Freshworks turns profitable in Q2; Navigating the AI shift

Hello,

The electric vehicle (EV) sector is expected to create 30 million to 40 million jobs by 2030, driven by an increase in demand for specialised talent in engineering and energy systems, says a new report. 

India’s EV industry is entering its most employment-intensive phase thanks to policy reforms and consumer interest. The demand for talent across EV infrastructure, which is expanding rapidly, is expected to grow by 45% over the next 10 years, according to the report by Adecco India.

Speaking of EVs, Bengaluru headquartered two-wheeler EV manufacturer River Mobility has raised $120 million in a Series C round of funding consisting of equity and venture debt. Founded in 2021 by Aravind Mani and Vipin George, River Mobility launched its two-wheeler model River Indie in 2023 with a focus on utility value. It currently operates over 75 stores across India and plans to expand its network to more than 350 by March 2028.

ICYMI: A section of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has crashed into the moon. Scientists have warned of long-term effects of space debris. 

Lastly, the ‘looksmaxxing’ trend has led to the rise of facial analysis platforms. These companies claim to use “science-based” methods to score faces and suggest cosmetic procedures. Experts warn that these tools can do more harm than good.

After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• Freshworks turning profitable in Q2
• Navigating the AI shift

Here’s your trivia for today: A popular landmark, Longacre Square, was renamed to what in 1904?

SaaS

Freshworks turns profitable in Q2

Software-as-a-service company Freshworks swung to profitability in the second quarter of 2026, with a 16% increase in revenue as demand for its artificial intelligence (AI) offerings continued to strengthen.

The company’s net profit was at $3.2 million for the quarter, compared to a net loss of $1.7 million in the corresponding period last year.

Key takeaways: 

• Freshworks said its revenue rose to $237.4 million in the April–June quarter, from $204.7 million a year earlier.
• For the full year 2026, the company has forecast revenue to be between $963.5 million and $966.5 million, implying annual growth of approximately 15%.
• Freshworks CEO and President Dennis Woodside said the company’s Freddy AI Copilot is now attached to over 71% of new deals.

<Funding Alert>

Startup: River Mobility

Amount: $120M

Round: Series C

Startup: InRisk Labs

Amount: $27M

Round: Series A

Inspiration

Navigating the AI shift

In 1997, Anjali Mahajan moved to the US to pursue a master’s degree. Twenty-nine years, many companies, and one AI revolution later, Mahajan is Vice President and Head of Engineering Services at Amdocs. She leads large engineering teams that keep telecom giants running.

Key takeaways:

• Mahajan started her career as a developer, coding across Java, Visual Basic, C, PowerBuilder, the hot technologies of the time.
• When you ask Mahajan about the biggest challenge, she reaches for a line from Indra Nooyi: a woman’s biological clock and career clock are in conflict with each other.
• Mahajan says she has led diversity efforts across multiple units at Amdocs India. “I’ve personally mentored many women, both within my own teams and across Amdocs, and I can say many of them have progressed in their careers,” she adds. 

News & updates

• Shrinking profits: The New York Times reported slower digital subscriber growth for the ​second quarter on Wednesday and issued a ‌lackluster digital subscription revenue forecast, sending its shares down more than 8% in premarket trading.
• Appointment: Troubled airline Air India has onboarded Ethiopian ​Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as ‌its CEO. His appointment comes at a time when the company has been facing losses and increased regulatory scrutiny following a crash last year. 

A popular landmark, Longacre Square, was renamed to what in 1904?

Answer: Times Square

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