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Employees Who Can’t Work Five Days In-Office Should Consider Quitting, Says Amazon AWS CEO!

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Matt Garman, the CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS), has firmly defended the company’s new policy requiring employees to return to the office five days a week starting in January. During an all-hands meeting, Garman stated that employees unwilling to comply with the full-time office requirement are free to seek employment elsewhere.

“If there are people who just don’t work well in that environment and don’t want to, that’s okay; there are other companies around,” Garman explained. He clarified that this statement was not intended negatively but was meant to foster a collaborative work environment that Amazon prioritizes.

Emphasis on Collaboration and Innovation

Garman elaborated on the struggles the company has faced in terms of innovation and collaboration with remote work arrangements. He noted that the previous three-day office policy was not achieving its intended goals.

“When we want to really innovate on interesting products, I have not seen an ability for us to do that when we’re not in-person,” he remarked.

He highlighted that the staggered in-office days under the three-day policy made it challenging for employees to connect and collaborate effectively. Additionally, he emphasized that Amazon’s leadership principles, which guide the company’s operations, are harder to enforce in a remote setting.

Employee Backlash

The decision to implement a five-day workweek has drawn criticism from many employees, who argue that commuting is inefficient and that the benefits of in-office work lack supporting data. Reports have emerged indicating that some employees who failed to adhere to the three-day policy were considered to be “voluntarily resigning,” resulting in their access to company systems being revoked.

Despite the backlash, Garman remains optimistic about the change, stating:

“I’m actually quite excited about this,” though he recognizes that not everyone shares his enthusiasm.

Comparison with Other Tech Giants

Amazon’s approach to returning to the office is more stringent compared to other tech giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, which have adopted more flexible policies requiring employees to work two to three days in the office. CEO Andy Jassy announced last month that the shift to a five-day office schedule is crucial for enhancing collaboration and innovation within the company.

Competitive Landscape

This policy shift comes at a time when many tech companies are reevaluating their remote work strategies post-pandemic. As competition for talent intensifies, companies like Google have implemented hybrid models allowing for greater flexibility. This raises questions about Amazon’s ability to attract and retain top talent amid such contrasting policies.

Employee Sentiment and Future Implications

For those employees who feel they cannot adapt to the new policy, Garman’s message was clear:

“That’s okay; there are other companies around.”

This statement underscores a significant cultural shift within Amazon as it prioritizes in-person collaboration over remote work flexibility. The long-term implications of this policy could reshape employee sentiment and influence recruitment strategies as potential candidates weigh their options in a competitive job market.

Conclusion

As Amazon embarks on this new chapter with its five-day in-office mandate, it faces both internal and external challenges. While Garman emphasizes collaboration and innovation as key drivers for this decision, employee pushback highlights a growing divide between traditional workplace expectations and modern workforce preferences.

The outcome of this policy will likely have lasting effects on Amazon’s corporate culture and its reputation within the tech industry. As employees navigate these changes, only time will tell how this approach will impact productivity, morale, and overall organizational success in an increasingly flexible work environment.

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Startup News

Sarvam AI Unveils Bulbul V2: Speech Model Supporting 11 Indian Languages

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Sarvam

Sarvam AI, the Bengaluru-based GenAI startup selected by the Indian government to develop the country’s first sovereign large language model (LLM), has launched Bulbul V2-a speech AI model supporting 11 Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, and Odia.


Bulbul V2 stands out for its natural, regionally authentic accents, delivering speech that sounds genuinely Indian rather than robotic or rehearsed. The model offers ultra-fast performance with a P90 latency of just 0.398 seconds, significantly faster than global competitors like ElevenLabs, and is priced at ₹15 per 10,000 characters-five times cheaper than leading alternatives. Brands can also customize voices to create unique audio identities.

This launch reinforces Sarvam’s mission to make AI accessible and inclusive for India’s diverse population. Alongside Bulbul V2, Sarvam is building India’s first sovereign LLM under the IndiaAI Mission, focusing on secure, scalable, and multilingual AI solutions developed entirely within the country using local talent and infrastructure

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Info Edge Delivers 36% Returns on Startup Investments

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Infoedge

Info Edge, the parent of Naukri.com, has achieved a 36% gross internal rate of return (IRR) on its startup investments since 2007, turning a total investment of INR 3,959 crore across 111 startups into a portfolio now valued at INR 36,855 crore-a nearly 9X gain. Early bets on Zomato and Policybazaar have been especially lucrative, with holdings in these two companies alone worth INR 31,500 crore as of March 2025.

The company’s investment strategy spans multiple vehicles, including the SEBI-registered Info Edge Venture Fund (IEVF), Info Edge Capital, and Capital 2B, with a combined fund corpus of INR 3,423 crore and Info Edge committing INR 1,614 crore. Early-stage investments now contribute 30-40% of the company’s overall value.

Info Edge’s Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) investments have yielded an IRR of 18.7%. Many portfolio companies, such as TrueMeds, Geniemode, Attentive.ai, and InPrime, have attracted follow-on funding from major investors like Accel, Peak XV Partners, and Tiger Global. Notably, BlueStone, the largest investment of Info Edge Capital, has filed for an IPO after securing investments from Prosus, Peak XV, and Steadview Capital.

Founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani emphasized the company’s focus on strong governance and financial controls, with a preference for value realization through public listings or strategic exits.

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Funding

Phab Raises $2M Seed Funding to Expand Healthy Snacking Brand

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PHAB

Phab, the D2C healthy snacking brand co-founded by Ankit Chona of ice cream brand Hocco and his wife Gayatri Chona, has raised $2 million (around ₹17 crore) in a seed funding round led by OTP Ventures, with participation from Capri Global, Sim&San law firm, and angel investors.

Founded in 2018, phab offers protein bars and healthy milkshakes, leveraging Ankit’s decade-long food industry experience and Gayatri’s expertise as a certified nutritionist. The brand has sold over 2 million units and sells through e-commerce and quick commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Zepto, and Blinkit.

Despite a 12% dip in operating revenue to ₹5 crore in FY24, phab trimmed its net loss by nearly 3% to ₹6.8 crore, showing improved efficiency.

The new funds will be used to expand the team, invest in production capacity, and grow phab’s presence across digital, quick commerce, and offline channels. The brand competes with Yoga Bar, Beyond Snack, and The Whole Truth in India’s growing $68 billion healthy snacking market. OTP Ventures’ founding partner Suhail Sameer praised phab’s bold, differentiated approach and the founders’ vision, signaling strong investor confidence in the brand’s growth potential.

 

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