SpringML Continues Expansion of Their Delivery Capabilities With The Inauguration of Their New Office In Hyderabad

* The vibrant expanse of the new space reiterates SpringML’s vision for exponential growth in India

SpringML, Inc. (“SpringML”), a trusted partner for data-driven digital transformation, a leader in machine learning and advanced data analytics services, announced that it has opened a new office in Financial District, Hyderabad, India to accommodate rapid growth and leverage the diverse talent pool.

Chief Executive Officer Charles Landry said: “When we started SpringML, our mission and core values were very clear and they remain the same. We strongly believe that if we add value to our customers and provide a collaborative environment of growth to our team, we can build a sustainable business.  The abundance of talent in Hyderabad is obvious and I’m excited to see the next phase of growth in India.” SpringML has been hiring skilled professionals and aspirational talent from major universities with a vision to grow more than 2,000 employees over the next few years.

SpringML’s new office was inaugurated on Friday, 30th September by Chief Guest Mr. Arekapudi Gandhi, Hon. Govt Whip and MLA, Serilingampally Constituency, Government of Telangana. Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary of the Industries & Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT) Departments of Telangana, was the special guest at the event along with Mr. V. Gangadhar Reddy, GHMC, Corporator, Gachibowli Division. Mr. Muthu Kumaran, Operating Partner and Head of India Operations, Recognize also graced the occasion with his presence.

The new office was designed in accordance with the organization’s belief in blending creativity with innovation. SpringML has also actively adapted to the hybrid work model that has emerged as the future of businesses across the globe.

“Our India team provides us with a strategic advantage given the talent and skills they possess.” says Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Girish Reddy, “The team will now have the choice to come into a world class facility to continue to learn and innovate together.”

The company spearheads critical projects across sophisticated enterprise clients – including Fortune 500 brands – with deep expertise in healthcare, retail, logistics, manufacturing and public sector verticals.

Amit Deshpande, Sr. Vice President and Head of India Development Center(IDC) adds: “From our humble beginnings with a group of 7 budding professionals to a leap of 400+ employees at IDC, SpringML’s growth has been phenomenal. This is fuelled by our amazing teamwork driven with innovation, empathy and curiosity in everything we do. No matter how difficult a customer’s problem, our team’s perseverance to Simplify the Complexity is commendable.”

A driving force enabling SpringML’s impact is the company’s next-generation capability set, including proprietary accelerators, around artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud migration, data analytics and visualization, smart application development, and security solutions.

SpringML was founded in 2015 by President and Chief Strategy Officer Prabhu Palanisamy, Chief Technology Officer Girish Reddy, and Chief Executive Officer Charles Landry. Their India Development Center (IDC) was started in 2018 under the leadership of Amit Deshpande, Senior Vice President and Head of IDC in the rapidly growing IT Hub of India, Hyderabad.

The company has experienced rapid growth since its founding and is today a leading Google Cloud and Salesforce development partner.

Recognize, a technology services investment platform made a strategic investment in SpringML in October 2021.

SpringML won Google Cloud’s Partner of the Year award 2020 - US State and Local Government for their COVID 19 technology solutions. They’ve also won Google Cloud’s Partner of the Month for February 2022.

About SpringML, Inc.

SpringML delivers data-driven digital transformation outcomes with an experimentation and design thinking mindset. We provide Google Cloud consulting and implementation services and industry-specific analytics solutions that deliver high-impact business value from data. SpringML is a Google Cloud partner with capabilities to plan, assess, deploy, and manage data-driven engagements. We have been awarded Google Cloud specialization based on our expertise and customer portfolio for Data Management, Application Development, Data Analytics, Security, Looker, and Machine Learning.

Honeywell Launches Pan-india Afforestation Drive On October 2, 2022 To Support The UN Decade On Ecosystem Restoration

Honeywell Hometown Solutions India Foundation (HHSIF), the philanthropic arm of Honeywell, kicks off “Plant the Future” campaign, a 10-year-long pan-India afforestation drive on October 2, 2022. The initiative aims to mitigate the effects of climate change and strengthen the resilient capacities of the nation against environmental degradation. Honeywell will plant and nurture more than one million saplings across 10 cities between 2022 and 2032, coinciding with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. 

Plant the Future seeks to strengthen the government’s efforts in promoting green cover and achieving carbon offsetting. For the success of the initiative, 70 percent of the afforestation drive will focus on rural areas and 30 percent in rural areas. HHSIF will partner with government agencies, not-for-profit organizations and industry to realize this ambitious goal. As a first step, HHSIF has adopted a multi-pronged approach by mobilising its existing non-government organization (NGO) partners and employee-volunteers to initiate the plantation drive.

Rajesh Rege, President, Honeywell India, said, “As a responsible corporate citizen, Honeywell is committed to driving the transformation to a sustainable future. While we have pledged to be carbon neutral in our facilities and operations by 2035, our corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts mirror our environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspirations. Plant the Future campaign will mobilize our employees and partners to plant more than one million saplings over 10 years in alignment with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.”

Technologies such as geo-tagging will be deployed to ensure the survival of saplings. The project also seeks to promote rural livelihoods and enable creation of sustainable communities. At the same time, it encourages and inculcates among employee-volunteers a sense of responsibility towards the environment.

About Honeywell Hometown Solutions India Foundation (HHSIF)

Honeywell Hometown Solutions India Foundation (HHSIF) is a not-for-profit organization that deploys Honeywell’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts in five critical areas: education, skill and research, inclusion and diversity, natural resources, and environment, holistic and sustainable community development, and humanitarian relief. HHSIF’s programs include Honeywell STEM Education for Youth, a skilling program for women and youth to build a future-ready workforce; Honeywell Model Village for holistic and sustainable community development; Honeywell Start-up Support Program for incubation in deep science; Honeywell Center for Advancing Girls in Science to promote STEM education among girls; establishment of global center of excellence for affordable and clean energy and Honeywell COVID-19 relief.

Shiprocket Joins Hand With ONDC For Beta Testing Launch In Bangalore

~Shiprocket integrates with ONDC to help about 200 merchants with logistics support across Bangalore region~

Shiprocket, India’s largest tech enablement platform integrates with ONDC or the Open Network for Digital Commerce, a Government of India-backed initiative to democratize e-commerce in India. ONDC is set to begin its beta testing with public users in Bengaluru Urban District today onwards.

With this assimilation, Shiprocket aims to serve more sellers through ONDC network and book more shipments through its platform. The integration enables products to be picked up and delivered from any part of the country, while also giving small retailers and sellers the opportunity to choose the most viable delivery partner for each order and ensure high-quality delivery service to the customers.

Speaking on this integration, Saahil Goel, CEO & Co-founder, Shiprocket said,  “We are pleased to create access for sellers to be a part of the strategic ONDC network, which aims to democratize the digital commerce space and entrust more power to businesses. This association will enable us to positively impact the business momentum of our MSME customers across India by providing them with quality fulfillment services at a competitive price. We started along this journey of democratizing e-commerce in 2017 and are happy to work with ONDC to take this mission onto an even larger platform."

“This integration will accelerate our efforts to make last-mile logistics accessible to a wider audience of buyers and sellers across India. Today, small businesses find it difficult to sign contracts with large logistics companies to ship their products. With Shiprocket and ONDC working in tandem for the beta launch in Bangalore, sellers can now access an improved experience” - T Koshy, CEO, ONDC

Through this, Shiprocket will provide wider reach and various options to the merchants to choose from and to strengthen their end-to-end logistical needs without the hassle of signing contracts with multiple courier partners.

About Shiprocket

Shiprocket is India’s largest eCommerce enablement platform providing digital retailers an end-to-end customer experience platform. The platform which is creating an operating system for direct commerce enables shipping, fulfillment, customer communication and marketing tools as well as providers for SMEs, D2C retailers, and social commerce retailers in India. With 17+ courier partners on board, the brand enables pan-India as well as international shipping deliveries. Its shipping solutions are available across 24,000+ pin codes within India and 220 countries worldwide.

Launched in 2017, Shiprocket is on a mission to create a seamless logistics data platform that connects retailers, carriers, and consumers across national and international locations. Shiprocket provides a technology stack to help retailers integrate their shopping websites on Shopify, Magento, Woocommerce, Zoho, or others with the platform’s multi-carrier API to manage orders, print shipping labels, and avail tracking information from multiple providers including managing Cash on Delivery (COD) orders and payment reconciliation. Shiprocket also offers state-of-the-art fulfillment solutions with more than 45 warehouses located across India. The technology stack provides a robust post-purchase experience to consumers, resulting in higher engagement and lower RTO (failed deliveries).

Today, Shiprocket is the platform behind 2.5 lakh plus sellers who generate a GMV of more than $2.5B annually. The platform delivers packets to more than 70M consumers annually and is growing transactions 2.5-3X year on year.

Mindtree Named A Major Contender In Everest Group’s Industry 4.0 Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2022

Mindtree, a global technology services and digital transformation company, today announced that it has been named a Major Contender in Everest Group’s Industry 4.0 Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2022. This was Mindtree’s debut in Everest Group’s assessment of engineering service providers for their Industry 4.0 leadership. 

Everest Group positioned Mindtree as a Major Contender in terms of market impact, and vision and capability. The following were among Mindtree’s strengths highlighted in the report:

Mindtree has experience in serving customers via all major commercial constructs such as time and material, fixed price and outcome-based.

Mindtree has a strong partner ecosystem and internal capabilities to deliver engagements centered around cloud, analytics, IIoT, and intelligent technologies (AI/ML).

Mindtree’s acquisition of NxT has boosted capabilities across IIoT, AI/ML, and analytics, particularly for use cases involving shop floor automation, connected equipment, asset tracking, predictive maintenance, analytics-driven decision making, etc.

As part of the assessment, Everest Group evaluated 22 engineering service providers across the globe. According to the report, Major Contenders are “actively making investments in establishing centers of excellence (CoEs) and developing IP and solutions in areas such as AI/ML, cloud, analytics, IIoT, edge computing, and blockchain for enhancing their capabilities and presence and bridging capability gaps across service functions that have hitherto not been a major focus”.

Mindtree was rated highly for market adoption (number of clients, revenue base, YoY growth, and deal value/volume), portfolio mix (diversity of client/revenue base across geographies and type of engagements), vision and strategy (vision for the client and itself; future roadmap and strategy), and scope of services offered (depth and breadth of services portfolio across service subsegments/processes).

“Driving digital transformation from the edge to experience requires a thorough integration of technology and human processes into a seamless whole powered by data-generated insights, machine learning, and automation,” said Sriram Kumaresan, Global Business Head of Mindtree NxT. “Amid rapidly evolving competition, business models, regulation, and customer needs, our Industry 4.0 capabilities spanning operations, employees, products, and experiences help not just deliver superior productivity, agility, and differentiation, but also drive better human capacities and sustainable growth. This recognition by Everest Group validates our ability to help our clients unlock the potential of Industry 4.0 technologies in realizing efficient, responsible, and resilient value chains for the benefit of people as well as planet.”

“Mindtree has emerged as a Major Contender in Everest Group's Industry 4.0 Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2022. The company has positioned itself as a credible provider in the Industry 4.0 space by offering solutions leveraging IIoT, analytics, and AI/ML,” said Nishant Udupa, Practice Director at Everest Group. “The acquisition of L&T-NxT has further helped Mindtree to gain significant traction in the IoT and analytics space. The company has made dedicated investments in developing IPs, such as Asset-NxT, Insight-NxT, Worker-NxT and Geospatial-NxT in areas such as IIoT and AI/ML, and in building a comprehensive partner ecosystem comprising of technology providers, cloud vendors, and IoT-focused organizations. Clients have particularly acknowledged Mindtree's domain expertise, talented pool of engineers, and ability to tailor digital solutions for the client's domain.” 

About Mindtree        

Mindtree [NSE: MINDTREE] is a global technology consulting and services company that enables enterprises across industries to drive superior competitive advantage, customer experiences and business outcomes by harnessing digital and cloud technologies. A digital transformation partner to approximately 275 of the world’s most pioneering enterprises, Mindtree brings extensive domain, technology and consulting expertise to help reimagine business models, accelerate innovation and maximize growth. As a socially and environmentally responsible business, Mindtree is focused on growth as well as sustainability in building long-term stakeholder value. Powered by more than 37,400 talented and entrepreneurial professionals across 24 countries, Mindtree — a Larsen & Toubro Group company — is consistently recognized among the best places to work. For more, visit www.mindtree.com or @Mindtree_Ltd.  

University of South Australia Delegation Departs India After Launching The Industry-Led Bachelor of Digital Business

A University of South Australia (UniSA) delegation has capped off a successful visit to India with the official Indian launch of its industry-led Bachelor of Digital Business degree at the Australian India Business Exchange AIBX) this morning.

Attending alongside a number of Australian Government representatives, including Austrade CEO Mr Xavier Simonet, as well as key Indian education sector officials, UniSA Chief Academic Officer Mr Tom Steer said he was pleased with the outcomes of the Indian mission.

Mr Steer said: “We’re proud to join forces with Austrade in showcasing our innovative industry designed and delivered curriculum to India. Whilst we have officially launched here today in Bangalore, this has been part of a bigger global mission to take the Accenture-UniSA partnership to the world. Earlier this week we showcased our new degree in Kuala Lumpur, after launching it on campus in Adelaide and virtually earlier this month, and there are future events scheduled for Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Taipei.”

The Bachelor of Digital Business is part of a ground-breaking partnership with global professional services firm Accenture in Australia. The degree aims to equip students in India with the necessary knowledge and applied skills to meet future global business needs for the digital economy. Students can apply now (applications close 16 December 2022) for a February 2023 commencement in Adelaide.

Mr Steer said: “I echo the comments of the Indian Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Mr Dharmendra Pradhan, who on Tuesday said that there is a new ‘digital lifestyle’ taking shape in India. UniSA is keen to be part of India’s need for filling skills gaps to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, and doing so at any level: undergraduate, postgraduate and even short course professional development required by Indian Government, industry and education institutions. We have years of experience in delivering successful transnational education programs as well as the provision of online learning, plus we’ve established excellent relationships in India, making UniSA a strong choice in an education partner.”

Outside the AIBX launch, the UniSA delegation joined by an Accenture representative also hosted a high-level event for CEOs and senior leadership of leading Indian education agencies as well as officials from the Australian Embassy including representatives of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission and Department of Education, Skills and Employment.

Mr Steer said: “This mission has reaffirmed that we have designed the right degree for the world’s changing workforce needs. Because there is industry content from day one of the degree, it has the potential to be a game-changer in producing job-ready graduates who will transition seamlessly into employment, armed with practical knowledge and the ability to solve real-world problems. Not only that, but it will also produce future business leaders, capable of leveraging digital technologies to create real business value in the new digital economy.”

With intelligence gained from this Mission, the UniSA delegates will now return to Adelaide to consider future innovative offerings under the UniSA-Accenture partnership, which is likely to extend beyond undergraduate level qualifications.

For more information on the program, visit https://study.unisa.edu.au/degrees/bachelor-of-digital-business

Raj Diamonds Wishes Navratri By Using An Airplane Message Hovering Over The City

The festive season is here. It’s that time of year again when Indians enter the celebratory mode – from garba and dandiya to pandal hopping and celebrating Navratri with their loved ones. In keeping with the festive spirit of Navratri, Raj Diamonds, a renowned diamond jewellery brand wished people through an aircraft / airplane message hovering over the city. It was marvelous to see the message writ large across the sky.

Adding to the excitement of the festivity, Eshwar Surana, Managing Director, Raj Diamonds said “No matter what the occasion is, an airplane message is always special. Such a unique initiative could be used to communicate to people in targeted locations and is an extremely impactful medium to build brand visibility and also generate a high level of recall.”

“We have also launched an exquisite collection of diamond jewellery, Futuro with ceramic and diamonds in futuristic designs as part of the festive season celebration. The new collection features rings, earrings, pendants and other handcrafted jewellery pieces. It’s always been our endeavour to bring beautifully designed products crafted to perfection. We are extremely upbeat about the festive season and expect strong growth in line with the recent sales trend. We have also curated exceptional offers as part of the festive season. We thank our customers for their trust in the brand which made us achieve great milestones” added Eshwar.

Navratri, one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India has a deep spiritual significance symbolizing the victory of the good over evil. Each day of Navratri is dedicated to the nine different avatars of Maa Durga. Navratri brings about a sense of revival in people's lives, filling them with new hopes and faith in divine protection. May these auspicious days bring hope, happy times, and light up our lives with dreams and prosperity. Happy festival to all.

Since inception, Raj Diamonds has ushered in a whole new era of diamond artistry and has established a legacy of trust, quality and integrity. Its exquisite range of jewellery strikes the perfect balance between traditional charm and contemporary appeal. There’s a diamond for every occasion, perfect to celebrate your special moment. Luxury and allure come together to create vast collections of designs such as Antique, Contemporary, Uncut, Gold, Platinum and the ever-celestial Hearts and Arrows collection. Crafted by skilled artisans, each piece is an enticing masterpiece. Every Raj Diamonds diamond is meticulously selected for its exceptional characteristics and promise above and beyond the 4Cs of Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat. At Raj Diamonds, every jewellery is screened with latest technology machine to make sure that all the diamonds are natural and authentic and not man-made lab grown diamonds. Furthermore, the brand’s adherence to stringent standards in terms of quality has helped in establishing themselves as one of the most trusted diamond jewellery brands in the country.

Austrade Launched The Australia-India Cybersecurity Hackathon Challenge At AIBX 2022 Business Mission Event In Bengaluru

As a part of the AIBX 2022 Business Mission, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) launched future skills initiatives, the Australia-India Cybersecurity Hackathon Challenge along with key partnerships and initiatives in Bengaluru today.

Austrade’s future skills initiatives will support skilling capacity in India by upskilling India’s workforce through world-class Australian vocational, training and education programs. Austrade will bring a delegation of Australian skills providers to India early 2023, to exchange ideas and partner for success with Indian counterparts.

To support tech collaboration, Austrade has partnered with NASSCOM and 2 universities for the Australia-India Cybersecurity Hackathon Challenge. This program will bring together industry and academia to showcase the cyber credentials of Australian and Indian universities and their students.? Students competing in this challenge will tackle real-world challenges, during the hackathon, with the help of industry experts.? 

Speaking at the launch, Mr Xavier Simonet, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Australian Government said, “Australian Government Education initiatives are designed to shape the global careers of Indian students. We work closely with the students to assure world-class education, skills to support strong careers pathways and an unmatched lifestyle for students. Since the early 2000s, Australia has become a destination of choice for Indian students pursuing higher education internationally and will continue to have a strong relationship with the students. This year’s AIBX 2022 business mission comes at a time when Australia and India are more strategically and economically aligned and our focus turns to bringing Australian skills and curriculum to be delivered in India through partner institutes.”

Dr Monica Kennedy, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Australian Trade and Investment Commission also announced several Australia-India partnerships. These announcements were witnessed by Mr Xavier Simonet, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Australian Government.

1.      The UNISA–Accenture partnership is a 10-year program. UNISA will offer a Bachelor of Digital Business program for which content is provided by Accenture. It also includes opportunity for Accenture scholarships and internships for students.

2.      Australia’s Griffith University, UpGrad, Insofe and UpGrad Atlas signed a partnership for 3+2 transfer arrangement for UpGrad students to Griffith University for a Master of Information Technology program.

3.       Curtin University signed a partnership with TEXMiN, the technology innovation hub of the IIT-Indian School of Mines Dhanbad. This partnership will foster development and commercialisation of cyber-physical system based services & products related to exploration and mining. The signing will also see the establishment of a world-class center at the IIT ISM Campus at Dhanbad.

Dr Kennedy also launched Study Australia’s “India Student Hub (Digital Education Hub) toolkit” which provides Indian students with access to course search tools, an employability hub and masterclass library to help identify their strengths, scope career options and build their employability skills. Students will also have access to course information to identify the best courses for their careers. The hub elevates ‘Study Australia’ brand positioning through omni-channel campaigns and special projects like the Industry Experience Program, Study Entrepreneurship Challenge, and Study Australia showcase. The site also hosts the ‘partner hub’ which provides up-to-date information to education partners.

About the AIBX 2022 Business Mission

The Australia India Business Exchange mission is a flagship programme of the Australian government to promote trade and investment ties with India. The AIBX 2022 Business Mission will support Australian exporters to capture commercial opportunities in high-growth and future-facing segments of the dynamic Indian economy. 

The mission will be the first Australian Government-sponsored multi-sector trade mission to India since early 2020 and will be an important signal to India of Australia’s commitment to the trade and investment relationship.

Over 100+ Australian business delegates from five priority sectors: agrifood, built environment, critical minerals, digital health and education are in India as a part of the mission.

Photo Captions: Australia’s Griffith University, UpGrad, Insofe and UpGrad Atlas signed a partnership for 3+2 transfer arrangement for UpGrad students to Griffith University for a Master of Information Technology program. L-R: Mr Xavier Simonet, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Australian Government, Ms Sarah Todd, Vice President, Griffith University, Mr Venkatesh Sunkad, CEO and Co-founder Insofe, Dr Monica Kennedy, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Australian Trade and Investment Commission..

Enjogo Set To Organize Football Trials In Bengaluru On October 1, 2022

Enjogo will conduct trials for its residential academies (boarding school with football training) in BBFS Arena, HAL, Bengaluru, on Saturday, 1st October 2022.

Enjogo aims to reach out to football aspirants across the length and breadth of the country through its latest initiative - 100 Trials. 100 Cities. Unlimited Dreams.

The Enjogo Technical Team has shortlisted 100+ Indian cities to conduct trials based on football popularity and select the best young players for BBFS Residential Academy.

BBFS or Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools is India's largest football academy and already provides over INR 2 Crores worth of scholarships for talented footballers under its residential program. There are opportunities to gain up to 100% scholarships covering academics, training, food, lodging, and competitive exposure.  

“This is just the beginning. As our operations grow, we will keep on adding more venues to the list. Eventually, the plan is to cover every district in India,” said Kishore Taid, Co-founder and CEO of Enjogo and Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools.

BBFS Residential Academies are operational across five cities - Delhi, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Karnataka, and Kerala. The trials will happen in two phases - regional and national. After selection in the first phase, the selected footballers will travel to one of the BBFS Residential Academies for the final round.

“We want to reach out to every youngster and allow them to represent us. Through the trials, we aim to find the best talent and provide them an ideal pathway to reach the pinnacle,” said Bhaichung Bhutia, India’s longest-serving football team captain and the Co-founder of BBFS. 

BBFS has developed a robust scouting network where many academy players have played for the India age-group teams, Indian Super League, I-League, and Santosh Trophy teams. Gaurav Bora (Northeast United), Rohit Kumar (Bengaluru FC), Aashique Kuruniyan (Indian national team), and many other international stars started at BBFS and have risen through the ranks.  

Players born between 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2013 are eligible to participate in the trials. The reporting time is 8:30 IST. Footballers must carry their kits and a valid Government ID. A registration fee of INR 100/- is applicable for all attendees.

Download the Enjogo app on your phone and register online for the Bengaluru trials. Aspirants can also contact Rakesh Radhakrishnan (+91 9620744677) for any queries.

About enJogo:

enJogo is India’s first sports learning app. With center discovery, online workouts, and instant feedback in a gamified virtual environment, it provides a seamless online-offline learning experience to users who seek to play, learn and master any sport.

About Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools: Founded in 2010, Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS) is India's largest and most rated football academy. It was founded by two IIT graduates Kishore Taid and Anurag Khilnani, along with their footballing idol Bhaichung Bhutia. The founding team of Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools came together with the vision of creating an ecosystem that nurtures and develops the will to Play, Learn and Master football. With training centres across the country, BBFS has trained over 15,000+ students and developed over 2000+ coaches. BBFS builds expertise in each stage of the player development pyramid and works to activate the overall football ecosystem in India. For more information, visit www.bbfootballschools.com 

Check Point MIND Announces New Partnership With Training Vendor Monnappa K.A.

* Customers can now learn Malware Analysis and Threat Hunting using Memory Forensics from the author of the best-selling book and the Black Hat Trainer Monnappa K.A

MIND - Check Point Software’s learning & Training organization announced a new partnership with training vendor Monnappa K.A, providing customer and partners the ability to advance their skills in cyber defense with two new training courses. 

Hacking Point training programs are expanding with the addition of two new training programs by Monnappa K.A. As of September 2022, customers can begin purchasing Malware Analysis training as well as training for Threat Hunting Using Memory Forensics. All new courses are offered remotely and taught by a virtual instructor. 

The Malware Analysis training guides students through a 2-day hands-on training in which they learn the concepts, tools, and techniques to analyze and to determine the behavior and capability of the malware. 

The Threat Hunting training teaches the techniques to investigate and hunt for malware using memory forensics. Learners are introduced to the topic of Windows internals, and techniques to perform malware and Rootkit investigations. 

Monnappa is the author of the bestselling book "Learning Malware Analysis". He is the creator of Limon Linux sandbox and winner of Volatility plugin contest 2016. He is the co-founder of the cyber security research community "Cysinfo". His fields of interest include malware analysis, reverse engineering, memory forensics, and threat intelligence. Monnappa has presented at various security conferences including Black Hat, FIRST, SEC-T, 4SICS-SCADA/ICS summit, DSCI, National Cyber Defense Summit on various topics including: memory forensics, malware analysis, reverse engineering, and rootkit analysis. He has conducted training sessions at Black Hat, BruCON, FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security teams), SEC-T and 4SICS-SCADA/ICS cyber security summit. 

Monnappa K.A services are redeemable with CLCs - Cyber Security Learning Credits. CLCs are used by Check Point customers everywhere to invest in their training and Cyber skills development.

MIND – Check Point’s learning and training organization will continue to partner leading training organizations in the industry to deliver innovative cyber content through certification training, gamified learning opportunities, online courses and more. 

Atlassian Launches ‘Atlassian Together’ To Help Teams Work Differently, Together

* Introducing a new subscription for managing work across an entire organization 

Today at its inaugural Work Life event in San Francisco, USA, Atlassian Corporation Plc (NASDAQ:TEAM), a leading provider of team collaboration and productivity software, unveiled a new work management offering - Atlassian Together - and several new product capabilities.  

Recognising the changing nature of how we work, Atlassian released these new products and features to help align autonomous teams and the tools they choose to use to power businesses' digital transformation efforts. To drive cross-team collaboration, Atlassian products are built on the Atlassian Platform, which is open by design, giving teams the freedom to integrate easily with their favourite tools and stay aligned with universally accessible project context, status, and processes. 

Introducing Atlassian Together 

Atlassian Together is a single subscription to Atlassian’s work management products – Confluence, Trello, Jira Work Management, Atlas, and Access. Over 150,000 customers use Atlassian work management products today. The new subscription provides organizations with a complete Atlassian toolset that helps teams choose the best tool for the job while ensuring alignment across the organization.  

Smart Links Drives Next Level Alignment 

Smart Links is a new capability built on the Atlassian platform that helps users access information across Atlassian and third-party apps. Team members can find and insert content, create and edit work items across products, and access key information from all their tools without leaving their current tab. 

Regardless of where work happens—be it in Confluence, Google Doc, Figma, or Trello—Smart Links make that work easy to search, edit and see across applications. Smart Links extends the visibility of information beyond the walls of apps and teams, making it easier for teams to collaborate and track progress. 

Smart Links is available today with Atlassian cloud products, bringing information across all our work management tools - and third-party applications. 

Unified Admin Controls Across Tools 

Atlassian is unifying the administration experience and eliminating redundant steps across all work management tools, resulting in simplified day-to-day management. Some of the benefits for administrators include; integrated user and access management across Atlassian work management products, minimised tool sprawl, resulting in a streamlined process for audits, compliance, and security reviews, and fewer onboarding and licensing requests. 

Atlas Is Coming Out of Beta 

Introduced at TEAM’22, Atlas will be coming out of beta next month. Since its introduction, customers in the early access program have benefited from loads of new features and improvements, including richer integrations, tighter controls, and more flexible reporting. 

Erika Trautman, head of product for Atlassian's Work Management offerings, said, “At Atlassian, we’re obsessed with designing products that unleash the potential of every team. Our leading work management products enable teams to choose the best tool for their needs and work differently. But delivering amazing products on their own is not enough. They must connect with each other, and all the other apps teams are using to get work done, to bring the teams together. The new offering and capabilities we unveiled today will drive this powerful cross-team collaboration.” 

About Atlassian 

Atlassian unleashes the potential of every team. Our team collaboration and productivity software help teams organize, discuss, and complete shared work. Teams at more than 240,000 customers, across large and small organizations - including Bank of America, Redfin, NASA, Verizon, and Dropbox - use Atlassian’s project tracking, content creation and sharing, and service management products to work better together and deliver quality results on time. Learn more about our products, including Jira Software, Confluence, Jira Service Management, Trello, Bitbucket, and Jira Align at https://atlassian.com/. 

L&T Technology Services Joins Hands With Qualcomm To Provide Solutions For The Global 5G Private Network Industry

* LTTS & Qualcomm Technologies will jointly develop and deploy end-to-end PN solutions for Enterprise Customers in the Manufacturing & Warehousing Industry

L&T Technology Services Limited (BSE: 540115, NSE: LTTS), a leading global pure-play engineering services company, today announced that it is collaborating with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to deploy end-to-end solutions for the global 5G Private Network Industry utilizing their combined core expertise in the Hi-Tech & Telecommunication domain.

LTTS and Qualcomm Technologies will bring together core competencies in telecommunication solutions and services for the benefit of end-customers in the manufacturing and warehousing/ logistics sector. As the demand for a connected world continues to grow rapidly, LTTS engineers are leveraging LTTS’ chip-to-cloud expertise to unleash the power of 5G and transform global manufacturing and supply chain processes.

Qualcomm Technologies, an industry leader in 5G globally, is accelerating the expansion of 5G connectivity, and its end-to-end domain expertise is enabling the growth of the broader technology ecosystem spanning 5G Private Network RAN, devices, automation and management solution and partner initiatives.

As part of the proposed collaboration, Qualcomm Technologies will engage Private Networks RAN Automation technology for the automation and management of small cells along with pre-integrated PN solutions. LTTS will facilitate end-to-end system integration, design, and implementation of use cases, provide engineering consulting, and deployment services along with edge-to-cloud orchestration and management. Combining their diverse ecosystem strengths, both Qualcomm Technologies and LTTS are now enabling Industry 4.0 solutions for enterprises.

In line with the terms of the collaboration, LTTS will establish an engineering center of excellence in Santa Clara with Qualcomm Technologies’ support to accelerate the adoption of 5G private wireless networks.

Abhishek Sinha, Chief Operating Officer and Board Member at L&T Technology Services said, “With the increasing demand for a connected world, LTTS is constantly leveraging its chip to cloud design expertise to realize the power of 5G and reshape the ideas of business. 5G is a breakthrough technology and we, at LTTS, are well-poised to meet the demands of this rapidly evolving connectivity space in association with an industry leader like Qualcomm Technologies.”

Savi Soin, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Partnerships, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. said, “We are committed to expanding our one technology roadmap for a future that is connecting everything to the cloud. The Connected Intelligent Edge is where wireless technology, on-device computing, AI, and low power consumption are accelerating the digital transformation across industry verticals. Through this collaboration with LTTS, we are bringing innovative solutions and services to market that will accelerate digital transformation for smart manufacturing, factory, logistics and warehousing sectors globally.”

About L&T Technology Services Ltd

L&T Technology Services Limited (LTTS) is a listed subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Limited focused on Engineering and R&D (ER&D) services. We offer consultancy, design, development and testing services across the product and process development life cycle. Our customer base includes 69 Fortune 500 companies and 57 of the world’s top ER&D companies, across industrial products, medical devices, transportation, telecom & hi-tech, and the process industries. Headquartered in India, we have over 21,400 employees spread across 19 global design centers, 28 global sales offices and 89 innovation labs as of June 30, 2022. For more information, visit https://www.ltts.com/

Karnataka CM, Basavaraj Bommai & Union Minister, Pralhad Joshi inaugurates 3600th Nand Ghar in Karnataka’s Haveri District

Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Basavaraj Somappa Bommai and Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines, Shri Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the 3600th Nand Ghar in a ceremony held at Luxar Bazar village in Haveri district of Karnataka. Senior leadership from Vedanta Mr. Sauvick Mazumdar and Mr. Krishna Reddy were present during the inauguration ceremony.

Nand Ghar is the flagship CSR project of Anil Agarwal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the leading natural resources conglomerate, Vedanta. The inauguration also marked development of 55 such Nand Ghars in Karnataka.

On the inauguration, Hon’ble CM of Karnataka, Shri Basavaraj Somappa Bommai, shared his thoughts and said: “Women and children are the cornerstone of any nation. Hence, it becomes imperative that we enable and empower them to reach our goals of a self-reliant nation. It is heartening to see such progressive projects enabling the growth and empowerment of children and women of the rural landscapes. I congratulate Vedanta for building these adobes of development for the community members to thrive”

Speaking on the event, Hon’ble Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines, Shri Pralhad Joshi said: “Vedanta’s Nand Ghar is a commendable initiative that is working towards empowering communities. It is very promising to see that one of the largest mining and resources conglomerates of India is so focused on the development of rural women and children. I believe these centers would prove beneficial for the community in years to come, achieving our joint vision to provide holistic development of women and children in the country”

A model project working towards strengthening the Aanganwadi ecosystem of the country, Nand Ghar is extensively working at the grassroots level in the communities aiming to bridge the urban-rural gap with best-in-class services.

Vedanta Chairman, Shri Anil Agarwal said: “It gives me immense pride to see Vedanta’s flagship project, Nand Ghar, making a big difference at the grassroots level. This project is dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of providing quality education to children and facilitating skill development to rural women. We have always believed in actively being a part of the growth and future of the nation. These modern Nand Ghars will be the catalyst for change which will empower women and children and change the rural landscape creating self- reliant communities.”

Nand Ghar has emerged as a focal point for socio economic development of the communities. The project offers a holistic set of services to its community members, including e-learning for children, primary healthcare, economic empowerment for women and a state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Nand Ghar began its journey in the year 2015 with the vision to transform the lives of 7 crore children and 2 crore women in the 13.7 lakh Anganwadis in India and are established in the partnership with the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Total 3600 Nand Ghars are driving sustainable development across 13 states of India. Nand Ghars are equipped with solar panels to ensure 24 x 7 electricity, water purifiers, clean toilets and smart television sets, and have become a model resource centre for the local communities. Pre-school education is provided to children in the age group of 3-6 years. Nutritious meals and take-home rations are being provided for children, pregnant and lactating women. Primary healthcare services are rendered through mobile health vans and telemedicine services, women are empowered through skilling, credit linkage and enterprise development.

Shoppers Stop Ropes In Yami Gautam For Its Diwali Campaign, “Nayi Diwali Nayi Soch”

 ~  Shoppers Stop has associated with the best of brands to launch exclusive styles for this festive season 

Shoppers Stop, the leading Omni-Channel retail chain has unveiled their latest Diwali campaign, "Nayi Diwali Nayi Soch" with celebrities Yami Gautam and Dhairya Karwa. The festival of Diwali is heartfelt. It's that time of the year when gifting loved ones is also about expressing our emotions. The festival of lights is not just about lighting things up; it's also about cherishing our loved ones by surprising them with thoughtful gifts. Shoppers Stop’s ‘Nayi Diwali Nayi Soch’ campaign, focusses on progressive side of modern Indian families, who are traditional in values, but progressive in their outlook. These 4 short stories, further elaborate how in today’s times, families evolve by adopting liberal ways to connect better with each other, with gifting being at the core of all conversations.  

There are various heartwarming moments with loved ones throughout these films. At the conclusion of the film, Shoppers Stop says, "Pal bhar mein naye ho jaate hai tyohaar, bas ek nayi soch ek sath," signifying that festivals become refreshing and special, with progressive thinking.  

Talking about the new campaign, Yami Gautam said, "I am pleased to be a part of Shoppers Stop’s Diwali campaign, Nayi Diwali Nayi Soch. The concept truly resonates with me, as I love gifting and pampering my friends and family with thoughtful presents. I am sure, the campaign will strike a chord with everyone!” 

Speaking on the campaign launch, Ms. Shwetal Basu, Customer Care Associate and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Shoppers Stop says, ‘Diwali is not only a festival of lights; it is also a time to celebrate and pamper your loved ones with thoughtful gifts. Our Nayi Diwali, Nayi Soch campaign highlights this aspect of the festival, in a progressive manner. It is in line with our brand positioning, targeted to families that are traditional in values and progressive in their outlook. Gifts go a long way in expressing love and care for the person. Shoppers Stop is a gifting destination, where you find gifts for all occasions! Additionally, ace celebrities, Yami Gautam and Dhairya Karwa light up the film with their presence.’ 

This festive season, Shoppers Stop has launched exclusive lines with various ethnic and western wear brands like W, Indya, ONLY, Vero, Zink London, Madame, Latin Quarters, Allen Solly, Levis, and Fab alley.  

Visit your nearest Shoppers Stop store, log on to the website www.shoppersstop.com, download the app available on Android and iOS, avail WhatsApp services, Virtual Assistance, Home Services or simply talk to Personal Shopper on +91-9004394244 between 11 AM and 7 PM, any day or visit bit.ly/2RWyzZy to know more.  

Campaign Link:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfjALOnON9E  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87OyORVO3oc  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C44lPl1hf2o 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofe0V8vFkx8  

Union Bank of India Announces Record “Disbursement to Women Entrepreneurs”

Committed to Women Empowerment, Union Bank of India announced disbursement of more than Rs 1000 Crs of loans to Women Entrepreneurs under its flag ship scheme Union Nari Shakti. 

Union Nari Shakti is identified as one of the niche products of the Bank to achieve market leadership. The scheme envisages sanction of need based credit facilities to Women Entrepreneurs in the range of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 Crs with liberalized terms. 

As part of its vision to assist larger number of Women Entrepreneurs, Union Bank of India conducted a month long campaign under Union Nari Shakti scheme and during the said campaign period, Union Bank of India disbursed record amount of more than Rs 1,000 Crs to 10000 + Women Entrepreneurs across the country. 

Speaking on the occasion, Shri C M Minocha, Chief General Manager(MSME), Union Bank of India, said that it is very special moment for the Bank to achieve the milestone figure of aiding Women Entrepreneurs, the Nari Shakti of our country during the ongoing festive season celebrating the power of Women. He further remarked that Union Bank of India will continue its journey to support Women Entrepreneurs as part of its vision to become Bank of 1st choice for all MSMEs. 

Refex Industries Limited Grants ESOPs To Employees Vested Within Next 5 Years

Refex Industries Limited (Refex), a company listed on NSE & BSE and working as a part of Refex Group, recently announced to give employee stock option plan (ESOP) which would be vested within the next 5 years. Refex had announced the ESOPs’ distribution for all eligible employees in the first tranche, on account of healthy growth.  

“This scheme was started with 20,00,000 options that were set aside for employees, of which 7,00,009 Equity Shares were granted in the first tranche to some of the employees”, said Anil Jain, MD of Refex.  

Refex is a diversified business involved in the area of Coal and Ash handling, Power Trading, Solar power generation and Refrigerant Gases’ manufacturing and re-filling. It is a pioneer in environmentally acceptable refrigerant gases.  

The distribution of such ESOPs has been made inclusive and includes employees across all ranks and levels of Refex. 

“The past 20 years have been a remarkable journey where we have been able to establish ourselves as a strong player in our business verticals. We have also been able to expand our business verticals over the years. This grant of ESOP will further motivate the employees and we will together work harder in our endeavor to scale newer heights as Refex”, concludes Anil Jain, MD of Refex. 

About Refex Group*: 

Refex Group is one of India’s leading business groups, serving across renewables (solar power), refrigerant gases, coal and fly ash handling, healthcare, and power trading sector. Refex Group also supports the dreams of budding entrepreneurs by way of its investments and providing additional support to start-ups. With multiple offices in India, it has been a 20-year-long journey of learning, resilience, and agility that Refex has traversed where it has always aimed for excellence. The Group relies on a strong foundation of principles such as integrity, diversity, dedication, commitment, and competitiveness, and keeps its customers and shareholders’ interest at the core.  

* Refex Industries Limited along with its associate companies, sister companies, and their subsidiaries form part of the Refex Group.  

Honda Cars India Launches Its New Brand Campaign “A Honda Goes Beyond”

- Campaign is based on valuing customer insights 

- Focuses on going beyond with outstanding quality of its products and services. 

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), leading manufacturer of premium cars in India launched its new brand campaign ‘A Honda Goes Beyond’. The new campaign aims to connect with brand enthusiasts and a new generation of customers by showcasing Honda values of offering Innovative and Futuristic Technology products. Every Honda car is designed keeping superior customer experience at the core, to help people make their lives better today and into future.  Honda shows how it is forever determined to meet and exceed the expectations of customers, and therefore the brand promise of ‘A Honda Goes Beyond’.  

Speaking about the brand promise and the new campaign, Mr. Takuya Tsumura, President & CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, “Honda’s journey in India has been nothing less than spectacular and credit goes to our customers who have bestowed their trust in Honda’s premium cars for the last 25 years. It has always been our endeavor to keep customers at the centre of our products and services. The current campaign is a celebration of bond that our customers share with us and we promise to go beyond in everything that we do.” 

The concept of the campaign is deeply rooted in customer insight. Honda understands that before buying a car, people go through the loop of exploration and evaluation. They are overwhelmed with anticipation, reviews, comparisons, recommendations. The exploration is not about buying alone but also service, ownership and maintenance. They have a lot of expectation from the brands. 

That’s where Honda promises to go the extra mile to make sure that every Honda journey is a joy and delight for its customers.  And this goes much beyond just the drive, the engineering and the cars. It is a commitment to every side of the ownership experience.  Honda fulfills all expectations, delighting the customer at every touchpoint throughout their relationship and therefore A Honda Goes Beyond. 

The campaign will be featured across a wide range of high reach and high affinity digital and social platforms.  

About Honda Cars India Ltd. 

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), a leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, was established in December 1995 with a commitment to provide Honda’s passenger car models and technologies, to Indian customers. HCIL’s corporate office is based in Greater Noida, UP and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is located at Tapukara, District. Alwar, Rajasthan.  

The company’s product range includes Honda Jazz, Honda Amaze, Honda WR-V, Honda City and the recently launched Honda City e: HEV catering to the diverse needs of its discerning buyers across different segments. Honda’s models are strongly associated with advanced design and technology, apart from their established qualities of durability, reliability, safety, and fuel efficiency. The company has a strong sales and distribution network spread across the country.  

Besides the new car business, Honda offers a one-stop solution for buying and selling pre-owned cars through its business function Honda Auto Terrace. The Honda Certified Pre-owned cars come with an assurance of quality and peace of mind that caters to the diverse and burgeoning needs of pre-owned car buyers across the country. 

Genrobotic’s Bandicoot Robot Emerged As The Winner of Swachhata Startup Challenge 2022 By MoHUA

Genrobotics, the leading Indian robotic company has emerged as the winner of The Swachhata Startup Challenge for their product Bandicoot, as the best innovative solution to eliminate manual scavenging, which also transforms the sanitation workers lives. The program launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA) and Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi is For Leveraging innovation and technology to eliminate social stigma and challenges. The event was felicitated by Shri. Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs of India, Shri. Kaushal Kishore, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, Roopa Mishra, Joint Secretary and National Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (MOHUA), and Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Genrobotics is addressing the issue of manual scavenging in India with Bandicoot, their flagship robotic product. Lauded by Prime Minister Modi, these robots are designed to completely eliminate manual scavenging and empower manual scavengers by turning them into robot operators along with many other positive social, economic and environmental impacts.

These advanced robots are well-equipped with gas sensing systems to detect hazardous gases thereby eliminating risks of accidents inside manholes. The interactive and user-friendly interface for manual scavengers’ aids in rehabilitation and uplift their life by making them robot operators to help them live a respectful and better life.

“Bandicoot is the most scientific and effective solution for removing manual intervention from manhole cleaning compared to any other grabbing and suction machines. It has special attributes including robotic arms, legs, and vision that aid sanitation workers in precise cleaning from outside the manholes. Bandicoots offer a cost-effective solution for the ULBs as well as efficiency and safety for the workers." said Nikhil NP, Director of Genrobotics.

In addition to many social-environment benefits, it brings huge financial advantages for the governments. Robotic scavenging is more efficient as it can cover up to 10 manholes every day against 1 or 2 being covered by manual scavenging. With huge savings on wages and operational costs, a municipal corporation can save approximately Rs 8000 Inr on cleaning 10 manholes a day.

Other cleaning techniques, such as sucking and grabbing machines, are also available, however, they are unable to remove solid waste, and the grabbing machine can only clean around 20% of the space inside the manhole. The authorities are required to use human labour in this case, however, Bandicoot outperforms other techniques of cleaning manhole blockages by a 100% cleaning efficiency because of its robotic arms that resemble human arms and bigger opening bucket design. For bandicoot to win the Swachhata Startup Challenge 2022, this was a significant turning point.

The initiative has experienced excellent success So far, it has rehabilitated over 1700+ workers across 17 states. It is currently being used by ULBs, smart cities, and refineries. Bandicoot Robot meets 9 out of 17 SDG goals set by the United Nations including good health, clean water and sanitation, good jobs and economic growth, innovation and Infrastructure, reduced inequalities, peace, justice and strong institutions. For its path-breaking efforts, the company has earned the trust of renowned business tycoons Anand Mahindra and Zoho Company as its investors.  This technology won the AMRUT Tech Challenge Award as the Most Promising Innovative Solution for Sanitation by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.

Udyojika Swavalamban Mela Is Organized By SIDBI & Vidarbha Industries Association Lady Entrepreneurs Wing At Nagpur

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Vidarbha Industries Association Lady Entrepreneurs Wing (VIA LEW) have joined hands to conduct “Udyojika Swavalamban Mela”, from September 30 to October 3, 2022 at Kusumtai Wankhede Hall, North Ambazari Road, Nagpur. This Swavalamban Mela would provide a common platform to women entrepreneurs, including tribal women, farmerette from rural / semi urban areas to display their products/concepts to the public. There will be about 90 stalls with a host of products like imitation jewellery, purses and bags handicrafts, health care products, corporate gifting garments and jewellery, handmade kurtis, metal wall hanging, interior accessories, Kosa silk and cotton sarees, garments, home décor items, hand embroidery crafts, chemical free herbal products, bags, etc. Along with this, arrangements have been made for training to the entrepreneurs for their capacity building and providing opportunities for credit connect to increase their business.

Shri V.S.V.Rao, Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI said that such Swavalamban Melas were being organized by SIDBI across the country from time to time and they have empowered the micro entrepreneurs. He also expressed that the Udyojika Swavalamban Mela at Nagpur too would make a difference in the lives of the participating women entrepreneurs, and this will have a demonstrative impact on other women and encourage them to start their own enterprise.

About SIDBI:

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) set up on 2nd April 1990 under an Act of Indian Parliament, as the Principal Financial Institution for Promotion, Financing and Development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector as well as for co-ordination of functions of institutions engaged in similar activities. In the context of the changing MSME lending landscape, the role of SIDBI has been realigned through adoption of SIDBI Vision 2.0 which envisages an integrated credit and development support role of the Bank by being a thought leader, adopting a credit-plus approach, creating a multiplier effect and serving as an aggregator in MSME space.

For more information  visit: https://www.sidbi.in/en/about-sidbi

#BeautifulLikeMaa: MADAME’s Durga Puja Campaign In Kolkata Receives Immense Love

MADAME, a leading western wear fashion brand in India, recently organised its Durga Puja campaign in the city of Kolkata to enhance brand visibility in the region and to celebrate the spirit of the festival. The brand campaign, titled #BeautifulLikeMaa or #MaayerMataSundor, was /created to make the women of Bengal look and feel as graceful as Goddess Durga, but with a contemporary touch through their elegant and beautiful attire.

The event was organised in participation with the clothing retail chain – Shopper’s Stop – and three exclusive events were organised in South City Mall, City Centre, and Acropolis on 23, 24, and 25th September respectively. For the first two events, Tollywood star - Sandipta Sen was the face.. The event had exciting activities, quiz, and much more which allowed the participants to show their talent and also receive gift hampers by MADAME.

Mishmee Das, another Tollywood star, was roped in for the event held on 25th of September. 

“The two days were full of excitement because we were able to meet so many followers and were able to introduce them to the lovely MADAME collection. This was a perfect start to Durga Puja and I am personally touched by the campaign theme #BeautifulLikeMaa as it resonates strongly with every Bengali woman,” said Sandipta Sen.

“I had a great time interacting with the people and helping them dress up in MADAME clothes. The cherry on the top was the essence of Durga Puja in the whole event. I am glad to be a part of this,” added Mishmee Das.

“Overall, the event had a Pujo vibe, and we are happy to have received a strong response from people. Bengal has been a region close to our hearts because of the strong sense of fashion and the combination of traditional and western that manifests in Bengali attire. I am sure this event will provide an opportunity to the people of Kolkata and Bengal to connect more strongly with our brand,” said Sumedha Jain, Head- Marketing & Communications, Jain Amar Group, the parent company of MADAME.

MADAME has launched its Durga Puja clothing collection ahead of the grand festival, which is celebrated with utmost enthusiasm across the country, and especially in the Bengal region. During the five-day festival, people go out in the evenings for pandal hopping, dressed up for the occasion in beautiful and bright colours. 

The collection comprises of elegant workmanship in vibrant styles, crafted with festive look and appeal. The bright shades symbolise dynamism and strength, while minimal embellishment is indicative of the grace of Goddess Durga. 

The festive collection is designed for everyone who is looking forward to stand out and make an impression on everyone.

Zed Black Forays Into Puja Essentials Segment, Launches 'Samarpan' Series From Bhimsaini Camphor To Puja Oil

Mysore Deep Perfumery House (MDPH) a household name in agarbatti market with its flagship brand Zed Black Agarbatti on the auspicious occasion of Navratri Festival announced its foray into the puja essentials segment with the launch of 'Samarpan', a widest range of puja samagri and puja category products for domestic & export markets. The product portfolio that includes Camphor, Bhimsaini Camphor, Chandan Tika, Diya Batti, Sambrani Dhoop Cups, Agarbatti, Puja Oil and more targets diverse consumer needs today for daily prayers and festive fervour.

Zed Black has been consistently recording double-digit year-on-year rise in volumes by processing over 3 crore incense sticks and selling over 15 lakh packs every day, making it one of the largest selling agarbatti manufacturers and retailers in India and also the leading incense sticks exporter in the country.

"For agarbatti and dhoopbatti, the market sentiment looks quite promising, as it is every year during the festive season that contributes to the sector immensely each time. The launch is in line with Zed Black's focus on accelerating innovation with multiple offerings, strengthening its puja samagri portfolio and expanding its presence across all forms of retail market", shared Ankit Agrawal, Director, Mysore Deep Perfumery House & Zed Black.

The current agarbatti market is pegged at Rs 7,000 crore and Zed Black commands a market share of nearly 20% of the organised market with its brands Zed Black 3 in 1, Manthan Dhoop, Manthan Sambrani Cups, Aarogyam Camphor, Zed Black Pineapple, Shriphal, Gauved Sambrani Cups, Aromix and Nature Flower Gold and Cian. The company has now forayed in the 2000cr+ puja essentials market as well and ramped up capacity with its new factory at Kshipra Village in Indore, Madhya Pradesh for the festive season.

"Over the years we have observed how the consumers have evolved in terms of choices & buying habits. The latest trend that we have seen is that consumers are looking at value for money products and opting for monthly packs hence the diverse portfolio. We have also launched Samarpan Nano, the budgeted incense pouch. Consumers today have become conscious of their choices and value-proposition and branded agarbatti and Puja products are taking precedence in their purchase decisions", shared Anshul Agrawal, Director, Mysore Deep Perfumery House on the changing dynamics of the incense sticks industry.

The company is expecting upto 25% growth in sales this festive season ably dominated by its flagship PAN India brands Zed Black 3 in 1 incense sticks endorsed by Legendary Indian Cricketer M S Dhoni and Manthan Dhoop & Bamboo-less Dhoop Sticks and Pure Sambrani Cups category promoted by Bollywood Superstar Hrithik Roshan.

The puja essentials range from the house of MDPH is the widest available in the market in terms of packaging and quantity.  Zed Black 'Samarpan Camphor' is Available in Jar (2g,4g, 15g, 30g, 80g), Pouch (10g, 500g,) &  ‘Samarpan Camphor Slab’ in Zipper packaging in 15g & 50g. Also launched is Zed Black 'Samarpan Bhimseni Kapoor' which is the purest form of camphor and is available in 50g & 100g packaging. Zed Black is looking at countrywide distribution in the coming months.

The company has also launched 'Samarpan Pooja Oil' available in 500 ml & 1000 ml sizes in the market.  'Samarpan Chandan Tika' which is a purest form of sandal, made available in 40g & 65g packaging is also launched. Other puja essentials launched this festive season are 'Samarpan Diyabatti’, available in round batti & long batti alongwith its quintessential range of Samarpan 5 in 1 Agarbatti range in 100gms, 250gms & 500gms in zipper packaging.

While speaking about their expansion plans to meet the domestic and global need of the industry, Ankit Agrawal, further adds, "After 2019 when the Centre announced its policy to encourage local manufacturing we have begun backward integration to produce our own raw incense sticks and have been investing in setting up modern manufacturing units near Indore in Madhya Pradesh making it country's biggest raw agarbatti manufacturing unit spread across five units over a total area of 9,40,000 sq. ft providing employment and skilling to 3500 unskilled workers".

The brand today is one of the top 3 agarbatti manufacturers in the country. The company also has set a strong global footprint with exports to 40+ countries like USA, Brazil, Ethiopia, Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia and more in 6 continents and employs 3500+ rural population, out of which 80% are women workforce.

About MDPH:

Since its inception in 1992, Mysore Deep Perfumery House with, its flagship brand Zed Black 3-in-1 is amongst the key players in the organized agarbatti sector providing highest quality range of agarbatti, dhoopbatti, dhoop cones, dhoop sticks, essential oils, hawan samagri and more accounting to a vast range of over 1200 products. The brand today is one of the top 3 agarbatti manufacturers in the country, processing over three crore incense sticks and selling 1.5 million packs per day.

MDPH employs 3500+ rural population, and empowers 80% are women workforce. The company has set a strong global footprint with exports to 40+ countries like USA, Brazil, Ethiopia, Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia etc in 6 continents.

Unwind This Festive Season With A Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine, Jacob’s Creek UNVINED

Festivities are right around the corner and undeniably it is the most indulgent time of the year. While zero-sugar sweets and gluten-free savories have already made its way to our festive menus, its time to expand our low-calorie beverage options.

Be it in the quest for sobriety or just a momentary break from the regular bar favorites during Navratri & Diwali, what better way to celebrate the festivities than with a special bottle of non-alcoholic wine series by Jacob’s Creek UNVINED. This non-alcoholic range is available in two varietals - Riesling and Shiraz.

The UNVINED range has 50% less calories than regular wine of the same varietal, catering to the consumer base looking for varied options to suit their preferences and mood. UNVINED is the perfect answer to occasions when one wants to enjoy a glass of wine without the alcohol content yet retaining the true character of the original styles and flavors. Whether you are celebrating with your partner or friends and family, Jacob’s Creek UNVINED is a perfect gifting option to celebrate the most auspicious season of the year.

Unvined Riesling offers attractive citrus, lime, and floral notes that are typical of Australian Riesling. The light-bodied palate of the non-alcoholic wine with refreshing fruit notes is balanced by crisp acidity on the finish. While Unvined Shiraz has appealing plum, blackberry and spice notes distinctive to a South Australian Shiraz. Its medium-bodied palate delivers sweet fruit and lightly toasty oak flavor supported by soft ripe tannins.

Unvined Riesling and Shiraz are available in select retail outlets in Delhi and Mumbai and pan-India through Amazon India and Reliance outlets at INR 900/-.

India's Superstar Ram Charan Begins His Exiciting Ride With Hero Motocorp

To bring added excitement for the customers in the festive season, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, today announced the appointment of Indian superstar, Ram Charan as the new brand ambassador.

The energized high-decibel campaign of Glamour XTEC - Gazab Style, Gazab Technology features Ram Charan riding stunning Glamour in Nexus Blue Colour. The actor is seen as a stylish protagonist who brings alive the unique aspects of the motorcycle such as connectivity, performance, style and safety. The Glamour XTEC personifies the evolved preferences of today’s youth with its elevated glamour quotient and consistent performance.

The new campaign taps into a new-age youth culture of ‘swiping’ and how with just a right or a left swipe they decide what they like and what they don’t. More importantly it’s with just a glance that they decide what they like which makes leaving a great first impression critical. The campaign depicts Glamour XTEC setting the benchmark in the market with its new-age features, premium and youthful appeal, thus leading the game.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Ranjivjit Singh, Chief Growth Officer, Hero MotoCorp said, “The association with the celebrated Indian actor, Ram Charan marks yet another significant milestone in the journey of one of India’s most popular two-wheeler brands, Glamour. With Ram Charan, we have gained a partner who shares the same X-factor as the new Glamour XTEC, and is equally youthful, performance-oriented, and vibrant. As the motorcycle continues to set new benchmarks in the 125cc segment this festive season, we are looking at building a deeper connection with our customers through our upcoming television campaign featuring Ram.”

On the appointment as the brand ambassador for Hero Glamour XTEC, the Indian actor Ram Charan said, “I am really excited to be a part of the Hero MotoCorp Family - the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters. And, I am really looking forward to a glamorous time ahead.”

The commercial will showcase both the effortless style and high fashion quotient as well as the attention-grabbing high-tech features. Within just a short period of time, Glamour XTEC has caught the imagination of the customers in the 125cc motorcycle segment. The motorcycle appeals to the youth with its exciting features, such as Bluetooth connectivity for call and SMS alerts, Navigation Assist, Built-in Mobile Charger, LED headlamp along with safety features, Side-Stand Engine cut off and Bank Angle Sensor.

Link to TVC –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4keKFYWQpW4

FiveS Digital Partners With Roth Automation LLC, Heralding The Entry of AI In Business Processes

FiveS Digital and Roth Automation announced a strategic partnership last week to deliver highly advanced solutions to businesses to streamline and automate their processes and make them more efficient. The partnership strengthens FiveS Digital's presence in the North American market and allows both companies to maximize the potential of solving business process management, Manual F&A/HR processes, and Customer Experience problems through their combined capabilities.

Highly efficient business processes and amazing customer experiences are the key factors in the success and expansion of any business. With this strategic collaboration, FiveS aims to complement the technological solutions it provides to businesses with Artificial Intelligence and automation. As a result of this collaboration, FiveS Digital will also be able to present a sustainable onshore-offshore model for its North American clients to help them meet their sustainability goals.

During our conversation with Kapil Sharma, CEO at FiveS Digital, he commented, “Having known and worked with Jonathan for a couple of projects, I am confident FiveS Digital and Roth Automation have a lot of complementing synergies that will enable us to serve our combined clientele better.”

The CEO/President of Roth Automation, Jonathan Rothman, commented, "Partnerships are about stacking the deck. Having access to additional resources, a wide range of experience, and specific expertise is essential for growth. The addition of FiveS Digital will enable Roth Automation to expand its capabilities and serve a wider range of customers."

The ability to upgrade systems and upskill people determines how fast any business transforms in today's world. Digital transformation can be accomplished by integrating your people and systems frictionlessly through intelligent automation. Regardless of how the future looks, both automation and intelligence will play a big role. This partnership is the first big step we are taking in helping businesses to prepare for the future.

With digital transformation and Customer Experience solutions & Services, FiveS Digital enables businesses to scale and serve their customers better. With the right blend of Machine + Human Intelligence, they bring in operational efficiency and outstanding customer experience. They work with small, mid, large size businesses and start-ups, enabling them to build/scale/improve/optimize their business processes and serve the customers better.

With a vintage of building DOCi Group for 14 years, Roth Automation quickly established itself as a renowned name in the digital transformation space serving Fortune 500 businesses. This is attributed to its Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) and Conversational AI expertise, which takes repetitive business-critical tasks and activities, and automates them. Thereby minimizing human errors while enhancing efficiency.

Investment Opportunities In Indian Insurance Industry To Usher Next Phase Of Growth

* Current decade to observe India emerge as one of the largest insurance markets across the globe 

The Indian Venture & Alternate Capital Association (IVCA), the apex industry body for alternative assets, organized a sector exclusive forum to discuss - ‘Investing into India’s burgeoning Insurance Ecosystem’, in Bengaluru today. The forum saw many leading Private Equity, Venture Capital funds and Family Offices participate along with the Chairman of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) - Mr. Debasish Panda, gracing the occasion to highlight the opportunities in the insurance space in a fast-growing digital economy in India. 

“The rapid economic expansion, ably supported by digital infrastructure and innovation will play a defining role to make the insurance market in India as one of the largest across the globe.  The market size is estimated to reach USD 200Bn by FY '27 at the present growth rate however we have aspirational plans, and we expect the market to grow by leaps and bounds, and the contribution of venture capital, private equity and family offices in nation building is a step in the right direction. With the support of the ecosystem, the burgeoning Indian insurance sector gains additional capital source as well as help foster new products and solutions to overcome present challenges of affordability and accessibility,” said Debasish Panda, Chairman, IRDAI.  

Insurance penetration in India experienced an increase in momentum in recent years moving to 4.2% in FY21 from 3.76% in FY20.  Multiple reasons are cited for this development, specifically, ease of doing business, deployment of digital solutions by insurers, change in the attitude of consumers and their realization of financial security, evolution of products, including new regulatory framework regarding product approval and distribution by IRDAI. 

“With India today ranking 10th in the global life insurance market and ahead of China (at 2.4%) and UK (at 3%)#, we are suitably positioned to cater to the rising demand of younger and digital-first consumers emerging from smaller and newer geographies and across life and non-life” said Karthik Reddy, Chairperson, IVCA & Co-founder and Managing Partner, Blume Ventures. 

He further commented, “Customer experience, cost of distribution and product innovation are the top three areas of disruption for insurance companies. Thereby, the sector transformation has resulted in the introduction of innovative and tech-first products which solve issues of accessibility, cost-efficiency while elevating customer experience, prompting an unprecedented scale of behavioral change.” 

The event was powered by Sequoia Capital and Khaitan & Co. and saw participation from the following - Karthik Reddy (Chairperson, IVCA, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Blume Ventures), Rahul Garg (Partner, Premji Invest), Ganesh KC (President, Pratithi Investment), Divaspati Singh (Partner, Khaitan & Co.), Niren Patel (Partner, Khaitan & Co.), Shweta Rajpal Kohli (Chief Public Policy Officer, Sequoia Capital India & SE Asia), Ishaan Mittal (Managing Director, Sequoia Capital), Sandeep Kagzi (Principal, Warburg Pincus), Treasa Mathew (Director, Investments, Omidyar Network India), Sanjay Swamy (Managing Partner, Prime Ventures), Nithya Eswaran (Managing Director, Multiples Alternate Asset Management Pvt. Ltd.), Divya Sehgal (Partner, True North), and Rajat Tandon (President, IVCA). 

About IVCA – Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association:

Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA) is a not-for-profit, apex industry body promoting the alternate capital industry and fostering a vibrant investing ecosystem in India. IVCA is committed to support the ecosystem by facilitating advocacy discussions with the Government, policymakers, and regulators, resulting in the rise of entrepreneurial activity, innovation and job creation in India and contributing towards the development of India as a leading fund management hub. 

IVCA members are the most active domestic and global VCs, PEs, funds for Infrastructure, Real Estate, Credit funds, Limited Partners, Family offices & Corporate VCs investing into startups of all stages, venture growth, buyout, special situations, credit, and venture debt. The membership is also extended to institutional investors, banks, angel networks groups, corporate advisors, accountants, lawyers, Govt. bodies, academic institutions and other service providers to the venture capital and private equity industry.