Blinkit Recalibrates Strategy, Distributors’ Petition To CCI, and Krutrim Partners Lenovo

Blinkit is recalibrating its strategy with a shift to a variable commission model, aiming to boost its take rate amid rising competition. However, it’s facing resistance, with distributors accusing Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart of unfair pricing practices in a new petition to the CCI. Meanwhile, AI startup Krutrim is making headlines, partnering with Lenovo to develop India's largest supercomputer, signaling its ambitious push to dominate the tech landscape.

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“Hum Saath Saath Hai”: Krutrim Partners Lenovo To Develop India’s Largest Supercomputer

Krutrim has joined forces with Lenovo to build India’s largest supercomputer, pushing its AI ambitions into high gear. Ola Group’s CIO Navendu Agarwal confirmed that the startup is also developing its own foundational models and a chip, with Krutrim 3 set to be trained on a massive 700 billion parameters.

With Bhavish Aggarwal backing this vision with a ₹2,000 crore investment, Krutrim is gearing up for a high-stakes AI race.

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“Naam Kidhar Sunela Lagta Hai”: Ultraviolette Forays Into Electric Scooter Market With ‘Tesseract’

Ultraviolette is shifting gears with Tesseract, its first electric scooter, marking a bold entry into the EV scooter market.

Alongside, it has unveiled Shockwave, a lightweight electric motorcycle, signaling its intent to dominate India’s electric two-wheeler space. With pre-bookings now open and deliveries set for Q1 FY26, the race for market share just got more electrifying.

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“Rishta Wahi, Soch Nayi”: Blinkit Pivots To Variable Commission Model To Improve Take Rate

Blinkit is shifting to a variable commission model from March 13, charging sellers based on the selling price of their items.

The move comes as the quick-commerce giant struggles to improve its take rate while battling mounting costs from dark store expansion and rising competition. With profitability under pressure, this change signals a strategic recalibration rather than just another tweak in the fee structure.

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“Aag Lagi Basti Mein”: Distributors’ Body Moves CCI Against Blinkit, Zepto & Swiggy Instamart

Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart are under fire as the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) takes them to the Competition Commission of India.

Accusing the quick-commerce giants of unfair pricing and monopolistic practices, the petition signals growing friction between traditional distributors and new-age platforms. As margins tighten and competition heats up, this battle could reshape the rules of the game.

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1. Innoviti has secured ₹35 Cr from existing backers, including Ashutosh Joshi and Bessemer Venture Partners, to drive business growth. The fresh funding signals continued investor confidence in the fintech firm’s expansion plans.
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2. Gyaan AI has rebranded as MaxIQ and secured $7.8 Mn in seed funding from Dell Technologies Capital and Intel Capital. The move signals a fresh identity and strong backing for its agentic AI ambitions.
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3. Rohan Misra, son of ex-SoftBank Vision Fund chief Rajeev Misra, has raised $150 Mn for his India-focused tech fund. Backed by undisclosed family offices and industry leaders, the fund aims to drive strategic growth for Indian startups.
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4. Phot.AI has raised $2.7 Mn from Info Edge Ventures and others to scale its AI-powered creative automation for brands. The startup plans to expand its team and enhance R&D to refine its AI-driven design tools.
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5. Saina Nehwal has invested in and joined D2C femtech brand Naarica as its brand ambassador. The partnership aims to expand Naarica’s reach and support menstrual health initiatives for underprivileged communities.
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6. AI startup Beacon.li has raised $7 Mn, led by Sanjay Nayar’s Sorin Investment, to enhance its AI capabilities and expand globally. Founded in 2023, the company provides AI-powered product assistants to enterprise software, with clients like Darwinbox and Keka HR.
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