📱 Billion dollar bet

Good morning. Today, President Donald Trump is set to declassify 80,000 pages of documents tied to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Could these files shed new light on one of history’s most debated events? What secrets do you think they hold? 🕵️‍♂️🔎

- Ruchirr Sharma & Shatakshi Sharmaa  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 📱 Billion dollar bet

• 🛵 Ola Electric, MobiKwik tumbles

• 🗞️ Bite-sized summaries

  • 🥫Another Pepsi acquisition

  • ✅ CCI approved

• 🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

• 🍿 Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment

MARKETS

🇮🇳 India

• Indian markets closed higher on Monday. Financial, healthcare, and metal stocks led the gains. Bajaj Finserv surged 3.8%, while Mahindra & Mahindra, Axis Bank, and Bajaj Finance rose around 2% each.

🌍️ International

• US stocks rebounded for the second consecutive day. This recovery followed last week's sell-off, which pushed the S&P 500 into correction territory. The rally was driven by expectations of potential rate cuts after weak retail sales data and manufacturing reports.

CONTENT

📱 Billion dollar bet

India’s creator economy is on the rise, powered by affordable internet and a growing youth population turning to digital platforms like YouTube and Instagram.

Recognizing this boom, the Indian government recently announced a $1 billion fund to support content creators, along with ₹391 crore to establish the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai.

This move signals a significant shift: content creation is no longer seen as just entertainment — it’s now a strategic economic and cultural asset.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The $1 billion fund, structured as a public-private partnership, aims to help creators access capital, upgrade production quality, and expand into global markets.

• Complementing this, IICT will focus on skilling the next generation in creative and digital technologies, akin to IITs and IIMs but tailored for the digital age.

• This initiative aligns with India’s larger ambition to become a global content exporter and build soft power through media, much like Hindi cinema has done for decades.

• The upcoming WAVES 2025 summit, to be held in Mumbai, will gather creators and media professionals from 100 countries. It also includes WAVES Bazaar, an online marketplace connecting Indian content creators to global buyers.

Why this matters: 

• India’s creative economy is already valued at $30 billion, contributing 2.5% to GDP and supporting 8% of the workforce.

• Influencer marketing alone is projected to hit ₹3,375 crore by 2026. Cities beyond the metros, like Guwahati and Indore, are becoming creative hubs, fueling a decentralized content revolution.

Overall: For India, this isn’t just about TikToks and vlogs — it’s about generating employment, boosting exports, and positioning Indian culture on the world stage.

The creator economy is increasingly tied to sectors like fashion, travel, and finance, unlocking new business and job opportunities.

In essence, this $1 billion push is India’s big bet on the digital age — a move to turn its vast pool of young creators into global cultural ambassadors and economic drivers.

Read more: Economic Times

MARKETS

🛵 Ola Electric, MobiKwik tumbles

India’s stock markets are in a bearish phase, and new-age tech stocks are bearing the brunt.

• Yesterday, shares of digital payments firm MobiKwik dropped 15% to ₹231.05 — a new 52-week low — after a lock-in period for nearly 46 lakh shares expired, making them available for trade. This marks a steep 61% decline from its post-listing high of ₹700, and the stock has now fallen below its IPO price of ₹279.

• Similarly, Ola Electric Mobility’s stock slid 6.7% to ₹46.94, hitting a record low following an insolvency petition filed by operational creditor Rosmerta Digital. The creditor alleges unpaid dues and has sought a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process against an Ola subsidiary. Ola’s stock has nosedived 45% since January and 60% over six months.

This turmoil isn’t limited to just these two firms. A broader slump in Indian tech stocks, especially those listed post-2021, is unfolding. Paytm, Delhivery, and Mamaearth-parent Honasa Consumer have also seen significant value erosion.

With over 20 new-age startups — including Meesho, Groww, Urban Company, and PhysicsWallah — eyeing IPOs in 2025, this bearish environment could shorten their public listing window or force them to delay plans.

Overall: The implications are notable. Investor confidence in India’s startup ecosystem, especially in public markets, is being tested. Valuations may reset, and companies may face pressure to demonstrate profitability sooner. Ola’s founder Bhavish Aggarwal recently claimed the firm expects to turn Ebitda positive in the next quarter due to cost-cutting — a sign of the pivot towards financial discipline.

Adding to the pressure, India’s IT sector is reeling under global uncertainty caused by tariff wars under U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term and fears of a recession. As most Indian IT firms earn a significant portion of their revenue from the U.S., their stock performance has also weakened, amplifying the market’s downward trend.

Read more: Economic Times

GENERAL OVERVIEW

🗞️ Bite-sized summaries

🥫Another Pepsi acquisition - PepsiCo is acquiring prebiotic soda brand Poppi for $1.95 billion to strengthen its position in the fast-growing functional drinks market. With younger consumers shifting towards healthier, gut-friendly beverages, PepsiCo aims to offset declining demand for traditional sodas and snacks. Poppi, known for its low-calorie sodas made with prebiotics, fruit juice, and apple cider vinegar, saw a 122% retail sales jump recently. The Austin-based brand holds 1% of the U.S. carbonated drinks market. The deal includes $300 million in tax benefits, lowering the net purchase price to $1.65 billion. Poppi was rebranded in 2020 after a Shark Tank debut.

✅ CCI approved - The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved Hindustan Unilever’s (HUL) acquisition of Uprising Science Pvt Ltd, parent company of skincare brand Minimalist. HUL will acquire 90.5% of the company now, with the remaining 9.5% to be purchased within two years. Valued at ₹2,955 crore, the deal strengthens HUL’s position in India’s ₹68,000 crore beauty market, especially in the premium segment. The Minimalist team, led by Rahul and Mohit Yadav, will continue managing operations. HUL stated the acquisition will not harm market competition and sees strong synergies in manufacturing and distribution across India, including beauty salons.

HEADLINES

🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

What’s happening in India (and around the world 🌍️)

• Global economic body OECD lowers growth projections over tariffs, uncertainty.

• US withdraws support from EU-led war crimes investigation into Russia and Putin over Ukraine invasion.

• Gen Z is taking ‘micro-retirement.’ Don’t laugh.

• India's trade deficit narrows sharply to $14.05 bn in February while Trump's tariff risks loom.

CULTURE

🍿 Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment

• Be Happy review: Abhishek Bachchan's film misses the bull's eye by miles.

• Rajat Patidar appointed new RCB captain for IPL 2025.