Startup Pedia

Google Cloud has appointed Karthik Narain, former CTO at Accenture, as its new Chief Product and Business Officer. Google CEO Sundar Pichai welcomed him to the leadership team, elaborating on his role in advancing artificial intelligence and enterprise technology. Sundar Pichai, in a LinkedIn post, said, “Karthik will partner closely with our Cloud customers as they transform their businesses with AI. In his new role, Karthik will help accelerate the strong growth we are already seeing in Google Cloud.” “Just over a week ago, we announced Gemini Enterprise, which has had a really positive response. Much more to come, welcome Karthik!” he wrote. On Tuesday, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian publicly announced the appointment of Karthik Narain. “Today we welcome Karthik Narain to Google Cloud as Chief Product & Business Officer,” he wrote on LinkedIn. Kurian said, “He will lead product and engineering teams across cloud, developer, data and Applied AI, the go-to-market organisation, and work closely with Google Public Sector. Karthik’s proven track record with clients, along with his unparalleled depth of experience in developing enterprise technology solutions, will accelerate our customers’ journey into the AI era. Welcome to the team, Karthik!” Karthik Narain shared Kurian’s post on his LinkedIn handle and expressed excitement for the new job. “After more than 25 years in the tech consulting industry, I am excited to share the next chapter of my career - I am joining @GoogleCloud as its first Chief Product & Business Officer,” he wrote in the post. He said the role is an “incredible opportunity” to utilise his expertise in engineering and product strategy, enterprise systems and business processes at Google. “The opportunity to unlock immense value for Google Cloud’s customers and partners is unparalleled, and I can’t wait to get started!” he wrote. The tech veteran Karthik Narain holds a Master’s degree in Computer Systems and Business from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli. #startuppedia #startupJourney #startupstory #startupbusiness #startupstory #startup #google

Alex Hormozi recently tweeted, “It’s very hard to have a vision when you have bills to pay.” The post quickly struck a chord online because it’s something almost everyone can relate to. Hormozi is an Iranian-American entrepreneur, investor, and author who is known for speaking plainly about money, work, and success. He is the founder and managing partner of Acquisition.com, a company that invests in small founder-led businesses with steady cash flow and growth potential, and his portfolio now generates over $200 million in annual sales. But his path to success wasn’t easy. At one point, he even slept on the floor of his gym because he couldn’t afford rent. Before reaching this level of success, Hormozi built companies like Gym Launch, Prestige Labs, and ALAN, which helped gym owners grow their income and manage operations more effectively. He later wrote bestselling books like $100M Offers and $100M Deals and started The Game Changer podcast, where he shares lessons about business and life in a direct, practical way. His recent tweet reminds people of a simple truth. When you’re struggling to make ends meet, thinking about long-term goals feels impossible. It’s not that people lose their ambition; it’s that stress takes over. You can’t dream big when you’re worried about bills. Hormozi’s own story, however, shows that stability comes first, and vision follows. Once your basic needs are covered, your mind gets the space to think clearly again. Vision doesn’t disappear when life gets hard. It waits quietly until you’re ready to chase it again. #AlexHormozi #BusinessMindset #EntrepreneurLife #Motivation #SuccessMindset #FinancialFreedom #Inspiration #Hustle #Startups #MoneyTalks

Blackstone President and Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Gray has remarked that India is one of the most attractive investment destinations globally, calling it "the fastest growing country in the G10." As reported by Business Today, speaking at a recent address, the Blackstone COO said India's strong economic fundamentals, expanding middle class, and infrastructure push make it an appealing long-term bet for global investors. During his address, he listed what he sees as some of the best sectors to invest in. "The first stop I've got is commercial real estate. It's been three and a half very tough years for commercial real estate, but now this good dynamic has taken over, which is new supply has declined by nearly 70%, in this case in US logistics, but it's really happening around the world. Cost of capital is coming down, assets have been repriced, this is the time you want to be an investor in commercial real estate," Gray said. He named three key areas - real estate, secondary markets, and India as strong prospects for investment. "Next up, secondaries. Another industry that has grown a ton, from $23 billion to $200 billion over the last 15 years. Again, the concern, has this gotten too big? But I would point out, it's just one and a half percent of outstanding AUM that is trading hands. That compares to 100% of the stock market by value that trades hands. That's why we believe that discounts and secondaries will continue to persist," he said. About India, Gray elaborated: "Third stop, India. This is the G10, clearly the fastest-growing country. There's been some tension geopolitically recently, but this is a country that is investing massively in physical infrastructure, legal capital markets infrastructure. There is a rising middle class here. This is a place we particularly like." #Startuppedia #IndianTech #indianfounders #india

Zoho Corporation, known for its business software, is getting ready to launch a new app called Zoho Pay. The app will allow people to send and receive money, pay bills, and make quick transfers directly inside Zoho’s chat app Arattai. With this move, Zoho is stepping into the consumer payments market, aiming to offer users a smooth and simple way to handle payments within conversations. Zoho Pay is being tested internally and will soon be available as both a separate app and a feature inside Arattai. According to Sivaramakrishnan Iswaran, Zoho’s head of finance, the goal is to make payments easy and secure. He said, “Zoho Pay is designed to offer a smooth, secure, and integrated payment experience. It will be available both as a standalone app and within Arattai, enabling users to make transactions without leaving their chat interface.” This means users can send money to friends or pay for services while chatting, no need to switch between apps. Arattai, which already supports messaging, calls, and file sharing, will now let users complete payments without leaving the chat window. This idea matches what many messaging apps worldwide are doing — turning chat platforms into all-in-one tools. Zoho is not new to payments. In August 2024, it launched Zoho Payments, a gateway that helps businesses accept payments through UPI, cards, and net banking. With Zoho Pay, the company is now focusing on regular users. The app aims to serve small businesses, families, and individuals who want simple payment tools inside familiar apps. Iswaran added, “Our approach to fintech is incremental; we’re starting with payments and gradually expanding into other financial services, while staying true to Zoho’s focus on organic, profitable growth.” The digital payments market in India already has strong players like Google Pay and PhonePe. But Zoho hopes its trust among existing users and strong business network will help Zoho Pay find space in this growing market. #ZohoPay #Zoho #Arattai #ZohoCorp #UPIPayments #MoneyTransfer #SridharVembu #Startuppedia

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-powered web browser to challenge Google as the main platform for people searching for information online. The company announced the AI-powered ChatGPT Atlas in a livestreamed demo after sharing a teaser on Tuesday with a mysterious video of browser tabs on a white screen. “Our new AI-first web browser, ChatGPT Atlas, is here for macOS,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared on X. ChatGPT Atlas is available “globally” on macOS starting today, while access for Windows, iOS, and Android is “coming soon,” the company said. “Please send feedback! Availability on other platforms to follow,” Altman added. The CEO described the launch as "a rare once-a-decade opportunity to rethink what a browser can be about," positioning Atlas as more than just another browser. However, its “agent mode” is only available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users for now, said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, according to a report by The Verge. “The way that we hope people will use the internet in the future… the chat experience in a web browser can be a great analog,” Altman added. While ChatGPT Atlas functions similarly to Google’s AI Mode, it differs with a completely redesigned interface, further improved by seamless ChatGPT integration. Beyond standard browsing, ChatGPT Atlas can summarise web content, answer questions, compare products, and handle a range of other tasks. The demo from OpenAI shows how it plans to integrate ChatGPT in all corners, including with the help of a + button to let you edit emails and improve their context before hitting send. You can even ask ChatGPT at any time on the browser to help you with queries or even set up the shopping cart with your favourite (or previously bought) items. You can ask questions about any web page, and the assistant will answer from the tabs that are open and also through the relevant browsing history. #startuppedia #chatgpt #openai #aibrowser #samaltman #google

As millions of people traveled home to celebrate Diwali and Chhath Puja, the Indian Railways took several steps to manage the festive rush smoothly. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited New Delhi Railway Station to review the preparations himself. From crowd control to 24-hour monitoring, the Indian Railways worked on multiple levels to ensure passengers could reach home without trouble. During his visit, Minister Vaishnaw met passengers and railway staff to check how the arrangements were working on the ground. Sharing updates on social media, he said, “We studied historical traffic patterns, analysed passenger surge data and created mechanisms for coordination.” To handle the extra crowd, holding areas were created at more than 70 stations, and ticketing counters were increased at over 100 stations. Thousands of CCTV cameras have been installed to improve safety, while special cleaning arrangements were made to keep platforms clean during rush hours. Vaishnaw mentioned that control rooms at division, zone, and board levels are working 24×7, even on Diwali Day. Smaller control rooms have also been set up at major stations to ensure better coordination and faster response. The movement of special trains is being monitored closely to avoid delays. He shared the positive result of these steps, saying, “Till now, over 1 crore passengers reached home safely this festival season.” Thanks to timely planning and teamwork, the Railways managed one of the year’s busiest travel periods without major issues. Minister Vaishnaw appreciated the dedication of railway staff and added, “We will continue to make our sincere efforts.” With cleaner stations, more staff on duty, and better coordination, the Indian Railways made this festive season smoother and safer for travelers across the country. #AshwiniVaishnaw #IndianRailways #DiwaliTravel #ChhathPuja #RailwayMinister #FestiveRush #RailwaySafety #FestivalSeason #PublicTransport #CleanRailways #RailwayServices #Diwali2025 #ChhathPuja2025 #startuppedia

Factory workers in Gannaur, Haryana, staged an unusual protest as they were gifted Soan Papdi boxes before Diwali. The manufacturing facility gifted its employees Soan Papdi boxes instead of the customary monetary bonuses, sparking an immediate unrest, as the workers reportedly felt insulted by the gesture. An undated video is circulating online where those employees are seen throwing away soan papdi boxes outside the factory’s gate. Startup Pedia has not independently verified the authenticity of the video. Frustrated by the increasing costs and delayed wages, which had allegedly tightened the household budgets of the workers, the box of sweets felt useless to them. According to media reports, authorities have confirmed that no property damage or violence occurred as a result of the worker's protest. The video sparked a debate on social media. While some criticised the factory for not keeping its promise, others thought that workers should not have thrown the sweets on the ground. Some jokingly asked if the idea of distributing soan papdi packets was the HR’s idea: “HR ka idea hoga!” “Ungrateful employees....... I have faced a similar situation when my business was down and couldn't afford it,” wrote one user on X. “Bonus is a choice of company's.. not a mandatory rule to be followed. Employees get a salary, promotions and allowances sometimes.. why such disrespect.. a sweet is a sweet,” another said. Another user wrote, “A gift of any kind is kindness. Throwing away food is just disrespecting the core value of Diwali. Could have given it away to the underprivileged. Aisa karna zaroori nahi tha. Sabko bah kimti cheezein chahiye, warmth nahi. Aise bhavnao se toh ghar mein Laxmi aane se rahi!" #startuppedia #diwali #diwaligifts

Physics Wallah has launched a new device called the AI Box that can turn any TV or projector into a learning device. Students can watch lessons, take quizzes, and prepare for exams like IIT-JEE, NEET, law, and board exams in Hindi. This device is aimed at students who do not have access to a mobile phone or internet at home. It can be plugged into any TV, projector, or screen, including low-cost or basic models. Once connected, students can watch pre-loaded lessons, practice quizzes, and take notes directly on the screen. Teachers can also use the device to guide students through the content, making it easier to teach even in schools where teacher training is limited. The device supports YouTube and other apps, giving schools and students flexibility to access different types of content. Its simple plug-and-play design means it can be used in classrooms, community centers, and homes without any technical setup. Many schools, especially in small towns and villages, face challenges like limited teacher training and lack of access to online resources. The AI Box addresses these issues by providing ready-made educational content that students can use at any time. It helps children who cannot spend much time online or do not have devices at home to prepare for competitive exams and improve their learning outcomes. By bringing lessons directly to TVs, the AI Box allows students to engage with study material in Hindi and interact with quizzes and exercises, making learning easier and more accessible. #PhysicsWallah #AIBox #IITJEE #NEETPrep #BoardExams #HindiMediumLearning #EdTech #AlakhPandey #Startuppedia

Reliance Retail has operationalised over 600 dark stores across India and plans to add more to improve its coverage of less than 30-minute deliveries across its extensive network. Addressing an analyst query after quarterly results, Reliance Retail CFO Dinesh Taluja stated that e-commerce platform JioMart is better placed with an extensive physical store network and dark stores being set up in select locations. After operationalising 600-odd dark stores, Reliance Retail is investing in more to boost its play in quick hyper-local deliveries, in which JioMart registered a 42 per cent Q-o-Q growth and 200 per cent-plus Y-o-Y growth in average daily orders. "JioMart continued to operate as the fastest-growing quick hyper-local commerce platform, with operations extending across 5,000 pin codes and serviced by over 3,000 stores in more than 1,000 cities," said an earnings statement of the parent entity, Reliance Industries. JioMart is competing with quick commerce players such as Zomato-owned Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket, with its vast network and strategically located dark stores. Reliance Retail had said in the March quarter that its hyper-local deliveries covered 4,000 pin codes across India. “We are quickly scaling up our quick commerce offering pretty aggressively,” Taluja told analysts at the company’s quarterly earnings call. “Once confident of our model, we began communicating our proposition, speed, transparency, best pricing, and widest assortment, and it’s resonating well with customers.” JioMart’s quick-commerce expansion indicates a major shift from its earlier grocery delivery model, which relied on next-day fulfilment. As consumer expectations changed and competitors established 10- to 30-minute delivery benchmarks, Reliance re-engineered its logistics network to meet the new format. “Consumers have evolved, and instant delivery has become the norm,” Taluja said. “We pivoted from scheduled deliveries to sub-30-minute fulfilment to match competition.” #startuppedia #startup #jiomart #relianceretail #quickcommerce #ecommerce

Chandigarh-based Mits Healthcare gifted 51 cars, including luxurious models, to employees on Diwali. A clip showing the Group Chairman of the pharmaceutical company, MK Bhatia distributing keys of 51 cars to its employees on the occasion of Diwali gone viral on the internet as netizens responded to the post in disbelief. The company rewarded its top performing employees with luxurious SUVs after it grandly celebrated Diwali at Chandigarh centre. It also organised a car gift rally from the showroom to Mits house. Interestingly, the company has been giving away cars to employees for three consecutive years. Last year, the Chairman distributed 15 cars a day before Diwali. Mits Healthcare hired fresh graduates and trained them. The best performers in the group were promoted to vice presidents of their respective teams. Again, based on their performance, those employees advanced to become presidents and directors. The entrepreneur and social worker, Bhatia, referred to the new milestone as 'half century' for car gifting as he promised last year to give away around 50 cars for Diwali. Bhatia considers the hard work, honesty, and dedication of employees, the foundation of the company’s success. Hence, he recognises their efforts, as reported by Business Today. A clip showing the gift distribution is making rounds on social media. Many netizens expressed disbelief while some lauded the company’s generous act. “I showed this to my manager and he said this is AI generated video. Meanwhile my company just gave a very small jar of dryfruits and 4 Diyas for Diwali,” a user commented. “Microbiology ki degree hai mere pass??Koi scope hai kyaa company join karne kaa? Mujhe ek telescope de dena car war ni (I have a microbiology degree, do I have any scope of joining this company? Just give me a telescope, not even a car),” said another user. #startuppedia #diwali #happydiwali #pharmacompany #chandigarh