Swiggy taps insider for experiences play; Dakshinayan’s rise from batter to brand

Hello,

Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate built by Warren Buffett, has reported a record cash position approaching $400 billion, even as it moves through a significant leadership transition. Buffett, after an extraordinary 60-year tenure as CEO, handed over to Greg Abel, who has stepped into one of the most closely watched roles in global business.

Abel, who presided over his first annual meeting, did so with strong momentum behind him. Profits from Berkshire Hathaway’s diverse portfolio of businesses rose by 18% to $11.35 billion, up from $9.64 billion a year earlier. Net income, which includes gains from common stock investments, more than doubled to $10.1 billion from $4.6 billion. The company’s vast holdings include stakes in giants like Apple, American Express, and Coca-Cola.

Speaking of large companies, tech giant Meta, which reported its earnings this week, is facing a high-profile trial in New Mexico that could force changes to Facebook and its sister platforms, including Instagram and WhatsApp. 

The case, due to be heard before a judge in Santa Fe, stems from a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Raúl Torrez. He alleges that the company deliberately designed its platforms to be addictive for younger users and failed to adequately protect children.

At the same time, Meta is pressing ahead with its ambitions in artificial intelligence, most recently acquiring robotics startup Assured Robot Intelligence, whose team will join its Superintelligence Labs research division.

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• Swiggy taps insider for experiences play
• Dakshinayan’s rise from batter to brand

Here’s your trivia for today: Which company created the first widely used graphical web browser?

Foodtech

Swiggy taps insider for experiences play

Swiggy has named Swapnil Bajpai as chief executive officer of its Dineout and Scenes businesses, entrusting a long-time company insider with the task of scaling its dining-out and experiences verticals as competition intensifies beyond its core food delivery operations.

Key takeaways: 

• Swiggy is doubling down on dining-out and experiences, built on its acquisition of Dineout, to tap higher-margin revenue streams such as commissions, advertising, and event ticketing, while reducing reliance on logistics-heavy food delivery.
• This move comes amid rising competition, particularly from Zomato, and reflects a broader strategy to expand user engagement beyond meal delivery into end-to-end consumer occasions, from restaurant bookings to events and nightlife.
• Bajpai’s cross-functional experience in sales, supply, and monetisation positions him to focus on scaling merchant adoption, deepening restaurant partnerships, and driving tighter integration of dining and experiences within Swiggy’s core app ecosystem.

Woman Entrepreneur

Dakshinayan’s rise from batter to brand

Beena Gandhi built Dakshinayan from homemade batter into a six-outlet chain, staying rooted in traditional recipes, quality control, and simplicity while gradually expanding into packaged foods and new business verticals.

Key takeaways:

• What began as selling idli-dosa batter in 1997 evolved into a full-fledged restaurant business, with the first Dakshinayan outlet opening in Ahmedabad in 2005 and later expanding to multiple locations across Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
• The brand has deliberately avoided fusion trends, focusing instead on consistency, with freshly ground in-house masalas, traditional recipes, and a “homely” dining experience that drives strong customer loyalty and repeat visits.
• Dakshinayan is now entering its next phase, with retail products like masalas and ready-to-eat items, while Beena’s son Vir brings in technology, marketing initiatives, and new ideas to scale the business further.

News & updates

• GameStop: GameStop is reportedly preparing a bid for eBay, an unusually large takeover attempt, as CEO Ryan Cohen seeks to significantly boost the retailer’s market value.
• Coinbase: Coinbase said a compromise on stablecoin rewards in a key US crypto bill could revive Senate progress, balancing bank concerns with allowing users to earn limited rewards on digital assets.

Which company created the first widely used graphical web browser?

Answer: Netscape

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