German media and investment group Bertelsmann has taken a controlling stake in digital trucking marketplace LetsTransport, marking the start of a buy-and-build strategy focused on acquiring and expanding founder-run companies in India.The German investment firm has acquired an 80% stake in LetsTransport, which will be rebranded as LetsTransport Group, marking the first investment under its newly launched Bertelsmann Next India (BNI) platform. BNI will buy controlling stakes in companies and help run and expand them over the long term. While Bertelsmann India Investments the venture capital unit, which had lead multiple rounds in LetsTransport will continue to operate separately.The company said founders of LetsTransport, Pushkar Singh, Sudarshan Ravi Jha, and Ankit Parasher, will continue to lead operations as the business expands from a digital trucking marketplace into a technology-led logistics platform catering to enterprise and mid-market customers.Under the BNI structure, Bertelsmann plans to scale LetsTransport through both organic expansion and acquisitions of complementary businesses, aiming to build one of the country’s largest logistics platforms over time. BNI will also enable LetsTransport Group to leverage Bertelsmann’s global capabilities, including supply chain solutions provider Arvato, while exploring partnerships across its existing portfolio.Also ReadWealthy raises Rs 130 Cr from Bertelsmann India, Alphawave Global…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, discussed the possible effects of AI on its advertising business in its annual financial report that was released last week. It was pointed out that the firm might have some spare capacity due to its massive field commitments. Sundar Pichai, CEO, also informed stakeholders on the analyst call that management was worried about compute capacity. In addition, he mentioned that there are problems with power, land, and the supply chain and asked how they might increase capacity to meet the current unprecedented demand.The Key Challenges in Infusing AI into SystemAlphabet is committing to large-scale leasing agreements with third-party operators. This is done to address the compute capacity demands of AI training and inference, in addition to regular cloud computing services. These arrangements could lead to a rise in costs and operational complexity. Alphabet, its counterparties, or vendors may incur more liabilities and duties as a result of large commercial agreements if they fail to execute them. Some worry that Google’s own AI product, Gemini AI, will eat into Search’s user base and revenue from the company’s ad business if fewer people use it. The filing also acknowledged this.The business went on to say that…  ​Read MoreStartupTalky- Business News, Insights and Stories

India’s first hair beauty & makeup brand wins backing to scale innovation in hair makeup, styling, and scalp-first careTruth & Hair, India’s emerging hair beauty and styling brand, has secured investment from Varun Alagh on Shark Tank India, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s journey to redefine how India approaches hair care and hair beauty.Founded by certified trichologist Saumya Alagh and entrepreneur Shailesh Singh, Truth & Hair was built on a powerful insight: hair is not one-size-fits-all. While most brands focus only on cleansing, Truth & Hair pioneers a new category in hair makeup and styling.A Category Created, Not FollowedTruth & Hair entered Shark Tank India with a clear mission: to move beyond traditional shampoos and conditioners and address the unmet needs of hair enhancement, styling, and scalp health.The brand has gained attention for innovative products such as:Root touch-up Hair MascaraPrecision Flyaway WandMulti-benefit 3-in-1 Curly StylerTexture-specific cleansing and conditioning rangesBy combining beauty, performance, and scalp science, Truth & Hair is creating a new conversation around hair as a form of self-expression, not just maintenance.Founder Perspective“Walking into Shark Tank wasn’t just about raising funds — it was about raising awareness,” said Saumya Alagh, Co-Founder, Truth & Hair. “For years, people…  ​Read MoreStartupTalky- Business News, Insights and Stories

In its second edition, DevSparks Pune 2026 promises an in-depth look at how autonomous systems, AI workflows, and next-generation architectures are rewriting the rules of innovation.Like every DevSparks event, this edition is built for practitioners, such as developers, engineers, builders, GCC tech leaders, and tech talent hungry for real learnings, honest conversations, and actionable insights.Sign up for the event here.What to expect at DevSparks Pune 2026At its core, DevSparks is about hands-on, technical, and tactical learning. Expect sessions that decode real-world problems, frameworks that scale across teams, and stories from builders who are shaping the future.Spotlight sessions include:Accelerating AI from innovation to impactIn a deep-dive session with Sunil Patel, Manager, Senior Solutions Architect and Engineering, NVIDIA, attendees can explore how to operationalize AI with confidence, from curated data workflows and model fine-tuning with RAG, to optimized inference at scale using both open-source and enterprise-grade stacks.Devs can learn practical patterns, deployment guardrails, and performance strategies that make AI solutions not just possible, but production-ready.In a lightning talk with Anand Hariharan, Co-founder and Chief Solutioning Officer, Indexnine Technologies, techies can learn how AI is reshaping product teams to collaborate, iterate, and deliver value. In this session, attendees can explore how spec-driven development…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

India will need investments totalling $22.7 trillion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the net zero target by 2070, a Niti Aayog study said.On an annualised basis, this cumulative requirement translates into average flows of approximately $500 billion per year, compared with actual annual investment of around $135 billion in 2024, of which only $70–80 billion currently supports clean energy, said the Niti Aayog’s study report on ‘Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero: An Overview’.Of the total, approximately $8 trillion must be front-loaded by 2050, including nearly $5 trillion in the power sector, given the capital-intensive nature of most low-carbon technologies.The Net Zero Scenario reflects an ambitious pathway aligned with India’s commitment to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2070.With coordinated domestic and external reforms, India could credibly mobilise around $16.2 trillion towards its net zero transition by 2070 through a structural expansion in the scale, depth and efficiency of available capital, the study said.Domestically, this entails deepening the corporate bond market, increasing the financialisation of household savings, and enabling institutional investors to invest in new areas, while safeguarding returns through diversified, high-quality corporate and green assets, the study said.Externally, scaling FDI (foreign direct investment) and FPI (foreign…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

Pet care startup Supertails has raised $30 million in a funding round led by consumer-focused growth equity firm Venturi Partners. The company said it is looking to expand its veterinary services and rapid delivery network across the country.The Series B round also saw participation from Nippon India Alternative Investments and Titan Capital Winners Fund, alongside existing investors Fireside Ventures, RPSG Capital Ventures, Sauce VC, and Saama Capital.Founded in 2021, Supertails offers a full-stack solution for pet care, spanning physical clinics, at-home veterinary services, and digital commerce. The Bengaluru-headquartered startup plans to use the fresh capital to strengthen its end-to-end ecosystem, which currently includes four 24-hour clinics in Bengaluru and a nationwide network of over 100 veterinarians.The investment comes as India’s pet care market is seeing a rapid boom, with the pet population expected to more than double from 32 million pets to 76 million by 2030. The growth is being led by “DINK” (Double Income No Kids) households who see pets as integral members of the family rather than just animals, driving a shift from unorganised to organised branded players.This evolution is visible in the high revenue per pet parent, with monthly pet-related expenses ranging between 5,000 rupees and 15,000…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

As climate pressures intensify and sustainability moves from intent to action, a new generation of startups is emerging from India’s states, building solutions that are both impact-driven and commercially viable. Punjab, with its deep agricultural roots and rapidly evolving industrial base, is fast becoming a critical testbed for this transition.HDFC Bank, in partnership with AIC at Indian School of Business (ISB), has launched ArthX, a sustainability-focused initiative under the HDFC Bank Parivartan Startup Grants program. Designed specifically for revenue-stage startups in Punjab, ArthX aims to back founders translating climate ambition into scalable, real-world solutions. Strengthening this ecosystem-led approach, Startup Punjab has joined ArthX as the government partner, enabling deeper regional alignment, policy support, and on-ground impact.With a total grant corpus of Rs 1 crore, the program is now open for applications from Punjab-based startups.What ArthX offersArthX brings together grant funding, strategic mentorship, and access to institutional and industry networks to help founders move from early traction to scale. Selected startups will be eligible for grant support of up to Rs 10 lakh, along with guidance to accelerate commercial growth and measurable impact.The initiative targets startups working across key sustainability themes, including climate action, waste management and circularity, renewable energy and…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed

In a major income tax relief move, the Indian government is planning to expand the House Rent Allowance (HRA) exemption, extending the 50% exemption benefit to select metro cities and newly categorized urban areas. This proposal could provide significant tax savings to millions of salaried taxpayers living in high-cost urban centres, especially where rental costs have surged in recent years. If implemented, the expanded HRA rules are expected to come into effect in the coming financial year — giving employees greater relief on taxable income and increasing disposable income for workers in expensive metropolitan regions. What the Proposed HRA Expansion Means for Taxpayers Under the current income tax rules, salaried taxpayers can claim HRA exemption on rent paid, but the benefit is limited to a percentage of basic salary and depends on the city of residence. Traditionally, the 50% HRA exemption applies mainly to Tier-I cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. The new proposal seeks to expand this higher exemption cap to include additional metros and growing urban centres where housing costs are comparable to existing Tier-I cities. This means employees in these areas would be able to exclude up to 50% of their basic salary from taxable…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

In a city racing skyward, even a slice of sky has learned to carry a price tag. From Everyday Air to Vanishing Space Looking for a balcony in a Bengaluru apartment today can feel like chasing a fading luxury. In the city’s fast-evolving housing market, balconies—once an unremarkable part of urban homes—are steadily shrinking or disappearing. What was earlier a basic feature in mid-segment apartments is now increasingly confined to premium developments, quietly redefining how openness is valued. Rising land prices and the push to maximise saleable area are at the heart of this shift. Developers are prioritising efficiency and density, trimming back open spaces to expand built-up areas. As a result, balconies are no longer treated as everyday utilities but repackaged as lifestyle upgrades. Brokers note that apartments which once offered two spacious balconies now often provide just one, usually linked to the master bedroom. Even when included, their size has reduced—from about 12×6 feet to nearly 11×4 feet—cutting usable space by almost 10%. When Fresh Air Becomes a Premium Cost pressures reinforce this trend. Homes with balconies in Bengaluru can attract premiums of 10–15%. In Grade A projects on the outskirts, apartments with two balconies may approach Rs…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

Like a city learning to stand on its toes, Hyderabad has risen until the horizon itself had to look up. A Skyline That Rewrote the Map Hyderabad is no longer defined only by its old bazaars, heritage structures and expansive neighbourhoods. Look upward today and a different narrative unfolds. Glass-clad towers and luxury residences rising 40 and even 50 floors high have quietly reshaped the city into India’s tallest urban centre. In sheer vertical growth, Hyderabad has surged ahead of Gurugram, Noida, Bengaluru, Pune and Kolkata, signalling a decisive shift in how Indian cities are choosing to expand. Over the past decade, the city has witnessed an unprecedented boom in high-rise residential and commercial construction, especially along the IT corridor stretching from Gachibowli to Kokapet and the Financial District. Liberal floor space index norms, faster project approvals, availability of large land parcels, and sustained demand from IT professionals and investors have powered this ascent. Unlike older metros burdened by fragmented land ownership, Hyderabad has been able to grow vertically in cohesive clusters, creating dense skylines rather than isolated towers. Luxury residential skyscrapers have thus become a defining feature of its urban identity. Why Other Cities Fell Short Elsewhere, height has…  ​Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups