Blinkit's EMI and Seller Hub, Uber Expansion, NPCI Crackdown

Blinkit is shaking things up with an EMI option for purchases above ₹3K and a new Seller Hub to streamline brand listings, while Swiggy rolls out its 'Seal' program to enhance food hygiene. Disney+ Hotstar's Sajith Sivanandan resigns, marking a leadership shift, and Uber expands its Shuttle service to Hyderabad and Mumbai.

Meanwhile, NVIDIA and Reliance are partnering to build AI infrastructure, NPCI is cracking down on UPI virtual ID misuse, and former Ola CBO Sidharth Shakdher is now driving growth at Paytm, Indian government approves $119m space fund.

Grab your simmering cup of Startupchai.in and unwind with our hand-brewed memes.

What Matters

“EMI Liya Hai Toh Chukana Padega”: Blinkit Rolls Out EMI Option For INR 3K+ Purchases

Blinkit just made your grocery run more flexible with a new EMI option for purchases above ₹2,999.

Now, you can split your payments and plan your finances better, though you’ll still have to pay upfront for those gold and silver coins. CEO Albinder Dhindsa shared the news on X, highlighting how this move is all about boosting affordability for customers.

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“Alvida Dost, Aakhri Salam Tujhe”: Disney Hotstar Head Sajith Sivanandan Resigns

Sajith Sivanandan has stepped down as head of Disney+ Hotstar, just days after the platform announced it would stream all live sports content.

His resignation signals a major leadership shift as Disney and Reliance move forward with integrating their $8.5 billion media operations. Sivanandan leaves after over two years at Hotstar, following a 15-year career at Google.

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“Janmo Ke Saathi”: NVIDIA Partners Reliance To Build AI Infrastructure In India

NVIDIA has teamed up with Reliance Industries to create cutting-edge AI infrastructure in India, a partnership announced by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang on October 24. Unveiled during the NVIDIA AI Summit 2024, the collaboration aims to supercharge India's AI capabilities.

The announcement came during an insightful discussion between Huang and Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, marking a major step forward for India's tech landscape.

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“Hukumat Ki Jung”: Swiggy Launches 'Seal' Programme To Boost Food Hygiene Standards

Swiggy is stepping up its game with the new 'Swiggy Seal' program, designed to enhance food hygiene and quality standards across 650 cities in India.

The initiative encourages Swiggy's restaurant partners to prioritize clean food preparation and packaging. It's all about ensuring that what arrives at your door is as fresh and safe as possible.

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“Ab Lagegi Waat”: NPCI Puts Brakes On Misuse Of Virtual IDs

The NPCI is cracking down on the misuse of virtual IDs in UPI transactions to ensure secure fintech services.

According to reports, some fintech platforms have been using third-party authentication through UPI IDs, raising concerns about data privacy. By tightening controls, NPCI aims to protect users and maintain trust in the growing digital payment ecosystem.

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“Kaafi Phaila Hua Dhandha Hai”: Uber Expands Shuttle Service To Hyderabad & Mumbai

Uber is bringing its Shuttle service to Hyderabad and Mumbai, expanding after successful launches in Kolkata and Delhi.

With plans to roll out in Bengaluru soon, the service offers a more convenient, affordable commuting option. India is now the second country, after Egypt, where Uber operates buses as part of its growing Shuttle service.

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“Waah, Kya Scene Hai”: Blinkit Launches Seller Hub To Help Brands List On The Platform

Blinkit has introduced the Seller Hub, a streamlined platform to help brands list directly without the need for middlemen.

This new feature allows sellers to manage inventory, track availability at dark stores, control pricing, and even handle advertising. It's all about giving sellers more control while making the Blinkit marketplace even more efficient.

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“Yahan Ke Hum Sikandar”: Ex-Ola CBO Sidharth Shakdher Joins Paytm

Sidharth Shakdher, former CBO of Ola Mobility, has now joined Paytm as its new business head. In his role, he'll be working alongside founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma to push for growth with a sharp focus on profitability.

This move signals Paytm's ongoing commitment to strengthening its leadership and business strategy.

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“Badhai Ho Badhai”: Indian government approves $119m space fund

The Indian government has approved a substantial fund of ₹10 billion ($119 million) to support the growing space sector, aiming to enhance the country's position in the commercial space market by 2033.

This initiative is expected to benefit around 40 startups, reflecting the government's commitment to fostering innovation in this strategic field. As the space race heats up, India seeks to carve out a significant share of the global market.

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1. Fino Payments Bank's shares dropped nearly 7% to ₹362.10 on the BSE after posting a sequential decline in net profit for Q2 FY25. The market reacted swiftly to the lower-than-expected earnings for the September quarter.

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2. NG Earsafe secured ₹1.06 crore in seed funding, led by Inflection Point Ventures. The funds will be used to boost brand awareness, expand market reach, and develop new products.

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3. OLOID has raised $6 million in a Series A1 round led by Yaletown Partners and others, aiming to bolster its India expansion. The funds will be used to strengthen its engineering and product teams in the country.

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