TECHNOLOGY ACCESS FOR STARTUPS
WhatsApp to double down on financial services, AI: CEO Kunal Shah
WhatsApp is implementing new strategies aimed at improving user experience by making communication features more intuitive for seamless navigation. The initiative includes streamlining financial transactions, so users won’t have to navigate out of the app. Kunal Shah is also looking to harness artificial intelligence for better schedule management. Collaborations with telecom and payment services may elevate these functions. Importantly, user privacy is safeguarded, maintaining end-to-end encryption on all communications.
Bigger cheques, fewer winners in India’s AI boom
Indian AI startups raised $1.6 billion in funding during the first nine months of 2026. While AI infrastructure attracted significant investments, application startups faced declining funding and challenges in securing customers. Large transactions constituted most of the total funding, highlighting a disparity in investment distribution.
Rippling steps up AI hiring in India, looks to expand enterprise push
The firm is hiring principal engineers, senior staff engineers and senior directors among others as the lab focuses on developing core components of Rippling’s global AI platform, Parandekar told ET in an exclusive interaction.
Qcomm’s Diwali boost; Energy startups attract funds
Happy Wednesday! Quick commerce powered a strong festive season for D2C brands. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Two former SpaceX engineers built a 25-pound machine that turns seawater into drinking water at the push of a button; here's how it works
It was co-founded by Jonathan Criss and Andrew Harner. Both are former SpaceX engineers. Criss is the company's CEO, and Harner is the COO. They gained engineering experience at SpaceX, and then applied aerospace-level precision and efficiency to the systems. It was reportedly designed for people who are outdoor enthusiasts, boat owners and living in remote locations.
₹85,000 Temple: Deepinder Goyal’s wearable is a health-tech gamble
Deepinder Goyal’s ₹85,000 Temple wearable aims to track real-time body performance and brain blood circulation, but its technology lacks meaningful scientific validation. While doctors question its claims, the device could open new possibilities in preventive healthcare. Its long-term success may depend on credibility, clinical evidence and affordability.
- Go To Page 1
India well on track to achieve $1 trillion exports target for FY27: Piyush Goyal
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India is on track to achieve its $1 trillion goods and services export target in FY27, having already recorded nearly $480 billion in exports during April-September. He highlighted opportunities from free trade agreements, particularly the proposed India-EU pact, for the automobile and mobility sectors. Goyal urged manufacturers to expand globally, boost competitiveness and leverage international partnerships to drive exports, investment and employment.
Jensen Huang is bigger than Nvidia — and it’s a problem
Nvidia has initiated an investigation regarding CEO Jensen Huang after acknowledgment of a romantic involvement with a Chinese spy. This revelation has raised questions about the company's future stability and ongoing projects. Investors are apprehensive about key-person risk due to Huang's significant influence on Nvidia’s operations and strategy.
How China gets the Nvidia chips it needs to develop AI
Nvidia's dominance in the global AI chip market has come under scrutiny as US export restrictions fail to fully prevent China from accessing advanced processors. Chinese firms are reportedly obtaining Nvidia chips through smuggling and overseas data centres, while domestic players such as Huawei race to develop competitive alternatives.
AI innovation in sports: Technology driving the next phase of sports development
Artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities across the sports ecosystem, from performance analysis and sports administration to technology development and wider participation. The ET AI Awards 2027 recognises organisations, technology providers and initiatives advancing the application of AI in sports through its AI Innovation in Sports category.
Moonshot AI rents Nvidia’s top AI chips in China, documents show
Documents indicate that Moonshot AI possibly accessed advanced Nvidia chips despite US export restrictions and related investigations. The servers were reportedly rented from Super Micro Computer Inc. with significant financial backing from Lingmeixin Technology Co.
From streaming to software, microdrama startups rewrite their growth pitch
Peak XV Partners-backed Dashverse has discontinued its consumer platform DashReels and is looking to raise $30-40 million, largely for Frameo AI, its video production software for businesses. Eloelo, which raised $80 million this week led by Hornbill Capital and NBCUniversal, is investing in Dolphin AI, its new production suite, alongside content creation and international expansion.
Workout after work: India Inc flexes its fitness muscle
Employers in India are enhancing workplace fitness programs to promote well-being and active lifestyles among employees. Companies like Procter & Gamble and InMobi now offer gym facilities and wellness initiatives. The demand for fitness programs is rising among mid-sized businesses and startups, providing greater access to wellness resources.
Workout after work: India Inc flexes its fitness muscle as employers make workplace wellness harder to skip
Indian companies are expanding workplace fitness programmes, offering employees access to office gyms, group exercise classes, personal training, sports facilities and memberships across multiple locations. Procter & Gamble, InMobi and Walmart Global Tech are among the employers investing in employee wellness, while fitness providers Cult for Corporates and Fit.Zone report growing corporate demand. The focus is increasingly shifting from offering fitness as an employee perk to encouraging greater participation and making healthy routines part of the working day.
Arunoday Singh-headed O-Health secures strategic funding
O-Health has received strategic funding from several investors to advance its healthcare technology solutions. The company aims to enhance its voice-first AI-enabled clinical pre-assessment platform for better patient information management. The investment will support the expansion into additional healthcare sectors and development of indigenous AI models and clinical hardware. O-Health plans to broaden its focus to include preventive health technologies and intelligent hospital workflows.
Nearly 90% students prioritise skills over degrees, reveals a survey
A survey of over 2,000 students found that 88% prioritise practical skills over degrees and academic grades for career success. The findings highlight growing demand for industry exposure, AI-based learning, internships and entrepreneurship opportunities in higher education.
Google sued over suicide-related AI chats on school computer
The parents of a 13-year-old girl have sued Google claiming she planned a potential suicide and funeral using its AI technology on a school-issued computer. Developers of fast-evolving AI technology are facing a litany of similar lawsuits in the US. OpenAI faces several wrongful death suits, including from the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, a teenager who committed suicide allegedly using methods advised by ChatGPT. Google and the startup Character.
Ex-Ultrahuman executive launches AI ring startup Aina for agentic interactions
The startup said it is positioning the device as an alternative interface to smartphones for everyday interactions with AI systems. It has spent the past 15 months developing the product and is now opening pre-orders globally, with prices starting at $399 (about Rs 36,000), the startup said in a statement.
Cosmoserve Space raises $6 million, sets up India's first space debris removal facility in Hyderabad
The facility comprises an orbital rendezvous and capture lab, a space robotics innovation lab, an ISO Class 8 satellite integration clean room and a mission simulation and control centre. It will enable the company to design, build and test robotic capture systems and develop capabilities for satellite servicing, including in-orbit repairs and refuelling.
AI Team of the Year: How high-performing AI teams are driving business innovation
The success of AI adoption significantly hinges on the expertise of the professionals implementing these technologies. Teams that blend technical proficiency with business acumen are essential to guarantee that AI applications align with operational requirements and performance benchmarks. Acknowledgment of their contributions becomes crucial, especially for projects that are pivotal to driving business results.
Aartas CliniShare to add 20,000 sq. ft of co-working space
Aartas CliniShare aims to add 20,000 sq. ft. of healthcare infrastructure across Delhi NCR by the financial year-end. The company is focusing on Noida, West Delhi, and North Delhi for its expansion efforts. Aartas CliniShare operates on a managed OPD infrastructure model to serve various healthcare enterprises.
L&T Finance Pitch Point 2.0: Where an AI startup’s big idea meets enterprise scale
Pitch Point, L&T Finance’s contest for AI startups, is back for a second edition. Last year’s winners, Arrowhead AI and SpoofSense, talk about what they got out of it and what they would tell this year’s new applicants.
Beyond ‘no subscription’, NeoSapien sees a paid future for advanced AI features
The Bengaluru-based AI wearables startup is exploring another funding round in early 2027 but its CEO said there was no pressure to raise capital because its cash burn remained low and capital from earlier round was still in the bank.
Karnataka, Finland’s Tampere region sign pact to create Creative Corridor for AVGC, immersive tech
The agreement was signed under the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) initiative of the Department of Electronics, IT and Biotechnology through the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS). The proposed corridor will seek to strengthen cross-border partnerships, innovation and business opportunities between the two ecosystems.
Karnataka invites Japanese firms to scale manufacturing, tech alliances
Karnataka seeks collaboration with Japanese companies for manufacturing and innovation in various high-tech sectors. The state presents dedicated incentive packages to support electronics manufacturing and other industries. More than 200 Japanese companies currently operate in Karnataka, enhancing bilateral business relations. Agreements have been signed for Japanese language training to better equip local students.
Pixxel's Indian ownership comes under scrutiny
Pixxel founder and chief executive Awais Ahmed in a blog post on X said the company remains “headquartered, owned, managed and controlled in India,” on Monday. Indian investors, including the founders, collectively hold the largest shareholding in the company, followed by investors from Singapore, the UK and the US, he added.
China's robot makers have mastered the moves. Now comes the race for brains
The shift is fuelling an investment boom in embodied AI, a field focused on software that allows robots to understand their surroundings, learn unfamiliar tasks and adapt without having to be programmed for every job.
Gulf investors eye India’s AI infrastructure and space tech even as broader interest stays subdued
Gulf-based investors are exploring opportunities in India's artificial intelligence and space technology sectors, despite overall subdued interest. Yotta, a data centre operator, successfully raised $150 million earlier this year for expansion plans. Pixxel Space Technologies is also seeking funding in the UAE to capitalize on growing investor interest in technology. The Indian rupee's depreciation has contributed to the cautious investment sentiment among broader market participants.
China's new export curbs draw a line around its AI crown jewels
The draft rules, released on October 16, distinguish between foreign customers using Chinese AI services and foreign companies obtaining the models, data or expertise needed to operate or reproduce them independently.
Load More
