Your Story

The Economic Survey 2025-26 highlights Indias transition to a commercial space hub, leveraging 300 startups and strategic reforms to expand its global footprint.

Swiggy Instamart reports widened EBITDA losses of Rs 908 crore but refuses to chase ad growth amid irrational competition. The firm is betting on assortment and high-quality users for sustainable long-term gains.

Paytm kept revenue momentum intact while reining in costs, lifting operating revenue 20% to Rs 2,194 crore.

What began as a social mission to help the poor build assets and weather shocks has become a vehicle for chasing returns.

Pre-revenue growth is about traction, validation, and learning. Learn how startups build momentum, attract users, and prepare for investors early.

YourStory presents the daily news roundup from the Indian startup ecosystem and beyond. Here's the roundup for Thursday, January 29, 2026.

The Economic Survey noted that cumulative funding for GenAI startups rose to $990 million in H1 CY2025 compared to $758 million in the year-ago period, emerging as a spotlight sector within the countrys deeptech ecosystem.

India now has 958 million active internet users, marking an approximate 8% yearonyear growth, reinforcing Indias position as one of the worlds largest and fastestevolving digital markets.

As India races towards its net-zero goal, the country is focusing on scaling renewables, battery storage, and nuclear energy. However, Economic Survey 2025-26 highlights that inadequate capital flows from developed countries to developing nations.

Why many Indian startups fail to scale despite good products. Learn how clarity, positioning, and brand systems drive recall, trust, and growth.

Despite a 53% revenue jump, Swiggy's Q3 loss widened to Rs 1,065 crore, up from Rs 799 crore a year ago. Heavy spending on Instamart in customer acquisitioon and store infrastructure deepened the red ink, overshadowing profits in the food delivery arm.

The Economic Survey suggested that as definitions of work continue to evolve, dynamic labour policy and flexible regulatory frameworks would ensure employment expansion, worker security, and well-being.

The report argues policy should help shift workers from being forced into gig work out of necessity to choosing it willingly, whether as a primary income source or to supplement other earnings.

The Survey highlighted that skill education in schools would equip young people with market-aligned skills, particularly in the service sector, which absorbs over half of the formally trained youth, while reducing dropouts by linking education to economic opportunities.

The states new framework mandates compulsory worker and platform registration, platform data disclosure, and 11.5% welfare levies on each payouta regulatory shift that could fundamentally reshape how gig work is governed.

In a small locality of Farrukhabad district, Bashar Sheikhs' lives in a small locality of Farrukhabad district, where a modest manufacturing

Shubham Yadav, a resident of lives in Jagdishpur village of Jaunpur district,runs where he has set up a small manufacturing unit

Discover five powerful fiction books that offer emotional healing, perspective, and comfortoften more gently and deeply than self-help ever could.

Discover 7 short books that may take only hours to read but leave deep, lasting lessons that quietly change how you see life.

The move comes as such AI-powered design tools are rapidly gaining traction, prompting Indian telecom operators to strike partnerships with global tech firms to keep user engagement high within their digital ecosystems.

Antler, which announced its AI residency programme in July 2025, is looking to reduce its cohort size, going forward, targeting quality founders and ideas. But the firm is also looking to onboard new cohorts every quarter as it begins to adapt to the age of AI.

In Q2, Microsofts revenue increased 17% year-on-year to $81.3 billion, while its net profit in the quarter surged to $38.5 billion, up 60% from the year-ago period.

Startups urge long-term support, predictable regulations, and incentives to enable scaling, early deployment, and global competitiveness.

For more than two decades, Gameloft SE has been at the forefront of mobile and digital gamingevolving from a bold startup to a global game

Meta concluded FY25 with $200.9 billion in revenue, a 22% annual growth, and a net profit of $60.4 billion, a 3% decrease from the previous fiscal year.

Aldous Huxleys line, To be a fool at the right time is also an art, sounds playful at first, but it carries a sharp, uncomfortable truth.

Elsewhere, instant messaging app Snap is moving the unit working on the development of augmented reality glasses under a subsidiary called Specs. Its launch comes at a time when Meta has become a frontrunner in the smart glasses market.

With more streamlined and transparent digital systems, small business owners can devote greater bandwidth to growth, while a clearer digital trail can also open doors to easier and more efficient credit access.

Bitespeed helps ecommerce brands automate marketing, support, and sales across WhatsApp, email, SMS, Instagram, and voice, turning conversations into revenue without additional ad spend.

The programme invites deeptech startups from across India to apply for grant-in-aid support of up to Rs 1 crore per startup, along with milestone-based funding, sector-aligned mentorship, and structured ecosystem support. The applications are open until February 17, 2026.

In Mavai village of Banda district, a small artificial flower manufacturing unit operates through a quiet, distributed workflow.

Why founder-market fit matters more than a great idea, and why investors increasingly back founders who deeply understand the market they build for.

In Chagoriya village of Azamgarh district, a small playschool has begun to draw parents lookingwho earlier had no nearby option for early childhood

Pinterest faced two years of stalled growth after the pandemic boom. Heres how leadership, discipline and focus helped the platform reset and recover.

Pine Labs processed 193 crore transactions during the quarter, up 23% from a year earlier, while its merchant base expanded 14% to 10.5 lakh merchants.

YourStory presents the daily news roundup from the Indian startup ecosystem and beyond. Heres the roundup for Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

February is the perfect month for reflective reading. Discover how slow, thoughtful books can help you pause, reconnect, and reset emotionally.

A panel discussion hosted by YourStory in collaboration with Bayer brought together healthcare leaders, wellness advocates, and policy experts to address critical gaps in women's health across India.

January optimism often fades in February. Heres why motivation drops after New Year goals, and how to reset your mindset without guilt.

The expansion is expected to cut around one million tonnes of CO2 annually from freight operations - a key contributor to transport emissions - marking a significant step in decarbonising the logistics sector.

The ceremony is a customary ritual in which traditional dessert halwa is prepared and served to officials and staff members of the finance ministry who are involved in the preparation of the budget.

Jason Chappel has joined the company as Vice President, Group Controller, while Amer Hussain has been appointed Vice President, Supply Chain Grocery & Minutes.

MeMeraki will use this funding scale its business which will include strengthening its tech platform and expanding distribution network.

The spacetech startup is building what it describes as the worlds first fully reusable medium-lift rocket, aimed at lowering the cost of orbital access and expanding launch capacity for commercial and government customers.

There is an uncomfortable truth about money that few people like to acknowledge upfront: learning often costs. Not in theory, not in motivation quotes

Apart from tax benefits and incentives, industry players are also seeking structural reforms in the form of improved logistics and investments in skilling and infrastructure.

The industry bodies representing Big Tech firms and data centre operators have sought more favourable tax and regulatory measures. Payoneer is helping Indian SMBs participate in global commerce. The Global Women Summit 2026 seeks to confront women's realities through policy-driven conversations.

Indias Digital Personal Data Protection framework and the Rules introduced in 2025 reinforce this evolution. The regulation provides clearer guidance on consent management, accountability, individual rights, and breach reporting, supported by defined financial penalties.

A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. Franklin Roosevelt Some quotes feel like a gentle reminder. This one feels like a wake-up call.

As Indias gig workforce is projected to reach 23.5 million by 2030, pressure is mounting on the Centre to move beyond mere announcements. Experts warn this years Budget may prioritise incremental welfare over long-delayed implementation.