Today's Chai Pe Charcha: Zoho Ventures into Mechatronics, Apple Updates, and India’s ‘Fake Unicorn’ Saga

Brace your cup of today’s masaledaar chai as you discover the vortex of Indian startup news brought to you by Startupchai, as Zoho's Sridhar Vembu ventures into mechatronics with Karuvi, Apple shakes up threat notifications, Bounce Infinity electrifies e-scooters with liquid-cooled batteries, while NSE's Ashish Chauhan and Zoho's Vembu join UGC. Plus, Dbrand faces heat for a distasteful jab, and the debate heats up on India's 'Fake Unicorn.’

Don't miss our hand-brewed memes for you, capturing the soul of today's stories.

What Matters

“Chhor ki Daadhi Mein Tinka”: India’s Fake Unicorn?

Zyber 365 made waves back in August, 2023 as India's 109th unicorn, achieving this milestone in just 3 months after securing a $100 million investment from the SRAM and MRAM group.

Now, Youtube channel supermesh has dug deeper into the company. It turns out the company is registered in the UK, not India and both the directors of the company, Pearl Kapoor and Sunny Vaghela, resigned from their positions back in August 2023.

With valuation skyrocketing to $1.2 billion, this Ahmedabad-based web3 AI startup is certainly stirring up the startup scene. But with zero products in sight and skepticism brewing, only time will tell if Zyber 365 lives up to the hype or fizzles out.

Watch the video and give supermesh a thumbs up for an interesting watch:

“Karuvi ka Tashan”: Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu announces new mechatronics startup Karuvi

You know Sridhar Vembu, the brains behind the desi homegrown SaaS giant Zoho? His new startup, Karuvi is diving headfirst into the realm of mechatronics, promising an array of power tools that blend cutting-edge motor tech, fancy material science, and nifty electronics.

What's the scoop behind this game-changer? Well, it all started with a chat between Vembu and Abdul Gafoor, the brains behind Mr Light Global, who sparked the idea of Zoho making handheld tools.

Despite some initial qualms, Vembu was hooked, seeing not just profit potential but a chance to light up rural economies with job opportunities.

Read more here

“Padhega India, Tabhi toh Badhega India”: NSE CEO Ashish Chauhan, Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu appointed UGC members for 3 years

The University Grants Commission (UGC) just added some serious firepower to its team, appointing NSE's top honcho Ashish Chauhan and the brain behind Zoho, Sridhar Vembu, as members for a solid three-year stint.

These heavy-hitters are ready to bring their expertise to the forefront, shaping the future of education in India.

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“Apple Darr Gaya”: Apple Revamps Threat Notification Policy, Drops The Term ‘State-Sponsored’

Apple is ditching the phrase "state-sponsored" in their threat notifications, opting for "mercenary spyware attack" instead. Seems like Apple's playing it coy amidst pressure from the certain actors, who weren't too thrilled about fingers being pointed at them.

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“Electric Scooter ki Safari”: Bounce Infinity launches portable liquid-cooled battery for e-scooters in collaboration with Clean Electric

Bounce Infinity just rolled out a new dice in the electric scooter scene. Teaming up with Clean Electric, they've unleashed India's first portable liquid-cooled battery, setting a new standard in desi EV tech.

With extended range, lightning-fast charging, and a longer battery life, one can perhaps bid goodbye to range anxiety and say hello to a possible future of green commuting, starting from a mere Rs 99,210.

Read more here

Just Some Casual Racism: Dbrand faces backlash for mocking Pune-based techie's surname, brand offers $10,000 'as a gesture of goodwill'

Dbrand's racist response to an Indian customer's complaint sparked outrage online, but their apology fell short as they dug down, defiantly stating they would continue to mock their customers—and perhaps you might be the 'lucky' one to receive $10,000 next.

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Fundraising and Financials

Gurugram's EyeMyEye secures $2.5M in pre-Series A funding, eyeing expansion in the eyewear market with backing from investors like RBA Finance & Ashish Kacholia.

Read more here