Connect with us

Latest News

Karnataka Becomes The First State In India To Grant Funds To Startups

Published

on

first state to grant funds to startups, artificial intelligence, aseuro technologies, cm siddaramaiah, karnataka state to grant funds to startups, digitour technologies, flippar, gaurav gupta, highir technologies, highway delite, idea2poc, karnataka, karnataka tourism, kbits, naveen raj singh, online platform, priyank kharge, startups, tourism hackathon, trip on food, tripdairy, vidhana soudha, virtual reality solutions, indian, founders, entrepreneurs, innovators, startup stories, insights, investors, funding, acquisition, Government of Karnataka, startup policy, startup karnataka,

For the very first time, Karnataka became the first state in India to grant funds for 8 startups in the Tourism sector which had won a hackathon. And also that they were given over 25% of Rs.1.90 crores that they had collectively won.

This all started when the tourism hackathon competition was held for the budding startups. And the winners were declared that they would be honored with some prize money.

Yesterday, it was about five minutes to 5 P.M., when Karnataka’s IT and Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge entered into the hall room of the Vidhana Soudha. The honorable CM was about to be in the hall in any second to hand over the cheques to the startups who won the competition.

Surprisingly, none of the eight winners turned up to receive their prizes. Then a group of officials swung into action to reach for the winners in whatever way they can be communicated. Some were stopped by the security and some however managed to enter the hall. After the CM Siddaramaiah strode in, the startup founders were glad to at last reach the main building where the CM and the officials were present.

IT Minister Priyank told the CM that a total of Rs. 1.9 crores was granted to these startups. These startup companies developed ideas and products that enhanced the tourism experience. He also added saying that it is the first kind of initiative in India where winners of the Pitch to Government–Tourism Challenge held in November 2016 are receiving their first installment cheques.

These 8 winners were selected among 127 online registrations and each will be receiving anything between Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 50 lakh.

The hackathon contest was conducted by the Karnataka Startup Cell, Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services, ( KBITS,) Department of IT and BT and the Department of Tourism.

The sole objective of this competition is to encourage those innovators who may need early stage funding to stimulate commercialization of their inventions and to help in validating proof of concept.

“Our focus is to create a strong startup ecosystem with a bottom-up mentality.” said Gaurav Gupta Principal Secretary of IT, BT and Science and Technology.

These are the 8 startup companies who emerged as winners:

1) AOO Hostels – Rs. 40 lakh

2) Highway Delite – Rs. 35 lakh

3) DigiTour Technologies – Rs. 25 lakh

4) TripdAiry – Rs. 20 lakh

5) Aseuro Technologies – Rs. 25 lakh

6) Moving up Products – Rs. 5 lakh

7) Trip on Food – Rs. 5 lakh

8) Highir Technologies – Rs. 25 lakh

Well, good luck all.

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