Toyota Kirloskar Motor Launches the All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle in India

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced the launch of next generation high performance “All New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle” in India. Inspired by The Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), the luxurious and powerful All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle or self-charging electric vehicle is built to provide a comfortable and stable ride with superior handling, thereby representing unmatched engineering, green solutions, superior technology, design and performance.

The All New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle is powered by a 2.5-liter, 4-Cylinder Gasoline Hybrid Dynamic Force Engine offers a Max Output of 131kW (178 PS) @5,700rpm and Max Torque of 221 Nm(23kg-m) @3,600-5,200 rpm. Hybrid System Motor Generator delivers a Max Output of 88kW (120PS) and Max Torque of 204.1 Nm (21 kg-m). The new sedan also reflects Toyota’s philosophy of harmonizing a bold and distinctive new look that seamlessly melds athletic accents a sleek and modern shape giving the Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle a bold and sophisticated look. While retaining the ethos and magnificence associated with the Camry legacy, the new Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle or self-charging electric vehicle has retained current generation USP like rear seat comfort and significantly enhanced performance, design, luxury and ride comfort.

Commenting on the launch, Masato Katsumata, Chief Engineer, Camry, Toyota Motor Corporation said, “The All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle represents a true definition of strikingly outstanding and class-leading automotive breakthrough. Our priority was to create a dynamic sedan that would exceed customer expectations for practicality, functionality and reliability while creating an emotional design that would further enhance customer delight has resulted in the creation of the All New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle under the concept of “Unprecedented Change”. The engineering team has taken the global sedan in an entirely new direction, transforming it into a sedan with aggressive, head-turning and sophisticated looks.

With the launch of All New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle we have strived to create an unmatched combination of dynamic performance, fuel efficiency, low emissions and with the adoption of Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) has vastly improved its built quality, comfort and fun to drive characteristics. “

Present at the launch Masakazu Yoshimura, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, we are committed to create green solutions for tomorrow’s mobility. Globally we have been the pioneers in hybrid technology and this has been an important focus for us in a market like India which is moving towards greener, sustainable future. The launch of the All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle reinstates this focus and we are thankful to our customers in India for their phenomenal response which gave us the confidence to introduce this new and advanced model that promises seamless fun without compromising on its environmental credentials. Clearly, The Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle reinforces our mission of developing Ever-Better Cars.

Speaking on the new offering, N. Raja, Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said “Toyota Camry proudly stand tall as one of the world’s most popular passenger cars, this enduring success globally as well as in India has encouraged us to introduce the enhanced All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle. We are certain that the unmatched advantages of hybrid technology, “fun-to-drive” characteristics and alluring styling on an equal footing with superlative build quality, reliability and safety will exceed customer experience. 

Above all, All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle is not only a class-leading comfort car, but anyone who drives this vehicle will feel confident with the level of driving performance and controllability provided alongside the quietness never occurred before thus reflecting our best efforts to exceed all customers' needs.” He further added.

The newly developed Gasoline Hybrid Dynamic Force Engine developed through TNGA delivers exemplary power, fuel efficiency, environmental performance backed by fourth generation hybrid system providing enhanced fuel efficiency and acceleration. This advanced technology has also contributed to an impressive mileage of *23.27 kmpl (*as certified by test agency under standard test conditions)

The new exteriors has also given the sedan a unique and stylish look. The attractive bold face characterized by Two Grill Design, New Moon Roof, Rear Combination Lamps Design, Stylish Front Grille, New Headlamp Design, LED Fog Lamp and sweeping lines has transformed it into a sedan with attractive and sophisticated looks. The physical manifestation is further enhanced by the solid 18-inch Multi-Spoke Alloy Wheels.

The All New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle’s cabin is spacious, elegant and artistic, featuring upscale materials and artistic build quality. The new car’s cabin is accentuated with a range of advanced features which includes Best-in-class cockpit with Human Machine Interface (HMI): Rich Texture and finish, Enlarged Cargo Space, New Seat Design - Comfortable Rear Seats, Touch panel at Rear Arm Rest, HUD (Head-Up Display).

Safety is a high priority at Toyota and a host of active and passive state-of-the-art safety systems and technologies will ensure safety for all passengers as well as pedestrians. The All New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle or self-charging electric vehicle is equipped with best in class 9 SRS Airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control (with Off Switch), ISOFIX and Top Tether Anchor for Child Seats amongst host of other world-class features.

The All New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle or self-charging electric vehicle is available in Silver Metallic, Attitude Black and Phantom Brown along with four new exciting colors like Platinum White Pearl, Graphite Metallic, Red Mica and Burning Black. Interiors also comes with luxurious Beige color and futuristic Onyx Garnish, Metallic Accents, Soft Upholstery reflecting advanced and premium impression.

Bookings open today.

*Prices will be same across the country at ex-showroom level, however final on road price may vary based on local road tax and levies.

FEATURES

-      Unprecedented and sophisticated, the All New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle or self-charging electric vehicle redefines luxury sedan experience with its dynamic performance, styling, luxurious & comfortable interiors
-      The eighth-generation global sedan is inspired by Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) while underpinning Toyota’s superior craftsmanship, design and innovation
-      Newly developed Dynamic Force Engine and fourth generation Toyota Hybrid System providing high power output with smooth refined operation
-      Sleek and stylish new advanced interiors complement spaciousness, prestige and comfort
-      Safety continues to be top priority with 9 SRS Airbags
-      All New Camry Hybrid received 5-star safety rating from New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP)
-      Comes with new exterior colors – Platinum White Pearl, Graphite Metallic, Red Mica and Burning Black
-      New interior with Beige color
-      *Special Introductory price of Rs. 36,95,000 Ex-showroom. (Price is same across the country)

Key Features of the All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Performance Features:
·          New 2.5 Liter 4-cylinder TNGA Gasoline Hybrid Dynamic Force Engine with various innovative technologies provide spirited performance and driving enjoyment
·          Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) along with high body rigidity and new double wishbone rear suspension resulted in unprecedented rear comfort due to improved stability and handling
·          Transmission – CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), Sequential Shift with Paddles
·          Fourth Generation Toyota Hybrid System comes with advanced Nickel-Metal-Hydride batteries

Exterior Features:
·          Dusk-sensing LED Projector Headlamps (with Auto Levelling), LED Daytime Running Lamps & Follow-me-Home function
·          Front LED Fog lamps
·          Electrically Adjustable Hydrophilic Side Mirrors with Turn Indicators, Wide-View, Reverse Link and Memory Chrome treatment on Doors and Door Handles
·          Rear Combination Lamp with LED Brake Lights
·          Rear Fog Lamp

Interior Features / Comfort & Convenience:
·          Beige Leather Upholstery
·          Spacious Cabin adorned with Soft Upholstery, Metallic accents and Onyx Garnish [ Stone-grain and Metallic Pattern]
·          Tilt and Slide Moonroof
·          Rear Seats with Power Recline and Trunk access
·          Easy Access Function on Passenger Seat Shoulder
·          Rear Armrest with Touch-control switches for Audio, Rear Recline, Rear Sun Shade and A/C
3-Zone Automatic Climate Control
·          nanoe TM Ion Generator for enhanced comfort and freshness
·          Rear Power Sunshade, Rear Door Manual Sunshades
·          10-way Power Adjust Driver & Passenger Seat with Lumbar Support (Driver seat with Memory)
·          Ventilated Front Seats
·          Smart Entry System with Start/Stop Button
·          Memory Settings for ORVM, Driver Seat and Steering Position
·          Power Windows with Auto Up/Down and Jam Protection (All windows)
·          Electronic Parking Brake
·          Power Tilt/Telescopic Steering Column with Memory
·          Interior Illumination Package/Entry System (Fade-out Smart Room Lamp +Door Inside Handles + 4 Footwell Lamps)
·          Audio, MID, Telephone Control and Cruise Control Switch on Steering Wheel
·          10” Heads-Up Display
·          Wireless Smartphone Charger [Qi Compatible Phones]
·          Rain Sensing Wipers
·          Cruise Control and ECO Meter
·          Electrochromic Inside Rear-View Mirror, Rear Window Defogger with Timer and Front & Rear Door Courtesy Lamps

Infotainment:
·          JBL Audio System: 9-Speakers with “Clari-Fi” TM Technology
·          Navigation, DVD, AM/FM, USB, Aux-in, Bluetooth and Car Information System
·          Onboard Navigation Service with Personalized assistance

Safety Features:
·          9 SRS Airbags [Front Driver & Passenger, Front Side, Rear Side, Curtain Shield, Driver Knee]
·          Anti-Lock Braking System with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist
·          Brake Hold Function
·          Vehicle Stability and Traction Control (with Off Switch)
·          Parking Assist: Back Guide Monitor, Clearance and Back Sonar
·          Impact Sensing Fuel cut-off
·          Speed Sensing Door Auto-lock
·          Tire Pressure Monitoring System
·          Front 3-point ELR Seatbelt with Pre-tensioner & Force-limiter
·          Front Driver & Passenger Seatbelt Warning with Buzzer
·          Smart Key Remind Warning
·          ISOFIX and Top Tether Anchor for Child Seats
·          Immobilizer with Alarm

Honor 10 Lite First Flash-Sale on Jan 20 with Big Discounts, 12 am Exclusively on Flipkart

Honor, the leading smartphone e-brand under the Huawei Group, recently announced the Honor 10 Lite in India, and the stylish smartphone is all set to go live on first flash Sale exclusively on Flipkart this Sunday, 20th January, 2019 at 12.00 am. The smartphone will be available in 4GB + 64GB at INR 13,999 and 6GB + 64GB at INR 17,999 in Sapphire Blue, Sky Blue and Midnight Black colors.

Offers like Instant 10% Discount on SBI Credit Cards*, INR 2200 cashback for Reliance Jio* customers and INR 2800 worth Cleartrip* vouchers will be available for consumers.

Honor 10 Lite will also be available on hihonor.in with offers on Paytm cashback upto INR 1350*, INR 2200 cashback for Reliance Jio* customers and & 2800 worth vouchers* and on Mobikwik 15% supercash upto INR 1500*.

Honor 10 Lite specifications:

The Honor 10 Lite comes with an impressive 24MP AI selfie camera, AI scene detection technology on both rear and front cameras, latest Kirin 710 processor with 12nm process technology, Dewdrop Display, first Honor phone with Intelligent EMUI 9.0 on top of Android 9 (Pie) out of the box and 3,400 mAh battery.

Honor 10 Lite features 15.77cm (6.21”) Dewdrop display, 91% screen-to-body ratio with 19:5:9 aspect ratio, has support for GPU Turbo 2.0 and runs Android 9.0 (Pie) with EMUI 9.0 on top.

The AI Selfie camera can recognize eight different scenes (Sky, Beach, Plant, Flower, Stage, Night, Room and Snow) and adjust camera settings to click best ever selfies. The front camera also features AI based facial recognition and light fusion technology, ensuring you always look your best in every scenario and light condition.

Dual Rear AI Camera is capable of detecting 22 different scenes to give best ever photographs in every scenario and condition. Low light photography is enhanced by its big f1.8 aperture and AIS mode which enables it to capture beautiful and detailed shots even in low light conditions.

Special Features:

* AI Shopping: Shop what you see with Intelligent AI shopping experience on various shopping e-commerce platforms in India.
* Calorie Detection : Detect calories in food items just by looking them through camera
* AI Enhanced calls: AI noise reduction accurately recognizes noise and suppresses it
* Wi-Fi Bridge: Now you can share any Wi-Fi network as hotspot and connect maximum 4 devices
* Paytm Pay: One click pay option for Paytm users
* App Assistant: Enjoy uninterrupted gaming experience
* Dual VoLTE: You can access internet from 1 sim, while you are having a phone call with the other sim
* AI Smart Face Unlock: Lock Screen with Privacy Protection - By face recognition, only the phone owner can see more details
* Smart Fingerprint: Apart from unlocking phone, you can use it from taking photos & videos, answer call, stop alarm, show notification panel & browse photos
* Smart Triple Bluetooth Connection: Connect 3 devices - Like Bluetooth headset & Smart Watch
* Ride Mode: Specially for bike rider safety & Keep them away from the unwanted distraction of call
* Party Mode: Connect upto 6 Honor devices and play your favourite song in all the device at the same time

The Honor 10 Lite is the successor of the Honor 9 lite that was launched in India earlier in the year 2018. Honor has sold more than 1.5 million Honor 9 Lite devices so far.

Six Deep Tech Startups Graduate at NetApp Excellerator Cohort 3 Demo Day 2019

NetApp, a leader in data management and hybrid cloud, has announced the graduation of its third cohort during the NetApp Excellerator Demo Day, 2019. The NetApp Excellerator program is the company’s flagship accelerator program designed to nurture data driven technology startups. The third batch of six startups focused on technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Cloud, Cyber Security, Analytics, applied in wide-impact areas like operations, marketing and healthcare.

As part of the third cohort, all six startups – CloudOptimo, InstaSafe, FirstHive, Praktice.ai, Cardiotrack and Zscore Technologies underwent a four-month long program to engage and benefit from NetApp’s technologies, platforms, tools, HR, marketing and legal support, and fine-tune their products using the expert knowledge provided by the team. At the third Demo Day, the startups presented their products to a panel of venture capitalists, prominent industry leaders and top NetApp executives. NetApp provides an equity-free grant of $15,000 to each of the participating startups.

This year, NetApp took its accelerator program a notch higher as it welcomed international participants under its mentorship, Praktice.ai and Cardiotrack. Both of these startups are headquartered in Singapore and have a global customer base. In the backdrop of the event, Cardiotrack also launched a new app for patients. This app will help heart patients digitize their health records, get connected to specialists and control illnesses through real time monitoring and expert advice.

Speaking on the occasion, Ajeya Motaganahalli, Senior Director and leader of the NetApp Excellerator Program, said, “The NetApp Excellerator program has been successful mainly because we have consistently helped startups focus on value creation. Valuation and subsequent funding is a follow-on effect which is the most desired outcome for any startup. When we look at all our startups, not just from this cohort but also from the previous ones, it’s heartening to see how spectacularly well they are doing for themselves. After evaluating over a thousand startups and closely working and mentoring eighteen of them, we are able to look back with some degree of satisfaction that we have been able to make a difference in the deep-tech and B2B startup ecosystem.”

As another tangible example of value creation, FirstHive and Cardiotrack from this cohort have joined NetApp as strategic alliance partners, which means that NetApp will co-create solutions and go to market with them. They join BlobCity, SigTuple, Nanobi and Scalend from the last two cohorts. With this, six startups from across the program alumni have cemented their association with NetApp.

Samir Kumar, General Partner, Inventus India, and a veteran venture capitalist, also commended the program, “Startups find it challenging to access large enterprises, who are potentially great customers for their solutions. Go-to-market was earlier learnt through trial and error due to a lack of suitable mentoring. Programs such as the NetApp Excellerator, with their global expertise, create long-term value towards the profitability of these startups. This has given new impetus to our confidence in tech-startup investments.”

The expert mentorship has already started bearing results, such as with Zscore, a participating startup that on-boarded three new clients during the program. Reflecting on this, Deepak Visweswaraiah, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, NetApp India, said “NetApp has been winning against competitors many times its size through sheer will of innovation in data technologies. In this data driven world, it’s exciting to see such startups that are shaping the economy through wide-impact initiatives such as healthcare. Our aim is to bring together technology know-how and innovation, and our alumni have reaffirmed our success through theirs.”

Here are the six startups that make up the third cohort of the NetApp Excellerator programme:

1) CLOUDOPTIMO
Pune-based CloudOptimo started in April 2016 as a consulting company that helps Deep Tech companies reduce their infrastructure cost by helping them focus their energies on their core problems rather than cost optimisation.

What they do
Running out of money is one of the major reasons startups fail. “We started CloudOptimo because we have seen many companies spending lots of money on infrastructure - sometimes 10 to 15 percent of their revenue. CloudOptimo is an Intelligent Cloud Costs Optimization Platform, which reduces costs upto 80 percent while ensuring high availability and consistent performance. Our solution also helps many companies improve their architecture and adopt industry standard code deployment methodologies,” says Vaibhav Kamble, Founder and CEO.

The team
Co-founders Vaibhav and Tushar Chakote had been working together for six years before starting up CloudOptimo. Both have extensive experience in the AdTech and Payments domains.

The NetApp Excellerator experience
According to Vaibhav and Tushar, their participation in the programme will help them grow stronger and improve. “As a startup, we made many mistakes. NetApp brought in mentors and industry experts who helped us improve our perspective and way of doing things. They also helped a lot in terms of connecting us with the ecosystem. We are sure that NetApp Excellerator will help us meet our business and technology goals faster than we had envisioned.”

2) INSTASAFE
With experts predicting that there will be 200 billion connected things by 2020, the need for efficient cyber security solutions is becoming paramount. InstaSafe, a software-defined perimeter-based cybersecurity provider, helps secure organisations, users and applications through an innovative Zero Trust Model. The startup is headquartered at Bengaluru and has offices in the US, Mumbai, and Delhi.

What they do
In an era where the world is moving from traditional on-premise data centers to cloud data centers, hardware-based legacy security solutions are limiting in terms of scalability and failover. Instasafe’s robust and secure cloud-based solutions don’t require any hardware infrastructure, are easy to use and don’t require too much technical/networking know-how to be managed. They work on the principles of Software Defined Perimeter wherein they extend an organization’s perimeter, ensuring tightened security to remote users as well. They work across sectors from retail, manufacturing to power, logistics, education, BFSI etc.

 “Our clients use InstaSafe Solutions to connect multiple data centers and endpoint devices securely over a network ensuring complete infrastructure security. Our product acts as an alternative to many cost intensive legacy security solutions that are hardware based and difficult to manage,” says InstaSafe Co-founder and CEO, Sandip Kumar Panda. 

The team
Instasafe was founded in December 2012 by Sandip, Biju George, Prashanth Guruswamy, Ravikumar Govindrao, and Deepak Panigrahi. Ravikumar and Deepak later moved out. All the founders have experience of over a decade across various levels and roles at organisations like Blue Coat, Sify, Wipro, Symantec, Quantum, Tasman Networks, Nortel, Radware, Pravegha and GapBridge.

NetApp Excellerator experience
“The experience has been great so far. Various sessions on technical and business aspects were of great help as they bring the best instructors from Silicon Valley and other leading organisations. We are trying to leverage NetApp's connections for various go-to-market strategies for domestic and global markets. We are also working closely with NetApp to create a world-class product demo for our existing and prospective customers to explain our product in a simplified manner, as the cybersecurity domain is difficult to apprehend,” says Sandip.

3) FIRSTHIVE
Bengaluru-based FirstHive acts as a marketing efficiency engine for consumer enterprises. It went live with its alpha launch in January 2016, with a subsequent global Beta release by August- September 2016.

What they do
FirstHive was born as a central marketing brain that connected all marketing interaction channels (online and offline) of an organisation and all their tools - to deliver a single unified customer view with comprehensive interaction context. With this identity unlocked, the marketer can deliver consistent journeys focused on every unique consumer, across all channels from a single platform.

“FirstHive’s approach is unique and fundamental to the marketing challenge - we believe this puts us in the league of global innovative products in MarTech. We work with some of the largest consumer brands across India and SouthEast Asia today and are aggressively looking to expand. We have delivered incremental business of over $2 billion to our customers over the last 24 months,” says Aditya Bhamidipaty, Founder & CEO of FirstHive.

According to the founders, FirstHive is a horizontal product and can potentially enable marketing objectives for any large consumer enterprise or digital-only business.

The team
Aditya holds a PGBDM degree from IIM Ahmedabad and prior to starting up he was responsible for iGate’s sales in Europe. He has worked with P&G in India as well. Birendra Kumar Sahu is VP - Technology for the platform and brings over 18 years of combined experience across Big Data, ML & AI. He has over seven patents and 85 Invention Disclosure Reports to his credit. Vishal Sukheja leads the product management and marketing functions for FirstHive and brings over 12 years of cross-functional experience in the space.

NetApp Excellerator experience
Aditya says, “For us, this opportunity came at the right time as we were embarking on a revamp of our technical architecture, and this enables us to validate our assumptions better. We have also had an opportunity to interact with experts which helped us simplify our business pitch, to make it more relatable. Our participation at YourStory’s TechSparks event, which NetApp enabled, was also appreciated as that enabled us to generate few leads and get recognition this year as a Tech30 company.”

He believes the NetApp Excellerator experience will add value in two key areas -- technology mentorship and go-to-market based on mutual synergy.

4) PRAKTICE.AI
Started in 2017, Praktice.ai is a Singapore-based company headquartered in Singapore with a team based in Bengaluru as well. Praktice.ai automates patient interactions at hospitals, saving operational costs and increasing revenue for hospitals.

What they do
Hospitals spend millions on frontline operations.  Not only do they need to hire more staff to manage the increase in number of patients they treat, they also lose revenue due to missed leads as the staff are often busy with other patients.

Praktice.ai automates patient interactions through speech and chat mediums, enabling hospital staff to handle almost 10x the number of patients. It also enhances the patient experience while increasing hospitals’ topline by qualifying more leads

Explaining their solution, co-founders Srinath Akula and Akhila Srinath say, “On an average, a human interaction with say, a receptionist, would earlier take 12 minutes. With Praktice.ai’s solution, a complex statement like: ‘My dad underwent bypass surgery last year and needs angiography to see if it’s ok now’ can be understood easily by the AI engine, who then connects the caller to the cardiologist specialised in coronary angiography procedures. This takes just four minutes with almost zero wait times at hospitals, whereas earlier, the average waiting time over phone was six minutes.”

According to them, their AI system not only reduces the waiting times over phones and at the hospital but also improves productivity by enabling patients to get treated by the right doctor at the right time, thereby improving outcomes and experience. Also, automating the medical transactions lowers the burden for the operational staff and doctors saving millions in cost and time.

They see potential for implementation across other healthcare sectors like insurance or diagnostics or pharmacy.

The team
Srinath, CEO of Praktice.ai is a data scientist with an MBA from IIM Indore, while Akhila, the COO, is a medical professional.

The NetApp Excellerator experience
“NetApp Excellerator provides advanced mentoring for growth phase startups in scaling up the sales and enterprise level solutions. We hope to get mentored on data security from NetApp on integrations as they have been handling the data systems and integrations with EMR systems for some of the biggest hospitals in the world. We also hope to get mentorship on the enterprise scale applications and system stability which are essential to reach to the next level,” say the duo.

5) CARDIOTRACK
Cardiotrack was founded in 2014 by Ashim Roy and Avin Agarwal and is based in Bengaluru. The parent company of Cardiotrack, Uber Diagnostics is registered in Singapore.

Cardiotrack is working towards alleviating pain points in the Indian healthcare system through its AI-based healthcare platform.

What they do
The Cardiotrack platform is designed to fulfil all the basic requirements of a primary care clinic. Doctors can detect heart health problems accurately, consult specialists, refer and track patients, maintain medical history and start the intervention process. The platform includes multi-parameter, light weight healthcare IoT devices and mobile health software that helps to screen illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases and hypertension and helps doctors to perform diagnosis and then safely store the patient records.

The device is sturdy and can handle tough Indian climate conditions. Cardiotrack can also do up to 100 scans on one charge, a definite advantage in power starved areas.

The device also has AI capability which provides diagnosis at the primary care clinic level which can be verified by a cardiologist at a different location.

The founders share how their device helped save the life of a farmer in a remote village in Karnataka. “When he arrived at the clinic, he was sweating and complained of chest pain. The doctor immediately hooked him up to the Cardiotrack ECG monitor. The AI component in the device immediately and accurately diagnosed the problem as inferior wall myocardial infarction, and the patient was immediately taken to a speciality hospital in Hubli where he was treated successfully. There are several such stories that we have.”

The founders believe that only when preventive cardiac care becomes institutionalized in all district level primary care centres will India’s cardiac health epidemic be tackled.

“With this in mind, Cardiotrack wants to build an ecosystem via academia, cardiologists and public health officials to ensure that the matter of preventive cardiac care remains topmost on the agenda of all major decision makers,” says the duo.

The team
Ashim has about 35 years of work experience primarily in the telecom industry. He has worked in Australia, Canada, USA and now in India and holds several patents. He has a BE (Hons) from BITS Pilani, an M.Tech from IIT Delhi and he completed his PhD from University of Adelaide in Australia.

Avin Agarwal has a BE in medical electronics from VTU, Bangalore and has worked for several years at Oracle in the Netherlands. He has also received a grant from the Gates Foundation for diagnostic research and holds a patent.

The NetApp Excellerator experience
According to them, the NetApp Excellerator has improved their clarity in thinking and forecasting. It has helped the Cardiotrack senior management to sharpen its understanding of processes and most importantly, improve technology competencies.

6) ZSCORE
Started in 2016, ZScore is an AI analytics company based in Bengaluru with their own platform that could be deployed on top of existing business intelligence systems. ZScore’s mission is to ensure that organisations have trustworthy data that they can use to make decisions confidently.

What they do
While executing analytics projects in their previous roles, the founders realised that one area no one focused on was the quality and accuracy of data being fed into various analytics initiatives. Existing IT systems looked at data from a metadata perspective but no one was checking the business context of the data and if it was sufficient enough to drive processes or aid in decision-making.

Invariably, data of low accuracy (60-70%) was being fed to decisions-makers which greatly reduced their data-based decision-making abilities. Furthermore, various analytics initiatives were failing to realise ROI and adoption targets because the results they generated were always suspect from a business perspective.

According to the Zscore founders, after using their solution, clients have already seen a reduction in adverse financial impact due to bad data.

“We have identified around $1 - $16 million worth of bad data that could cause them losses. The clients are from the insurance domain so the possible issues we have identified are duplicate hospital names, wrong premium, coverage and claim amounts, wrong claims paid out and claims paid out multiple times to the same policy holder,”

The Team
The founding members include Deleep Murali, Rohit Kalro and Ayush Banka. Deleep and Rohit met as students at the Katz School of Business, University of Pittsburgh. Deleep and Ayush also previously worked together in an analytics startup called DSquare.

The NetApp Excellerator experience
“We have great support from the team running the programme and from stakeholders in NetApp. In the short time we have been here the mentors and coaches brought in have helped change our perspective and helped us improve our execution. We hope that with NetApp’s background in the data and storage market and its being a global player will give us the exposure we need to help raise us to the next level,” say the founders.

Tata Motors Receives BS6 Compliance Certification for Tata 3.8L NA SGI CNG Engine

In the run-up to its BS6 preparations, Tata Motors has announced that it has received BS6 Type Approval certificate for its 3.8L NA SGI CNG engine from ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India). It is the first OEM in India to achieve BS6 certification for a naturally aspirated CNG engine for commercial vehicles. This certification includes meeting the tailpipe mass emissions as well as compliance to On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) norms as mandated by government regulation. With this success, Tata Motors continues to stay on its path of offering environment friendly products in India.

Speaking on the occasion Rajendra Petkar, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Tata Motors said, “This BS6 engine certification milestone has been achieved with intense design and development focus, by leveraging in-house capabilities and those of our technology partners. We have worked hard to build a leadership position in the market by providing our customers with economical, best-in-class natural gas vehicle products in the commercial vehicle market and this development of BS6 solution will further re-inforce our market offering.”

The 3.8 NA SGI CNG engine is a naturally aspirated engine i.e. it does not need a turbocharger. It produces a maximum power of 85 Ps @ 2500 RPM with a torque of 285 Nm @ 2500 RPM. This combustion occurs at stoichiometric conditions in this engine. This engine comes with sequential gas injection technology, pioneered by Tata Motors in India. Exhaust after-treatment system featuring three-way catalytic converter reduces pollutants below limits mandated by regulation.

The 3.8 NA SGI CNG engine will power 4T to 9T GVW buses and trucks such as 407, 709 and 909 (existing BS4 versions), which are already very popular models in the market, with the best-in-class fuel efficiency. Truck applications include water tankers too.

BS6 norms will come into force in India from 1st April, 2020. The upgradation from BSIV to BSVI is a complex engineering, a challenge that demands not only pushing the technological advancements to the limits, but also calls for a turnaround of the infrastructure and facilities required for this development, which is highly capital intensive in nature with long lead execution periods. As part of our continued pursuit in our turnaround journey, a state of the art "Emission Test Facility" has been installed at the Power Systems Engineering Division (PSE), in ERC, Pune. This facility serves as one of the crucial milestones for BS6 implementation.

Tata Motors has been consistently working towards upgrading its engines and vehicles to meet the required BSVI emission norms and is committed to bring environment friendly products to market.

Constant Currency Revenue Growth Up 6.1% QoQ and 20.6% YoY; Net Profit Jumps 32.8% YoY for LTI Q3 FY19

Larsen & Toubro Infotech (BSE code: 540005, NSE: LTI), a global technology consulting and digital solutions company, announced its Q3 FY19 results today.

In US Dollars:

Revenue at USD 346.9 million; growth of 5.6% QoQ and 18.2% YoY
Constant Currency Revenue growth of 6.1% QoQ and 20.6% YoY

In Indian Rupees:

Revenue at Rs 24,729 million; growth of 6.1% QoQ and 31.3% YoY
Net Income at Rs 3,755 million; growth of (6.2%) QoQ and 32.8% YoY

“We are pleased to deliver another strong quarter with 5.6% QoQ growth in USD revenues. Our broad-based revenue growth, superior margin delivery and steady cash generation in Q3 is a testimony of our focused execution and client centricity.

We are also thrilled to welcome Ruletronics to LTI family. Ruletronics enables businesses to transform and evolve digitally by providing innovative BPM and CRM solutions leveraging Pega Platform.”

- Sanjay Jalona, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, LTI

Recent Deal Wins

-          Nets, the leading payments company in the Nordic region has chosen LTI as its primary IT partner post vendor consolidation 

-          World leader in vertical transportation has chosen LTI as its strategic partner for implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 as their core platform to transform their services business in the areas of Sales, Call Center and Field Services

-          Selected by a Global Fintech Company to provide agile assurance support for building an industry leading wealth management platform

-          Global Energy Corporation engaged LTI for deployment of Enterprise historian and enable integration with business applications

-          Selected by a diversified Energy Manufacturing company for its ERP transformation

-          Global Life Sciences Major, a new client logo has awarded LTI a multi-year strategic deal for end to end SAP support, maintenance, analytics and enhancement

-          Awarded Digital Transformation project by an Apex Advisory Body in the field of Education

-          Leading manufacturer of cleaning equipment chose LTI as a partner for its global CRM journey on Force.com

-          Petrochemical Major chose LTI for multiple engagements in order to prepare itself for S/4HANA migration

-          Awarded Cybersecurity project by a Global Energy Giant to implement, configure and integrate Micro Focus ArcSight and Splunk Enterprise Security

Client Testimonial

“Nets has selected LTI as its primary IT partner for its close alignment to Nets’ vision, investments in Nordic region and customer centricity.

As the primary partner of Nets, LTI will be responsible for 100+ additional critical applications focused on Digital operations, Card and Payment platforms, SAP / Oracle ecosystem, Blockchain based services, Customer service, e-commerce payments, and corporate services.”

-          Ms. Pia Jørgensen, Group Executive Vice President (Technology) and Group CIO, NETS A/S

Awards and Recognitions

-          LTI is now a Global Strategic Service Partner (GSSP) of SAP, making it one of the Top 16 partners of SAP, globally

-          Emerged as Major Contender and Star Performer in Everest Group Digital Services PEAK Matrix™ Assessment 2019

-          Recognized as "Rising Star" in Security Services: ISG Provider Lens Cyber Security Services and Solutions: US

-          Recognized in Leadership Zone in Zinnov Zones 2018 for IoT Technology Services

-          Named as a Major Player in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide DevOps Services 2018 Vendor Assessment

-          Named by the 4Q18 Global ISG Index™ as one of The Breakthrough 15 in Global Sourcing Standouts

Other Business Highlights

-          LTI appointed Nachiket Deshpande as its Chief Operating Officer. He brings rich experience in technology and IT industry and last served as the Senior Vice President & Global Delivery Head for the Banking and Financial Services unit at Cognizant Technology Solutions.

-          LTI collaborated with ACORD to develop a comprehensive set of digital standards & solutions for the Insurance industry.

BMA Commemorates 65 Years by Launching a Slew of New Initiatives

Established in 1954, the Bombay Management Association popularly known by the acronym BMA; is one of India’s leading managerial communities striving for managerial excellence in business and corporate management. BMA has trained over 1.5 lakh managers who have had a dynamic impact on the Indian corporate scene. Skilled for success and instilled with the highest standards of managerial ethics, their combined achievements have resulted in the BMA being awarded the ‘Best Local Management Award’ by the All India Management Association 7 times since its inception. To commemorate the 65 years of BMA, it has come up with a slew of new initiatives which include two key programs namely – ‘The 10X Scale-Up Conclave’ and ‘Innothon’.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Murtuza H. Khorakiwala, President, BMA; Managing Director, Wockhardt Ltd said “The 10X Conclave by BMA will be an intra-industry effort to support entrepreneurial innovation in India. The daylong session will be moderated with a vision to connect Indian entrepreneurs to a supportive ecosystem of customers, funding partners and mentors.” Adding to this Mr Rakesh Kumar Mehra, Chairman, 10X Scale Conclave and Group Advisor, Bulk MRO said; “The conclave is a pioneering thought by BMA designed for companies ranging from start-ups to SMEs seeking to grow, buy and raise further capital in their journey to large scale success.”

The conclave which is set to take place on 25th January 2019 will be attended more than 300 delegates from corporate and start-ups operating across the country. It will also feature prominent speakers from diversified sectors from the Indian corporate industry, including eminent scientist, Dr Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, Nandan Nilekani, Jaideep Mehta, Rahul Mirchandani, R Narayanan, Ashish Vidyarthi amongst others. One of the major highlights of the conclave is the India launch of R Gopalakrishnan’s book ‘CRASH: lessons from the entry and exit of CEOs’

BMA also announced the launch of Innothon, a new industry connect platform. Rajesh Sharma, Chairman, Innothon and Chief Facilitator, Aquilla Resource Partner said; “The BMA has envisioned INNOTHON, which will act as a unique platform to crowdsource ideas for resolving critical issues facing the organisation or for charting ways to help the organisation keep ahead of the competition. Young brains from Management Institutes will collaborate with managers and leaders from the industry to provide sustainable solutions for business problems.” The Innothon presentations to the jury will take place on 18th & 19th Jan 2019 and the winners will be declared on 21st Feb 2019.

E A Vimal Nathan, Executive Director, BMA said “We at the BMA are always focused on finding innovative ways of managing complex challenges faced by organisations today. We felt that the10X Scale-Up Conclave and Innothon are the perfect platforms for entrepreneurs and budding managers in the country. We plan to come out with many more such initiatives in the near future which will support the organisations and aid the managerial development in the country.”

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Dubai Branch Upgrades to 3i Infotech’s PREMIA 11 to Accelerate Business

3i Infotech Limited helped enhance Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.’s (TMNF) Dubai branch’s rapidly growing business. The company upgraded to 3i Infotech’s PREMIA 11, as they needed a comprehensive system with end-to-end integrated solution which could provide quick processing to the customer, avoid manual intervention in day-to-day operations, improve operational efficiency with higher quality, faster time to market, reusability and data storage.

TMNFs Dubai branch had dependency with third party system to do any changes on the tariff logic, which was one of the biggest problem faced by them while using PREMIA 9. Apart from this, they didn’t have a proper Document Management System, Business Intelligence technology, fixed assets & budget modules and integrated workflow systems. With up gradation to PREMIA 11, problem areas of the IT system, as mentioned above, have been addressed with new features and functionalities, in addition to existing PREMIA 9 functionalities.

The major advantages of this upgraded version are seamless integration of underwriting claims, reinsurance and finance with reporting. It also reduces printing costs of the Company, as the system can send documents via email instead of manual print-outs. In PREMIA 11, the claims module is redesigned to meet the Company’s complex business requirements with improved processes. along with the integrated workflow system which helps in reducing the Company’s costs.

Highlighting the advantages of shifting to PREMIA 11, Hiroki Sasai, General Manager, TMNF Dubai branch said, “The web-based PREMIA   11 directly supports several of the corporate goals and objectives established by the Company’s IT Department and Management. With its real-time and accurate reporting of all client enquiries and administrative metrics, it has helped our business in creating and maintaining an efficient workflow. We have an intricate business structure, but 3i Infotech was able to grasp the business very quickly due to their experience in the insurance industry.”

“We have developed a marine policy admin which has made TMNF Dubai branch’s complex business into seamless operational model. It has also been integrated with the third-party application for the issuance of certificate. However, the control, validation and tariff logics are derived from the core PREMIA system which has benefited them, from the control and audit perspective,” said Rakesh Doshi, EVP & Business Head, Financial Services & Insurance, 3i Infotech Ltd.

PREMIA 11 provides an end-to-end solution along with the add-on features like user authorization, tariff level setup for premium logic for marine & other LOBs, risk/fleet upload, copy policy, DMS, validation, customized reporting format, online posting of accounting which benefits customer with quick turnaround time.

KEI Expects Robus Growth on Rising Demand for House Wires and Cables

India’s leading house and power cable manufacturer, KEI Industries Ltd. has announced that it expects to grow 35%-40% in the house wire and cable segment during the next financial year.

Riding on robust and healthy earnings for the quarter ended September 2018, the company hopes to drive on its house wires and cables segment during this fiscal period.

The company’s Q2 sales in house wire segment grew Rs. 209 Cr in current FY19 in comparison to Rs. 131 Cr in the corresponding period of last financial year.

Similarly, its sales during H1- FY19 were reported at Rs. 389 Cr. from Rs. 236 Cr.  Further, its sales during the H1 in the house wire swelled 64.83% over the last financial year.

Anil Gupta, Chairman cum Managing Director- KEI Industries Ltd. said: “Our Company has registered a phenomenal growth in retail sales business in FY’18-19 till now. Last year it was around Rs 1086 crore and with more demand coming from the users, we are hopeful to exceed 40% in next two years. We also expect a potential growth in our house wire segment. With the new affordable housing schemes coming up and with a rise in the real estate business as the demand actual buyers for personal and official use is increasing, this has helped us to scale-up with this growing demand for house wires. KEI’s house wires also contribute to government’s vision for affordable housing as these products are being used by many developers under affordable housing schemes”.

The company is optimistic about its growing market in house wires and cables as they are energy efficient and meet the highest-level of safety for domestic and commercial usage. These cables are for the use of wiring domestic and commercial buildings. With over 1300 dealers pan India, the company’s retail sales have grown to almost 33% of their turnover in terms of its total sales.

The company in the house wires segment offers Homecab-FR which stands synonymous to safety. These cables are used for wiring domestic and commercial buildings. These cables are of utmost quality in electrical and mechanical properties along with being accredited with global standards. A fine-drawn multi strand conductor provides enhanced flexibility and makes it ideal for concealed wiring. It is suitable for installation in lighting fittings and appliances up to 1100 v (A.C). The product has higher flexibility and ensures easy handling while guaranteeing a much longer life thus attracting a new generation of real estate developers.

Mindtree Net Profit Grows 35% to Rs 191 Crore in Quarter III of 2018

Mid-sized IT firm Mindtree on Wednesday said its consolidated net profit for the December 2018 quarter grew 35.1% to Rs 191.2 crore and exuded confidence that its January-March numbers will be better than the just-concluded quarter.

Mindtree had registered a net profit of Rs 141.5 crore in the October-December 2017.

Its revenue grew 29.7% to Rs 1,787.2 crore in the December 2018 quarter from Rs 1,377.7 crore in the year-ago period.

“Our consulting first approach combined with deep technology and domain expertise are helping our clients drive enterprise-wide transformations...this has also helped the company sustain its growth momentum, even in a seasonally weak quarter,” Mindtree Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Rostow Ravanan told reporters on a concall.

He added that the company continues to invest in people to further strengthen its ability to create sustainable value for all stakeholders.

The Bengaluru-based company has been in the spotlight over speculations of promoters being under pressure to sell their stakes.

The management, however, skirted questions on the issue saying it remains committed to delivering growth for the company but there are some matters which are not under its control.  According to reports, one of Mindtree’s largest investors and Café Coffee Day (CCD) founder, V G Siddhartha, and two of his firms are expected to sell their stakes.

The reports said the promoters are now under pressure to either sell a part of their holdings to the buyer, along with Siddhartha, or allowing the buyer to purchase shares from the market and force an open offer to gain control in Mindtree.

 In the December 2018 quarter, Mindtree had 340 active clients. Its headcount stood at 19,908 people with trailing 12-month attrition at 13.4%.

Mindtree said its digital business in the quarter under review grew by 32.4% year-on-year.

New Global Alliance Commits Over $1.0 Billion USD to Help End Plastic Waste in the Environment

An alliance of global companies from the plastics and consumer goods value chain today launched a new organization to advance solutions to eliminate plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean.

The cross value chain Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), currently made up of nearly thirty member companies, has committed over $1.0 billion with the goal of investing $1.5 billion over the next five years to help end plastic waste in the environment. The Alliance will develop and bring to scale solutions that will minimize and manage plastic waste and promote solutions for used plastics by helping to enable a circular economy. The Alliance membership represents global companies and located throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

“Everyone agrees that plastic waste does not belong in our oceans or anywhere in the environment. This is a complex and serious global challenge that calls for swift action and strong leadership. This new alliance is the most comprehensive effort to date to end plastic waste in the environment,” said David Taylor, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Procter & Gamble, and chairman of the AEPW. “I urge all companies, big and small and from all regions and sectors, to join us,” he added.

“History has shown us that collective action and partnerships between industry, governments and NGOs can deliver innovative solutions to a global challenge like this,” said Bob Patel, CEO of LyondellBasell, and a vice chairman of the AEPW. “The issue of plastic waste is seen and felt all over the world. It must be addressed and we believe the time for action is now.”

The Alliance is a not-for-profit organization that includes companies that make, use, sell, process, collect, and recycle plastics. This includes chemical and plastic manufacturers, consumer goods companies, retailers, converters, and waste management companies, also known as the plastics value chain. The Alliance has been working with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development as a founding strategic partner. The Alliance today also announced an initial set of projects and collaborations that reflect a range of solutions to help end plastic waste:

·         Partnering with cities to design integrated waste management systems in large urban areas where infrastructure is lacking, especially those along rivers which transport vast amounts of unmanaged plastic waste from land to the ocean. This work will include engaging local governments and stakeholders, and generate economically sustainable and replicable models that can be applied across multiple cities and regions. The Alliance will pursue partnerships with cities located in high plastic leakage areas. The Alliance will also be looking to collaborate with other programs working with cities, such as Project STOP, which is working in Indonesia.

·         Funding The Incubator Network by Circulate Capital to develop and promote technologies, business models and entrepreneurs that prevent ocean plastic waste and improve waste management and recycling, with the intention of creating a pipeline of projects for investment, with an initial focus on Southeast Asia.

·         Developing an open source, science-based global information project to support waste management projects globally with reliable data collection, metrics, standards, and methodologies to help governments, companies, and investors focus on and accelerate actions to stop plastic waste from entering the environment. The Alliance will explore opportunities to partner with leading academic institutions and other organizations already involved in similar types of data collection.

·         Creating a capacity building collaboration with intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations to conduct joint workshops and trainings for government officials and community-based leaders to help them identify and pursue the most effective and locally-relevant solutions in the highest priority areas.

·         Supporting Renew Oceans to aid localized investment and engagement. The program is designed to capture plastic waste before it reaches the ocean from the ten major rivers shown to carry the vast majority of land-based waste to the ocean. The initial work will support the Renew Ganga project, which has also received support from the National Geographic Society.

In the months ahead, the Alliance will make additional investments and drive progress in four key areas:

·         Infrastructure development to collect and manage waste and increase recycling;

·         Innovation to advance and scale new technologies that make recycling and recovering plastics easier and create value from all post-use plastics;

·         Education and engagement of governments, businesses, and communities to mobilize action; and,

·         Clean up of concentrated areas of plastic waste already in the environment, particularly the major conduits of waste, like rivers, that carry land-based plastic waste to the sea. 

 “Success will require collaboration and coordinated efforts across many sectors – some that create near-term progress and others that require major investments with longer timelines. Addressing plastic waste in the environment and developing a circular economy of plastics requires the participation of everyone across the entire value chain and the long term commitment of businesses, governments, and communities. No one country, company or community can solve this on their own,” said Veolia CEO Antoine Frérot, a vice chairman of the AEPW.

Research from the Ocean Conservancy shows that nearly 80 percent of plastic waste in the ocean begins as litter on land, the vast majority of which travels to the sea by rivers. In fact one study estimates that over 90 percent of river borne plastic in the ocean comes from 10 major rivers around the world – eight in Asia, and two in Africa. Sixty percent of plastic waste in the ocean can be sourced to five countries in Southeast Asia.

“While our effort will be global, the Alliance can have the greatest impact on the problem by focusing on the parts of the world where the challenge is greatest; and by sharing solutions and best practices so that these efforts can be amplified and scaled-up around the world”, said Peter Bakker, President and CEO of World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

The following companies are the founding members of the Alliance: BASF, Berry Global, Braskem, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, Clariant, Covestro, Dow, DSM, ExxonMobil, Formosa Plastics Corporation USA, Henkel, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, Mitsui Chemicals, NOVA Chemicals, OxyChem, PolyOne, Procter & Gamble, Reliance Industries, SABIC, Sasol, SUEZ, Shell, SCG Chemicals, Sumitomo Chemical, Total, Veolia, and Versalis (Eni). From India, Reliance Industries has taken charge to advance efforts towards sustainable future.

Vivo India Partners with Cashify.in to Launch ‘Vivo Xchange’ Program

Vivo India has introduced the all new ‘Vivo Xchange’ program - a new trade-in offer for its fans, to exchange their old phones and upgrade to a new Vivo smartphone on Vivo’s in-house e-store website shop.vivo.com/in. The upgrade program is designed for both existing Vivo customers as well as for other smartphone users looking to buy a new Vivo smartphone. The company has partnered with leading online re-commerce brand Cashify.in, to ensure seamless trade-in process.

As an introductory offer, Vivo is offering an additional INR 1000 bump-up exchange of their old Vivo smartphones from 16th – 19th January 2019.

Speaking on the collaboration, Jerome Chen, Senior VP, Vivo India, said “Being a customer centric brand, Vivo has always aimed to offer great value to its fans. Under this partnership, customers can now seamlessly exchange their old phones and upgrade to a brand new Vivo smartphone of their choice. We are pleased to partner with Cashify.in as the exclusive buy back partner for Vivo, in India”.

To initiate the process, the customer first has to visit Vivo e-store (https://shop.vivo.com/in) and follow these simple steps:

Go to Vivo e-store and choose the device that you want to buy

Get the Exchange quote for your old smartphone, powered by Cashify.in and place the order after accepting the quote
The new Vivo smartphone will be delivered to your address, once the order is placed
Further, Cashify.in will schedule the pickup of your old device and they will give instant payment for it, as per the quote agreed earlier

India’s First-Ever Dota 2 Mega Event: ESL One Mumbai 2019 from April 19 - 21, 2019

ESL, the world’s largest esports company, and NODWIN Gaming are pleased to announce the debut of ESL One powered by Intel in Mumbai, India on April 19 - 21, 2019. The NSCI Dome will host 12 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams competing for a prize pool of $300,000.

Humankind discovered strategy games much later than fire, but also much earlier than electronics. The board game of Chaturanga was developed by an unknown studio during a Golden Age for ancient Indian civilizations around 1500 years ago.

It was later imported by the Persians, who established the tradition of ending the game by announcing that the Shah, the most important piece, was dead. “Shāh māt” became “check mate”, which nowadays has been shortened to “ggwp”.

It was only a matter of time before the art of tactical gaming came back to the origin in its ultimate form: a Dota tourney in an 8,000-seater stadium on the Mumbai seafront!

What they’re saying:
Ulrich Schulze, Senior Vice President of Product at ESL: “We can’t wait to bring ESL One to a completely new location - especially since this will mark the first big Dota 2 tournament in India. We see great potential in the Indian esports market and are looking forward to further foster the growth of the local scene together with our partner NODWIN Gaming.”

Akshat Rathee, Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming: “ESL One commands global reverence in the world of esports and for India to play host to this event is indeed a landmark for the country’s esports history. NODWIN Gaming has firsthand experience of the passion of the Indian Dota 2 community over multiple years and this is our gift to them - to come and meet the best Dota 2 gamers of the world at ESL One Mumbai 2019.”

Prakash Mallya, Managing Director - Sales & Marketing Group at Intel India: “As the technology leader for esports and gaming and ESL's Global Technical Partner, Intel is looking forward to delivering a world-class gaming experience to Dota 2 fans in India and around the world, at the inaugural ESL One Mumbai 2019."

What you need to know:
-TEAMS: There will be seven direct invitations for the tournament. Online qualifiers will grant one spot each for the following regions: Europe, North America, Greater China and Southeast Asia. Additionally, we’ll hold a local qualifier in India to give the best teams in the country a chance to earn their place among the top Dota 2 rosters in the world as the 12th ESL One Mumbai participant. All details regarding qualifiers will be announced soon.

-COSPLAYERS: Bring your finest look and show it off on the main stage for our traditional contest. The winner will be part of the trophy ceremony to crown the inaugural ESL One Mumbai champions. Stay tuned for details.

-TICKETS: Tickets for ESL One Mumbai 2019 will go on sale on Thursday, January 17 at 3pm (IST), and will range from 499 INR for Single Day tickets up to 2,499 INR for Premium tickets

Follow our official Dota 2 accounts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with all things ESL One Mumbai.

Instamojo Closes Series B Funding Round at Rs 50 Crore in 2018

Bengaluru based Fintech Company Instamojo, announced today the closing of its Series-B round of funding. The round saw Instamojo raise Rs 50 Crore, led by both existing and new investors. Existing investors included AnyPay, Kalaari, Beenext & Rashmi Kwatra, along with first time investor - Gunosy Capital.

Instamojo began its journey in the Fintech space with its flagship product - The online payment link, thereby solving the digital payments challenge for several entrepreneurs. Focused on empowering the Indian MSME sector, the company recently expanded its portfolio by providing logistics and lending services to small businesses. This provided businesses smarter and simpler solutions to enhance their services and sustain in a digitally evolving landscape. With this new round of funding, Instamojo aims to transform itself into a full-stack Fintech service provider, enabling the MSMEs of the country to build, grow and sustain in a competitive environment.

Sharing his thoughts on the new round of investments, Sampad Swain, CEO & Co-founder, Instamojo said, “The Series-B funding comes as a boost to our business and we are grateful to our investors for believing in Instamojo’s vision. We are extremely positive and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for us as an organization and how our efforts can help revolutionize the Indian MSME sector. With the introduction of our recent lending and logistics services, Instamojo is today on its way to becoming the 360º digital-enabling partner for MSMEs for all shapes & sizes.”

Founded in 2012 by Sampad Swain, Akash Gehani and Aditya Sengupta, Instamojo received their first round of investments in 2014, followed by a Pre Series B funding led by Japanese based firm AnyPay in August last year. Speaking on being part of Instamojo’s Series B Funding round, Taka Inoue, CEO of AnyPay said, “Our association with Instamojo started in August 2017 and since then we have only seen extraordinary growth at their end, in terms of sales and MSMEs on-boarded on the platform. Now Instamojo is all set to evolve from just being a payments company to full stack service provider who supports logistics and short terms loans to empower Indian MSMEs and we are confident that Instamojo will be soon become indispensable for all entrepreneurs in India. AnyPay joined this round as a continuation from the previous round and I, myself will be joining Instamojo team as a board member.”

The Series B round also saw the participation of first time investor Gunosy Capital. "We believe that digital and cashless economy has grown rapidly in India, and its e-commerce market is also expanding. From that background, Instamojo has been doing great business in the market and is expected to continue expanding. ", said Yuki Maniwa, Director of Gunosy Capital.

Instamojo today works with and enables over 600,000 MSMEs to build, manage and grow their business. As part of their upcoming plans for 2019, the company aims to introduce promotional services, helping the MSME sector stay relevant in a competitive digital business landscape.

Tata Motors Hosts First Expo for the E-commerce Industry in India

The e-commerce Industry in India is one of the fastest growing market places in the world. To meet the critical, demanding and ever growing requirements of this Industry, Tata Motors as the leader in Commercial Vehicles, in a first ever end-to-end experiential expo for the e-Commerce Industry is displaying a complete range of 13 fully built, ready to use vehicles. This wide range of ready to use fully built solutions exclusively developed for the e-Commerce Industry can meet every single application cutting across hub-to-hub-to-spoke transportation and the end-to-end delivery requirements. At a sprawling E Commerce Expo 2019 held in Devi Lal Stadium, Gurgaon, the company displayed some of the bestselling variants across SCV, ILCV and MHCV segment.

Tata Motors has developed these fully built ready to use solutions after extensively researching the exacting requirements of the e-Commerce Industry, engaging with the top e-Commerce companies and their vendors involving our own design engineers and our FBV team by incorporating their requirements in the design and features as desired by them.

For the last mile distribution, Tata Motors with its range on the bestselling Ace platform has exhibited versatility through Ace Delivery Van for e-commerce goods, Ace Zip panel van for e-commerce packages and Super Ace Mint XPS for voluminous goods transportation. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, ease and convenience of use, efficient and reliable performance with best-in-class mileage, and most cost-efficient solutions; these vehicles are known for superior design, excellent fuel economy, a longer service life and with its versatility supports the various customizations for multiple applications, enabling smarter solutions for the e-commerce industry. The vehicles come with customized payloads and deck lengths to carry light goods like white goods to heavier loads like fruits, vegetables and auto parts. Tata Super Ace Mint Insulated Container allows for the temperature-controlled transportation of perishable goods like milk/ milk products/ Fruits & vegetables/ meat, etc.

For the hub-to-spoke transportation requirements, the company displayed a range of Light and Intermediate commercial vehicles on the modern newly launched series of Ultra trucks, which has gained substantial growth in a very short period. The Ultra range of trucks are powered by the powerful, modern and high performance Turbotron engine giving it the clear edge in terms of performance, reliability, operating economics and much more. These vehicles are fitted with the advanced features like OTP lock, CCTV cameras, Load sensors, Telematics system, etc in line with the exacting demands of the e-Commerce Industry. These vehicles equipped with the latest advanced Safety Features, reduces the total cost of ownership, and gives best-in-class mileage along with high level of driving comfort & safety.

The exhibits included 24 FT MS Container On Ultra 1518/53, 20 FT MS Container on Ultra 1014/45, 20 FT MS Reefer On Ultra 1014/45, 3 Side Openable - MS Container On Ultra 1518/53, 22 FT MS Container on LPT 1412/48 and 10 FT MS Container on SFC 407/33. The whole range will cater to the growing needs of e-Commerce, Industrial Goods, Auto Component, FMCG, Agri Products, Beverages, Pharma and White Goods industries.

For the hub-to-hub transportation requirements, a complete range of fully built solutions from the portfolio of MHCV is displayed. These vehicles built exclusively for the e-Commerce Industry are customized with special advanced features catering to the special requirements. The 24 Ft refrigerated container on LPT 1613/52 and 32 Ft Refrigerated Container on LPT 2518/68 are well equipped to cater to the growing demand of the cold chain supplies like frozen foods, ice cream, dairy products, fruits & vegetables and pharma. The 31 Ft MS Container on SIGNA 2818/68 AMT vehicle combines the unmatched benefits of a ready to use truck equipped with advanced safety, security and surveillance features (like Anti Fuel Theft, Digital Locks, Reverse Parking and In-Container cameras, Load Sensors, Door Opening sensors) and pioneering Automated Manual Transmission and Hill Start Aid delivering class leading driving delight and comfort. The 32 Ft MS Container on LPT 1618/68 Turbotronn powered by the future-ready TATA 5.0L 4 Cylinder Turbotronn engine is designed for excellent benefits on both Revenue and TCO aspects. These are suitable for transporting various goods like long haul Ecommerce shipments, Auto Parts, Tyres, Agri products, White Goods, FMCG, Parcels & Courier. All these products are geared up to help customer meet a challenging market environment through improved financial returns by reduction in total cost of ownership and also ensuring driver comfort and driving safety

On this occasion, Girish Wagh, President – CVBU, Tata Motors said, “Fueled by rising incomes, increasing government support, and a surge in the internet users, the Indian E-Commerce market is expected to grow to US$ 200 billion by 2026 from US$ 38.5 billion in 2017. Today, companies are also increasing their distribution centers and their fleet size to cater to the growing demands of the consumers. We believe, the E-Commerce Expo 2019 will act as a platform to address the growing demands of the transporters and E-Commerce players; and provide them with diverse range of fully-built products with customized features. Through our product offerings, we are shifting the paradigm for new age products and smart solutions.

To support the e-Commerce Industry players who live by their commitment to deliver on time every single time to their customers, Tata Motors has developed customized Value added services under the Sampoorna Seva umbrella giving total peace of mind for the e-Commerce company and the transporters enabling them to live up to their commitment. The value added service include breakdown services anywhere in the country 24x7, Annual Maintenance Contracts, hassle free Insurance cover for the vehicles, quick service bays, on-site services, pit stop services for high traffic hubs and all of this supported by the most extensive service and parts network in the country”

Designed based on the feedback and suggestions received from the customers, the company has created experience centers for customers to better understand the high-end technology/design implemented in making the vehicles superior and reliable. The expo will witness presence from transporters and leading e-Commerce companies such as Amazon, Flipkart, Future Supply chain, DHL among others.

Amphora - London’s Leading Fine Wine Investment firm Partners with Wine Trailblazer Cecilia Oldne in India

Cecilia Oldne, one of the Indian wine industry’s best known people and respected Sommeliers has joined hands with London based Fine Wine Investment firm Amphora Portfolio Management taking Liquid Luxury to the next level in India! 

Amphora, which was set up in London in 2009 builds, manages and stores bespoke fine wine portfolios for collectors, investors and wine enthusiasts.

What is fine wine? Fine wines are defined as those which improve in the bottle with age. The most desirable and expensive of these are produced in extremely limited quantities and get rarer over time. Each bottle of Chateau Latour 2005 for instance, once opened and drunk can obviously never be replaced. Diminishing supply is what makes Fine Wine Investment unique! Fine wine take ten years or more even to reach their drinkable window. They then get better and better for decades, all the time becoming more and more desirable!

David Jackson, the brainchild behind Amphora, identified an unprecedented opportunity for wine investors in late 2008 following this credit-crunch driven market correction.

Amphora has been operating in India since 2014. The heady combination of double-digit returns from a physical, tangible asset coupled with the safe and discreet nature of wine investment evidently made Amphora’s proposition very attractive to Indian investors. India is about to overtake China as Amphora's biggest market outside the UK. 

“For me, India is far more than simply commercial success. These last four years have been a total joy and an incredible adventure. My clients in India have all, without exception; become personal friends, and I have had the privilege of exploring the far corners of this fascinating country. It is for these reasons that I have clocked up more than 30 Indian stamps in my passport in the last 4 years!

I have known Cecilia professionally for a couple of years now, and am thrilled to bits that one of the best known and most respected wine people in India has agreed to join our team. Having Cecilia "on the ground" is a very demonstrative statement of Amphora's commitment to its India business and clients” says, David Jackson, CEO Amphora Portfolio Management.

“India is learning fast when in comes to wines, but not many people know what a great investment commodity this liquid luxury can be too.

One of my aims is to educate Indians and wine enthusiasts that wine is not restricted to just the drinking element. Wine investors are the key to ensuring a balanced supply of mature wine to the secondary market, and Amphora helps them make the right choices. As wine is consumed, the supply effectively decreases. The imbalance between demand and supply is the main driver of prices. Wine is unique in that the producers cannot increase supply to meet the burgeoning demand from countries like India. It is relatively straightforward for makers of other luxury goods  - watches, handbags, even cars – to increase production, but you cannot reproduce a vintage wine!

I look forward to raising a glass with our existing and future fine wine investors here in India!” says, Cecilia Oldne, Amphora’s India partner and Ambassador.

The demand for fine wine is growing at a frantic rate in Asia, from China to India. The older generation in India favoured beer and whisky, but the younger generation is becoming more and more knowledgeable about wine – it is nothing short of a cultural revolution. The import duty however on fine wine in India is very high and at 160% - not in favor of the fine wine connoisseurs and collectors. Amphora, however, stores its clients wines in London. Storage is critical when it comes to fine wines. Even the best investment-grade wines lose their value if not stored properly.

Amphora helps investors make smart decisions by applying quantitative analysis techniques taken from the financial markets. Their head of research, Philip Staveley, was Head of Global Emerging Markets for Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch, and today writes a weekly wine investment feature in The Drinks Business magazine.

Once an investor puts their money on a portfolio of wine, it is bought on their behalf, registered in their name, and stored in an insured and climate-controlled London warehouse, regulated by HMRC. The Amphora team also arranges the sales of the wines for a profit on behalf of its clients.

Amphora estimate the global size of the fine wine market to be approximately 4.5 billion pounds, and long term returns on the benchmark index - the Liv-ex 100 Fine Wine Index, which tracks the value of the 100 most regularly traded investment grade wines – is just under 11%. Amphora’s aim is to generate returns in excess of 15% by way of fully managed portfolios, thereby doubling invested funds in 5 years. The Liv-ex 100 Index is quoted on Thomson-Reuters and Bloomberg. Fine Wine continues to be one of the most secure global investments.

Amphora Portfolio Management

Amphora builds, manage and stores bespoke fine wine portfolios for collectors, investors and enthusiasts. No jargon, no nonsense – just jolly good advice from a professional team sporting an enviable wealth of knowledge, talent and experience drawn from the financial markets.

Amphora are award winning fine wine specialists and the friendly face of wine investment. An advisory firm that mix business and pleasure! 

Honor Unveils the Honor 10 Lite in India, Most Stylish AI Selfie Companion at INR 13,999 and INR 17,999

Honor, the leading smartphone e-brand under the Huawei Group, has officially announced the Honor 10 Lite in India. Packed with 24MP AI Selfie camera, an innovative dewdrop display and a shimmering color gradient back, the Honor 10 Lite is as stylish as it is affordable. The smartphone will be available in 4GB + 64GB at INR 13,999 and 6GB + 64GB at INR 17,999 in Sapphire Blue, Sky Blue and Midnight Black colors in India. The smartphone will be exclusively available on Flipkart.

The Honor 10 Lite comes with an impressive 24MP AI selfie camera, AI scene detection technology on both rear and front cameras, latest Kirin 710 processor with 12nm process technology, Dewdrop Display, first Honor phone with Intelligent EMUI 9.0 on top of Android 9 (Pie) out of the box and 3,400 mAh battery.

"We’re proud to announce the Honor 10 Lite in India, the smartphone demonstrates Honor’s strong dedication to selfie photography and exceptional design. Following our devotion in photography and design in the Lite series the Honor 10 Lite is also pushing the boundaries even further and will sport a range of high-end features. As an innovative and trend-setting brand, Honor is dedicated to bringing unrivaled products with unbeatable value to all our consumers,” said Suhail Tariq, CMO, Huawei Consumer Business Group.

“We are excited to launch the new Honor 10 Lite on Flipkart. This franchise has been one of the most successful ones from Honor and we are confident this too will be received well by our customers,” said Aditya Soni, Senior Director, Mobiles, Flipkart.

Be your best self with Honor 10 Lite’s smart photography

Following Honor’s long history of selfie-strong smartphones, the Honor 10 Lite is pushing the boundaries even further. The AI camera can recognize eight different scenes (Sky, Beach, Plant, Flower, Stage, Night, Room and Snow) and adjust camera settings to click best ever selfies. The front camera also features AI based facial recognition and light fusion technology, ensuring you always look your best in every scenario and light condition. 

Dual Rear AI Camera is capable of detecting 22 different scenes to give best ever photographs in every scenario and condition. Low light photography is enhanced by its big f1.8 aperture and AIS mode which enables it to capture beautiful and detailed shots even in low light conditions.

Style yourself with Honor 10 Lite’s dazzling design

The Honor 10 Lite’s rear design is made from eight layers of shimmering material for a dazzling visual effect. Inspired by the lights and colors of its surroundings, the Honor 10 Lite’s vibrant gradient color choices include the newly introduced Sky Blue, which has a luminescent gradient effect that fades from light grey to blue, inspired by the natural light spectrum, as well as the classic Sapphire Blue and Midnight Black. 

To complement the range of captivating colors, the Honor 10 Lite also offers a 15.77cm (6.21”) FHD+ screen Dewdrop Display, with a 91% screen-to-body ratio for a best viewing experience. Honor 10 Lite also comes with TUV certified eye care mode to prevent your eye with any damage due to harmful blue light.

Flagship-like Configuration

Powered by the Huawei Kirin 710 chipset, the Honor 10 Lite performs as well as any flagship phone. Fast LPDDR4X RAM improved performance and reduces lag in multitasking. This is the first Honor phone to have GPU Turbo 2.0 which keeps FPS at max(~60FPS), reduces lagging and frame drops giving an immersive gaming experience to users.

EMUI 9.0 based on Android Pie

Honor 10 Lite is the first Honor phone to have latest EMUI 9.0 based on Android 9 (pie) out of the box which gives a unique and refreshing new feel to its users. With its new features like Digital wellbeing, Gestures, Themes user can have best ever UI experience.

Special Features:

*  AI Shopping: Shop what you see with Intelligent AI shopping experience on various shopping e-commerce platforms in India.

*  Calorie Detection : Detect calories in food items just by looking them through camera

*  AI Enhanced calls: AI noise reduction accurately recognizes noise and suppresses it

*  Wi-Fi Bridge: Now you can share any Wi-Fi network as hotspot and connect maximum 4 devices

*  Paytm Pay: One click pay option for Paytm users

*  App Assistant: Enjoy uninterrupted gaming experience

*  Dual VoLTE: You can access internet from 1 sim, while you are having a phone call with the other sim

*  AI Smart Face Unlock: Lock Screen with Privacy Protection - By face recognition, only the phone owner can see more details

*  Smart Fingerprint: Apart from unlocking phone, you can use it from taking photos & videos, answer call, stop alarm, show notification panel & browse photos

* Smart Triple Bluetooth Connection: Connect 3 devices - Like Bluetooth headset & Smart Watch

*  Ride Mode: Specially for bike rider safety & Keep them away from the unwanted distraction of call

*  Party Mode: Connect upto 6 Honor devices and play your favourite song in all the device at the same time

The Honor 10 Lite is the successor of the Honor 9 lite that was launched in India earlier in the year 2018. Honor has sold more than 1.5 million Honor 9 Lite devices so far. The Honor 10 Lite will also be available for Sale on Honor’s official website www.hihonor.com/in.