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Ola Will See Profits Soon Says Co-Founder Bhavish Aggarwal

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India’s very own cab hailing company Ola will start seeing profits in 2 years, its Co-Founder Bhavish Aggarwal claimed during an event on India Internet Day, 2017. His plan is “ to go into niche areas and build relevant products that will significantly improve the bottom line.“

In its last available fiscal report from 2014-15, in order to save the ship from sinking and to fend off stiff competition from its prime competitor Uber, Ola lost around Rs. 3 for every Rs. 1 in revenue. Its net loss is at a whopping Rs. 754.8 crores, in comparison to its loss last year which was at Rs. 34.2 crores.

Aggarwal said Ola Share and Ola Prime were the company’s fast-growing categories. But ironically, this carpooling services offered by Ola (Ola Share) and Uber(Uber Pool) faced problems, with the Karnataka Government Transport department ordering the two companies to cease all carpooling schemes in January. It was because no proper steps had been taken to regulate this mechanism of car pooling.

When asked about drivers’ grievances, Aggarwal said the company is in the process of launching a whole new set of products for drivers. These app-based taxi service companies saw several hiccups in February, with over hundreds of drivers across various cities entering into protests against the falling incomes and incentives.

To add fuel to the fire, a few from the company’s top brass recently decided to quit their positions and wanted to be relieved of their duties to the company. Notable names involved Chief Marketing Officer Raghuvesh Sarup and Chief Financial Officer Rajiv Bansal. Sundeep Sahni, a highly talented hire who headed the company’s new initiatives, and Abhimanyu Rawal, head of the luxury cab service Ola Lux, had also resigned in December.

In spite of all this, Mr. Aggarwal is firm and confident things will turn around in due time, and his company will persevere through these dark times to once again see the light of day.

Will they? Or won’t they? Only time can tell.

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India’s Tech Story: Airtel Spreads AI Access, Ohm Mobility Lessons

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Bharti Airtel has launched the innovative “Airtel-Perplexity Blueprint,” partnering with Perplexity to provide over 360 million customers free access to Perplexity Pro for a year—a benefit valued at ₹17,000 ($200). This collaboration enables Airtel users across mobile, broadband, and digital TV to harness advanced capabilities in generative AI, including leading AI models like GPT 4.1, Claude, and Gemini, along with up to 300 Pro searches daily, image generation, document analysis, and personalized planning services. The move is seen as a milestone for telecom innovation and the democratization of AI in India, making powerful research and productivity tools accessible to a massive user base.

This strategic partnership positions Airtel as an “AI-first” telecom provider, allowing it to gain key insights into user interactions with artificial intelligence and adapt its networks for growing digital demands. For Perplexity, the tie-up grants exclusive access to India’s vast telecom audience, rapidly propelling the app to the No. 1 spot on the Indian App Store, surpassing global competitors like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Airtel customers can activate their complimentary subscription seamlessly through the Airtel Thanks App, under the Rewards and OTTs section, reinforcing Airtel’s commitment to digital customer empowerment.

The broader Indian startup ecosystem reflects both breakthrough innovation and hard-earned lessons, illustrated by the recent shutdown of Ohm Mobility, an EV financing startup. Despite multiple pivots and industry-leading investors, Ohm Mobility struggled to achieve a sustainable business model—a reminder of the challenges in market fit and adaptability. As AI adoption accelerates and startup realities evolve, industry leaders like Airtel and Perplexity are setting new standards, while others, like Ohm Mobility, offer valuable insights on resilience and the importance of business model flexibility in India’s dynamic tech landscape.

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Tesla Secures Mumbai Facility as Key Step in India Market Entry

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Tesla has ramped up its India expansion by leasing a 24,565 sq ft warehouse at Lodha Logistics Park in Mumbai’s Kurla West. The five-year lease, registered on May 16, 2025, involves a total rent of over ₹24 crore, starting at ₹37.53 lakh per month with a 5% annual escalation. The facility includes two ground-floor units and 20 parking spots, with rent payments commencing June 1, 2025.

This warehouse will function as a key service center and garage for Tesla’s India operations, excluding bodywork and spray painting. The move supports Tesla’s preparations for its official market debut, expected in late 2025 or early 2026.

Tesla’s India rollout includes offices in Pune, flagship showrooms in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Delhi-NCR, and co-working spaces in Mumbai. The new warehouse lease highlights Tesla’s commitment to building a robust infrastructure for sales, service, and delivery of electric vehicles and energy products across India.

While manufacturing plans are not yet confirmed, Tesla is reportedly exploring sites in Maharashtra for a potential assembly unit. The Mumbai warehouse lease marks a significant step in Tesla’s strategy to establish a strong presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing EV markets.

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Razorpay Partners with MeitY Startup Hub to Accelerate Deeptech Innovation in Tier II and III Cities

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MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has partnered with fintech leader Razorpay to support the growth of deeptech and emerging tech startups across India, with a special focus on those in Tier II and III cities. Through this collaboration, early-stage startups will gain access to Razorpay’s fintech infrastructure, mentorship, and resources via the Razorpay Rize program.

Startups in areas like AI, blockchain, robotics, and IoT will benefit from streamlined company incorporation support, expert mentorship, product credits, and guidance for applying to global accelerators such as Y Combinator. Selected founders will also join the exclusive Rize Community, connecting with peer networks and attending masterclasses.

MSH CEO Panneerselvam Madanagopal emphasized that this partnership will help founders scale faster by providing vital support in mentorship, capital access, and digital infrastructure. As India’s startup ecosystem surpasses 159,000 DPIIT-recognised startups, this initiative aims to give deeptech entrepreneurs the tools and networks needed to innovate for India and expand globally.

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