Meta’s Zuck Apologises, PB Fintech Roars In Q1 & More

Meta In Choppy Waters

After being pulled up by the Centre over content moderation lapses, including the recent removal of PM Narendra Modi’s Facebook video, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued a public apology. 

The Regulatory Pressure: Zuckerberg is said to have apologised for issues related to child abuse content, deepfakes and operational errors on platform operations, particularly the temporary takedown of PM Modi’s video. This came after officials warned a visiting Meta team that its safe harbour protections in India would be reconsidered. Any such move could potentially expose Meta to direct legal liability for all user-generated content on its platforms. 

The WhatsApp Whiplash: What has only widened the storm for Meta is the messaging app’s account-review episode. Many users in India recently were suddenly locked out of their accounts, with the platform saying it was checking account activity to ensure compliance. While some accounts were restored within hours, others allegedly remained banned without reason, feeding criticism of automated enforcement and weak grievance redressal.

The User Fallout: For many users, the disruption hit hard as WhatsApp has become central to both personal and professional communication. Many flagged that the temporary lockout threatened to cut off years of contact graphs, customer relationships and daily coordination. As such, critics seek clearer reasons, a functioning review path and better safeguards before being cut off from the messaging app.

Child Safety Concerns: The regulatory pressure is not limited to moderation mistakes. The parliamentary panel has also directed Meta to act against child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and content targeting women, warning that repeated failures could threaten the social media giant’s intermediary protections too. This concern now overlaps with ongoing probes by the NCPCR and NHRC into allegations involving CSAM-linked ads on Meta-owned platforms.

So, will Zuckerberg’s apology satisfy regulators or is Meta’s moderation model headed for a far tougher reckoning? Let’s find out…

From The Editor’s Desk

PB Fintech Roars In Q1

• Despite the seasonal softness, Q1 saw the fintech giant grow its profits 92% YoY to ₹163 Cr, clocked a 40% YoY jump in revenues to ₹1,888 Cr and improved margins. Higher disbursals and stronger renewals also came in handy as PB Fintech kept scaling.
• PolicyBazaar remained the startup’s main growth driver, powered by a sharp rise in online protection sales and stronger renewal income. Premium growth stayed broad-based, while improving mix and scale brought operating leverage.
• PaisaBazaar also reported healthy momentum, with disbursals rising strongly during the quarter. Supported by high enquiry volumes and a large base of credit-score users and transacting customers, the vertical facilitated over 1.21 Cr transactions in Q1.

OfBusiness Revives IPO Plans

• The B2B ecommerce unicorn plans to file its DRHP with SEBI by November for a $800 Mn IPO, which will comprise a fresh issue of $260 Mn and a $540 Mn OFS. The startup is eyeing a valuation of up to $6 Bn for its D-Street debut. 
• While OfBusiness was earlier targeting a listing last year, it deferred the plan due to weaker market conditions. Since then, the unicorn has managed to further scale its bottom line, improved margins and exited lower-return business segments.
• Founded in 2015, OfBusiness operates a B2B ecommerce platform for industrial materials like metals, chemicals and building materials. Its NBFC arm Oxyzo also provides financing to SMEs. OfBusiness has raised nearly $900 Mn to date.

River Mobility Bags $120 Mn

• The electric two-wheeler maker has raised about ₹1,141 Cr in its Series C round co-led by Elev8 Venture Partners and Claypond Capital, in a mix of debt and equity, to expand its manufacturing capacity and launch new products.
• Founded in 2021, River manufactures multi-utility electric scooters for small business owners. Currently operating over 75 stores across India, the startup plans to expand its footprint to over 350 stores by March 2028. It has raised $190 Mn to date.
• The fundraise comes as OEMs, from legacy giants to new-age players, continue to invest heavily to cater to the growing demand for E2Ws. Overall, the homegrown EV market is projected to become a $132 Bn opportunity by 2030.

Freshworks’ Profitable Q1

• The Nasdaq-listed SaaS major reported a net profit of $3.2 Mn in Q2 CY26 as against a net loss of $1.7 Mn in the year ago quarter. This came on the back of growing adoption of its AI products and revenue rising 16% YoY to $237.4 Mn during the quarter. 
• The startup also managed to keep a tight leash on the expenses, which remained largely flat YoY at $204.6 Mn. The number of clients contributing more than $100K in ARR rose 25% YoY to 1,746 in Q2, while net dollar retention declined marginally to 104%.
• As usual, North America accounted for 47% of Freshworks’ revenue, followed by Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at 39%. Buoyed by the performance, Freshworks raised its full-year CY26 revenue guidance to $963.5 Mn-$966.5 Mn.

Optimist Eyes $10 Mn

• The cooling solutions startup is in talks to raise about $10 Mn in a fresh funding round from Japan-based TDK Ventures. The discussions are still ongoing and the final cheque size could change before the round is closed.
• Founded in 2024, Optimist builds air conditioners designed specifically for Indian conditions. With an in-house R&D facility in Gurugram, the startup currently caters to users across Delhi NCR, Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh. 
• India has more than 300 Mn households, yet less than 28 Mn own an AC even though 90% of the country lives in regions with high heat exposure. Optimist is eyeing a piece of the AC market, which is being driven by rising incomes and smart connectivity. 

Inc42 Markets

Inc42 Startup Spotlight

How Cosma Is Rethinking Fertility Care

Fertility treatment in India remains a costly, hormone-heavy and emotionally-exhausting process. Cosma Fertility is trying to rewrite this experience with a non-hormonal approach that aims to make conception safer, less invasive and more accessible.

The Fertility Protocol: Founded in 2024, Cosma Fertility is building next-generation therapeutics for fertility. Its flagship offering is the Fertigen Protocol, which combines a fertility programme with a CDSCO-approved intravaginal insert. The product is positioned to improve ovulation, endometrial receptivity and sperm motility without relying on hormones. 

The Digital Care Layer: Rather than selling a standalone product, Cosma also wraps Fertigen in a digital health clinic model. Under this, it offers fertility assessments, ovulation tracking, nutrition counselling and doctor consultations. This creates a more structured journey for couples who want support before progressing to IVF. 

A Thriving Market: India is home to an estimated 2.75 Cr people facing fertility-related challenges, while IVF remains expensive and out of reach for many. With the country’s IVF services market projected to become a $1.4 Bn opportunity by 2034, Cosma is betting that a safer, lower-friction fertility pathway can win both medical trust and market share.

So, can Cosma make fertility care more personalised and less intimidating?

Infographic Of The Day

From payments and lending to travel and insurance, CRED has quietly built multiple revenue engines around one thing: a premium customer base. But how does it make money?

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