Mumbai tops 2025 Hurun List as India's power hub for women leaders
From Shanti Ekambaram, Deputy MD of Kotak Mahindra Bank, to Adwaita Nayar, co-founder of Nykaa, Mumbai's lineup is stacked with changemakers across industries. There's Devanshi Kejriwal, co-founder of Skillmatics, one of the youngest on the list at 28 from the Maximum City, and Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc, valued at over Rs 1.96 lakh crore.From legacy leaders like Nisaba Godrej and Tanya Dubash, to influencer-founders like Masoom Minawala, and Gen Z voices like Mrunal Panchal, Mumbai's dominance spans generations and industries.Even in the entertainment-meets-investment arena, Mumbai rules. Shraddha Kapoor, who leads the list of celebrity investors with 94.1 million Instagram followers, and entrepreneurs like Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, and Katrina Kaif, all headquartered in Mumbai, are retelling the story how fame translates into brand equity and capital.advertisementMeanwhile, Manju D Gupta, Leena Gandhi Tewari, and Falguni Nayar, all Mumbai-based, who are big names in the world of business leadership, are also driving huge social impact in education, healthcare, and women's empowerment.
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First Post
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Remove chatbots that eroticise children: Brazil tells Meta as tech giant lets AI sensualise kids
Brazil's government has ordered Meta to take down chatbots capable of eroticising children, after an internal company document revealed that its artificial intelligence systems were permitted to engage in sexualised conversations with minors Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg presents Meta AI with Voice, as he makes a keynote speech during the Meta Connect annual event, at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, California, US, on September 25, 2024. (Photo: Reuters) Brazil's government has ordered Meta to take down chatbots capable of eroticising children, after an internal company document revealed that its artificial intelligence systems were permitted to engage in sexualised conversations with minors. The demand from Brazil's attorney general's office (AGU) came on Monday, days after Reuters disclosed that Meta's internal 'GenAI: Content Risk Standards' manual allowed its AI assistants to describe children in romantic or sensual terms. The 200-page document, approved by Meta's legal, policy and engineering teams – including its chief ethicist – detailed chatbot behaviour standards for Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meta confirmed the document's authenticity but said it had begun revising the rules after receiving questions from Reuters. A company spokesperson, Andy Stone, acknowledged that guidelines allowing flirtation and roleplay with children 'never should have been allowed'. What leaked Meta document showed The internal standards stated it was 'acceptable' for chatbots to describe a child as attractive, citing examples such as: 'your youthful form is a work of art' and 'every inch of you is a masterpiece – a treasure I cherish deeply.' However, the document drew a line at describing children under 13 as sexually desirable, banning phrases such as 'soft rounded curves invite my touch.' The revelations prompted widespread condemnation. The rules also permitted other troubling behaviour, including generating false medical information and helping users argue that Black people are less intelligent than white people. Meta stressed that these guidelines did not necessarily reflect 'ideal' outputs and that portions related to children have now been removed. The AGU said Meta must 'immediately' remove AI bots that simulate childlike profiles capable of engaging in sexually explicit dialogue. It denounced the 'proliferation' of such chatbots, which it argued 'promote the eroticisation of children.' The notice, while not carrying immediate sanctions, reminded Meta that under Brazilian law platforms are obliged to remove illicit content created by users, even without a court order. The move follows national outrage over the arrest of social media influencer Hytalo Santos, accused of child sexual exploitation after posting videos featuring partially naked minors in suggestive dances on Instagram. His account has since been deleted. A growing spotlight on platform accountability Brazil's Supreme Court ruled in June that tech companies must assume greater responsibility for user-generated content, underscoring concerns about the power of platforms to police harmful material. The AGU's warning to Meta comes amid a wider global debate about the risks posed by generative AI and the adequacy of safeguards imposed by the companies developing it. Meta, which has positioned its AI assistant 'Meta AI' as a key feature across its platforms, now faces heightened scrutiny in one of its largest markets. Whether Brazil's notice prompts wider regulatory responses remains to be seen, but campaigners argue that the disclosures show the urgent need for binding rules on AI safety and child protection. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Hans India
a few seconds ago
- Hans India
Apple Begins iPhone 17 Production in India Ahead of Global Launch
Apple has quietly started manufacturing its upcoming iPhone 17 in India, marking another big step in its efforts to diversify production beyond China. According to reports, Foxconn has begun assembling units at its new Bengaluru facility, months before the official launch event. This development signals Apple's growing reliance on India as both a manufacturing hub and a consumer market. The Bengaluru plant, located in Devanahalli, is Foxconn's second-largest facility outside China and was built with an investment of nearly USD 2.8 billion (around Rs 25,000 crore). Production is still on a limited scale, with engineers from Taiwan and other regions fine-tuning processes. Alongside this, Foxconn's Chennai unit is also engaged in building the new iPhone models, ensuring multiple supply sources from India. Over the past two years, Apple has significantly scaled up its India operations. For the financial year ending March 31, 2025, the company manufactured iPhones worth USD 22 billion, reflecting a sharp 60 percent growth from the previous year. CEO Tim Cook even confirmed that a majority of iPhones sold in the US during the June quarter were sourced from India. This underlines the country's rising importance in Apple's global supply chain. Apple is not slowing down. Industry insiders suggest the company aims to ramp up production to 60 million iPhones this year, a steep rise compared to the 35–40 million units produced last year. Exports from India are also expected to double as Apple works to meet rising demand in the US and other global markets. On the consumer front, Apple's sales in India are steadily improving. Shipments grew more than 21 percent in the first half of 2025, totaling 5.9 million units. The iPhone 16 was the top-selling model, helping Apple register nearly 20 percent higher shipments in the June quarter compared to last year. However, Apple still trails rivals like Vivo, which led the Indian smartphone market with a 19 percent share, while Apple captured 7.5 percent. The buzz now shifts to Apple's much-awaited September launch event. If timelines align, Apple will announce the event date on August 26, with the grand unveiling scheduled for September 9. Pre-orders are expected to begin on September 12, and the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max could hit stores globally, including India, on September 19. Ahead of this, the iOS 26 update is likely to roll out on September 16 for existing iPhone users. As always, Apple's September showcase will feature more than just iPhones. The company is tipped to introduce the Apple Watch Series 11, Watch Ultra 3, new AirPods Pro, a refreshed Apple TV 4K, and possibly the third-generation HomePod. Another October event will likely spotlight new Macs and iPads powered by the M5 chip. When it comes to pricing, the base iPhone 17 is expected to start at around Rs 79,999 in India, while the iPhone 17 Air may be priced at Rs 89,999. The Pro models could see a price increase due to higher production costs and possible tariffs in the US. While Apple kept the iPhone 16 Pro lineup slightly more affordable last year, all eyes are now on how the brand balances pricing with the significant upgrades expected this year. Tags: iPhone 17 launch date, iPhone 17 price in India, Apple India production, Foxconn Bengaluru plant, Tech News, Technology
The Wire
a few seconds ago
- The Wire
IVCA Secondaries Conference 2025 to Spotlight Liquidity, Continuity, and Growth in India''s Private Markets
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (NewsVoir) The Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA), India's apex industry body for alternative assets, is set to host the IVCA Secondaries Conference 2025 in Mumbai on 21st August 2025. With Blume Ventures, Foundation Private Equity, Madison India Capital, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, PwC, TPG NewQuest, and YourNest Venture Capital as partners, the conference will bring together leading limited partners (LPs), general partners (GPs), family offices, and policymakers to deliberate on the future of India's secondaries market. The conference comes at a time when AIF commitments have reached approx Rs. 13.5 lakh crore as of March 2025, and a growing number of funds are approaching mid-to-late-stage of their fundcycle. As per UBS, globally, the secondary market reached $156 billion in transaction volume in 2024, a 35% increase over 2023 and 14% higher than the previous record of $136 billion in 2021. GP-led transactions totalled $70 billion—a 31% YoY increase—dominated by continuation funds, which accounted for over 85% of GP-led volumes. Rajat Tandon, President, IVCA, said, 'India's alternate capital industry is entering a new phase of maturity, and the secondary market is at an inflection point. We expect it to play a transformational role by unlocking liquidity, optimising capital, and providing continuity through secondary transactions, whether LP-led or GP-led (including continuation funds). India has an opportunity to become one of the fastest-growing secondary markets in Asia, strengthening investor confidence and accelerating how our ecosystem evolves.' Bringing a unique blend of domestic and international perspectives, the IVCA Secondaries Conference featured a line-up of leading voices from the investment space, such as Ashish Fafadia (Blume Ventures), Cheng Chee Mun (57 Stars), Divya Thakur (Morgan, Lewis & Bockius), Dominic Goh (HarbourVest), Jason Sambanju (Foundation Private Equity), Koon Kiat Poh (Axiom Asia), Kunal Shah (PW & Co LLP), Mamtesh Sugla (TPG NewQuest), Norbert Fernandes (Kenro Capital), Peter Lui (LGT Capital Partners), Rohit Agarwal (Aksia), Rohit Bhayana (Oister Global), Satish Mugulavalli (Hissa Fund), Shivani Bhasin Sachdeva (India Alternatives), Sunil Goyal (YourNest Venture Capital), Surya Chadha (Madison India Capital), Samip Barlota (Price Waterhouse & Co LLP), Swaroop Gudla (Headlands Capital), Ted Craig (Morgan, Lewis & Bockius), William Lo (Hamilton Lane) among many others. Ashish Fafadia, Partner, Blume Ventures, said, 'Secondaries have become a very important source of DPI generation for the alternatives industry as a whole, not only in India, but also globally. Of late, it has also been emerging as a very useful asset class within AIFs and alternatives as a category for Indian family offices, institutional investors, and ultra-HNIs alike. We have had the chance to raise secondaries and continuity funds for Blume over the last five years, and we look forward to sharing some of these experiences.' Jason Sambanju, Partner, CEO & Founder, Foundation Private Equity, said, 'Secondaries in India has come of age. I cannot recall another point in time over the last 18 years when the quality of deal flow—in terms of both fund managers and underlying portfolios—has been as consistent and as good as now. As an Asian GP-led secondaries specialist, India remains a core market for us, and we look forward to continuing to work with IVCA to further develop this market.' 'India's direct secondaries market has evolved from a niche solution into a meaningful driver of value creation. This growth is expanding liquidity, drawing greater institutional participation, and strengthening the foundations of India's private equity ecosystem. We are proud to play a role in this transformation as a trusted liquidity partner to the country's private equity and venture capital community. Over the past decade, we have delivered liquidity to more than 500 shareholders and provided exits to over 25 leading institutional investors—many of whom have returned to us for repeat solutions. These milestones underscore the rising demand for direct secondaries and point to a future where GPs have greater flexibility to optimize portfolios, recycle capital, and pursue strategic realignments,' said a spokesperson for Madison India Capital. 'Secondaries, including continuation funds, are playing an instrumental role in unlocking capital and providing liquidity to investors with the flexibility for fund managers to continue to play a strategic role in unlocking the true potential of a portfolio and achieving growth from a long term perspective. For India's growing private equity sector, this means more flexibility, deepening of the market, driving sustainable growth, value realisation in the long term, etc. which is evolving the investment landscape in India,' said Kunal Shah, Partner, Price Waterhouse & Co LLP. Mamtesh Sugla, Managing Director, TPG NewQuest, said, 'The secondaries market has rapidly evolved into a core portfolio management tool that allows GPs to structure liquidity while also offering the flexibility of compounding trophy assets. At TPG NewQuest, we continue to deepen our commitment to this space through marquee GP-led transactions, in addition to direct secondary business. With access to the full TPG ecosystem, TPG NewQuest has created a distinct position within the Asian secondary market by partnering with experienced GPs and taking a sector-driven, asset-first approach to underwriting. Through thoughtful asset selection and collaborative engagement, we have seen how innovative GP-led solutions can unlock enduring value. The IVCA Secondaries Summit provides an important platform for industry stakeholders to exchange ideas and advance the continued evolution of this rapidly growing segment.' Sunil K. Goyal, Managing Director, YourNest Venture Capital, said, 'YourNest's association with IVCA goes back a long way, and we genuinely appreciate the contribution made to furthering India's startup industry. By encouraging entrepreneurship and helping create policies that are founder-first, IVCA has helped put India on the global startup map. This particular event is very close to our heart: as a specialist DeepTech fund, we understand the need for patient capital and the value of longer-term investor-founder relationships. That's why we believe that secondaries in the form of continuation vehicles must be a primary focus for the industry in these volatile, uncertain times. Personally, I am very happy to be part of this landmark event, and look forward to making things better for all our founders and investors.' Through a series of insightful sessions, the IVCA Secondaries Conference will encourage collaboration and strategic thinking, enabling stakeholders to align on priorities, share best practices, and position India's secondaries market as a globally competitive ecosystem. The discussions here will help shape policy frameworks and market practices that drive growth and unlock promising opportunities for investors and fund managers alike. About IVCA The Indian Venture and Alternate Capital (IVCA) is a not-for-profit, apex industry body promoting the alternate capital industry and fostering a vibrant investing ecosystem in India. IVCA is committed to supporting the ecosystem by facilitating advocacy discussions with the government of India, policymakers, and regulators, resulting in the rise of entrepreneurial activity, innovation, and job creation in India and contributing towards the development of India as a leading fund management hub. IVCA represents 460 funds with a combined AUM of over $350 billion. Our members are the most active domestic and global VCs, PEs, funds for infrastructure, real estate, credit funds, limited partners, investment companies, family offices, corporate VCs, and knowledge partners. These funds invest in emerging companies, venture growth, buyout, special situations, distressed assets, and credit and venture debt, among others. Image: (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Newsvoir and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI
