Commenting on the state’s EV policy, Jateen Gupta, the managing director of Iscon Group said that the state government can announce its final EV policy whenever it wants.

He further said that they have decided to set up EV charging stations in our upcoming malls and commercial buildings ahead of state’s EV policy, he added.

The central government is also spearheading the electric vehicle adoption in the country.

Recently, the Indian government had approved the setting up of 2,636 EV charging stations across the country, under its ambitious FAME II scheme.

The government had announced that it will be installing EV charging stations across 62 cities in 24 states and union territories. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1579001406.5629346/From-Charging-Stations-To-Incentives:-Gujarat-Govt’s-Aid-For-EV-Adoption?ref=audio_experience

Three startups from different sectors including AI-based fitness app Fitphilia, online pharmacy Sabse Sasta Dukan, and smart floatation device manufacture GoFloat have raised Rs 3.5 crore at the first 'Shark Tank' event organised by JITO Angel network.

A total of Rs 45 lakh was also raised as seed funding for five startups (Rs 9 lakh each).

The total seed cum shark funds raised by startups through the event hence touched Rs 4 crore.

This was the first Shark Tank organised by JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF) in association with JITO Youth Wing.

At JITO, we are proud to be playing a leading role in this shift through one of India's largest angel networks," added Abhaya Srisrimal Jain, Chairman, Lifecell. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1578999606.0147948/[Funding-alert]-Three-startups-raise-Rs-3.5-Cr-at-a-'Shark-Tank'-event-organised-by-JITO-Angel-Network?ref=audio_experience

Perion Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: PERI), a Tel Aviv, Israel-based technology company that delivers advertising solutions to brands and publishers, acquired Content IQ, a New York City based digital publishing orchestration system provider.

Under the terms of the agreement, Perion acquired all the shares of CIQ for a total consideration of $73.05 million.

As part of the total consideration, there is a maximum of $47.05 million in earn-outs over a period of two years.

As part of its integration plan, Perion will relocate the CIQ New York operations into its New York offices.

Led by Doron Gerstel, CEO, Perion is a global technology company that delivers its Synchronized Digital Branding solution across ad search, social media and display/video advertising. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1578997807.5691059/Perion-Buys-Content-IQ,-For-Over-USD73M?ref=audio_experience

Unicorn Capital Partners, a venture capital fund-of-funds manager, raised Unicorn Capital Partners Fund III, L.P., which closed at US$350M.

Monument Group, an independent private fund placement agent managed by a senior team with significant buy-side investment heritage, has advised Unicorn.

The investor base for Fund III, which closed on December 31, 2019, includes both new and existing investors and is comprised of leading endowments, foundations, pension funds, family offices and successful technology entrepreneurs.

Similar to the previous funds, the new vehicle will focus on China-based technology-enabled consumer, enterprise, broad TMT and healthcare investment managers.

FinSMEs14/01/2020 | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1578996006.6396775/Unicorn-Capital-Partners-Closes-Third-Fund,-at-USD350M?ref=audio_experience

AbSci, a Vancouver, Wash.-based protein printing company, closed a $10.4M Series D financing.

The round was led by KBI Biopharma and JSR Life Sciences with participation from existing investors Phoenix Venture Partners, Oregon Venture Fund, WRF Capital, and Columbia Ventures Corporation.

Its patented SoluPro™ expression platform rapidly produces complex proteins, ranging from mAbs, Fabs, enzymes, hormones and peptides, to emerging novel classes of biotherapeutics.

In addition, AbSci and KBI Biopharma have entered into an exclusive co-marketing agreement to jointly market and promote each other’s technologies, products, and services.

Under the agreement, KBI Biopharma, a biopharmaceutical CDMO providing fully integrated biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing services, has the exclusive right to market AbSci’s Protein Printing™ technology worldwide and is AbSci’s preferred CDMO for industrial scale-up of biologics developed using AbSci technology. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1578994207.1758592/AbSci-Raises-$15.4M-in-Series-D-Funding?ref=audio_experience

In days when the internet was at its infancy, data protection was embryonic and the concept of privacy as a human right was little more than a chimera.

It’s the focus on normative concepts related to informational privacy, laid out against the broader framework of laws and regulations relating to information privacy and data protection that demand our attention.

An early precursor to information privacy law was the much-celebrated 1890 essay by Warren and Brandeis titled “The Right to Privacy”.

This, in turn, necessitated the need for a comprehensive regime on data protection that would seek to control the collection, storage and use of personal data.

The Way Ahead For Data ProtectionA robust data privacy protection framework alone will be necessary but not sufficient to ensure a balance between identity, privacy and value creation out of data. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1578992510.8940058/The-Holy-Trinity:-Privacy,-Data-Protection-And-Identity-In-Indian-Context?ref=audio_experience

According to the 2019 data from the National Venture Capital Association, 1,356 AI-related companies in the U.S. raised $18.457 billion.

That topped the 1,281 companies that raised $16.8 billion in 2018, according to the 4Q 2019 PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor.

NVCA had projected that AI startups were on pace to set a new record after Q3 funding surged.

They managed to set the new high after $4.0 billion was raised by 267 AI-related startups during the last three months of 2019.

That was a slight dip from the $4.4 billion raised in Q3 2019. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1578990606.8730514/AI-startups-raised-$18.5-billion-in-2019-setting-new-funding-record?ref=audio_experience

A panel of Members of Parliament, formed by Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu to curb online child abuse, has suggested a dedicated mechanism to deal with online sexual crimes on children.

The panel has also put forth its demand to change the definition of ‘child pornography’ under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The panel was formed in December 2019 to look at possible legislative provisions to address the exploitation of children online.

The government launched a website for anyone to register complaints against inappropriate online content in September 2018.

More than 10K complaints of online content pertaining to child pornography and child sexual abuse were filed till March 31, 2019, on the portal. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1578988806.4029322/Govt-Calls-For-Changes-In-POCSO-Act-To-Stop-Online-Child-Abuse?ref=audio_experience

Celebrity engagement and wishing platform, Wysh, has raised $2 Mn in Series A funding round led by Kalaari Capital.

With this funding, Wysh plans to strengthen its marketing strategy and bring more celebrities on board.

Wysh is a two-way engagement that enables fans to get personalised video messages from celebrities by sending a video request.

The users can request for a “Wysh” or the personalised video by placing a request with a message for a celebrity.

Each celebrity sets a price for a personalised video from them. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1578987007.1763844/Celebrity-Engagement-Platform-Wysh-Bags-$2-Mn-To-Boost-Marketing-Strategy?ref=audio_experience

The most radical and transformative of inventions are often those that empower others to unleash their creativity – to pursue their dreams.”Inspiring examples of such invention and empowerment were showcased at Amazon AI Conclave, billed as ‘the largest and most unique AI event in the country’.

Last, but not least, it was about showcasing and honouring groundbreaking work being done in AI across the country with the Amazon AI Awards.

Ending by talking about how AWS was innovating AI & Machine Learning for India, Puneet elaborated on India-relevant products such as Amazon Comprehend, Amazon Polly, Amazon Transcribe, and Amazon Translate.

Anandamoy Roychowdhary, Director Technology, Sequoia CapitalThe future is voiceDilip RS, Head, Alexa Business (India), spoke about Alexa everywhere and how the future was voice.

This year, there were over 370 applications for the Amazon AI Awards, from companies doing cutting-edge work in AI across categories like Retail & eCommerce, Heathtech, Media and Entertainment, Enterprise & Industrial IT, Fintech, Women In AI Tech, and a surprise category - AI for Good. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1578985205.5416062/Amazon-AI-Conclave-Day-1:-key-takeaways-from-the-largest-AI-conclave-in-the-country?ref=audio_experience