WhatsApp is one of those few Facebook owned apps which does not offer advertisements. However, at the Facebook Marketing Summit in Rotterdam, Facebook announced it will bring advertisements to WhatsApp stories starting from 2020.
Olivier Ponteville, the head of media at Be Connect Agency who attended the summit, tweeted about the announcement.
The stories feature on WhatsApp is similar to that of Instagram and Snapchat, where one can post photos and videos which will disappear after 24 hours. From 2020, targeted advertisements will be brought into this feature.
This was speculated back in November 2018, when the Vice President of WhatsApp, Chris Daniels stated, the Company would show ads in the status and stories feature and as a result, these ads would become the Company’s primary mode of monetisation.
At the same summit, Facebook announced it is also testing a bunch of other features for WhatsApp. Some of these featured include a shortcut for QR code, richer message formats for Whatsapp Business and it will also let users crosspost stories to Facebook.
According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp will soon allow its users to share their statuses and stories to Facebook stories. This feature will apparently allow users to share videos, images, text statuses and GIFs on Facebook through WhatsApp.
WhatsApp is also testing a QR code feature for the app which will be added to the profile section. This will make it easier for users to add contacts by scanning their QR code or share their codes with someone else.
For security reasons, users will also be able to replace their QR code with a new one from time to time.
Some improvements to WhatsApp Business will also be made. Its users will witness richer text formats and will also be able to link PDFs and image files to e commerce websites.
Now, it will be interesting to see how all these features will be received by users and how beneficial they can be to the Company, business wise.
All these features are expected to be implemented by 2020.
Bengaluru-based investment bank IndigoEdge, in partnership with entrepreneur Hitesh Ahuja, has launched PixelSky Capital, a secondaries fund targeting INR 400 crore. The fund will invest in eight late-stage tech and consumer companies expected to go public within three to four years, with cheque sizes of INR 40–50 crore each. PixelSky has already invested in beauty retailer Purplle and aims to close a second deal by June 2025.
The fund focuses on secondary transactions, allowing existing shareholders to sell stakes to new investors, providing liquidity ahead of IPOs. Founders have committed INR 10–15 crore, with additional capital coming from domestic family offices and startup founders. Final close is expected by March 2026.
Led by Hitesh Ahuja, who sold his foodtech startup Yumlane in 2023, and IndigoEdge cofounder Zerin Rahiman, PixelSky marks IndigoEdge’s expansion from advisory and proprietary investments into fund management. The firm has facilitated over 150 transactions worth around $3 billion and invested INR 25–30 crore as a limited partner in multiple VC funds. PixelSky is currently evaluating about 20 companies before finalizing its portfolio
Meta is developing its first true AR glasses, set to launch in 2027. Before the public release, employees will test the device starting in 2024. The company is also releasing new generations of Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2023 and 2025 with enhanced features like a “viewfinder” display.
Specifications and Features
The AR glasses are expected to feature OLED displays and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, offering sophisticated AR and AI capabilities. They will enable users to interact with virtual objects and project high-quality holograms of avatars onto the real world.
Design and Competition
Meta aims for a sleek design, potentially building on its Ray-Ban partnerships. The AR glasses market is competitive, with Apple and Google also investing heavily. Meta seeks to make its AR glasses a game-changer by offering a unique user experience.
Future Plans
In addition to AR glasses, Meta is expanding its VR offerings with new headsets like the Quest 3 and exploring other wearable technologies. The company is focused on reducing costs to make the AR glasses more consumer-friendly by launch.
MobiKwik is venturing into the stock broking sector with the launch of its subsidiary, MobiKwik Securities Broking Private Limited (MSBPL), following approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on March 3, 2025. This move aims to diversify MobiKwik’s offerings beyond its core digital payments services and compete with established players like Zerodha and Groww.
MSBPL will provide a range of brokerage services, including trading in shares, securities, commodities, and derivatives. The subsidiary has an initial capital of Rs 1 lakh, with plans for an additional Rs 2 crore investment to support its operations.
As MobiKwik enters this competitive market, it brings a substantial user base of 172 million and a merchant network of 5 million. Despite recent financial challenges, including a reported loss of Rs 55.2 crore in Q3 FY25, the company aims to leverage its existing infrastructure and user engagement to capture a share of the growing investment technology market, projected to reach $74 billion by 2030.
This strategic expansion aligns with MobiKwik’s broader goals of enhancing its financial service