Google announced it'll be onboarding Indian-origin techie Varun Mohan in a deal to use his startup Windsurf's technology reportedly for $2.4 billion, months after OpenAI tried the same thing. The deal will see Windsurf Co-founder Douglas Chen and some R&D employees also joining Google DeepMind. Google will get non-exclusive license to Windsurf technologies but won't own a stake in it.

Aspiring entrepreneurs from across the country can now pitch their business models to a panel of investors and persuade them to invest money in their idea at $1 million funded 'Campus Tank', first-of-its-type university-led platform launched in Chandigarh. The initiative will work on lines of 'Shark Tank'.

Eternal, Zomato’s parent company, launches “Greening India,” aiming to plant 2.5 million trees on 10,000 acres of farmland in a year. The project supports farmers, improves air quality, and aligns with India’s green goals. This initiative shows corporate leadership by blending business success with environmental responsibility, inspiring others to join India’s sustainability mission.

Sweet Karam Coffee celebrates 10 years with a ₹100 crore ARR, serving 10 lakh+ families and fulfilling 4 lakh+ monthly orders. “Our journey is about trust, authenticity, and cultural pride, many can copy our products, but not our soul,” said Veera Raghavan, CMO, as the brand expands globally with the legacy of Janaki Paati at its heart.

Zed Black, led by Ankit and Anshul Agrawal, has become a Harvard Business School case study. Backed by MS Dhoni, the incense brand showcases how cultural roots, smart branding, and MSME innovation drive global success. From Madhya Pradesh to over 40 countries, Zed Black inspires Indian entrepreneurs to blend tradition and modernity for worldwide recognition.

IIT Madras has launched a ₹200 crore venture capital fund, backed by its alumni, to support pre-Series A and Series A deep-tech, climate, AI, and mobility startups. Focused on research-driven enterprises, especially from its Research Park, the fund aims to bridge the gap between labs and real-world applications, investing in 30-40 startups.

Connected vehicles are constantly generating and uploading data to the cloud—from engine performance to GPS logs. Cloud platforms help automakers monitor fleet health, optimise logistics, and roll out feature updates at scale, creating a feedback loop between car, cloud, and user.

Thanks to predictive maintenance powered by real-time sensor data, your vehicle can now alert you before a part wears out. This proactive approach not only reduces repair costs and prevents breakdowns but also extends the lifespan of the vehicle—redefining vehicle ownership and service.

Google announced it'll be onboarding Varun Mohan and buying a non-exclusive license for technologies of his software development startup Windsurf in a $2.4-billion deal, months after OpenAI tried doing the same. Son of Indian immigrant parents, Mohan grew up in California and has Bachelor's and Master's degrees from US' MIT. He previously interned at LinkedIn, Quora and Databricks.

Today’s vehicles aren’t just machines—they’re intelligent systems packed with sensors, data processors, and AI. Connected technology allows your car to analyse driving behaviour, learn from traffic patterns, and even suggest routes or maintenance, making driving safer, smarter, and more personalised than ever before.

Connected cars use the power of 5G, IoT, and cloud computing to stay in sync with digital ecosystems. Whether it's updating software remotely or streaming navigation data in real time, vehicles today are deeply integrated with the internet—transforming into smart, adaptive companions on the road.

In India, social media is evolving into a full-funnel marketing engine. With rising trust in influencers, seamless payment integrations, and the rise of conversational commerce, brands are turning engagements into conversions faster than ever. Unlike global markets where users may be saturated or cynical, Indian users are still discovering and exploring new products via social.

India has embraced short-form video content at a staggering pace. Following the TikTok ban, indigenous apps like Moj, Josh, and Roposo filled the gap, while global players like Instagram Reels capitalised on the momentum. Today, creators from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are redefining fame, brands are investing in snackable storytelling, and regional content is outperforming polished global formats.

India is experiencing a social media boom like no other. With over half a billion internet users—most of them mobile-first and under 30—platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube have become integral to everyday life. Unlike mature global markets, India is still on a steep upward curve of adoption and innovation.

With over-the-air updates, intelligent infotainment systems, and integration with wearables and home devices, modern cars rival the smartness of new-era mobile phones. In fact, they’re turning into tech ecosystems on wheels—where comfort, performance, and data co-exist seamlessly.

The Indian definition of ‘engagement’ is broader, deeper, and more community-driven than global norms. It’s not just about likes or retweets. Engagement here includes forwarding WhatsApp messages to family groups, commenting in Hinglish or Tamil, sharing Reels that reflect local issues, and participating in challenges that are both fun and functional.

Social media usage is deeply influenced by culture, infrastructure, and content preferences—and India is proving that point. While global users may gravitate towards aspirational content and lifestyle narratives, Indian users are driven by utility, infotainment, and a desire for connectivity across diverse languages.

Blip promised 10-60 minute fast-fashion delivery for Gen Z but shut down within a year. Fierce competition, high returns, poor unit economics, and logistical challenges doomed its bold vision. Can quick commerce really work for fashion? This closure sparks debate about balancing speed, sustainability, and customer needs in India’s evolving e-commerce market.

Maharashtra is shutting down nearly 90% of Ola Electric's 450 showrooms in the state as it lacks trade certificate for storing unregistered vehicles, Mint reported. Maharashtra is the largest electric scooter market in the country and accounted for about 12% of Ola Electric's over 344,000 scooter sales in FY25. The company has dismissed the report as speculative, incorrect and misplaced.

Chennai-based food brand Cookd has secured ₹16 crore in a pre-Series A funding round led by Spring Marketing Capital, with participation from Eternal Capital, PeerCheque, and Sunicon Ventures. The funds will support expansion across Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and fuel product innovation in masalas, gravies, and biryani kits. Cookd also plans to scale its offline and D2C presence.

The Uttar Pradesh government hosted a roadshow in Hyderabad to promote the upcoming UP International Trade Show 2025. Over 150 exporters and business leaders explored global opportunities, partnerships, and government support. The event aims to boost SMEs, showcase regional industries, and position UP as a key player in India’s $2 trillion export vision.

Quick fashion delivery startup Blip has shut down operations less than one year after its launch, Co-Founder Ansh Agarwal announced on Saturday. "While we continue to believe in this space, bootstrapping the business with limited capital made it extremely difficult for us to participate in the market," he said. He added that he "had a lot of fun building" it.

US-based engineer Jake Loosararian, Gecko Robotics' Co-founder, told CNBC Make It that he worked 100-hour weeks and faced bankruptcy while working to build his startup unicorn, now worth $1.3 billion. "Everyone said, 'Don't f*****g do it'," Loosararian said on turning his college project into a company in 2013. He added he even considered selling his business in 2015 for $500,000.

ISRO chief V Narayanan revealed that his team had pushed for postponement of launch to ensure astronauts' safety after spotting a leak in SpaceX's rocket, which took Shubhanshu Shukla to space. He recalled saying his team won't participate in launching a rocket they weren't confident of. "Initially they thought I'm a nuisance...Later realised we did a fantastic job," he added.

Fashion delivery startup Blip, which offered 30-minute delivery service by directly working with retail stores, shut down after 1-year of operation, announced co-founder Ansh Agarwal. It's limited capital made it difficult to survive as they couldn't keep up with multiple stakeholders, especially when platforms such as Myntra and Ajio, who hold large inventories have been tapping into the market.