HORIBA India Private Limited, a HORIBA Group company, has acquired 100% of the shares of Pristine Deeptech Private Limited, a company engaged in a wide range of research and development related to the utilisation of Lab Grown Diamond as a material in the Semiconductor and Quantum research fields, thereby making Pristine Deeptech a wholly owned subsidiary.HORIBA’s acquisition of Pristine Deeptech reinforces its expertise in diamond technologies, supports the creation of an R&D hub in India and strengthens its ability to deliver innovative analytical and measurement solutions.Elated on the occasion, Mr. Hideyuki Koishi, Director and General Manager (Group Strategy Division), HORIBA Ltd, and Chairman, HORIBA India, said, “We are delighted to partner with Pristine Deeptech Private Limited to establish our R&D facility in India.  The strategic partnership represents a big step towards strengthening our capabilities in advanced materials and semiconductors. With this, we will be focusing on innovation and strengthening our R&D capabilities in the market. The partnership reinforces our commitment to the Indian market and focuses on delivering solutions that contribute meaningfully to technological progress and society.”Dr. Rajeev Gautam, President, HORIBA India Private Limited, said, “Aligned with the India’s vision of Atmanirbhar bharat/Make in India, our partnership with Pristine Deeptech…  ​Read MoreStartupTalky- Business News, Insights and Stories

Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama startup Vertical TV to strengthen its short-video offering, sources told Inc42.  The acquisition, valued at under INR 40 Cr, will help Zupee strengthen its recently launched short-video content platform Zupee Studio. Vertical TV has started hiring talent to scale Zupee Studio, the sources added.  Vertical TV was launched by Mohit Paliwal in 2024 under the umbrella brand ‘The Eight Network’. Inc42 couldn’t ascertain if Paliwal joined Zupee following the acquisition. Zupee declined to comment on Inc42’s queries on the development. Notably, Zupee fired around 40% of its workforce, or 200 employees, last week as part of a cost-cutting exercise following the ban on real money gaming. The layoffs were announced in a town hall by cofounder and CEO Dilsher Singh Malhi.  The layoffs came almost four months after the startup fired around 170 employees, nearly 30% of its workforce. The Delhi NCR-based startup, which has raised $120 Mn in funding to date, counts investors such as Z47 Partners, Orios Venture Partners, Nepean Capital, among others, as its backers. It has been reeling under pressure after the government banned real money gaming last year.  The Centre’s move resulted in real money gaming…  ​Read MoreInc42 Media

Gone are the days of poring over online forums and blogs to understand product features, question the authenticity of five-star marketplace reviews, and compare dozens of products before zeroing in on one. Agents powered by AI are trained to do it all for you.  As ecommerce entered the age of agentic commerce, Ranjith Boyanapalli took the plunge, with his Flash AI last September. The former Flipkart executive launched it as an AI-powered shopping assistant that helps in personalised product discovery and research.  Bengaluru-based Flash had earlier raised $12.5 Mn across two rounds. The company’s cap table features the likes of Blume Ventures and PeerCapital as well as high-profile angel investors such as Binny Bansal, Lalit Keshre, and Kunal Shah. Its earlier avatar – a centralised inbox for power shoppers – was entirely different from the latest flagship AI venture. The market opportunity for AI-powered ecommerce is huge. Agentic commerce has the potential to contribute $3-5 Tn in revenue to the global B2C retail market, as 64% Indian consumers reportedly use AI tools in their purchase journey, beating the stats of many other countries. Boyanapalli designed his Flash AI not for closing a transaction, but for the pre-purchase stage, when the…  ​Read MoreInc42 Media

The Poonawallas bet high on Biodegradable Packaging, the Sector projected to reach USD 31.1 billion by 2033In a powerful step towards advancing sustainable innovation, billionaire industrialists and philanthropists Yohan and Michelle Poonawalla have announced their investment in Regeno, a next-generation material science company creating fully biodegradable, water-soluble, and non-toxic packaging solutions. Through this partnership, Poonawalla Group marks one of its most significant entries into the sustainability and green-technology space.Poonawalla Group’s investment carries weight within India’s corporate and innovation landscape. Known for backing purposeful, high-impact ventures, the Group has consistently championed initiatives with long-term societal, environmental, and industrial value. This investment signals not only confidence in Regeno’s breakthrough technology but also the Group’s broader vision of supporting solutions that steer global industries towards a more sustainable future. As the world accelerates its shift away from conventional plastics, 76 countries have enforced full bans, and 37 have implemented taxes or charges. Among them, India stands out as one of the strictest enforcers of plastic regulation, driving significant demand for credible, scalable, eco-friendly alternatives, a demand that Regeno is uniquely equipped to meet.Regeno stands at the forefront of the global bioplastics revolution — an industry valued at USD 11.6 billion in 2023 and projected…  ​Read MoreStartupTalky- Business News, Insights and Stories

After slipping into the red in the September quarter, gaming major Nazara returned to profitability in Q3 FY26. Its net profit for the December quarter (Q3 FY26) declined 36% to INR 8.8 Cr during the quarter from INR 13.7 Cr in the year-ago period. It had reported a loss of INR 33.9 Cr in the previous quarter. Nazara’s operating revenue contracted 24% YoY and 23% QoQ to INR 406 Cr. Including other income of INR 11.3 Cr, total income for the quarter stood at INR 417.3 Cr.  Total expenses reduced 24% YoY to INR 402.2 Cr.  Nazara attributed the decline in its revenue to Nodwin Gaming’s deconsolidation from the group. As a result, its revenue from its esports business crashed 85% YoY to INR 34 Cr. Adjusted for Nodwin deconsolidation, the company claimed that its revenue for the quarter grew 9.8% YoY. Nazara deconsolidated Nodwin in Q2 FY26 after deciding not to participate in its new round of funding from existing investors. Nodwin was reclassified from a subsidiary to an associate company, triggering accounting changes that affected Nazara’s reported top line. The company had accounted an other income of INR 1,104.5 Cr in the previous quarter on the back of…  ​Read MoreInc42 Media

Marketing automation is no longer a nice-to-have for growth teams. It has become infrastructure. The global marketing automation market is projected to reach $13.71 billion by 2030, and 78% of marketers already use automation tools actively, according to Salesforce’s State of Marketing report.The conversation has shifted, too. What used to be “email marketing software” has evolved into omnichannel orchestration covering email, SMS, push notifications, and in-app messaging. And right now, AI integration is table stakes across every platform on this list, not a premium feature reserved for enterprise tiers.This guide is for founders, growth marketers, CMOs, and RevOps teams who are either evaluating their first marketing automation platform or considering a switch. We cover seven tools across different segments: all-in-one platforms for enterprises, specialists for eCommerce and SaaS, and budget-friendly options for startups. Each recommendation includes verified pricing, specific feature strengths, and honest assessments of limitations.The criteria? Feature depth in workflow building, AI maturity, integration ecosystem quality, pricing transparency, and scalability from startup to enterprise.How We Selected the Best Marketing Automation ToolsTo make this comparison useful rather than another feature checklist, we evaluated each platform against a consistent set of criteria.Feature depth: Does the workflow builder support complex branching logic,…  ​Read MoreStartupTalky- Business News, Insights and Stories

After a pathbreaking 2025, 2026 has already kicked off on a high note. January saw two new-age tech listings materialise, the year’s first unicorn, and a clutch of IPO filings.    The scale underpinning this momentum is hard to ignore. India enters 2026 with 127 unicorns, 147 soonicorns, 60+ minicorns, 58 listed new-age tech ventures and over 2 Lakh DPIIT-registered startups.    Together, these moves signal that the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem is ready to set the agenda for India’s next growth chapter. But momentum does not mean smooth sailing. The past month threw up uncomfortable reminders of what comes with scale.    The fraud allegations engulfing beleaguered real-money gaming giant WinZO and the intensifying debate over gig worker welfare raised questions of trust, governance, and accountability.    And then there’s the quiet, deeper shift underway. With sustained government and institutional push, the ecosystem appears to be stretching beyond its familiar consumer-facing playbook to deeptech and other frontier technologies. Deepinder Goyal’s decision to step away from the day-to-day operations at Eternal to pursue riskier new ventures is emblematic of this mood.   Against this backdrop, we are back with Inc42’s flagship “30 Startups To Watch” series. In line with the…  ​Read MoreInc42 Media

Your salary pays the bills. Your second income buys you options.For many salaried Indians, the idea of a side income often stops at tutoring, freelancing, or stock markets. But beneath the surface, there are lesser-known income streams that require low capital, fit into evenings or weekends, and quietly compound over time.These are not overnight riches. They are practical, overlooked opportunities that work within the constraints of a full-time job. Let’s have a look 5 side income gigs you can try! Why second income streams matter more nowRising living costs, slower salary growth, and job uncertainty have changed how salaried professionals think about money. A single income is increasingly risky.What makes side incomes more attractive today is accessibility. Many opportunities now require minimal capital, use existing platforms, and qualify for simplified tax treatment under presumptive taxation schemes for professionals and small businesses.5 side income opportunities Upcycled tech accessories from e-wasteUrban centres like Mumbai & Bangalore generate massive amounts of e-waste. Old phone cases, chargers, and accessories often end up in scrap markets at little to no cost. With basic heat tools, these materials can be repurposed into phone stands, wallets, or desk accessories. Eco-conscious consumers are willing to pay a premium…  ​Read More​YourStory RSS Feed