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.