Freshteam’s CRM Enables Recruiters Deliver Superior Candidate Experience

Freshworks, the leading provider of cloud-based business software, announced the launch of Freshteam, a recruitment management software that empowers businesses to efficiently organize their talent acquisition function, engage with candidates, and better align the human resources organization to business goals. Freshteam’s flexible hiring workflows and intuitive design make it a great fit for businesses of all sizes.

According to HBR, 80% of employee turnover occurs due to faulty hiring decisions. Recruiters spend most of their time in executing operational responsibilities than concentrating on building quality pipeline and recruiting, which in turn affects the end-to-end-hiring process.

Freshteam, built on the experiences faced by the talent acquisition team at Freshworks as it scaled from six employees to a 1000+ strong global workforce, aims to improve the hiring experience for not just recruiters but also every stakeholder involved the hiring process, thereby helping businesses deliver an exceptional end-to-end hiring and candidate experience.

Recruiters can manage the entire recruitment process all under one platform. In addition to the standard market features like job posting management and interview scheduling, recruiters can attract top talent through multiple sourcing channels including social media channels, contextually collaborate with hiring teams, engage with candidates directly from the application tracking system (ATS), get organized by building candidate databases that help archive candidate profiles, and leverage a mobile-friendly version to be connected on the go.

"At Freshworks, our mission is to build software that helps our customers manage every critical business function," said Girish Mathrubootham, CEO & Founder of Freshworks. "During the early days of Freshworks, it was a big challenge to get candidate experience right. Recruiters have a tough job of simultaneously managing candidates, interviewers and external staffing vendors for every opening to deliver the best hiring experience.

Our talent acquisition team needed a unified way to manage all the touchpoints of the candidate life cycle, much like how customer interactions and sales leads are managed through a CRM. As we tried to solve for it, we wanted to build a solution that puts Candidate Relationship Management right at the center of an organization's talent acquisition process. So, we built Freshteam, a recruitment management solution that transforms hiring experience for recruiters as well as candidates, while helping organizations grow even faster.”

To encourage SMBs to focus on their hiring experience, Freshteam will be available for free for companies with less than 50 employees. In future product releases, Freshteam will integrate with other Freshworks software.

Virtual Campus League to Connect Top Campus Tech Talent and IT Employers

TechGig unveils the first-of-its-kind code contest in India for engineering students and graduates across India to show off their coding skills to 25+ top IT/Tech companies. The ‘Virtual Campus League’ creates a level playing where participating colleges and their talent gets a fair chance to showcase their talent within the industry.

The ‘talent v/s pedigree’ debate is more relevant in today’s time when an engineering student’s pedigree determines his chance for internship or interview with top IT employers. On the other hand, tech firms also want to reach out to the right talent straight from engineering colleges quickly. However, the right talent may be beyond their campus hiring strategy and gets limited to IITs only.

Sensing this gap, TechGig.com has launched ‘Virtual Campus League’ to create a level playing field where participating colleges and students get a fair chance to showcase their talent to top IT/Tech firms. This first-of-its-kind contest is open for 2nd, 3rd and 4th year engineering students who have a knack for coding and recent engineering graduates (2017 pass outs) with less than one year work experience.

This contest’s format allows students to appear for coding and aptitude tests, and their scores would be used to generate their All India Ranks. Participating IT companies will shortlist candidates for interviews and internships basis their scores.

In its maiden edition, TechGig Virtual Campus League has forged a strategic partnership with 30 National Institutes of Technology (NITs). The contest - which started on August 21, 2017 - welcomes students from all engineering colleges to register for free.

“Our vision with Virtual Campus League is to create a platform for all engineering students and graduates to have a fair chance to showcase their skills to the industry. This will help in two ways – students will be able to showcase their knowledge to top companies; and secondly it will give participating companies access to desired talent pool which is beyond their reach. College TPOs will also be able to monitor the performance of their students,” said Dipti Tandon, VP-Corporate Strategy, Times Internet Limited & Head Product and Technology, TechGig.

Highlights of this contest are –

·  25+ top IT/Tech companies will be offering 500+ interviews/internship opportunities

·  Free participation for Corporates/Colleges/ Students

·  Practice tests are also available based on the format of questions asked by top IT/Tech firms during campus placements

Ramathreya Krishnamurthi, Business Head, TimesJobs & TechGig is confident that this contest will open scores of new internships/job interview opportunities for thousands of engineering graduates. “This is a completely new concept in India, designed only for engineering students and freshers with less than 1 year work experience. More than 25 companies have already affirmed their participation in the Virtual Campus League, with names like Amadeus, Coho, Delhivery in the line-up. We are sure that engineering students will participate in huge numbers and make the most of this opportunity with the tech giants,” said Krishnamurthi.

Top rankers here can win prizes worth Rs 1 Lakh, Certificates with All India Ranks and TechGig T-shirts to top two rankers of every college. All contest participants will get online certificates with All India Ranks.

With so much happening at the ‘Virtual Campus League’, participants can only wait for this momentum to reach its peak and get their dream interview call or internship with top IT companies. 

George Chang Joins Forcepoint as VP Sales for APAC to Empower Customers with Human-Centric Security

Global cybersecurity leader Forcepoint has announced it is further cementing Asia-Pacific operations to meet growing demand for human-centric cybersecurity solutions by appointing George Chang as vice president of sales. Chang is based in Forcepoint’s Singapore office and reports to chief revenue officer, Sean Foster.

At Forcepoint APAC, Chang leads the company’s growth strategy in the region and will drive customer engagement across the entire portfolio of Forcepoint’s technology, including CASB, data loss prevention, insider threat, web security, email security and next-generation firewalls.

The appointment expands on the company’s commitment to deliver insightful security solutions that help customers understand the rhythm of people in the organization and flow of critical business data and intellectual property – wherever it may reside. This people-first approach helps global enterprises and governments focus resources on activities that present the greatest risk to their business or mission.

“In the new digital and mobile world where there is no longer a perimeter, the detection and protection of data using point products is just not good enough. The market is moving to cyber solutions that adapt protection based on the context of user behavior, and we need inspirational and driven leaders to help customers and partners address this paradigm shift,” said Foster. “George and his team will help lead the charge in delivering the most intelligent systems that facilitate business and foster productivity while stopping bad cyber activity.”

Chang brings more than 20 years of experience in international business across the technology industry. Most recently, he served as regional vice president of APAC sales at Fortinet in Singapore. Prior to this, George held senior leadership roles in multiple technology companies including OpenNet Pte. Ltd., SYSTEX South Asia, Inter-touch Pte. Ltd., and STSN (Asia Pacific). George earned his master’s degree in international business from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia and a bachelor’s degree in business computing from Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

“As the network perimeter dissolves, companies are looking to how, when and why people interact with data – and where this information travels,” said Chang. “We have the unique opportunity to partner with Asia-Pacific companies to ensure their users and critical business data are protected everywhere. These organizations can maximize their investments by putting cyber behaviors at the center of their security equation.”

Capital Float Secures $45 Million of Equity Funding in Series C Round Led by Ribbit Capital

Capital Float, India’s largest digital lending platform, announced today that it has raised $45 Million (Rs. 293 crores) in Series C equity funding. The round was led by Silicon Valley-based Ribbit Capital, with participation from existing investors - SAIF Partners, Sequoia India and Creation Investments. In parallel, the company has also raised more than $67 Million (Rs. 437 crores) in new debt lines from leading banks (including RBL Bank, IDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank) and NBFCs (including IFMR, Reliance Capital), bringing the total amount of fresh capital raised in the last 12 months to over $112 Million (Rs. 730 crores).

“We are thrilled to partner with a world-class FinTech investor like Ribbit Capital at this key inflection point in Capital Float’s journey,” said Co-founders Sashank Rishyasringa & Gaurav Hinduja in a joint statement. “We are growing at an exciting pace, currently originating over Rs. 200 crores in disbursals every month. Over the past year alone, we have disbursed loans of over Rs. 2,100 crores to 12,000 plus customers across 300 cities. Our proprietary technology and credit-scoring platform is now able to deliver loans in as fast as 3 minutes via a mobile app. Despite achieving such rapid growth, we have kept our NPAs to 2%, and are on track to reach profitability by the end of current fiscal year.”

Capital Float will utilize these funds to increase its geographic footprint, improve customer experience and launch a new set of innovative credit products for SMEs across India. It will also invest in scaling up its hybrid marketplace model and deepening technology integrations with partner financial institutions.

Over the past year, the lender has rapidly diversified its portfolio, lending to a wide range of sectors including manufacturing, services, e-commerce, transportation, hospitality and retail. Post-demonetization, the company expanded its lending business to target small merchants and kirana stores, delivering loans as small as Rs. 25,000. These touch-free loans are delivered in seconds via its mobile app, powered by the India Stack.

Capital Float has also pioneered a hybrid marketplace model, where banks and NBFCs “co-lend” alongside the company’s own balance sheet to fund borrowers. The company has currently partnered with 5 institutions, including IDFC Bank and IFMR, and the marketplace contributes to 35% of the company’s total disbursals.

Nick Shalek (Partner) from Ribbit Capital, which led the Series C, said “We’ve been impressed by the Capital Float team since the first time we talked with them about their business four years ago. The company has achieved remarkable growth by delivering innovative products to small businesses and consumers, while at the same time providing attractive returns to investors on the platform. With this financing, Capital Float is further cementing its lead as the top technology-enabled NBFC in India, and we are thrilled to support the company's journey.”

Ravi Adusumalli (Managing Director), SAIF Partners, added “We have been a part of Capital Float’s journey from their seed round of funding. Their experienced senior management team has strategically led the company’s growth via innovative products and partnerships with ecosystem leaders. Capital Float continues to disrupt lending at a granular level in India.”

“Sequoia is delighted to re-invest in Capital Float. Their strong customer focus and continuous drive to diversify the product portfolio to discover and meet niche areas of industry demand gives us great confidence in the company’s future prospects” added Gautam Mago (Managing Director), Sequoia Capital India Advisors.

Patrick Fisher (Managing Partner & Founder), Creation Investments, another returning investor, pointed out to the positive atmosphere created by government policies. "With the government's drive towards a digital India, we believe the FinTech sector will be a key enabler towards achieving this vision. Capital Float has proven itself as a leader in the digital lending space and hence they have our wholehearted support. We hope with this fresh infusion of funds, the company will reach even greater heights”, he said.

·         Series C equity funding round of $45 million (Rs. 293 crores) led by Ribbit Capital with significant participation from existing investors – SAIF Partners, Sequoia India and Creation Investments.

·         Additional $67million (approx. Rs. 437 crore) raised in debt from banks (including RBL Bank, IDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank) and NBFCs (including IFMR, Reliance Capital). Takes total funding in last 12 months to $112 million.

·         Capital Float has originated Rs. 2,500 crores in loans till date to 15,000 plus customers. Currently originating Rs. 200 crores of loans per month.

·         New loan product focusing on small merchants and kirana stores. Micro loans, disbursed in less than 3 minutes via mobile. Currently disbursing 1,000 loans per month, plans to reach 5,000/month by end of fiscal year.

·         Portfolio outstanding grew nearly 4x over the last year, and currently stands at Rs. 700 crores. 

·         Operates country’s largest hybrid marketplace with leading banks & NBFCs (e.g. IDFC Bank & IFMR) participating as co-lenders, 35% of loans are serviced via the marketplace

·         NPAs at 2.0%. Company on track to achieve profitability in current fiscal year.

Samsung India Partners with Karnataka Government to Donate Notebooks and Pens to Over 30,000 Students in Karnataka

Samsung India has collaborated with the Government of Karnataka for a notebook donation drive to extend its support to students from government schools across Bengaluru, Kolar and Mulbaghal districts in the state.

A team of volunteers from Samsung R&D Institute, Bengaluru visited over 450 schools and distributed 160,000 notebooks and 38,500 pens to over 30,000 students in two days.

“As a market leader, Samsung caters to the needs of its consumers with meaningful innovations and quality products, and also pledges to contribute to the needs of the society to create a better life for people. The notebook donation drive, through which we have been able to reach out to over 30,000 students in Karnataka, is a small step in that direction,” said Dipesh Shah, Managing Director, Samsung R&D Institute, Bengaluru.

Earlier this year, Samsung donated stationery items such as dictionaries, exam pads, geometry boxes, bags and stationery pouches to around 500 schools in Karnataka.

Another important milestone was the agreement with Government of Karnataka to help the state efficiently manage its public healthcare facilities. As part of the agreement, Samsung Research & Development Institute, Bangalore (SRI-B) provided over 1,000 Samsung Tab IRIS devices to the Department of Health, Government of Karnataka. Samsung Tab IRIS, the first commercial tablet to be approved by UIDAI for Aadhaar and KYC verification, is enabling Public Health Centers (PHC) in the state to build their database in a digital format.

Samsung began its journey in India in 1995, and in over two decades, it has grown into one of the country’s biggest consumer product companies, with 2 manufacturing plants, 5 R&D centres, 1 design centre, 1.5 lakh retail outlets and over 70,000 employees. Samsung is also India’s Most Trusted Brand and is pioneering local manufacturing through its ‘Make for India’ initiative.

Samsung India Citizenship Initiatives

Samsung Smart Class, the Company’s flagship citizen program in India, promotes digital education among underprivileged students, especially in rural India. This initiative aims to bridge the digital gap between rural and urban India and provide equal opportunities for quality education to children from all backgrounds. Since 2013, over 470 Samsung Smart Class have been set up at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools across the length and breadth of India benefitting over 2.5 lakh students. In addition, over 8,000 teachers have been trained on how to use interactive technology to teach.

The Company has also established Samsung Technical Schools in partnership with the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India and ITIs in the states of Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Rajasthan and Delhi, to address the need for talented manpower with practical know-how and relevant industry experience. Students at the 22 Samsung Technical Schools also benefit from exposure to Samsung manufacturing facilities and authorized service centers. Till date, Samsung Technical Schools have provided technical training for job opportunities to over 2,000 youth.

One of the Company’s key citizenship initiatives is the Samsung Smart Healthcare program that has been designed to support the Government’s efforts to provide the best of healthcare to millions of citizens especially from the economically weaker sections. Through this program, Samsung provides government hospitals its innovative healthcare equipment such as ultrasound, digital radiology and accessories, with the aim to make affordable healthcare accessible to the large number of patients at select Government hospitals in Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Gurugram and Delhi.

TCS iON, The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) Partners for Digital Transformation

TCS iON, a strategic unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization has announced a partnership with The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) for its digital transformation initiative.  As a part of this association, TCS iON will deploy an end-to-end digital learning solution for ICSI to facilitate self-education amongst students, especially aimed for the benefit of students in remote areas who may not have easy access to ICSI’s regional chapters. 

The Digital Learning Platform developed by TCS iON will enable students to remain constantly connected with ICSI and actively participate in projects and discussion forums promoted by the Institute. By leveraging the digital forces, the platform will provide students, anywhere-anytime-any device access to ICSI’s study material helping them learn at their own pace and also develop comprehensive understanding of the course subjects. To support this digital transformation, TCS iON will help migrate the ICSI’s course content for foundation, executive and professional courses into suitable digital formats.

Commenting on the partnership, Venguswamy Ramaswamy, Global Head, TCS iON said, “Technology is playing a pivotal role in driving Digital transformation in the field of education. Today’s learners need a Social First approach to learning and ICSI has taken this path for their students. This will help ICSI to cater to the changing needs of the learning community in a more relevant and adaptable manner.  We look forward to the partnership with ICSI as we use our technology prowess to make institute’s rich content easily accessible to a larger section of the student community. We are also confident that the institute’s digitization efforts will go a long way in retaining its position as one of the premier educational institutions in India.”

CS (Dr.) Shyam Agarwal, ICSI President said, “ICSI has embarked on a ‘digital transformation’ journey.  Newer tools are being used to disseminate ‘knowledge’ to the members and students in the form of webinars, live webcasts of programs and seminars. With the ever-changing needs of the profession, standardization of delivery has become the need of the hour. Therefore, ICSI in association with TCS iON has taken an initiative of setting up a digital learning platform for our students across the length and breadth of the country. Through this partnership we will provide an enriching experience to our students and members”

Over 2500 Women Participate in Exclusive Hackathon - Pitney Bowes’s Code Inspire 2.0

Aimed at enhancing women representation in technology, Pitney Bowes Inc., a global technology company that provides innovative products and solutions to power commerce, today announced the winners of its second diversity hackathon ‘Pitney Bowes Code Inspire 2.0’, targeted at women in colleges, working professionals and those who have taken a career break.

Pitney Bowes Code Inspire 2.0 was a week-long programming marathon which had over 2500+ participants registering for the online qualifying round, of which 12 were shortlisted and invited for the final round to the Pitney Bowes Pune office. This is the second successful edition of the Pitney Bowes Diversity hackathon.

Diversity & Inclusion are deep-rooted in Pitney Bowes culture and the company boasts of several women-centric policies, some of which include:

• Mayeri, the Pitney Bowes Maternity program that extends 6 months of maternity leave to new mothers, along with other key benefits such as free sessions with nutritionists, tie-ups with crèches, a designated buddy to help make a smooth transition back from maternity
• A ‘Special hiring day’ on International Women’s Day dedicated in the calendar to facilitate referrals for women
• Customized Training Intervention Programs for women employees by taking a blended approach to learning ranging from industry relevant case studies to simulations

It is this commitment of providing a great work culture that values diversity and inclusion for employees that led to Pitney Bowes being recognized as a Great Work Place seven times, since the inception of its India operations in 2007. In 2017, Pitney Bowes ranked #9 in India’s Great Place to Work list; has been recognized for Excellence in driving a ‘Culture of Innovation & Change Management’ by the Association of Talent Development and has been named America’s Best Large Employers for the second time.