Global Stories – Scoopearth : Startup Story | Startup News | Trending Business News | Latest Tech News https://www.scoopearth.com Embrace the World of Start-ups, Technology, Business, Finance and Economy Thu, 23 Jan 2025 13:30:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.scoopearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-favicon-sc-32x32.png Global Stories – Scoopearth : Startup Story | Startup News | Trending Business News | Latest Tech News https://www.scoopearth.com 32 32 Fed Rate Cut Will Facilitate Fund Flows to India and Emerging Markets: Experts  https://www.scoopearth.com/fed-rate-cut-will-facilitate-fund-flows-to-india-and-emerging-markets-experts/ Thu, 19 Sep 2024 08:33:23 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=344782 The recent move by one of the biggest global markets Central to the U. S Federal Reserve to cut the interest rates by 50 basis points has brought hope to the overall financial specialists and market gurus. By changing the place of management of its funds, it is anticipated that the institution will enhance flows of funds to emerging markets such as India through improvements in investment climate. The rate cut is a major turn by the Federal Reserve to respond to global economic concerns and boost the economy.

Federal Reserve Decision

The decision of the Federal Reserve to cut the interest rate by half a percentage point is another long-term plan to ease the credit cost. This rate cut is the first meaningful move since the onset of COVID-19 and is claimed on the grounds of decreasing economic growth rate and persistent inflation worries. To achieve this, the Fed reduces the cost of borrowing because this may increase spending and investment. 

Emerging Markets, including India

Emerging Markets such as India stand to gain a lot from the rate cut by the Fed as stated earlier. A low interest rate in the U. S. results in a weak dollar, which in turn makes investments into emerging markets favorable. This is because instead, investors demand higher returns in markets with faster economic growth and higher interest rates than the US. Nevertheless, financial gurus argue that due to the rate cut, capital will flow into emerging markets.

This inflow of funds can go a long way in funding economic development and enhancing liquidity, and financial markets in these regions. In the case of India, this change will lead to an improvement in FPIs and the stock exchange market.

Investment and Expansion Driving Economic Growth

India will benefit in many ways from the Fed rate cut. First of all, the decline in the dollar due to the rate cut leads to increased appeal of Indian assets for overseas investors. This can result in higher FDI and other portfolio investments which is crucial for economic growth and development. The potential of a rate cut can be seen because Indian companies could now borrow at a cheaper price.

This means that a lower rate in the U. S. can translate to a lower borrowing cost across the world hence making it easy for Indian firms to borrow. This can lead to increased corporate investment and expansion and boost the economy. This rate cut can have a positive effect on the Indian stock market index. This would be because, with an increase in FDI, the stock prices are expected to escalate thus enhancing market confidence. 

Possible Downsides for the Indian Exporters

A weaker dollar means that other currencies strengthen and may impact the competitiveness of India’s exports. There are possible downsides for the Indian exporters because their products will be costlier for global buyers. This may hamper the situation in financial markets and may lead to high volatility levels.

Volatility often results from fluctuations in capital flows, or short-term movement of capital in and out of an economy, however, the effect can be especially detrimental to countries with relatively young financial markets. These are risks that policymakers in India will need to navigate in a bid to allow them to reap from flows of capital that are associated with foreign investment.

Conclusion

The rate cut by the Fed is good for India and other emerging markets as it means the global liquidity hangover is still with us. The increase of dependency on the international market has been seen as positive by experts as the outlook for India in the coming months is positive for the economy in the country.

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Tiger Global to Invest in OpenAI at Sky-High $150B Valuation  https://www.scoopearth.com/tiger-global-to-invest-in-openai-at-sky-high-150b-valuation/ Mon, 16 Sep 2024 07:10:33 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=344695 Tiger Global Management plans to fund OpenAI at a valuation of $150 billion. This is a major step forward for the tech industry. It proves how important and promising AI technologies are for the future. It reflects the emerging enthusiasm for AI and embracing innovative technologies for future development.

Investment Strategy

Tiger Global, an investment firm that has emerged to be ‘aggressive’ in its investments strategically placed in startups and later-stage technology companies is said to be considering participating in OpenAI’s next funding round. This round will seek $6.5 billion, which expanded the company’s valuation to $86 billion from an earlier increase this year. There are expectations that Thrive Capital Company and other big investors including Microsoft, Apple, and Nvidia will lead the funding round.

Rise of OpenAI

OpenAI rose to become one of the leading firms in the artificial intelligence field. OpenAI rose to prominence when it introduced the ChatGPT chatbot in 2022. The product shown here can be modeled as an AI-based intelligent system that can create text and pictures from simple instructions which heavily engaged both the consumers of the product and investors.

OpenAI has also experienced some major steps and changes in the development of its artificial intelligence. This company has developed from a mere research laboratory to a business entity that has received massive investment and cooperation. Microsoft has been a major collaborator, incorporating OpenAI’s solutions into its products and services.

Strategic Importance of AI in the tech landscape

The $150 billion valuation demonstrates the significance of AI in the entire technological matrix. For its part, Tiger Global sees this investment as an opportunity to place a bet on the future of AI and its impact on numerous sectors. The collected capital will also finance the company’s further research and development, focusing on improving the computing capacities and diversifying products of OpenAI.

It demonstrates that promoters of competing offers AI solutions and services, where the investment exists. With key players such as Microsoft, Apple, and Nvidia at the forefront, the battle to control the future of AI is getting more competitive. These companies understand the operation of AI as a tool for quickly advancing technology and defending against competitors. 

Challenges and Investment Opportunities

OpenAI also has to address issues of growth in their organization with the overarching issue of sustaining their technological advantage. The moral questions regarding the progress of AI technologies still ignite numerous discussions. To these concerns, OpenAI has responded positively, especially with its focus on the responsible use of artificial intelligence and the release of its documentation.

As the company continues to bag more funding, OpenAI is in a position to advance its research efforts, venture into new projects, and spread its operations across the world. The company’s obsession with safe and beneficial AI is consistent with the idea that AI technologies should work for the best interest of every person in society. 

Conclusion

Tiger Global’s investment in OpenAI is significant because it is investing at a $150 billion valuation and the firm is a pioneer in the space. This investment will be significant in determining the future development of AI and the contribution that OpenAI makes to society as it continues to develop new and advanced methods.

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AI godmother’ Fei-Fei Li raises $230 million to launch AI startup https://www.scoopearth.com/ai-godmother-fei-fei-li-raises-230-million-to-launch-ai-startup/ Sat, 14 Sep 2024 07:46:24 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=344671 Fei-Fei Li is considered to be the ‘godmother’ of AI. She has raised $230 million for her new startup, World Labs. This venture seeks to revolutionize how AI relates to the physical three dimensional world. 

Fei-Fei Li’s Contribution

Fei-Fei Li is popular in the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and is one of the pioneers in computer vision. She is a professor at Stanford University, and she has also worked as a manager in AI at Google Cloud. Her work that helped advance technologies in computer vision includes the creation of ImageNet which is a large dataset of images. She has been ranked among the Time Magazine 2023 top 100 Influential People in Artificial Intelligence for her contribution to the field of AI. 

Vision of World Labs

World Labs, founded by Li and three other computer vision researchers, Justin Johnson, Christoph Lassner, and Ben Mildenhall, aims to create AI technology to perceive and respond to the 3D world. While other AI generative models can produce and write text and images, World Labs hopes to design“What we are referring to as spatial intelligence” generative models. These models will allow AI to think in the physical context, which is essential for AR/VR and robotics use cases. 

Funding Details

The $230 million funding round was co-led by the top-tier venture capital funds Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and Radical Ventures. Others are AMD Ventures, Intel Capital, and Nvidia’s NVentures. Such a significant commitment demonstrates that the representatives of the IT industry trust Li and believe in the concepts and opportunities of World Labs. 

Fei-Fei Li’s New Venture

The latest initiative by Fei-Fei Li is expected to fill an important void that exists in today’s AI systems. Though current models for AI can produce detailed text and image outputs, there is a poor embrace of the 3D world. This can cause inaccuracies, such as drawing objects with the wrong shapes or facets at specific points. World Labs’ spatial intelligence models lie in the same direction as those used to address these challenges by enhancing AI’s awareness of the actual regions.

Potential Applications

World Labs’ possibilities are virtually limitless when it comes to the uses of the company’s technology. As for AR/VR, spatial intelligence can further improve the reality and interactivity of a virtual environment. In robotics, it can enhance the capacity of robots to move and operate in the physical environment. Possibly these advancements can create revolutionary changes in nearly all fields including entertainment and gaming, manufacturing, and even healthcare. 

Conclusion

Fei-Fei Li’s dent with World Labs is a defining point in the advancement of artificial intelligence. This is an exciting development in the field of AI as Li and her team aim to move forward in terms of spatial intelligence. A considerable amount of financial support from major investors and a defined development strategy are the key advantages that will allow World Labs to leave a lasting trace in the sphere of IT. 

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Dell, Palantir and Erie Indemnity to join S&P 500 https://www.scoopearth.com/dell-palantir-and-erie-indemnity-to-join-sp-500/ Thu, 12 Sep 2024 11:08:31 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=344594 Introduction  

Three new members of the S&P 500, one of the most important benchmarks in the world’s  financial markets, are about to join: Dell Technologies, Palantir Technologies, and Erie  Indemnity. This shift highlights how the American economy is changing, with technology still  playing a major role and traditional industries like insurance holding a significant position.

These  businesses are now part of the exclusive group of businesses that comprise the S&P 500, a  reflection of their increasing market capitalization and prominence, as shown by their inclusion in  the index. 

Within the IT segment for a significant sum of time, Dell Innovations may be a backbone as a  around the world pioneer in computer equipment and administrations. The firm, which was  established in 1984 by Michael Dell, revolutionized individual computing and has presently  developed into cloud computing, information capacity, and undertaking solutions.

A major turning point in Dell’s company history, its participation within the S&P 500 shows its continued  pertinence and adaptability in a tech industry that’s continuously advancing. Dell’s incorporation  within the record highlights the innovative sector’s pivotal position in both commercial and  buyer divisions, as well as the industry’s continuous dominance within the US economy. 

Palantir Advances, a enormous information analytics trade, is another expansion to the S&P 500.  Palantir has set up a notoriety for itself by making computer program stages that help businesses  in analyzing and translating huge sums of information. The company is well-known for its work  

with both open and commercial divisions. Palantir, which was established in 2003 by Peter  Thiel, Alex Karp, and other people, has extended rapidly and gotten to be well-known for its  commitments to trade analytics, national security, and military. Its incorporation within the S&P  500 illustrates how analytics and information are getting to be more and more pivotal to  decision-making forms in a assortment of businesses. Palantir is positioned as a major member  within the future of trade and innovation due to its capability in utilizing information to  illuminate complicated challenges. 

The ultimate unused passage to the protections advertise is Erie Repayment, a more established  business. Erie Repayment, the administration firm of the Erie Protections Bunch, has been more  well-known all through time for advertising a variety of property and obligation protections  administrations. Its support within the S&P 500 illustrates the protections industry’s continued  importance in spite of the media’s distraction with advanced businesses. Erie Reimbursement is  positioned among the top US firms due to its unfaltering improvement and solid execution  within the advertise, demonstrating that budgetary solidness and constancy are still vital  components of the by and large economy.

Combined, Dell, Palantir, and Erie Reimbursement span a wide extend of businesses, which  reflects both the S&P 500 index’s progressing advancement and the energetic character of the US  economy. 

Dell, Palantir, and Erie Indemnity to join S&P 500. 

Rank S&P Why Benefits
Market Growth Expanding  market shareGreater market influence and  reach
Increased  RevenueGrowing  analytics  marketIncreased growth  opportunities
Stock  PerformanceExpanding  insurance  sectorEnhanced industry reputation  and growth
Positive Valuation Higher sales  volumeEnhanced growth potential
Industry  LeadershipRising contract  valuesBetter financial stability and  growth
Improved  ProfitabilityHigher  premiums and  policy salesImproved earnings and  financial health
Investor  ConfidenceImproved stock  metricsIncreased investment appeal
Operational  EfficiencyRising stock  valueGreater investment  attractiveness

Strategic  ExpansionStable stock  priceReliable market presence
10 Financial Stability Higher market  valuationEnhanced company  reputation

 Market Growth 

• The S&P 500 consideration of Dell, Palantir, and Erie Reimbursement speaks to a critical  advancement in their showcase share and monetary execution. 

• Palantir’s information analytics stage is getting to be increasingly prevalent over segments,  Dell is seeing expanded request for its venture arrangements and cloud administrations, and  Erie Repayment is seeing unfaltering development in its protections trade. 

• These businesses have picked up advertise share by leveraging modern patterns, and this has  made a difference them be included within the regarded file. 

Effect Increased presence and competitive advantage

Increased Revenue 

• A major calculate in Dell, Palantir, and Erie Indemnity’s choice to enter the S&P 500 is  expanded income. 

• These businesses see expanded deals and shopper fascination as they develop and improve  their item offerings. 

• This income advancement makes them engaging candidates for incorporation within the  pined for S&P 500 file, which measures top-performing businesses over businesses, since it  not as it were cements their showcase position but too increments financial specialist  certainty.

Effect Enhanced market position and client acquisition

Stock Performance 

• The S&P 500 consideration of Dell, Palantir, and Erie Reimbursement is generally inferable  to their stellar stock execution. 

• These businesses have appeared to extend relentlessly, winning over financial specialists and  giving consistent benefits over time. 

• Due to their solid basics and vigorous showcase resiliency, their stocks have done way better  than expected. 

• Their stock execution is assist made strides over time by more prominent perceivability and  request from index-tracking stores coming about from their consideration within the S&P  500.  

Effect Better market visibility and competitive edge

Positive Valuation

• One of the most reasons Dell, Palantir, and Erie Indemnity are included within the S&P 500  is since of their positive esteem. 

• The advertise has recognized their noteworthy monetary comes about, which have been  fueled by reliable increments in deals, productivity, and operational adequacy. 

• In their individual businesses, these businesses have demonstrated to be versatile and  versatile. 

• As a result, their stock costs have expanded and speculator trust has developed, inevitably  qualifying them for incorporation within the regarded file.  

Effect Improved financial performance

Industry Leadership 

• Due in expansive portion to their demonstrated track records of industry administration, Dell,  Palantir, and Erie Repayment are included within the S&P 500. 

• Dell leads the innovation equipment industry with its consistent advancement in products and  services.

• Palantir may be a leader in enormous information analytics, advertising crucial arrangements  to clients within the open and private segments. 

• Erie Repayment could be a imposing competitor for the S&P 500 list due to its prevailing  position within the protections segment, operational competence, and showcase affect.    

Effect Boosted revenue streams

Improved Profitability 

• The S&P 500 consideration of Dell, Palantir, and Erie Reimbursement is essentially spurred  by expanded benefit. 

• These businesses have demonstrated to extend their benefits and control costs well, which  has expanded their benefit edges. 

• Financial specialists have found them engaging since of their capacity to streamline forms,  boost salary, and keep costs beneath control. 

• Their money related execution in this manner meets the prerequisites of the S&P 500, which  qualifies them for file consideration.  

Effect Enhanced financial strength

Investor Confidence 

• Due to their consistent monetary execution, calculated development plans, and competitive  showcase situating, speculators presently have more confidence in Dell, Palantir, and Erie  Reimbursement, which makes them great candidates to be included within the S&P 500. 

• Their nearness is seen by financial specialists as affirmation of their consistency and  potential for long-term development. 

• Their fascination is advance fortified by their capacity to maintain a competitive edge, make  steady incomes, and alter to moving advertise conditions, which draws in more regulation  and person financial specialists.  

Effect Positive market perception

 Operational Efficiency 

• The S&P 500 list was accomplished by Dell, Palantir, and Erie Reimbursement much  obliged to their productive asset administration and disentangled operations. • Dell has made strides taken a toll administration by streamlining its fabricating and  supply chain. 

• Palantir’s advanced information analytics make strides operational deftness and decision making. 

• Erie Reimbursement has improved the adequacy of its claims preparing and guaranteeing. • Benefit, speculator intrigued, and their cooperation within the S&P 500 are all supported  by these efficiencies.

Effect Enhanced market valuation

Strategic Expansion 

• The S&P 500 list of Dell, Palantir, and Erie Repayment is intensely affected by their key  development activities. 

• Dell has extended its item line and nearness globally by way of development and  acquisitions. 

• Palantir has branched out into unused regions and businesses with its information analytics  offerings. 

• Erie Reimbursement has extended both its geographic reach and extend of protections items. • By taking these calculated dangers, they make strides their advertise positions and draw in  file speculators.  

Effect Enhanced investor confidence

Financial Stability 

• Dell: Illustrates strong budgetary wellbeing with relentless income development and great  benefit edges, which are demonstrative of its relentless showcase position and proficient  taken a toll control. 

• Palantir: Much appreciated to its developing clientele and imaginative arrangements, the  company has appeared its monetary soundness with consistent and unfaltering profit.

• Erie Reimbursement: Illustrates consistency in its budgetary execution with steady  premium income, vigorous saves, and an amazing protections track record . 

Effect Better investment opportunities

Conclusion 

The S&P 500’s composition has changed essentially with the expansion of Dell Innovations,  Palantir Innovations, and Erie Reimbursement, which reflects the changing nature of the US  economy. Dell’s securing is prove of the expanding centrality of mechanical adapt and  arrangements within the advanced advanced world, particularly given the skyrocketing require  for cloud computing, IT foundation, and data storage. Dell’s consideration within the file shows  not fair the survival of set up innovation companies that have adjusted to modern issues but  moreover the long-term supportability of these businesses in an progressively advanced  environment. 

Another dazzling case of the developing affect of fake insights and information analytics is  Palantir’s posting on the S&P 500. Palantir has set up itself as a pioneer within the open and  private divisions by giving inventive arrangements for broad information integration and  investigation. Palantir is well-known for its state-of-the-art information analytics computer  program. Its inclusion highlights how AI and machine learning technologies are getting to be  increasingly critical in impacting long haul of a assortment of businesses, counting defense and  healthcare. This speaks to a noteworthy turning point for Palantir, which has been growing  quickly since getting to be open, and recommends that businesses that center on troublesome  innovation are getting to be more broadly acknowledged. 

Within the in the interim, the protections administrations supplier Erie Reimbursement stands for  the strength and steadiness of the financial framework, particularly within the protections  segment. The S&P 500 listing of Erie highlights the noteworthiness of built up businesses like  protections, which proceed to surrender steady benefits and are vital to the economy as a entire.  The firm is a appropriate expansion to the record since of its long-standing notoriety for  providing excellent client benefit and its territorial impact within the Joined together States,  which have made a difference to set up its position as a reliable player inside the financial  industry. 

The consideration of these three businesses is demonstrative of a bigger slant within the S&P  500’s broadening, which presently permits for a adjust between set up businesses and cutting edge, technology-driven segments. This alter reflects the rising understanding of technology’s  urgent part in business going forward, whereas moreover recognizing the continuous significance  of protections and money related administrations for keeping up financial steadiness. All things  considered, this drift focuses to a more energetic and differentiated S&P 500, way better situated  to speak to the variegated and energetic character of the American economy.

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Beauty brand Purplle reported a revenue of Rs 700 crore with revenue with a 46 percent dip in losses in FY24. https://www.scoopearth.com/beauty-brand-purplle-reported-a-revenue-of-rs-700-crore-with-revenue-with-a-46-percent-dip-in-losses-in-fy24/ Wed, 11 Sep 2024 11:02:10 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=344574 Purplle is a D2C startup that provides cosmetic and beauty product services across India. The startup showed 43.16 percent increase in its operational revenue to Rs 680 crore in FY24. The firm offers scientifically tested and expert-formulated beauty care products. The company’s primary source of revenue was the advertisement and visibility services, followed by the sales of these cosmetic products.

Entrackr mentioned in its report that the firm also earns its income through royalties, support, and subscription services. The company operates in two models including marketplace and its brand lines like Good Vibes and Face Canada. The operating revenue for this financial year increased by 43% and the sale of beauty products accounted for around half of the total revenue from operations. However, the net loss also decreased by 46.09 percent compared to the last fiscal year and stood at Rs 124 crore in FY24. The startup earned Rs 45 crore from interest on investments increasing the total income to Rs 275 crore in the same duration.

Purplle offers an online platform for beauty products and services. The company provides a customized and secure collection of multi-category beauty products globally. The total expenditure of the firm increased by 15.18 percent to Rs 850 crore in FY24. Marketing, and business promotion account for 25 percent of the total expenses. This expense decreased to Rs 209 crore compared to the last fiscal year. Employee benefits grew by 12 percent following the increase in workforce. The material cost, information technology, secondary packaging, transportation, and other expenses pushed the total expenditure to Rs 850 crore in FY24.

The beauty products and accessories startup company focuses on improving its brand presence while offering more innovative solutions, positioning it well in the global market. The startup plans to minimize losses by reducing operating expenses and employee benefits. The employee benefit increased by 12 percent in FY24. The EBITDA margin also improved and stood at -12 percent while the ROCE was reported to be around -9.8 percent in the same duration. Purplle posted cash and bank balances of Rs 109 crore. The company faces competition with other online multi-category products offering platforms such as Nykaa and FAB BAG. 

Conclusion :

Purplle is a D2C beauty and cosmetic brand that reported a 43.16 percent increase in operational revenue to Rs 680 crore with a net loss of Rs 124 crore in FY24. This online platform offers various beauty products and accessories including perfumes, shower gels, moisturizers, dryers, and eyeliners. These advertisement and visibility services along with sales of its products are the company’s primary sources of revenue.

The total expenditure of the firm increased by 15.18 percent and crossed Rs 850 crore in the same duration. Marketing, business promotion, and other expenses account for 25 percent of the total expenses. The company offers a variety of solutions and products including face masks, foundation, lipstick cleansers, and moisturizers. Purplle competes with other e-commerce beauty platforms including Nykaa and more.

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Teacher-founded startup Stylus secures £500k for marking tech https://www.scoopearth.com/teacher-founded-startup-stylus-secures-500k-for-marking-tech/ Fri, 06 Sep 2024 09:54:11 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=344447 Stylus, a UK-based startup was launched by a former teacher Dominic Bristow, and has secured £500,000 in seed funding. In this funding round, Sure Valley Ventures was joined by numerous angel investors and involved in the company’s expansion of its unique AI-driven marking solution called LearnCycle. This development is expected to help address the teacher workload challenge prevalent in the UK’s education sector and help increase staff retention through the use of smart systems in the marking process. 

Vision and Mission of Stylus

Stylus was established with the noble objective of solving the problem of overwhelming tasks experienced by teachers and enhancing the standards of learning using computers. Dominic Bristow, who was once a secondary school teacher, knows firsthand the burden of marking and fulfilling feedback on the assessments of students. This led him to create a stylus, aimed to use artificial intelligence to automate these processes and give teachers more time to teach. LearnCycle, the flagship offering of GreenShoot, is an automated marking solution that integrates human moderation to offer high-quality feedback to students. This method of making saves time used by teachers in marking but does not affect the quality of feedback that is essential for students learning.

Funding Details

The £500,000 seed funding round was provided by Sure Valley Ventures, a leading VC firm known for investing in the AI industry. The capital will allow Stylus to grow its service and reach more educational institutions in Great Britain. The funding will also be used to enhance features of the LearnCycle platform and to address the needs of educators and students in their usual learning processes.

The successful funding round places Stylus in a perfect place to make major advancements in the edtech industry. By having the support of its partner from Sure Valley Ventures, the company is in a better position to diversify its products of the company and spread its wings across other schools in the country. The development of new features that have been anticipated is expected to revolutionize the efficiency and effectiveness of the educational sector. 

Image Source: Stylus  

Teacher Workload and Cost Savings for Schools

Stylus seeks to lighten the load for teachers by automating the marking process so they can spend their time and energy on other aspects of teaching. Feedback is considered more valuable for students and their learning and development for high quality. The intelligentStylus solution makes it possible to offer timely feedback to students which in one way, shape, or form helps students in improving on their results as well as engagement. Stylus’ technology can prove greatly beneficial to schools by reducing the amount of time teachers spend correcting homework and other tasks. This would cost roughly £17,000 of teacher time per subject, per year group which makes it around £750, 000 for an entire school.

Leverage of advanced AI technology

Stylus’ LearnCycle platform can analyze paper-based assessments, with the use of sophisticated AI technology. Teachers only glance through the contents of the student papers which are scored by AI and revised by freelance tutors. This process creates individual reports for every learner, providing feedback that is specific to the learner, but it does not take a teacher a lot of time to do this since the papers are automatically marked. The platform is especially useful for schools wherein administering online tests is not feasible, which makes Stylus an indispensable resource for sectors that heavily utilize paper-based tests. As much of the marking is done by the AI, Stylus guarantees that teachers will be able to give quality feedback regardless of the work input required. 

Conclusion

The £500,000 seed funding is an achievement in the edtech space, especially for Stylus. Stylus benefits from the backing of Sure Valley Ventures and its aim to use superior AI technology to drastically change the marking experience in school. As the company continues to develop and expand its offerings, it will be exciting to see how Stylus shapes the future of education and empowers teachers to focus on what they do best: teaching. 

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Certus Core, a Tampa-based startup awarded a $1.25 million U.S. Air Force contract for data software https://www.scoopearth.com/certus-core-a-tampa-based-startup-awarded-a-1-25-million-u-s-air-force-contract-for-data-software/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 12:51:12 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=344430 Certus Core, a Tampa-based startup, has been selected for a $1.25 million deal with the US Air Force on its new Semantic Knowledge Graph (sKG) software. This great achievement highlights how the company has been with solutions to data-related issues within the national security industry. The acquisition was conducted under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Program supported by AFWERX a technology directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Aim of Certus Core

Certus Core was established by Jake Dyal and Casey Johnson, and the company has decided to focus on the issues of data structures and the creation of generative AI in the context of national security. The Semantic Knowledge Graph software formulated by the company aims at combining and interpreting massive information to improve business decisions.

The U.S. Air Force struggles with managing and leveraging the large quantity of data that is collected throughout organizations. Most conventional data management systems have problems including isolated data sets, poor integration, and high costs in data analysis. Certus Core’s sKG software solves these problems by establishing a single, coherent data architecture that supports integration and analysis.

Usage of Funds

The $1.25 million contract will be used more systematically to enhance and implement Certus Core’s sKG software in the Air Force. This includes improving the functions of the software, procuring additional manpower to work on the project, and intensive tests to meet higher standards of national security projects. The software shall be of immense help in solving the Vendor Threat Mitigation issue, a key issue in Air Force and national security domains.

Data Challenges with AI and Machine Learning

Certus Core’s solution, the sKG software incorporates AI and machine learning to develop a competitive data management system. The software also allows the Air Force to ask prompt-based questions within the data consumer platform while maintaining their current analyses. This integration is a great advantage for the Air Force as it increases the ability to perform analyses in a faster and more efficient way.

Casey Johnson, the VP of Business Development at Certus Core, pointed out the problem of data silos and the need to use machine learning and AI in both private and government organizations. In turn, Certus Core’s sKG software was developed to improve these traditional approaches to deliver clearer and richer insights to enhance organizational decisions and plans.

Innovative Approach and Potential 

The successful implementation of the sKG software from Certus Core in the U.S. Air Force may well translate to broader application to other departments in the military or governmental institutions. Data protection and the application of artificial intelligence technologies will be a game-changer for national security organizations with the company’s help.

Certus Core’s accomplishment also underscores the need to encourage small businesses and startups to produce advanced technologies for the nation’s security. The SBIR program through which this contract was awarded, is important in promoting innovation and allowing small businesses to participate in important national security initiatives. 

Conclusion

Certus Core’s $1.25 million contract with the U.S. Air Force is a major achievement for a Tampa-based startup. Through the SKG, the company affirms that it will transform how data is managed in the context of the national security domain, solving key problems and improving decision-making. Due to partnering with the SBIR program and AFWERX, Certus Core is prepared for significant contributions toward national security and beyond.

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India Exports First Ready-to-drink Fig Juice from GI-Tagged Purandar Figs to Poland https://www.scoopearth.com/india-exports-first-ready-to-drink-fig-juice-from-gi-tagged-purandar-figs-to-poland/ Tue, 20 Aug 2024 12:51:52 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=344102 India has reached a new level of success in the agro-products export sector by exporting new ready-to-drink fig juice to Poland. The juice produced with the GI-tagged Purandar Figs is a great start for accessing the European markets. 

Purandar Highlands’ Achievement 

The farmer producer company that has come up with this landmark export is called Purandar Highlands Farmers Producer Company Ltd based in India. Their fig juice, for which they have claimed a provisional patent, has received much recognition. The figs employed in the juice are identified by their sweetness, size, and nutritional values as indicated in the study. It is noteworthy that Purandar’s figs are reputed to be some of the best figs in India. Other produce from the region including Purandar Custard Apple, Ratnadeep Guava, and Green Pea also attract buyers across India.

Even at the SIAL 2023 exhibition and Macfrut Italy, the highest appreciation of the presented fig juice speaks about its high quality and popularity. The export was done through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). 

History and Cultural Significance of Figs

Figs have been used from time immemorial for their taste, nutritive value, and therapeutic benefits. In many cultures, they are considered as signs of fertility, wealth, and richness. The tree itself is also symbolic in that it signifies strength, protection, longevity, power, and particularly resilience in the face of adversity. According to different traditions, figs are symbolized by certain positive characteristics if one comes across a fig in dreams or on the way.

Old Egyptian and Greek people grew them to represent fertility and plenty. As for Romans, they loved the fruits and treated figs like money. Today, figs are still widely used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, thus preserving this history for modern people. 

Nutritional Benefits of Figs

Figs are good sources of dietary fiber that help to ease digestion, combat constipation, and soften the stool. They are also considered to be prebiotic, providing food to healthy bacteria in the gut. Animal research also shows that supplementation with fig extract or paste may help enhance the condition of patients with digestive illnesses such as ulcerative colitis. Daily consumption of figs has effects on blood pressure and cholesterol levels and can be of benefit to those who suffer from hypertension.

Figs are loaded with copper that are vital for the production of energy and blood cells and Vitamin B6, which helps in breaking protein and maintaining a healthy brain. Figs contain soluble fiber which aids in controlling blood sugar levels. Eating fresh figs is another effective way of taking your body back to the gym; it even works well as a snack or part of your meals. Figs are sweet fruits that are not only tasty but also help to improve health. 

Global Market Entry and Significance

Export partner Scion Agricos Pvt Ltd helped Purandar Highlands in marketing its juice in international markets. The accomplishment demonstrates that the Purandar region can also be placed on the international map while celebrating fig farmers and their ability to innovate and grow sustainably.

The first take-and-serve fig juice prepared in India being sent to Poland is an advancement for the Indian processed agricultural food export sector. This shows India’s increasing market share in the international market and the outlook that even specialty niche agricultural goods can make a difference. 

Conclusion

The Indian fig juice with a GI tag reaching Europe is proof that India is a nursery to agriculture and a validation for Purandar Highlands. Every time fig juice crosses the border, it creates new opportunities for farmers across the country and unveils the vastness of Indian agro-produce. 

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Microsoft Hits Back At Delta After The Airline Said Last Month’s Tech Outage Cost It $500 Million  https://www.scoopearth.com/microsoft-hits-back-at-delta-after-the-airline-said-last-months-tech-outage-cost-it-500-million/ Wed, 07 Aug 2024 10:24:03 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=343829 Wednesday, 7 August 2024, Bengaluru, India

Microsoft has responded to a legal action brought against it by Delta Air Lines in a battle involving other big players in the technology sector. The airline recently blamed Microsoft and cybersecurity software firm CrowdStrike for a huge technology outage saying that the fiasco cost them $500 million. However, Microsoft is now contesting assertions by Delta. 

Image Source: Tech Xplore 

Incomplete and Misleading Claims 

The Delta CEO Ed Bastian shifted the blame on Microsoft and CrowdStrike, also stressing the financial loss incurred by the company due to the outage. However, Microsoft has risen to the challenge by coming up with quick and aggressive counter-strategies. Microsoft’s attorney Mark Cheffo sent a letter of complaint to Delta’s attorney David Boies, stating that Delta’s public statements were ‘incomplete, false, misleading and damaging’ to Microsoft. Cheffo wondered why other airlines take less time to return to normalcy than Delta. 

Key IT Systems and Delta’s Investment in IT 

Cheffo further pointed out that companies’ most important IT systems cannot solely depend on Microsoft Windows, suggesting that Delta’s most important systems probably use technologies provided by other companies. It is important to make this distinction to effectively identify the cause of the outage. To this, Delta pointed to its major commitment to providing more reliable service. Since its inception in 2016, the airline has invested billions of dollars in IT capital and IT spending annually. A Delta spokesperson refused to give any more information regarding the current conflict on the matter. 

Reason for Tech Outage in Delta 

The outage at Delta was caused by a failed software update from the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike that impacted computer systems that use Microsoft Windows. Delta took longer to rebound compared to its competitors, with the airline canceling more than 5,000 flights in the days following the event of July 19. An additional factor could be the airline’s dependence on legacy IT systems, which might have prolonged the disruption process. Microsoft, however, disagrees with the claims of Delta and argues that other airlines took less time to recover. This continues to be the case as these matters are under investigation. 

CrowdStrike’s Role and Silent CEO 

Another stakeholder who refuted Delta’s allegations was CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity firm. CrowdStrike and Microsoft insist that Delta turned down their offers to help address the shutdown. Ironically, Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, contacted Ed Bastian during the crisis through an email, but the latter remained silent. This lack of communication brings another mystery into the chronicle. 

CrowdStrike’s Software Update 

On July 19, 2024, the American cybersecurity organization CrowdStrike released a wrong update to its Falcon Sensor security program. This update led to more issues on Microsoft Windows computers that use the software. undefined Five million systems shut down and failed to boot back up correctly, an event that has been described as the worst blackout ever in information technology history. It impacted the day-to-day life, communities, businesses, all segments of government, and all sectors of businesses and industries such as airlines, airports, banks, hospitals, and so on. It has been stated that the financial losses of the affected companies are no less than $10 billion. Even though a patch was launched, manual actions were required, resulting in the continuation of outages on many of the services. It illustrates the fine line between IT and dependability in a dependant society. 

Conclusion 

Aside from the legal battle that has accompanied this story, it highlights the volatile relationship between technology and dependability. Like all other industries, the airline industry relies greatly on the efficiency of IT systems. When those systems fail, problems manifest themselves in operations, customer relations, and, ultimately, profits.

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Pay 70% Less Price For Google Maps Platform, a Popular Google Product for Indian Developers Starting August 1, 2024 https://www.scoopearth.com/pay-70-less-price-for-google-maps-platform-a-popular-google-product-for-indian-developers-starting-august-1-2024/ Sat, 20 Jul 2024 09:00:31 +0000 https://www.scoopearth.com/?p=343258 Google has recently revealed that it is cutting the price of Google Maps Platform by a large extent in India in a bid to encourage innovation and help local developers. The product is highly popular and starting from August 1, 2024, Indian developers will be able to purchase it with a 70% discount. This strategic decision is expected to transform the country’s location-based solutions development as it makes these superior mapping technologies more affordable. 

New Pricing Structure

Google’s latest move of a maximum of 70% reduction in price is a strategy towards the implementation of the country-based pricing model for Google Maps Platform. This new pricing model is intended for uniquely positioned Indian developers who heavily rely on Google Maps for various purposes, starting from ride-hailing services and ending with the e-commerce industry.

The new pricing plan will ensure that the cost of many APIs is significantly lowered. For example, the Geocoding API service, currently offered at $5.00 per 1,000 requests for the first 100,000 monthly requests will then be charged $1.50 per 1,000 requests up to 5,000,000 per month for Indian customers. This significant reduction in price hopes to open up the use of Google’s vibrant mapping systems to new startups and small businesses.

Supporting the Developer Community

The price cut is not only about making Google’s service cheaper but also about supporting the growing developer ecosystem in India. Through reductions in these barriers to entry, Google seeks to foster developers so that they may develop efficient and unique solutions to serve the local economy.

However, Google themselves are further sweetening the deal by providing additional discounts for developers building for ONDC via a partnership with the Open Network for Digital Commerce. This partnership will give up to 90% discounts on the specific APIs that are being utilized in e-commerce and its connected applications; ensuring developers work on solutions that will revolutionize the established digital commerce market in India.

A Competitive Landscape

Google’s move is strategically important since the mapping services market is becoming increasingly competitive. Ola, the Indian ride-hailing app now uses its own developed Ola maps instead of Google maps and it is expected to save Rs 100 crore annually. For instance, Ola’s CEO, Bhavesh Aggarwal, is trying to lure developers by providing free map access for one year to move to Ola Maps. 

Boost for Innovation

Apart from improving access to mapping services for people, Google is also supporting innovation in diverse industries. Thus, developers can now take risks in exploring new concepts and build innovative solutions that incorporate the use of location-based information. This can result in the creation of innovative solutions that can solve specific problems of consumers in India and companies.

Cost reduction is believed to bring about significant changes in various fields like smart cities, transportation, logistics, and e-commerce. From the affordability standpoint, developers can access Google’s advanced mapping capabilities to enhance their solutions to optimize the efficiency of cities, enhance public transportation systems, and supply chain management as well as offer enhanced services to customers.

Conclusion

Google’s recent announcement stating that the Google Maps Platform will be priced up to 70% lower from August 1, 2024, is considered a big achievement for the developer community in India. This measure not only serves to popularize such mapping technologies as GPS but also contributes to the development of new SMEs and the creation of jobs in various industries. 

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