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Budget 2018 – How Are The Startups Affected?

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Budget 2018,#Budget2018,How Are The Startups Affected?,Startup Stories,2018 Best Motivational Stories,Inspirational Stories 2018,Budget 2018 Highlights,India Union Budget 2018 Highlights,Union Budget 2018 Affected Startups,Indian Startup Ecosystem,Budget for Startups,How to Budget 2018 Impact Startups
The current NDA government have been very supportive of the Indian Startup Ecosystem. When it comes to the budget for the year 2018, the one thing that really affects startups is the direct and indirect taxations proposed by the government for the current year. The Union Budget 2018 created quite a bit of unrest in the startup community regarding reforms in Angel Tax and use of cryptocurrencies. Here is how the Union Budget of 2018 will affect the startup ecosystem.
Some of the biggest proposals revealed during the Budget was the plan to create a new regulatory regime for venture capital funds and angel investors. Not just that, a national programme for artificial intelligence for furthering the growth of technology has also been introduced. Jaitley also revealed a proposal that outlined a plan to set up five lakh Wi-Fi hotspots in rural areas and aims at increasing the usage of hybrid instruments to attract venture capital investment.
However, the complete exclusion of Angel Tax in the policy announcements clipped the wings of early-stage startups, most of which depend on capital from angel investors for the initial boost. Speaking about the venture capital firms and angel investment, Arun Jaitley said, “Venture capital funds and angel investors need an innovative and special developmental and regulatory regime for their growth.
Jaitley also highlighted the government’s initiatives and added the government will be taking extra measures to strengthen the environment for their growth and “successful operation” of alternative investment funds (AIF) in India. Cryptocurrencies, however, will not be one of those alternate means.
In the Budget, Jaitley clarified that although cryptocurrencies such as bitcoins are still illegal in India, the government would take a look at the blockchain technologies. Along with blockchain, the finance minister also singled out emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI,) internet of things (IoT) and 3D printing. For this purpose, policy think tank, NITI Aayog will be working on creating a national programme that will stoke research and result in applications in these areas.
The government raised the ceiling for the 25% corporate tax bracket up from Rs. 50 crores earlier to Rs. 250 crores annual turnover. Meanwhile, the announcement of connecting rural India with 5 lakh Wifi hotspots will facilitate the growth of a host of internet enabled services including ecommerce, online education, health tech and others.
In order to improve the women employment rate, the EPF and Miscellaneous provision act will also be amended to reduce women contribution to 8% for the first 3 years of their employment. This reform can help in bringing more women contribution to the formal sector and ensure better gender diversity in the business sector.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical research startups will also get a boost with the Rs. 12,000 crores investment made to bring health closer to home.
However, multiple startup experts agree the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates for startups need to be reduced and they should also be allowed to file tax returns on an annual basis. While the startup community has welcomed a majority of these reforms, they are also seeking for clarity for many of these proposals.
Speaking about the reforms and the budget in general, the Chief Executive Officer of Paytm Payments Bank said, “We welcome the budget initiatives for promoting financial inclusion through higher penetration of banking services, increased health insurance coverage under National Health Protection Scheme and easy access to credit. The increased outlay in infrastructure including wifi spots will extend benefits of the internet and technology-enabled services to masses. Additionally, development and digitization of agricultural markets will bring farmers into the formal economy. We look forward to leveraging these initiatives to provide digital payments, banking and other financial services to rural India.”

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How Brands Around India Adapted RCB’s IPL 2025 Win: A Masterclass in Real-Time Marketing

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The Indian Premier League (IPL) is not just a cricket tournament—it’s a cultural phenomenon that captures the imagination of millions. The 2025 season was especially significant as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ended their 18-year wait for an IPL trophy, sparking nationwide celebrations and a flurry of creative marketing from brands eager to ride the wave of emotion.

Seizing the Moment with Creative Campaigns

Brands across sectors quickly recognized the marketing goldmine that was RCB’s historic victory. Social media platforms became the battleground for witty, nostalgic, and heartfelt content. Voltas Beko, for example, cleverly played on the long wait with a pun: “This moment’s been cooking for 18 years,” featuring a microwave set to 18:00

. Fevicol used humor, captioning a visual of the trophy snuggled in bed with the iconic fan chant: “Ee sala cup chipak gaya ;)”. MG Motor referenced Bangalore’s infamous traffic, declaring, “The only time Bangalore enjoys slow traffic,” as a car displayed “Trophy On Board”.

From Jerseys to Delivery Trucks

Official kit partner Puma India launched a special jersey commemorating the win, emblazoned with RCB’s tagline, “Played Bold”. Quick commerce brands like BlinkIt and Swiggy joined in, with BlinkIt showing the cup being delivered to Bengaluru via a delivery partner and Swiggy featuring a GPS tracker with a delivery executive en route to deliver the trophy. Zomato kept it simple yet impactful with a post reading “EE Sala Cup Namdu,” echoing the fans’ rallying cry.

Emotional Storytelling and Viral Reach

Brands leveraged the emotional high of RCB’s win to connect with audiences. Lego India posted an animated Virat Kohli with the cup, highlighting loyalty and perseverance: “Some waited for years, some questioned loyalty, but greatness? That’s built brick by brick. Champions at last!” Google India, Coca Cola, boAt, and others added to the chorus, each with their own creative spin.

Conclusion

RCB’s IPL 2025 win became more than a sports story—it was a moment of national pride and a catalyst for innovative, real-time marketing. Brands that adapted quickly, using humor, nostalgia, and emotional storytelling, not only amplified their reach but also deepened their connection with fans across India. This approach highlights the power of tapping into trending moments to create memorable, shareable content.

 

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Gemini 2.5: Revolutionizing Dialogue and Audio Generation with AI

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Google’s Gemini 2.5 marks a significant leap forward in artificial intelligence, introducing groundbreaking capabilities in dialogue and audio generation. Designed from the ground up as a multimodal model, Gemini 2.5 can natively understand and generate content across text, images, audio, video, and code, making it a versatile tool for developers, content creators, and businesses alike.

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Whether for interactive applications, content creation, or global communication, Gemini 2.5 sets a new standard for intelligent, multimodal AI.

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Dunzo Gets Breather as NCLT Rejects Insolvency Petition from Invoice Discounters

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The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Bengaluru bench has dismissed an insolvency plea filed against quick commerce startup Dunzo by its invoice discounters, declaring the petition “not maintainable” after several postponements. This decision offers temporary relief to Dunzo, which has been facing multiple insolvency petitions from various creditors, including Velvin Packaging Solutions and Betterplace Safety Solutions, over unpaid dues.

The invoice discounters alleged that Dunzo had paid only 50% of the required amounts, though the exact sum was not disclosed. Despite ongoing settlement talks, no resolution was reached, and the tribunal noted Dunzo’s delays in responding to creditor petitions. Dunzo continues to grapple with severe liquidity issues, delayed payments, and significant losses—reporting a ₹1,801.8 crore loss in FY23 and owing approximately ₹11.4 crore to major vendors like Google India and Facebook India.

While this NCLT ruling provides Dunzo some breathing room, the company still faces ongoing financial and operational challenges as it works to resolve its outstanding liabilities.

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