Monday, June 30, 2025

Odysse Electric and Indofast Energy Partner to Make SNAP “India’s Most Affordable Battery-Swapping Enabled Scooter”


Odysse Electric Vehicles, one of India’s fastest-growing premium electric vehicle manufacturers, has announced a strategic partnership with Indofast Energy – a Joint Venture of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. and Sun Mobility. As a battery-swapping solutions provider, to integrate SUN Mobility’s advanced battery-swapping technology into its high-speed electric scooter, SNAP. This move enhances the SNAP’s accessibility by eliminating range anxiety and long charging times, making clean mobility more practical and affordable for urban riders. 

The battery-swapping-enabled SNAP is being introduced in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Mumbai, with phased expansion to other cities in the pipeline. 

The SNAP is a high-speed electric scooter with a peak motor output of 2000 watts, a top speed of 55 km/h, and a max range of 100 km per swap. It features a waterproof IP 67-rated motor, a robust Indian chassis built for local road conditions, cruise control for enhanced comfort, and a CAN-enabled display that provides real-time battery and range updates. The SNAP delivers on both performance and convenience, making it ideal for today’s daily commuters. 

Introducing swappable battery technology, a game-changing innovation that puts convenience, savings, and freedom in the hands of everyday riders.

For retail users, the switch to electric has never been easier or more efficient. The benefits with swappable batteries, is simply swap out your depleted battery for a fully charged one at any nearby swap station in under two minutes. It’s fast, seamless, and perfect for your daily commute. 

Key Benefits for EV Two-Wheeler Day to Day Users are:

  • Zero Downtime: Skip the charging wait just swap and go.

  • Lower Upfront Costs: Pay for energy, not the battery.

  • Greener Rides: Shared battery networks ensure optimal usage and lower carbon impact.

  • Minimal Maintenance: Centralized battery management means less wear and tear for you.

  • App-Controlled Convenience: Find the nearest swap station and track your usage with ease.

Whether you're a delivery professional, a daily commuter, or a weekend rider, swappable battery systems are here to make electric mobility truly effortless.

Already available in the Indian market, the SNAP will now be offered at INR 49, 999 (ex-Showroom)  with SUN Mobility’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) subscription model:

  • Inr 999/month for 25 kWh

  • Inr 2,499/month for 75 kWh

As swappable battery technology enters the spotlight Mr. Nemin Vora, CEO, Odysse Electric Vehicles, said “Our partnership with SUN Mobility began with the global deployment of the Vader SM, and we’re proud to now bring that success closer to home with the SNAP. By combining our rider-focused design with SUN Mobility’s battery-swapping platform, we’re breaking down critical barriers to EV adoption in India—making electric mobility more affordable, practical, and future-ready.” 

Mr. Rajat Malhan, Senior Vice President, Indofast Energy, added “After our successful international collaboration on the Vader SM, extending our partnership with Odysse Electric to the domestic market was a natural progression. Enabling the SNAP with our battery-swapping technology ensures that more Indian riders experience the convenience, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness that are essential for large-scale EV adoption.”

This partnership builds on Odysse Electric and SUN Mobility’s earlier collaboration for the Vader SM electric motorcycle, which was introduced in international markets with battery-swapping capabilities. With the SNAP, the two companies are now extending their shared vision of convenient, accessible, and sustainable electric mobility to the Indian commuter segment.

Join the movement towards smarter, more sustainable transport. Discover how swappable batteries are transforming the way India rides.

EDII Celebrates MSME Day 2025, Reinforces Commitment to Inclusive and Sustainable Growth


On the occasion of the 25th MSME Day, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, celebrated the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of India’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, acknowledging their role as key drivers of grassroots development and national progress by organising ‘MSME Talk’ at its campus.

The highlight of the day was the ‘MSME Talk’ delivered by Shri R.D. Barhat, Joint Commissioner of Industries, Government of Gujarat, on the theme: ‘Treading a Sustainable Growth Path for MSMEs Amidst Changing Business Dynamics.’ Also present on the occasion was Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII.

Addressing MSME the gathering, Shri Barhat emphasised the pivotal role MSMEs play in India’s economy. He stressed the importance of sustainable growth in the face of digital disruption, global uncertainties, and environmental concerns. He said “Sustainable growth for MSMEs, must be inclusive, responsible, and innovation-driven. It is essential that MSMEs pursue economic expansion without compromising environmental and social standards. By embracing adaptability, innovation, and strategic policy support, MSMEs can secure their future and drive India’s development agenda.” 

Over the past year, EDII has conducted more than 2,200 training programmes across the country, reaching over one lakh entrepreneurs under the ESDP supported by M/o MSME, Government of India, with a strong emphasis on existing and potential entrepreneurs.  Through its innovation-led residential programmes, MSME promoters have gained exposure to cutting-edge fields like Business Analytics, Robotics, Agro-Processing, and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) operations.

In addition, the institution launched capacity building programme for MSMEs on the occasion of MSME Day in Maharashtra for women led enterprises on the occasion of MSME day under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) programme supported by Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (MSSIDC).  EDII has been working closely with states like Maharashtra and Goa to support Udyam-registered MSMEs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The focused training modules under this initiative cover GeM, Intellectual Property Rights, financial management, and operations helping entrepreneurs grow sustainably.

Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII, said, “MSMEs are much more than just economic units, they represent innovation, resilience, and self-reliance for millions across India. At EDII, our focus is on strengthening this vital backbone by equipping entrepreneurs with the right skills, tools, and mindset for sustainable growth. Through skilling, mentoring, and infrastructure support, we aim to ensure that every entrepreneur, regardless of their background and location has a fair chance to succeed in today’s evolving economic landscape.” 

EDII’s contributions to infrastructure development are equally impactful. As a Project Management Consultant under the SIDBI Cluster Development Fund, the Institute had supported SIDBI in appraising infrastructure development projects worth ₹10,000 crore across 21 states during last 3 years. The project was instrumental in boosting MSME ecosystems and supporting large-scale job creation.

Also, Institution is implementing MSE-CDP scheme to set up Common Facility Centres (CFCs) in key industry clusters across Gujarat adds to its grassroots-level impact.   

With a footprint spanning the length and breadth of India, EDII continues to advance India’s entrepreneurial journey, fuelling the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat through capacity-building, innovation, and inclusive development.

PNB Strengthens MSME Ecosystem with Comprehensive Digital and Traditional Lending Solutions


Punjab National Bank (PNB), India’s leading public sector bank, reinforces its position as the premier financial partner for India's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.

Recognising MSMEs as the backbone of India's economy, PNB has strategically developed a comprehensive MSME banking ecosystem that combines cutting-edge digital solutions with traditional relationship banking, ensuring accessible credit for every entrepreneurial dream.

MSMEs can benefit from a variety of exclusive offerings: -

  • PNB Innovate Scheme: Financing Start-ups in MSME, Agriculture and Allied Services with credit facility up to ₹50 cr.

  • PNB Growth Plus: Customised financial solutions for MSMEs with no requirement of stock statement and any other financial paper, NIL RTGS/NEFT charges, and credit facility up to ₹2.00 cr.

  • PNB GST Express: Assessment based on GST return for all category of borrowers (manufacturing, trading, services) with credit facility up to ₹10.00 cr and no financial paper required.

  • MSME Prime Plus: Comprehensive financing for all MSME units with credit facility up to ₹100 cr and concession in ROI & service charges.

  • Digi MSME Loans: Paperless lending up to ₹25 lakh for existing as well as new customers through digital processing.

  • e-GST Express: Digital MSME loan up to ₹ 5 Cr based on GST returns with CGTMSE guarantee available and concession in ROI and processing fee.

Government Partnership Schemes:

  • e-PM Vishwakarma: Credit support to artisans or craftsperson’s secured by CGTMSE with NIL margin requirement.

  • PNB e-Mudra Scheme: Credit facility up to ₹20 lakh under Tarun Plus secured by CGTMSE with tiered financing options.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ashok Chandra, MD & CEO, PNB said: "On this International MSME Day, June 27, 2025, I want to take a moment to recognize the vital role Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises play in driving our economy. MSMEs are the backbone of innovation, job creation, and community growth, and as their trusted banking partner, we have the privilege and responsibility to fuel their success."

Customers can also explore these exclusive offerings by visiting their nearest PNB branch, accessing the PNB ONE App, or contacting the bank's dedicated helplines.

Aspire For Her Hosts SheExports in Bengaluru: Global Insights, Local Inspiration


Aspire For Her, in collaboration with SEED and powered by Payoneer, successfully hosted the SheExports cohort in Bengaluru. SheExports is a flagship initiative to empower Indian women entrepreneurs for global expansion.

Payoneer (Nasdaq: PAYO), the global financial technology company empowering the world’s small and medium-sized businesses to transact, do business, and grow globally. Aspire For Her is a community-first organization that aims to add a million women to the workforce by 2025 and 10 million by 2030.

Held at Yutori, Safina Plaza, the event themed "Ready to Scale Globally?" gathered over 50 women entrepreneurs to explore digital, collaborative, and cross-border pathways to scale. Aspire For Her is adding a million women to the economy by 2025 and their focus on women entrepreneurs has won multiple awards including from the UN Women.

A high-impact panel featured:

Andrew Collister is Consul at the Australian Consulate-General in Bengaluru, and a career officer with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He is a champion for Australia as a trade destination and is a strong supporter of women’s entrepreneurship  

Juhi Santani, Founder, Retail Design Solutions has been working for over 2 decades across 1500 projects, 200 brands and 3 continents in creating inspiring retail and hospitality spaces. 

Pavithra YS is the Founder and Managing Director of Vindhya e-Infomedia, a unique Impact Sourcing Service Provider known for its innovative and sustainable business model that merges profitability with inclusive employment in the IT and BPO sectors. With over 2,600 diverse employees across 5 delivery centers in India, Pavithra has won numerous awards and accolades for recruiting persons with disability, and other marginalised pools of talent.

The panel delivered actionable insights on inclusive leadership, scaling strategies, and unlocking global opportunities for women-led ventures.

Madhura DasGupta Sinha, Founder & CEO, Aspire For Her, said:

"SheExports is more than global access—it’s about shifting mindsets. Today’s event proved the power of collaboration in building a global launchpad for women."

Gaurav Shisodia, Vice President, Payoneer - India, added, “Building on the remarkable success of SheExports Season 1, where we empowered over 120 women entrepreneurs across 18 states and witnessed 17% of women leaders expanding globally, Payoneer is proud to continue supporting women-led SMBs in their global expansion journey.

For more information and upcoming events, visit: www.aspireforher.com

About Aspire for Her

Aspire For Her (AFH) is a unique organisation with the vision to add a million women to the workforce by 2025, 10 million by 2030. AFH motivates women to enter and stay in the workforce by using the power of communities and networks. AFH has built 24 communities using its mindset-change model including mentors and role models, courses, cohorts and learning, career previews, and community support. They partner with SEED, India’s leading integrated CSR and social intervention agency to create and deliver programs to unleash the economic potential of Indian women.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Entrepreneur India EV 2025 Kicks Off with Power-Packed Keynotes and Industry-Defining Dialogues


  • Powering India's EV Revolution: Insights, Innovation & Impact at the Forefront~
     

Entrepreneur India EV 2025 commenced with a powerful opening day, uniting industry pioneers, government leaders, technology innovators, and entrepreneurs to shape the future of electric mobility in India. The event set an ambitious tone for the nation’s rapid and sustainable shift toward an electrified transport ecosystem.

 

Opening the summit, Ms. Ashita Marya, CEO, Franchise India, remarked “We are at a turning point in India’s electric mobility journey. From a projected $27.7 billion battery market by 2028 to EVs accounting for 4.1% of total car sales this May, the shift is real, rapid, and irreversible. But this conference isn’t just about milestones, it’s about momentum. The next two days are about turning conversations into collaborations, and ideas into action.”

 

The day’s keynote address was delivered by Mr. Tin Hang Liu, Co-Founder & CEO of Open Energy, on “The DeepSeek Moment for the EV Charging Infrastructure – Ultra-Fast Charging (BYD)”. His talk emphasized the transformative role of ultra-fast EV charging in driving mainstream EV adoption, positioning it as a pivotal element of India’s mobility roadmap.

 

A marquee panel on “Transforming India’s Mobility Landscape: Global Insights and Strategic Solutions for a Sustainable EV Ecosystem” followed, offering a forward-looking blueprint for scaling EV adoption through innovation, collaboration, and inclusive policy.

 

“India today stands at a pivotal moment—where science, innovation, and sustainability must converge not just in policy papers, but in everyday life. Our challenge is not just to build advanced technologies, but to ensure they reach the last mile, touch real lives, and solve real problems. It is time we move beyond isolated excellence and embrace a collaborative ecosystem—where research institutions, industry, and government co-create solutions that are scalable, inclusive, and globally relevant. We are not just imagining the future—we are engineering it, right here, right now.”  Said, Dr. Anita Gupta, Scientist ‘G’ & Advisor, DST, Government of India

 

“We must stop thinking of electrification as a distant dream. The real crisis isn't just fossil fuels, it's our continued inefficiency and the way we design systems that waste energy by default. Unless we build an ecosystem powered by genuinely green electricity and supported by reliable infrastructure, EV adoption will be only half a solution. The goal is not just to replace petrol with power, but to reimagine how mobility, storage, and sustainability intersect at scale.” Said, Padmashri Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala Ex-Advisor, Ministry of Power, Prof: - IIT Madras.

 

One of the most anticipated segments of the day was the release of Frost & Sullivan’s exclusive market report, “Transformative Trends in the Indian Electric Vehicle Market – 2025 & Beyond,”

 

presented by Mr. Prajyot N Sathe, Research Director he stated, “India’s electric vehicle market is evolving rapidly—on track to touch over 700,000-unit sales annually by 2030. But growth alone isn’t enough. The focus must now shift to building resilient, localized supply chains, expanding charging infrastructure density, and accelerating battery innovation. With supportive policies like FAME, PLI, and reduced import duties, we have a window of opportunity to make India not just a consumer of EVs, but a global manufacturing hub.”

 

The summit also hosted deep-dive sessions on pivotal themes including:

 

·         EV Consumer Behavior: Understanding drivers, barriers, and shifting market forces

·         Technological Advancements: Emerging innovations shaping the next era of EVs

·         Autonomous & User-Centric Design: Reimagining the EV experience for future mobility

 

The day concluded with two impactful panels:

 

·         “The Evolution of EV Charging: Implications for Energy, Real Estate, and Mobility”

·         “Driving the Future: The Role of Electric Commercial Vehicles in India’s Green Transition”

 

Across keynotes, panels, and interactive sessions, Entrepreneur India EV 2025 Day 1 sparked strategic dialogue and cross-sector collaboration, paving the way for unified action across technology, infrastructure, and policy to accelerate India’s EV transformation.

Abbott Introduces Lab-based Blood Test to Help Evaluate Concussion


  • Abbott’s lab-based mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) test can help provide reliable results in 18 minutes enabling doctors to evaluate patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), commonly known as concussion, within 12 hours of a head injury

  • Test has the potential to eliminate the need for a CT scan by up to 40%, helping in reducing the time spent in emergency care[i]


Abbott, the global healthcare company, announced the launch of its laboratory-based blood test to evaluate mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), commonly known as concussions. The traumatic brain injury (TBI) test runs on Abbott’s Alinity i and Architect i1000SR laboratory instruments, which are available in major hospitals and laboratories such as Apollo, Hyderabad and Neuberg Supratech Laboratory.

 

The test offers a reliable result in 18 minutes to help clinicians quickly evaluate brain injury and triage mTBI patients. The diagnostic tool also helps eliminate the need for CT scans by up to 40% with a high degree of certainty eliminating wait time at the hospital and unnecessary exposure to radiation. The test measures two biomarkers in the blood - ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) - that, in elevated concentrations, are correlated to brain injury.

The test can help streamline care benefiting both patients and the healthcare system. This is particularly important in areas where access to CT systems may be limited. 

 

Ravi Sinha, General Manager & Country Head – Diagnostics, Abbott India said, “Abbott’s TBI blood test improves patient evaluation and delivers reliable results in just minutes helping doctors quickly and accurately rule out the need for a CT scan. This means less time spent in emergency care and less stress for patients and families. The test enables early and accurate evaluation to ensure better long-term health outcomes.”

  

TBIs can be caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head and can pose short- and long-term risks. In India, nearly one million people are estimated to experience it every year.[ii] People who experience a TBI may have impairment of memory, movement, sensation (e.g., vision and hearing), and emotional functioning (e.g., personality changes, psychological symptoms). People who sustain a TBI are more likely to have another one – similarly to how a sprained ankle or torn ligament is more susceptible to future injury.

TBIs are among the most common neurological disorders worldwide, affecting millions each year. In India, 77% of head injury referrals were patients with mild TBI.[iii] Many people don't seek medical attention after a head injury, thinking their symptoms aren't serious. However, timely screening and detection are crucial. Early diagnosis helps people get the care they need, avoiding long-term effects.”

 

Abbott’s TBI test can offer a key alternative to traditional methods of assessing concussions, which have limitations including long wait times, radiation exposure, and accessibility and logistical challenges.

 

About Abbott:

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

 

In India, Abbott was established in 1910 and is one of the country's oldest and most admired healthcare companies. With more than 12,000 employees in the country, Abbott is helping to meet the healthcare needs of consumers, patients and doctors throughout urban and rural India.

 

Connect with us at www.abbott.com and www.abbott.in, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and www.facebook.com/AbbottIndia, and on Twitter @AbbottNews.

 


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