Insurtech Startup Kruzr Raises $1.3 Million from Saama Capital and Better Capital

InsurTech startup Kruzr has raised 1.3 Million USD (Rs. 9.5 Cr) for its seed round led by Saama Capital with participation from Better Capital. Kruzr is a preventive motor insurance technology which helps insurance companies personalize policy premiums & improve their risk model by delivering an engaging preventative driving assistant to their customers. Kruzr is founded by Pallav Singh, Ayan, and Jasmeet Singh Sethi.

Kruzr blends the power of voice technology and artificial intelligence in its personal driving assistant that helps drivers minimize mobile distractions, drowsy driving, speeding and external risks like weather and accident-prone zones. In pilots with insurers, Kruzr managed to cut down distracted driving by 80%. Kruzr is working with motor insurance companies in Europe, UK and India to bring its technology to their customers to prevent accidents & improve claims.

“Road accidents cause over 1.3 million deaths globally every year, and motor insurance companies lose billions of dollars due to these. However, more than 75% of accidents are actually preventable with timely driver assistance. We at Kruzr are building technology to minimize these accidents and help make motor insurance truly preventive and customer-centric.” says Pallav, co-founder and CEO.

The funds raised will be utilized to grow the technology team, scale the product, and expand the business in Europe and UK.

“We were very impressed by the founding team’s vision for Kruzr and their significant customer progress in the European automobile insurance market.  We believe Pallav, Ayan and Jasmeet can build a world-class product company out of India serving this sizeable and growing global market,” said Suresh Shanmugham, Managing Partner, Saama Capital.

“Kruzr is leveraging the latest advances in mobile, big data, and AI to build a unique preventive driving technology that will save lives and help motor insurance companies design personalized policies. I’ve watched the Kruzr team learn and iterate to build traction with the world top insurers & am excited about the future ahead”, said Vaibhav Domkundwar of Better Capital.

Urgent Need to Invest in R&D, Skill-Building, and Capacity Building for Skilled Individuals: Dr. Sriram Birudavolu

Distinguished speakers from NASSCOM and DSIC discussed on cybersecurity measures required at the organizational level, and the need for amending current laws to emphasize on data protection

The need for better cybersecurity practices in Industry 4.0, a stronger regulatory environment for data and IT security, and investments towards improving the cybersecurity landscape were among the major topics under discussion during the 27th Convergence India 2019 expo and conference. The integration of IoT across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and in consumer durables is a huge opportunity for businesses to achieve unparalleled levels of efficiency, while also enhancing their offerings through more intelligent collection and analysis of data. IoT has also seen a growing adoption in the global healthcare industry, with around USD 1036 billion being invested towards the development of devices and systems. There are currently about 87 million devices connected across the world, which are being leveraged to reduce costs and enhance quality of services across the healthcare value chain.

The increasing use of IoT and digitization across industries like healthcare and manufacturing also throws open challenges related to data and IT security. A panel discussion session titled ‘Cybersecurity/Cybercrime: Breaching data is a reality. What is the way ahead?’ saw speakers from the IT and cybersecurity, as well as academic domains discussing the current data security scenario both at the enterprise as well as consumer/user level.

Dr. Sriram Birudavolu, CEO – Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, Data Security Council of India (DSCI) said, “Classifying data according to the level of sensitivity is imperative for companies today and the first step towards creating robust data management systems. Simply implementing laws is not enough for cybersecurity. Rather, a culture needs to be instituted in the country for managing data and keeping it secure like any other asset. This is always a more practical alternative to creating hundreds of laws that end up stifling innovation, and curbing the growth of smaller, emerging players across industries. But given the lack of adequate laws in place to govern data management and protection in the present business landscape, the onus is on companies to perform extensive due diligence through effective data classification, storage, and conducting regular audits to ensure best practices.” Dr. Sriram also emphasized on the urgent need for the government and the industry to invest in R&D, skill-building, and capacity building to meet the rapidly increasing demand for both skilled individuals and stronger cybersecurity solutions.”

One of the points discussed during the panel discussion was the need to relook at the IT Act, which was enacted first in the year 2000 in accordance with international standards. In addition, the speakers also touched upon what needs to be done at the organizational level, in addition to amending the current laws to emphasize on data protection and securing IT assets in compliance with international laws and global standards.

Vishal Kumar, Director - Cyber Education & Services, Quick Heal Technologies Private Limited also said during the panel, “Data needs to be structured and controlled in a more efficient manner at the business and organizational level for it be protected properly. Cybersecurity mechanisms are no longer just an IT requirement, but rather a business need – from the basement to the boardroom. Organizations and enterprises dealing that deal with large amounts of data need to establish policies and train employees on how to handle sensitive data and protect the interests of the organization as well as its customers.”

Sudhanshu Mittal, Director – Industry 4.0, Centre of Excellence for IOT, NASSCOM said during a panel discussion ‘Industry 4.0: Innovation through digital collaboration’, “Industry 4.0 will enable businesses to adopt digital technology no matter at what stage of maturity they are in when it comes to the use of technology in the enterprises. But it is also important to understand that digital transformation is a journey and not a one-time activity. Businesses need to try out different solutions and systems and see what works for them, and then take the necessary steps to integrate the right ones into the organization. Technology developers need to identify specific problems faced during industrial processes, like manufacturing for instance, involving assembly line operations and production equipment. IoT offers the ability to connect various stages in the manufacturing process and existing knowledge related to each process which can enable optimization of inputs, save costs, and improve unit economics.”

Organized by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and Exhibitions India Group, the event builds upon Government of India’s ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives through a display of a vast array of products pertaining to fields such as ICT, IT & ITeS, broadcast & digital media, emerging technologies & enterprise solutions, virtual & augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, cloud services, semiconductor manufacturing, etc.

Award Winning Photographer Shiv Gandhi’s Maiden Expo in Bengaluru

Shiv is popular among collectors for his wide picture collection ranging from Wildlife, Heritage, monuments and Tribute to Painters [Raja Ravi Varma, John William Godward]

Award winning Ace Photographer, Ad Film maker and a Wildlife Conservationist Annechira Shiva popularly known as Shiv Gandhi, will exhibit his rare and prestigious collection of photographs at his maiden photo exhibition, ‘SCAPES OF INDIA’ at RêVES Art Gallery from February 1st 2019 to Feb 11, 2019. The pictures captured during his passionate photographic journey are a rare collection covering nature including mountains, rivers and some mesmerizing pictures of lesser known travel destinations.

Travel and Nature Photography is not as easy as ‘just Click’, says Shiva. The sketch/framework of the image created in his mind, which then is slowly and carefully nurtured into series of thoughts linking it to its heritage, history, present and to its timeless beauty.  These deep compositions in his mind create an imaginary picturesque of the scene.  He transfers this imaginary picture into his Camera. This requires perfect lighting knowledge, combination of various angles, camera adjustments, and indeed lots of patience and perseverance.

The images displayed in this collection are captured and presented in their original form thereby retaining its natural beauty without much interference from photo editing softwares.  His photography brings about a stronger emphasis on nature’s aesthetic value as he gives life to the images utilizing nature’s lights, communicating to us the mysterious, awe-inspiring hidden wonders and facts of the nature.

The collection at ‘SCAPES OF INDIA’ will be available for patrons in 3 sizes -12x18, 16x24, 20x30 inch sizes.

Venue: RêVES Art Gallery
467, Marenahalli Rd,
8th Block, Jayanagar,
Bengaluru
Time: 10am – 8pm

Indian AI Start-Up Shortlisted to Showcase at NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, USA

Bengaluru based edisn.ai, a sports tech firm building the next generation fan engagement platform using artificial intelligence, has been selected to showcase its innovative products in Charlotte, U.S.A., on February 15th during the NBA All-Star weekend. edisn.ai is the only company from Asia selected for this showcase by the Sports Tank Innovation Studio.

Sports Tank Innovation Studio is a Shark Tank style demo day that will be attended by Business Executives, Athletes, Brands, and Investors across the sports industry. Only 5 companies are shortlisted every year and the event tends to be a developmental gateway for sports tech companies.

Three awards will be handed out at the invite-only event, including the “Innovation Award” from Under Armour and the “Audience Choice Award.” A group of professional athletes will be also on-site to select a winner for the “Athletes Choice Award.”

Ashok Karanth, CEO of edisn.ai, said, “This is an unbelievable opportunity to showcase Indian sports technology at a prestigious global platform. We are honoured to be the only company shortlisted from Asia for this event. Our state-of-the-art player recognition and contextual content delivery will redefine the future of sports content consumption.”

edisn.ai counts a leading sports broadcaster, an E-sports platform and an Olympic sports federation amongst its growing list of clients. The company is said to be in closing a seed investment with a leading investor and will make a formal announcement soon. The company is headquartered in Bangalore with sales offices in Europe and USA.

AOL Teachers' Khurshed and Dinesh Pen Two Books on Recipes of Happiness

Khurshed Batliwala, Author-Faculty, The Art Of Living & Dinesh Ghodke, Author-Faculty - The Art of Living present to the readers ‘Happiness Express’, a book that offers the authors’ recipe for happiness. The book was released in Bengaluru recently, and involves five major ingredients. The overall content is arranged in such a way, where all chapters are quite independent of each other and you could read them in any order.

Everyone wants to be happy, but the time most people spend being truly happy is fleeting - gone like dew drops in the morning sun. Khurshed and Dinesh have spent the greater part of their lives being happy and coaching others to be happy. In Happiness Express, they share the secrets behind their smiles.

This warm and funny book which abounds in personal anecdotes and practical tips for everyday wellbeing will make Happiness a more intergral part of your life than ever before.

Speaking on the occasion Khurshed Batliwala, Author-Faculty, The Art Of Living said "Our first book Ready Study Go helped thousands of students figure out how to study and enjoy the process. We hope what we have written in Happiness Express helps even more people find joy and cheer in their lives".

Expressing delight on the book launch, Dinesh Ghodke, Author-Faculty, The Art Of Living said Everybody loves to sleep and food. But most don't know much about the process. By the time a person retires, he has slept for a total of 22 years, but they don't know what happened in those 22 years. So, we wanted to show how you can make this a restful time“.

Preface of the book:

People often ask us how we manage to stay so happy and what our secret is. This book is the answer.

The recipe for happiness involves five major ingredients, and that’s how this book is organized. All chapters are quite independent of each other and you could read them in any order. Do you have trouble resting? Do you feel tired and worn out a lot? The chapters on Sleep and Meditation are for you. One of the best things you can do to get that elusive smile could well be simply closing your eyes. We can almost guarantee that following the steps in these chapters will dramatically improve the quality of your sleep, as well as your life.

Feeling unfit and unwell? Read the chapters on Food and Exercise. Being physically active and eating healthy, tasty meals, can make a huge difference to your wellbeing.

Feeling stagnated? Head to the chapters on the Brain, Learning and Focused Mind Mapping. There’s an incomparable joy in understanding and learning something new. Quite a few adults deny themselves this pleasure because they think they cannot learn new things or are afraid of making mistakes. That’s where these chapters can come to your rescue.

Do you tend to forget things? Do you wish your memory could function better? The chapter on Memory unravels the mystery of how our memories work, and, explores two memory enhancement protocols – The Memory Palace and The Spaced Repetition System (SRS).

Keep getting into trouble because of habitually postponing stuff you must do? The chapter on Procrastination provides insights into the working of your mind and includes an approach we call the S.T.A.R. technique to help you get over this and other infuriating habits.

Want some quickie tips on becoming happier? Read Happiness Sutras. This is your go-to chapter whenever you feel down. If you are doing everything right, yet somehow feeling wrong, perusing this chapter should help you out and restore your smile in a jiffy.

We were recently asked what our dream was. We replied – we are living our dream!

Life is a dream. This book ensures it doesn't turn into a nightmare. Welcome aboard the Happiness Express!

Highlights of the Book:

Sleep - The right amount and type of sleep will make you younger, healthier and smarter.
Meditate - Could the fastest way to happiness could be simply closing your eyes?
Food - A healthy gut results in a happier you.
Exercise - We were meant to move. Sitting is the new smoking!
Learning Techniques - Give the innate curiosity you had as a child a second chance. Rediscover the thrill of learning something new.
Improving Memory - How do we remember stuff? Revealing ways to strengthen memory.
Publishers:  Westland

Legrand India Announces its First “Voice Controlled Experiential Centre” in Bangalore

Legrand India, a global leader in electrical and digital building infrastructure inaugurated their first voice enabled “state-of-the-art experience centre” Innoval in the tech city Bangalore today. Innoval will host Legrand Group India’s company products – Legrand, Numeric & Valrack. Globally Innoval’s are present at France, Greece, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Dubai, and made its first-time entry in the Asia Pacific region with its launch in Mumbai, India followed by its successful launch in Ahmedabad, Lucknow. The company is now all set to amaze the Bangalore market with its voice enabled experiential centre launch today. This is the first such showroom in India to be fully automated and voice controlled.

Innoval is Legrand’s global brand of product showcases. The name Innoval reflects Legrand’s brand value of developing ranges of innovative products (Valley of Innovation). The narrative at Innoval is based on the concept of ‘Source to End Usage’, where the products are arranged in relation to each other and according to where they fall on the energy and data distribution grid.  The IoT enabled product offerings across multiple categories include-  IOT switches, Wireless Speakers, Assisted Living, Customised Hospitality Solutions, IOT based Energy Monitoring, Data Centre Monitoring System, Intelligent PDUs etc. The products are compatible with popular third-party voice-controlled devices available in market like Google Home and Alexa along with their own mobile applications and touch panels.

Keeping in mind the vastly different profiles of visitors, the products are arranged as per the business verticals, namely - Home Automation, User Interface, Energy Distribution, Structured Cabling, UPS and Cable Management. The design approach is based on the concept of Designeering. It has all the technicalities of engineering, but put forth in an intuitive and easy to understand communication system. With the interactive product displays, fully automated experience, educational infographics and clean minimal visual language, Innoval has been designed to provide its visitors with a hands on experience that can help them make an informed choice.

Innoval is also built from the perspective of providing training for all players in the electrical trade, from investors to installers. Legrand has been known industry wise for its innovation, value adds to solutions, and in helping these professionals adapt to a constantly changing business. The purpose of Innoval, is to support all of these partners (investors, system integrator, architects, panel builder, end customer etc.) by helping them to acquire new skills in order to better understand the market. Innoval also seeks to engage with direct consumers wanting to experience the brand before making a purchase decision. With the new generation becoming decision makers, the demand for products with innovation, technology has increased, and Legrand wants to tap this growing user base.

Jean Charles Thuard, CEO & Managing Director, Legrand India said, ‘The breadth of Legrand's offer has diversified over the last 20 years in India. It has developed product solution for various industries and its user (investors, system integrator, architects, panel builder, end customer etc.) To speak to these new aged customers and to consolidate its credibility with regards to the new offers and expertise, Legrand has updated its approach for its customers”. He further added, “Today with the launch of first voice enabled experiential centre- Innoval, Legrand wants to provide an experience that is unique to the brand. Legrand aggressively sees voice technology taking center space in our lives and in all the devices that we use. Legrand recent launch of IP based Door Phone Classe300 allows you to access/control your home from any location in the world by means of voice. We will be increasingly launching such solutions going forward. Today with the launch in Bangalore we plan to reach out to our customers and business partners in Bangalore. Customers are evolving and becoming more involved towards the product they are buying. This is a great way to establish dialogues with these new-age modern customers and to showcase new offers. Innoval allows Legrand to be more than just a supplier, rather to act as a genuine partner, creating close ties with the electrical and digital trade as a whole.”

Sameer Saxena, Director- Marketing, Legrand India said, “Legrand has a vast offering of electrical and digital infrastructure products across several business verticals; many of which highly technical to understand. The idea behind Innoval was to break this down for the customer, by curating the products within a framework of an experiential and interactive narrative that is simpler to comprehend. It was first time in India that any B2B brand is taking step towards B2B experience zone for their customer (in highly technical segment). The same could have been possible due to innovative and creative thought process of worlds and countries leading electrical giant – Legrand.”

Legrand is world’s leading electrical and digital building solution provider company with global turnover of 5.5 billion Euros. The company enjoys leadership in premium wiring devices as well as MCB in the Indian market. Its products are widely used in residential, commercial, industrial and hospitality industry.  Legrand India takes a further leap with its Smart connected Home offerings. Through its entry in the IoT space its takes a further leap from the brand in its Smart Connected Homes offering, this is the first IOT product in India, with many more to come in future. 

Eat More, Save More in the #MonthofMore with Dineout’s GIRF 2019

It’s bigger. It’s better. It’s back! Dineout’s legendary Great Indian Restaurant Festival (GIRF) is back with its 3rd year edition filled with more deliciousness, more savings, more happiness and much more. Set to take place for the entire month of February, it’s time for India to a enjoy a month of 28 cheat days. Ankit Mehrotra, CEO and Co-Founder of Dineout says, “GIRF is proving to be a unique and beneficial initiative for India’s F&B industry. This year, GIRF has grown with over 5000+ restaurants and will be held in 10 cities across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Jaipur. There will be coupons and pre-buy deals on the app that will have to be purchased to avail 50% Off. From cafes to bars, fine dining restaurants, fast food cafes to luxury dining restaurants, GIRF will have all kinds of restaurants."

In a bird’s eye view, we are partnered with the following restaurants for GIRF 2019. From Hard Rock to Soda Bottle Openerwala, The Irish House, Bombay Brasserie, Social, Lord of the Drinks, The Beer Cafe, Cafe Delhi Heights, Chili's Bar and Grill, Punjabi By Nature, Pind Balluchi, Chai Point and Chaayos, some of the most popular chains across the country will be a part of the festival.

Ankit says, “During GIRF there will be FLAT 50% Off on food, drinks, buffets and the newest edition of the TOTAL BILL, the Month of More will be exactly what foodie dreams are made of! It is officially the month of foodies.”

Apart from availing 50% Off, users can also get a 20% cashback by paying their restaurant bills using Dineout Pay through the Dineout app. As February kicks off, all you’ll see is more food.