iWorld
The Viral Fever and Unacademy bring forth the life of IIT aspirants with TVF Original ‘Kota Factory’
MUMBAI: Delivering on its promise of providing true value brand solutions whilst entertaining Millennials, The Viral Fever (TVF) has partnered with Unacademy – India’s largest learning platform – to launch ‘Kota Factory.’ This TVF Original is part of TVF’s commitment of expanding its content slate in 2019 to include more genres and contemporary narratives; giving viewers across the country a fun summer line-up! Taking a step further, the series will be released in ‘Black and White’.
Set to launch on 16th April on TVFPlay and YouTube, Kota Factory revolves around the lives of IIT aspirants based in Kota, the coaching center industry and the vicissitudes of a student’s life. Starring Mayur More, Jitendra Kumar, and Ahsaas Channa; seamlessly and naturally integrates the various Unacademy offerings into the narrative.
Sameer Saxena, Chief Content Officer and Head, TVF Originals said, “Today brands use various marketing tactics to connect with consumers, branded content being one of them. At TVF, we strongly believe that branded content should be organic and seamless, and the focus should be on making viewers internalise the values the brand is trying to present through the content. And that's exactly what TVF is a pro at! We are extremely delighted to collaborate with Unacademy on a show like Kota Factory which is the first Black and White web series in India, reinforcing TVF's status as a disrupter in the world of digital content. The show falls perfectly in line with our promise to deliver quality content to our viewers while helping brands craft winning branded content.”
Shweta Sivasankaran, Head of Marketing, Unacademy, “We are excited to collaborate with TVF on Kota Factory. Unacademy is a platform that brings expert teachers and dedicated students together. The show is a tribute to the principles that Unacademy stands for. It is also an opportunity to reinforce our brand story while connecting with our learners in an engaging way.”
Kota Factory revolves around the life of Vaibhav (Mayur More) a 16-year-old student who moves to Kota with hopes of clearing JEE and getting into an IIT. The show follows his journey as he learns to cope and compete under pressure with the help of his friends, teacher and Unacademy.
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
