Sora Falls, Startups Refocus: The Week AI and Startups Got Real

From GenAI reality checks to IPO momentum and fintech pivots, this week signals sharper business discipline across tech

OpenAI Shuts Down Sora as Unit Economics Collapse

OpenAI has pulled the plug on Sora, its standalone text-to-video app, marking a sharp retreat from consumer AI video ambitions.

• Downloads fell from 3.3 Mn (Nov 2025) to 1.1 Mn (Feb 2026)
• Lifetime revenue stood at just $2.1 Mn
• High GPU costs created unsustainable unit economics

Can a product survive when compute costs outpace revenue at scale?

Beyond economics, deepfake controversies and IP violations—featuring characters like Pikachu and Mario—triggered legal scrutiny. The collapse of a $1 Bn Disney deal proved decisive.

The broader signal: value in GenAI video is shifting from consumer novelty to enterprise-grade production tools.

Rapido’s ‘Ownly’ Targets the Long Tail of Restaurants

Rapido is applying a Meesho-style playbook to food delivery with Ownly, focusing on underserved supply.

• Targets 70,000 unlisted Bengaluru restaurants
• 15% of 2,300 onboarded partners are first-time online sellers

What if the next food delivery battleground isn’t users—but supply onboarding?

Ownly’s strategy:

• Zero-commission model for restaurants
• No discounting, but structurally low prices
• Integration with bike-taxi network to optimise logistics

By filling demand during off-peak commute hours, Rapido aims to fix unit economics—much like Uber and Grab globally.

Cashify Gears Up for ₹1,800 Cr IPO Push

Prosus-backed Cashify is preparing for a public listing, appointing ICICI Securities, JM Financial, and Nomura as bankers.

• IPO size: ₹1,500–₹1,800 Cr (fresh issue + OFS)
• Filing via confidential route by July 2026
• Target listing: early 2027

Financial snapshot:

• Revenue up 17% YoY to ₹1,095.9 Cr (FY25)
• Losses narrowed 80% to ₹10.6 Cr

Is recommerce finally hitting scale economics in India?

Zivy’s Pivot Reflects AI’s Shift to Vertical SaaS

AI startup Zivy has pivoted to Zoven, a fintech compliance platform focused on fraud detection.

• Raised $1.2 Mn pre-seed (2024)
• Launch planned for Q1 FY27

The move underscores a clear trend: horizontal AI tools are уступing ground to domain-specific, revenue-linked applications.

Rocketlane Raises $60 Mn to Scale Agentic AI

Customer onboarding platform Rocketlane has secured $60 Mn (₹564 Cr) in Series C funding led by Insight Partners.

• Focus: scaling agentic AI platform “Nitro”
• Serves 750+ enterprises globally

Operating in the professional services automation space, projected to hit $40 Bn by 2033, Rocketlane is betting on AI-led workflow transformation.

Zomato & Swiggy’s Pricing Power Raises Eyebrows

Foodtech giants Zomato and Swiggy continue to hike platform fees, now up 600% since 2023.

• Fees increased eight times in three years
• Demand remains resilient despite price hikes

Does this signal pricing power—or lack of competition?

Industry voices warn of potential cartelisation, citing synchronized pricing and limited alternatives for consumers.

Zerodha Doubles F&O Charges Amid Regulatory Pressure

Zerodha will double brokerage fees to ₹40 per order for certain intraday F&O trades starting April 1.

• Applies to accounts not meeting 50% cash margin requirement
• No change to equity delivery zero-brokerage model

The move follows increased STT on F&O trades, signaling tightening regulatory scrutiny on speculative trading.

TL;DR

OpenAI shut down Sora due to poor economics and legal issues, signaling a shift in GenAI video. Rapido targets unlisted restaurants with a zero-commission model. Cashify plans a ₹1,800 Cr IPO, while Zivy pivots to fintech AI. Meanwhile, Zomato-Swiggy pricing and Zerodha fee hikes highlight market shifts.

AI Summary

• OpenAI shuts Sora over weak revenue and high GPU costs
• Rapido’s Ownly targets underserved restaurants with zero commission
• Cashify plans ₹1,500–₹1,800 Cr IPO
• Zivy pivots to fintech compliance AI
• Zomato/Swiggy fees up 600%; Zerodha hikes F&O charges