Category Archives: Business

Auditoria Deepens Autonomous Accounts Payable Operations And Finance Intelligence

New AP agents for supplier risk monitoring and statement reconciliation, enhanced capabilities in SmartResearch, and Workday ASOR certification strengthen Auditoria and Workday partnership

Santa Clara, CA – June 4, 2026 — Auditoria.AI, the leader in agentic artificial intelligence for the Office of the CFO, today announced a major expansion of its SmartResearch platform, strengthening its role as the governed intelligence layer behind autonomous finance operations. Announced at Workday DevCon 2026 in Las Vegas, the expansion extends beyond being a founding member in Workday’s Agent Partner Network to include official certified Workday integration of SmartResearch, expanded accounts payable solutions, and autonomous capabilities, including AP Vendor Watch, and a preview of AP Statement Reconciliation.

Together, the announcements reflect a broader shift taking place across enterprise finance. Organizations are moving beyond AI experimentation and seeking ways to safely operationalize agents within systems that manage cash flow, supplier relationships, approvals, compliance, and financial reporting. For finance leaders, the challenge isn’t just whether AI can automate work, but whether autonomous agents can operate with the governance, transparency, and auditability enterprise finance requires.

That is the gap Auditoria is closing, as each capability announced today operates within Auditoria’s Governed Autonomy framework, the design philosophy that enables AI agents to execute autonomously within enterprise-defined boundaries, adapt as policies change, and produce a defensible audit trail for every action, without requiring human approval at every step.

“Finance teams do not need more disconnected AI tools. They need intelligence that can operate safely across real financial workflows,” said Rohit Gupta, CEO and Co-Founder of Auditoria.AI. “Everything we announced today builds toward that vision. SmartResearch is becoming the intelligence layer for the Office of the CFO, while Governed Autonomy ensures those agents can operate within the controls, policies, and audit expectations enterprise finance requires.”

SmartResearch reaches general availability
Auditoria announced the general availability of SmartResearch, its conversational AI financial analyst built specifically for the Office of the CFO. SmartResearch enables finance teams to interrogate financial operations using natural language, combining ERP data with external financial intelligence to deliver decision-ready answers and complex financial scenario simulations with full source lineage and reasoning transparency.

“Finance is moving from systems of record to systems of intelligence, and this category of technology is leading that shift,” according to R “Ray” Wang, Founder, Chairman, and Principal Analyst, Constellation Research. “Agentic AI purpose-built for the Office of the CFO, connecting disparate enterprise data, reconciling unstructured context, and delivering continuous cash intelligence that drives autonomous decision-making, demonstrates what’s possible. This is next-gen finance, and the innovators defining it have the DNA, the depth, and the conviction to shape the category.”

As part of the expansion announced today, Auditoria has extended SmartResearch deeper into accounts payable workflows. Finance leaders can now analyze supplier trends, spend patterns, payment risks, and operational exceptions through a conversational interface that brings together internal finance data with external market intelligence.

Certified Workday integration validates governed enterprise deployment
Auditoria also announced official certification in Workday’s Marketplace for SmartResearch which is registered to Workday’s Agent System of Record (ASOR), strengthening the company’s integration with Workday environments and reinforcing its focus on governed enterprise AI deployment.

Workday ASOR provides the governance framework through which AI agents connect into enterprise workflows with centralized identity propagation, lifecycle management, entitlement enforcement, and audit controls. Auditoria’s certification reinforces that its agents are designed to operate within the same governance and accountability standards enterprise finance teams already expect from their core systems.

“Workday’s Agent System of Record creates a necessary foundation for governed, responsible AI at scale. Auditoria’s certification is a testament to our shared commitment to developing agentic AI that operates with the same high standards of security and auditability that our customers expect from Workday’s core systems,” said Mohan Rajagopalan, senior director, AI platform product management, Workday. “This powerful alignment enables the Office of the CFO to confidently scale agentic AI, driving tangible, measurable change across the business.”

Expanding autonomous AP operations
Auditoria also announced the availability of AP Vendor Watch, a continuously operating agent designed to help accounts payable teams monitor supplier risk in real time. AP Vendor Watch automates ongoing tracking of supplier health signals, identifies emerging risks against configurable thresholds, and surfaces actionable alerts without manual intervention across ERP environments.

Finance teams can define the specific supplier risk parameters most relevant to their business while maintaining consistent monitoring across their vendor ecosystem.

Auditoria also previewed AP Statement Reconciliation, which will arrive later this quarter. The capability automates the process of matching supplier statements against internal financial records, helping finance teams identify discrepancies earlier, prevent overpayments, strengthen supplier relationships, and accelerate reconciliation cycles.

Like the broader Auditoria platform, both new AI agent products operate within the platform’s Governed Autonomy framework, ensuring that every autonomous action remains policy-aligned, traceable, and auditable.

Availability
SmartResearch enhancements and AP Vendor Watch are now available through Auditoria. AP Statement Reconciliation is currently in preview and is expected to become generally available later this quarter.

ICBA Releases Community Banker Guide on Artificial Intelligence Security Readiness

Washington, D.C. (June 3, 2026) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today released a new guide to help community banks navigate the artificial intelligence security landscape.

Developed by community bankers on ICBA’s AI Task Force to provide practical guidance to their industry colleagues, the Community Banker AI Security Readiness Guide offers an informational overview of the AI threat shift, what it means for local institutions, strengthening third-party due diligence, updating and testing incident response plans, and more.

“The nation’s community banks are leveraging AI to strengthen operations and resilience while they work to address key AI risks and implementation challenges that warrant further attention,” ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said today. “ICBA’s new Community Banker AI Security Readiness Guide was developed by community bankers for community bankers to help navigate our rapidly evolving security environment.”

Contributors include Andrew Pyles, president and CEO of Eclipse Bank in Louisville, Ky.; David Peterson, chief innovation officer of First National Bankers Bank in Baton Rouge, La.; Ferdinand Feola, senior vice president chief technology officer of The Dime Bank in Honesdale, Pa.; Milton Bartley, co-founder, president, and CEO of ImageQuest in Nashville, Tenn.; Danna Burchess, executive vice president and chief financial officer of First National Bank of Gillette, Wyo.; and Anjelica Dortch, vice president of operational risk at ICBA.

With community banks long serving as adopters of technology to improve operational efficiency and strengthen cybersecurity, ICBA strongly supports responsible AI adoption. In a recent ICBA letter to the Financial Stability Oversight Council and interindustry AI action plan, ICBA called on policymakers to ensure a risk-based, proportionate policy framework and coordinated action to address emerging AI-enabled cyber risk. This week’s executive order on promoting advanced AI innovation and security expressly recognizes community banks as a critical infrastructure component and adopts elements of the action plan in directing federal agencies to secure their systems and promote access to AI security tools.

ICBA looks forward to continuing to work with community bankers, administration officials, lawmakers, and other stakeholders to provide valuable resources to community bankers while ensuring their voice is being heard on these critical issues.

Metal Park UAE Collaboration with SGS, the 22 billion dollar Swiss Public Company

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 3 June: During Make it in the Emirates 2026, Metal Park, the world’s first integrated Asset-as-a-Service ecosystem dedicated exclusively to the metal industry, announced a strategic collaboration with SGS to strengthen inspection, testing, verification, and laboratory capabilities across the growing metal ecosystem in KEZAD.

The collaboration aims to enhance operational confidence, material verification, and quality assurance services for companies operating within Metal Park’s Production Hub and Storage Hub, supporting manufacturers, processors, traders, logistics providers, and downstream metal businesses.

As industrial supply chains continue to evolve, reliable inspection and laboratory infrastructure play an increasingly critical role in ensuring traceability, compliance, operational efficiency, and international market alignment.

Through this collaboration, both parties will explore the development and integration of inspection and laboratory-related services tailored to the operational requirements of the metals sector. The initiative is expected to support a broad range of activities including material testing, certification, verification, quality control, and operational inspections across various metal-related processes and supply chain movements.

Located in KEZAD and strategically connected to Khalifa Port, Etihad Rail, and regional logistics corridors, Metal Park continues to expand its ecosystem through partnerships that strengthen industrial resilience and simplify access to critical support services under one integrated platform.

Vahid Fouladkar, CEO of Metal Park, commented:

“As the metal industry moves towards greater operational transparency and resilience, inspection and laboratory capabilities become an essential part of the ecosystem rather than a standalone service. Our collaboration with SGS reflects our commitment to enabling manufacturers, processors, and supply chain stakeholders with trusted infrastructure and globally recognised expertise directly within the Park.”

Dmitry Nikitin, Head of Middle East and Managing Director UAE, SGS commented:

“As industrial ecosystems continue to evolve, trusted inspection, testing, and verification services become critical enablers of operational confidence and supply chain resilience. Through our collaboration with Metal Park, SGS is proud to contribute its global expertise and technical capabilities to support the growing metals ecosystem in the UAE. Together, we aim to help businesses operate with greater quality assurance, traceability, compliance, and efficiency across the value chain.” 

The announcement was made during Make it in the Emirates 2026, one of the UAE’s leading industrial platforms bringing together manufacturers, investors, industrial enablers, and technology providers to support the nation’s long-term industrial growth strategy.

Further details regarding the scope of services and operational rollout will be announced in upcoming updates.

Industry Seeks Dedicated Credit Rating Framework for MSMEs

New Delhi, : In a move aimed at strengthening the growth prospects of small businesses, engineering exports promotion body EEPC India has urged the government to introduce a separate credit rating framework for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), arguing that the current system often places them at a disadvantage.

The industry body has highlighted that MSMEs are frequently assessed against large corporate players in their respective sectors, making it difficult for smaller enterprises to secure investment-grade ratings despite their operational strengths and growth potential.

According to EEPC India, the absence of a dedicated rating mechanism limits MSMEs’ access to affordable credit, as lower ratings often result in higher collateral requirements and increased borrowing costs. This, in turn, affects their ability to expand operations, invest in innovation, and compete effectively in domestic and global markets.

The proposal calls for a separate evaluation framework that benchmarks MSMEs against businesses of similar size and scale rather than large industry leaders. Such a system, industry representatives believe, would provide a more accurate assessment of an enterprise’s financial health and business performance.

A dedicated rating model could significantly improve access to finance for thousands of small businesses, which form the backbone of India’s manufacturing, exports, and employment ecosystem. Easier access to credit would enable MSMEs to strengthen productivity, create jobs, and contribute more effectively to the country’s economic growth.

Industry stakeholders have also suggested that a specialised framework, developed in consultation with regulators and rating agencies, could help build greater confidence among lenders while ensuring fairer treatment for smaller enterprises.

As India seeks to strengthen its manufacturing and export capabilities, policymakers are increasingly focusing on measures that improve the ease of doing business for MSMEs and unlock their growth potential.

World Environment Day The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainable Hospitality

New Delhi, Jun 3: As the hospitality industry continues to redefine luxury through the lens of responsibility and environmental consciousness, The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi is strengthening its commitment to sustainable operations through a comprehensive framework of initiatives designed to reduce environmental impact while enhancing guest experiences.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, the hotel highlights its ongoing efforts to embed sustainability across every aspect of its operations, demonstrating that exceptional hospitality and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand. Guided by the belief that true wellness extends beyond guests to the planet itself, The Westin Gurgaon has adopted a holistic approach that focuses on resource conservation, energy efficiency, responsible waste management and healthier built environments.

Water conservation remains a key priority for the hotel. Through its on-site Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), the property operates a closed-loop system that enables treated water to be reused for flushing and landscaping purposes, significantly reducing freshwater consumption. Additional measures including rainwater harvesting, smart irrigation systems, sensor-based faucets, low-flow showerheads and dual-flush systems further support efficient water management across the property.

The hotel has also invested significantly in energy-efficient infrastructure and smart technologies to optimize consumption and reduce its carbon footprint. The adoption of PNG-based boilers and solar-powered hot water systems has helped reduce reliance on conventional energy sources, while advanced technologies such as the Building Management System (BMS), Energy Management System (EMS) and Chiller Plant Manager (CPM) continuously monitor and optimize energy usage across operations. Intelligent LED lighting equipped with photodetectors, coupled with insulated building materials and natural stone cladding, further contribute to lowering overall energy demand.

Recognising the growing importance of sustainable mobility, The Westin Gurgaon has installed dedicated EV charging stations to support cleaner transportation alternatives for guests and visitors. The hotel also encourages associates to adopt environmentally conscious commuting practices through shared transportation and public transit options, contributing to a reduction in overall emissions.

Aligned with circular economy principles, the property has implemented comprehensive waste management initiatives aimed at minimizing landfill contribution. An on-site Organic Waste Composter converts food waste into nutrient-rich manure, while partnerships with authorised recycling partners ensure responsible disposal and recycling of dry waste. Sustainable materials including recyclable carpeting, eco-friendly furnishings and non-toxic bedding have also been thoughtfully incorporated throughout the property.

Environmental wellness extends beyond resource management to indoor air quality and guest well-being. Advanced air filtration systems, supported by centralised monitoring technologies, help maintain healthy indoor environments throughout the hotel. The use of non-CFC refrigerants, biodegradable cleaning products, eco-friendly laundry detergents and non-toxic pest control solutions further reflects the hotel’s commitment to minimizing environmental impact without compromising guest comfort.

The property also conducts regular government-approved air and soil quality assessments and remains focused on continuous improvement through globally recognised sustainability standards. Its ISO 10001 Sustainability Certification underscores this commitment and serves as a testament to the hotel’s dedication to responsible hospitality practices.

Recognising that sustainability is a collective responsibility, The Westin Gurgaon actively invests in training and awareness programmes for associates, empowering teams across departments to adopt resource-conscious practices and contribute meaningfully towards the hotel’s environmental goals.

As climate action becomes an increasingly important priority for the hospitality sector, The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi continues to demonstrate how responsible luxury can create lasting value for guests, communities and the environment alike, setting a benchmark for sustainable hospitality in the region.

Study reveals family offices need to strengthen cyber risk defence

June 03: New global research from Ocorian, the specialist global provider of services for asset managers and owners, including private client, fund administration, capital markets, corporate, and regulatory solutions, shows that many family offices are putting themselves at greater risk of a potential cyber attack and don’t have plans in place to recover if they are hit.

It’s estimated that 43% of family offices globally have suffered a cyber attack in the past two years but Ocorian’s study among family members and senior family office employees handling total wealth of $119.37 billion shows almost a fifth (19%) don’t have any defence plans in place to protect themselves from a potential attack. However, 18% of them say that they do plan to put one in place.

This compares to three quarters (75%) of respondents who have taken steps to strengthen their defences against a potential cyber attack in the past two years. Just 7% say they had plans in place more than two years ago.

Should they suffer a cyber attack more than a fifth (22%) of those surveyed say they don’t currently have an incident plan in place to respond and recover. Around 78% say they do have an incident plan ready.

More than one in 10 (11%) family offices surveyed admit that they feel significantly challenged when it comes to delivering the level and quality of cyber security expertise they need to operate effectively. Almost half (49%) say they currently receive advice and support from third-party professionals over cyber security, but this is set to significantly increase, with 72% saying they see the levels of outsourcing around cyber security to increase over the next three years. Of these 41% say they expect a dramatic increase.

 Ian Rumens, Head of Private Client – Jersey, at Ocorian said: “A cyber security attack is becoming an increasing reality and can have huge implications for family offices, damaging reputations, triggering loss of stakeholder confidence and putting long-term relationships at risk. While many are taking steps to put the necessary precautions and defences in place, such as getting expert third-party advice, there are still too many who are highly susceptible.

 “The financial impact can also be significant, from direct theft and fraud to business interruption, incident response costs, regulatory fines and potential litigation. It’s also vital that family offices work closely with all their service providers and suppliers to make sure those partners have the right protections in place too, helping reduce the risk of a cyber incident spreading through the wider ecosystem.

 “Finally, organisations should ensure strong backup and recovery arrangements are tested regularly to help protect against data loss or corruption, so critical records and reporting can be restored quickly and accurately. On top of this, with no incident plan in place, it could also take those affected by an attack much longer to respond and recover afterwards.”

 Ocorian’s award winning dedicated family office team provides a seamless and holistic approach to the challenges and opportunities families face. Its service is built on long-term personal relationships that are founded on a deep understanding of what matters to family office clients. Its global presence means Ocorian can provide bespoke structures and services for international families no matter where they live.

 Key services include formation and administration of family offices, HR support services, support with lifestyle and luxury assets, family governance, resident and relocation services and specialist support with immigration, visas, payroll, marine and aircraft crew management and financial reporting.

Clean Energy Sector to Generate 44 Lakh Jobs by 2030, Rooftop Solar Leads Growth: CEEW-NRDC

New Delhi, June 3 : India’s 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity target and goals under the National Green Hydrogen Mission could generate over 44 lakh full-time equivalent  jobs, according to a new independent study launched today by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water  and the Natural Resources Defense Council India. Rooftop solar is projected to be the single largest employment engine, accounting for ~43 per cent of these estimated jobs.

The study, Driving Energy Transition: Workforce, Skills, and Gender in India’s Renewable Energy Sector, was conducted with technical guidance from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy  . It is based on a primary survey of companies conducted in 2024–25 across the solar, wind, bioenergy, and hydropower sectors. The study developed new FTE employment coefficients to estimate workforce intensity across different clean energy technologies and business phases across solar, wind, bioenergy, and hydropower sectors, and estimates direct jobs created during component manufacturing, project deployment, and operations. India now ranks third globally in renewable energy installed capacity and achieved its target of meeting 50 per cent of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources in 2025, five years ahead of schedule.

Speaking about the prospects of job creation in clean energy sectors, Shri Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, MNRE said,

 “The element of people’s involvement is intrinsic to a successful green transition. The positive externalities involved in keeping people as the focus of this green transition is intrinsic, and India has shown that our economic growth trajectory as well as sustainability goals can be pretty well aligned. Last year, we achieved about 51 gigawatts of solar and wind, and hopefully, this momentum will continue and expand in the subsequent years..”

Dr Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, CEEW, said,

“India’s energy transition must also be a workforce transition. The opportunity is about creating livelihoods, building skills, deepening domestic supply chains, and ensuring that the benefits of clean energy reach households, farmers, workers, and entrepreneurs while also adding gigawatts. Rooftop solar shows why distributed renewables matter: they generate clean power while creating more jobs per MW than utility-scale projects. To convert India’s clean-energy ambition into a durable employment engine, India must continue to invest in high-quality skilling, transparent workforce data, and inclusive participation.”

Rooftop solar leads workforce addition

The findings are significant as rooftop solar gains momentum. The CEEW-NRDC study finds that of the 6.5 lakh clean energy workers added between FY23 and FY26, the largest share came from rooftop solar, which accounted for 62 per cent of the total workforce addition. This was followed by PM-KUSUM at 16.3 per cent, biomass power at 12.6 per cent, ground-mounted solar at 6 per cent, etc.

Rooftop solar creates more jobs because it has to be installed home by home, shop by shop, and building by building, unlike large solar or wind projects that are built at a single site. This means more workers are needed for customer outreach, site surveys, design, installation, grid connection, and maintenance. For instance, rooftop solar generates 44 times more FTE job-years per MW than utility-scale solar. The study estimates that rooftop solar generates ~45 FTE job-years/MW, compared to 1 FTE job-year/MW for ground-mounted solar and ~0.6 FTE job-year/MW for wind. Decentralised clean energy systems were found to be significantly more jobs-intensive than large-scale systems.

Dipa Singh Bagai, Country Director, NRDC India, said,

“Clean energy jobs are essential to India’s economic growth, energy security, and climate goals. This study shows that distributed renewable energy, especially rooftop solar, can create employment across cities, small towns, and rural areas. But job creation will require deliberate planning, credible workforce reporting, and stronger industry-training partnerships so that workers are ready for the next phase of India’s energy transition.”

Women remain underrepresented in solar and wind energy jobs

The CEEW-NRDC study finds that women account for only 11 per cent of the total workforce in solar and wind deployment and manufacturing sectors. Women’s participation is highest in rooftop solar at 15 per cent, followed by solar module manufacturing at 13 per cent, floating solar at 12 per cent, and ground-mounted solar at 11 per cent. The study also finds that 61 per cent of women in the clean energy workforce are employed in non-technological roles such as human resources, accounting, and administration.

Clean energy jobs will require higher skills

The study also finds that ~13 lakh FTE jobs could be in operations and maintenance and manufacturing roles, sustained over the lifetime of projects or manufacturing facilities. However, realising this employment opportunity will require a stronger skills ecosystem. Around 60 per cent of jobs in clean-energy project deployment require highly skilled or semi-skilled workers. In manufacturing sectors, this rises to 80–90 per cent, underscoring the need for technical training, practical field exposure, and career progression pathways.

Recommendations

The study recommends that MNRE and related institutions institutionalise mandatory workforce reporting through existing processes such as subsidy disbursement, tenders, and regulatory frameworks. It also calls on clean-energy companies to invest in gender inclusion and career advancement programmes, while training institutes should strengthen hands-on learning and keep curricula aligned with changing industry needs. As India scales towards its 2030 clean-energy targets and long-term net-zero goal, the CEEW-NRDC report emphasises that workforce planning, skilling, gender inclusion, and reliable jobs data will be essential to ensure that the clean-energy transition creates not just capacity, but quality livelihoods.

Staying Without Leaving a Scar: How EkoStay Is Building a Travel Brand That Works With Nature, Not Against It

Mumbai, June 03: Every year on World Environment Day, the conversation turns to what must be changed. At EkoStay, the conversation has always been about what should never be built in the first place.

Founded in 2018, EkoStay is India’s fastest-growing professionally managed villa brand with 150+ curated homes across 12+ leisure destinations, ₹40 crore in revenue for FY 2025–26, and not a single rupee of external funding. But behind those numbers is a model that, by its very design, treads lightly on the planet.

In an industry where growth typically means breaking ground, pouring concrete, and consuming energy at scale, EkoStay has grown by doing the opposite: unlocking the potential of homes that already exist.

THE GREENEST HOTEL IS ONE THAT WAS NEVER CONSTRUCTED

India’s hospitality sector is booming and so is its construction footprint. New hotels, resorts, and mega-developments continue to consume land, water, and natural resources across the country’s most ecologically sensitive destinations.

EkoStay’s model is structurally different. Rather than erecting new buildings, the brand brings underutilised second homes and private properties into its professionally managed portfolio. Every villa onboarded is an existing structure renovated, not built; restored, not razed.

This approach means that EkoStay’s growth does not directly increase the construction footprint on India’s natural landscapes. The hillsides of Ooty remain hillsides. The coastline in Alibaug remains a coastline. EkoStay simply creates a better-managed way for travellers to experience them within homes that were already there.

“Our expansion is not just about increasing numbers. It is about deepening our connection with travellers across India. Each new property is a step toward our vision of creating immersive, design-led spaces that feel like a second home while delivering exceptional hospitality.” Husain Khatumdi, MD & Co-Founder, EkoStay

NATURE IS NOT THE BACKDROP-IT IS THE BUSINESS

EkoStay’s portfolio spans some of India’s most ecologically rich and environmentally significant destinations: the Nilgiris (Ooty, Kodaikanal), the Western Ghats (Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, Igatpuri, Karjat), the Konkan Coast (Alibaug), wine country (Nashik), and the shores of Goa.

These are not generic tourist zones. They are biodiverse, often fragile environments that benefit from responsible, low-density travel rather than mass tourism infrastructure. By channelling travel demand into existing private homes, EkoStay inherently distributes visitor footfall across residential spaces rather than concentrating it in large, resource-intensive hotel complexes.

The brand’s deliberate, demand-led expansion strategy selecting only high-traction micro-markets with structurally strong demand also acts as a check against overdevelopment. EkoStay does not expand for the sake of scale. It expands where the ecosystem of travellers and destinations can genuinely sustain it.

“Our focus has always been on identifying destinations where demand is structurally strong and aligning our supply accordingly.” Zishan Khan, Chief Acquisition Officer & Co-Founder, EkoStay

REVIVING PROPERTIES, EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES

EkoStay’s Villa Makeover Programme which transforms underutilised second homes into professionally managed vacation villas is as much a community initiative as it is a business one.

When a property is onboarded onto EkoStay’s platform, renovation and beautification work is carried out by skilled local manpower sourced from the surrounding community. This is not incidental it is a stated commitment of the programme, ensuring that the economic benefits of tourism flow directly to the people who live closest to these natural destinations.

The logic is simple and powerful: when local communities have a material stake in the health and attractiveness of their surroundings, conservation becomes self-sustaining. A local carpenter who builds the furniture for a villa, a local caretaker who maintains the garden, a local cook who serves guests each has a reason to care about the quality and preservation of the place they call home.

This model mirrors the foundational principle of responsible tourism: that travel should leave communities better off, not just passed through.

“This initiative strengthens our long-term vision to not only expand EkoStay’s presence across new regions but also to create sustainable, profitable models for property owners.” Sohail Mirchandani, COO & Co-Founder, EkoStay

A PRIVATE VILLA STAY IS ALSO A QUIETER FOOTPRINT

The environmental case for private villa stays over conventional hotels is straightforward. A group of eight travellers sharing a villa uses one kitchen, one water supply, one set of common spaces. The same group in a hotel occupies eight separate rooms, eight separate sets of air conditioning, eight separate housekeeping cycles, eight sets of daily linen changes.

Villa stays are inherently resource-efficient not because EkoStay mandates specific green practices at each property, but because the format itself consolidates consumption. Guests cook together, share spaces, and self-manage many of the daily resource decisions that hotels manage centrally and wastefully.

As India’s travel preferences shift toward private, experience-led stays a shift that EkoStay both reflects and leads this structural efficiency becomes a meaningful environmental dividend.

BOOTSTRAPPED, PROFITABLE, AND BUILT TO LAST

There is an environmental argument for financial sustainability too. Businesses that rely on external capital to fund growth often prioritise speed over responsibility expanding inventory before the operational discipline is in place to manage it well.

EkoStay’s eight-year journey without a single rupee of external funding tells a different story. The brand has grown because guests come back. Revenue is reinvested. Properties are chosen carefully. Operations are scaled only when the capability to serve guests well is already in place.

This is, at its core, a philosophy of sufficiency the same philosophy that underpins sustainable living. Take what you need. Grow at the pace the ecosystem supports. Build things that last.

“India’s travel behaviour has fundamentally shifted towards private, experience-led stays where travellers seek space, flexibility, and curated hospitality. We are focused on building depth within high-performing micro-markets while simultaneously unlocking new leisure destinations that show strong long-term potential.”  Varun Arora, CEO & Co-Founder, EkoStay

EKOSTAY: BY THE NUMBERS

•Founded: 2018 | Headquarters: Worli, Mumbai

•Portfolio: 150+ professionally managed villas | Target: 220+ properties

•Destinations: 12+ leisure micro-markets across India

•Revenue FY 2025–26: ₹40 crore | YoY Growth: 43% | EBITDA Margin: ~10%

•External Funding Raised: Nil — entirely bootstrapped

•Occupancy Rate: ~56%

•Key natural destinations served: Nilgiris, Western Ghats, Konkan Coast, Goa, Nashik wine country

•Community impact: Local labour and manpower engaged for all property renovations under Villa Makeover Programme

Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru Strengthens its Experiential Retail Portfolio with Sorele, Kameleo and Frido

Bengaluru, June 3: Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru continues to strengthen its position as one of North Bengaluru’s premier lifestyle and experiential retail destinations with the addition of emerging D2C and innovation-driven brands Sorele, Kameleo, and Frido.

The latest additions reflect a larger shift in consumer preferences, as shoppers increasingly seek brands that combine individuality, comfort, wellness, and experience-driven retail. As digitally native brands continue expanding into offline spaces, Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru is evolving its retail mix to offer immersive and community-driven shopping experiences tailored to Bengaluru’s young, aspirational, and fast-growing consumer base.

Among the newest additions is Sorele, a contemporary fashion jewellery brand known for its minimalist yet modern and versatile collections, crafted with 18K gold plating and lab-grown Moissanite diamonds. Catering to Gen Z, working professionals, and urban families, the brand offers conscious luxury designed to transition seamlessly from workwear to occasion wear.

Enhancing the mall’s fashion portfolio is Kameleo, a customised fashion footwear brand focused on creativity and self-expression. Kameleo allows shoppers to personalise footwear by mixing and matching soles and straps across collections such as Candy, Poppi, and Twin, combining vibrant aesthetics with lightweight, all-day comfort for younger consumers seeking personalised fashion experiences.

The launch of Sorele and Kameleo at Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru also marks the brands’ first-ever store within a mall format, reflecting a broader shift from high-street retail to destination-led experiential spaces.

Further strengthening the mall’s lifestyle and wellness offerings, Frido brings its ergonomics and comfort-led product range focused on posture support, mobility, and everyday wellness. As health-conscious living and functional lifestyle products gain traction among urban consumers, brands like Frido offering strongly aligns with the needs of today’s consumers, particularly young tech professionals within the Bhartiya Center of Information Technology ( a tech park within the Bhartiya City ecosystem), alongside families and wellness-conscious shoppers seeking comfort-driven innovations in their daily lives.

The addition of brands such as Sorele, Kameleo, and Frido highlights the growing momentum of digitally native and experiential brands expanding beyond online-first models to build stronger consumer engagement through physical retail environments. Increasingly, consumers want to physically experience and interact with the D2C brands they discover online, and Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru is enabling that transition by bringing these brands closer to customers within an integrated lifestyle destination.

As North Bengaluru rapidly evolves into one of the city’s most dynamic residential and commercial growth corridors, Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru continues to build a future-ready retail ecosystem that seamlessly integrates fashion, lifestyle, wellness, dining, and entertainment experiences under one destination. With over 5,000 families moving into North Bengaluru every month, the region is fast emerging as one of Bengaluru’s most high-growth real estate markets.

“At Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru, we are seeing a strong shift in how digitally native brands approach offline retail. Today’s consumers discover brands online, but they increasingly want immersive physical experiences before making purchase decisions. Brands like Sorele and Kameleo choosing Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru for their first mall stores reflects the strength of our ecosystem and the kind of consumer community we cater to, from young residents and working professionals to families and aspirational shoppers across North Bengaluru. With additions like Frido, we are also strengthening categories centred around wellness, comfort, and lifestyle innovation, which are becoming increasingly relevant for modern urban consumers,” said Jermina Menon, Brand & Marketing Strategist, Bhartiya Urban.

With an expanding mix of fashion, lifestyle, wellness, dining, and entertainment offerings, Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru remains committed to delivering curated retail experiences aligned with the aspirations of Bengaluru’s next-generation consumers.

Supplementing with Peptides: Good for Extra Pep or a Needless Step

In the most basic of terms, peptides are short proteins: chains of amino acids, the body’s building blocks, that are between 2 and 50 units long.

Peptides and proteins alike are touted as a sort of fountain of youth by health and wellness influencers.

Here, Jorge Ruas, Ph.D., of the U-M Department of Pharmacology, talks about peptides, how they work and whether supplementing them lends any benefit.

How does what you study relate to peptides?

Ruas: My lab is very interested in the idea of organ-to-organ communication to understand how the body adapts to exercise.

For example, when you are running, your muscles release a variety of substances, including peptides and small molecules (metabolites), that together can inform the rest of your body, your brain, heart, liver, fat tissue, kidneys, about the state of your body’s systems.

And this is fundamental for your whole body to adapt to the benefits of exercise training.

We’re interested in it from a physiological perspective, because these are exactly the same mechanisms that get dysregulated in many diseases and from a pharmacology perspective, since we want to know if these substances can have therapeutic value.

Can you explain more about what peptides are and what they do?

Ruas: Proteins and peptides as made of amino acids linked together.

There are 20 different amino acids, 9 of which the body can’t make and has to take in from diet.

If you imagine each amino acid represented by a letter (which they can be), each peptide and protein can be any combination of those 20 amino acids in any possible order.

You can imagine it’s complicated to talk about their functions because they are so diverse.

One of the most familiar peptides is the hormone insulin, which is secreted from the pancreas to control blood sugar, by communicating with muscle, fat, the liver and the brain.

It’s involved in the systemic regulation of energy.

What is an example of a peptide drug?

Ruas: With peptide drugs, we are essentially trying to mimic what the body does naturally.

For example, GLP-1 is released by the intestine after a meal to stimulate insulin production and suppress appetite and tell you when to stop eating (GLP-1 analogues were initially developed to treat diabetes).

People have thought, well, if GLP-1 naturally suppresses appetite, let’s just use it to suppress appetite to treat obesity.

The problem is that the GLP-1 that the body makes has an extremely short half-like, meaning it goes into circulation and then quickly disappears.

What pharmaceutical companies were able to do is come up with a method so that after you inject GLP-1 it would last longer in circulation so that your brain is constantly receiving the message to stop eating.

What are some of the challenges that come with peptide supplementation?

Ruas: There is a whole class of drug investigation centered around identifying peptides the body’s organs use to communicate with each other and then trying to copy them.

One of the issues is with taking these drugs or supplements by mouth.

The acid and protein-digesting enzymes in the stomach break down proteins and peptides (that are too large to be absorbed into circulation) into their components, amino acids.

Those can then be absorbed in the intestine, distributed to the organs, and used for whatever processes the body needs.

So what’s absorbed into your body is no longer the peptide you ingested, but its building blocks.

The pharmaceutical industry has techniques to try to work around these limitations and produce something that has a consistent, reproducible effect that can be studied with clinical studies, a process that costs many millions of dollars.

Supplements don’t have this level of study or regulation.

While the idea of the peptide may not be wrong, non-regulated supplements are often produced without proper formulation, quality control or human testing.

What that means is that there’s not enough information or very small clinical studies to support their use.

And if they do exist, the results were not impressive, because otherwise people would have pursued them as pharmaceuticals (which would fall under FDA regulation.)

Do most people need supplements?

Ruas: If you have a balanced diet, you don’t need a supplement.

You will get all the amino acids you need from your food, unless you’re doing a restrictive diet.

And while you can provide your body with extra, it will not take what it does not need.

If you are actively exercising and lifting weights, then the supplementation of amino acids does have an effect because your body is building more muscle.

But the body of a sedentary person will either not use extra peptides and proteins or store that energy in the form of adipose tissue, or fat.

What is your message for people interested in peptides and the like for longevity?

Ruas: My most boring and repetitive message is to care about your diet, exercise and sleep well; this is not just my message, but what the World Health Organization recommends.

The movement of your body, the contraction of your muscles naturally releases a lot of these peptides and substances that keep you healthier, more alert and so on.

As for supplements, think about whether you really need them and what might be the price might be in the long run by ingesting or injecting something that is not properly validated for safety and efficacy.

In biology there’s always a price to pay.