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West Indies Cricketer Chris Gayle Invests In AR Startup FlippAR

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West Indies Cricketer Chris Gayle,Chris Gayle Invests In AR Startup FlippAR,One Day International,ODI Cricket,startup FlippAR,West Indies cricket team,Startup Stories,Latest Business News 2017,Inspiration Stories 2017

Known as the most destructive batsman ever, Chris Gayle made a comeback to One Day International (ODI) cricket after a 931 days sabbatical. Along with a grand return to cricket, Gayle has also made a grand entry into the startup ecosystem. The international cricket star has reportedly picked up a minority stake in Bengaluru based augmented reality startup FlippAR.

The former captain will also be endorsing the company along with being a minority stakeholder, although the amount invested by the cricketer has not been revealed. FlippAR was founded by Vivek Jain in January 2016 which provides augmented reality development services to various companies. The app allows users to unlock stories from buildings, monuments and statues from the most popular tourist destinations in Bengaluru such as Lal Bagh, Cubbon Park and MG Road. The company, run by Movingup Products Pvt., Ltd., has a subscription based revenue model which competes with London based visual discovery app Blippar.

The startup, accelerated by the France based program NUMA, was one of the eight startups selected by the Karnataka Government to receive a grant of Rs. 5 lakhs in March. The six employees team currently works for customers in the 16 to 24 age bracket. Gayle will be featuring in a couple of new campaigns that are to be launched soon.

Serial entrepreneur and founder Vivek Jain is an IIM Ahmedabad graduate with over 13 years of experience in the information technology sector. He was also the CEO of the services outsourcing startup StrApp Business Solutions Pvt., Ltd.

This marks the second investment by Chris Gayle in the Indian startup ecosystem. He previously invested in the virtual gaming firm IONA Entertainment also based in Bengaluru, two months ago. Indian startup ecosystem has garnered a lot of interest from multiple Indian cricketers as well. Yuvraj Singh has been actively participating in the startup ecosystem through his investment fund YouWeCan Ventures. Former Indian Captain Sourav Ganguly has also invested in Mumbai based video content discovery platform Flickstree.

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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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