Connect with us

Latest News

Alibaba and Softbank to set up a battle with Amazon via Flipkart

Published

on

alibaba, softbank, alibaba and softbank to set up a battle with amazon, E-commerce wars, e commerece latest news, amazon vs flipkart, flipkart to battlw with amazon, startup stories, startup stories india,

A worthy deal between Flipkart and Snapdeal has set uncontrolled speculation over the past few weeks. Another deal like SoftBank to be a minority stakeholder in Flipkart has some fruitful conclusions.

Before the above deals come to fruition, here is something which is recent:

The deal between Flipkart and Snapdeal is not finalized yet, the discussions are going on. Flipkart’s announcement on Monday about their $1.4 billion funding was kept secret and is very critical to understand. The acquisition of eBay and Snapdeal are different.

The Tencent and Microsoft investment into Flipkart was done some months back, but Flipkart is waiting for the Snapdeal deal to get it soon. Because of that delay in Snapdeal’s deal, they announced the $1.4 billion fund raise.

SoftBank is very interested in investing in Flipkart and wants to buy Snapdeal. Flipkart is not interested in this arrangement, but is looking for investments from SoftBank. Kalaari, Nexus and the founders of Snapdeal are on the board other than SoftBank.

To sign off on the deal, SoftBank offered them $10 million but they wanted $100 million each. Flipkart is not at all interested to be a part of Snapdeal. The total Snapdeal valuation is nearly $900 million.
Bringing this discussion to an end, let us have a look at the outcomes of the Flipkart and Snapdeal alliance.

What is in it for SoftBank?

It will become a minority investor in Flipkart. 33% stake in Flipkart is already with Tiger Global. The value of their shares are up to $1.4 million and will sell to Softbank for $500 million. So Tiger Global’s stake will come down to 20%. Softbank would have spent nearly $2.5 million for a 20 percent stake in Flipkart.

The only competitor with Amazon locally is Flipkart and getting stakes in it will surely make SoftBank more successful. Other than investing in Snapdeal, SoftBank also invested in Ola and Housing. To make the future good in India, SoftBank is willing to invest in Flipkart which may give an affirmative result.

What is in it for Flipkart?

It is crystal clear that Flipkart is not interested in getting Snapdeal, but looking for an investment from SoftBank. They are willing to give Snapdeal as a gift of a deal. The Indian e-commerce giant wants the investment to compete against Amazon. If they get Snapdeal, one of the competitors will be removed in the market.

What is in it for Indian Startups?

It is good that a company is getting acquired rather that collapsing. The employees who leave the organization may worry. The negative thing for the startup ecosystem is that now raising funds will be harder.

From Alibaba’s side:

If SoftBank invests in Flipkart, Alibaba automatically comes on to the field. As everyone knows SoftBank holds about 30% stake in Alibaba. Masayoshi Son, founder of SoftBank also invested in Paytm and Snapdeal.
So, If Alibaba invests in Flipkart directly or indirectly it will be a tug of war between Alibaba, SoftBank and Flipkart on the one side and Amazon on the other side, in the Indian market.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Zoho Pay Debuts as India’s New UPI Challenger, Taking on PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay

Published

on

Zoho Payment

Zoho Corporation has expanded its fintech portfolio with the launch of Zoho Pay, a UPI-based payments app built to challenge India’s top digital payment giants such as PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay. The new app supports peer-to-peer transfers, bill payments, QR-based transactions, and merchant settlements in a streamlined interface. Available as both a standalone app and an integrated feature inside Zoho’s privacy-driven messenger Arattai, Zoho Pay enables users to handle chats and payments in one platform, emphasizing data privacy and Made-in-India innovation.​

Through seamless integration with Arattai, Zoho Pay allows users to send or request payments, split expenses, and conduct UPI-based transactions directly in their chat windows. Users can link bank accounts, scan dynamic QR codes, and receive audio confirmations of payments, ensuring speed and security. This design mirrors the simplicity of India’s leading UPI apps but is powered by Zoho’s non-advertising, privacy-first model. The integration aligns with Zoho’s mission to build a self-reliant digital ecosystem, where messaging and money management coexist securely.​

In the competitive digital payments market, Zoho Pay differentiates itself through its tight business software integration with apps like Zoho Books, Zoho Payroll, and Zoho Commerce, offering small businesses unified access to payments, billing, and accounting. The company is also expanding its reach with POS devices for merchants featuring UPI QR, card payments, and instant reconciliation tools. With founder Sridhar Vembu’s vision of a ‘Chat + Pay’ ecosystem, Zoho Pay reflects a bold step toward redefining India’s fintech scene with a secure, ad-free, and locally developed alternative to global payment platforms.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Meta Expands AI-Powered Reels Translation to Hindi and Portuguese, Enhancing Global Creator Reach

Published

on

Meta has expanded its AI-powered translation feature for Reels to include Hindi and Portuguese, joining English and Spanish in empowering creators to reach a broader global audience on Instagram and Facebook. Originally launched in August 2025 with support for English and Spanish, this update now allows creators to seamlessly translate and dub their short videos, breaking language barriers across some of the largest Reels markets worldwide. The AI technology mimics the creator’s voice tone and even offers lip-syncing to ensure the translated videos feel natural and engaging for viewers.​

This enhancement is especially significant for India, the largest market for Facebook and Instagram, where over 600 million people speak Hindi. Content creators who are not fluent in Hindi can now easily access this vast audience, increasing their reach and engagement across diverse linguistic groups. To maintain transparency, all translated Reels are clearly labeled with “Translated with Meta AI,” and viewers can choose to switch translations on or off based on their preference.​

In addition to voice dubbing, Meta is developing features to translate captions and text stickers on Reels, making content more accessible even without sound. These AI translation tools are available free for eligible public Instagram accounts and Facebook creator profiles with over 1,000 followers. This innovation reinforces Meta’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural content sharing and enhancing creators’ ability to connect with audiences around the world through short-form videos.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Dunzo’s Collapse: Reliance’s ₹1,645 Crore Loss Signals Challenges in India’s Hyperlocal Delivery Market

Published

on

Startup Stories

Reliance Industries has officially written off its $200 million investment in Dunzo, a once promising quick-commerce startup in India. Despite high-profile backing and the potential to disrupt the hyperlocal delivery sector, Dunzo faced insurmountable challenges including high operational costs, unsustainable cash burn, and stiff competition from larger players like Zepto and Blinkit. Reliance’s decision follows Dunzo’s operational suspension, leadership exits, and failed attempts at securing additional funding or acquisition partners, ultimately resulting in the company’s digital platforms going offline in early 2025.​

The downfall of Dunzo was accelerated by its inability to maintain a healthy balance between rapid expansion and revenue growth, with losses in FY23 reaching an alarming ₹1,800 crore. With monthly expenses crossing ₹100 crore and mounting pressure to scale, Dunzo resorted to layoffs and delayed payments before shutting down most services outside Bengaluru. Reliance’s significant stake, initially seen as a strategic advantage, ended up limiting the startup’s flexibility in making independent decisions during its final months.​

Reliance’s write-off sends a strong message to India’s startup ecosystem about the risks inherent in quick-commerce and hyperlocal delivery models. Investors are increasingly focused on sustainable growth, disciplined scaling, and profitability. For Reliance, lessons from Dunzo’s collapse are shaping future e-commerce strategies, driving greater emphasis on operational efficiency and prudent financial planning in an intensely competitive market.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Recent Posts

Advertisement