Sports-tech startup SportVot raises Rs 32.7 crore led by IAN Alpha Fund - The Economic Times

Indian venture capital firm IAN Alpha Fund has led a significant investment round of Rs 32.7 crore in SportVot, a sports-tech startup. This investment will likely support SportVot's growth and expansion in the sports technology sector. AI-assisted, human-reviewed.

A startup called JustPaid has created a humorous AI engineer persona inspired by a popular sitcom. This fictional character is meant to poke fun at the stereotypes surrounding AI engineers and their work, sparking conversation about the field. AI-assisted, human-reviewed.

Africa's startup equity value declined by 27% in the first quarter of 2026, despite start-ups securing $600 million in funding. This shift in the market may impact investors and entrepreneurs, potentially altering the landscape for African startups. AI-assisted, human-reviewed.

Parag Agrawal's new startup secured $100 million to develop a dedicated internet layer for AI agents, aiming to enhance their interaction and functionality. This initiative could reshape how AI systems operate online, impacting developers and businesses leveraging AI technologies. AI-assisted, human-reviewed

A VALORANT match between Evil Geniuses Academy and Shopify Rebellion Black is set to take place, with betting tips and live updates available. Fans of competitive gaming and esports betting are likely to follow the match closely. AI-assisted, human-reviewed

China has effectively banned the Manus model, a popular AI chatbot, following a backlash against Meta in the country. The move is a significant blow to the model's users, who relied on it for various tasks and services. AI-assisted, human-reviewed.