Daybreak

This year the JSW MG Windsor became the highest selling electric car in India. It recently even managed to outperform Tata’s most popular offerings like the Nexon and Punch EV. It recorded total sales of over 10,000 units in a single quarter, beating all the models from Tata, Mahindra, and Hyundai.The obvious question here is – what did MG do differently? And the answer is simple – by doing for EVs what Reliance did for cell phones in the early 2000s. Tune inDaybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

Over the past few years, public universities here in India have been stuck in a rather difficult position. For decades, they were almost entirely dependent on state funding to keep the lights on.But now the state funding has steadily been drying up. So now, they have no choice but to fend for themselves. But legacy institutes like IIT Bombay, IIT Madras and IIT Delhi have found a workaround. They are all taking a page out of the Ivy league playbook and setting up their own endowment funds. In this episode we delve into what that means and why it isn't as easy as it may sound. Stay tuned. Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.

Up until recently, for most enterprises the default choice ended up being ChatGPT maker Open AI's models. That was mainly since for a long time there were no serious alternatives. Then, in came Deepseek R1. It proved that other models could compete and even win against OpenAi, that too at a fraction of its price. So now its the one that’s nudging enterprises to think twice before paying OpenAi for its services. And as a byproduct of that, over the last few months, the entire AI ecosystem has been moving from the one size fits all approach to picking the best tools for the job. Basically that means getting multiple models to work together. There is a huge opportunity here. Not for consumer-AI startups that were once dominating funding charts, but instead for LLMops businesses. These are companies that glue together large language models or LLMs and optimise hardware and software to speed up computation processes. In the near future, these companies could potentially grow faster than ever before. Tune in. Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.The Ken is hosting its first live subscriber event! Join two long-term and contrarian CEOs, Nithin Kamath of Zerodha and Deepak Shenoy of Capitalmind, as they discuss the mental models, decision making frameworks, and potential outcomes related to a very real possibility: an extended stock market winter that lasts 24 months or more. Click here to buy your tickets. 

Young independent doctors in India face daunting challenges as they transition from their intense training to running private practices. Financial burdens from expensive medical degrees, with costs soaring between Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore, weigh heavily on them. They also grapple with fierce competition from corporate healthcare chains and the pressure to maintain a social media presence. Personal stories, like that of a struggling psychiatrist in Mumbai, reveal the harsh realities of building a patient base in a rapidly evolving medical landscape.

Delve into the economic chess game as Trump’s tariffs create ripples in India’s trade landscape. Discover how the tariff disparities could challenge India’s economic balance. Meanwhile, Meta doubles down on its Indian market, aiming to boost its tech presence. Explore fascinating tech innovations, like Netodyne's push for driver safety and Tesla's autopilot features in China. Lastly, witness the fierce rivalry between food delivery giants Swiggy and Zomato, and learn how Airtel is employing AI to tackle spam calls.

Discover how Wooden Street surged ahead in the Indian furniture market amid the pandemic, quadrupling its revenue in just two years. Learn about their unique 'Goldilocks zone' customization strategy that taps into the DIY home improvement trend. Explore the challenges faced by major players like IKEA in adapting to new consumer preferences. The podcast also highlights Wooden Street's successful global investments and its plans for expansion in a rapidly evolving industry.

WeWork's narrative takes a fascinating turn in India, thriving where its global counterpart has stumbled. The focus shifts from lavish frills to essential, managed office spaces, appealing to a broader clientele. Unlike the startup-centric model that faltered elsewhere, WeWork India caters to diverse needs, setting itself apart in a competitive landscape. Meanwhile, the rivalry with Office highlights innovative pricing strategies and revenue growth, suggesting a necessary evolution for WeWork to stay relevant.

Discover how Zoya, the luxury jewellery brand, revolutionizes the diamond market. It's not just about the jewels; it's all about crafting unforgettable experiences for their elite clientele. From opulent champagne brunches to lavish cruises, Zoya builds deep client relationships. After 15 years of patience, the brand is finally seeing profits as luxury consumption skyrockets in India. However, competition is fierce with global giants like Tiffany and Cartier eyeing the same affluent customers. Tune in to explore this fascinating journey!

A groundbreaking health initiative in India provides free insurance to seniors over 70, marking a significant shift in healthcare access. The podcast reveals how private insurers have long neglected this age group, forcing many to pay exorbitant premiums for minimal coverage. With a staggering 80% of those over 60 uninsured, the government's new scheme offers hope. Listeners will learn about real-life challenges seniors face and the promising transformation in health insurance, aimed at easing their financial burden.

Rounak Kumar Gunjan, a reporter for The Ken, delves into the escalating conflict between OTT platforms and advertisers as IPL approaches. He discusses Hindustan Unilever's staggering complaints about ad overexposure, revealing that some consumers saw the same ads up to 150 times in a week. Gunjan explains the challenges in measuring ad effectiveness and the strategic complexities faced by brands during this lucrative sports event. The conversation uncovers the potential pitfalls for OTT platforms if advertisers feel underdelivered in their campaigns.