Tech5: Australia enacts world-first under-16 social media ban, Stellaris raises $300 million fund, and more

Huawei is still offering Android compatibility for the time being, as it builds out its app ecosystem, which now includes 15,000 apps with plans to expand to 100,000 in the coming months.

CCI opens probe into Google’s app store policies on real money games

The Competition Commission of India has opened an investigation into Google’s policies regarding real-money games on its platform, following a complaint by online gaming firm WinZO, according to an order posted on the antitrust authority’s website, November 28.

WinZO, in the case first filed in 2022, alleges that Google’s updated policy, which allows games like fantasy sports and rummy, unfairly excluded its platform, despite offering similar services. The complaint claims Google’s selective approval creates a “two-tier market”, giving some developers preferential access while disadvantaging others, Reuters notes in its report on the order.

This move adds to Google’s regulatory troubles in India, where it has already faced penalties for antitrust violations related to its Android market dominance. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is expected to complete its probe within 60 days. Google has not yet responded to the complaint.

Stellaris Venture Partners raise $300 million, their biggest fund

Stellaris Venture Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm in Bengaluru, has successfully closed its third fund, raising $300 million to invest in Indian startups targeting both local and global markets.

“We will continue to back companies in technology and technology enabled sectors, partnering with them early in their journey,” the firm’s partners Alok Goyal, Ritesh Banglani, Rahul Chowdhri and Naman Lahoty, wrote in a post, announcing the new fund November 28.

Stellaris’s first fund was raised in 2017. It has backed 44 tech startups, with notable investments in consumer brand Mamaearth, digital adoption platform Whatfix, and EV financing startup Turno, according to the post. Private markets intelligence provider Tracxn puts Stellaris’s startup investments at 64. The firm itself was started in 2015, according to Tracxn.

The new fund will focus on areas like consumer tech, AI, SaaS, and financial services. Leadership announcements include the promotion of Naman Lahoty to partner, Chetan GMS as CFO and Preseedha Premnath as general counsel.

NCB signs MoUs on advancing decarbonisation in cement manufacturing

The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB), an organisation under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to advance decarbonisation in the sector.

The MoUs were signed during the 18th NCB International Conference and Exhibition on Cement and Concrete held at Yashobhoomi, IICC Dwarka, according to a November 28 ministry press release.

An MoU was signed between NCB and the Indian unit of the Global Cement and Concrete Association, an industry lobby, to promote research in the area of decarbonisation within the Indian cement sector. India is targeting Net Zero status for the nation by 2070. A second MoU was signed between NCB and AIC-Plasmatech Innovation Foundation in the application of thermal plasma torch technology in cement production, according to the release.