Veranda Race Opens Its 43rd Centre In Vijayanagar, Bengaluru

In its endeavour to provide high-quality education and training through blended and offline learning models, Veranda RACE, part of the Veranda Learning Solutions, has now opened a new offline learning centre in Vijayanagar, Bengaluru. This brand-new addition will be 43rd learning centre for Veranda which has centres in over 5 States and Union Territories. 

Veranda RACE has been providing top-notch education and training to students to help them prepare for Banking, Insurance, Staff Selection Commission, Railways, TNPSC, KPSC and other PSC examinations every year for over 10+ years. Veranda RACE provides students with an exhaustive collection of practice test papers with 1,80,000+ Q&A to help them succeed in their endeavours.

“Our new offline learning centre will offer students the best learning methodologies combined with rigorous practice for Bank & SSC courses to gain a competitive edge in the upcoming competitive exams and ensure a wholesome & impactful learning experience for our students. Situated at the heart of Vijayanagar, the sprawling Veranda RACE offline learning centre provides world class learning experience with focus on engagement and better outcomes through our exclusive six-level practice programmes, state-of-the-art computer lab, library with 1,000+ books and expert Veranda RACE mentors and faculty,” said Mr. Santosh Kumar, Operation Head, Veranda RACE. This will be the second offline learning centre of Veranda RACE in Karnataka, the other centre is located in JP Nagar (7th Phase), with a slew of more new students joining in for various competitive exam courses.

Veranda RACE is equipped with the best faculty and learning methodologies to cater to more than 1.5 lakh Banking aspirants, 1.5 lakh SSC aspirants and more than 8 lakh KPSC aspirants in and around the state of Karnataka for the upcoming Bank & Govt. exams.

Students of Veranda RACE have been consistently achieving great results at various Bank, SSC, Railways and other PSC exams and it is very popular with students when it comes to high stakes exams like Banking, SSC & Railways. In fact, in 2022, 34 students from Veranda RACE cleared the SSC MTS Exam 2022 from Tamil Nadu, out of the 37 SSC MTS vacancies, which is a remarkable feat.

About Veranda Learning Solutions

Founded in 2018, by the Kalpathi AGS Group - Veranda Learning Solutions is a public listed education technology company that offers a bouquet of training programs for competitive exam preparation, including State Public Service Commission, Banking, Insurance, Railways, IAS, and CA, as well as a slew of professional skilling and upskilling programmes in Management & trending technologies. Veranda Learning Solutions aims at offering a robust learning platform riding on a network of strong mentors, educationists, and tech-experts.

Veranda Learning Solutions’ platform combines technology, processes, and methodologies to provide high-quality, in-depth, personalised learning opportunities and content to learners across the country. Dedicated to creating an impact on students and delivering successful academic outcomes, Veranda adopts a multi-modal delivery system backed by a rigorous and disciplined learning framework.

The company provides services through its subsidiaries: Veranda Race, Veranda CA, Veranda IAS, and Edureka – the customer facing brand of Brain4ce Education Solutions. Veranda Learning has forayed into high-demand financial courses such as Chartered Accountancy through its partnership with India’s premier CA test-preparation institute, J. K. Shah Classes. 

Agri Tech Startup Greenikk Raises Rs 5.04 Crore In Pre-Seed Funding From Indian And Foreign Investors

Greenikk, a Kerala-based fledgling startup that launched India’s first full-stack supply chain seamlessly connecting banana cultivators, wholesalers,  exporters and B2B buyers on a single platform, has raised Rs 5.04 crore in pre-seed funding from a string of  institutional funders, angel investors and serial entrepreneurs from India and abroad.   

Out of this funding, Rs 3.34 crore will be in equity and the rest in debt, informed Fariq Naushad and Previn Jacob, the co-founders of the award-winning startup that was incubated at Indigram Labs, Delhi.   

The latest round of funding for Greenikk has come from 9 Unicorn Ventures, which is the lead investor; Kerala-based angel group Smart Spark Ventures; Manish Modi, who heads Mauritius-based Mastermind Capital Ventures, invested in several agri tech startups and also sits in the investment committee of Venture Catalysts; Saurabh Agarwal and Mayank Tiwari, founders of Reshamandi, a company that has so far raised $40 million; and Arjun Pillai, who sits in the board of Zoom info (NASDAQ listed). 

The list of funders for the company, which had earlier secured grant from BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council), also includes 1.0 Ventures, an angel group based in USA with a mix of founders and professionals who invest into exciting early- stage technology startups; Amit Antony Alex (former Country Director, Upaya Social Ventures; serial entrepreneur Shiv Shankar; and Aman Tekriwal (Maxar VC) with a large number of startup investments under his belt.

Among the other investors are CIIE (accelerator of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad); Suresh Aravind (former Worldwide VP, Johnson & Johnson); and Sriram Seshadri, a serial entrepreneur based in USA.

“We will be using the funds mainly to establish model Enablement Centres, gain traction and build up a scalable business model as also for hiring,” said Fariq and Previn, whose pioneering venture in the agri sector has kindled huge interest.

“Our plan is to hit Rs 100 crore in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) by FY 23. The next fund raise plan is to attract Rs 50 crore from the top venture capital (VC) funds in the country, and some of them have already made commitments for investment,” they pointed out. 

Launched in January 2020, Greenikk has built Enablement Centres (ECs) in the major banana producing agri-belts in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It provides the banana farmers with various kinds of support such as finance, seeds, crop advisory, insurance coverage, agri inputs and market connect, covering the entire gamut of production and marketing both inside the country and outside.

Happiest Minds Awarded ‘Best Governed Company’ In The Medium Category At The ICSI National Awards 2022

Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a ‘Born Digital. Born Agile’, Mindful IT Company, today announced that it has won the “Best Governed Company in Listed Segment: Medium Category - National Awards for Excellence in Corporate Governance” and Company Secretary, Mr. Praveen Kumar Darshankar was presented with the “Governance Professional of the Year” award at the 22nd edition of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) National Awards 2022. Happiest Minds’ Executive Chairman, Mr. Ashok Soota has been conferred the “ICSI Lifetime Achievement Award for Translating Excellence in Corporate Governance into Reality for the year 2022”.

The ICSI National Awards for Corporate Governance was instituted in the year 2001; it identifies, fosters and rewards the culture of evolving globally acceptable standards of Corporate Governance among Indian Companies, bestowing the ICSI National Award for Excellence in Corporate Governance every year on the Best-Governed Companies in India. The awards were presented at a ceremony held on January 6, 2023, in Mumbai by an eminent jury headed by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice P. Sathasivam, Former Chief Justice of India.

Mr. Venkatraman Narayanan, MD & CFO, Happiest Minds Technologies, said, “We are happy and proud to receive both the best-governed company and ‘Governance Professional of the Year’ in the medium category for 2022.  It is a matter of great pride that these awards have come just within 2 years of being listed.  The acknowledgment from the Institute is testimony to the highest levels of Corporate Governance and practices we have tried to instill at Happiest Minds from its inception.  Being a good corporate citizen is a continuous journey and I am extremely thankful to our people and our Board for their continued support.”

Mr. Ashok Soota, Executive Chairman, Happiest Minds Technologies said, “it is a rare honor and privilege to be conferred the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Corporate Governance’.  I would like to thank the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and the eminent Jury led by Hon’ble Mr Justice P Sathasivam for the same.”

Founded in 2011, Happiest Minds is recognized among India’s Top 50, Asia’s Top 100 and Top 50 India’s Best Workplaces™ for Women 2022 by the Great Place to Work® Institute. The company has won the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for Excellence in Corporate Governance 2022 and the Golden Peacock Business Excellence Award 2021. Designed for perpetuity, the company endeavors to mindfully leverage its digital technology-led business excellence for its people, clients and community, powered by its mission statement of “Happiest People . Happiest Customers”.

About Happiest Minds Technologies:

Happiest Minds’ Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a Mindful IT Company, enables digital transformation for enterprises and technology providers by delivering seamless customer experiences, business efficiency and actionable insights. We do this by leveraging a spectrum of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud, digital process automation, internet of things, robotics/drones, security, virtual/augmented reality, and more. Positioned as ‘Born Digital. Born Agile’, our capabilities span digital solutions, infrastructure, product engineering and security. We deliver these services across industry sectors such as automotive, BFSI, consumer packaged goods, e-commerce, edutech, engineering R&D, hi-tech, manufacturing, retail, and travel/transportation/hospitality.

A Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, Happiest Minds is headquartered in Bangalore, India, with operations in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East.

FalconX Launches "Global Immersion Program Cohort 2"

FalconX, a US-based accelerator and gateway for international startups announced the launch of "Global Immersion Program Cohort 2". This program is designed to help Indian entrepreneurs grow and scale their companies in the US with the help of industry experts and corporate partners in Silicon Valley. The program includes an Entrepreneurial MasterClass, sessions on topics such as go to-market strategy, sales, pricing, and fundraising, and one-on-one mentorship from over 40 industry leaders. The program culminates with a Technology Day where selected startups have the opportunity to pitch their startup to an audience of over 150 industry experts and venture capitalists.

FalconX also announced the launch of its first venture fund in 2023, with a focus on global early-stage B2B companies in the AI/ML, AR/VR, cleantech, Healthtech, and cloud infrastructure sectors. The fund will invest towards the scale and growth of the startups mentored through the FalconX Gateway including those graduating from its well-regarded Global Immersion Program. The initial fund of $20 million will be managed by Murali Chirala and Vivek Vipul as General Partners.

Speaking on the launch of "Global Immersion Program Cohort 2" B.V. Jagadeesh Co-founders of Falconx and Managing Partner of Kaaj Ventures-FalconX, said, "Entrepreneurship will play a crucial role in propelling India to the top of the global economic rankings by 2047.  Innovation and technology will be critical to achieving this goal, and FalconX will play a vital role in shaping their success.”

Speaking on the Occasion Murali Chirala, CEO FalconX said “India is the single most promising geography globally for technological innovation moving forward”.

With a team of veteran technology entrepreneurs and angel investors at the helm, FalconX has quickly established itself as a respected accelerator for technology startups. The company's founders BV Jagadeesh, Murali Chirala, Raju Reddy, Ashish Gupta, Pradeep Aswani, Praveen Akkiraju, Krishna Yarlagadda, Anurag Jain, Raju Indukuri, and JP Vejendla, provide mentorship and support to the startups they invest in, dramatically increasing their chances of success.

Honeywell And Nexceris Strengthen Partnership To Help Safety In EVs

* Honeywell battery sensors and gas detection monitoring portfolio and manufacturing expertise combined with Li-Ion Tamer gas detection solutions will address electric vehicle thermal runaway, one of the primary risks which can cause vehicle failure and fires

Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) announced today it is expanding its strategic alliance with Nexceris, developer of Li-ion Tamer® lithium-ion gas detection solutions, to help make electric vehicles (EVs) safer. Honeywell and Nexceris will offer advanced automotive sensing technology to help prevent conditions leading to thermal runaway in EV batteries, a phenomenon that causes extremely high temperatures within the battery cell and can result in a fire.

Global sales of EVs doubled in 2021 from the previous year to nearly 7 million[1], and India’s electric vehicle market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 90% in this decade to touch $150 billion by 2030.[2] Many of these vehicles today use lithium-ion batteries as an energy source, which can pose safety risks that can impact EV owners. To help mitigate these risks, automobile manufacturers are looking to incorporate technology to provide enhanced safety. Honeywell offers a wide range of lithium-ion battery safety and performance solutions, including sensors used in battery management systems to monitor the health of EV batteries, gas detection solutions used throughout the manufacturing process and electrical safety personal protective equipment, providing protection to workers and allowing them to operate safely in hazardous conditions.

Rajesh Rege, president, Honeywell India, mentioned, “As more people switch to electric vehicles, automakers need to supply lithium-ion batteries that are reliable, safe and secure at every point of their lifespan. EV sales are likely to increase exponentially 'in the coming months and years' due to the demand incentives provided under FAME II, the launch of state policies, rising fuel prices, tightening emissions laws and increasing awareness of the green environment. Honeywell is assisting this transition to more EVs on the road by providing ready-now solutions to help reduce safety concerns. Honeywell’s collaboration with Nexceris to develop an enhanced suite of battery monitoring sensors will help automotive manufacturers strengthen their battery health monitoring systems with the ability to detect thermal runaway conditions even earlier,” he added.

The companies will collaborate with leading global vehicle manufacturers to deliver advanced gas detection solutions in EV battery packs to allow for early intervention, helping avoid costly property damage and safety issues.

“Our work with Honeywell will help us empower the global transition to electric vehicles through enhanced battery monitoring,” said Kyle Shen, president and CEO, Nexceris. “Fires from lithium-ion batteries are dangerous and often difficult to contain after they start. By combining our shared expertise in battery sensing and gas detection technology with Honeywell’s extensive manufacturing capabilities, we will be working toward offering our vehicle manufacturing customers a more advanced safety solution and meeting the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries.”

In 2020, Honeywell and Nexceris formed its strategic alliance to address lithium-ion battery system safety for energy storage applications, combining Honeywell’s very early warning smoke detection and Li-ion Tamer’s leading off-gas detection technology for a safe, redundant way to protect facilities of any scale.  

The Li-ion Tamer (https://liiontamer.com/) products were developed by Nexceris. Nexceris is an energy innovation company dedicated to the clean energy transition. Founded in 1994, Nexceris’ vision is to create a better world through clean energy innovations. The company collaborates with global customers and partners to transform powerful ideas to make energy production safer, more efficient, and environmentally responsible. Learn more at nexceris.com.

Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions (SPS) provides products, software and connected solutions that improve productivity, workplace safety and asset performance for our customers across the globe. We deliver on this promise through industry-leading mobile devices, software, cloud technology and automation solutions, the broadest range of personal protective equipment and gas detection technology, and custom-engineered sensors, switches and controls. For more information, please visit: sps.honeywell.com.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

Household Brand SYSKA Launches BEE Compliant 5 Star Rating ORB-Pro And Galaxia-Pro Smart Fans

·         These smart fans can be controlled through app and voice-assistants

·         Energy saving of up to 50% through these advanced products

Syska Group, the leading FMEG brand in India today announced the launch of ORB-Pro SFD4500 and Galaxia-Pro SFD5500 smart fans. The introduction of Syska smart fans has been propelled in its true style of bringing forth innovation and aesthetics while offering economic feasibility. These BLDC fans come with energy-saving technology that can cut electricity consumption by up to 50%.

BG Syska Galaxia CMF 3 Fans_Pearky grey

With the goal of reaching every household, Syska has been on a growth trajectory by expanding its product line in the fans segment. The collection of fans by Syska has been conceptualised and developed to serve the needs and preferences of consumers while being environment friendly. While both the fans offer air delivery of 220cmm and blade sweep of 1200mm, the ORB-Pro smart fan utilises 30 Watt for Fan and around 5w for Lighting operation, whereas Galaxia-Pro smart fan consumes 30 Watt.

Final 3 Syska Orb CMF-03 Sattin gold

Commenting on the launch of both these fan models, Mr. Rajesh Uttamchandani, Director, Syska Group said, “There is an opportunity for business growth in the fans category and we at Syska are committed towards energy conservation by delivering innovative products for our consumers that are light years ahead of their time. These fans are designed to be modern and technologically advanced and are guaranteed to provide unmatched performance. These appliances come with features that deliver on Syska’s promise of innovation.”

Key features of Syska ORB-Pro and Galaxia-Pro smart fans:

·         Noiseless and powerful motor– The fans come with advanced noiseless and powerful BLDC motor that provide superior air circulation

·         Dust resistance- The fans have been provided with aluminium blade with 3 coats of painting and having corrosion free and dust resistance finishing. 

·         Silent Performance- The fan blades are also carefully crafted to give silent performance at higher speed levels.

·         Superior metallic finish- Designed for the modern look with metallic finish of trims and blades so that these smart fans have a premium look.

·         IoT Enabled- These smart fans are compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa and Syska Smart Home App.

In line with the government’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, these fans are manufactured indigenously. Customers can purchase these products from the leading retail stores. The ORB-Pro smart fan is available in Satin Gold, Pearl White and Himalayan Grey whereas, the Galaxia-Pro smart fan is available in Majestic Copper, Pearly Glow and Perky Grey. Both of these Pro series models have BEE compliance with 5 Star rating and having the service value of more than 6 m3/Min/W.

The Galaxia-Pro smart fan can be purchased at Rs. 8,999/- and ORB-Pro smart fan with in-built light feature can be purchased at Rs. 9,999/-.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Commences Bookings For The Iconic Hilux

* With its powerful performance and unmatched toughness, the Hilux is a testament to Toyota’s world-class engineering and exceptional on & off-road prowess

* Powered by 2.8 L Four Cylinder Turbo-Diesel Engine & is available in 6-Speed Automatic and Manual Transmission options

* Top safety features such as 7 SRS Airbags, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TC) Electronic Systems to keep vehicle control under adverse weather & road conditions

* All variants equipped with 4X4 drive capabilities along with many first-in-segment features such as Drive modes options (Power & Eco), Tire Angle Monitor & Front Parking Sensors for a smooth drive

* Utmost passenger comfort on the interiors with Leather Seats, Dual Zone Fully Automatic Temperature Control, Smart Entry & Auto Head Lamps

* Eight-inch infotainment table style screen with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay provides entertainment and seamless connectivity technology

* Aiding customer convenience, bookings can be placed both online (www.toyotabharat.com) as well as at the nearest Toyota dealership 

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the opening of bookings for its iconic lifestyle utility vehicle - The Hilux. Needless to mention, since its launch in early 2022, the Hilux has received overwhelming customer response, appreciated for its great styling, and driving comfort.

Owing to Hilux’s high demand and various factors impacting the supply, the bookings for legendary Hilux was temporarily halted. However, with today’s announcement, the order taking for the much-celebrated global legend have commenced at the dealer outlets as well as on-line bookings are accepted.

Globally, the Hilux sales have surpassed 20 million units winning hearts of many discerning customers from over 180 countries. Through more than five decades and eight generations, the Toyota Hilux has created extraordinary experiences and an unbreakable bond with those who desire awesome drives, whether they are on business or with their families.

Hilux’s global reputation as a powerful performer is attributed to its rigid Innovative Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) platform. It is the same platform (body-on frame chassis construction) that underpins the Fortuner which has been a runaway success in India and across many countries.

Toyota Hilux is aimed to fulfil the needs of customers seeking an awesome lifestyle utility vehicle that is best suited, not only for off-roading adventure drives on tough terrains, but also for everyday city use. Furthermore, this versatile machine, is perfectly suited for multiple purpose usages that can cater to new emerging business customers be it campervan, farming, defense, mining, construction, rescue van, etc.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Atul Sood, Vice President of Sales and Strategic Marketing – Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “It gives us immense pleasure to announce that we have begun the bookings for Hilux – an iconic vehicle which has been accepted by generations world over. Our desire is to excite our customers with lifetime experiences to fulfil their aspiring needs by providing greater mobility choices. We are confident that the globally celebrated Hilux will continue to set new standards of unmatched toughness & awesomeness in India market to suit varied lifestyle utility requirements be it personal or business.

We at Toyota truly understand that for who owns Hilux, the purpose of life is to do more than the normal, to be able to go on adventures, to be able to make memories and to utilise every opportunity and go forth. It is as much function as it is form. It is as much utility as it is exploration to lead a complete life, full of memories. With our flagship model Hilux, we aim to call on our valued customers to do everything they wish to, to Live a Fuller Life.

As a brand that continually evaluates market trends and evolving preferences, we recognize the increasing aspiration for a rugged, sturdy lifestyle utility vehicle and the Hilux ticks all the right boxes. Being a fine example of world-class engineering with unparalleled safety, and best-in-class comfort, Hilux is perfectly channelled to aid seamless mobility in difficult road conditions. We strongly believe that our patrons will carry on the legacy of this vehicle on Indian terrains, for many years to come.”

The Hilux with its powerful powertrain system of 2.8 L Four Cylinder Turbo-Diesel Engine, is available in option of 6- Speed Automatic and 6-Speed Manual Transmission. All the variants of Hilux are equipped with 4X4 drive capabilities along with many first-in-segment features such as Drive modes options (Power & Eco), Tire Angle Monitor & Front Parking Sensors for a smooth drive. In addition to a variety of remarkable features coupled with a robust engine, the Hilux also offers exceptional endurance, low maintenance cost, and great practicality for a variety of usage purposes. Furthermore, the Hilux's water wading capability of 700mm makes it suitable for driving through Indian trails, setting new standards in its off-road capability.

Further, to supplement the amazing experience of Hilux, we are much excited to offer the specialised range of accessories for adventure-oriented customers’, truly reflective of the design concept. These range of recommended accessories will amplify the versatility of the Hilux. To know more about such accessories, we urge the customers to visit and explore at their nearest Toyota touchpoints.

Bookings for the Toyota Hilux opened today. Customers can make their bookings online on www.toyotabharat.com or also visit their nearest Toyota dealership. With Toyota’s virtual showroom, now the customers can seamlessly get a 360-degree external and internal views, check out all the available variants and colours and experience the key features as well.