Articles[tech] (Page 69)

tech 4

ETtech Profile | Anjali Sardana: the 23-year-old Pronto founder behind a $100 million house-help startup

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-10 00:30)

Pronto, a Bengaluru-based startup, was founded by Anjali Sardana to address inefficiencies in India's informal domestic work sector by connecting households with reliable help on demand. The company, now valued at approximately $100 million, operates in a competitive three-player market led by Urban Company, where high cash burn necessitates frequent fundraising.

The article details the competitive landscape, noting Urban Company's established scale and Snabbit's rapid fundraising, while also addressing personal criticism Sardana faced regarding her background. Sardana's long-term vision extends beyond house help, aiming to use Pronto's model as a template for organizing informal labor across various sectors.

The main topics covered are the origin and business model of Pronto, the competitive dynamics of the instant house-help market, the funding and scale of the key players, and the background and vision of founder Anjali Sardana.

tech 5

Govt tracking chip supply snags as units come alive

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-10 00:30)

India is closely monitoring global semiconductor supply constraints as it expects chip imports to rise sharply through FY27. Integrated circuits (ICs) are now India's third-largest import item, with imports reaching $12.62 billion in the first three quarters of FY26 and projected to exceed $15.14 billion for FY25.

Domestic production is beginning under the India Semiconductor Mission, with Micron Technology's plant inaugurated and three other units set to begin production this year. These ATMP (assembly, testing, marking, and packaging) units are seen as crucial for the country's semiconductor strategy.

The strategic importance of chips has grown exponentially, with ICs rising from the seventh-highest import item in FY24 to a top import today, driven by their essential role in modern electronics.

Main Topics: India's semiconductor import dependency and costs, the launch of domestic semiconductor assembly under the India Semiconductor Mission, and the monitoring of global supply chain constraints.

tech 4

Sebi settles cases with 29 venture capital funds

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-10 00:36)

India's market regulator, SEBI, has settled cases with 29 venture capital funds for a combined amount of approximately ₹2 crore. The funds, including notable names like Gaja Capital and Blume Ventures, had violated old rules by holding investments beyond their permitted liquidation periods.

This non-compliance stemmed from a regulatory transition where older venture capital fund rules were replaced by the Alternative Investment Funds regime in 2012. To resolve the lingering issue, SEBI introduced a 2024 regulatory tweak and a 2025 settlement scheme, which the 29 funds opted into to avoid enforcement actions.

The main topics covered are a regulatory settlement, non-compliance by venture capital funds with liquidation rules, and the evolution of SEBI's framework for alternative investment funds.

tech 5

Islamophobic Think Tank Helped Prosectors Write Terror Indictment Against ICE Protesters

(The Intercept / 2026-03-10 00:51)

A researcher from the far-right Center for Security Policy think tank testified that he provided language used by federal prosecutors to indict an alleged "antifa cell" on domestic terrorism charges. His testimony revealed close cooperation between the advocacy group and the government in a case stemming from a 2019 protest outside a Texas ICE detention center.

The defense challenged the researcher's qualifications and the think tank's credibility, noting it has been labeled a hate group. The researcher acknowledged he does not use academic methods and that this was his first time testifying as an expert witness.

The main defendants face severe sentences for the protest, during which an officer was shot. The researcher sought to link the defendants' actions and materials to antifa practices, though some defendants have testified they do not consider themselves members.

Main Topics: Collaboration between a think tank and prosecutors; a domestic terrorism trial against alleged antifa activists; challenges to an expert witness's credibility and qualifications; details of the protest and charges.

tech 5

Founders Fund nears $6 billion close for latest growth fund, sources say

(TechCrunch / 2026-03-10 01:03)

Founders Fund is nearing the close of a $6 billion growth fund, with significant capital coming from its own partners. This follows a $4.6 billion growth fund closed less than a year ago.

The firm has a notable portfolio of successful companies, including early investments in Palantir, Stripe, and SpaceX, and recently made a major investment in AI lab Anthropic.

While aggressively raising growth capital, Founders Fund has not raised a new early-stage fund since 2022, having previously cut an early-stage fund's size in half in response to market conditions.

The main topics covered are Founders Fund's new $6 billion growth fundraise, its investment portfolio and strategy, and its activity in early-stage versus growth-stage funding.

tech 5

Inside Anjali Sardana's Pronto journey; Flipkart’s IPO prep

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-10 01:32)

Twenty-three-year-old Anjali Sardana is the founder of the instant home-help startup Pronto, which is now valued at around $100 million. The idea originated from research into the difficulty of finding reliable domestic help on demand, though Sardana recently clarified online that her uncle, not her father, is the founder of Innova Solutions.

Flipkart has completed its corporate shift from Singapore to India, a key step in preparing for a domestic IPO. This required government approval due to a Chinese investor, and the move follows recent layoffs and the return of a key executive to oversee IPO-related strategy.

Wipro Enterprises is exploring an early-stage entry into the semiconductor sector, specifically in chip assembly and testing. This aligns with a broader trend of Indian conglomerates entering the chip manufacturing space, which the government is actively monitoring for supply chain issues.

Main topics: Anjali Sardana and Pronto; Flipkart's corporate restructuring and IPO preparations; Wipro's potential semiconductor foray; Government monitoring of chip supplies.

tech 5

Electric air taxi maker Archer hits back at Joby in countersuit alleging concealed Chinese ties

(TechCrunch / 2026-03-10 01:41)

Archer Aviation has filed a counterclaim alleging rival Joby Aviation defrauded the U.S. government by falsely presenting as American-made, claiming Joby relied on Chinese manufacturing and mislabeled aircraft parts to evade tariffs and oversight.

This legal action is a response to a lawsuit Joby filed four months prior, accusing Archer of stealing trade secrets. Both companies are California-based competitors developing electric air taxis and seeking government contracts.

The counterclaim specifically references a recent federal pilot program to accelerate air taxi integration, noting both companies applied and were approved for participation. Archer's filing suggests Joby's purported American identity was key to securing significant U.S. government funding.

The main topics covered are the legal dispute between Archer and Joby, allegations of fraudulent sourcing and mislabeling of Chinese components, the competitive landscape of the electric air taxi industry, and related U.S. government programs.

tech 7

An iPhone-hacking toolkit used by Russian spies likely came from U.S military contractor

(TechCrunch / 2026-03-10 01:56)

A sophisticated iPhone-hacking toolkit, likely developed by U.S. military contractor L3Harris's Trenchant division for Western intelligence agencies, was used in global attacks. The toolkit, called Coruna, was subsequently employed by Russian government spies against Ukrainians and then by Chinese cybercriminals in broad financial theft campaigns.

The tool's proliferation may be linked to a former Trenchant employee, Peter Williams, who was recently imprisoned for stealing and selling company hacking tools to a Russian broker. L3Harris sells its tools exclusively to the U.S. government and its Five Eyes allies, but how the toolkit specifically reached Russian and Chinese actors remains unclear.

The main topics covered are a global cyber-espionage campaign, the origin and proliferation of a state-grade hacking tool, and the insider threat that facilitated its leak.

tech 5

Bluesky CEO Jay Graber steps down, advisor Toni Schneider named interim chief

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-10 02:09)

Jay Graber is stepping down as CEO of Bluesky and will become its chief innovation officer. Advisor Toni Schneider, former CEO of Automattic, will serve as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement.

Bluesky, which originated as a Twitter project under Jack Dorsey and became independent in 2021, has grown to over 40 million users. It positions itself as an alternative to X (formerly Twitter).

The platform experienced a significant influx of users in November 2024 following the U.S. presidential election and changes to X's terms of service.

Main topics: Bluesky CEO leadership change, company background and growth, user migration from X.

tech 5

Family sues ChatGPT-maker OpenAI over school shooting in Canada

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-10 02:17)

The parents of a girl critically injured in a Canadian school shooting have filed a civil lawsuit against OpenAI. They allege the company had specific knowledge the shooter was using ChatGPT to plan the mass casualty event but did not alert police.

OpenAI has stated it considered the shooter's activities suspicious and closed an account, but the attacker evaded this with a second account. The company only came forward to police after the shooting occurred.

The lawsuit claims OpenAI's conduct directly led to the severe, permanent injuries sustained by the victim, Maya Gebala.

Main topics: The lawsuit against OpenAI, allegations of prior knowledge of the shooting plan, the shooter's use of ChatGPT, and the severe injuries to a victim.

tech 6

Anthropic executives say Pentagon blacklisting could hit billions in sales, harm reputation

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-10 02:30)

Anthropic has filed a lawsuit to block the U.S. Department of Defense from placing it on a national security blacklist, arguing the designation causes immediate and irreparable harm. The company's executives warn the action could reduce its 2026 revenue by multiple billions of dollars, citing risks to both government contracts and commercial business due to reputational damage and customer fear.

They project the loss of hundreds of millions in Defense Department revenue and state that over $150 million in annual recurring public sector revenue is immediately at risk. Commercial negotiations have also been disrupted, with one partner switching to a rival AI model and financial institutions pausing or reducing contracts worth hundreds of millions.

The executives contend the blacklisting undermines investor confidence, increases fundraising costs, and could cause projected public sector revenue to "shrink substantially or disappear altogether."

Main Topics: Anthropic's lawsuit against the Pentagon, projected financial and reputational damage from the blacklist, impact on government and commercial contracts.

tech 5

German publishers reject Apple's revised app tracking rules, urge antitrust fine

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-10 02:53)

German advertising and publishing associations have told the country's antitrust authority that Apple's proposed changes to its App Tracking Transparency rules do not resolve competition concerns. They argue Apple's proposals would still leave it as the gatekeeper of user data, controlling access for third-party advertisers.

The groups are urging the German watchdog to reject Apple's commitments, order it to stop the current app tracking framework, and impose a fine. Apple's tool, which lets users block cross-app tracking, was introduced for privacy but faces antitrust charges for allegedly abusing market power to harm ad-dependent businesses.

The main topics covered are an antitrust dispute in Germany, criticism of Apple's App Tracking Transparency changes, and the potential for regulatory fines.

tech 6

Apple now makes about 25% of iPhones in India after China pivot

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-10 03:10)

Apple significantly increased iPhone production in India by 53% last year, now assembling a quarter of its global total there. This rapid expansion is driven by US-China trade tariffs and supported by Indian government subsidies aimed at boosting local manufacturing.

Despite this growth, production costs in India remain higher than in China and Vietnam, prompting Apple and other electronics companies to seek further government incentives to maintain competitiveness. Apple is also deepening its local supply chain and expanding its retail presence in India, targeting it as both a key production hub and a major consumer market.

The main topics covered are Apple's supply chain diversification, India's manufacturing incentives, the impact of US-China tariffs, and the cost challenges of production in India.

tech 5

Tech researchers sue US Trump administration over visa bans

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-10 03:22)

A coalition of tech researchers has sued the Trump administration over a visa policy that denies entry, detains, or deports noncitizens for work involving fact-checking, content moderation, and combating online misinformation. The lawsuit, filed by the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, alleges the policy is a form of censorship that chills protected speech and distorts public debate. The administration defends the policy, stating a visa is a privilege and it will not admit those it claims subvert U.S. laws.

The main topics covered are the lawsuit against the visa policy, the allegations of government censorship, and the broader context of reduced anti-disinformation efforts by both the government and tech platforms.

tech 5

Paralympics-Ukraine biathlete credits ChatGPT for silver win

(Tech-Economic Times / 2026-03-10 03:36)

Ukrainian Paralympic biathlete Maksym Murashkovskyi won a silver medal at the Winter Paralympics and credited ChatGPT as a key part of his training. He stated he used the AI for six months to assist with tactics, training plans, motivation, and as a stand-in for roles like psychologist and coach.

Murashkovskyi believes AI is a revolutionary technology that could eventually replace some functions of human coaches, though not completely within the next five to ten years. His success contributed to Ukraine's medal tally at the Games.

The main topics covered are sports achievement, the application of artificial intelligence in athletic training, and the potential future role of AI in coaching.

Articles tech