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Axis Bank Acquires FreeCharge

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India’s third largest private sector lender Axis Bank, will be acquiring the digital payments platform FreeCharge, which is owned and operated by Jasper Infotech. Sources close to the deal reported the board of Snapdeal has agreed to sell their digital wallet to the private sector lender and an official announcement will be made in the next few days.

This proposed deal will value FreeCharge at Rs. 385 crores to Rs. 390 crores, which is a steep plunge from the Rs. 2,400 crores Jasper Infotech paid to acquire the company in 2015. At the time Jasper Infotech bought FreeCharge, this deal was called the largest deal in the nascent startup ecosystem in India.

The Economic Times reported, according to sources close to Jasper Infotech, the board of the ecommerce company is also expected to approve the sale of its online market space Snapdeal, to rival Flipkart in the next few days.

The transaction will give Snapdeal the much needed breathing space to the Snapdeal management which has struggled to raise funds for over a year. The parent company Jasper Infotech has also been in talks with various other companies over the sale of their digital payments arm. Amazon was the latest on the list of interested companies with a higher offer along with Paytm, Airtel, Times Internet and PayPal.

This will also be a strategic acquisition for Axis Bank, who have their own mobile wallet, Lime. They reported a 16% year on year decline in their June 2017 quarter. This acquisition will provide Axis Bank with access to high quality technology and to about 50 million FreeCharge mobile wallet holders.

FreeCharge, which hit the markets to raise funds separately last year, passed up at least two funding rounds due to differences between board members. The digital payments app was unable to keep up with the competition from other homegrown wallet providers like PayTM and MobiKwik, post demonetization. The Snapdeal board agreed to sell the digital wallet platform and their logistics arm Vulcan Express separately.

Law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and J. Sagar Associates represent Axis Bank and FreeCharge respectively, and no investment banks were contacted for the deal.

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IIT Hyderabad Unveils Palyanka, Heavy-Lift Drone for Air Ambulance Use

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The Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation Foundation (TiHAN) at IIT Hyderabad has set a new standard in drone technology with the launch of Palyanka, a heavy payload drone designed as an autonomous air ambulance. Capable of carrying up to 200 kg, Palyanka is engineered to swiftly transport patients, medical equipment, or critical cargo across challenging terrains, bypassing traditional barriers like road congestion and remote inaccessibility. This advanced UAV operates autonomously, making it highly effective for rapid response in both urban and rural emergencies, and stands at the forefront of disaster relief operations in scenarios such as floods and fires.

Built for versatility, Palyanka doesn’t just function as an air ambulance. Its robust design enables use in rescue missions, cargo deliveries, and even as an air taxi for metropolitan connectivity. Inspired by the Sanskrit word for palanquin, the name “Palyanka” reflects the drone’s role as a safe and efficient carrier. All components, from conceptual design to IP, have been developed in-house at IIT Hyderabad, ensuring the drone meets stringent standards for durability and performance under extreme conditions.

With a development journey spanning over five years and led by Prof. P. Rajalakshmi, TiHAN’s team has transitioned from early drone prototypes to a full-scale, high-capacity solution like Palyanka. The team is now preparing pilot projects in hilly terrains and working on further enhancing the drone’s endurance with innovative heat-resistant materials. By pioneering such indigenous solutions, IIT Hyderabad’s TiHAN is transforming emergency medical services and logistics, marking a pivotal advancement in India’s urban mobility and public safety landscape.

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X’s Major Price Cut in India: Premium Plans Now More Accessible Than Ever

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X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has announced a major reduction in its subscription prices across India, slashing fees by up to 48%. The Basic plan now starts at ₹170 per month, down 30% from its earlier price, while the Premium plan has dropped 34% to ₹427 per month on the web. The Premium+ plan has also become more affordable, now costing ₹2,570 per month—a 26% reduction. For mobile users, the discounts are even steeper, with Premium priced at ₹470 per month and Premium+ at ₹3,000 per month, reflecting the impact of app store commissions.

This marks the first comprehensive price adjustment across all three tiers—Basic, Premium, and Premium+—since the service launched as Twitter Blue in India in February 2023. The move comes shortly after Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, rolled out the new Grok 4 model and follows xAI’s acquisition of X earlier this year. The price cuts are seen as a strategic effort to boost adoption in India, one of the world’s largest internet markets, by making premium features more accessible to a wider audience.

Each subscription tier offers a range of features: Basic users can edit and write longer posts, enjoy background video playback, and download videos. Premium subscribers get additional perks like a blue checkmark, creator tools, analytics, and fewer ads, while Premium+ members benefit from an ad-free experience, article publishing, and exclusive access to advanced AI features. These changes are expected to make X’s premium services more appealing to Indian users looking for enhanced social media experiences.

 

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Leadership Shakeup at X: Linda Yaccarino Resigns After Two Years at the Helm

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Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X (formerly Twitter), announced her resignation on July 9, 2025, bringing her two-year leadership of Elon Musk’s social media platform to a close. Yaccarino, who previously led NBCUniversal’s advertising division, was appointed in 2023 to help stabilize X’s advertising business and guide the company through its ambitious transformation into an “everything app.” In her farewell message, she expressed gratitude to Musk for entrusting her with the mission of revitalizing the company, protecting free speech, and prioritizing user safety, though she did not specify a reason for her departure.


Her exit comes at a turbulent moment for X, following the recent controversy involving Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Musk’s xAI, which posted antisemitic content referencing Adolf Hitler. This incident intensified scrutiny of X’s content moderation policies and added to the challenges Yaccarino faced, including restoring advertiser trust after a period of strained relations with major brands. Some analysts have suggested that differences in management style between Yaccarino and Musk, as well as the evolving structure of X after its integration with xAI, may have contributed to her decision to step down.

Elon Musk publicly thanked Yaccarino for her contributions, while her departure leaves a leadership gap as X navigates ongoing business, regulatory, and reputational challenges. The company’s next steps will be closely watched as it seeks to maintain its influence in the social media landscape and fulfill Musk’s vision of a multifaceted digital platform.

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