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SoftBank Limits Kalanick’s Power In Uber Deal

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SoftBank Limits Kalanick Power,Kalanick Power In Uber Deal,SoftBank and Uber Deal,Uber new CEO Dara Khosrowshahi,Travis Kalanick Power,Startup Stories,2017 Latest Business News

SoftBank Group Corp can move ahead with their multi billion dollar investment in Uber only after agreeing to block any attempt made to elevate Travis Kalanick back to the company’s top ranks. Early investor, venture capital firm Benchmark has sought a guarantee in writing from SoftBank to block Kalanick’s appointment as the chairman of the board or head of one of its subcommittees.

SoftBank, along with General Atlantic and Dragoneer Investment Group, is looking to invest $ 1 billion in the taxi hailing startup at $ 69 billion valuation. According to media reports, the three investment firms are also planning to buy as much as $9 billion in shares from the existing investors. This round of funding could be the largest private stock sale in history.

The valuation of these shares will be determined by an auction which is expected to start at about $45 billion. As per a report by Bloomberg, SoftBank may ask for 2 board seats as a part of the deal. An alternative proposal that is being discussed will give SoftBank one board seat and a board observer seat. It is unclear if Uber will create new directors or shuffle its existing eleven for the new members.

Benchmark will agree to not block the investment deal only if SoftBank agrees to ban Kalanick and guarantees not to revive his power. The venture firm has also agreed to sell some of its shares at the direction of Uber’s new CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. The prospective investor from China, Didi Chuxing has reportedly walked away from this investment deal.

Kalanick, who resigned as the CEO of the company in June, still retains some power over the board through his control of three board seats, two of which remain unfilled. Last month, Benchmark sued Kalanick, accusing him of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and contractual obligations. Recently, Uber was banned from operating in London due to serious criminal offenses and a lack of corporate responsibility. The company is also facing a bitter lawsuit against Google spinoff Waymo.

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Zoho Pay Debuts as India’s New UPI Challenger, Taking on PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay

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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.

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Meta Expands AI-Powered Reels Translation to Hindi and Portuguese, Enhancing Global Creator Reach

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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.

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Dunzo’s Collapse: Reliance’s ₹1,645 Crore Loss Signals Challenges in India’s Hyperlocal Delivery Market

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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.

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