Social gaming platform STAN raises $8.5 million
STAN, an Indian social gaming platform, has raised $8.5 million in funding from Japanese gaming giants like Bandai Namco and Square Enix, along with Google's AI Futures Fund. The funds will fuel expansion in India and other mobile-first markets, focusing on AI-driven personalization and creator tools. STAN aims to empower creators and build gaming communities, leveraging its 25 million downloads.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
a minute ago
- India Today
As Trump tariffs hit India, Apple boosts US investment by $100 billion
Apple said it will invest an additional USD 100 billion in the US over the next four years, expanding domestic manufacturing and supply chain operations after weeks of tension with President Donald Trump over the company's decision to shift iPhone production to is expected to tout the announcement on Wednesday at the White House as a major win for American manufacturing. 'Today's announcement with Apple is another win for our manufacturing industry that will simultaneously help reshore the production of critical components to protect America's economic and national security," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a move boosts Apple's total US investment commitment to $600 billion, up from the $500 billion the company had previously pledged. The announcement follows criticism from Trump, who earlier this year said there was 'a little problem' with Apple's decision to expand production in India. While in Qatar, the president recalled telling CEO Tim Cook directly: 'I don't want you building in India.'Apple's change of course comes on the same day Trump slapped a 25% additional tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil. With the new import taxes taking effect in 21 days, total US tariffs on Indian exports could reach 50%.Though Apple didn't comment Wednesday, CEO Tim Cook recently signaled a deeper push into US manufacturing during an earnings call, saying: 'We're doing more in this country, and that's on top of having roughly 19 billion chips coming out of the US now, and we will do more.'The company's new pledge also includes a $500 million deal with MP Materials, the only rare earths producer in the US. That agreement will expand a Texas factory to make recycled magnets used in iPhones.'There's a load of different things done in the United States,' Cook added on the same call. He cited US-made iPhone components like the glass display and facial recognition modules as examples of the company's growing domestic shares surged nearly 6 per cent on the news Wednesday. Nancy Tengler, CEO of Laffer Tengler Investments, which holds Apple stock, said the market's reaction shows relief that Cook 'is extending an olive branch' to the Trump so, Apple's stock remains down 14 per cent this year, weighed down in part by its slow entry into artificial intelligence — a strategic miss that investors say the company is now trying to correct with a pivot back to its strengths in hardware and production.- EndsWith inputs from Associated PressMust Watch
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Actor Vijay Deverakonda appears before Enforcement Directorate sleuths, claims he promoted gaming platform, not betting app
Hyderabad: Actor Vijay Deverakonda on Wednesday claimed that the app (application) he endorsed is not a betting one, but a gaming app, which is a legal and skill-based platform. Speaking to the media after appearing before Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in connection with the ongoing investigation into the illegal betting app case, Vijay Deverakonda said: 'I endorsed a gaming app, A23. There is no link with the betting app. Gaming apps are completely legal and recognised by govt agencies and are licensed. These entities pay GST and TDS.' ED officials, who found that he received Rs 4 crore from the apps, questioned him about the remuneration he received for promoting the platform. The questioning of the actor is part of a broader probe involving several celebrities who endorsed the app, which is under the scanner for money laundering and illegal operations. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad ED is now examining whether the app is legal or not. If found illegal, action might be initiated against the actor. ED had registered a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case based on the predicate offence booked by the Telangana police. 'Various statements by govts have recognised these gaming apps. A23 is a gaming app similarly recognised. If you search Google for top gaming apps, you will get results like A23, My11Circle, NPL and so on. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Emergency Generators in Montevideo: (Prices May Surprise You) Emergency Generator | Search Ads Search Now Undo These are registered gaming apps. They sponsor the Indian cricket team and the Olympic team. They are also official sponsors for the women's cricket team. They sponsor the kabaddi league and the volleyball league. They are completely legal entities. If someone is sponsoring the Olympic team, they must be legally authorised. Agencies and media should distinguish between gaming apps and betting apps,' he added. 'ED has called me without knowing about it. I have clarified. I have given them all the financial documents, transactions and account details they asked for. These apps are geo-locked. In Telangana, A23 is geo-locked and it won't open. Certain state govts allow it, while others won't allow it. ED has asked me about contract details also — I furnished them. They were satisfied,' he said. 'If there is anything further, I will let you know,' he said, adding 'whether it is right or wrong, the Supreme Court or the state govt will decide.' Meanwhile, actors Daggubati Rana and Manchu Lakshmi are scheduled to appear before ED in connection with the case next week. Skill-based gaming apps involve games where skill predominates, like fantasy sports. Indian courts, including those in Bombay and Punjab & Haryana, have ruled that such games do not constitute gambling under law. Betting and gambling apps, on the other hand, rely on chance-based wagering and fall under state gambling laws, which often prohibit them. In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, there is a ban on all real-money online gaming, including skill games. Despite the ban, consumer surveys report 96% awareness of illegality, yet continued participation via offshore apps, VPNs, and proxy platforms, raising concerns about enforcement and public risk.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
The Sunday Bazaar is Bengaluru's ultimate thrifting hotspot, say Maahir Mohiuddin
One sunny Sunday morning, actor Maahir Mohiuddin traded the sets for the dusty, vibrant lanes of Bengaluru's historic Sunday Bazaar. Navigating the crowded bylanes of Chikpete at 7 am, Maahir embarked on a treasure hunt through piles of forgotten artefacts and unexpected knick-knacks to see what hidden gems one of the city's oldest markets had to offer. Years ago, it was at this bazaar that he found an HMT Sagar mechanical hand-winding watch, one which had long gone out of production. 'My watches, my clothes – I find them all here. I'd say 70 per cent of my wardrobe is thrifted, and this bazaar is, hands down, one of my top places to discover those perfect finds,' he tells us. 'It's like they woke up and chose shopping' At Bengaluru's Sunday Bazaar, vendors start laying out their wares as early as 3 am. You can find practically anything here: clothes, footwear, jewellery, gardening and gym equipment, electronics, and hardware. This market, also known as Bengaluru's 'chor bazaar', is also where you might stumble upon stolen goods. As dawn breaks, Bengaluru's youth flood the narrow alleyways, grabbing an early morning coffee and breakfast before diving into some market haggling. 'People coming here at 7 am to buy clothes never fail to fascinate me. It's like, they woke up and chose shopping!' Maahir laughs. 'This is one of my favourite spots for those vintage finds' Vintage is in right now — and this is where you can find it if you have a good eye. 'For me, nothing beats finding something vintage here. This is Bengaluru's ultimate thrifting hotspot, and as someone who thrifts, this place is one of my favourites. We need to explore these spots more. Thrifting isn't just cool, it's incredibly sustainable. Everyone should embrace it.' 'Thrifting is booming, and people are flocking here for antiques to resell online at quadruple the price,' Maahir notes. 'Vendors have also become more discerning. Five years ago, you could haggle an HMT winding watch down to ₹200, but today, they're well aware of its worth.' 'Chances are these items won't function, but it's a bonus if they do' Maahir pauses at a corner where a cot lay spread on the ground, covered with an array of cassette players, bulky old recorders, scuffed record players, and stacks of well-worn vinyl. Maahir's gaze lands on a vintage vinyl record of Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. This particular find wasn't merely the songs; it featured the actual dialogue from the movie. 'Back in the day,' Maahir muses, holding the relic carefully in his hands, 'people would listen to these dialogues, get hooked, and then absolutely have to see the film. ' Of course, buying wares at the Sunday Bazaar is a gamble. While you might unearth antique table clocks—from Swiss makers to Indian household regulars—purchasing comes with a risk. You could get lucky, or you might end up with an irreparable watch due to mould. 'Pieces like the antique cameras, typewriters and telephones, available in plenty at the bazaar, often work as great showpieces once cleaned. Chances are they won't function, but it's a bonus if they do,' says Maahir. 'The trick to the Sunday Bazaar? Always show up with a blank slate' 'Every time you come here, it's interesting. When I started in theatre, helping out backstage, this very market was my hunting ground for props – things like old telephones or antique cameras, and of course, costumes. I quickly learned that if you come looking for something specific, you'll leave empty-handed. But come with a blank slate, and you'll find something crazy,' says Maahir, as he tries on an aqua-coloured jacket, a bargain find from a heap of garments, each priced between ₹50 and ₹200. What you can find at the Sunday Bazaar: l New and used clothing, shoes, bags, and jewellery l Old radios, cassette players, record players, and other gadgets l Vintage cameras, typewriters, old phones, vinyl records, clocks, and unique memorabilia l Kitchenware, tools, furniture, and decorative items l Sports gear, spare parts, and all sorts of unexpected finds A WORD TO THE WISE Keep your belongings close. A long-running joke is that if you lose something at the Sunday Bazaar, you might just be able to buy it back here the following week! Tips for shoppers: l Go early. The best finds often appear as early as 3 am, but a 7 am start is still prime time to beat the crowds l Don't look for anything specific; you'll find more treasures if you're open to surprises l Haggling is expected and encouraged l Always inspect electronics or watches for damage before buying l Keep your wallet, phone, and other belongings secure and close to your body l Carry cash. Many vendors operate on a cash-only basis
