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In Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, hand zari work is sustained not in large factories but inside homes. Fabric arrives in bundles, patterns are traced, and women sit around wooden frames—known as adda—stitching metallic threads into panels that later become table covers, mats, purses, and utility pieces for gifting and everyday use.This quiet ecosystem depends on steady hands, material supply, and a flow of orders that often originates outside the district. What appears as a finished product in urban markets begins as hours of patient embroidery inside neighbourhood homes.Through the One District One Product (ODOP) framework, the cluster has gained structured visibility. For home-based artisans, this support translates into smoother access to credit, training exposure, and participation in platforms where repeat buyers emerge.Organising a Home-Based NetworkNaseem Akhtar, a Kasganj native, has spent decades coordinating this decentralised system. He links women artisans from neighbourhoods such as Baddoo Nagar, Hidayat Nagar, Mohalla Maun, and Nai Basti to steady work orders.“Zari in Kasganj grew through repetition and trust,” he says. “Quality brings the next order.”Training is gradual and practical. New learners sit beside experienced artisans, beginning with simple stitches until their work reaches production standard. Only when stitching becomes consistent does earning begin.At the centre…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

After helming Times Internet-owned proptech venture MagicBricks (MB) for over 15 years, its CEO Sudhir Pai has tendered his resignation,…

A hundred billion dollars will be spent by the Adani Group to construct data centers in India that are AI-ready and powered by renewable...

Indian infrastructure giant L&T (Larsen & Toubro) has partnered with US chipmaker NVIDIA to build and scale a gigawatt-scale AI…

Vervesemi, a fab-less semiconductor startup, on Wednesday raised $10 million in a Series A funding round led by Ashish Kacholia and Unicorn India Ventures, with participation from Roots Ventures, Caperize Fina, and MAIQ Growth Scheme.Vervesemi, founded in 2017, said it will use the fresh funding in three areas: commercialisation of its machine learning, enhanced analog signal chain IC portfolio, productisation of existing silicon chips and R&D. Besides, the startup will also use it to build its go-to-market presence across Asia, the US, and other key semiconductor markets to engage more deeply with OEMs and system companies.“This funding allows us to move from technology validation to large-scale deployment, positioning Vervesemi as a global supplier of intelligent analog mixed signal semiconductor solutions,” said Rakesh Malik, Co-founder and CEO, Vervesemi. According to the startup, it has made significant progress in both technology maturation and commercial readiness, having successfully validated its ML-enabled analog signal chain architecture in silicon with multiple customers entering into production, expanded product pipeline, and increased customer engagement across industrial and smart energy segments.The IP portfolio is also expanding with over 10 patents held by the company. Vervesemi has advanced multiple programmes into late-stage development and qualification, marking its transition from…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

Mohammad Naushad from Fatehpur district did come from a business family. Based in Khalil Nagar in the city area, he spent years working in sales and marketing, most recently with a consumer brand where targets and pressure were part of daily life. Over time, he began to feel that a salaried role offered limited control over his future.“There is fear in the beginning, but when you start something of your own, slowly it becomes regular,” he says.The idea of running his own venture emerged gradually. With encouragement from his family, he began exploring options that would enable him to operate independently rather than remaining dependent on a company structure. While browsing franchise opportunities, he came across Hatke Cafe, a Maharashtra-based brand from Aurangabad known for Mumbai-style snacks. A visit to an existing outlet in Raebareli convinced him that the concept could work in Fatehpur, where such flavours were not easily available.He opened his outlet near Tameshwar Chauraha on November 19, 2025.Building a franchise in a small cityHatke Cafe in Fatehpur serves fast food items such as burgers, pizza, vada pav, and mocktails, along with more than 40 company products. As a franchise, the business receives operational support and training from…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Village Daudpur in Tehsil Akbarpur, Ambedkar Nagar district, did not begin his journey as a business owner. He describes his earlier financial condition as unstable, with limited income and few opportunities for growth. While browsing YouTube on his mobile phone, he came across information about an interest-free loan scheme for young entrepreneurs and began to consider whether self-employment could offer greater stability.After gathering details online, he visited the District Industries Centre to understand the process. He submitted documents including his Aadhaar card, PAN card, photographs, and educational certificates. Following verification and bank procedures, he received a loan of Rs 1.5 lakh and opened a cyber cafe named Vyam Janseva Kendra at Navtariya Mustafabad, Akbarpur, Ambedkar Nagar district. The shop has been operational for nearly a year.“Customers are like God to us; it is our duty to complete their work patiently,” he says.A local centre for everyday paperworkVyam Janseva Kendra functions as a small digital services outlet, assisting residents with routine documentation and online applications. The shop offers services such as Aadhaar and residence certificates, electricity bill payments, photocopying, passport-related paperwork, ration card applications, PAN card services, and pension-related documentation, including disability certificates and pensions.Located on…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

On February 18th, MakeMyTrip announced a partnership with OpenAI to improve AI-led trip discovery and collect searches with high intent. As part of the...

Venture capital firm Udtara Ventures has announced a Rs 250 crore Udtara Growth Fund, which is specifically designed to build and scale strategic deep-tech and defence companies with global relevance.This development is part of an ongoing trend that signals a clear shift in the investment climate towards the complex world of frontier engineering and patented technologies that originate within India.The fund intends to take meaningful ownership stakes in about 8 to 10 growth-stage firms that are developing commercially deployable systems. These companies are expected to have a confirmed order book and a proven product-market fit before receiving investment support.Udtara functions as a long-term partner by offering a mix of equity and debt to facilitate efficient scaling. This hybrid financial model is intended to provide the stability required for companies operating in capital-intensive sectors such as aerospace and dual-use domains.The firm said it works closely with founders to navigate manufacturing readiness, supply-chain development, and the complexities of regulatory alignment. This support structure spans the entire lifecycle of a company from the initial experimentation and prototyping stages through to global expansion.Ankit Lakhotia, Founder of Udtara Ventures, believes that the journey from a laboratory idea to a production-grade system requires a unique set…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

Microsoft announced it is on pace to invest $50 billion by the end of the decade to help bring artificial intelligence (AI) to countries across the Global South and unveiled measures to bridge the gap with the more advanced Global North.“If AI is deployed broadly and used well by a young and growing population, it offers a real prospect for catch-up economic growth for the Global South. It might even provide the biggest such opportunity of the 21st century,” said Microsoft in a blog post jointly authored by Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft and Natasha Crampton, Vice President and Chief Responsible AI Officer of Microsoft.Microsoft highlighted the five-pronged measures to bridge the gap between the Global North and South. This announcement was made during the ongoing India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.Building the infrastructure needed for AI diffusionEmpowering people through technology and skills for schools and nonprofitsStrengthening multilingual and multicultural AI capabilitiesEnabling local AI innovations that address community needsMeasuring AI diffusion to guide future AI policies and investmentsMicrosoft highlighted that the key driver of AI growth will be enormous investments in infrastructure for data centres, connectivity, and electricity. “It is difficult to imagine meeting all these…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed