e-commerce
Go Daddy shows importance of creating an internet identity
MUMBAI: Technology provider GoDaddy.com has announced the launch of its latest integrated marketing campaign with the aim of educating India’s small medium businesses (SMBs) and individuals on the importance of creating an online identity.
With the tagline, ‘Internet pe pehchaan banao, duniya ki dikhao’, the company will launch two television campaign. They are looking to accelerate the adoption of domain names, positioning it as the first step towards creating an identity online so that the SMBs and individuals can gain recognisition by showcasing their talent.
In India, only 2 per cent of the overall internet users own domain names. This figure is significantly high in US (20 per cent) and China (13-14 per cent).
Talking about the campaign, GoDaddy India MD and VP Rajiv Sodhi said, “As internet in India continues to grow, having an identity on the internet to showcase your business, hobby, and interests is gaining importance. Securing the right domain name is the foundation for building a compelling online presence and the first step to creating an identity on the internet.”
“Our new campaign illustrates what having an online identity can do for you and your business, and at the same time stressing on the urgency of picking the right domain name for yourself before someone else does,” he added.
Both the ads will be aired on channels both mainstream as well as regional from 4 November night. The company is focussing on channels from different genres including sports, news, movie, GEC among others.
“We will air the commercial on channels like Times Now, Aaj Tak, Discovery, HBO, Star Movies, Set Max etc. The ad will also appear on regional channels especially key channels in Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru,” revealed Sodhi.
He also added that as of now the ads will not be converted in regional languages, only the text appearing in the ads will be.
In the first commercial, a barber, named NutCutLal becoming famous for his signature haircut and people queuing outside his shop, but he realises that his fame might fade away and his talent is likely to go unnoticed, he gets an online identity. While the second commercial, is based on the insight that every Indian parent starts dreaming big for their child, even before they are born. The ad shows different fathers whose sons have the same name – Rajesh Varma talking about future aspirations or their son but only one Rajesh Varma can get a unique identity by booking a unique domain name before anyone else does.
“While NutCutLal aims to establish the importance of an online identity among small business owners Rajesh Varma is focussed on creating a need for domain names among individuals,” added Sodhi.
The company will also offer new users services like creating webpage for a cost of Rs 99 per month. They are also offering domain names for 1,2,3,5 and 10 years.
GoDaddy claims to help 12 million customers worldwide who work with SMBs to help them create a one-of-a-kind digital identity enabling them to reach customers globally.
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.
