Slice 🤝 North East SFB, Google's Dual Saga: Innovation and Controversy⚖️
BluSmart's EV Revolution, Ajio's Fashion Fusion, Google's Generative AI Leap, Funding Deals and more.
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Tech Updates
🤝 Slice and North East Small Finance Bank Join Forces in Bold Merger 💼
In a significant move signaling banking aspirations, credit card and digital payments unicorn Slice has announced its merger with North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB). Slice, renowned for its successful NBFC operations over the past four years, has now embarked on a strategic journey to consolidate its position in the banking sector.💳
⚡️ BluSmart Drives Change: EV Ride-Hailing Gets More Affordable 🚗
Gurugram's pioneering ride-hailing startup, BluSmart, is transforming the electric mobility landscape in Delhi-NCR. With an innovative twist, BluSmart has revamped its fare structure, now catering to shorter distances with a reduced fare slab of 3 km. This strategic move aims to make electric rides even more accessible, encouraging eco-conscious commuting while ensuring more choices for the riders.🔋
👗 Ajio Welcomes H&M: Fashion's New Online Odyssey 💃
In a seismic shift, Reliance Retail's Ajio platform is gearing up to showcase the trendy offerings of Swedish fashion powerhouse H&M, potentially breaking the exclusivity bond with Myntra. Fashion enthusiasts, get ready for a broader array of style choices at your fingertips! 🛍️
🔍 Google Under Scrutiny: U.S. Alleges Unfair Ad Tactics ⚖️
In a courtroom showdown, Google finds itself in the legal crosshairs as the U.S. Justice Department questions the tech giant's methods for inflating online advertising prices. The spotlight intensifies on Google's ad practices, raising crucial questions about fairness and competition in the digital marketplace. 💻
🚀 Google Elevates Virtual Assistant with Generative AI Integration ✨
The tech titan is gearing up to infuse its virtual assistant with cutting-edge generative artificial intelligence (AI). This enhancement promises users a seamless experience, aiding in tasks like trip planning and email management. Get ready for a smarter, more intuitive virtual assistant! 🌐
Funding Deals
Fintech startup DPDzero has raised $3.25 million in its seed round led by Blume Ventures and IndiaQuotient. Sunil Gulati and Nikhil Kumar have also joined the round.
ClearFeed, a conversational support platform for enterprises, has raised $2.7 million in a seed round led by Peak XV’s Surge with participation from 8VC and other angels.
Artificial intelligence (AI) startup Induced has raised $2.3 million in a seed funding round led by ChatGPT-maker OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman and Indian venture capital fund Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India and SEA).
Intelligent supply chain platform FreightFox has raised $600,000 in a seed funding round led by Aeravti Ventures along with participation from other investors.
Altitude, a financial services platform offering alternative investment tools, has raised $500K in a new round from over 40 investors from institutions and various sectors. This includes founders, operators, and from institutions such as Swiggy/DineOut, Yes Bank, Good Glamm Group, Robinhood, and Wipro.
Internship platform YouVah has secured $210,000 in its pre-seed funding round co-led by CIIE.CO IIM Ahmedabad and the co-founders of American Chase.
Tweet of the day🐥
“Before you give up, think about why you held on for so long.”
Thanks for reading till the end!