Nestlé India’s Unveils Amritsari Achari, Mumbaiya Chatak, Super Chennai and Bengali Jhaal New Range of Noodles In India

Nestlé India announced the launch of its MAGGI Masalas of India Noodles range. The new range of MAGGI noodles consists of four new flavors - Amritsari Achari, Mumbaiya Chatak, Super Chennai and Bengali Jhaal. All four variants have been crafted using signature herbs and spices used in various regional cuisines of India to create mouthwatering Indian flavors with a delicious MAGGI twist. A unique MAGGI Masalas of India Noodle box has been launched, that contains 3 units each, of all the 4 flavors and is available exclusively at PayTM Mall at a price of Rs 240.

Pepped with the quintessential spices of the homemade achaar, the Amritsari Achari Masala Noodles flavor has been inspired by Amritsari cuisine and is a delight for the people seeking a tangy- pickled-twist to their MAGGI noodles.

The Mumbaiya Chatak Masala is on ode to Mumbai’s chatakdaar sensibilities. Star anise, Clove, Cinnamon and Kasuri methi come together to form a delightful flavor and is an embodiment of everything Mumbaiya.

South India’s story is steeped around spices, leading to the region’s modern day pallet preferences. The Super Chennai Masala Noodles combines the flavors and aroma curry leaves, red chilies, tamarind and traditional sambar masala, spices which are native to South India.

The fourth flavor in the line-up has been influenced by West Bengal. Renowned for its tradition, culture and food, West Bengal has its own set of signature spices which gives food from the region a distinct taste. The panch-foran is a signature blend of five spices which come together to flavor the Bengali Jhaal Masala Noodles.

                                                                                    

Talking about the launch,  Maarten Geraets, General Manager, Foods said, “At Nestlé India, our brand philosophy is to offer our discerning consumers with unique brand experiences. With the launch of the MAGGI Masalas of India Noodles, we will be offering MAGGI lovers even more ways to enjoy their favorite noodles. We are happy to introduce this new range and are confident that it will be appreciated by our loyal customers, who expect nothing but the best from Nestlé India.”

Rapid Metro Gurgaon Phase II Is 6.6 km Corridor from Golf Course Road to Sector 55/56

The second phase of Rapid Metro Rail Gurgaon was launched today by the Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar. With Siemens acting as a lead contractor, the second phase of Gurgaon metro has been successfully completed. The minimum headway will be 270 seconds which will give a line capacity to carry about 30,000 passengers. Siemens has supplied seven three-car trains for the extension. Each train can accommodate up to 800 passengers. Siemens has also supplied its Sicas ECC type electronic interlocking, LZB 700M automatic train control with ATP/ATO, and its Vicos OC 501 ATS system.

Phase I of the Rapid Metro Gurgaon has been in operation since November 2013 and connects Gurugram Cyber City with Sikanderpur and has a proven record of more than 99.88% punctuality. With the launch of Phase II, the connectivity has increased with additional 5 stops between Sikandarpur and DoubleTree Hotel in Sector 55/56. The southward extension of the Rapid Metro Rail will ease the commute to Golf Course and Golf Course Extension, greatly improving the poor connectivity in this rapidly growing commercial hub of the National Capital Region.

“We at Siemens are happy to be an integral part of the improvement in Gurugram’s public transportation system through the second phase of the Rapid Metro. Mobility is an area of expertise for us and Siemens will continue to partner with infrastructure providers to help improve connectivity,” said Tilak Raj Seth, Executive Vice-President and Head, Mobility, Siemens Ltd.

Startup Funding Drops 46% with No of Deals Falling 31% Q-o-Q in 2017

News Corp VCCEdge,  India’s leading publisher of alternative investment, deals and startup news, data and information and part of globally diversified media, education and information services group, News Corp, has today released its Startup Deal Report Q1 CY2017.

Capturing funding deal activities encompassing private equity, venture capital, angel/seed investment transactions for the seventeen quarters ending March 2017, the report also offers information on mergers and acquisitions with sector and region-wise analysis.

Highlights of Startup Deals report

Startup funding sees grim times

·         Startup funding activity slowed down drastically with deal-making slipping 47.45% vis-à-vis Q1 CY2016

·         Cumulative deal values dipped by 45.76% Q-o-Q

Consolidation soon after a record year of startup funding in the year 2015

·         M&A deals in the startup space witnessed a 75% jump Q-o-Q

·         Acquisition of Citrus Payments Solutions ($130mn), One Mobikwik ($41mn), ZipDial Mobile Solutions ($31mn) and Local Cube Commerce ($16mn) are amongst the top M&A deals

Investors show preference for late stage funding

·         Angel and seed investments fell both in volume and value terms with deal volumes reduced to half with 120 deals in Q1 CY2017 in comparison to 245 deals in the same period last year

·         Series A funding declined 65% in deal value on a Y-o-Y basis

·         Series B funding value improved 22% in the FY Q1 compared to the same period last year, despite deal numbers being lower by 16%.

Fin-tech in; Food-tech, Travel-tech on the way out

·         Fintech with 11 deals worth $18.5 mn, Food Tech with 8 deals worth $11.1 mn, Travel Tech with $11.3 mn from 4 deals, Health Tech with $8.43 mn from 10 deals and Real Estate Tech with 2 deals worth $10 mn were the top sectors that attracted investor interest

·         Health Tech remains a strong bet in terms of deals bagged

Bengaluru Outshines Delhi in Growth of Startup Funding Deals

·         24% of start-up deals were cracked in Bangalore at a total deal value of $96 mn with 67.5% being at the seed stage

·         Second is Delhi-NCR in terms of deal volume with 38 deals worth $44 mn

·         60% of deals in Mumbai were in the angel stage with cumulative deal values touching $34 mn

·         Hyderabad with 15 deals to the tune of $4mn and Chennai with 5 deals amounting to $12 mn made it to the top 5 investment destinations of India.

·         Investment pattern: Angel and seed investments seem to be the dominant theme across cities without exception

Key 5 Startup deals in Q1CY2017

·         Bengaluru-based ID Fresh Food India Pvt. Ltd (Packaged Foods & Meats category) raised $25mn 

·         Bengaluru-based Cue Learn Pvt. Ltd (Education Services category) raised $15mn

·         Gurgaon-based Square Yards Consulting Pvt. Ltd (Internet Software & Services category), Noida-based Holiday Triangle Travel Pvt. Ltd (Real Estate-Tech category) and Mumbai-basedUlink Agritech Pvt. Ltd. (Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals category) raised $10mn

Sharing her views on the News Corp VCCEdge Startup Deal analysis Q1 CY2017, Gaurav Roy, Business Head, VCCEdge, News Corp VCCirclesaid, “A rise in Series-B funding even as seed and Series-A funding trends show a decline reflects investor cautiousness in early and mid-stage funding and the increasing focus on market-readiness for funding. The relief however is that M&A deals have picked up momentum post-2015 coinciding with the drop in funding activity in the startup space, turning into an exit route for some promoters and a major source of funding for others. Enterprises which can work on a combination of strong revenue models and continuously updated technological knowhow which ensures a great consumer experience will continue to attract investors”.

Siemens to Acquire HaCon - Leading Software Provider for Public Transportation, Mobility and Logistics

Siemens is planning to acquire HaCon, a company headquartered in Hanover, Germany. The two parties have agreed not to disclose financial details. Pending the approval of antitrust authorities, the deal is expected to be concluded in the first half of calendar year 2017.

HaCon is a leading international provider of planning, scheduling and information systems for public transportation, mobility and logistics. The company has been a successful player in the mobility business for 30 years. Trip planning software from HaCon is used in more than 25 countries and comprises the centerpiece of the travel information systems in operation at more than 100 transport companies and associations.

“The acquisition of HaCon will enable us to enter a completely new business area that complements our current portfolio, expanding it to include timetable scheduling as well as trip planning by passengers,” said Jochen Eickholt, CEO of Siemens’ Mobility Division. “With this move, we’re rigorously implementing our digitalization strategy and opening up new growth opportunities for our company along our customers’ value chain,” he added.

“Together with a strong partner like Siemens AG, we’ll be even better equipped to drive the mobility software business, particularly in the global market,” said Michael Frankenberg, CEO of HaCon.

Siemens is already a leading rail automation provider, offering systems up to and including complete driverless operation. A leader in road mobility solutions as well, Siemens plans to expand its intermodal digital offerings with the acquisition of HaCon. Together with HaCon, Siemens will be able to serve rail infrastructure operators and public transportation companies as a single-source supplier of innovative software solutions for train and route planning, timetable information systems, cutting-edge payment systems and intermodal mobility platforms. In addition, apps for use on passengers’ mobile devices will enhance trip planning, transparency and thus acceptance.

Infosys to Hire 10,000 American Nationals Shortly; Plans to Open 4 Tech and Innovation Hubs in USA

Infosys, a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services, today announced that it plans to hire 10,000 American workers over the next two years. As part of this initiative, Infosys will open four new Technology and Innovation Hubs across the country focusing on cutting-edge technology areas, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, user experience, emerging digital technologies, cloud, and big data.

These four hubs will not only have technology and innovation focus areas, but will closely serve clients in key industries such as financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, energy and more. The first hub, which will open in Indiana in August 2017, is expected to create 2,000 jobs by 2021 for American workers and will help boost Indiana’s economy.

“Infosys is committed to hiring 10,000 American technology workers over the next two years to help invent and deliver the digital futures for our clients in the United States,” said Vishal Sikka, Chief Executive Officer, Infosys. 

“Learning and education, along with cultivating top local and global talent, have always been the core of what Infosys brings to clients; it is what makes us a leader in times of great change. In helping our clients improve their businesses and pursue new kinds of opportunities, we are really excited to bring innovation and education in a fundamental and massive way to American workers. New advances in technology – artificial intelligence, in particular – are radically transforming our world, and it is within our reach to learn these new technologies and to be the innovators and entrepreneurs who bring solutions based on these technologies to our clients in all industries.”

“It's so good to welcome Infosys to Indiana, and to expand our growing tech ecosystem with the addition of their estimated 2,000 Hoosier jobs,” said Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb.  “Indiana continues to put the tools in place, such as the Next Level Trust Fund and incentivizing direct flights, that allows us to attract and retain great companies like Infosys. In addition, our higher education institutions are producing a world class workforce, establishing Indiana as the innovation hub of the Midwest. I look forward to working with Infosys to elevate Indiana to the next level.”

In filling these jobs, Infosys will hire experienced technology professionals and recent graduates from major universities, and local and community colleges, to create the talent pools for the future. To ensure that American workers are fully equipped to innovate and support clients in the rapid digitization of all industries and consistent with Infosys’ over 35 year-long commitment to the U.S., the company will institute training programs in key competencies such as user experience, cloud, artificial intelligence, big data and digital offerings, as well as core technology and computer science skills.

This development comes as part of Infosys’ continued legacy of a three-decade long investment across the U.S. In just the last 3 years, Infosys has renewed this focus by setting up an innovation hub in Silicon Valley. A unique, open environment that encourages new ways of working, collaborating, thinking and delivering breakthrough next generation project to clients. 

Infosys pursues its mission of inspiring children, young adults and educators to become creators of technology through its charitable foundation, Infosys Foundation USA. Since 2015, more than 134,000 students, over 2,500 teachers and almost 2,500 schools across America have benefited from high quality computer science training and classroom equipment funded by Infosys Foundation USA. The Foundation also partners with organizations such as Code.org, CSTA and others to advance the skills development of millions of students.

“Since joining Infosys nearly three years ago, it has been my personal endeavor to help us get much closer to our clients, to co-innovate with them, on their most important business problems,” added Sikka. “Having lived in the U.S. for nearly 30 years, and being a part of the incredible innovation here, I truly believe Infosys can help clients bring innovation more directly into their businesses, as they create and drive their digital transformations. We can achieve this by enhancing our ability to attract and recruit local top talent across the United States, by harnessing the global scale of Infosys, through software and platforms, and by educating and training people in the necessary skills.”

Amazon Will Continue Investing in Technology, Infra in India: Jeff Bezos

Global e-commerce major Amazon will keep investing in the Indian market to strengthen technology and infrastructure as it looks to overtake local rival Flipkart.

The US-based company has already committed investments to the tune of $5 billion in India.

“Our India team is moving fast and delivering for customers and sellers... It’s still day 1 for e-commerce in India, and I assure you that we’ll keep investing in technology and infrastructure,” Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement.

The world’s second richest man also said “Amazon.in is the most visited and the fastest-growing marketplace in India.”

Amazon, which entered India in 2013, has been locked in an intense battle with Tiger Global-backed Flipkart for leadership in the Indian market.

Amazon has been aggressively investing in setting up fulfilment centres across the country to ensure speedy delivery to consumers. It currently has 34 such warehouses across 10 States.

With Flipkart’s recent fund-raise of $1.4 billion from Tencent, Microsoft and eBay, the competition is set to further intensify in the coming days as the Bengaluru-based firm will also pump in money to strengthen operations and woo customers with offers.

Bezos highlighted that Amazon’s team in India has increased Prime (which offers fast shipping and video streaming to members) selection by 75 per cent since launching the programme nine months ago.

Also, fulfilment capacity for sellers has been ramped up by 26 per cent this year and the Fire TV Stick been launched to enhance the experience for customers. Amazon, however, did not break out its investment in India.

The Seattle-based company’s sales jumped 23 per cent to $35.7 billion, while net income rose 41 per cent to $724 million in January-March quarter, from the year-ago period.

Amazon reported an operating loss of $481 million for its international business during the March quarter, compared with an operating loss of $121 million in the year-ago period.

International business accounts for 31 per cent of the sales mix, while 59 per cent is derived from North America and 10 per cent from Amazon Web Services.

Amazon generated an operating income of $596 million from North America operations, while that from AWS was at $890 million in the said quarter.

Agencies

Google, Mercedes-Benz India’s Most Attractive Employer: Randstad

Search engine giant Google India has been named as the country’s most attractive employer brand, followed by Mercedes-Benz India at the second place, a survey says.

The sectoral specific winners for the most attractive employers this year are Amazon India for e-commerce, ITC Ltd for FMCG and Philips India for consumer and healthcare.

According to the Randstad Employer Brand Research 2017, competitive salary and employee benefits continue to be the top priority among the Indian workforce while choosing an employer, followed by good work-life balance and job security.

However, for the IT professionals, good work-life balance emerged as the top priority while choosing an employer. “Employer branding continues to be of strategic importance influencing the talent agenda, particularly so in an economy that’s driven by knowledge workers,” Randstad India MD and CEO Moorthy K Uppaluri said.

According to the survey results, large and multinational corporations emerge as the preferred workplace for employees across all profiles.

However, IT professionals indicated that they would rather work in the dynamic start-up ecosystem over the SME sector. On the other hand, engineering talent prefer working in start-ups over the public sector companies, reveals the survey.

Sectorwise, Indian workforce prefers to work for companies operating in sectors like IT, followed by BFSI and retail & FMCG. “Organisations have come to realise the value of employer branding and the return from such investments, both in terms of attracting new talent and retaining,” Uppaluri added.

The survey further noted that 31 per cent of employees, said they are not loyal to any one industry or sector and are open to shift industries and compensation remains a key driver in determining employee loyalty to a sector.

The Randstad Award, instituted globally by Randstad, is hosted each year to encourage best practices for talent attraction and to identify the best ‘Employer Brand’ in the country based on perceived awareness and attractiveness of a company.

In India this year, the Randstad Employer Brand Research captured the views of around 3,500 respondents, who chose the nation’s most attractive employer brand for 2017.

 Agencies