BIRAC nurturing the biotech sector; Turning bars into classrooms
Several successful biotech startups trace their roots to BIRAC. Cleantech company GPS Renewables, for example, received funding under BIRAC’s Biotechnology Ignition Grant.
Hello,
Physical AI, which are AI systems that act in the physical world like robotics and manufacturing rather than solely on software, seems to be the new buzzword in the global startup ecosystem. Last year, Jeff Bezos said he would become co-CEO of a new startup called Prometheus, which would focus on physical AI. But he didn’t specify what the company would do.
Bezos and co-founder Vik Bajaj are now armed with funding, $12 billion along with an initial round of $6 billion last year. They have said Prometheus is designing tools that will automate building complex physical systems like jet engines, Ars Technica reports.
Moving on, remote working has several advantages like having the flexibility to take work calls from almost anywhere in the world. One employee in South Korea, however, decided to take this too far by logging into a meeting while on a roller coaster ride!
The roughly minute-long video shows a municipal office worker on a roller coaster with a laptop and a cardboard green screen behind him projecting a home office. The result is bewildered colleagues asking him if he’s okay as the worker struggles to maintain a straight face during the bumpy ride.
Now, we can’t attest to the authenticity of the video but the clip is sure to make even the most boring Monday mornings fun.
In today’s newsletter, we will talk about
- Nurturing India’s biotech sector
- Turning bars into classrooms
Here’s your trivia for today: Who wrote the book The Invisible Man?
In-focus
Nurturing India’s biotech sector
New Delhi-based Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is one of the pillars of India’s biotech industry. A not-for-profit institution under the Department of Science of Technology, BIRAC has undertaken a multi-pronged approach to nurture entrepreneurs in the sector for years.
Key takeaways:
- Several successful biotech startups trace their roots to BIRAC. Cleantech company GPS Renewables, for example, received funding under BIRAC’s Biotechnology Ignition Grant.
- The company, which makes compressed biogas, 2g ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel, recently raised Rs 635 crore.
- The Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) is the flagship early-stage funding programme. This scheme offers grant-in-aid of up to Rs 50 lakh for a period of 18 months, enabling entrepreneurs to translate their ideas into proof-of-concept.
Startup
Turning bars into classrooms
On a typical evening at a bar, people gather to unwind. At a Pint of View (PoV) event, they gather to learn.
The Bengaluru-based startup has built a growing community around an unusual proposition: academic lectures delivered in neighbourhood bars. From bat ecology and neuroscience to history, literature, and art, its events attract hundreds of paying attendees looking to spend an evening engaging with ideas rather than small talk.
Key takeaways:
- Founded in 2025 by Harsh Snehanshu, Shruti Sah, and Meghna Chaudhury, PoV was inspired by the New York-based lecture series Lectures on Tap.
- The team is selective about what makes it onto the programme. Motivational talks, self-help sessions, and personal success stories are largely avoided. Instead, the focus remains on academics and practitioners with deep expertise in their fields.
- PoV's first event took place at Indiranagar Social on August 24, 2025. Called Bats & Booze, the lecture featured bat researcher and conservationist Dr Rohit Chakravarty, often referred to as the Batman of India.
News & updates
- Rare earth: Japan is preparing to send a delegation to Greenland to evaluate possible rare earth extraction, Nikkei reported on Sunday. An autonomous territory of the Danish Kingdom, Greenland has lately been in the spotlight for its strategic location and rare earth reserve.
- After effects: A recent earthquake in the Philippines that killed tens of people has raised the seabed by as much as two metres, exposing coral and harming marine life, according to the country’s environment department.
What you should watch out for
- Demerger: Vedanta Ltd's demerger process is entering its final phase, with four businesses set to list on the stock exchanges on Monday, June 15. Vedanta’s oil and gas unit operates under the Cairn brand and now investors will have direct exposure to the business post the listing.
- NSE IPO: The National Stock Exchange, India’s largest such entity, is likely to file draft papers for its much-awaited IPO this week. It is likely to submit its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) on June 15 or June 16, 2026.
Who wrote the book The Invisible Man?
Answer: HG Wells
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