Krafton launches $670M India-focused growth fund Krafton is doubling down on India with a massive new investment push aimed at one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets. The South Korean gaming giant behind PUBG and Battlegrounds Mobile India has unveiled a $670 million growth fund dedicated exclusively to Indian startups. The move answers common questions around Krafton’s long-term India strategy, funding scale, and sector focus within the first glance. With India now home to the largest internet user base globally, the company sees an opportunity that goes far beyond gaming. The fund signals confidence in India’s startup ecosystem at a time when global venture capital remains cautious. Industry watchers see this as a strong vote of trust in India’s innovation economy. The announcement also highlights how global tech firms are shifting capital toward high-growth emerging markets. Credit: SOPA Images / Contributor / Getty Images Unicorn Growth Fund targets India’s next breakout …
LinkedIn profile verification is accelerating worldwide, and India has become the fastest-growing market driving that momentum in 2025. Professionals are increasingly asking how to prove authenticity, avoid fake profiles, and stand out to recruiters on the platform. Verification now offers a clear answer, helping users confirm their workplace or identity with visible trust signals. As concerns around online credibility rise, LinkedIn’s verification tools are shaping how hiring, networking, and professional trust work at scale. India’s rapid adoption highlights a deeper shift in how digital careers are built and validated. This trend is not just about badges, but about redefining credibility in a global job market. Credit: Ali Balikci / Anadolu Agency/ Getty Images LinkedIn profile verification gains urgency in 2025 Trust has become one of the most valuable currencies on professional platforms, and LinkedIn profile verification is gaining urgency as a result. Fake profiles, impersonation,…
A Major Boost for MoEngage In a striking move that underscores the growth potential of the Indian startup ecosystem, MoEngage—a customer engagement platform—has successfully raised an impressive $180 million in a Series F funding round. This comes just over a month after securing $100 million, raising questions about the rapid evolution of tech investments in India. With a valuation exceeding $900 million and annualized recurring revenue nearing $100 million, MoEngage is set to leverage this fresh capital primarily for enhancing its AI-driven capabilities. Credit: MoEngage Significant Secondary Transactions Fuel Growth The recent funding round is particularly noteworthy for its structure. Approximately $123 million was allocated to secondary transactions, allowing existing investors and employees to cash out. This included a $15 million employee tender, providing liquidity to 259 current and former employees. Such moves are becoming increasingly popular among startups, as they not only re…
Google expands credit access through UPI Google deepens consumer credit push in India as it expands support for UPI-linked credit cards, signaling a stronger bet on everyday digital lending. Within the first few taps of Google Pay, Indian users can now access short-term credit tied directly to the country’s real-time payments system. The move answers a growing search question among consumers: how Big Tech is shaping personal finance in India. By blending credit with UPI, Google is positioning itself closer to daily spending decisions. The strategy also reflects India’s rapid shift toward cashless payments. For regulators and banks alike, this marks a notable evolution in how credit is distributed. For users, it promises convenience—but also raises new questions about borrowing behavior. Credit: Google Why India is central to Google’s fintech strategy India has become one of Google’s most important markets for payments innovation, largely because of UPI’s scale and trust. With hundreds of …
Digantara raises $50M at a moment when governments around the world are urgently rethinking how they detect missiles and protect critical space assets. The Bengaluru-based startup has closed a new Series B round to accelerate its move from space situational awareness into full-scale missile tracking and early warning. For readers asking who Digantara is, what it builds, and why this funding matters, the answer is simple: space is becoming the next frontline of defense. Traditional ground-based radar systems are struggling to keep pace with modern threats. Digantara believes space-based infrared sensing can close that gap faster and more reliably. Credit: Digantara Digantara Raises $50M in All-Equity Series B The $50 million round was structured as an all-equity Series B, signaling strong investor confidence in Digantara’s long-term defense strategy. New backers include 360 ONE Asset and Japan’s SBI Investments, alongside prominent entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala. Existing investors Peak XV…
WhatsApp India Enters a Critical Regulatory Moment WhatsApp India is facing one of its most consequential challenges as new government directions threaten to reshape how the app works for millions of users and businesses. For people searching whether WhatsApp will still work normally in India, the short answer is yes—for now—but with significant changes on the horizon. The rules aim to fight cyber fraud but could alter device linking, account access, and daily usage habits. India is WhatsApp’s largest market globally, making these developments especially high stakes. Policymakers argue the move is about safety and traceability. Critics warn it could disrupt digital life at scale. The next few months will determine how deeply users feel the impact. Credit: Zawrzel / NurPhoto / Getty Images Why WhatsApp’s India Market Matters So Much India is not just another market for WhatsApp; it is the backbone of the platform’s global growth. With hundreds of millions of active users, WhatsApp function…
Harness Hits $5.5B Valuation With $240M Raise AI-powered DevOps startup Harness is making waves in the software industry, hitting a $5.5 billion valuation after a $240 million Series E funding round. The company, founded in 2017 by tech veteran Jyoti Bansal, is already on track to surpass $250 million in annual recurring revenue in 2025. Credit: Harness This latest raise reflects growing investor confidence in Harness’s mission: automating the complex, error-prone tasks that follow code production—an area now dubbed the “after-code” phase. With AI accelerating software creation, this post-coding bottleneck is emerging as one of the biggest challenges for development teams worldwide. Series E Funding Led by Goldman Sachs The $240 million funding round includes a $200 million primary investment led by Goldman Sachs , alongside a $40 million tender offer. Venture partners IVP, Menlo Ventures, and Unusual Ventures also participated in the tender, which provides liquidity to long-term employees. …
AI Plus Launches in India: Google Targets Budget AI Users Google has officially launched AI Plus in India, and the sub-$5 pricing is already drawing major attention from users comparing it to ChatGPT Go. Many people searching for affordable AI tools want to know whether AI Plus is worth switching to, how it compares to OpenAI’s entry-level plan, and what features you actually get for the new lower price. Google’s timing comes just as demand for cheaper generative AI subscriptions accelerates in India, a market known for adopting digital services quickly when the value proposition is clear. Credit: Google Google Cuts Pricing to Capture India’s Fast-Growing AI Market With its new pricing strategy, Google is signaling a shift toward making premium AI access more accessible. New Indian users can now get the AI Plus plan for ₹199 ($2.21) per month for six months , a dramatic entry point compared to anything Google has offered in the region before. After this introductory period, the subscriptio…
<strong data-end="318" data-start="274"> Meesho IPO Surges as Investor Hype Grows</strong> India’s booming e-commerce sector saw a major jolt of momentum this week as the Meesho IPO delivered an explosive debut that answered the question many investors were asking: <em data-end="560" data-start="499"> Is India still producing high-growth consumer tech winners?</em> Within hours of listing, Meesho’s stock climbed nearly 46% above its issue price, signaling strong demand and renewed confidence in value-focused online retail. For thousands of small merchants who rely on Meesho’s marketplace—and for global investors tracking India’s digital rise—this opening day surge set the tone for what could become one of the country’s biggest tech stories of 2025. Credit: Google <strong data-end="1003" data-start="956"> Meesho IPO Begins With a Sharp Market Debut</strong> The Meesho IPO opened at ₹162.50, a major jump from its issue price of ₹111, immediately catching the attention of analysts and traders. The stock briefly hit ₹171.84, pushing the company’s market capitalization to roughly ₹780 billion, or around $8.69 billion. For a platform …