One Thing Today in Tech
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Mfine adds heart rate monitor to the app; Infosys, Roland-Garros extend contract; Tide UK to help 500,000 women entrepreneurs
Mfine, a digital health platform provider, has launched a Heart Rate Monitoring Tool on its mobile app that uses the phone's camera flash. Infosys and Roland-Garros have renewed their partnership for another five years. Filo, Docsumo, and Pocketly raise funding. Plus, Tide, UK, has a plan to support 500,000 women entrepreneurs
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Mindtree founders' Mela Ventures closes first fund; Ather sells 2042 EVs in Feb; Sony launches extra bass headphones
Mindtree's founders have closed the inaugural fund at their early-stage venture capital firm Mela Ventures at Rs. 320 crore, well exceeding their initial target of Rs. 200 crore, Economic Times reports. EV company Ather Energy sold 2,042 scooters in February this year, a 140 percent increase over the same month in 2021. Plus, Sony has released a new wireless headphone for bass enthusiasts
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Biocon buys Viatris biosimilars unit for $3.34 bln; Infosys launches 'Metaverse Foundry'; Prime closes Fund IV at $120 mln
Biocon Biologics has struck a $3.335 billion cash-and-stock deal with US pharmaceuticals company Viatris to acquire its global biosimilars business including rights in the partnered in-licensed portfolio. Infosys has launched a 'metaverse foundry' to fast-track its customers' adoption of the online environment. And Prime Venture Partners, a Bangalore VC firm focused on early-stage startups has closed its latest fund at $120 million
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Hasura raises $100 mln, becomes unicorn; Vymo raises $22 mln; Wipro backs vFunction; UMG launches Def Jam India
Hasura, which provides software for developers to connect disparate sources of data, has secured $100 million in funding in a round led by Greenoaks with participation from existing investors, the company said in a press release. Sales engagement platform provider Vymo raised $22 million. Wipro invests in Palo Alto startup vFunction. Plus, UMG wants to amplify Indian rap
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India to set up a 'data office'; Eka Software in talks to be acquired; AI can't copyright its own art
India is formulating rules to get all its states to share data via a common searchable database, according to a draft policy document released on Monday by the country's Ministry of Electronics and IT, Economic Times reports. Eka Software is in talks to be acquired by PE firms. Plus, AI can't claim its own art, US officials copyright officials decide
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Vedanta, Foxconn to build $7-8 bln chip foundry in India; Pine Labs raises $150 mln; CRED in talks to invest in smallcase
In a move that could give India at least a toehold in the global semiconductor fabrication market, Vedanta Group and Foxconn are partnering to build a chip foundry in India that could be ready as early as 2024, Economic Times reports. Pine Labs is raising $150 million in a mix of equity and secondary investments, ET reports. Plus, CRED is in talks to invest in smallcase, according to TechCrunch
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Uniphore raises $400 mln, valued $2.5 bln; IBM acquires Neudesic; top 10 percent of global population emit half of CO2 — study
Uniphore, a conversational automation tech company, yesterday announced its Series E funding round of $400 million, led by NEA, at a valuation of $2.5 billion. IBM has acquired Neudesic, a cloud consultancy. And the top 10 percent of the global population, by consumption, are responsible for almost half of the carbon emissions on the planet, a new study has found
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Twitter expands Safety Mode, but not to India; Microsoft launches Surface Laptop Studio; Offgrid out of stealth with ZincGel
Twitter is making its Safety Mode auto-blocking feature available to a wider set of users in its beta version, to help people protect themselves from abuse on the microblogging platform, the company said yesterday. Microsoft has a new powerful laptop aimed at professionals. Plus, Offgrid Energy Labs, a battery tech startup, has launched its first product ZincGel
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Warren Buffett buys into Activision weeks before Microsoft deal; Reliance Jio forms satellite internet venture with SES
Warrant Buffett bought a billion dollars worth of Activision Blizzard shares weeks before Microsoft announced its deal to acquire the gaming company, according to a regulatory filing by the billionaire investor's company Berkshire Hathaway. Jio Platforms, the digital services unit of Reliance Industries, has formed a satellite internet JV. Separately, Jio will also invest $200 million in Glance
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Tatas reappoint N Chandrasekaran as chairman; Freshworks crosses $100 mln quarterly revenue mark; UK regulators warn banks on AI
N Chandrasekaran has been reappointed as the chairman of Tata Sons for a further five years, the salt to steel conglomerate said in a statement after its board met on February 11. Freshworks crossed the $100 million quarterly revenue milestone in its fiscal fourth quarter ended December 31. UK regulators have warned the country's banks on the use of AI for lending decisions
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Binance buys $200 mln stake in Forbes; Google releases Android 13 preview; Astra launch fails; Swiggy's FY21 revenues fall
Binance Holdings, the parent company of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, is making a strategic investment of $200 million into the 105-year-old media company Forbes, Bloomberg reports. Google has released Android 13 Preview 1. Astra's small rocket launch fails. And Swiggy's revenues fell for FY21, ET reports