Flipkart is preparing to launch a dedicated ticketing vertical for movies and live events as early as May, according to a Reuters report, placing the Walmart-owned ecommerce platform in direct competition with BookMyShow and Eternal's District. The company has not confirmed the plans publicly. The move is part of a broader diversification push ahead of a domestic IPO Flipkart is targeting within the next 12 to 18 months. Separately, the company is piloting food delivery in Bengaluru between May and June, evaluating either a standalone platform or a buyer-facing app on the government-backed ONDC network, with a wider rollout possible by year-end. To fund this expansion, Flipkart is seeking a $2 billion to $2.5 billion pre-IPO round; CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy has held meetings with Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup, as well as domestic banks including Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank. On financials, the marketplace arm posted FY25 operating revenue of ₹20,493 Cr, up 14% year-on-year, while net losses narrowed 37% to ₹1,494 Cr. The Delhi High Court also upheld an injunction barring Flipkart from using its 'MarQ' appliance brand following a trademark dispute with Marc Enterprises dating to 2018.
HDFC Bank's board has approved Rajiv Kumar, former Chief Election Commissioner and financial services secretary, as its Part-time Non-Executive Chairman from June 30, 2026. His chairmanship still requires RBI approval, but the move ends the bank's prolonged search for a permanent board leader.
Indian startups raised $1.1 billion across 16 deals in the week of June 21-26, 2026, up 2.5 times from the prior week, with CRED's $900 million Series H led by Meta accounting for most of the total. Square Yards became India's 131st unicorn after closing a $95 million round.
Jet fuel costs dropped sharply after a US-Iran interim peace deal, but airlines are expected to use the savings to rebuild margins rather than cut fares. Tight capacity, aircraft delivery delays, and weak budget carriers give major carriers unusual pricing power heading into the second half of 2026.
Meta is investing $900 million in CRED at a $4.5 billion valuation, the largest Indian startup round of 2026, as founder Kunal Shah moves to a global leadership role at WhatsApp. Miten Sampat takes over as interim CEO, and a major employee stock buyback is expected within weeks.
