The funding round was led by Pantera Capital and also saw participation from Elevation Capital, Starkware, Spartan Group, Goodwater Capital, among others Founded in 2021 by Shaaran Lakshminarayanan, Ritumbhara Bhatnagar and Bhavesh Praveen, Brine Fi is a DEX targeted at institutions and high-frequency traders The fundraise comes at a time when investors are veering towards decentralised crypto exchanges in the aftermath of the collapse of FTX Decentralised crypto exchange (DEX) Brine Fi has raised $16.5 Mn in its Series A funding round, led by Pantera Capital, at a valuation of $100 Mn.  The round also saw participation from Elevation Capital, Starkware, Spartan Group, Goodwater Capital, Upsparks Ventures, Protofund Ventures and other angel investors, Brine Fi said in a statement. However, the startup did not specify where it would deploy the fresh funds.  “… with Brine Fi we make it easy for institutions, centralised exchanges, HFT traders and retail users to reduce their counterparty risk and at the same time get the best price for their orders in the industry,” said Brine Fi cofounder and CEO Shaaran Lakshminarayanan. Chiming in, Pantera Capital managing partner Paul Veradittakit said, “Brine tackles some of the most important challenges holding back institutional and mainstream user adoption in DeFi. There’s an urgent demand for a self-custodial execution layer that is faster, more reliable, user-friendly, and cost-effective.” Founded in 2021 by Lakshminarayanan, Ritumbhara Bhatnagar and Bhavesh Praveen, Brine Fi is a crypto decentralised exchange targeted at institutions and high-frequency traders. The platform deploys StarkWare’s zkP (Zero Knowledge Proofs) technology which enables privacy on crypto trading positions (avoids frontrunning).  It also claims to help users execute orders in milliseconds while remaining fully non-custodial. Brine Fi claims to have so far onboarded some of the world’s largest hedge funds, exchanges and high-frequency traders in the crypto space. The fundraise comes weeks after Brine Fi debuted its orderbook platform which, as per the company, is processing monthly volumes of $300 Mn and is ranked among the top 10 DEXs globally.  The fundraise comes at a time when centralised crypto exchanges have come under fire in the aftermath of the collapse of FTX. As a result, a host of traders have veered towards DEXs, seeking to safeguard their portfolios. Brine Fi aims to capture the burgeoning decentralised exchange market, which continues to be plagued by issues such as cumbersome user interface, frontrunning and limited support.  Meanwhile, the crypto ecosystem has been hit by regulatory red tape and wary investors who have been spooked by the collapse of crypto exchanges. This has led to a fall in crypto volumes even as nations across the globe move to tighten the noose around these virtual currencies as instances of money laundering via cryptos rise.  While the Indian government has been batting for a global framework to regulate cryptocurrencies, Indian crypto startups have been struggling amid funding winter and adverse market conditions. Recently, homegrown crypto exchanges CoinDCX and CoinSwitch laid off a portion of their workforce even as many other similar platforms are experimenting with new business models.  With Sequoia Capital recently slashing its crypto fund by more than 65% to about $200 Mn, a slew of other allied players have emerged in the crypto space to leverage the booming web3 economy. As much unfolds in the crypto ecosystem, the fundraise by Brine Fi has come as a much needed respite for the space which has been mired in controversies lately. 

Installing beta versions of apps to get newer features before others or simply to try out new features and changes coming to apps in future has become a common phenomenon. However, this has led to the rise of a new type of scam and phishing attack. FBI warns about a new beta app scam The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning against installing beta versions of apps as cybercriminals have started embedding malicious code in mobile beta-testing applications (apps) to defraud potential victims. For those unaware, beta apps are basically pre-release version of apps that developers issue to users in order to test new features and receive feedback based on them in order to improve and refine the overall experience before the official rollout. How malicious beta apps affect users According to the warning issued by the FBI, these malicious apps pose a risk of enabling theft of personally identifiable information (PII), financial account access or device takeover. These beta mobile apps claim to be from authentic sources and pretend to be legitimate by using names, images or descriptions similar to the original apps. How beta mobile app scam works Phishing or romance scams are two main ways for cyber criminals to establish communications with the victim. Once the communication is established, they convince the victim to install a mobile beta-testing app within a mobile beta-testing app environment. They also promise added incentives like large payments for installing and using the apps. The most common beta testing app is cryptocurrency exchange and these apps trick victims into entering account details to make payments in order to invest in cryptocurrency. However, these account details and the funds are transferred to cyber criminals instead. Basically, these apps extort money from victims in the name of investment which is actually a fake investment. To protect this from happening, the FBI has also laid down a couple of recommendations for users, here’s a list of things that you should keep in mind while installing beta mobile apps and to stay safe from such scams. Before installing the beta application, make sure to check app developers and customer reviews. Avoid sending payments to someone you haven’t met or just spoken online even if things look fine from your end. Avoid providing personal information or financial information in emails or messages. Also, do not respond to emails or messages that include links. Do not download or use suspicious-looking apps as a tool for investing unless you can verify the legitimacy of the app. Maintain a vigilant attitude towards urgency or threats in messages, such as warnings of your account being closed or demands for immediate action. Exercise caution when receiving unexpected email attachments, even from familiar contacts. Cybercriminals can manipulate the sender’s information to make it appear trustworthy. Avoid interacting with such messages. If you encounter an email, attachment, or message that raises suspicions, refrain from opening it, even if your antivirus software claims it’s safe. Attackers frequently release new viruses that may go undetected by antivirus programs. Avoid clicking on links within emails or text messages. Many cybercriminals craft convincing messages to deceive users into divulging login credentials. Verify the legitimacy of a link by hovering your cursor over it and checking for any inconsistencies. Scrutinise email attachments and website links, even if they originate from contacts you recognise. Prior to opening attachments, save and scan them for potential threats. Ensure that your software is kept up to date to safeguard against vulnerabilities. Exercise strict control over app permissions and uninstall unused applications to minimize potential security risks.

The Tiger Global-backed startup’s total expenditure also almost doubled to INR 1,946.8 Cr in FY23 from INR 984 Cr in FY22 Porter’s net loss jumped 29% to INR 157.7 Cr in FY23 from INR 122.2 Cr in FY22 Founded in 2014, Porter is an important player in the logistics space with its on-demand marketplace for trucks, bikes and packers and movers Bengaluru-based intra-city logistics startup Porter’s operating revenue crossed the INR 1,700 Cr mark in the financial year ended March 31, 2023. The Tiger Global-backed startup reported an operating revenue of INR 1,753.5 Cr in the financial year 2022-23 (FY23), a 2X jump from INR 847.6 Cr in the previous year.  Porter generates revenue by offering services for transportation of goods. Including other income, Porter reported a total revenue of INR 1,789.1 Cr during the year under review as against INR 862 Cr in the previous fiscal year. In line with the revenue, the startup’s total expenditure also almost doubled to INR 1,946.8 Cr in FY23 from INR 984 Cr in FY22. The rise in the expenditure could solely be attributed to the increase in fleet operation cost, which accounted for 80% of the total expenditure at INR 1,578.8 Cr in FY23. Fleet operating expenses stood at INR 786.4 Cr in FY22. Porter also spent INR 185.9 Cr on employee benefit expenses, a 75% increase from INR 106 Cr in the previous year.  It must also be highlighted that Porter announced an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) liquidation scheme worth INR 50 Cr for its current and former employees in January this year. Porter’s net loss jumped 29% to INR 157.7 Cr in FY23 from INR 122.2 Cr in the previous fiscal year.  Founded in 2014 by Pranav Goel, Vikas Chaudhary, and Uttam Digga, Porter is an important player in the logistics sector with its on-demand marketplace for trucks, bikes and packers and movers.  The startup recently restructured its leadership team, with cofounder Digga assuming the role of CEO. Earlier, Digga held the position of chief operating officer, a role which the startup has decided to dissolve. Porter has raised over $132 Mn to date and counts Tiger Global, Peak XV Partners, and the Mahindra Group among its backers. The startup competes with the likes of listed unicorn Delhivery, Xpressbees, and Ecom Express.

Microsoft Paint received a major overhaul in terms of features and design with Windows 11 update and now it is due for another update that’s set to bring a couple of new features, refinements and more. Microsoft via an official announcement has confirmed the Background removal tool for Paint. The company has mentioned that it has started rolling out an update for the Paint app on Windows Insider in the Canary and Dev Channels (version 11.2306.30.0). And, the update will bring the ability to remove the background of any image automatically in just a single click. How does the background removal tool work Microsoft has mentioned that the background removal in MS Paint will be a single-click feature. This will leave users with a smooth cutout of the subject as it can detect the subject from the entire canvas or from a selection using the selection tool and remove it. All users need to do is import content onto the canvas and click on the new remove background button from the toolbar to remove the background of the entire image. Users will also get the option to use the rectangle select to specify a particular area in the image and then remove the background using the newly introduced tool. Official rollout It is worth mentioning that the background removal tool is currently in testing and available to Windows Insider Preview users running either Canary or Dev Channel builds. The official rollout details are not available as of now. However, we expect it to become available to all users in the coming months, once Microsoft is done receiving the feedback and refining the feature during the beta testing period.

It looks like Google is on an emoji spree. Recently, the company added emoji icons for Maps list, then it brought emoji reactions to Meet, Docs and several other services. Now it seems that it is planning to bring emoji reactions to Gmail. The new feature appears to allow users to react to emails in the inbox. New hidden code for Gmail reveals emoji reactions Hidden code for the Gmail app for iOS (spotted by Steve Moser) and Android (spotted by TheSpAndroid) suggest that Google is reportedly planning to bring emoji reactions to Gmail inbox. The report says that the codes reveal that an emoji reaction feature is in development for the email service. Emoji reactions in Gmail are “coming soon” according to the hidden code found within the Android app. Also, some strings suggest that Google is also planning to show users a message “You’re among the first Gmail users to get an emoji reaction. Soon you’ll be able to send emoji reactions yourself”. This suggests that Google is soon planning to introduce this feature in Gmail, but in beta first with select users before the final rollout. It is yet to be seen how Google is planning to implement emoji reactions in Gmail. And, even the choice of emojis users will have for the reaction. We expect a little flexibility here – at least. That’s not it. The strings from the hidden code also include some restrictions. Here’s a list according to the report. Emails received via BCC won’t support reactions Encrypted messages won’t support reactions Email threads with “large groups” will not support reactions There’s a currently unspecified limit on how much you can use a single emoji reaction Messages can only support up to 20 emoji reactions from a single person Messages can only support up to 50 unique emoji reactions There’s a currently unspecified limit on how much you can use a single emoji reaction Messages can only support up to 20 emoji reactions from a single person Messages can only support up to 50 unique emoji reactions At first glance, emoji reactions in Gmail seem like a weird idea, but realistically it could be quite useful as mentioned above. Currently, though, it’s unclear when Google plans to roll the feature out, as there’s been no official announcement or tease. Emoji reactions aren’t new for emails There are several email services that allow users to react to an email using emojis, including Outlook. Microsoft’s email client lets users react to an email with emojis. Although it does not show them as a complete email reply, the feature comes in handy in case an email is only about acknowledgement.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands out as a beacon of innovation, promising to reshape industries and redefine the way we live, work, and think. As we approach 2024, the potential of AI has expanded beyond mere speculation, presenting tangible opportunities for entrepreneurs, governments, and industries. From enhancing consumer experiences to revolutionizing public services, the following AI business ideas offer a glimpse into a future where technology and human ingenuity converge to create unprecedented value. 1. Industry-specific YouTube channel about AI Similar to the newsletter idea, but in video format. This can cater to various niches and provide insights on how AI is impacting those sectors. 2. AI Newsletter Create an email newsletter that covers AI developments. There’s a growing demand for niche, industry-specific newsletters that discuss AI developments relevant to specific industries or job roles, such as dentists, doctors, veterinarians, lawyers, insurance agents, real estate agents, and more. 3. Property Management for Independent Landlords A significant part of a property manager’s job involves messaging. This can be automated using tools like GPT-4, allowing property managers and landlords to streamline their communication processes. 4. Airbnb Messaging Automation Given the high volume of messaging involved in Airbnb hosting, there’s an opportunity to develop a tool that automates most of the messaging for hosts or to offer a full-service Airbnb management service that uses AI messaging to reduce costs. 5. AI-Driven Time Management AI is proficient at saving time on universal business initiatives like copywriting, social post scheduling, image creation and editing, and even forecasting cash flow. Tools like ChatGPT can help in generating content, pitch decks, and more. 6. AI for Research and Market Analysis Over 40% of startups fail because they’ve misread the market demand. AI can be used to identify companies addressing specific ideas, refine their prompts to identify selling points and messaging already in the market, and find gaps that still exist. 7. Cost Savings with AI The biggest percentage of a startup’s overhead costs is usually payroll. AI can help founders conserve cash by automating tasks that would otherwise require human intervention. For instance, instead of hiring a customer service team, one could run an AI-enabled chatbot. Additionally, AI can help manage cash allocation across the business, integrating data from various platforms to provide a clearer picture of ROI and effective budget allocation. 8. Automated Phone System for Solopreneurs Many small business owners can’t man their phones all the time. An automated phone system using GPT-4 combined with voice-to-text and text-to-voice models can handle customer calls, especially beneficial for businesses like landscaping where the owner might be busy with hands-on work. 9. AI in Foreign Policy AI will play a crucial role in geopolitical leadership and economic resilience. Governments are likely to invest heavily in AI technologies to maintain global competitiveness. 10. AI-Enabled Consumer Experiences The metaverse, cryptocurrencies, and other next-gen consumer experiences will be critically enabled by AI. AI algorithms can bridge the feedback loops between the digital and physical realms, enhancing user experiences. 11. AI in Addressing Climate Crisis AI can play a pivotal role in mitigating the threats posed by climate change. From prediction markets powered by AI to “twin Earth” simulations that require real-time data, AI can help in understanding and addressing environmental challenges. 12. Personalized Medicine with AI AI can help in constructing and analyzing “digital twin” rubrics of individual biology, paving the way for truly personalized medical treatments. 13. Insurance Claims Adjustment & Investigation A lot of the work done by insurance claims adjusters and investigators can be automated using large language models and image analysis AI tools. 14. Software Development Agency Arbitrage With the rise of AI, there’s an opportunity to streamline software development processes and offer more efficient solutions. 15. Automated Email Customer Support Many businesses have customer support emails. An AI tool can automate a significant portion of this, reducing the workload on human agents. 16. AI Textbot Therapist Use GPT-4 to act as a therapist, offering users a phone number they can text for therapeutic conversations. 17. YouTube Thumbnail Generator Develop an AI tool that can analyze a video’s content and automatically produce a captivating, high-performing thumbnail. This can help content creators increase their click-through rates. 18. End-to-End AI-Generated YouTube Channel Imagine a YouTube channel that’s entirely automated. This would involve: Automatic generation of video ideas based on scraping news and other articles, with GPT-4 conducting related research processes. Script creation using GPT-4. Production of an audio track from the script using tools like Eleven Labs. Automated selection and sequencing of stock video clips relevant to different segments of the audio track. As AI text-to-video tools progress, stock video clip selection can be replaced by AI video generation. Automatic thumbnail, video description generation, and upload to YouTube. Potential niches for this channel could include human geography, finance & economics daily news, space exploration & tech, sports history & facts, history of brands, and many more. 19. SaaS Product for AI YouTube Channels Instead of launching an AI-generated YouTube channel yourself, consider creating a SaaS product that enables others to do so. Users could specify their niche, design their YouTube brand, and list sources for content inspiration. The software would then automate the entire content creation and upload process. 20. AI and ML Transforming Scientific Method AI and Machine Learning (ML) can bring about significant improvements in scientific research. They enable the analysis of enormous data sets and computationally discover complex relationships and patterns, potentially ushering in a new golden age of scientific discovery. Conclusion The transformative power of Artificial Intelligence is undeniable. As we’ve explored, the potential applications of AI in 2024 span a diverse range of sectors, from real estate and healthcare to government operations and transportation. For aspiring entrepreneurs and established businesses alike, the time is ripe to harness the capabilities of AI, not just as a tool but as a strategic partner in innovation. As the boundaries of what AI can achieve continue to expand, those who embrace

Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services IPO opens on September 14 Zaggle IPO | The initial public offering comprises a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 392 crore by the company, and an offer-for-sale of 1,04,49,816 equity shares by eight selling shareholders including promoters Raj P Narayanam, and Avinash Ramesh Godkhindi.

Oppo A38 is here. Oppo has expanded its smartphone lineup with the launch of its new budget smartphone — Oppo A38. The smartphone sports an HD+ display and is powered by MediaTek chipset. The smartphone runs Android 13 operating system and is backed by a 5000 man battery.Price and availabilityOppo A38 comes only in one variant — 4GB+128GB and is priced at Rs 12,999. The budget smartphone comes in Glowing Black and Glowing Gold colour options. Customers can purchase the smartphone online from Flipkart.inOppo A38 specificationsThe OPPO A38 is a feature-packed smartphone that offers an immersive visual experience with its 6.56-inch HD+ LCD screen. This display boasts a smooth 90Hz refresh rate and up to 720 nits peak brightness. Under the hood, it is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 processor, featuring an octa-core configuration that includes dual Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 2GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores also running at 2GHz. The device comes equipped with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of eMMC 5.1 storage, expandable up to a whopping 1TB via a microSD card slot.Running on Android 13 with ColorOS 13.1, the OPPO A38 supports dual SIM cards. It boasts a dual rear camera setup, with a 50MP primary rear camera featuring an f/1.8 aperture, accompanied by a 2MP portrait camera and LED flash. For selfies and video calls, there’s a 5MP front-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture. In terms of connectivity, the OPPO A38 supports 5G SA/NSA and dual 4G VoLTE for high-speed internet access. It also features Wi-Fi 802.11 ac support for dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. Additionally, it retains the 3.5mm audio jack for traditional headphone connections. Powering all these features is a substantial 5000mAh battery, which supports 33W SuperVOOC fast charging.

Back in 2021, GOAT Brand Labs invested in Frangipani, a kidswear label brand Rishi Vasudev said that with GOAT Brand Labs assuming full control, they will leverage all their D2C platform capabilities to advance the brand to the next level of growth Founded in 2021 by Rishi Vasudev and Rameswar Mishra, GOAT collaborates with D2C founders and helps them to scale their brands GOAT Brand Labs has completed acquisition of the remaining stake in Frangipani, in line with the terms initially set during their majority acquisition in 2021. Back in 2021, GOAT Brand Labs invested in Frangipani, a kidswear label brand. Founded in 2012 by Sunaina Patel, Mansi Kilachand, Frangipani focuses on trendy, high-quality clothing for children and women at affordable prices. “As founders of this business, which was started as a brand for our own kids and has always been a labour of love for us, we are happy that the partnership with GBL has been successful. We hope that in GBL’s capable hands, the brand will achieve newer heights,” Patel and Kilachand, said. “Sunaina and Mansi have played a pivotal role in growing Frangipani over the last 10 years. With GBL taking full control, we will continue using all our D2C platform capabilities to accelerate the brand for the next level of growth,” Rishi Vasudev, CEO and cofounder of GOAT Brands Labs, said. Founded in 2021 by Rishi Vasudev and Rameswar Mishra, GOAT collaborates with D2C founders and helps them to scale their brands. Its portfolio of brands includes Chumbak, The Label Life, Pepe Inner Fashion, trueBrowns, Abhishti, Neemli Naturals, Breakbounce, NutriGlow, Voylla and Imara, among others. GOAT Brand Labs raised $50 Mn in an equity and debt part in its Series A round in 2022. It counts Tiger Global, Flipkart, Mayfield, Winter Capital, Nordstar and Better Capital as its investors. In India, it competes with the likes of UpScalio and Mensa Brands. As per an Inc42 report, the country’s D2C market is projected to become a $300 Bn space by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 24%.

India’s largest-IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Digital unit of Tata Son-owned British car company JLR. UK-based JLR is owned by Tata Motors, a subsidiary of TCS parent Tata Sons. The deal is valued at £800 million ($1 billion) over the next five years. According to the company, TCS will transform, simplify, and help manage the Digital estate, and build a new future-ready, strategic technology architecture that will support JLR’s Rimagine strategy.Reports suggest that the deal (with possible extensions) is valued at about £1.5 billion ($1.9 billion). The current 10-yr deal is valued at £840 million ( around $1.0 billion).What is the deal with JLR Digital aboutTCS has had a longstanding relationship with JLR Digital, spanning over a decade. As a part of the new partnership, TCS will deliver services spanning application development & maintenance, enterprise infrastructure management, cloud migration, cybersecurity and data services. Through synergies and economies of scale with suppliers, this partnership aims to deliver substantial savings for JLR over the next five years, unlocking free cash flow to reinvest into the future. TCS will leverage its contextual knowledge, deep domain expertise, proprietary platforms, vast partner ecosystem and future-ready talent pool to help JLR enhance its digital capacity. As a part of the new partnership, TCS will deliver a broad range of services spanning application development and maintenance, enterprise infrastructure management, cloud migration, cybersecurity and data services.Outside of the new contract, TCS is partnering with JLR to help accelerate its vision of modern luxury client experience tailored to different markets globally. “This is a truly bi-modal partnership where the efficiencies from leaner operations will help fund the new digital core, while our contextual knowledge and expertise will de-risk and accelerate that transformation,” said Anupam Singhal, business group head, manufacturing, TCS.“Building world class partnerships and maximising the benefits of being part of the Tata Group is a key part of our Reimagine strategy. Consistent with this, we are pleased to expand our long-term relationship with TCS to accelerate our digital transformation,” said Nigel Blenkinsop, executive director, enterprise performance and quality, JLR. TCS has operated in the UK for more than 45 years and currently employs more than 23,000 people in the UK and Ireland.TCS, in June, won a deal from UK-based National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) to digitally transform its scheme administration services.