Maharashtra’s New Policy, Roadster X To Hit Roads, and TagHive Launches SaathiGPT

India's startup scene is hitting a new gear. We're seeing two big things happen at once: established tech companies are maturing and going public, while a fresh wave of startups are using AI in clever ways to change everything from entertainment to education.

Take Pine Labs, for example. This payments giant is gearing up for a huge IPO. While making money is always a challenge for fast-growing firms, Pine Labs' diverse services and plan to list in India show they're serious about building long-term value. This is Pine Labs' second attempt at an IPO, after deferring a US listing plan in 2022 due to unfavorable market conditions. While not a "fever" like 2021, other fintechs like PhonePe and Razorpay are also shifting domiciles and exploring IPOs, indicating a general trend towards public listings in the sector.

But there's more to the story. Look at Mythik and TagHive. Jason Kothari's Mythik is using AI to bring ancient Indian stories to life in cool, new ways. It's like building a "Disney from the East" with tech, proving AI can truly spark creativity and share our culture worldwide. Will be interesting to see how AI can present mythological stories which are rich in complex characters, subtle moral dilemmas, and deep emotional arcs. Mythik will compete with traditional animation studios and production houses which have been producing high-quality, hand-crafted mythological content for decades.

Then there's TagHive's SaathiGPT. This AI tool makes education personal for millions. It's not just tech for tech's sake; it's about solving real problems. By learning from how students actually interact, SaathiGPT can give tailored help, even in places without reliable internet. However, SaathiGPT will need to continuously innovate to maintain its edge in this commoditized AI world.

These stories show that India's startups aren't just scaling up; they're innovating deeply. From handling everyday payments to using AI to redefine storytelling and learning, our ecosystem is becoming incredibly smart and diverse.

Grab your simmering cup of StartupChai.in and unwind with our hand-brewed memes.

“Waah Kya Scene Hai”: Maharashtra’s Cab Policy Mandates 10% Fine For Driver Cancellations

Maharashtra just dropped a game-changer for ride-hailing: if your driver cancels, they’ll owe you—10% of the fare or ₹100, whichever is less.

That sweet refund lands straight in your app wallet. But it cuts both ways—ditch a ride without a good excuse, and you’ll owe the driver a small penalty too.

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“Ye Naam Kidhar Sunela Lagta Hai”: TagHive launches SaathiGPT

Edtech startup TagHive just unveiled SaathiGPT—an AI-powered tutor tailored for every student’s unique learning style.

It’s more than just a chatbot; think automated quizzes, smart feedback, and deep content understanding all in one. Built for integration, SaathiGPT lets educators and platforms plug into personalized learning like never before.

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“Sapne Dekhe Bade Bade”: Pine Labs Converts Into Public Entity In Run-Up To IPO

Pine Labs is suiting up for its IPO debut—it's now officially a public company. Shareholders approved the name change to Pine Labs Limited, dropping the “Private” tag.

With this move, the fintech unicorn is inching closer to listing on the bourses.

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“Ride Into The Sunset”: Ola Electric To Kick Off Roadster X Bike Deliveries From Friday

After weeks of delay and rising customer complaints, Ola Electric is finally ready to hit the road with its Roadster X—deliveries start this Friday, May 23.

Bhavish Aggarwal confirmed the rollout, hoping to calm the buzz around missed timelines. The Roadster X, first unveiled last August, now has a real date with the streets.

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“Hum Saath Saath Hai”: Zendesk acquires Local Measure

Zendesk has quietly sealed the deal on acquiring Local Measure, deepening its push into AI-powered contact center solutions.

With this move, it now offers Zendesk for Contact Center, merging digital and voice support into a single, intelligent platform. Backed by AWS's tech muscle, the acquisition marks a serious step toward scaling customer service for high-volume environments.

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1. Jason Kothari’s new venture Mythik just raised $15 Mn to reimagine Indian mythology through AI-driven storytelling. With this fresh funding, the ex-Housing and Freecharge exec is betting big on myth meeting machine.
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2. Aarthi Ramamurthy has launched Schema Ventures with a $20 Mn fund to back “exceptional outsider founders” at the earliest startup stages. From robotics to workflow intelligence, she's betting on bold ideas beyond the usual Silicon Valley playbook.
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3. 247VC has launched its debut ₹200 Cr fund (with a ₹50 Cr greenshoe) to fuel early-stage startups in India. Helmed by 100X.VC co-founders Yagnesh Sanghrajka and Shashank Randev, the firm marks a fresh chapter in homegrown venture backing.
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4. Fleetx.io is gearing up to raise over ₹100 Cr in its Series C round, with most of the cash coming from existing backers. Around 60–70% of the haul will be primary capital, fueling its SaaS-driven logistics play.
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5. Misfits, the hobby-focused offline community platform, has raised ₹5 Cr in seed funding led by Info Edge Ventures and Better Capital. The funds will boost its mobile app and fuel expansion into new urban cities across India.
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