News
18-12-2017 To 23-12- 2017
The year 2017 has flown by with amazing speed and is quickly and surely winding down to a close. As we approach the end of the year with infinite speed, it is time to take stock and take a look at the different things that have happened in the Startup world in this past week.
1. Net Neutrality And What It Means.
Net neutrality has been an issue which has been involved in more discussions than one. From its benefits to its negative impact, net neutrality is one of the hottest topics being spoken about. Recently, the FCC banned net neutrality. This means that free speech on the internet is going to be a thing of the past. The question here is, is this ban a good thing or a bad thing?
2. Swiggy To Partner With Sodexo To Provide Easier Delivery and Payments
Food delivery platform, Swiggy, just partnered with the employee’s benefits provider Sodexo. At present, according to reports, more than 3 million people are making use of the Sodexo Meal Card option. Through this partnership, Swiggy aims at providing its users with a wide array of restaurants. The focus of the company is to empower the technological segment, enhance user experience and increase the digital acceptance of Sodexo Meal Cards.
3. Amazon To Invest In Lending Platform Capital Float
Ecommerce giant, Amazon, is all set to invest in the small and medium enterprise lending platform, Capital Float. This Seattle based company is getting ready to invest close to $ 10 million in the digital lending platform. Currently, the ecommerce giant has invested in online financial services platform, BankBazaar. At present, Amazon is facing major competition from its rival company, Flipkart and reports suggest that Flipkart is also in talks with several lending companies for partnerships.
4. Vijay Shekhar Sharma Pledges Personal Stock For Paytm Mall
Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Paytm, has pledged his personal stock in the ecommerce arm of Paytm, Paytm Mall for the employee stock option pool. Sharma will be pledging about 5% of his stock, which amounts to $ 50 million, to the ESOP corpus which will then become 10% of the overall company. This move to pledge personal stock to the ESOP corpus comes after Flipkart completed the largest buyback by a privately held Indian startup worth $ 100 million.
5. Amazon To Launch Tenor, Its Very Own Smartphone
Just a little over a month ago, Flipkart announced the launch of its very own smartphone Billion Capture+. In an attempt to counter this move, Amazon went ahead and launched its own smartphone under the banner, Tenor. Private play labels like Amazon and Flipkart have raised the value of smartphones from beyond what they used to be, thereby creating a niche space for users.
6. Ola Acquires Food Delivery Startup Foodpanda
Homegrown cab aggregator, Ola, acquired the food delivery startup Foodpanda. Ola said it is going to acquire Foodpanda from its parent company Hero, in return for a percentage of Ola’s shares. Further, Ola said that it will invest $ 200 million after a period of time. With this acquisition, Ola will be able to enter the online food delivery and ordering service.
7. Facebook Unveils New Features To Curb Harassment
The social media giant, Facebook, announced new tools in an attempt to curb online harassment on social media as well as on its messaging app. Facebook has created this new feature by taking input from people who have experienced higher levels of harassment like journalists and women. The social media company consulted over 150 safety experts around the world for these new features.
8. Bitcoin Interrupted. Slumps From Its All Time High By 20 %
As of Sunday, Bitcoin slumped from its all time high of $ 19, 666 by a whopping 40%. Bitcoin’s monumental gains this year ensured that its price soared about 19 times. This has spurred both caution and alarm among some policymakers. According to reports, Bitcoin has experienced alternating levels of highs and lows. A rise in popularity of cryptocurrencies like Ether and Ripple is one of the main reason for this, according to reports.
9. Alibaba Launches First Cloud Data Center In India
In an attempt to expand its ever growing presence in the world, Alibaba launched its first cloud data center in India. According to reports, this Jack Ma led firm will go live in January 2018. The new Alibaba data center will have 33 zones, spanning over regions like China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the United States. This move comes in a fight against the likes of AWS, Microsoft, Azure and Google Cloud.
10. Flipkart To Launch Artificial Intelligence Unit, AIForIndia
After launching its first data analytics brand, Billion, Flipkart is gearing up to create an Artificial Intelligence unit called AIForIndia. With a host of new additions, Flipkart has worked hard to secure its position as the number one ecommerce brand.
11. Quikr India To Buy HDFC Developers And HDFC Realty From HDFC For $ 56 Million
In an interesting move, Quikr India placed a bid to buy HDFC Developers and HDFC Realty from HDFC Ltd., for $ 56 million. Through the years, Quikr India has added a lot of verticals to its growing portfolio, thereby increasing its market value. At present, Quikr is one of the leading companies in India and has a market value of around $ 1.5 billion.
12. Bitcoin Slips Below $ 13,000
On Sunday, Bitcoin rose as much as $ 19,666 in the lead up to exchange giant CME Group’s launch of bitcoin futures. Nevertheless, the currency seems to have lost steam post the launch. The current plunge comes amid growing signs of mania among regulators and investors for anything cryptocurrency related. Although CME and its rival, Cboe Global Market have given this particular form of cryptocurrency perceived validation, a majority of policymakers are still skeptical and on the fence about the Bitcoin issue.
13. 5,350 Startups Recognized Under Startup India Initiative
The Department of Industrial Policy and Development (DIPP,) stated that as of 1 December 2017, a total of 5,350 startups have been recognized under the Startup India Programme. Through this programme, about 40,000 people have been employed in the startup world. At present, India currently ranks third in the startup ecosystem, world over.
That’s all for this week! Subscribe to our portal to never miss updates from the startup world! If your startup has an exciting announcement coming up, you can even write to us at [email protected]. Catch up with the highlights of the week with our The News This Week section.
Bengaluru, January 13, 2026 Dazzl, the D2C beauty startup revolutionizing AI personalized skincare India, secured $3.2 million in seed funding led by OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal’s venture arm. Co-investors include Snapdeal’s Rohit Bansal and Fireside Ventures, valuing Dazzl at $15 million post-money. Founded in 2024 by IIT alumni Priya Singh and Arjun Mehta, the app uses smartphone scans for custom serums, boasting 50,000+ users and ₹5 crore ARR amid India’s $25 billion beauty market surge.
Ritesh Agarwal praised Dazzl’s tech: “Personalization is beauty’s future, like OYO’s guest model.” Funds target R&D for 100+ skin profiles, Gujarat manufacturing under PLI, Instagram/Nykaa campaigns, and 50 hires. In a 20% YoY growing sector (Redseer 2025), Dazzl edges Mamaearth and Plum with 95% AI precision, 90% natural formulas, ₹499 kits, 65% retention (vs. 40% avg), and viral TikTok traction in 10 cities.
D2C beauty startup Dazzl tackles regulations via FSSAI compliance, eyeing $10B e-commerce beauty by 2028 and MENA exports. Q2 haircare launches and Series A loom, with Agarwal’s backing signaling unicorn potential for sustainable beauty products India. Dazzl blends AI with clean beauty for 500M+ consumers.
Google has launched the Google Startup Hub Hyderabad, a major step in strengthening India’s dynamic startup ecosystem. This new initiative aims to empower entrepreneurs, innovators, and developers by giving them access to Google’s global expertise, mentoring programs, and advanced cloud technology. The hub reflects Google’s mission to fuel India’s digital transformation and promote innovation through the Google for Startups program.
Located in the heart of one of India’s top tech cities, the Google Startup Hub in Hyderabad will host mentorship sessions, training workshops, and networking events designed for early-stage startups. Founders will receive Google Cloud credits, expert guidance in AI, product development, and business scaling, and opportunities to collaborate with Google’s global mentors and investors. This ecosystem aims to help Indian startups grow faster and compete globally.
With Hyderabad already home to tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, the launch of the Google Startup Hub Hyderabad further cements the city’s position as a leading innovation and technology hub in India. Backed by a strong talent pool and robust infrastructure, this hub is set to become a growth engine for next-generation startups, driving innovation from India to global markets.
BMW quietly debuted its new logo on the all-electric iX3, marking a significant yet understated shift in the brand’s design direction for 2025. The updated emblem retains the classic roundel and Bavarian blue-and-white colors, but sharp-eyed enthusiasts noticed subtle refinements: the inner chrome ring has been removed, dividing lines between blue and white are gone, and the logo now features a contemporary satin matte black background with slimmer “BMW” lettering. These enhancements showcase BMW’s embrace of modern minimalism while reinforcing their commitment to premium aesthetics and the innovative Neue Klasse philosophy for future electric vehicles.
Unlike rival automakers that reveal dramatic logo changes, BMW’s refresh is evolutionary and respectful of tradition. The new badge ditches decorative chrome and blue borders associated with earlier electric models, resulting in a flatter, more digital-friendly design that mirrors recent branding seen in BMW’s digital communications. Appearing first on the iX3’s nose, steering wheel, and hub caps, this updated identity will gradually be adopted across all BMW models—both electric and combustion—signaling a unified brand language for years to come.
BMW’s strategic logo update represents more than just aesthetic reinvention—it underscores the brand’s dedication to future-ready mobility, design continuity, and a premium EV experience. As the new roundel begins rolling out on upcoming BMW vehicles, it stands as a testament to the automaker’s depth of detail and thoughtful evolution, offering subtle distinction for keen observers and affirming BMW’s iconic status in the ever-changing automotive landscape.
Apple MacBook Air M5 Launched: M5 Chip, 22-Hour Battery in India
₹290 Crore Boost: Rozana’s Series B Funding Scales Rural Retail Network Nationwide
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