Global Innovation Wire

Western Alliance Appoints Stephen McMaster as Chief Information Security Officer Western Alliance Bank has appointed Stephen McMaster as its new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), strengthening the regional bank’s #cybersecurity #leadership as cyber risks and regulatory expectations continue to rise. McMaster brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services #technology and #security, having led cybersecurity, risk management, and technology control functions at large and complex institutions. Based in #Phoenix, he will be responsible for shaping Western Alliance’s enterprise information security strategy, safeguarding critical systems and customer data, and advancing compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks. In his new role, #McMaster will also oversee threat detection and incident response, guide cyber risk management practices, and advise senior leadership and the Board on priorities related to resilience and secure growth. #WesternAlliance #WesternAllianceBank #Cybersecurity #CISO #RiskManagement #BankingSecurity #TechLeadership #FinancialServices #KenVecchione #StephenMcMaster

Google Expands Personal Intelligence to AI Mode in Search for More Tailored Results Google has expanded its #Personal #Intelligence feature — first introduced in its Gemini AI assistant — into #AI #Mode in Google #Search, enabling the search experience to use personal context from select Google apps to deliver more relevant and contextual answers. The upgraded AI Mode can reference information from services such as Gmail and Google Photos when generating responses, provided users opt in. This allows Search to offer suggestions based on personal data like upcoming travel details, past purchases, or photo content, making results more tailored than traditional web listings. The feature is currently optional and rolling out as part of a Labs experiment in the United States for eligible Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers using English. Users retain full control over which Google apps connect to AI Mode and can enable or disable access at any time. Personal Intelligence connects information across Google apps so AI Mode goes beyond web-based answers and understands user context — such as hotel confirmations in emails or photos from previous trips — to deliver insights aligned with individual needs and preferences. For example, AI Mode may use a #Gmail #travel #booking and related #photos to suggest activities for an upcoming trip or factor in purchase history when recommending products. #Google #AI #PersonalIntelligence #AIinSearch #Gemini #SearchInnovation #TechNews #ContextualAI #AIDevelopment #GoogleAI #GoogleAI #GeminiTeams #RobbyStein

Sensesemi Raises ₹25 Crore in Seed Round to Build Integrated Edge AI Chips Sensesemi Technologies Private Limited, a fabless #semiconductor #startup based in #Bengaluru, has raised ₹25 crore in a seed #funding round to accelerate the development of its edge-AI #chip architecture, targeting real-time #intelligence for industrial, automotive, and medical device applications. The round was led by Piper Serica, with participation from LVX, Sun Icon Ventures, MyAsiaVC, White Pine Investment Management Private Limited, and Jain Estates Oncor International, along with angel investors including REAN Foundation, Niraj Shah, and Deepak Khanna. Sensesemi is developing integrated edge-AI silicon that combines AI inferencing, wireless mesh connectivity, and precision analog signal processing on a single chip — a vertically integrated design aimed at delivering low-power, real-time on-device performance. This approach reduces system complexity and power consumption compared to conventional multi-component solutions. #Sensesemi #EdgeAI #AIChips #Semiconductors #TechStartup #Bengaluru #DeepTech #AIInnovation #VijayMuktamath #NamitVarma #PiperSerica #Indiasemicondcutors #VC

Apple Explores AirTag-Sized AI Wearable Device to Rival OpenAI Hardware Apple is reportedly developing a new #AI-powered #wearable #device roughly the size of an AirTag, designed to compete with emerging AI-centric #hardware from rivals such as OpenAI. The device is expected to feature #cameras, #microphones, and on-device #artificial #intelligence for contextual interaction. The proposed wearable — often described as an AI pin — is said to be a thin, flat circular device that clips onto clothing. Early details suggest it may include dual cameras, multiple microphones, a speaker, a physical button, and wireless charging, enabling it to sense its surroundings and respond intelligently. Unlike traditional screen-based Apple products, the device is expected to rely on on-device AI models and sensors to understand a user’s environment, enabling hands-free AI interaction without needing a #phone or #smartwatch. #Apple #AIWearable #AIHardware #AirTag #AIpin #OpenAI #TechTrends #Innovation #TimCook #SamAltman #AIPin #AIDevice #HandsFreeAI

Vedanta Creates ₹2,500 Crore Employee Wealth Through ESOPs Over Five Years Vedanta Group, the #Indian diversified natural resources and metals conglomerate, has generated nearly ₹2,500 crore in cumulative employee #wealth through its Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) programmes over the past five years. The broad-based initiative has expanded #ownership beyond senior executives to cover a significant portion of Vedanta’s workforce. Under the latest tranche — part of ESOP 2025 — more than 1,200 first-time recipients, including freshers and early-career professionals, were granted stock options #worth over ₹500 crore, contributing to the programme’s overall impact. The ESOP scheme now covers roughly 40 percent of #Vedanta’s workforce across plants, functions, and seniority levels. #Shares under the plan are typically allotted at a deeply discounted price, making it attractive for employees to #benefit from long-term #share appreciation. In recent years, Vedanta’s ESOP vesting cycles have delivered substantial value gains, supported by strong stock market performance. #Vedanta #ESOP #EmployeeWealth #StockOptions #EmployeeOwnership #IndiaBusiness #Manufacturing #FinancialInclusion #VedantaLtd #AnilAgarwal #VedantaGroup #VedantaESOP #EmployeeStockOptionPlan

Entri and Udemy Partner to Expand Upskilling Opportunities Across India Entri, a learning platform focused on India’s vernacular #learners, has entered a strategic partnership with Udemy, the #global #AI-powered skills acceleration platform, to expand access to #career-focused #upskilling across the country. The #collaboration brings together Udemy’s expert-led courses and global content with Entri’s regional-language job training programmes, aiming to make technical and soft skills training more accessible to learners across #India especially those outside major English-first markets. Under the #partnership, Udemy’s content engine will be integrated into Entri’s platform, enabling learners to access career-relevant training in multiple Indian languages and dialects. Entri contributes deep local expertise and vernacular reach, while Udemy adds scale and content depth to accelerate employability and professional development. The tie-up comes amid #growing demand for upskilling, particularly in areas such as #artificial #intelligence, #data analytics, digital marketing, and #software #development, where Indian professionals are actively seeking training to improve job readiness and career progression. #Entri #Udemy #Upskilling #CareerTraining #EdTech #IndiaTech #AIPoweredSkills #VernacularLearning #AITraining #Hisamuddin #RamjiSundararajan

Cloover Secures Over $1.2 Billion to Develop AI Operating System for Energy Independence #Berlin-based Cloover has announced a major financing commitment totalling over $1.2 billion to #accelerate the #development of its #AI-powered operating system aimed at enabling #energy #independence and streamlining clean energy deployment across #Europe. The announcement marks a significant boost for distributed clean energy infrastructure and climate #tech #innovation. The funding package includes a $22 million Series A equity round led by MMC Ventures and QED Investors, with participation from Lowercarbon Capital, BNVT Capital, Bosch Ventures, CENTROTEC SE, and Earthshot Ventures. In addition, Cloover secured a $1.2 billion debt facility from a major European bank, backed by a €300 million guarantee from the European Investment Fund (EIF) — enabling the company to expand customer and installer financing through its platform. Cloover’s AI operating system integrates workflow management, financing, procurement, and energy optimisation into a unified platform serving manufacturers, installers, households, and investors. By embedding AI-driven credit underwriting and automation, the system aims to streamline complex processes, reduce administrative barriers, and support residential clean energy adoption at scale. #Cloover #EnergyIndependence #AIOperatingSystem #ClimateTech #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #Fintech #Sustainability

Allcargo Global Elevates Vaishnav Shetty to Deputy Managing Director in Leadership Succession Allcargo Global, the international supply chain arm of the Allcargo Group, has appointed Vaishnav Shetty as Deputy Managing Director and inducted him as a member of the company’s Board of Directors as part of a structured #leadership transition and succession plan. Shetty, son of Allcargo Group founder and Chairman Shashi Kiran Shetty, will work closely with Adarsh Hegde, Managing Director of Allcargo Global Ltd, to drive the company’s next phase of growth amid ongoing organisational restructuring. The move highlights #Allcargo’s focus on succession planning, digital transformation, and building a future-ready logistics organisation. Allcargo Global Ltd represents the largest business of the Allcargo Group, contributing around 80 percent of the group’s annual revenue, and has recently been demerged from the parent company to sharpen strategic focus and operational agility ahead of a proposed public listing. Vaishnav Shetty joined the Allcargo Group in 2017 and has held multiple leadership roles across the organisation, particularly in driving digital #innovation, data-led #technologies, and customer-centric solutions. His experience includes leading digital transformation initiatives and launching industry-first technology platforms within the #logistics sector. #Allcargo #LeadershipAppointment #SupplyChain #Logistics #SuccessionPlanning #DigitalTransformation #IndiaBusiness #ShashiKiranShetty #VaishnavShetty #DeputyMD #AllcargoGroup

Pixxel-Led Consortium Signs Agreement with IN-SPACe to Build India’s National EO Constellation A consortium led by Pixxel, a #Bengaluru-based planetary intelligence company founded by space entrepreneur Awais Ahmed, has signed an agreement with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to design, build, own, and operate #India’s first privately-led national Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellation under a public-private partnership framework. Founded in 2019 by Awais Ahmed, Pixxel specialises in building the #world’s highest-resolution hyperspectral #satellite #constellation, delivering real-time #Earth #intelligence for applications ranging from climate monitoring and agriculture to mining and disaster management. This landmark project — one of the largest space-sector public-private #partnerships in #Indian history — marks a major shift from government-built systems to private industry-led development of critical national space infrastructure. It positions India among a select group of nations capable of deploying advanced multimodal EO constellations using domestic expertise. The consortium, operating under the EO-PPP programme and led by Pixxel alongside partners Dhruva Space, PierSight, and SatSure, will invest over ₹1,200 crore over the next five years to deploy a fleet of 12 satellites. These will provide very high-resolution optical, multispectral, SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar), and hyperspectral imaging capabilities — enabling comprehensive #Earth #Observation #data for #government and commercial applications. #Pixxel #INSPACe #EarthObservation #EOConstellation #SpaceTech #IndiaSpace #PublicPrivatePartnership #SatelliteData #HyperspectralImaging #AwaisAhmed #DhruvaSpace #PierSight #Satsure #INSPACe #EO #SpaceInnovationEcosystem

European Commission Launches EU Inc — the Long-Awaited “28th Regime” for Startups The European Commission has launched EU–INC, a new framework often dubbed the “28th regime,” aimed at creating a single, optional EU-wide legal entity to make it easier for #startups and innovative companies to incorporate, operate, and raise capital across the European Union. The announcement was made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the initiative as a key milestone in strengthening #Europe’s #innovation #ecosystem. #EU Inc is designed to sit alongside — not replace — national company laws, offering businesses a unified legal form under EU law, supported by a central registry and digital onboarding tools. The framework is intended to simplify cross-border operations, investment documentation, and employee equity schemes across EU member states. The policy movement behind EU Inc has been backed by thousands of founders, investors, and ecosystem #leaders over the past year, driven by a desire to reduce bureaucratic fragmentation that has historically hindered pan-#European scaling and #investment. If adopted, startups could be able to incorporate in any EU country in as little as 48 hours, improving access to European markets and capital. #EUInc #28thRegime #EuropeanStartups #TechPolicy #ScaleupEurope #Innovation #SingleMarket #EuropeanCommission #EUInc #WorldEconomicForum #UrsulavonderLeyen