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IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that India’s first "made-in-India" chip is expected to be rolled out by September or October 2024. Tata Electronics and Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) are building a semiconductor unit in Gujarat’s Dholera, and Micron is constructing a semiconductor assembly facility in Sanand. The Centre has also approved INR 334 Cr for research in gallium nitride technology at IISc, Bengaluru. With the government offering grants and incentives, India is positioning itself as a semiconductor hub. This is expected to foster homegrown startups and attract significant investments in the growing semiconductor market. Read more: thekarostartup.com #MadeInIndiaChip #IndianSemiconductorIndustry #TataElectronics #PowerchipSemiconductor #GujaratDholera #MicronSanand #GalliumNitrideTechnology #IIScBengaluru #SemiconductorHub #HomegrownStartups #InvestIndia #IndiaTech #SemiconductorMarket

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump have launched the US-India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology) initiative to enhance cooperation in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, quantum computing, and spacetech. The initiative will foster partnerships between government bodies, academia, and the private sector to accelerate AI infrastructure development, support semiconductor supply chains, and promote commercial space ventures. Both nations are committed to tackling global challenges, advancing technological innovation, and boosting investments in critical sectors like energy, space sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. Read more: thekarostartup.com #USTrustInitiative #USIndiaPartnership #NarendraModi #DonaldTrump #AIEmergence #SemiconductorSector #QuantumComputing #Spacetech #GlobalChallenges #TechnologicalInnovation #EnergySector #SpaceSustainability

Assam is taking bold steps to strengthen its economy and create jobs. The government has launched two key policies—the Assam Startup and Innovation Policy 2025 and the Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Policy—to support businesses and bring in investments. For the first time, the state has a Startup Ministry to encourage innovation and help new businesses succeed. Colleges and universities will have startup support centers to guide young entrepreneurs. The government is also pushing for growth in defence and aerospace industries, opening new opportunities for investment. The Advantage Assam Summit will further highlight industries like electronics, bamboo, fragrance, food, and renewable energy, expanding business potential across the state. With these initiatives, Assam is moving towards becoming a major hub for startups, industries, and innovation. Will these policies accelerate Assam’s growth? Share your thoughts. Read more: thekarostartup.com #AssamEconomicGrowth #StartupIndia #AssamStartupPolicy #AerospaceAndDefenceManufacturingPolicy #InnovationHub #JobCreation #InvestmentOpportunities #AssamGovernmentInitiatives #AdvantageAssamSummit #MakeInAssam

Reddit, Inc. is expanding its presence in India with a new office in Bengaluru and a larger workforce. As India emerges as a key market, the platform is actively hiring across growth, community, and operations teams to enhance the local experience. User engagement is rising rapidly, with a 90% surge in daily active users and a 20% increase in female users. Discussions around Bollywood, cricket, and finance are seeing the highest traction, reflecting India’s diverse online interests. With this expansion, Reddit aims to build a more localized and engaging platform for Indian users. Read more: thekarostartup.com #RedditIndia #BengaluruOffice #ExpansionPlans #IndianMarket #GrowthStrategy #UserEngagement #DailyActiveUsers #FemaleUsers #Bollywood #Cricket #Finance #OnlineInterests #Localization

Silicon Valley’s once-buzzing startup scene, which saw over 1,000 companies achieve billion-dollar valuations during the Covid-era boom, is now facing a harsh reality. Rising interest rates, a cooling IPO market, and an overwhelming AI focus have left many startups scrambling. While some companies have gone public or been acquired for less than their peak valuations, others like Convoy and Bowery Farming have collapsed. With fewer opportunities to maintain growth, startups must now navigate an uncertain future, as the unicorn era fades and desperation sets in. Read more: thekarostartup.com #SiliconValley #StartupScene #UnicornEra #CovidEraBoom #InterestRates #IPOmarket #AIFocus #StartupStruggles #GrowthChallenges #UncertainFuture #TechIndustry #VentureCapital #StartupFunding

India’s foreign exchange reserves rose by a net $7.6 billion in the week ended February 7, the latest data by the Reserve Bank of India showed. This marked the third consecutive weekly increase in total reserves, following a $1.05 billion gain the previous week. The total reserves rose on the back of the rise in foreign currency assets, which increased by $6.42 billion to $544.11 billion during the week. The increase in foreign exchange reserves observed during the week was primarily driven by valuation gains, said experts. The impact of RBI’s $5 billion buy-sell swap was effectively offset by its net dollar sales in the spot market, they said. “If we look at the reserve money data, it is because of the revaluation effect. The RBI’s net dollar sales during the week highlight its continued intervention in the spot market to defend the INR and mitigate depreciation pressure. Despite executing a $5 billion buy-sell swap on the 31st, which settled the following week, the net sell figure would have been even higher without it. The increase in FX reserves observed this week was primarily driven by valuation gains, while the impact of the swap was offset by RBI’s net selling in the spot market,” said Gaura Sen Gupta, chief economist at IDFC FIRST Bank. Read more: thekarostartup.com #IndiaForexReserves #RBI #ForeignExchange #EconomicGrowth #IndianEconomy #ForexMarket #CurrencyReserves #ReserveBankOfIndia #EconomicNews #FinancialUpdates #BusinessNews #IndiaBusiness

People laughed at my business of selling waste, now earns over ₹85 crores This man from Chennai, now earns over ₹85 crores from this business. Today, he is a top seller from India of this waste product. Anees Ahmed Basha from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, had innovation in his blood. He was the son of a progressive farmer and was inspired by his dad to carve his own path. While walking along the beach, he saw tons of coconut dust being thrown into the sea as a waste product. Coconut dust is the leftover product after coconut fibre is removed from coconut husk. Anees was saddened by the polluted beaches as a result of this practice. He sought an answer and upon research he found that Dutch scientists had found a way to turn coconut dust into coco peat, a highly nutritious product, very beneficial for growing plants and improving soil. Anees started Global Green Coir, a coco peat processing plant. He collected coconut dust from coconut farms around him and this also helped to save the beaches. As farmers and planters everywhere realized the benefits of coco peat, his business became highly profitable. He now earns over ₹75 crores per year from his processing plant. The people who laughed at him in the beginning have now been silenced effectively. #startup

Odisha's economy is estimated to grow by 7.2% in the current financial year, surpassing the all-India growth rate of 6.4%, according to the state economic survey report for the 2024-25 fiscal. The report, which was presented to the state assembly, indicates that the size of Odisha's economy, measured by GSDP at current prices, is expected to reach Rs 9.5 trillion in FY25, marking a 10% increase from Rs 8.6 trillion in FY24. All sectors have shown strong growth, and the state is poised for continued expansion. With higher capital investment and increased investment intent through initiatives like Utkarsh Odisha, the state is positioned for future growth. Additionally, per capita income in Odisha has risen by 10.6%, reaching Rs 1,82,548 in FY25, while the national per capita income has increased by 8.7%. Odisha’s per capita income is expected to converge with India’s average in the coming years. Read more: thekarostartup.com #OdishaEconomy #GrowthRate #7Point2Percent #AllIndiaGrowthRate #StateEconomicSurvey #GSDP #EconomicGrowth #CapitalInvestment #UtkarshOdisha #PerCapitaIncome #NationalPerCapitaIncome #EconomicExpansion #IndianEconomy

Telangana’s startup ecosystem has grown from just 200 startups in 2014 to over 9,000 today, said Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary (I&C and IT). This huge growth is driven by government support, startup incubators, and strong investor networks. With T-Hub and Hyderabad’s Research & Innovation Circle (RICH), startups got funding, mentorship, and infrastructure to grow. TiE Hyderabad also helped by connecting new businesses with investors and industry leaders. From a small number of startups to a booming innovation hub, Telangana is now one of India’s fastest-growing startup centers, attracting businesses and talent from across the country. Read more: thekarostartup.com #TelanganaStartups #StartupEcosystem #InnovationHub #GovernmentSupport #StartupIncubators #InvestorNetworks #THub #RICH #TiEHyderabad #IndianStartups #FastestGrowingStartupCenters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the immense contribution of over 3 lakh Indian students to the U.S. economy, collectively adding more than $8 billion annually. This robust student community plays a pivotal role in not only strengthening the bilateral ties between India and the U.S. but also in driving job creation and supporting innovation across multiple sectors. During their discussions, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to improving the legal mobility of students and professionals, making it easier for young talent to move between the two countries for educational and career opportunities. They also pledged to take stronger action against illegal immigration and human trafficking, working together to secure the interests of both nations. The leaders emphasized the importance of fostering international academic collaborations, with plans to establish joint research centers, dual degree programs, and offshore campuses of leading U.S. universities in India. This partnership is seen as a key element in developing a future-ready workforce and continuing to nurture the strong people-to-people ties between the two nations, contributing to the growth of the Indo-Pacific region and the global economy. Read more: thekarostartup.com #IndiaUSPartnership #EducationAndInnovation #StudentExchangePrograms #BilateralTies #JobCreation #EconomicGrowth #InternationalAcademicCollaborations #ResearchAndDevelopment