Business

An Analysis of Ukrainian Startup Scene Amid Russian War

16Jul

By Linda AshokNo Comments

Business, Europe

An Analysis of Ukrainian Startup Scene Amid Russian War

Russia's invasion of Ukraine shocked the whole European VC ecosystem in early February 2022. Albeit the Ukrainian startup scene is relatively small compared to other European countries, Ukraine reportedly had 28 VC-backed companies that collectively raised $10.4M in 2021. The country was growth bound, but now with the offensive Russian militancy, the Ukrainian startup scene in 2022 is struggling to stay afoot amidst war deaths and everyday threats. To understand the situation better, we spoke with Michael Clouser, CEO and co-founder of The Startup Race. They explained the impact of the Russia-Ukraine War on the overall EU startup ambitions. He said, "As a part of our accelerator services, we write and endorse Startup and Innovator Visas in the United Kingdom. Because of the sudden ...

Global Recession in the Offing: Sundar Pichai Warns All Employees

14Jul

By Linda AshokNo Comments

Business, United States

Global Recession in the Offing: Sundar Pichai Warns All Employees

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) CEO Sundar Pichai foretells a slump in the economy as it doesn't bid well according to his estimations. He suspects a recession will not spare any Big Tech or multinationals as investors liquidate their stakes in tech giants. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, seems to prepare for the tough times ahead. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Mountain View-based California company, has just warned employees that the foreseeable recession will not spare the enterprise. Pichai said, "The uncertain global economic outlook has been top of mind. Moving forward, we need to be more entrepreneurial, working with greater urgency, sharper focus and more hunger than we've shown on sunnier days. In some cases, that means consolidating where investments overlap and streamlinin...

After Meta & Twitter, Putin Threats Expat Social Media Influencers

12Jul

By Linda AshokNo Comments

Business, Russia

After Meta & Twitter, Putin Threats Expat Social Media Influencers

Since the inception of the Russian-Ukraine war, Russians have been vocal about Vladimir Putin's disastrous move against Ukraine. Many expat Russians condemn Russia for its ongoing war with Ukraine in February 2022. To counter the anti-Russia messaging level, President Putin threatens Russian expat social media influencers with 15 years of imprisonment should they not cease their anti-Russian stance on social media. President Putin considers the spread of misinformation needs an immediate check. In March, Russia restricted Instagram after a policy by Meta that allowed Instagram and Facebook users in Russia, Ukraine and Poland to call for the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. And now, as per reports by Bloomberg, the Russian so...

$44 Billion Twitter Acquisition Soup comes to Boil as Musk Reneges

9Jul

By Linda AshokNo Comments

Business, United States

$44 Billion Twitter Acquisition Soup comes to Boil as Musk Reneges

According to the latest developments in the Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) acquisition by Elon Musk, legal experts cite a potential legal case against Elon Musk from Twitter in the offing. Elon Musk, who initiated the acquisition earlier this year, seems to be terminating the $44 Billion Twitter acquisition deal. The predicted legal battle also comes with a twist of renegotiation or settlement, should Elon Musk be willing. As per Delaware courts, where the legal battle is to be litigated, have it clear in favor of acquirers wanting to abandon their deals. This is where renegotiation is anticipated over a legal battle against Elon Musk that will drag over months. This renegotiation is a better opportunity, albeit at a lower price rather than all the harrowing court experiences lasting over mon...

An Analysis of Paytm 0% MDR for Businesses to Use Paytm Gateway

5Jul

By Linda AshokNo Comments

Business, India

An Analysis of Paytm 0% MDR for Businesses to Use Paytm Gateway

If there is any payment app that deeply profited from India's demonetization, it is One97 Communications's Paytm (NSE: PAYTM). If you aren't aware of the 2016 Indian Banknote Demonetization, know that on November 8, 2016, the Government of India canceled all ₹500 and ₹1,000 banknotes of the Mahatma Gandhi Series, replacing them with the new ₹500 and ₹2,000 banknotes. Now Paytm, founded in August 2010 with an initial investment of US$2M by its founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma in Noida, Delhi NCR, rode the tide, spent a great deal on marketing and came to the public notice. Now it seems to be the Paytm 0% MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) for online businesses. Come to think of it, the advent of Paytm was at a strategic hour when India's national payment solution BHIM was waiting for the sperm...

6 Austria-based GreenTech Startups Approximate EU’s NECPs

28Jun

By Linda AshokNo Comments

Business, Europe

6 Austria-based GreenTech Startups Approximate EU’s NECPs

The EU's 2030 binding climate and energy law compels its Member States to develop national energy and climate plans (NECPs) for 2021-2030. In that context, Austria accounts for 2.2 percent of total EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has been reducing emissions at a slower rate than the EU average since 2005. The country's carbon intensity is lower than the EU average and has been steadily declining. The country's 2030 renewable energy target of 46-50 percent emphasizes achieving 100 percent renewable electricity generation. On this mission, we review how these 6 Austria-based GreenTech startups contribute to the development of (NECPs). Neoom Group Among the 6 Austria-based GreenTech startups is Freistadt, the Oberosterreich-based Neoom group was founded by Walter Kreisel. The Neoo...

6 Italy-based GreenTech Startups on Greening the Future

27Jun

By Linda AshokNo Comments

Business, Europe

6 Italy-based GreenTech Startups on Greening the Future

Italy, the EU's smallest member state, was massively hit by the COVID-19, followed by an economic recession. Italy revived after the lockdown relaxed in May 2020, helping the manufacturing and construction regain momentum. "The government's initial USD 30m (1.6% of GDP) emergency package was largely directed at healthcare, welfare and emergency support for businesses" with only "13% of the assigned budget tagged for green recovery. The recently announced Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) includes investments into measures relevant to the green transition." Source. Amidst challenging times, it is interesting to see how these 6 Italy-based GreenTech startups elicit global attention to cement hope for a greener and sustainable future. Is Clean Air Among the 6 Italy-based GreenT...

6 Ireland-based GreenTech Startups Revolutionizing Climate Impact

26Jun

By Linda AshokNo Comments

Business, Europe

6 Ireland-based GreenTech Startups Revolutionizing Climate Impact

Ireland happens to be the country that prototyped its first wooden computer. This ingenious development is enough to elicit trust in Ireland's mission toward revolutionizing the impact on climate. But is MicroPro the only business? Certainly not, and here we have 6 Ireland-based GreenTech startups that elicit global attention to cement hope for a greener and sustainable future. Seabased Dublin, Ireland-based Seabased is a wave energy company that provides utility-scale power parks that use ocean waves as fuel and operate independently or with offshore wind. Seabased's ambition is to become the first Blue Energy Company to build, own, and operate Wave Power Parks around the globe. Seabased was founded in 2019 by Hans Bernhoff and Mats Leijon with the ambition to become the first Blue ...

6 Germany-Based GreenTech Startups Committed to Climate Impact

25Jun

By Linda AshokNo Comments

Business, Europe

6 Germany-Based GreenTech Startups Committed to Climate Impact

Germany has committed to promoting environmentally sound, resource-efficient, innovative products, processes, and technology. As part of its $145 billion recovery budget, the country's government has allocated some $46 billion to sustainable investments in areas like renewable power and electric vehicles, according to an analysis by Bloomberg. It is admirable to see how these 6 Germany-based GreenTech Startups are steering climate action. Plan A One of the Germany-based GreenTech Startups from Berlin-based is Plan A, a GreenTech company that develops a carbon quantification platform to measure, monitor, and reduce environmental footprint. Plan A was founded in 2017 with a vision to empower companies to manage their businesses sustainably by transforming operational insights into posi...

6 Switzerland-Based GreenTech Startups on Steering Climate Action

21Jun

By Linda AshokNo Comments

Business, Europe

6 Switzerland-Based GreenTech Startups on Steering Climate Action

Switzerland has committed to promoting environmentally sound, resource-efficient, innovative products, processes, and technology. To achieve so, it will assist pilot projects and demonstrations, as well as programmes aimed at increasing the efficiency of Swiss businesses through a technology promotion fund (about 4.2 million Swiss francs per year). Accordingly, several Swiss start-ups are increasingly focusing on environmental and economic benefits. It is admirable to see how these 6 Switzerland-based GreenTech Startups are steering climate action. SUSI Partners One of the Switzerland-based GreenTech Startups from Bahnhofplatz, Zug, SUSI Partners is an infrastructure fund manager founded by Otto Troschke and Tobias Reichmuth. The firm is in sustainable energy infrastructure investmen...