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

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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.

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

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Hyderabad - Drone

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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StartupStories

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 - Startup Stories

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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