Meesho unveils multilingual voice bot🎙️
Infosys hands out 90% avg performance bonus, FMCG firms quick to profit, TakeMe2Space to launch AI lab in space, Funding Deals and more.
Good morning and welcome to Wednesday’s edition of Rise & Shine!
"Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you."
— Walt Whitman
Today, Walt Whitman’s uplifting words remind us to focus on the positive and keep moving forward, letting negativity fade into the background.
Shadows—our fears, doubts, and struggles—lose their grip when we consistently move toward the light of optimism and purpose.
Tech Updates
Meesho unveils Gen AI-powered multilingual voice bot
Horizontal e-commerce platform Meesho has launched a Gen AI-powered multilingual voice bot designed to provide personalized, human-like customer support at scale. With 80% of its user base coming from tier II cities and beyond, Meesho’s voice bot is designed to function efficiently on basic smartphones and in noisy environments.
Infosys hands out 90% average performance bonus fuelled by uptick in growth
Infosys, India’s second-largest IT services company, has announced a 90% average performance bonus payout to its eligible employees for the second quarter ending September of the ongoing fiscal year 2024-25. The bonus, which will be credited with the November salary, primarily targets mid-and-junior-level employees in delivery and sales units, comprising the majority of the company’s 3.15 lakh workforce.
FMCG firms quick to profit from rising star of e-commerce
Consumer goods companies are finding quick commerce to be a more lucrative channel than traditional outlets like kiranas and grocery retail chains, as well as regular ecommerce platforms, CEOs of companies like Colgate-Palmolive India, Godrej Consumer Products, Dabur, and Adani Wilmar.
Spacetech startup TakeMe2Space to launch AI lab in space in December
A Hyderabad-based startup is set to launch an artificial intelligence lab in space on board ISRO's PSLV rocket next month. TakeMe2Space, a space technology firm based in Hyderabad, said its 'Orbital Infrastructure - Technology Demonstrator'(MOI-TD), billed as India's first AI lab in space, will demonstrate real-time data processing in orbit, making space research more affordable and accessible.
Funding Deals
ShopDeck, a direct-to-customer (D2C) ecommerce solutions provider, raised $8 million (about Rs 68 crore) in a funding round led by global investment firm Bessemer Venture Partners.
MSME-focused digital lender NeoGrowth has raised debt funding from UTI International Wealth Creator. NeoGrowth's regulatory filings sourced from the RoC show that its board has approved the issuance and allotment of up to 4,200 non-convertible debentures (NCDs) to raise up to Rs 42 crore (approx. $5 million).
Ikin Global, an IoT smart lock brand, has raised $1 million in its pre-Series A round led by Unicorn India Ventures and Callapina Capital.
Lab-grown diamond startup True Diamond has raised $1 million in a seed funding round led by Titan Capital, along with participation from Huddle Ventures, Zeropearl Ventures, and personal investments from Ashutosh Valani, Priyank Shah, Aashka Goradia Goble, Mamaearth founder Ghazal Alagh, Abhishek Goyal, and Anmol Jain.
Crypto investment platform BitSave has secured an undisclosed amount in its pre-Series A funding round led by Leo Capital.
🌷 Short Story: The Resilient Gardener
Emily loved gardening, but after a harsh winter destroyed her plants, she was disheartened and considered giving up. Remembering Whitman’s words, she decided to focus on the potential of spring rather than the loss of her past efforts.
With renewed energy, Emily planted new seeds, nurtured her garden, and watched it flourish even more beautifully than before. By focusing on the possibilities ahead, she left the shadows of failure behind and cultivated both a thriving garden and a hopeful mindset.
Tweet of the day🐥
As you move through your day, focus on the opportunities and positives ahead. Let the shadows of doubt fall behind as you walk toward your goals.
Rise & Shine is here to remind you that positivity is a powerful tool for progress.
Have a bright and optimistic Wednesday!
Thanks for reading till the end!