iWorld
‘Bangistan’ signs hotstar as digital partner
MUMBAI: After Tanu Weds Manu Returns and the multi-starrer hit Dil Dhadakne Do, the forthcoming comic caper Bangistan has signed Star India’s over-the-top (OTT) platform hotstar as digital partner.
The partnership will encompass the movie’s marketing initiatives ahead of its nationwide release on 7 August.
Using innovative and entertaining content as a means of promoting awareness and expectation for itself, Bangistan has shot wacky videos featuring its lead actors, Riteish Deshmukh and Pulkit Samrat in conversation and demonstrations with Cyrus Sahukar. The tongue-in-cheek videos range from a class in homegrown bomb-making, a discussion on the alphabets taught to trainee terrorists, and windows into their funny lifestyles and priorities in the back of beyond.
These episodes are available only on hotstar, to promote Bangistan. The videos were created in sync with the personality of the film. Bangistan is also using theme driven promotion to connect with evolved and connected movie lovers, who consume a majority of their entertainment dose through the digital platform.
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.
