Dear Reader, The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund to provide long-term equity capital to small and medium enterprises, with a focus on manufacturing. The fund will support capacity expansion, technology adoption, exports and business growth, including for companies in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. The focus on strengthening manufacturing comes as companies also tap public markets to fund expansion. FirstCry-backed Swara Baby Products has received SEBI approval for its Rs 1,000 crore IPO, comprising a Rs 500 crore fresh issue and a Rs 500 crore offer for sale. The company plans to use the fresh capital for a new manufacturing facility in Madhya Pradesh, debt repayment and acquisitions. Beyond manufacturing, India’s growing technology ecosystem is also strengthening its position in AI. India ranks among the top 10 emerging markets for AI readiness, with private AI investment more than tripling to $4.1 billion in 2025. However, the World Bank has pointed to gaps in skills, infrastructure and policy that could affect wider adoption. The rising demand for AI is also contributing to growth in India’s digital infrastructure. According to CBRE, the country’s data centre sector has attracted around $173 billion in cumulative investment commitments since 2021, including $38 billion in the first half of 2026. Operational capacity is expected to reach 2 GW by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Flipkart’s 13th Big Billion Days sale will begin on October 9, with AI-powered shopping tools, expanded seller participation and a larger delivery network. Early access begins October 8 for Plus, BLACK, and Flipkart credit card members. In today’s newsletter, we will talk about Why keeping kids off social media isn’t enough Beyond Appliances raises Rs 110 Cr in Series B Here’s your trivia for today: Which university has the largest academic library in the world? (Scroll down for the answer) In-Depth Keeping children off social media may reduce some risks, but it cannot fully protect them in an increasingly digital world. The bigger challenge is creating an online ecosystem where children can connect, learn, and explore safely with responsibility shared by parents, schools, platforms, and regulators. Key takeaways: Children may bypass age restrictions or move to other platforms, gaming spaces or devices. Restrictions can help, but they cannot eliminate online risks. Stronger platform safeguards, better content moderation, safer default settings and effective reporting mechanisms are essential. Parents and schools also need to build children’s digital literacy and resilience. What children do online matters as much as how long they are online. Policies should address grooming, bullying, harmful content, privacy, mental health and addictive features while giving age-appropriate autonomy. Funding Beyond Appliances has raised Rs 110 crore in a Series B round led by Fireside Ventures, as the Bengaluru-based smart kitchen appliances startup looks to expand its product portfolio and manufacturing capacity. Key takeaways: The company plans to invest in R&D, set up a new manufacturing plant, and enter additional kitchen appliance categories. Beyond Appliances aims to expand its offline presence from four cities to 14 over the next three years, while strengthening its omnichannel distribution. The startup plans to launch a new kitchen category, including an oven product, within the next 9–12 months, and is targeting Rs 500 crore in annual recurring revenue over three years. News & updates Meta probe: Britain's communications regulator opened ‌its first formal investigation into Meta under the Online Safety Act on Tuesday, questioning whether it properly assessed risks posed by its Instagram Instants feature before launching it in May. Women's cricket: Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team across all three formats, ending her leadership stint after nearly a decade. She will continue to play for India, with the BCCI yet to announce her successor. Which university has the largest academic library in the world? Answer: Harvard University (around 92 kilometres of bookshelves) We would love to hear from you! To let us know what you liked and disliked about our newsletter, please mail nslfeedback@yourstory.com. If you don’t already get this newsletter in your inbox, sign up here. For past editions of the YourStory Buzz, you can check our Daily Capsule page here.