Mumbai’s local train app Yatri; Sourcing talent beyond Bengaluru

Hello,

Fintech company Pine Labs has acquired SaaS startup Shopflo for a cash consideration of Rs 88 crore. 

The acquisition will help Pine Labs offer an end-to-end platform for D2C merchants, spanning in-store payments, online checkout and conversion optimisation, growth tools, and consumer engagement and retention capabilities.

India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has urged market regulator SEBI to have more consultations with global regulators and take advantage of AI to tackle cyber risks. 

“The more (Securities ⁠and Exchange Board ​of India) frameworks are ​understood abroad, the greater the confidence of global capital in ​Indian markets,” said the Finance Minister at a SEBI event in ‌Mumbai.

Elsewhere, a Michelin star chef is worried that the lure of social media is causing young aspirants to skip formal training. “Social media has helped people get into cooking. Do I think that’s necessarily the best way to do it? I don’t,” says London-based chef Will Murray. “If people think it’s easy because they saw it on Instagram, that might set someone up for a hard entry into a kitchen,” he adds. 

Industry folks say going viral cannot replace the time-tested route of apprenticeships and culinary competitions. 

ICYMI: Public servants in Tokyo are being encouraged to ditch their suits for shorts to tackle sweltering heat and rising energy costs. Tokyo officials hope casual attire will help save electricity and cut dependence on air-conditioning.

Lastly, does loud eating and talking at the movies annoy you? You are not alone. Have people forgotten how to behave in public spaces? This author laments. 

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• Mumbai’s local train app Yatri
• Sourcing talent beyond Bengaluru

Here’s your trivia for today: What popular tea is named after an 1830s United Kingdom Prime Minister?

Entrepreneurship 

Mumbai’s local train app Yatri

Lakhi Sakaria Chowdhary and Reeva Sakaria have developed Yatri, the official app of Mumbai’s local train network, in partnership with Indian Railways. It offers real-time train tracking using source-verified GPS data, with live updates on locations, delays, platform changes, and disruptions.

The near-total absence of real-time information affecting millions of people led to the creation of Yatri. The app, developed by the sisters, emerged from the software division of CDP India Pvt Ltd, their family-run organisation with a 34-year legacy. 

Key takeaways: 

• Yatri brings together everything a Mumbai commuter needs into one app. 
• At its core is real-time local train tracking, powered by proprietary GPS devices installed across the network and fed directly from railway control rooms, so the information is source-verified and not crowdsourced. 
• Commuters get live train locations, real-time delay alerts, platform change notifications, and disruption updates the moment they happen,” she shares.

GCC

Sourcing talent beyond Bengaluru

The Karnataka government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with job portal Naukri to assist Global Capability Centres (GCCs) at their early stage to source talent from locations outside Bengaluru.

The MoU will facilitate structured access to high-quality talent solutions, with a particular focus on regions beyond Bengaluru, including Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi–Dharwad–Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Tumakuru, and Shivamogga.

Key takeaways: 

• Naukri will extend a customised GCC Starter Package to newly established GCCs registered with Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society, offering zero-cost access for an initial period of 90 days. 
• The package includes employer branding, assisted hiring services, and premium talent sourcing tools, aimed at enabling GCCs to rapidly build capable teams during their foundational phase.
• The MoU is effective for a period of two years and reflects the shared intent of both parties to work together to enhance Karnataka’s attractiveness as a destination for global enterprises, while creating high-quality employment opportunities across the state.

News & updates

• AI investment: Google-parent Alphabet will invest up to $40 billion in Anthropic, as the tech giant deepens ​its partnership with the startup that is also its rival ‌in the global AI race. 
• Consumer sentiment: US consumer sentiment has fallen to a record ​low in April as households shrugged off a ceasefire in the war with Iran, remaining focused on the inflation ‌fallout from the conflict.

What popular tea is named after an 1830s United Kingdom Prime Minister?

Answer: Earl Grey

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