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An Ola Electric engineer, Aravind, died by suicide on September 28 after allegedly facing workplace harassment and salary-related disputes, according to an NDTV report. Aravind, who worked as a homologation engineer with the company since 2022, reportedly consumed poison at his residence in Bengaluru’s Chikkalasandra and passed away the same day while undergoing treatment. Following his death, Aravind’s brother discovered a 28-page handwritten note in which the engineer accused Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, Subrat Kumar Das, and others of mental harassment, excessive pressure, and denial of salary and allowances. The letter also mentioned that Aravind was “mentally tortured” and “driven to take his life” due to workplace conditions. Two days after his death, his brother reportedly noticed a suspicious ₹17.46 lakh transfer to Aravind’s bank account, allegedly made on September 30. When confronted, Das allegedly gave vague explanations, following which Aravind’s brother approached the Bengaluru Police. #OlaElectric #Engineer #MentalHarassment #WorkplaceCulture #BhavishAggarwal #hustleCulture #StartupUpdates #Startupro

An entrepreneur from Chandigarh, Mk Bhatia, founder of Mits Healthcare Pvt Ltd in Panchkula, has once again made headlines after gifting 51 brand-new cars to his team this Diwali — his third consecutive year of gifting luxury cars to employees. Calling it his “half-century” milestone, Bhatia said the gesture was a token of appreciation for his team’s hard work and dedication. After the handover, employees participated in a celebratory “Car Gift Rally” from the showroom to Mits House. “My associates are the backbone of my company. Their honesty and commitment drive our success. Recognizing and rewarding them keeps them inspired toward greater heights,” Bhatia said. He clarified that the gifts were not about showmanship, but about strengthening team spirit and fostering a family-like culture within the organisation. Last year, Bhatia gifted 15 cars, and the year before, 12 cars — fulfilling his promise to reach the 50-car milestone in 2025. Videos of the handover have gone viral on social media, drawing admiration for Bhatia’s leadership style and employee-first culture. “When the team is happy, the company naturally grows,” he added. #Founder #Gifts #Car #employees #Bonus #DiwaliGift #StartupUpdates #Startupro

A day after raising $450 million at a $7 billion valuation, Zepto co-founder and CEO Aadit Palicha addressed nearly 5,700 employees, acknowledging the company’s achievement — but also outlining its next big challenge. Palicha said Zepto has mastered proximity — the ability to deliver orders within 10–15 minutes — but still needs to solve for value, meaning lower product prices for consumers. “We have cracked proximity, but yet to crack value. DMart, the retail giant, has cracked value but not proximity,” Palicha told employees, as reported by Moneycontrol. “Both Zepto and DMart are stuck at the same juncture right now,” he added. While DMart runs about 432 stores and operates DMart Ready (offering next-day deliveries), Zepto has nearly 1,000 dark stores and a growing presence across top Indian cities. However, on revenue and profitability, DMart remains far ahead — posting a ₹684.85 crore profit in Q2 FY26 — while Zepto is still loss-making. #Zepto #Dmart #Comparison #Funding #ValueForMoney #10MinDelivery #StartupUPdates #Startupro

A Reddit post by an Indian professional visiting Tokyo has gone viral, resonating deeply with thousands of urban Indians — especially those from Bengaluru — for its brutally honest comparison between Japan’s order and India’s chaos. The user, who has lived in Kochi, Chennai, and Bengaluru, described walking through Tokyo as “rejuvenating”, writing: “There are footpaths, well-maintained footpaths. No exposed drains. No waste. No dog shit. No bikes… I bet there’s not even 1 km of accessible footpath in our country.” They also noted Japan’s cleanliness, discipline, and civic sense — “I never heard a single vehicle honk on the roads.” The post took an emotional turn when the writer admitted regretting rejecting a job offer in Japan, saying: “People talk about brain drain… but what do we have to retain them? I’ll never take such a decision again.” The rant struck a chord across Reddit, especially among Bengaluru residents, who echoed similar frustrations over poor infrastructure, indiscipline, and civic neglect. One user wrote, “Travelling abroad feels depressing because it reminds you of how broken our cities are.” Another added, “In Singapore, there’s a separate lane for ambulances. Here, people overtake them.” #Indian #Infrastructure #Japan #Development #Techie #StartupUpdates #Startupro

E-commerce unicorn Meesho has filed its updated Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI, paving the way for its much-anticipated IPO expected by December 2025. The public issue will include a fresh issue worth ₹4,250 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to 17.57 crore shares by existing investors and promoters, including Elevation Capital, Peak XV Partners, Y Combinator, Golden Summit, and Venture Highway, along with co-founders Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal. Proceeds from the issue will be used for AI and technology development, cloud infrastructure, marketing, and inorganic growth opportunities. In FY25, Meesho connected 5 lakh+ sellers with 199 million users, recording 1.8 billion orders and achieving ₹29,988 crore in NMV, up 29% YoY. The company also turned free cash flow positive with ₹1,032 crore, despite reporting a net loss of ₹3,942 crore due to a one-time item. #Meesho #IPO #DRHP #Filing #PublicListing #StartupUpdates #Startupro

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has proposed transforming the Andaman and Nicobar Islands into a strategic global hub for internet data transfer, positioning India as a key player in the global digital infrastructure network. In an interview with Moneycontrol, Vaishnaw highlighted the islands’ geostrategic location, saying, “Singapore is today all choked. Why can’t we make Andaman the next big hub for global internet data transfer?” He added that the Government of India will provide full support to develop this capability, emphasizing that Andaman could help major internet players like Google and other global tech companies reach Southeast Asia, Australia, and beyond. The minister noted that as global demand for new internet capacity grows, India has a unique opportunity to emerge as a major digital corridor connecting Asia-Pacific economies through the Andaman route. #Singapore #Google #Relocates #Andaman #InternetHub #SouthAsia #TechGiants #StartupUpdates #Startupro

Indian startups are turning this Diwali into a celebration of culture and gratitude — and social media can’t stop talking about it. Employees at Razorpay shared glimpses of their premium Diwali hampers, featuring high-end electronics, gourmet goodies, and personalized merchandise packed in branded totes. Meanwhile, Info Edge India Ltd — also went viral after employees posted videos showing festive gifts neatly arranged on every desk: a VIP suitcase, snack box, and diya — a gesture that lit up timelines across Instagram. For companies like Razorpay and Info Edge, these aren’t just acts of generosity — they’re strategic signals. Lavish, well-thought-out gifting builds emotional connection, boosts retention, and strengthens employer branding in an increasingly competitive talent market. The message is clear: in today’s startup ecosystem, the real investment isn’t just in product — it’s in people. #Razorpay #DiwaliGift #Viral #InfoEdge #WorkCulture #StartupUpdates #Startupro

OkCredit founder Harsh Pokharna Pokhrana went viral after posting a sarcastic “public apology” on social media following backlash over his remarks on Zoho’s messaging app, Arattai. Pokhrana had earlier called Arattai “just another WhatsApp copy” with “no real innovation except that it’s made in India.” The comment triggered a wave of criticism, with some users branding him “anti-national” and “a traitor.” In response, Pokhrana issued a humorous apology, writing — “I will uninstall WhatsApp, sell my iPhone, and only send messages through Arattai on a Micromax.” He also mocked India’s short-lived patriotic tech movements, referencing Hike and Koo, saying they thrived only for “two weeks of patriotism.” The post, while humorous, has reignited a serious debate on whether patriotism alone can drive adoption for Indian tech products without genuine innovation or market differentiation. #Arattai #WhatsappCopy #NoInnovation #OKCredit #MadeInIndia #StartupUpdates #Startupro

Zepto has raised $450 million in a mix of primary and secondary funding, marking one of the biggest capital infusions in India’s quick delivery space this year. Co-founder Adit Palicha told The Economic Times that the company will use the funds to add a few hundred new dark stores and focus on volume expansion over the next 12 months. Analysts say this move could intensify competition and increase cash burn in the already aggressive quick commerce sector. This fresh round comes after reports indicated that Blinkit (owned by Zomato) and Swiggy’s Instamart gained market share in the April–June quarter, while Zepto temporarily slowed down amid cost optimization efforts. To compare: 🟡 Blinkit leads the pack with 1,814 dark stores (target: 3,000 by March 2027) 🔵 Instamart operates around 1,062 stores 🟢 Zepto currently runs about 1,000 stores — now aiming to rapidly expand. As quick commerce players double down on store expansion and discounts, the next few quarters could redefine the battle for India’s 10-minute delivery market. #Zepto #LossMaking #FreeCash #Expansion #DarkStores #QuickCommerce #Marketing #StartupUpdates #Startupro

In a striking display of collective business acumen, members of the Jain community, led by the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO), pulled off a record-breaking luxury car purchase — and a massive discount. As part of a community buying initiative, JITO members across India bought 186 luxury cars worth a total of ₹149.54 crore, securing an impressive ₹21.22 crore in savings. The cars, priced between ₹60 lakh and ₹1.34 crore, included premium brands such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, according to The Times of India. While the drive was nationwide, the Gujaratis — especially from Ahmedabad — formed the majority of buyers, reinforcing their reputation for sharp business sense and collective bargaining. “Community buying gives us power to bargain harder. Brands benefit from assured volumes and lower marketing costs, while members get savings,” said Himanshu Shah, Vice-Chairman of JITO Apex. #Gujarati #Jain #Community #LuxuryCars #Bargaining #StartupUpdates #Startupro