e-commerce
Myntra signs Kangana Ranaut as Brand Ambassador and Face of DressBerry
MUMBAI: Myntra.com, India’s largest fashion e-tailer, has brought on-board Bollywood’s latest “Queen”, Kangana Ranaut, as its brand ambassador and the face for its fast fashion in-house brand DressBerry. With her recent mega hits like Queen, Revolver Rani and her previously unforgettable role in Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Fashion’, Myntra saw Kangana as an ideal choice for endorsing its bold and stylish range of apparel and accessories.
As the brand ambassador, Kangana Ranaut will be featured in some of the promotional initiatives by Myntra.com, helping build a strong connect between the brand and its fans across the country. To begin with, the two-time Filmfare award winner will be the face of a young, confident and fashionable brand ‘DressBerry’, dedicated to young women. Myntra launched DressBerry in 2013, and within a span of 15 months, it has gained commendable popularity, making it one of the largest selling women’s western wear brands on Myntra.com.
Expressing her excitement on the association with Myntra.com and Dressberry, the renowned actress, Kangana Ranaut said, “I am excited to be the brand ambassador for Myntra.com and happy to be the face of DressBerry, Myntra’s fast fashion women’s wear brand. When I came across DressBerry, I took an instant liking to it. Besides the apparel, it is the attitude of ‘Fun, Flirty and Feminine’ reflected by the brand that appeals to me.”
She further added, “Myntra provides shoppers the opportunity to access everything that a fashion fanatic can dream of, at affordable prices. Brands like Myntra.com are also providing access to youth in smaller towns to shop for their favourite brands as they are equally aspirational and want to look good just like their counterparts in larger cities.”
Speaking on the celebrity association, Myntra CMO Vikas Ahuja said, “Myntra is a youth fashion brand, presenting the latest trends for men and women who are bold and stylish in the way they carry themselves. Just like Kangana Ranaut. I believe this partnership will strengthen Myntra’s position as India’s preferred online fashion destination and will mark a new step in DressBerry’s evolution.”
DressBerry hosts a wide and diverse range of collection for young women across tops, dresses, jackets, bottoms, jumpsuits, nightwear and accessories, starting at just Rs 249 up to Rs 1999.
Myntra.com ventured into private brands in December 2012 and has since developed a strong portfolio of eight private brands including Roadster, HRX by Hrithik Roshan, Sher Singh, Anouk, Kook N Keech and Mast & Harbour among others.
Myntra.com also recently collaborated with the popular Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh for its in-house brand – ‘Roadster’ and Lisa Haydon as its brand ambassador while the ravishing Chitrangda Singh and the charming Abhay Deol, were voted as the Fashion Icon of the Month for May & June, 2014.
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.
