Tecnimont Supports IIT Bombay Educational Outreach Initiative WiSE to Promote Participation of Girls from Rural India in Science and Engineering Disciplines

Tecnimont Private Limited (TCMPL), a subsidiary of Milan, Italy-based MAIRE Group, today announced its funding support for Women in Science, Engineering (WiSE) from rural parts of India. This is initiative involving a total of 165 girls is led by Prof. Rajesh Zele from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) to encourage young girls from rural parts of India to pursue higher education in STEM through a week-long intensive residential program at IIT Bombay.

This activity is part of MAIRE Group's sustainability strategy, specifically in the creation of value for the territories and communities where MAIRE operates through corporate social responsibility projects and initiatives.

Excited with the collaboration, Valentina Grieco, MAIRE Group CSR Senior Specialist said, "Project WiSE is driven with a special focus on the rural areas from India, such as Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha, to help the adolescent girls build their confidence in subjects like science and mathematics. While the rural adolescent girls face challenging situations in continuing their education, TCMPL strives to make education interesting for the students and parents to ensure enrolment of girls continues in the higher standards."

"TCMPL is committed to helping the communities where they operate," said Prof. Zele, "With their support, we were able to include students from remote areas across the nation. After the week-long program, the girls will continue to uh with one another, and their mentors at IIT Bombay through online sessions. This will help shape their future and career decisions," concluded Prof. Zele.

About Wise Program

For more information about this initiative, you can visit: https://wiseapp.in

About Tecnimont Private Limited

Tecnimont Private Limited (TCMPL) is a subsidiary of MAIRE Group and serves as the Group’s centre of Engineering excellence for India. With more than 2,000 employees, TCMPL is headquartered in Mumbai and has support offices in New Delhi, Middle East, Abu Dhabi and Malaysia. It is a leader in Engineering and Main Contracting for the natural resources transformation industry. With a legacy now spanning six decades, TCMPL has exhaustive experience in executing more than 400 projects globally.

MAIRE S.p.A. leads a technology and engineering group that develops and implements innovative solutions to enable the Energy Transition. We offer Sustainable Technology Solutions and Integrated E&C Solutions in nitrogen fertilizers, hydrogen, circular carbon, fuels, chemicals, and polymers. MAIRE creates value in 45 countries and relies on 6,500 employees, supported by over 20,000 people engaged in its projects worldwide. MAIRE is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (ticker “MAIRE”). For further information: www.mairetecnimont.com

Secure and Convenient: Apply for a Credit Card Online for Free

From paying bills to shopping online, having a credit card makes life much easier. Aren't you fed up with the inconvenience of applying for a credit card in person? No need to worry! Thanks to the increasing digitisation trend, you can now easily apply for a credit card online. It's completely free! That's right, no more waiting in lines or dealing with piles of paperwork.

Imagine applying for a credit card without even leaving your home. Sounds amazing, right? We'll provide a simple guide to online credit card applications. Moreover, we'll explain how you can make the most of this practical and secure alternative. So, sit tight, unwind, and be prepared to explore a world of convenience and rewards.

7 Reasons You Should Apply for a Credit Card Online - Save Time, Money, and Effort!

1. Convenience

The convenience of applying for a credit card online is unbeatable. You do not need to physically apply to a bank or financial institution. No need to call out of work or re-arrange your whole day just to go to the bank. Forget about branches altogether - you can do the whole process from your desk or couch.

2. Saves Time and Effort

Applying online is lightning fast compared to going to a bank. Apply for a credit card from home and breeze through the process at your convenience without wasting time or energy. Needless delays and complications are a thing of the past. Efficiency and ease of use are the new normal.

3. Zero Balance accounts

Open a free Saving Account with Zero Balance with Kotak811 and get a Kotak811 Dream Different credit card with no fee! Visit the Kotak811 website and open a savings account within minutes. Once you open an account, you can apply for a credit card and get one delivered to your home.

4. Secure Application Process

Applying for credit cards online is secure. The banks use top-notch encryption and security to keep your personal information safe. So apply from anywhere without stressing over security.

5. Wide Selection

When you apply for credit cards online, the options are endless. You get access to tons of cards from banks and issuers. It's easy to browse different cards and compare them side by side. You can compare interest rates, fees, rewards, and perks. Find the cards with the features that matter most to you. You may want cash back, travel rewards, or low APR - the choice is yours!

6. Real-time Approval

Real-time approvals bring instant gratification. No more worrying in anticipation, waiting for that approval notice in the mail. No more uncertainty or anxiety over whether you made the cut or not. The approval decision is made real quick, right on the spot.

7. Better Chances of Approval

When you apply online, you should fill the application form correctly. As a result, the likelihood of your application being rejected due to missing or wrong information will be less.

Pitfalls of Applying for a Credit Card Online: Why It Might Not Be Your Best Bet

Applying for credit cards online has become more convenient, but some things must be remembered first.

Saving Account Zero Balance Limitations

Applying for credit cards online often requires a minimum bank balance, which can be difficult for those with little savings. In addition, many issuers want to see that you can responsibly manage funds before extending your credit. So, if you have a savings account with zero balance, it will be difficult to apply for a card, especially if you're looking for options like Saving Account Zero Balance.

Credit Card Limitations

Some cards come with their own set of limitations. For instance, some online credit cards offer easy approvals but charge a joining fee.

Online Security Risks

Applying for credit cards online does come with security risks, and that's concerning. The banks put security first, using top-notch encryption and firewalls to lock down customer data. But online fraud is alive and well, and hackers constantly form new threats. So even though it's rare, there is still a chance malicious hackers could gain access to your sensitive information, if you’re not careful enough.

Lack of Personal Interaction

You can chat with a representative about the options when you go through a bank branch. They can evaluate your needs and recommend cards tailored to your profile. Answer any questions about fees, rates, rewards, or other details that confuse or concern you. However, this personal assistance and guidance are missing from online applications. You're left on your own to pore through all the information.

Unforeseen Fees

When applying online, it is important to read the terms carefully. Some credit cards may have hidden fees or charges you are unaware of until approval.

Hassle-Free Steps to Apply for Kotak811 Credit Card Online for Free

Step 1: Visit the Kotak811 website

Head over to the bank's website. Browse through the credit card options and choose the one you want.

Step 2: Click "Apply Now"

Find the card you want and hit "Apply Now ."You will need to provide your phone number to proceed further.

Step 3: Fill out the application form

Fill out the application form carefully and accurately. Of course, you must provide your details properly.

Step 4: Attach the necessary documents

Attach the required documents. This includes your PAN card, Aadhaar card, and other supporting documents, as mentioned on the website.

Step 5: Submit your application

Fill out the application carefully. Double-check that everything is in order before submitting.

Step 6: Track your application status

You'll receive an email with your application number. That will be your reference for following up on the status of your application. Next, go to the website to see how your application is progressing. Finally, select "credit card" from the list of products, enter the application number you were provided, and hit submit.

In conclusion, applying for a credit card online for free is a quick and safe method to obtain one. All banks use advanced security measures to protect your personal information, like encrypting data, two-factor authentication, and fraud detection. Therefore, you can be assured that your details are well protected.

Following the steps, you can apply for a credit card online without any trouble. It's not just time-saving but also budget-friendly, especially if you choose a card like the Kotak 811 credit card. So open a savings account with Kotak 811 and submit your credit card application online today. You'll have the convenience of handling your finances with just a click and will start enjoying the perks of a credit card quickly!

Paperpal, An AI-powered Assistant for Researchers, Crosses 200K Users Worldwide

Paperpal, the CACTUS brand offering AI-powered assistance for language and technical compliance checks and translation for research manuscripts, crossed the 200K user mark worldwide on 20th May, 2023. This milestone took only 8 weeks after Paperpal hitting the 100K mark in March 2023. This can be attributed to the growing engagement around AI tools on various social platforms and signifies that researchers are enthusiastically adopting Paperpal for its relevance in academic writing.

Abhishek Goel, CEO, and Co-Fborounder, CACTUS, said, "We launched Paperpal to help researchers write better papers, edit them on the go, and make them publication ready within a very short duration. This tool is convenient; it can be plugged into MS Word and provides suggestions that are relevant to academic research. It gives us great joy when we find researchers praising Paperpal for helping them get published and recognising it as a tool specifically purpose-built for them.”

With over two decades of experience in delivering high-quality academic language editing services to researchers across the globe, CACTUS launched Paperpal, the AI-powered manuscript screening tool to facilitate researchers’ academic writing journey, in October 2020. Paperpal’s AI has been trained on millions of published articles and manuscripts edited by professional academic editors who have extensive experience enhancing manuscripts to meet the requirements of top journals. Paperpal helps improve authors’ chances of publication by flagging common errors and omissions in language and technical reporting prior to journal submission.

Nishchay Shah, Chief Technology Officer, CACTUS said, “Language solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the scholarly communication landscape. Academic writing assistants are witnessing a revolution with the exponential advancements in AI, especially with the explosion in Large Language Models (LLMs) due to the commercial success of chatGPT. Presently, authors have at their disposal a multitude of language editing tools or academic writing assistants that can aid them in their journey of writing a research paper. However, researchers have to use many different tools to get their paper ready for publication, which involves writing; translating; checking for technical journal compliance; reviewing the paper for clarity, style, and consistency; etc. At Paperpal, we blend the best AI tech developed inhouse and leverage bleeding-edge language models from the open-source community to build an integrated solution that seamlessly guides the author in their publication journey.”

Language editing is an essential part of the manuscript preparation process, and AI tools can greatly enhance the quality of academic texts. While AI language editing tools are increasingly being used to ensure clear, error-free writing, there are very few tools that are specifically designed for academic writing, such as Paperpal.

To know more, please visit: https://paperpal.com/

Paperpal is developing superpowers for academic researchers. We believe that brilliant product design and advanced machine learning can help researchers find, write, and submit better science faster. Paperpal is backed by Cactus Communications (cactusglobal.com), a science communications and technology company. CACTUS solves problems for researchers, universities, publishers, academic societies, and life science organizations through innovative products and services developed under the brands Editage, Cactus Life Sciences, Researcher.Life, Impact Science, Paperpal, and Cactus Labs. CACTUS has offices in Princeton, London, Aarhus, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, and Mumbai; a global workforce of over 3,000 experts; and customers from over 190 countries.

Founded in 2002, Cactus Communications (cactusglobal.com) is a science communications and technology company that aims to advance society by making science accessible globally through innovation and technology. CACTUS solves problems for researchers, universities, publishers, academic societies, and life science organizations through innovative products and services developed under the brands Editage, Cactus Life Sciences, Researcher.Life, Impact Science, Paperpal and Cactus Labs. CACTUS has offices in Princeton, London, Aarhus, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, and Mumbai; a global workforce of over 3,000 experts; and customers from over 190 countries. CACTUS is considered a pioneer in its workplace best practices and has been consistently ranked a great place to work over the last several years.

Advait Infratech Limited Announces Independent Auditor's Report on Standalone Financial Results for the Financial Year 2023

Advait Infratech Limited, a leading company in product solutions for Indian power and telecom infrastructure projects, today announced the release of the Independent Auditor's Report on its Standalone Financial Results for the Financial Year 2023. The report has been prepared in accordance with Regulation 33 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, as amended.

The Independent Auditor's Report, conducted by Vipul Goswami, a highly reputed auditing firm, provides an unbiased assessment of V. Goswami & Co. financial performance for the Financial Year 2023. The report thoroughly examines the company's financial statements, internal controls, and compliance with applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements.

Their statement presents:

• Financial results are in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 33 of the Listing Regulations
• A true and fair view in conformity with recognition and measurement principles laid down in applicable accounting standards and other accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the standalone net profit after tax and other comprehensive income and other financial information of the company for the half-year ended on 31st March 2023 as well as the year to date result for the period from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023.

Highlights of the Independent Auditor's Report:

Compliance and Disclosure:

The report confirms that Advait Infratech Limited has adhered to the requirements set forth by the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, and its subsequent amendments. It further verifies that the company has maintained transparent and accurate financial disclosures.

Financial Statements:

The Independent Auditor's Report verifies the accuracy and fairness of Advait Infratech Limited's Standalone Financial Statements for the Financial Year 2023. The statements provide a comprehensive view of the company's financial position, performance, cash flows, and changes in equity during the reporting period.

Internal Controls:

The report evaluates Advait Infratech Limited's internal control systems, policies, and procedures. It confirms that the company has implemented effective measures to safeguard its assets, prevent fraud, and ensure the reliability of financial reporting.

Compliance with Accounting Standards:

The report validates Advait Infratech Limited's adherence to the applicable accounting standards prescribed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of V.GOSWAMI & CO. This ensures that the financial statements are prepared in accordance with the prevailing accounting principles and reflect a true and fair view of the company's financial performance.

Adding their thoughts on the report, Mr. Shalin Sheth, Managing Director and Founder of Advait Infratech Limited said, “Advait Infratech Limited's management expresses its appreciation for the thoroughness and professionalism demonstrated by Vipul Goswami during the auditing process. The Independent Auditor's Report strengthens the company's commitment to transparency, accountability, and good corporate governance practices.”

About Advait Infratech Limited:

Advait Infratech Limited is an Ahmedabad-based company that offers robust products and end-to-end solutions for power transmission, substation, and telecommunication infrastructure and is diversifying into renewable energy in 2023. Founded in 2009, Advait Infratech specialises in stringing tools, ACS wire manufacturing, OPGW operations, ERS, turnkey telecom projects, live line installations, green energy, fuel cells, insulators, conductors, transmission line towers, stringing tools, power transmission, and substation services. The company got listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange in 2020 and recently announced a 1:1 bonus issue for its shareholders.

Indian Edtech Firm ConnectEd Joins Hand with US-based ASU Prep to Scale Up Personalized Learning in India

The company will adopt ASU Prep’s learning tools and expertise to enhance educational methods for Indian students from various backgrounds and communities.

Fast-emerging edtech leader ConnectEd has partnered with US-based ASU Preparatory Academy to scale up personalized learning in India. ConnectEd realizes that students today compete in a global field and wants to take advantage of ASU Preps tools and techniques developed in the US to improve learning outcomes in India. The edtech firm will adapt them to Indian curricula and the needs of Indian students. For ASU Prep this is an opportunity to impact a bigger, more diverse audience with their transformational approach to self-paced learning that levels the playing field for students from varied backgrounds with diverse talents and ambitions.

Commenting on the partnership Dennis Matthew, ConnectEd's CEO said, "Our collaboration with ASU Prep is pivotal in creating personalized learning ecosystems for learners for their all-round development. We are confident that by leveraging our partner’s experience and expertise, we will be able to support educational institutes in helping students achieve their personal growth and career objectives”.

With a personalized and project-based approach, ConnectEd and ASU Prep will empower learners coming from diverse backgrounds and communities with the support they need to understand and apply concepts, think critically and excel in standardized exams. This partnership is a key enabler of ConnectEd’s mission to enhance learning outcomes with a combination of online classroom learning in small batches and personalized learning through tailored courses that incorporate immersive content and offer students the freedom to learn topics of their interest at their own pace.

Lisa Edgar, ASU Prep's Chief Partnership Officer said, “We are on a mission to deliver new learning models with a personalized approach to help students from various backgrounds achieve academic success. Considering the enormous diversity across we see across cultures and communities in India we believe our partnership with ConnectED gives us the opportunity to benefit a very large talent pool by ensuring holistic learning.”

Notably, ConnectEd has developed a framework that pairs online classrooms focused on engagement and interactive learning augmented by frequent testing, counsellor inputs and guided asynchronous learning in collaboration with parents. ConnectEd is a socially conscious organization and aims to give students an affordable option to improve learning outcomes. They currently support CBSE English medium students from 7th to 10th. More than 30 of their students score 95% or above in their 10th board examinations last year. Notably, all of them scored more than 95 in Maths The company is also associated with Bloom India, that offers subsidised to free learning to 100+ students every year.

About ConnectEd

ConnectEd, headquartered in Bangalore, has been providing online coaching since 2020. ConnectEd currently provides courses that integrate synchronous learning in online classrooms with guided asynchronous learning and is pioneering affordable, personalized learning for CBSE students from 7th to 10th.

About ASU Prep

ASU Preparatory is a tuition-free college preparatory school that serves students in grades K-12. ASU Prep chartered by Arizona State University with the goal of helping each student prepare for college by developing critical thinking and learning skills with courses that integrate online, offline, classroom and personalized learning. ASU Prep currently serves 37K students in 20 countries. ASU Prep’s partners include Khan Academy, schools in the US and Others.

Marico Innovation Foundation’s Scale-up Program Welcomes 6 New Startups, Program Member S4S Technologies Hits Annual Revenue of INR. 100 Cr

S4S Technologies achieves Growth Milestone THROUGH mentor-led interventions; new cohort features innovations across agri-tech, sustainability and waste management solutions

Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) announced the latest milestone achieved by its Scale-Up Program member, S4S Technologies, as they hit an annual revenue of INR. 100 cr. S4S Technologies is India’s only full-stack food-processing platform that has created a solar-powered dehydration system to unlock value for farmers, industrial customers, and the environment. Sin MIF’s Scale Up Program has worked closely with S4S Technologies since 2019 to help solve their key business challenges. The first innovation to have achieved the soonicorn milestone from the MIF portfolio was Atomberg Technologies in year 2021.

Incepted in 2016, MIF’s rapid acceleration program Scale-Up, provides hand-picked innovations with equity-free support, bespoke mentorship and access to capital and markets. Over the years, the program has supported 50+ innovations to achieve exponential growth.

“Innovations are a vital driver in creating a positive social, economic, and environmental impact for the country. Through MIF’s flagship program - Scale-Up, our goal is to catalyse the growth journey of disruptive innovations like S4S Technologies that are paving the way for India’s new age economy.” said Harsh Mariwala, Founder, Marico Innovation Foundation & Chairman, Marico Ltd.

On its INR 1-100CR growth journey, the Scale-Up Program helped S4S Technologies overcome multiple business challenges through deep rooted strategic and functional mentorship, which helped them build capacity and revenues. The interventions successfully addressed challenges ranging from packaging and procurement inefficiencies to increasing their manufacturing capacities, new product launches to business pivoting from B2C to B2B model.

Vaibhav Tidke, Founder and CEO, S4S Technologies, commented “With Scale-Up program’s deep-rooted intervention and strategic guidance, we are thrilled to have achieved this breakthrough. This association played a critical role in shaping the trajectory of S4S Technologies’ exponential growth. Using this as a steppingstone, we hope our innovation can further disrupt the agri-tech sector through digitalisation and expansion.”

Speaking on the success of S4S Technologies Suranjana Ghosh, Head, Marico Innovation Foundation said, “The bespoke interventions designed by MIF's Scale-Up Program for S4S Technologies have accelerated their growth and resulted in a direct impact on sustainability and livelihoods. At MIF, we are intentional about the innovations we work with, for each of them to have a similar potential to grow exponentially through our strategic support and contribute to the need of the hour - a sustainable future.”

In addition to the success of S4S Technologies, the foundation also announced the addition of six game-changing innovations that were onboarded to the Scale-Up Program in FY 22-23. The Program works with innovations across sectors like agriculture, food supply chain, circularity in plastics, healthcare, education, and clean technology. These members are driven by a common goal of creating social, environmental, and economic impact at scale.

The six new members in MIF's Scale-Up Program are:

1. Uravu Labs

• Founded in 2017
• Headquarter: Bangalore
• Sector: Clean Energy

A pioneering innovation focused on creating 100% renewable water from air, Uravu Labs harnesses the power of atmospheric moisture and intends to address water scarcity challenges and provide clean, safe drinking water to communities in need.

2. Indra Water

• Founded in 2018
• Headquarter: Mumbai
• Sector: Sustainability

Committed to sustainable water management through their advanced techniques and comprehensive solutions, Indra Water is focused on conserving water resources, improving water quality, and ensuring a sustainable water supply for future generations.

3. Wastelink

• Founded in 2018
• Headquarter: New Delhi
• Sector: Sustainability

Dedicated to reducing food waste and its environmental impact by transforming waste food into high-quality animal feed, Wastelink offers an innovative solution that not only mitigates waste but also addresses the challenges of feeding livestock sustainably.

4. Gramcover

• Founded in 2016
• Headquarter: Noida
• Sector: Fintech

An inclusive insurance provider focused on rural India with a mission to protect farmers and vulnerable populations from climate risks, Gramcover offers accessible and affordable insurance solutions tailored to the unique needs of rural communities.

5. New Leaf Dynamic:

• Founded in 2012
• Headquarter: Noida
• Sector: Food tech

This innovation specializes in sustainable refrigeration solutions for perishable food items. By implementing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies, New Leaf Dynamic aims to reduce food wastage and ensure the freshness and safety of food throughout the supply chain.

6. GreenPod Labs:

• Founded in 2019
• Headquarter: Chennai
• Sector: Agri-tech

The start-up provides cost-effective post-harvest solutions to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables during storage and transport. They are committed to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal of halving food waste by 2030

About Marico Innovation Foundation:

With an aim to nurture and propel Indian innovations, Harsh Mariwala founded the Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) in 2003 as a Not-For-Profit arm of the parent company, Marico Limited. Over the past 2 decades, MIF has become India’s coveted innovation focused platform, which recognizes disruptive Indian innovations and supports their journey to scale impact through its flagship programs:

Innovation for India Awards: Launched in 2006, the biennial Innovation for India Awards is the first Indian platform to recognize and celebrate the pioneering work of disruptive Indian innovations across business and social categories.

Scale-Up Program: Launched in 2016, Scale-Up is a 360-degree, no-equity, sector agnostic rapid acceleration program that provides customized deep-rooted mentorship to help disruptive Indian innovations scale their social, economic, or environmental impact and support them in their growth journey to become a self-sustaining enterprise.

SECTORAL INTERVENTIONS: Sector-specific intervention to hunt, recognize, and scale up innovative organizations, to boost that sunrise sectors innovation ecosystem by rapidly deploying winning solutions.

To Meet Growing Consumer Demand for Rental Equipment, Godrej & Boyce will Invest INR 100 Cr in its Material Handling Business

Expands reach across sectors in response to the surging rental equipment market.

Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group, announced that its business Godrej RenTRUST, a leading player in the material handling rental industry, has planned to invest INR 100 crores in capital assets over the next three years. This strategic move comes as the company foresees a significant surge in material handling requirements across the country. In Q4 of FY23, Godrej RenTRUST secured orders deploying 100+ units of equipment to esteemed clients across multiple industries such as shipping, 3PL, ecommerce, FMCG, manufacturing and F&B, demonstrating the company's commitment to long-term partnerships.

Mr Anil Lingayat, Executive VP and Business Head, Godrej Material Handling

With a strong belief in the potential of the rental market, Godrej RenTRUST aims to cater to the evolving needs of industries including auto, engineering, chemicals and pharma, F&B, FMCG, logistics, 3PL, ecommerce and retail.

The Indian rental market, estimated at INR 2200 crores, has shown a remarkable growth trajectory, with the organized segment gaining ground year after year. By opting for equipment rentals, customers significantly reduce their involvement in servicing requirements. Industry studies indicate that in the entire lifecycle of equipment, service consumes approximately 20% of the cost and 15% of the time of consumers. Reducing either of these aspects empowers industry players to become more competitive in their respective sectors.

Renting equipment has become a preferred option for businesses seeking managed services and bypassing high upfront costs. Compared to purchasing equipment, rentals offer a cost-effective solution that allows companies to choose optimal equipment tailored to their specific requirements. By embracing rental solutions, businesses can eliminate hidden and obvious costs associated with equipment ownership, thereby increasing productivity, meeting compliance standards, and achieving overall cost savings.

Over the past five years, Godrej RenTRUST has achieved a CAGR of 20%, solidifying its position as a trusted and leading player in the material handling rental industry and growing further. In this highly unorganized industry, Godrej RenTRUST continues to provide marquee services to enable fully complaint and safe operations with certified operators and high-quality equipment, that can be digitally monitored in real time by the clients. Customers benefit from their extensive reach in India across 300+ sites, optimized space and cost of warehouses, safer material handling movements till 12.5 meters height with increased throughput, with 80% of fleet being electric powered.

Commenting on this, Mr Anil Lingayat, Executive VP and Business Head, Godrej Material Handling, says, "We are thrilled to announce our investment of INR 100 crores in capital assets for Godrej RenTRUST, reflecting our strong belief in the rising demand for material handling solutions across the country. At Godrej RenTRUST, our focus is on empowering businesses to thrive by providing flexible rental options that eliminate high upfront costs and offer optimal equipment tailored to their specific needs. By delivering transparent rental contracts, exceptional service, and hassle-free maintenance, we aim to enhance our customers' productivity, drive operational efficiencies, and enable them to stay ahead in today's competitive landscape. This strategic investment underscores our commitment to revolutionize the material handling rental industry and deliver exceptional value to our valued customers."

One of the key advantages of Godrej RenTRUST's rental contracts is the transparency it provides in operational expenses. Customers can benefit from a predetermined cost structure, enabling them to determine operational efficiencies needed for their core business. Additionally, rental contracts ensure that no unforeseen expenses arise during the operational cycle, minimizing surprises and providing peace of mind. Companies are increasingly transitioning from capital expenditures to rental solutions leveraging the flexibility it offers in meeting expansion needs, greenfield projects, and fleet replacements.

With a customer-centric approach, Godrej RenTRUST is poised to cater to the ever-growing demands of the Indian market and ensure seamless and efficient material handling for businesses across various sectors.

Godrej & Boyce ('G&B'), a Godrej Group Company, was founded in 1897 and has contributed to India's journey of self-reliance through manufacturing. G&B patented the world's first springless lock and since then, has diversified into 14 businesses across various sectors from Security, Furniture, Aerospace to Infrastructure and Defence. Godrej is one of India’s most trusted brands serving over 1.1bn customers worldwide daily.

To learn more visit: www.godrej.com

Anthill Ventures Invites Applications for Lumos Health Program to Support Disruptive HealthTech Startups in India

Selected startups to receive clinical and business mentoring, funding advice, and access to Anthill's extensive global network of investors and luminaries in the technology industry.

Mazumdar Shaw Medical Foundation, Kauvery Hospitals, and Makers Nest to enhance value of Lumos Health program for startups

Startups in solutions in oncology, fertility, maternal health, genomics, cutting edge diagnostics, digital health and longevity are encouraged to apply for the program.

Anthill Ventures, a leading global venture capital firm and speed-scaling ecosystem, announces the launch of a new cohort for its Lumos Health program. The Lumos Health program is designed for startups with disruptive solutions and health technologies. With a focus on high-impact verticals such as oncology, fertility, maternal health, genomics, cutting edge diagnostic, digital health and longevity.

The Lumos Health program will provide startups with access to Anthill's global network of investors, mentors, and industry experts, as well as a range of resources designed to help startups grow their businesses. The program has also established new partnerships with the Mazumdar Shaw Medical Foundation, Kauvery Hospitals, DERBI Foundation and Makers Nest, providing startups with access to a total of 51 hospitals across the country through partners. Startups will be provided with enhanced opportunities, including access to state-of-the-art wet lab facilities, invaluable clinical validation support, and comprehensive evaluation of their market-ready solutions. The program is also supported by partner HealthCare Global (HCG), India’s largest cancer care provider.

The Lumos Health program will also support startups on regulatory processes, funding advice and market access. Each selected startup will be matched with “speedscalers”. The clinical speedscalers will help startups through clinical validation and regulatory support. While business speedscalers will help startups strengthen their business model, GTM (Go-To-Market) strategy, and access to the market. Startups will also get access to the larger network and up to $1M worth of infrastructure support.

Prasad Vanga, Founder and Managing Partner of Anthill Ventures said, "As a global venture capital ecosystem, we recognize the immense potential of innovative startups to drive meaningful change and solve real-world problems. With the launch of the new cohort for our Lumos Health program, we are committed to providing startups with the resources and expertise they need to succeed, and we look forward to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs and disruptors”.

Prof. (Dr.) Paul Salins, Managing Director, Mazumdar Shaw Medical Foundation (MSMF) said, "Accelerate your startup's growth with the game-changing 'Speed Scale Your Startup' program by Lumos Health from Anthill Ventures. I proudly endorse this program for its unwavering commitment to empowering startups. Lumos Health’s comprehensive support and strategic guidance have proven instrumental in scaling startups to new heights. Don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity to supercharge your entrepreneurial journey. Embrace 'Speed Scale Your Startup' and unlock your venture's true potential”.

The previous cohort run by Lumos Health performed excellently, with KroniKare raising their Series A round of funding and working with the government of Singapore to deploy an altered use case of their solution for COVID monitoring. Lumos Health has evaluated over 500 startups and 11 startups successfully qualified for their scaling programs.

The program invites startups with breakthrough solutions, technology, and innovation for the healthcare industry, an established product market fit with customers, and a clear growth strategy. Interested startups can apply here.

Anthill Ventures is a global Venture Capital and Speed Scaling ecosystem that invests in bold entrepreneurs who are building the companies of tomorrow. With a focus on Healthcare, Mediatech, Urbantech and Consumer Lifestyle, Anthill provides targeted and timely interventions that drive transformational growth for early-stage startups. Our unique approach helps companies #scalewithspeed, allowing them to reach stronger growth trajectories and unlock their full potential.

Anjali Ajaikumar is the co-founder of Lumos Health. She is an Executive Director on the Board of Health Care Group (HCG). She also oversees the business at Milann, a chain of fertility clinics. She has an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson College, USA and extensive experience in healthcare.

Tata Technologies Launches Diversity Hiring Campaign, Encourages Women to Join Them for #EngineeringABetterWorld

Company aims to hire 1000+ women over the next 12 months

Tata Technologies, a global leader in engineering and product development digital services, today announced the launch of its gender diversity focused hiring campaign, in line with its renewed focus on promoting gender diversity across its workforce. The new brand campaign #EngineeringDiversity invites women innovators to be part of the Tata Technologies transformation journey and grow with it while innovating safe, sustainable solutions for the global original equipment manufacturer (OEMs) and their ecosystem of partners. Learn more about the diversity campaign at https://www.tatatechnologies.com/diversity/

Manufacturing companies rely on Tata Technologies to enable them to conceptualize, develop and realize better products that are safer, cleaner, and improve the quality of life for all the stakeholders. This requires innovative solutions, and we believe a diverse and inclusive culture is core to incubating innovative solutions. Hence, we believe in creating an inclusive culture that provides equal opportunities to all individuals irrespective of colour, race, gender, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or nationality. Through a global, diverse, and exciting working environment, and access to the latest technologies, we cultivate a workplace in which everyone has the freedom and opportunity to succeed. Besides competitive remuneration, we offer innovators an opportunity to work on global projects, upskill & learn through classroom and global eLearning platforms and collaborate with 11000+ global talent pool. We believe that a diverse workforce will lead to innovation, productivity, & creativity and will also create a more positive and welcoming work environment, leading to better employee engagement, better customer engagement and overall better performance. 

Through the RAINBOW program, the company has focused interventions on onboarding more women and parallelly creating support frameworks for them to succeed. The program has a structured framework and four key pillars–

• Hiring - Focused efforts towards attracting and onboarding diverse talent pool. The company aims to hire 1000 + women engineers in FY24, to strengthen its gender diversity ratio further and has identified specific opportunities for women.
• Communication- Creating more platforms for employee participation and dialogues with an aim to break the bias and build a culture of inclusivity ground up. The company also recognizes women innovators within the organization through the SHEnnovator campaign.
• Growth- Grooming women leaders for tomorrow through the LeaderBridge-WINGS program, a 6-month developmental intervention aimed at helping women employees develop their leadership potential further and excel in their careers.
• Enabling- Aimed at creating a conducive ecosystem and infrastructure that nurtures a diverse workforce.

The campaign was launched with a new diversity focused microsite, YouTube campaign video, Linked In post, Instagram post, Facebook post, Twitter post

Rannkly Sets A New Benchmark in Online Reputation Management, serving 250+ Renowned Brands and Counting

Going ahead, Rannkly envisions reaching a cumulative of 18,000 clients across various locations by the conclusion of the fiscal year 2023-2024

Rannkly, India’s leading online reputation management platform, is proud to announce its remarkable growth and success in serving over 250+ renowned brands to date. With an impressive month-on-month traction, Rannkly has been adding approximately 200 new locations to its client user base every month. The hospitality sector has emerged as the driving force generating the highest traction for Rannkly. Going ahead, Rannkly envisions reaching a cumulative of 18,000 clients across various locations by the conclusion of the fiscal year 2023-2024.

Commenting on the successful growth of the brand Mr. Vishnu Sharma – Chief Executive Officer, Rannkly said “In today’s digital landscape, managing one’s online reputation is no longer a choice but a necessity. It is the cornerstone of success in building trust, and credibility, and fostering meaningful connections with customers. This understanding has fueled Rannkly’s journey in setting a new benchmark in online reputation management, resulting in remarkable achievements. Serving over 250+ renowned brands is a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional value and empowering businesses to enhance their online presence and reputation.”

Mr. Vishnu Sharma 

Rannkly offers a comprehensive suite of services that have proven instrumental in establishing successful partnerships with clients across various industries. With a particular focus on the hospitality and Food & Beverage industry, Rannkly provides tailored solutions designed to meet the specific needs of businesses in these sectors. These include a centralized Single Dashboard for managing multiple platforms and locations, enabling streamlined operations and enhanced efficiency. Rannkly’s innovative Automated Response system, powered by Artificial Intelligence and Templates, ensures businesses can engage with their customers in a timely and personalized manner, resulting in an elevated customer experience.

Notably, Rannkly’s Competitors Analysis service equips businesses with valuable insights to stay ahead of the competition, while the Official WhatsApp Integration facilitates seamless communication with customers. Rannkly’s services extend to database generation, digitalized menus, feedback mechanisms, and running campaigns through the WhatsApp channel, all of which foster enhanced customer engagement and satisfaction. Moreover, Rannkly leverages its AI capabilities to generate compelling social media content, further streamlining marketing efforts for businesses in these sectors.

“Rannkly understands the vital importance of online reputation management, and we are committed to providing innovative solutions that empower businesses to take control of their online narrative. With our expertise and cutting-edge technology, we enable brands to shape their digital presence, cultivate a positive reputation, and thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Rannkly is proud to be the driving force behind the success stories of numerous brands, and we remain committed to leading the way in online reputation management” added Mr. Vishnu Sharma.

Specifically for the hospitality industry, Rannkly offers Automated Ticketing capabilities, simplifying the process of handling customer inquiries and requests. Rannkly’s unwavering dedication to delivering innovative and highly effective solutions for online reputation management has propelled its sustained growth and garnered noteworthy recognition within the industry. The platform remains steadfast in its commitment to providing exceptional value and unwavering support to its ever-expanding client base, empowering businesses to elevate their online presence and fortify their reputation with confidence.

India’s Flex Space Penetration Stands at 6.5% as of Q1'23; Tech Companies Occupy 50% of Total Flex Space

Tech Industry leads the way: Tech companies occupy 50% of total flex space in India

Flex space accounts for 10-12% of the occupiers’ portfolio

The latest Colliers’ report ‘Global Occupier Outlook 2023’, highlights key takeaways and insights on the evolving global workplace. The report reveals that APAC occupiers are grappling with the complexities of the hybrid work model, which remains inconsistent across markets and industries. The lack of clarity and macroeconomic uncertainty are posing challenges for businesses in projecting their space requirements.

For an uninitiated, A Flex Space is a form of commercial real estate with a warehouse, office, and retail space. It is a hybrid of office and industrial space. While industrial space is primarily made for manufacturing and distribution, flex space is adaptable and may be utilized for a variety of applications.

According to Colliers’ experts, companies are facing the dilemma of striking a balance between providing employees with desired flexibility and realigning their portfolios for the next evolution of the workplace. Consequently, many businesses are deferring decisions on office take up and investment.

Despite these challenges across the globe, occupiers in India have been quick to adopt flex spaces, attracted by the flexibility, agility, and cost-effectiveness. Flex spaces are becoming an integral part of occupiers’ portfolio, with its share in occupiers’ total portfolio rising to an estimated 10-12% in 2023, from 5-8% before the pandemic in 2019, as per interactions with industry experts.

Colliers’ leadership Sam Harvey-Jones, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific and Mike Davis, Managing Director, Occupier Services, Asia Pacific in their recent visit to India note the positive market sentiments echoed by the Indian occupiers, particularly within the technology sector to adapt to the changing landscape with a focus on increasing flex space, using data to help in informed decision making and focus on the employee experience.

Harvey-Jones said, “The APAC region is undergoing a significant transformation in the way workspaces are perceived and utilized. While challenges persist, this period of change presents unprecedented opportunities to reimagine the role of space and explore new approaches that cater to evolving employee needs. The research finds APAC occupiers are shifting from an ‘inward’ business view of what’s important in an office or location, to an ‘external’ view of what locations gives their employees access to in terms of culture, lifestyle and wellness."

Davis added, “Adopting technology solutions such as digital tools and dashboards is critical for addressing the challenges posed by the hybrid workforce. These tools enable occupiers to optimize space utilization, implement safety measures, and make data-driven decisions.”

Colliers has developed tools that integrate various data sources to provide a comprehensive view and facilitate informed decision-making.

Key trends witnessed by Occupiers across the globe

The report features insights and resilient strategies being adopted by real estate decision makers to prepare for an uncertain future, adapt to emerging market trends and overcome unprecedented challenges. Focusing on three key aspects, Engage, Evolve and Accelerate, the findings uncover efforts being made by some of the leading global companies to strengthen processes, build resilience, and meet complex needs, with the aim to enrich the workplace experience.

Shining a spotlight on the ESG framework and the adoption of pioneering technology, the importance of a sustainable workplace is highlighted. Since over 65% of workers are seeking more in-person time with their teams, companies across the globe are investing in green design, tech-enabled features that promote higher health & safety, and wellbeing amenities, among others. Readers can also learn of other crucial factors occupiers are focused on including the right location, DEI initiatives, digital tools, and the precise portfolio mix. Further, as remote work gained momentum and proved to be effective, the big question of which work model augments productivity and business growth is addressed.

Across the APAC region, occupiers are keen on realigning their office portfolios to meet business needs while providing the flexibility employees’ desire. The right portfolio is key to keeping culture intact, attracting and retaining best talent, and controlling operational costs. India has always been a large and growing market when it comes to commercial real estate. Despite the lingering threat of the pandemic, the scare of a recession and geopolitical tensions, the investor sentiment both global and domestic, remains strong. A number of industries including tech, ecommerce, 3PL, consulting and manufacturing have witnessed rapid growth over the past few quarters and are the demand drivers for office assets across the country.

India occupiers quick to adopt flex space

Occupiers in India have been quick to adopt flex spaces, attracted by the flexibility, agility, and cost-effectiveness they offer. Flex spaces are becoming an integral part of occupiers’ portfolio, with its share in occupiers’ total portfolio rising to 10-12% in 2023, from 5-8% before the pandemic in 2019, as per interactions with industry experts. Going forward, flex spaces will continue to see strong growth, as they continue to support occupiers in realigning their portfolios and space considerations to suit a hybrid working style while leveraging technology & sustainability to improve efficiency and employee experience.

Peush Jain, Managing Director, Office Services, India, said, “Flex spaces have emerged as a core strategy for occupiers to adopt a decentralized workspace model, serving as a promising alternative to the traditional paradigm. As compared to shorter lease tenures of 1-2 years pre-pandemic, occupiers are now going for longer commitments of 3-5 years with flex space operators as they look to integrate flex space as a long-term solution. During 2022, leasing by flex space operators touched 7 mn sq ft across top 6 cities, highest in any year. This was a 46% YoY increase led by prominent IT hubs such as Bengaluru and Pune.”

As of Q1 2023, India’s flex space penetration stands at 6.5% and continues to expand, led by occupiers’ rapid adoption of hybrid & de-centralised work strategy in a bid to build new age workspaces at an optimal cost. Other markets in the APAC region have seen relatively slower growth in flex space, with flex space penetration hovering around 2-4%.

Flex spaces have also provided companies the agility required to scale operations up or down quickly, allowing businesses to respond effectively to evolving circumstances.

Trends in flex space leasing (Mn sq ft)

Notes:

• Data pertains to Grade A buildings
• Data pertains to top 6 cities- Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune
• Gross absorption does not include pre-commitments and lease renewals

City wise flex space leasing Q1 2023 (mn sq ft)

Note:
Share of flex space in total leasing Pan India (Grade A) – 20%

Tech in Flex

We are seeing in India that technology occupiers have been one of the driving forces of rising flex space demand across the top cities. They currently occupy over 50% of the total flex space across Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Pune and Hyderabad as per industry experts. Other major sectors that are actively embracing hybrid working through flex include Engineering & Manufacturing and BFSI. In larger markets such as Mumbai and Bengaluru, demand by BFSI & Engineering occupiers for flex space is almost at par with Technology occupiers. Demand from Technology occupiers will continue to remain strong in next two years led by a strong recovery and robust hiring plans as businesses continue to focus on rationalizing costs.

Hybrid in Office

Across industries, occupiers are in the process of reassessing their current office footprint to assess, review & determine the most optimal mix for their employees. Several organizations are looking forward to pivoting to some form of a hybrid model for the foreseeable future – blending remote work and physical presence in offices. Despite the experience of working from home for more than two years, major occupiers believe that the physical presence of workers is critical at some regular interval. Hybrid working model has brought flex spaces to the centre stage and has helped occupiers in optimizing costs and ensuring employee flexibility.

The hybrid working pattern has reset expectations of the future workplace and has opened new possibilities for how much flexibility employees can have in choosing, ‘where to work.’ Companies are now opting distributed workspace strategy to ensure easy commute for their employees, over having one large central headquarter. This has spurred demand for flex spaces across peripheral locations and non-metro cities. Non metro cities such as Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi and Lucknow are witnessing heightened activity in flex spaces. This trend is prominent amongst Technology, Consulting and E-commerce companies who are establishing multiple satellite offices in these locations.

Technology and sustainability to drive future workplaces

Developers are increasingly taking cognizance of the evolving needs of occupiers and the need to integrate smart technology to attract tenants. Inclusion of digital infrastructure and smart facilities shall also contribute to achieving greater operational efficiency, reduce energy consumption and higher customer retention. Offices will continue to evolve as firms seek to re-invent their workspaces and incorporate touchless technology and next generation collaboration tools. We expect firms to integrate smart technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) and predictive analytics for cost optimization and better space utilization.

While green buildings are not a new trend, they are garnering significant interest from occupiers as optimal energy usage and automated services remain key focus areas. During 2022, about 81% of the new office supply across top 6 cities was green certified. Going forward, demand for green certified buildings will continue to rise as occupiers continue to chase green certified buildings to ensure that the workplace meets environmental, energy, and health standards in its design, construction, and performance.

About Colliers

Colliers is a leading diversified professional services and investment management company. With operations in 66 countries, our 18,000 enterprising professionals work collaboratively to provide expert real estate and investment advice to clients. For more than 28 years, our experienced leadership with significant inside ownership has delivered compound annual investment returns of approximately 20% for shareholders. With annual revenues of $4.5 billion and $98 billion of assets under management, Colliers maximizes the potential of property and real assets to accelerate the success of our clients, our investors and our people. Learn more at corporate.colliers.com, Twitter @Colliers or LinkedIn.

India Corridor-focussed PaymentTech Startup Xflow Raises $10.2 Mn from Australia's Square Peg Capital

Bengaluru-based XFlow, a technology infrastructure company that simplifies the cross-border payments for businesses, has raised a US$10.2 million Pre-Series A funding round led by Australia based Square Peg Capital.

Moore Strategic Ventures also participated in the round along with the startup's existing investors, Lightspeed and General Catalyst.

XFlow earlier araised $6 million in a seed funding round led by Lightspeed, Stripe, and General Catalyst.

The fresh funds raised will be deployed towards expanding the product capabilities to support more currencies and local payment methods as well as growing business in India.

Founded in 2021 by Anand Balaji and Ashwin Bhatnagar, XFlow is built primarily for the developer and is an easy to embed payments infrastructure and a self-serve product. XFlow is building a full-stack platform to simplify cross-border payments - starting with a focus on cross-border payments in India. While payments within India are supported through the UPI infrastructure built by the government, sending money to, and receiving money from, countries outside India, is currently an unsolved and acute problem for local merchants and freelancers. 

Prior to starting up with XFlow, both the founders were working in global fintech firm Stripe and together they helped build and expand Stripe in India.

XFlow is solving problems that global companies like PayPal, Wise and Stripe have all previously made various attempts to solve, and that is managing cross border payments which faces issues like —reconciliation challenges, rate efficiency issues, processes for claiming tax advantages, and other compliance requirements.  

XFlow has deep expertise in the India corridor, and with its APIs businesses can compliantly receive $100 or $1 million in a single transaction. Xflow partner with RBI-authorised banks to make international money movement safe and compliant, and FIRA (Foreign Inward Remittance Advice) for payouts.

OpenAI Launched ChatGPT for iOS Users in India

OpenAI has expanded the availability of the generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) bot app to 33 more countries including in India.

The app for iOS is now available for download on the Apple App Store in India. The Android version of the ChatGPT is expected to be released soon.

The ChatGPT app is free to use and syncs your history across devices. It also integrates Whisper, OpenAI's open-source speech-recognition system, enabling voice input.

ChatGPT offers instant answers and retrieve precise information related to history, be it geopolitics or the corporate company's growth over the years. Everything will be answered without any ads.

ChatGPT mobile app has crossed the mark of half a million downloads, according to the data shared by app intelligence firm data.ai.

On the Apple App Store, ChatGPT has clocked 500K downloads on the App Store in just 6 days of launch. It is at number #1 spot for free productivity app worldwide and is number #2 in India.

The ChatGPT app allows users to synchronize their chat history across different devices.

Use of ChatGPT:

• Instant answers: Get precise information without sifting through ads or multiple results.
• Tailored advice: Seek guidance on cooking, travel plans, or crafting thoughtful messages.
• Creative inspiration: Generate gift ideas, outline presentations, or write the perfect poem.
• Professional input: Boost productivity with idea feedback, note summarization, and technical topic assistance.
• Learning opportunities: Explore new languages, modern history, and more at your own pace.

To Empowers Women Entrepreneurs, EV Platform BLive Waives 50% Franchise Fees Across All Locations in India

The initiative is aimed at easing the financial entry barriers for women to own and lead a BLive franchise

The initiative will also help in minimising gender gaps in entrepreneurship and within the EV Industry, so as to create a more equitable and sustainable future

BLive, India's leading multi-brand EV platform has announced its latest initiative to promote women's empowerment in the EV industry. BLive is offering a unique opportunity for women-owned and women-run franchise partners to join the BLive family by waiving 50% of the franchise fees across all locations in India.

women franchise partners,  Anita Sonawane from Jalgaon, Maharashtra

Studies have demonstrated that entrepreneurial endeavours play a vital role in driving economic growth and generating employment opportunities for women, both in developing and high-income countries. This correlation directly stems from the fact that entrepreneurial activities contribute to the creation of new jobs for female entrepreneurs, their families, and their networks. Women bring diverse management, organisational, and business perspectives, offering a wide range of options for successful ventures.

Through this initiative, BLive aims to provide a platform for women to start their own businesses, build successful franchises and become leaders in the EV industry. By reducing the financial burden of franchise fees, BLive hopes to make it easier for women entrepreneurs to enter the EV industry and help them overcome the initial barriers to starting a business.

Elaborating further on the subject, Samarth Kholkar, CEO & Co-Founder, BLive, said, “Currently, 20% of our franchise partners are women and we are committed to raising this percentage and enabling more women to become our franchise owners and partners. Our focus on empowering women to become EV entrepreneurs is inclusive of Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns. This initiative is a significant step towards addressing the gender gap in the EV industry and empowering women to become leaders in this rapidly growing sector. With the demand for sustainable and eco-friendly transportation options on the rise, the EV industry in India is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. This presents a huge opportunity for women entrepreneurs to take charge and become a part of this exciting and dynamic industry.”

Speaking about the initiative, one of BLive’s women franchise partners, Anita Sonawane from Jalgaon, Maharashtra said, “Partnering with BLive has been a fulfilling experience. The feeling of being your own boss is confidence-inspiring and makes you give your best towards making earnings. Electric mobility is not only the future; it is the present and it is here! This initiative is a great opportunity for more women like me to take a confident step towards owning our future.”

BLive has collaborated with a leading management institute to provide a women focussed management programme to upskill all women franchise partners.

Sharing his thoughts about the new initiative, Sandeep Mukherjee, Co-Founder, BLive said, “We are excited to launch this unique initiative to promote women's empowerment in the EV industry in India. We believe that by supporting women entrepreneurs, we can create a more equitable and sustainable future for all. We encourage women-owned and women-run businesses across India to take advantage of this opportunity and join the BLive family.”

About BLive

BLive is India’s first Multi-brand EV platform offering a wide range of EV products and services on a digital platform www.bliveEVstore.com. With over 40 brands listed on its platform, BLive offers an omnichannel experience to its buyers – an online E-commerce store and Premium experience stores pan India. BLive is rapidly expanding its presence pan India to 100 premium Multi-brand stores by 2024, offering E-Scooters/ E-cycles/ Delivery Ebikes and many more unique form factors, in line with its vision to accelerate the adoption of EVs. BLive facilitates EV adoption for personal usage as well as businesses by providing seamless Charging infrastructure, Post sales service as well as easy finance options to its customers.

With 164 Patents Filed, Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) R&D Center Revolutionizes the Fuel Industry with Breakthrough Innovations

• BPCL Introduces Ethanol-Diesel Blend for Cleaner Emissions
• The R&D division has filed 164 patents for cutting-edge innovations
• Adopts Innovative Approach to Valorizing Bio-refinery Waste
• BPCL Unveils Groundbreaking Technologies for rapid crude oil sourcing and Real-Time Refinery Monitoring and Optimization
• BPCL R&D Develops High-Efficiency LPG Burner for Energy Conservation

BPCL R&D Centers have been at the forefront of technological advancements. Since its establishment in 2001, the Corporate R&D Centre has provided a platform for breakthrough research and development. Together with the Lubes R&D Centre, a leading hub in lubricant research, BPCL R&D continues to contribute to a greener and cleaner fuels. Its research areas have evolved over the years, focusing on carbon capture and utilization, green hydrogen, biofuels, advanced clean fuel, petrochemicals, and business sustainability. These strategic focus areas align with the company's commitment to environmental stewardship and energy transition.

In view of this, Bharat Petroleum's Research & Development (R&D) division proudly presents its state-of-the-art facilities and strategic focus areas at the Corporate R&D Centre in Greater Noida. With a commitment to innovative and sustainable solutions, BPCL R&D has gained international recognition as a leading research center.

Over the years, the division has achieved remarkable milestones, including 164 Patents filed for cutting-edge innovations, 87 Patents granted across multiple countries, 17 Technologies/products commercialized and over 230+ Scientific papers and Book chapters. Notable innovations include the development of "Green Silica" from rice straw-based 2G Bio-refinery ash, compostable biomaterials, and Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) products.

Aligned with Bharat Petroleum's sustainability agenda and Net Zero Mission, BPCL R&D has undertaken initiatives like the Diesel-Ethanol blend to reduce emissions. The division's digital advancements and collaborations with renowned institutions have fostered the knowledge economy and innovation culture.

Shri G. Krishnakumar, Chairman & Managing Director, BPCL, said, “With ‘Energising Lives’ as our core purpose, our mission is leveraging talent, innovation & technology and always being the first choice of customers. Our dynamic R&D team, brimming with creativity, has successfully developed a multitude of cutting-edge technologies, innovative products and processes that have not only increased our profitability but also significantly reduced our environmental footprint. Their continuous pursuit for excellence has led us to attain numerous accolades such as an extensive patent portfolio”.

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon'ble Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said, "Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi, BPCL is remarkably pushing the boundaries of technology and sustainability through its cutting-edge R&D initiatives. I congratulate the team BPCL for continuous pursuit for excellence, contributing significantly to India's energy landscape and reinforce our position as a global leader in innovation."

Focused on carbon capture, green hydrogen, biofuels, clean fuels, petrochemicals, and business sustainability, BPCL R&D drives excellence and innovation in these areas. Its cutting-edge facilities, Motivated team of Scientists, Engineers and Administrative Staff, and strategic partnerships are at the forefront of technological advancements.

BPCL-R&D has also achieved a significant milestone in the digital space. It has developed two novel technologies, namely the K Model for crude compatibility and BPMARRK® for quick and accurate real-time crude assay. BPCL is the only company at the global level to achieve this milestone in the oil and gas sector. Recently, a collaboration agreement was inked with the world leader in Refinery Software business, M/s Aspen Technology Inc. USA, to provide a unique solution to the refinery world for real-time monitoring and optimization of refinery units, along with BPCL BPMARRK® software.

To address India's import dependency for gas, which currently caters to 50% of the country's 44MMTPA gas demand, BPCL-R&D is working on the development of an energy-efficient PNG burner. Notably, BPCL-R&D has successfully developed a PNG burner with an efficiency of 70%, surpassing the reported 55% efficiency so far. The plan is to conduct a pilot and roll out the energy-efficient PNG stove during FY 2023-24, contributing to a reduction in import dependency.

We are investing heavily in these upcoming areas both in terms of manpower and infrastructure. I believe innovations in these areas can not only give BPCL competitive advantage and also create sustainable business environment; while contributing for the nations net zero ambition and thus making the world better place to live for the future generation.

About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL):

Fortune Global 500 Company, Bharat Petroleum is the second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the premier integrated energy companies in India, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products, with a significant presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the elite club of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy.

Bharat Petroleum’s Refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina Refinery have a combined refining capacity of around 35.3 MMTPA. Its marketing infrastructure includes a network of installations, depots, energy stations, aviation service stations and LPG distributors. Its distribution network comprises over 21,000 Energy Stations, over 6,200 LPG distributorships, 525 Lubes distributorships, 123 POL storage locations, 53 LPG Bottling Plants, 70 Aviation Service Stations, 4 Lube blending plants and 4 cross-country pipelines.

Bharat Petroleum is integrating its strategy, investments, environmental and social ambitions to move towards a sustainable planet. The company has chalked out the plan to offer electric vehicle charging stations at around 7000 energy stations over next 5 years.

With a focus on sustainable solutions, the company is developing a vibrant ecosystem and a road-map to become a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040, in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Bharat Petroleum has been partnering communities by supporting innumerable initiatives connected primarily in the areas of education, water conservation, skill development, health, community development, capacity building and employee volunteering. With ‘Energising Lives’ as its core purpose, Bharat Petroleum’s vision is to be the most admired global energy company leveraging talent, innovation & technology.

FoodTech Startup Pluckk Appoints Mamaearth’s Market Place Head- Kunwarjeet Grover as Head of Growth

Pluckk, a leading food-tech-direct to consumer company, focussed on farm to fork fresh produce, today announced the appointment of Mr. Kunwarjeet Grover as Head of Growth. Mr. Grover will be based in Bangalore and will report directly to Mr. Pratik Gupta, CEO and Co-Founder of Pluckk. In his new role, he will be responsible to drive revenue across online and offline channels, lead sales and growth teams.

Mr. Grover joins PLUCKK from the fast growing direct-to-consumer company Honasa Consumer Pvt Ltd (parent company of Mamaearth) where he was responsible for building and leading the P/L of marketplace business for brands like Mamearth, The Derma Co. & Bblunt. Prior to Honasa Consumer Pvt Ltd he was also associated with renowned companies such as Himalaya Herbal Healthcare, CavinKare, Phillips Lightning, and Havells India Ltd. With over 12 years of experience he specializes in P/L management, Business Development, Online Vendor Management, and Business Planning/Implementation. He holds an MBA degree from IBS Hyderabad.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Pratik Gupta, CEO and Co-Founder, Pluckk, said, “We welcome Kunwarjeet to the Pluckk family. Kunwarjeet’s deep understanding of D2C and FMCG is something that Pluckk will immensely benefit from. His experience will enable us to sharpen our product portfolio and distribution into online and offline channels including ecommerce, modern trade and general trade in the fresh category. His addition to the core team will help us double down on revenue and profitability across Pluckk’s online & offline presence”.

Speaking on the occasion, Kunwarjeet Grover said, "I am honoured and excited to join Pluckk as Head of Growth. The fresh produce industry is the fastest growing and largest penetrated category. Pluckk is an emerging leader and with the right value proposition we aim to create an industry first story in the fresh food tech category. I look forward to working closely with the talented teams at Pluckk and leveraging innovative strategies to drive remarkable outcomes and propel the company to new heights”.

About Pluckk

Pluckk is a B2C fresh produce food tech platform founded in July 2021. Co-founded by Pratik Gupta and seed-funded by Exponentia Ventures (EV) with current operations in Mumbai, Bengaluru & Delhi. It is the first of its kind digital lifestyle-oriented fresh food brand in Fruits and Vegetables (F&V) space. Pluckk provides a platform to facilitate the ‘farm-to-table’ concept. It offers a large variety of 300+ special selections of gourmet fruits, vegetables & meal kits directly to end consumers, doing away with mediators. The platform has already on boarded 1000 plus farmers across Mumbai, Bengaluru & Delhi & is now available on platform such as Amazon, Swiggy, Dunzo & Zepto.

HyperAutomation Co. Zvolv Launches Generative-AI Orchestration Engine Z-wall for Building Intelligent Apps Faster

• Z-wall enables building intelligent AI Apps faster, with enterprise grade security and compliance
• Announces the release of the 3.0 version of its Low-Code No-Code Platform with several new Hyperautomation Microservices

The Z-wall AI Orchestration engine expands Zvolv’s already extensive hyper automation microservices functionality, enabling enterprises to build a new breed of AI apps that go beyond traditional web and mobile applications by leveraging generative AI capabilities. They drive higher intelligence, massive efficiency gains, and faster time to value with underlying low-code/no-code and AI-assist builder capabilities.

Zvolv, a leading global enterprise hyperautomation company has announced new generative AI capabilities along with the launch of the 3.0 version of its micro-services Low-Code No-Code (LCNC) platform. The new middleware – Z-wall - expands Zvolv’s already extensive enterprise automation and app-building functionality with built-in capabilities that enable leveraging the power of generative AI in next generation enterprise AI apps.

The unveiling of these new Zvolv capabilities was done at Zvolv’s annual CXO meet held this month at the glitzy JIO world convention centre in Mumbai, attended by 50+ CIOs and CEOs from leading enterprises across industry verticals like retail, aviation and logistics, and several of the Zvolv ecosystem partners.

Enterprises today are rushing to adopt generative AI in every possible area, whether to increase productivity, enhance decision-making powered by data-driven insights, or to improve customer and employee experience. However, privacy and scalability concerns hinder organizations from fully embracing AI into their applications. The risk of sensitive data leak is high, the time and cost it takes for deploying private GPT models with adequate controls on usage, reliability and compliance is significant. With rapid evolution of generative AI technology coupled with a scarcity of developer resources, platform approaches to developing new AI applications give fast Time to Market (TTM), low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and eliminate risk.

Zvolv’s hyperautomation microservices platform combined with the Z-wall AI orchestration engine will empower businesses to rapidly deploy the world’s best AI and automation capabilities in their products and services, enabling its customers to realize the promise of generative AI in a secure, trusted way.

“The age of web/mobile apps is now evolving into an age of AI apps, which will dominate the vast majority of the 500M+ enterprise applications to be developed in the next 3-4 years. From a point and click based DIY (Do it Yourself) capabilities of today’s apps, we will see a lot more conversation based GID (Get it Done) capabilities in future AI apps. Today’s new workforce is already getting accustomed to leveraging generative AI in many aspects of their life outside work, and the same level of intelligence and experience will be expected from workplace applications. By leveraging a combination of generic and fine-tuned intelligence in LLM (Large Language Model) models, AI apps will be inherently smarter, more efficient with advanced automation and above all offer a human-like conversational user experience.” said Hardik Gandhi, Chief Executive Officer, Zvolv.

The integration of generative AI in the Zvolv microservices platform will enable enterprises to build AI apps in hours with little to no developer dependence, driving an overall enterprise AI strategy with privacy, security and ethics at the core of the transformation.

• Integrate new human-like conversational and logical reasoning capabilities into the application interfaces, beyond traditional graphical interfaces
• Enable business users to converse with their data, to get faster and more contextual access to organizational knowledge and deeper AI driven insights
• AI-assisted app-building journeys with citizen developers being able to develop more intelligent and deeper automation compared to traditional LCNC builders

“We are averaging 100 hours to build a traditional enterprise app today, with business technologists driving 60-80% of the build process with basic training from the Zvolv Academy. The integration of generative AI into our LCNC builders drives an assisted build journey, which will now enable citizen developers to build end to end, and integrate more advanced AI driven automation into their applications, in under 10-20 hours,” said Sujoy Chakravarty, Chief Operations Officer, Zvolv.

The newly announced Z-wall AI orchestration engine is an integral component to enable the Enterprise AI future, not only isolating the enterprise’s private data from public LLM models, but also governing the usage of generative AI in the variety of new enterprise AI apps.

• Acts as a conduit between the enterprise systems of records and engagements, accessed via the Zvolv microservices layer, and a variety of supported LLM models, private or public, governing access, ethics and optimizing cost.
• Maps the enterprise people, data and process knowledge, enables embeddings, chunking, summarization, semantic search, masking, logging and other necessary data operations to enable effective generative AI usage
• Will improve user experience multifold by reducing app fatigue amongst end users by combining a multitude of AI and traditional apps into a unified enterprise-AI ‘Super App’ that orchestrates information and actions across the enterprise

Sri Srinivasan, Chief Revenue Officer, Zvolv, said, “This new world of Generative AI apps will enable organizations to become leaner and more efficient, while adapting to changes much faster. Re-training an AI app to adapt to a newer process will be much faster and less error prone compared to re-training or re-skilling human resources. While employees focus on more strategic activities, they can get a lot of their more tactical work done with the help of AI. The rate at which technology is changing has changed significantly, and depending on us humans to do it all ourselves is no longer viable.”

Leaders across industry verticals who were given early access to Zvolv’s new capabilities were unanimous in espousing the benefits they see with new generative AI integrations, while drawing comfort that Z-wall enables them to drive responsible AI innovation in their enterprises. “The future of Generative AI would drive business transformation across every function, from retail expansion to provide better insights and planning, to procurement for better managing on-boarding, evaluation and contract automation, to HR and finance to improve employee and partner engagement experience, to logistics for automating tracking and proactively identifying and reacting to bottlenecks,” said Varun Juneja, Assistant Vice President at Lenskart, a multinational optical eyewear retail chain with more than 2,000 stores, who is driving initiatives with early access to this new Zvolv functionality.

The explosive popularity of generative AI has created a watershed moment for Industry leaders who are rapidly looking to leverage hyperautomation and AI to drive productivity across every business function. The market for hyperautomation as an enabler for the enterprise AI vision is expected to reach $50 billion by 2025 and Zvolv is a key industry leader with many Fortune-10 and several Fortune-500 companies already driving transformative change using its platform. Generative AI will usher in a new era of innovation and agility, enabling customers to accelerate growth, improve satisfaction, and drive innovation using Zvolv’s unified hyperautomation microservices and AI orchestration platform.

Zvolv’s (https://www.zvolv.com/) unified LCNC platform combines AI orchestration and hyperautomation microservices to enable organizations to build AI-apps in a matter of weeks. Zvolv no-code platform enables not only building AI apps with no developers involved, it also helps drive an overall enterprise AI strategy with privacy, security and ethics at the core of the transformation. Zvolv is increasing its presence and operations across geographies of India, US, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Australia and Asia Pacific