iWorld
Eros Now partners Paytm, Mobikwik & Freecharge
MUMBAI: Eros International pls, a leading global company in the Indian film entertainment industry, announced that Eros Now, its cutting-edge digital over-the-top (OTT) platform, has entered into multiple significant partnerships in India with three major electronic payment platforms — Paytm, Mobikwik and Snapdeal-owned Freecharge — who are the forerunners in the online payment industry in India.
Eros Now, with 55 million registered users worldwide, is Eros International plc’s leading on-demand Bollywood entertainment network, on most Internet-connected screen including mobile, web, and TV.
Paytm, one of India’s largest electronic payment platform, has seen over five-fold rise in active users post demonetization at over 150 million users. Mobikwik, the Gurgaon-based company, has recorded a user base of 40 million with a growth of 40% in their daily app downloads and Freecharge, a Bangalore-based company, has been witnessing a steady growth of 15% in their monthly transactions with over 50 million users. Eros Now has tied up with these leading online payment platforms for easier and effortless transactions for its users.
Commenting on the associations, Eros Digital Rishika CEO Rishika Lulla Singh said, “With the recent demonetization move in India, the online payment industry has seen a surge and we see that as beneficial for our world class OTT platform Eros Now as more of our users now can use any of the leading Indian e-wallet service providers such Paytm, MobiKwik or Freecharge to subscribe to Eros Now’s massive library of premium content and other unique features. I am excited about our exponential growth and confident we will continue to establish leadership position with first mover advantage.”
Eros Now offers the widest library of films, music, premium television and regional content for packages of Rs 49.00 and Rs 99.00 per month in India.
Eros International pls is a leading global company in the Indian film entertainment industry that acquires, co-produces and distributes Indian films across all available formats such as cinema, television and digital new media.
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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.
