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The Latest Payments Battle Point: AI Agents For Merchants

India, Sept. 16 -- Almost every Indian payments giant delivered a similar pitch at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 organised last week: merchants no longer need to inspect settlements, chase failed trans... Read More


Firi Bags $3 Mn To Expand Beauty Quick Commerce Platform

India, Sept. 16 -- Beauty quick commerce startup Firi has raised $3 Mn (about Rs.28.8 Cr) in a seed funding round led by 360 ONE Asset, with participation from Better Capital, CRED founder Kunal Shah,... Read More


The End Of Free UPI, Fibe IPO Gets SEBI Nod & More

India, Sept. 16 -- UPI Gets MDR Makeover After a decade of free UPI payments, NPCI will now impose an MDR for select high-value transactions starting October 15. The move marks UPI's most consequenti... Read More


D2CX Converge Pune Decodes The Playbook For Building Rs.100 Cr Consumer Brands

India, Sept. 16 -- India's consumer brand ecosystem is entering a more demanding phase. As brands move beyond achieving product-market fit, founders are having to make tougher choices around distribut... Read More


Aakrit Vaish's Activate Closes Maiden VC Fund At $105 Mn To Back AI Startups

India, Sept. 16 -- Former Haptik CEO Aakrit Vaish-led VC firm Activate has announced the final close of its maiden fund at $105 Mn (around Rs.1,000 Cr). The fund, which was closed within a year of its... Read More


Zerodha, INDmoney Flag UPI MDR Impact On Brokers, Nithin Kamath Seeks Rs.5-10 Cap

India, Sept. 16 -- Investment platforms Zerodha and INDmoney have flagged the cost impact of the new merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions, warning that they could incur charges on fund tra... Read More


VerifAIX Bags $5 Mn To Scale AI-Based Chip Verification Platform

India, Sept. 16 -- AI-native semiconductor verification startup VerifAIX has raised $5 Mn (about Rs.48 Cr) in a seed funding round co-led by Endiya Partners and Bluehill VC. The round marks VerifAIX'... Read More


What's The Whole Truth? India's Clean Label D2C Brands Vs FSSAI

India, Sept. 16 -- India is in the middle of its biggest food-regulation crackdown in years, and the Supreme Court has now weighed in. During a hearing on September 10, the apex court intervened on w... Read More


Kids' Nutrition Brands Face A Familiar Struggle

India, Sept. 15 -- Kids want a bar of chocolate, but parents want a healthier snacking option. For years, this has been one of the toughest equations for nutrition-conscious parents, who often found t... Read More


Meta Agrees To Report CSAM Cases To Indian Authorities Amid Govt Scrutiny

India, Sept. 15 -- Social media major Meta has agreed to report instances of child sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies in India as the Centre steps up pressure on online platforms... Read More