Vardhman Jain, co-founder of coffee startup Drickle, shared a candid reflection after nearly 5 years of building the business, calling entrepreneurship mentally and financially gruelling. He warned aspiring founders not to start a venture without strong financial backing and emotional resilience. His advice sparked a debate about the harsh realities of building consumer businesses in India.

Indian rupee has emerged as one of the weakest emerging market currencies against US dollar so far in 2026, falling 2.4%, as per LSEG data. Polish zloty is the worst performer among emerging market currencies, down 2.9%. Other currencies that saw a decline include Hungarian forint (-1.8%), Peruvian sol (-1.7%), Indonesian rupiah (-1.1%), Chilean peso (-0.9%) and Colombian peso (-0.4%).

Indian rupee hit an all-time low of 92.18 against US dollar on Wednesday due to the spike in oil prices caused by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Middle East war. "India imports...majority of its oil, so rising crude prices increase the country's import bill and dollar demand, putting pressure on the currency," a fund manager said.

After the Indian rupee hit a new all-time low of 92.18 against US dollar, analysts from Finrex Treasury Advisors said, "This is now a goldmine for exporters." "They can now sell at above ₹92 levels for their cash/spot receivables, while importers now need to wait for dips to buy the dollar," they added. This comes amidst war in Middle East.

US President Donald Trump said US Navy will begin escorting oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz to ensure "free flow of energy to the world". Iran had closed the Strait amid the Middle East war, which caused a spike in global oil prices. He also ordered the US government to provide "risk insurance" to all shipping firms at reasonable prices.

A new cooperative ride-hailing platform called 'Bharat Taxi' allows drivers to become co-owners by investing just ₹500. Inspired by the cooperative model behind Amul, the initiative aims to share profits with drivers and give them a role in decision-making. The scheme is designed to improve earnings and create a fairer alternative to traditional ride-hailing platforms.

Motorola has unveiled the Edge 70 Fusion, a slim mid-range smartphone featuring a quad-curved 6.78-inch 1.5K OLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate. The device also packs a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset, 50MP Sony LYT-710 camera and a massive 7,000 mAh battery. With premium design and strong specs, the phone targets performance-focused users in the mid-range segment.

Hyderabad is preparing to introduce driverless pod taxis to strengthen last-mile connectivity around major metro stations and IT hubs, according to reports. The futuristic transport system will operate on elevated tracks at speeds up to around 40-60 km/h and carry small groups of passengers per pod. The project aims to reduce traffic congestion and provide faster travel between metro stations.

Pune traffic police have issued a final warning to vehicle owners with pending e-challan fines, urging payment within 30 days via SMS notices from 'MHPECH-G'. Non-compliance risks driving license suspension by RTO and court action. Led by Additional Commissioner Manoj Patil, the drive (February 26-March 1) targets defaulters to boost road safety.

India has taken a major step towards green transportation with the trial run of its first hydrogen-powered train from Jind in Haryana. During the test, the train reached 70 kmph over a 20-km stretch between Jind and Lalit Khera. The project aims to reduce diesel dependence, cut carbon emissions, and promote sustainable railway technology across India.