Bandhan Mutual Fund Launches Bandhan Financial Services Fund To Offer Investors A Broader Set Of Opportunities To Invest In India

* The fund opens for subscription on July 10, 2023

Bandhan Mutual Fund announced the launch of the Bandhan Financial Services Fund, an open-ended equity scheme, offering investors the opportunity to benefit from the multi-year growth opportunities in the financial services sector. The fund will be actively managed by a team that has a strong pedigree and expertise in leveraging the vast opportunities across this attractive value chain, providing investors with an opportunity to benefit from the growth story of the economy. The New Fund Offer will open on Monday, July 10, 2023, and close on Monday, July 24, 2023. Investment in Bandhan Financial Services Fund can be made through licensed mutual fund distributors and online platforms, as well as, directly on https://www.bandhanmutual.com.

Highlighting why investors should consider investing in the Financial Services Sector, Mr. Vishal Kapoor, CEO, Bandhan AMC said, “A significant portion of India’s economic growth is fueled by the financial services sector. Powerful enablers like increasing financial inclusion, growing digitization, and the relatively stronger balance sheet of banks and NBFCs provide visibility for strong earnings growth for this sector. It has been a key driver of returns for the capital market with the Financial Services Index growing 18X since inception compared to 10X for the Nifty 500 Index. The Bandhan Financial Services Fund will go beyond the traditional Banking sector by diversifying further with investments in Capital Markets, NBFCs, Insurance, and Fintech as well, providing investors with an opportunity to benefit from India’s long-term growth story.”

Mr. Sumit Agrawal, Fund Manager for Bandhan Financial Services Fund added, “The financial services sector is agile in embracing new businesses and themes that could further enhance its growth prospects. With a whole host of sub-segments and a solid track record for wealth creation over the long term, the valuation of the Nifty Financial Services Index is currently at reasonable levels, a relatively attractive entry point for investors looking to benefit from the growth prospects of this diversified sector. The Bandhan Financial Services Fund has a bottom-up stock selection approach with flexible allocation across market cap segments, facilitating focus on growth-oriented companies that have proven competitive positioning, good management quality, and a robust earnings trajectory.”

The Bandhan Financial Services Fund will use a 3-factor model for stock selection. The fund manager will prioritize the stock’s Earnings Trajectory, Management Quality, and Competitive Positioning, thereby focusing on both the quality and growth aspects of the portfolio. The fund’s portfolio construction would follow the flexi cap approach from a market cap allocation standpoint and will be actively managed. It will follow a growth style of management and look at medium to long-term growth opportunities.

Deliveroo Presents...Food In 2040; Introducing The Snack To The Future Report

* EXPERTS PREDICT BREATH-PRINTS, ME-GANISM DIETS, CHALLENGED SENSES, EDIBLE BEAUTY, 3D PRINTED MEAL PLANS, VR DINNER PARTIES, AND RESTORATIVE RESTAURANTS BY 2040

Deliveroo today has launched its SNACK TO THE FUTURE: 2040 report.  It brings together leading futurists and experts from the worlds of food, science, technology and innovation to create a forward-looking view of how the world will be eating by 2040 and how our dinner tables are set to revolutionise. The report, commissioned by Deliveroo, was written by Avansere, a leading agency that designs next-generation enterprises. Contributors to the report include Will Shu, CEO and founder at Deliveroo, and other senior leaders from the company along with guest experts including Georgie Barrat (Technology Journalist and TV Presenter on The Gadget Show) and Tom Cheesewright (applied Futurist).

Speaking on the report, Will Shu, CEO and founder of Deliveroo said, “I started Deliveroo in 2013 with a mission to connect people to the best quality food from local restaurants and deliver it directly to people’s doors. It has been an incredible ride over the past ten years, and I am really proud of what we have built. As we look towards the next decade and beyond, Deliveroo will continue to create exciting new innovations in food delivery, build new, better consumer experiences, and take Deliveroo beyond functionality and convenience to really capture the passion and emotion of food.”

The SNACK TO THE FUTURE: 2040 report reveals key predictions and technological advancements that are set to rock consumers’ worlds, including:

BREATH-PRINTS: Expect personal tech devices to be enabled with BreathTech, meaning you can breathe on your device and get a deep level of insight into what foods you should be eating to have an optimal impact on your individual health and well-being.

ME-GANSIM: Move over Keto, the predicted next big thing in dieting and set to be the mainstream diet of the future, is the Me-gan diet (Me-ganism); a hyper-personalised diet which is entirely bespoke to your individual nutritional needs,  powered by AI technology. By 2040, people will live with certain technologies designed to combine information and receive personalised diet recommendations

PERSONAL AIs: AI technology will offer you your own personal AI (a lifelong AI buddy) which will help automate and tailor what you are eating based on preferences and needs at any given time. A personal AI is a digital representation of an individual’s mind, constantly acquiring knowledge and insights from their personal experiences.

CHALLENGED SENSES: Food that makes you feel… food delivery services will be using additional digital audio and visual content to elevate the meal enjoyment experience, so much so that it could take food pleasure to the next level by challenging customers' senses.

EDIBLE BEAUTY: Get ready to see the food and beauty industry become more integrated than ever with a rise in edible beauty products like anti-ageing ice cream and the chance to dine from hormone-balancing and dopamine-driving menus.

3D PRINTED MEAL PLANS: From packed lunches to printed lunches, food prep is about to become a lot easier with advances in 3D printing technology helping you create perfectly portioned and nutritionally balanced meals, of your choice, at home. Individuals could be empowered to personalise the shape, density, appearance, and texture of their food according to their preferences. Consequently, we can bid farewell to the food not looking or tasting the way we want it to.

VR DINNER PARTIES:  Dine with celebrities, and royals, or recreate food moments from famous movies thanks to VR technology, which will simulate dining experiences from the comfort of your home - think: enjoying a delightful breakfast at Tiffany’s, while you’re tucking into a bacon sandwich on the sofa.

FAREWELL FUSSY EATERS: Thanks to VR and AR technology, your brains could be tricked into thinking you are eating something you are not, for example, if you are a fussy eater who doesn’t want to eat vegetables, you could put on smart glasses and think you are eating chocolate or sweets.

RESTORATIVE RESTAURANTS: New restaurant concepts will remove outside world distractions, with personal tech devices banned at entry and a rise in the popularity of silent cafés and restaurants, ONLY offering tables for one to encourage mindful eating.

PASS THE AMARANTH: Whole grain staples, such as corn or maize, are about to look very different with alternatives such as amaranth, fonio, sorghum, teff, khorasan, einkorn and emmer,  all likely to be mainstream in 2040.

ALT-OHOL: As the nation increasingly seeks alcohol alternatives, we can expect to see a rise in popularity of ‘wine’ cordials that mimic the taste and flavour profile of real wine, without the negatives.

Rapido Launches "Auto Dost" Initiative To Empower Auto Captains And Introduces "Night Rider" To Ensure Rider Safety In Bengaluru

*        Riders who utilize Rapido services between 10 pm and 6 am will receive a safety check call from the Rapido call center after completing their ride.

*        Rapido aims to continually enhance the benefits offered to captains under the Auto Dost initiative, ensuring their satisfaction and success.

Rapido, India's leading bike taxi platform, is excited to announce the launch of its innovative initiative, "Auto Dost," aimed at providing exceptional support to local auto drivers. Additionally, Rapido has introduced a new safety feature called "Night Rides Check" to ensure the well-being of riders travelling between 10 pm and 6 am.

Auto Dost: Empowering Bengaluru Auto Drivers

Rapido recognizes the invaluable role played by Bengaluru local auto drivers in providing reliable transportation services to riders across the city. Through the Auto Dost initiative, Rapido is committed to delivering best-in-class support to its auto captains, solidifying its position as a competitive differentiator in the market.

As part of Auto Dost, Rapido offers a range of benefits to its captains, including:

 * Commission less than Rs. 15 on every order, ensuring their earnings are maximized.

* Unlimited cancellations with a cancellation amount of Rs. 10, providing flexibility for captains in managing their rides.

* Pickup charges of Rs. 10 on every ride, acknowledging the efforts of captains in reaching the riders promptly.

* A dedicated captain support center for prompt and efficient resolution of any queries or concerns.

Rapido aims to continuously enhance the benefits offered to captains under the Auto Dost initiative, ensuring their satisfaction and success.

Night Rides Check: Ensuring Rider Safety

Rapido places the safety of its riders as a top priority. To address concerns during late-night travel, Rapido has introduced the Night Rides Check feature in its app. Riders who utilize Rapido services between 10 pm and 6 am will receive a safety check call from the Rapido call center after completing their ride.

The Night Rides Check serves as an additional safety measure, providing riders with peace of mind during their late-night journeys. This feature emphasizes Rapido's commitment to ensuring the security and well-being of its riders at all times.

According to Pavan Guntupalli, Co-founder of Rapido, the event celebrates commitment and quality among their driver-partners, who contribute to the company's success. He further adds, “Our Rapido Captains are the backbone of our business, and we are grateful for their hard work and dedication. They have been instrumental in making Rapido a household name in Bengaluru and we are proud of their achievements. We believe in fostering a supportive ecosystem for our auto captains while prioritizing the safety of our riders. The Auto Dost initiative is a testament to our commitment, launching this initiative will not only boost our captains’ morale but also improve our retention rate and the Night Rides Check feature further strengthens our efforts in providing a secure and reliable transportation experience.”

In the recent Rewards and Recognition (R&R) event in Bengaluru, Rapido announced the initiative of “Auto Dost” and “Night Rider”. The event celebrated the hard work and dedication shown by the Bengaluru Auto Captains who have played an instrumental role in Rapido's success in the city. Rapido's Rewards and Recognition event comprised 500 of its auto captains who were given gifts with a combined monetary reward of Rs 10 lakhs based on the rides that they have completed. The top winners also received TVs, and other gifts in recognition of their constant dedication to logging the most rides possible in the city. The company is committed to supporting its Auto Captains and providing them with the best working conditions and incentives to help them grow their business.

Photo caption: Rapido acknowledges the outstanding efforts of its Bangalore Auto Captains at Rewards and Recognition event.

Galderma Flagship Brand Cetaphil® Launches Its 2nd Annual Edition Of ‘Skin Awareness Month’; Aim To Empower Consumers With Confidence

~Introduces 'Hum Skin Ki Sune, Tum Dil ki Suno' campaign, empowering individuals with Sensitive Skin~

~Unveils the new product line ‘Cetaphil Optimal Hydration Range’~

Cetaphil, the #1 brand that dermatologists recommend for sensitive skin, hosts its second annual edition of ‘Skin Awareness Month (SAM)’. In sync with its brand campaign ‘'Hum Skin Ki Sune, Tum Dil ki Suno', the Global initiative aims to provide its consumers with accessible resources to educate & empower to do more of the things they love without uncertainty. The campaign’s thought resonates with the brand’s beliefs talking about how Confidence begins with Healthy Skin. The digital film is live across all social media platforms and TVC including OTT platforms.

Research states that sensitive skin issues are common and individuals over 1 in 3 Indians are affected. Cetaphil’s commitment to develop innovative, science-backed products over the last 75 years strengthens its creation and is recommended as the sensitive skin specialist. In line with the brand’s ethos, Cetaphil launched its new product range ‘Cetaphil Optimal Hydration’ offering lightweight and intense hydration.

Raghavendra Sadashiva Managing Director – India at Cetaphil says, "We are pleased to introduce ‘SAM: Skin Awareness Month’ as a significant initiative to raise awareness amongst consumers. Our idea is to assist them identify their skin concerns by providing solution-oriented products backed by Cetaphil’s science-based technology. The month-long campaign offers our sensitive skin community education and resources, empowering consumers to create a skincare routine tailored to their specific needs while still having fun.”

An on-ground event was hosted by Galderma’s flagship brand Cetaphil® and Biluma in attendance of renowned Dermatologist, Bloggers, and Influencers sharing knowledge and insights on the Science behind Sensitive Skin. The discussion by experts addressed on a wealth of unique skin troubles faced by consumers talking about how Confidence starts with your skin. Further, enlightening subjects on skin’s circadian rhythm and hyperpigmentation, how one can embrace a minimalistic skincare routine to help maintain a healthy and confident features. Galderma partnered with Social Influencers to create awareness about this initiative in turn helps to empower their community to follow a healthy Skin routine and live their life with Confidence.

Throughout the month, Cetaphil pledges to educate and engage content across markets to emphasize skin issues to help consumers understand, identify, protect, and care for sensitive skin. The consumers will be provided firsthand experience with informative videos showcasing the know-how of Cetaphil products, it’s designs which are specifically curated keeping in mind the sensitive skin concerns. This will allow them to focus on what they love most without stressing about their skin.

Join Cetaphil in celebrating the success of Skin Awareness Month and embrace your sensitive skin with newfound confidence.

TVC link: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser campaign- Hum Skin Ki Sune, Tum Dil ki Suno

Simpl Announces Summer Internship Program 2023 To Promote Innovation Among Engineering And Management Students

* Interns from IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur and IIM Ahmedabad get an opportunity to work on a host of problem statements around the D2C ecosystem in India

Simpl – India’s foremost 1-tap Checkout, today announced its Summer Internship Program 2023 for engineering and management students from leading educational institutions across the country. The 2.5 month long internship program will provide students with a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights and hands-on experience in solving numerous problems statements of millions of customers, enterprise and direct-to-consumer (D2C) merchants across the country.

As part of the Summer Internship Program 2023, students from prestigious educational institutions, namely Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad get an opportunity to work with various teams at Simpl at its headquarters in Bengaluru. This includes teams across Engineering, Data Sciences, Partner Success and  Product Management where they will be provided an opportunity to work on various tech capabilities like app experience, fraud analytics, platform management, etc.

This exposure assumes significance for the interns as the Indian e-commerce and Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) ecosystem is evolving rapidly, allowing merchants to directly onboard customers instead of solely relying on large e-commerce marketplaces. This is resulting in the ‘Unbundling of E-commerce’, thereby opening up a plethora of opportunities for companies in the e-commerce value chain including technology platform, logistics services and Checkout Network to innovate and provide value to merchants.

Sneha Arora, Chief Human Resource Officer, Simpl, said, “As a people-focused organisation, Simpl has been at the forefront of promoting innovation and collaboration through knowledge sharing and building an ecosystem of skilled workforce for the fast evolving e-commerce industry. With this year’s Summer Internship Program, we aim to strengthen industry-academia collaborations, and empower students to leverage our nuanced understanding of this space and the checkout network to create innovative solutions to unlock growth for D2C merchants across the country and enable great customer experience . Our carefully curated internship program exposes students to real world problems and encourages them to actively contribute to developing path-breaking solutions. By working with the best minds at Simpl, the internship program also works towards the overall development of the students''.

The internship program is structured in a way that exposes the interns with cross-functional challenges and provides them with a good idea around the overall functioning of the organisation. The students will further be provided an opportunity to present their contribution towards the end of their internship to the leaders at Simpl through a formal presentation, participate in Simpl’s learning series with subject matter experts and will also be a part of a dinner hosted by Simpl's founder Nitya Sharma. Over the years, Simpl has been hiring interns from India’s leading engineering and management institutions including the likes of IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati among others and is gradually emerging as a preferred option for undergraduate and postgraduate students for industry exposure.

Get Ready For The Electric Neon Revolution: Introducing Colorbar's Neon Cosmetics Collection

Let’s get the neon party started with the striking, electrifying, bright and luminescent accessories that is hard to ignore. These bold colours have taken the world by a storm, and guess what? Even the style icons are totally on board! They’re embracing the power of neon this year like never before and here’s the exciting news - Colorbar is going to help you catch the attention from any distance as you slay, this season! So brace yourself for a blast of everything neon as you inject some drama and flair into your lives.

Stepping into this enchanting world feels like entering a realm of magic, fun, and play. The collection includes the striking 'Bold and Beautiful' Tote Bag, priced at INR 2,499. Additionally, there's the re-envisioned 'Lips n Lashes' Box Pouch, available as a set of two for INR 1,999, and the 'Lips n Lashes' small pouch, priced at INR 749. With these neon accessories, you'll be ready to slay any occasion

Imagine strutting down the street, turning heads left and right, while you carry Colorbar’s ‘Bold and Beautiful’ Tote Bag and causing your Instagram feed to explode with envy-inducing style. Not only are Colorbar’s tote bags perfect for carrying your essentials with unrivaled flair, but they are also an absolute must-have in eye-popping colours like black, orange, green and pink. The incredible ‘Lip n Lashes’ pouches are the epitome of chic and style. Just think, why should your makeup essentials miss out on all the fun and glamour? These pouches, adorned with gorgeous golden metal eyelashes on the front, are true fashion statements in their own right! Whether you choose to showcase the fabulous combo of two pouches or flaunt them individually, you're guaranteed to exude confidence and charm. This incredible set features three vibrant shades: orange, pink, and green, with each hue radiating it’s energy and adding a splash of colour to your personality. And if you prefer to mix and match, the individual pouches are available too! So go ahead, grab your favorite shades, and carry your lipsticks, liners, bronzers, and all your beauty essentials to showcase your impeccable style.

Colorbar’s Neon Collection is impossible to miss at all Colorbar stores and counters across India. Visit  https://bit.ly/3NASx8v and place your orders to give the world a jolt of magic.

Dealing with Sarcopenia: Why Muscles Matter as You Age

We've all dealt with a jar lid that just won't budge. Maybe we tried hammering it on the counter or holding it under hot water, and if all else failed, we probably asked someone for help. Over the years, it might start to feel like these stubborn lids are getting stronger but for many people, the problem is that their hands and bodies are simply getting weaker.

Could your health status be in the palm of your hand? It's not quite that simple, but your hand grip strength is a critical indicator of overall muscle strength and can tell you a lot. Muscle loss, an often-overlooked aspect of the ageing process, remains largely unaddressed, with symptoms like diminished hand grip strength commonly dismissed as something that happens when you grow older. According to a multicontinental study involving a healthy elderly population, 17.5% of Indians had advanced muscle loss, also known as sarcopenia. This is a considerably higher figure than other Asian countries and Europe[i]. Dr. Irfan Shaikh, Head, Medical & Scientific Affairs at Abbott’s Nutrition business sheds light on how our muscle health can often tell us how we are going to age and how we can measure and rebuild muscle health to reduce the effect of sarcopenia as we age.

Sarcopenia and Your Health

Sarcopenia, also known as advanced muscle loss, is when a person loses a large amount of muscle mass along with strength and function as they age. Muscle loss is not be just a disease of the old, but it starts much early in life. In fact, starting at the age of 40, adults can lose up to 8 percent of muscle mass per decade. After 70 years old, that rate potentially doubles[ii]. Prevalence of sarcopenia has been observed in every 3rd man or every 5th woman in India[iii].  Globally, an estimated 50 million people are affected by this condition, and this number is expected to increase to more than 200 million in the next 40 years[iv].

Muscle loss can reduce energy and movement, raise the risk of falls and fractures and also compromise someone’s recovery and survival from sickness or surgery[v]. When it comes to measuring muscle mass, it is also a far better indicator of health than the widely used measurement tool Body Mass Index or BMI.

Measuring Muscle Mass

Why is measurement so important? Sarcopenia is considered as a hidden or invisible condition because, unless you test your muscle strength, you may not know if you're losing muscle mass.

So, how do you put your muscle strength to the test? Grip test is a simple test you can do for yourself which is as simple as opening a jar, squeezing an orange, or detecting the strength of your handshake. If you see a difference in your strength, it's time to take action.

A chair challenge test is also a simple measure of your muscle strength which can help you to adopt timely corrective measures. The time you take to do 5 sit-ups on a chair of 43cm (1.4 feet) height can determine muscle age. To know more about how the chair challenge test works, you can visit www.muscleagetest.in

Rebuilding Muscle and Strength As You Deal With Sarcopenia

While this invisible condition is not talked about enough, the good news is that muscle and strength can be rebuilt and regained through a combination of strength exercises and a balanced diet with sufficient nutrients. Here is how you can do that:

Don’t skip breakfast no matter how scarce your time is. Breakfast is the powerhouse of nutrition that your body needs to take on the day ahead. You should eat nutrient-dense and well-rounded meals with food like eggs, whole grains, fruit and dairy can help you stay full while also keeping your energy levels high.

Ensure daily physical activity as it can go a long way in making muscles stronger. You can begin by including simple activities like walking, cycling, swimming, jogging, playing badminton/cricket, or even climbing stairs in your daily routine. An hour of physical activity every day can make a significant difference in muscular strength and health. 

Identify and meet your daily protein needs - Consuming adequate high-quality protein per day (about 1g/kg of body weight) along with physical activity can help your body optimize protein for muscle building and restoration throughout the day.

Embrace nutrition supplements – While a regular and balanced diet is essential for building stronger muscles as you age, some nutritional deficiencies might persist. To close these gaps, people should incorporate balanced nutrition supplements such as Ensure HMB into their diet. Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation, can help in maintaining and restoring lean body mass, muscle strength and function in adults.

Muscle plays an important role in many aspects of life, and there are plenty of effective ways to test and improve muscle health to effectively deal with sarcopenia. Through awareness, education, and action, we can empower ourselves and others to prioritize muscle health by adopting healthy lifestyle habits and promoting a vibrant and active ageing experience. Together, we can build a future where healthy ageing and strong muscles go hand in hand, enabling us to live life to the fullest at every stage.