Startup news and updates: daily roundup (May 6, 2021)

UBS donates Rs 11.07 Cr for COVID-19 relief measures in India

Swiss bank UBS Group AG on Wednesday announced a donation of Rs 11.07 crore ($1.5 million) to support COVID-19 emergency and long-term relief programmes in India. The first tranche of the donation will target the immediate supply of oxygen, medical supplies, and medicine, the bank said. In the initial phase, UBS said it would work with Swasti, a Bangalore-based NGO that designs and delivers health and well-being solutions across India.

Infosys doubles Covid relief commitment to Rs 200 Cr

IT services major Infosys has doubled its commitment towards Covid relief efforts to Rs 200 crore that will be used to add hospital beds and augment the supply of oxygen concentrators and ventilators among other activities. The company has established vaccination centres for employees and their families at seven of its development centres (DC) across the country, and work is in progress to establish them in other DCs.

Pathans' cricket academy to provide free meals to COVID-19 hit people of South Delhi

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said on Wednesday his cricket academy will provide free meals to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in South Delhi. "While the nation is in the midst of the second wave of COVID-19, it becomes our responsibility to come together and assist the people in need. Taking inspiration from the same, Cricket Academy of Pathans (CAP) is going to provide free meals to COVID-19 affected people in South Delhi," Irfan tweeted.

Microsoft committed to support COVID relief efforts in India: CEO Satya Nadella

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Wednesday said the US technology giant is committed to use its resources to support the pandemic relief efforts in India and it is mobilising to address the country's most urgent needs. India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.

SIIC team launches challenge to develop indigenous solutions to tackle oxygen crisis

A team at the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur has launched ''Mission Bharat O2'' challenge to bring forward indigenous solutions for solving India's oxygen crisis amid the deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team aims to build an efficient mechanism to support brilliant, innovative minds of India to set up more than 20,000 oxygen generation units in the next six to eight weeks.

COVID-19 second wave: Hiring activity declines by 15pc sequentially in April, says Naukri jobs index

With lockdown-like restrictions in many states due to the second COVID-19 wave, hiring activity has declined by 15 percent sequentially in April, according to a report. According to the Naukri JobSpeak Index, there were 2,072 job postings in April compared to 2,436 job postings in March.

Global task force of CEOs of 40 US companies launch immediate aid to India

A newly-created global task force of CEOs of top American 40 companies on Wednesday announced an effort to provide massive COVID-19 emergency relief material, including 1,000 ventilators and 25,000 oxygen concentrators, to India in its fight against the coronavirus.

India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.

Startups fight COVID-19: Swiggy to prioritise Genie deliveries amid second wave

Bengaluru-based foodtech platform Swiggy has announced that it will be prioritising deliveries through its hyperlocal delivery vertical, Genie. Started in 2019, Genie is Swiggy’s pick up and drop service.

With the second wave of Covid-19 severely impacting India, Swiggy stated it will be focussing on ferrying a range of necessities- from over the counter (OTC) medicines, oximeters, and thermometers to home-cooked meals, care packages and grocery.