Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma has voluntarily forgone all 2.1 crore employee stock option plans, or ESOP units, granted to him, according to an exchange filing. "This will result in...one-time, non-cash, acceleration of ESOP expense of ₹492 crore in...quarter ended March 31, 2025," it added. Last year, SEBI issued a show-cause notice to Paytm over the ESOPs granted to Sharma.

Ex-Google MD Parminder Singh reacted to the BluSmart row regarding fund diversion, saying his elderly parents have "unwavering faith" in the ride hailing app. "They refuse to keep a car...saying, 'BluSmart hai na (There's BluSmart)'," Singh said. "I don't know exactly what went wrong but...they'll be heartbroken when I say, 'Ab BluSmart nahi hai (There's no BluSmart anymore)'," he added.

Playbooks shouldn't just list fonts and taglines, they should show how your brand comes alive. Include examples of real social posts, landing pages, emails, and decks. It's this practical application that helps teams use the brand confidently across formats. From content creators to sales decks, show what good looks like.

A brand is more than a name or logo, it's the emotional and functional promise you make to your audience. Your playbook starts here: purpose, mission, positioning, and values. These aren't buzzwords, they're what shape every campaign, conversation, and product update. Without clarity at the centre, execution scatters fast.

A branding playbook isn't just for design teams, it's the blueprint for how a brand shows up everywhere. From tone of voice to visual identity, it creates consistency across content, campaigns, and conversations. In a noisy world, a clear brand system builds trust, recall, and recognition faster and at scale.

Rigid systems break when your business pivots. Modular, API-first architectures let you plug in new tools, scale functions, or pivot models without overhauls. A strong tech foundation doesn't just serve today it prepares you for unknowns. Flexibility becomes your unfair advantage.

Blockchain isn't plug-and-play, it needs an adaptable, secure tech environment. Smart contract integration, decentralised data storage, and verifiable transactions all rely on strong system design. Whether it's for supply chain, finance, or authentication your backend must be blockchain-ready to explore these possibilities.

Data is only valuable when it's structured, accessible, and actionable. Scattered spreadsheets and siloed dashboards won't support fast decisions. Foundational tech means investing in data lakes, clean pipelines, and shared metrics, so that marketing, product, and leadership all see the same truth.

Misaligned tech stacks lead to workflow friction, tool fatigue, and slow execution. Choosing tools that integrate well, serve long-term goals, and match team needs is critical. A strong foundation isn't about having more tech it's about having the right tech that connects strategy to action.

Startups often chase rapid scale but without a strong tech base, growth cracks quickly. Scalable architecture, clean data systems, and modular design aren't just backend concerns they're growth enablers. Tech foundations built for flexibility and scale help businesses evolve faster and avoid expensive rework later.