logo
Ola Group surges in deep-tech, owns majority of patents granted to 117 unicorns

Ola Group surges in deep-tech, owns majority of patents granted to 117 unicorns

The Hindu23-04-2025
Ola Group, spanning ride-hailing, electric vehicles, and AI, now holds over 50% of all patents filed by India's 117 unicorns.
India's unicorns collectively hold only 229 patents, with Ola Group owning more than half, according to data from the Indian Patent Advanced Search (IPAS) System.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Ola Founder Bhavish Aggarwal shared, "Happy that Ola group @OlaElectric @Olacabs and @Krutrim have half of all granted patents for all Indian unicorns put together. Not happy with our number of 650 applied patents though. We will accelerate much much more in coming years!"
Sources close to Ola confirmed that the group has filed over 650 patent applications, with 180 already granted. This includes filings by Ola Electric, Ola Consumer, and Krutrim, with Ola Electric accounting for the lion's share of about 70-80% of the total.
The report reveals that 101 of India's unicorns have filed zero patents, spotlighting a heavy tilt in the startup ecosystem toward valuation and market capture rather than technology creation.
In this context, Ola Group's IP portfolio stands out as an example of deep-tech commitment. Ola Electric, the EV arm, filed 205 patents in FY23 alone, making it India's top patent filer in the electric vehicle sector. These patents span battery innovation, vehicle software, AI, safety systems, and more.
In FY23 alone, Ola Electric invested ₹507 crore in R&D, representing 19.3% of its annual revenue, a sharp rise from ₹175 crore the previous year. The company is set to further ramp up innovation spending, earmarking ₹1,600 crore for R&D between FY25 and FY27.
As stated in its IPO prospectus, "R&D and technology form the backbone of our business model."
The group's filings also extend globally, with patents granted and pending in the U.S., U.K., Japan, China, and Australia, positioning Ola as a global tech-driven company.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

5 years on, India resumes tourist visas to Chinese
5 years on, India resumes tourist visas to Chinese

Time of India

time34 minutes ago

  • Time of India

5 years on, India resumes tourist visas to Chinese

NEW DELHI: After a five-year hiatus, and ahead of a possible visit by PM Narendra Modi to China next month for the SCO summit, India announced resumption of tourist visas for Chinese nationals. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Both sides have looked to facilitate people-to-people exchanges to normalise ties. China, which has been keen to resume direct air services, welcomed the decision as a positive move. The Indian embassy in Beijing announced the decision effective July 24 on Weibo, China's microblogging site, on a day the two countries also held another round of diplomatic talks on border affairs, expressing satisfaction with the "general prevalence of peace and tranquillity in the border areas, leading to gradual normalisation of bilateral relations". India and China have had frequent high-level engagements since Modi's meeting with President Xi Jinping in Kazan last year, following the agreement to complete the disengagement of troops at the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh. The decision to restart tourist visa services for Chinese nationals is the second significant step towards normalisation, after the resumption of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. China welcomes India decision on tourist visas The Chinese foreign ministry said, "This is a positive move. Easing cross-border travel serves the interests of all parties. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries." Chinese foreign minister and special representative (SR) for boundary talks Wang Yi is expected to visit India soon for the next round of SR (special representative) talks with NSA Ajit Doval and, with the thaw in ties holding up, Modi himself is likely to visit China for the SCO summit, to be held Aug 31-Sept 1. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now If it happens, this will be Modi's first visit to the country in seven years. During his recent visit to China, foreign minister S Jaishankar had said, while citing the complex international situation, that as neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China was very important. In the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) talks on India-China border affairs, according to an Indian readout, the two sides agreed to maintain regular exchanges and contacts on issues related to the boundary affairs at the diplomatic and military levels through established mechanisms. The focus was also on the upcoming SR talks for which Wang will be in India. "The two sides also prepared for the next round of Special Representatives' talks on the India-China boundary question to be held in India later this year," the Indian readout said. Doval had travelled to China for the last round of SR boundary talks in Dec 2024. Doval and Wang had then reiterated the importance of maintaining a "political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship" while seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework for settlement of boundary question, and resolved to inject vitality into the process.

Gemini goes local as Google courts Indian developers
Gemini goes local as Google courts Indian developers

Time of India

time35 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Gemini goes local as Google courts Indian developers

Bengaluru: When Indian developers previously queried Google's AI models, their requests travelled thousands of kilometres to servers in other countries before returning with responses. That status quo changed a bit when Google unveiled four announcements at its developer-focused I/O event in Bengaluru on Wednesday, with one of the announcements being the localisation of AI processing within India's borders. "Indian developers can now use the powerful AI capabilities of Gemini 2.5 Flash here in India," Bikram Singh Bedi, vice president of Google Cloud Asia Pacific, told TOI. "Processing will now be available in India, and this is going to be critical from a perspective of data residency as well as low latency." The announcement addresses two critical concerns for Indian businesses – data residency regulatory concerns and latency issues. Previously, queries to Google's AI models would route through servers in the US or other global regions, not anymore though. "Certain applications need low latency, especially the ones where you're looking for real-time responses," Bedi explained. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The importance of low latency becomes clear when considering real-world applications. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo For video streaming services, even milliseconds of delay can mean the difference between smooth playback and frustrating buffering. Financial trading platforms require split-second responses, whilst customer service chatbots need immediate responses to maintain natural conversations. Manufacturing systems monitoring equipment breakdowns cannot afford delays that might result in costly production stoppages. The second major announcement centred on Firebase, Google's popular development platform. "We have deeply integrated the Gemini 2.5 Pro into our development platforms - both AI Studio and Firebase Studio," Bedi revealed. "Developers can now use multimodal prompts — video, image, speech, text — and they can build full-stack AI applications with AI-generated templates and powerful agentic features." The integration, Bedi said, allows developers to give simple prompts directly within the code editor to generate complete applications. Hardware constraints, a perennial concern for Indian developers targeting budget smartphones, formed the backdrop to announcement number three. Google unveiled Gemma 3, the newest member of its open-source family, and highlighted the Gemma 3n variant optimised for devices with as little as 2 giga byte of RAM. "Gemma 3 is significantly ahead of anything else out there and they're supporting 140 languages, including six Indian languages," Bedi said. Skills, rather than silicon, framed the final set piece. Last year's Gen AI Exchange programme—an online academy and hackathon series launched by Google and supported by the central govt—registered 270,000 learners and reached five million developers through satellite events. "Courses completed have topped thirty thousand, but that is only the warm-up," Bedi said, announcing a second edition hackathon that opens for entries next month. Winners will receive Google Cloud credits, mentoring, and a fast track to showcase their projects at next year's I/O. The exchange, launched first in India and now spreading worldwide, is designed to close what Google and other analysts peg as a severe skills gap across IT and security roles. According to Bedi, enterprises in India are rapidly adopting AI in a slew of different verticals. "Look at Federal Bank of India - they are leveraging our AI to improve customer service. They have this friendly AI personal assistant called Fedi," Bedi explained. "They are seeing a 25% rise in customer satisfaction and 50% saving in customer care cost." Mahindra & Mahindra is another example of a large Indian conglomerate leveraging AI in diverse ways, said Bedi. "They are using our Google Cloud Vertex AI platform for cutting-edge work in R&D, engineering, simulations, and manufacturing plants. They're looking at use cases like zero breakdown, energy consumption optimization, among others," Bedi said. Uttar Pradesh, Bedi said, is building an open agricultural network on Gemini "to put micro climate data and market prices in every farmer's pocket". Such examples, he argued, show that generative AI has moved from a curiosity to a basic requirement for organisations and state govts that want to stay competitive.

Hero Motocorp Strengthens Hf Deluxe Portfolio With The Launch Of New Hf Deluxe Pro
Hero Motocorp Strengthens Hf Deluxe Portfolio With The Launch Of New Hf Deluxe Pro

Hans India

timean hour ago

  • Hans India

Hero Motocorp Strengthens Hf Deluxe Portfolio With The Launch Of New Hf Deluxe Pro

Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, has introduced the feature-packed HF Deluxe Pro – a bold and stylish expression of one of India's most trusted motorcycles. The Brand HF Deluxe celebrates the spirit of the new-age Indian who is confident, value-conscious, and progressive. The HF Deluxe Pro reflects Hero MotoCorp's commitment to providing dependable and efficient mobility solutions. With segment-leading features, striking design, and superior fuel efficiency, the new HF Deluxe Pro adds excitement to the entry-level motorcycle segment. Powered by advanced technologies like i3S (Idle Stop-Start System), low-friction engine, and specially engineered tyres, it delivers an impressive best-in-class mileage. The HF Deluxe Pro is built for effortless daily rides and unmatched value. The HF Deluxe Pro is available at Hero MotoCorp dealerships across the country at a price of ₹73,550/- (Ex-showroom Delhi). Commenting on the launch, Ashutosh Varma, Chief Business Officer – India Business Unit, Hero MotoCorp, said, 'HF Deluxe has been a trusted partner for millions of customers across India, celebrated for its reliability and fuel efficiency. With the new HF Deluxe Pro, we have taken this trust forward, by introducing a bolder design, advanced features, and enhanced fuel efficiency – all tailored to the needs of the new-age Indian rider. The brand philosophy of 'Naye Indian ki Deluxe Bike' reinforces our commitment to offering dependable and highly-efficient mobility solutions for everyday riding.' New HF Deluxe Pro Bold New Design The HF Deluxe Pro sports a bold new look with refreshed body graphics that add dynamism and flair to its overall silhouette. It features a segment-first LED headlamp with crown-shaped high-intensity position lamp, enhancing visibility and presence. The sharp and edgy graphics lend a contemporary edge and the chrome accents elevate its premium feel – giving the HF Deluxe Pro a confident, modern, and a standout appeal. Horizon Digital Console The advanced digital speedometer adds a touch of modernity to the HF Deluxe Pro, delivering real-time riding data with clarity and precision. Integrated with a Low Fuel Indicator (LFI), it enhances everyday practicality by helping riders plan fuel stops efficiently, making every journey worry-free. Enhanced Safety, Elevated Comfort Designed with safety at its core, the HF Deluxe Pro features large 18' diameter front and rear wheels with tubeless tyres for improved stability and ride comfort. The 130mm diameter rear brake drum ensures stronger braking performance and better control. Engineered for durability with a robust 2-step adjustable rear suspension setup, it ensures steady handling across varied terrains, perfectly suited for any road conditions. Superior Mileage & Performance The HF Deluxe Pro is powered by a reliable 97.2cc engine, that delivers a strong performance output of 7.9 bhp at 8000 RPM and 8.05 Nm torque at 6000 RPM. With i3S (Idle Stop-Start System), technology, low-friction engine and low rolling resistance tyres, it achieves superior mileage while ensuring smooth acceleration.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store