Mumbai, May 16 -- Startups chasing profitability or aiming for a public listing appear to have gone slow on hiring. The companies have hunkered down and tightened their belts to save money and figure out how artificial intelligence (AI) will change their work. Some companies have also let people go or reassigned roles as they dropped new non-core businesses that simply weren't working or to improve organizational efficiency. Big tech-enabled names like Zomato, Cars24, and Gupshup have cut jobs over the past quarter, while others such as Swiggy and Flipkart have pruned divisions and moved staff to other roles. Newer startups are also being more careful about who they hire because investors want to see profits. Vikram Chopra, co-founder and c...