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Ola Investor To Buy Stake in Rival Uber?

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Ola Investor Buy Stake in Rival Uber,Ola Investor,Uber shareholders,Uber board,anti competition,Startup Stories,Inspirational Stories,Startup News India,Ola Cabs,SoftBank Group Corp,Uber Cabs

Cab aggregator Uber Technologies Inc., has reportedly discussed selling a stake to SoftBank Group Corp and other potential investors. Media company Bloomberg reported Uber’s shareholders and board have discussed a potential sale to the Japan based Internet corporation, citing people familiar with the matter.

Early backer Benchmark led the talks for fresh capital infusion into the company, the report said. This year Uber faced multiple issues from all directions which led to the eviction of CEO Travis Kalanick and a complete leadership upheaval.

So far there are more than 500 investors who own stock in this highly valuable company. But, according to Bloomberg, early investors reducing their stake suggests the Uber scandals have affected the company negatively. The report further added the former CEO was not aware of the proposed sale until recently and generally opposes selling early shareholder stocks. But the Uber board has allowed occasional exceptions to this rule.

According to a person close to the Japanese company, which has already invested in Uber’s prime rivals in India, Southeast Asia and China, SoftBank has no interest in buying Uber stock. They currently back Didi Chuxing in China and are also planning to invest in the Southeast Asia startup Grab. SoftBank have also recently launched a $ 93 billion technology fund with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia along with Mubadala Investment Company of the United Arab Emirates, Apple Inc., Foxconn Technology Group, Qualcomm Incorporated and Sharp Corporation.

Uber has had to cut deals with overseas competitors in China and Russia, due to intense competition and financial issues. Indian taxi aggregator and chief competition for Uber, Ola secured Rs. 1,675 crores in fresh funding from SoftBank in April this year. Softbank would have to face anti competition concerns in India if they had decided to invest in Uber.

The Bloomberg report however, did not state how big the deal would be or what size stake would Uber shareholders sell and at what valuation. 

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Zoho Arattai vs WhatsApp: 5 Reasons India’s Homegrown Messenger Is Winning in 2025

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Startup Stories

Zoho Arattai messenger has rapidly gained popularity in India by offering features tailored specifically for Indian users, setting itself apart from global competitors like WhatsApp. Arattai delivers exceptional regional language support, intuitive low-bandwidth messaging, and a lightweight interface, making it especially accessible to rural communities and users on lower-end smartphones. This focus on localization and inclusivity gives Arattai a significant edge in the Indian market, ensuring seamless communication even in remote areas.

Beyond usability, Arattai places a strong emphasis on user privacy and data sovereignty. The app stores all user data within India and follows a strict no-ads, no data-selling policy, which guarantees that personal information remains secure and uncompromised. While WhatsApp does provide robust end-to-end encryption, its global servers and Meta-owned data monetization model have raised concerns among privacy-conscious users. Arattai’s transparent approach makes it a trusted and attractive alternative for those who value privacy and wish to avoid intrusive advertisements or AI profiling.

Unique features such as integrated meetings, TV compatibility, and advanced mentions functionality further establish Arattai’s position as a well-rounded and future-ready messaging app. These India-first innovations, combined with Arattai’s ad-free philosophy, clean interface, and powerful optimizations for local contexts, make it the preferred messaging solution for those seeking a modern, secure, and regionally relevant alternative to WhatsApp.

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Apple’s iOS 18.7 vs iOS 26: Which Update Should You Choose for Your iPhone in 2025?

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StartupStories iOS 26

Apple’s recent iOS 18.7 rollout provides a secure alternative to the visually revamped iOS 26, empowering iPhone users to choose between system stability and next-generation features. While iOS 18.7 focuses on important security updates and bug fixes, it maintains the familiar iOS experience for users of older devices like iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, and SE models up to the 16e. The update is lightweight—about one-fifteenth the size of iOS 26—which means quicker downloads and less storage consumption. It’s designed for reliability and fast installation, making it ideal for users who prioritize a stable and secure operating system over design changes.

In contrast, iOS 26 introduces Apple’s ambitious “Liquid Glass” interface with a transparent look across apps, enhanced widget and lock screen customization, smarter Siri, and improved camera controls. These innovations, however, come with a larger update size and compatibility exclusive to newer iPhones beginning from the iPhone 11 series. While early adopters can enjoy the futuristic interface and AI-powered upgrades, major OS launches may present initial bugs or app compatibility issues that cautious users typically wish to avoid.

Choosing between iOS 18.7 and iOS 26 depends on each user’s priorities—those seeking guaranteed stability and fast security fixes should consider sticking with iOS 18.7, while users excited about premium features and visual changes should migrate to iOS 26 if their device supports it. Both updates are available through Software Update settings, and Apple will support iOS 18.7 for only a limited duration, eventually encouraging all users to transition to the latest platform. This dual update strategy ensures every iPhone user can safely update their device for a seamless and secure experience in 2025.

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Deep-Tech Startup EndureAir Raises INR 25 Crore from IAN Alpha Fund to Boost Drone Innovation

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StartupStories

EndureAir, a deep-tech drone startup specializing in UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and aerial robotics solutions, has successfully raised INR 25 crore in a funding round led by IAN Alpha Fund, with participation from IAN Angel Fund. The fresh capital infusion will enable EndureAir to enhance its advanced drone technologies for defense applications, broaden its reach in enterprise markets, and accelerate the development of next-generation high-altitude logistics and aerial robotics platforms.

Founded in 2018 by Dr. Abhishek, a professor of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Kanpur, along with his former students Rama Krishna and Chirag Jain, EndureAir stands out in India’s indigenous UAV sector by developing both hardware and software in-house. Backed by over 15 years of rotorcraft research and holding eight patents in flight dynamics and autonomous systems, the company has rapidly established itself as a pioneer in the deep-tech drone ecosystem.

EndureAir’s flagship drone platforms, including the Sabal heavy-lift UAV family inducted by the Indian Army’s Eastern Command and the Vibhram drone supporting Telangana’s Medicine from the Sky program, are deployed in critical operations. The startup also collaborates with Bharat Electronics Limited for co-developing high-altitude drones and works with Bhutan’s Druk Holding & Investments on remote logistics missions. With this funding, EndureAir aims to position India as a global leader in UAV innovation, advancing resilient domestic drone systems for defense and enterprise applications.

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