HCLTech Wins “National Water Award 2022” For Its Water Stewardship In India

HCLTech, a leading global technology company, won the “National Water Award 2022” for its water conservation and management initiatives in India through community action and innovative technologies. 

The National Water Awards have been instituted by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India and HCLTech won the honor in the Best Industry for CSR Activities category.   

Through HCL Foundation, which delivers HCLTech’s corporate social responsibility agenda in India, and other water conservation initiatives, the company has harvested 57.9 billion liters of water and rejuvenated over 200 water structures till date.  

HCLTech’s interventions in water conservation align with the Government of India’s Jal Shakti Abhiyan Program, which focuses on replenishing water sources, conserving water bodies and increasing green cover for enhancing groundwater recharge. These interventions address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 15 (life on land). 

HCLTech is implementing a unique initiative to boost biodiversity along river Ganga’s catchment by planting Rudraksha and other native species in Uttarakhand. Other projects include rejuvenating the Periyar Canal in Kerala, removing invasive species growing on the riverbed of Vaigai in Madurai, installing rooftop rainwater harvesting structures in corporation schools in Madurai and Noida, and helping poor farmers convert their wastelands into cultivable land through small-scale rainwater harvesting techniques in the Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh. 

“HCLTech is committed to water stewardship and supports sustainable, scalable, and innovative solutions in the use and treatment of water. This award reinforces our efforts to ensure equitable and viable water stewardship with a range of long-term programs, prioritizing water sustainability and community involvement in rural and urban areas in India,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR, HCL Foundation.  

Neumann Home Studio Academy Launched India Edition Season 2

Neumann.Berlin, the legendary studio specialist commenced the second season of the home studio academy in India. The Neumann Home Studio Academy is a comprehensive educational program designed to provide aspiring musicians, producers, and audio engineers with the knowledge, tools, and techniques to elevate their home studio recordings to the next level with Neumann products. Whether for a seasoned professional or for the one who is just starting their audio journey, this academy caters to all skill levels, ensuring a rewarding learning experience for everyone.

The second season is focusing on the versatility of Neumann monitors and their absolute suitability for varied applications like the Film Post, OTT, Music Mixing, Dolby Atmos configurations. Etc.

The season is moderated by renowned Artist, Music Composer, Producer & Arranger Meghdeep Bose with facilitators like Sunny MR: Composer, Music Producer, Vocalist, Sound Engineer, founder of Chord Father Studio, Sai Shravanam: Music Producer, Scoring/Mixing/Mastering Engineer, Performing Musician, Music Collaborator, Vijay Dayal: Guitarist, Sound engineer, Chief Consultant -YRF Music Producer, Omkar Tamhan: Sound Engineer, Music Producer, Cinema Consultant, Founder of TAG Institute (The Audio Guy).

“It is with great excitement that we unveil Season 02 of the Neumann Home Studio Academy, this is all because of the tremendous support and affection we received from our audience during Season 01” said, Mr. Vipin Pungalia, Country Manager & Director- Sales Pro Audio at Sennheiser India. “Through this series we want to impart the expertise in production techniques, offering accessibility, quality of Neumann products through renowned sound engineers of the Indian industry. Additionally, we want to demonstrate that Neumann is both highly competent and highly relevant for sound enthusiasts and musicians who make their own recordings.”

Meghdeep Bose, a noted music producer & composer said, “I feel ecstatic to host the Neumann Home Studio Academy Series’, India Edition. With Season 2, It has been an honour to engage with some of India’s most notable Sound Engineers wherein they share their expertise, insights, inspirations with the power of Neuman products.  I have always stood by the belief that education plays a pivotal role in an individual's success and personal growth, regardless of their chosen field.”

To watch the episodes, check Neumann’s official YouTube channel.  

About Neumann

Georg Neumann GmbH, known as “Neumann.Berlin”, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of studio-grade audio equipment and the creator of recording microphone legends such as the U 47, M 49, U 67 and U 87. Founded in 1928, the company has been recognized with numerous international awards for its technological innovations. Since 2010, Neumann.Berlin has expanded its expertise in electro-acoustic transducer design to also include the studio monitor market, mainly targeting TV and radio broadcasting, recording, and audio production. The first Neumann studio headphones were introduced in 2019, and since 2022, the company has put an increased focus on reference solutions for live audio. Georg Neumann GmbH has been part of the Sennheiser Group since 1991 and is represented worldwide by the Sennheiser network of subsidiaries and long-standing trading partners. www.neumann.com.

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.