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Info says doubles down on AI growth strategy.
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Former Freshworks executives dream team eyes 40 million dollar fundraise.
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AI reshapes big tech playbook.
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Cast 24 says twin founder exits ahead of IPO.
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You were listening to Money Controls Tech 3 Podcast.
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Hello listeners, welcome to Money Controls Tech 3 Podcast.
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Your go-to show for the shop is started with the updates you can get on the Money Controls
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websites, Spotify, Apple, or wherever you can report us.
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Alright, let's start with the infosys where the company is placing its bets on artificial
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intelligence or AI as the next phase of growth.
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Despite muted guidance and a sharp market reaction, the company's CEO Salil Parit in an interview
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with Money Control said that the focus remains on AI led transformation, discipline deal
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making and steady hiring.
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So in an interview with us, he said clients are increasingly exploring automation and
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platform led changes and that is beginning to reflect in demand.
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Now at the same time, Info says it's tightening its approach to deals as well, the company
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has walked away from some contracts where pricings or margins did not meet expectations.
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And if you look at it, this reflects a broader shift in the IT sector where companies are
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prioritizing profitability, who volume as pricing pressure is increasing every day.
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Now on the workforce front, Info says it has not carried out layoffs in the past year
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and does not plan to do so as well.
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Instead, it plans to hire around 20,000 fresh graduates maintaining its pace from last
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That's a good news to hear.
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Now the focus is also on re-skilling existing employees as roles evolve with AI.
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Now on the newer AI models like Anthropics MyThos, the company is taking a cautious approach.
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It is still assessing the implications before making any big strategic moves.
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So overall, the strategy is to adapt AI disruption while using it as a growth lever for Info
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Alright, moving to start-ups where a new AI native CRM player is looking to raise fresh
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This is an interesting one.
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We are talking about Dream Team, which was founded by former freshwater executives and
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is in talks to raise around 40 million dollars in its series A round.
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The round is expected to be led by Axel and together fund a devaluation of about 1.50
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to 200 million dollars.
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Now the company is building an AI first CRM platform designed to reduce manual data entry
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and automate workflows.
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Now it uses multiple AI agents to handle tasks that lead qualification, meeting scheduling
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and deal tracking as well.
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Now the founding team includes Arun Venkatraman, Sindhal Ghandaswami and Ramesh Patsadi, who
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previously held tops in your roles at Freshworks.
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Now sources have also told us that the company is being mentored by Freshworks founder Girish
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Mahatraputham and is part of a broader way of start-ups emerging from that ecosystem
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that is known as Freshworks Mafia.
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Now the product is currently instilled and is expected to be launched in the coming months.
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If you look at the broader context of funding comes amid investor interest in AI first enterprise
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software, we've seen companies like Warfix, RocketMain and even Unifor race funds.
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Alright, now to big tech where AI is not just a product but reshaping how companies basically
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operate and change their playbook.
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Companies like Meta and Alphabet are increasing investments in AI while also rethinking how
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teams are structured.
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The shift is towards doing more with fewer people.
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Meta for instance is cutting down about 10% of its workforce while increasing its capital
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expenditure outlook to as much as $145 billion, largely for AI infra.
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Alphabet is projecting even higher spending up to $190 billion as its scale AI products
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across its services.
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Now executives have highlighted how AI is compressing work cycles allowing smaller teams to deliver
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outcomes that previously required larger teams.
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Now this points for new operating model itself where AI is central to productivity not just
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So the takeaway here is that companies are combining higher infra investments with leaner teams
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Alright, finally to cars 24 where there is a leadership per reshuffle ahead of its planned
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Co-founder Mehul Agrawal has stepped down from his operating role after more than a decade
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Now remember this comes just today after another co-founder, Gajendra Jungidh also moved
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away from an executive role although he will continue to be involved in strategic
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Some background here cast 24 was founded in 2015 which has grown into a large online
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use car marketplace with operations in India and international markets like UAE and Australia.
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But the twin exit comes at a very important time.
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The broader changes in the leadership at the company also comes when the company is
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moving into the IPO landscape.
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Earlier this year it's India CEO for use cars, Heman Shuratnu also stepped down.
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So while founder transitions are common as companies prepare for public listings, multiple
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exits in a short span are likely to be closely watched.
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Alright, that's a wrap for today's episode of Tech 3 from Money Control.
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A big shout out to our reporters and the Reconcord are a team for the stories we covered
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So much listeners, we air every Monday to Friday between 7.30 and 6.30 pm.
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So if you own in for more news, minus the boring beds, this is Bhavya Delip Kumar signing
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Also a small note to our listeners, there will be no addition of our Tech 3 podcast tomorrow
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on May 1st on the occasion of Labor Day.
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We'll be back in your inbox on May 4th.
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Thank you so much again.
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You were listening to Money Control's Tech 3 podcast.