Jersey Rebrands as Godrej Jersey Aimed at Building Consumer Confidence Across Some Indian States

Creamline Dairy Products Limited (CDPL), rebranded Jersey as Godrej Jersey. Through the integration of the master brand Godrej, the rebranding aims to further strengthen the trust equity which it has built over last 34years.

As a Brand, Jersey began its journey 34 years ago with a focus to build the milk business. Over the years, Jersey has created an exciting product portfolio and become a household name and a preferred dairy brand amongst millions of homemakers in southern India. Keeping in mind the evolution and its association with iconic brand Godrej, Jersey started on the path of forging a new, improved brand identity. The new design language flows from the strong legacy of the brand incorporating the promise of trust and quality personified for over a century by Godrej. Jersey is now Godrej Jersey.

The popular and much-loved cow pattern in packaging has been retained, albeit modified to showcase the products in a more contemporary manner. It is also extended across the portfolio to maintain a consistent visual identity. The new design language is fresh and reflective of our rich legacy of the brand.  

Excited with the re-launch, Raj Kanwar, Chief Executive Officer of Creamline Dairy Products Limited said, “Milk and milk products are essential ingredients for health and nutrition. The relaunch aims to positions Godrej Jersey as the provider of essential nutrition that builds confidence to win in life. This brand-promise will be communicated through a new tagline - "Nourish the winner in you". The new logo that resembles a smile will help us resonate with multiple stakeholders across product categories. As we expand our portfolio and focus on driving accelerated growth in value-added categories, it is imperative to maintain uniformity in the design theme.”

A campaign including TVC, Digital, Print & POSM has been scheduled to drive awareness. Jersey products are available in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Nagpur in Maharashtra.

About Creamline Dairy Products

Creamline Dairy products Limited (CDPL) is a subsidiary of Godrej Agrovet Limited. In December 2015 Godrej Agrovet acquired a majority stake in CDPL. With a processing capacity of about 10 lakh litres per day and over 100 collection centres, CDPL has a formidable presence in the southern states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and parts of Maharashtra. It also operates own dedicated dairy parlours across major cities. CDPL sells high-quality milk products, right from curd, lassi, buttermilk and flavoured milk to paneer, ghee and other value-added products under the brand name ‘Jersey’. The Company has excellent infrastructure comprising of Milk Chilling Centers, Bulk Milk Cooling units, Composite Dairy Plants and a State-of-the-art milk powder plant.

nCore Games to Launch FAUG: A Multiplayer Action Game to support PM Modi’s Atma Nirbhar Movement

Bengaluru based nCore Games in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Atma Nirbhar Movement and calling out to all Indians to adopt this movement, is soon to launch a new multiplayer mid-core gaming title, “Fearless and United: Guards (FAU:G)”.

Addressing the nation through his ‘Mann Ki Baat’, PM Narendra Modi urged Indian citizens to support homegrown apps and adopt a movement of Atma Nirbhar. Against the backdrop of the Atma Nirbhar movement, PM also urged and called upon Indian game developers to create world class intellectual properties. 

The game is based on real scenarios encountered by the Indian Security Forces to deal with both domestic and foreign threats. Players will be able to, in teams of 5, collaborate and unite to fight the forces of evil! The game is expected to launch at the end of October with its first level set in the Galwan Valley backdrop followed by third person shooting gameplay in the subsequent releases. The game will be available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Under the mentorship of Shri Akshay Kumar, nCore is dedicating the game to Bharat Ke Veer. Bharat Ke Veer Trust gives homage and support to India’s Bravehearts. 20% of the net revenue generated from the game will be donated to Bharat Ke Veer Trust.  Bharat Ke Veer Trust is conceptualised by Akshay Kumar and implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs, to support the families of India’s Armed Forces Martyrs. 

Akshay Kumar says, “For youngsters in India, gaming is becoming an important form of entertainment. With FAU:G, I’m hoping that as they play the game they will learn about the sacrifices of our soldiers and also contribute to the families of the martyrs; and with this each one of us has the ability to support PM Modi’s vision of Atma Nirbhar ” 

nCore Games Founder and Chairman, Vishal Gondal, says “It is a matter of great pride to respond to PM Modi’s call and present the world a world-class game, which will not only help gamers in a virtual setting fight the forces of evil; but also positively contribute to nation-building by supporting our martyrs,”

Dayanidhi MG, co-founder and CEO of nCore Games adds, “nCore team has in depth experience in different genres specially midcore games. We managed genre defining MOBA games like Vainglory of SuperEvil Megacorp for the worldwide audience. We have also worked with global studios like Rovio. nCore has an experienced team and is constantly expanding to bring the best talent together to create games that Indian gamers can relate to while playing”.

About nCore Games

Co-Founded by Vishal Gondal, best known as the father of the Indian gaming industry and Dayanidhi MG, both veterans of the gaming world, nCore Games is a mobile games and interactive entertainment company, based out of Bengaluru, India. nCore’s key focus is  to develop and publish high-quality mobile games for the Indian market. Indian gaming landscape provides great opportunities to build games for the Indian players. Games published by nCore will have a strong connection to Indian ethos and will primarily be multi-player games with immersive storylines. The core focus will be to match the scale and grandeur of popular global games and customize the content to suit the local brand. nCore will also bring to India and publish games from top global studios for the Indian market. 

IME to Release Online Digital Archive on Mysore T. Chowdiah on Teachers Day; Competition Announced

On the occasion of Teachers Day, an online digital archive (www.chowdiah.com), featuring the compositions of renowned violinist and music guru, Mysore T. Chowdiah will be launched by the Shankar Mahadevan Academy Trust in collaboration with the Indian Music Experience Museum. The website features video recordings of the compositions of the maestro, along with the notations. Other information includes a biography of the artiste, rare photographs, as well as articles and blogs on his life and work. This archive and learning resource is brought out through the Shankar Mahadevan Academy’s “Archive to Alive” project, which aims to bring alive hidden gems of Indian classical music. The project is a brainchild of Karnatic vocalist and Director of Indian Music Experience Museum (IME), Manasi Prasad, and the website has been curated by the IME.

With a vision to popularize the compositions, an online competition of Chowdiah compositions is being organized starting October 25th, where the winners would get to interact with Shankar Mahadevan in an online session, and an opportunity to perform online for the IME’s public program series.

“Not many know that Chowdiah was a composer”, says Manasi Prasad. “My mother belongs to his shishya parampara, and recently when I presented a concert of some of his compositions, I realised these were not readily available on the internet. This led to the birth of this project to record all his compositions and upload them on the internet for easy access. We hope the archive will grow in the months and years to come to become a definitive hub for all information related to this great artiste.”

Sridhar Ranganathan, Founder Trustee of the Shankar Mahadevan Academy Trust, says “The Shankar Mahadevan Academy Trust through its Archive to Alive initiative endeavors to bring back all and any lost musical treasures to enrich lives of music lovers. In Guru Chowdiah, we had a fantastic violinist and a composer.  I am glad that we are able to unearth such rare compositions and bring them alive to music enthusiasts and learners. ”

“My grandfather was one of the greatest musicians and a pride of Karnataka. It is our collective responsibility to keep his legacy alive. We are extremely happy that this online digital archive will make his compositions more accessible to the public, and hope that many musicians will learn and perform his compositions”, says Sheela Boriah, grand daughter of Chowdiah.

Besides Manasi, the other vocalists on the project are Bangalore Brothers (Ashok- Hariharan) and Ranjani Nagaraj. The recording project was supported by grants from the Academy of Music (Chowdiah Memorial Hall) and others. The family of Chowdiah has also provided valuable information and photographs.  Other content contributors include Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira, a prominent music Sabha of Bangalore.

While the songs and notations are available for listening and self-study free of cost, the compositions can also be learnt directly from the artistes involved in the project. Visit www.chowdiah.com for details.

About Indian Music Experience Museum

The Indian Music Experience Museum (IME) is India’s first interactive music museum. Located in Bengaluru, the IME is a non-profit initiative of the Indian Music Experience Trust, supported by the Brigade Group. The vision of the IME is to introduce the youth to the diversity of Indian music and to preserve India’s rich musical heritage. The IME

comprises a hi-tech Exhibit Area, a Sound Garden, a Learning Centre for music education, and several performance spaces. The IME’s work spans across Exhibition, Conservation, Audience Development, Education and Community Outreach. Besides museum visits, the IME hosts a wide variety of public programs. More details about the IME can be

found at www.indianmusicexperience.org.

Queries: info@indianmusicexperience.org

About Shankar Mahadevan Academy

Music should be accessible to one and all – whether they are from an underprivileged community or children with special needs. With that vision in mind, Shankar Mahadevan Academy Trust has launched projects to spread the Joy of Music. The goal is to make music a household conversation in all communities and use the power of music to bring about social change.

Inspire India: The Academy teaches music to students from underprivileged communities. The purpose of this project is to make music a household conversation and unearth talent from across socio-economic strata of India.

Joyful Choir: Music programs to create special moments of elevation for children with special needs.

Music for Senior Citizens: Programs to bring the joy of music to people in their golden age

Archive to Alive:Archives rare works of past maestros, and keeps those artists' music alive

SMA SAMAAJ. Harnesses the power of music to bring about social change by bringing poets and songwriters to raise their voices towards a worthy cause.

Queries: trust@shankarmahadevanacademy.org

About Archive to Alive

Shankar Mahadevan Academy is striving to bring the works of great artists and their rare compositions to the world through its project - "Archive to Alive". Often, these gems of creation get lost in time and forgotten. The Archive to Alive project, not only allows a way to archive these great works of art but also provides them to the public to listen and learn thus perpetuating the works generation after generation. Archive to Alive has already brought compositions of Ustad Kadhim Hussain Khan to hundreds of listeners and learners. The Chowdiah compositions is the second such project by Archive to Alive.

https://www.shankarmahadevanacademy.org/archivetoalive/

226 Districts Adversely Impacted by COVID-19 as Rural India Faces Heat:Reveals Study by Samhita Social Ventures

* The first 1.6 million cases in India took about 6 months, the next 1.6 million cases have occurred in less than 1 month Samhita Social Ventures, a leading social sector consulting firm, has released ‘Chasing the Virus’ - COVID-19 Trend Review Report. It showcases the recent trends at a district level to understand the larger impact due to COVID-19. The study was conducted as part of its ‘India Protector Alliance’ (IPA) initiative, which is in partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and RBL Bank.

The statistics in the report reveal that while the COVID-19 cases were prevalent in the bigger cities initially, the virus spread is significantly higher in smaller districts, towns and rural areas. The review period of the report has been between July1, 2020 till August 17, 2020. The data revealed that 95% of new active cases and 63% of fatalities due to COVID-19 occurred in districts outside the big 11 districts. On the basis of these findings, Samhita has identified 226 districts across India that needs immediate attention. The district mapping has been done keeping in account for 95% of active cases growth and 66% of fatalities.  Since the virus has moved to the smaller districts, governments, philanthropies and corporate CSR need to meet this challenge by focusing on them. The study also projects that India will have over 100,000 fatalities by end of September 2020.

A quick analysis of the priority districts reveal that the worst affected states due to COVID-19 are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Bihar and Odisha. These states together represent 60% of India’s GDP. The report has defined Big 11 districts as Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Chennai, Delhi (the whole state), Bengaluru Urban, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Gurgaon and Noida. These districts have been the focus of COVID-19 battle from corporate CSR and philanthropies, but are now seeing significant drop in active cases.

Priya Naik, Founder and CEO, Samhita Social Ventures, said, “We believe that the economic recovery of India and associated uptick in demand as well as corporate earnings are intricately linked to the COVID-19 situation in the country. However, the report suggests that while big cities are showing decline in active cases, the fight against the virus is far from over, and we now have to take the battle to the smaller districts, rural areas and towns. Given that India’s healthcare system is concentrated in the large urban centers, this presents a substantial challenge in the upcoming months. We believe the government alone cannot be responsible for this battle and philanthropies, corporate CSR and other donors across need to come together, to strengthen the healthcare system in the smaller districts.”

PA recommends a three-pronged approach to donors to help in the battle against COVID-19: Prevent,

Prepare and Provide

* Prevent - Encourage behavior change to proper and consistent usage of masks, good sanitation practices and social distancing

* Prepare - Support COVID-19 training of doctors, nurses, health workers in small district (especially smaller clinics, nursing homes, small hospitals)

* Provide - Provide key medical equipment and focus on providing oxygenation and respiratory equipment

ABOUT INDIA’S PROTECTORS ALLIANCE

An initiative of Samhita, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and RBL Bank, the India Protectors Alliance is a collaborative of companies, philanthropic foundations, governments and experts, to help the country tide through the COVID-19 crisis. Our mission is to create resilient healthcare and sanitation ecosystems with a three-pronged approach – Prevent, Prepare and Provide.

ABOUT SAMHITA SOCIAL VENTURES

Samhita Social Ventures is a social sector consulting firm which collaborates with various stakeholders to develop and deliver impactful, sustainable and scalable solutions. Along with their non-profit initiative Collective Good Foundation, they have strategized and executed impactful social interventions for companies across sectors and across the geographical landscape of India.

PepsiCo India and Airtel Partner to Offer Customers a Super Digital Experience this Festive Season

PepsiCo India today announced its partnership with Airtel to launch a Promo across its snacks brands that offers a special digital experience for all Airtel Prepaid customers. As part of this festive offer, every customer would get upto 2 GB of Airtel Data with the purchase of LAY’S, Kurkure, Uncle Chipps and Doritos packs and can redeem the offer 3 times per unique mobile number. 

Data is the most important currency today and people across generations are spending more hours indoors than ever before. Whether it is remote working, content streaming, gaming, e-learning or e-shopping, everyone is relying on data to stay connected.  For the quarter ended June 30 2020, average mobile data consumption per user on Airtel’s network increased to 16.3 GB, an increase of 40% over last year.    

Apart from the growing importance & consumption of data, the second insight that emerged during recent times is that in-home consumption is witnessing a significant uptake. As people continue to spend more time at home with their families, there is an increase in demand for snacks. 

In line with this connection between the top two trends of today – data and in-home consumption - PepsiCo India and Airtel have joined hands to offer customers up to 1 GB free data with INR 10 pack and 2 GB free data with INR 20 pack of PepsiCo products including LAY’S, Kurkure, Uncle Chipps and Doritos. To avail the offer, customers can simply check the free data voucher code printed behind the pack and go to Airtel Thanks app - ‘My Coupons’ section and enter the voucher to claim the offer. The new offer will continue till October 31st, 2020. Once the user has availed their code, the data can be redeemed immediately or at a later date of convenience and requirement till January 31st, 2021. 

Shashwat Sharma, Chief Marketing Officer, Bharti Airtel said: “At Airtel, we are obsessed about offering our customers the best network experience. We are thrilled to partner with PepsiCo to help all their customers experience our award winning 4G data services. This also gives us the opportunity to reward our loyal customers with complimentary data and unlock a world of digital experiences on Airtel Thanks when they buy their favourite packet of snack.” 

Sharing his thoughts, Dilen Gandhi, Senior Director and Category Head – Foods, PepsiCo India, said “The ‘new normal’ has catapulted everyone into a more digital world than ever before. At PepsiCo India, as part of our digital first approach, we follow evolving digital trends and develop matching strategies.  Our insights showed us that consumers are enjoying our products and seeking convenience while working and watching content at home. The promo offer therefore is perfect fit for the festive season and will further compliment their in-home experience. Towards this, we are happy to partner with Airtel and offer its prepaid users a unique combination of 4G digital experience on purchase of our portfolio products including LAY’S, Kurkure, Uncle Chipps and Dorito.” 

The free data offer is available to all Airtel prepaid customers across India and will be a perfect combination for them to enjoy their favourite snack while accessing data at the same time. 

OYO Rolls Out Discounts for Students Appearing for JEE, NEET and Other State Examinations, Sets Up Email Helpline

Further to the Government of India’s announcement, JEE-Main exams commenced on September 01, 2020. In the coming weeks, NEET 2020 and other state-level examinations are also scheduled to be held pan India.  Extending its support towards the Ministry of Education and local government authorities, OYO, the world’s leading hospitality chain has rolled out discounts on its app and website for students appearing for these national entrance as well as state exams. To further support parents, guardians, and students with the convenience of booking safe and quality accommodation, OYO has also set up an email helpline students_stay@oyorooms.com.

This initiative is a part of OYO’s ongoing efforts to serve the larger community dealing with various uncertainties and challenges due to COVID-19. In the past couple of months, the hospitality chain has facilitated accommodation support to international tourists, repatriated Indians as part of ‘Vande Bharat Mission’, engaged with multiple foreign embassies and diplomatic missions in India.

As India moves forward with precautions to help the economy bounce back amid the pandemic, nearly 24 lakh aspiring students are set to appear for JEE-Main and NEET 2020 exams, with many hailing from smaller towns and cities. To support these students in their endeavors, the Union Minister of Education, Government of India, Shri. Ramesh Pokhiyal 'Nishank' appealed to local government authorities to support these aspirants. Keeping in mind the welfare of the students as well as their parents and guardians in the present situation, OYO has promised to support India’s aspiring young students with accommodation requirements across 300 cities, including important examination centres like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi NCR, among many others.

Coaching institutes like NEET Advisor have partnered with OYO to ensure that their stay is looked after while the students can focus completely on preparing for the exam. OYO asset owners across the country are also ensuring that they provide a comfortable environment for the students so that they avoid stepping out of the hotel as far as possible.

Students or their parents can easily book an OYO hotel with the Sanitised Stays tag near their examination center by redeeming the coupon code ‘OYO4Students’ across OYO’s booking platforms including the app, website and email helpline.

Speaking about OYO’s contribution to support aspiring students across India, Rohit Kapoor, CEO - OYO India & South Asia said, “Every year, several aspiring young students prepare for years and apply for these entrance exams. This year has been particularly challenging for everyone, especially these ambitious students who are ready to take a leap of faith and build a stronger, more resilient India for tomorrow. Many students across the country travel far and wide, even from smaller towns and cities to their respective Examination Centres spread across the country. Given the current circumstances with an active pandemic at play, we, at OYO, wanted to make this journey a tad bit easier for all students and their families by supporting them with quality, standardized, and safe accommodation at affordable prices. This is our effort in ensuring that India’s aspiring young talent can focus on their academics rather than other contributing stresses during the pandemic. We would like to thank our asset partners for their continued support in helping us serve the community at large.”

He adds, “Through our app, website, or email helpline, students and their parents can book an OYO hotel close to their examination center at a reasonable price and we’ll take care of the rest. Even during times like this, we salute the spirit of these 2.4 million students who are geared up to take their first step towards a better future and a brighter India.”

OYO rolled out several initiatives to ensure the health and safety of its guests with the introduction of Sanitised Stays, thereby implementing minimal touch policies for check-ins, check-outs as well as enabling digital payments. OYO also joined forces with Unilever, the global consumer goods company, to further enhance its sanitisation efforts across OYO’s properties. Unilever’s R&D team is also working with OYO to co-create Standard Operating Procedures for cleaning to maximise the positive effects of its products. OYO properties where these operating procedures are used will display a tag on booking pages to show Unilever products have been used in cleaning services. This global partnership began in India and is scheduled to go live across Indonesia, Vietnam, the US, LATAM, and Europe.

Recently, understanding that during such times, when the world is adapting to newer ways of living alongside the virus, through digital and tech-based solutions, OYO launched Yo! Help, a 24*7 real-time chat assistant for guests with a valid booking across its hotels and homes globally. Through this technology, the hospitality chain is set to enable seamless experiences throughout the consumer journey, right from the post-booking to post-checkout or cancellation phases.

About OYO Hotels & Homes:

Opening its doors in 2013, OYO Hotels & Homes, a young hotel startup, today is the world’s leading chain of hotels and homes. OYO today operates in over 800 cities in 80 countries, including the U.S., Europe, U.K., India, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Japan. 

Five Platforms to Boost Your Productivity While Working Remotely

Right from conglomerates such as Apple, Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon to startups, all companies have been forced to drastically change their working practices; thereby extending the work from home for their employees. The move to let employees work from home is aimed at saving employees from a potential infection especially in the scenario wherein they have to coordinate with one another extensively.

That said, this is the perfect time to turn to some of the  best collaboration Indian software tools for productive teams that will make ‘work from home’ easier and hassle-free.

1.   Messenger

2.   Video conferencing

3.   File sharing

4.   Task management

5.   CRM

1. Teams Messenger: Flock

While we’re always on the lookout for improved tools and smarter software, a hassle free teams messenger platform is at the core of everything we do.

Aside from being one of the most cost-effective business collaboration tools in the market, Flock is also one of the most comprehensive platform. Flock is an all-in-one solution tool that takes care of your company’s messaging, videoconferencing and screen sharing, file sharing, and productivity needs. It also helps team leaders keep a track of their team’s performance through Flock’s Shared to-dos feature where employees can share their to-dos and update them in real-time. Similar tools that have been around for much longer come with a bulky premium price tag. Sure, they may look shinier out of the box, but you’ll have to pay for all the bells and whistles. The platform has recently launched new features such as zoom integration, voice notes, emoji’s and more.

The thing with Flock is that it has all the necessary features we need built-in for free, and none of the “stuff” we don’t—and that’s the mark of a beautiful working relationship.

2. Video conferencing: Zoom

When I'm not Flocking, I Zoom it.

Zoom’s interface is simple and has direct screen sharing abilities that other brands make you pay for. It’s also comparatively user-friendly than Google Hangouts or Meetings or whatever Google is calling it these days.

Plus, Zoom lets you record your team meetings and screen-sharing sessions, another important feature that flies under the radar.

3. File sharing: Google Drive

Dropbox is amazing, but Google Drive is better.

This especially is true if you’re a faithful Microsoft Office user because of its capacity to readily convert Word docs and Excel sheets. Additionally, sharing files securely across multiple platforms is now a must-have integration, and Google Drive can be deployed just about everywhere, including Flock.

Full-disclosure: Mastering access to file-sharing permissions remains a work-in-progress.

4. Task management: Asana

I absolutely love everything about Asana. The boards, portfolios, sub-tasks, even the colors. But the feature I adore the best is the simple calendar view that brings it all together.

Asana lets you keep track of who’s doing what and by when the task is expected to be complete. Delegate subtasks to colleagues on separate teams, assign them accomplish items and track every project update (including comments and links to shared files) in a simple calendar view.

5. CRM: HubSpot

Growing businesses need an extremely robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution, and HubSpot is just that.

When it comes to one centralized portal for all of your data touchpoints and reporting combined, HubSpot makes the most feasible for businesses across. Having the facility to not only store, segment, and track pertinent sales and marketing data, but also maintain vital insight on customer and employee relationships, saves your teams heaps of time.

That’s something you can’t put a price tag on. Luckily, you don’t have to because the HubSpot CRM is free for all businesses to use.

In conclusion, today’s ultra-competitive business environment, cutting-edge collaboration tools are imperative for accelerating productivity and results. The key is finding the right software that works for you.

Vestige Celebrates National Nutrition Week 2020 from September 1-7

Nutrition is the science or practice of consuming and utilising well-balanced food. A balanced diet is important for an individual’s good health and well-being. Vestige Marketing Pvt Ltd, India’s leading direct selling company and globally ranked #30 in the 2020 DSN Global 100 list, the prestigious global ranking for direct selling companies, offering a wide range of health and wellness products, is celebrating National Nutrition Week from 1st September to 7th September 2020. 

This week-long initiative is aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of nutritional products and how they boost immunity. A series of activities planned for the week is aimed at encouraging the use of supplements in today’s hectic and stressed life. 

There is a broad spectrum of events that range from a Live Talk on the Vestige Facebook page by industry nutrition experts, launch of digital Health Guide, which is an e-book that helps people with in-depth guidance to gain good health through Vestige products, as well as tips on nutrition, daily contests/quizzes and some special offers. 

Commenting on the week-long celebrations, Mr Gautam Bali, MD, Vestige Marketing Pvt Ltd said, “As India’s leading health & wellness company, we feel that it is imperative to educate today’s youth about the importance of right nutrient intake in their daily diet. I am confident that Vestige’s endeavour to empower customers with the right information on health supplements will play a key role in fostering a ‘Wellness Quotient’ in today’s youth. I am happy that our experience of close to two decades in the industry will set new benchmarks in the health & wellness category. We aim to channelize the importance of nutrition in today’s scenario that will have a direct bearing on the country’s social and economic development and productivity.”

Activities planned by Vestige during National Nutrition Week

Expert sessions 

Industry experts in nutrition will be live on Vestige’s social media channels talking about the importance of immunity-specific nutrition. Log onto Vestige’s Facebook page to catch them live and get your doubts clarified (www.facebook.com/vestigemkt).

Launch of a new Digital Health Guide 

Vestige is all set to launch its new Digital Health Guide, which provides in-depth guidance on gaining good health through Vestige’s healthcare products. Not only will this Health Guide provide the product details and benefits but will also inform the readers on the dosage of the supplements. This book can be found in the download section of Vestige’s official website (www.myvestige.com).

Daily tips on good nutrition 

Nutrition should not be followed only during the National Nutrition Week, but one must make it a daily habit. To help one reach that goal, experts will provide nutrition tips to all during this weeklong celebration 

Daily quiz

To get the best results, the right dose of health supplements is very important. Therefore, Vestige is hosting a daily quiz to increase awareness about the right dosage, quantity, and the right time to consume the health supplements.

National Nutrition Week special offer

To reward the distributors, Vestige has also launched special offer. Under the offer the consumers can avail a Vestige Coconut Oil capsules at Re 1.00 on purchase of products worth Rs 1,300, including any of the two products: 

Vestige Prime Sea Buckthorn capsules

Vestige Noni capsules

Vestige Spirulina capsules

Vestige Flax Oil capsules

Vestige Colostrum capsules

Since 1982, National Nutrition Week has been annually observed in the first week of September (1-7) to promote awareness about proper nutrition in diet. The National Nutrition Week (NNW) is an annual nutrition event organised by Food and Nutrition Board within Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.

Madame, a Women’s Fashion Brand (Western Wear) has Launched it's Autumn Collection 2020

STAYCATION WARDROBE: The fashion piece one must have in their wardrobe, whether finding a quiet moment to enjoy your favourite hobbies or dedicating a day to catching up on that hotly anticipated series

STAYCATION - Stepping through the last hazy days of summer into those first autumn mornings, our new season collection offers plenty to smile about. This season we are taking so much needed ‘ME’ time and pampering yourself. Our Autumn collection is here to bring a bit more cheer to the everyday little moments whether it's finding a quiet moment to enjoy your favourite hobbies or dedicating a day to catching up on that hotly anticipated series.

Whether your idea of a blissful getaway is an action-packed adventure or more geared towards total relaxation, we have your "Staycation" outfits planned. Let our latest collection of considered fabrics, soft silhouettes, and winter palettes bring a new spirit to your everyday wardrobe. Colour might just be the key to making you feel at your best this season...or at least we think so! Instead of reaching for black this fall, pep up your wardrobe with our bright Maple leaf collection. In our palette this season, You would find Maple leaf mustard, Green apple, Crimson Red, powder blue, and plastic pink in perfect contrast with calming Coffee bean and Fossil Grey. Embrace this season's trend for plaid in our "Pretty in plaid" collection. From striking, large patterns to small checks, the trend accompanies us from head to toe and is suitable as a perfect style. As evenings become chilly, Wrap yourself in Fresh autumnal colors and transitional key items from our edgy collection.

Let us know if you need any additional inputs on the same or want to talk to our spokesperson Mr. Akhil Jain, Executive Director, Madame, or Ms. Parika Rawal, Head Designer, Madame, we would be glad to arrange an interaction.

About Madame:

Madame, a women’s fashion brand (western wear) launched in 1993 that caters to a wide range of Apparel, Handbags, Footwear’s & Accessories for women. The Brand provides fast fashion in-trend Merchandise, Casual Wear, and Party Wear. In-Line with its global image, Madame is known for its vast variety, latest styles, and fast turnaround of new collections up to seven times in a year. Today, Madame has 150+ exclusive standalone stores in metros, Tier I & Tier-II cities.

Since the launch of its first store in 2002, the brand has rapidly expanded across the country and has 150+ exclusive brand outlets across the country. Madame also retails in over 500 Multi-Brand and Large Format Stores. The brand is retailed through online marketplaces including Myntra, Ajio, Flipkart, and Amazon, and additionally, the brand has set up its own online store at Glamly.com

Tata Motors Launches Harrier XT+ Variant of its Flagship SUV Priced at Rs 16.99 Lakhs

Tata Motors today announced the launch of the new XT+ variant of its flagship SUV – Harrier, at an introductory price of INR 16.99 Lakhs (Ex. Showroom Delhi). This announcement comes a few months after the launch of the highly appreciated Harrier BS6 in February 2020.

The introductory price is being offered to celebrate the highly positive response received for Harrier BS6 from the market. With a month on month consistent growth, the Harrier has achieved its highest sales numbers in 15 months. This initial pricing will be valid for all customers who book the vehicle in September 2020, and take their deliveries by 31st December 2020. The prices will increase from 1st October 2020 onwards.

The Harrier’s best-in-segment Panoramic Sunroof comes with the following unique functionalities

1.       Global Close- Automatic closure of the sunroof after parking for additional safety

2.       Anti- Pinch Feature- Extra safety for you & your loved ones

3.       Rain Sensing Closure- Added convenience during the unpredictable rainy season in India

4.       Rollover screen with Black coating on Glass: Ensures a serene in cabin experience when it’s too sunny outside.

The XT+ variant also comes equipped with a host of other features like the Kryotec 2.0 Diesel Engine, 6- Speed Manual Transmission, Projector Headlamps, Dual Function LED DRLS, R17 Alloy Wheels, Floating Island 7” Touchscreen Infotainment system with 8 Speakers (4 Speakers + 4 Tweeters), Android Auto & Apple Car Play connectivity, Push Button Start, Fully Automatic Temperature Control, Reverse parking Camera, Auto headlamps and Rain sensing Wipers to name a few. Keeping in mind the safety of passengers, this variant offers Dual Front Airbags, an advanced ESP with 12 add on functionalities, Fog lamps & Reverse parking Camera as standard features.

Commenting on the introduction of this new variant, Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Head Marketing, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit (PVBU), Tata Motors said, “In line with our New Forever philosophy of continuously updating our product range with new products and features, we are delighted to introduce the latest variant of our flagship SUV – Harrier XT+. Since its launch, the Harrier has been loved by customers & the industry experts with its stunning design and exhilarating performance. We are confident that the introduction of the XT+ variant will further strengthen the appeal of the Tata Harrier by giving customers an option to experience a premium feature like the Panoramic Sunroof at an extremely attractive price.”

Built on the OMEGARC and derived from Land Rover's legendary D8 platform, Harrier is the perfect combination of stunning design and performance. Powered by the cutting-edge Kryotec 170 PS 2.0L Diesel engine with a 6 Speed Manual/Automatic Transmission and Advanced Terrain Response Modes, the Harrier assures an exhilarating performance and effortless driving experience.

To know more about the All New Harrier, please visit our website https://cars.tatamotors.com/suv/harrier

WinZO Closes Series B; Brings Global Gaming Investor To India For The First Time

With the goal of disrupting Bharat’s vernacular entertainment, WinZO has announced its $18MM Series B investment round led by global interactive entertainment fund, Makers Fund based in Singapore, and New York based Courtside Ventures.  Both funds are making their first ever investment in India through WinZO.  

WinZO plans to strengthen its content pipeline, captivate mobile-first consumers and their gaming needs, and become the go-to gaming app in India. The company’s revenue has grown 1500% and acquired 20MM users in the last 12 months, on the back of a strong word of mouth,product market fit with players who spend more than 45 minutes everyday on WinZO’s platform. WinZO has achieved this on the back of their dense network of vernacular micro influencers and 30+ partner Game Developers through which it strives to become the go-to Gaming platform for Bharat. 

Makers Fund is a global interactive entertainment focused venture capital fund based out of Singapore with over 30 investments across North America, Europe, and Asia; this is Makers' first investment in India. Regarding the investment, Michael Cheung, Partner at Makers Fund shared, “WinZO is at the heart of India’s gaming evolution, a geography we’ve been tracking for some time. Paavan and Saumya’s success through a hyper-focus on their player ecosystem is evident, and a clear asset as they accelerate their growth.” 

Kalaari Capital, which first invested in WinZO in 2018 and led the company's Series A in 2019, also participated in the round. WinZO is Kalaari’s second largest bet in gaming after Dream11. “Mobile gaming is a large opportunity in India, and in a short span of time, WinZO has built a high quality vernacular gaming platform for the masses. We are really proud of their progress & their superior metrics (retention, time spent, etc.) that are a true reflection of customer experience. We are very excited to partner with Makers and Courtside in the next leg of WinZO's journey and bring superior entertainment to the next 200M gamers,” said Rahul Garg, Principal at Kalaari Capital.  

Paavan Nanda, one of WinZO’s co-founders said, “With Series B funding, we are thrilled and humbled to welcome like-minded business partners into our WinZO family. Along with their network, support and fresh financing, we are confident we can propel WinZO even further as a business and become an even more lovable product for our customers. It’s time to put all the learnings and experiences of the past toward building something huge!" 

Revant Bhate, FinAdvantage, Indigo Edge -exclusive advisor to WinZO, and Co-founder Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore also joined the round  

About WinZO: 

WinZO is the largest vernacular gaming platform in India, launched in early 2018. The company partners with third party game studios to host their games on their Android app, creating a Netflix-like experience for users, who can enjoy multiplayer formats with their friends or strangers in a localized fashion. The platform is available in 12 languages with over 25+ million registered users. Clocking over 1 billion micro-transactions per month, WinZO offers 70+ games across various multiplayer formats. This vernacular social gaming platform focuses on building a community of gamers and game influencers in Tier 2 – Tier 5 cities of India. WinZO is designed to deliver strong positive unit economics in the Indian gaming ecosystem, which experiences one of the highest engagements globally, through a unique micro-transaction led model. 

WinZO was founded by Paavan Nanda, a second time entrepreneur, and Saumya Singh Rathore. It boasts a team of 40 members, making it one of the leanest startups to raise Series B financing of this order. 

About Makers Fund: Makers Fund is a venture capital fund dedicated to furthering the growth and innovation in the global interactive entertainment industry. It supports founders by combining deep industry experience globally with multi-stage investment across seed to series B.  

About Courtside Ventures:  Courtside Ventures is a New York based venture capital fund backing founders that are transforming the intersection of sports, technology, and media. Built on the backs of highly specialized sports and media entrepreneurs and investors, Courtside Ventures look to utilize their industry networks and deep domain knowledge to bring value to their companies 

EESL to Procure 250 Electric Vehicles from TATA Motors Limited & Hyundai Motor India

Summary 

* Tata Motors Limited to supply 150 Nexon XZ+ electric compact SUVs & Hyundai Motor India Ltd.  to supply 100 units of its Kona electric Premium SUVs

EESL presented the letter of award for the tender to Tata Motors Ltd & Hyundai Motor India Ltd.

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a Super Energy Service Company (ESCO) under the administrative control of Ministry of Power, Government of India, will procure 250 electric vehicles from Tata Motors and Hyundai Motor India. The companies were selected through an international competitive bidding process, which was aimed at increased participation. Tata Motors Limited and Hyundai Motor India Limited won the tender and now will supply 150 Nexon electric compact SUVs & 100 Kona electric premium SUVs respectively for government use. The letter of award for the procurement was presented to the two companies, in the presence of Mr. Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors, Mr. Shailesh Chandra, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors and Mr. Tarun Garg, Director – Sales, Marketing & Service, Hyundai Motor India Ltd.

This procurement will utilize 5 Million from the recent grant provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). EESL has received financing from ADB towards the cost of scaling up and financing high priority areas like Demand Side Energy Efficiency Sector Projects.

Mr. Shailesh Chandra, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “Electric mobility is gaining ground in the country and partnerships such as these are pivotal for building the requisite momentum. We have been partnering EESL and are pleased to provide more EVs to them for government use, enabling a smooth and sustainable transition to a future-oriented mobility solution. As the leader of the fast growing EV segment, Tata Motors is committed to popularise their access and use across India”

Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Executive Vice Chairperson, EESL said, “A shift to EVs, facilitated by our e-mobility programme will reduce dependence on oil imports and promote power capacity addition in India. This will greatly enhance the energy security of the country and will also lead to reduction in GHG emissions from the transport sector. Furthermore, we’re also working on rapid establishment of EV charging stations, which will give a fillip to the electric vehicle sales, going forward”

Mr. Seon Seob Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, said, “Guided by our vision ‘Progress For Humanity’, we have been developing eco-friendly and human centric technologies that provide the best experience for our customers. As a caring and responsible brand, it is our privilege to align with the government’s goal for clean energy and collaborate with all stakeholders to create a sustainable ecosystem for electric mobility. Hyundai will continue to bring world class eco-friendly products and technologies for Indian market contributing towards the cleaner and greener environment”

EESL is driven by the objective of facilitating faster adoption of disruptive technology solutions, while balancing economic development and environmental sustainability. With this specific initiative, EESL seeks to create the market for electric vehicles, through its unique business model of aggregation of demand and bulk procurement. EESL is seeking to leverage the immense potential of replacement of existing vehicles in the government departments for initial demand aggregation.

EESL will procure Tata Nexon at INR 14.86 lakh each, INR 13,000 cheaper than its ex-showroom price of INR 14.99 lakh whereas, Hyundai Kona, which offers a higher range, will be procured at an 11% lower price band of INR 21.36 lakh and with a standard three-year warranty. These electric vehicles will replace the existing fleet of petrol and diesel vehicles of the Central and State Governments. EESL has already received an order for 300 Long Range EVs from The Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT), Kerala to be supplied in initial phase.

EESL plans to leverage efficiencies of scale and drive down costs through its innovative business model, while supporting local manufacturing facilities, gaining technical competencies for the long-term growth of the EV industry and enabling Indian EV manufacturers to emerge as major global players.

Hinduja Foundation Launches ‘iCare’: an Interactive Learning & Engagement Programme for Got School Students & Families

 

* 608 employees from 11 Hinduja Group Companies participated in the volunteer from home programme

* The volunteers conducted 197 online sessions and submitted 112 offline learning videos which was uploaded on iCare’s YouTube channel

* More than 5500 students were impacted through online education as part of this initiative and the number has been increasing on regular basis

Hinduja Foundation, a philanthropic arm of the Hinduja Group, launches ‘iCare: Volunteer from Home’ initiative that engages Hinduja Group Companies’ employees as COVID-19 warriors. The mission was to reach out to the deprived and the underprivileged students across the country and deliver quality education. As part of this initiative, employees of all Hinduja Group Companies including Ashok Leyland, Gulf Oil, Bharat Financial, NXTDigital, Hinduja Foundation and Hinduja Tech among others were given an opportunity to interact with students of government schools and their families across the country and engage with them in a wide range of activities through technology based online and offline interactive modes. With the programme being underway, the foundation looks to progressively examine the possibility of enhancing the scope of the program to support its (Road to School) RTS target group of 80000 kids across multiple states.

The programme covered more than 8 states namely -- Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana. In order to reach out to students from different geographies, 6 different language preferences were offered wherein the highest number of sessions were undertaken in Hindi, followed by Tamil.

Learning Links Foundation, an NGO working with several of the Hinduja Group Companies, also extended its support to the iCare program by implementing all the on-field volunteering activities.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Paul Abraham, President, Hinduja Foundation said, “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been critical in the country’s education sector where all the stakeholders are affected, the most vulnerable are the children. Amid the physical closure of schools, Covid-19 has also restricted their social engagements like meeting their friends, family or simply playing outside in the playground, hence affecting their overall development. The ‘iCare: Volunteer From Home’ program is one of its kind initiative that seeks to not just constructively engage the volunteers, the children (4 to 8 grade level) and their families, but also supports in helping children learn subject based content, build crucial skills as self-confidence and self-esteem, while advocating physical, mental, and social-emotional health a priority during these challenging times.”

The interaction of the volunteers under iCare program was through technology whereby the volunteers, while staying at home, had a choice to conduct 30 minutes sessions using live audio/video calls or pre-recorded audio/videos sessions using commonly available communication mediums, thereby ensuring accessibility to all the beneficiaries. 

As part of this initiative, children were engaged in diverse activities that focused on helping them learn subject-based content better and build skills critical in these challenging times. These included ‘fun with math’ activities and others that centred on the theme of COVID-19, which were aimed at generating awareness on preventive measures to be taken during the pandemic. In addition, story-telling sessions, poetry sessions, mentoring sessions, wellness sessions and craft activities kept students interested and gave a boost to their self-esteem and confidence while also nurturing their physical and emotional wellbeing. 

Post their iCare journey, volunteers shared their positive experience of engaging with children and conveyed interest in continuing with the activities in future. All the target beneficiaries, the parents and especially the children expressed their satisfaction with all the sessions.

About Hinduja Foundation

Deeply rooted on the philanthropic principles of its Founder of Hinduja Group, Shri Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja, this Foundation is a public charitable trust established first in Mumbai in 1968. In its 50 years of existence, with the guidance of the Hinduja Family and support from Hinduja Group companies, its global presence has led to the development in the fields of Education, Healthcare, Water Stewardship, Sustainable Rural Development, Social Welfare and Arts & Culture.

About Hinduja Group

The Hinduja Group is one of India’s premier diversified and transnational conglomerates. Employing nearly a 150,000 employees, with presence across 38 countries it has multi-billion dollar revenue. The Group was founded over a hundred years ago by Shri P.D. Hinduja whose credo was "My duty is to work so that I can give." The Group owns businesses in Automotive, Information Technology, Media, Entertainment & Communications, Banking & Finance Services, Infrastructure Project Development, Cyber Security, Oil and Specialty Chemicals, Power, Real Estate, Trading and Healthcare. The group also supports charitable and philanthropic activities across the world through the Hinduja Foundation.

Dear #TrueFan, Here’s Your Chance to Talk to Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan & Tiger Shroff

Having raised $4.3 million in seed funding, TrueFan, a celebrity-fan startup announces its first round of exclusive partnerships with superstars Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff.

During the recent launch of the platform, Co-Founder & CEO, Nimish Goel said, “I am a huge fan of Virat Kohli and I gate crashed a wedding just to get a chance to meet him. While it was one the most memorable moments, I knew it was not possible for everyone to do the same. With TrueFan, we want to help millions of such fans connect with their idols in a meaningful way.  We’re excited to be partnering with superstars like Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff and are in process of tying up with many more household names. “

The platform brings fans one step closer to winning a chance to engage with their beloved superstars at the price of a cup of coffee. TrueFan encourages users to play simple quizzes around the lives of celebrities and the winner scores a personalized message from those stars.

Ronnie Screwvala, shareholder at TrueFan said, “We have a larger demographic of people who idolize celebrities from all walks of life and 99.9% of time, this affection seems like a one-way street. True-Fan comes through as a well-timed offering to shake this scenario up. It acts as a powerful connector for loyal enthusiasts and fans who wish to reach out to their dream idols and vice versa, it also enables megastars to interact with their true fans.”

TrueFan is the only platform that caters exclusively to A-list celebrities with a business model that doesn’t exist in the market today. It aims to build the single largest influencer- fan based commerce platform and will be partnering with names from all walks of life like Bollywood, sports, music and more

Talking about their association with the platform the celebrities commented:

“TrueFan gives the fan-celebrity relationship a unique and engaging dimension through gamification. It is an immersive and highly engaging platform and I’m excited to partner with them.” said Ranveer Singh

“I’ve been very fortunate to have loyal fans throughout my career and now I have a chance to interact with them personally. It’s this thought that got me excited to partner with TrueFan.” said Kareena Kapoor

“My fans have been my constants by always supporting and cheering me on. I’d love to have a heart-to-heart with them and TrueFan helps me do just that. I am happy to exclusively partner with the platform and be closer to my fans.” commented Tiger Shroff

“It is a pleasure to launch TrueFan to the Indian audience. The association forges a personalized bond with my audience, while overcoming geographical boundaries. My congratulations to the minds behind the innovative virtual interface platform, True fan. I look forward to the launch with excitement." said Hrithik Roshan

To play the TrueFan quiz, download the app here:

Android: https://bit.ly/3apWhG0

iOS: https://apple.co/3amO05s

About TrueFan:

TrueFan is a platform that aspires to connect fans to their favourite celebrities in the most personal and meaningful ways. 

It caters to the everyday Indian audience who’ve grown up enacting dialogues from Bollywood movies, copied hairdos of their beloved ‘heroes’ & ‘heroines’ or turned into bathroom-singers with their favourite love songs. It allows these very ‘true fans’ to interact with their dream stars at a price that does not hit the pocket. 

The platform is simple and easy to use. All the user has to do is answer a series of fun questions around the life of their favourite celebrities and the winner, or in this case, the ‘TrueFan’, stands a chance to win a personal interaction with his/her favourite star, while all the other fans get assured cash prizes. Thus, the platform operates on an easy win-win module that has something for everyone.

Founded by Nimish Goel, Nevaid Aggarwal, and Devender Bindal in January 2020, TrueFan has roped in some of the biggest Bollywood celebrities to create memorable celebrity-fan interactive experiences. 

Nickelodeon's International and India Announces First Corporation, The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj

Nickelodeon International is teaming up with Nickelodeon India, a part of Viacom18 that is a joint venture between ViacomCBS and Network18, to coproduce The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj. The new series marks the first collaboration between the top kids’ entertainment brand and the leading Indian kids’ category brand from India’s fastest growing entertainment network.

Currently in production with Nickelodeon India of Viacom18, The Twisted Timeline of Sammy & Raj is slated to roll out across Nickelodeon International in 2021. With a mysterious time-altering app at their fingertips, the series follows the reality-bending adventures of a pair of cousin-brothers, as they pause, rewind, fast-forward and slow-motion their way into a whole host of rowdy laugh-out-loud exploits.

The international collaboration is underway on the new 20 x 30-minute 2D animated series, with animation and storyboards developing in India, scripting in progress in the U.S. and U.K., and casting initiated in the U.S.   

“The popularity of international content is on the rise, and Nickelodeon is focused on meeting the rising demand for diverse, creative stories for a global audience. This groundbreaking partnership with Viacom18 goes beyond kids’ content, as we look to embrace greater diversity both on-screen and behind the camera,” said Jules Borkent, Executive Vice President, Kids & Family, ViacomCBS Networks International.

Nina Hahn, Senior Vice President, International Production & Development, Nickelodeon International, stated: “In the creative world, geographic borders have diminished, as more content is drawn by the hands of global artists from every corner of the world. The idea for this series was developed in collaboration with the team in India as we sought a way to fuse western and eastern story telling elements. Indian culture is very much a part of this series’ DNA, and we are eager to share those elements with our global audience.”

Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head of Hindi Mass Entertainment & Kids TV Network at Viacom18 said: “Over the years, Nickelodeon India has created successful local IPs and characters that kids love. This partnership with Nickelodeon International has gone beyond the border lines of creativity and stands testimony to the success of Nick India and Nick International in creating groundbreaking content. It further reinforces the capability of the Indian Animation Industry. We are happy to partner with Nickelodeon International for this show and look forward to working together in creating this series for kids across the world.”

Anu Sikka, Head Creative, Content & Research, Kids TV Network at Viacom18 said: “Kids imaginations and aspirations are universal and it’s this learning that has brought this show to life. The series will be showcasing stories that kids around the world will find relatable and engaging, hopefully opening up more opportunities for future collaboration. Our efforts are to make sure that kids get to experience the best of animation and that this show will stir their imagination and transport them into a new world of adventure.”

Chris Rose, VP, Animation, Nickelodeon International and Anu Sikka, Head Creative, Content & Research, Kids TV Network at Viacom18 are overseeing the project. The head writer of the series is Jordan Gershowitz.

New Castrol Study Reveals ‘Tipping Points’ to Drive Mainstream Electric Vehicle Adoption in India

* Drivers in India require electric vehicles (EVs) priced at ₹23,00,000[1] (or $31,000), with 35 minute average charge time and a range of 401 km

* New study reveals ‘tipping points’ at which most Indian drivers would consider switching to an EV

* On average, they are looking to purchase an EV in just two years’ time

* Drivers in India are seeking a lower price point as much for EVs compared to consumers in other markets, but open to longer charge time

A major new study released by Castrol draws on the views of consumers, fleet managers and automotive industry leaders from across India to reveal the factors driving EV buying decisions.

Accelerating the EVolution reveals that, on average for consumers in India, a price point of ₹23,00,000 (or $31,000), a charge time of 35 minutes and a range of 401 kilometers (from a single charge) represent the ‘tipping points’  to achieve mainstream EV adoption. The research also estimates that the annual EV market in India could be worth $2 billion by 2025[2] if all three tipping points are met, pointing to a possible EV-powered low-carbon recovery for the automotive industry.

Sandeep Sangwan, managing director at Castrol India Ltd said: “Castrol’s global research shows that consumers are positive about making the switch to electric; buyers in India are keen to do so earlier than those in other markets. Although consumers in India are seeking a lower price point than consumers in other countries, they are also willing to accept a slightly longer charge time and a slightly shorter range. These market-specific nuances are important; Accelerating the EVolution provides a clear roadmap for the industry to help support the transition to accelerate mainstream adoption of EVs in India and around the world.”

Based on research from eight of the world’s most important EV markets, Castrol’s study examines five critical challenges that should be addressed to promote further growth in the EV market - highlighting the differing priorities for consumers and fleet managers.

Key findings from the opinion research, which was conducted December 2019 to January 2020, include:

2022 - the year of the EV?

On average, consumers in India said they would consider purchasing an EV by 2022. This is two years earlier than the global average (2024). However, two thirds (67%) of consumers in India said they are adopting a “wait and see” approach. Over 40% of fleet managers said they are waiting for competitors to make the switch before they do.

Price is front-of-mind

Price is the number one priority for consumers in India with 67% of those surveyed saying that EVs are currently beyond their budget. The ₹23,00,000 (or $31,000) ‘tipping point’ for consumers in India is lower than the global average of ₹27,00,000 (or $36,000).

The study also finds that misconceptions about maintenance costs could be stopping consumers making the switch: 83% of Indian consumers say that these costs were preventing them from buying a fully electric car. This suggests that many consumers are unaware that the overall average cost of ownership of an EV over its lifetime tends to be lower than an ICE vehicle[3].

Demand for shorter charging times

Charge time was identified as the second most important challenge to the mainstream adoption of EVs, and consumers in India said they require an average charge time of 35 minutes before they would consider purchasing an EV. This is several minutes longer than the global average of 31 minutes. Nearly three quarters (72%) of those questioned believe EVs will only dominate on the roads once they can charge in a similar amount of time as it takes to refuel an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. 

‘Range anxiety’ is real

Range was ranked third on the priority list, with 64% of Indian drivers agreeing it is a significant barrier to mainstream adoption of EVs. On average, they expect a range of 401 km (from a single charge), approximately equivalent to the distance between Ahmedabad and Indore. This is significantly lower than the global ‘tipping point’ range of 469 km. However, around a third of drivers in India said they mainly use their car for commuting or short journeys, so this suggests that ‘range anxiety’ may only be partly driving their preference.

Mandhir Singh, chief executive officer at Castrol said: “The automotive industry has already demonstrated what it can achieve in response to the coronavirus crisis, turning its capabilities to producing much needed medical equipment. With EV technology constantly improving, the challenge now will be to drive a low-carbon recovery and accelerate the EVolution as quickly as possible. Castrol has been working with the automotive industry to develop unique e-Fluid technology to support EVs, from battery coolant e-fluid, e-greases and transmission fluids.

Bringing down the cost and charge time for electric vehicles while increasing range, infrastructure and vehicle choice will be critical to persuading consumers to make the switch to EVs.”

The Accelerating the EVolution report, which includes a full breakdown of the research and detailed global findings, is available to download here: www.castrol.com/EV.

Fittr Announces Grand Prizes in their Latest Edition of Transformation Challenge in India

* Fancy a Mahindra Thar or Kawasaki Ninja as your fitness gift?

* In the latest edition of the fitness competition, Fittr expects more than 15000 entries from across the world

* Apart from the grand prize of Mahindra Thar, the first prize would be Kawasaki Ninja 650 or an Apple Kit, and the top 50 runners-up will get Hero Cycles

In their constant endeavor to motivate people to get fit, Fittr, the Pune-based fitness startup is set to bring in yet another edition of their fitness competition Transformation Challenge (TC) Series 11. The 12-week online challenge which began from September 1, 2020, is currently accepting registrations till September 7 from across the world.

The TC 11 winner will be awarded either a Kawasaki Ninja 650 or an Apple kit of the equivalent value. In addition to this, the top 50 Runners Up will be given a Hero Cycle each, sponsored by Hero Cycles Limited.

Fittr will also choose the top 10 challengers each from the 9th, 10th & 11th edition of the competition.  A grand prize, Mahindra Thar will be presented to the one who stands out amongst these top 30 contenders vis-a-vis his/her transformation journey and consistency.

Known for their extraordinary offerings in the transformation challenges, Fittr gave out Harley Davidson Street 750 as the top prize for the 9th edition of the Transformation Challenge. The prizes keep getting better with each series.

Under the challenge, the participants are required to upload a video every week for 12 weeks clearly showing their transformation. The idea is to compete with the self as the candidates will be evaluated on the basis of their past journey. Factors such as gain in muscle mass, fat loss, and consistency from the past transformation challenges will be taken into account. The one who excels on all fronts will walk away as the winner of the challenge.

Speaking about TC 11, Jitendra Chouksey, Founder & CEO, Fittr, said, “The entire world is facing a major challenge right now in the form of the pandemic. At such a crucial time, it’s important to stay positive and motivated and that’s what we at Fittr aim to do through our Transformation Challenges. We motivate people through constant support and unique gratifications to rise to the challenge and make the most of it. We’re all in this together and the best thing we could do is to invest in our health and fitness.”

FITTR started as a WhatsApp group by Jitendra Chouksey. The aim was to help his family and friends to achieve their fitness goals through mentorship, mainly in the form of tips and short video bytes. Soon from WhatsApp, the group extended its reach to Facebook. 2016 was the year when this group completely transformed into an online health and fitness coaching portal. The bootstrapped fitness startup, backed by actor Suniel Shetty, one of Bollywood’s fittest actors has now been rebranded as FITTR to take its fitness vision forward while serving its customers, both domestic and international. Fittr was recently in the news again when it secured pre-Series A funding from Sequoia Capital and became a part of the latest batch of Surge, Sequoia’s rapid scale-up program for startups in India & Southeast Asia.

Leading Emotion AI Company Entropik Tech Raises US$8 Million In Series A Funding

Entropik Tech, a leading Emotion AI company based out of Bangalore, India, has raised USD 8 million as part of its Series A Funding. The investment round was led by Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI), a $300m venture fund, managed by Falcon Edge Capital, a leading global alternative asset manager, and backed by ADQ, one of the largest regional holding companies based in Abu Dhabi. The round was also participated in by existing investors, Bharat Innovation Fund, who increased their stake in the company and IDFC Parampara Fund.

Through its AI-first SaaS based technology platform, Entropik plugs a critical gap in the consumer insights and research industry. With over 17 patent claims in facial coding, brainwave tracking, and eye tracking, Entropik is poised to disrupt the $30bn consumer insights industry.

The company’s flagship product, affectlab.io, allows consumer brands to measure and interpret the consumer’s subconscious and emotional behavior across various touch points. Brands see up to 75% ROI uplift on marketing spends, 16% improvement in customer drop off rate and 35% improvement in customer satisfaction scores.

As part of this investment from AWI, Entropik will expand its presence to US, EU, SE Asia while leveraging Abu Dhabi as base to scale in  GCC, MENA markets.  In addition, Entropik plans to utilize the funds to deepen its AI capabilities, leveraging its current 26 mil+ Emotion session Data sets to deliver predictive offerings.

Entropik has already demonstrated ~150%+ net dollar retention and best-in-class sales and capital efficiency ratios. Its turnaround time on project completion is 1/7th versus traditional agencies, underlining it strong ROI to customers while offering higher accuracy.

Sharing his thoughts on the Series A funding, Ranjan Kumar, Founder and CEO, Entropik Tech, said, “We have seen a huge demand for our Emotion AI platform, achieving 10x+ revenue growth in the last 3 quarters. I am proud of our team for their persistence, and thankful to our investors for believing in our vision.”

Anirudh Singh, Managing Director, Alpha Wave Incubation, commented, “Entropik is targeting a large, global, multi-billion dollar market opportunity which has traditionally been hard to address through technology. Entropik’s superior growth has been a result of its robust customer traction and a compelling ROI for its enterprise customers. Entropik continues to drive best-in-class accuracy, customer retention and performance metrics. We are excited for Entropik to unleash its full potential with a global launch pad in Abu Dhabi.”

Having seen Entropik’s journey since early days, Ashwin Raguraman, Founding Partner - Bharat Innovation Fund, said, “Entropik has progressed phenomenally since our first round of funding, It is disrupting the customer experience testing and management space with a heady cocktail of cutting edge technologies including AI, EEG and Facial coding and is rapidly emerging as a global leader in the space. It is exciting to be a part of a new to the world effort that could help its customers build very engaging customer touchpoints and journeys.”

The company works with Fortune 500 companies and includes clients like P&G, Barclays, Maersk, Accenture, Target etc. This round of funding will help further scale international growth and ramp up its deep tech capabilities.

About Entropik Tech:

Founded in 2016, Entropik is world’s leading Emotion AI Platform helping brands measure its customers subconscious behavior. With over 80+ Enterprise Customers across BFSI, CPG, Media & Ent. And Telecom relying on Entropik solutions to provide Consumer Insights. Entropik has 17 Global Patent claims pending in the arena of Multi Modal Emotion recognition. Among many prestigious ones, company has won Amazon AI Award 2018 and has been quoted by Gartner as India’s ‘Top 5 cool vendor in AI’ by Gartner. Currently based out of Bangalore, Company has its business presence across North America, EU and SE Asia.

About Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI)

Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI) is a $300m venture fund managed by Falcon Edge Capital, and backed by ADQ. AWI has a dedicated team across London, Bangalore and Abu Dhabi.

The fund invests in early stage tech-enabled, disruptive start-ups in India and South East Asia. In addition to providing outstanding founders with early-stage capital, AWI offers access to an unrivaled set of support mechanisms for business-building, while also helping companies expand globally and open up new markets in the GCC/MENA region and beyond.

ADQ is one of the region’s largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabi’s diversified economy.

Falcon Edge Capital is a diversified global alternative asset manager co-founded in 2012 by Rick Gerson, Navroz D. Udwadia and Ryan Khoury. Falcon Edge manages approximately $4 billion in assets across public and private markets. Falcon Edge has offices in New York, London and Bangalore. The firm offers a variety of investment products and strategies that cover a number of asset classes, themes and geographies.

AAF Introduces Ceiling Mounted Air Purifier Unit – PurAir350C

AAF (American Air Filter), a Daikin group of company, the world’s largest clean air solutions provider launches ceiling mounted air purifier PurAir350C for healthcare facilities. The unit has powerful three-stage filtration with UV light and a fan​. It can be retrofitted in an existing facility without impacting the HVAC system. PurAir350C can be retrofitted in isolation rooms, consultation rooms, wards, clinics, labs to protect from the spread of viruses and bacteria.

A combination of PurAir 350C & isolation stretcher provides perfect protection by containing possible outbreaks from transferring patients. The isolation stretcher contains the virus within the box, which has side pocket-holes allowing the medical staff to attend the patient without exposing themselves to the virus. The trapped contaminated air is drawn by PurAir 350C, ensuring clean air is released to the outside environment. This solution can also be used for ambulances and test labs thus, protecting medical staff from possible virus carriers during transferring patients.

Features:

The compact design of machine integrated with three-stage of high-performance ­filters can ef­ficiently remove indoor fine particles, harmful gases, bacteria and viruses.

The ­first-stage coarse panel fi­lter is used to effectively remove indoor large particles, dust and hair.

The second-stage gas-phase fi­lter can effectively remove indoor TVOC, odors, harmful gases, such as formaldehyde.

Third stage HEPA fi­lter can remove indoor particles such as PM2.5, PM1 and bacteria and virus.

The machine adopts a low-noise, high-torque DC fan, and three-speed switch function.

The optimized sealing structure can effectively control noise.

A quick ceiling-mounted structure design is suitable for pipelines and surface-mounted

environments. With upstream and downstream pressure drop detection port, it meets the professional site testing requirements.

Easy-to-replace air duct adapters at both ends for on-site installation.

Humanized automatic stop function when the opening cover to protect operator safety.

AAF’s Success Launch Story:

AAF supported a standard laboratory to convert into a corona testing lab with PurAir350C for safe exhaust air. Since PurAir 350C itself is complete equipment with several filtration stages and a fan (to address pressure drop variation), it was a perfect retrofit solution to upgrade the lab to handle the coronavirus tests for safe exhaust air, also without impacting the existing HVAC system. It can be connected to an existing fresh air system or mixed (fresh & recirculating) air system.

PurAir350C can also be used in commercial buildings, schools, airports, financial institutions, hotels, shopping malls, religious buildings, gyms, beauty parlors, banks, restaurants, cafes and any building which requires HEPA filtered air.

Organizations in India to Spend Nearly Half of their Cloud Budget on Hybrid Over the Next Three Years: IBM Survey

* The value derived from hybrid, multi-cloud platform technology and operating model at scale is 2.5 times the value derived from a single platform, single cloud, survey reveals 

* Public cloud spend to reduce from 50 percent share today to 43 percent by 2023

* By 2023, Indian organizations expect to be using an average of 10 clouds, however, only 29 percent of businesses have holistic multi-cloud management strategies in place

Tech Trends revealed in the survey:

* Globally, 64% of advanced cloud companies recognize the need for enterprise transformation and application modernization to go hand-in-hand, 2.6 times higher than the respondents from India

* Globally, 68% of businesses on advanced cloud journey are building an open-source cloud platform, compared to 46% of India respondents

* The survey report identifies businesses that recognize the strategic importance of Cloud, which comprise 13 percent of the global survey respondents, two percent of which are from India, as ‘Cloud Aviators’ 

* Organizations in India expect to be using at least 10 clouds from a growing number of vendors by 2023 but only 29 percent of businesses have a holistic multi-cloud management strategy

* 31% of IT executives in India say they are seeking Cloud Management Platforms for improved visibility and to control their cloud costs

* Enterprises in India are seeking an application development platform that can run on any cloud, workloads that can execute seamlessly across multiple clouds 

* Indian executives get over 2.6x of their investment in cloud management over a period of 10 years. 

Business executives in India are increasingly planning to invest in hybrid multi-cloud platform strategies and capabilities to drive business transformation and to unlock value, reveals an IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) survey.  The IBV surveyed Indian and global executives across industries to gain an in-depth understanding of their organizations’ current use of hybrid cloud, multi-cloud and their approach to multi-cloud management for the report titled, ‘The hybrid cloud platform advantage: A guiding star to enterprise transformation in India.’

According to the survey respondents, 17 percent of their IT spend is allocated to cloud at present and they plan to increase the share of spend on hybrid from 42 percent to 49 percent by 2023. The majority of their cloud budgets are being allocated to hybrid cloud platforms even as their public cloud spend is set to reduce from 50 percent share today to 43 percent by 2023. Most industries will exhibit growth in the number of clouds they will deploy, which can go up to 10 clouds particularly in insurance, telecommunications and retail as these industries will continue to expand multiple cloud deployments in the next three years.

Further, the study confirmed the return on investment (ROI) of a platform approach as respondents said that the value derived from a full hybrid, multi-cloud platform technology and operating model at scale is 2.5 times the value derived from a single platform, single cloud vendor approach. In fact, the platform approach is cited as accelerating value with scale.

Commenting on the survey insights, Viswanath Ramaswamy, Vice President, IBM Cloud and Cognitive Software and Services, IBM India/South Asia said, “The adoption of cloud has been a central feature in developing new, digitally-driven business models. Interestingly, the findings show that hybrid multi-cloud is the fundamental enabler of an organization’s operating model, helping them to embark on a journey to become a Cognitive Enterprise of the future. Further, Hybrid Cloud enables improved business performance and greater ROI. This is proven in the instance of leading businesses that have successfully achieved demonstrable competitive advantage through robust hybrid cloud management and governance platform.

In India, leading businesses such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea are achieving business transformation by leveraging hybrid multi-cloud platform technology and embedding AI.  We are  betting big on Hybrid Cloud which is secure, interoperable, open and free from vendor lock-in.”

The survey was conducted from February to April 2020 by the IBM Institute for Business Value in collaboration with Oxford Economics and covered 6,000 executives globally including 412 executives from India, across industries, job titles and geographies.

Download the full survey reports from here http://ibm.co/hybrid-cloud-platform-india

Honda India Power Products Launches All New 4-Stroke Backpack Brush Cutter

 

Brush Cutter Category

* Aims further increase in market share

* First in the industry to launch a1.3 hp 4-Stroke backpack brush cutter

* New model features Honda 4-Stroke advantage of unmatched fuel efficiency, environment friendly engine& ergonomic machine design.

Honda India Power Products Limited (HIPP), a leading manufacturer of power products in India, today unveiled its new 1.3hp 4 Stroke Backpack Brush Cutter,Model: UMR435Tacross different regions in India. HIPP has been the market leader in brush cutter category offering a wide range of models ranging from 1hp for light usage and up to 2hp for heavy duty usage.

Announcing the launch Vijay Upreti, Sr. Vice President, Sales & Marketing,Honda India Power Products said “With increasing scarcity of farm labour and shrinking farmland sizes, customers are seeking more portable solutions for their regular de-weeding and crop harvesting requirements. A large number of consumers today have started using brush cutters for their daily de-weeding, crop harvesting, farm & road-side maintenance needs”.

Today, Honda brand of brush cutters are the preferred choice of customers owing to their state-of-the-art 4-Stroke engine technology and superior product quality backed by a nation wide chain of over 600 Sales & Service dealerships.

The objective of launching a new variant is to offer a cost-effective solution to customers in the hilly and mountainous regions of the country.The new model has been designed for efficient removal of weeds insloping farmlands and fruit orchards. Themachine also offers an effective solution for weed removal amongst closely spaced row crops.

UMR435T backpack brush cutter comes in two variants, L2ST with 2-teeth bar blade & LEDT with 3-teeth blade & Nylon Line cutter offering customers a choice of cutting attachments suitable to the landscape. Ergonomically designed backpack harness with flexible shaft and coil spring mounted engine minimizes user fatigue so essential for long duration working.