Independent business & technology journalGlobal desk · July 2026Read with context

Business.

The business file: conglomerates, succession, and the arithmetic of building something that outlasts its founder. We report on how empires are assembled — the Reliance and Adani playbooks, the Tata governance model, the family businesses being handed to a second generation — and on what each of those bets costs when it fails.

24 stories

Falguni Nayar: The Banker Who Solved India's Beauty Trust Deficit

At 49, Falguni Nayar did what most people fear: she quit a secure, high-powered career in investment banking to start a beauty company. By solving the 'trust deficit' in the Indian cosmetics market, she built Nykaa into a multi-billion dollar powerhouse. A profile of the banker who redefined retail in India.

Global Cover Story Editorial Desk · 6 min read

Nikhil Kamath: The Bootstrapped Disruptor of Indian Finance

Nikhil Kamath is the anomaly of the tech world: the co-founder of a multi-billion dollar empire that never raised a single cent of venture capital. By disrupting the traditional brokerage model and championing a 'bootstrapped' philosophy, he democratized trading for millions of Indians. A profile of the trader who bet on himself.

Global Cover Story Editorial Desk · 7 min read

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: The Pioneer of Affordable Biopharmaceuticals

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is the 'mother of biotechnology' in India. Starting with just ₹10,000 in a rented garage, she built Biocon into a global leader in biosimilars and insulin. A profile of the woman who proved that profit and social purpose can coexist in the pursuit of affordable healthcare.

Global Cover Story Editorial Desk · 6 min read

Deepinder Goyal: The Operator Who Scaled India's Hunger

Deepinder Goyal started by scanning restaurant menus for his colleagues at Bain. He ended up building Zomato, one of India's most successful consumer internet companies. A profile of the operator who transitioned from a product visionary to the architect of a multi-business empire called Eternal.

Global Cover Story Editorial Desk · 6 min read

Sridhar Vembu: The Bootstrapped Buddhist of Rural SaaS

Sridhar Vembu is the 'anti-CEO' of the tech world. Having built Zoho into a global SaaS powerhouse without a single cent of venture capital, he is now pioneering a 'rural revival' by moving high-tech jobs to India's villages. A profile of the leader who traded Silicon Valley for the soil of Tamil Nadu.

Global Cover Story Editorial Desk · 6 min read

The One-Person Unicorn: Scaling Global Businesses with Agentic AI

The traditional corporate structure is collapsing. In 2026, we are seeing the emergence of the 'One-Person Unicorn'—businesses with billion-dollar valuations run by a single founder and a fleet of autonomous agents. A guide to the new economics of hyper-leverage and the tool stack of the modern solopreneur.

Global Cover Story Editorial Desk · 5 min read

The 10-Minute War: Decoding the Economics of Quick Commerce in India

Quick commerce in India is no longer just about speed; it's about survival. As the industry moves from aggressive discounts to a battle for unit economics, the winners will be those who can master the 'dark store' and the 'ad-revenue' engine. A deep dive into the high-stakes economics of the 10-minute delivery era.

Global Cover Story Editorial Desk · 6 min read

The ₹4 Problem: Unlocking the Potential of India's Female Founders

India's startup ecosystem is booming, but its capital is not distributed equally. For every ₹100 raised by male founders, women receive only ₹4. Yet, women-led startups are outperforming their counterparts in revenue per dollar of funding. A deep dive into the structural biases, the 'Bharat Gap,' and the emerging tide of female-led innovation.

Global Cover Story Editorial Desk · 5 min read

The Discipline Era: India's Startup Ecosystem in 2026

The era of the 'burn-and-scale' unicorn is over. In 2026, the Indian startup ecosystem has entered the 'Discipline Era'—a regime where unit economics, corporate governance, and original IP are the only metrics that matter. A deep dive into the new rules of the game for the next generation of founders.

Global Cover Story Editorial Desk · 5 min read