Brewing for profitability; AI models with impact-based pricing

Hello,

Softbank has a ticking deadline—a $22.5 billion one.

The firm is racing to close a $22.5 billion funding commitment to OpenAI by the year-end through an array of cash-raising schemes, including a sale of some investments, and could tap its undrawn margin loans borrowed against its valuable ownership in chip firm Arm Holdings, Reuters reported. 

SoftBank’s “all-in” bet on OpenAI is among the biggest yet by CEO Masayoshi Son. To close the deal, Son has already sold SoftBank's entire $5.8 billion stake in AI chip leader Nvidia, offloaded $4.8 billion of its T-Mobile US stake, and slashed staff. Here’s a peek into SoftBank’s strategy to stay ahead of the AI wave.

Closer to home, amid buzz of a potential sale, Unacademy has amended its employee stock option scheme, sharply reducing the window for former employees to exercise vested stock options to 30 days, from a period of up to 10 years earlier.

In other news, with SpaceX’s proposed blockbuster IPO on the horizon, the spotlight is all on the banks that could lead the offering—with Morgan Stanley holding an edge above the others.

Lastly, meet the first wheelchair user to reach space aboard a Blue Origin suborbital flight.

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• Brewing for profitability
• AI models with impact-based pricing
• 2025’s powerful women in cinema 

Here’s your trivia for today: Which country does the bulk of the wine industry's corks come from?

Interview 

Brewing for profitability

When Rajat Luthra took over as the CEO of Third Wave Coffee Roasters, the brand was already a household name among urban coffee drinkers. While the company had been expanding exponentially, growing its store count from 90 to 118 between 2023 and 2024, it did not lack speed, but a tighter financial control. 

Almost one and a half years since he joined the brand, Luthra believes that what Third Wave required was unit economics and an “obsession” around making sure that every store that the brand opens is profitable, he said during an exclusive call with YourStory.

Expansion blueprint:

• Third Wave Coffee Roasters opened around 100 stores last year, but Luthra is clear that growth for its own sake is not the objective. While the brand already enjoyed strong customer love and traction, what was needed was financial discipline across stores, operational efficiencies, and capital optimisation.
• While Third Wave’s origins lie in Bengaluru’s urban neighbourhoods and its initial expansion focused on premium localities across Tier I cities, the company is now focused on Tier II expansion. Mysuru, Chandigarh, Mohali, Mangalore, and Ahmedabad are already in the network, with more planned in FY2026.
• Over the past year, Third Wave Coffee Roasters has been strengthening its backend to prepare for faster expansion. With an expanded and automated roastery in Bengaluru, the company has upgraded its roasting capacity to support up to 700 cafes.

Startup

AI models with impact-based pricing

Startups are struggling to keep up with AI's rapid changes, with countless new tools and models constantly emerging. Meanwhile, most tech solutions companies still charge their clients by the hour, paying for time instead of results. 

To fill this gap, Aditya Chhabra and Priyanshi Tater founded CreateBytes in 2019, a design and engineering studio that specialises in building scalable AI pipelines and AI models for companies looking to accelerate growth and increase operational efficiency.

Enterprise solutions:

• The Gurugram-based startup provides end-to-end digital solutions, including UI/UX design, digital marketing (SEO, PPC, social media), and custom enterprise software development. Its solutions include computer vision tools for manufacturing and logistics.
• CreateBytes uses an impact-based pricing model, earning revenue through product-based pricing linked to the client’s revenue impact, scalability needs, and technical complexity. It also offers subscription and licensing plans for its products CB Vision, YugYog.ai, KriGat, and DDPro.
• CreateBytes remains a bootstrapped startup, operating out of Gurgaon and Jaipur with a 200-member team serving clients across the US, Europe, the Middle East, and India. It competes with firms such as UST, Happiest Minds, and Endava.

Entertainment

2025’s powerful women in cinema

In 2025, across languages and genres, filmmakers placed women at the centre of their films, without reducing them to stereotypical characters or symbols.

Women in 2025’s films are no longer confined to a single narrative—they occupy many worlds at once. They are homemakers, superheroes, daughters and mothers—relatable, relevant, and resilient. From Mrs to Madam Sengupta, here’s a list of films that redefined how women are seen, heard, and centred on screen.

News & updates

• Bowing out: Dina Powell McCormick has resigned from Meta Platforms board of directors effective immediately, just eight months after joining. However, Powell McCormick may continue advising the social media giant. 
• Overturned: Elon Musk’s 2018 pay package from Tesla, once worth $56 billion, was restored by the Delaware Supreme Court on Friday, nearly two years after a lower court struck down the compensation deal as “unfathomable.”

Which country does the bulk of the wine industry's corks come from?

Answer: Portugal

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