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SoftBank and Others Join Ecommerce Lobby Group Indiatech

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SOFTBANK AND OTHERS JOIN ECOMMERCE LOBBY GROUP INDIATECH,Startup Stories,SoftBank Group joins ecommerce lobby group Indiatech,E-commerce startups launch a lobby group Indiatech.org,Indian Internet companies set up Indiatech.org to lobby against global players,Indian E-Commerce Groups Plan to Launch Indiatech.org,Indian Startups Seek Protection From Foreign Firms Launch Their Lobby IndiaTech.Org

SoftBank, along with Matrix Partners and Kalaari Capital have joined the Indian industry lobby group Indiatech.org. Indiatech aims to represent local ventures seeking protection from resourceful global rivals.

The venture capital firms will reportedly provide financial and strategic expertise to the Indiatech member companies and help them fight against foreign rivals such as Amazon, Alibaba and Uber. Confirming the news, a spokesperson for SoftBank said, “Our intent is to work with the government to support the development of the rapidly evolving Internet ecosystem in the country and we hope the organization would facilitate this.

Japanese major SoftBank has significant stakes in Indian companies like Flipkart, Ola, OYO Rooms, Paytm, Grofers and Snapdeal among others. Notably, all these companies are facing fierce competition from global rivals like Amazon, Uber and Airbnb. However, SoftBank’s move to join the lobby group is of particular importance as the venture capital firm is on the cusp of closing a deal with San Francisco based cab hailing startup, Uber.

Speaking about SoftBank’s involvement with the lobby group, a source close to the development said, “SoftBank has got the highest stakes in all these major companies so it has decided to back the association as their portfolio companies have major foreign rivals.”

Headed by the founder of the ecommerce firm Flipkart, Sachin Bansal, the group will represent the interests of local ventures for favorable laws in the digital commerce market space. The group believes the Indian government should make policies favoring domestic startups as some of these companies are struggling to fight competition from global players. Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and economist, Gyanendra Badgaiyan, has been appointed as the chief executive officer of the nonprofit organization.

Sachin Bansal and Ola cofounder Bhavish Aggarwal were the first entrepreneurs to raise their voices against the aggressive spending by global companies. Along with SoftBank, investors such as Tiger Global Management, Steadview Capital and Accel India were also invited to be a part of the initiative. The lobby group will also focus on issues like job creation, skills training and providing resources to scale up Internet businesses.

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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 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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