MichelinI In Collaboration With DPIIT And Startup India Is Proud To Present The Michelin AI Startup Challenge

* The challenge to be conducted over a span of three months (July-September’24)

* Focus on emerging AI technology like LLMs and AI agents

* Winners will receive paid pilot projects from Michelin, with up to INR 5 lakh per project besides opportunity for long-term global contracts and mentorship from Michelin leadership.

Michelin, world’s tyre technology leader, announced its collaboration with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry to launch the sector’s first AI Startup Challenge, aiming to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

The AI Challenge was launched in presence of Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary DPIIT and Shri Sumeet Kumar Jarangal, Director DPIIT and hosted by Dr Ambica Rajagopal, Michelin Group Chief Data and AI Officer and Shri Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India. A special recorded address was given by Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary DPIIT.

The AI Startup Challenge aims to select, mentor, and collaborate with leading AI startups in India. Hosted on the Startup India portal, this 12-week challenge invites startups to submit applications showcasing their capabilities. Selected startups will receive mentorship, and the top 8 will pitch at a demo day in Delhi in September 2024. The top 3 startups will receive paid pilot projects from Michelin, with upto INR 5 lakh per project, and the opportunity for long-term global contracts and incubation support from Michelin leadership. The AI challenge will go a long way in encouraging Indian Startups to co-build solutions in areas such as manufacturing, supply chain, operating software and infrastructure.

Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, DPIIT shared, "Michelin and Startup India, through the AI Challenge, invite Indian startups to co-build technical solutions using large language models for business use cases. The Michelin AI Startup Challenge offers opportunities to develop solutions in manufacturing, supply chain, operating software, and infrastructure, leveraging AI and robotics to enhance manufacturing processes, improve product quality, boost safety, and reduce defects. This initiative aims to create sustainable products and expose Indian talent to global contexts and clients. I encourage all DPIIT-recognized startups to apply for the program and wish them the best."

Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT highlighted the importance of public private partnership and the key role that manufacturing companies like Michelin play in bringing the right set of resources to help elevate the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the country. He also focused on the Department’s commitment in empowering startups to scale their innovations and make a lasting impact on a global scale.

Shri Sumeet Kumar Jarangal, Director, DPIIT spoke about the importance of AI and the government's focus on advanced manufacturing and automation. He congratulated the Michelin team for developing a program completely synergistic with the nation's vision.

Dr Ambica Rajagopal, Michelin Group Chief Data and AI Officer at Michelin India, expressed her excitement about the collaboration, stated, "There has never been a more exciting time for startups in the AI world and we are delighted to contribute significantly to advancing India's technology sector. It is a proud moment for us to strengthen our commitment to the AI industry in collaboration with the government’s visionary Startup India initiative."

Commenting on this initiative, Mr. Shantanu Deshpande Managing Director, Michelin India stated, "At Michelin, we are committed to a greener future where sustainability and innovation are at the forefront of our efforts. We eagerly anticipate the participation of Indian startups in the AI challenge as we co-build global solutions together."

This initiative will be conducted in multiple stages, starting with outreach and applications in July 2024, followed by shortlisting and mentorship until September 2024. The grand finale will feature shortlisted startups presenting their solutions to a panel of judges from Startup India and Michelin India.

DPIIT has been proactively working towards mobilizing startups in the manufacturing space, and to provide them with early-stage support necessary for their growth. The Department is building an initiative to bridge the gap between industry and startups, by supporting with setting-up of incubators and incubation programs led by the industry. The initiative aims to empower manufacturing startups with innovative technologies and sustainable practices, enabling them to become leaders in the global market through incubation supported by the industry.

The AI challenge also marks a significant initiative within Michelin's broader innovation program in India, focusing on fostering collaboration with local startups in digitalization, commercialization, mobility, advanced materials, and sustainability.

This collaboration between DPIIT and Michelin India is an important catalyst in providing manufacturing startups the platform to pilot and finetune their technologies, allowing for larger participation in the manufacturing ecosystem by startups. It will also act as a catalyst to further the positioning of Bharat as a manufacturing nation through partnership between public and private sector.

Purplle Group Announces Rs 1000cr Funding Led By A Subsidiary Of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA)

Purplle Group, one of India’s leading omnichannel beauty platforms, announces the closing of a Rs 1000cr funding round led by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), along with participation from other investors, which includes a combination of primary and secondary shares. Strategically expanding its offline presence, Purplle Group retails its six direct-to-consumer private brands including, Faces Canada, Alps Goodness, Good Vibes, Carmesi, DermDoc, and Ny Bae across multiple touchpoints. The brand has over 1500 assisted and 40000+ touchpoints pan India. The company serves the beauty needs of customers in tier 2/3+ micro-markets, expanding beyond metro cities.

Speaking on the investment Manish Taneja, Co-Founder & CEO at Purplle said, “It is our mission to democratize beauty and make it accessible to all, and while we have reached many beauty enthusiasts across India, we still have a long way to go. We will constantly innovate and leverage our technology and data capabilities to provide our customers with the best omnichannel experience. In increasing its shareholding in Purplle, ADIA has continued to support us as we pursue our vision of building a sustainable and profitable business.”

Purplle is one of the fastest-growing retailers in the Beauty and Personal Care (BPC) segment, having grown its GMV by ~4x over the last 3 years. Purplle is operationally profitable and expects to grow its online platform faster than the industry while scaling offline stores and improving profitability.

Alongside this funding round, Purplle has also announced its largest-ever Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) liquidity program and will offer liquidity of ?50cr to its employees. Purplle has granted ESOPs to 320 employees up to date, and 85 of them have liquidated ESOPs worth ?75cr over three buyback programs. In the largest-ever ESOP liquidity program announced, 26% of its beneficiaries are women.

About Purplle

Founded in 2012, Purplle is one of India’s leading omnichannel consumer platforms that caters to the beauty needs of the Indian masses. It recognizes the socio-economic barriers to beauty and is on a mission to break them by making great quality products accessible to all.

Using category-defining AI systems built on a proprietary data stack, Purplle operates an online platform reaching 10 million+ consumers a month, along with 20,000+ offline touchpoints. Purplle focuses on extensively understanding the beauty needs of people across varying regional landscapes of India. The company has built a unique, highly personalized online and offline shopping experience for consumers by creating detailed user personas and recommending products based on personality and purchase behaviour.

Purplle is a strong partner to third-party brands while successfully scaling innovative direct-to-consumer private brands like Faces Canada, Alps Goodness, Good Vibes, Carmesi, DermDoc, etc.

In 2022, Purplle became India’s 102nd unicorn, backed by investors including a wholly owned subsidiary of ADIA, Kedaara, Premji Invest, Sequoia Capital India, JSW Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Verlinvest, Blume Ventures, and Paramark Ventures. With a 4,000+ strong team, Purplle is amongst the leading beauty and personal care platforms in the burgeoning Indian discretionary consumption space.

About ADIA

Established in 1976, ADIA is a globally diversified investment institution that prudently invests funds on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi through a strategy focused on long-term value creation. For more information: https://www.adia.ae.

Stonehill International School Celebrates IB Diploma Results For The Class of 2024

This year, Stonehill International School enrolled fifty-nine Grade 12 students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. Stonehill students achieved an impressive average score of 32.2 points.

Durriya Gandhi, Keshav Balaji Viswanathan, and Sethulakshmi Chandrasekharan scored 40 points or more out of a maximum of 45. This places them approximately in the top 8% of IB students worldwide. Durriya Gandhi's score of 43 points places her in the top 2.5% of all IB Diploma candidates globally.

In addition to these top scorers, fifteen other students achieved scores of 35 points or more. Furthermore, two students were awarded Bilingual Diplomas in German and Korean, a testament to their linguistic proficiency and dedication.

The Class of 2024 is now set to embark on the next phase of their educational journeys, with Stonehill graduates receiving offers from universities in twenty-four different countries. Stonehill students received offers from the world’s top 100 universities, including the London School of Economics, UK; Imperial College London, University College London (UCL), New York University (NYU), US; The University of Melbourne, Australia; Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands; University of Amsterdam, Netherlands; The University of Sydney, Australia; University College Dublin, Ireland; Purdue University, US; University of Toronto, Canada; University of Warwick, UK;  University of Manchester, UK; King's College London, UC San Diego, US; The University of British Columbia, Canada among others. So far, the Class of 2024 has secured scholarships worth 2.7 million USD.

While many have chosen traditional degree programs such as Economics, Engineering, Business Management, and Law, others have pursued unique fields like 3D Animation and Graphics, Industrial Design, Anthropology, Fashion Design, and Sustainable Energy.

Stonehill is excited to introduce the IB Careers-related Programme for Grade 11 students in August 2024. This addition will provide further opportunities to meet the diverse needs of the students, allowing Stonehill to continue fostering an environment where every student can thrive.

Joe Lumsden, Head of School, commented, "Each of our students had the opportunity to choose a unique combination of DP courses, enabling them to craft their individualised journey toward their future aspirations. The high grades achieved in so many different subjects along with the exciting variety of university courses that our students have applied for confirms our belief that there are many different ways to be successful at Stonehill. Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on their remarkable achievements. We look forward to seeing the incredible impact they will create in the future.”

To know more about this unique school refer to their website www.stonehill.in

AirAsia Brings "Cinematic In-Flight" Experience To Cinema-Goers In Line With Growing Connectivity From India To Over 130 Destinations

*      AirAsia presently operates 22 direct routes from India to Malaysia and Thailand, with four more to commence soon

*      The airline is bringing an innovative “cinematic in-flight” experience to 130 cinemas across 12 cities in India where movie-goers have the exciting chance to win flights to any of its 130 destinations

AirAsia, the World’s Best Low Cost Airline for the 15th consecutive year, invites travellers from India to discover the hidden gems of Asia and Australia and beyond through its robust network that will soon connect 16 cities in India to over 130 destinations across its network via Malaysia and Thailand.

In line with its expansion, AirAsia will bring an innovative “cinematic in-flight” experience for movie-goers to selected cinemas across the country to showcase its diverse and unique destinations as part of the movie-goers experience.

The collaboration will enhance AirAsia's outreach via more than 130 cinemas across 12 cities over the next six months. As part of this initiative, movie-goers will stand the chance to win AirAsia flights to anywhere across its network. During this period, AirAsia will also be collaborating with more than 130 local travel content creators to showcase its destinations to Asia, Australia and beyond, spanning bustling cities, serene beaches, historic landmarks, and vibrant local cultures.

Supporting post-pandemic travel recovery, AirAsia has actively expanded routes for India in 2024, providing direct connectivity to two of its major Asian hubs, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Bangkok in Thailand as a gateway to over 130 destinations across the world. It serves an extensive network of cities including Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Visakhapatnam and Trivandrum, as well as Chennai, Tiruchirapalli and Hyderabad among others. Additionally, AirAsia will launch new flights from Guwahati, Kozhikode, and Lucknow to Kuala Lumpur, and Tiruchirapalli to Bangkok in the coming weeks.

Beyond India, AirAsia recently opened new routes to Almaty in Central Asia in March and Nairobi in Africa just last week, connecting travellers affordably from across the Asian region to vibrant new destinations via a short stopover in Kuala Lumpur. The airline also recently won the prestigious World’s Best Low Cost Airline and Best Low Cost Airline in Asia awards at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2024, further cementing its position on delivering service excellence with affordable prices.

AirAsia’s Chief Commercial Officer Paul Carroll, said, “AirAsia is grateful for the support of our guests in India, which has made us the largest foreign airline by network in the country. Since early 2024, we have expanded our network in India with 10 additional routes, bringing the total to 26 routes from India to Malaysia and Thailand. Operating over 20 daily flights across 16 cities, AirAsia counts as one of the top airlines with the highest number of weekly flights to and from India. Our ongoing network and fleet growth post-pandemic will benefit our guests through great value fares, choice, and connectivity leveraging one of the largest low-cost networks reaching over 130 destinations across Asia, Australia and beyond. ”

“Our efforts in India reflect AirAsia’s long-term vision of recognising the country as a key growth market and advancing its aviation ecosystem. Through our global network, we will continue to support India’s tourism industry by promoting its travel gems to the world, leveraging the government’s free visa initiatives.

“Today, we are excited to unveil an innovative partnership with Qube Cinemas, a leader in digital cinema technology to elevate AirAsia’s brand presence in the market. Soon, the immersive AirAsia ‘cinematic in-flight’ experience will be in 130 cinemas across India for 6 months and we’re really looking forward to connecting more meaningfully with movie-goers who are also travel lovers here through this initiative.”

Qube Cinema Chief Business Officer, Juhi Ravindranath added: “In India, cinema is one of the best avenues for any brand to reach mass audiences and create a deep impact. The medium influences many aspects of our people’s lives including fashion, lifestyle, and pop culture. The AirAsia team saw merit in the power of this medium and enthusiastically collaborated with us to create this cinematic in-flight experience. We are certain that this will appeal to movie buffs of all age groups and build the momentum for the brand. The entire team at Qube Cinema feels thrilled to enable this campaign across its network screens and can’t wait to see the delight among audiences.”

AirAsia’s journey began in Malaysia in late 2001 with a tiny fleet of two aircraft and a small team. As a pioneer in low-cost flying, AirAsia enabled many travellers across the region to take their very first flight and commenced its first India-Malaysia route from Tiruchirapalli to Kuala Lumpur in 2008. From 2023, AirAsia has linked more than 3.5 million guests from India to the rest of Asia and Australia.

The airline has always strived to uphold its core focus of delivering value with uncompromised safety, service, and innovation-driven customer experience, complemented by its ecosystem that includes engineering services, in-flight meals, and ground operations, among others.

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Versuni Announces Erik Van Den Enden Has Been Appointed Chief Financial Officer

Versuni, a leading home appliance company formerly known as Philips Domestic Appliances, announces that Erik Van den Enden has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, reporting to Véronique Pauwels, President & CEO, Versuni, effective September 1, 2024. Mr. Van den Enden will succeed Kurt Decat who will leave the role to spend more time with his family, as well as pursue non-executive roles and other personal interests.

Performance-driven and commercially focused, Mr. Van den Enden brings more than 20 years of experience working in consumer-facing and data-rich industries across Europe and emerging markets, including telecommunications and FMCG. He joins Versuni from Telenet Group Holding, where he most recently served as Group CFO and Head of Strategy and M&A. Prior to this, Mr. Van den Enden held key finance and M&A roles at AB InBev, leading the successful worldwide integration and transformation of the SAB Miller Finance function. Mr. Van den Enden will focus on guiding the financial and business strategy, supporting the long-term sustainable growth and value creation objectives of Versuni.

“Erik’s appointment comes at a time when we are laser-focused on our mission to grow the Versuni business. Erik was appointed for his wealth of experience in transformation and managing consumer-centric growth, and I am confident that he will be a valuable member to the Versuni team. I’d also like to thank Kurt for his hard work and wish him the very best for the future,” said Véronique Pauwels.

About Versuni

Versuni’s purpose is turning houses into homes. As a house of home appliances brands, Versuni markets: Philips, Philips Baristina, Philips Walita, Preethi, Senseo, L’OR Barista, Saeco and Gaggia. With more than 900 patents to its name, Versuni’s portfolio spans coffee and kitchen appliances, garment care, climate care, floor care, and home safety. Products under the Philips brand include the Airfryer, Espresso Machine with LatteGo, PerfectCare Steam Generator, Air and AquaTrio Cordless Vacuum. Versuni is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and has innovation, manufacturing, and commercial centers across the globe, with a footprint in over 100 countries.

Hikvision India Showcases Latest AIoT Video Security Solutions At Security And Fire Expo (SAFE) South

Hikvision India has participated in the India's Largest & most influential Security & Fire Expo Security and Fire Expo (SAFE) South India (5 – 6June, 2024) HALL NO. 1, Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai. It showcased cutting edge AIoT technology enabled products and solutions. The SAFE South India has brought together internationally renowned exhibitors, consultants, industry experts and visitors from the public sector onto a single platform.

Hikvision India has premiered its advanced security products and solutions at the SAFE South India. The latest trending technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics and IoT Security Tech were on the display.

While commenting about being at the Security and Fire Expo (SAFE) South India, Ashish P. Dhakan, MD & CEO, Prama Hikvision India Private Limited said, “We are elated to be part of the Security and Fire Expo (SAFE) South India.  It is good event platform to connect with the esteemed end-users and valuable partners. We have introduced 4G Solar Camera, eNVR, Smart Hybrid camera and PT Solutions. We cordially welcome the security industry specific visitors to get an overview of Hikvision’s latest product offerings.”

He further added, “Hikvision India is showcasing latest technological innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics Technologies. We unveiled the latest products and solutions in the Video Security, Access Control, Intrusion Alarm, Inspection and Perimeter Security segments.  We have also introduced Mobile Robot Products, Machine Vision Products and Logistic Vision Solutions.”

The key highlights of the technologies and solutions were on display at Hikvision India booth, it included AI Cameras, Smart Hybrid Camera, ColorVu, Thermal and AcuSense Cameras, Audio Sensor, eDVR and eNVR.  The myriad product categories on display were Access Control, Command and Control, Hikcentral, Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), Video Door Phone (VDP) and Security Inspection Products. The other products, included AX-PRO, AX-Hybrid PRO Series Alarm System, Energy Solutions, Thermal Solutions, Commercial Display, Professional Transmission Solution, and Smart Storage Solutions.

The Security and Fire Expo (SAFE) – South India event organized a unique two-day Technical seminar. On the first day there was a partner session by Sidharth SB, National Manager, Prama Hikvision India Private Limited, based on the theme ‘Make-in-India’ 2.0 -The Next Level. It was followed by a panel discussion on the theme ‘Managing security across locations globally – Risks & Challenges’, Sidharth SB shared highly valuable insights in the panel discussion.

Hikvision India booth displayed advanced security solutions across product categories and conducted various fringe programs, including quiz contests to engage the visitors. The Security and Fire Expo (SAFE) – South India event concluded successfully with good footfall from the relevant visitors, end-users and security professional community.

About Hikvision India:

Hikvision India is the leading video security solution provider. In addition to the security industry, the company extends its reach to Smart Home Products and Solutions, Industrial Automation, and Robotics to achieve its expansion plan. The endeavour is to provide superior pre- sales and post-sales service through collaboration with local distributors and its allied partners. 

Driven by the ‘Make- in-India’ vision, the company manufactures a wide range of video security products at its state- of-the- art manufacturing facility near Mumbai. Building on innovation and research and development initiatives, Hikvision India is committed to provide best quality products with agile technical support through its Pan India branches and employees. 

For more information, please visit us at www.hikvisionindia.co

AICTE And OPPO India Announces 'Generation Green' Campaign

          OPPO India becomes the first electronics manufacturing company to offer green internships through AICTE

-          Collectively aim to empower over a million youth through the programme

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and OPPO India today announced their ‘Generation Green’ campaign. The 100-day programme—managed by 1M1B (One Million for One Billion)—promotes green skills among the youth through 5,000 internship opportunities across colleges in India.

According to LinkedIn’s Global Green Skills Report 2023, job seekers with green skills are 29% more likely to get hired than the average workforce. This initiative cultivates climate-conscious skills which will add to the students’ knowledge to make them future-ready for the opportunities of tomorrow. 

“AICTE is proud to join hands with OPPO India for the Green Internship Programme,” Dr TG Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, said. “It is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their skills and contribute to sustainability efforts that tackle environmental challenges and contribute towards building an eco-friendly world. Notably, OPPO India is the first electronics manufacturing company to offer internships through AICTE. This campaign is a part of the 1 Crore Internships mission of AICTE, Ministry of Education, Govt of India, and will contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

Students from all streams, technical and non-technical, can participate in this internship program. The interns will undertake a range of hands-on activities that will inculcate their skills in project management, sustainability practices, effective communication, collaboration, research, and data analysis, enhancing their overall employability. Students will take the Green Pledge and participate in awareness sessions, E-surveys, and Green Day celebrations.

“At OPPO India, we are aligned with the Net-Zero vision of the Government of India. Our aim is to create a macro movement towards sustainability that is driven by the power of youth,” said Rakesh Bhardwaj, Head, Public Affairs at OPPO India. “Today, we are nurturing 5,000 sustainability champions who are going to further influence the next generation of changemakers. Through the programme, at least 10 lakh students from schools and colleges nationally will be provided with the right knowledge and values towards supporting a sustainable community. We are delighted to partner with AICTE in this transformative initiative and will continue to amplify the impact in this direction through our collective efforts.”

Dr. Buddha Chandrasekhar, Chief Coordinating Officer, AICTE, added, “The AICTE internship portal hosts over 50 lacs internships, aiming to reach 1 Crore by 2025. We are pleased to partner with OPPO India to offer 5000 sustainability internships. Balancing development with sustainability is vital for India. Engaging youth in effective e-waste management is essential, as their commitment and innovation can help build a cleaner, sustainable future. Students participating in these internships may also earn 2-3 academic credits.”

These efforts aim to increase environmental awareness and promote sustainable practices among students. The opportunity is now available on the AICTE internship portal and students can apply through this link: www.iamgenerationgreen.com.

All Interns who complete the programme’s activities will receive certificates jointly accredited by AICTE, OPPO India, and 1M1B.