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One quick thing: Karnataka to adopt Chhattisgarh-style law banning gambling, allowing skill games 

In today’s newsletter:

• IAMAI warns DPDP may hurt startups
• Startup tech leaders pull ahead in pay race
• IndiaAI unveils datasets, GPU portal

P.S.: Introducing the Tech3 Podcast, your daily dose of tech and startup insights. Monday to Friday! Check it out on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

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Imagine a David vs. Goliath scenario, but instead of slingshots and stones, it's about data and compliance.

India's new data protection framework is raising concerns that it might inadvertently tip the scales against the Davids – the startups and MSMEs – in favour of the Goliaths – large corporations.

• The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), representing over 600 digital companies, has voiced concerns about the draft DPDP Rules

• It argues that the framework's compliance demands – financial and technical – could burden smaller businesses

Startups and MSMEs, operating on tight budgets, may struggle to allocate resources for compliance, potentially hindering growth and innovation, the industry body said in its submission to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). 

One of the primary concerns IAMAI raised is the lack of clarity surrounding the designation of Significant Data Fiduciaries (SDFs). 

• Under the DPDP Act, the government has the authority to classify companies as SDFs based on factors such as the volume and sensitivity of personal data they process 

• IAMAI argues that these criteria are vague and subjective 

IAMAI also raised alarms about potential restrictions on cross-border data transfers, which could cut Indian businesses off from the global data economy. 

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In the startup world, code is king—and so are the paychecks of those who write it.

Engineering, design, and data science leaders are commanding the highest salaries, leaving behind traditional functions like HR, marketing, and finance, per the latest TRB (Total Rewards Benchmarking) report by xto10x.

• CTOs earn a median fixed salary of Rs 1.77 crore, with VP-product close behind at Rs 1.72 crore
  
  
• In contrast, CHROs make Rs 95.2 lakh, and brand marketing heads at Rs 80.6 lakh

Compensation rises 20-30% at each growth stage as startups shift from lean early teams to experienced leadership, according to the report.

• Growth-stage startups could allocate an average of 68% of their revenue to employee compensation

In an interesting trend, CFOs are increasingly evaluated based on their ability to raise funds.

• Their incentives are now tied to the capital they secure instead of a fixed salary structure
  
  
• HR heads are also commanding on par pays with business heads as culture-building gains priority

Variable pay is now the norm—sales and growth leaders earn 25-50% in incentives, while HR, finance, and engineering get 15%.

Startups are also moving away from high fixed salaries to performance-linked stock grants as investors push to limit dilution.

• Listed players, like Zomato, Paytm, and Freshworks, now tie stock options to milestones like market cap or revenue growth

In fact, newly listed startups granted 1% of their market cap in stock post-IPO, before scaling back. 

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On the first anniversary of the Rs 10,738 crore IndiaAI Mission, the government launched significant platforms, fulfilling the deadlines it had set a year earlier.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) today launched the GPU access portal and AI Kosha, the non-personal data platform, under the IndiaAI Mission.

• The GPU access portal will provide startups and researchers with access to GPUs 

• AI Kosha will host large datasets that can be used to develop AI technologies

The GPU access portal will have 14,000 GPUs, IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, adding that 4,000 more will be added soon.

• Every quarter, the government will add more GPUs

The non-personal data platform currently hosts datasets related to agriculture, logistics, and other sectors, Vaishnaw said.

• Vaishnaw also invited private companies to contribute to the platform

• Additional Secretary Abhishek Singh said that this is an initial version, with plans to add more datasets

Under the IndiaAI Mission, the government is also working on developing India's own foundational model.

Also read: Govt holding expert consultations on development of indigenous chipset: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Vaishnaw said that MeitY has received 67 proposals for this purpose, from which 3 to 5 will be selected.

"The majority of the GPUs earmarked for IndiAI will be earmarked for developing a foundational model," Vaishnaw added. 

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What's causing the consolidation in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry? Zoho CEO Mani Vembu believes it is because of the oversupply of solutions in the market. 

Often referred to as Zoho’s ‘best-kept secret,’ Vembu is known for his low-profile yet influential role within the company, mentoring key leaders and shaping Zoho’s product and engineering vision behind the scenes. In January, he was appointed as the CEO of Zoho.com, the company’s SaaS unit.

• In an interview with us, he discusses the recent leadership change, Zoho’s AI-driven vision, and the evolving SaaS landscape. 

Read the interview (Prefer video? You can watch the interview here)

• Google will begin testing a new AI-powered search mode, which lets people ask multipart questions.
  
  
• WPP has partnered with and invested in Stability AI, the creator of Stable Diffusion, to integrate AI-driven content solutions across entertainment platforms.

With India making it to the Champions Trophy final, excitement is not just on the field but also in the boardrooms. 

• As Rohit Sharma and his squad gear up to face New Zealand on March 9, ad rates are soaring 

For a 10-second TV spot, rates have skyrocketed to Rs 40 lakh, while digital rates are now at Rs 725 CPM (cost per mille/thousand impressions). 

• The India-Pakistan match even saw a jaw-dropping Rs 50 lakh for a 10-second ad

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