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Algorand partners with T-Hub, NASSCOM, and TiE Bangalore
Mumbai: AlgoBharat, Algorand Foundation’s India-focused initiative, today strengthened its commitment to the Indian Web3 ecosystem with a number of high-profile announcements made at Algorand Impact Summit, a two-day event that convenes business leaders, policymakers, NGOs, and developers to discuss how blockchain can help solve some of the world’s most intractable challenges.
The partnerships are an extension of Algorand’s vision of delivering greater access to markets, capital & financial services by unlocking the power of blockchain technology, especially for the underserved sections of society with limited access to traditional banking infrastructure.
Algorand Foundation CEO Staci Warden said, “India’s remarkable role in global technological progress has inspired us to establish a distinctive presence in the country. In just a year, our strategic collaborations and innovative blockchain solutions with key players have pioneered financial inclusion, with the potential for impacting millions of lives in underserved communities. As we contribute to the growth of the global Web3 ecosystem, our journey in India has only just begun, with much more ground to cover.”
“Blockchain technologies can bring profound upliftment by providing greater access to markets, capital, and financial services. The Algorand Impact Summit stands as a testament to our belief in the Indian Web3 ecosystem.” said Algorand Foundation VP and India country head Anil Kakani. “Partnering with those who share our passion, we are eager to witness the tangible on-the-ground impact on improving access to markets, capital, and financial services.”
Announcements include:
● A first-of-its-kind partnership with T-Hub, a Telangana government-led prominent tech incubator, to launch “Startup Labs”, a 12-month program that will offer end-to-end mentorship for 20 high-potential Web3 startups.
● A partnership with NASSCOM, through its FutureSkills Prime skilling hub, to provide modular-based training content and assessments to support the training and employability of students and professionals building out their Web3 developer capabilities.
● A partnership with TiE Bangalore with the key objective of fostering the Indian Web3 ecosystem through strategic educational and training initiatives. This partnership will help Algorand establish its foothold with the startup, investor and tech communities in Bangalore.
● A collaboration with Mann Deshi to develop a blockchain-based credit scorecard and identity system for Mann Deshi Foundation’s women entrepreneurs. The project, which aims to address the challenges created by lack of formal credit histories and limited access to loans, is being rolled out in a phased approach with a select group of women entrepreneurs.
● Launch of the first pilot through our partnership with the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) to empower women to earn high-value carbon credits through a blockchain-based solution that captures data on the production of renewable gas from biogas digesters.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
