Abhishek Ganguly Partners With Convergent Finance To Launch Integrated Sports Platform Agilitas Sports

·         Agilitas Sports aims to be innovation-led sportswear and athleisure solutions platform

·         Total capital raise of Rs. 430 crores; Convergent Finance LLP advised funds invest Rs. 400 crores

Abhishek Ganguly, a noted sports business leader, along with co-founders Atul Bajaj and Amit Prabhu have announced their entrepreneurial venture – Agilitas Sports – an innovation-led sportswear and athleisure solutions platform that aims to invest in the core fabric of the Indian sports ecosystem.

The funds advised by Convergent Finance LLP, an investment management and advisory partnership led by Harsha Raghavan, have invested Rs. 400 crores and Rs. 30 crores have come from individual investors.

The founding team of Agilitas Sports comprises of Abhishek Ganguly, the outgoing Managing Director of PUMA India and South East Asia, Atul Bajaj, the outgoing Executive Director – Sales and Operations of PUMA India, and Amit Prabhu, the outgoing Chief Financial Officer of PUMA India.

Announcing the venture, Abhishek Ganguly, Founder of Agilitas Sports, said, “Agilitas Sports aims to disrupt and redefine the sportswear industry by seamlessly integrating innovation and technology across the product value chain from the factory floor to the retail shelf. With a hyper-focus on customer experience and customer-centricity, we endeavor to build meaningful communities in the Indian sports and sportswear space and be a catalyst towards a fit and athletic India.”

Harsha Raghavan, Managing Partner at Convergent Finance LLP, said, “Abhishek, Atul, and Amit are exceptional professionals and have an outstanding track record of building a sports and athleisure-focused business from scratch to become India’s largest. Their strong leadership capabilities are complemented by their skill in identifying consumer trends early. They are exactly the kind of passionate entrepreneurs whose ideas we love to back with our capital. With the amazing new opportunities in India’s sportswear market given our nation’s focus on fitness as well as ‘Made in India’, we believe that Agilitas represents the next step in the evolution of India’s consumer story. Convergent will work with Agilitas in the areas of operations, capital allocation, and long-term business strategy.”

Currently, sports footwear accounts for 16% of the overall footwear market and is the fastest-growing segment. Its share is trending towards the global averages of 30%+ in emerging markets and 50%+ in mature markets. At the same time, the current total footwear market of approximately Rs. 110 Billion is projected to grow at about 13% CAGR up to 2030.

About Agilitas Sports:

Agilitas Sports is an innovation-led sportswear and athleisure solutions platform, focused on democratizing sports & proliferating a culture of sportsmanship in India. Agilitas is led by Abhishek Ganguly, the outgoing Managing Director of PUMA India and South East Asia. Other co-founders include Atul Bajaj and Amit Prabhu, who are the outgoing PUMA India’s Executive Director – Sales and Operations and Chief Financial Officer, respectively.

About Convergent Finance LLP:

Convergent Finance LLP is an investment management and advisory partnership at the forefront of bringing together Ideas, Capital, and passionate Entrepreneurs. The Convergent investment process involves identifying proprietary platform and bolt-on opportunities, speed of execution, and a relentless focus on performance improvement. The Convergent value investing approach believes in paying fair and reasonable valuations through bilaterally negotiated transactions.

Epson Launches The Versatile And Affordable EpiqVision CO-FH02 Home Theatre Projector With Built-In Android TV & Speaker

Epson, a world leader in digital imaging and printing solutions, has unveiled its latest full HD home theatre projector – The Epson EpiqVision CO-FH02. The new home theatre projector is versatile yet affordable and is available for just ?86,999. The Epson EpiqVision CO-FH02 home theatre projector comes with built-in Android TV and speaker. The projector is being launched with an inaugural bundle offer of a 1-year Membership/Subscription of 6 popular OTT platforms¹ (Disney-Hotstar, Amazon Prime, Sony Liv, Zee5, Discovery+ and ShemarooMe) worth ?5,844¹. It is available to purchase at Epson Pro Cinema Partners and online.

Epson EpiqVision CO-FH02

The Epson EpiqVision CO-FH02 - Full HD projector, is compact and has a simple, and clean design, enabling its user to have a big screen experience anywhere. The viewer can get an impressive image size of up to 762 cm (300 inches) display and can stream their favourite sports or movies with the built-in Android TV². It is simple to set up and the 3,000 lumens of brightness provide clear, bright, and brilliant images. The projector is a long-lasting home entertainment solution with a lamp that can provide up to 18 years³ worth of entertainment³.

Features:

Affordable / Economical home theatre projector

High Brightness of 3,000 Lumens

Full HD – 1080P

3LCD technology

Android TV

In-built speaker

Simple and clean design

Compact and easy to carry

“With the launch of the Epson EpiqVision CO-FH02 - our flagship entry-level home theatre projector, we aim to significantly expand the market and reach more homes looking for a big screen full-HD home entertainment experience at an affordable price. Equipped with built-in speakers and Android TV, the projector will deliver an epic entertainment experience for families and their friends. The limited period inaugural offer of a bundled 1-year subscription of 6 popular OTT platforms¹ worth INR.5,844¹ is an add-on benefit for those looking to enhance their entertainment experience at home" said Mr Satyanarayana, Director of LFP, Visual Products & Robots at Epson India.

¹Conditions apply. Limited period offer. Offer valid till stocks lasts. The logos mentioned are trademarks of the respective brands.

²Android TV™ - Google, Android, Google Play, YouTube and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC.

³Based on watching an average 1hr 45mins film everyday and the lamp set in eco mode.

About Epson

Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to co-creating sustainability and enriching communities by leveraging its efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies to connect people, things, and information. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson will become carbon negative and eliminate the use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of around JPY 1 trillion. https://global.epson.com/

About Epson India

Epson India Pvt. Ltd. was incorporated in the year 2000. Epson products address the needs of homes, businesses and commercial enterprises as those of consumers with specialized needs in India. With a commitment to providing products and services that surpass people’s expectations, Epson India today has an enviable reputation for quality and value. Headquartered in Bangalore, the company markets and supports Epson Inkjet Printers, Inkjet All-in-Ones, Point of Sale Printers, 3LCD Projectors, Scanners, Large Format Printers, Robots and Dot-Matrix Printers. In all of these categories, Epson is either the No. 1 or No. 2 brand in India and growing fast. https://www.epson.co.in/

ELGi Sauer Strengthens Presence With New, State-Of-The-Art Manufacturing Facility In Coimbatore, India

* Extends engineering support to the Sauer Compressors Group worldwide for new product development and prototype testing

ELGI Sauer Compressors Ltd, the joint venture between Elgi Equipments Ltd and the German-based Sauer Compressors Group, expanded operations by opening a new manufacturing facility in Kallappalayam, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. With an investment of approximately INR 400 million, the 50,000 sq. ft. facility will begin manufacturing state-of-the-art high-pressure compressors, pressure-reducing stations, and portable breathing air compressors for the industrial, commercial shipping, naval and offshore markets in India. The facility will also house an Engineering Support Centre, which will provide engineering support to the Sauer Compressors Group worldwide for new product development and prototype testing. 

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Jairam Varadaraj, Managing Director, Elgi Equipments Limited, said, "The ELGi Sauer joint venture, established in 2008, brought advanced technology, a wider range of products, increased availability due to indigenization and better product support to the Indian Navy, marine and related special applications. Over 14 years of partnership, we have created a niche identity in the high-pressure market in India and neighbouring countries. Today, ELGI Sauer Compressors has strong local market know-how, indigenization prospects to be more competitive, and opportunities to deliver customized solutions. Looking ahead, agile operations, increased capacity, and local-for-local supply will be essential to supporting our customers, and with this world-class facility ELGI Sauer is well positioned to serve new markets and achieve long-term business goals."

Hendrik Murmann, CEO of Sauer Compressors Group, further added, "We are proud and happy with our Indian colleagues who have developed our very good position in India over so many years. They have become an indispensable part of the global Sauer Compressors Company Group, and they strengthen our technical competencies. We thank our partner ELGI for almost 15 years of very friendly and reliable cooperation. We are convinced that this expansion will be the beginning of the next chapter of our success story."

"This is an important milestone in our journey towards market leadership and sustained business growth for ELGI Sauer Compressors in India. This factory with expanded manufacturing capacity will help us further consolidate the engineering, indigenization, and product support capabilities of both constituent entities and create a strong aftermarket network," said Satish Kini, Chief Executive Officer, ELGI Sauer Compressors Limited. 

Environmental sustainability has been a key consideration in the construction of this facility. In line with ELGi's focus on resource-neutral operations, the factory has been designed with energy-efficient transformers, water recycling, rainwater harvesting systems, and a special architectural emphasis on natural light and ventilation with landscaped gardens and green zones. In alignment with ELGi's commitment to circularity, over 1 Mn Kg of the ELGi foundry waste sand was used to construct solid blocks for the compound wall. ELGi also strongly emphasizes a zero-incident workplace by fostering a safe and healthy work environment and eliminating adverse occupational health and safety-related incidents. The new factory is built on green building principles under the certification of IGBC, the Indian Green Building Council.  

About ELGI SAUER:

Established in 2008, ELGI Sauer Compressors Ltd is a joint venture between Elgi Equipments Ltd, Coimbatore, India, and Sauer Compressors Group based in Kiel, Germany. The joint venture brings together ELGi's decades of experience in the Indian industrial and defence market and Sauer's experience as a global leader in manufacturing high-pressure air compressors for the industry, commercial shipping, navy, and offshore markets. For more details, visit: www.elgisauer.com

About ELGI EQUIPMENTS:

Elgi Equipments Limited is a global air compressor manufacturer with a broad line of innovative and technologically superior compressed air systems. ELGi has consistently ensured 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. For further information on the organisation and its products, visit http://www.elgi.com

Shadowfax Announces The Hiring of 10,000 Riders And Delivery Partners In Its Hyperlocal Delivery Network

India's leading last-mile logistics company, Shadowfax, announced the hiring of 10,000 new riders and delivery partners for its hyperlocal delivery network today. This move is aimed at capitalizing on the upcoming opportunities presented by the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). Shadowfax is currently present in 1,100+ cities and works with over 50,000 delivery partners every day.

Shadowfax's hyperlocal network serves as a one-stop-solution for all major e-commerce, food, grocery, and retail companies. Their network serves millions of customers everyday.

In the hyperlocal delivery market, Shadowfax holds a strong position, which is why the company requires 10,000 new delivery partners to further expand its network. To fulfill this purpose, it has hiring centers to attract interested candidates, who can  join their network within 10 minutes through its Android app.

Shadowfax's hyperlocal network reaches every corner of India and provides its partners with flexible earning opportunities. The company offers thorough training to its partners and strives to provide better earnings.

By joining Shadowfax's hyperlocal delivery network as a delivery partner, you too can start earning. By signing up today, you can begin delivering in your own city. Shadowfax delivery partners earn upto Rs.40000 monthly. And not just that, by referring your friends to deliver with us, you can claim exciting referral bonuses too.

Praharsh Chandra, Co-Founder & Chief Buisness Officer of Shadowfax says : Shadowfax is one of the largest and most successful hyperlocal delivery networks in India. The company is committed to further expanding its hyperlocal delivery network and providing better income opportunities to its partners and riders. This support and investment will help strengthen our network, allowing us to improve the quality and reach of delivery services in various cities across India. With the addition of new partners and riders, we hope that Shadowfax can elevate digital and delivery progress to the next level in India.

About Shadowfax

Shadowfax is India’s leading on-demand tech-enabled instant logistics platform. Shadowfax is the only Indian B2B2C platform with capabilities to serve multiple end-customer categories - including food delivery, grocery delivery, quick commerce, multi-city e-commerce fulfillment, and reverse logistics via a single platform. On the back of a fast-growing base of 1.5 Lakhs + monthly transacting delivery partners, Shadowfax delivers 15 L + orders daily in 10000+ pin codes across 1100 + towns and serving 50K + merchants.  Shadowfax was founded by IIT Delhi alumni Abhishek Bansal, Vaibhav Khandelwal, Praharsh Chandra, and Gaurav Jaithliya in 2015.

Tata Tea Gold Care Spreads Mother's Day Cheer At Vega City Mall Bengaluru

Highlights:

·         The brand created a memorable experience for consumers and their mothers through the interactive event at Vega City Mall, which allowed them to celebrate and give back love to their mothers

·         In a category first, brand will be customizing 1000 packs basis entries received from across the country, delivering a personalised consumer experience in this campaign.

It is said that the most natural and genuine care in the world comes from a mother’s heart. In a first for the Tea category, this Mother’s Day, Tata Tea Gold Care, the marque brand from Tata Tea’s diverse portfolio, is planning to celebrate Mother’s Day through its new campaign #MyTurnToCare. As part of the same, the brand today engaged consumers in Bengaluru’s Vega City Mall with a fully tech-enabled on-ground mall activation. The event involved setting up a kiosk with a photo-booth and a café-like set-up. Consumers visiting the malls with their mothers had a "chai pe charcha" session at the Tata Tea Gold Care stall and got a photo clicked resembling a Tata Tea Gold Care Mother's Day limited edition pack.

These first-of-a-kind limited edition packs aims to celebrate the genuine and natural caring bond between a mother and her child while also reinforcing the brand’s ‘care’ proposition. Tata Tea Gold Care helps in taking care of one’s well-being as it is an exquisite blend of valley grown teas with the goodness of 5 Natural Ingredients like Tulsi, Ginger, Brahmi, Cardamom and Mulethi.

Ahead of Mother’s Day, the brand has created a special microsite (www.TataTeaGoldCare.com) where participants can submit their picture entry along with a special message for their mother. The best 1000 entries that are received earliest will win a personalized pack of Tata Tea Gold Care. These packs will be delivered directly to the consumer’s home (in 2-4 weeks). To further amplify the campaign, the brand has collaborated with famous social media influencers including film and TV celebrities like Kajal Aggarwal, Sameera Reddy, Anushka Sen, Jannat Zubair and Saloni Gaur to spread the word about the initiative among their friends and followers.

Speaking about the campaign and its objective, Puneet Das, President - Packaged Beverages (India and South Asia), Tata Consumer Products said, “Tata Tea Gold Care’s campaign celebrates the special mother-child caring bond and highlights the power and stories of these bonds through these photo-personalized tea packs. Each pack is a special tribute and pays homage to the unwavering strength of these mothers whose care is genuine and natural for their child(ren). At Tata Tea Gold Care, we recognize the importance of engaging with consumers through such disruptive and personalized experiences. Integrating unique variable printing technology is a major undertaking for our brand which prides itself on innovation. We are very excited to collaborate with Trigon Digipack Private Limited and Tree Designs for our Mother’s Day campaign in helping bring alive consumer’s special moments with their mothers. Product packaging is the first and most impactful interaction that consumers have, and we are proud to be at the forefront of innovating this at such a large scale. Celebrating the genuine and natural ‘care’ that mothers have for their child(ren) is at the core of our Mother’s Day campaign and the same is being celebrated across various consumer touchpoints – be it our creatives across Print, Digital, Social-Media, Outdoor or On-ground activations”.

The breakthrough innovation in the on-ground activity and the highlight is that it was fully tech-enabled, with no human interface dictating the outcome. The customized pack image and message will then be simulcasted on the big LED screen in the mall, visible to all, making their mothers feel like celebrities on Mother's Day. Consumers can also take photos and videos of this special moment and share it with their friends on social media.

Motherhood Hospitals Organized A Walkathon To Celebrate Mother’s Day

* “Dr. Indira Kabade, District Health, and Family Welfare Officer, walks with 350 people to mark the occasion of Mother’s Day”

India’s leading network of women and children’s hospitals, Motherhood Hospitals which operates 21 hospitals across 10 cities, organized a walkathon in the premises of HRBR layout branch of Motherhood Hospitals to celebrate Mother’s Day on the 14th of May. Over 350 people were part of the 5km walkathon to support the initiative.

The Chief Guest of the program was Dr Indira Kabade, Medical Superintendent, KCG Hospital, Additional Charge, District Health and Family Welfare officer, Bengaluru Urban.“The walkathon was led by the mutual feeling of love for mothers, the tagline of the event was an indication of gratitude, it said "She taught me how to walk, today I walk with her.”

Being a mother is an exceedingly challenging task, yet it is performed with a lot of love. Mothers spend their whole life understanding and fulfilling our desires, and this walkathon was a way to appreciate their sacrifices & commitment as a mother and to celebrate their importance in our lives.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Indira Kabade, Medical Superintendent, KCG Hospital and Additional charge, District Health and Family welfare Officer, Bengaluru Urban, said “It was a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful initiative by Motherhood Hospitals, a walkathon to show our gratitude to Mothers who play such a pivotal role in our lives. It was an empowering event with 60% of women supporting the initiative”

Dr. Manjula Patil, Senior Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Motherhood Hospitals, said “Being a mother is one of the toughest jobs and the one that gets least appreciation. It is a great feeling to be a part of this walkathon and to be celebrating this day. It is extremely important to remind ourselves of our responsibilities towards our mothers, we owe it to them and the least we can do is be grateful for all their love that they shower upon us.”

About Motherhood Hospitals:

Motherhood Women & Children’s Hospital network is India’s fastest-growing single specialty hospital network with 21 hospitals in 10 cities and over 1200 leading gynecologist, pediatricians & neonatologists across the country associated with the hospital network. Recognized for its best-in-class clinical expertise and range of comprehensive women and childcare services, the leading healthcare chain has pioneered managing high-risk pregnancies, complex gynae surgeries such as fertility enhancement or uro-gynae surgeries, management of new-born with critical conditions and extremely low birth weight babies. With the largest network of over 300 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) beds in the country, Motherhood Hospitals are acclaimed as India’s best referral center for handling the most complex preterm births. Motherhood Hospitals is a portfolio company of Asia Healthcare Holdings.

https://www.motherhoodindia.com/

Raj Diamonds Celebrates Mother’s Day In A Unique Traditional Style

* Employees washed mothers’ feet and take blessings

It’s undeniable: moms are incredibly special. Mother's Day is a special occasion that celebrates the selfless love and devotion of mothers all around the world. In an ode to mothers, Raj Diamonds, a renowned diamond jewellery brand celebrated Mother’s Day in a unique style. All the mothers of the employees were invited for an event which included foot-washing ceremony to remind all about the saying that “Paradise lies at your mother’s feet.” The heart-warming celebration which saw participation of around 100 mothers captured various moments of boundless love, care, and support and celebrated the many facets of mothers. A special puja was performed and gift hampers were also given to all the mothers as part of the gala celebration.

Celebrating the unbreakable spirit of mothers, Eshwar Surana, Managing Director, Raj Diamonds said “It is said that God can’t be present everywhere and so he created mothers on earth. Mothers are like natural diamonds – beautiful, strong, precious, and filled with love that lasts forever. Every woman’s journey to motherhood is beautiful and every mother is unique in her own way. She needs to be cherished throughout the year for the selfless love and dedication in keeping family always ahead of her.”

Commenting on this special day, Hemavathy, mother of an employee said “There is no greater bond on this planet than the bond between a mother and her children. Mothers feel truly appreciated and content when their kids are praised for their success. The event truly showcased the unconventional paths of mothers from different walks of life who have overcome societal and financial hardships to emerge as strong individuals, creating a niche for themselves and their children. We thank Raj Diamonds for this memorable event.”

Speaking on the occasion, Rajvaneel Chandan, an employee of Raj Diamonds said “Mothers deserve all the love and pampering in the world. She is the epitome of love, care, and support. She is no less than a miracle. A single day is not enough to honour the love and sacrifice of a mother. My mother taught me how to learn from mistakes. She is the only constant in this ever-changing world. Hopefully this event becomes a symbol to remind us about all the good deeds and sacrifices of our mothers for the rest of our lives.”

Overall, the event showcased a woman's motherhood in multiple ways and also appreciated mothers who are strong and don’t let the harsh realities of life impact their children’s dreams and hopes.