Top tech startup news stories you need to know this Thursday, December 21

Good morning! Here are top tech startup news stories you need to know this Thursday, December 21.

Smartron partners with IoT startup MiQasa to strengthen home automation ecosystem. India-based original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and Internet of Things (IoT) brand Smartron on Thursday partnered with Hyderabad-based IoT startup MiQasa to build and strengthen a strong product ecosystem in the country. “Smartron is the first Indian company building an AI powered IoT platform in India and this partnership would definitely enable us to push the boundaries of AI and machine learning,” said Santosh Kumar Patil, Founder and President at MiQASA Inc.

Peter Thiel-backed startup fund taps Science Exchange’s outsourcing platform. Science Exchange, a R&D startup is ending the year on a high note. The startup signed strategic partnership with Breakout Labs, a science-oriented investing shop within billionaire Peter Thiel’s Thiel Foundation. Science Exchange is the world’s leading and most secure enterprise platform for outsourced research and development (R&D).

University of Buffalo spinoff startup POP Biotechnologies (POP BIO) partners with global pharma companies. The Buffalo-based, biopharmaceutical startup recently reached a research agreements with two international pharmaceutical companies, signed a manufacturing contract with a regional drug development firm. The company has developed a vaccine adjuvant called SNAP, an abbreviation for Spontaneous Nanoliposome-Antigen Particleization. Adjuvants are immunological agents, often used to enhance the efficacy of vaccines and drug treatments.

Venture Catalysts invests in online gifting company IGP.com. IGP.com has raised an undisclosed sum in its pre-Series A round of financing to enhance its supply chain infrastructure and for branding. The funding is led by incubation platform Venture Catalysts. The company provide gift recommendation service  to its customers and also delivers packaged gifts from its warehouses. Its delivery service spans across 200 cities in India and over 100 countries around the world.

Beyond Limits Named Finalist in the Artificial Intelligence Category for the Tech Trailblazers Awards. Beyond Limits, an artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive computing company, announced today that they have been named a finalist for the Tech Trailblazers Award in the category of AI. These tech awards aim to recognize both established and up-and-coming startups in 16 different categories.

Automotive giant Daimler acquired a majority stake in French Uber competitor. Daimler has acquired a majority stake in Chauffeur Privé, a French ride-hailing app that provides ride hailing services in Paris, Lyon and the Côte d’Azur (via Tech.eu).  The terms of the deal have been disclosed.