Snap unveils new AR glasses👓
PhonePe captures 50% UPI market, EaseMyTrip invests Rs 90 Cr in two overseas firms, Livspace IPO in 2025-26, Funding Deals and more.
Good morning and welcome to Wednesday’s edition of Rise & Shine!
“I always thought it was me against the world, and then one day I realized it’s just me against me.”
— Kendrick Lamar
Today’s powerful quote by Kendrick Lamar brings attention to the idea that our greatest challenges often come from within.
Let’s explore how embracing this mindset can unlock your full potential.
By understanding that the key to growth lies in overcoming our internal struggles, we can stop blaming external factors and focus on mastering ourselves.
Tech Updates
Snap unveils fifth-generation of Spectacles, its augmented reality glasses
Snap Inc, the parent of messaging app Snapchat, has unveiled the fifth generation of its standalone augmented reality (AR) glasses, Spectacles, beating rival Meta to the launch. The device is powered by a dual system-on-a-chip architecture, and with two Qualcomm Snapdragon processors – the infrastructure splits workload across the two processors.
PhonePe captures 50% UPI market share by value in August
PhonePe has captured over 50% of the market share in UPI transaction volume as of August, according to data from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The Walmart-controlled payments firm continues to maintain a strong lead over competitors like Google Pay and Paytm.
EaseMyTrip invests Rs 90 Cr in two overseas firms; enters medical tourism space
Online travel aggregator (OTA) platform EaseMyTrip has acquired a 30% stake in Rollins International and a 49% stake in Pflege Home Healthcare to enter the medical tourism maret.
Livspace to file for domicile flip from Singapore for IPO in 2025-26
Ikea-backed Livspace is set to become the latest startup to file for flipping its domicile to India from Singapore and has secured the board’s in-principle approval for the same, founder Ramakant Sharma said.
Funding Deals
Omnichannel diagnostics service provider Redcliffe Labs has raised $42 million in a Series C funding round led by Denmark-based investment firm IFU, which contributed $20 million. Existing investor LeapFrog added $15 million, while the remaining capital came from shareholders HealthQuad and Spark Growth Ventures.
Hyperlocal news platform Way2News has raised $14 million in a new round of funding led by existing investor WestBridge Capital, with participation from venture capitalist Sashi Reddi, founder of US-based software testing company AppLabs.
California-and Bengaluru-based data infrastructure startup e6data has raised $10 million in a new round of funding led by venture capital firm Accel, with participation from Beenext and others.
Schmooze, a meme-based dating app, has raised $4 million in a funding round led by Elevation Capital. The round also saw participation from angel investors, including the founders of Ultrahuman, The Souled Store, and Paytm.
🤿 Short Story: The Athlete's Turning Point
Jordan, a competitive swimmer, constantly blamed external circumstances for his losses—unfavorable weather, strong opponents, or bad luck.
One day, after a particularly disappointing race, his coach pulled him aside and said, "The only person holding you back is you."
This struck a chord with Jordan, who realized that his self-doubt and lack of mental preparation were his true obstacles. He began working not just on his physical abilities but also on his mindset.
Soon, Jordan found himself competing at a higher level, overcoming not the other swimmers but the limitations he had placed on himself.
Tweet of the day🐥
As you move through your day, reflect on how much of your progress is held back by internal barriers. What are the self-imposed limits you need to overcome?
Rise & Shine is here to remind you that mastering yourself is the key to overcoming all external challenges.
Have a self-empowered and transformative Wednesday!
Thanks for reading till the end!