Finally, some good news for the Indian crypto community.

Even if [the cryptocurrency] is supposed to be based on underlying assets, I am observing a lot of speculation.

Interestingly, while the Personal Data Protection Bill has made the cut the Banning of Cryptocurrency & Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill 2019, is missing.

BRICS Mulling Official CryptocurrencyThe government holding off on any plans of a complete prohibition of cryptocurrency trading could also be seen in sync with some recent global developments.

HTC And Binance Announce Limited Edition EXODUS 1 SmartphoneConsumer electronics company HTC and global cryptocurrency exchange Binance have announced a limited edition smartphone EXODUS 1 – Binance Edition. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1573912806.0314915/BRICS-Mulling-To-Common-Cryptocurrency,-New-HTC-EXODUS-1-&-More?ref=audio_experience

The interested fintech startups can take part in VEI by sending an application for the Visa Everywhere Initiative anytime from November 13, 2019 to December 25, 2019.

Furthermore, the shortlisted fintech startups will have the opportunity to showcase their proposed solutions to an expert panel on March 2020, based on which the winner will be announced.

These might range from growing digital payment awareness and usage beyond metros to increasing access to credit or scaling commercial payments.

He believes that through VEI, Visa will be able to empower the promising Indian fintech ecosystem that aims at making a difference in the way India pays.

As per Datalabs report by Inc42, the fintech sector has raised $6.97 Bn by 2707 Indian fintech startups across 453 deals from 2014-2018, wherein the maximum $3.3 Bn came in 2017. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1573911006.9181972/Visa-Launches-Innovation-Programme-To-Mentor-Fintech-Startups-In-India?ref=audio_experience

Amazon claimed that it has noticed a six-fold increase in the number of customers using Alexa.

In 2018, Amazon claimed to double the number of daily users interacting with Alexa and Echo devices.

Launched in 2017, Alexa can be operated through Amazon’s smart speakers Echo, which comes in three variants — Echo, Echo Plus, and Echo Dot.

Last month, Amazon also integrated Alexa with its digital payments platform Amazon Pay, which enabled users to make payments, like phone bills, water bills and electricity bills, using voice commands.

Moreover to connect to Indian users, Amazon also launched a Hindi interface this year. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1573909205.8499053/Good-News-For-Amazon!-Alexa-Records-Six-Fold-Growth-In-India?ref=audio_experience

The social video app TikTok has touched 1.5 Bn downloads worldwide on the App Store and Google Play.

It was only in February this year that TikTok hit the 1 Bn downloads milestone.

The increase primarily came from India, which has around 277.6 Mn downloads so far this year, which is around 45 percent of total global downloads this year.

How India Drives TikTok’s GrowthThough TikTok is available in around 150 markets, maximum downloads come from India.

According to Mary Meeker’s 2019 Internet Trends Report, global internet users has touched 3.8Bn, which is more than half of the world’s population. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1573907406.4661238/How-India-Helped-TikTok-Cross-1.5-Bn-Downloads-Worldwide?ref=audio_experience

What is the method for creative folk to develop great ideas?

Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, spoke at TED on just this topic, addressing how ‘originals’ – thinkers who come up with new ideas and are able to implement them – go about their business.

He lists 3 main habits of originals that he has arrived at by studying them:Originals are late to the party.

________________________________ Originals are full of fear and doubt.

Talking points: | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1573905605.4952767/The-3-surprising-habits-of-original-thinkers-and-doers?ref=audio_experience

Legendary investor and Chairman & CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffet, spoke at a summit in the US offering valuable lessons and advice for entrepreneurs that can be applied across sectors.

Using examples such as Rose Blumkin who founded Nebraska Furniture Mart and Jack Taylore who founded Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Buffet brings out actionable ideas on how entrepreneurs should go about building their businesses.

Talking points: | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1573903805.0061898/“Multiply-yourself-through-other-people”-:-Warren-Buffet’s-advice-for-entrepreneurs?ref=audio_experience

If you live and breathe startups day in and day out then you have come to the right place to test your knowledge!

Presenting, The Startup Ecosystem Quiz!

What do you need to do?

It’s simple.

Just answer the questions below and 5 lucky winners will get INR 500 Paytm Voucher! | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1573902005.1713283/How-Well-Do-You-Know-The-Indian-Startup-Ecosystem??ref=audio_experience

However, a piece of recent news, which falsely claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi over the Ayodhya verdict, has finally moved the government to set up a body to battle online fake news.

According to an ET report, the government was quick to claim that this report was “malicious” and “fake’.

For battling fake news in the country, the government has laid out four principles — find, assess, create and target (FACT).

Initially, the government’s FACT check module is going to be manned by Indian information service officers.

Moreover, besides reviewing content and raising alarm over any false news or misinformation, the FACT team will also bring out appropriate content to counter the narrative. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1573900205.911831/Indian-Govt-To-Battle-Fake-News-With-New-Module-FACT?ref=audio_experience

We want to make content creation, right from strategy to execution, accessible through an on-demand virtual workforce at any scale, vertical, and language.

We are building the future of work for content in India,” Anirudh claims.

One common problem almost all startup founders face is hiring the right team.

It isn’t easy to find the right talent that fits the company's culture and can help scale, at the right time.

But Vanishri Deshpande has been solving for this “founder's block” with ConnectEcho, her “startup for startups”. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1573896608.3640757/WATCH:-The-week-that-was---from-Xiaomi's-success-in-India-to-startups-going-after-the-next-300M-consumers?ref=audio_experience

The ministry of consumer affairs has registered the highest number of complaints on its national helpline against homegrown ecommerce giant Flipkart in the financial year 2020.

The helpline also noted a high number of complaints against another homegrown brand Reliance Jio and global ecommerce giant Amazon.

A report by ET stated that out of almost six lakh complaints registered, one lakh was against ecommerce companies.

Overall, the minister of ecommerce noted the second-highest number of complaints against the recent entrant Reliance Jio.

Like last year, the ministry of consumer affairs managed to solve 5.55 Lakh complaints, out of the 5.65 lakh received. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1573894805.1871405/Flipkart,-Jio-And-Amazon-Register-Highest-Consumer-Complaints?ref=audio_experience