Are Indian Startups Going Bust?

In today's episode, we're delving into the world of dating apps with Roshni Nair, executive editor at The Signal, and Naina Hiranandini, co-founder of the Indian dating app, Sirf Coffee. Bumble's new CEO is eyeing a revamp because users aren't too happy. So are dating apps losing their allure? Stay tuned until the end for all the details.

And in other news, we're talking about TikTok and its future in the US. The US House of Representatives has passed a bill by a landslide, giving TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, a stark choice: sell TikTok or risk being banned.

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth
Mastered and mixed by Yash Hirave

Also, check out the TechTonic Shift episode on dating apps - The Evolution of Dating Apps 

For the first story, we are looking at how India's ride-hailing companies are switching from commission-based models to subscription models to attract gig workers.

Also in today's episode, we interviewed Lt General DS Hooda, an army veteran and co-founder of the Council for Strategic and Defense Research. We essentially discuss about the new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute that says India was the largest weapons importer in the world between 2019-23 and the global arms race that is building up in this era of insecurity.

Tune in to this insightful episode!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth and Dinesh Narayanan
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

Also, check out our previous episodes on geopolitical tensions around the world and its effects on India:

The ongoing conflict in the Red Sea

What Indian stands to lose the Israel-Palestine War?

Palm Oil Get More Expensive

In today's episode we are taking a look at the latest updates in India's EV sector. And for the deep dive, we are talking about India's $100 billion trade pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. We'll be joined by Dinesh Narayanan, Managing Editor of The Signal & The Core, to unpack what India stands to gain or lose from this trade deal.

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth and Dinesh Narayanan
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

In this episode, we are talking about Bengaluru's water-shortage crisis. But what's the root cause of this problem and what can the city do to save itself? We take these questions to Mridula Ramesh, a climatetech investor and the founder of the Sundaram Climate Institute.

In other news, we are delving into how Indians found themselves in the conflict zone in Russia, shedding light on the nation's labor crisis.

Tune in for an insightful episode!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Dinesh Narayanan
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

In today's episode, we're diving into the performance of the Indian media industry throughout 2023. We've also got Soumya Gupta, senior editor at The Signal, joining us to provide her insights.

In other news, Apple's iPhone sales are hitting a plateau in India.

And to wrap up the week with our third segment, we are talking about Binance's Women's Day marketing campaign which involves launching a "CRYPTO" perfume.

Check out The Impression's latest edition - State of media: no💰 just vibes.

Tune in to this episode of The Signal Daily!

Episode Credits
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Anup Semwal and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth and Soumya Gupta 
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

In today's episode, we're talking about the McDonald's cheese controversy, where one of its outlets in Maharashtra is accused of using substitutes instead of real cheese.

And for our second segment, we are delving into the antitrust concerns surrounding Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store dominance, questioning if it's time for alternative platforms to step up. Joining us for this discussion is Dinoo Muthappa, an Antitrust lawyer and competition law partner at Talwar Thakore & Associates.

Also check out our previous episode on Apple's Walled Garden Gets a Side Gate & Google Play Store vs Indian Apps

Tune in for an insightful episode!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth 
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

Today's episode isn't our typical two-story format. Instead, we've got some big news to share. The Signal is merging with The Core, founded by financial journalist and media entrepreneur Govindraj Ethiraj. Together, we'll be bringing you in-depth stories across business, economy, technology, and geopolitics. Stay tuned and catch our latest episodes right here:

What's the uproar with India's new AI rules
Google Play Store vs Indian Startups
Reliance steps in Disney World
Made-in-India social media wasteland
Fewer planes in the skies this summer

India's Electronics and IT Ministry issued unexpected guidelines on AI regulations, causing concern among AI developers. The guidelines mainly focus on preventing AI misuse for unlawful content and requiring government approval for experimental AI models. But what are the real intentions behind these regulations, and what is India's stance on AI regulation? To shed light on these questions, we turn to Prateek Waghre, Policy Director at the Internet Freedom Foundation.
Aman Taneja, an IP and technology lawyer at Ikigai Law Firm, also joins us on to help us understand possible future approaches to AI regulations in India.

In other news, China is entering the whiskey segment, but can it beat India? Tune in to learn more about both the stories!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've been active on X, recently, you've probably seen the trending hashtag #SaveOurStartups. But what's the story behind it? Why do Indian startups need saving?

In other news, the ongoing turmoil in the Red Sea – one of the world's most vital maritime trade routes – is extending its reach into various sectors. Currently, attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces on commercial shipping are disrupting trade at a time when global economies are grappling with high inflation. Now, this crisis in the Red Sea could also impact your internet. In fact, it already has for Indian internet services.

Tune into The Signal Daily to learn more!

Episode credits
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth 
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reliance and Disney, former rivals in the streaming market, are teaming up to potentially create India's biggest media conglomerate. The joint venture is reportedly valued at $8.5 billion. But what are the implications of this merger for both companies, and how does it influence the media industry overall? We turn to media analyst and author Vanita Kohli Khandekar for insights.

In other news, TikTok and Universal Music Group are embroiled in a dispute over royalties. Despite a month-long standoff, neither side is willing to budge. As a result, many TikTok videos are going silent as the platform loses access to Universal's music catalog. Also checkout our previous episode where we explain the TikTok vs Universal Music Group beef in further details. 
Tune in to The Signal Daily to learn more!

Episode credits:The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth 
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.