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International Day of Women and Girls in Science | Ennoventure

Shalini Nair, Co-Founder and Board Director, Ennoventure Inc

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate the immense contributions made by women and girls in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Despite facing numerous challenges and barriers, women and girls have made significant strides in STEM and have opened new avenues for discovery, innovation, and progress.

However, we must also recognize that there is still much work to be done to achieve gender equality in STEM. Women and girls continue to face discrimination, unequal pay, and a lack of representation in leadership positions. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that they have the support and opportunities they need to pursue their passions and reach their full potential in STEM. We must invest in education and training programs that encourage girls to pursue careers in STEM, and we must work to create a culture that values the contributions of all scientists, regardless of gender. Only by doing so can we create a more inclusive, equitable, and innovative scientific community.
At Ennoventure, we take great pride in recognizing the efforts of our women employees. We have created an environment for women to flourish and prosper in their careers in science as well as encourage them to upskill themselves to become future leaders.” –

FITTR kicks off Transformation Challenge 18; participants have 12 weeks to get fit & the best transformations win a sponsored trip to Spain!

India, 11th February 2023: FITTR, India’s leading tech-enabled community-first health and fitness platform, constantly strives to introduce novel initiatives and services to give wings to people’s fitness journeys. After 17 successful editions totaling approximately 2,50,000 participants, the platform has announced the 18th edition of its Transformation Challenge—starting on 30th January 2023!

This edition’s theme is #BeMore, driving participants to push past their limits and embrace a healthier, happier version of themselves. FITTR encourages all Indians to see this online fitness challenge as a call to action. The community invites everyone who wants to unlock a new version of themselves to raise the bar on their wellness journey and be fitter, healthier, and happier… essentially, to #BeMore!

The FITTR Transformation Challenge 18 Campaign Film perfectly captures the #BeMore vibe: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FTx6ePhUyz9qV1SrPeUIjWWBzJyWsKHK

Registrations for Transformation Challenge 18 are already open and in full swing. Thousands of folks have registered on the FITTR app and are eagerly awaiting the opening of Week 1. The reason: the top performers from the Individual Male, Individual Female, Partner, Senior, and Specially Abled categories will win a sponsored trip to Spain!

This is not the first time FITTR has announced grand prizes for the winners of this 12-week-long community-based online fitness challenge, which is the world’s biggest. Past prizes for the FITTR Transformation Challenge have included a ₹1 CRORE cash prize, a Honda City, and a Mahindra Thar. The rewards further enhance people’s commitment and motivation in scaling their fitness transformation journeys.

The main idea behind this challenge is to encourage regular men & women, as well as senior citizens, specially-abled persons, and partners, to instill fitness in their daily routines and get rewarded for their consistent efforts. As a part of the contest, any person aged 18 years and over is eligible to participate and compete by uploading 12 weekly videos—one per week. These videos will be monitored and judged by a panel of experts in the field of fitness & nutrition on factors including but not limited to overall conditioning, fat loss, and muscle gain.

Commenting on the announcement, Jitendra Chouksey, Founder & CEO of FITTR, said, “In the world of hectic lifestyles and unhealthy eating, many individuals have failed to prioritise fitness in their daily lives, severely impacting their health. With Transformation Challenge 18, we aim to encourage and give an extra boost to individuals to begin fitness transformation and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Like previous editions, we expect to see good participation in TC 18 from across India as well as globally and hope that our challenge continues pushing people to stay fit and healthy”.

Registrations for Transformation Challenge 18 are now enabled on the FITTR app. This online fitness challenge is open to everyone for free and pushes participants to take a path towards lifelong fitness and well-being. Plus, twelve winners will go on a sponsored trip to Spain!

Aditya Birla Health Insurance Report Unveils India’s New Health Normal

Bangalore, February 11, 2023: Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited. (ABHICL), the health insurance subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL), a significant non-bank financial services conglomerate, unveiled The New Health Normal report. As a key player in the health ecosystem in India, ABHICL undertook the survey, designed to identify the key changes in consumer behavior from a health perspective. This research was conducted with 6600 respondents across 19 key cities covering the length and breadth of India.

The rise in uncertainty and anxiety that came hand in hand with Covid-19 has brought a strong focus on the issue of mental health. The report shows that two out of three respondents still feel hesitant in reaching out to an expert to talk about their mental health because of cost implications and society’s perception whereas 89% of the respondents believe that mental health consultation should be included in their health insurance. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase awareness on mental health. The insurance sector is now getting actively involved as the scale of mental health issues in the ‘New Normal’ has never been bigger.

Speaking on the findings of the research, Mr. Mayank Bathwal, CEO, of Aditya Birla Health Insurance, said, “Due to the pandemic, in the ‘New Health Normal’, people are realizing the importance of a health-focused lifestyle and are actively seeking avenues that can support this healthy lifestyle – both online and offline. It has impacted their behavior as well in many ways – the technology they use, how closely they monitor their diet, do they exercise regularly etc. However, as ever, adopting a new habit is a challenge for most, and the need of the hour is to motivate and encourage people to complete the last mile in their health journey.”

The survey findings further attempt to decode people’s views towards exercising. It shows that more than half of our respondents (50%) searched and watched online fitness videos whereas 69% of the respondents use wearables to check their health stats and to track their targeted number of steps. However, nearly one in every three respondents (32%) admit that they do not monitor health stats regularly, such as weight and blood pressure. Another interesting revelation was the attention among people toward financial preparedness. The pandemic has certainly changed the outlook toward financial readiness among people, especially regarding medical urgency.

Health insurance awareness has increased in the past few years and more people are investing in health insurance with each passing year. Around 52% of respondents said that they have estimated the requirement and planned for such emergencies. Whereas 78.5 % of Indians believe that are actively seeking an employer that insures their family’s medical expenses.

“As a brand, we, at Aditya Birla Health Insurance, believe in the concept of ‘HealthFirst’. We want our offerings to be aligned with the same idea as we constantly invest in the innovation and designing of new products which are backed by cutting-edge technologies. Our aim is to reward our customers for practicing a healthy lifestyle and drive them to remain vigilant about their health,” Mr. Mayank Bathwal said.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about a drastic change in nearly every aspect of consumer behavior. ABHI New Health Normal Report shows an evident behavior transformation in the way Indians look at health and wellness. Consumers are more cautious about their overall health and more prepared for financial emergencies.

Home Salon Startup Yes Madam Rolls Out Digital Campaign #readyforVDay to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Noida, 11th February 2023: Yes Madam, India’s most affordable home salon and a tech-enabled platform for beauty and wellness has rolled out a digital campaign #readyforVDay to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Shifting away from the typical Valentine’s Day celebrations with one’s companion, Yes Madam is making this Valentine’s Day special on the theme of loving oneself first, with its range of beauty services.

Under the campaign, the brand has unveiled a paraphernalia of posts and videos on its social media platforms emphasizing on self-care for women during the season of love. It has also announced various offers on its array of services to allow women to pamper themselves.

For those who are keen to memorialize Valentine’s Day with their female squad, the beauty and wellness brand is offering an exclusive discount on Waxing, Cleanup, Manicure, Pedicure, Detan, Bleach, and Facial services. On every booking, clients will also receive a free Vitamin C serum worth RS 400.

“This valentine’s day Yes Madam is celebrating a love that is not anchored with anyone but with the self. The campaign’s objective is to convey a heartwarming and introspective message to people to embrace and shower themselves with self-love every day of the year rather than succumbing to the pressure of finding perfect love. With Yes Madam, it’s time to step back and pamper yourself by taking advantage of luxurious salon services in the comfort of your own home,” said Mayank Arya, Co-founder of Yes Madam.

With over 1 million+ customers, 2000+ beauty professionals, and a presence across 35+ cities of India, the home salon brand strives to be the one-stop-Salon and Spa for a consumer. Starting its journey in 2017, Yes Madam embarked on a mission to serve and save one billion individuals against overpricing and duplicate product refills across various online and offline beauty platforms. The brand has significantly impacted the beauty and salon industry with its mono-dosages and unique pricing model that starts at RS 6 per minute.

Celebrate the week of love with Good Flippin’ Burgers

Mumbai, 11th February 2023: GOOD FL1IPPIN’ BURGERS® has something for everyone this Valentine’s Day to help them express their love to their loved ones. For those searching for the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day, GOOD FLIPPIN’ BURGERS® invites everyone to celebrate their special moments and create heart-warming memories of love with the person they care about most.

Each store has been decorated with love and hearts to create the perfect vibe. There is also a heart-shaped selfie point from GOOD FLIPPIN outside the store. To celebrate love, GOOD FLIPPIN’ BURGERS® has a pleasant surprise waiting for you at all dine-in stores.

The brand is also distributing Valentine’s Day special postcards to each dine-in and delivery customer to let them express their feelings and create memories that will last for a lifetime.

For home delivery, throughout the week, GOOD FLIPPIN’ BURGERS® will send burgers to all its home delivery customers in a limited edition special red box.

So, what are you waiting for? Celebrate this season of love with GOOD FLIPPIN’ BURGERS®.

Maruti Suzuki expands its skill development initiative, partners with Delhi Skill & Entrepreneurship University to train youth in automobile retail

Expanding the Company’s skill development initiatives, Maruti Suzuki India Limited announced its partnership with Delhi Skill & Entrepreneurship University (DSEU). Aligned with the Government of India’s Skill India Mission, the initiative will train youth in automobile retail, making them employable.

As part of the partnership, Maruti Suzuki and DSEU will offer a BBA (Automotive Retail Management) course spanning over a 3-year period. The industry-integrated program is a blend of academic learning and skill development where students will acquire theoretical knowledge through classroom learning in the first year followed by two years of on-the-job training at Maruti Suzuki dealerships in Delhi NCR. During the on-the-job training, students will receive a stipend and an incentive basis their performance as per dealership policy.

In addition to the practical learning, the course entails an enhanced focus on work ethics, soft skills, Indian and Japanese work culture, etc. Bridging the industry-academia gap, industry experts will also impart sessions on the automobile industry and its best practices.

The curriculum is designed and developed jointly by Maruti Suzuki and DSEU as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Offering 100% placement support, the students on successful completion of the course, and based on their performance during on-the-job training, will stand a chance to get a placement at Maruti Suzuki dealerships.

The first batch of the program will be initiated this month.

Announcing this initiative, Mr. Rajesh Uppal, Member Executive Board (HR, IT, Safety, DE) & CIO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “Our collaboration with DSEU will help students aspiring for career options in the automobile retail sector. Skill gaps and the non-availability of a trained workforce is a challenges for the industry. Real-time on-the-job training will help bridge the skill gap. Professionally structured skill training will go a long way to strengthen their career in the automobile retail Industry.”

Elaborating on the tie-up, Dr. Amita Dev, Vice Chancellor, DSEU, appreciated Maruti Suzuki for the initiative and said, “We are delighted to partner with India’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturer to launch the well-equipped BBA (Automotive Retail Management) program. Through the initiative, we endeavor to train students in skills relevant to the industry and contribute to bridging the skill gap. Offering a holistic platform for theoretical as well as practical learning, the course will surely help to boost their employability, knowledge, and intellectual skills.”

In FY 2020-21, Maruti Suzuki collaborated with Shri Vishwakarma Skill University in Haryana for an industry-integrated bachelor’s program to equip youth with automotive retail skills required at dealerships and create a pool of skilled and professional Dealer Sales Executives (DSEs). Later, the initiative was further expanded to other parts of the country. At present, Maruti Suzuki has similar tie-ups with Savitribai Phule Pune University in Pune, GLS University in Ahmedabad and Tata Institute of Social Sciences – School of Vocation Education (TISS-SVE) in Mumbai, and B.K. Birla College (Autonomous) in Kalyan. A total of 340 students are being trained as a part of these partnerships.

India’s Millennials and GenZ want Usage based insurance that rewards safe driving: Study by Zuno General Insurance

Edelweiss General Insurance has announced its new identity as Zuno General Insurance Limited (Zuno GI). Zuno GI is a new-age digital insurer with an aspiration to reimagine and redefine Insurance to make it easy, friendly, and transparent. It is built on the premise that any kind of general insurance should be simple, easy, and straightforward.

The name brings alive the company’s passion, enthusiasm, and singular focus on providing customers with the most convenient and hassle-free experience powered by tech that’s responsive and intuitive. The name and identity represents the young, innovative, approachable, digital native, and upbeat personality of the brand and resonates with the Millennial and GenZ audience.

Along with the new identity, the company has launched a consumer study titled ‘Usage Based Insurance: Decoding Awareness, Perception, and Behaviour’. The study was done to understand Millennial and GenZ’s awareness, understanding, and consideration for UBI. Zuno General Insurance has been forefronting the concept of usage-based insurance (UBI) in India for almost three years now.

Key highlights of the research:

•  65% of respondents feel that people in India are safe drivers.
•  90% respondents want to get a driving score that indicates how safe they drive.
•  58% respondents are aware of usage-based insurance.
•  70% respondents have strong intention to buy usage-based insurance over other insurance options.
•  Rewards for safe driving’ & ‘Driving scores’ are the top two influential factors to opt for usage-based insurance.
•  76% of respondents strongly believe that getting a driving score will help improve their driving skills.
•  95% of respondents believe rewarding safe driving will positively influence driving behavior.

Speaking at the launch, Shanai Ghosh, MD & CEO, of Zuno General Insurance, said, “Zuno GI is all about reimagining Insurance to make it easy, transparent, and friendly using three pillars of customer experience, innovation, and digital delivery platforms. We will always listen to our customers and offer them smart, simple solutions in the most convenient and hassle-free way. We put this aim to action with the UBI report where we sought to assess the understanding and perception of UBI among young, mobile-savvy Indian customers. The findings have been extremely insightful and has validated our conviction about the potential of UBI in India, encouraging us to continue investing in this category that we pioneered in 2020.”

“Telematics is a silver lining for the motor insurance industry in India. It allows us to offer personalized solutions and experiences to our customers. Given the exponential growth of smartphone users in the country, telematics-based solutions will appeal to the digital natives empowering them to see and influence the pricing they get on Motor Insurance. With the findings of the report, we wish to drive awareness of new concepts like UBI which will not only link premium to your usage and driving but also encourage safe driving practices in the country”, Shanai added.

Zuno GI was the first in the country to launch usage-based insurance using mobile telematics and has been developing this category since 2020. Last year, the company launched SWITCH, India’s first mobile telematics based, on-demand motor insurance product. The policy is an app that shows customers the savings that is accumulating because of good driving for every drive. SWITCH encourages people to become safer drivers which is good for their own safety, their family, and overall, for society.

Zuno General Insurance conducted the survey in eight cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad, in collaboration with Crownit.

L&T Financial Services records strong growth in Insta Loan disbursements

February 11, 2023, Mumbai: L&T Financial Services (LTFS), one of the leading Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), has recorded strong growth in Insta Loan disbursements. The growth is in line with the Company’s journey towards becoming a customer-focused, retail finance company as envisaged in its strategic plan Lakshya 2026.

Since its inception in September 2022, Insta Loan disbursements have recorded robust growth, reaching Rs. 91.4 crores at the end of January 2023 as compared to Rs. 22 crores at the end of October 2022.

Loans in this category are processed within 7 minutes of application by the customer, thereby providing superior Turn Around Time (TAT), ease, and comfort – a customer value proposition for the product. This is a completely paperless loan process with instant eligibility checks. Customers can avail of loans ranging between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 7,00,000 with a repayment tenure of 12 months to 48 months.

Mr. Dinanath Dubhashi, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, L&T Finance Holdings Ltd. said, “At LTFS, we are expanding our retail portfolio with an increased focus on customer needs, best-in-class products, and the use of digital and data analytics for improved turnaround time and servicing for customers. It is evident from our last quarter’s financial results that we are moving in the right direction to achieve our Lakshya 2026 goals. Insta Loans has one of the lowest TATs in the industry and customers have appreciated the efficiency of this product as is evident from the growing number of customers each passing month. More than 50 percent of the loans have been disbursed to people in the age bracket of 25-35 years and unlike other financial institutions, we offer these loans even to new LTFS customers in the same TAT.”

The Consumer Loans business is the first digitally native business of the Company and continues to scale up with disbursements reaching Rs. 1,228 crores in the third quarter that ended December 31, 2022 compared with Rs. 650 crores in the same quarter, a year ago. In addition, the Consumer Loans business has partnered with over 70 fintech players, thus offering customers a seamless journey.

In line with accelerated retailisation, the Company recorded the highest-ever quarterly retail disbursements of Rs. 11,607 crores in the third quarter that ended December 31, 2022. This has resulted in the retail portfolio mix at 64 percent of the total loan book of the company.

Add a Splash of Colour with Accessories from Language

Valentine’s Day is dedicated to showing love and affection toward a special person in your life. It is a day you choose to spend with your special one and shower her with love through special gifts. There is no better way to show your lady love your affection other than giving them an accessory from Language.

The language introduces its all-new curated range of Accessories, offering the finest quality of genuine leather indulgence to women. Language has curated a range of soft-hued, spring-colored products to compliment your wardrobes and add a splash of color to your outfits. The language uses the finest quality genuine leather to ensure you revel in the experience of comfortable luxury.

This assortment of soft-hued accessories from Language will surely enhance your style and be a dependable companion for life. It features cross-body bags, wallets, and belts, each of these products from Language is available in color options that please your soul.

A fashionable Cross-Body bag from Language is the perfect accessory to keep your hands free and valuables safe. The cross-body bag is available in several color options and it is made of genuine smooth-grain leather. The Wallet on the chain is glamorous to behold and the perfect size to carry, this premium leather wallet is the perfect companion piece for your outfit. Bring your ensemble together with a leather belt from Language, and flaunt your true style and class. The belts from Language are refined and streamlined to exude a flair of sophistication.

Explore the range of Accessories for women from Language at its exclusive brand outlets at Nungambakkam Chennai, VR Mall Chennai, Express Avenue Chennai, Sarath City Mall, Hyderabad, Lulu Global Mall Bengaluru, and Lulu Mall Kochi. You can also shop the collection online at www.languageshoes.com and www.amazon.in

Valentine’s Day Edit: 47% of daters prefer a budget-friendly V-day date.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, the Indian dating and friendship app, QuackQuack, ran a poll among 15,000 users from tier 1 and tier 2 cities, both GenZ and Millennials, on how they prefer to celebrate their valentine’s day. The study throws light on the V-day trends and how the day of love impacts the online dating industry. The survey participants range between 18 to 32 and comprise primarily students and working professionals.

QuackQuack’s Founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, “Every year, we see a spike in the number of users during this time of the year. And this is also the time when people look beyond romance. Among the 22 million users, almost 33% of the users seek friendship on the app. There’s also an 8% increase in virtual dates on the day of love.”

Budget dates

A recent study by QuackQuack shows that 47% of daters prefer to have a budget-friendly Valentine’s day date over fancy dining and exchanging expensive presents. Daters below 23, essentially the GenZ daters from tier 1 and 2 cities, disclosed having a pact with their date to exchange meaningful yet practical gifts, and most of them have a set budget. It makes sure that no one has to burn a hole in their pockets to enjoy the day of love and makes it easier for the young daters who are just starting their careers.

The busiest times

QuackQuack says the weekend before Valentine’s day is one of the busiest times of the year for them. They see most traffic the day before, with singles trying to land a quick date for V-day. According to their data, the surge is more from Tier 1 cities since people from tier 2 cities flock to the metros for jobs and higher studies. 35% of dates are arranged the night before V-day than any other day.

Where’s my soulmate?

22% of women from tier 1 and 2 cities mentioned joining the app to find a date because they felt lonely. The app’s data shows there is almost a 13% spike in the number of people joining the app on Valentine’s Day compared to other days of the month. Upon surveying the participants, it was understood that singles join dating apps during this time of the year out of the urgency to find a soulmate, especially on the day of love.

Communidating

37% of the survey participants between 25 and 30, primarily working professionals in 9 to 5 jobs, mentioned beating their loneliness by participating in communidating. It’s the trend where daters use the app to find new friends and connections beyond romantic relationships. QuackQuack noticed almost 33% of its users seeking genuine companions during this time of the year.

Rebounds

11% of male daters over 25 and 18% below 23 years from tier 1 and 2 cities disclosed rounding back to their old matches on this day. More than 15% of women over 28 revealed rebounding with their ex on the day of love.

Self-Love

Self-care and me-time are on the top of the GenZ single daters’ list of ideal ways to spend V-day without falling off the wagon. 28% of the survey participants between 18 and 23 mentioned having a fun night planned with friends. 12% of women daters from tier 1 and 2 cities are planning Galentine’s day instead of wallowing in self-pity.