iWorld
Youtube expands Creator Collective to 100 meetups in India
Spans 17 cities, 10,000 creators as platform pushes community and monetisation
MUMBAI: Turns out, the algorithm isn’t the only thing creators are chasing sometimes, it’s each other. Youtube is doubling down on community-building in India, marking 100 Creator Collective meetups as it looks to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive creator economy. What began in Chennai in 2023 has now expanded to 17 cities, bringing together over 10,000 creators across formats and audiences.
The push signals a subtle but important shift. Youtube is no longer just a distribution platform, it is trying to build an ecosystem where creators exchange ideas, decode algorithm changes, and refine formats in real time. In a landscape where consistency and adaptability often determine success, these meetups are emerging as practical learning grounds.
For many creators, the appeal lies in candid conversations, what’s working, what isn’t, and how to keep pace with ever-evolving content trends. It is less about theory, more about survival in a fast-moving digital marketplace.
At the same time, YouTube is widening the monetisation playbook. Beyond traditional ad revenue, tools such as Shopping and affiliate links are being positioned as additional income streams, particularly for smaller creators looking to diversify earnings. The shift is also influencing content strategy, with creators increasingly building repeatable formats that lend themselves to brand partnerships rather than one-off viral hits.
Short-form video continues to act as the front door. Creators are using Shorts to capture attention and funnel viewers into longer-form content, where engagement runs deeper. This hybrid model has become central to Youtube’s strategy as it faces stiff competition from short-video-first platforms.
Looking ahead, the company plans to take Creator Collective deeper into smaller towns while introducing AI-focused training modules. The goal is clear: build stronger on-ground networks while equipping creators with tools to navigate what comes next.
In the battle for the creator economy, Youtube seems to be betting that community not just content will keep creators coming back.
Gaming
Bluestone FY26 revenue rises to Rs 2,436 crore, turns profitable
Q4 profit at Rs 31 crore, full-year profit at Rs 13 crore vs loss last year.
MUMBAI: From sparkle to numbers, Bluestone seems to be polishing more than just jewellery this year. Bluestone Jewellery and Lifestyle Limited reported a sharp turnaround in FY26, with revenue from operations rising to Rs 2,436 crore (Rs 24,364 million), up from Rs 1,770 crore (Rs 17,700 million) in FY25. The company posted a full-year profit of Rs 13 crore (Rs 131.79 million), a significant recovery from a loss of Rs 222 crore (Rs 2,218 million) a year ago.
Total income for the year stood at Rs 2,486 crore (Rs 24,860 million), compared to Rs 1,830 crore (Rs 18,300 million) in the previous year, reflecting both topline growth and improved operational momentum.
The March quarter, however, told a more nuanced story. Revenue from operations came in at Rs 681 crore (Rs 6,814 million), down from Rs 748 crore (Rs 7,486 million) in the year-ago period, though higher than Rs 461 crore (Rs 4,613 million) in the preceding December quarter. Net profit for Q4 stood at Rs 31 crore (Rs 311.81 million), compared to Rs 68 crore (Rs 688 million) a year earlier, but a clear reversal from a loss of Rs 51 crore (Rs 512 million) in Q3.
Margins were shaped by higher input costs, with raw material consumption rising to Rs 2,204 crore (Rs 22,043 million) for the full year, alongside employee benefit expenses of Rs 282 crore (Rs 2,824 million) and finance costs of Rs 210 crore (Rs 2,104 million). Other expenses came in at Rs 371 crore (Rs 3,715 million), slightly lower than Rs 393 crore (Rs 3,938 million) in FY25.
On the balance sheet front, total assets expanded to Rs 4,961 crore (Rs 49,610 million) as of March 31, 2026, from Rs 3,532 crore (Rs 35,322 million) a year earlier, driven largely by a surge in inventories to Rs 2,672 crore (Rs 26,718 million). Equity also strengthened to Rs 1,803 crore (Rs 18,030 million), nearly doubling from Rs 911 crore (Rs 9,107 million).
Cash flows reflected the cost of growth. Net cash used in operating activities stood at Rs 199 crore (Rs 1,990 million), while investing activities saw an outflow of Rs 239 crore (Rs 2,392 million). Financing activities, however, generated Rs 497 crore (Rs 4,971 million), helping the company end the year with cash and cash equivalents of Rs 108 crore (Rs 1,075 million), up from Rs 49 crore (Rs 487 million).
Earnings per share for FY26 came in at Rs 1.10, a sharp improvement from a negative Rs 79.74 in FY25, underlining the shift from losses to profitability.
With revenue scaling up, costs still glittering on the higher side, and profitability finally back in the black, BlueStone’s FY26 performance suggests a business mid-transition less about shine alone, and more about sustaining it.
