Connect with us

Latest News

Google Acquires AI Startup Halli Labs

Published

on

Google Acquires Halli Labs,Latest Business News 2017,Startup Stories,Inspirational Stories,Startup Stories 2017,Halli Labs,Google Next Billion Users,halli labs founder,stayzilla startup,Startup News

American search giant Google, has acquired four month old artificial intelligence and machine learning startup, Halli Labs. This marks the first Indian acquisition by the multinational company.

In a medium blog post, Halli Labs announced their team would be joining Google’s Next Billion Users team to help get more technology and information into more people’s hands around the world. Halli Labs was founded by Pankaj Gupta with the goal of applying modern AI and ML techniques to old problems and domains. Gupta previously worked as the chief product officer and the chief technology officer in the now defunct homestay startup Stayzilla.

While the details of what Halli Labs would be working on are still not clear, Caesar Sengupta, Google’s Vice President of Product Management confirmed the acquisition through a tweet. The details of the acquisition were also not disclosed.

The Halli Labs team has been working on speed recognition and language processing, but so far has not shipped any technologies to customers. This Bengaluru based company was launched in April this year with the aim of giving “superhuman powers to all of us humans in letting us do whatever we want to do, better.”

Products such as YouTube Go, Google Station, Android Go among others are part of the Google’s Next Billion Users which, like the name states is about reaching and bringing on the internet’s next billion users.

India has emerged as one of the leading markets for startups working in the Internet and Technology sector. Multinational companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Apple have also acquired various Indian startups that are working on building products that solve problems for consumers, both in India and abroad.

Facebook acquired Bengaluru based Little Eye Labs startup that tracks and optimizes the performance of Android based mobile apps, in 2014. Twitter acquired another Bengaluru based startup ZipDial that uses India’s habit of giving missed calls to connect others. Most recently Hyderabad based AI startup, Tuplejump was acquired by Apple in 2016.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Latest News

Piyush Anchliya Joins Cashfree Payments as CFO Amid Expansion in India’s Fintech Sector

Published

on

Cashfree Payment - StartupStories

Cashfree Payments has appointed Piyush Anchliya as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective April 15, 2025. Anchliya brings over 15 years of experience in investment banking, corporate finance, strategy, and mergers and acquisitions, with senior roles at Barclays, Bandhan Group, and most recently as CFO of Bandhan AMC. He holds an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and a B.Tech. from IIT Kharagpur.

In his new role, Anchliya will lead Cashfree’s financial strategy, optimize operations, and support the company’s next growth phase. He will report to CEO and Co-founder Akash Sinha, who highlighted Anchliya’s expertise as vital for sustainable scaling and strengthening the company’s financial foundation. Anchliya succeeds outgoing CFO Vikas Guru, who will assist during the transition.

Founded in 2015, Cashfree Payments processes over $80 billion annually for more than 800,000 businesses. The company recently raised $53 million in funding led by KRAFTON and Apis Growth Fund II and secured key RBI licenses, positioning it for accelerated growth in India’s fintech sector. Anchliya’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as Cashfree aims to expand its leadership in digital payments.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Flipkart’s Jeyandran Venugopal Likely to Join Reliance Retail as CEO

Published

on

Flipkart - StartupStories

Jeyandran Venugopal, the outgoing Chief Product and Technology Officer of Flipkart, is set to become the CEO of Reliance Retail Ventures (RRV), the retail arm of Reliance Industries. His appointment, expected to be finalized in May after his exit from Flipkart, signals Reliance’s push to strengthen its retail business with a technology-first approach.

Venugopal brings extensive experience from leading roles at Flipkart, Myntra, Yahoo, Snapdeal, and Amazon, where he focused on scaling technology platforms and driving innovation. At Flipkart, he managed product, engineering, data science, and more, helping build robust systems and improve user experience.

His move comes as Reliance Retail undergoes transformation, including cost-cutting and a renewed focus on digital growth. Venugopal’s leadership is expected to accelerate Reliance’s ambitions in omnichannel and tech-driven retail, positioning the company for continued dominance in India’s evolving market.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Delhivery’s Acquisition of Ecom Express: A Major Consolidation in Indian Logistics

Published

on

Delhivery’s Acquisition of Ecom Express: A Major Consolidation in Indian Logistics,Startup News,Startup Stories 2025,Startup Stories India,Startup Latest News,Startup Story,Delhivery,Delhivery’s Acquisition of Ecom Express,Indian Logistics,Stock Market News,Stock Market,Indian Stock Market,Ecom Express,Delhivery Acquires Controlling Stake In Ecom Express,Delhivery's ₹1407-crore Acquisition Of Ecom Express,Ecom Express Acquisition,Delhivery To Acquire Ecom Express,India's Logistics Landscape,Logistics Acquisition,E-commerce Logistics,Indian Logistics Market,Delivery Infrastructure,Logistics Technology,Supply Chain Consolidation,Acquisitions,Stock Market Updates,Business News,Business News Today,Share Market Today,Delhivery Share Price,Delhivery Share,Delhivery Share News,Delhivery IPO,Delhivery Stock News,Delhivery Stock Market,Delhivery New Acquistion

Delhivery, one of India’s leading logistics companies, has announced its acquisition of Ecom Express in an all-cash deal valued at ₹1,407 crore. This strategic move marks one of the largest consolidations in the logistics sector and is expected to enhance Delhivery’s scale, profitability, and operational efficiency.

Background

Ecom Express, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Gurugram, has faced significant financial challenges recently. The company canceled its IPO plans in 2024 and laid off hundreds of employees due to operational setbacks, including losing a major client, Meesho, which shifted to its in-house logistics service Valmo. These struggles led to a distressed sale, with private equity investors like Warburg Pincus and Partners Group exiting their stakes entirely.

Strategic Benefits for Delhivery

  1. Enhanced Scale: The acquisition will strengthen Delhivery’s network reach and infrastructure, enabling better service delivery across India.
  2. Operational Synergies: Combining operations with Ecom Express will improve efficiency and reduce costs through economies of scale.
  3. Competitive Edge: With Ecom Express as a subsidiary, Delhivery solidifies its leadership position in the logistics space by offering broader coverage and faster services.

Challenges Addressed

The acquisition mitigates risks from Ecom Express’ financial struggles while addressing past disputes between the two companies over inflated shipment volumes reported by Ecom Express during IPO filings.

Future Outlook

The deal is expected to close within six months after regulatory approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Post-acquisition, Ecom Express will operate as a subsidiary of Delhivery, unlocking new growth opportunities such as advanced logistics technology integration and expanded customer reach.

With ₹5,488 crore in cash reserves as of September 2024, Delhivery is well-positioned to finance this acquisition without compromising financial stability. This move underscores Delhivery’s commitment to innovation and efficiency in India’s rapidly evolving logistics landscape.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Recent Posts

Advertisement