Eurogrip Tyres Unveils New Brand Campaign With Brand Ambassador MS Dhoni

* The new campaign idea is a different take on the joy of riding.

 Eurogrip Tyres, India’s leading 2 & 3-wheeler tyre brand, has launched a new brand campaign that brings together MS Dhoni’s passion for riding and Eurogrip’s superior tyre technology. The campaign idea “ENJOY EVERY TURN” is derived from a powerful insight - in the journey of life; every turn is full of possibilities, so take them on with confidence…and who better than Dhoni to personify this.

The brand film is woven around that one intriguing question every fan has been asking - “What’s Next for Dhoni?” and presents an interesting narrative that takes viewers through a scenic journey, where Dhoni is seen enjoying all the turns life and the roads throw at him.

Talking about the campaign, P Madhavan, EVP, Sales and Marketing, TVS Srichakra Ltd said, “We are excited about our new brand campaign with MS Dhoni. The “Enjoy Every Turn” film is an offbeat take on the joy of riding, and we believe it fits perfectly with Dhoni’s personality.  As the bike tyre specialist, we remain committed to offering tyres that allow you to take on any of the challenges the road throws at you with confidence, enhancing every ride, making every journey smoother, safer and more exciting for the new-age rider.”  

“As a passionate rider, shooting for this campaign along with Eurogrip was a pleasure for me. The ad film insight and script resonated with me as I have always “enjoyed every turn” life has thrown at me. As an aside, I also got to try Eurogrip’s high performance super bike tyres and it was a fun experience for me to do what I love doing for this film – riding.”, said M.S.Dhoni.

Adarsh Atal, Chief Creative Officer – Tilt Brand Solutions added, “Every biker will tell you that it’s the twists and turns of a road that make their ride interesting. A straight road is never fun. This formed the base insight of our idea. That whether it is on the road, or in life, it is not knowing what’s around the corner that makes things exciting. With Dhoni at that juncture in his life where the whole world is wondering what’s next for him; the idea really came alive.”

As a global sporting icon, MS Dhoni’s endorsement will help strengthen Eurogrip’s position as a youthful, vibrant and high-performance brand that resonates with the millennial and Gen Z Indian riders. The ad film will be aired starting from March 18th, 2025, covering television, digital & social media. The campaign will be supported by on-ground activations as well.

Creative Agency: TILT Communications, Mumbai

YouTube Links:

Hindi: https://youtu.be/VoZ7fq4W4Og

Tamil: https://youtu.be/xO7dUooIYLw

Bengali - https://youtu.be/BDClmwIepik

Gujarati - https://youtu.be/BnadsO-l7vU

Kannada - https://youtu.be/Uo77YGh1Tk4

Malayalam - https://youtu.be/SnRwqEe-r3k

Telugu - https://youtu.be/aeT5Re66gE0

LEO1’s Fee Reimbursement Model Now At Jyothy Institute of Commerce and Management

LEO1, an edu-fintech company, has partnered with Jyothy Institute of Commerce and Management, Bangalore, to introduce the Fee Reimbursement Card on campus. This first-of-its-kind card incentivizes students and parents for timely and advance fee payments while streamlining the institution’s financial processes.

Families are motivated to pay tuition fees on time as it rewards them with LEO1 Coins, where 1 LEO1 Coin equals one rupee. The card functions like a regular debit or credit card, enabling students to manage various expenses both on and off campus. With every transaction, students earn LEO1 Coins, which can be redeemed with 200+ brand partners, including PVR, Zomato, Uber, Starbucks, Myntra, and more—transforming everyday spending into valuable savings.

In addition to benefiting students, the partnership brings LEO1’s plug-and-play fee management software to the campus, simplifying administrative processes by tracking payments in real-time and managing student data efficiently. The partnership also addresses cash flow challenges through LEO1’s incentivization module, reducing manual efforts and enabling the institution to focus on expanding its academic and extracurricular offerings.

Rohit Gajbhiye, Managing Director & Founder of LEO1, said: "Managing educational expenses effectively remains a challenge, often creating financial strain for both students and institutions. LEO1 addresses this with India’s first Fee Reimbursement Card, enabling students to earn redeemable coins on every payment. These coins unlock discounts and vouchers, helping to ease costs and make education more accessible.”

He further added, “We are excited to partner with Jyothi Institute of Commerce and Management to bring this initiative to life. We are witnessing rapid adoption of the LEO1 model, with a total of 50 lakh LEO1 Coins redeemed in 2024 and an impressive 20 lakh Coins consumed in just January 2025. This trend is very promising, showing that students and families are actively embracing the opportunity to earn LEO1 Coins through timely payments, helping to reduce their financial burden to some extent. This collaboration aims to reshape the financial experience for students and institutions, empowering Jyothy Institute to enhance its offerings while enabling students to focus on their academic goals with greater confidence."

Rajesh K, Executive Director, Jyothy Institute of Commerce and Management, said "At Jyothy Institute, we are focused on enhancing the educational experience through innovative solutions. Partnering with LEO1 to introduce India’s first Fee Reimbursement Card will streamline financial transactions for our students and parents, while rewarding timely payments. This initiative not only simplifies financial management but also promotes financial literacy among students and reduces some of the financial burden on families."

LEO1’s platform also offers easy EMI-based fee financing. Students can top up their wallets, track their spending, and build better money management habits. To date, more than 5 lakh students have benefited from LEO1’s solutions, helping reduce financial stress and improve financial security. LEO1 was the finalist in IFTA for most innovative fintech start-up of the year in 2024.

About LEO1 (www.leo1.in)

LEO1 (formerly known as Financepeer) is a pioneering Edu-fintech company headquartered in Mumbai, established in 2018. Renowned as India’s first fee-reimbursement card, the platform addresses long-pending cash flow issues for educational institutions. LEO1 has partnered with over 31 large institutions, including Narayana, Jain Group, and SAGE University, benefiting around half a million students.      

Key modules of LEO1 include Rewards, Smart ID Cards, Fee Management, and Financial Literacy, which collectively empower institutions with simplified fee collection, enhanced transparency, and real-time insights. LEO1 incentivizes responsible financial behavior by rewarding timely fee payments with LEO1 coins. These coins can be redeemed across various brands for discounts and vouchers, aligning with the company’s broader mission to make education more accessible by potentially rebating fees for students who consistently meet payment deadlines. This initiative contributes to the larger vision of fostering a cashless ecosystem within educational institutes, enabling timely cash flow, and aligns with India’s 'Digital India' initiative.

GenAI Is Reshaping Fraud Prevention Strategies In India- Experian Insight Report

85% of respondents agree that Generative AI (GenAI) has permanently altered the fraud landscape.

52% of respondents have seen fraud losses increase in the last 12 months.

46% of respondents have seen increased overall fraud attacks in the past year.

54% of respondents find that false positives cost them more than fraud losses.

73% agree that AI/ML-based fraud solutions are critical to keep pace with a growing fraud threat.

Experian, a leader in data and technology, presents its latest research report, offering insights from senior fraud protection leaders on how Generative AI (GenAI) is transforming the fraud landscape. Conducted by Forrester Consulting, the report reveals an increase in fraud losses driven by identity theft and highlights the importance of robust Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)-based security measures in the fight against fraud. The research surveyed 449 senior fraud protection leaders and decision-makers across multiple countries, including India, to provide a global and regional perspective on the impact of GenAI on fraud prevention.

AI-driven fraud prevention is becoming essential for stronger security and lower costs.

The report identifies a notable shift from individual fraudsters to highly organized fraud syndicates, a trend intensified by the advent of GenAI. 85% of businesses in India agree that GenAI has permanently altered the fraud landscape, increasing its complexity and sophistication. GenAI has also enabled the “industrialisation of fraud,” where fraudsters create and deploy fake identities, deepfakes, and other fraud tactics on a large scale. As a result, 50% of businesses struggle to detect the involvement of GenAI in fraud attacks and to assess its impact on losses. To counter this, businesses must adopt advanced AI-driven fraud prevention tools, integrate multiple security solutions, and adopt smarter fraud orchestration strategies—ensuring better detection, stronger security, and reduced costs.

The growing need for collaboration and advanced technologies

As fraud threats are becoming more complex, collaboration and advanced technologies have become more important than ever. In India, 77% of fraud decision-makers acknowledge that partnering with external entities is essential for effective fraud prevention. Additionally, 61% agree that sharing fraud data through a consortium is an effective strategy to identify emerging fraud trends. Notably, 74% of Indian businesses have reported a positive return on investment from participating in such consortia, highlighting the benefits of collaborative efforts.

Incorporating disparate data points and utilizing the power of Customisable ML models can accelerate fraud prevention.

The escalating fraud threat underscores the critical role of sharing and looking at various data points, incorporated into supervised and unsupervised machine learning (ML) models in fraud prevention. However, 48% of Indian businesses face challenges in implementing ML models due to insufficient training data, and 60% report a lack of quality data. Developing effective in-house ML models is complex; thus, customisable off-the-shelf ML models can expedite deployment and value realisation.

"At Experian, being the recognised champions in the fight against fraud, we continue to use cutting-edge technology, data analytics, and industry consortia to stay ahead of emerging threats,” commented Manish Jain, Country Managing Director at Experian India.

“In our continued commitment to develop and refine our solutions, we are using Machine Learning (ML)-based tools, such as in our Mule Risk Indicator, which incorporates traditional and non-traditional data points, to help Financial Institutions in identifying and mitigating fraudulent activities. By encouraging the use of these advanced tools, we empower businesses to navigate the complex landscape of fraud prevention with confidence. Our goal is to ensure that personal and financial information remains secure, providing peace of mind in an increasingly digital world.” added Manish Jain

Shail Deep, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Experian EMEA & APAC, said: "As we look ahead, the integration of ML-based fraud prevention is a necessity for businesses to fight back against today's sophisticated fraud threat. Our research indicates that 85% of Fraud experts believe the fraud landscape has been dramatically changed by Generative AI. As a result, over 52% have seen an increase in losses from fraud attacks in the past year. The adoption of new, flexible fraud prevention solutions can no longer be postponed. At Experian, we are continuing to focus on innovation, integrating the latest technologies to enhance detection. Our goal is to create a safer digital world for our clients and consumers, ensuring their personal and financial information remains secure.

Methodology 

Experian’s report is based on a commissioned Forrester Consulting survey of 449 fraud decision-makers in Financial Services, Telcos and eCommerce across eight countries, including India, South Africa, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany. 

About Experian 

Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. We help redefine lending  practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using our unique combination of data, analytics, and software. We also assist millions of people to realise their financial goals and help them to save time and money.  

We operate across a range of markets, from financial services to healthcare, automotive, agribusiness, insurance, and many more industry segments.  

We invested in talented people and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data and innovate. As a FTSE 100 Index company listed on

 the London Stock Exchange (EXPN), we have a team of 22,500 people across 32 countries. Our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. Learn more at experianplc.com. 

SonicWall Furthers Its Commitment To Empowering Managed Service Providers (MSPs) By Introducing SonicSentry MXDR

* SonicSentry MXDR Empowers MSPs of all Sizes to Protect their Customers Across the Entire Attack Surface with Enterprise-Grade Security including CrowdStrike Falcon Platform, Delivering Simplicity and Cost-Effectiveness

SonicWall today announced the introduction of SonicSentry MXDR, a managed solution for MSPs built to protect their clients across the entire attack surface with end-to-end managed threat protection. This unique set of offerings for network, endpoint and cloud security is backed by a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) and Network Operations Center (NOC) that provides MSPs with advanced threat detection and response capabilities from the endpoint to the local network to the cloud. The SonicSentry MXDR service enables partners to deliver stronger, more proactive security services while helping customers enhance their cyber resilience at every step.

Most small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) depend on MSPs for their IT and information security needs. However, many MSPs need the extended resources of fully staffed and trained 24/7 SOC and NOC facilities to help ensure customers are using best practices, to monitor networks, cloud applications and endpoints and to then quickly detect, investigate, and remediate cyber threats with greater context and accuracy. The overwhelming volume of security alerts alone make it difficult to distinguish between routine updates and critical threats. As cyber threats grow and compliance requirements become more complex, MSPs need a simpler, more effective approach to security practices and operations as they work to keep their clients secure.

SonicSentry is SonicWall’s MXDR suite of offerings, featuring managed detection and response (MDR), MDR for cloud, and MDR for Network. Each service can be purchased individually with no contracts or minimums; all of them together comprise MXDR. The goal is to provide a unified approach to cybersecurity by integrating endpoint security, cloud security, and network protection with expert SOC monitoring. By incorporating industry-leading endpoint protection from the CrowdStrike Falcon® cybersecurity platform, SonicWall customers benefit from AI-driven detection and response and stronger cybersecurity resilience.

“SonicWall has always been committed to delivering cost-effective, enterprise-level security solutions to small businesses, which are increasingly targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks,” said SonicWall President and CEO Bob VanKirk. “That can only be accomplished by having the right people armed with the right tools.  Our broad portfolio of solutions is now enhanced through our partnership with industry leading solutions like those from CrowdStrike. With CrowdStrike, we are ensuring that our SMB customers, and the partners who support them, have access to best-in-class endpoint protection. This effectively extends the bench of our MSP partners and meets them on their services journey to deliver stronger, more proactive security services while giving customers the confidence that their businesses are protected against cyber threats that were once a concern only for large corporations.”

“MSPs face mounting challenges - managing complex and oftentimes subpar - security stacks, countering evolving threats, and securing SMBs with limited resources,” said Daniel Bernard, chief business officer at CrowdStrike. “Through our SonicWall partnership, we’re simplifying security, enhancing threat protection, and enabling MSPs to focus on what matters most — keeping their customers secure and helping SMBs thrive in an increasingly digital world."

As an additional benefit and for more peace of mind, customers of SonicSentry services who also are protected by a SonicWall firewall and Cloud Threat Analytics receive a cyber warranty and discounted, flat-rate cyber insurance, backed and managed by our partnership with Cysurance, provided the customer demonstrates best-practice controls are in place. Warranty coverages ranges from $500,000 for MDR customers using a firewall and Cloud Threat Analytics and coverage increase to $1,000,000 for those customers also deploying Cloud Email Security. 

“SonicSentry is a great way for MSPs to differentiate themselves from their competitors,” said SonicWall partner Nick Sabatini, Vice President of Managed Services at Ubeo. “The SonicSentry SOC becomes an extension of your team as an MSP, allowing you to provide immediate threat mitigation for your clients without having to go to the expense of building your own SOC.”

About SonicWall

SonicWall is a cybersecurity forerunner with more than 30 years of expertise and is recognized as a leading partner-first company. With the ability to build, scale and manage security across the cloud, hybrid and traditional environments in real-time, SonicWall provides seamless protection against the most evasive cyberattacks across endless exposure points for increasingly remote, mobile and cloud-enabled users. With its own threat research center, SonicWall can quickly and economically provide purpose-built security solutions to enable any organization—enterprise, government agencies and SMBs—around the world. For more information, visit www.sonicwall.com

Hitachi Vantara Introduces Hitachi iQ M Series, A Modular Design With Hybrid Cloud Data Orchestration For GenAI & Industry Workloads

* Hitachi iQ to leverage NVIDIA AI Data Platform reference design, providing enhanced capabilities for reliability and performance and enabling a faster shift from AI to ROI

Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure, and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), announced Hitachi iQ M Series, the latest addition to the Hitachi iQ portfolio of AI-ready infrastructure solutions. This new solution provides a lower entry cost with built-in adaptability and scalability as customer needs evolve. Integrating accelerated computing platforms with robust networking, Hitachi iQ M Series combines Hitachi Vantara Virtual Storage Platform One (VSP One) storage, integrated file system choices, and optional NVIDIA AI Enterprise software into a scalable, adaptable, cost-effective AI infrastructure solution.

For more information on Hitachi iQ, visit:

https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/solutions/ai-analytics/hitachi-iq 

The rise of generative AI and the explosion in data processing power are pushing the pace of change. As more businesses adopt AI, the rapid increase in training costs and data management presents significant challenges. The Hitachi iQ M Series allows for a choice of NVIDIA accelerating computing platforms to select the most suitable GPU for specific workloads to ensure optimal performance across different AI applications. The solution allows for the scaling of compute and storage independently with the flexibility to adapt to diverse and fluctuating data sizes, data types, and workloads, meaning businesses can allocate resources efficiently, scaling compute or storage as needed rather than overprovisioning, and reducing unnecessary expenses.

Additionally, Hitachi iQ is integrating the NVIDIA AI Data Platform reference design, created to power the era of enterprise agentic AI. Using the design, Hitachi Vantara will integrate its premier enterprise-grade storage with NVIDIA’s accelerated computing, networking, and AI software to enable AI agents with near real-time business insights. This ensures that Hitachi Vantara customers will benefit from the highest standard for performance and reliability, seamlessly powering their most critical AI applications and transforming their data into actionable insights. Through its continued collaboration with NVIDIA, Hitachi Vantara will continue to innovate its AI-ready infrastructure, reshaping how organizations manage and use data, closing the gap between AI agents and business knowledge.

“We’re on a mission to help customers from all industries harness the power of AI regardless of the market they’re in,” said Jason Hardy, chief technology officer for artificial intelligence at Hitachi Vantara. “With the expansion of computing power from Hitachi iQ M Series and the high performance and reliability standards inherent in the NVIDIA AI Data Platform, we have created a unique opportunity for businesses to innovate, revamp user experiences, streamline operations, and optimize cost. This enables businesses to capitalize on AI without overburdening their teams or their bottom line.”

As a part of the Hitachi iQ portfolio, M Series features flexible configurations using NVIDIA accelerated computing and a choice of a high-performance file system or a global namespace file system. There is also an optional object storage repository available within the Hitachi iQ portfolio. As a result, the M Series can handle the various data types, sizes, and workload demands, making it ideal for businesses operating in dynamic and data-intensive environments.

“Enterprises generate and store vast amounts of data, much of it unstructured and

inaccessible to modern AI-driven applications,” said Bob Pette, vice president of enterprise platforms at NVIDIA. “With the AI Data Platform reference design, stored data is accessible in real time on Hitachi iQ, giving applications access to full knowledge of the business and providing invaluable insights that strategically accelerate AI initiatives.”

Hitachi iQ Powered by Hammerspace and VSP One

Additionally, to bolster the data orchestration power of Hitachi iQ, Hitachi Vantara has entered into a strategic resell agreement with Hammerspace, a fast-growing software company that is radically changing how data is used and preserved. Through the agreement, Hitachi Vantara has integrated Hammerspace software with the VSP One storage platform, expanding Hitachi iQ’s capabilities to address different data management requirements for dataset creation, processing, governance and protection. The joint VSP One and Hammerspace solution ensures distributed data is easily and transparently accessible from anywhere for GenAI workloads. As a result, Hitachi iQ represents a complete infrastructure solution for AI, GenAI, analytics, and data lake environments across a range of industry-specific use cases.

The Hitachi iQ portfolio of AI-ready infrastructure, solutions, and services is among the most comprehensive, end-to-end AI enablement tools available today. The portfolio includes an AI Discovery Service designed to help customers identify the most valuable AI use cases, assess their data readiness, determine ROI, and create a strategic roadmap for successful AI implementation.

For more information on Hitachi Vantara, visit: hitachivantara.com.

Union Bank of India Successfully Rolls Out IDEA Hackathon - First In The PSBs Hackathon Series 2025

~ Union Bank of India is the first bank in the industry to have successfully conducted the hackathon on Fintech, Cybersecurity, and Gen AI~

Union Bank of India, in collaboration with K J Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai, successfully concluded the IDEA Hackathon, a flagship event under the PSBs Hackathon Series 2025. This event is part of a larger initiative by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India and Indian Banks Association, where all Public Sector Banks (PSBs) will conduct a series of Hackathons.

This initiative aims to delve into innovative solutions for real-world problems and critical areas of operations in the BFSI sector.

The event received an enthusiastic response from nearly 300 teams from over 30 colleges across Maharashtra, out of which 42 teams participated vigorously in a 24-hour Hackathon leading to a finale of 10 teams. MD & CEO of Union Bank of India A. Manimekhalai in the presence of Executive Directors of Union Bank of India announced Six teams as winners under various categories, including an all-women team and a differently-abled team.

The winning teams received cash prizes amounting to Rs. 11 lacs, with the first, second, third and consolation winners receiving Rs. 5 lacs, Rs. 3 lacs, Rs. 2 lacs, and Rs. 1 lac, respectively.

The event was graced by distinguished delegates and dignitaries from leading banks, financial institutions, fintech firms, and regulatory bodies, including Mr. Dilip Asbe, MD & CEO of NPCI. The attendees included representatives from RBI, IBA, IDRBT, IFTAS, ReBit, PSB Alliance, and top executives from other PSBs.

"We are thrilled to have hosted the IDEA Hackathon, which has provided a platform for young minds to showcase their innovative solutions," said MD & CEO, A. Manimekhalai, in her address.

The IDEA Hackathon is a testament to Union Bank of India's commitment to innovation and digital transformation. The bank will continue to support and encourage innovative ideas, driving growth and excellence in the BFSI sector.

Kancheepuram Varamahalakshmi Silks Opens Its New Showroom In Tumkur, Karnataka

* It’s 68th showroom of the company and 4th showroom in Karnataka.

Sai Silks Kalamandir Ltd (SSKL), one of India’s leading ethnic wear retailers, has launched its 68th showroom under the Kancheepuram Varamahalakshmi Silks format in Tumkur, Karnataka. The grand inauguration was graced by Sri Sri Siddalinga Mahaswamigalu on March 19.

Kancheepuram Varamahalakshmi Silks is renowned for its premium-quality silk sarees at the lowest prices in the market. With its own exclusive looms and in-house designs, the brand ensures direct sourcing and cost efficiency, offering unmatched value to customers. Its extensive collection features Kancheepuram Silk Sarees, Banarasi, Patola, Kota, Paithani, Organza, Kuppadam, Ikkat, Bandhani, and many more – catering to weddings, festive occasions, and everyday elegance. Speaking on the occasion, Durgarao Chalavadi, Director, Sai Silks Kalamandir Ltd, said,

"We are excited to bring the legacy of Kancheepuram Varamahalakshmi Silks to Tumkur with our 68th showroom. Our commitment is to provide customers with the best Price, premium Quality, and widest Range (PQR) of ethnic sarees at the most competitive prices. With a strong presence in Karnataka, we aim to redefine the saree shopping experience by offering the best of traditional and contemporary weaves at unbeatable prices."

To strengthen its foothold in Karnataka, SSKL is also investing in a state-of-the-art warehousing facility to support its growing retail network. The brand continues to expand aggressively in South India, which accounts for 50% of saree sales in India, reinforcing its position as a market leader in ethnic wear.