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Zomato To Raise $ 200 Million From Alibaba And Alipay

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Zomato To Raise From Alibaba,Ant Financial Services Group,Alipay,Paytm,Zomato Latest News,Zomato Updates,2017 Latest Business News,Startup Stories

Zomato Media Pvt., Ltd., the online restaurant discovery and food ordering platform is reportedly in talks with Alibaba’s payments firm Ant Financial Services Group to raise $ 200 million. This potential round of investment could value the company between $800 million and $900 million or even up to $1 billion.

The deal, which hasn’t been finalized yet, could see the Chinese ecommerce giant pick up a major stake in the company. A major news daily reported this round could finally allow Zomato to earn that Unicorn tag that it missed by a small margin during the last round of financing. Zomato, which has been in the market to raise funds since the beginning of the year, declined to comment.

Ant Financial, also known as Alipay, is also looking to strengthen its foothold in South East Asian markets like India, New Zealand and Australia. Zomato which has a strong presence in Southeast Asia and the Middle East will add to Alibaba and Alipay’s global play. The deal will also allow the food discovery platform to work closely with the digital payments platform Paytm, which counts Ant Financial as one of its largest investors.

Launched in 2008, Zomato has raised over $ 200 million in funding rounds with the latest being $60 million from Temasek and Vy Capital in September 2015. The investment valued the firm at about $960 million, barely missing the $ 1 billion mark. Zomato, at present, is competing against food ordering platforms such as Bundl Technologies Pvt., Ltd., owned Swiggy, which is backed by South African media giant Naspers. Swiggy raised $ 80 million in funding from Naspers in May this year and has already raised over $160 million in equity and debt, since its launch in 2014.

Zomato, which was forced to introduce food ordering on its platform, saw an 89% rise in revenue which reached Rs. 334 cores for the financial year 2017. But Zomato’s fight with Swiggy for market leadership in the food delivery space is more capital intensive. Zomato claims that for the first time in July this year they have delivered over 3 million monthly orders, maintaining that its average order value is higher than that of its competitor, resulting in higher gross sales.

 

Watch how Zomato came to dominate the restaurant discovery and online food ordering sector here –

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Healthy Snacking Is Emerging as India’s Next Consumer Growth Story

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Healthy Snacking - Startup Stories

The healthy snacking category in India is no longer a niche trend it is steadily becoming a mainstream consumer movement. The latest funding momentum around brands like Phab highlights how investors are increasingly backing companies that sit at the intersection of health, convenience, and modern lifestyles. As urban consumers become more conscious of ingredients, nutrition, and long-term wellness, demand is shifting away from traditional packaged snacks toward products that promise both taste and better nutritional value.

What makes this market particularly attractive is its ability to create recurring consumer habits. Unlike many direct-to-consumer categories that rely heavily on one-time purchases, healthy snacks naturally fit into daily routines. This opens opportunities for brands to build stronger customer loyalty while expanding into adjacent categories such as protein-rich foods, functional beverages, and wellness-focused products. The competition is no longer about selling snacks it is about owning a larger share of the consumer’s health journey.

Looking ahead, the biggest winners may not be the brands with the widest product portfolios, but those that can balance nutrition, affordability, and taste at scale. As health-conscious consumption expands beyond metro cities, India’s better-for-you food segment could evolve into one of the country’s most significant consumer categories. The growing flow of capital into this space signals that investors are betting on a long-term behavioral shift rather than a short-lived food trend.

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Why Capital Is Flowing Toward Bharat-Focused Fintechs Again

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Indian

India’s fintech sector is entering a new phase of growth, and the spotlight is increasingly shifting toward underserved consumers in smaller cities and towns. The recent funding secured by WeRize reflects growing investor confidence in platforms that are expanding access to financial products such as credit, insurance, and other services for customers who have traditionally remained outside the reach of formal financial institutions. As digital adoption deepens across the country, fintech companies are finding significant opportunities beyond metro markets.

What makes this trend notable is the industry’s transition from simply enabling digital payments to building broader financial ecosystems. Rather than focusing on a single service, fintech firms are expanding their product portfolios to meet multiple customer needs under one platform. This approach not only strengthens customer relationships but also creates more sustainable business models by increasing engagement and lifetime value.

The larger implication is that India’s next fintech growth story may be driven by financial inclusion rather than convenience alone. Investors are increasingly backing companies that combine technology, data-driven underwriting, and localized distribution to serve emerging consumer segments. As competition intensifies, the ability to build trust, offer relevant products, and address the financial needs of Bharat could become a key differentiator for the next generation of fintech leaders.

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OpenAI’s Trusted Contact Feature Signals a New Direction in AI Safety

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Open AI

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.

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