Union Budget 2025, Ola and Uber Face Boycotts, and Easemytrip Eases Into Brazil

Union Budget 2025 brings hope for startups with tax reforms aimed at simplifying compliance and boosting investor confidence. Meanwhile, India leads the charge in DeepSeek AI app downloads, and WeWork India is gearing up for its IPO, signaling a major shift in the coworking space.

In Chennai, auto and cab drivers are boycotting Ola and Uber over high commissions, while Krutrim ramps up its AI game by hosting DeepSeek models on its cloud. Easemytrip takes its first steps into Brazil, and Indian Railways' new super app ‘SwaRail’ is now in beta, promising a one-stop travel solution.

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

“Nahi Chalegi, Nahi Chalegi”: Chennai Auto & Cab Drivers To Boycott Ola, Uber From February 1

Starting February 1, Chennai’s auto and cab drivers are boycotting Ola and Uber, protesting high commissions and lack of driver safety measures.

The Urimaikural drivers’ union formally notified the aggregators on January 27, signaling an indefinite standoff. For commuters, this could mean longer waits—and for the platforms, a growing crisis.

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“Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai”: India Takes Top Spot In DeepSeek AI App Downloads

India is leading the charge in DeepSeek AI app downloads, propelling it to the No. 1 spot on Apple’s App Store globally since January 26.

The reasoning AI chatbot isn’t just an Indian favorite—it’s also topping charts on Android’s Play Store in the US. Looks like DeepSeek is having its moment, one download at a time.

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“Rail Gaadi Jhuk Jhuk”: Indian Railways Launches Super App ‘SwaRail’ For Beta Testing

Indian Railways has launched its super app, ‘SwaRail,’ for beta testing, aiming to streamline everything from ticket booking to food orders in one place.

Developed by CRIS, the app went live on January 31 and is available on both Google and Apple stores. Just four months after the announcement, it’s full steam ahead for Railways’ digital push.

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“Sabka Bhala Ho, Sabka Sahi Ho”: Union Budget 2025 And Impact Of The Proposed Tax Reforms On Startups

The Union Budget 2025 has startups buzzing with the proposed new income tax bill, aiming to slash tax law complexity by half—fewer chapters, fewer words, less headache.

For VCs and PE firms, there’s good news too: tax certainty on capital gains for Category I and II AIFs is finally on the table. In short, smoother compliance, fewer legal tangles, and maybe even more investor smiles.

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“Aane Wala Kal Jaane Wala Hai”: WeWork India Files IPO Papers With SEBI

WeWork India, backed by Embassy Group, has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus with SEBI, marking its intent to go public.

The office-sharing firm’s IPO plans come amid a fragile global coworking landscape, shadowed by WeWork’s parent company’s struggles. As it seeks fresh funds, the road ahead seems cautiously uncertain.

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“Sab Changa Si”: Krutrim Now Hosts DeepSeek Models On Its Cloud

Krutrim has started hosting DeepSeek’s open-source AI models on its cloud platform, expanding its GenAI offerings.

With five models ranging from 8 to 70 billion tokens now live, the AI game just got a new player. More details on Krutrim’s AI lab and research updates are set to drop on February 4.

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“Kaafi Phaila Hua Dhandha Hai”: Easemytrip Incorporates Subsidiary In Brazil

EaseMyTrip has ventured into Brazil, incorporating its wholly owned subsidiary, Easy Trip Planners Do Brasil Ltda, on January 30, 2025.

With an initial subscription of 1,000 shares at 100 Brazilian Real each, the move signals its global expansion ambitions. Looks like EaseMyTrip is ready to chart new territories, one flight at a time.

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1. Bengaluru-based B2B seafood startup Captain Fresh has netted INR 250 Cr in a pre-IPO funding round, backed by Prosus Ventures, Accel, and Tiger Global. The fresh catch? A boost towards its IPO ambitions.

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2. Mahesh Bhupathi’s D2C wellness brand Scentials is set to raise INR 34.62 Cr through a mix of debt and equity from Indus Way Emerging Market Fund and TIW Private Equity. Looks like Scentials is serving up growth, both on and off the court.
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