Bluesky to catch up with X, Threads🌨️
Moksha Group acquires Arzooo assets, Rapido to launch airport pool taxis, Bitcoin breaches $94,000, Funding Deals and more.
Good morning and welcome to Thursday’s edition of Rise & Shine!
"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another."
— William James
Today, William James’ insightful words remind us that the power to combat stress lies in our ability to control our thoughts and choose a more empowering perspective.
It’s a reminder that we can shape our mental state, even in challenging times.
Tech Updates
Bluesky clocks 20 million users, but yet to catch up with X, Threads
Bluesky, a microblogging platform and X’s emerging nemesis, has gained 20 million followers within a span of just about one month - an impressive feat for a relatively new app. Given the app’s growth, this has given rise to speculation that it could soon become one of the top competitors of Elon Musk-owned X and Instagram’s Threads. Bluesky’s app is currently ranked number one in iOS App Store and second in Google Play according to Appfigures.
Moksha Group acquires Arzooo assets in distress sell
Moksha Group, a Mumbai-based company which provides distribution, supply chain, and financial solutions, has acquired strategic assets from retail tech startup Arzooo. According to sources, this is a distress sale, as Arzooo was on the verge of shutting down its operations. The company had also made headlines for laying off hundreds of employees and withholding their salaries.
Rapido to soon launch airport pool taxis to Bengaluru airport
Ride-hailing app Rapido is all set to launch pool taxi services to Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) early next year, cofounder of Rapido, Aravind Sanka announced on Wednesday. The platform offers shared auto services for certain routes.
Bitcoin breaches $94,000 for the first time
Bitcoin rose to an all-time high of over $94,000 following reports that US president-elect Donald Trump's social media company was in talks to acquire Bakkt, a cryptocurrency trading platform. Bitcoin is the world's biggest and best-known cryptocurrency. It has more than doubled this year.
Funding Deals
Cancer diagnostics startup OneCell Diagnostics has raised $16 million in its Series A round led by Celesta Capital. Tenacity Ventures, Cedars Sinai, Eragon, and Singularity Ventures have also participated in the round.
Accel and Prosus Ventures-backed Web3 gaming startup Kratos Gamer Network (KGeN) raised $10 million (about Rs 84 crore) in a funding round. The fundraise was led by Aptos Labs, which develops Web3 solutions for live service games. Blockchain startup Polygon and esports network Game7 also participated.
Dairy startup Doodhvale Farms has raised $3 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Atomic Capital and Singularity Early Opportunities Fund. The round also saw participation from Bharat Founders Fund, Indigram Labs Foundation, and angel investors including Ramakant Sharma, Ankit Tandon, Livspace CEO Saurabh Jain, and Arjun Vaidya.
🧑🏻🎓 Short Story: The Calm Student
Lisa, a college student, was overwhelmed by exams and deadlines. She often spiraled into thoughts of inadequacy and fear, which only increased her stress. One day, her mentor shared William James’ quote, encouraging Lisa to replace self-defeating thoughts with constructive ones.
Instead of thinking, "I’m going to fail," Lisa began telling herself, "I’ve prepared well, and I’ll do my best." This shift in mindset reduced her anxiety and allowed her to focus. By choosing empowering thoughts, Lisa approached her challenges with clarity and confidence.
Tweet of the day🐥
As you navigate your day, remember that you have the power to choose your thoughts. Replace stress-inducing ones with perspectives that strengthen and calm you.
Rise & Shine is here to remind you that mastering your mindset is the ultimate tool for resilience.
Have a peaceful and empowering Thursday!
Thanks for reading till the end!