Browsing: Business

Can Blockchain Curb India’s Deepfake Crisis?

In October 2024, it was announced that Indian performer Rashmika Mandanna had been appointed as the national brand ambassador of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which is an initiative of India's Ministry of Home Affairs to combat cyber crimes. And why her? It may not just be because of her name brand. She was, unfortunately, subject to a deepfake in November 2023, making people wonder whether deepfakes could be weaponized as gender-based harassment.

It could go beyond that, however. It could, even, have political ramifications.

"What a bunch of malarkey. You know the value of voting Democratic. Our votes count. It’s important that you save your vote for the November election. We’ll need your help in electing Democrats up and down the ticket. Voting this Tuesday only enables the Republicans in their quest to elect Donald Trump again. Your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday"

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Will The Real Influencer Please Stand Up?: The Rise Of VC Storytellers

Many have debated when venture capital became a big deal in India. Some think it was in the 1990s after new policies were implemented, some say it was somewhere in the late 2000s and others say it was the 2010s. But, at whatever point it can be pinpointed to, VCs were seen to have the traditional role of a financial backer. But, maybe, in recent times, VCs seem to have become influencers. Not the kind dancing in an Instagram Reel to the latest viral 10-second tune. Maybe, there's a tiny chunk of investors out there doing that. The kind that's shaping narratives for India's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

How did that happen? With the pools of people hooked on to social media platforms & the penetration of the Internet and smartphones in India, VCs seem to have realized that the lava of their words could melt the shackles that hold them back from being brand-builders and storytellers. 

And the need's certainly there. One report outlines that the Indian startup ecosystem attracted more than $150 billion in investments, with FinTech, e-commerce and enterprise tech leading the charge. And India is said to have close to 120 unicorns, as of October 2024. The Shark Tank India-ization of the ecosystem may have meant that more people feel encouraged to drop everything and start their own venture, while not being aware that supposedly, close to 130,000 startups fail every day in India.

So, with the rising trend of VCs as storytellers, can they be the Northern Star for these startups?

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