MAHE, Microsoft & Hitachi Systems India leadership at the launch of the AI Lab at TAPMI Manipal

The Microsoft Labs will be established at T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal; T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Bengaluru; Manipal School of Commerce and Economics (MSCE), Manipal; Manipal Institute of Commerce, Finance and Economics (MICFE), Bengaluru; and Manipal Law School (MLS), Bengaluru. The labs will provide students and faculty with access to cutting-edge technologies and hands-on learning experiences, while supporting interdisciplinary research and industry-academia collaboration.

The labs will provide access to AI and other digital technologies, creating dedicated platforms for hands-on learning, experimentation, interdisciplinary research, and innovation. The initiative will also strengthen industry-academia engagement by enabling students and faculty to align academic learning with evolving industry requirements and real-world applications.

The event was attended by Mr Puneet Chandok, President and CEO of Microsoft India and South Asia; Mr Raj Kamal Singhal, CEO of Hitachi Systems India; and Mr Venkat Krishnan, Executive Director at Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd. Dr Sharath K. Rao, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, chaired the event.

The two-day programme included interactions between the leadership of Microsoft and Hitachi Systems India and the MAHE community. The discussions focused on emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence, digital education, research, and the preparation for future skill requirements.

As part of the launch programme, MAHE also hosted a panel discussion titled “Beyond the Hype: How AI Is Reshaping Work, Business, and Society.” The discussion explored AI’s growing impact across workplaces, businesses, education, and society, and highlighted the need for responsible adoption and future-ready capabilities.

Dr H S Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, said, “MAHE has always believed in staying ahead of change rather than reacting to it. The launch of these AI Labs, in partnership with Microsoft and Hitachi, is a continuation of that founding vision, building an institution where innovation and ethics advance together.”

Dr Sharath K. Rao, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, said, “The MAHE-Microsoft Partnership marks an important step in our journey towards creating a technology-enabled and future-ready higher education ecosystem. Artificial intelligence and cloud technologies are transforming the way we learn, work, and innovate, and it is essential that our students and faculty engage with these technologies through meaningful, hands-on experiences. The establishment of Microsoft Labs across five of our constituent institutions will strengthen opportunities for experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, research, and innovation.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India and South Asia, said, “India’s young talent has the potential to shape the next wave of AI-led innovation, and partnerships between academia and industry are critical to unlocking that potential. Our collaboration with MAHE will bring students and faculty closer to the technologies, tools, and skills that are shaping the future of work. The Microsoft Labs across five MAHE institutions will provide a platform for hands-on learning, experimentation, and innovation, helping learners move beyond understanding AI to applying it responsibly to solve real-world challenges.”

Mr Raj Kamal Singhal, CEO, Hitachi Systems India, said, “The convergence of technology, education, and industry is essential to building the workforce and solutions needed for a rapidly evolving digital economy. We are pleased to be part of this initiative with MAHE and Microsoft, which brings together academic expertise and industry capabilities to create meaningful opportunities for learning and innovation. As AI and cloud technologies continue to transform businesses, initiatives such as these can help students develop practical skills, embrace continuous learning, and apply technology to address problems.”

“As AI rapidly moves from experimentation to real-world application, building the right combination of technology capabilities, practical skills and industry understanding will be critical. Our association with MAHE and Microsoft provides an opportunity to bring industry perspectives closer to academia and help students understand how emerging technologies can address real business and societal challenges. At Hitachi Systems India, we believe such collaborations can play an important role in developing future-ready talent while fostering responsible and meaningful technology-led innovation.”              

The MAHE-Microsoft Partnership enhances technology-driven education and innovation, creating an environment where academic knowledge, industry insights, and emerging technologies converge to equip learners for the evolving needs of the global economy.

About Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University. MAHE offers over 400 specialisations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In 2020, the Ministry of  Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3^rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and enriching campus life, as well as for national and multinational corporations seeking top talent.

About Microsoft India

Microsoft India enables individuals and organisations to achieve more through innovative cloud, AI, productivity, and digital transformation solutions. The company works closely with educational institutions, enterprises, startups, and government organisations to drive technology-led growth and innovation.

About Hitachi Systems India Pvt. Ltd.

Hitachi Systems India Pvt. Ltd. is a leading IT services and digital transformation company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Systems, Ltd., leveraging deep domain expertise, advanced technology capabilities, and the strength of the Hitachi Group. The company provides end-to-end services spanning cloud, cybersecurity, data centre, and network services, observability services, managed services, and enterprise technology solutions across India.

BBDU Strengthens Its Position as Lucknow’s Leading Placement Destination with Offers from Infosys and Wipro

In the latest placement drive, Wipro selected BBDU students for the role of Customer Service Representative, Human Resource Outsourcing. Meanwhile, students secured placements with Infosys at packages of Rs. 9.50 lakh per annum and Rs. 6.25 lakh per annum.
 

The students selected at Rs. 9.50 lakh per annum have been offered the role of Specialist Programmer L1 (Trainee), while those receiving Rs. 6.25 lakh per annum have been selected as Digital Specialist Engineer (Trainee). These placements reflect the University’s continued focus on equipping students with industry-relevant knowledge, technical expertise and the professional competencies required to succeed in a rapidly evolving employment landscape.
 

Commenting on the placements, Viraj Sagar Das, Pro-Chancellor, Babu Banarasi Das University, said, “At BBDU, our focus has always been to ensure that education translates into meaningful career opportunities. These placements with leading organizations such as Infosys and Wipro reflect the strength of our academic ecosystem, industry engagement and continued efforts to prepare students for the future of work. We are proud to see our students take confident steps towards successful professional careers and contribute to the growing talent ecosystem of Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh.”
 

BBDU’s strong placement ecosystem is supported by its industry-aligned curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, advanced academic infrastructure, career mentoring and structured corporate engagement. Through its robust Corporate Connect Programme, the University enables students to engage with industry experts, participate in internships and live projects, and gain exposure to evolving workplace expectations.
 

With a legacy of nearly three decades in education, BBDU continues to build a strong bridge between academia and industry. The University’s multidisciplinary approach, emphasis on emerging technologies, innovation-led learning, and extensive corporate engagement enable students to develop both domain expertise and workplace readiness.
 

To date, more than 1,200 companies have recruited from BBDU, resulting in over 12,500 placement offers, with the highest package reaching Rs. 48 lakh per annum. The latest placements further reinforce BBDU’s commitment to creating strong career pathways for its students and strengthening Lucknow’s position as a growing hub for skilled, future-ready talent.

About Babu Banarasi Das University (BBDU), Lucknow
Babu Banarasi Das (BBD) University, Lucknow, is a premier multidisciplinary institution committed to academic excellence, innovation and holistic education. Since its establishment in 2010, the University has built a strong reputation for delivering quality education across diverse disciplines, including engineering, management, law, pharmacy, architecture, dental sciences, applied sciences, humanities and social sciences. By integrating academic rigour with research, industry collaboration and experiential learning, BBD University equips students with the knowledge, skills and values needed to excel in an evolving global environment. Through its emphasis on scholarship, leadership and community engagement, the University continues to prepare graduates who contribute meaningfully to society and the nation's progress.

Ai+ Smartphone Partners with Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 18

For over two decades, KBC and its legendary host Amitabh Bachchan have stood for credibility, knowledge and aspiration, earning the trust of generations of Indian audiences. For Ai+ Smartphone, the association reflects a shared belief that trust is not claimed, it is earned over time.

As a young Indian technology brand, Ai+ Smartphone is building its journey around transparency, privacy and consumer-first technology. Its association with KBC gives the brand an opportunity to take this vision to millions of households across India.

Archi Gogoi, Head of Brand, Marketing & Growth, Ai+ Smartphone and NxtQuantum Shift Technologies, said, “KBC is more than a television show; it is a part of India’s cultural fabric. Over the years, KBC and Mr. Bachchan have built an extraordinary legacy of credibility and trust. As a young Indian brand, that resonates deeply with us. We are building Ai+ with the belief that trust has to be earned every day through our products, our actions and our transparency. This partnership brings together an established legacy of trust with a new Indian technology brand aspiring to earn the same confidence from consumers.”

The association marks another step in Ai+ Smartphone’s journey towards building an Indian technology brand rooted in trust, privacy and transparency.

About Ai+ Smartphone

Ai+ Smartphone is a next generation brand built in India, delivering reliable and high-performance mobile experiences. Powered by NxtQuantum OS, India’s first sovereign mobile operating system. The brand focuses on delivering a clean design, ensuring long battery life, and maintaining trusted software performance, all while keeping prices accessible without compromising the user experience.

From redefining smartphones to pioneering AIoT products as part of the company's Connected Ecosystem, Ai+ Smartphone is creating a new standard for trust, immersive experience, and accessibility. Rooted in a privacy-first architecture and a commitment to equitable access, Ai+ Smartphone stands for more than specs — it stands for India’s next era of user-owned, future-ready technology.

About Ai+ and NxtQuantum Shift Technologies

NxtQuantum Shift Technologies is a deep-tech Indian company building secure, sovereign digital platforms for a digital-first world. Founded by Madhav Sheth, the company develops NxtQuantum OS, India's first sovereign operating system, and is committed to building technology that is designed, engineered and developed in India while remaining globally competitive.

Ai+ Smartphone commits Rs. 100 crore through Project Trust+ to enhance security through community participation

Through the initiative, the company is inviting independent researchers to actively test its systems, challenge its security architecture and highlight vulnerabilities that can be addressed before they impact consumers. 

Project Trust+ is driven by the belief that security is an ongoing journey rather than a final destination. As digital landscapes become more interconnected, Ai+ emphasizes that building secure smartphones requires collaboration, transparency, and active participation from the community. This initiative aims to go beyond traditional bug bounty programs, fostering an open environment where developers, security researchers, and ethical hackers can collectively contribute to the safety and resilience of Ai+ products.

Commenting on the announcement, Madhav Sheth, CEO, Ai+ Smartphone and Founder, NxtQuantum Shift Technologies, said, "Most companies tell users their devices are secure. We want to prove it. The reality is that no smartphone, no platform, and no technology ecosystem can claim security as a finished destination. It evolves every day. Project Trust+ reflects our belief that trust should be built transparently and collaboratively. We are opening our doors to India’s technology community because we believe the safest products are built not in isolation, but together."

The initiative further strengthens Ai+’s broader philosophy around transparency, privacy, and user ownership, values that also sit at the centre of NxtQuantum OS, the company’s sovereign mobile operating system initiative.

With Project Trust+, Ai+ Smartphone aims to shift the conversation around smartphone security from claims and promises to continuous improvement and public accountability.

Because when it comes to trust, the work is never complete.

To apply for the programme, visit the link in bio on Madhav’s IG handle

Project Trust+ Because Trust Is Built Together.

About Ai+ Smartphone
Ai+ Smartphone is a next-generation brand built in India, delivering reliable and high-performance mobile experiences. Powered by NxtQuantum OS, India’s first sovereign mobile operating system. The brand focuses on delivering a clean design, ensuring long battery life, and maintaining trusted software performance, all while keeping prices accessible without compromising the user experience.

From redefining smartphones to pioneering AIoT products as part of the company's Connected Ecosystem, Ai+ Smartphone is creating a new standard for trust, immersive experience, and accessibility. Rooted in a privacy-first architecture and a commitment to equitable access, Ai+ Smartphone stands for more than specs — it stands for India’s next era of user-owned, future-ready technology.

About Ai+ and NxtQuantum Shift Technologies
NxtQuantum Shift Technologies is a deep-tech Indian company building secure, sovereign digital platforms for a digital-first world. Founded by Madhav Sheth, the company develops NxtQuantum OS, India's first sovereign operating system, and is committed to building technology that is designed, engineered and developed in India while remaining globally competitive.

Greaves Cotton posts a steady start to FY27, backed by resilient execution and its GREAVES.NEXT strategy

Greaves Cotton Limited, one of India's leading diversified engineering companies, announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, delivering a steady performance across its diversified businesses. During the quarter, the Company continued to execute its Greaves.Next strategy by strengthening its core businesses, expanding its international footprint and making strategic investments to support future growth. These actions reflect Greaves’ commitment to prudent capital allocation, portfolio diversification and building a globally relevant engineering enterprise positioned for sustainable long-term value creation.

Financial Performance
Consolidated

• Revenue for Q1 FY27 stood at INR 974 crore, up 31 percent YoY. 

• EBITDA stood at INR 56 crore. 

• Operating PBT stood at INR 27 crore. 

Standalone

• Revenue for Q1 FY27 stood at INR 629 crore, up 16 percent YoY. 

• EBITDA stood at INR 71 crore. 

• Operating PBT stood at INR 67 crore. 

Parag Satpute, MD & Group CEO, Greaves Cotton Limited, said, "We have begun FY27 on a strong note, delivering a solid performance on the back of disciplined execution across our businesses, while strengthening our strategic foundations under Greaves.Next. During the quarter, we expanded our international footprint with the establishment of a subsidiary in Dubai, UAE, enhanced our manufacturing capabilities through advanced automation, and continued to grow across our domestic and international businesses despite commodity price and supply chain pressures. We also reaffirmed our commitment to future-ready businesses through investments in Greaves Electric Mobility and Greaves Finance. Supported by a strong balance sheet, we are well positioned to drive organic growth, invest in our portfolio companies, and capitalise on emerging growth opportunities. Demand across segments remains encouraging and we remain focused on executing our strategy with discipline to build a stronger, more future-ready Greaves." 

Business Highlights
Energy Solutions continued its growth momentum during the quarter, delivering revenue growth of 21 percent YoY, supported by healthy demand across infrastructure, manufacturing and industrial applications. Domestic sales of the Medium Horsepower (MHP) genset portfolio grew by 32 percent on a YoY basis, and we commissioned a BESS pilot towards strengthening our integrated solutions portfolio.

The Mobility Solutions business delivered 18 percent year-on-year revenue growth, supported by strong performance across key segments. Automotive engines recorded robust growth of 36 percentYoY, while the Engineered Components businesses grew 14 percent YoY, driven by healthy domestic demand and steady export momentum. Demand for Euro V+ compliant engines remained encouraging in export markets. The Engineered Components domestic business also secured new orders from large OEMs such as Caterpillar UK and TAFE.

Industrial Solutions witnessed sustained demand across defence, marine and agriculture applications, strengthening engagement with OEM customers across specialised industrial applications.

Supported by strong market execution, the international business continued to contribute 13 percent to core business revenue. The Company incorporated Greaves International Trading FZE in Dubai, UAE establishing a regional hub to strengthen customer engagement and distribution capabilities across the Middle East and Africa.

Greaves Electric Mobility business strengthened its market position through sustained network expansion and portfolio enhancements. In electric two-wheelers, VAHAN volumes more than doubled, growing 101 percent year-on-year in Q1 FY27, while market share increased from 4.3 percent in FY26 to 5.6 percent in June ‘26. In three-wheelers, L5 VAHAN volumes grew 39 percent year-on-year, with electric L5 volumes nearly doubling, reflecting strong demand and continued market penetration across key segments. The Company has informed that its INR 530 Crore rights issue has been fully subscribed with its Board approving the allotment of equity shares to all eligible shareholders. Greaves Cotton Limited has subscribed to its full entitlement of approximately INR 331 Crore, and our shareholding in GEML remains unchanged at 62.48 percent.

Greaves Finance continued its growth trajectory with Assets Under Management crossing INR 560 crore, an increase from INR521 crore in Mar’26; and expanded its reach by 12 more locations. During the quarter, Greaves Cotton subscribed to the rights issue of INR 50 crore to support the company's next phase of growth.

Outlook
The Company remains focused on strengthening execution across its core businesses while continuing to invest in technology, international expansion and future-ready opportunities under the Greaves.Next strategy.

Supported by a strong balance sheet, disciplined capital allocation and a diversified engineering portfolio, Greaves Cotton remains well positioned to deliver sustainable long-term growth while navigating an evolving macroeconomic environment. The Company will continue to focus on operational excellence, innovation and customer-centric solutions to create long-term value for all its stakeholders.

Bisleri Brings the Magic of Spider-Man: Brand New Day to Consumers with Limited-Edition Packs and Merchandise

Timed perfectly with the film's theatrical release, the exclusive range transforms everyday hydration into a collectible experience. 'The Spider-Man: Brand New Day' association will feature across Bisleri's 250ml, 500ml, and 1-litre water bottles.

Commenting on the launch, Tushar Malhotra, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing at Bisleri International, said, "We are thrilled to associate with 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day,' the next chapter of one of the biggest and most iconic global movie franchises, and a significant part of today's global pop culture. The association will be brought to life through our limited-edition bottles, which will be an exciting collectible for our consumer base."

The launch will be supported by a high-octane, 360-degree marketing campaign spanning digital engagement and vibrant in-store retail visibility. Taking the excitement directly to the streets, a spectacularly branded Spider-Man x Bisleri Truck will traverse Mumbai, generating massive out-of-home (OOH) buzz and creating high-impact visibility in the lead-up to the film's release.

The limited-edition water bottles are now available across general and modern trade outlets pan-India.  

About Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd 

With a legacy of over 50 years, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd has grown to become one of the largest premium beverage businesses in India. Being the makers of the country's largest-selling packaged drinking water, Bisleri follows a stringent process of 114 quality tests and a 10-stage purification. It remains true to its core value of providing consumers with pure, safe and healthy water. 

Bisleri International has a strong presence with 128 operational plants and a robust distribution network of over 6,000 Distributors and 7,500 Distribution Trucks across India and UAE market. It offers a range of beverages that are produced for all occasions. Whether it is the promise of goodness, trust, and purity with Bisleri packaged drinking water, or a daily dose of health offered through Vedica Himalayan Spring Water. Besides, Bisleri International has ventured into fun-filled refreshments with a diverse range of carbonated drinks available in multiple flavours, such as Bisleri Limonata, Bisleri Rev, Bisleri Spyci Jeera, Bisleri Pop and Bisleri Soda. These Bisleri products are also available on the e-commerce platform - Bisleri@Doorstep. This D2C platform reassures customers that they will receive a safe and uninterrupted supply of their most trusted brand at their doorstep. 

The core values of Bisleri International lie in yielding growth and embedding sustainability by being responsible in all aspects of the business. The organization has unveiled Sustainability 2.0 with Bisleri Greener Promise that focuses on creating greener future for all through implementing initiatives under the program of recycling, water conservation, and sustainability.

For more information on Bisleri International, our people, brands, and OSR initiatives, visit www.bisleri.com. 

Tata Gluco+ joins the 135th Durand Cup as Official Beverage Partner, energising players, officials and fans at one of India's oldest football tournament

As part of the association, Tata Gluco+ will keep players, officials and fans refreshed throughout the tournament while engaging with football-loving communities across the country. The partnership reflects the brand's commitment to connecting with consumers through shared experiences and the growing popularity of football in India.

A popular glucose based instant energy drink from Tata Consumer Products Limited, Tata Gluco+ is available in refreshing flavours including Orangy Burst, Lemony Zing and Lychee Zap. Through the Durand Cup, the brand strengthens its presence across football-loving markets, from the passionate fan bases of West Bengal and the Northeast to emerging football hubs across the country.

The 135th Durand Cup promises another exciting season of football, featuring top clubs, emerging talent and passionate fan engagement across multiple host cities. As Asia's oldest football tournament and one of India's most celebrated sporting events, the Durand Cup has played a defining role in shaping Indian football since 1888.

The 2026 edition features 24 teams, including Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, Jamshedpur FC, Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC, alongside clubs from the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League, Services and international teams. Hosted across multiple cities, the tournament continues to bring top-tier football closer to fans while strengthening India's football ecosystem.

By partnering with the 135th Durand Cup, Tata Gluco+ continues to strengthen its connect with football-loving communities across India, bringing refreshing energy to fans through one of the nation's most enduring football legacies.

About Tata Consumer Products Limited

Tata Consumer Products Limited is a focused consumer products company uniting the principal food and beverage interests of the Tata Group under one umbrella. The Company’s portfolio of products includes tea, coffee, water, RTD, salt, pulses, spices, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat offerings, breakfast cereals, snacks and mini meals. Its key beverage brands include Tata Tea, Tetley, Organic India, Eight O’Clock Coffee, Tata Coffee Grand, Himalayan Natural Mineral Water, Tata Copper+ and Tata Gluco+. Its foods portfolio includes brands such as Tata Salt, Tata Sampann, Tata Soulfull, Ching’s Secret and Smith & Jones. In India, Tata Consumer Products has a reach of 290 million households, giving it an unparalleled ability to leverage the Tata brand in consumer products. The Company has a consolidated annual turnover of ~Rs. 20,290 crores with operations in India and International markets.

The name change has been approved by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India, and reflects the company's evolving business vision while continuing to operate with the same legal entity, management, values, and commitment to its stakeholders.

As VERITASOURCE Private Limited, the company will continue to strengthen its presence across its existing business domains while exploring new opportunities driven by technology, innovation, and customer-centric solutions. The new identity represents the company's long-term vision of building trusted, value-driven businesses for customers, partners, and stakeholders.

Speaking on the announcement, Vivek Khanna, CEO & Executive Director, said, "Our transition from OKAYA Infocom Private Limited to VERITASOURCE Private Limited marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. While our name has changed, our commitment to excellence, integrity, innovation, and customer satisfaction remains stronger than ever. This new identity reflects our future aspirations while preserving the legacy and trust we have built over the years."

The company clarified that this is only a change in the corporate name, and there is no change in the company's legal status, ownership, operations, contractual obligations, or business relationships. All existing agreements, commitments, and services will continue uninterrupted.

Customers, business partners, vendors, financial institutions, and other stakeholders are requested to update their records to reflect the company's new name: VERITASOURCE Private Limited

The company will gradually implement the new corporate identity across all communication channels, digital platforms, branding materials, and official documentation.

About VERITASOURCE Private Limited
VERITASOURCE Private Limited (formerly OKAYA Infocom Private Limited) is committed to delivering innovative business and technology solutions with a strong focus on quality, trust, and customer satisfaction. Backed by years of industry experience, the company continues to evolve its capabilities to meet the changing needs of businesses and consumers while building sustainable value for all stakeholders.

Over 60 million consumers across 850+ cities and towns have now checked their free credit score on Paisabazaar

Since launching its free credit score platform in 2017, Paisabazaar has focused on making credit information simple, accessible and actionable for every Indian. Consumers on the Paisabazaar platform can instantly access their credit scores from all four credit bureaus, free of cost, in multiple Indian languages, making it one of the country's most comprehensive credit awareness platforms.
 

Over the last decade, Paisabazaar has consistently invested in technology, consumer education and brand initiatives to deepen credit awareness across India. The platform has played a pivotal role in taking credit awareness beyond metropolitan India, helping consumers across smaller cities, towns and underserved segments understand, monitor and improve their credit health.

Santosh Agarwal, CEO, Paisabazaar, said, "Crossing 60 million consumers marks an important milestone in our mission to build a more credit-aware and credit-fit India. Going forward, our focus is on helping every consumer navigate their credit journey with confidence—whether it's building a credit history, improving credit health, or accessing the right financial products. We will continue to leverage technology and data-driven insights to make credit more transparent, inclusive and empowering for millions of Indians."

The Paisabazaar platform, over the years, has evolved beyond providing free credit scores. Consumers on the platform receive personalised insights through the Credit Health Report, which highlights the factors impacting their credit profile and recommends actionable steps to improve it. For consumers with damaged credit aiming to rebuild their credit history, Paisabazaar offers a comprehensive Credit Improvement Program, including AI-led insights, expert guidance and personalized advice.

Credit Progression is another key aspect of Paisabazaar’s commitment to expanding access to credit, helping consumers build healthier credit profiles. This includes large yet credit-starved segments like new-to-credit consumers, who are offered builder products such as secured credit cards, helping them build strong credit profiles over time and access formal credit.

Credit healthy consumers, on the other hand, benefit from personalised and pre-approved offers from lenders, supported by Paisabazaar's proprietary Chance of Approval model, which helps them identify and apply for offers with certainty.

Paisabazaar continues to enhance the platform with technology-led innovations and data-driven insights, making credit management more intuitive and accessible. As India's digital credit ecosystem matures, the company remains focused on empowering consumers across every stage of their credit journey—from first-time borrowers building their credit history to experienced borrowers seeking the best credit opportunities—while advancing its larger mission of building a more financially aware and credit-fit India.

About Paisabazaar

Paisabazaar, a part of PB Fintech (listed since 2021), is India’s leading marketplace for financial products and a free credit score platform. Over the last 12+ years, Paisabazaar has earned the trust and goodwill of over 58 million consumers from 850 cities and towns across India. Paisabazaar has built wide and deep partnerships across the ecosystem, to offer a broad range of financial products, ranging from loans and cards to investments and savings along with bill payments and mobile recharge. The platform also enables consumers to check their free credit score from all 4 CICs (Credit Bureaus) in India. Paisabazaar is an ISO (27001:2013) and PCI DSS certified organisation, with industry-best controls, to safeguard the best interest of consumers.

Eveready Industries India Ltd., the country's leading flashlight and battery brand, today announced the launch of its all-new Eveready Shor Torch DL190, a rugged, rechargeable, multi-utility torch equipped with an integrated 100 decibel animal alarm, powerful illumination and UV strobe functionality designed specifically to help farmers protect crops from animal intrusion during the night.

The Innovative Eveready Shor Torch DL190, helping farmers protect crops from animal intrusion with a powerful 100 dBA animal alarm

The launch of Shor Torch further strengthens Eveready's expanding rechargeable flashlight portfolio, reflecting the company's continued focus on developing innovative solutions that cater to evolving consumer needs and diverse usage occasions. Designed specifically for agricultural use, the Eveready Shor Torch, along with an integrated 100 dB animal alarm and UV strobe, features a powerful 5W front torch for long range visibility and a 3W side light to support farmers during nighttime farm surveillance. It is powered by a 3600 mAh rechargeable Li ion battery with Type C fast charging support, enabling reliable performance during prolonged farm usage.

Designed to withstand demanding rural usage conditions, the Eveready Shor Torch combines durability with functionality. The product features a powerful 1 km long-beam front torch with up to 5 hours of lighting time and integrated animal deterrence capabilities. The thoughtfully engineered design ensures dependable performance during extended outdoor usage under challenging field conditions.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Anirban Banerjee, Chief Executive Officer, Eveready Industries India Limited, said, "At Eveready, innovation has always been rooted in solving real consumer challenges. Farmers across the country face persistent crop losses due to animal intrusion, particularly during the night. The Shor Torch reflects our commitment to developing practical and relevant solutions for Indian consumers. By combining powerful illumination with an effective animal alarm and UV strobe functionality, we have created a unique product that can make a meaningful difference in the daily lives of farmers while helping them protect their livelihoods."

The Eveready Shor Torch has been developed keeping in mind the unique requirements of India's farming community, where protecting crops often extends well beyond daylight hours. During critical crop cycles such as sowing and harvesting, farmers routinely undertake nighttime field surveillance to safeguard cultivated land from animal intrusion. While flashlights have long been an essential tool for activities such as irrigation, fertilizer application, crop monitoring and harvesting after dark, keeping animals away from cultivated fields remains one of the biggest challenges they encounter.

Recognising this challenge, Eveready developed the Shor Torch as a practical, humane and non-intrusive solution for nighttime crop protection. Designed for use in open farmlands, where sound and light can travel over longer distances, the product helps farmers safeguard their crops more effectively during early morning and nighttime surveillance, without causing harm to animals.

The Eveready Shor Torch, an innovation at the grassroot level, addresses this challenge through a powerful 100 decibel alarm that emits a sharp warning sound, combined with a red UV strobe light. When directed towards approaching animals, the alarm and flashing light create sufficient disturbance to drive them away, helping protect crops.

Eveready has been actively expanding its rechargeable flashlight portfolio in line with evolving consumer needs and usage occasions. The launch of the Shor Torch further strengthens Eveready's growing portfolio of innovative flashlights. The portfolio also includes the Siren Torch with Safety Alarm, designed to empower women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities with an added sense of personal security. Additionally, Eveready offers a first-of-its-kind Hybrid Torch featuring patent-applied dual-powered operation through rechargeable and battery-powered modes, providing consumers with enhanced flexibility and reliability across varied usage situations.

All of Eveready’s flashlight manufacturing facilities follow stringent quality parameters and are Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certified. The certification reinforces Eveready's long-standing commitment to product quality, safety, reliability and adherence to stringent industry standards.

Driven by feature-led innovation, consumer-focused product development and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, Eveready continues to strengthen its position as India's leading flashlight, battery and lighting solutions brand through products designed to address evolving consumer needs.

The Eveready Shor Torch DL190 will be available at Rs. 1,099 across leading retail outlets and e-commerce platforms.

About Eveready Industries India Ltd.

With a legacy of over 100 years, Eveready Industries India Ltd. (NSE Symbol: EVEREADY, BSE Scrip Code: 531508, CSE Scrip Code 000029) is a household name in batteries and flashlights, with an emerging presence in the consumer and professional lighting space.

Since its inception in 1934, Eveready has been at the forefront of the dry cell battery market, enriching the lives of millions with portable energy and lighting solutions. The company’s iconic catchphrase “Give Me Red” has become synonymous with trust and dependability, resonating with consumers across generations.

In 2023, the company embarked on a transformative journey, marked by the unveiling of its new infinity logo and the empowering tagline “Give Me Power, Give Me Red”. The pivotal year also witnessed the launch of its Ultima Alkaline battery range, designed to cater to the evolving needs of Indian consumers. In April 2026, Eveready has inaugurated India’s only operating alkaline battery facility in Jammu. Alongside Ultima Alkaline, Eveready today offers a comprehensive battery portfolio spanning carbon-zinc, alkaline, rechargeable, and lithium formats, making it India’s No. 1* battery brand.

Beyond batteries, Eveready also offers a wide range of flashlights and torches designed for everyday use, emergencies, and outdoor activities. This includes purpose-driven products such as the Eveready Siren Torch, which combines illumination with a built-in safety alarm, and India’s First Hybrid Torch, which offers dual power options via rechargeable and battery-based formats. Together, through these innovations, the company has emerged as India’s no. 1 flashlight brand.

The company has also strategically expanded its portfolio with an entry into the mobile accessories segment, mosquito racquets, small appliances, electrical accessories, wires, and MCBs to meet the dynamic needs of consumers.

Eveready’s manufacturing facilities are spread across India, namely Matia, Lucknow, Haridwar, Maddur, Kolkata, Jammu and they are equipped with globally benchmarked technology platforms and follow the best-in-class operating standards, with a relentless focus on quality (ISO 9000), environmental best practices (ISO 14000), and rapid adoption of technology. The company has a Research and Development (R&D) facility that is approved by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

For more information, please visit www.eveready.in

RSB Group Celebrates 4th Edition of 'Ek Pahal' Annual Day

The event was graced by the esteemed presence of Mr. S.K. Behera, Vice Chairman, RSB Group, along with family members Mrs. Sangeeta Behera and Mrs. Nalini Behera, whose presence added great significance to the celebration.

The celebration marked a major milestone as the Ek Pahal community grew significantly larger this year, warmly welcoming over 200 women employees from Setco into the RSB Parivar. The event brought together female employees from Jamshedpur and all other RSB centres across India.

The highlight of the day was an enriching and deeply inspiring round-table panel discussion. Trailblazers from diverse fields, Dr. Rekha Panda, Ms Singo Mardi, Mrs Leena Adesara, and Ms Deboshri Dutta shared their profound life experiences. The discussion focused on the hard work, passion and commitment required to turn big ambitions into daily actions, offering the audience a masterclass on how to translate raw dreams into concrete reality. These powerful stories deeply moved the audience, inspiring all the female employees to not just dream big, but to chase those goals with unwavering grit and determination.

The celebrations also featured some mesmerising cultural performances by RSB employees. Through creative storytelling, music, and dance, the performers brought immense emotion and vibrant life to the stage, beautifully mirroring the spirit of the movement.

Sharing his pride on the occasion, Mr. S.K. Behera, Vice Chairman, RSB Group, "At RSB, our philosophy is simple: talent and excellence have no gender. Our approach remains strictly gender-neutral, focusing entirely on merit and capability. However, for potential to truly flourish, the environment must be right. We stand absolutely committed to creating a safe, respectful, and deeply inclusive workspace where our women colleagues feel empowered to step out, break barriers, and confidently march toward their highest aspirations."
 

Launched four years ago under the leadership of Ms. Nirmala Behera, Ek Pahal has matured from a heartfelt internal initiative into a massive, transformative movement. Operating through four core pillars - Health & Hygiene, Safety, Learning & Development, and Community Service; the ecosystem continues to drive structural, holistic growth both within the organization and the wider community.

Reflecting on the evolution of the initiative and this year's theme, Ms. Nirmala Behera, Executive Director, HR & Branding, RSB Group, said, "Our theme this year, 'EK Pahal- Sapno Se Aage', is a powerful reminder that dreams are merely the starting line. Real empowerment begins when we move past the stage of just wishing for equality and step into the reality of executing those dreams with our own hands. I am immensely proud of our teams; the work done across our four pillars is no longer just reflected in dashboards, but lives in the daily confidence, resilience, and growth of our women colleagues."

The event concluded with a strong focus on future impact, recognizing outstanding contributions from the past year. The Community Initiative Pillar leaders were awarded the top honours for leading projects with deep social impact, while the Health & Hygiene Pillar leader was recognised as the runner-up for setting exceptional operational benchmarks.

With this fourth edition of Ek Pahal annual day celebration, RSB Group strongly reaffirms its commitment to building a purpose-driven corporate culture where individual dreams are nurtured into collective milestones, setting a benchmark for the manufacturing industry at large.

SPR India recently announced the launch of District 12, a smart office space development within the 63-acre SPR City, offering MSMEs, startups, entrepreneurs, professionals and growing businesses the opportunity to own premium office spaces in one of Chennai's fastest-emerging commercial destinations. Supporting the Tamil Nadu Government's "Perambur 2.0" initiative, District 12 is set to accelerate Perambur's transformation into a vibrant commercial, business and investment hub.
 

Mr. Hitesh Kawad, Managing Director and Mr. Navin Ranka, Director, felicitating Chief Guest Mr. Shelvi K. Dhamodar, Advocate, at the District 12 launch event at SPR City
 

In support of the Tamil Nadu Government's "Perambur 2.0" initiative, District 12 was officially launched in the presence of Thiru A.M. Vikram Raja, State President, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam Peramaippu, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, along with leading industrialists, entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders.
 

The launch witnessed an overwhelming response from Chennai's MSMEs, startups, IT/ITES companies, entrepreneurs, professionals, investors and business owners, reflecting the strong demand for professionally managed office ownership within an integrated commercial ecosystem.
 

Built around the compelling proposition, "Why Rent When You Can Own Your Office Space?", District 12 offers flexible office spaces ranging from 120 sq. ft. to 3,000 sq. ft., enabling businesses to choose spaces that match their current requirements while providing room for future expansion. The development features premium commercial infrastructure, including a fully equipped business centre, exclusive clubhouse, modern elevators and escalators, 100% power backup, CCTV-enabled security systems, 24x7 security, concierge services, professionally maintained common areas and ample parking.
 

Businesses at District 12 also benefit from the integrated SPR City ecosystem, comprising the Market of India, shopping mall, restaurants, food courts, an eight-screen multiplex, entertainment zones, premium residences, Kauvery Hospital, The Shri Ram Universal School and other lifestyle amenities, creating a complete live-work-business destination that supports business growth while offering unmatched convenience.
 

Strategically located in Perambur, District 12 enjoys excellent connectivity, with the Perambur Bus Terminus just 500 metres away, Perambur Railway Station within 1 km and the proposed Perambur Metro Station only 800 metres away. Chennai Central Railway Station, the High Court and the Secretariat are also easily accessible.
 

District 12
 

Sharing SPR Group's vision for the project, Mr. Hitesh Kawad, Managing Director, SPR Group, said, "District 12 reflects SPR's vision of creating future-ready commercial infrastructure that empowers businesses to own, grow and thrive. As Perambur continues to evolve into a vibrant commercial hub, the launch of District 12 marks another significant milestone in the growth of SPR City while reinforcing Perambur's emergence as one of Chennai's most promising commercial and investment destinations. We are proud to offer entrepreneurs, MSMEs and professionals a premium business address within an integrated ecosystem designed for long-term growth and success.”
 

Highlighting the commercial value proposition of District 12, Mr. Shashie Kumar, CEO, SPR Commercial, said, "District 12 is designed to offer businesses much more than premium office spaces. It enables entrepreneurs, MSMEs and professionals to convert recurring rental expenses into long-term asset ownership while operating from a professionally managed commercial environment designed for growth, collaboration and enterprise. As part of the integrated SPR City ecosystem and the Market of India, businesses also benefit from greater visibility, wider customer reach, valuable networking opportunities and a vibrant business environment, making office ownership a smart investment for long-term success.”
 

Commenting on Perambur's growing prominence as a business destination, Mr. Navin Ranka, Director, SPR Group, said, "Perambur is fast emerging as one of Chennai's most promising commercial destinations, driven by strong infrastructure and excellent connectivity. District 12 is designed to meet the evolving needs of startups, MSMEs, professionals and enterprises seeking a premium business address in a high-growth location.”
 

The launch also featured an insightful panel discussion on "Perambur 2.0," moderated by noted journalist and television anchor Avudaiappan S. The panel featured Mr. Hitesh Kawad, Managing Director, SPR Group, Mr. Rahul Rajamuthiah, Business Head, Market of India, Dr. Sam Paul, Paulsons Group (TONI&GUY), and advocate and renowned astrologer Shelvi K. Damother. The discussion explored Perambur's rapid transformation into one of Chennai's fastest-growing commercial corridors, driven by infrastructure development, enhanced connectivity, employment generation and the growing demand for organised commercial spaces.
 

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Anirudha Srikkanth and actor Samyuktha also visited District 12, interacting with the SPR team and exploring the project's smart office formats, premium amenities and investment potential.

Under the agreement, Fikra Ventures is Glimmer’s exclusive commercialisation, marketing and distribution partner in the Gulf region. Fikra Ventures will use that position to build a new portfolio company to deploy Glimmer’s FinomeAI suite for enterprises across the region.

The new company will develop Arabic-language and regionally compliant solutions on top of Glimmer’s products, reducing the localisation and compliance burden on customers and shortening deployment timelines. Fikra Ventures will provide the venture-building, capital, and commercial infrastructure, with Glimmer providing the underlying technology.

Glimmer’s products already operate at production scale, processing more than 1,000,000 loan applications each month across live financial services deployments. To date, the suite has delivered:

• Fraud investigation turnaround reduced from one to two days to 20–30 minutes per case at a financial institution, with an audit-ready log trail generated automatically

• An 8% lift in onboarding conversion for a non-bank lender, with customer acquisition spend held flat

• A ~6% improvement in portfolio collection rate at low incremental cost per asset

Glimmer’s enterprise AI platform supports a broad range of complex and regulated workflows, spanning document intelligence, decisioning, conversational journeys, voice automation, personalised video, model development, policy intelligence and enterprise knowledge access. Its products include Data Quotient for explainable, audit-ready decisioning; ConvFlow for guided conversational journeys across customer acquisition, onboarding and servicing; Klaris for end-to-end voice automation across high-volume customer interactions; SynthVid for personalised video at scale; and Meridian for faster model development and deployment.

The new company will run regional go-to-market and customer support, from pilots through production deployment. Early focus areas span collections, customer acquisition, onboarding, servicing, marketing outreach, underwriting, fraud investigation and regulatory workflows.

“Fikra turns proven global technology into regional companies. Glimmer’s platform processes over one million loan applications a month, giving us the foundation to build a significant Gulf business,” said Wael Aburida, Founder & Managing Partner of Fikra Ventures. “Banks, lenders, telecom operators and large enterprises here are actively looking for solutions that improve conversion, reduce costs and deliver better customer outcomes at scale. This partnership gives us the technology, venture-building structure and commercial access to pursue that opportunity.”

The initial commercialisation effort will focus on financial services and lending, where institutions face pressure to modernise collections, customer communication, underwriting and operating workflows without compromising governance or control. Over time, the companies see scope to extend these capabilities to other high-volume enterprise environments facing similar challenges around automation, decision-making and customer engagement.

“Our partnership with Fikra Ventures gives us the regional relationships, market understanding and commercial platform to take our capabilities to enterprises across the Gulf,” said Saurabh Nigam, Chief Executive Officer of Glimmer Technologies. “Enterprise AI creates real value when it moves beyond experimentation and becomes part of the workflows that businesses depend on every day. We have built and proven our technology in complex, high-volume environments where accuracy, governance and measurable outcomes matter. Together, we can help enterprises use AI to make better decisions, automate critical processes and deliver more intelligent customer experiences at scale.”

The companies will begin with Arabic-localised product demonstrations and market-specific pilots for enterprise customers in the Gulf, with plans to extend into the greater MENA region. Initial demonstrations will include Arabic and bilingual use cases across collections, marketing outreach, conversational onboarding, voice automation and document-led decisioning.

The partnership extends Fikra Ventures’ model of turning commercially relevant AI into companies with clear pathways to regional adoption and international scale.

About Glimmer Technologies

Glimmer Technologies is an enterprise AI company building the future of financial intelligence. Operating at the intersection of deep AI capability and real-world enterprise workflows, Glimmer develops intelligent platforms that help businesses interpret complex data, make faster decisions, automate operations, and deliver better customer journeys.

Its ecosystem brings together FinomeAI, a GenAI intelligence platform for document processing, risk insights, compliance, customer journeys, and operational automation; Flo, a configurable lending stack for digital credit operations across LOS, LMS, and modular workflows; and ZestMoney, one of India’s widely known Buy Now, Pay Later platforms.

To know more, please visit: www.glimmertech.in

About Fikra Ventures

Fikra Ventures is a global AI-native venture studio that builds and scales applied AI companies. The studio combines venture ideation, technical execution, strategic partnerships, founder development, and commercialisation support to create ventures with clear market relevance.

Fikra Ventures works with founders, technical leaders, corporates, governments, universities, investors, and strategic partners to turn commercially relevant AI opportunities into scalable companies. Fikra Ventures Holdings Limited is registered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

For more information, visit www.fikra.ventures and follow us on @fikraventures #fikraventures.

Vibe Drive - One of Chennai's First Fully Integrated Automotive Destination

The facility was inaugurated yesterday by J. C. D. Prabhakar, Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, marking the launch of a new integrated automotive destination for customers in Chennai.

Spread across 13,000 sq. ft., the facility combines four specialist brands: Vibe Drive, HB Multibrand, Slick Lab by Vibe Drive, and Snack & Rack, creating a seamless experience for vehicle owners from purchase to long-term care.

The venture is founded by automobile entrepreneurs Ashvath Jacinth and Naveen Antony, whose complementary journeys shaped the vision behind the project.

Ashvath Jacinth brings experience across automotive manufacturing, vehicle sales and entrepreneurship. Through Vibe Drive, he has built a business focused on transparent buying, selling, sourcing and evaluation of pre-owned vehicles across every segment.

Naveen Antony, an electronics engineer by training, entered the automotive industry after successfully restoring his own flood-damaged car when others declared it beyond repair. He went on to establish HB Multibrand, earning a reputation for advanced diagnostics, ECU programming, electrical troubleshooting and restoration of complex vehicles. Despite setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, he rebuilt the business with renewed determination.

Together, the founders have created an automotive destination that caters to everything from routine maintenance and major mechanical repairs to premium detailing, ceramic coatings, paint protection films, performance upgrades and body repairs. Customers can also relax at Snack & Rack, an in-house lounge featuring refreshments, high-speed Wi-Fi and English pool tables while their vehicles are serviced.

The facility caters to all categories of vehicles, from everyday hatchbacks and family SUVs to commercial vehicles, luxury marques and high-performance automobiles.

"Our vision was to build more than a workshop. We wanted to create a destination built on trust, technical expertise and a genuine passion for automobiles, where every customer receives the same level of care regardless of the vehicle they own," said Ashvath Jacinth, Founder and Partner, Vibe Drive.

Vibe Drive
200 Feet Radial Road, Kovilambakkam, Chennai

Contact: Ashvath Jacinth - Founder and Partner - +91 96772 77775

Bisleri International Partners with Ultimate Table Tennis as Official Hydration Partner for the Second Year

Through this association, the brand aims to enhance fan engagement and visibility with an integrated presence across on-ground and media platforms. The partnership will feature prominent branding across LED boards & perimeter boards, showcasing brand film, television commercials, exclusive campaign shoots, visi coolers, iceboxes, and a robust digital campaign with amplification of videos across digital platforms, ensuring extensive engagement with audiences throughout the tournament.

Commenting on the association, Tushar Malhotra, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing, Bisleri International, said,"We're proud to partner with Ultimate Table Tennis as its Official Hydration Partner. The league has played a key role in growing table tennis in India, and we're excited to support its journey. By helping athletes stay hydrated and connecting with fans, this partnership reflects our commitment to Indian sport and the role hydration plays in performance."

Commenting on the partnership, Vita Dani, Chairperson Ultimate Table Tennis said, "We are pleased to welcome Bisleri International as the Official Hydration Partner of Ultimate Table Tennis. As a brand synonymous with trust and quality, Bisleri's association aligns with our commitment to delivering a world-class sporting experience for players and fans alike. We look forward to working together over the next three years to elevate the league through impactful fan engagement and integrated brand experiences."

The partnership begins with Season 7 of Ultimate Table Tennis, taking place from July 9 to July 26, 2026, at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa. The long-term association reflects Bisleri's continued commitment to supporting Indian sport, promoting athlete wellness, and strengthening its presence across one of the country's premier table tennis leagues.

Link: www.instagram.com/reel/DbS5LF6zovc/?igsh=MWNkOWV6cTh0Mm9hMA==

About Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd.

With a legacy of over 50 years, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd has grown to become one of the largest premium beverage businesses in India. Being the makers of the country's largest-selling packaged drinking water, Bisleri follows a stringent process of 114 quality tests and a 10-stage purification. It remains true to its core value of providing consumers with pure, safe and healthy water.

Bisleri International has a strong presence with 128 operational plants and a robust distribution network of over 6,000 Distributors and 7,500 Distribution Trucks across India and UAE market. It offers a range of beverages that are produced for all occasions. Whether it is the promise of goodness, trust, and purity with Bisleri packaged drinking water, or a daily dose of health offered through Vedica Himalayan Spring Water. Besides, Bisleri International has ventured into fun-filled refreshments with a diverse range of carbonated drinks available in multiple flavours, such as Bisleri Limonata, Bisleri Rev, Bisleri Spyci Jeera, Bisleri Pop and Bisleri Soda. These Bisleri products are also available on the e-commerce platform - Bisleri@Doorstep. This D2C platform reassures customers that they will receive a safe and uninterrupted supply of their most trusted brand at their doorstep.

The core values of Bisleri International lie in yielding growth and embedding sustainability by being responsible in all aspects of the business. The organization has unveiled Sustainability 2.0 with Bisleri Greener Promise that focuses on creating greener future for all through implementing initiatives under the program of recycling, water conservation, and sustainability.

For more information on Bisleri International, our people, brands, and OSR initiatives, visit www.bisleri.com.

The proposed transaction includes Oriflame India's manufacturing facilities located in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, and Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Completion of the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

As part of the agreement, Oriflame and Akums will enter into a long-term strategic manufacturing and supply partnership. Under this arrangement, Akums will continue to manufacture Oriflame products, ensuring continuity of supply and maintaining the high standards of quality expected by Oriflame Beauty Entrepreneurs and customers.

India remains a strategically important market for Oriflame. The company has operated in the country for more than 30 years and will continue to grow its fast-growing social selling business, serving consumers through its network of Beauty Entrepreneurs across the country.

The transaction forms part of Oriflame's ongoing efforts to optimise its global operations and sourcing footprint while maintaining strong product quality, operational resilience and service levels.

Anna Malmhake, CEO and President of Oriflame, said, "India is an important market for Oriflame and we remain fully committed to our long-term growth ambitions in the country. Through this strategic partnership with Akums, we are securing access to high-quality manufacturing capabilities while enabling greater operational flexibility and alignment with our sourcing strategy. We are pleased to be partnering with a trusted and reputable manufacturer that shares our commitment to quality and excellence."

Edyta Kurek, Senior Vice President and GM, Oriflame India, added, "Oriflame's manufacturing standards in India have been built over more than three decades of expertise at our Roorkee and Noida facilities. As a Swedish brand, we have always believed in building long-term, sustainable partnerships that uphold the highest standards of quality. Our partnership with Akums reflects that philosophy, bringing together Oriflame's global product expertise and uncompromising quality standards with Akums' manufacturing excellence to support our long-term growth in India. For our Beauty Entrepreneurs and customers, it is business as usual, with our commercial operations, products and services remaining unchanged. We are pleased that the partnership is intended to ensure continuity for employees while preserving the expertise built within these facilities. Together with Akums, we look forward to continuing to serve our Beauty Entrepreneurs and customers across India for many years to come."

Employees currently working at the manufacturing sites will be offered to continue their employment with the new owner on the same terms and conditions.

Oriflame's commercial operations, Beauty Entrepreneur network, trademarks and customer-facing activities in India are not part of the transaction and will continue to be operated by Oriflame India Private Limited.

About Oriflame  

As a globally renowned beauty and wellbeing company, Oriflame has empowered individuals since 1967 through its diverse portfolio of high-quality, innovative, and sustainable beauty and wellbeing products. It operates in over 60 markets.

Oriflame operates through a modern social selling model, enabling over 3 million Beauty Entrepreneurs and members worldwide to become beauty industry insiders through a ‘Plug and Play’ micro-entrepreneurship model. Oriflame’s product range spans skincare, cosmetics, fragrances, personal care, and nutritional supplements, all crafted with care to promote holistic wellbeing. Oriflame continues to make a positive impact on communities worldwide and has been named a European Climate Leader by the Financial Times and Statista for the past five years.

In India, Oriflame continues to build opportunities for women to achieve financial independence while promoting holistic wellbeing.

For more information, visit in.oriflame.com.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri D.K. Shivakumar with the Leadership of Aster DM Quality Care

Aster has significantly expanded its footprint in Karnataka through Aster CMI Hospital, Aster RV Hospital, Aster Whitefield Hospital, and Aster Women & Children Hospital. The company continues to invest in advanced healthcare infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the State.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Azad Moopen, Executive Chairman, Aster DM Quality Care, said,  “Karnataka has been a cornerstone of Aster’s growth in India and remains one of our most strategic markets. The State is at the forefront of healthcare innovation, supported by world-class clinical talent and a progressive healthcare ecosystem. Our planned investment of Rs. 1,315 crore reflects our long-term confidence in Karnataka. We remain committed to partnering with the Government of Karnataka to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, expand access to advanced medical care, promote medical education and research, and improve healthcare outcomes for the people of the State.”

Aster DM Quality Care currently operates 39 hospitals with over 10,600 beds and four hospitals in Karnataka with 1,329 operational beds, creating one of the strongest integrated healthcare networks in India and the State. As part of its expansion plans, Aster is developing the 550-bed Aster Hospital, Yeshwantpur, the 460-bed Aster Hospital, Sarjapur, and a 350-bed expansion at Aster CMI Hospital, substantially increasing access to advanced tertiary and quaternary healthcare services in Bengaluru.

During the discussions, Dr. Moopen highlighted Aster’s commitment to supporting Karnataka’s healthcare priorities through investments in healthcare infrastructure, medical education, skill development, employment generation, healthcare technology, medical tourism, research, innovation, and charitable healthcare initiatives.

Mr. Varun Khanna, Managing Director & Group CEO, Aster DM Quality Care, said, “The scale and capabilities of Aster DM Quality Care position us to accelerate the next phase of healthcare transformation in Karnataka. As we continue to strengthen our presence across the State, we aim to make complex and specialised care more accessible while reinforcing Karnataka’s position as one of India’s leading centres for healthcare innovation and medical excellence.”

Ms. Alisha Moopen, Director, Aster DM Quality Care, added, “Our focus extends beyond expanding capacity. We are building an integrated healthcare ecosystem that combines advanced clinical care, digital innovation, medical education, research, and compassionate service. Through these investments, we are committed to delivering world-class healthcare while creating sustainable value for patients, communities, and the State of Karnataka.”

The proposed investment of Rs. 1,315 crore underscores Aster DM Quality Care’s long-term vision of making Karnataka one of its most important centres for clinical excellence, innovation, medical education, and patient-centric healthcare.

About Aster DM Quality Care Limited*

Aster DM Quality Care Limited is one of India’s leading integrated healthcare providers, formed through the merger of Aster DM Healthcare Limited and Quality Care India Limited. The merged entity will bring together four leading healthcare brands - Aster DM, CARE Hospitals, Evercare and KIMSHEALTH, creating a scaled and diversified healthcare platform with a network of 39 hospitals across 28 cities and over 10,600 beds. With a strong presence across South and Central India, the merged entity will deliver comprehensive healthcare services spanning primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary care, supported by centres of excellence across key specialties including oncology, cardiac sciences, neurosciences, gastro sciences, orthopaedics, nephrology, organ transplantation, mother and child care, and critical care.

*Name change subject to receipt of Certificate of Incorporation pursuant to the merger. Currently named Aster DM Healthcare Limited.

Glomo becomes a Visa Principal Member at GIFT IFSC

As Visa’s Principal member, Glomo can process Visa powered card payments directly for merchants acquired on its platform, helping businesses operating across markets accept and settle international card payments through compliant infrastructure based at GIFT City. This will also result in greater control over transaction approval optimisation, fraud and risk monitoring, and enable native dispute and chargeback handling through Visa’s platform. The company has launched these capabilities through its direct merchant acquisition and technology integrations.

The direct acquiring arrangement is also expected to improve operational speed by significantly reducing the time typically required for merchant onboarding and payment processing through traditional banking channels. This faster turnaround, combined with direct access to Visa’s network, will benefit businesses such as exporters, AI and marketplace platforms, SaaS companies, financial services firms and institutions, education platforms, and enterprises serving customers across multiple countries. Glomo also plans to leverage its membership to strengthen its card infrastructure capabilities, including the development of issuing products.

Commenting on the announcement, Akash Arun, Founder and CEO, Glomo, said, “Cross-border card payments often pass through multiple intermediaries, which can create friction across settlement, transaction approvals, risk management and dispute handling. Becoming Visa’s Principal Member gives us direct control over these critical parts of the payment chain. For merchants, this can translate into more predictable settlement, improved control over payment performance and a more consistent experience as they expand across markets. It is also an important validation of the financial infrastructure being built at GIFT IFSC. Our focus now is to use this capability responsibly and help businesses move money across borders with greater transparency, efficiency and control.”

Rishi Chhabra, Country Manager, India, Visa, said, “We are pleased to welcome Glomo as a Principal Member of the Visa network. As Indian businesses expand across borders, trusted and secure payment infrastructure becomes critical to enabling commerce that is seamless, reliable and resilient. Visa’s global payments network, built on decades of trust, security and scale, will play a crucial role in supporting this evolution by helping merchants accept payments confidently, manage risk effectively and serve customers across markets. Glomo’s direct participation in the Visa network strengthens merchant acquiring capabilities from GIFT IFSC and expands access to secure, globally connected payment solutions for businesses with cross-border ambitions. We look forward to working with Glomo as it develops solutions for merchants and enterprises with international payment requirements.”

Visa’s Principal Membership further enables Glomo to manage the commercial and operational aspects of acquiring directly rather than processing transactions through another institution’s acquiring licence. This provides the company greater control over merchant onboarding, payment processing, settlement, risk policies and the overall merchant experience. It can also help reduce unnecessary foreign exchange conversion costs and limitations associated with intermediary-led processing.

The announcement comes at a time when more Indian businesses are expanding internationally and seeking a robust payment infrastructure that can seamlessly manage multiple currencies, banking systems and regulatory requirements. Glomo is committed toward building a unified financial platform that brings together global payment collection, payouts, treasury management, outward remittances, identity verification and compliance infrastructure for businesses operating across markets.

The partnership reflects Sun Phu Quoc Airways’ strategic intent to establish cargo as a key pillar of its commercial growth, backed by technology that is purpose-built for the demands of the modern air freight industry. SmartKargo’s platform will equip the airline with end-to-end cargo capabilities, delivered through a single, unified cloud architecture.

As Sun Phu Quoc Airways continues to expand its international network and strengthen Phu Quoc's role as a new aviation gateway in the region, cargo will become an increasingly important contributor to network efficiency, commercial growth and long-term operational competitiveness. The airline's introduction of Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft from September 2026 will significantly increase belly cargo capacity across its international routes — making the deployment of a robust, scalable cargo management platform a strategic priority at this stage of growth. The deployment of SmartKargo also represents another milestone in the airline's broader digital transformation journey, supporting its ambition to become a five-star international airline.

Vietnam’s air cargo sector is experiencing accelerating growth, underpinned by the country’s booming export economy, rapid e-commerce adoption, and its emergence as a strategic manufacturing and logistics hub in Southeast Asia. By anchoring its cargo operations on the SmartKargo platform from inception, Sun Phu Quoc Airways is positioning itself to capture this momentum with the agility, operational precision, and commercial intelligence that the market demands.

Truong Ngo Quoc, Chief Information Officer, Sun Phu Quoc Airways, said,“We are building Sun Phu Quoc Airways’ cargo business with a clear mandate: to be technology-led, commercially agile, and ready to scale. After a rigorous evaluation, SmartKargo stood out as the partner that could not only meet our requirements today but grow with us as our network and ambitions expand. Their platform gives us the digital infrastructure to compete on a regional and global stage, and we look forward to bringing a new standard of cargo excellence to Vietnam’s aviation market.”

Olivier Houri, Chief Revenue Officer, SmartKargo, said,“Southeast Asia represents one of the most dynamic and high-potential air cargo markets in the world, and Vietnam sits at the very heart of that opportunity. We are proud to partner with Sun Phu Quoc Airways as they chart an ambitious course for their cargo business. This agreement is a testament to our shared belief that technology is the most powerful lever for building a cargo operation that is both commercially competitive and operationally excellent. We are committed to being the platform that powers their success.”

About SmartKargo
SmartKargo empowers airlines and small package shippers with the technology platform to leverage the speed only an airline can provide. Whether it's a cargo company shipping from Miami to Bogota, or a retailer looking to send a package from New York to Los Angeles – SmartKargo is the innovative solution that enables shippers to battle the status quo. With deep expertise in air cargo, technology, and e-commerce, SmartKargo enables airlines to open new revenue streams through e-commerce package shipping and delivery. SmartKargo is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with key offices in India, the Philippines, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Canada.

Learn more at: www.smartkargo.com

About Sun Phu Quoc Airways
Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA) is Vietnam's premium full-service airline, launched by Sun Group in November 2025. With Phu Quoc as its strategic hub, the airline is building an international network connecting Vietnam with key destinations across Asia, including Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok, with further expansion planned to Malaysia, India, Japan, Russia and Kazakhstan, while delivering a five-star "Resort in the Sky" experience on every flight. Alongside passenger services, SPA is developing cargo as a strategic business pillar, supported by digital innovation and operational excellence.

For more information, visit: www.sunphuquocairways.com/gl/en.

The RAG Holdings Team celebrates its Great Place to Work Certification, recognizing a workplace culture built on trust, collaboration and shared success

Awarded entirely on confidential employee feedback, the Great Place to Work Certification recognizes organizations that consistently foster trust, collaboration, inclusivity, and professional growth.

For RAG Holdings, this recognition represents more than a workplace achievement—it reflects a philosophy that has guided the organization since its inception: Building great businesses starts with great people.

As Dubai continues to strengthen its position as one of the world's leading destinations for entrepreneurship, innovation, and foreign investment, RAG Holdings believes that exceptional businesses are built on two foundations: an environment where companies can thrive and a culture where people can flourish.

Today, RAG Holdings has evolved beyond traditional business setup by creating a comprehensive business growth ecosystem. Through its network of premium business centres and flexible office spaces across Dubai, combined with integrated corporate services, RAG empowers entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and multinational organizations with everything they need to establish, operate and expand successfully in the UAE.

Its ecosystem includes premium office spaces, coworking environments, meeting facilities, Mainland and Free Zone company formation, PRO services, Golden Visa support, accounting and bookkeeping, corporate compliance, trademark registration, and strategic business advisory-all delivered through a seamless, client-centric experience.

“At RAG Holdings, we have always believed that our greatest investment is our people. This certification is particularly meaningful because it comes directly from the voices of our employees. It reflects the culture we have built together-one founded on trust, collaboration, learning and shared success. As we continue expanding our Business Growth Ecosystem and supporting entrepreneurs from around the world, our people will remain our greatest strength.” Rassal Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, RAG Holdings.

The Great Place to Work® Certification™ marks another significant milestone in RAG Holdings' journey as it continues to redefine how businesses establish and grow in the UAE.

More than a provider of business services, RAG Holdings has built an integrated ecosystem that supports businesses throughout every stage of their journey, from securing premium office infrastructure and launching operations to managing compliance, accessing strategic advisory, expanding into new markets and building long-term business success.

The milestone was celebrated with employees, founder & CEO Rassal Ahmed and the leadership team, recognizing the people whose passion and dedication continue to drive the organization forward. The celebration was further made memorable with a congratulatory message from Dr. Shashi Tharoor to the entire RAG team.

The company believes that exceptional employee experiences create exceptional client experiences. By continuously investing in its people, leadership, and workplace culture, RAG Holdings strengthens its ability to deliver outstanding service while contributing to Dubai's vision of becoming the world's preferred destination for entrepreneurs and global businesses.

As RAG Holdings continues its regional expansion, the company remains committed to attracting exceptional talent, developing future leaders and building a workplace culture that inspires innovation, collaboration and sustainable growth.

About RAG Holdings

RAG Holdings is a leading business growth ecosystem enabling entrepreneurs and enterprises to establish, operate and scale in the Dubai, India, Qatar & Singapore.

At the heart of its ecosystem are three flagship business centres across Dubai:

• RAG Global Business Hub – Al Qusais

• RAG Biz HQ – Sheikh Zayed Road

• RAG Tower – Al Barsha

Together, these flagship business centres provide premium office spaces, flexible workspaces, coworking environments, meeting facilities and business infrastructure designed to help entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and multinational companies build a strong presence in the UAE.

Complementing its workspace ecosystem, RAG delivers an integrated portfolio of business solutions including Mainland and Free Zone company formation, PRO services, Golden Visa solutions, accounting and bookkeeping, corporate compliance, trademark registration and strategic business advisory,providing everything businesses need to establish, operate and grow under one roof.

Driven by innovation, operational excellence and a people-first philosophy, RAG Holdings is redefining how entrepreneurs and enterprises build, grow and expand in one of the world's most dynamic business destinations.

About Great Place to Work®

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviours proven to drive business performance. Great Place to Work® Certification™ is awarded based entirely on confidential employee feedback and is recognised globally as one of the most credible employer recognitions.

Guaranteed news postings on USA Today
 

Through new strategic agreements, Media OutReach Newswire now provides clients with guaranteed online postings in flagship American media outlets like USA Today, Yahoo Finance, and The Associated Press, alongside more than 650 trusted news sites with domain authority. This latest service upgrade specifically targets guaranteed online news postings in media with domain authority to empower AI visibility. By combining distribution with JSON-LD Schema Markup that provides context and meaning to the press release for search engines and AI models to interpret its content accurately, Media OutReach Newswire's press release distribution structures answers for AI discoverability and AI citation. Media OutReach Newswire's press release distribution service has been helping companies and government agencies to actively build their AI visibility.

Media OutReach Newswire guarantees news release placements in the official, public-facing press release section of USA Today. With a Domain Authority (DA) rated between 92 and 94 out of 100, USA Today ranks as one of the most trusted news sources for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Attracting more than 120.5 million unique monthly visitors, this integration delivers the public visibility necessary to build client brand credibility and trust on a national stage. Additionally, the newswire has secured guaranteed news postings on real local and regional news websites, including The Arizona Republic, Detroit Free Press, Indianapolis Star, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Tennessean, and The Oklahoman.

"By improving the quality of our guaranteed news postings on trusted, Google-indexed news sites with domain authority, coupled with the direct delivery of press releases to journalists' inboxes, Media OutReach Newswire has successfully helped many Asian corporations to build their brand reputation in the US market," said Jennifer Kok, Founder and CEO of Media OutReach Newswire.

"We are pleased to have built a USA press release distribution network that focuses exactly on what PR professionals need, a distribution that reaches journalists and provides quality news postings on real media. Our comprehensive journalist database built by in-house media researchers covers more than 500 trade news categories and 65,000 journalists and editors across quality media titles. This has helped our clients secure earned media coverage and journalist inquiries from business, technology, ESG, automotive, travel, and many other media sectors in the USA. In addition, Media OutReach Newswire's partnership with The Associated Press delivers clients' news releases directly into newsrooms across the United States," added Jennifer.

Earned media coverage
 

Over the years, the newswire has cultivated brand trust with journalists at USA media outlets who actively engage with its client releases. Through its Media and Journalist Insights, Media OutReach Newswire is able to report on how many journalists by publication in the USA have opened its clients' press releases and the earned media write ups achieved.

Media and Journalist Insights per release

Through its Total PR and Communications Solution, Media OutReach Newswire's global distribution network delivers client press releases directly to journalists, guarantees verbatim news postings on trusted news sites with domain authority to empower SEO and GEO, and provides post-release reports packed with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time.

PR Intelligence Report for all releases

This total solution addresses the needs of PR and communication professionals from press release distribution through to reporting with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence across both in-country and global PR campaigns. It has been entrusted by hundreds of clients in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and across APAC to expand their business and brand awareness overseas to markets in Canada, USA, UK & Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, ASEAN, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Gulf States and Africa.

About Media OutReach Newswire

Media OutReach Newswire is Asia Pacific's first global newswire, serving as a trusted partner to media, corporations, agencies and governments across the region and the globe.

Founded in 2009 as a champion of the PR industry, Media OutReach Newswire leverages AI and SaaS technology to redefine press release distribution with a Total PR and Communications Solution. The newswire is focused on its core service of delivering press releases to journalists and editors in targeted media, posting client news releases on real media sites with domain authority (DA), and providing post release reports with data insights along with PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time. In March 2026, the newswire integrated JSON-LD Schema Markup into its online news postings to empower AI visibility for its clients.

With a global network of over 200,000 journalists and editors, 70,000+ media titles, 1,500+ media partners, and more than 40 languages, Media OutReach Newswire's focus on providing guaranteed verbatim posting on real media sites powers SEO and GEO for building brand trust and AI visibility, as press releases published on authentic media with domain authority are trusted by search engines and AI models.

Headquartered in Hong Kong SAR with global press release distribution network spanning USA & Canada, Latin America, UK & Europe, the Middle East, Gulf States, Africa, Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

For more information about our services, solutions, and network, please visit www.media-outreach.com

Agentforce Sales brings structure and visibility to the revenue engine. Instead of relying on spreadsheets, manual updates or one individual to maintain customer records, businesses get a real-time view of every lead, opportunity and pipeline. Automated lead assignment, workflow automation and mobile access help sales teams move faster, while built-in AI capabilities—including opportunity scoring, forecasting and intelligent recommendations—help teams focus on the opportunities that matter most without requiring specialist expertise.

For many SMBs, the biggest challenge isn't adopting new technology—it's getting people to use it. That's where Slack becomes a powerful advantage. Already familiar and loved by many growing businesses, Slack has evolved beyond team messaging to become the "work operating system" where employees collaborate, make decisions and keep work moving. From sales and customer support to HR, IT, operations and external collaboration, teams work together in one place. For smaller businesses, where employees wear multiple hats, every hour saved has an outsized impact on productivity and growth.

Tableau completes the picture by turning business data into actionable insights. Rather than waiting for static reports or manually compiled spreadsheets, founders and business leaders can monitor pipeline health, revenue trends and business performance through live, mobile-friendly dashboards. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes analytics accessible to every business user, while native connectivity with Salesforce provides real-time visibility into sales performance without the complexity of separate data warehouses or extensive integration projects.

Together, Agentforce Sales, Slack and Tableau create a connected operating system for growth—helping Indian SMBs sell smarter, collaborate faster and make confident decisions, all from a single platform that can be deployed in just four-six weeks. The SMB Growth Kit will be available immediately and includes structured onboarding, hands-on setup and post-go-live support. Teams can adopt AI-ready systems without turning implementation into another operational burden. The offering will be delivered in collaboration with select Salesforce reseller partners across India, helping ensure SMB customers receive a consistent onboarding, implementation and go-live experience.

Additional Comments on the News:

Mankiran Chowhan, Managing Director, Salesforce India, said, “India’s SMBs are moving quickly toward AI, but ambition alone is not enough. Many businesses are investing in AI, but far fewer have implemented it because their customer data, team conversations and business insights are still scattered. SMB Growth Kit gives growing businesses one connected system where sales activity, team conversations and live insights work together — helping teams act with more confidence, fewer blind spots and less guesswork.”

Swaroop Kaja, RVP - Sales, Salesforce India, said, “We launched SMB Growth Kit to give growing businesses one connected way to run sales, collaborate on deals and understand business performance in real time. With Agentforce Sales, Slack and Tableau working together, teams can spend less time chasing updates and more time moving customers forward. That is the immediate value: clearer pipeline, faster decisions and fewer blind spots. As these businesses grow, that connected data foundation also gives them a stronger base for using AI in ways that are trusted, useful and grounded in the reality of their business.”

Availability

SMB Growth Kit is available in India for small and medium businesses, exclusively through select Salesforce reseller partners. Salesforce teams support customers with structured onboarding, hands-on setup and post-go-live support, with businesses designed to be live and operational within four-six weeks of starting.

*Salesforce, the #1 CRM, powered by AI technology and capabilities.

About Salesforce

Salesforce helps organizations of any size become agentic enterprises - integrating humans, agents, apps, and data on a trusted, unified platform to unlock unprecedented growth and innovation.

Visit www.salesforce.com/in/ for more information.

Disclaimer: Pricing and packaging are subject to change. Availability may vary by region and is governed by customer agreements. Customers should base purchasing decisions on products and services currently available.

ANHAD Group Enters the Delhi-NCR Real Estate Market, Building on a Legacy of Over Three Decades

Today, ANHAD Group marks a significant milestone by entering the Delhi-NCR real estate sector through ANHAD Developers, bringing with it the same values that have defined its success for over three decades.

The Group’s transition into real estate is a natural evolution of its enduring philosophy: building with transparency, creating long-term value, and delivering with unwavering commitment.

Every development by ANHAD Developers will be guided by a customer-first approach, sustainable planning, superior quality, and timely execution.

Leading this vision, Mr. Pramesh Singh, Chairman, ANHAD Group, said: “Gurugram is one of India’s most dynamic and discerning real estate markets, where quality and credibility are valued above all else. Our entry into this sector is driven by a simple yet unwavering commitment - to deliver transparency, uncompromising quality, and projects completed on time. At ANHAD Developers, we aspire to build not just exceptional developments, but lasting trust an enduring relationships with our customers.”

ANHAD Developers aims to create iconic developments distinguished by thoughtful architecture, sustainable design, meticulous planning, and worldclass execution. Every project will reflect the Group’s long-standing philosophy of responsible growth while creating enduring value for customers and stakeholders alike.

Recognising Gurugram as India’s most vibrant luxury real estate destination, ANHAD Developers has established its corporate headquarters at Worldmark, Gurugram, and is assembling a highly experienced leadership team committed to redefining benchmarks in the sector.

As part of its initial growth strategy, the company is developing three flagship projects comprising a luxury residential development, a premium plotted township, and a landmark high-street commercial destination. Together, these projects represent an estimated development value of approximately INR 7,000 crore.

Every ANHAD development will be driven by four uncompromising principles:

• Prime and strategically connected locations

• Exceptional quality and craftsmanship

• Timely delivery with complete transparency

• Long-term value creation for homeowners and investors

With the strength of a trusted legacy and a clear vision for the future, ANHAD Developers is poised to emerge as a distinguished name in Delhi-NCR’s premium real estate landscape -building spaces that inspire confidence, enrich lifestyles, and stand the test of time.

L-R: Nitin Jain, Chairman & MD, Neo Group, Shajikumar Devakar, Co-Founder & CEO, Neo Wealth, Puneet Jain, Co-Founder & CIO, Neo Asset, Varun Bajpai, Co-Founder, Neo Group, Hemant Daga, Co-Founder & CEO, Neo Asset

Neo Group has built a differentiated and institutionalised Wealth and Asset Management platform in India. With nearly INR 3,000 Crore of equity capital, approximately INR 1,30,000 Crore of total client assets, and INR 50,000 Crore of annualised recurring revenue (ARR) assets, the platform today operates across 30+ cities through a team of over 850 professionals – including 150+ of the most respected senior Wealth Advisors in the country, drawn exclusively from the highest tiers of leading global private banking institutions.

Neo Group is a uniquely knowledge-driven, super specialised platform, with an unparalleled depth of management in the wealth and asset management industry, anchored in a hi-trust, hi-touch, hi-tech model. 

Neo’s wealth management advisory franchise combines deep investment expertise with a cutting-edge technology platform, ensuring clients have direct access to seasoned specialists with decades of experience in their respective fields. Their asset management platform complements this with a dedicated team of exceptional fund managers delivering strong performance across alternative investment strategies – Private Credit, Infrastructure, and Private Equity. This is precisely the kind of institution that India's rapidly expanding base of wealth creators demands.

Commenting on the development, Nitin Jain, Chairman & Managing Director, Neo Group, said, "Our objective has always been to build an enduring institution with strong governance, disciplined capital allocation, and client-first alignment. This fundraise gives us the capital and long-term partnership to keep building for the future – investing in talent, technology, and new product capabilities as we expand our presence across India."

“We have believed in Neo’s vision from the early days, and continue to be impressed by the strength of the platform Nitin and the team are building. As India’s wealth management market evolves and demand for more sophisticated financial solutions grows, Neo stands out for its deep advisory talent, institutional approach, and strong client alignment. The scale they have built in a short span reflects both strong execution and the opportunity ahead. We’re excited to deepen our partnership as they continue building for the long term,” said Sakshi Chopra, MD, Peak XV Partners. 

Peak XV's latest commitment follows TVS Capital's recent INR 550 Crore investment in Neo Group – together reflecting the sustained and growing conviction of India's most discerning institutional investors in the platform. With the foundations of an enduring institution firmly in place, Neo Group now enters its next substantial stage of growth.

About Neo Group 

Neo is an integrated wealth and asset management platform serving family offices, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, institutions and corporates. The Group manages approximately INR 1,30,000 crore in total client assets across Assets Under Advice and Assets Under Management (as of June 30, 2026). Headquartered in Mumbai, Neo has a presence across key locations in India, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Goa and Jaipur, as well as an overseas presence in the United States. The Group has a team of more than 850 professionals. Neo offers capabilities across wealth management, asset management, private markets, fixed income, global investments, insurance, and estate planning.

For more information, please visit www.neo.group.

Kumar Saurabh, Co-founder, Aukera and Lisa Mukhedkar, Founder & CEO, Aukera

That leadership is visible on the ground: in the year since its last raise, Aukera has grown from 13 to 35 company-owned stores, expanding beyond Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi NCR into cities including Pune, Lucknow, Dehradun and Vizag — one of the fastest retail scale-ups in Indian fine jewellery, and a genuinely national footprint. The new capital will fuel the next phase of this expansion.

Aukera occupies the premium end of India's lab-grown diamond market, built around a simple idea: the better diamond. Every Aukera diamond is of the highest grades, certified to the most exacting global standards, and crafted into fine jewellery featuring original, in-house designs and the brand's trademarked cuts. It is a promise brought to life by a design and craft organisation that draws on global talent, and carried publicly by acclaimed actor Taapsee Pannu, the Face of the Brand. For Aukera's customers, grown diamonds are a deliberate upgrade — to a finer, larger, better-designed diamond.

That confidence extends to how the brand stands behind every piece. Aukera operates company-owned experience stores across the country and backs every purchase with assured buyback and exchange — the kind of guarantee that has traditionally separated enduring jewellery houses from the rest.

"This category will not be won on discounting — it will be won on trust, quality and brand," said Lisa Mukhedkar, Founder & CEO, Aukera. "This capital lets us take that promise to many more cities, faster."

"We believe this category will require the top player to invest at least Rs. 1,000 crore, as the mining industry resets to recognise the permanence of grown diamonds," said Kumar Saurabh, Co-founder, Aukera. "We are building the balance sheet and the business to be that player."

With the fresh capital, Aukera will accelerate store openings in new and existing markets, continue investing in design, product innovation and talent, and strengthen the omnichannel infrastructure that supports its retail engine.

Founded in 2023 by Lisa Mukhedkar and Kumar Saurabh, Aukera is backed by Peak XV Partners, Fireside Ventures, Sparrow Capital, Prath Ventures and Alteria Capital, and is on track towards its stated ambition of becoming a Rs. 1,000 crore brand.

Neka Sulaiman, Director, HiLITE Holdings

Her appointment marks an important step in HiLITE Group’s next phase of growth, as the Group expands its presence beyond retail, residential, commercial and business infrastructure projects into the hospitality sector.

As part of the new vision, HiLITE Group plans to build a diversified hospitality portfolio across luxury, upscale and midscale hotel segments. Kozhikode is expected to be a key focus market, supported by the city’s growing business, tourism, healthcare and education ecosystem.

Speaking on her new role, Neka Sulaiman said the Group’s aim is to create hospitality destinations that become part of the city’s business, cultural and social life.

“This is the right time to strengthen Kozhikode’s hospitality landscape. Our target is not just about numbers, but about creating the right hospitality infrastructure for a growing city,” she said.

P. Sulaiman, Group Chairman, HiLITE Group, said Neka’s appointment reflects her commitment, character and willingness to take ownership.

“The true measure of a leader lies in character, judgement and responsibility. These are qualities I have seen in Neka over the years. I look forward to the fresh perspective she will bring to HiLITE Group,” he said.

Neka was associated with Hug a Mug, HiLITE Group’s home-grown café brand, during her educational period, gaining hands-on experience in operations, customer service and team coordination. She said the experience helped her understand business from the ground level.

Neka completed her schooling at The White School International (International Baccalaureate) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree. She has also completed CMA, strengthening her foundation in finance, management and business strategy.

With Neka taking charge, HiLITE Group aims to build a strong hospitality vertical that supports Kerala’s growing demand for quality hotel infrastructure while carrying forward the Group’s legacy through new-generation leadership. 

Keeper protects over 95,000 organizations, which includes many Fortune 500 enterprises and public sector agencies. The company is quickly emerging as the market standard for AI-native identity security for enterprises globally with its leading zero-trust and zero-knowledge identity security platform. In 2025, leading analyst firm Gartner recognized Keeper as the second-fastest-growing security software competitor globally, second only to Google.* This recognition underscores Keeper’s rapid market expansion in addressing identity security challenges created by cloud transformation and artificial intelligence adoption across enterprise infrastructure and endpoints.

Keeper is now growing at over 4x the industry average.

Keeper Security is now growing at over 4x the industry average

This market-leading growth is driven by the explosion of identities in the agentic AI age and relentless focus on innovation to protect customers, as evidenced by the release of its unified privileged access management and identity security platform, KeeperPAM®, which protects both human and Non-Human Identities (NHIs), including service accounts, machine identities, databases, AI agents and agentic workloads. Since the launch of KeeperPAM in February 2025, KeeperPAM revenue has exhibited 10x year-over-year growth and Keeper has seen industry-leading new customer growth, adding an average of 850 new organizations every month. In the last fifteen months, Keeper added over 400 innovative features and products to KeeperPAM.

“Identity is the new security perimeter,” said Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-founder of Keeper Security. “As enterprises increasingly deploy AI agents and autonomous systems, the number of privileged identities and machine credentials is growing exponentially. Organizations need a modern, unified platform that secures every identity – human and non-human – and governs every privileged interaction. Our growth reflects the market’s demand for a platform purpose-built to address these challenges.”

Keeper’s cloud-native cybersecurity platform delivers a comprehensive approach to identity security and privileged access management by unifying enterprise password management, secrets management, privileged session management, database management and endpoint privilege management in a single platform. Keeper’s AI-native identity security strategy seamlessly extends these capabilities to non-human identities and agentic AI environments, enabling organizations to discover, manage and secure machine credentials and autonomous workloads with the same rigor applied to human users.

As enterprises adopt AI technologies at scale, the proliferation of non-human identities is rapidly outpacing that of human identities by 150:1, according to reports, thereby creating new attack surfaces and operational complexity. Keeper’s platform helps organizations establish identity-first security strategies that provide security, visibility, governance and least-privilege controls across their entire identity ecosystem.

"Autonomous agents, frontier LLMs and machine-to-machine workflows are operating inside enterprise environments right now – without adequate governance, secrets management or access controls,” said Craig Lurey, CTO and Co-founder of Keeper Security. “Keeper is purpose-built to solve this problem at scale.”

The company’s continued growth and market recognition reinforce its position as one of the cybersecurity industry’s most innovative and fastest-growing providers of AI-native identity security and privileged access management solutions. Keeper’s financial profile combines best-in-class growth, profitability and a debt-free capital structure and is an asset positioned to efficiently lead identity security in the agentic AI age.

"Surpassing USD 225 million in ARR confirms what we've heard in every enterprise conversation – that securing non-human identities is the defining security challenge of the AI era," said Darren Guccione, CEO of Keeper Security. “We have established an accelerated path to USD 1 billion in ARR which, coupled with our technology roadmap, will provide optionality for a public offering.”

Source Citation:

Gartner, Market Share Analysis: Security Software, Worldwide, 2025, Rahul Yadav, Deepali, 11 May 2026

Gartner is a trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's Business and Technology Insights Organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Keeper Security

Keeper Security is the leading zero-trust and zero-knowledge identity security solution, trusted by millions of people and thousands of organizations globally. KeeperPAM® is Keeper's privileged access management platform that unifies password and passkey management, secrets management, privileged session management and endpoint privilege management in a single cloud-native platform, protected with quantum-resistant encryption. KeeperAI delivers real-time, AI-native threat detection across every privileged session. As AI agents proliferate and identity becomes the defining attack surface, Keeper governs access for humans, machines, non-human identities and AI agents, serving as the unified control plane for access, compliance and visibility across the enterprise.

For more information, visit KeeperSecurity.com

Lloyds Realty unveils a refreshed brand identity with monochromatic design language and new vision anchored in “Building Soulful Spaces"

The most distinctive change is the new brand symbol anchored around the numeral “1” - representing focus, leadership and a singular commitment to excellence. Accompanying it is a shift from Lloyds Realty’s earlier blue corporate palette to a refined monochromatic design language, signalling a deliberate move toward the premium positioning in Mumbai’s dynamic real estate. While Lloyds Realty's name, values, and legacy remain unchanged, the evolved visual identity signals a sharper strategic direction and an upgraded vision for the future.

Marking this notable moment, Mr. Ravi Agarwal, Chairman & MD, Lloyds Realty Developers Limited, said, “This rebrand represents the evolution of Lloyds Realty as a company - not just in how we look, but in what we stand for. As customer expectations in Mumbai’s real estate market grow more sophisticated, we are building developments that go beyond structure to create genuine value, trust, and experience. Over the course of next five years, we aim for Lloyds Realty to be recognised as one of Mumbai's most respected premium developers - and this identity is the foundation for that growth journey.”

“A brand identity should do more than create recognition. It should express the ambition of the business it represents. For Lloyds Realty, we wanted to create a visual language that reflected clarity, confidence and a long-term vision. For a real estate firm, it is crucial that the identity reflects its compassionate and human nature. Combining ‘L’ of Lloyds with the numeral ‘1’ created a powerful symbol of leadership, strength and excellence. The monochromatic palette was intentionally chosen to convey sophistication, permanence and timeless appeal. As Lloyds Realty enters a new phase of growth, this identity provides a distinctive foundation that is both strategically meaningful and instantly recognisable,” said Sunil Mahadik - Creative Head, Minds Collective.

The refreshed identity further marks the evolution of Lloyds Realty's brand philosophy. While the company's legacy has been rooted in "Value Buildings, Building Values," the new vision of "Building Soulful Spaces" takes that foundation further: a sharper focus on developments that create meaningful experiences, lasting community value, and a sense of belonging that outlives the transaction. 

The refreshed identity will be rolled out across all customer and stakeholder touchpoints, including project sites, sales galleries, marketing communications, digital platforms, corporate assets, and partner networks.

Existing customers, employees, channel partners, and stakeholders will continue to experience the same commitment to trust, transparency, and service excellence that has defined the company’s track record.

About Lloyds Realty Developers Limited

Lloyds Realty Developers Limited is a Mumbai-based real estate development company and a subsidiary of Lloyds Enterprises. The company currently has a portfolio valued at over Rs. 23,500 crore, spanning premium residential and redevelopment projects across key micro-markets. With over 3 million sq. ft. delivered and approximately 14 million sq. ft. under development, the company is focused on building thoughtfully designed spaces that create lasting value for homeowners and communities 

Formerly known as Aristo Realty Developers Ltd. and tracing its roots back over three decades, the company brings a long-standing legacy in Mumbai’s redevelopment space, including cluster redevelopment and MHADA schemes, and is currently expanding its portfolio with new launches such as The Nilayam in Goregaon and Solace in Dadar (West).

It has delivered close to 3 million square feet of residential and commercial real estate across Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and Tirupur, with landmark projects such as Pearl Residency, Lloyds Garden, and The Qube. Guided by Chairman and Managing Director Ravi Agarwal, Lloyds Realty Developers Limited continues to focus on quality craftsmanship, timely delivery, and sustainable urban development across India's real estate sector.

For more information, please visit lloydsrealty.com.

DS Group To Launch Marriott International’s W Hotels Brand In NCR
 

Marking the debut of W Hotels in Delhi NCR, and the second W Hotels property in India (after Goa), this development will add a distinctive, lifestyle-led offering to a market traditionally dominated by legacy luxury formats. Rooted in an impactful trifecta which includes detail-driven design, anticipatory service culture, and dynamic programming, W Hotels has a presence in global cities such as London, New York, Dubai, and Singapore to name a few. Remaining true to the brand’s iconic foundations, the upcoming property will be developed as a design-forward, contemporary destination, in line with W Hotels’ global identity. Bringing together the magnetic energy of W Hotels and the essence of local culture, the hotel aims to cater to a new generation of luxury consumers seeking both sophistication and vibrancy around Delhi NCR.

Announcing the launch, Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, DS Group, said, “The Indian hospitality sector is currently witnessing an unprecedented growth trajectory, fuelled by a robust surge in domestic travel and a significant demand-supply mismatch in the premium segment. With approximately 0.27 hotel keys per 1,000 people compared to the global average of 2.2, India’s hotel penetration rate is roughly one-tenth of the global standard. As marquee global players are rapidly expanding their footprints across the Indian landscape, New Delhi remains the indispensable gateway to the high value diplomatic and corporate echelons that ultimately establish a brand's equity and authority in the subcontinent. The launch of Marriott International’s W Hotels brand reinforces our continued commitment to the hospitality business and marks a significant milestone in DS Group's growth strategy, aligned with our long-term vision of providing unparalleled experiences to our guests.”

Mr. Nathan Andrews, Business Head, Hospitality, DS Group, said, “This project is a significant step for the DS Group as we expand our hospitality footprint with a target of 10–12 hotels by FY29. By bringing the iconic W Hotels brand to Delhi NCR, we are setting a new benchmark for design-led luxury, project in one of India’s most competitive markets. The Aerocity area continues to demonstrate exceptional demand and RevPAR growth, making it the ideal location for a globally recognized brand that combines unmatched connectivity with long-term value for Delhi NCR. This partnership underscores our commitment to shaping the future of Indian hospitality by delivering curated, high-impact experiences for the modern global traveller.”

“As Marriott International continues to expand our hospitality options in India to meet the evolving needs of both guests and owners, the signing of our first W Hotels in Delhi NCR is set to introduce a bold new expression of luxury to this dynamic, high-energy market,” said Kiran Andicot, Senior Vice President, South Asia, Marriott International. “We are delighted to collaborate with the Dharampal Satyapal Group, whose legacy of excellence and forward-looking approach to premium, experience-led hospitality aligns seamlessly with Marriott International’s commitment to delivering differentiated, high-quality hospitality experiences, grounded in strong partnerships and a shared vision for long-term value creation.”

Rooted in the W Hotels philosophy of celebrating individuality, igniting curiosity, and expanding perspectives, the hotel is poised to disrupt traditional hospitality. Blending avant-garde, design-led environments with high-energy social hubs like the W Lounge, will transform the hotel from a mere place of stay into a vibrant, music-infused lifestyle destination. This ethos of innovation and immersive guest engagement aligns seamlessly with the DS Group’s legacy of excellence and its strategic focus on delivering premium, market-leading experiences.

By welcoming W Hotels into its portfolio, DS Group reinforces its commitment to forward‑thinking luxury defined by cultural energy and modern relevance. Known for its liberated approach to luxury and bold design sensibility, W Hotels brings a dynamic new dimension—creating experiences that celebrate self‑expression, connection, and living fully in the moment. This approach aligns with DS Group’s focus on delivering premium, experience-led hospitality and expanding its footprint in futuristic and high-growth urban markets.

DS Group is pursuing an aggressive expansion strategy in hospitality, with plans to double its current room inventory by 2029 and an investment commitment of Rs. 1,000 crore over the next few years. The growth will be driven primarily in the luxury and mid-scale segments, across high-growth Tier I and Tier II cities. DS Group’s existing portfolio includes six operational properties across key markets, including Namah Nainital, Namah Jim Corbett, Radisson Blu Guwahati, Intercontinental Jaipur, Renaissance Bengaluru and Holiday Inn Express, Kolkata.

About DS Group

The DS Group (Dharampal Satyapal Group) is a one of the leading FMCG conglomerates and a Multi-Business Corporation with a strong Indian and International presence. Founded in the year 1929, it is an inspiring and successful business story that blends a remarkable history and legacy with visionary growth. It has an extensive and diverse portfolio with presence in Food and Beverage, Confectionery, Mouth Freshener, Hospitality, Agri, Luxury Retail businesses, and other investments. Catch, Pulse, Pass Pass, Silver Pearls, Ksheer, Rajnigandha, Ovino, L’Opera, Le Marche, Birthright, LuvIt, Chingles, Golmol, Namah are some of the leading brands, the Group proudly shelters today.

As a corporate, DS Group is guided by a clear set of values that are built on a strong foundation of collective good to give back to society and protect the planet. The DS Headquarters has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, under the USGBC (US Green Building Council) existing building O&M (Operation and Maintenance) program version 4.0. The DS Headquarters has also received LEED Zero Carbon Certification, by the USGBC. DS Group has aligned its financial performance with global ESG priorities with the launch of a pioneering Double Materiality Assessment across all businesses. Further demonstrating its environmental leadership, the DS Group has a water positivity index at 1.8 across its business units in 30 locations of India.

"We are living in the age of the naked economy, where radical transparency has collapsed information asymmetry, and trust has become the ultimate source of competitive advantage. In this environment, only leaders who create genuine value for all stakeholders, not just shareholders, will earn the trust needed to sustain profitable growth. That is what steward leadership is about, and it is what the Steward Leadership Institute exists to build," — Rajeev Peshawaria, Chief Executive Officer, Steward Leadership Institute.

SLI is a unit within the Temasek Trust ecosystem. The rebrand reflects the maturation of a shared mission to build a better future for every generation. Alongside the new name, SLI is introducing a refreshed visual identity featuring a diamond positioned atop the "I" in the wordmark, symbolising individual ascent and the Institute's commitment to elevating leaders and the organisations they serve.

All existing programmes, frameworks, engagements, and client agreements remain unchanged. SLI's team and leadership are unchanged, and all contacts and communications will continue without interruption.

About Steward Leadership Institute
Steward Leadership Institute (SLI) is dedicated to research, education, and advisory on enabling profitable growth by addressing environmental and social challenges. We are part of the Temasek Trust ecosystem with a shared purpose of building a better future for every generation. Temasek Trust is the philanthropic arm of Singapore-based global investor Temasek Holdings.

Truecaller and Route Mobile Announce Partnership to Strengthen Global Business Messaging

As part of the partnership, Route Mobile will enable access to Truecaller Business Messaging, empowering enterprises to deliver secure, reliable, and trusted communication at scale. Communication is at the core of every business, and this collaboration aims to make customer interactions more seamless, secure, and effective.

Priyam Bose, Global Head, GTM, Truecaller, said, "This partnership marks a significant step in expanding our global footprint by enabling more businesses to connect with their customers through trusted and highly contextual messaging. It will help drive broader platform adoption and create new strategic opportunities to better serve enterprise customers through Route Mobile’s extensive and well-established global network."

Tushar Agnihotri, CEO, Route Mobile, said, "We are delighted to partner with Truecaller to bring advanced business messaging solutions to enterprises globally. By combining our robust CPaaS infrastructure with Truecaller’s extensive user reach and rich media messaging, we are enabling brands to communicate more effectively, build trusted interactions, and engage customers in a more meaningful way. This collaboration supports secure, reliable communication at scale, helping businesses strengthen customer engagement and improve campaign effectiveness."

The partnership aims to enhance user engagement by enabling businesses to reach more than 500 million monthly active users globally on Truecaller with contextual, immersive, rich-media messages that seamlessly integrate images, documents, and videos.

The platform offers both one-way and two-way communication capabilities, with a broad range of functionalities, including verified business messaging, hyperlinks for actionability, smart-priority sticky notifications, and read receipts. These capabilities are designed to help businesses improve customer interactions and engagement.

About Truecaller
Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 500 million active users worldwide, with more than one billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company is headquartered in Stockholm and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021.

About Proximus Global
Proximus Global, combining the strengths of Telesign, BICS, and Route Mobile, is transforming the future of communications and digital identity. Together, our solutions fuel innovation across the world's largest companies and emerging brands. Our unrivaled global reach empowers businesses to create engaging experiences with built-in fraud protection across the entire customer lifecycle. Our comprehensive suite of solutions – from our super network for voice, messaging, and data, to 5G and IoT; and from verification and intelligence to CPaaS for personalized omnichannel engagement – enables businesses and communities to thrive. Reaching over 5 billion subscribers, securing more than 180 billion transactions annually, and connecting 1,000+ destinations, we honor our commitment to connect, protect, and engage everyone, everywhere. For more information, visit www.proximusglobal.com.

From left to right: Adit Bhansali and Aayush Bhansali, Co-Founders of Firefly Diamonds

The milestone follows the recent launch of one of India's largest four-storey lab-grown diamond jewellery stores in Mumbai and marks another step in Firefly's ambition to make premium diamond jewellery more accessible to a new generation of consumers. 

At the heart of Firefly's offering are lab-grown diamonds that are chemically, physically and optically identical to mined diamonds, while offering better brilliance, clarity and colour. Created using advanced technology and renewable energy, these diamonds are certified by the same globally recognised laboratories that certify natural diamonds.

"For three generations, our family has been in the diamond business. What has changed is the customer," said Aayush Bhansali, Co-founder, Firefly Diamonds. "Consumers want exceptional craftsmanship, meaningful design, and a smarter way to own diamonds. Firefly was built to meet that demand. Reaching 10 stores across India is an important milestone, but it's only the beginning as we work towards making world-class diamond jewellery more accessible to a new generation of buyers.”

Every Firefly jewellery piece undergoes a meticulous 20-step production process that takes over 100 hours to complete. Each diamond is set entirely by hand, followed by a rigorous 100-step quality assurance process. Only the top 2% of diamonds are selected, ensuring every piece is crafted to become a lasting heirloom for generations to come.

Firefly further enhances customer experience through a suite of personalised services. Through Firefly Studio, customers can explore more than 50,000 customised ring combinations across diamonds, settings and styles, while Firefly Reserve offers bespoke jewellery creation services that transform personal stories, inspirations and heirlooms into one-of-a-kind pieces. 

The brand's Old Gold Exchange programme offers customers an opportunity to exchange their existing gold jewellery for Firefly store credit and added value, making it easier to upgrade to lab-grown diamond jewellery. As Firefly's lab-grown diamonds are grown in India, every purchase supports domestic manufacturing and craftsmanship, ensuring that more value stays within the country rather than flowing into overseas mining supply chains. Together, the Old Gold Exchange programme and locally grown diamonds offer customers a modern, responsible way to own diamond jewellery while contributing to India's jewellery ecosystem.

In 2025, Firefly secured USD 3 million in funding led by WestBridge Capital, a leading venture capital firm with over USD 8 billion in AUM. The investment will continue to support Firefly Diamonds’ plans to expand its store footprint to 25 stores this year and 60 stores next year, further strengthening its position as one of India's largest lab-grown diamond jewellery brands. As part of this journey, the company is also looking to partner with franchisees who share its vision of bringing premium lab-grown diamond jewellery to customers across the country.

Its portfolio includes many collections, notably, All Ways You, a collection featuring transformable jewellery that transitions seamlessly from everyday wear to evening occasions; Maxim, a contemporary collection created for the growing men's jewellery segment; and the Eden Collection, inspired by lush gardens, transforming freely climbing vines and light-catching leaves into delicate diamond silhouettes that capture nature illuminated. These sit alongside an expanding range of collections designed for versatility, self-expression and everyday celebrations. 

Sustainability remains central to the brand's philosophy. The brand's lab-grown diamonds are created using renewable energy, offering a more environmentally responsible alternative to traditional diamond mining. Extending this commitment beyond its products, Firefly plants a tree in the name of every customer. Through a digital tracking platform, customers can monitor their tree's location, growth, carbon offset and oxygen contribution, creating a tangible environmental legacy linked to every purchase. 

Giving back to society is equally central to Firefly's journey. The brand's co-founders established CADIndia, a non-profit initiative that provides affordable training in CAD software used in jewellery design and manufacturing. The programme has trained hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds, many of whom have gone on to contribute to the jewellery industry, creating a direct link between skill development, employment and craftsmanship.

About Firefly Diamonds
Firefly Diamonds is a modern lab-grown diamond jewellery brand built on a 60-year legacy of craftsmanship. With a focus on sustainability, custom design, and everyday luxury, Firefly offers 100% real, certified diamonds powered by renewable energy, both online and across its stores in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Extending its sustainability-first ethos, Firefly plants a tree in the name of every customer, creating a lasting environmental legacy tied to each jewellery purchase.

For franchisee enquiries, contact us at info@fireflydiamonds.com

Commenting on the development, Mr. Sanjay Suri, Managing Director, Morepen Laboratories Limited, said, “This is an important milestone in Morepen’s transition toward long-duration global manufacturing partnerships. Our teams have worked closely with the customer through validation, manufacturing readiness and supply-chain planning. Having started execution of commercial supplies, we are focused on scaling up, expanding capacity and building a stronger CDMO platform across additional customer and product opportunities.” 

Having dispatched the first batch under the CDMO mandate, Morepen expects to scale the program further in the coming quarter, with additional supplies of approximately Rs. 225 crore expected during Q2FY2026-27, subject to customer schedules and regulatory/commercial requirements.

The Company continues to strengthen its manufacturing infrastructure to support larger CDMO opportunities. Total reactor capacity is expected to reach approximately 600 KL by the end of Q2, followed by further expansion toward 800 KL and 1,000 KL in subsequent phases.

The commencement of commercial supplies under this mandate reinforces Morepen’s strategy to build a scalable CDMO platform, deepen customer partnerships and participate in long-duration global manufacturing opportunities.

About Morepen Laboratories Limited
Morepen Laboratories Limited is a pharmaceutical and healthcare company with a presence across APIs, finished formulations, diagnostics and consumer healthcare. The Company continues to strengthen its manufacturing, research and regulatory capabilities to support growth across domestic and international markets.

Safe Harbour Statement
Certain statements in this release concerning future prospects, business plans, expectations and performance may be forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

Leap Ahead Makes a Powerful Start with Strategic MOUs

As Leap Ahead continues building a strong ecosystem focused on entrepreneurship, global connectivity, and business growth, these partnerships mark a major milestone in creating opportunities for Indian startups and enterprises to scale internationally.
 

Leap Ahead is focusing on building stronger business, innovation, and entrepreneurial connections across BRICS and SCO member nations by enabling cross-border collaborations, international market access, startup exchange opportunities, investor networks, and global business partnerships.

Strategic Partners Joining the Leap Ahead Ecosystem
BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry: A leading platform promoting trade, investment, and economic cooperation among BRICS nations, BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry will support international business networking, policy dialogue, and global market access opportunities for the Leap Ahead ecosystem.

Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC): ESC, one of India’s premier export promotion organizations under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, will collaborate with Leap Ahead to strengthen technology exports, international business linkages, and global outreach for startups and MSMEs.

SCO Business Incubator: SCO Business Incubator joins the Leap Ahead ecosystem to promote international startup collaboration, innovation exchange, incubation support, and entrepreneurial partnerships across member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The collaboration aims to create opportunities for startups and enterprises to engage with emerging international innovation ecosystems and cross-border business initiatives.

Global Management Associates LLC: GMA, Dubai based firm joins as a strategic consulting and international business support partner to assist startups and enterprises in business transformation, global strategy development, market expansion, and international operational readiness. The partnership will further strengthen Leap Ahead’s mission of enabling businesses to scale confidently across global markets.

SHC Partners: SHC Partners, a reputed Investment Banking and advisory firm based in Mumbai, joins as a strategic financial and growth advisory partner to support fundraising, investor connections, strategic expansion, and business scaling opportunities for enterprises associated with Leap Ahead.

Glexscale: Glexscale, France-based global business expansion specialists, will enable international collaborations and market-entry opportunities across Europe and other global markets, empowering Indian businesses to build stronger international footprints.

Building a Global Growth Platform
Leap Ahead is actively working to bridge the gap between innovation, capital, mentorship, policy ecosystems, and global business opportunities by creating a collaborative platform for entrepreneurs and enterprises.

With these partnerships, Leap Ahead aims to enable international market access for startups and MSMEs, facilitate investor and strategic growth opportunities, strengthen cross-border collaborations, support innovation-led enterprises and build global business networks and ecosystem partnerships.

The organization continues to engage with industry leaders, international institutions, investors, government bodies, and innovation ecosystems to create long-term impact for India’s entrepreneurial landscape.

“Indian startups and MSMEs have strong ambition and capability, but global growth needs the right access, trusted networks, and structured support. Through these strategic MOUs, Leap Ahead is creating meaningful pathways for businesses to connect with international markets, investors, mentors, and partners,” - Divya Multani Jain, Founder, Leap Ahead.

“Leap Ahead’s global network is not just an expansion milestone; it is a gateway for startups and MSMEs to access international markets with more confidence, credibility, and structure. At Marwari Catalysts, we see this as an important step toward building global pathways for businesses”- Sushil Sharma, Chairman, Marwari Catalysts Group.

“Technology and exports will play a key role in taking Indian enterprises global. ESC, together with Leap Ahead, can help startups and MSMEs access international markets, build global linkages, and strengthen their export-readiness through the right ecosystem support,” - Shree Gurmeet Singh, CEO and Executive Director, ESC.
 
About Leap Ahead
Leap Ahead is a growth and innovation-focused platform working towards enabling startups, MSMEs, founders, and businesses through strategic collaborations, ecosystem partnerships, global exposure, and business acceleration opportunities.

The platform focuses on building strong national and international networks that help enterprises scale sustainably and access new growth avenues globally.

To know more or explore partnership opportunities, visit www.leapaheadindia.com

Climekare Sustainability Private Limited Signs Strategic MoU with European Business and Technology Centre to Accelerate India's Low-Carbon Transition

Climekare Sustainability is a climate and sustainability solutions company that partners with businesses, industries, and institutions to guide them through their sustainability transformation journey. By combining advisory expertise, digital solutions, and implementation support, the company enables organizations to measure, manage, and reduce their environmental impact while building resilient and future-ready operations.

Over the years, Climekare Sustainability has built a strong portfolio of clients across the climate, energy, sustainability, and environmental commodities ecosystem. The company has partnered with several leading organizations, including Tata Power Trading Company Limited, EKI Energy Services Limited, Transport Corporation of India Limited, Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Limited, ReConnect Energy Solutions Limited, Customized Energy Solutions India Private Limited, Climera Carbon Private Limited, Saxon Renewables Pte. Ltd., AFS Energy BV, Stellapps Technologies Private Limited, ESDC Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd., and several other organizations, supporting them in their sustainability, carbon management, ESG, renewable energy, and decarbonization initiatives.

The partnership with EBTC comes at a time when sustainability has evolved from a compliance requirement into a strategic business priority. Across the globe, governments, investors, and supply chains are increasingly demanding greater transparency in climate risk management, greenhouse gas emissions, ESG performance, and decarbonization commitments. Regulatory developments such as the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and India's growing emphasis on Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) are accelerating this transition and creating an urgent need for credible sustainability frameworks and implementation partners.

Against this backdrop, the collaboration between CSPL and EBTC aims to facilitate knowledge exchange, promote the adoption of clean technologies, and support organizations in developing practical and scalable decarbonization pathways aligned with global sustainability expectations. By leveraging EBTC's strong Europe-India ecosystem and Climekare's expertise in climate advisory and sustainability implementation, the partnership will enable industries to access innovative solutions that deliver measurable environmental and business outcomes.

The collaboration is expected to benefit a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, real estate, logistics, and export-oriented industries, all of which are increasingly required to align with evolving global sustainability standards and investor expectations. Through this partnership, organizations will be better equipped to navigate regulatory complexities, improve operational efficiency, strengthen ESG performance, and enhance their competitiveness in international markets.

Speaking on the partnership, Saurabh Sainger, Founder of Climekare Sustainability Private Limited, said, "Our collaboration with the European Business and Technology Centre marks a significant milestone in our mission to help businesses accelerate their sustainability transition. Sustainability is no longer just about compliance—it has become a strategic imperative for long-term competitiveness, resilience, and global market access. Through this partnership, we aim to bridge sustainability ambition with practical implementation by bringing together European expertise, clean technologies, and actionable climate solutions that create measurable environmental and business value for Indian industries. We believe this collaboration will empower organizations to confidently navigate the evolving global sustainability landscape while contributing meaningfully to India's Net Zero aspirations."

Poul V. Jensen, Managing Director, European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC), said, "India’s sustainability journey is one of the most dynamic transformations of our time. With its vast industrial base, growing economy, and ambitious climate commitments, the country presents tremendous opportunities for innovation, technology collaboration, and responsible growth. At EBTC, we see this as a pivotal moment to strengthen bridges between Europe and India, ensuring that sustainable solutions are not only envisioned but also implemented at scale.

Our newly announced collaboration with Climekare Sustainability reflects this shared commitment. Climekare is an emerging player dedicated to advancing practical climate solutions, and EBTC brings decades of experience as a trusted facilitator of Europe-India partnerships in clean technologies, green innovation, and sustainable business practices."

The partnership also reflects the growing momentum of Europe-India cooperation in addressing shared climate challenges and accelerating sustainable economic growth. By connecting businesses with innovative technologies, international best practices, and implementation support, CSPL and EBTC aim to contribute to India's Net Zero ambitions while strengthening industrial competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global economy.

Commenting on the development, Sushil Sharma, Chairman of Marwari Catalysts Group, said, "We are delighted to see Climekare Sustainability taking this strategic step with EBTC. As businesses worldwide accelerate their sustainability commitments, collaborations such as these will play a critical role in enabling innovation, clean technology adoption, and scalable climate solutions. We are proud to support Climekare in its journey towards creating lasting environmental and economic impact."

As organizations continue to navigate increasing climate risks, evolving regulations, and rising stakeholder expectations, the CSPL-EBTC partnership is poised to serve as a catalyst for sustainable business transformation, empowering industries to transition towards a more resilient, responsible, and low-carbon future.

About Climekare Sustainability Private Limited

Climekare Sustainability Private Limited is a climate and sustainability solutions company dedicated to helping organizations accelerate their sustainability transition. The company provides advisory, digital, and implementation support across carbon management, ESG and sustainability reporting, decarbonization strategy, environmental and energy commodities, climate resilience, renewable energy markets, and sustainable business transformation. Climekare works with leading organizations across India and international markets to develop practical, technology-driven sustainability solutions that deliver measurable environmental and business impact.

About European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC)

The European Business and Technology Centre is an India-EU collaboration platform that facilitates business partnerships, technology transfer, and sustainable innovation between Europe and India. EBTC works across sectors including sustainability, climate action, clean technologies, circular economy, and international business cooperation.

Mr. Ajil Muhammed, CEO of HiLITE Group

Central to this retail expansion are two property formats. HiLITE Countryside caters to smaller towns and emerging tier 3 markets, while HiLITE Centre serves growing regional urban tier 2 cities. Both formats retain HiLITE’s standards for infrastructure, safety and customer experience but prioritising localisation, curating a tenant mix that reflects community preferences, supporting regional entrepreneurs and integrating both established national brands and home-grown labels without compromising on quality.  

Demonstrating the immediate execution of this vision, HiLITE Group launched the nearly 3-lakh-sq.-ft. HiLITE Countryside Chemmad in the Malappuram district on June 19. Beyond Chemmad, a robust pipeline of localized retail developments is already underway across key growth markets in the state. The upcoming projects include the HiLITE Centres in Kunnamkulam, Mannarkkad, and Nilambur, as well as the HiLITE Countryside in Thamarassery. 

India’s largest World Trade Center development, WTC Kozhikode, is the Group’s flagship project located at HiLITE City on the Kozhikode Bypass (NH 66). The 12.5 million sq. ft. global business and mixed-use development is being built with an investment of USD 680 million. Its first tower, the WTC Learning Park, a 2.14 lakh sq. ft. dedicated education hub within HiLITE City, is nearing completion. Developed entirely using a steel structural framework, the project represents a significant milestone in the phased development of the WTC Kozhikode ecosystem.

In Kochi, HiLITE is moving beyond conventional mall formats with experience led concepts. HiLITE Boulevard which will launch shortly on Willingdon Island is being developed as Kerala’s first waterfront retail and leisure destination, focused on food, entertainment, recreation and immersive attractions.  

Entertainment, F&B and lifestyle brands of the HiLITE Group will scale alongside this geographic expansion. Palaxi Cinemas, the multiplex theatre chain by the Group will expand across the new Centres and Countryside projects, with plans for roughly 250 screens in the coming years. Hug a Mug, the Group’s home grown café brand, aims to expand from its 13th outlet at HiLITE Countryside Chemmad toward a target of 100 outlets across Kerala in the next five years. 

Beyond retail and leisure, the Group is developing YOO Hub Trivandrum at Technopark Phase III, standing as India's first branded IT park. It is created in a Rs.  300 crore luxury partnership with the global luxury design brand YOO and International Workplace Group (IWG). At Cyberpark, Kozhikode, HiLITE Group is developing Cyber Hub and Cyber Tower, two upcoming IT projects that will provide modern office spaces and business infrastructure for technology companies, startups, and other enterprises.

In education, HiLITE Group’s The White School International, Kerala's first IB Continuum school, is expanding its educational footprint. The Group is now launching new school projects across multiple cities through strategic partnership models.

HiLITE Group’s focus on health and wellness continues through Mandara Women's Wellness by Elanine, envisioned as India’s first holistic wellness centre dedicated exclusively to women. Mandara is designed as a dedicated space for women’s health and wellbeing, combining advanced wellness technologies with traditional wisdom to offer a comprehensive, restorative care experience.

“Every project we have earmarked for Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities will adhere to consistent quality and safety standards, while also strengthening local economies and expanding consumer choice. Collectively, the pipeline is designed to create new retail led employment and entrepreneurial opportunities across Kerala and establish a connected network of retail, leisure, and education destinations”, said Ajil Muhammed, CEO of HiLITE Group.

Marwari Catalysts Group Founder Strengthens Global Leadership Footprint, Creating New  Opportunities for Indian Startups and MSMEs

Apart from leading the Startup & MSME Vertical at BRICS CCI, Sharma also serves as Global Mentor for SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Youth, Co-Chair – Startup Vertical, Rotary District 3053, and Convener, Rajasthan Chapter of the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC). Through these responsibilities, he is actively working to build stronger collaborations between governments, innovation ecosystems, investors, academia, and businesses across international markets.

Recently, Sharma represented India during his visit to London, where he participated in London Tech Week—one of the world's largest technology and innovation gatherings. During the visit, he interacted with startup founders, venture capitalists, technology companies, innovation hubs, policymakers, corporate leaders, and members of the Indian diaspora to explore investment opportunities, technology partnerships, cross-border collaborations, and market access for Indian startups and MSMEs. The visit further strengthened Marwari Catalysts Group's international network and opened new avenues for strategic partnerships.

Sharma has also emerged as one of India's recognised voices on entrepreneurship and innovation, having been invited as a speaker at several prestigious national and international platforms, including AIM Congress, Abu Dhabi; SCO Summit, China; SCO Forum, Russia; Investarise by Startup XChange, Dubai; TiEcon Udaipur; TiEcon Ahmedabad; Startup & MSME Conclave, Bihar; HIM MSME Fest, Shimla; Vibrant Gujarat, Mehsana; CEO Conclave, Jaipur; The Economic Times Business Summit, Jaipur; Uttarakhand Thrive Summit at UPES, Dehradun; Blue Economy Summit, Bhubaneswar; Pune Startup Fest; The Times of India leadership platform in Rajasthan; Rising Rajasthan; Startup Mahakumbh, New Delhi; and INDIASoft, among several other industry forums.

Speaking about his vision, Sharma said, "India's next wave of entrepreneurship will emerge from Tier-II and Tier-III cities. These founders possess exceptional talent, resilience, and innovative thinking. What they need is global exposure, strategic mentorship, access to investors, and international markets. My endeavour is to ensure that geography never becomes a limitation for ambitious entrepreneurs."

Known for his minimalistic lifestyle and purpose-driven leadership, Sharma believes that sustainable success is built through long-term relationships, disciplined execution, and creating value for entrepreneurs rather than pursuing personal recognition.

Commenting on Sharma's leadership, Sameep Shastri, Chairman of BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said, "Sushil Sharma has consistently demonstrated a remarkable commitment towards strengthening India's startup ecosystem. His work with entrepreneurs, especially those from emerging cities, aligns perfectly with BRICS CCI's vision of fostering innovation-led economic growth and international cooperation. His leadership will play an important role in creating stronger global linkages for startups and MSMEs while promoting collaboration across BRICS economies."

Over the years, Marwari Catalysts Group has built a footprint of more than 100 startups and has established itself as one of India's leading startup ecosystem enablers. The Group works closely with more than 10 prominent family offices, besides investors, corporates, academic institutions, government bodies, and international ecosystem partners to help startups access capital, strategic mentorship, market expansion opportunities, and global business networks.

With leadership responsibilities spanning BRICS CCI, SCO Youth, ESC, and Rotary's startup initiatives, Sharma is uniquely positioned to bridge local innovation with global opportunities. His expanding international engagements are expected to significantly benefit Indian startups, MSMEs, and the growing portfolio of ventures supported by Marwari Catalysts Group by facilitating access to global markets, strategic partnerships, technology collaborations, exports, investments, and innovation ecosystems.

As India continues to emerge as one of the world's fastest-growing innovation economies, Sharma's leadership reflects the increasing global recognition of entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders from beyond metropolitan India, reinforcing the belief that world-class innovation can originate from every corner of the country.

• Green: The entry tier where members can earn Starbucks Rewards faster, and choose to redeem Rewards of their choice

• Gold: Customers can get upgraded to Gold by accumulating 1000 Stars within a year of joining

• Reserve: Comes with a sleek, black personalized card customized with the customer’s name and the first year they joined the program. Customers can get upgraded on accumulating 5000+ Stars within a year of joining

TATA Starbucks Reimagines its Loyalty Program with New Rewards and Enhanced Benefits

The Starbucks Rewards program will now offer a host of customer benefits with each level unlocking an expanded portfolio of rewards and experiences as they deepen their engagement with the brand:

• Faster Earning: Members will earn 1 Star for every Rs.10 spent, with Gold Members earning 1.2X Stars and Reserve Members earning 1.3X Stars on every Rs. 10 spent

• More Accessible Rewards: Lower redemption thresholds make it easier for members to unlock rewards and enjoy benefits sooner, bringing them closer to the experiences and rewards they value

• Benefits at Every Level: Members can enjoy a range of benefits including personalized offers, birthday rewards, milestone celebrations, Double Stars Days and member-exclusive offers, ensuring every visit feels more rewarding

• Enhanced Member Experiences: As members progress through the program, they will also unlock additional benefits including Free Customized Mondays (every member can receive one free modifier on any handcrafted drink), accelerated Star earnings, exclusive merchandise, curated coffee experiences, special event access and other member-only privileges

Adrit Mishra, COO, TATA Starbucks, said, “At TATA Starbucks, we are constantly looking for ways to strengthen our connection with customers and create experiences that are meaningful, rewarding and personalized. The reimagined Starbucks Rewards program reflects our commitment to delivering greater value to our members by making rewards easier to earn and redeem, while introducing new benefits and experiences that celebrate loyalty. Whether someone is just beginning their Starbucks Rewards journey or is one of our most loyal members, the program has been designed to reward them at every stage.”

For more information and to start enjoying these rewards, visit the Starbucks India mobile application.

About TATA Starbucks Private Limited

Starbucks entered the Indian market in October 2012 through a 50/50 Joint Venture with Tata Consumer Products Limited and currently operates more than 506 stores in India across 81 cities, Agra, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Alibaug, Amritsar, Anand, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bhatinda, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Faridabad, Gandhinagar, Ghaziabad, Goa, Guntur, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Gwalior, Haridwar, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Indore, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolhapur, Kolkata, Lonavala, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mangalore, Meerut, Mumbai, Mussoorie, Mysore, Nagpur, Nashik, New Delhi, Noida, Pathankot, Patiala, Pondicherry, Pune, Raipur, Siliguri, Sonipat, Surat, Thrissur, Trivandrum, Udaipur, Vadodara, Vapi, Vijayawada, Varanasi and Vizag are cities in India. through a network of over 4,305 passionate partners (employees). Starbucks stores are operated by the joint venture, TATA Starbucks Private Limited, and branded as Starbucks Coffee - A TATA Alliance.

L to R: Deepak Francis (Business Head), R. Balakrishnan (Head – Treasury), Rajeev M. R. (CFO), Mahesh Thakkar (Chairman, FIDC), Manoj Ravi (CEO), and Bindu Menon (Zonal Head – Maharashtra)

The company also inaugurated its new Corporate Office in Andheri, Mumbai, in the presence of Mr. Mahesh Thakkar, Chairman of the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC), and Mr. Manoj Ravi, CEO of Supra Pacific Financial Services Limited, along with eminent industry leaders, key stakeholders and members of the company's leadership team.

As part of its expansion roadmap, Supra Pacific will mark its presence in Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, Odisha and Telangana, while expanding operations across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa. In the present phase, the company will open five new branches in Goa, further enhancing access to formal financial services in underserved regions.

The company has recorded strong growth, with its assets increasing by 64.39% during FY 2025-26, from INR 290 Crore to INR 499 Crore. It now aims to achieve INR 750 Crore in assets during the current financial year, progressing towards its INR 2,500 Crore target within three years.

Supra Pacific continues to diversify its lending portfolio across gold loans, microfinance, vehicle finance and business loans. It also plans to introduce working capital loans ranging from INR 10 lakh to INR 1 crore for traders and MSMEs, alongside a new mobile application to deliver faster and more seamless digital financial services.

Commenting on the company's growth plans, Mr. Manoj Ravi, CEO, Supra Pacific Financial Services Limited, said, "India's growth story presents a tremendous opportunity to bridge the credit gap, particularly across Tier II, Tier III and Tier IV cities, rural villages and the country's hinterlands. While financial inclusion has made significant progress, access to formal credit, especially Gold Loans and small business lending, remains limited in many regions. By strengthening our presence across the country, we aim to contribute meaningfully towards India's financial inclusion agenda and support the nation's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047."

As part of its long-term growth strategy, the company also plans to expand its workforce from 700 to over 2,000 employees over the next three years and launch a public issue of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) during FY 2026-27 to support its future growth plans.

With a strong focus on technology-driven innovation, responsible lending and customer-centric services, Supra Pacific Financial Services Limited continues to strengthen its position as a trusted financial partner driving inclusive growth across India.

About Supra Pacific Financial Services Limited
Supra Pacific Financial Services Limited is a Mumbai-headquartered Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) offering a comprehensive suite of financial solutions. Its core offerings include gold loans, microfinance, vehicle finance, and business loans, complemented by personal loans, investment products, and insurance broking services.

Led by Managing Director Joby George (MD) and recently appointed CEO Manoj Ravi, the company focuses on technology-driven growth and financial inclusion. In FY2026 the company reported revenue of ~INR 920.8 million (net profit INR 78.8m) and a loan portfolio of ~INR 335.6 crore. It has pursued recent fund-raising (INR 20cr NCD issuance) and leadership changes to bolster expansion. As an ISO-certified Great Place To Work, Supra Pacific emphasizes trustworthy, customer-centric service. Supra Pacific stresses “inclusive, reliable, growth-oriented” financial services and remains committed to empowering customers through transparency and swift service.

For more information, please log on to www.suprapacific.com.

DTU and Esri India Join Hands to Advance GeoAI Education and Research

Under the MoU, Esri India will support DTU’s Department of Geospatial Science & Technology in establishing the ‘CoE’ with globally renowned ArcGIS software. The Center will have access to learning resources and geospatial content through ArcGIS Living Atlas.  The company aims to enable applied GeoAI solutions, conduct Faculty Development Programs (FDPs), and facilitate merit-based internships for the students.

DTU, one of India’s premier technological universities, has a strong foundation in Geospatial Sciences and Technologies, Computer Science, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Civil Engineering and Space Applications etc. With the collaboration with Esri India, DTU aims to develop new curricula, particularly for its new upcoming UG, PG and Executive programs and enhancement of existing courses using the Indo ArcGIS platform.

Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India, said, “Geospatial intelligence and AI are converging rapidly, and India needs a skilled workforce that can harness this power for real-world impact. Our partnership with DTU through this Centre of Excellence reflects Esri India’s commitment to embedding GeoAI thinking into the mainstream academia. We look forward to working alongside DTU’s faculty and students to build capabilities that will shape how India plans its cities, manages its resources, and prepares for the future.”

Prof. Prateek Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU expressed his happiness on the signing of an MoU between DTU and Esri India. He expressed hope that this MoU will turn out to be a milestone in the saga of industry-academia collaboration and will get emulated by many others in the coming years. He laid the vision for the Department of Geospatial Science and Technology (DGST) at DTU. He mentioned that DGST, DTU aspires to be a global leader in Geospatial Education, Research and Consultancy. DGST intends to launch not only executive Master's Programs in Geoinformatics but also UG programs in Geospatial Science and Geoinformatics. DTU believes that the Geospatial segment not only needs to develop a technology vertical but also focus on Geospatial and Space Sciences. DTU aims to be a leader in the county in establishing Geospatial Science and Technology as an independent discipline.         

With Esri’s ArcGIS at the heart of the ‘CoE’, DTU students and researchers will gain hands-on exposure to technologies that are new and upcoming, but also to the technologies which are actively being used by government agencies, urban planners, defence establishments and environmental organizations across the country.

The investment was made through Foxconn Singapore Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry, via a capital infusion approved by the company's Board of Directors. As part of the transaction, Foxconn Singapore subscribed to approximately 351.73 million equity shares of the India entity at a face value of Rs. 10 per share.

Following the capital infusion, Foxconn Singapore's investment in the Indian subsidiary has increased to approximately USD 2.82 billion, representing a virtually 100 percent ownership stake. The company said the investment has been made through internally generated funds and has been classified as a long-term strategic investment.

The latest capital infusion underscores Foxconn's continued confidence in India's manufacturing ecosystem and aligns with the country's growing importance in the global electronics supply chain. India has emerged as one of Foxconn's key manufacturing hubs, supported by favourable government policies, expanding infrastructure and increasing demand for electronics production.

The company clarified that the transaction is purely a capital increase within the group and does not involve any change in business operations or ownership structure. No broker fees were incurred, and the investment carries no restrictive covenants or special contractual conditions.

Foxconn has been steadily expanding its manufacturing footprint in India across multiple product categories and has announced several investments in recent years as part of its broader strategy to diversify global production capabilities.

About Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (Foxconn)

Established in Taiwan in 1974, Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) is the world’s largest electronics manufacturer. Foxconn is also the leading technological solution provider, and it continuously leverages its expertise in software and hardware to integrate its unique manufacturing systems with emerging technologies. The Group has expanded not only its capabilities into the development of electric vehicles, digital health and robotics, but also three key technologies –AI, semiconductors and new-generation communications technology – which are key to driving its long-term growth strategy and the four core product pillars: Smart Consumer Electronics, Cloud and Networking, Computing Products and Components and Others. In 2025, Hon Hai's annual revenue reached USD 259 billion.

G-SHOCK Linking Road store, Mumbai

Strategically located on Linking Road in Santacruz West, one of Mumbai’s most vibrant and prominent high-street retail destinations, the new G-SHOCK Exclusive Store spans an expansive 890 sq. ft. carpet area. Surrounded by leading global and premium lifestyle brands, the high street is known for its bustling consumer footfall and strong appeal among fashion-forward Gen Z and millennial audiences, making it an ideal destination for watch enthusiasts and style-conscious shoppers alike. Designed uniquely for the location, the space features contemporary retail aesthetics inspired by the bold and rugged DNA of G-SHOCK, along with unique mural-based art that adds an artistic and immersive dimension to the customer experience.

The store showcases an extensive range of timepieces, including G-SHOCK’s rugged and iconic collections. This includes the premium MR-G collection, being showcased in India with an expanded lineup, alongside MT-G and the latest limited-edition models, as well as popular series such as the 5000, 5600, 6900, 110, and 2100 lines. In addition to bringing together some of G-SHOCK’s most premium, edgy, and sought-after timepieces under one roof, the store offers the opportunity to discover the true motorsports DNA and fusion of technology and design in the Edifice collection, the neo-retro appeal of the Vintage range, and timeless everyday styles from the Casio collection.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Takuto Kimura, Managing Director, Casio India, said, “The launch of our flagship G-SHOCK Exclusive Store on Linking Road reflects our continued commitment to strengthening G-SHOCK’s retail presence in India and offering consumers a highly immersive brand experience. Mumbai continues to be one of our most significant markets, driven by a strong culture of fashion, individuality, and premium lifestyle consumption. Through this store, we aim to bring the bold spirit of G-SHOCK closer to consumers while showcasing our latest collections in a dynamic and creatively inspired space.”

Located at Unit No. 2, Ground Floor, Link Palace, Linking Road, Opposite Standard Chartered Bank & Skechers Store, Santacruz West, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400054, the brand invites visitors to explore the newly curated space, where every corner reflects the spirit of creativity and self-expression. The store will be operational from 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM, every day of the week.

About G-SHOCK

G-SHOCK, the pioneering timepiece that revolutionized the very concept of toughness.

In 1981, a daring challenge to prevailing norms ignited the genesis of G-SHOCK. Driven by Mr. Kikuo Ibe’s unwavering conviction that a watch could be crafted to withstand any shocks, Project Team Tough was formed to translate this vision into reality. Over a span of approximately two years, this team meticulously developed more than 200 prototypes. Their resolute efforts culminated in the breakthrough shock-resistant yet sophisticated and streamlined architecture we know today.

Since its inception, G-SHOCK has embarked on a relentless journey of evolution, ceaselessly pursuing greater resilience and bold stylish appeal across structure, materials, and functionalities. Envisioned in 1983, G-SHOCK now stands on the cusp of its 40th Anniversary in 2023, having left an indelible mark by retailing over 100 million watches across 100 nations. Strengthened by this remarkable legacy, G-SHOCK remains resolute in its quest for enduring strength, ever ready to conquer new frontiers of toughness.

About Casio India Co. Pvt. Ltd

Casio India Co. Pvt. Ltd. (CIC) is the Indian subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world's leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions. Casio India has established a dynamic presence in the Indian market since 1996, emerging as a leading and cherished consumer goods manufacturer. Casio India's range of products include sales and marketing of Timepieces, Electronic Musical Instruments, Desktop Calculators and Scientific Calculators.

Setting the benchmark for excellence, Casio India is dedicated to embodying the spirit of innovation and quality that defines the Casio legacy. With a strong commitment to its corporate creed of "creativity and contribution," Casio has consistently translated this ethos into the creation of innovative products making a positive impact on society.

For more information, visit www.casio.com/in

Paisabazaar, India’s leading financial marketplace, and SBM Bank India today announced the launch of SBM Paisabazaar Paisa+ Credit Card – a Fixed Deposit-backed credit card designed to help consumers start building or strengthen their credit health, while earning cashback on everyday spends.

Paisa+ Credit Card is designed for consumers with limited or no credit history

Backed by an FD, SBM Paisabazaar Paisa+ Credit Card aims to bridge a key gap in India’s credit landscape by enabling consumers with limited or no credit history to begin their credit journey. The card would also benefit those with a damaged credit profile, to improve their credit score, through responsible card usage.

Along with an opportunity to build their credit profile and earn strong FD returns up to 7% p.a., the card offers cashback across online, offline and UPI transactions, ensuring users earn value on their everyday spending.

Key features of SBM Paisabazaar Paisa+ Credit Card:

• FD-backed secured credit card with FD starting from Rs. 2,000

• FD interest rates up to 7% p.a.

• Up to 1.5% cashback on online spends

• 1% cashback on offline spends

• 1% cashback on eligible UPI transactions

• Zero joining fee; Annual fee of Rs. 499 only

Rajesh Meena, Head - Retail Products, Digital Banking & Partnerships, SBM Bank India, said, "At SBM Bank India, we are committed to expanding access to formal credit through innovative financial products. The SBM Paisabazaar Paisa+ Credit Card is a powerful proposition for consumers who are new to credit or seeking to rebuild their credit history. Our partnership with Paisabazaar reflects a shared commitment to making credit more transparent and accessible, helping consumers across segments—particularly the underserved borrowers."

Santosh Agarwal, CEO, Paisabazaar, said, “We believe FD-backed cards can play an important role in accelerating credit inclusion. Millions today remain underserved due to lack of a simple and secure pathway to credit. We are proud to launch Paisa+ with SBM Bank India, hoping the card will simplify the first step into formal credit for millions. The card combines accessibility and value-back in a single proposition, making it an ideal choice for new-to-credit consumers looking to establish a strong financial foundation."

With a minimum FD requirement starting at just Rs. 2,000, the card makes formal credit more accessible to new-to-credit consumers, students, young professionals, and consumers with bad credit looking to rebuild their credit profile.

SBM Bank Paisabazaar Paisa+ Credit Card offers 1.5% cashback on online spends for fixed deposits above Rs. 10,000. Offline spends and UPI transactions above Rs. 2,000 will earn 1% cashback, irrespective of the deposit amount.

Cashback is credited as Cash Point (where 1 Cash Point = Rs. 1) and earnings are capped at 500 points per day and 3,000 points per month. Since the card is backed by a fixed deposit, consumers will also earn interest on their deposit (up to 7% p.a.), adding to their overall savings.

Know more about SBM Paisabazaar Paisa+ Credit Card:
www.paisabazaar.com/sbm-bank/paisabazaar-paisa-plus-credit-card/

About Paisabazaar

Paisabazaar, a part of PB Fintech (listed since 2021), is India’s largest marketplace for consumer credit and free credit score. Over the last 11 years, Paisabazaar has earned the trust of over 55 million consumers. Paisabazaar has built 65+ partnerships withBanks, NBFCs, and fintechs to offer a broad range of credit products. Paisabazaar is an ISO (27001:2013) and PCI DSS certified organisation, with industry-best controls, to safeguard the best interest of consumers.

About SBM Bank (India) Ltd.

SBM Bank (India) Limited is the first foreign bank to receive a universal banking license from the Reserve Bank of India, to set up and to operate as a Scheduled Commercial Bank under the Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) model. With a network of 22 branches across the country, SBM Bank India continues to expand its footprint. The Bank is backed by deep domain expertise and led by industry veterans in banking and financial services. SBM Bank India offers a comprehensive suite of financial solutions, including Deposits, Advances, NRI Services, Treasury Products, and Corporate Banking Services. The Bank remains committed to continuous innovation and growth, enhancing its service proposition to encompass a broad spectrum of retail and corporate banking products alongside capital market solutions.

For further information, visit  www.sbm.bank.in

Argentina Team

As one of the world's most respected football federations, AFA represents a rich sporting legacy, global recognition, and a strong international presence. Leveraging this association, Jagdale plans to introduce a series of engagement-led initiatives designed to strengthen relationships with healthcare professionals, chemists, institutional customers, and sales teams. These initiatives will create unique opportunities for recognition, participation, and deeper stakeholder engagement across the organization's business network.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Rajesh Nagaraja Rao Jagdale, Chairman & Managing Director, Jagdale Industries Private Limited, said, "We are immensely proud to commence this association with the Argentina Football Association, one of the most   celebrated football institutions in the world. This Licensing collaboration represents a significant milestone in Jagdale's journey and reflects our enduring commitment to our vision of 'Excellence Through Quality & Innovation.'

At Jagdale, we have always believed in creating meaningful value through trusted relationships, innovative thinking, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The passion and winning spirit that the Argentina Football Association embodies resonate strongly with the values that have guided our organization over the years."

Speaking on the partnership, Leandro Petersen, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, Argentina Football Association said, "We are delighted to welcome Jagdale Industries as an Official Licensee of the Argentine Football Association in India. Their standing in the Indian healthcare and wellness sector, combined with their commitment to excellence and innovation, makes them an ideal partner as AFA continues to grow its presence in one of the world's most dynamic markets."

Adding to this, Pranav Mani Chinnaswamy, President - Middle East and India, Druid Sport, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Jagdale Industries into the AFA family in India as an Official Licensee. Jagdale is a company with deep roots in Indian healthcare and a genuine commitment to the communities they serve. As AFA's exclusive commercial representative in the Indian Subcontinent, Druid Sport is proud to have helped facilitate this association ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026."

Combining AFA’s global stature with Jagdale’s market expertise, the collaboration aims to build a strong, enduring presence for the Argentine football brand among India’s expanding football community.

MSM Unify's empanelment by APITCO Limited strengthens skill development and workforce training across India

APITCO Limited is a Public Sector Undertaking incorporated in 1976 and promoted jointly by all-India financial institutions including IDBI, IFCI, and ICICI, along with state-level corporations APSFC and APIDC, and major commercial banks. As a multi-disciplinary Technical Consultancy Organisation, APITCO delivers project management, entrepreneurship development, skilling, livelihood promotion, and institutional strengthening assignments to central and state government departments, PSUs, development agencies, and multilateral funding bodies across India.

The empanelment positions MSM Unify to participate in India's government-led skilling ecosystem at a time when national data points to a significant workforce readiness gap. According to the India Skills Report 2026, prepared by ETS, CII, AICTE, AIU, and Taggd, overall graduate employability in India stands at 56.35 per cent. The Wheebox 2025 Employability Report estimated only 42.6 per cent of graduates were employable as of 2024, with 82 per cent of employers reporting difficulty finding right-fit talent, and a projected skilled workforce deficit of 47 to 49 million by 2027. The Skill India Mission, launched in 2015 with a mandate to train over 400 million Indians, remains the central policy driver for partnerships of this nature.

“India's skilling challenge is not a government problem alone. Closing a gap of this scale requires organisations with real delivery capability to operate inside the government framework and execute on the ground. APITCO has the institutional mandate and government relationships. MSM Unify brings programme architecture, technology infrastructure, and learner engagement expertise. This empanelment is a working partnership, not a ceremonial one, and we intend to treat it as such,”Sanjay Laul, Founder, MSM Unify.

“Being empanelled with APITCO validates that MSM Unify's capabilities extend well beyond international student placement. We are here to contribute to India's workforce development in a measurable way, through programmes that serve learners, institutions, and the communities they belong to. We are committed to meeting APITCO's standards of delivery on every assignment we undertake.”

Rajni Bhatla, Director, MSM Global Education Private Limited, “APITCO has consistently promoted sustainable development through skill enhancement, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building across India. MSM Unify's expertise in education delivery and workforce engagement is a natural complement to our implementation capabilities. We look forward to translating this empanelment into impactful, outcome-oriented programmes for learners and communities.”

M. Srinivas Rao, Chief Consultant (Operations and Strategy), APITCO Limited

For MSM Unify, the APITCO empanelment represents a deliberate entry into India's B2G skilling architecture. The platform's primary business spans international student mobility and institutional partnerships across global markets. The APITCO channel extends its mandate to domestic workforce outcomes, creating a new B2G revenue stream aligned with India's public investment priorities in human capital development under the Skill India Mission and the National Education Policy 2020.

Only 4.1 per cent of India's workforce currently receives formal vocational training, compared to approximately 44 per cent across OECD countries. The NEP 2020 has set a target of raising India's Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education from 28 per cent to 50 per cent by 2035, with skilling embedded across formal education pathways. Partnerships between accredited private training providers and government-backed implementation agencies are a central mechanism for closing this gap.

About MSM Unify
MSM Unify is a comprehensive international education platform connecting students, educational institutions, recruitment partners, and industry stakeholders worldwide. Through technology-driven solutions and strategic partnerships, MSM Unify supports student mobility, institutional growth, career readiness, and workforce development across global markets. MSM Unify is part of the MSM Group (Laul Global), headquartered in Gurugram, India.

About APITCO Limited
APITCO Limited is a premier Public Sector Undertaking incorporated in 1976 and headquartered at Parishrama Bhavanam, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad, Telangana. Promoted jointly by all-India financial institutions (IDBI, IFCI, ICICI), state-level corporations (APSFC, APIDC), and national commercial banks, APITCO provides technical, management, and development consultancy to government departments, PSUs, financial institutions, multilateral agencies, and the private sector. Its service portfolio spans project management, entrepreneurship development, skill enhancement, infrastructure advisory, livelihood promotion, and institutional strengthening across India.

Qualitest Becomes QualityAI: The Trusted Assurance and Engineering Partner Across Every Stage of Enterprise AI
 

Across every industry, companies are racing to adopt AI, and the pressure to demonstrate progress is rising. According to Deloitte's 2026 "State of AI in the Enterprise" report, the proportion of organizations expecting at least 40% of AI experiments to reach production is expected to more than double within six months. As AI moves from ambition to implementation, leaders need to prove that transformation is real, reliable, and effective. In a market crowded with AI claims, assurance is becoming the difference between AI momentum and AI washing.
 

"Every business wants to show it is moving fast on AI, but speed alone is not enough," said Andrew Duncan, CEO of QualityAI. "Leaders need evidence that AI is working safely, reliably, and effectively in the real world. QualityAI exists to give them that certainty, helping organizations move beyond AI claims and go live with confidence."
 

In regulated and high-trust industries, including financial services, health and life sciences, energy, utilities, and the public sector, the stakes are even higher. AI failure can create operational disruption, reputational damage, and loss of trust. As AI accelerates software development and decision-making, organizations need independent quality oversight that proves systems are ready for real-world use. That proof is becoming both a compliance imperative and a competitive differentiator.
 

Built on almost 30 years of software testing expertise, QualityAI operates across the entire quality assurance lifecycle, from early transformation planning through to go-live and post-launch optimization.
 

"Our heritage is in assurance, but our role today is much broader," Duncan said. "We work with organizations from the earliest stages of transformation, helping them define, design, engineer, test, and operate complex systems with greater certainty. That means supporting clients before launch, at go-live, and long after deployment."
 

QualityAI works with some of the world's largest technology companies developing AI models and helps enterprises embed AI into business-critical systems with greater assurance. Since 2019, it has implemented proprietary AI solutions that can accelerate software testing by up to six times, reducing the time required to validate and integrate technology across complex enterprise environments.
 

Duncan concluded, "The path to AI adoption can seem like uncharted territory, but it is familiar ground for QualityAI. We have spent almost 30 years helping enterprises trust the technology they depend on. As we look ahead, our role is clear: to help organizations design quality into the AI-powered systems that will define their future."

The Deloitte State of AI in the Enterprise report is available here: www.deloitte.com/uk/en/issues/generative-ai/state-of-ai-in-enterprise.html
 

About QualityAI

QualityAI is an AI-first quality engineering company helping enterprises deploy and scale complex systems with greater confidence. Operating across data, models, platforms, infrastructure, and operational environments, the company provides assurance and engineering expertise that helps organizations ensure systems perform reliably in real-world conditions.
 

Formerly Qualitest, QualityAI supports global enterprises across regulated and technology-driven industries, combining deep engineering heritage with AI-enabled delivery, operational assurance, and lifecycle expertise to help clients achieve certainty at go-live.

L-R: Yogesh Parekh, Naresh Parekh and Yash Parekh, Directors, Parekh Global

The India International Cargo Show (IICS) is one of India's leading logistics, cargo, and supply chain industry events, bringing together policymakers, logistics providers, freight forwarders, infrastructure developers, technology innovators, and global trade stakeholders to discuss emerging opportunities, industry challenges, and the future of integrated logistics. The event serves as a key platform for fostering collaboration, showcasing innovations, and strengthening India's position in global supply chains.

The move represents a structural evolution of the legacy enterprise into an integrated global identity designed to enhance operational agility, strengthen compliance frameworks, and align more closely with shifting global trade dynamics and evolving client expectations. As supply chains realign and regulatory landscapes grow increasingly complex, the company is restructuring to operate with greater cohesion and responsiveness across markets.

“This is not merely a transition exercise; it is a strategic recalibration for the future,” said Mr. Naresh Parekh, Director, Parekh Global. “For over 70 years, Parekh legacy has been deeply rooted in India’s trade and logistics ecosystem, building a legacy founded on trust, resilience and expertise. Today, we are leveraging that strong Indian foundation to scale confidently into global markets.

As international trade corridors evolve and client expectations become more sophisticated, we are expanding our geographic reach, upgrading our technology infrastructure, and actively evaluating strategic acquisitions to align with global benchmarks. India remains a significant growth engine for us, but our vision now extends far beyond domestic boundaries. We are strengthening our talent pool, enhancing operational capabilities, and investing in advanced systems to ensure we not only meet but exceed international standards. Our goal is clear — to transform Parekh Global into a future-ready, globally competitive enterprise that delivers integrated, world-class solutions across markets.”

The unveiling of Parekh Global marks the consolidation of diverse capabilities under a single global platform designed to drive operational efficiencies, standardise governance processes, and present a cohesive market-facing identity. The integrated structure is expected to enable faster decision-making, strengthen cross-border coordination, and support disciplined capital allocation, while preserving the entrepreneurial strengths that have long defined the organisation’s legacy.

As geopolitical shifts reshape global trade and compliance requirements intensify across jurisdictions, Parekh Global is positioning itself as a structured, compliance-first enterprise capable of navigating volatility with resilience. Strengthened governance architecture and enhanced risk management frameworks form a central pillar of the transition.

“Scale must be accompanied by structure,” said Mr. Yogesh Parekh, Director, Parekh Global. “Our evolution into Parekh Global strengthens our governance architecture while enhancing our ability to operate seamlessly across markets. This integrated model allows us to balance growth ambitions with robust oversight.”

The company emphasised that the transition ensures continuity of leadership, operational teams, and long-standing client relationships. Existing stakeholders will experience seamless integration under the new identity, now supported by enhanced capabilities designed to foster long-term strategic partnerships rather than transactional engagements.

Over the next five years, Parekh Global plans to expand into priority international markets, forge strategic partnerships, accelerate digital transformation initiatives, and deepen investments in leadership development and sustainable growth practices. The company aims to leverage India’s expanding role in global trade while building operational depth across key overseas regions.

“Our objective is to build a globally integrated organisation that can scale responsibly,” Mr. Yash Parekh, Director, Parekh Global said. “We remain committed to delivering value with integrity while shaping an enterprise that reflects both our heritage and our forward-looking ambitions.”

By combining legacy strength with structural modernisation, Parekh Global is seeking to position itself as a resilient Indian enterprise with growing global relevance.

About Parekh Global

Parekh Global is a legacy-driven enterprise with over 70 years of industry experience. The organisation has evolved into a unified global platform focused on governance-led growth, innovation, and client-centric service integration, with a long-term strategy centered on international expansion and digital transformation.

Mediascope is exclusive India representative for Future Forum, a platform connecting visionaries building tomorrow's world

The weight of institutional support behind Future Forum signals an initiative of genuine global consequence. The UK Government’s Department for Business & Trade lends sovereign credibility and opens the door to policy-level dialogue. Meta, through its Reality Labs division, brings the frontier of immersive technology as launch partner. The British Chambers of Commerce brings the collective voice of UK business behind the platform. And Future Forum’s home, King’s Cross Knowledge Quarter is internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading clusters of AI, technology, science, education, and culture, home to global pioneers including Meta and Synthesia alongside institutions such as the Crick Institute and UCL. Additional collaborators include Soho Theatre, Project Everyone, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and Innovate UK. For Indian participants, this is not simply access to a conference; it is a seat at the table with the institutions defining the next decade of global business, policy, and innovation.

As part of the exclusive mandate, Mediascope will lead partnerships, brand participation, and delegate engagement for India, enabling Indian companies and institutions to connect with international business leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators.
 

India’s role in Future Forum was not an afterthought. From the platform’s founding, India was specifically identified as one of the world’s fastest-growing innovation and business ecosystems - a recognition embedded in Future Forum’s original international strategy and a key driver of its global expansion plans for 2027 and 2028. Mediascope’s appointment as exclusive India representative marks the formal opening of that chapter.

Future Forum has been founded by Matt Scheckner, the founding CEO of Advertising Week, and is led by Rupert Turnbull (Former Director of Fortune in Europe), alongside Oli Barrett MBE (serial entrepreneur and co-founder of StartUp Britain) and Rebecca Eaves (Former Director of Advertising Week Europe).
 

Matt Scheckner, Chairman & Founder of Future Forum, said, “Future Forum is about bringing together the people and ideas that will shape what comes next. As we expand our international footprint, partnering with Mediascope gives us access to a highly credible and deeply connected organization with decades of expertise across media, government, business, and culture. Their understanding of India’s evolving global influence makes them the ideal partner to help connect Indian leaders, brands, and innovators with the Future Forum community.”
 

Rupert Turnbull, CEO of Future Forum, said, "Future Forum is designed to connect people, industries, and ideas that are shaping the future. As we build a global platform with the support of the UK Department for Business & Trade, we are excited to partner with Mediascope to create new opportunities for Indian brands and business leaders to participate in these important conversations”
 

Marzban Patel, Founder & CEO, Mediascope, said, "Indian businesses today are looking for global platforms that create meaningful strategic engagement and collaboration opportunities. Future Forum offers a unique intersection of innovation, culture, technology, and creativity, and we are proud to exclusively represent the platform in India."
 

Future Forum is a year-round initiative culminating in a landmark global gathering from 13-15 October 2026 at King’s Cross, London.
 

The India mandate will be led by Khushboo Gupta, CBO, Encore Studios and EVP – Strategic Initiatives at Mediascope, who will drive partnerships and stakeholder engagement for Future Forum across India.
 

Khushboo Gupta, CBO, Encore Studios | EVP - Strategic Initiatives added, "Future Forum is a platform where creativity, technology, business, and culture genuinely intersect. Through this partnership, we aim to create meaningful opportunities for Indian brands and leaders to engage with an influential global ecosystem shaping the future across industries."
 

The platform is organised around six interconnected themes that resonate directly with India’s most ambitious national priorities:

Work Reimagined — the future of talent, technology, and productivity;

Human Upgrades — health, longevity, and human performance;

Making & Materials — the new frontiers of engineering and advanced manufacturing;

Systems in Motion — the networks moving people, goods, capital, and data;

Living Planet — climate resilience and regenerative systems;

and Press Play — how breakthrough AI and creative expression shape our shared realities.
 

From India’s manufacturing renaissance and world-leading fintech sector to its growing life sciences and digital infrastructure ambitions, these themes speak directly to where India is heading and the global conversations Indian leaders are best placed to shape.

About Future Forum

Future Forum is a year-round global platform focused on the intersection of creativity, technology, innovation, and leadership. Supported by the UK Department for Business & Trade, the platform brings together leaders across industries, generations, and geographies through live events, podcasts, regional forums, and collaborative programming designed to shape the future.

About Mediascope

Mediascope is India’s premier global media and strategic communications company, specialising in connecting Indian brands and institutions with the world’s most influential international media platforms, audiences, and partnerships. With deep expertise in cross-border thought leadership, brand representation, and high-value strategic engagement, Mediascope helps Indian businesses navigate, participate in, and lead on the global stage. Through its Encore Studios division, Mediascope brings an additional layer of creative and content capabilities to its global partnerships.

MoU exchange between Venkatesh Valluri, Vice Chairman, Ramaiah Academy Foundation, and Deepak N.G., Managing Director–India, Dassault Systemes

This collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind model in the region, transitioning beyond a traditional academic arrangement into a fully integrated, go-to-market commercial partnership. It seamlessly leverages Dassault Systemes' globally recognized 3DEXPERIENCE platform alongside Ramaiah’s deep science expertise and advanced prototyping infrastructure. This synergistic relation between RAF and Dassault Systemes aims to enhance the value for companies focused on enhancing their conceptual research & innovation; skill development of their engineers for newer projects; and acquiring newer talent.

"This collaboration represents a paradigm shift in how academia and industry collaborate in India. We are moving beyond transactional skill development into a technology l translation engine," said Venkatesh Valluri, Vice Chairman, Ramaiah Academy Foundation.

"Through the Deep Science translation complex, we are providing an end-to-end value chain, from problem definition and virtual twin simulation to physical lab-scale manufacturing," Valluri continued. "Our joint vision is to foster national-level 'projects' that embody the true spirit of Make-in-India, equipping both our industrial partners and our engineering talent with the world's most advanced technological tools."

"At Dassault Systemes, we believe that shaping the future of industrial innovation starts with empowering the next generation of engineers and thinkers in the virtual world," said Deepak NG, Managing Director, India, Dassault Systemes.

Our collaboration with the Ramaiah Academy Foundation reflects a shared commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry through platform-driven learning. We aim to foster a culture of sustainable innovation and advanced engineering excellence that will drive India's high-tech and manufacturing ecosystems forward,” he stated further.

The Deep Science translational facility, currently undergoing advanced modifications on the Ramaiah campus in Bengaluru, will house state-of-the-art technical teaching centers, collaborative design spaces, and lab-scale manufacturing zones. 

About Ramaiah Academy Foundation
The Ramaiah Academy Foundation (RAF), a Section 8 not-for-profit company, is a distinguished institution within the Gokula Education Foundation (Medical) ecosystem, carrying forward the legacy of excellence established by the renowned Ramaiah Group. Committed to fostering innovation, advancing applied sciences, and nurturing future-ready talent, the Foundation serves as a catalyst for transformative education, translational research, and industry collaboration.

Founded with a vision to bridge the gap between academic discovery and real-world application, Ramaiah Academy Foundation focuses on creating impactful pathways that connect research, technology, entrepreneurship, and industrial growth. The Foundation actively promotes interdisciplinary learning, deep technology development, and innovation-led ecosystems that address emerging global challenges while contributing to India's scientific and economic progress.

At the heart of its vision is the development of a world-class Translational Innovation Complex, a pioneering initiative designed to accelerate the journey of scientific discoveries from laboratories to large-scale commercial applications. The Complex will function as a robust commercial and innovation engine, addressing one of the most critical challenges in the research ecosystem—the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) gap. By enabling the seamless transition of technologies from proof-of-concept and prototype stages to scalable industrial manufacturing, the Foundation aims to create a sustainable bridge between academia, research institutions, startups, industry partners, and investors.

The Translational Innovation Complex will provide an integrated platform for advanced research, product development, prototyping, testing, validation, and commercialization. It will foster collaboration among scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, creating an environment where breakthrough ideas can be transformed into market-ready solutions.

Through this ecosystem, the Foundation seeks to accelerate innovation across strategic sectors including advanced materials, life sciences, healthcare technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductor technologies, sustainable energy, and other deep-tech domains.

Ramaiah Academy Foundation is also committed to developing industry-ready talent through specialized education, skill development, and experiential learning initiatives. By combining academic rigor with practical application, the Foundation equips learners with the knowledge, skills, and mindset required to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world. Its programs are designed in close collaboration with industry stakeholders, ensuring alignment with evolving workforce requirements and global best practices.

Guided by the values of excellence, integrity, innovation, and societal impact, the Foundation strives to create meaningful opportunities for researchers, students, entrepreneurs, and industry partners. Through strategic collaborations with leading academic institutions, research organizations, government agencies, and global industry leaders, it aims to establish a vibrant innovation ecosystem that drives technological advancement and economic development.

As India continues its journey toward becoming a global innovation powerhouse, Ramaiah Academy Foundation stands poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of research, technology commercialization, and talent development. By transforming ideas into impact and research into real-world solutions, the Foundation is creating a platform where innovation meets industry, knowledge meets opportunity, and vision translates into lasting societal progress.

Prashant Hoskote
 

Hoskote brings over 35 years of expertise in customer experience and quality leadership. His appointment strengthens Astera Ventures' board at a pivotal moment in its growth as a strategic enabler in the global hospitality sector.
 

Astera Ventures is a key shareholder in Sunday Proptech, a new-age hospitality owning and operating platform focused on building and scaling hotels under PRISM, parent of OYO, Townhouse, SUNDAY and other brands globally. Sunday Proptech already owns and operates 38 hotels across the US and is focused on rapid expansion across key markets including the US, India and Europe. The platform combines hospitality operations, real estate partnerships and brand-led growth to create high-quality guest experiences at scale.
 

Commenting on his appointment, Prashant Hoskote said, "I look forward to enabling strong governance and providing the right steer as Astera Ventures grows its portfolio and its key investment Sunday Proptech builds its next phase of growth in global hospitality. Astera Ventures plays an important role in this journey, and I am excited to contribute at the board level."
 

Prashant Hoskote currently serves as CEO of PH Factor, a board advisory and organizational excellence consulting practice based in Delhi NCR, and was previously President – Global Engagements at Striking Ideas. Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Director – Quality, Service Excellence, and Innovation at Max India Group, and also held leadership roles at Mashreq Bank (Dubai), Standard Chartered Bank, and the Taj Group of Hotels. He began his career with Qimpro Consultants, the Indian affiliate of Juran Institute Inc., USA.
 

Prashant has served on the National Board for Quality Promotion at the Quality Council of India, as Vice-Chair of ASQ's Quality Management Division – Global (Asia and Australia), and as Chairperson of ASQ's Organizational Excellence Technical Committee. He was named among the "50 Most Talented Quality Professionals" at the World Quality Congress in 2014. He is also a published author and international speaker.