Author: Sai Krishna

HSBC India Export Opportunities Fund Completed Two Years, Delivered 20.16% Return Over the Past Year

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HSBC Mutual Fund’s HSBC India Export Opportunities Fund, an open-ended equity scheme investing in the export theme, has completed two years since its inception on September 25, 2024. The Fund has delivered 20.16% returns over the one-year period ended September 30, 2026.

The Fund is designed to capture the long-term structural opportunity emerging from India’s growing export ecosystem by investing predominantly in equity and equity-related securities of companies engaged in or expected to benefit from the export of goods and services.

Strong performance since inception

As of September 30, 2026, an investment of ₹1 lakh at inception (Sept 24, 2024) in the HSBC India Export Opportunities Fund – Regular Plan could have grown to approximately ₹1.15 lakh, compared with ₹92,320 for the Nifty 500 TRI and ₹89,040 for the Nifty 50 TRI.

The Fund’s performance reflects its focus on companies positioned to benefit from India’s evolving export landscape and the increasing integration of Indian businesses with global supply chains.

SIP performance

The Fund has also delivered positive SIP returns over the periods considered. A monthly SIP of ₹10,000 since inception (Sept 24, 2024), representing a total investment of ₹2.40 lakh, could have grown to approximately ₹2.82 lakh as of September 30, 2026, translating into a SIP return of 16.27%.

Over the one-year period as of September 30, 2026, the same monthly SIP, representing a total investment of ₹1.20 lakh, could have grown to approximately ₹1.36 lakh, generating a SIP return of 25.46%.

Positioned to participate in India’s export opportunity

India’s export opportunity is being supported by several structural drivers, including its competitive labour costs and skilled workforce, government policies and incentives, supply-chain diversification, geopolitical developments and the country’s transition from cost arbitrage towards value-added manufacturing and services.

The Fund seeks to participate in these trends by investing in companies with significant export exposure across sectors. Its investment approach can provide exposure to businesses benefiting from India’s manufacturing capabilities, services exports, policy and reform initiatives, inbound tourism and cost-effective healthcare offerings.

The scheme had an AUM of ₹1,303 crore as of September 31, 2026, and is managed by Abhishek Gupta, Siddharth Vora and Mayank Chaturvedi, Dipan S. Parikh. Its benchmark is the Nifty 500 TRI.

Commenting on the second anniversary of the fund, Kailash Kulkarni, CEO, HSBC Mutual Fund, said: “India’s export opportunity is undergoing a structural transformation, supported by supply-chain diversification, policy support, improving manufacturing capabilities and India’s growing strength in value-added products and services. Over the past two years, the HSBC India Export Opportunities Fund has remained focused on identifying businesses that are positioned to benefit from these long-term trends. We believe India’s increasing participation in global value chains can create meaningful opportunities across sectors, and our approach will continue to focus on businesses with sustainable competitive advantages and the potential to benefit from the country’s export-led growth.”

As India seeks to strengthen its position in global value chains and expand its footprint across manufacturing and services, the export theme continues to offer a diversified opportunity across businesses and sectors.

The Fund will continue to follow an actively managed approach, identifying companies that are engaged in or expected to benefit from exports and that have the potential to participate in India’s long-term growth opportunity.

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RunnTV Partners with PubMatic to Expand Advertiser Access to Premium Streaming Inventory in India

Partnership gives brands and agencies programmatic access to RunnTV’s curated FAST Channels.

NEW DELHI, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PubMatic (Nasdaq: PUBM), the leading AI-powered ad tech company delivering digital advertising performance, and RunnTV, India’s first independent and fastest-growing FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) platform, today announced their partnership bringing RunnTV’s premium FAST channels to PubMatic’s unified platform.

Through the partnership, advertisers gain access to RunnTV’s more than 90 curated FAST channels and its reported audience across more than 12 million monthly active devices in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. They can transact through their existing DSP or activate campaigns directly through PubMatic’s unified platform, creating a more connected path from audience discovery and planning to activation and measurable performance.

Expanding access to premium CTV in India

India’s connected TV market is expanding rapidly. According to Ormax, CTV users in India have grown 65% year over year. RunnTV distributes channels across entertainment, movies, music, news, devotional, lifestyle, and regional content, engaging audiences that had traditionally been split across platforms, languages and regions, making it difficult for advertisers to plan and buy at scale.

PubMatic’s unified platform brings campaign orchestration, activation and decision intelligence closer together, reducing the complexity of reaching premium CTV audiences. AgenticOS, PubMatic’s operating system of more than 20 specialized AI agents and workflows, supports audience discovery, inventory curation, activation, measurement and fee transparency. Activate enables buyers to transact directly on premium inventory through PubMatic, while Decision Fabric brings a selection of partner and PubMatic models and data closer to inventory to enable faster, more intelligent decision-making. Together, these capabilities give advertisers a more direct path from audience discovery to activation and measurable performance, while preserving control over strategy and investment.

“Digital advertisers in India have been looking for a simpler way to access premium FAST inventory,” said Manish Sinha, Founder and CEO at RunnTV. “Through this partnership with PubMatic, RunnTV’s premium FAST channels are now available directly through their unified platform. The early response has been very promising, giving us confidence in the opportunity ahead, and we’re excited to see how this evolves.”

“CTV is a growing opportunity for advertisers in India,” said Amit Kr. Yadav, VP – South Asia & MM, PubMatic. “Buyers need efficient access to quality environments they can understand and activate. RunnTV on PubMatic removes operational friction. It gives advertisers a direct path to a growing FAST audience, combining premium, curated content with programmatic transparency and control.”

RunnTV inventory is available immediately through PubMatic’s platform where Buyers can target individual channels or specific audiences based on campaign goals. To learn more, contact us here.  

About PubMatic

PubMatic is the leading AI-powered ad tech company delivering digital advertising performance. Through an intelligent, unified platform that connects buyers, publishers, data partners, and commerce media networks, PubMatic delivers superior performance with greater transparency, control, and efficiency. Since 2006, PubMatic has pioneered every major advance in programmatic advertising, from enabling the first OpenRTB transactions to embedding AI-driven optimization and privacy-focused innovation across its platform. With omnichannel scale, proven reliability, and a track record of continuous innovation, PubMatic is building a more intelligent, profitable, and sustainable open internet.

Built to Connect. Powered to Perform.

Contact:

Laura Greally

laura.greally@pubmatic.com 

+65 8381 6355

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CATL globally launches ultra-high capacity energy storage system at All Energy 2026 and signs three Australian partnership MoUs

MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) today unveiled TENER+ in a global launch at All Energy Australia 2026, where it also showcased TENER Sodium. The company signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) with Hitachi Energy, EPEC Group and UNSW Sydney to strengthen the delivery and grid connection of utility-scale battery projects in Australia.

TENER: Engineered for long-term performance and Australia’s demanding grid connection requirements

CATL’s TENER+ and TENER Sodium energy storage systems are designed to deliver the reliability and long-term performance Australian utility-scale energy projects need. Engineered for harsh weather conditions, they are designed to support compliance with Australia’s demanding grid connection requirements and give project financiers confidence in the reliability and long-term performance that underpin battery revenues.

TENER+ is a 9MWh ultra-high capacity energy storage system that helps developers to achieve a longer-term project value and to maximise the storage capacity of their project, TENER+ reduces the number of containers needed by up to 40% and the project footprint by 12%, making this ideal for projects that are facing land constraints. Its intelligent thermal management system supports a higher round-trip efficiency and lower auxiliary power consumption. Multiple TENER+ batteries can be simultaneously commissioned with a single click to streamline project deployment.

Designed for a 25-year lifespan, TENER+ features liquid cooling and protection for humid and coastal environments. Noise levels remain below 65 dBA at 1 metre. Its “no heat island” top-exhaust design directs hot air vertically upwards, away from adjacent units. This prevents  horizontal heat discharge and minimises thermal impact on neighbouring PCS units, allowing them to operate at full rated power even in extreme summer conditions.

TENER Sodium is the world’s first mass-produced, field-validated sodium-ion battery energy storage system. It delivers more than 30MWh through its modular cabinet architecture. Built for Australia’s heat, it operates in temperatures of up to 55°C and delivers more than 10,000 cycles at 45°C. It delivers 95% round-trip efficiency with an operating lifespan of more than 20 years.

Together, these energy storage systems give developers and asset owners a choice of lithium-ion and sodium-ion chemistries. Sodium is far more abundant and geographically widespread than lithium and it delivers an additional pathway for battery supply chains.

“A battery’s value is measured over the entire lifespan of a project and not just on the day it’s commissioned,” said Zane Zhou, General Manager of CATL Australia and New Zealand.

“Developers need confidence that their batteries can handle the expected cycling to trade in the National Electricity Market and to perform throughout the lifespan of batteries installed in a utility-scale project. That is what TENER+ and TENER Sodium are designed to deliver. We’re offering both sodium-ion and lithium-ion technologies to give asset owners and developers the flexibility to choose the right technology for their success.”

CATL’s local industry partnerships to advance Australia’s clean energy transition

TENER energy storage systems solve the challenges the Australia’s grid is facing as more renewable energy powers the grid. Renewables supplied a record 44.3% of the National Electricity Market’s (NEM) generation in the September quarter of 2026. Grid-scale batteries supplied 8% of evening peak generation, overtaking gas-powered generation for the first time according to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

As coal-fired power stations retire, the grid increasingly needs energy storage systems with grid-forming capability to provide voltage and frequency support. To help deliver more storage in Australia, CATL’s three MoUs aim to address the challenges of a renewables-driven grid through Australian expertise and innovation.

CATL’s DC battery products and Hitachi Energy’s power conversion systems will form the basis of a proposed integrated offering in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Through this partnership, the company’s aim to improve compatibility, standardise project delivery and to reduce integration risk.

In Australia, CATL will collaborate with EPEC Group and the Xiamen Energy Storage Validation Research Institute (ESVL) to combine its energy storage technology, with EPEC’s grid integration and engineering delivery expertise, and ESVL’s full-scale system validation. The parties aim to strengthen technical validation and accelerate the delivery of reliable, bankable and grid-compliant energy storage projects in Australia.

CATL and UNSW Sydney will also jointly develop the Centre for Integrated Renewable Energy Training and Innovation in Western Sydney, NSW. This renewable energy training and innovation centre will advance the skills and capabilities needed for Australia’s clean energy transition.

Zhou added, “CATL is working with Hitachi Energy, EPEC Group, ESVL and UNSW Sydney to give our Australian customers greater confidence in how our technology is integrated, validated and supported throughout a project’s life. Together, we’re building the local expertise needed to deliver reliable battery projects in the long-term.”

The MoUs build on CATL’s work with Australian customers, including Birdwood Energy, which has selected CATL as the technology partner for the Baranduda Electrical Energy Reserve, a 400MW/1,860MWh battery near Wodonga in Victoria.

Zhou said, “Our commitment to Australia goes beyond supplying energy storage systems. We’re investing in people, partnerships and capability, from training the next generation of renewable energy professionals to working with our customers and partners to connect and deliver the critical projects Australia’s grid needs.”

CATL has led global energy storage battery shipments for five consecutive years, with a 30.4% market share in 2025, according to SNE Research. It has been on BloombergNEF’s Tier 1 energy storage list every quarter since Q1 2024. CATL has more than 3,000 energy storage projects worldwide and an installed capacity of over 17GWh of projects in Australia.

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Every Sticker Tells a Story: Velo and McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team® Turn Fans’ Most Original Motorsport Dreams into McLaren’s Mexico City Livery

LONDON, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Velo and the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1® Team have spotlighted some of the season’s most original fan dreams on their car for the Mexico City Grand Prix, unveiling the ‘Livery of Dreams’ as a celebration of fan creativity, individuality and self-expression.

Earlier in the season, adult Velo consumers and motorsport enthusiasts from around the world were invited to share their most unique fan wishes. Those contributions have now travelled from social feeds and group chats to the global racing stage, transformed into bespoke sticker artwork across the McLaren car, paddock screens and garage for race weekend.

As well as seeing their dreams brought to life on the car itself, fans behind some of the season’s most original submissions lived them for real at the McLaren Technology Centre. This month, they joined McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for unforgettable experiences including a pottery class, matcha-making and surprising a McLaren-loving group chat with voice notes and videos. Watch these moments unfold on Velo’s Instagram.

From shared jokes to once-in-a-lifetime ambitions, each sticker tells the story of an individual dream, together transforming parts of the car into a scrapbook of fandom, creativity and imagination:

• “Fan 4 Lyf” represents a wish to get matching tattoos with Oscar and Lando
• A bejewelled cap reflects a dream to bedazzle McLaren’s kit and the car
• “Welcome to the Papaya Hotline” was inspired by a fan’s request for McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown to record their voicemail message

The ‘Livery of Dreams’ marks the latest chapter in Velo and the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1® Team’s ‘Live Your Fandom’ campaign, putting fans’ individuality at the centre of the story.

However, for one fan, the dream is about to get even bigger. In Mexico, 30-year-old McLaren supporter and aspiring photographer Yasmine will step behind the lens for a once-in-a-lifetime experience with Velo.

 Inspired by a love of motorsport inherited from her father and a passion for photography sparked by her mother, Yasmine will be embedded within the McLaren community throughout the weekend, documenting the stories, culture and connections that define fandom in Mexico City. From local experiences to exclusive access with the team, she’ll capture the weekend through the eyes of a fan, living her dream fan experience.

Malky Brown, Global Head of Content & Partnerships at BAT, commented: “Every sticker tells the original story of a real fan dream, which is a powerful reminder that fandom isn’t one-size-fits-all, it’s personal, creative and unique to every fan. Through Live Your Fandom, Velo is helping turn those unique fan stories into unforgettable moments, giving them a place at the heart of the Mexico Grand Prix.”

Louise McEwen, Chief Marketing Officer, McLaren Racing, said: “The Papaya Family is united by a shared passion for all our sport has to offer, and this special livery puts their stories at the heart of the team. By bringing individual ideas together in one collective design, we are celebrating the creativity of our fans on one of the biggest stages in motorsport.”

To learn more about the Velo x McLaren Mastercard Formula 1® Team ‘Live Your Fandom’ campaign and the ‘Livery of Dreams’, visit Velo’s Instagram and McLaren Racing’s website.

+18 Only. This product contains nicotine and is addictive.

Campaign Imagery: Download here

Enquiries

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@BATplc

About McLaren Racing

McLaren Racing was founded by racing driver Bruce McLaren in 1963. The team entered its first Formula 1 race in 1966. McLaren has since won 23 Formula 1 world championships, over 200 Formula 1 Grands Prix, the Indianapolis 500 three times, and the Le Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt.

McLaren Racing competes across three racing series. The team competes in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with McLaren Mastercard F1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Arrow McLaren drivers Pato O’Ward, Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist and Ryan Hunter-Reay, and F1 Academy with Driver Development Programme members Ella Lloyd and Ella Stevens.

McLaren is a champion for sustainability in the sport and a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Commitment. It is committed to achieving net zero by 2040 and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture in the motorsport industry.

McLaren Racing – Official Website  

About BAT

BAT is a leading global consumer goods company committed to accelerating the transition to a Smokeless World and reshaping its portfolio for long term sustainability. Its portfolio spans cigarettes and a rapidly growing range of smokeless alternatives including Velo Modern Oral nicotine pouches, Vuse vapour and glo Heated Products. In 2025, BAT generated £25.6bn in revenue.

The company aims to reach 50 million adult consumers with its Smokeless Products by 2030 and for these products to deliver 50% of Group revenue by 2035. As of 30 June 2026, BAT’s Smokeless brands were used by 35.0 million adult consumers worldwide, many of whom have completely switched from – or have reduced their consumption of – cigarettes. Smokeless Products accounted for 19.8% of Group revenue.

Backed by Omni™, its evidence based manifesto for change, the company continues to strengthen its scientific capabilities across systems toxicology, clinical and behavioural research, and post market studies.

Alongside transforming its portfolio, BAT is advancing efforts to reduce its environmental footprint and support positive social impact across its value chain. In 2025, the company received a Triple A rating from CDP for its disclosures on Climate Change, Water Security and Forests.

References to “BAT”, “the company”, “Group”, “we”, “us” and “our” when denoting opinion refer to British American Tobacco p.l.c. and when denoting business activities refer to British American Tobacco p.l.c. and its subsidiaries, collectively or individually as the case may be. Collective expressions used in connection with business activities are used for convenience only and do not imply any other relationship between what are separate and distinct legal entities. For more information, please visit www.bat.com and www.asmokelessworld.com.

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D’YAVOL Spirits Brings its Award-Winning Single Estate Vodka and Inception Blended Malt Scotch to the USA

Building on growing international acclaim, D’YAVOL Spirits takes another step towards becoming a global name in luxury spirits

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — D’YAVOL Spirits, founded through a partnership between global icon Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan Khan’s D’YAVOL Luxury Collective, Radico Khaitan and Nikhil Kamath, makes its US debut with D’YAVOL Single Estate Vodka and D’YAVOL Inception Blended Malt Scotch Whisky.

Following its recent UK launch, the US debut brings a Single Estate Vodka crafted in Poland using 100% winter wheat, and a Blended Malt Scotch that combines eight single malts from the different regions of Scotland.

Speaking on the launch, Leti Blagoeva, CEO, D’YAVOL Spirits, said, “The US debut marks an important new chapter for D’YAVOL Spirits as we continue to build a global spirits brand with a distinct point of view. With D’YAVOL Single Estate Vodka and D’YAVOL Inception, we are entering the market with two spirits that each tell a different story through their origins, craftsmanship, and character. The international recognition we have earned so far gives us a strong foundation, and we see this as the beginning of a much larger journey for D’YAVOL Spirits in the US.”

Since launching its first product in 2023, D’YAVOL Spirits has earned 53 international awards across D’YAVOL Single Estate Vodka, D’YAVOL Inception, and D’YAVOL Vortex, including ‘Scotch of the Year’ and ‘Vodka of the Year’ titles, along with several Gold and Double Gold medals.

Sanjeev Banga, President, International Business, Radico Khaitan, said, “The US is a key market for premium spirits, and D’YAVOL’s entry marks an exciting step in its global journey. With a portfolio that brings together distinctive provenance, exceptional craftsmanship and a contemporary spirit, the brand is well placed to make its mark in this competitive market. The international recognition it has earned so far is a strong testament to its quality and ambition. We believe D’YAVOL has all the ingredients to carve out a distinctive space for itself on the global stage.”

Crafted in Poland from 100% winter wheat through a grain-to-glass process, D’YAVOL Single Estate Vodka is filtered through rare black pearls. It offers a crisp nose with raisin notes and a smooth, balanced palate with subtle sweetness and a rich mouthfeel.

D’YAVOL Inception Blended Malt Scotch Whisky combines eight single malts from four Scottish regions, aged up to 12 years in first-fill tawny port and rare Madeira casks. Non-chill filtered, it offers fruity sweetness, gentle smoke, and peat on the nose, with ripe pears, cherries, creamy toffee, and raisins on the palate.

Imported and distributed in the US by SG Worldwide, both products are available at select stores nationwide, with further expansion planned in the coming months.

The brand’s wider portfolio also includes D’YAVOL Vortex, a multi-award-winning blended Scotch featuring vanilla fudge, smoky malt and Islay peat. Looking ahead, the brand plans to introduce a range of luxury tequilas.

About D’YAVOL Spirits

D’YAVOL Spirits is the spirits vertical of D’YAVOL Luxury Collective, co-founded by Aryan Khan, Leti Blagoeva and Bunty Singh, in partnership with Shah Rukh Khan, Radico Khaitan and Nikhil Kamath. Focused on provenance and craftsmanship, its portfolio includes D’YAVOL Single Estate Vodka, D’YAVOL Inception Blended Malt Scotch and D’YAVOL Vortex Blended Scotch. The wider collective also includes D’YAVOL X, focused on streetwear and accessories, and D’YAVOL Live, spanning events and nightlife.

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From Pitch to Pilot: Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition Opens Global Search for Deep Tech Urban Solutions and Sustainability focused Founders

• Finalists compete for over S$2.5 million (US$2 million) in prizes and gain a pathway to SMU’s Urban SustaInnovator accelerator and US$10 million USI Fund

SINGAPORE, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — For many deep-tech start-ups tackling urban and sustainability challenges, the biggest hurdle is not developing breakthrough technologies, but finding the customers, partners and opportunities to deploy them at scale.

Addressing this challenge, the 13th Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC) today opened applications for university founders and recent graduates seeking to turn frontier ideas into real-world impact. Organised by Singapore Management University’s Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE), LKYGBPC is one of Asia’s most globally representative deep-tech start-up competitions, spanning 12 focus areas including climate tech, energy, food and land use, urban mobility, longevity and healthtech, and sustainable materials and circularity.

Fifty finalists will be flown to Singapore 28 September to 1 October 2027 to compete for over S$2.5 million in prizes and take part in an Innovation Festival featuring investor engagement, mentorship, and connections with corporate and ecosystem partners.

Beyond the Competition: A Gateway to SMU’s Urban SustaInnovator (USI) accelerator

Selected LKYGBPC finalists can join SMU’s Urban SustaInnovator (USI) accelerator, launched in 2025, which supports start-ups through market access, pilot projects and strategic introductions across Asia. In May 2026, SMU IIE launched the USI Fund to back promising ventures as they pilot and scale.

“Founders of breakthrough technologies can create value only when they reach the people, industries, and communities they are designed to serve. SMU created LKYGBPC as a platform to help founders bring their innovative ideas to life by connecting them with the partners, markets and opportunities needed to turn innovation into real-world impact. Now, through the USI programme and USI Fund, we offer a post-competition pathway to pilot, scale, and raise capital throughout Asia,” said Rony Palathinkal, Head of the LKYGBPC and Urban SustaInnovator at SMU IIE.

One of the biggest challenges for sustainability start-ups is getting access to the right partners to validate and deploy new technologies.

SMU is uniquely positioned to help startups make these connections with its network of Overseas Centres in Bangkok, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City and Shenzhen, and its International Advisory Councils in eight countries. “SMU’s expansive network of partners from industry, government and community across Asia enables us to forge connections that enable startups to cross borders and scale their innovative solutions,” says Professor Sun Sun Lim, SMU’s Vice President of Partnerships and Engagement, and Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication & Technology.

Singapore-based Standard Physics (formerly Inviscid AI), founded by Qiu Ziming and Kabir Jain, was a finalist in the 12th LKYGBPC before joining Y Combinator’s Winter 2026 cohort and SMU’s inaugural Urban SustaInnovator (USI) accelerator. The startup uses physics-informed AI and IoT-powered digital twins to optimise energy efficiency in buildings and data centres. Through USI, it secured a pilot with The GEAR by Japanese construction giant Kajima and is discussing three more opportunities. It has also raised US$2.3 million in seed funding led by Square Peg Capital and is preparing to launch an AI-powered agentic engineering platform. Jain credits Y Combinator’s start-up expertise and USI’s regional network for supporting its growth.

“The accelerators were very complementary. YC was good at getting us from zero to one, and then USI has been very helpful in getting us from one to 10. The USI team can make the right introductions and help you grow,” said Jain. 

Singapore is strengthening its position as a global sustainability innovation hub, providing start-ups with opportunities to pilot, validate and scale technologies across Asia and beyond. This government-led ambition is backed by the S$37 billion RIE 2030 plan, including S$10.8 billion for mission-oriented research, and a S$40 million USS Translation Fund to support the development and commercialisation of urban and sustainability solutions.

Building a Global Pipeline of Innovation

Established by SMU in 2002, LKYGBPC is a biennial competition open to start-ups with at least one founder currently enrolled in a university programme or who graduated within the past five years. Its 12th edition in October 2025 attracted over 1,500 entries from founders representing 1,200 universities across 91 countries. Finalists from the 9th to 12th editions have collectively raised over S$1 billion. Finalists from the 9th to 12th editions have collectively raised over S$1 billion.  Finalists from the 9th to 12th editions have collectively raised over S$1 billion.

Said Shirley Wong, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at SMU IIE, Chairperson of the 13th LKYGBPC Advisory Committee, and Managing Partner of TNF Ventures: “As Asia continues to urbanise, the region presents both complex challenges and significant opportunities for innovation. LKYGBPC brings together founders worldwide and connects them with Singapore’s ecosystem of industry, investors and institutions to accelerate solutions with regional and global impact.”

Applications are open at https://iie.smu.edu.sg/lkygbpc and close on 31 March 2027.

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ESENTIA increases Adjusted EBITDA in 3Q26, reduces leverage and advances its growth strategy

• Adjusted EBITDA reached US$86.0 million in 3Q26, up 1.3% from 3Q25, and US$262.5 million in the first nine months of the year, an increase of 3.5%.
• The Net Debt / LTM Adjusted EBITDA ratio declined to 3.9x as of September 30, 2026, from 4.1x at year-end 2025.
• The Company is advancing its Expansion Plan and expects to expand its presence toward the Pacific region through the signing of an agreement to acquire EOM, owner of the Guadalajara–Manzanillo gas pipeline, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ESENTIA Energy Development, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: ESENTIA) (“ESENTIA” or the “Company”), announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2026, reporting Adjusted Revenues of US$111.7 million and Adjusted EBITDA of US$86.0 million, while strengthening its financial position and continuing to advance its energy infrastructure expansion strategy. Read the full report here. https://esentiaenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Earnings_Release_3Q26_ENG.pdf

During the quarter, Adjusted EBITDA increased 1.3% year over year to US$86.0 million, driven mainly by the natural gas marketing business, which benefited from higher sales volumes and a higher contribution margin, as well as increased interruptible transportation services and a greater contribution from joint ventures, alongside the stable base provided by long-term transportation contracts.

The Net Debt / LTM Adjusted EBITDA ratio declined to 3.9x from 4.1x at year-end 2025, reflecting growth in Adjusted EBITDA and a reduction in gross debt.

Net income for the quarter totaled US$24.5 million, down 13.1% from the same quarter of the prior year, mainly due to a higher tax burden. In the first nine months of the year, net income increased 18.9% to US$65.9 million, while natural gas sales volumes grew 15%, with a 14% increase in contribution margin.

“As we close out 2026 and look ahead to 2027, our priorities are clear: continue delivering results, complete Phase I, close and integrate EOM, and develop with discipline the opportunities that support ESENTIA’s long-term growth,” said Daniel Bustos, Chief Executive Officer of ESENTIA.

ESENTIA continues to execute its Expansion Plan as expected. Phase I remains on track to achieve mechanical completion of the Aguascalientes Compression Station in the first quarter of 2027, in line with budget, with 100% of its capacity covered by firm contracts. Phase II, which is expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2028, already has firm contracts covering 56% of its capacity.

In this context, the agreement to acquire EOM, owner of the Guadalajara–Manzanillo gas pipeline, represents a significant step in the Company’s expansion strategy toward the Pacific region and complements its long-term growth outlook. The Company expects to finance the acquisition entirely with its own funds, with no additional debt, and to complete it during the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

Adjusted Revenues and Adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS measures; their definitions and reconciliations are included in the quarterly report. This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Please refer to the quarterly report for further information. 

About ESENTIA Energy Development:

ESENTIA Energy Development is a leading company in Mexico’s energy sector, specializing in natural gas transportation and marketing. With more than 20 years of experience, we develop infrastructure projects that drive growth and broaden access to energy, contributing to Mexico’s well-being and sustainable development. We operate Mexico’s largest privately owned interconnected natural gas system, delivering reliable, low-cost natural gas from Waha, Texas, through central Mexico to the country’s main industrial regions. At ESENTIA Energy Development, we operate to the highest safety standards and maintain a strong commitment to sustainability and respect for the communities where we operate. For more information visit www.esentiaenergy.com

Contact Information

Lisa Carrillo

Communications Manager

lcarrillo@esentia-energy.com

Patricia Fid Martín

Senior Director, Investor Relations and Capital Markets

pfid@esentia-energy.com

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MITTI LABS & SALESFORCE PARTNER TO SCALE WATER-SAVING RICE FARMING PRACTICES THAT REDUCE METHANE EMISSIONS

Salesforce will purchase 500,000 high-integrity, data-backed methane reduction credits from Mitti Labs by 2030, bringing water resilience to India’s smallholder farmers. 

SAN FRANCISCO and BENGALURU, India, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Deep-tech company Mitti Labs today announced a five-year carbon credit offtake agreement with Salesforce to scale Climate-smart rice farming across tens of thousands of smallholder farms in India. Coming just weeks after Mitti Labs’ offtake agreement with Google, this new partnership shows the growing corporate demand for satellite-verified rice methane credits as a scalable offset solution with near-term impact. 

Climate-smart rice farming replaces traditional continuous irrigation with alternate irrigation, where farmers let their fields dry out during safe windows in the growing cycle. This low-cost practice shift helps the world grow more rice with less water, while abating methane emissions derived from microbe growth in oxygen-free soils. Alternate irrigation can cut methane emissions by up to 50% and water usage by up to 40%, without affecting yields. 

Agriculture is responsible for 40% of all human-induced methane emissions, which are a powerful driver of climate change. Methane traps 85 times more heat than CO₂ but only stays in the atmosphere for a decade, meaning that every ton that is not emitted today delivers a fast, tangible reduction in near-term warming. 

Commitments from companies like Salesforce are helping Mitti Labs scale these practices. Mitti Labs plans to scale its operations to meet this demand: by 2028, it plans to issue 2 million credits per year from its projects located in India and Southeast Asia. 

“Salesforce is a founding member of the Beyond Alliance’s Superpollutant Action Initiative. We know that superpollutant reduction is one of the best ways to slow near-term warming, and we are committed to directing capital toward high-impact mitigation efforts. Reducing methane emissions from rice farming is a scalable climate solution that also helps preserve water resources for future generations,” said Jamila Yamani, PhD., Director of Climate & Energy at Salesforce.

Every credit delivered under the agreement will be backed by field-level evidence and satellite-verified field dry-downs. Mitti Labs’ GeoAI platform, developed with support from NASA, fuses high-resolution satellite radar with field-collected ground truth to track flooding, soil moisture and crop health across individual smallholder plots. This provides credit buyers with transparent, independently verifiable proof of impact at a scale that manual monitoring is not able to match.

Beyond reducing methane emissions, the partnership is projected to save 700 billion liters of water, or roughly eighteen months of Bengaluru’s annual supply, easing pressure on groundwater retrievals in regions where rice farming competes with urban and industrial water usages. 

“Carbon credit buyers are increasingly asking not just what impact a project delivers, but how they can see it for themselves. Having Salesforce join Google in backing rice methane reductions shows that high-integrity, data-verified agricultural credits are becoming a core part of serious climate offsetting strategies. This agreement lets us reach tens of thousands more farmers with practices that cut emissions, save water and strengthen livelihoods,” said Xavier Laguarta, co-founder at Mitti Labs.

With Salesforce’s support, Mitti Labs will deepen its engagement with rice farming communities and expand the ‘digital twins’ GeoAI datasets that support the roll-out of its programs. As demand for the world’s staple crop continues to grow and rainfall patterns become less predictable, the next five years in the partnership offer a chance to strengthen food security and realize the full potential of rice farming as a climate solution. 

About Mitti Labs

Mitti Labs combines satellite technology, AI and field operations to create a water and climate resilient future for rice farming. To date, its programs have saved 500 billion liters of water — the equivalent of Bengaluru’s annual supply. In July 2026, Mitti Labs received an ‘A’ rating from leading ratings agency Sylvera in recognition of its rigorous implementation and measurement protocols. 

Mitti Labs customers include global technology, service, food and agriculture businesses such as Google, Cool Effect, Ebro Foods, and Syngenta. Since launching in 2023, Mitti Labs has grown to 150 employees and secured $12.5 million from investors such as Lightspeed India, Aramco Ventures, Voyager Ventures, Godrej Industries Group, Cisco Foundation, Francis Family Fund, and Volta Circle. Visit mittilabs.earth to learn more.

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Inntot Recognized as an official STMicroelectronics Authorized Partner for Software-Defined Radio Digital Radio Receiver Solutions

Collaboration brings together STMicroelectronics’ automotive tuner technology and Inntot’s Software-Defined Radio IP to support cost-effective, multi-standard digital radio solutions

KOCHI, India, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Inntot Technologies, a leading provider of Software-Defined Radio (SDR) and in-cabin audio technologies, today announced that it has been recognized as an official STMicroelectronics Authorized Partner. The collaboration combines STMicroelectronics’ high-performance automotive radio tuners with Inntot’s highly competitive and optimized SDR software IPs, offering global Automotive Tier-1 suppliers and automakers a complete, cost-effective digital radio receiver solution.

The combined solution enables automakers and Tier-1 suppliers to support multiple digital radio standards, including Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+) and China Digital Radio (CDR), within automotive infotainment systems without the need for dedicated hardware decoders.

As the global automotive industry shifts toward integrated cockpits and Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), Tier-1 suppliers face increasing pressure to lower Bill of Materials (BOM) costs while maintaining high audio performance.

By pairing STMicroelectronics’ RF tuner ICs (such as the STA709/STA710 series, TDA7707/TDA7708 series) with Inntot’s high performing, lightweight, low-CPU-usage SDR stacks, the solution offers several benefits:

• Reduced Hardware Complexity: Eliminates dedicated baseband Integrated Circuits (ICs), minimizing board space, power consumption, and thermal dissipation.
• Multi-Standard Global Coverage: Supports key broadcast standards across global regions (Europe, APAC, GCC, India, and the Americas) via software configuration.
• Faster Time-to-Market: Pre-validated middleware, hardware abstraction layers and OS abstraction layers accelerate system integration for Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), Android Automotive OS, and RTOS environments.
• Seamless Switching and Rich Data Services: Fully supports advanced features including seamless blending from analog to digital and vice-versa, alerts including emergency warning, album art/slideshows, Service and Program Information (SPI) and TPEG traffic notifications.

“Automotive radio is increasingly becoming a software-defined experience, giving automakers greater flexibility to address different standards and markets through software,” said Rajith Nair, CEO of Inntot Technologies. “Our partnership with STMicroelectronics is an important step in advancing that transition and bringing scalable digital radio solutions to more vehicle platforms globally.”

The joint STMicroelectronics and Inntot SDR receiver solutions supporting DRM, DAB/DAB+, CDR standards are now available for evaluation, sampling, and integration into automotive Tier-1 infotainment programs.

About Inntot

Inntot is a leading Software-Defined Radio (SDR) and In-Cabin Audio Technology company. Inntot’s SDR IP portfolio supports Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+), Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), China Digital Radio (CDR), HD Radio, DTS AutoStage, and RadioDNS. With SDR deployments in more than 2.6 million cars and deployment underway in 4.4 million cars, the company holds 13 granted patents in the digital radio domain. Inntot is a member of WorldDAB and its technical committee and DRM Consortium and its technical committee. Inntot is also the winner of Digital Radio Mondiale Enterprise Award 2020.

Inntot Contacts

Media: info@inntot.com

Website: www.inntot.com

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Xobin Introduces AI Interview Auditor to Make AI-Led Hiring More Trustworthy

A new AI agent designed to review AI-conducted interviews, identify evaluation inconsistencies, and help organizations make more reliable hiring decisions.

CHENNAI, India, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Xobin, a talent intelligence platform, today announced Xobin AI Interview Auditor, a new AI-powered solution designed to independently review interviews conducted by AI.

As more organizations adopt AI interviews to screen and evaluate candidates, a new challenge is emerging: How can companies be confident that the AI interviewer is making reliable assessments?

Xobin aims to address this challenge with an AI agent that reviews the interview itself.

Who Is Checking the AI Interviewer?

AI interviews are helping companies evaluate candidates at scale. But organizations also need a way to check whether those interviews were conducted and evaluated appropriately.

Xobin AI Interview Auditor is designed to examine AI interview conversations and help organizations answer important questions:

• Did the AI ask relevant questions for the role?
• Did it properly evaluate the candidate’s answers?
• Did it overlook important information?
• Was the evaluation consistent with the interview conversation?
• Are the final scores and recommendations supported by evidence?

The goal is simple: AI interviews should be auditable, not just automated.

An Independent Review of AI Interviews

Xobin AI Interview Auditor introduces an additional layer of review to the AI hiring process.

Instead of relying entirely on the conclusions generated by an AI interviewer, organizations can use the auditor to identify potential inconsistencies and areas requiring human attention.

Each AI interview report now carries a quality badge, a short scorecard and plain-language flags. These show hiring teams at a glance whether the interview met Xobin’s quality standards and which sessions need a closer look, such as “this interview had long delays” or “the candidate tried to steer the AI off topic.”

Xobin’s in-house team also reviews all flagged audit reports to keep improving how the auditor and AI interviewer perform.

This approach is intended to improve transparency and give hiring teams greater confidence in AI-assisted hiring decisions.

Building on Xobin’s Existing AI Interview Capabilities

Xobin already offers Guided AI Interviews, enabling organizations to evaluate candidates through structured, interactive AI-led conversations.

These interviews also support the evaluation of emerging AI-era skills, including AI fluency, prompt engineering, and vibe coding.

Through Xobin’s existing real-time prompt editor, candidates can demonstrate how they interact with AI, construct and refine prompts, and approach practical problem-solving challenges.

For software development roles, this enables employers to assess how candidates use AI-assisted coding tools, rather than relying exclusively on traditional coding questions or theoretical knowledge.

With the introduction of AI Interview Auditor, Xobin is adding an independent review capability to its existing AI interviewing technology.

While Guided AI Interviews assess candidates, AI Interview Auditor assesses the quality and reliability of the AI interviewer’s evaluation.

Building Trust in AI Hiring

“AI is increasingly being trusted to interview candidates and recommend who should move forward. But who is checking whether the AI got it right?” said Guruprakash Sivabalan, Founder and CEO of Xobin.

“We believe the future of AI hiring requires more than automation. It requires accountability. Every AI interview should be explainable, reviewable, and supported by evidence.”

About Xobin

Xobin is a talent intelligence platform used by 5000+ organizations in 55+ countries, helping organizations make evidence-based decisions across hiring, talent development, and workforce management. Its solutions include AI interviews, skill assessments, psychometric assessments, and talent intelligence.

Website: https://xobin.com

Media contact

Guruprakash Sivabalan

Founder and CEO, Xobin

Email: guru@xobin.com 

Website: www.xobin.com

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