewing, consequently boosting user engagement. Advertisers are empowered to monitor user behaviors from impressions to purchases, optimizing their marketing strategies.
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Crypto cards enter RBI's radar as Indians use offshore wallets for everyday payments
Offshore crypto cards that allow Indian residents to spend digital assets on domestic purchases and withdraw cash have come under the scrutiny of the RBI and Financial Intelligence Unit. Several users have reported card deactivations in recent days, while authorities are understood to be examining potential violations of payment regulations and FEMA.

Black Friday 2026: Walmart sale dates, early deals, Walmart+ benefits and store timings
Walmart is gearing up for its much-anticipated Black Friday 2026 event, featuring a slew of promotional sales starting in November through early December. Expect sweeping discounts on electronics, toys, and home appliances. Walmart+ members will enjoy exclusive early access to select deals that kick off on November 12. The store will officially reopen at 6 a.m. on Black Friday, November 27, after a closure on Thanksgiving.

PB Fintech, Delhivery improve Q2 profits; Binance's $6.3 billion caper
PB Fintech on Friday reported a strong jump in profit and revenue for the July-September quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

Rising tech costs drive EMI sales; Shadowfax Q2 profit soars
Happy Friday! Shoppers are turning to EMIs as electronics prices rise. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

Cyberattacks hit NBFCs; Pine Labs Q2 profit zooms
Cyber criminals are targetting smaller NBFCs with specialised AI toolkits. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

If you invested $1,000 in Google stock in 2006, here’s how much your Alphabet shares would be worth today
A $1,000 investment in Alphabet at the end of September 2006 would have grown to about $32,804 by October 22, 2026, with dividends reinvested. Here’s how Google stock outperformed the S&P 500 over two decades and what the company’s latest earnings reveal about its growth and AI spending.

SEBI to make direct mutual fund plans default from November 1; reviews IPO and SME listing rules: Reports
SEBI will make direct mutual fund plans the default option on AMC digital platforms starting November 1, while investors choosing regular plans must be informed about their higher costs. The regulator is also reviewing IPO frameworks, simplifying market regulations and expanding the use of AI to strengthen supervision and investor protection.
FTC orders Walmart, Delta and others to share how they use personal data to set prices and pay
"We intend to scrutinize the opaque methodology that some companies in these industries may be using to determine how much consumers pay or how much gig workers are paid for the same product or service," FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a statement.

No layoffs in 101 years: CEO of a company that has never laid off workers says businesses should cut costs elsewhere instead of firing employees
As Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to around 60,000 employees amid heavy AI investment, the CEO of a 101-year-old syrup maker says businesses should look for savings beyond job cuts. Torani says it has never laid off workers, including during the pandemic, when revenue fell 20% in a single month.

Why Walmart would rather keep Flipkart private, for now
Over the past few weeks, much has been written about former employees of the online commerce company writing to Walmart's board, asking for liquidity on the stock options they were granted 10 to 15 years ago. On October 1, at least eight former senior executives, among them former Myntra CEO Mukesh Bansal and former chief business officer Ankit Nagori, wrote to Walmart chairman Gregory Penner, other board members and Flipkart Group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy, seeking a complete exit for all former employees holding vested options.

Clock’s ticking for data protection, but the boardroom remains empty
Under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025, the framework for registering consent managers with the DPBI is scheduled to start on November 13. But a government response to a Right to Information (RTI) application shows that the board spent not a single rupee on salaries, office expenses, rent or information and communication technology equipment as of September 30 this year.

Starkey launched its new AI-powered hearing aid in 2026; it can last 51 hours, will alert your family if you fall; here's how it works
Starkey is a US-based hearing technology business founded by Bill Austin in 1967. It develops hearing aids and related technologies. On October 1, 2026, Starkey announced Omega AI+, the successor to its Omega AI hearing aid platform launched in 2025. It uses four deep neural networks working simultaneously to analyse speech, background noise and other sounds.

Can a $4 million attack ad sink Vivek Ramaswamy’s Ohio dream?
Vivek Ramaswamy is contending with a growing challenge from rival Amy Acton in the Ohio gubernatorial race. Recent polling indicates that Acton has gained a lead over Ramaswamy, despite his initial advantages. The controversial $4 million attack advertisement featuring Acton's estranged mother has attracted bipartisan criticism. Ramaswamy's campaign is facing scrutiny due to past controversies, including his H-1B visa stance.

‘Brands need to be loved by humans and read by agents’: BCG’s Lauren Wiener on AI’s impact on marketing
The growing influence of AI and LLMs on purchase decisions is significant across various consumer touchpoints. Brands are now required to optimize content for both human and AI consumption to compete effectively. Marketing leaders are rethinking traditional media-budget allocation strategies in response to these changes. Personalisation and an integrated approach to agentic marketing are emerging as critical priorities for brands moving forward.

87 million Facebook users & political targeting: What was the Cambridge Analytica scandal that is back in focus as Meta faces a $25 billion hit
Meta Platforms has been ordered to pay $25 billion for misleading consumers about data privacy in New Mexico. The ruling follows a jury finding that the company misrepresented access to personal information. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez initiated the case, citing violations of consumer protection laws. This penalty is one of the largest ever imposed on a company by a state.

Dan Ni started TLDR as a side project with a reported $500. How his newsletter business reached 8 million subscribers and eight-figure revenue
Dan Ni started TLDR as a side project with a reported $500 in starting costs. By 2024, his newsletter business had crossed eight figures in revenue and was profitable. Today, TLDR reaches more than 8 million subscribers through 14 free daily newsletters.

Is your phone reading your mind? How do you see ads for things you were thinking about just minutes ago
An ad appears for something you recently discussed, and your phone suddenly feels suspicious. Digital tracking can explain some of these moments. Psychology helps explain why certain matches feel unforgettable.

Women entrepreneurs can power Asia’s digital trade boom
Women entrepreneurs across Asia are increasingly turning to digital trade, enabling them to reach markets far beyond their local confines. This transition allows them to bypass traditional mobility challenges and limited funding opportunities. A variety of initiatives are in place to bolster women-led enterprises through training and improved financial access.

Edtech UpGrad’s net loss halves to Rs 131 crore in FY26, revenue rises 7.5%
Revenue from operations rose 7.5% to Rs 1,687 crore from Rs 1,569 crore a year earlier, according to the company's audited consolidated financial statements, filed with the Registrar of Companies (RoC). In FY25, UpGrad had reported a net loss of Rs 274 crore.

The Social Reckoning: Looking back at Facebook’s 2021 controversy and where Meta stands today
Aaron Sorkin’s latest film focuses on Facebook's past controversies and the implications of its business model. The story centres around whistleblower Frances Haugen and her allegations regarding Facebook's internal practices. Meta, formerly Facebook, is navigating ongoing concerns about safety and user engagement. The film, while offering a dramatic retelling, critiques the effectiveness of Meta’s strategies.

Meet Becky DeGrossa, who left IBM after 20 years to become a therapist, her side business hit $2 million in revenue
DeGrossa is the founder of CounselingWise. It is a marketing agency that helps therapists grow their practices through websites, search engine optimisation and online advertising. The business reportedly generated $2 million in revenue by June 2026. In 2003, DeGrossa left IBM after losing interest in her corporate career.

‘Get me a job, take my salary’: Bengaluru graduate’s unusual offer sparks debate
Bengaluru graduate offers first salary for job, fresher offers salary for job referral, AI ML jobs for freshers, Bengaluru jobseeker Reddit post, BTech artificial intelligence graduate, software engineering jobs for freshers, first month salary as referral reward, entry-level jobs require experience, Reddit job search debate, employee referral bonus

Bharat D2C Conclave 2026: From the ₹100 crore playbook to AI-led advertising and omnichannel strategies, founders on scaling India’s consumer brands
Inside the Bharat D2C Conclave 2026, which brought founders, investors and policymakers together to discuss the business decisions shaping India’s direct-to-consumer (D2C) ecosystem, from scaling revenues and expanding distribution to using customer data and navigating regulatory requirements.
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