Darwinbox’s Payroll Revolution, Rapido’s Electric Plans, Tamil Nadu’s Vidhai Accelerator and more

Darwinbox is aiming to revolutionize payroll with its tech-forward platform, while Modern Insulators snaps up INR 5 crore worth of Swiggy shares ahead of its IPO. Amid the BharatPe fraud saga, the Delhi HC allows Ashneer Grover and his wife some international travel with strings attached.

Rapido is gearing up to electrify its Delhi fleet, and the government is nudging platform aggregators to register gig workers on the e-Shram portal. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s Vidhai accelerator is set to boost startups with essential tools and funding, and Yellow.ai is pushing boundaries with its LLM-powered VoiceX for a more human-like customer experience.

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

What Matters

“Haan Yahi Sapna Hai Tera”: With Tech Frenzy On Card, Darwinbox Unveils Platform To Help Enterprises Streamline Payroll Processes

Darwinbox is making payroll a breeze with its new RIVeR framework, designed to take the hassle out of managing paychecks.

The HR tech unicorn promises 100% digital processing, so enterprises can handle payroll with ease—review, approve, and report, all online. Backed by big names like Microsoft and Salesforce Ventures, Darwinbox is streamlining the future of HR, one paycheck at a time.

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“Der Aaye Magar Durust Aaye”: Modern Insulators Buys Swiggy Shares Worth INR 5 Cr Ahead Of IPO

Modern Insulators has made a significant move ahead of Swiggy’s anticipated IPO, acquiring 1.38 lakh unlisted shares of the food delivery giant for INR 4.99 crore.

The all-cash deal, priced at INR 360 per share, reflects growing interest in Swiggy’s market potential. The transaction is set to be finalized within the next 30-45 days, as per the company’s recent exchange filing.

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“Maamla Legal Hai”: In BharatPe Fraud Case, Delhi HC Allows Ashneer Grover, Wife Madhuri To Travel To Doha, UK On Conditions

The Delhi High Court has granted Ashneer Grover and his wife, Madhuri, permission to travel to Doha and the UK under strict conditions amidst the ongoing BharatPe fraud investigation.

Despite the INR 81 crore misappropriation allegations, Grover’s lawyer assured the court that there is no risk of absconding, as his family will stay in India. The court acknowledged Grover’s compliance with previous summons while reviewing the case.

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“Yahan Ke Hum Sikandar”: Rapido Sets The Ball Rolling On Fully Electrifying Its Delhi’s Bike Taxi Fleet By Next Year

Rapido is gearing up to fully electrify its bike taxi fleet in Delhi by next year, partnering with OEMs and fleet operators like Zypp Electric and Gogoro.

This step supports Delhi’s ambitious target of 100% electrification of bike taxis by 2030, in response to the city’s pollution crisis. With Ola Cabs also rolling out electric bike taxis in Bengaluru, the race for greener urban mobility is heating up.

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“Workers Of World Unite”: Govt Calls On Platform Aggregators For Signing Up Their Gig Workers On e-Shram Portal

The government is urging platform aggregators to sign up their gig workers on the e-Shram portal, a national database for unorganised workers.

With Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya set to meet aggregators tomorrow, the initiative aims to ensure better tracking and welfare for gig, migrant, and platform workers across India. This move marks a step toward more structured support for the country’s vast unorganised workforce.

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“Yenna Rascala, Mind It”: Tamil Nadu-based accelerator Vidhai aims to support startups with tools, funding

Tamil Nadu-based accelerator Vidhai is on a mission to nurture early-stage startups, offering them crucial tools, seed funding, and expert guidance.

Launched with the presence of MSME Minister TM Anbarasan, Vidhai aims to help founders sharpen their pitching skills, connect with investors, and navigate successful fundraising. With a playbook rooted in past successes, the accelerator is set to fuel the next wave of startup growth and innovation in the region.

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“Wo Aa Gaya”: Yellow.ai launches LLM-powered VoiceX for natural, real-time customer conversations

Yellow.ai has unveiled VoiceX, a groundbreaking LLM-powered voice platform designed to revolutionize customer service with human-like, real-time conversations.

Boasting a 40% boost in CSAT and cutting operational costs by 60%, VoiceX enables AI agents to seamlessly manage high volumes of queries with natural, context-aware responses. This innovation promises to redefine customer engagement and elevate user experiences across industries.

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1. Mumbai-based medtech startup Qure.ai is reportedly eyeing $50-60 million in funding, led by Lightspeed, to accelerate its radiology diagnosis solutions. The round is expected to include both primary and secondary investments, with Lightspeed contributing $20-25 million.

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2. Bengaluru-based iBUS has secured INR 280 crore from the World Bank Group's IFC to expand its digital infrastructure in overseas markets. This investment, which includes IFC acquiring a minority stake, follows a recent majority stake acquisition by NIIF and marks the exit of Morgan Stanley and HNI investors with returns of 20%-45%.

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3. Surat-based health foods brand Alpino has enlisted actress Shilpa Shetty as its brand ambassador, bolstered by $1.2 million in its first funding round. The investment will help Alpino enhance its offline presence and global expansion, with plans to launch over 20 new products in the next two years.

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4. Hyperlocal news platform Way2News has secured $14 million in Series B funding led by WestBridge Capital, with Sashi Reddi also investing. The new capital will support scaling operations, tech enhancements, and expanding its presence in South India.

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