e-commerce
PayTM & Dineout partner for cashback programme
MUMBAI: In a bid to tempt foodies to dine out and indulge in a wonderful gastronomical affair, mobile commerce platform PayTM has partnered with Dineout.co.in, an online table reservation service.
Through the Dineout loyalty programme, users can take advantage of having a table reserved, avail discounts and additional savings in the form of cashback and loyalty points credited into their PayTM wallets.
By completing tasks like writing reviews, inviting friends and checking-in while at the restaurant through the Dineout app, users can earn loyalty points. All these points are redeemable to cash directly into a users PayTM wallet.
PayTM VP Amit Lakhotia said, “PayTM and Dineout enjoy massive popularity and the loyalty programme that we have devised is a truly innovative concept for the benefit of our users. PayTM is committed to coming up with extremely innovative tie-ups to offer customers maximum benefit while using their digital wallets. Through this first-of-its-kind partnership, we aim to give food connoisseurs in India another reason to turn to technology for the most convenient and rewarding dining out experience till date.”
Dineout.co.in co-founder Ankit Mehrotra added, “For serious foodies, dining out is beyond a hobby, it is a way of life! After speaking to many Dineout users we arrived at a loyalty program where our valued patrons can reap the benefits of sticking with a great service. PayTM was an obvious choice for this partnership owing to their wide consumer reach, and the ease of use of the service. Dineout users can now enjoy additional earnings in the form of direct cash back into their PayTM wallet for writing-reviews, inviting their friends and via check-ins when they arrive at the restaurant/venue.”
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.
