Crayon Launches AI Center Of Excellence In Asia Pacific Region

Crayon, a global leader in digital transformation services, announced today it has fully launched its Data & AI practice through an AI Center of Excellence in the Asia Pacific region that focuses on creating innovative and value-based artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions.

The center is located in Singapore and can provide clients across a range of industries and sectors with an end-to-end delivery service, starting from data assessment to AI model deployment and management in production.

"There is so much power in innovation to drive the greater good and we're excited to leverage our global success in data and AI to benefit the Asia Pacific region,” said Crayon CEO Melissa Mulholland.

Crayon’s global Data & AI practice was established in 2014 and has since successfully executed more than 100 AI and machine learning projects worldwide. Crayon started the project to build its Asia Pacific AI Center of Excellence in 2018 and has had recent AI offerings in the region including a partnership with a significant medical group and supporting nonprofit opportunities.

The center in Singapore will continue to provide data, AI and machine learning services, supporting customers through every step of their digital transformation journey.

“As we continue to guide our customers on their cloud journey, the promise of advanced analytics, AI and machine learning becomes more than just a vision, but something that can be realized,” said Rhonda Robati, Senior Vice President APAC at Crayon. 

“Therefore, we believe that now is the right time for Crayon to establish this Center of Excellence to share our global expertise in these innovative technologies with our customers in the Asia Pacific region.”

After opening its offices in Singapore in 2014, Crayon has invested heavily in developing deep competencies in the Asia Pacific region. The Center of Excellence in Singapore is an expansion of its services portfolio offering.

The expansion is supported by Microsoft, strengthening both companies’ long-term partnership based on innovation and implementation of new customer solutions. Crayon was previously chosen as Microsoft’s No. 1 partner in the world for AI and machine learning.

"I love to see partners invest so heavily in the region and it really does align with our vision as a company which is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more," said Fiona Carney, Chief Marketing & Operations Office APAC at Microsoft. "I'm delighted that Crayon is going to help contribute to that to our shared customers."

Manipal Academy Of Higher Education Student Team Wins The MHRD's National Innovation Contest (NIC) 2020

Manipal Academy of Higher Education is very happy to congratulate Dr Mahima Mishra and her team for their recent achievement in winning the prestigious National Innovation Contest (NIC) 2020 conducted by The Ministry of Education where Dr. Mahima Mishra from Manipal College of Dental Sciences and her team secured the finalist position and won the contest. After this phenomenal achievement, Dr. Mahima is now the Innovation Ambassador and received recognition at the regional and national levels by MHRD’s Innovation Cell.

On 19th May 2021, the MHRD’s Innovation Cell declared 127 teams as winners/finalists of the National Innovation Contest 2020. MHRD's National Innovation Contest (NIC) 2020 aims to provide a 360-degree cycle of learning and helps the student to understand the process of innovation in a start-up and helps to identify real-time problem along with ideation to building a business model and finally entering the phase of enterprise development in a time of one year. This contest announced in July 2020 and 9000+ participants from 900+ IIC Institutes in India participated in the NIC 2020. Five MAHE teams participated in this contest in the first round. After multiple rounds including regional and national level mentoring, submissions, and evaluations Dr Mahima and her team were selected among one of the 127 winners at the National level.

Dr. H. S. Ballal, Pro-Chancellor, MAHE, congratulated Dr. Mahima Mishra on winning the MHRD's National Innovation Contest (NIC) 2020 and says “We feel proud to celebrate this moment of success. Our students keep making us proud of their achievements. We always look forward to supporting our students and their journey to innovation and creation for a better future. I would like to congratulate Dr. Mahima Mishra, her entire team, and all the mentors for guiding our students”. 

The team which was led by Dr. Mahima Mishra consists of team members including Sudarshan PK, Alumni, MIT Manipal 2020, Ranjini Aithal, Alumni, MIT Manipal 2020, Madhavi Shenoy, Alumni, MIT Manipal 2020, Melroy Pinto, Alumni, MIT Manipal 2020, and Soumik Roy, B.Tech, 2nd Year MIT Manipal. This team was specially trained under the mentorship of Dr. Arun Shanbhag, Chief Innovation Officer, MAHE, Dr. Dilip G. Naik MDS, Pro-Vice-Chancellor MCODS, Mangalore, and Dr. Shikhar Mishra, MBBS, NBMCH, West Bengal. 

Dr. Mahima Mishra is currently awarded the NIDHI-EIR fellowship by Manipal Universal Technology Business Incubator and is she is conducting her work with “Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, Vice-Chancellor, MAHE, heartily congratulated Dr. Mahima Mishra and her team for winning the MHRD's National Innovation Contest (NIC) 2020. “The contest is a great achievement for Dr. Mahima and her team for demonstrating extraordinary talent and innovative approach to solve the real-time problem. It gives us immense please to see our students achieving such distinctions and for making us proud. I would also like to congratulate the team of mentors for their outstanding effort and guidance which has helped the team in achieving this recognition.”

The Finalist Teams of the MHRD's National Innovation Contest (NIC) 2020 will receive further training on Start-up modelling and finance proposal development and the proposal will be evaluated for funding support and facilitating incubation linkage.

Link to competition website: https://nic.mic.gov.in/

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Continues To Promote Employee Wellbeing During The Pandemic

* Comprehensive medical insurance for team members covering COVID-19 treatment

* Doctor teleconsultations and support in providing ambulance services, access to hospital treatment, oxygen concentrators as per employee’s treatment requirements

* Participative scheme to compensate about 3.5 years wages for workman who have succumbed to COVID-19 as per employee category

As a part of its continued commitment to secure the health and safety of its people and the communities at large,  Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) recently announced an array of comprehensive relief measures for its team members and their families by providing easy access to healthcare and other critical support during these testing times.

TKM is ensuring uninterrupted access and all necessary support to the infected members and their families through the Company’s Medical Hotline which operates around-the-clock to get connected to the larger network of specialist doctors and hospitals.  The dedicated 24X7 Hotline provides teleconsultation, periodic review of members in home quarantine.  In addition, considering the need for psychological support and guidance to the members, there is also a Helpline available for one-on-one counselling of such members who seek support to ensure their psychological wellbeing. 

The company is also facilitating ambulance services and helping access treatment at hospitals through the Hotline. For employees who are undergoing home quarantine, a COVID home care kit containing basic medicines, oximeter, thermometer, masks, sanitizer etc. is provided. Additionally, TKM is enabling home care support, through a tie-up with reputed medical service provider for treatment and conducting COVID-19 related testing. Efforts are in place to organize oxygen concentrators to the needy employees’ as and when required. In the event of need for hospitalization, efforts are made by the support team group at TKM in identifying beds availability and support arranging for treatment at the hospital at the earliest.  Through an insurance partner, the company has arranged for comprehensive medical insurance for Team Members of up to INR 11.5 lakh for treatment of COVID-19 related ailments.  Further, the company has started an in-house communication channel called “TKM-Suddhi” to appraise the members on challenges due to the pandemic and help them take preventive measures to manage it.

In the event of an unfortunate demise of any employee, there is a participative scheme in place to provide compensation equivalent to about 3.5 years wages for workman as per employee category.

Talking about the new initiative, Mr. G. Shankara, Vice President, HR and Services, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “Securing health and safety of all stakeholders including local communities is a top priority. As a responsible corporates, under the guidance of the related authorities, we continue to undertake several comprehensive actions necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by taking care of our employees and their families through various  initiatives and Self Help Groups created internally. 

This is also one of our ways to support the Government and lessen the pressure on the medical infrastructure in the country.”

TKM has been at the forefront in consistently taking effective measures to counter the outbreak and will continue to support and take adequate measures for the safety of its key stakeholders, healthcare workers and the community. The company recently launched COVID Vaccination Centre (CVC) at workplace for seamless vaccination program of its employees in line with government guidelines along with extensive CSR support to the frontline workers of the Government of Karnataka including volunteer support of few employees to assist the National Doctors helpline amongst other support.

Mahindra Rural Housing Finance, India Post Payments Bank Partner For Cash Management Solution

* Mahindra Rural customers can now repay loans at over 136,000 post offices

* Partnership with IPPB in keeping with Mahindra’s Rise philosophy

Mahindra Rural Housing Finance Limited (MRHFL), a subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Ltd, and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) today announced a strategic partnership for cash management solution. As part of the tie-up, IPPB will be offering cash management and collection services to MRHFL through its access points and postal service providers. With the cash management service, MRHFL customers will be able to repay their monthly or quarterly loan instalments at over 136,000 post offices.

The tie-up for cash management solution is a significant partnership in the financial services sector, and is aimed at customer inclusivity by both the partners. IPPB’s large national network combined with its simple, scalable and replicable technology framework has facilitated the deployment of cash management solution to meet the requirements of MRHFL.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. J Venkatramu, MD & CEO, India Post Payments Bank, “As technology continues to evolve and creates new ways of doing business, it has been our constant endeavour to offer our customers and partners accessible & affordable banking solutions. Cash management being the lifeline of business operations, IPPB with its robust network and technology platform can help corporates to manage their receivables safely, securely and seamlessly. We are committed to working with Mahindra Rural Housing Finance in its pursuit of transforming lives in rural areas and remove barriers for the unbanked & underbanked by reaching the last mile leveraging the vast reach of the postal network.”

Anuj Mehra, Managing Director, Mahindra Rural Housing Finance said, “At Mahindra, we keep on looking at innovative solutions to enhance the customer support for our customers. The tie up with IPPB is a step in that direction which we believe will provide our customers access to efficient banking services and enable them to become financially secure and empowered. I am grateful to IPPB for agreeing to partner with us on this unique solution which will enable our customers to Rise”.

Through a range of on ground activations, social media platforms and other channels, including SMS campaigns and WhatsApp, MRHFL and IPPB will inform and sensitize customers of the unique partnership for cash management.

About India Post Payments Bank 

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has been established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication with 100% equity owned by Government of India. IPPB was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on September 1, 2018. The bank has been set up with the vision to build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man in India. The fundamental mandate of IPPB is to remove barriers for the unbanked & underbanked and reach the last mile leveraging a network comprising 155,000 post offices (135,000 in rural areas) and 300,000 postal employees. IPPB’s reach and its operating model is built on the key pillars of India Stack - enabling paperless, cashless and presence-less banking in a simple and secure manner at the customers' doorstep, through a CBS-integrated smartphone and biometric device. Leveraging frugal innovation and with a high focus on ease of banking for the masses, IPPB delivers simple and affordable banking solutions through intuitive interfaces available in 13 languages. IPPB is committed to provide a fillip to a less cash economy and contribute to the vision of Digital India. India will prosper when every citizen will have equal opportunity to become financially secure and empowered. Our motto stands true - Every customer is important; every transaction is significant, and every deposit is valuable.

About Mahindra Rural Housing Finance Limited

Mahindra Rural Housing Finance Limited (Mahindra Home Finance), set up in 2007, is a subsidiary of Mahindra Finance, India’s leading rural NBFC and a part of the USD 19.4 billion Mahindra Group. 

Mahindra Home Finance provides loans for purchase, renovation and construction of houses to individuals in rural and semi-urban areas of the country. The company also offers Affordable Housing finance designed around the unique needs of the rural and semi-urban customer.  The Company is present in 14 states and 1 Union Territory with 650+ branches in 80,000+ villages and has been instrumental in building more than 10 Lakh homes across the country.

Ranked 19th among India’s Best Companies to Work For in 2020 by Great Place to Work (GPTW), Mahindra Home Finance also features among GPTW’s Top 25 Great Places to Work in BFSI - 2020.

ISM Has Become Member Of The Most Connected Startup Network In The World!

International Strategic Management Inc. (ISM) has become a member of the most connected startup network in the world!  Startup Grind allows those within the startup and tech industries to connect through an exclusive global network and access opportunities such as investor introductions, roundtables, curated content, discounts, and more.

“We are excited to join the ranks of such a highly engaged global community,” says ISM CEO Faris Alami. “ISM represents a few other major brands, and it is an honor to represent StartupGrind in our communities, and we look forward to leveraging the network to impact the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Metro Detroit.”

ISM plays a major role in setting up the establishment and growth of entrepreneurship ecosystems globally, through the facilitation of discussions and in the implementation of strategies that were created.  In Detroit, ISM has been part of the entrepreneurship ecosystem for several decades, through the engagement of government and private sectors, providing education to entrepreneurs, and supporting those entrepreneurs as they establish and grow their businesses.

“Detroit already has a strong ecosystem today, but by adding this program to ISM’s portfolio, and to the community at large, we can enhance that ecosystem’s experience both locally and globally” says Faris. “Introducing entrepreneurs to this platform, exposing them to other ideas and discussions right in their hometown will only add to the strong entrepreneurship ecosystem that exists today.”

Madeline Ulivieri, Chapter Lead of Startup Grind adds, "We are thrilled to have the Chapter in Detroit relaunch this year. Detroit is an exciting place with a ton of opportunities and we are looking forward to Faris bringing the community together. Our mission is to give startups the education and opportunities they need to build, grow, and scale their companies. We're thrilled to be accomplishing this in Detroit.”

At StarupGrind, each month has different themes, each theme highlighting a specific topic, industry, or idea.  May is Women’s Month. We will be celebrating women entrepreneurs sharing their story and their journey for starting and growing businesses. Search and use #SGWomen to join the discussion and find virtual events.

About International Strategic Management

International Strategic Management (ISM), located in Troy, Michigan, is a global executive, leadership and entrepreneurial ecosystem development program and management consulting company, offering programs worldwide on leadership, entrepreneurship, management and cultural/diversity training for youth and executives as well as companies nationwide and internationally.  

About Startup Grind

Startup Grind helps founders, entrepreneurs, and startups succeed, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic circumstance. We believe a better tomorrow is possible by supporting the innovators and risk-takers of today. 50% of our team are founders themselves, so we know from experience how difficult it can be. It cannot be done alone, and the COVID-19 pandemic has created an even greater sense of urgency. This is why we built a safe haven for emerging startups that share our belief that a better future is on the horizon — because we know it’s up to us to make it happen. 

Elgi Equipments Limited Records Fourth Positive Quarter And FY 2020-21 Results

Elgi Equipments Ltd, manufacturer of Air Compressors, announced today the results for the fourth quarter and financial year ended 31st March 2021. Consolidated PAT for the quarter was Rs. 43.36 Crore compared to Rs.1.05 Crore in the same period in 2019-2020. Consolidated PAT for the financial year was Rs.102.49 Crore compared to Rs. 42.57 Crore in 2019-20.

Consolidated sales for the fourth quarter was Rs. 610 Crore as against Rs. 455 Crore in the corresponding quarter in 2019-2020. Consolidated sales for the financial year 2020-21 was Rs. 1924 Crores as against Rs.1829 Crores in 2019-20.

The standalone PAT for the fourth quarter was Rs. 48.85 Crore compared to Rs. 42.01 Crore in the same period in 2019-20. The standalone PAT for the year was Rs. 105.09 Crore compared to Rs. 100.42 Crore in 2019-20

The Board has recommended a dividend of Re.0.80 per share (80%) for the year 2020-21, subject to approval of the shareholders.

The compressor business performance in the domestic market was commendable in the fourth quarter while performance on an annualized basis saw marginal growth over last year. The business has performed well in all of the global markets it is present in.

In a very challenging environment, sales of the automotive business witnessed improvement over the same period of last year.

Outlook for 2021-22

The effects and longevity of the pandemics are still unknown and this would certainly have a bearing on the business for 2021-22. Barring this, the Company expects to perform reasonably well.

About ELGi: Elgi Equipments Limited is a global air compressor manufacturer with a broad line of innovative and technologically superior compressed air systems. ELGi has consistently worked towards ensuring that its customers achieve their productivity goals while keeping the cost of ownership low. ELGi offers a complete range of compressed air solutions from oil lubricated and oil free rotary screw compressors, oil lubricated and oil free reciprocating compressors and centrifugal compressors, to dryers, filters and downstream accessories. The company’s portfolio of over 400 products has found wide application across industries. 

Hero Motocorp To Ramp Up Production With All Manufacturing Plants Resuming Operating From May 24, 2021

Hero MotoCorp - the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – is gearing up towards a gradual resumption of operations by starting production at all its manufacturing plants in India from Monday, May 24th.

The Company had already commenced single shift production at three of its plants – Gurugram and Dharuhera in Haryana and at Haridwar in the northern hill state of Uttarakhand – from Monday, May 17. 

The other plants of Hero MotoCorp in India – Neemrana in Rajasthan, Halol in Gujarat and Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, will also start single shift operations from May 24th.  The Global Parts Centre (GPC) at Neemrana will also be operational from May 24th.

In addition to producing for the domestic market in India, these plants will also have enhanced focus on catering to the Global Business (GB) markets across the world. 

The Company continues to monitor the situation closely and will move to double-shift production gradually. 

Hero MotoCorp has commenced a concerted initiative across the organization as top priority to get the employees in the age group of 18-45 vaccinated. More than 90% of Hero MotoCorp employees above the age of 45 have already been vaccinated. 

Strict safety and hygiene protocols are in place at all plant locations and offices in preparation for the gradual resumption of operations.