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HCL And Nine Other Companies To Develop A Desi Alternative For Zoom And Google Meets

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HCL And Nine Other Companies To Develop A Desi Alternative For Zoom And Google Meets

The Indian government suggested that Indians need to aggressively work on homegrown technologies and develop them so that they are on par with technologies developed by global giants.  This push comes on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic which forced the government to enforce a strict lockdown which has exceeded two months.  The economic struggles are slowly becoming apparent as the shutdown has impacted millions of businesses across the country.  In order to stabilize the economy the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi suggested Indians should focus on locally sourced products as a first priority.

During the lockdown chances of hearing about online video calling applications like Zoom, Google Meets and Microsoft Teams are very high as a lot of businesses which went remote have used one of these softwares as part of team communications.  The Indian government has identified and shortlisted ten Indian companies to develop a Made In India video conferencing solution.  These companies include Zoho, HCL, PeopleLink, Aria Telecom, CyberHorizon Corp, Instrive Softlabs, PeopleLink Unified Communications Sarv Webs, Soulpage IT Solutions, Techgentsia Software Technologies and Data Ingenious.

Each of these companies would receive 5 Lakh INR to develop a prototype similar to Zoom or Google Meets.  The government would then shortlist three companies out of the ten and grant them 20 Lakh INR, to develop the video conferencing platform.  The government would finally select one of the three companies to provide the final build which would be used by Central and state governments as an alternative to Zoom and Google Meets.

ALSO READ: Zoom Video Conferencing App Downloads Dethrone Whatsapp And TikTok In India

After the third round, the government would select the best solution which will get the final contract.  The contract is said to be for a period of four years.  In the first year, the government is expected to pay INR 1 Crore to the selected startup while additional INR 10 Lakh would be given to the company in the next three years for operations and maintenance of the solution.

The Project was undertaken by the Ministry of Information Technology and as a part of the push to promote Indian software products.  The video conferencing solution should be able to work in low bandwidth areas without any glitches.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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