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Uber Policy Chief For India And South Asia Quits
Uber’s Chief of Policy for India and South Asia, Shweta Rajpal Kohli, quit the taxi hailing company a little over a year after joining the firm. This is the latest departure of a high level executive from the San Francisco based company.
Kohli was charged with the responsibility to build Uber’s relations with the regulators and the government officials of India, in an attempt to expand its business. According to one source, Kohli was leading government engagements in the influential circles. Her resignation from the company might be a step back for Uber in the Indian market. Neither Uber India nor Kohli have spoken out about the resignation.
Shweta Rajpal Kohli is a former journalist who joined the taxi hailing startup last year. According to her LinkedIn profile, she was responsible for enhancing the understanding of Uber and its business with multiple stakeholders and creating a favorable regulatory and policy environment for the future of urban mobility. She also worked with the Delhi based news channel NDTV as the economic affairs editor for 11 years.
Reuters reported Kohli would be joining the cloud based software maker Salesforce.com Inc., next month. Uber’s European Policy Chief Christopher Burghardt also quit the company in October this year to join the electric vehicle charging network company Chargepoint. In India, which is the second biggest market for Uber, the company has regularly faced several regulatory and reputational hurdles. Currently, Uber has a presence in 30 cities but faces a fierce competition from homegrown cab aggregator Ola.
On Monday the company confirmed Japan based venture capital firm SoftBank, would be investing close to $ 10 billion in the company in concert with other investors. This investment might help the company recover from all the scandals and legal battles of the past year. Touted to be the biggest round of secondary transaction, this investment will also pave way for a series of sweeping changes in the governance of the company. According to sources, these changes will also include measures to reduce the influence of former CEO, Travis Kalanick, among other leadership changes.
OpenAI’s introduction of trusted contact safeguards for potential self-harm cases reflects a major evolution in AI responsibility.
Beyond Moderation
AI safety is shifting from simply blocking harmful content to actively supporting user wellbeing through:
- early risk detection
- human-centered intervention
- stronger emotional safety frameworks
This positions AI as more than an information tool—it becomes part of broader digital support systems.
Key Industry Impact
Trusted contact models could influence future safety standards across:
- AI assistants
- mental health platforms
- social media
- digital health services
The Bigger Challenge
While promising, success depends on balancing:
- privacy
- consent
- ethical intervention
- user trust
Final Take
This move signals that the future of AI safety may rely not just on preventing harmful responses, but on building more responsible, human-connected support systems.
Rozana, India’s leading rural retail platform, has secured ₹290 crore ($35 million) in a Series B funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), with participation from Omidyar Network India, Vivid Capital, and Tana Investment Holding. This Rozana funding brings its total capital to over ₹500 crore, fueling hyperlocal expansion in underserved rural markets. Founded in 2021 by brothers Prashant and Prateek Chauhan, the startup’s phygital model blends micro-stores, app-based ordering, and last-mile delivery to connect 5 million+ users in 12 states with brands like ITC and HUL.
The ₹290 crore investment will supercharge Rozana’s rural omnichannel retail strategy, targeting 5x growth in 18 months. Plans include adding 5,000 micro-stores in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan; AI-powered inventory tech; and new categories like groceries and electronics. By empowering 20,000+ rural micro-entrepreneurs, Rozana taps into India’s $700 billion rural retail boom, where smartphone penetration and UPI drive 12% annual growth.
This Rozana Series B milestone positions it as a frontrunner against rivals like Ninjacart, eyeing unicorn status by 2028 amid ONDC tailwinds. CEO Prashant Chauhan emphasized, “We’re building rural prosperity through accessible premium brands.” For more on Rozana funding news and rural retail trends, stay updated on India’s startup ecosystem.
Peak XV Partners has launched three new funds totaling $1.3 billion, targeting India’s booming startup ecosystem. The lineup features the $600M Surge fund (8th edition) for early-stage ventures, a $300M Growth Fund for Series B+ scaling, and a $400M Acceleration Fund for rapid portfolio expansion. This commitment arrives as India’s VC inflows rebound, with AI and fintech leading 2026 trends.
These funds build on Peak XV’s legacy of backing unicorns like Zomato and Pine Labs, offering founders capital plus strategic guidance amid post-winter recovery. Early-stage deals surged 20% last year per Tracxn, positioning Peak XV to fuel the next wave of innovation in SaaS, climate tech, and consumer plays.
For startups eyeing Peak XV new funds or Surge fund 2026 applications, this signals prime opportunities. Investors and marketers should watch for deployment updates India remains a global VC hotspot.
