Audi Plugs In To Electric Mobility - Launches 3 Electric SUVs - Audi e-Tron 50, Audi e-Tron 55 And Audi e-Tron Sportback 55

* Luxury of choice. Not 1 but 3 electric SUVs to choose from Full-size SUVs - powerful, efficient, sporty and practical for everyday driving Audi e-tron 55 and Audi e-tron Sportback 55 - dual electric motors that deliver upto 300 kW of power with 664 Nm of torque. Accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in a quick 5.7 seconds

* Single charge range of 359 - 484 km for the Audi e-tron 55 and the Audi e-tron Sportback 55 (WLTP cycle) quattro Permanent All-Wheel Drive, Progressive Steering, Adaptive Air Suspension, 4 Zone Climate Control and Panoramic Sunroof offered as standard

* First in the country Digital Matrix LED Headlamps with Animated Projections

* 16 speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D Surround Sound System

* Air quality package having Air Ionizer and Fragrance dispenser

* 11kW Portable AC Home Charger and capable of upto 150 kW DC Charging for the Audi e-tron 55 and Audi e-tron Sportback 55

* 100 chargers across the country in 75 key cities over the next few months

* Through 2021 Customers will receive a complimentary wall box charger in addition to the 11kW portable charger that comes with the car

* Select Audi India dealerships will be equipped with a 50kW DC fast charger

* Audi e-tron Customers can avail of complimentary charging at any Audi India dealership through 2021

Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, today made a giant leap in its journey of electric mobility with the launch of 3 electric SUVs - the Audi e-tron 50, Audi e-tron 55 and Audi e-tron Sportback 55.  Powered by two incredibly dynamic electric motors in the front and rear, the Audi e-tron and the Audi e-tron Sportback offer a completely novel driving experience. 

Price details below:

Audi e-tron model       Price ex-showroom (in INR)

Audi e-tron 50                99,99,000

Audi e-tron 55              1,16,15,000

Audi e-tron Sportback 55    1,17,66,000

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head of Audi India, said, “Today is a big day for us as we launch the e-tron brand in India. Under the e-tron brand – we are launching not one, but three electric SUVs that begin our electrification journey. The Audi e-tron 50, the Audi e-tron 55, and the Audi e-tron Sportback 55 are the perfect confluence of luxury, zero emissions, performance and everyday usability. With the three offerings, we  have a proposition for every type of EV customer in the small but growing luxury SUV space. To ease the transition to electric mobility – we are offering several benefits and packages including after-sales, charging and ownership. To take it a step forward, we are also offering a best-in-class 3 year buyback. This is just the start of Audi India’s electric journey and you will hear from us very, very shortly on our next EV offering.”

Mr. Dhillon further added, “Globally, the Audi e-tron and Audi e-tron Sportback continue to be the top-selling electric SUVs. There is a clear road map towards sustainable mobility and as Audi India; we are committed to developing an EV ecosystem. We have agreements in place that cover aspects, right from setting up charging infrastructure to end-of-life battery recycling. The future is electric and Audi India is ready for it.”

Electrifying Performance:

· Electric motors at the front and rear produce a combined power of 300kW on the Audi e-tron 55 and Audi e-tron Sportback 55, and 230kW on the Audi e-tron 50

· e-tron 55 and e-tron 55 Sportback accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in a quick 5.7 seconds, while the e-tron 50 boasts an 6.8 second 0 to 100 kmph time

· Fully variable quattro drive precisely balances power between the four wheels for maximum traction

· Progressive steering offers the best of both worlds – reduced effort at low speeds and confidence at high speeds 

· Adaptive air suspension with adjustable ride height makes the e-tron suited to all environments

· Audi Drive Select allows the driver to alter the e-tron’s character at the touch of a button

Efficiency

· e-tron 55 and e-tron 55 Sportback feature 95kWh lithium-ion battery that enables a 359-484km range (WLTP); e-tron 50 features a 71kWh lithium-ion battery with 264-379km range (WLTP)

·  Best in class charging options - 11kW AC and up to 150kW DC

·  Charging flaps uniquely positioned on both sides enable flexibility in parking

· Clever recuperation technology allows the e-tron to recover energy on deceleration. 3 levels of recuperation can be manually adjusted using shift paddles

· Thermal management system keeps the battery at optimal temperature for best performance and longevity  

Safety

· High voltage battery sits in an enclosed frame for maximum protection in an impact. Aluminium plate at base protects against damage from stone chips

· 8 airbags to protect occupants in the unfortunate event of an accident

· Seat belt buckles illuminate for quick access

· Pre-sense Basic initiates preventive protection measures in the event of emergency braking or handling on the limit. The system will tighten seat belts, optimises seat position and closes windows and sunroof

· External speakers generate a unique sound to alert pedestrians of the e-tron’s presence

Features

·   Digital Matrix LED headlights open up new possibilities for adaptive light distribution and feature 5 pre-set animated projection modes during entry and exit

·   Panoramic glass roof gives a clear view of the world above

·   Gesture controlled boot lid for easy access to the luggage area

·   31.24 cm fully digital Audi Virtual Cockpit displays all information relevant to the driver

·   Head-up Display function projects vital information directly to the driver’s field of vision   

·   MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch Response gives easy access to features such as navigation and vehicle settings

·   16 speaker, 705 W, Bang and Olufsen audio system with 3D Surround sound delivers studio-like audio quality 

·   Contour and Ambient Lighting package allows you to set the mood with 30 colour options

·   Audi Phone Box with Wireless Charging keeps your mobile device charged on the go

·   Breathe easy with the Air Quality package that also includes 2 distinct fragrances

·   4-zone climate control lets occupants personalise cooling/heating to their liking

·   360-degree camera with customisable views takes the stress out of parking in tight confines

Exterior

· The Audi e-tron and Audi e-tron Sportback are each uniquely different – the Audi e-tron is a dapper, broad SUV with a well-defined straight roof. The Audi e-tron Sportback is an athletic SUV with a robust, sloping roofline

· Brightened Audi Singleframe grille finished in platinum grey 

· Colors - Catalunya Red, Floret Silver, Mythos Black, Glacier White, Galaxy Blue, Navarra Blue, Siam Beige, Typhoon Grey for the Audi e-tron and an additional shade of Plasma Blue that is exclusive to the Audi e-tron Sportback

·  Rear Lights With Continuous LED Strips - This aesthetic feature accentuates the shape of your Audi e-tron. The continuous LED strips in the rear make the design more dynamic, and your vehicle more visually stunning.

·   Orange brake callipers draw inspiration from high-voltage wires 

·   50.8 cm, 5 arm, Graphite Gray, diamond turned alloy wheels make a dynamic statement 

Interior

·   Select the best hue for the interiors - Okapi Brown, Black and Mother of Pear Beige 

·  The wraparound dash panel gracefully traces the arc of the car, encompassing the instrument panel and harmoniously integrating the hood above the Audi Virtual Cockpit

·  Uniquely crafted twin-spoke leather wheel - wheel feels just right in your hands. Its progressive and exclusive design with an aluminium look integrates seamlessly with the interiors. The shift paddles allow you to switch manually between recuperation stages.

·  The body of the Audi e-tron has been optimised for comfort when it comes to vibration and noise. Sound absorbing and insulating materials reduce sound penetration in the passenger compartment while advanced aeroacoustics further reduce background noise

e-tron Hub & Digitalization

·  The e-tron hub is a special tab available on the Audi Connect app that guides you on a range of functions and features of your Audi e-tron. 

·  From guiding you on how to find your nearest charging- station to getting to know your car better, the e-tron hub is full of endless possibilities. 

·  Audi e-tron Hub is available on myAudi Connect application and audi.in

·  Ease of purchase - Submit a survey request for your home or o­ffice using the Audi Mobility Check under e-tron Hub to help locate the best location for your charger

·   Saving calculator - Quantify your car’s environmental impact with this tool

·   Range calculator - Learn how to plan your trips with the range calculator

·   Charging network - Get help locating the charging stations nearest to you on a digital map

·   Charging time calculator - Get an accurate estimate on the time required to charge the car based on the capacity of the charger available

·   Convenience - One-click Dedicated Road Side Assistance for Audi e-tron on the ‘myAudi Connect’ app and a dedicated WhatsApp helpline 

·   Chargers near me - Audi EV owners can get reference to all the charging stations compatible with Audi e-tron on the ‘myAudi Connect’ app. With a view towards faster adoption and proliferation of electric vehicle technology, this tool is also being made available on the Audi India brand website and on the app, for a user of any electric car to utilize as a read reference

·  Audi Shop - Customers can purchase exclusive Audi e-tron branded accessories,  merchandise and an additional wall-box chargers on Audi Shop 

Charging benefits

·  Audi e-tron 50, Audi e-tron 55 and Audi e-tron Sportback 55 customers, for the year 2021, to receive a complimentary wall box AC charger in addition to the 11kW charger that comes standard with the car – a segment-first offering 

·   Early bird customers can avail of complimentary charging through 2021 at any Audi India dealership that is equipped with the charging facility 

·   Key Audi India Dealerships will be equipped with a 50kW fast charger in a phased manner

·   Audi Dealers will offer, at cost, their charging facilities to all other brand electric car customers

·   Audi e-tron customers can easily locate  all charging stations compatible on the ‘Chargers near me’ section of the ‘myAudi Connect’ app

·  In the spirit of promoting electric mobility, Audi India will open access to the ‘Chargers near me’ section of the ‘myAudi Connect’ app and Audi India website to all electric car users in India  

·  Audi e-tron 50, Audi e-tron 55 and Audi e-tron Sportback 55 - unique in segment with charging ports on both sides, allowing flexibility in terms of parking 

·  Unique combination in the segment with AC charging upto 11kW and DC charging upto 150 kW for the Audi e-tron 55 and Audi e-tron Sportback 55 and AC charging upto 11 kW and DC charging upto 120 kW for the Audi e-tron 50

·   Over 100 chargers to be installed across 75 key cities in the country 

·   Pan-India charging network details listed on ‘myAudiConnect’ app and Audi India website

Service Offerings 

·   Designed to make the ownership experience seamless - a choice of service plans available ranging from 2 years to 5 years 

·   Standard warranty of 2 years and High Voltage Battery warranty of 8 years or 160,000 KM whichever is earlier

·   Extended Warranty options available across a period of 2+2 years or 2+3 years  

·  Comprehensive Service Plan covering the costs of service and periodic maintenance of brakes, suspension, and Extended Warranty are covered for either a 4 year or a 5 year period, depending on the scheme chosen by the customer   

·  Best-in-class buyback upto 3 years from the date of purchase 

·  Complimentary 5 year Road Side Assistance

·  Audi trained and certified manpower across the network for efficient Sales and After-sales 

SHARP Enhances A4 Color Line-Up With A New Compact Color Multifunction Printer

* Host of productivity functions and workflow features to deliver improved performance with smart & Secure solutions for businesses of all sizes 

SHARP Business Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., a wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of SHARP Corporation Japan, announced the launch of a new compact color multifunction printer, as a part of its A4 color line-up, available in the market. The new A4 MFP 'MX-C357F' offers a host of productivity functions, best-in-class security enhancements, and an intuitive user interface that delivers the productivity, performance, and reliability needed for new-age work environments. High speed and affordable 4 in 1 MFP with a range of advanced performance and security features, MX-C357F is specially designed for customers to improve productivity and efficiency, where space is a premium. The new A4 MFP provides a range of time-saving functions with a 4.3-inch Touch Panel and Easy UI mode that give users a simply better experience.  The new MX-C357F comes with a print speed of 33 PPM, 50 Sheets Reverse single pass Feeder (RSPF), True 1200 x 1200 DPI,2 GB RAM, Duplex, Network, Air print capability. The energy management features that reduce power consumption in both active and sleep mode, all help cut costs while being environmentally responsible at the same time. Its compact footprint of 424 x 421 mm offers a versatile range of deployment options that suits the requirements for businesses of all sizes. 

Talking about the new launch, Shinji Minatogawa, Managing Director, SHARP Business Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd said, "The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the landscape of office automation industry and has introduced new hybrid work models. Businesses today are increasingly adapting themselves to these new realities, reflected in the growing demand for space-saving and affordable Color MFPs. SHARP is committed to delivering high-speed, easy-to-use functionality with secured access to improve the productivity and efficiency of businesses of all sizes for simply better business." 

With the introduction of MX-C357F, sharp has built a strong line up of Colour A4 & A3 combinations, making a real difference to customer needs.  The MRP of the MX-C357F is INR 1,01,478, and it is available for purchase via direct sales and through authorized partners. 

The new MFP is best suited to address the growing business and functional needs of SMEs, Front Desk, BFSI, NBFC, Hospitals, Pathology Labs, Work Group Printers, Retail, Work from Home, and Manufacturing segments. MX-C357F works best with a combination of A4 & A3 MFPs and Managed Print Service (MPS) requirements.  

As part of its continued efforts to support business continuity in India, Sharp recently launched Workplace solutions - "3D Secure- Total Workspace Protection". '3D Secure -Total Workspace Protection' combines the strengths of Workspace Procat- a disinfect coating service, Naturalizer- a natural salt-based sanitizer maker, and the Plasmacluster Air Purifier. The new solution comes with its unique natural advantages and fights bacteria and viruses across all kinds of surfaces and indoor air, providing a clean, fresh, and safe environment within the office premises.  

Citrix Appoints Safi Obeidullah As The Global Head Of Value Advisory

Citrix today announced that Safi Obeidullah has been promoted to Global Head of Value Advisory. Based in Sydney, Australia, Obeidullah will report to Carle Quinn, Vice President of Customer Value and Workforce Transformation at Citrix.

Responsible for supporting and accelerating customers’ digital transformational experiences, Obeidullah will lead business strategy advisory on behalf of Citrix. He will help to ensure our customers can harness the power of Citrix solutions and services and partner offerings to achieve the best business outcomes.

Obeidullah has over 20 years’ experience in the sector, where his primary focus has been to improve employee experiences and develop advanced strategy for customers. He has been a key member of the Citrix Asia Pacific and Japan team for more than a decade, joining Citrix in 2010 as an Enterprise Sales Engineer and then leading the System Engineering team in Australia and New Zealand. More recently Obeidullah was Field Chief Technology Officer of the Asia Pacific and Japan region. His journey through the Citrix ranks is a testament to his passion for the company’s customers across the Europe, Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific and Japan regions.

Safi Obeidullah, Global Head of Value Advisory at Citrix said: “I am incredibly excited to step into this new role and continue my journey in supporting the acceleration of Citrix’s strategy and value proposition to customers across the world. I look forward to collaborating with new teams across the global Citrix community, and supporting our customers to understand how they can use our breadth of intelligent solutions to add greater value to their organisation.”

About Citrix:

Citrix (NASDAQ: CTXS) builds the secure, unified digital workspace technology that helps organizations unlock human potential and deliver a consistent workspace experience wherever work needs to get done. With Citrix, users get a seamless work experience and IT has a unified platform to secure, manage, and monitor diverse technologies in complex cloud environments.

High Prevalence And Potential Complications Highlight The Urgent Need For Thyroid Screening In India

* 1 in 10 adults in India are affected by underactive thyroid disorder or hypothyroidism.[1] In Bangalore alone, 9.23% of adults suffer from hypothyroidism with 3.81% of cases undetected1

About three times more prevalent in women compared to men, with concerning implications for pregnant women1,[2]

* Routine health services including continuum of care for non-communicable diseases have been disrupted[3]. Regular screening for hypothyroidism can help prevent and reduce the risk of comorbid complications, particularly for women.

In India, at least 1 in 10 adults or 10.95% are affected by hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid disorder1 This prevalence rate is significantly higher than that in developed countries, which ranges between 2% and 5%.[4] In Bangalore alone, 9.23% of adults suffer from hypothyroidism.1 In fact, the disease is often hereditary, and the overall risk of developing hypothyroidism is high if one has a family history of thyroid disease.1,2 Despite the high prevalence and associated burden[5], thyroid disorders, along with other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), remain neglected3. In the prevailing circumstances, there is a discernible gap in addressing such chronic health conditions. To bridge this gap, Abbott, through various initiatives, is committed to raise awareness to enable greater understanding of thyroid disorders and to highlight the need for regular screening.

The thyroid gland plays a major role in the metabolism, growth and development of the body while also regulating multiple functions including energy levels, weight, heart rate and mood. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones to meet the needs of the body. As per a study conducted across eight cities in India, nearly one-third of people living with hypothyroidism experience the disorder without diagnosis.1 Thus, a large proportion of the population experiencing thyroid disorders may not be seeking treatment. This low awareness is compounded by non-specific symptoms like fatigue, excessive weight gain, constipation, dry skin, cold intolerance, muscle cramps, and puffy eyelids[6].

There is low penetration of screening for the condition across the Indian population. However, if left untreated, thyroid disorders can result in elevated cholesterol levels, irregular menstrual cycles, depression, and may even lead to serious cardiovascular and neurological complications.[7] Overall, thyroid disorders impair the daily quality of life, work performance and economic productivity of an individual.

Women are three times more susceptible to hypothyroidism as compared to men1 and are at a higher risk of infertility and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).[8] Hypothyroidism also has concerning implications for pregnant women, including the risk of placental abnormalities, anaemia, preeclampsia, miscarriage, and postpartum bleeding.2 Physicians across the globe recommend screening for thyroid disorder during pregnancy. [9]

Highlighting the need for timely diagnosis of thyroid related conditions, Dr. Prasanna Kumar, Senior Consultant Endocrinologist, Centre For Diabetes & Endocrine Disorders, Bangalore said, “In Bangalore alone we have seen 3.81% cases of hypothyroidism go undiagnosed. Adults who are aged 35 years and above, pregnant, and middle-aged women in particular, are at high risk and may suffer additional complications if a thyroid disorder is left untreated. Undetected hypothyroidism results in increased vulnerability to comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. The pathophysiological association between Type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and thyroid dysfunction is believed to be the result of interplay between various biochemical, genetic, and hormonal malfunctions. Poorly managed T2DM can lead to insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia  and increased risk of hypoglycaemic episodes in diabetics.11 As a result, it increases the cardiovascular risk in T2DM.[10] This can only be reduced with frequent screening to ensure timely diagnosis, which in turn will drive treatment and disease management for hypothyroidism at an early stage.”

There is a growing need to counter the hypothyroidism burden and its associated complications to limit both current and future pressures on India’s healthcare system.

Dr. Srirupa Das, Medical Director, Abbott commented, “Abbott is committed to raising awareness on thyroid disorders in India. By educating people at higher risk, including women, about the nature, prevalence and symptoms of the condition, we aim to create awareness, which would facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment. We are committed to continue ‘Making India Thyroid Aware’ so that every individual can be empowered to pursue better health.”

Through its ‘Making India Thyroid Aware’ (MITA) campaign, Abbott continues to undertake various initiatives to increase awareness about thyroid disorders that aid early detection and diagnosis. Such initiatives include Abbott’s partnership with the Indian Thyroid Society to carry out an awareness drive across various states within the country and women’s health workshops. Till date, the campaign has been successful in educating close to 6 million people through various consumer/healthcare professional initiatives.

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 107,000 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 over 12,000 employees in the country, Abbott in India is helping to meet the healthcare needs of consumers, patients and doctors throughout urban and rural India.

Salesforce Completes Acquisition Of The Digital Platform - Slack

* Together, Salesforce and Slack are creating the digital HQ for success from anywhere  

Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced it has completed its acquisition of Slack Technologies, Inc.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Slack as part of the Salesforce family, combining the #1 CRM and the trailblazing digital platform for the work anywhere world,” said Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO of Salesforce. “Together we’ll define the future of enterprise software, creating the digital HQ that enables every organization to deliver customer and employee success from anywhere.”

“We’ve learned over the past year that the workplace isn’t snapping back to the way it was,” said Bret Taylor, President and Chief Operating Officer of Salesforce. “Together, Slack and Salesforce Customer 360 will give every company in the world a single source of truth for their business and a single platform for connecting employees, customers, and partners with each other and the apps they use every day.”

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink and reshape how and where we work,” said Stewart Butterfield, Slack CEO and Co-Founder. “Salesforce and Slack are uniquely positioned to lead this historic shift to a digital-first world. I could not be more excited for what’s to come.”

“Salesforce and Slack coming together will help us become more connected, more productive, and more innovative so we can better serve our clients.”ARVIND KRISHNA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF IBM

“We are obsessed with continually delighting our clients and offering them the best experience and value across every interaction,” said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM. “Salesforce and Slack coming together will help us become more connected, more productive, and more innovative so we can better serve our clients.”

Acquisition to create the digital HQ for success from anywhere 

Companies around the world have learned one thing over the past year—if you don’t have a digital way to connect with your employees, customers, and partners, you don’t have much of a chance of surviving. 

Headquarters are no longer on Madison Avenue or Main Street—they are in the cloud. Every business—in every industry—has to optimize for a digital-first customer, employee, and partner experience.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink and reshape everything about how and where we work. That’s exactly what the combination of Salesforce and Slack is all about—creating the business operating system for the new world of work.

With the world’s #1 CRM, companies can sell, service, market, conduct commerce, and more from anywhere. Slack has transformed the way we work with its trailblazing digital platform for business communication, which is used by millions of people around the world and enables entire organizations to work far more efficiently and effortlessly.

Together, Salesforce and Slack will deliver the Slack-first Customer 360 that gives companies a single source of truth for their business, and a single platform for connecting employees, customers, and partners with each other and the apps they use every day, all within their existing workflows.

The combination of Salesforce and Slack also brings together two of the software industry’s most dynamic communities, creating an open and extensive ecosystem that will deliver the next generation of digital-first apps and workflows for business.

“Salesforce will create a modern workspace that enables collaboration, communities, communications, CRM functionality, customer experience, and AI in an ecosystem that will welcome other integrations to extend enterprise functionality,” said Wayne Kurtzman, IDC Research Director for Social, Communities, and Collaboration.

Salesforce and Slack are already making a huge difference. IBM’s 380,000 employees are working together in Slack, with numerous workflows across Salesforce Sales Cloud and Service Cloud powering customer success across locations and time zones.

As part of Salesforce, Slack will be positioned to accelerate and extend its mission to make work life simpler, more pleasant, and more productive. Slack will continue to operate under the Slack brand, driving forward a continued focus on its mission, customers, and community. Slack will continue to be led by CEO and Co-Founder Stewart Butterfield.

On Tuesday, August 17, 10:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. BST, Salesforce President and COO Bret Taylor and Slack CEO and Co-Founder Stewart Butterfield will host an event to share more about how the two companies are creating a powerful platform for the digital-first, work anywhere world. You can tune into the event here. 

Bank Of Baroda Partners With U GRO Capital For Co-Lending To MSMEs Across India

* Co-lending partnership to offer ₹1,000 crore loans across 200+ channel touch points pan-India  

Bank of Baroda, one of the country’s largest public sector banks, announced a co-lending partnership with U GRO Capital, a BSE listed NBFC engaged in lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME). The first loan disbursement under this program commenced on the occasion of Bank of Baroda’s “114th Foundation Day”. The Bank is amongst the first PSBs to start co-lending in partnership with U GRO.  

This program has been launched under the revised co-lending guidelines wherein U GRO will be co-lending under their product named as “Pratham”, with Bank of Baroda. This will help MSMEs to avail customized lending solutions at a competitive rate of interest with a significant reduction in turn-around time. The loan amount would range from ₹50 lakh to ₹250 lakh to be offered at an interest rate starting from 8% with a maximum tenure of 120 months. 

During the inauguration of this co-lending program, Shri Vikramaditya Singh Khichi, Executive Director, Bank of Baroda said, “We are glad to have joined hands with U GRO Capital by way of this co-lending program, which resonates with our intent to extend support to more MSMEs. We believe that forging such partnerships is the way forward and collaborative efforts leveraging individual entities’ expertise are of utmost importance to take co-lending to MSME segment to the next level. This is a significant advancement in the same direction.” 

Under the partnership, both Bank of Baroda and U GRO Capital will serve the unserved and underserved MSMEs by leveraging low-cost funds of Bank and higher reach of the NBFC. The programme is accessible across 200+ channel touch points at nine large centres pan-India namely Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. For fast delivery of the loan, the bank has established a centralized processing unit at Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat. 

About Bank of Baroda:  

Bank of Baroda (“The Bank”) established on 20th July 1908 is a State-owned banking and financial services organisation, headquartered in Vadodara (earlier known as Baroda) in Gujarat, India. 

Bank of Baroda is India’s leading public sector bank with a strong domestic presence supported by self- service channels. The Bank’s distribution network includes 8,300+ branches, 11,600+ ATMs, Cash Recyclers supported by self-service channels and over 23,000 Business Correspondents. The Bank has a significant international presence with a network of 96 branches/offices of subsidiaries, spanning 19 countries. The Bank has wholly owned subsidiaries including BOB Financial Solutions Limited (erstwhile BOB Cards Ltd.), BOB Capital Markets and Baroda Asset Management India Ltd. Bank of Baroda also has joint ventures for life insurance viz. IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited and India Infradebt Ltd., engaged in infrastructure financing. The Bank owns 98.57% in The Nainital Bank. The Bank has also sponsored three Regional Rural Banks namely Baroda Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank, Baroda Rajasthan Gramin Bank and Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank. 

ADIF Aims To Transform The Indian Startup Ecosystem To Be Among Top 3 Globally By 2030

* Committed to building an alliance of individuals and organisations that are vested in the success and growth of the startup ecosystem. 

* ADIF aims to be the voice of Indian startups and represent their views before the government and industry forums  

ADIF (Alliance of Digital India Foundation), a think tank for India’s digital startups shared its plans to meet its objective of the long-term prosperity of the Indian startup ecosystem. While India is the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world, it ranks only 20th in the global start-up ranking. ADIF aims to transform the Indian startup ecosystem to be among the top 3 globally by the year 2030. In the process, ADIF will also be evangelising the Indus Valley playbook as an alternative ideology to the Silicon Valley playbook. 

At its core, ADIF wants to build an alliance of individuals and organisations, all of whom are driven towards making India the best startup nation globally. We aim to achieve this goal through championing the sector, celebrating our wealth creators, increasing trust within the players, evangelising the Indus Valley playbook, facilitating market development, driving collaboration in the ecosystem and representing the voice of the startup sector with the government and industry forums. 

Speaking on the mission and vision of the foundation, Mr. Sijo, Executive Director – Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) said, “There are over 50 unicorns in India today – a number that was unimaginable 10 years ago. We are currently the third-largest ecosystem in the world, and with that, we have truly arrived on the global stage. Now that we are here, we have a genuine opportunity at pursuing the journey of being the best in the world. Our mission is to transform the Indian startup ecosystem to be among the top 3 globally by the year 2030.” 

He also added, “Traditionally, we have had access to Silicon Valley literature, but the way Indian founders have driven their startups has been based on a very different playbook – this literature is more suited to the Indian or any emerging startup ecosystem. We as a country have created a lot of knowledge among ourselves on how to look at an alternate model of entrepreneurship and wealth creation. At ADIF, we will compile this knowledge and take it to our young entrepreneurs and help fuel the next wave of entrepreneurs. Furthermore, our ecosystem is still very nascent, so it’s understandable that the policies haven’t fully caught up. ADIF will thus also focus on advocating for favourable policies, figuring out solutions that are in the best interest of everyone and driving them.” 

ADIF plans to adopt a three-pronged approach to transform the Indian startup ecosystem: Building an Alliance of Founders and Startups, Club ADIF and Policy Lab. These three pillars will form the backbone of ADIF’s mission to forge a joint roadmap for a strong vibrant Digital India. As part of the alliance, ADIF will bring together all individuals and organisations that are vested in the success and growth of India’s startup ecosystem. 

Club ADIF is a collaborative trust layer that enables sharing of knowledge and best practices at an informal peer to peer level. Policy Lab is to ideate and advocate for favourable policies for the sector and to ensure their adequate representation in front of the government and industry bodies.  

A Section 8 non-profit organisation, ADIF was founded by the likes of Sairee Chahal of Sheroes, Murugavel Janakiraman of Matrimony.com and Ritesh Malik of Innov8. ADIF is committed to inspiring India’s youth to consider technology entrepreneurship to create jobs and wealth in our society, thereby promoting entrepreneurship across the nation. 

About Alliance of Digital India Foundation 

The Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) is a think tank for India’s digital start-ups formed to fully capitalise on the sector’s promise with the objective of its long-term prosperity in mind. ADIF's mission is to transform the Indian startup ecosystem into among the best in the world while upholding the essence of the Indian startup playbook or the Indus Valley Playbook and ensuring that it emerges as a strong alternative to the dominant Silicon Valley Playbook.