Author: Neel Achary

transcosmos announces its Purpose, Vision, and Values for the next phase of growth

Tokyo, Japan, Apr 1: Marking its 60th anniversary, transcosmos  announced its Purpose to remain an indispensable company to society and achieve sustainable growth. Along with the Purpose, transcosmos has defined its Vision for the next 10 years and the Values that guide each employee’s daily decision-making and actions, establishing a renewed philosophy structure. As its business continues to grow and its domains and social relationships expand, this structure clarifies the company’s essential drivers of growth and fosters unity among employees by sharing the common values across the organization. Through this, transcosmos aims to create even greater social value and remain the company of choice for all stakeholders. Inheriting the spirit of “people & technology” that sits at the heart of its business from its founding, transcosmos will take a step forward toward the next growth phase with a renewed Purpose, Vision, and Values at its core.

Purpose

Make It Real, Together. By transcending limits and connecting people through technology, we open a universe of possibilities for growth and success. Amid rapidly changing societal and business environments, companies today are expected not only to demonstrate efficiency and technological strength but also to show how—and with whom—they create value. transcosmos has long brought wishes and passion of clients and society to life by treating their challenges as its own, discussing and addressing their problems together from planning to execution, and delivering tangible results together. By upholding this Purpose, transcosmos seeks to extend its ability to Make It Real to a wider global audience by multiplying autonomous capabilities of each individual.

Vision

Powering Intelligent Businesses through Consulting, Technology, and Operations transcosmos defined the above as its medium-term vision. Today, advanced companies are aiming to transform into an Intelligent Business, a next-generation business with advanced, autonomous decision-making and execution capabilities with AI and data at their core. Recognizing this trend, transcosmos aims to serve as a powerful engine that helps propel clients’ transformation by enhancing its consulting and technological capabilities.

Values

To achieve its Purpose and Vision, transcosmos has defined values that guide each employee’s daily decision-making and actions.

– Deliver results as one team. – Build trust through integrity and sincerity. – Take ownership and think beyond. – Grow through every challenge. – Create a fair environment for everyone.

[Next steps] Under the Purpose, Vision, and Values, transcosmos will strive to deliver its medium-term business plan, which starts in fiscal year 2026, and the vision beyond, to further enhance its corporate value and create greater social value.

* transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries.
* Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

MAPIC India Shopping Centre Summit and Awards to Spotlight India’s Retail Growth as Reforms and Consumption Accelerate

New Delhi, Apr 1: MAPIC India Shopping Centre Summit and Awards is set to take place on April 8, 2026, at the JW Marriott Hotel, Aerocity, New Delhi, bringing together influential leaders from retail, real estate, and investment sectors to discuss “The India Advantage: Reforms, Retail & Rising Consumption.” The event will explore how India’s progressive reforms, expanding organised retail, and rising consumer demand are making the country one of the world’s most compelling markets for retail and shopping centre development.

India’s retail sector is experiencing strong growth, highlighted by an 11% rise in sales during the 2025 festive season, supported by GST efficiencies. Organised retail is projected to reach USD 230 billion by 2030, with over USD 3.5 billion expected to flow into retail real estate over the next three years. The rapid expansion across Tier II and III cities, coupled with omnichannel retail formats and demand for experiential malls, is fueling India’s retail evolution.

The conference agenda will include keynote addresses, report launches, and panel discussions on topics such as large-scale mall development in emerging cities, the disruption of quick commerce, the convergence of retail and hospitality, and financial strategies in the retail sector. The event will also highlight the role of design in shaping India’s retail future and feature a live competition showcasing the best footfall growth initiatives from leading mall developers.

Key sessions include:

• MAPIC Premier: Exploring the 5 million sq. ft moment with India’s top mall developers building large-scale retail destinations beyond metros.

• Fireside Chat: Examining q-commerce disruption and its impact on consumer behaviour and retail strategies.

• Panel Discussions: Covering retail-hospitality convergence, CFO perspectives on GST and cost management, and insights from fashion designers influencing retail trends.

• Live Competition: Showcasing the Most Admired Shopping Centre of the Year for Best Footfall Growth Initiative.

The day concludes with the MAPIC India Shopping Centre Awards 2026, celebrating the top-performing malls and their achievements in footfall growth, customer engagement, and retail innovation.

The speaker line-up features prominent industry leaders, including:

• Abhishek Bansal, Executive Director, Pacific Malls

• Jayen Naik, President of Operations, Nexus Malls

• Rashmi Sen, CEO – Malls, The Phoenix Mills

• Shibu Philips, Director – Shopping Malls, Lulu Group India

• Harsh Bansal, Co-Founder, Unity Group

• Rajesh Jain, Managing Director and CEO, Lacoste India

• Kavindra Mishra, Managing Director and CEO, Shoppers Stop

• Pushpa Bector, Senior Executive Director and Business Head – Retail, DLF

• Bhuvanesh Mendiratta, Managing Director, Miraj Cinemas

• Vevek K Agrawal, Director and Owner, Haldiram Group

• Binit Agarwalla, Chief Financial Officer, Forever New Apparels

• Saurav Shah, Chief Financial Officer, Libas

• Vishal Goyal, Chief Financial Officer, Ducati India

• Shivendra Nigam, Chief Financial Officer, Cantabil

• Sakshi Goel, Associate Executive Director, CBRE

• Rishi Sakhuja, Founder, Vasa Indica

• Prasoon Mukharji, Senior Vice President, ABFRL and COO, Tarun Tahiliani

• Sanjeev Mehra, Managing Director and CEO, Quest Properties

• Jahnavi Batra, Chief Marketing Officer, Sheetal Batra

• Rajat Wahi – Senior Advisor, CPG & Retail

• Mukesh Kumar – CEO, Malls, K Raheja Realty

• Aman Trehan – Executive Director, Trehan IRIS

• Ajay Bindroo – Managing Partner, Beverly Hills Polo Club Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd, India

• Sandeep Chugh – MD, OVS S.p.a

• Abhay Batra – Co-Founder & CFO, Clovia

• Supria Radaraman – Co-Founder & Group COO, The House Of Angadi

• Jaideep Singh – COO & Brand Head, AMPM

• Aparna Sud – Head Leasing – Luxury Malls, DLF Ltd.

• Nehmat Mongia – Founder, Nehmat Mongia Design LLP

• Milin Rohinesh – Head of Retail India, Cushman & Wakefield

• Pramod Arora – CEO, PVR Inox

• Divesh Sawhney –   Chief Growth Officer, Zepto

Umang Gupta, Country Head, RX India, said “India’s retail sector is entering a high-growth phase driven by reforms, expanding organised retail, and a strong consumption base of a young demography. MAPIC India Shopping Centre Summit and Awards will unite the leaders, decision and policy makers shaping this transformation. MISC has been the industry platform that has over the decade forged meaningful partnerships, investment decisions and Growth stories for retail players across domestic & international markets.”

MAPIC India continues to be a pivotal platform for collaboration between developers, retailers, investors, and policymakers, catalysing the next phase of India’s retail-led growth story.

Spiritual Scientist, Rashmi Aiyappa, receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Her Pioneering Work in Wellness Industry (India)

Presented by actor, entrepreneur and wellness advocate, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, the Chief Guest, at the Udyog Yogdaan Puraskar 2026 in association with Karnataka Tourism

Apr 01: On March 28, 2026, Rashmi Aiyappa – Spiritual Scientist & Inventor of Aashwasan Science®, Founder & Executive Chairperson of Aashwasan Group of Companies, and Founder & Managing Trustee of Aashwasan Foundation – was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award – Wellness Industry (India) by Shilpa Shetty Kundra at the Udyog Yogdaan Puraskar 2026.

The event, held in association with Karnataka Tourism, was graced by industry leaders, successful entrepreneurs, and accomplished social personalities. The Udyog Yogdaan Puraskar is a distinguished recognition that honours individuals whose exemplary contributions have created a lasting legacy in their respective fields.

Rashmi Aiyappa was honoured for her exceptional contributions to the Health & Wellness sector. Through her pioneering invention, Aashwasan Science®, she introduced a transformative approach that, for the first time, brings quantum science into lived human experience—enabling individuals to embrace their full potential and celebrate their infinite self.

Aashwasan Science® fosters holistic well-being at physiological, psychological, and spiritual levels, marking a significant breakthrough in how wellness is understood and experienced.

About Rashmi Aiyappa

• Spiritual Scientist, Inventor and Social Innovator
• Founder & Executive Chairperson – Aashwasan Group of Companies, Epiance Software, Aank Humane Technologies
• Founder & Managing Trustee – Aashwasan Foundation

A visionary and revolutionary entrepreneur, Rashmi Aiyappa was born with the experience of nature’s phenomena: Lifeforce Mechanism® and Timeless Phenomenon®, which encompass the knowledge of life’s mechanisms and the cause-and-effect cycle of nature.

Through these phenomena, she developed Aashwasan Science®—a groundbreaking spiritual technology rooted in quantum principles. This science bridges the physical and metaphysical realms, offering an experiential understanding of the multidimensional reality of the infinite self. It integrates the mechanisms of all life forms into a unified dynamic framework, addressing the root causes of challenges ranging from disease and life situations to relationships and self-awareness.

To bring this science to the world, Rashmi Aiyappa founded Aashwasan® on May 23, 2005. Over the past two decades, her work has led to 100+ breakthroughs in Health & Wellness, impacting millions of lives across 30+ countries. Her innovations have empowered individuals to discover their infinite identities and enabled organizations to undergo profound transformation.

She describes Aashwasan as a manifestation of her life’s purpose—a space where hope is restored and life is celebrated in its entirety.

In her words:
“Aashwasan is nature’s own. It’s a revolution that will continue for lifetimes and is here to stay. The only essence that marks life is love. Love is where it all begins.”

Media Presence

Between 2005 and 2012, Rashmi Aiyappa and her work were prominently featured across multiple media houses, news channels, radio platforms, and over 250 publications worldwide.

Awards and Recognitions

• 2013 – Social Innovator, CMO Asia Awards (Singapore)
• 2017 – Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All, Women Economic Forum
• 2017 – 50 Most Impactful Social Innovators, World CSR Congress
• 2018 – Global Peace Leadership & Excellence Award, World Peace Conference
• 2019–2021 – Mahatma Awards (Social Good, Impact Leadership, Maximising Human Potential)
• 2021–2022 – Among Top Women CEOs, Women Entrepreneur Magazine
• 2023 – Forbes Recognition as eXtrepreneur (Top 200 Companies with Global Potential)
• 2024 – Influential Leader in Mindfulness, Global Leaders Today Magazine
• 2025 – Best Brand 2025, Economic Times Conclave
• 2026 – Lifetime Achievement Award – Wellness Industry (India), Udyog Yogdaan Puraskar 2026 in association with Karnataka Tourism

What Bengaluru Should be Eating This Summer: Shoyu’s Light Pan-Asian Menu

Shoyu Brings a Refreshing Summer of Sushis, Dimsums and Light Plates at the comfort of your Home 

 Bengaluru, Apr 1: As Bengaluru eases into warmer, sun-soaked days, the city’s palate begins to shift, leaning towards food that feels lighter, brighter, and more refreshing. This season, Shoyu brings together a thoughtful selection of its signature dishes that naturally complement this mood, spotlighting flavours that are clean, vibrant, and perfectly suited for the summer months. 

The menu leans into bright flavours and playful contrasts. Salads are designed to refresh and uplift – the Crispy Quinoa & Avocado Salad pairs cool crunch with a gentle hint of sweetness from pineapple wafu, while the Baby Potato & Edamame Salad brings a soft kick through its wasabi chilli lime dressing. The Japanese Spinach Salad, finished with sesame gomae and a touch of togarashi, and the Chicken & Avocado Salad with its tangy plum notes, round out a line-up that feels both wholesome and full of flavour. 

Small plates follow a similarly light yet indulgent approach. The crudo selection – from Pepper Pizzette to Tuna & Truffle Pizzette – plays beautifully with texture and temperature, balancing crisp bases with soft, layered toppings. Carpaccios of salmon, hamachi, tuna, and avocado keep things clean and elegant, with just the right touch of acidity to awaken the palate. 

Sushi remains at the heart of the experience, especially styles that feel just right for summer. The Classic Crunchy Summer Maki Roll – with cucumber, avocado, and green apple – is light, crisp, and refreshing, while the Dragon Sushi Roll adds a playful twist with shiitake and dragon fruit. The Classic Seafood Maki Roll keeps things minimal and precise, celebrating the freshness of the fish, while nigiri like Truffle & Peppers and Kappa & Wasabi continue the theme of balance without excess. 

For those who prefer something warm, there’s depth without heaviness. Dishes like Water Chestnuts & Snow Peas in Yellow Bean Sauce and Steamed Fish with Oyster Sauce & Truffle deliver comforting flavours that remain light on the palate. 

The dim sum selection mirrors this philosophy. The Vegetable Crystal Dumpling, with its delicate, translucent wrap, and the Spinach & Water Chestnut Dimsum are subtle, textural, and quietly indulgent. 

Together, the menu reflects a way of eating that feels easy, intuitive, and just right for the season – food that’s light on the plate, yet rich in flavour, leaving you satisfied without ever feeling weighed down

Dugar Finance Secures 5M Pre-Series A Funding

Apr, 1: Chennai-based non-banking financial company  Dugar Finance has raised $5 million  in a Pre-Series A funding round led by HegdInvst, a Category II AIF focused on growth equity investments. The capital will support the company to scale its secured MSME lending franchise alongside its established vehicle finance business, and to deepen its presence across tier 2-6 underserved semi-urban and rural markets.

The company has previously raised approximately $18 million  in structured debt from a mix of domestic and international lenders, including Symbiotics and British International Investment (BII), along with multiple Indian banks in December 2025.

The latest fundraise comes at a time when several NBFCs are recalibrating growth amid tighter liquidity conditions and rising credit costs. Dugar Finance is positioning itself for the next phase of calibrated expansion from a foundation of demonstrated credit discipline.

While historically anchored in commercial and passenger vehicle finance, Dugar Finance is expanding its presence in secured MSME lending, with the aim of building a more balanced and diversified loan book across both segments.

“We are entering the next phase of growth, where diversification and institutional disciplined scaling become critical. Vehicle finance gave us a strong foundation, and we are now leveraging that to build a broader secured lending platform,” said Ramesh Dugar, Founder and Managing Director, Dugar Finance

The company aims to progressively move toward a more even mix between secured MSME and commercial vehicle finance, improving resilience across credit cycles.

Dugar Finance currently operates across six states and plans to expand to ten states over the next three years, alongside a calibrated expansion of its branch network. The company is targeting ₹2,000 crore in AUM in the next 3-4 years, while aiming to maintain current levels of GNPA below 2% and RoA in the 4–5% range; reflecting a continued emphasis on profitable, quality-driven growth.

The fresh capital will be deployed across four key areas: strengthening technology infrastructure, advancing analytics-led underwriting and centralised risk systems, and hiring senior talent across critical functions.

For Hegdinvst, the investment reflects its stated strategy of backing regionally strong Secured NBFCs with demonstrated credit discipline focusing on underserved markets.

“Dugar Finance combines a solid promoter group and a clear intent towards creating a professionally run NBFC focused on Tier 2 to 6 towns. We see significant potential in its strategy to scale a well governed & diversified secured lending platform” said Aditya Bhandari, Founder and Managing Partner, HegdInvst

Beyond capital, HegdInvst will actively support Dugar Finance in strengthening its governance framework, access to international capital, and assisting in building their professional management team.

KLAW Snacks Introduces Super Sprout Sticks, Redefining Healthy Snacking in India

Mumbai, Apr 1: KLAW Snacks proudly announced the launch of its latest innovation, KLAW Super Sprout Sticks, expanding its portfolio of bold, flavour-packed, and better-for-you snacks. Launched after the success of KLAW Supergrains Puffs, the new Super Sprout Sticks are designed for modern consumers who believe that winding down is just as important as powering up.

At KLAW Snacks, the brand philosophy is rooted in the belief that the key to peak performance lies in the mind. Whether it’s after a long workday, a workout, or simply taking a mindful pause, KLAW Snacks aims to create healthier snacking options that support relaxation, recovery, stress relief, and better focus — making it the perfect wind-down for the keyed-up generation.

India’s first Super Sprout Snack, KLAW Super Sprout Sticks are made with 47% sprouted moong & jowar, baked, and high in protein, delivering a smart snacking experience that combines intelligence with indulgence. Crafted with mindful nutrition and bold flavours, the new sticks offer a wholesome way to snack without compromise.

The newly launched KLAW Super Sprout Sticks are available in five bold and exciting flavours — Masala Madness, Mango Mania, Achari Nimbu, Pudina Punch, and Korean Kick — bringing together familiar favourites and globally inspired tastes for adventurous snack lovers.

The launch was celebrated at an exclusive gathering in Mumbai, bringing together wellness enthusiasts, influencers, and industry insiders. The evening also saw the presence of popular personalities like Pratik Sehajpal, along with an immersive wind-down wellness session in collaboration with The Fit Corporate, led by Khyati Kanjani, creating a holistic experience that reflected the brand’s commitment to mindful snacking.

KLAW Snacks, an extended portfolio of Blue Tribe Foods under Shivanika Foods, continues to bring a bold twist to guilt free snacking with innovative snacks in wild, devilishly good flavours, making healthy snacking as exciting as it is wholesome. With the launch of Super Sprout Sticks, the brand further strengthens its commitment to offering better-for-you snacks crafted for today’s conscious consumers.

The newly launched KLAW Super Sprout Sticks are now available on Zepto, Instamart, Blinkit, and nearby retail stores across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and other major cities, making mindful snacking easily accessible to consumers.

Speaking about the launch, Nikki Arora Singh, Founder & Director, said: “With KLAW Super Sprout Sticks, we wanted to create a snack that supports mindful winding down while delivering on taste and nutrition. Made with 47% sprouted moong and jowar, these baked, high-protein sticks are designed for those who believe that winding down is just as important as powering up. With bold flavours and wholesome ingredients, we’re building snacks that support relaxation, stress relief, and better focus — making conscious snacking exciting, accessible, and intelligent.”

With its expanding range of innovative offerings, KLAW Snacks continues to focus on creating a healthier, smarter, and more mindful snacking experience — one wind-down moment at a time.