The CapTable

#ICYMI:??????????? The past week at The CapTable has seen us cover a diverse range of subjects—from the public policy crisis at Google India to how and why Indian apps are starting to resemble Japanese lunchboxes.?All links are in the comments. Let's dive in: ???? On Monday, we wrote about #Google India’s big policy team crisis, which had no less than seven chiefs over the past five years. The latest to exit was let go in controversial circumstances.?Learn more in Pratap Vikram Singh’s richly reported story ???? E-pharmacies have struggled to disrupt the offline pharma space over the past decade. Now, Quick commerce companies such as Swiggy and Zepto are attempting to do what e-pharma cos couldn't.?Shivani Verma gets into the nitty-gritty in Tuesday’s story ????Invented as a backyard game for children, #Pickleball mania is now a global phenomenon.?Sohini Mitter has you covered with everything you need to know about how it's rapidly capturing India's imagination (and wallets) in her Wednesday story.?Read now. ???? Many of India’s major apps—like PhonePe and Swiggy—are starting to look like Japanese schoolkids’ lunchboxes.?Pranav Balakrishnan's fantastic Thursday story explains why this is the case, and what it says about companies' priorities. ???? And finally, Pratap returns for Friday’s #FreeRead, writing that despite Jio and Airtel’s historic rivalry, the two have had each other's backs of late.?How long will this unlikely alliance hold up??Read this week’s Crux to know. That’s it from us, for the first week of March. We’ll be back on Monday with more sharp stories from the best reporters in the industry. Stay tuned!

#ICYMI:??????????? The past week at The CapTable has seen us cover a diverse range of subjects—from the public policy crisis at Google India to how and why Indian apps are starting to resemble Japanese lunchboxes.?All links are in the comments. Let's dive in: ???? On Monday, we wrote about #Google India’s big policy team crisis, which had no less than seven chiefs over the past five years. The latest to exit was let go in controversial circumstances.?Learn more in Pratap Vikram Singh’s richly reported story ???? E-pharmacies have struggled to disrupt the offline pharma space over the past decade. Now, Quick commerce companies such as Swiggy and Zepto are attempting to do what e-pharma cos couldn't.?Shivani Verma gets into the nitty-gritty in Tuesday’s story ????Invented as a backyard game for children, #Pickleball mania is now a global phenomenon.?Sohini Mitter has you covered with everything you need to know about how it's rapidly capturing India's imagination (and wallets) in her Wednesday story.?Read now. ???? Many of India’s major apps—like PhonePe and Swiggy—are starting to look like Japanese schoolkids’ lunchboxes.?Pranav Balakrishnan's fantastic Thursday story explains why this is the case, and what it says about companies' priorities. ???? And finally, Pratap returns for Friday’s #FreeRead, writing that despite Jio and Airtel’s historic rivalry, the two have had each other's backs of late.?How long will this unlikely alliance hold up??Read this week’s Crux to know. That’s it from us, for the first week of March. We’ll be back on Monday with more sharp stories from the best reporters in the industry. Stay tuned!

#ICYMI | Lots of cricket ?? action lined up for the weekend, but here's something on another fast-growing sport that is taking over India currently. #Pickleball, a blend of tennis ?? badminton ?? and table tennis ?? has blown up in the country in the last 12-15 months. The CapTable has the inside track on it. Thanks Arjun Vaidya for your inputs as an investor as well as an active pickleball player. ?? READ MORE: https://lnkd.in/duChEth7

Today's #freeread: ?? India's telecom titans #Jio and #Airtel are finding common ground to protect their virtual duopoly. ??? But even as the duo oppose spectrum surrender policies and align on #satellite spectrum allocation, the DoT's proposed relief measures for the sector could soon test the limits of their alliance, writes Pratap Vikram Singh. Sign up and read the full story now for free, only on The CapTable. Link in the comments.

Yesterday, the Indian government announced the launch of AI KOSHA, a platform for indigenous datasets, in order to better train local #AI models. Three weeks ago, Pratap Vikram Singh reported on the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s work behind the scenes over the past year, the partnerships it forged, and the policies that were drafted to make it all come together. Read the full story on The CapTable now, via the link in the comments.

Yesterday, the Indian government announced the launch of AI KOSHA, a platform for indigenous datasets, in order to better train local #AI models. Three weeks ago, Pratap Vikram Singh reported on the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s work behind the scenes over the past year, the partnerships it forged, and the policies that were drafted to make it all come together. Read the full story on The CapTable now, via the link in the comments.

?????? Though #designthinking is not a new concept, its utility beyond just designing products—to the point of informing larger business decisions in an organisation—is a relatively more recent phenomenon. Pranav Balakrishnan covers this—and the phenomenon of bento box layouts in big-name Indian apps like #Swiggy and #PhonePe—on The CapTable, today. How much does design thinking factor in your professional life? Participate in our poll below, and read the full story now, via the link in the comments.

Why your everyday apps are starting to look like a Japanese lunch box? ?? A few weeks ago, I was having a Bento box meal when my designer friend casually said, “BTW, the Bento box layout is a big trend in tech UI.” Next thing I know, I’m seeing it everywhere—Swiggy, Zepto, Tata Neu, PhonePe. Once you notice it, you can’t unsee it. So I started digging. Spoke to a few folks in design and tech. Turns out, this isn’t just about making apps look neat and cute. It’s?a playbook for influencing user behavior. It’s a strategic tool to guide user behaviour, prioritise services, and create intuitive navigation through careful sizing and placement of interface elements. Consequently, a company’s business priorities reflect in these layouts. Companies use tile sizes to highlight key services and nudge users towards them. Design is no longer just about aesthetics. It’s shaping strategy, engagement, and even revenue. A designer's work sits at the crossroads of technology, psychology, and visual storytelling, requiring a blend of analytical thinking and creativity. Because of its role in shaping user behaviour, design has evolved from a purely visual role to a critical strategic function, with top companies now giving designers a seat at the decision-making table. Next time you open an app, take a second to notice. That layout? It’s not just pretty. It’s persuasion. [Link in the comments]

?? What started as a lunch box design for Japanese schoolchildren is now inspiring digital experiences in India: Indian apps like Swiggy and PhonePe are tweaking their interfaces to look like bento boxes. ?? Of course, UI design isn't just about looking good: it’s a strategic tool to guide user behaviour, prioritise services, and create intuitive navigation through careful sizing and placement of interface elements. ?? Consequently, a company’s business priorities reflect in these layouts. Companies use tile sizes to highlight key services and nudge users towards them. ?????? Because of its role in shaping user behaviour, design has evolved from a purely visual role to a critical strategic function, with top companies now giving designers a seat at the decision-making table. ???? How much do you think #design influences your app experience? Read Pranav Balakrishnan’s examination of India’s top apps and their #UI, and how they reveal more about a company than you’d think. Link in the comments.

Women and men, young and old. ????♀????????????? Sports complexes??. Equipment manufacturers??. Housing societies???. Corporate offices??. Backpacker hostels??. All embracing a sport that has rapidly become an international sensation. In today’s #deepdive, Sohini Mitter breaks down everything you need to know about #Pickleball. Read now, only on The CapTable, via the comments.