Udaan Gears Up for IPO; SoftBank Bets Big on OpenAI

Bengaluru-based e-commerce unicorn Udaan has raised $114 million in its latest funding round, bringing its total capital to over $2 billion as it prepares for a planned IPO in 2026. The B2B platform, which connects small retailers with suppliers across India, plans to use the new funds to expand into fast-moving consumer goods and the HoReCa sector, while strengthening its core operations ahead of going public.

Meanwhile, Japanese tech giant SoftBank has secured a $40 billion loan to fuel its ambitious investments in OpenAI. The massive facility underscores SoftBank’s commitment to artificial intelligence and positions the company to make further strategic bets in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Together, these moves show how startups and global investors are actively shaping the next wave of growth in e-commerce and artificial intelligence, blending ambition with strategic foresight.