Author: Team

SOTC Travel Strengthens Retail Network with Openings in Vasant Kunj and East Delhi

Mumbai, 24 January 2025: SOTC Travel, a leading omnichannel Travel and Tourism Company, expands its franchise outlets in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj and East Delhi region. The new additions expand SOTC’s network strength to 10 in the NCR region, reiterating the Company’s strategic focus on expanding its footprint in the region.

The NCR region is an important source market for the Company’s holiday business within Delhi and its surrounding catchments witnessing strong demand. SOTC Travel’s new franchise outlets are strategically situated at prime locations to serve both leisure and business segments.

The Vasant Kunj and East Delhi outlets offer end-to-end travel solutions with an array of services, including International and domestic Holidays (Group tours, Personalised Holidays, Cruises, etc.), Value-Added Services like Travel Insurance, etc.

Rakesh Bawa – Senior Vice President & Head – Holidays, SOTC Travel Limited said “With a legacy of over 75 years in pioneering group escorted tours, we at SOTC Travel continue to lead the way in understanding the evolving needs of the Indian traveller. We firmly believe that ‘No one understands the Indian traveller better than SOTC. Vasant Kunj and East Delhi are emerging as key source markets with strong demand. We’re excited to open two new outlets, expanding our network to 10 locations. Centrally located, these stores will help us target key segments like families, millennials, business owners and Gen Z. Our holiday experts at Vasant Kunj and East Delhi extend a warm welcome to our customers and look forward to co-curate and plan a memorable holiday.”

The Future of Healthcare: Happiest Health’s Summit 2025 Highlights Tech Innovations

BENGALURU, 24th January 2025: Health and wellness enterprise Happiest Health unveiled the ‘Technology & Innovation in Healthcare Summit 2025’ in Bengaluru today. The high-profile event saw healthcare experts and industry come together and discuss the ever-growing potential of emerging technologies in healthcare practices, giving individuals practical insights into their implementation. The summit was inaugurated by Mr Ashok Soota, Executive Chairman of Happiest Minds, amidst over 400 participants.

The summit introduced delegates to panel discussions and talks on vital topics shaping the future of healthcare, including those on artificial intelligence, robotics, and telemedicine. The informative sessions provided deep insights into how the industry is evolving with these innovations and the opportunities to look forward to, besides giving individuals the chance to network with industry leaders and technology innovators. The summit generated plenty of important conversations in a collaborative environment, reflecting Happiest Health’s commitment to adding value to the healthcare space in India.

Mr. Ashok Soota, Executive Chairman, Happiest Minds in his keynote address on opportunities in healthcare through innovation and technology, spoke extensively on various healthcare modules, touching upon innovation, data in healthcare, industry disruptions, and more. On what’s driving innovation, he said, “Today, we are witnessing the convergence of three forces. These forces of convergence are spatial omics technologies becoming increasingly high throughput and high resolution, large-scale data sets generated by patient biopsies and such, and AI models becoming even more powerful and sophisticated. These three convergence forces will lead to more powerful interventions.”

The summit’s first panel discussion, titled ‘AI & Tech In Healthcare: Is Adoption Happening Fast?’, was moderated by Dr Sreenivasan Narayana, President and CEO of Healthcare Services, Happiest health, was led by Mr Kalyan Sivasailam, founder and CEO of 5C Network, Dr Manjiri Bakre, founder and CEO of OncoStem Diagnostics, and Mr Niranjan Subbarao, co-founder and CEO of Cyclops Medtech. The discussion covered how the rapid adoption of technology like machine learning and data analytics is leading to improved diagnostics, personalised treatment plans, and increased operational efficiency, transforming patient care and making it more precise.

Dr Harshavardhan Rao B, consultant – Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, held a session on ‘AI and its Applications in Healthcare & in Medical Gastroenterology in Your Practice’. Speaking on challenges from a physician’s perspective, he said: “One of the things that we consider when we talk about AI is whether it will affect our relationship with patients. Most patient-reported outcome measures are based on an excellent relationship with the patient. There is a placebo effect with most medications. And if the patient does not trust the doctor and the medicine, the clinical outcomes will be sub-optimal. That doesn’t diminish the fact that medications work. It’s just that we have to recognise the effect the placebo effect has – with AI and with reduced interaction, will that affect patient care?”

A panel discussion on the ‘Hospitals of Tomorrow’ involved Mr. Hanuman Jayaram, CTO, CTSI South Asia, an affiliate of Siemens Healthineers, Mr Kumar KV, group CIO of Narayana Health, and Mr Srinivas Iyengar, VP, IG head – Healthcare & Life Sciences, Happiest Minds. Mr Kumar KV shared his thoughts on the hurdles hospitals can expect in the future: “The key backbone, especially in the next five–10 years, is going to be from a technology standpoint. This basically necessitates that healthcare providers have all the tools required to provide efficient care, save lives, generate efficiency, and improve outcomes. Apart from having a suitable workforce and embracing digital transformation to transform the business model, the biggest challenge is to get the technology equation right.”

Mr. Sridhar Mantha, CEO of Generative AI Business, Happiest Minds, delivered the valedictory address on future developments in healthcare technology. He discussed the problem with healthcare data for training AI models: “Based on the AI models looking at the data right now, it’s quite easy for us to train the models. But it’s not that simple, as not all data is valuable. There’s enough garbage in the data. So, provided we have sufficient quality data to train the model on, we can reach at least 90% of the quality.”

Mr Ashish Pratap Singh, chief marketing officer of Happiest Health, said, “’The Technology & Innovation in Healthcare Summit’ is meant to catalyse dialogue between healthcare and technology experts, combining IT expertise with healthcare innovation. We intend to showcase the latest advancements and foster actionable insights and collaborations to revolutionise patient care and transform the healthcare landscape.”

Myprotein Launches Grand Republic Day Sale to Support a Healthier India

[National, 24th January 2025] Myprotein, a global leader in sports nutrition has announced the launch of its Republic Day campaign – Celebrating Healthier India. The brand has rolled out exciting offers for its consumers, encouraging individuals to prioritize good health as part of their lifestyle.

As part of the campaign, consumers can avail upto 65% off on all Myprotein products between the 24th and 25th of January, extending upto 76% off on the 26th of January. The brand is also celebrating its classic flavours – Blood Orange, Impact Whey Protein Vanilla, and Impact Whey Protein Pista as flavours of Republic Day. Additionally, rallying behind the fitness enthusiasm of the country, the brand has called on its consumers to become protein patriots and register for a special Myprotein Mystery Box contest. The contest will run throughout the Republic Day Sale of the brand, culminating with the announcement of 20 lucky winners who will receive giveaways worth ₹20,000 (approx.) each. The initiative will encourage participants to stay consistent towards their fitness goals and incorporate Myprotein into their routines.

The campaign focuses on educating the consumers about the protein intake requirements in their daily diet, measured in terms of protein-to-energy ratio (PER). With an average PER requirement ranging from 5% to 12% between infants and inactive elderly, it is important to understand individual needs and sources. Echoing this vision, Myprotein ambassador Chetan Tambe (@skipwithchetan) hosted interactive sessions at Marine Drive, Mumbai on 20th January. He engaged with fitness enthusiasts on the role of protein-to-energy ratio in their daily nutrition. Chetan shared practical advice on daily protein requirements, simple meal ideas, and tips on overcoming challenges such as managing busy schedules, accessing quality nutrition, and more.

Sudeshna Saha, Regional Manager, Myprotein India, says, “India is a focus market for us and we have seen rising awareness amongst individuals on the importance of prioritizing their health and wellness. Through this campaign, we are celebrating the spirit of a healthier India, whilst empowering the consumers to make active choices based on their protein requirements. The two-part initiative, the sale and the giveaway, are focused on our quality product offering whilst as a brand we continue to educate consumers on how to align their diets with personal goals.”

Emirates’ A350 Begins India Operations in Celebration of Republic Day

INDIA, 24 January 2025: Emirates is set to launch its brand-new Airbus A350 aircraft in India on Republic Day, January 26, 2025, as a gesture of appreciation for its customers. This significant debut will see the A350 operating daily flights to Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The A350 now serves five destinations in the airline’s network.

 The roll out of Emirates’ A350 aircraft to India, featuring the airline’s latest interiors, industry-first technologies and innovations, reinforces Emirates’ commitment to customers in India and beyond, and offers exceptional levels of comforts onboard.

 Emirates’ A350 services to both Mumbai and Ahmedabad will operate daily as follows:
• Mumbai: The Emirates A350 will operate daily on EK502 and EK503. EK502 departs Dubai at 1315hrs, arriving in Mumbai at 1750hrs. The return flight, EK503 leaves Mumbai at 1920hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2105hrs.
• Ahmedabad: The A350 aircraft will operate the route daily on EK538 and EK539. EK538 will depart Dubai at 22:50hrs, arriving in Ahmedabad at 0255hrs (next day). EK539 will depart Ahmedabad at 0425hrs to arrive back in Dubai at 0615hrs.

 The highly-anticipated launch of Emirates’ A350 services to the two Indian points follows the launch of operations to Edinburgh, Kuwait and Bahrain.

 The airline also currently serves Mumbai and Bangalore with daily services on its flagship A380 aircraft, offering customers a choice of four cabin classes, including the signature Premium Economy experience. Emirates services nine points in India with 167 flights per week.

The Future is Here II Leaves a Lasting Impression on the Market

Hyderabad, 24th January 2025: The research teams at LV Prasad Eye Institute under the Centre for Ocular Regeneration (CORE) at the Brien Holden Research Centre, organized the second edition of the ‘Future is Here’. The conference brought together over 200 participants ranging from basic scientists, graduate students, engineers to ophthalmologists from 31 institutes over the four days, marking the confluence of a young and interesting set of teams coalescing around research ideas and practices on the frontiers of ophthalmology. Participants came from USA, Germany, Australia, and the IITs, CSIRs, and central universities across India for the conference. With a focus on animal models; in vitro diseases models; cell, gene, and stem cell therapies; biomaterials; and diagnostics; the event also discussed funding and collaboration activities for these research areas.

“The conference has brought together some of the brightest minds working on ocular regeneration and ancillary technologies from around the world,” said Dr Vivek Singh, Senior Scientist and Head, Center for Ocular Regeneration, LVPEI and one of the key organisers of the Future is Here II conference. “The research showcased, and the ideas discussed at this event will set the pace for the future.”

The second edition of the ‘Future is Here’ conference began with sessions discussing the funding, collaborations, and translational roadmap for research. Dr. Kapil Bharthi, Senior Investigator and Head of the Ocular and Stem Cell Translational Research Section at the National Eye Institute (NEI), USA and Dr. Stefan Schräder, Director of the University Clinic for Ophthalmology at the Pius-Hospital Oldenburg, Germany, shared insights on the funding prospects in their countries for Indian researchers. LVPEI alumni, Dr. Virender Sangwan (Consultant, Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi) and Dr. Geeta Vemuganti (Dean of Medical Sciences, University of Hyderabad) emphasized the pivotal role that collaborations played in shaping their successful research careers.

At the forefront of CRISPR-based gene editing technologies in India is Dr Debojyoti Chakraborty, head of RNA Biology Lab at CSIR – Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi showcased collaborators from across medical contexts who have benefited from his lab’s work on CRISPR, and this includes eye care. Teams from the Narayana Nethralaya, Bengaluru and LVPEI discussed the headway they are marking despite the regulatory and translatory challenges of CRISPR-powered stem cell research.

The sessions were interspersed by poster presentations by PhD students, allowing them to showcase their work and receive feedback from their peers. 9 best poster awards were given out at the end of the conference.

Amber Connect Sets Up 4000-Seat Innovation Center in Coimbatore, Targeting 1000 New Hires in Two Years

Chennai, January 23, 2025 — Amber Connect, a global leader in vehicle tracking and telematics solutions headquartered in Jamaica, plans to open a 4000-seat office in Coimbatore. This innovation center will build vehicle telematics software that will be exported worldwide. The construction of the office is currently underway, with the company planning to open it by the end of 2025.

Hiring for the new innovation center will take place in a phased manner. Amber Connect plans to onboard 1,000 people over the next 2 years for various roles including technology development, sales, and customer support needed to expand operations across the country. Currently, Amber Connect’s office in Coimbatore comprises 1,200 skilled professionals across various roles including product development, software engineering, operational support, sales, logistics, demand generation, data science, and AI expertise. The team in India has been instrumental in building Amber Connect’s innovative solutions popular in key markets around the globe, and is the foundation for its expansion in India.

India is an important market for Amber Connect, which aims to increase its market share in the country by partnering with leading automotive OEMs, and distributors to enable advanced telematics and fleet management solutions into vehicle offerings. Through these partnerships, Amber Connect will focus on offering seamless vehicle tracking, AI-powered analytics, and enhanced security features which will drive significant value for Indian consumers and businesses.

“India’s increased digitization, rapid growth and the rise in adoption of premium technology solutions make it the right market for Amber’s Connect’s advanced telematics solutions. With a dynamic automotive ecosystem and progressive regulations like AIS-140 compliance, the demand for intelligent fleet and vehicle management solutions is growing in India and Amber Connect is excited to contribute to this smarter, safer, and more connected future,” said Dushyant Savadia, Founder & CEO, Amber Group, “Amber Connect chose a tier-2 city like Coimbatore to expand operations owing to its rich engineering talent. For us, India’s tier-2 markets are a reflection of the country’s potential growth, which makes it the ideal choice for us to open a new innovation center.”

Nation-wide expansion and growth in India

Amber Connect has set a revenue target of Rs 100 crore in India and Rs 500 crore globally over the next 2 years. The company aims to install its telematics solution on over 200,000 vehicles over the next two years. With strong and significant global growth, Amber Connect is driving a huge part of its revenue from Africa, the Caribbean, East Asia, West Asia and North America. After establishing its presence globally, the company is entering India with vast experience in economies of scale. Its expertise and growing focus on telematics and fleet management make it the ideal contributor to the rapidly growing Indian market.

A strong foothold in the Indian market will enhance Amber Connect’s revenue and market valuation, which will be a strategic advantage for a successful IPO.

The journey comes a full circle

From a disrupted teen to a technology disrupter! From being abused to becoming an alcoholic, from an angry person to a meditation teacher at the Art of Living Foundation, to being the Founder & CEO of Amber Group — Dushyant Savadia’s journey is one of resilience and success.

Amber Connect began in 2015 with the goal of fulfilling Dushyant Savadia’s philanthropic goals. As a part of the humanitarian envoy for the Art of Living Foundation led by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Dushyant was sent to the Caribbean to teach Art of Living workshops with a purpose to reduce crime and stress in the region.

Dushyant’s commitment to philanthropy was driven by his transformation at Art of Living, when he entered the foundation as a troubled youth. He went on to carry out philanthropic activities for the foundation in India and Europe, after which he was sent to the Caribbean. When the funding for his charitable works dwindled, Dushyant started Amber Connect which later became a large technology conglomerate of 13 businesses known as Amber Group — all to sustain his philanthropic enterprise.

The company’s first product, Amber Connect, identified a major gap in vehicle security and developed the world’s most powerful AI-powered solutions for fleet management and consumer vehicle tracking. Since its inception, Amber Connect has expanded its operation to 100 countries.

“India holds a special place in Amber Connect’s journey. Hailing from Gujrat, I grew up in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha and India is deeply tied to our existing Coimbatore-based development team, whose brilliance has been the foundation of our innovation. Entering the Indian market on a large scale feels like a heartfelt homecoming, as we’re bringing our expertise back to where it all began,” Dushyant Savadia, added.