MediaMint Strengthens Agentic Growth With Taktical Digital’s Acquisition

MediaMint, a global innovator in Agentic Growth Services, today announced the acquisition of Taktical Digital, a high-growth provider of performance-driven digital marketing, media, and content services. This will enable MediaMint to expand its growth marketing services throughout North America and accelerate its transformation into an Agentic AI-powered firm.

Founded in 2014 by Ilan Nass and Derek Rubinstein in SoHo, New York, Taktical Digital comprises seasoned digital marketing professionals specializing in performance media buying, growth marketing, creative content, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Generative AI Engine Optimization (GEO), and full-funnel optimization. Taktical’s team, based largely in North America, will integrate with MediaMint’s global workforce of 3,000 professionals across the United States, Canada, India, Poland, Mexico, Spain, and Brazil.

The acquisition unites Taktical’s digital marketing expertise with MediaMint’s Agentic AI solutions, including the newly launched Mia by MediaMint, creating a team that delivers a fusion of human insight and AI-driven operations across media, marketing, sales, and customer success. This milestone propels MediaMint’s vision to redefine how global brands scale comprehensive digital execution amid rapid industry shifts fueled by AI, automation, and outcome-focused strategies. The combined entity can deliver full-funnel digital marketing execution at scale with clients across media, entertainment, technology, retail, ecommerce, and social media.

Rajeev Butani, Chairman and CEO, MediaMint said, “Taktical Digital has built a reputation as one of the most innovative and performance-driven digital marketing organizations in the industry. Their expertise in media buying, content, and optimization is a perfect complement to MediaMint’s Agentic Growth Services. Together, we can help global brands accelerate growth with world-class marketing execution. This acquisition is both strategically and culturally aligned, and we are excited to welcome team Taktical to the MediaMint family.”

Ilan Nass & Derek Rubinstein, Co-Founders, Taktical Digital said, “Joining MediaMint unlocks a new level of capability for our clients and our team. MediaMint’s Agentic AI framework and global operational scale allow us to deliver more efficient campaign execution, deeper insights, and higher-impact creative at speed. We see this as an opportunity to build a capable AI powered, scaled digital strategy firm. We’re excited to combine our expertise with MediaMint to shape the future of digital marketing and help clients achieve measurable outcomes.”

“MediaMint’s focus on building the next generation of AI-enabled marketing operations makes this acquisition especially timely. Taktical Digital deepens the company’s foothold in performance marketing while expanding its footprint in North America. This combination strengthens MediaMint’s position as a global innovator in operational excellence for marketing, media, and revenue growth.” said Charles Philips, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Recognize Partners and Sandeep Singh, MD, Everstone Capital.

Helios Luxe Announces India Debut of Auguste Reymond Explore the Swiss Independent Watchmaker With 127 Years Of Craftsmanship

Helios Luxe by Titan Company Ltd. continues to strengthen its position in India’s accessible luxury watch space and plans to more than double up its market share (20%) by achieving a turnover to 2000 Cr over the next 3 years. In this journey and way forward, Helios luxe is proud to announce the India debut and exclusive partnership of Auguste Reymond, an independent Swiss legacy watchmaker established in 1898. The launch reinforces Helios Luxe’s role as a destination for celebrating independent, authentic, globally storied, heritage-led brands and high-horology discovery – in addition to presenting the popular and established.

Helios Luxe aims to reach 100 boutiques over the next 5 years and Auguste Reymond will be an integral part of this journey. Making its first official entry into India with exclusive collaboration with Helios Luxe, Auguste Reymond brings handcrafted, hand-assembled, individually numbered timepieces, shaped by 127 years of watchmaking heritage. Leading the introduction is the hero model Origin Lunar, featuring intricate lunar-surface engraving and a stunning bezel infused with Super-LumiNova, creating a vivid glow. The timepieces are powered by the iconic hand-wound UNITAS calibre, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to enduring mechanical watchmaking.

India has witnessed a growing appetite for fine, global watchmaking, driven by rising affluence, deeper appreciation for heritage, and an increasing inclination towards authentic, story-led time pieces that truly reflect who they are. Helios Luxe is designed for this evolving consumer - sitting at the intersection of aesthetics, high horology, and worth. The collection is curated to appeal equally to seasoned collectors and individuals trying to collect timepieces that is an extension of their own identities.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Rahul Shukla, Vice President, Chief Sales & marketing Officer, Watches Division, Titan Company Ltd., said, “We are delighted to introduce Auguste Reymond to India exclusively through Helios Luxe. Consumers today are increasingly seeking authenticity, craftsmanship, and meaningful stories behind what they wear - moving beyond familiarity to originality and depth. Helios Luxe is built as a destination for this kind of discovery in accessible luxury space.”

Mr. Sundar Klingenberg, Chief Information Officer and Deputy CEO, Auguste Reymond, said, “India marks an important milestone in our journey, and we are proud to partner with Helios Luxe. As an independent maison producing in limited quantities with close artisanal attention, we offer authentic distinction for enthusiasts who appreciate innovation, heritage, and mechanical watchmaking.”

The India launch introduces 23 timepieces across four collections - Origin, Unity, Heritage 1898, and Magellan. The core range (21 watches) is priced between ₹1.3 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh, while the two statement ORIGIN timepieces are priced at ₹4.5 lakh and ₹7.5 lakh, respectively. All watches are handcrafted, hand-assembled, and individually numbered, limited in quantity, and exclusively available in India through Helios Luxe.

Handmade For The Holidays: Bhartiya Mall Of Bengaluru Hosts Craft Workshops This December

This festive season, Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru invites families and craft enthusiasts to spark their creativity with a delightful series of Holiday Craft Workshops. Designed for both children and adults, these sessions offer a chance to create personalised festive keepsakes while enjoying meaningful time together.

For a registration fee of just ₹99, participants can dive into fun, hands-on workshops including:

Workshop	Date	Time	Venue	Registration Link
Make Your Own Snow Globe	12th Dec 2025	5:30 PM	Upper Ground Floor	BMS
Make Your Own Christmas Tree	19th Dec 2025	5:30 PM	Upper Ground Floor	BMS
Doodle Mug Making	26th Dec 2025	5:30 PM	Upper Ground Floor	BMS

With engaging activities such as Snow Globe Creation, Christmas Tree Making, and Doodle Mug Designing, the mall aims to create a joyful space for visitors to craft, connect, and celebrate the warmth of the festive season. 

Across Taj Bangalore And Taj West End, Christmas Eve Comes Alive With Thoughtfully Curated Menus & Elegant Settings

A Timeless Christmas Eve at Café 77 East, Taj Bangalore

Celebrate Christmas Eve in classic festive style at Café 77 East, Taj Bangalore. The elegant dinner buffet brings together traditional Christmas flavours and contemporary culinary creations, complemented by live cooking stations, festive music, and warm seasonal touches.

Menu Highlights include truffle butter roast turkey with Yorkshire pudding and cranberry sauce, artisan antipasti, chef-special pasta and risotto, hand-crafted pizzas, and an indulgent Christmas dessert spread featuring seasonal favourites.

With interactive live counters, soothing Christmas melodies, and the option of alfresco seating, the evening promises a relaxed yet refined festive experience—perfect for celebrating with family and friends.

Details
- Date: 24 December 2025
- Time: 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
- Venue: Café 77 East & Alfresco, Taj Bangalore
- Price: INR 2,950 + taxes

For Reservations, please contact: +91 95133 96502

Celebrate the spirit of the season with an evening designed for timeless festive memories.

A Feast of Fine Cheer – Christmas Eve at Taj West End, Bengaluru

This Christmas Eve, celebrate in your own festive rhythm at Taj West End, Bengaluru. Set amidst its iconic heritage gardens, the evening unfolds with warm hospitality, curated culinary experiences, and elegant settings—perfect for intimate dinners or spirited celebrations.

At Machan
Enjoy a lavish Christmas Eve dinner buffet with a festive carving station featuring seasoned Butterball turkey, roast suckling pig, and mushroom Wellington. Interactive live counters, including Wok & Flames, BBQ grills, and an Oyster Bar, add a celebratory, immersive touch.
Price: INR 3,400 + taxes

At Blue Ginger
Indulge in a chef-curated four-course Vietnamese menu paired with select beverages, featuring Saigon-style vegetarian grills, Hanoi-style non-vegetarian grills, and wok-flamed blue pea jasmine rice with yellow curry—crafted for freshness, aroma, and depth of flavour.
Price: INR 5,000 + taxes

At The Blue Bar
Raise a festive toast with select beverages and chef-crafted small plates in an elegant, lively setting ideal for Christmas Eve conversations.
Price: INR 4,000 + taxes

Details
- Date: 24 December 2025
- Time: 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM
- Venue: Taj West End, Bengaluru

For Reservations, please call: 080-66605660

Let Christmas Eve unfold amid heritage charm, curated cuisine, and moments worth celebrating.

IBM commits To Skill 5 Million Indian youth In AI, Cybersecurity & Quantum By 2030

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced its commitment to skill 5 million learners across India in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, and Quantum Computing by 2030. Delivered through IBM SkillsBuild, this initiative advances IBM’s mission to build an equitable, future-ready workforce, broaden access and opportunity to advanced digital skills and employability for students and adult learners.

Through this initiative, IBM will expand AI and emerging technology education across schools, universities, and vocational and skilling ecosystems. It will also collaborate with institutions like All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to drive hands-on AI learning pathways and faculty enablement programs, curriculum integration, hackathons and internships.

“India possesses the talent and ambition to lead the world in AI & Quantum. Fluency in frontier technologies will define economic competitiveness, scientific progress and societal transformation,” said Arvind Krishna, IBM Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our commitment to skill five million people is an investment in that future. By democratizing access to advanced skills, we are enabling the youth and students to build, innovate and accelerate India’s growth.”

IBM also continues to strengthen school-level readiness by co-developing the AI curriculum for senior secondary students, along with teaching resources including the AI Project Cookbook, Teacher Handbook and explainer modules. These programs are designed to embed computational thinking and responsible AI principles early, while enabling teachers to deliver AI education confidently and at scale.

At the core of this initiative is IBM SkillsBuild, one of the world’s most accessible technology learning ecosystems. The programme offers over 1,000 courses in AI, cybersecurity, Quantum, Cloud, Data, Sustainability and workplace readiness for learners, educators and institutions. With 16 million+ learners globally, SkillsBuild, among other programmes, is central to IBM’s mission to train 30 million people worldwide by 2030, with India as one of the biggest accelerators of that ambition.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's technology to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. For more information, visit www.ibm.com

Samsung Solve For Tomorrow 2025: Unlocking Access And Inclusion In Indian Sport Through Technology

Sports has long been a vehicle for social mobility but uneven access to coaching, facilities, and exposure often limits talent to geography. At Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) 2025, the flagship education programme of Samsung, in partnership with IIT Delhi, young innovators reimagined sport as a pathway to opportunity by leveraging technology to democratize access and inclusion.

Thousands of students nationwide responded to the call under the theme “Social Change Through Sport & Technology.” Here’s how they are opening the gates of Indian sport:

1. A Purpose-Driven Theme

This category invited innovations expanding access to training, virtual coaching, e-sports, and skill development—aimed at building healthier, aspirational futures for young people across India.

2. NextPlayAI: Democratizing Talent Discovery

Tennis players and IIIT Pune computer science students Aadish Shelke and Bhagyashri Meena created NextPlayAI, an AI-powered platform using video analytics and machine learning to uncover sporting potential through personalized feedback and performance comparison. Their goal: elite guidance accessible and affordable anywhere.

3. Diverse Innovations Driving Inclusion

Other finalists and winners are creating tech to make sport accessible to all, including:

Shatranj Swaya Crew (Assam): AI powered solution compliant with FIDE to enable people with visual impairment play chess independently

SPORTS4AUTISM (Tamil Nadu): Hybrid app that gamifies therapy for autistic children using sports, tracking progress and improving engagement

STATUSCODE200 (Uttar Pradesh): AI-powered app to help student athletes improve their skills (posture detection, skill level) to personalize coaching

Unity (Tamil Nadu): Patented device to support autistic children using gamified approach for cognitive development

4. Backing Innovation From Prototype to Product

Winners received up to ₹1 crore incubation support at IIT Delhi, with additional awards for top teams, including ₹1 lakh grants, Goodwill Awards and Young Innovator Awards and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip smartphones for the top 20 teams.

5. Growing a Decentralized Sporting Ecosystem

The 2025 cohort saw strong participation from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, with alumni mentoring newcomers and access to IIT Delhi’s FITT Labs for prototyping—fueling the spread of sports tech innovation beyond metros.

6. Empathy and Responsibility at the Core

Participants engaged in design-thinking workshops focused on empathy-first innovation, solving genuine social challenges rather than technology for technology’s sake, aligned with responsible AI principles.

7. A Legacy of Empowering Changemakers

Since 2010, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has inspired 2.9 million young innovators in 68 countries, equipping students with mentorship and tools to build STEM solutions that make a difference. India’s diverse contributions continue to grow year on year. 

Airtel Payments Bank In Partnership With NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited Enables EV Wallet Recharges Via Bharat Connect

Customers can now instantly top up any Bharat Connect partnered charging point operators wallet via the Airtel Thanks App

Seamless and secure EV payments for customers nationwide

Airtel Payments Bank in partnership with NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited has enabled EV Wallet Recharges via the Bharat Connect (BBPS) platform on Airtel Thanks app.

Until now, electric vehicle owners were required to use the wallets that are provided by individual Charging Point Operators (CPOs) for charging payments. With the EV Recharge category, Airtel Payments Bank enables customers to top up their EV wallets directly through the Airtel Thanks App, making the process seamless, instant, and interoperable.

Customers simply need to log in to the app, select “Recharge EV” under Pay Bills, enter their registered mobile number and recharge amount, confirm and pay securely via Bharat Connect enabled apps, and have the recharge reflected instantly in their wallet. The facility is available for all Airtel Thank app users, ensuring convenience, security, and immediate access to funds for EV charging.

Ganesh Ananthanarayanan, Executive Director – Business Operations, Airtel Payments Bank, said, "At Airtel Payments Bank, we continue to pioneer digital-first solutions that enhance everyday customer experiences. With EV Wallet Recharges, we are supporting India’s growing EV ecosystem while giving users a seamless, instant and secure way to recharge their wallets. This is one more step by us to drive innovation in digital banking.”

Noopur Chaturvedi, CEO, NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd., added, "We are delighted to partner with Airtel Payments Bank for the launch of EV Wallet Recharges that supports India’s growing EV ecosystem. This category will play a crucial role in powering India’s EV adoption by making payments interoperable and convenient across platforms. Together, we are enabling a future ready digital payments infrastructure for the green mobility revolution."

About Airtel Payments Bank
Airtel Payments Bank offers a diverse range of safe, simple, and rewarding digital banking solutions through its robust digital platforms and extensive network of over 5 lakh active banking points spread across the country. As one of the fastest growing digital banks in the country, it has built a strong and inclusive digital payments system that empowers millions of customers. Airtel Payments Bank is focused on contributing to the Government’s vision of Digital India and Financial Inclusion by taking digital banking services to the doorstep of every Indian.
For more details visit - https://www.airtelpayments.bank.in/

About NPCI Bharat Bill Pay
NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is at the forefront of digital payments and collections, driving financial inclusion and enhancing customer convenience. NBBL offers a unified, interoperable, and accessible ecosystem for bill payments and collections, enabling secure and reliable “Anytime, Anywhere” transactions for individuals and businesses. Through its Bharat Connect (BBPS) platform, NBBL caters to individual users with seamless bill payment solutions across diverse categories. For B2B, it provides ERP interoperability, streamlined collections, invoice management, reconciliation, and access to structured financing options. Developed by NBBL, Banking Connect is a net banking solution that enables interoperability between banks and payment aggregators, allowing customers to transact with greater ease and speed across merchants through banks. It is also designated settlement agency for the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), ensuring safe, secure, and reliable settlements on the platform. For more information on NBBL, visit www.bharat-connect.com