e-commerce
Flipkart announces the launch of ‘Flipkart Video Originals’
MUMBAI: Flipkart, India’s leading e-commerce marketplace today announced its foray into offering original video content with the launch of ‘Flipkart Video Originals’. Integrated within the Flipkart Video platform, which was launched in August this year, Flipkart Video Originals will be produced by some of the best creators in the industry and curated especially for the Flipkart platform.
The first creator to join the platform is Academy Award winner Guneet Monga. Guneet is on board as the official creator and curator of short stories for the platform, helping bring to life new-age storytelling for millions of people. Understanding the entertainment needs of today’s consumers, Flipkart Video Originals will make available bespoke snackable content that is both mobile-first and interactive in nature. Unlike other video offerings available today, Flipkart is integrating compelling technology in entertainment, for the widest consumer base which penetrates into the deepest parts of the country, where the possibilities are endless.
In the months to come, Flipkart will work with renowned industry talent and production houses such as Studio Next, Frames and Sikhya Productions, to bring forth first-of-its-kind content across genres and languages. The first original series ‘Backbenchers’ hosted by Farah Khan goes live later this month and will feature an array of India’s most-loved celebrities, engaging in nostalgic banter, which will have the audience coming back for more.
Speaking about Flipkart Video Originals, Flipkart Vice President – Growth & Monetization Prakash Sikaria said, “Our singular focus at Flipkart is to bring value to the lives of our consumers, through carefully tailored and curated offerings. When we launched our Video platform earlier this year, our agenda was clear and we were keen to play a role in on-boarding new customers who are not necessarily new to the internet, but are new to e-commerce. Within the first two months of the launch of Flipkart Video, we are overwhelmed with the positive response we have received from consumers. Encouraged by this, we are launching our next content offering – ‘Flipkart Video Originals’. There is an existing gap that needs to be filled and at Flipkart, we saw an opportunity to create great video content which is easier for people to consume, that is mobile-first. From short stories created by award-winning producers, to entertainment shows featuring the leading talent from Bollywood, we believe that our platform will have something special for every consumer. We envisage our original content to resonate strongly with people across the country, as we usher in a new era of mobile-first video content.”
Speaking about her partnership with Flipkart Video Originals, Oscar Winning producer Guneet Monga, said, “Flipkart Video is offering a great platform for content creators to engage with a customer base of over 160 million people across India, through a unique story telling format. I am excited to be collaborating with Flipkart to cater to today's demand of short-form content, at the convenience of mobile phones. With accepting audience like today's, it is exciting to make diverse films. It's great to witness that Flipkart Video Originals is enabling film makers to share their stories."
When Flipkart launched its video platform earlier in 2019, it truly democratised content for Bharat. Most consumers’ first touch point with the internet is through online video content, and in India, primarily via mobile. Flipkart truly believes that great content, if made available to a wider base of consumers, specially the ones who are new to e-commerce but not necessarily the internet, can play a key role in helping them access e-commerce effectively. Flipkart Video Originals as an offering has been curated for consumers who are constantly looking out for new and better ways to spend their time online.
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.
