India shifts to interactive media; A hub for coastal consciousness

Hello,

Oyo has its eyes set on the IPO prize, but there could be a roadblock—a Softbank-sized one.

The third time has not been the charm for the startup, which is reportedly delaying its plans for an October IPO after opposition from SoftBank over its weak earnings this year. 

Adding to Oyo’s woes is an increasingly diminishing appetite for risk, especially with US tariff policies bringing down investor sentiments across the board. 

In fact, Apple’s crunched the numbers on what a quarter’s worth of tariffs costs will look like for the company, and it’s nothing to sneeze at: CEO Tim Cook estimates it could add up to $900 million in expenses on their books. 

The company has already begun the process to reduce its reliance on China and elevate India for iPhone production in a global supply chain shift, and it’s kicking off the first step by securing a plan to source over 19 billion chips from the US this year.

There's some bad news abound on the entertainment front as well: we won’t see GTA VI releasing this year either—something that’s cast a shadow on the gaming industry’s hopes of returning to growth after a protracted post-pandemic slump. 

Take-Two Interactive has delayed the release of the next edition of Grand Theft Auto till May 2026, sending shares down 7% in early trading. 

Back to the waiting game it is.   

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• India shifts to interactive media
• A hub for coastal consciousness

Here’s your trivia for today: What animal did the US Coast Guard train to assist in search and rescue missions on the sea?

Report

India shifts to interactive media

India has seen a seismic shift in terms of what people are using as their primary digital medium of engagement, according to a new consumer survey by venture capital firm Lumikai. The report, titled “From Swipes to Stories: India’s Interactive Media Consumer unlocked” was released at WAVES 2025.

The new survey, which saw participation from around 3,000 correspondents across Tier I, II, and III cities, also found that 66% of players now hail from non-metro cities—indicating a broader and more inclusive audience base. This reiterates the emergence of Tier II+ cities as an interactive entertainment powerhouse. 

Key takeaways:

• The survey noted an interesting user trend, where 77% of South Indian users are more likely to pay for interactive media services, compared to 51% in the North. Users in the south also spend the most time on these platforms, which includes Instagram, music platforms, and OTT.
• The average amount of time a user plays has also seen an uptick to 13 hours a week, which is 30% higher than what was observed in FY23. This is also nearly double the time spent on social platforms. 
• However, contrary to popular narratives, the primary motivation for gaming was found to be relaxation, followed by social connection and self-expression, with monetary gains falling further down the list.

Top Funding Deals of the Week

Startup: KALKI Fashion

Amount: Rs 225 Cr

Round: Equity

Startup: Kult

Amount: $20M

Round: Series A

Startup: Saimirra Innopharm

Amount: Rs 160 Cr

Round: Equity

Environment

A hub for coastal consciousness

Chennai’s iconic Marina Beach is emerging as a public space reimagined for inclusion, awareness, and community-led change.

Just metres away from the shoreline on Chennai’s Marina Beach, a once-forgotten public library has been reimagined by the Environmentalist Foundation of India into a marine education hub. The Ocean Station invites people to explore the city’s deep, often overlooked relationship with its coastline.

Marine conservation:

• “The government is on a mission to breathe a fresh lease of life into at least 23 public libraries in the city—some about a century old. The library on Marina beach was renovated by the government in the early 2000s. It is next to the swimming pool where families throng with their children, but do not know about it,” says Kavitha, District Legal Officer, Greater Chennai Corporation.
• Thanks to EFI, the library isn’t just more visible now but is also vibrant, painted with the colours and rhythms of the ocean. Its walls have come alive with murals of Olive Ridley turtles, ghost crabs, and whale sharks, while interactive exhibits narrate tales of marine biodiversity and conservation. 
• “Ocean Station is our attempt to make marine conservation relatable and actionable. It’s a 10-year mission, with six more Ocean Stations coming up in Besant Nagar, Chennai; Puducherry, Kanyakumari, Visakhapatnam and Mumbai,” says Arun Krishnamurthy, Founder of EFI.

The Ocean Station is a marine education hub created by the Environmentalist Foundation of India in the premises of a public library at Chennai's Marina Beach." align="center">

News & updates

• Guidance: Warren Buffett has been mum about tariffs and the recent market turmoil, but will finally speak his mind when the 94-year-old investment legend kicks off Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting on Saturday. Tens of thousands of rapt shareholders will descend on Omaha, Nebraska, this weekend for the annual gathering dubbed “Woodstock for Capitalists.” 
• Penalise: The Irish Data Protection Commission—which leads on privacy oversight for TikTok in the EU—fined the social media company 530 million euros ($601.3 million), saying that TikTok infringed EU’s GDPR data protection law over transfers of European user data to China. 
• Bon voyage: Incat, an Australian boatbuilder, launched what it describes as the world’s largest battery-power ship, describing it as “a giant leap forward in sustainable shipping”. Called Hull 096, the ship would operate entirely on battery-electric power, carrying up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the River Plate, which forms the border between Argentina and Uruguay.

What animal did the US Coast Guard train to assist in search and rescue missions on the sea?

Answer: Pigeons. In the late 1970s and early 80s, the Coast Guard trained them to search for people lost in the ocean.

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