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  • EU Broadcasters Seek Regulatory Parity for Big Tech’s Smart TVs

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    The Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT) has voiced concerns over Big Tech’s growing presence in the broadcasting industry. The ACT, which includes members such as Canal+, RTL, Mediaset, ITV, Paramount+, NBCUniversal, Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Sky, and TF1 Groupe, is advocating for the extension of EU digital rules to cover smart TVs operated by tech giants.

    The broadcasters are wary of the increasing influence of technology companies in their sector, highlighting the growing tensions between traditional media players and tech giants as they compete for viewership and advertising revenue. By calling for stricter regulations that would apply to Big Tech’s smart TV offerings, the broadcasters aim to ensure a level playing field and fair competition within the industry.

    This development underscores the evolving landscape of digital content consumption, where traditional broadcasters are grappling with the disruptive impact of technology companies expanding their presence in the media space. The outcome of this debate could have significant implications for the future of broadcasting and the regulatory environment governing the intersection of technology and media.

    Source: Tech-Economic Times

  • Microdramas Reshape India’s Digital Entertainment Landscape as RMG Users Shift to Offshore Betting

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    India’s digital entertainment sector is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the rise of innovative formats like microdramas. According to Lumikai’s State of Interactive Media Report 2025, India’s interactive media market has surged to a $13.8 billion ecosystem, fueled by a staggering 877 million smartphone users.

    Within a year, microdrama platforms have generated over $300 million in revenue, amassing 450 million downloads and attracting 100 million monthly active users. Projections indicate that these platforms could evolve into a $4.5 billion market by 2030, reflecting a shift in user preferences towards interactive, bite-sized content that engages users for an average of 60 minutes daily, rivaling traditional OTT platforms.

    Notably, the report highlights a migration of real-money gaming (RMG) users to offshore betting apps following regulatory restrictions. Approximately one in three RMG enthusiasts have transitioned to offshore platforms, spending up to Rs 10,000 monthly without local oversight or taxation. This trend is accompanied by a surge in VPN-enabled browsing and increased traffic to offshore platforms like Bet365 and 1xBet, indicating sustained demand redirected outside India’s regulatory boundaries.

    Amidst these changes, users are reallocating their digital entertainment time towards microdramas, social media, and free-to-play games, propelling growth in these segments. India’s gaming ecosystem, excluding RMG, remains robust, surpassing $1.5 billion in 2025 with 555 million gamers and a 25% payer conversion rate, primarily driven by in-app purchases.

    The report underscores the lucrative potential for platforms catering to specific user needs, emphasizing engagement over scale. The shift towards microdramas and offshore betting apps underscores the evolving preferences and consumption patterns in India’s digital landscape.

    Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

  • Somerset Indus Capital Partners Raises $288M Fund to Boost Healthcare Innovation in India

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Somerset Indus Capital Partners has successfully closed its third fund, Fund III, at $288 million, surpassing its initial target of $250 million. The fund attracted a diverse set of global institutional investors, including development finance institutions, investment firms, insurance companies, and family offices from various regions.

    Specializing in healthcare investments, Somerset aims to support scalable healthcare ventures that offer affordable and quality care in sectors like healthcare delivery, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Fund III will focus on bridging healthcare access disparities in India’s underserved markets.

    Typically investing between $15 million and $40 million per company, Somerset’s co-investment approach allows participation in larger deals ranging from $60 to $80 million. The additional capital infusion will facilitate investments in transformative healthcare areas such as preventive care, insurance solutions, and innovative medical technologies.

    Somerset’s previous funds have demonstrated strong performance, with Fund I achieving a 4.0x DPI and Fund II progressing towards exits. The firm has made successful investments in companies like Cyrix Healthcare and NU Hospitals, and is committed to driving impactful healthcare solutions beyond major cities in India.

    Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

  • Workroom Automation Secures Seed Funding to Enhance AI-Powered Manufacturing Platform

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Workroom Automation, a connected factory platform, has successfully raised ₹6.2 crore in a recent seed funding round led by Equirus InnovateX Fund. The funding round also included contributions from Astir Ventures, Venture Catalysts Group, and notable angel investors.

    The Hyderabad-based company plans to utilize the fresh capital to accelerate product development, strengthen its core platform, and expand its market reach. Key focus areas will include enhancing the AI planning engine, broadening automation capabilities, and establishing deeper integrations across ERP, MES, and shop floor systems. Additionally, Workroom Automation intends to invest in enterprise sales, strategic partnerships, and improving customer success and delivery operations.

    Founded by Abhinav Atthota and Rohan Agarwal, Workroom Automation specializes in creating a connected factory platform that acts as an intelligent layer across manufacturing systems. The platform facilitates real-time decision-making and automated execution through data integration across ERP, MES, machines, and shop floor workflows.

    Workroom Automation’s AI-driven planning engine plays a crucial role in converting complex demand into daily production plans, dynamically adapting to constraints like machine availability, material flow, and workforce variations. This technology is designed to enhance capacity utilization, minimize delays, and optimize execution efficiency within manufacturing operations.

    The company has already initiated the deployment of its platform in factories across diverse sectors, including automotive, electronics, industrial machinery, and consumer goods. Workroom Automation’s strategic focus involves expanding deployments in multiple factories within enterprises and extending its footprint among medium and large discrete manufacturing entities.

    With a vision to establish a unified operating system for manufacturing, Workroom Automation aims to offer advanced capabilities in planning, orchestration, and automation, progressing towards autonomous factory operations.

    Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

  • Tier II and III Cities Poised to Drive India’s Startup Growth, Says MeitY Startup Hub CEO

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    According to Panneerselvam Madanagopal, the CEO of MeitY Startup Hub, tier II and III cities in India are set to play a pivotal role in propelling the country’s startup ecosystem forward. Madanagopal emphasized this point during the recent NextGen Startup Summit in Jaipur, where he highlighted the potential for these non-metro areas to become the next frontier for startup innovation and the emergence of new companies.

    The Summit, organized in collaboration with Vivekananda Global University, focused on empowering startups from tier II and III cities to scale their operations. Discussions revolved around key challenges such as accessing global markets, securing funding, and fostering robust entrepreneurial ecosystems outside major metropolitan areas.

    Madanagopal underscored the significance of MeitY’s Genesis program, which is designed to strengthen startup capacities in tier II and III cities through a network of 65 partner incubators. The initiative aims to cultivate a sustainable ecosystem that transcends geographical boundaries and nurtures innovation on a national scale.

    The event witnessed participation from industry leaders, including Onkar Bagaria, Gaurav Sharma, Sudhanshu Gupta, Pinky Maheshwari, Rohit Bajaj, and Tripti Somani, fostering a collaborative environment to drive startup growth across diverse regions.

    Source: Inc42 Media

  • Koovers’ Financials in FY25: Revenue Growth Amid Rising Costs

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Koovers, a Bengaluru-based B2B marketplace specializing in automotive spare parts, experienced notable growth in the fiscal year ending March 2025. The company’s operating revenue surged by 2.5 times to Rs 198 crore, attributed to its expanded dealer network and operational scale-up. However, despite this revenue increase, Koovers faced challenges as its losses more than doubled during the same period, reaching Rs 36 crore.

    Founded in 2015, Koovers operates as an app-based platform offering a wide range of car spare parts and accessories. The company’s acquisition by Schaeffler India in 2023 marked a significant milestone in its journey.

    The surge in costs, particularly the 2.5x increase in material expenses to Rs 186.5 crore, posed a significant financial strain on Koovers. Employee benefit costs also doubled to Rs 22 crore. Overall expenses surged by 145% to Rs 235 crore, outpacing the revenue growth.

    Despite these financial challenges, Koovers managed to improve its operational efficiency slightly, with the cost to earn a rupee of revenue decreasing to Rs 1.19 in FY25. The company’s current assets stood at Rs 51 crore, with cash and bank balances of Rs 50 lakh at the end of the fiscal year.

    Competing with firms like TyrePlex, Boodmo, and Partnr, Koovers faces a competitive landscape in the automotive spare parts market. The acquisition by Schaeffler India, driven by a strong dealer network and sourcing relationships, could potentially reshape Koovers’ strategic focus and operational direction going forward.

    Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

  • Razorpay and Sarvam Collaborate to Bring Voice-Powered Conversational Commerce

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Razorpay, a leading payments platform, has partnered with Sarvam, a full-stack sovereign AI platform, to introduce voice-powered conversational commerce. This collaboration aims to enable users to explore products, place orders, and complete payments using natural language interactions.

    The partnership leverages Sarvam’s AI models and technology stack alongside Razorpay’s payments infrastructure to facilitate multilingual, voice-driven transactions across various Indian languages. Initially, Swiggy, a popular food delivery service, will be integrated into Sarvam’s chat platform, Indus App, allowing customers to place food orders by engaging with a voice-enabled AI assistant.

    The collaboration will be rolled out in three stages. First, it will introduce conversational commerce within the Indus App, starting with Swiggy. Secondly, businesses will have the opportunity to embed voice-enabled commerce into their own applications and websites. In a preliminary trial, a conversational voice assistant has been deployed on The Derma Co’s website, empowering users to explore products and finalize purchases through voice interactions. Lastly, Sarvam’s AI stack will be integrated with Razorpay’s Agent Studio, enabling businesses and developers to create multilingual AI agents capable of interacting with users and executing transactions seamlessly.

    This partnership aims to revolutionize the way users engage with e-commerce by replacing conventional app-based interfaces with AI-powered conversational experiences for day-to-day transactions.

    Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts

  • Curefoods Expands Food Delivery and Introduces AI Fitness Coach

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Curefoods, a startup company, is expanding its offerings in the food delivery sector while also introducing a novel AI-powered fitness coach. The company aims to cater to a broader spectrum of consumer needs by not only enhancing its food delivery services but also integrating an AI-driven fitness coaching experience.

    One key aspect of Curefoods’ strategy is its intention to scale established brands, with a specific focus on popular names like Krispy Kreme. Additionally, the company is looking to extend its cloud kitchen presence beyond major cities, indicating a commitment to wider accessibility and convenience for its customers.

    By combining efficient food delivery services with a personalized fitness coaching experience driven by artificial intelligence, Curefoods is positioning itself as a tech-forward player in the competitive startup landscape.

    Source: YourStory RSS Feed

  • India Showcases Top Startups to Boost Global Tech Innovation Presence

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    India recently highlighted its top startups at a prestigious event hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, aiming to bolster its standing in global tech innovation. The gathering, attended by prominent investors, academics, and policymakers, served as a prelude to an upcoming international exhibition in France, further emphasizing India’s commitment to fostering technological advancements.

    This initiative underscores India’s proactive approach to promoting its burgeoning startup ecosystem on a global stage. By actively engaging with key stakeholders and showcasing the potential of its innovative enterprises, India seeks to position itself as a hub of cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurial talent.

    Through events like this, India not only highlights the creativity and ingenuity of its startups but also signals its readiness to collaborate and compete in the international tech landscape. The focus on showcasing these startups reflects India’s strategic efforts to enhance its reputation as a significant player in the global innovation arena.

    Source: YourStory RSS Feed

  • Finfinity Secures $2.4M in Seed Funding to Enhance Digital Lending Platform

    This article was generated by AI and cites original sources.

    Digital lending marketplace Finfinity recently announced securing $2.4 million in a seed funding round, led by Mankind Pharma Promoter’s Family Office and other investors. The company plans to utilize the fresh capital to enhance its technology platform, expand lender partnerships, scale distribution, and invest in customer acquisition and brand building.

    Founded in 2023 by Pradeep Chauhan, Mohit Jain, and Vijay Kadam, Finfinity offers users the ability to compare loan options from various lenders, facilitating better rates and informed borrowing decisions. By focusing on transparent and personalized borrowing experiences, Finfinity integrates deep tech with banks and NBFCs to enable real-time data exchange, enhance risk intelligence, and expedite decision-making processes.

    Finfinity’s strategic goals include targeting 10 million users within the next 18 to 24 months, expanding lending categories, and strengthening its mortgage segment presence. The company aims to create embedded lending experiences by integrating credit into high-intent customer journeys through partnerships. Additionally, Finfinity is developing a financial well-being platform with AI-driven recommendations to simplify borrowing and enhance consumer decision-making.

    Source: Entrackr : Latest Posts