Rapido’s Non-AC Cabs, Sarvam and Gnani Gear Up, and Relief To OYO

Rapido’s testing non-AC cab rides in Bengaluru—because sometimes saving ₹50 beats staying cool. On the AI front, Sarvam and Gnani may soon score government GPUs as India gears up for its own homegrown AI wave. Meanwhile, courtroom drama brews as Rajasthan HC calls out false claims by Samskara Resort, offering a breather to OYO. Besides, there’s also Startup Spotlight to savor.

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

“Ab Bas Yahi Reh Gaya Hai”: Rapido Pilots Non-AC Cabs For Lower Fares

Rapido’s testing out a new ride option in Bengaluru—non-AC cabs, for those who’d rather save money than stay cool.

The feature’s still in beta, but it comes right after cab drivers from Ola, Uber, and Rapido kicked off a ‘No-AC’ campaign last month to protest rising costs. Looks like the heat’s finally made its way into the business model.

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“Ab Hogi AI Ki Kranti”: Sarvam, Gnani Likely To Get Incentives For Building AI Models

Homegrown AI players like Sarvam and Gnani might soon get a big boost—think INR 200 Cr worth of free GPU power—from the Centre’s upcoming IndiaAI push.

The government’s prepping its first round of incentives to fuel desi foundational models this month. For now, it’s a waiting game—but the chips are (literally) stacked in their favor.

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“Maamla Legal Hai”: Rajasthan HC Flags False Claims By Samskara Resort, Grants Relief To OYO

OYO just got a breather from the Rajasthan High Court, which called out Samskara Resort for making “misleading and factually incorrect” claims.

The court has put the brakes on the FIR and sent a notice to resort owner Madan Jain, asking cops for a status update in two weeks. For now, it’s OYO 1 – Drama 0.

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1. Fintech newbie Bachatt just snagged $4 Mn in seed funding, with Lightspeed and Info Edge Ventures leading the charge. Looks like saving smart is the new spending spree.
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2. GreenGrahi just raised INR 32 Cr to scale up its insect biotech game—think Black Soldier Flies turning waste into gold. With plans for India’s biggest BSF bio-factory, this agri-startup is flying high, literally.
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3. Databricks is set to pour $250M into India over the next three years, aiming to supercharge AI training, R&D, and market outreach. Looks like the data gold rush just found its next hotspot.
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4. AI travel-tech startup Rimigo has raised $550K in pre-seed funding, backed by investors from Japan and India. The funds will support product development and team expansion as the company looks to quietly reshape the future of travel.
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”Dil Hai Chhota Sa, Chhoti Si Asha”: A Little Extra Infuses Personality into Jewelry with a Quirky Twist

From a ₹5,000 dream to a ₹60 lakh Shark Tank deal, Diksha Singhi’s A Little Extra is turning heads with jewelry that’s anything but ordinary.

Her brand’s bold, handmade pieces celebrate individuality—drawing from her own journey with body image and self-acceptance. With over 80,000 sales and a growing fanbase, she’s proving that sometimes, a little extra is just right.

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