Serving Love On A Plate — India Autism Center Celebrates Children’s Day With A Kitchen Takeover And Sit-Down Supper

The freshly cooked food aroma, the clinking of plates, and the children's laughter all played their role as India Autism Center celebrated Children's Day with a heartwarming Sit-Down Supper and Kitchen Takeover. In a beautiful celebration of inclusion and confidence, children on the autism spectrum donned aprons, took charge of the kitchen, and served up joy, one dish at a time.

On November 12 and 13, the children from Amrit Somani Memorial Center, Marga Wellness Studio, and WeCan Society held a unique initiative comprising more than 30 young participants. Under the mentorship of Chef Shashvat Dhandhania, the children planned, prepared, and presented a delicious supper for their parents and mentors in the kitchen, which had now become the space for creativity, connection, and pride.

Parents watched with pride as the young chefs plated up their creations, turning an ordinary supper into a celebration of talent, patience, and boundless enthusiasm.

Mr. Jaishankar Natarajan, CEO, India Autism Center, shared, “Children’s Day at India Autism Center is always about celebrating ability, joy, and inclusion. This year’s Sit-Down Supper and Kitchen Takeover beautifully captured that spirit, showing us what happens when you give children the freedom to express themselves and the confidence to lead. Every dish served carried the flavour of pride and happiness.”

Chef Shashvat Dhandhania, founder of To Die For (restaurant in Park Street, Kolkata) added, “Handing over our kitchen to these young chefs was an experience I will never forget. Their creativity and passion were truly inspiring. It reminded me that when you focus on potential instead of limitation, magic happens. Each plate they served was a masterpiece of effort and love.”

Priyanka Guha, a parent of a 17-year-old boy on the spectrum shared her heartfelt experience after the celebration, shared, “When my son Inesh was diagnosed with autism at two, I didn’t imagine moments like this. Watching him cook and serve with such excitement was overwhelming. The India Autism Center and Amrit Somani Memorial Trust have given him what many couldn’t, acceptance, opportunity, and a space to just be himself. These moments are priceless.” 

Adding to the warmth of the celebration, Chefs - Vasundhara Kochar and Stuti Saraf Jain, who are the founders of Cheesserted Patisserie, along with Jayatri Biswas, founder of The Mischief and Company, joined the children, making the experience even more special with their encouragement and presence. 

Building on the success of this initiative, the India Autism Center aims to make such inclusive, skill-based experiences a regular part of its annual calendar, fostering confidence, creativity, and a sense of belonging among children on the spectrum.

Aditya Birla Jewellery's - Indriya - Expands Its Presence In Karnataka With Its Second Store In Bengaluru

Indriya, Aditya Birla Jewellery, announces its expansion in Karnataka with the launch of its second store in Bengaluru, located in the culturally rich and historic neighbourhood of Malleswaram. One of Bengaluru’s oldest and most cherished localities, Malleswaram is known for its heritage, ancient temples, and vibrant marketplaces that have long celebrated artisanal craftsmanship and fine gold jewellery. As a hub of the city’s cultural and commercial life, Malleswaram resonates deeply with art and culture lovers who value heritage and craftsmanship in every piece they adorn.

Located in Sampige Road, Malleswaram, the Indriya store will feature thoughtfully curated zones, including a dedicated karigari space and an expansive collection showcasing over 28,000 exquisitely crafted designs. This launch offers the perfect blend of artistry and modern expression, celebrating the intrinsic link that Malleswaram and by extension, Bengaluru holds with jewellery as a symbol of tradition, prosperity, and beauty.

This significant milestone increases Indriya’s footprint to 38 stores nationwide. The brand’s presence includes six outlets in Delhi; four each in Mumbai and Hyderabad; three in Pune; two stores each in Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Patna, and Bangalore; and one store in key cities such as Indore, Jodhpur, Surat, Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Agra, Gaya, Jammu, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Chandigarh. This growth reflects Indriya’s dedication to bringing fine craftsmanship and timeless jewellery to customers across India. 

Mr. Sandeep Kohli, CEO, Indriya, said, “We believe Karnataka has always been a significant market for Indriya, and the wonderful response to our first store in the state has been incredibly encouraging. With the launch of our second store in Bengaluru, we are thrilled to strengthen our presence and bring Indriya's legacy of artistic craftsmanship deeper into South India. Our collection is designed to resonate with this city's unique spirit, seamlessly blending rich heritage with contemporary style, making them a perfect choice for today's jewellery enthusiasts. This launch will strengthen our presence in this dynamic market, ensuring customers have easy access to our exquisite collections and a superior shopping experience.”

The trusted legacy of the Aditya Birla Group continues to grow in Karnataka with the opening of Indriya’s second store in Bangalore.

Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ranchi Wins Cummins India’s Flagship B-School Case Study Competition REDEFINE 2025

Indian School of Business, Mohali emerges as the runner-up for the competition.

IIM, Ranchi also won the social media contest.

Cummins in India (“Cummins India”), a leading power technology provider, successfully concluded ‘REDEFINE 2025’, the eighth edition of its prestigious annual B-school case study competition. Team Crow from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ranchi emerged as champions, winning the coveted winner’s trophy and cash prize, while Team Visioners from Indian School of Business, Mohali earned the runner-up title.

This year’s theme, “From Backup to Backbone: Driving the Energy Shift,” encouraged participants to explore innovative and sustainable models that address critical challenges across the energy value chain. The competition, facilitated a dynamic exchange of ideas and collaboration, drew participation from 6453 students across 2151 teams from 19 premier B-schools across the country. Following multiple competitive rounds, six finalist teams advanced to the grand finale held at the Cummins India Office Campus, Pune.

The two-day finale was a rich learning experience, featuring engaging leadership sessions, networking opportunities, and guided tours of Cummins Technical Center India (CTCI) and Kothrud Engine Plant (KEP). The event culminated with a jury evaluation and live voting session by employees. In addition to the main competition, all finalist teams participated in a fun social media contest. They created short, engaging team introduction videos that were uploaded on LinkedIn. Team Crow from IIM, Ranchi achieved the highest engagement for their video and was declared the contest winner.

Congratulating the winners, Anupama Kaul, Human Resources Leader, Cummins India, said, " REDEFINE celebrates the power of young minds to challenge conventions and think beyond boundaries. I am incredibly proud of the talent, creativity and problem-solving spirit demonstrated by the participants. Their ideas are bold, practical and rooted in purpose and responsibility. It’s inspiring to see how these young changemakers are addressing real-world energy challenges with remarkable intent and innovation. Nurturing next-gen talent is integral to Cummins India’s commitment to powering a stronger, more sustainable future for all.”

Subramanian Chidambaran, Chief Strategy Officer, Cummins India, added, "Each year, REDEFINE offers us a front-row view into how the next generation bridges real-world challenges with academic excellence. This year, participants displayed remarkable strategic thinking and a nuanced understanding of how to build a resilient, future-ready business model. We were particularly impressed by their ability to combine innovation with practicality. Congratulations to all the winning teams and participants for their incredible efforts and outstanding performances.”

A distinguished jury panel of Cummins India leaders, including Srinivasa Raghavan, Executive Director - Engineering and Chief Technical Officer; Jameson Mendonca, Power Generation Business Leader; and Sachin Simant, Director – Strategy, Product Planning and Digital, Power Systems Business Unit, evaluated the finalists’ presentations.

Leading up to the grand finale, Cummins India hosted interactive leadership sessions and quizzes to help participants prepare and understand the company’s mission, vision and the evolving energy landscape.

The six finalist teams that competed in the grand finale were:

GASx3 from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi

Dynamic Dreamers from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong

Crow from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ranchi

Visioners from the Indian School of Business, Mohali

Team 7 from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Tiruchirappalli

Ninja Turtles from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow

To learn more about REDEFINE, visit - Cummins Redefine | Cummins Inc. and follow Cummins India on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for the latest updates and insights.

About Cummins in India:

Cummins in India is a leading provider of integrated power solutions for the industrial and automotive sectors. The company operates through twelve entities with a wide-ranging portfolio. It is engaged in designing, manufacturing, distributing, and servicing diesel and natural gas engines and powertrain-related components, including drivetrain, braking, after-treatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, control systems, air handling systems, transmissions, and electrified power systems solutions for commercial vehicles and industrial markets. The company has a remarkable presence in the region, with state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, assembly, and distribution facilities employing over 10,000 employees committed to powering a more prosperous world.

MAHE Successfully Concludes PREvention And SCReening Innovation Project Toward Elimination Of Cervical Cancer

Over 10,000 Women Sensitized: 7,200+ Participate in hrHPV Self-Testing

160+ Healthcare Workers Trained in Innovative Screening Techniques

Field-tested Indigenously developed AI-Assisted Cervical Cancer screening device across multiple center s in Indian and across Bangladesh and Uganda

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) successfully convened the PRESCRIP-TEC Conference on November 13–14, aligning with the Government of India’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Mission. MAHE's Manipal School of Information Sciences (MSIS), Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH), and Kasturba Medical College (KMC, Manipal) organized the conference in Manipal.

The PRESCRIP-TEC consortium represents a powerful collaboration of global and national institutions — including DBT, Tata Memorial Hospital, the University of Groningen (The Netherlands), and MAHE, which serves as the lead implementing partner in India. Together, they exemplify thought leadership and cross-sectoral partnership in advancing equitable women’s health and India’s 2030 elimination target.

The two-day event brought together national and international experts, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to discuss scalable innovations in cervical cancer screening under the Prevention and Screening Innovation Project Toward Elimination of Cervical Cancer (PRESCRIP-TEC), a global initiative jointly implemented by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program.

PRESCRIP-TEC’s “Screen, Triage, and Treat” model integrates community participation, digital health, and AI-enabled diagnostics. Across India, the project has sensitized over 10,000 women, facilitated 7,200+ hrHPV self-tests, and conducted 360+ AI-assisted Visual Inspections with Acetic Acid (VIA-AI) using the SAKHI Smart AI Kit for Healthcare Innovation. Over 100 community health workers and 60 medical professionals have been trained, reinforcing the model’s scalability and integration within primary healthcare systems.

This approach, built on inclusivity and cost-effectiveness, serves as a replicable blueprint for cervical cancer elimination in low- and middle-income countries.

A major highlight in PRESCRIP-TEC is Development and Field testing of AI Innovation Previously part of a Ph.D. at MAHE, Designed and refined at the Manipal School of Information Sciences, this indigenous AI-assisted decision-support system (AI-DSS) powers the VIA-AI component of the project, enabling accurate and affordable early detection in field settings. Currently undergoing validation across India, Bangladesh, and Uganda, the technology underscores India’s growing capability to develop and deploy homegrown digital health solutions of global relevance.

Distinguished speakers included Dr. Abhishek Kunwar (WHO India), Dr. Anu Mary Oommen (CMC Vellore), Dr. Esmy P. Okkuru, Radiation Oncologist at CFCHC, Tamil Nadu and Dr. Bency Joseph (ICMR-NCDIR), alongside leading experts from across the world.

Opening the conference, Dr. Keerthana Prasad, Professor and Director, MSIS, and Lead Principal Investigator of PRESCRIP-TEC, remarked, “PRESCRIP-TEC represents a paradigm shift in how we approach cervical cancer screening in resource-limited settings. Through AI-assisted diagnostics and strong community engagement, we are transforming access to preventive healthcare and contributing to India’s 2030 elimination mission.”

The India implementation of PRESCRIP-TEC, involving MAHE, SDM College of Ayurveda (Udupi), Tata Memorial Hospital (Mumbai), Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute and Tata Medical Center (Kolkata), St. John’s Medical College (Bengaluru), and Sikkim Manipal University (Gangtok), concluded with actionable recommendations for integrating AI-based screening and cost-effective strategies into India’s national framework.

By converging research, technology, and community action, PRESCRIP-TEC stands as a model for how collaborative innovation can drive national health transformation — placing India at the forefront of the global mission to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.

For more information about PRESCRIP-TEC, visit: www.prescriptec.org

About Manipal Academy of Higher Education:

The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University. MAHE offers over 400 specializations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In October 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and enriching campus life.

Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 Set To Bloom With Global Icons And Local Rhythms

With an exciting lineup of international superstars, regional talent and cultural attractions, the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 is all set to kick off on Friday, November 14, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Shillong) & Polo Grounds, Shillong and will continue through Saturday, November 15. Celebrating music, culture and the magical bloom of the pink cherry-blossom trees, the festival is going to be a two-day spectacle that will not only enchant but also enchant the visitors, as Meghalaya opens its hills again for the global celebration of the art and nature.

Day 1, November 14, will bring headline performances from international chart-toppers The Script and Jason Derulo, with dance and entertainment icon Nora Fatehi adding a high-energy set to the opening night. The day will also feature a strong line-up of local artists such as Dappest & adL, Zephyrtone, Walter Wahlang, Khasi Bloodz, Prismer, ALIVE, Larger Than 90, Bending Waves and others, giving the audience a blended experience of mixed global and local talents.

The second day of the festival, November 15 will feature international heavyweights Tyga and Aqua, alongside a headline experience by global producer DJ Diplo and more of the Northeast’s finest artists such as Meba Ofilia, Girish & The Chronicles, Ahaia, G Hills Finest, Finding Mero, Dalariti, ARIUS, and more, including a specially curated Tribute to Zubeen Garg, acknowledging his contributions to the music world and to the region.

Beyond the main stages, the festival this year will also include other activities including the Cherry Blossom Arm Fight, Karaoke Contest, Mechanical Bull, Zipline, Graffiti Contest, Cherry Blossom Cosplay Competition and other attractions. Visitors can also explore a wide range of local food stalls, craft displays, and merchandise booths that capture Meghalaya’s creative spirit and culinary diversity. Organisers have also put in place advanced event technologies and fan experiences to make the festival both secure and more immersive.

While Polo Ground will serve as the central venue for the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival, visitors can also explore the Japan Arena at Ward’s Lake, which celebrates the cultural bond between Meghalaya and Japan. The arena will feature Japanese art, music, cuisine, and traditional performances, offering visitors a glimpse into Japan’s rich heritage. It also highlights the longstanding friendship and cultural exchange between India and Japan, reflected in the blooming cherry blossoms that symbolize renewal and harmony. Ward’s Lake, with its scenic beauty, provides the perfect backdrop for this cross-cultural experience.

As pink blossoms paint Shillong’s hills, the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 invites everyone to experience this extraordinary fusion of nature and music ranging from world-renowned international acts to the very best talent from Meghalaya and the Northeast and cultural blend celebrating the spirit and beauty of the state and the entire Northeast region.

Uber Employees Take The Wheel For A Day

‘Behind the Wheel’ initiative witnesses strong participation across cities

On a usual weekday morning in Chennai, as the city’s autos zipped through traffic, Manikandan Thangnaratnam, Senior Director – Mobility & Platforms at Uber, was behind the wheel of an Uber Auto. Wearing a crisp white shirt and a wide grin, he spent hours ferrying riders across the city – this time not as a tech leader building the platform but as a driver using it.

“It was a great experience to see the software in action and watch how it matches riders and drivers at scale,” he said. “It was fascinating to see how technology brings a familiar travel mode like autos right to people’s doorsteps.”

Across India, hundreds of Uber employees swapped their desks for driver seats during Employee Driving Week – a recurring initiative that encourages employees to step into the shoes of drivers to understand their experience, challenges, and aspirations.

In Gurugram, Gaurav Sharda, Head – Premium Categories, Uber India & South Asia, took the wheel of an Uber Black. “Every rider I met loved the comfort and quality of the experience,” he shared. “They notice the little things – the spotless car, the courteous greeting, the quiet ride. It reinforced for me how much trust and consistency matter when people choose Uber Black.”

In Bengaluru, Shiva Shailendran, Director – Consumer Growth, Uber India & South Asia, drove an Uber Auto, experiencing firsthand what makes Uber the preferred choice for more than 1.4 million drivers across India. “When you’re in the driver’s seat, you see the platform differently – the joy that the buzz of a new trip brings, the anxiety of waiting for rides, navigating unknown roads, and the pride drivers take in providing a good experience.”

In Delhi NCR, Vishal Tandon, Senior Manager – Earner Experience, Uber India & South Asia, chose an Uber Bike. Between conversations with riders about safety and convenience, he observed how crucial on-ground infrastructure is. “Riders really value Uber Bike during busy hours – it’s quick and affordable,” he said. “Two of my trips ended at metro stations, reaffirming the importance of last-mile connectivity.” He also heard repeatedly about the need for accessible public washrooms for drivers.

These first-hand experiences often lead to tangible product improvements. Uber’s ‘upfront destination’ and ‘upfront payment’ features – which allow drivers to see the drop location, trip fare, and mode of payment before accepting a ride – were inspired by insights gathered from earlier employee driving weeks.

This year too, employees returned with fresh ideas that could shape the next round of updates on the Uber app. Gaurav met a passenger at Delhi Airport who suggested making the pick-up experience for Uber Black as premium as the ride itself. Vishal’s rides highlighted the need for better driver infrastructure and improved access to safety gear such as high-quality helmets. Manikandan met a passenger who wished he could reserve an auto just like he reserves a car.

As Manikandan puts it, “Such experiences often serve as a reminder that the next wave of innovation often comes directly from riders and drivers.” Each journey offered lessons that go beyond dashboards or data – showing every Uber employee that behind every line of code or product tweak lies a real human experience on the road

Bengaluru-Based AI Innovator ‘Sravathi AI’ Named Among winners of L’Oréal Groupe’s flagship Beauty Tech Innovation Program

Bengaluru's 'Sravathi AI' And Pune's 'Without' To Receive L’Oréal-Funded Commercial Pilot Opportunities And Year-Long Mentorship

Sravathi AI and Without from India are among four startups crowned winners of L’Oréal’s 2025 SAPMENA Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program, the biggest open innovation competition of its kind in the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) region.

The winning startups – Sravathi AI (India), Without (India), Halo AI (UAE), and Heatseeker (Australia) – now have the opportunity to collaborate with L’Oréal in a commercial pilot with one of the Group’s 37 international brands. They will also gain potential exposure to 35 markets across SAPMENA and embark on a year-long mentorship journey with senior executives from L’Oréal and the programme’s partners, namely Accenture, Google and Meta. Wubble AI (Singapore) also received a Special Mention.

Hailing from SAPMENA's vast and promising talent pool, these teams highlight the extraordinary creativity and innovation of the region's vibrant startup ecosystem. This ecosystem is driven by dynamic market growth, large populations, a rising middle class and digitally-savvy young consumers. This ecosystem, particularly vibrant in India with successful innovators from the program, underscores the need for continued support and strategic alliances to drive future growth.

Vismay Sharma, President of L'Oréal SAPMENA Zone, said, “SAPMENA is one of the world's most dynamic regions, with millions of young, digitally-savvy consumers fuelling the rapid rise of digital commerce and brand innovation. While Silicon Valley often comes to mind for startups, we believe the centre of gravity for innovation is increasingly diversifying and shifting to regions like SAPMENA where market demand is shaping ideas to impact. The pitches at the Grand Finale are a testament to this and reaffirm the opportunities for open innovation here. By partnering with these next-gen innovators, we can accelerate the pace of beauty tech transformation and amplify the impact of new ideas across the beauty ecosystem.”

Saloni Shah Javeri, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, L’Oréal India, said, “We are thrilled to celebrate Indian entrepreneurs emerging as winners for the second consecutive year at the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program Grand Finale. It is truly inspiring to see how homegrown solutions are not only addressing real consumer needs but also reinforcing India’s growing prominence as a global hub for innovation. L’Oréal is proud to champion these innovators who are passionately bringing beauty and technology closer together, showcasing the incredible talent and creativity abundant in India."

The 2025 programme reached over 50,000 startups and drew applications from across the SAPMENA region, including teams from Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Over nine months, the startups competed in a rigorous process, presenting solutions in areas such as Consumer Experience, Content & Media, New Commerce, Tech for Good, and Science for Beauty. The competition culminated in the Grand Finale in Singapore on 7 November, where 10 shortlisted startups pitched their bold, scalable and tech-driven ideas to a distinguished judging panel of industry experts from L’Oréal, Google, Meta and Veros Ventures. In 2024, two Bengaluru-based startups - NeuralGarage and Live2.ai emerged among the winners of the inaugural L’Oréal Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program for the SAPMENA region.

L'Oréal is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation. In 2025, L’Oréal Groupe was named the most innovative company in Europe by Fortune magazine, out of 300 companies, in a ranking spanning 21 countries and 16 industries in Europe. Fast Company named L'Oréal in its Top 50 2024 Best Workplaces for Innovators list and winner of the Beauty and Fashion category, in recognition of its commitment to encourage and develop innovation at all levels.

Results of the 2025 L'Oréal SAPMENA Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program

Grand Finale Winner

· ​Sravathi AI (India): Sravathi AI is a silico chemistry AI platform that designs and develops advanced pharma using AI, molecular modelling, biochemistry and chemical engineering.​Sravathi AI is an AI-powered company delivering end-to-end solutions for molecule discovery, development and scalable manufacturing. Its drug discovery platform rapidly identifies novel drug candidates, streamlines hit-to-lead and lead optimisation, and reduces clinical risks, building a robust pipeline of 9 therapeutic assets across multiple disease areas.​Complementing this, Sravathi AI’s award-winning Chemistry AI platform revolutionises chemical development with automated route-of-synthesis design, yield optimisation, impurity prediction and process scalability.​

· Without (India): Without is a material science enterprise ethically transforming unrecyclable waste into high-quality, recyclable materials and products, creating a circular economy.​A deep-tech social enterprise based in Pune, India, Without (by Ashaya) focuses on addressing two deeply interconnected global challenges: plastic waste and poverty. It has developed a patented chemo-mechanical process that transforms “impossible-to-recycle” plastic waste, such as multi-layered packaging from chips, chocolate, and shampoo sachets, into high-quality, toxin-free and recyclable materials. ​Without believes circularity must be ethical to be effective and its model aims to create environmental and social value simultaneously and to demonstrate that scalable, tech-enabled solutions can drive deep, lasting change.​

· Halo AI (UAE): Halo AI helps brands scale their content creator collaborations with AI-powered analysis to manage, vet and select creators. ​Influencer marketing is booming, but the challenge has been a reliance on inefficient, manual processes, which makes it difficult for brands to find truly authentic partners and for creators to monetise effectively. Halo AI addresses this by using advanced AI to precisely match brands with nano and micro-influencers, creating authentic, high-engagement collaborations.​Its AI-powered platform reduces manual workflows by 80% and allows campaigns to launch in as little as 15 minutes, ensuring personal, impactful brand messages reach consumers through trusted influencers with genuine audience connections.​

· Heatseeker (Australia): Heatseeker enables marketers to run live, in-market experiments with real customers using its AI-powered platform, providing rapid, quantitative evidence.​A significant challenge for businesses before launching a new product is making decisions based on traditional market research, which can be unreliable or fail to capture genuine customer intent. Heatseeker transforms this process by enabling teams to run rapid, real-world experiments with actual customers on platforms like Meta and LinkedIn, directly measuring authentic customer behaviours like clicks to gauge interest in new products, messages and markets.​The platform leverages advanced AI to automate experiment setup, analyse competitor and audience data, and deliver actionable insights within days. This ensures companies launch offerings that are relevant to and resonate with consumers, particularly those launching new products, messages, customer segments or entering new markets.​

Special Mention

· ​Wubble AI (Singapore): Wubble AI is the world's first enterprise grade AI solution for businesses to create royalty-free, personalised music in seconds. ​Wubble AI uses generative AI to instantly produce bespoke, royalty-free music for brands tailored for specific campaign aesthetics, audience profiles or seasonal moods – without legal overhead or long production cycles. This enables brands to elevate in-store, digital and experiential moments with customised sonic identities.​Whether it’s background scores for virtual try-ons, ambient soundtracks for flagship stores or mood-aligned music for social media content, Wubble AI ensures brand coherence at scale. AI-powered music creation also enables rapid A/B testing of audio branding across regions or products, giving companies precise control and creative agility.​

About the Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program in SAPMENA

The Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program is the biggest Beauty Tech open innovation competition of this geographical scale. Designed to discover, support and nurture promising startups from across the South Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (SAPMENA) region, the competition is open to startups from countries including Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.

Startups are given the opportunity to develop their pilots in Beauty Tech innovation in one of five challenge themes: Consumer Experience, Content & Media, New Commerce, Tech for Good and Science for Beauty. Top innovators crowned during four regional finals (Middle East, India, Australia & New Zealand, and Southeast Asia) advance to the SAPMENA Grand Finale.

The top Grand Finale winners will win a L’Oréal-funded commercial pilot opportunity and a year-long mentorship programme with senior executives from L’Oréal and the programme partners. Startups that run successful pilots in SAPMENA could gain access to L’Oréal’s global network, with the SAPMENA region acting as a launchpad to leverage valuable partnerships and market insights.

For more information, visit http://bigbang.lorealsapmena.com/

About L’Oréal India

L’Oréal India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of L’Oréal S.A. since 1994. Today, L’Oréal India is present in all distribution channels with 29 brands, available in mass market channels (L’Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline New York, NYX Professional Makeup); in hair and beauty salons (L’Oréal Professionnel, Matrix, Kérastase, Redken, Biolage); in selective distribution (Kiehl’s, Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent), CeraVe and La Roche- Posay in pharmacy and chemist channels, and make-up and fragrances sold via L’Oréal International Distribution (Ralph Lauren, Armani, Prada, Valentino, Diesel, Viktor & Rolf, Maison Margiela, Mugler, Azzaro, Guy Laroche)

L’Oréal India employs over 1,800 people across its headquarters in Mumbai, four regional offices, two manufacturing facilities in Chakan (Maharashtra) and Baddi (Himachal Pradesh), and Research and Innovation facilities in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Website: www.loreal.co.in, Follow us on Instagram, and LinkedIn

About L’Oréal Groupe

For 116 years, L’Oréal Groupe, the world’s leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as essential, inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 37 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our L’Oréal for the Future programme, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality.

With more than 90,000 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (ecommerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, perfumeries, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2024 the Group generated sales amounting to 43.48 billion euros. With 21 research centres across 13 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 8,000 Digital talents, L’Oréal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse.

In 2025, L’Oréal Groupe has been named the most innovative company in Europe by Fortune magazine, out of 300 companies, in a ranking spanning 21 countries and 16 industries in Europe.

More information on https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom