e-commerce
Starkut.com – mushrooming destination for talent & opportunity providers
MUMBAI: Starkut.com is probably the first and arguably the best online platform for the media & entertainment industry. It caters to the needs of over 30 different talent professions along with that of opportunity providers.
For the talent, it is the need to showcase their credentials on a platform that will reach far and wide, the need to network, apply for appropriate opportunities and share updates in text, pictures and video formats.
For the opportunity providers – that is film production houses, advertising agencies, casting directors, model coordinators, event agencies and corporates etc. – it is the need for posting an opportunity on a robust platform, search and identify the right talent for their projects and managing all of it online.
Starkut provides a platform for 32 professions, including Actor, Model, Dancer, Singer, Band, Choreographer, Cinematographer, Fashion Costume Designer, DJ, VJ, RJ, Make-up Artist, Musician, Music Composer, Photographer, Stand-up Comedian, Voice-over Artist, VFX Expert and Writer, among others.
In a very short span, over 7000 talented professionals across all verticals have signed up. Over 70 registered opportunity providers such as feature film production companies, TV-serial and Ad film production companies, advertising agencies, event agencies, casting directors, fashion designer, photographers and others are enjoying the Starkut experience. Over 100 audition opportunities of varied requirements have been posted so far across various regions and languages, and talents are getting short-listed for the same.
It seems the industry is just loving it, as the subscriber-base is growing in thousands per month and within just a few days of the Android mobile app launch there have been close to 10,000 downloads. Very soon the iOS App will also be available.
With the launch of the android mobile app, the talents can do many things on the go, such as creating and updating profiles and portfolio, getting real-time audition notifications and applying for opportunities online. Talents can also enjoy features such as posting updates, reading blogs, networking, and sharing Starkut profiles on other social networking sites.
In its endeavour to build and nurture a healthy relationship between the various stakeholders in the media & entertainment industry, Starkut is committed towards introducing various innovations. This will be with a vision not just to build a strong bond between talents and the opportunity providers, but also to benefit the entire Indian as well as global media & entertainment industry.
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.
