Latest News
SoftBank Threatens To Walk Out Of Snapdeal Flipkart Merger
India’s largest investor and the majority shareholder of Snapdeal, SoftBank, has threatened to back out of the merger if all minority shareholders do not approve of the Flipkart acquisition deal. A news daily, reported, according to sources close to the matter, SoftBank may be able to independently invest in Flipkart and can leave Snapdeal behind by walking out of the merger.
One of the clauses in Flipkart’s revised termsheet was for Snapdeal to get the approval of all the minority shareholders. Softbank, who has been orchestrating the sale of the biggest consolidation move in the Indian ecommerce industry, became the majority shareholder in May 2017 after buying out Kalaari Capital’s share in the company. Presently, the cofounders of the company each own about 6.5% stake, while early investor Nexus Capital has a 10% stake and SoftBank has a majority stake of about 47.5%.
The remaining Snapdeal stake is owned by the minority shareholders such as PremjiInvest, Ratan Tata, Foxconn, Alibaba Group, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, eBay, Temasek and Hong Kong based hedge funds and others. Out of the minority shareholders, Ratan Tata, Temasek, BlackRock and Foxconn have given their in principle approval to the proposed merger whereas the approval of 26 other Snapdeal investors is still required.
PremjiInvests, the personal investment arm of Azim Premji, initially opposed the merger over the special payments being offered to early investors and cofounders Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal. Since then, it has been extremely difficult to a get 100% minority approval for the acquisition. The daily also reported a source saying, “SoftBank is exasperated by repeated objections and delays triggered by Snapdeal’s smaller shareholders.” They also added that even if 5% of the shareholders are unhappy with the revised Flipkart proposal, Softbank won’t pursue the merger.
SoftBank reported a $ 1.4 billion loss during the financial year 2017, on two of its major Indian investments Snapdeal and Ola. Therefore they have been looking to offload the ecommerce company and do not want to be held accountable if the deal falls through. Flipkart’s offer, according to SoftBank, is significantly better than the other alternative routes available to the struggling online marketplace.
In the past couple of weeks, it was also reported Snapdeal founders Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal were in talks with senior executives from various firms and with another ecommerce site Infibeam for an alternate option. They recently have also sold their online digital payments arm FreeCharge to the private sector lending firm, Axis Bank.
Latest News
Healthy Snacking Is Emerging as India’s Next Consumer Growth Story
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.
Latest News
Why Capital Is Flowing Toward Bharat-Focused Fintechs Again
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.
Latest News
OpenAI’s Trusted Contact Feature Signals a New Direction in AI Safety
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.
