Avendus Wealth – Hurun India Uth Series 2026

* Launch of the U35 List: Celebrating the forward-thinking builders

U35 at a glance

Insights into the industries, geographies and founder profiles shaping the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India U35 List 2026:

The List features 180 entrepreneurs, up 16% from 155 in 2025

The cumulative valuation of companies represented in the List stands at INR 48 lakh cr, up 23% YoY

33 is the average age of founders on this year’s U35 List, one year younger than in the 2025 edition

First-generation entrepreneurs account for 71% of the cohort, followed by second-generation leaders at 16%, third-generation at 9% and fourth-generation or later at 4%

AI & ML representation increased fourfold, from 3 to 12. The cohort includes Aravind Srinivas (32) of Perplexity and Ashwin Sreenivas (31) of Decagon AI, alongside 2026 debutants Mayank Bhola (34) of TestMu AI and three Co-founders of Flam

DeepTech and HardTech account for 21 founders, about 1 for every 9 in the List – AI & ML (12), SpaceTech (4), Aerospace & Defence (3) and Cybersecurity (2)

Clean Energy & Renewables has 7 founders on the List, including Chirag Nakrani (33) and Hardik Kothiya (32), Co-founders of Rayzon Solar, and Neelesh Garg (34) and Manik Garg (31), Co-founders of Saatvik Green Energy

Anmol Bhansali (31), Managing Director of Goldiam International, is the youngest leader on the List

Romita Mazumdar (31), founder of Foxtale, is the youngest woman on the list

23 women feature on the 2026 List (12.8% of the cohort), up from 9.7% in 2025, representing a 53% rise in women's representation

Ayush Sinhal (35), co-founder of Kimbal, with 15 years of entrepreneurial experience, is the most seasoned founder on the U35 List

Wint Wealth, co-founded by Abhik Patel (35), Ajinkya Kulkarni (35), Anshul Gupta (35) and Shashank Chimaladari (35), is the most investor-backed U35 startup with 52 investors, followed by Perplexity (48) and Jar (45)

Among undergraduate institutions, IIT Delhi leads with 11 alumni, followed by IIT Kharagpur with 10 and IIT Madras and the University of Delhi with 7 each

IIT Madras and the Indian School of Business top the postgraduate rankings with 5 alumni each, followed by IIT Bombay with 4

Software Products & Services is the most represented industry, with 18 entrepreneurs, FinTech with 17 stands in second place, while Education & EdTech are in third place with 15

In terms of digital reach, Ritesh Agarwal of PRISM (OYO) tops the list with 14.97 lakh LinkedIn followers, followed by Aravind Srinivas (32) with 9.08 lakh

11 entrants are from non-metro cities, such as Surat, Indore, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik and Mohali

The U35 cohort employs over 5.88 lakh people. Reliance Retail Ventures is the U35 cohort's largest employer with 2,47,782 employees. The top 5 employers together account for over 72% of the cohort's total workforce

Listed companies account for 40 U35-led businesses, the largest group by funding stage, followed by Series B with 23 companies

U35-led companies are deploying capital towards growth, with 27% allocated to Product Development & Expansion and 23% to Market & Geographic Expansion

Avendus Wealth and Hurun India present the Uth Series 2026

Marking the second year of partnership, Avendus Wealth and Hurun India present the 2026 edition of the Avendus Wealth – Hurun India Uth Series, with the U35 List recognising 180 young leaders building and scaling businesses across India. Now in its second edition, the list has grown 16% from 155 entrepreneurs in 2025, reflecting the expanding cohort of young business leaders making their mark across the country.

Umang Papneja, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Avendus Wealth Management, said, “The decisions that shape a business rarely begin or end with the business itself. How entrepreneurs allocate capital, pursue growth and manage risk has implications for their investments, families and the legacy they build. The U35 List offers a compelling view of the people making these decisions and the ambition shaping India’s next phase of growth.

This year’s cohort has grown 16% to 180 entrepreneurs, with a combined valuation of INR 48 lakh crore, up 23% from last year. With 71% first-generation entrepreneurs and the number of founders in AI and Machine Learning growing fourfold, from 3 to 12, the list reflects the breadth of enterprise creation underway in India.

At Avendus, we work closely with entrepreneurs through the lifecycle of their businesses, from raising growth capital and accessing financial markets to managing and transitioning wealth across generations. At Avendus Wealth, we take a multidimensional approach, recognising that wealth extends beyond investments to encompass business interests, family priorities and the aspirations of successive generations. Understanding how this next generation approaches capital, growth and wealth creation will be increasingly important as these entrepreneurs shape the future of Indian enterprise.”

Anas Rahman Junaid, Founder & Chief Researcher, Hurun India, said, “The Avendus Wealth Hurun India U35 List 2026 puts a number to the economic weight of young entrepreneurship: 180 leaders whose businesses employ over 5.88 lakh people, including 37 companies valued at more than USD 1 billion.”

“The composition is equally revealing. First-generation founders account for 71% of the cohort, while 53 next-generation leaders are renewing established businesses. India’s entrepreneurial capacity is expanding through both new enterprise creation and the transformation of family businesses.”

“AI and machine-learning entrants have risen fourfold, alongside founders building in space, defence and manufacturing. This points to an ambition to own technology and products, serve international markets and capture more of the value they create.”

“The U30 list tells us where businesses begin; the U35 list shows how far they can grow. The next economic test is whether that scale delivers sustained productivity, profitable growth and skilled employment. This cohort gives India a substantial foundation to build on.”

“We thank Avendus Wealth for its continued partnership in recognising the entrepreneurs shaping India’s economic future,” concluded Anas Rahman Junaid.

About Avendus Wealth Management

Avendus Wealth Management, the wealth business of Avendus Group, manages an AUM of over USD 9 bn. Started in 2010, it caters to a wide range of clients, including leading family offices, UHNIs and corporates. The diverse profile of its clients is a testimony to its ability to serve them across life stages and business cycles by crafting bespoke and differentiated solutions to grow and protect wealth. Avendus Wealth Management has been consistently recognised by reputed global platforms such as Asian Private Banker, Euromoney and The Asset Triple A.

About Avendus Group

Avendus Group is a leading financial services firm with a presence in the areas of Investment Banking, Institutional Equities, Wealth Management, Credit Solutions and Asset Management. Established in 1999 in Mumbai, India, Avendus is today present in 12 cities across India, US and Singapore. Avendus partners with the Indian entrepreneur ecosystem to provide differentiated solutions that enable clients to meet their strategic aspirations.

For more information, visit: www.avendus.com

Avendus Wealth Management Disclaimer

This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe to any units, securities, investment/stocks, services in any jurisdiction and no part of it shall form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. Any such offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any products or services shall be made solely pursuant to the related documents. This document is a summary only, is not complete and does not claim to contain all information that an investor or potential investor may require for the purposes of making an investment. Potential investors or existing investors should not construe any information contained herein as advice relating to business, financial, legal, taxation or investment matters and any decision to invest should only be made following consultation with the potential investor’s own legal, accounting, tax and other advisors in order to make an independent determination of the suitability and consequences of an investment. This is not a research report within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Research Analysts) Regulations 2014 as amended from time to time. All data used in the document have been derived from and are dependent upon information obtained from third parties or information available publicly. AWMPL cannot guarantee the accuracy of such information and has not independently verified the accuracy of such information. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of such information or opinions contained herein and nothing contained herein should be relied upon as a promise, representation or indication of the future performance.

View full disclaimer here

About Hurun Report

Hurun Report is a leading research, luxury publishing and events group established in London in 1999. With operations in India, China, France, the UK, the USA, Australia, Japan, Canada and Luxembourg, it is widely recognised worldwide for its comprehensive evaluation of the wealthiest individuals. Hurun Report is the largest compiler of the rich lists globally.

Hurun Report Inc. has four divisions: Hurun Report Media, a stable of digital media and four magazines; Hurun Research Institute; Hurun Conferences, an active events division targeting entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals; and Hurun Investments, an INR 191 Cr early-stage venture capital fund with investments in tech, media, retail and education.

About Hurun India

“Promoting Entrepreneurship Through Lists and Research”

Hurun India was launched in 2012 under the leadership of Anas Rahman Junaid, a graduate of the University of Oxford. Junaid met Rupert Hoogewerf, the founder of Hurun Global, through Oxford and the duo believed it was the right time to discuss wealth creation in India, as they saw the country booming. Since then, Hurun India has pursued celebrating the stories of India’s transparent wealth creation, innovation and philanthropy. The five core pillars of Hurun India are:

First, we spotlight Value Creation by companies, the heartbeat of a developing India. It is through their innovation and excellence that economic growth is fuelled, paving the way for a prosperous tomorrow.

Next, we focus on Wealth Creation. As these companies thrive, wealth is generated, birthing a new era of affluent entrepreneurs and businesses. This wealth is not just financial; it is a wealth of knowledge, experience and opportunity, essential for India’s next 10 to 15 years. For exponential growth, disruption is key.

Enter our third pillar: Start-Ups. These engines of innovation are the primary source of leapfrog growth, challenging the status quo and opening new doors of possibilities.

Our fourth pillar, Philanthropy, is about giving back and creating a balanced ecosystem where everyone progresses together. While economic development is crucial, philanthropy plays an equally vital role in ensuring broader prosperity.

Lastly, we celebrate our rich heritage with the fifth pillar: Culture. India, home to one of the oldest civilisations, is home to a myriad of artists. Yet, they remain undervalued on the global stage.

For the full details, please refer to www.hurunindia.com

Tata Motors Expands Future-Ready Manufacturing At Dharwad, Karnataka

* Inaugurates New Paint Shop And Advanced Manufacturing Lines

Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has taken another significant step in advancing the future-readiness of its Dharwad plant with the inauguration of a new-generation paint shop and the commissioning of new Body-in-White (BIW) and E-Axle assembly lines. These additions go beyond expanding capacity, it enhances the plant’s manufacturing flexibility and strengthening its ability to produce vehicles across conventional and zero-emission powertrains.

The new facilities were inaugurated by Mr. Girish Wagh, MD & CEO, Tata Motors Ltd. in the presence of Mr. Vishal Badshah, Vice President & Head – Operations and Mr. DP Nambiar, Chief Human Resources Officer.

With women comprising more than 30% of its young, skilled shopfloor workforce, the plant also inaugurated an on-site crèche for employees’ children, reinforcing Tata Motors’ focus on creating an inclusive workplace that enables and supports a diverse workforce.

The Dharwad plant is the first such manufacturing facility in India to achieve ISO 30415 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) validation. The plant operates on 100% renewable electricity and is certified Water Positive and Zero Waste to Landfill, underscoring its focus on sustainable, inclusive and globally competitive manufacturing.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vishal Badshah, Vice President & Head – Operations, Tata Motors Ltd., said, “Dharwad has evolved into one of our most versatile manufacturing facilities, producing conventional and zero-emission vehicles on the same campus. The new capabilities inaugurated today further strengthen the plant with cleaner, more efficient and digitally enabled manufacturing, while enhancing the flexibility to respond to evolving product and customer requirements. This progress is underpinned by our young, skilled and diverse workforce. We thank the Government of Karnataka for its continued support and remain committed to contributing to the state’s industrial growth through sustainable and advanced manufacturing.”

Speaking on the new manufacturing capabilities, Mr. Vijay Battu, Senior General Manager and Plant Head – Dharwad, Tata Motors Ltd, said, “The commissioning of the new paint shop, BIW and E-Axle assembly lines marks significant technical and operational advancement for the Dharwad plant. With its modular design and scalable infrastructure, the new paint shop gives us greater agility to adapt to evolving manufacturing requirements and respond rapidly to changing business and customer needs. These capabilities also enable us to further elevate the benchmarks for quality, efficiency and sustainability.”

Since rolling out its first commercial vehicle in 2012, the Dharwad plant has evolved from a single-product facility into a versatile, multi-product manufacturing hub spread across an integrated campus of approximately 650 acres. It manufactures Small Commercial Vehicles (SCVs); Intermediate, Light and Medium Commercial Vehicles (ILMCVs); Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs); and commercial passenger vehicles across multiple powertrains. The facility also supports a network of MSMEs and suppliers across North Karnataka.

About Tata Motors Ltd (Formerly TML Commercial Vehicles Ltd):
Part of the USD 180 billion Tata Group, Tata Motors Ltd., (BSE: Scrip code 544569; NSE: Scrip code TMCV) is India’s largest and a globally renowned manufacturer of utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks, and buses. With over eight decades of leadership in commercial mobility, the company is known for its innovation, reliability, and performance. Its advanced powertrains, connected technologies, and intelligent fleet solutions support a wide range of applications—from last-mile delivery to public transport while seamlessly driving the wheels of the nation’s economy. Guided by its brand promise Better Always, Tata Motors delivers future-ready solutions that enhance customer experience and drive sustainable growth. The company operates in India and South Korea, with a global presence across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and SAARC countries.

As per the Composite Scheme of Arrangement sanctioned by the Hon’ble National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai Bench—amongst Tata Motors Limited, TML Commercial Vehicles Limited (the Company) and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited—the Company’s name was changed to Tata Motors Limited from TML Commercial Vehicles Limited (effective 29 October 2025), and its equity shares are listed on the BSE Ltd and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited.

Shahid Kapoor Brings Axis Bank And Visa’s ‘Iss Festive Season, Har Khushi Ko Banao Badi’ To Life

* ‘Dil Se Open Celebrations 2026’ brings together Shahid Kapoor, a magical dollhouse and an original Amit Trivedi score to turn festive aspirations into larger-than-life celebrations

Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, in partnership with Visa, today unveiled its festive campaign under ‘Dil Se Open Celebrations 2026’, bringing alive the thought ‘Iss festive season, har khushi ko banao badi’. Anchored in the ethos ‘This festive season, make your celebrations bigger’, the campaign celebrates the instinct to make every festive moment more special for the people who matter, reimagining everyday wishes through a distinctive creative world.

The campaign unfolds through a distinctive narrative featuring Shahid Kapoor and a little girl whose magical dollhouse brings her wishes to life. Each time she places an object inside it, the object appears in the real world, turning imagination into reality. Shahid Kapoor, with his Axis Bank Visa Credit Card, enables these transformations. The dollhouse serves as a metaphor for the dreams and aspirations that take centre stage during the festive season, capturing how small wishes can grow into something more meaningful.

The creative idea builds on Axis Bank’s ‘Dil Se Open’ philosophy and its commitment to enable customers through relevant financial solutions and rewarding experiences. This year, Axis Bank and Visa come together to extend that philosophy into the festive season, bringing together engaging storytelling with tangible value for customers.

Extending the proposition from the screen to the shopping experience, Axis Bank and Visa are bringing customers 100+ offers across electronics, mobiles, travel, lifestyle and other categories. The festive proposition extends across leading brands, including LG, Samsung and Sony in electronics; Burberry, Boss, COACH, Tory Burch in shopping and lifestyle; MakeMyTrip, ixigo and Air India in travel; and vivo , OPPO in mobiles, among many others. Eligible Axis Bank Credit Cardholders on the Visa network can access discounts, and EMI benefits, including up to 20% off on Credit Card purchases and EMIs*.

Arnika Dixit, Group Head – Cards, Payments and Wealth Management, Axis Bank, said, “Customers increasingly look for their cards to deliver value that is relevant to how and where they spend. During the festive period, as spending extends across different needs and occasions, relevance, choice and flexibility become even more important. Our focus is to make festive and planned purchases more rewarding, while continuing to strengthen our cards proposition around evolving customer needs. Together with Visa, we are enabling customers to get more from their Axis Bank Credit Cards and make their spends work harder for them.”

Adding to the campaign’s creative identity is an original festive score composed by Amit Trivedi. Woven through the narrative, the music lends the film its own celebratory character while strengthening emotional connect and recall.

Commenting on the campaign, Anoop Manohar, Chief Marketing Officer, Axis Bank, said, “Festivals have always been about celebrating the people, moments and little joys that matter to us. This year, with ‘Iss festive season, har khushi ko banao badi’, we are taking that thought a step further by encouraging customers to make those moments even more special. Shahid Kapoor brings a distinctive energy to the narrative, helping us bring this idea to life in an engaging way. At Axis Bank, our endeavour is to complement the joy of the season with relevant value and rewarding experiences. Through our partnership with Visa, we are bringing customers compelling benefits across their festive spends, helping them make more of what matters to them.”

Gaurav Ramdev, Head of Marketing, India and South Asia, Visa said, “Festivals are a time to dream bigger and celebrate more. Together, this festive season, Visa along with Axis Bank are powering possibilities and offers that make festive moments and celebrations truly special.”

Conceptualised by Leo India, the digital-first campaign will run across owned and paid digital platforms, social media, outdoor media, direct-to-customer touchpoints, ATMs and Axis Bank’s expansive branch network. It will draw on the combined marketing ecosystem of Axis Bank and Visa to build reach across multiple consumer touchpoints.

To view the campaign, please Click Here

With ‘Dil Se Open Celebrations 2026’, Axis Bank and Visa bring together creativity, music and customer value to make the festive proposition come alive across both communication and commerce. By pairing ‘Iss festive season, har khushi ko banao badi’ with meaningful benefits on Axis Bank Visa Credit Cards, the campaign turns festive aspirations into more rewarding possibilities.

About Axis Bank:

Axis Bank is one of the largest private sector banks in India. It offers the entire spectrum of services to customer segments covering Large and Mid-Corporates, SME, Agriculture, and Retail Businesses. The Bank has 6,414 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 12,533 ATMs and cash recyclers spread across the country as on 30th September 2026. Axis Virtual Centres are present across eight markets with 1,669 Virtual Relationship Managers as on 30th September 2026. The Axis Group includes Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Securities Ltd., Axis Finance, Axis Trustee, Axis Capital, A.TReDS Ltd., Freecharge, Axis Pension Fund and Axis Bank Foundation.

For more information, visit the website: https://www.axis.bank.in

Daily Almond Consumption May Help Improve Perceived Sleep Quality Among Adults

* New research, funded by Almond Board of California, finds that Indian adults with poor sleep quality, eating almonds daily for 20 weeks, self-reported better sleep quality, higher sleep efficiency, and shorter time to fall asleep

A new randomised controlled trial among Indian adults with poor sleep quality has found that eating almonds daily may help improve perceived sleep quality, offering fresh insight into the potential role of almonds as part of a broader, food-first approach to supporting sleep health.

The research, published in Frontiers in Nutrition (Desai et. Al, 2026) conducted among 175 Indian adults aged 21–55 years who reported poor sleep quality. Participants were either given 60g of almonds (approximately 50 almonds) or a calorie-matched control snack such as khakra, chivda and crackers.

Key findings¹

Eating almonds daily was associated with:

Better overall self-reported sleep quality

Higher self-reported sleep efficiency, with participants spending more of their time in bed sleeping

Shorter self-reported time taken to fall asleep

Some encouraging signals towards reduced wakefulness during the night, although these findings were not consistently significant across the study population

Why might almonds help?

Almonds contain several nutrients that are biologically relevant to normal nervous system function and overall health, including magnesium and tryptophan. Magnesium is involved in normal nervous system and muscle function, while tryptophan is used by the body to produce serotonin and melatonin. Almonds also naturally contain small amounts of melatonin, as well as healthy unsaturated fats and antioxidants.

What were some of the findings?

Participants who consumed almonds daily reported improvements across several aspects of their sleep compared with those consuming the control snack. These included better overall sleep quality, improved sleep efficiency and a shorter time to fall asleep.

The findings add to the broader evidence exploring the relationship between nutrition and sleep, while suggesting that almonds may play a role in supporting perceived sleep quality as part of a broader healthy lifestyle.

Commenting on the findings, Sheela Krishnaswamy, Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, said, “Sleep is an important part of overall wellbeing, and nutrition can play a role as part of a healthy lifestyle. The findings from this study are encouraging in showing that adults with poor sleep quality who consumed almonds daily reported improvements in how they experienced their sleep, including sleep quality, sleep efficiency and the time taken to fall asleep.”

“Also, emerging evidence suggests that plant foods rich in unsaturated fats and sleep-supportive compounds may support sleep quality, and almonds contain unsaturated fats along with other nutrients that contribute to their overall nutrient profile. Almonds provide magnesium, potassium, and vitamin E, micronutrients known to support sleep via muscle relaxation and neuroendocrine regulation. While more research is needed to understand the effects on objective sleep measures, almonds can be a simple, nutrient-rich addition to everyday healthy eating habits.”

Summary

The findings add to the broader evidence exploring the relationship between nutrition and sleep, while also highlighting the importance of distinguishing between perceived sleep quality and objectively measured sleep physiology.

The strongest takeaway from the research is that among adults reporting poor sleep quality, daily almond consumption may help improve perceived sleep quality, as part of a broader healthy lifestyle. Further research is needed to confirm the effects of almond consumption on objective sleep physiology and to better understand the mechanisms behind these findings.

Study Details:

The study assessed sleep in two ways: through validated self-reported sleep questionnaires and through overnight polysomnography (PSG), an objective method widely considered a gold standard for measuring sleep.

Almonds from California are a natural, wholesome and quality food. The Almond Board of California promotes almonds through its research-based approach to all aspects of marketing, farming and production on behalf of the more than 7,600 almond growers and processors in California, many of which are multi-generational family operations. Established in 1950 and based in Modesto, California, the Almond Board of California is a non-profit organisation that administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information on the Almond Board of California or almonds, visit www.almonds.in

Muscle & Strength India Expands Its Presence With A New Store In Bengaluru, Karnataka

* The new store strengthens the brand’s commitment to making quality nutrition and fitness supplements more accessible to fitness enthusiasts

Muscle & Strength India, one of the country’s leading retailers of fitness supplements & nutritional products has expanded its retail presence with the opening of a new store in Koramangala, Bengaluru making its range of nutrition and wellness products more accessible to consumers. Renowned bodybuilder Syed Israr inaugurated the store along with fitness model and influencer Mohmmad Iqbal. Muscle & Strength India is looking to expand aggressively in South India as it seeks to deepen its presence in India’s growing nutritional supplement space.

Bengaluru, known for its vibrant fitness culture and growing community of health-conscious consumers, represents an important market for Muscle & Strength India. The new outlet aims to bring the brand closer to local customers while offering a convenient and accessible destination for their fitness and nutritional needs. Muscle and Strength India currently have stores spread across multiple cities in the country and has the widest range with over 1000 fitness supplements and nutrition products from numerous world class brands. These products are used for athletic performance, fitness, and overall wellness.

“We are excited to expand our presence while building closer connections with our customers, and we will continue to expand our footprint in newer cities. Our new stores are also a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing genuine and economically priced supplements which have increased consumers’ trust in our brand. Apart from metros, we are also witnessing huge demand in smaller cities where the availability of the latest, genuine and economically priced supplements is still a challenge. It is also important to make the distinction between genuine and fake supplements and hence one should buy them from genuine dealers of reputed brands,” said Mr. Praveen Chirania, Founder, Muscle and Strength India.

“We are happy to join hands with Muscle & Strength India who has become one of the renowned retail chains in the health supplement market in India. In addition to providing access to a broad product portfolio, we aim to help customers make informed choices based on their individual fitness and nutritional requirements. Our ideal target audience are those who are interested in fitness and sports nutrition, gym-goers, sports enthusiasts, health-conscious individuals, etc.” said Vikram Yesudas, franchise owner in Bengaluru, Muscle and Strength India.

Muscle and Strength India offer a comprehensive range of genuine high-quality fitness supplement and nutritional products across categories such as proteins, vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements etc manufactured by international brands under a single roof. With several stores across India and exclusive distribution partnerships with leading global nutrition brands, Muscle & Strength India has established itself as a trusted name nationwide.

Nielsen Showcased Product-Led Technology Innovations At AM Tech India Innovation Day 2026

Nielsen showcased 21 live technology innovations developed by its Audience Measurement Technology teams in India at AM Tech India Innovation Day 2026, demonstrating how artificial intelligence (AI), data science, automation and advanced measurement technologies are being applied to address complex business challenges and improve client outcomes.

Held in Bengaluru on October 13 and in Gurugram on October 15, the event featured live demonstrations of solutions designed to improve data processing, accelerate decision-making, strengthen data quality and enhance audience and campaign measurement. Karthik Rao, CEO, Nielsen, attended the event alongside Anil Goel, CTO, Nielsen, engaging with teams and reviewing the innovations showcased.

“The innovations showcase how our teams are developing practical solutions that address real-world challenges, improve operational efficiency and strengthen our measurement capabilities. The creativity and technical expertise demonstrated by our teams reflect Nielsen’s commitment to building scalable innovations that deliver value to customers globally.” said Karthik Rao, CEO, Nielsen

“As audience behavior and the media landscape evolve, technology is enabling us to rethink how we measure and understand media consumption. India is Nielsen’s largest global innovation base, with Bengaluru at its centre, where teams build end-to-end solutions for customers worldwide. By drawing on India’s deep technology and AI talent, we are developing innovations that scale globally. As AI reshapes how media is created, distributed and consumed, we continue to invest in automation and advanced measurement to stay ahead of this transformation,” said Anil Goel, CTO, Nielsen.

Nielsen Global CEO Karthik Rao (right) and Global CTO Anil Goel (far right) engaged with engineering team’s presentation during Nielsen Innovation Day

The innovations showcased reflected Nielsen’s focus on developing practical, scalable technology solutions that improve operational efficiency, support more informed decision-making and strengthen measurement capabilities. Key highlights included:

Key Highlights

Nielsen Sports: Real-Time Sponsorship Measurement: Nielsen Sports demonstrated an end-to-end computer vision pipeline that processed live video directly from event-floor cameras to identify and measure brand sponsorship exposure in real time. By enabling on-the-fly reporting, the solution can help stakeholders assess sponsorship visibility more quickly and gain timely insights into brand exposure during live events.

DataSure: AI-Powered Data Quality and Anomaly Detection: DataSure uses AI to simplify complex investigations across 10 audience measurement data pipelines. By reducing investigation time from eight hours to approximately 30 minutes, identifying around 80% of true anomalies and using generative AI to filter out noise, the solution helps teams investigate data issues more efficiently. Its feedback mechanisms also help predict downstream impact, supporting faster issue resolution and more reliable data operations.

Semantic Orchestrator: Faster, More Accessible Data Insights: Semantic Orchestrator translates natural-language business questions into trustworthy, traceable answers using a semantic layer built around Nielsen’s business rules. The solution is designed to make complex data more accessible to business users while improving the speed and cost efficiency of data-question processing. It delivers answers up to 65% faster at half the cost, with 90% accuracy and traceable data, helping enable more informed and efficient decision-making.

Beyond these solutions, the showcase featured innovations spanning agentic AI and Model Context Protocol (MCP) applications, data observability, automated campaign and engineering workflows, cloud-native platforms, legacy modernisation, scalable measurement infrastructure and client-facing self-service capabilities.

AM Tech India Innovation Day reflected Nielsen’s approach to connecting technology development with measurable business and client outcomes. By creating opportunities for teams to demonstrate working solutions and exchange ideas across functions, the initiative encouraged collaboration and advanced the development of technology that can be applied to real-world challenges.

About Nielsen

Nielsen is a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics. Through our understanding of people and their behaviors across all channels and platforms, we empower our clients with independent and actionable intelligence so they can connect and engage with their global audiences—now and into the future. Learn more at www.nielsen.com and connect with us on social media (X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram).

Bengaluru’s Majestic Metro Transformed Into A Cultural Canvas Through Technology And Storytelling By Signpost India

* The 16,000 sq. ft. visual experience brings Karnataka’s mythical forms and cultural heritage to life through advanced 8K Japanese projection technology.

Signpost India Limited (BSE: 544117, NSE: SIGNPOST), one of India’s leading Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising and media solutions companies, unveiled Majestic Canvas, a 16,000 sq. ft. immersive visual experience at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station (Majestic Metro), Bengaluru, yesterday, with a midnight art soirée titled ‘Stone to Life’. The experience uses the Epson EB-L20000U Japanese projector, which delivers 20,000 lumens of brightness and WUXGA resolution. Through precision projection mapping, the technology transformed the existing metro wall into a canvas for cultural storytelling, bringing Karnataka’s mythical forms and temple heritage to life.

Curated by Team Gen O, Mumbai, Majestic Canvas draws on five mythical forms rooted in Karnataka’s architectural heritage: Yali, Vrishabha-Kunjara, Gandabherunda, Makara and Kirtimukha. Through contemporary digital techniques, the showcase brings these forms, their symbolism and the traditional narratives associated with them to life, offering a new perspective on Karnataka’s rich cultural legacy.

The event was graced by Mr. Maheshwar Rao M, I.A.S., Chief Commissioner, Greater Bangalore Authority, and the leadership of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), along with representatives from the cultural, creative and business communities.

The evening commenced close to midnight, with an introduction by historian Mr. Srinivas Sistla, Associate Professor, Department of Fine Arts, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, who spoke about the cultural and historical significance underpinning the immersive art experience. The programme continued with a historian-led walkthrough, during which Mr. Sistla guided guests through the origins, symbolism and cultural significance of the mythical forms featured in the experience. An interactive discussion with guests and addresses by Mr. Maheshwar Rao and Shripad Ashtekar, Managing Director, Signpost India Ltd., formed a key part of the evening. The discussion highlighted the potential of public spaces to become platforms for cultural expression and creative engagement through the integration of art and technology.

Speaking on the vision behind Majestic Canvas, Shripad Ashtekar, Managing Director, Signpost India Ltd., said: “The future of AdTech and digital advertising lies in rethinking the role public spaces play in a city’s everyday life. With Majestic Canvas, we set out to demonstrate how existing urban

infrastructure can be reimagined through technology and cultural storytelling, without altering the physical space itself. By bringing Karnataka’s architectural heritage to life through precision projection mapping, we have explored a new dimension of technology-enabled out-of-home media networks – one that moves beyond the conventional billboard to create something people pause to engage with and remember.”

The evening concluded with live musical performances, food and community interaction, bringing together art, culture and creative expression in an engaging setting. The showcase brought together public leadership, historians, creative professionals and industry representatives, highlighting the potential for collaboration between technology and arts to make cultural heritage more accessible through contemporary public experiences. This initiative has set the momentum for creating more engaging public-space experiences that connect communities with the cultural identity of the cities they inhabit.

About Signpost India

Signpost India is India’s first listed OOH company, officially recognized as being ranked top 1,000 highest-performing companies by the National Stock Exchange, with a CRISIL ratings upgrade its credit rating Long-term rating A- / Stable & Short-term rating A2+ due to proven cycles of robust financial profile, long-term revenue visibility.

At Signpost, we describe ourselves as #SignsOfTomorrow. Our ambition is to take outdoor media beyond conventional visibility and build platforms that brands can experience, participate in and talk about. Today, we have a presence across the trendiest hubs, neighbourhoods, transit environments and high-footfall destinations across 32+ cities, with asset-light solutions extending to 100+ cities. Our assets portfolio spans approximately 3.1 million sq. ft. and 10,850+ urban nodes, reaching economic centres and tourism destinations across India, with a strong mix of regional, corporate and PSU clients and a healthy base of repeat business.

What we believe differentiates Signpost is our ability to bring together media, technology, creativity and culture to create moments that move beyond the billboard Website | Instagram.