SoftBank Trims Ola Electric Stake As Snowflake CEO Warns Of Browser Wars

SoftBank Group has pared its stake in Ola Electric Mobility Ltd., selling 94.6 million shares between September 2025 and January 2026. The divestment, executed via its investment arm SVF II Ostrich (DE) LLC, lowered its holding to 13.53% from 15.68%. This marks the second major sell-down in less than a year, reflecting investor caution as Ola Electric faces regulatory scrutiny, service challenges, and rising competition in India’s electric two-wheeler market.  

In parallel, Snowflake CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy has raised alarms over the next phase of “browser wars.” He argues that AI-driven search tools and specialized platforms are eroding the dominance of traditional Big Tech browsers, ushering in a decentralized era where context-rich, task-specific AI agents will reshape how users access information online.  

Key Highlights  

• SoftBank sold 94.6 million Ola Electric shares between September 2025 and January 2026  
• Stake reduced from 15.68% to 13.53%, continuing investor retreat  
• Ola Electric grapples with regulatory pressure, service issues, and competition  
• Snowflake CEO predicts AI-driven browser wars challenging Big Tech dominance  
• Decentralized, task-specific AI agents expected to redefine digital search ecosystems  

Final Takeaway  
SoftBank’s divestment underscores investor caution in India’s EV sector, while Snowflake’s warning highlights a broader shift in digital ecosystems. Together, these developments reflect the intersection of financial strategy and technological disruption shaping global markets.  

Sources: Mint, The Hindu BusinessLine, YourStory, Los Angeles Daily News