Category Archives: Business

Josh Debuts DreamCall, Enabling Direct Live Voice Interactions Between Users and Broadcasters

Bengaluru, February 5, 2025: Josh, India’s fastest-growing short video platform, introduces DreamCall, an innovative live voice-based social feature that transforms how users connect and interact with broadcasters. This launch marks a significant milestone in Josh’s mission to build immersive social experiences for its diverse user base.

 DreamCall enables real-time voice conversations with broadcasters, allowing users to build authentic connections through personalised one-on-one interactions. The hosts create a comforting space for free-flowing conversations, from heartfelt stories and personal dreams to light-hearted banter and deep self-reflection. These interactions uplift, connect, and combat loneliness with warmth and understanding. With active broadcasters, the feature supports multiple languages and diverse interest categories, spanning astrology, fashion, fitness, entertainment, and lifestyle. It operates through Josh’s in-app currency system, Jems, offering a seamless pay-per-minute model that rewards broadcasters while providing value to users.

 Since its soft launch, DreamCall has achieved remarkable success, with over 350 active multilingual broadcasters, including 10% TTMK hosts, bringing their unique perspectives and expertise to the platform. The feature has already facilitated over 75,000 successful calls, totaling over 2,000 hours of calling, with an impressive 25% repeat caller rate. Supporting these conversations is a comprehensive quality monitoring system that ensures all interactions remain safe and enjoyable. Additionally, the platform features a gifting mechanism allowing users to send virtual gifts during calls, creating more rewarding and memorable experiences for broadcasters and users.

 Sunder Venketraman, Chief Business Officer – Content & Live Ecosystem, Josh, said, “DreamCall represents a significant leap forward in our mission to create immersive and meaningful social experiences for our users. By enabling real-time voice conversations, we cultivate authentic connections and provide a platform where users can engage in heartfelt and enriching interactions. The success of DreamCall, with its impressive engagement metrics and diverse range of broadcasters, underscores the value it brings to our community. We are committed to ensuring these interactions remain safe and enjoyable through our comprehensive quality monitoring system. Introducing the gifting mechanism further enhances the experience, making each interaction more memorable and rewarding. We’re excited to see how this feature will continue to enhance the Josh community.”

Kritrim Launches AI Lab for Frontier Research in India, Promises Rs 10,000 Crore Investment

Bengaluru, February 5, 2025: kritrim, India’s first AI unicorn, today announced the launch of kritrim AI Lab, the country’s first AI frontier research lab. This pioneering initiative is set to make AI research accessible, attract the best talent, and establish India as a global leader in open-source AI. As AI transforms industries worldwide, kritrim AI Lab takes a step towards creating state-of-the-art AI infrastructure, supporting the research and developer community, and building cutting-edge AI models tailored for Indic languages and real-world applications.

In line with building its growth roadmap, kritrim announced an investment of ₹2,000 Cr today (equity and debt) with a commitment of ₹10,000 Cr by next year. kritrim also strengthens its global collaborations, by announcing India’s first GB200 cluster deployment along with NVIDIA scheduled to go live by March 2025. kritrim aims to build India’s largest supercomputer in India by the end of the year.

Bhavish Aggarwal, Founder, kritrim said, “With kritrim, our vision is to develop AI for India and make it better for Indian languages, data scarcity and cultural context. While we are behind global benchmarks, we have made good progress in the last one year. With kritrim AI Lab, we hope that the entire Indian AI community collaborates to create a world-class Indian AI ecosystem.”

kritrim AI Lab champions open source AI and democratise AI innovation by fostering collaboration with academia, startups, and developers. It deploys state-of-the-art computing resources to accelerate AI capabilities. With its multilingual AI models that represent India’s diverse linguistic landscape, kritrim AI Lab ensures equitable access to AI across all Indian languages. By creating AI solutions optimised for scale and affordability, the research lab enables cost-efficient AI innovation and attracts top talent that pushes the boundaries of AI knowledge.

kritrim has open sourced new state-of-the art Indic AI models to enhance AI adoption in India:

kritrim AI Lab focuses on critical AI research domains essential for digital transformation and development of India’s first large-scale AI models, capable of competing globally. The multimodal Lab is aimed at building AI that understands and processes text, speech, and visuals across multiple languages. It also addresses India’s data scarcity challenge by digitising knowledge artefacts and creating high-quality datasets. Additionally, by incorporating AI for real-world scale, kritrim AI Lab ensures AI systems that are efficient and adaptable to India’s high-volume, resource-constrained environments.

To supercharge innovation in India, kritrim previously announced over 50 new services on kritrim cloud making it ready for most applications needed by Indian developers. The infrastructure services include Virtual Machines (VMs), cloud storage, state-of-the-art security measures for data protection and cutting-edge observability features for precise data monitoring. Additionally, the AI cloud services announced were AI Pods to enable low-cost access to best-in-class GPUs, AI studio for building compound AI applications, model catalogue with latest LLMs and vision models, and now code/low code training, finetuning, inference and model evaluation capabilities.

Samsung Fast-Tracks Galaxy S25 Series Deliveries for Indian Customers

Bengaluru, India – February 05, 2025: Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today commenced early deliveries of its flagship Galaxy S25 series smartphones for customers who had pre-ordered the devices. Samsung is committed to bringing utmost delight to its customers by delivering its latest flagship smartphone to early bird customers, ahead of the official sale date of February 07, 2025.

Galaxy S25 is available in colours such as Icyblue, Silver Shadow, Navy and Mint. Galaxy S25+ is available in Navy and Silver Shadow while Galaxy S25 Ultra comes in Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Gray, Titanium Whitesilver and Titanium Black.

Consumers buying Galaxy S25 Ultra through Samsung.com will also get the option of choosing from three exclusive colours – Titanium Jadegreen, Titanium Jetblack & Titanium Pinkgold. Those buying Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ from Samsung.com will also get the option of three exclusive colours – Blueblack, Coralred & Pinkgold.

Customers pre-ordering Galaxy S25 Ultra will get pre-order benefits worth INR 21000. This includes a storage upgrade worth INR 12000 wherein customers will be able to get 12GB 512GB variant at the price of the 12GB 256GB variant; along with an INR 9000 upgrade bonus.

Customers pre-ordering Galaxy S25+ will get benefits worth INR 12000 as they will get 12GB 512GB variant at the price of 12GB 256GB variant. Meanwhile, customers pre-ordering Galaxy S25 will get benefits worth INR 11000 as an upgrade bonus.

Galaxy S25 series changes the way users interact at every touchpoint by seamlessly integrating AI agents and multimodal capabilities. A first-of-its-kind customized Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy chipset delivers greater on-device processing power for Galaxy AI and superior camera range and control with Galaxy’s next-gen ProVisual Engine.

Cashfree Payments Raises USD 53 Million/INR 450 Crore

Bangalore, February 5, 2024: Payments company Cashfree Payments, has raised USD 53 Million/INR 450 Crore in a funding round led by Korean digital entertainment giant, KRAFTON and existing investor Apis Growth Fund II, a private equity fund managed by Apis Partners Group (UK) Limited (“Apis Partners”). The capital will accelerate Cashfree’s payments offering and boost market outreach. This collaboration will also position Cashfree to leverage synergies with KRAFTON, fueling innovation and pioneering new solutions across multiple digital sectors.

Cashfree helps businesses collect payments online and make payouts. With an easy onboarding and integration process, and compatibility with popular merchant platforms like Shopify, Wix, WordPress, WooCommerce, WhatsApp, Cashfree enables businesses to start transactions within a day. It offers features like one-click checkout, abandoned cart recovery, and return prediction, helping businesses improve the payment experience, boost conversions and grow profitably. Cashfree connects directly with major payment networks, ensuring high success rates and reliability at scale, enabling large businesses to process 12,000 transactions per second during peak demand with ease. It has also introduced Embedded Payments, allowing platforms, ERPs, and SaaS businesses to integrate payments as a feature into their product with ease and in a compliant manner.

Akash Sinha, CEO & Co-Founder, Cashfree Payments, said, “We are excited to welcome KRAFTON as a strategic partner with continued support from our existing investors, Apis Growth Fund II and the team at Apis Partners. Our mission at Cashfree Payments has been to empower Indian businesses with the ability to transact in the digital economy with unparalleled security and efficiency. This investment will help us accelerate our key efforts – across cross-border and security innovations and international expansion – as we enter the next phase of our growth journey. Growing sustainably has been core to our identity and how we function at Cashfree Payments. We are focused on driving profitable growth as we scale. Our mission is clear: to create long-term value for our customers and lead innovation in the payments space, both in India and internationally.”

Among recent innovations, the company has built Secure ID, an identity verification stack with a comprehensive suite of APIs and KYC components, addressing the surge in fraud. SecureID enables fintechs and startups to build onboarding and KYC flows by intelligently minimising user inputs, thus reducing drop-offs, intelligently reading and verifying identity documents, and precisely detecting frauds and anomalies. SecureID has completed more than 1 billion identity and user verifications till date.

Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of KRAFTON India, said “India’s fintech industry is experiencing remarkable growth, and we believe Cashfree Payment’s dominant position in India can be replicated globally. As the media and entertainment sector and content consumption patterns in India continue to evolve, full-stack payment systems that specifically address the needs and requirements of the sector are crucial for enhancing user experience. The investment is part of KRAFTON’s ongoing efforts to support innovative solutions that drive growth and foster a dynamic startup ecosystem. We look forward to further strengthening this partnership and exploring future opportunities.”

Matteo Stefanel and Udayan Goyal, Co-Founders and Managing Partners at Apis Partners, commented: “As an industry leader with a history of pioneering innovations, Cashfree Payments’ proven track record continues to put it in a leadership position. We are excited to continue our support for its continued growth and success. Apis’ investment philosophy is that there should be no trade-off between returns for LPs and positive societal impact, and the investment in Cashfree is proving to be a perfect example of that.”

In FY25, Cashfree has seen merchant signups grow 130% as compared to previous years and anticipates robust revenue growth, driven by increased wallet share from existing customers and continued success in cross-selling to its broad client base. Cashfree currently processes $80 billion annually and works with 800,000 businesses, from internet startups to public enterprises.

Sayaji Pune Recognized as ‘Iconic Business Hotel’ by Times of India Group

Pune, India – Sayaji Pune, a distinguished 5-star business hotel, is thrilled to receive the prestigious ‘Iconic Business Hotel’ award from the Times of India Group, recognizing its excellence in business hospitality. This recognition highlights the hotel’s commitment to providing an exceptional blend of luxury, comfort, and functionality tailored to business travelers.

 Conveniently located off the Pune-Mumbai Highway, near major IT hubs Hinjewadi and Baner, Sayaji Pune is the preferred choice for corporate travellers. The hotel has established itself as a prime destination for professionals seeking convenience and world-class amenities.

 The hotel offers luxurious rooms with comfortable beds, high-speed internet, and spacious work desks, ensuring a seamless work-life balance. Business guests can also access state-of-the-art boardrooms, banquet halls, and event spaces for meetings and corporate gatherings.

 For wellness-focused travellers, Sayaji Pune features a fully equipped gym with expert trainers and an in-house spa for relaxation after a busy day.

 The hotel’s diverse culinary offerings include an extensive buffet catering to varied tastes, with options ranging from healthy selections to indulgent favourites at Portico. Guests can enjoy dining at Turque offering a delightful culinary experience in a luxurious setting. Dining spaces are designed for both quick bites and leisurely meals.

Dart Tech & LNS Solutions Team Up to Deliver Unmatched IT Solutions to Clients

Tampa, FL (February 5, 2025) – Dart Tech and LNS Solutions have joined forces to operate under the Dart brand, becoming the leading Managed Service Provider in the Tampa Bay area. The new Dart is redefining the region’s IT services landscape. Dart provides local businesses with scalable, forward-thinking solutions tailored to meet the challenges of today’s changing market.

“LNS and Dart Tech have always shared a deep respect for each other and the common goal of our clients’ success,” said John Lorelle, former owner of LNS Solutions and now CEO of the new Dart. “By blending our resources and skills, we are building a stronger, more innovative organization that will set new standards for excellence and help clients thrive in an increasingly connected world.”

A New Era for IT Solutions

Operating under the established Dart brand, the strategic merger combines Dart Tech’s expertise in cutting-edge technology with LNS Solutions’ personalized, client-focused approach. Leveraging the strengths of these two industry leaders, the new Dart is committed to innovation, growth, and delivering tangible results, ensuring local businesses succeed.

The integration of Dart Tech and LNS Solutions is more than a business move—it’s a commitment to shaping the future of IT client experiences. As the leading Managed Service Provider in Tampa Bay, the new Dart offers comprehensive support for businesses of all sizes in the key areas of cloud computing, cybersecurity, Managed IT services, and consulting services.

What This Means for Clients

• Expanded Expertise: The united organization brings together top talent from both companies, supported by a national team of over 350 skilled professionals, providing clients with unparalleled expertise and advanced capabilities.
• Enhanced Services: Clients benefit from a broader portfolio of IT solutions, including advanced cybersecurity measures, seamless cloud integration, and proactive managed services.
• Continued Excellence: The new Dart remains committed to the personalized, responsive service that both Dart Tech and LNS Solutions clients have come to trust.

NTPC Signs Power Agreement with Indian Army for Long-Term Electricity Sale

NTPC and Indian Army signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) on 3rd February for sale of power (200 kW RE-RTC) from Solar-Hydrogen based Microgrid at Chushul (Ladakh) for a period of 25 years. The agreement was signed by Shri DMR Panda, CGM (NTPC-Hydrogen) and Shri Aditya Harshey, Brigadier and Chief Engineer (Indian Army), Leh.

Solar-Hydrogen based microgrid offers a solution to replace Army’s existing diesel gensets thus avoiding fossil fuel logistics arrangement and 1500 ton/year CO2.

This is world’s most unique hydrogen based off-grid microgrid project at an altitude of 4400m and temperatures dipping to -30 deg C in winter. Once operational, it would usher in a new era of decarbonisation and modernisation of the defence sector in the border locations of the Himalayas.

HDFC Bank Parivartan to Provide Rs 20 Crore to Over 50 Start-ups in FY25

Hyderabad, February 5, 2025: HDFC Bank, India’s leading private sector bank, announced the launch of the eighth edition of its flagship Parivartan Start-up Grants programme. This year, 15+ incubators and accelerators have been selected and onboarded to support 50–60 start-ups working in the social impact space. The programme will award grants of up to ₹50 lakh to selected start-ups, with a total programme budget of ₹20 crore.

IIT Madras, IIM Ahmedabad Ventures, Villgro,ICAR Pusa Krishi, IIT Guwahati Bionest, ASPIRE – University of Hyderabad, IIM-Calcutta Innovation Park, i-Hub Gujarat, Kerala Start-Up Mission, IFMR Catalyst AIC are among the incubators already shortlisted this year.

Over the next few months, these incubators will invite applications from social entrepreneurs across India. This initiative will culminate in a series of “Demo Day” events, showcasing start-ups to the Bank, investors, corporates, and media, ensuring greater visibility and opportunities for these ventures.

Key Focus Areas for FY25

In line with HDFC Bank’s commitment to sustainable development and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the programme will focus on:

1. AI For Social Good

2. Climate Innovation

3. Financial Inclusion

4. Agriculture and Sustainable Rural Economy

5. Education and Livelihood Enhancement

6. Gender Diversity and Inclusion

Selected start-ups will represent diverse regions of India, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and North-East region states.

“Our Parivartan Start-up Grants programme is a testament to our commitment to fostering innovation and addressing critical societal needs. By nurturing social start-ups that are implementing solutions aimed at achieving SDG targets, we aim to support the creation of sustainable, inclusive solutions for communities across India,” said Mr. Kaizad Bharucha, DMD, HDFC Bank.

“Through strategic partnerships with incubators and accelerators, we are building a robust start-up ecosystem. The programme empowers entrepreneurs with resources and visibility, enabling them to scale impactful solutions and contribute to India’s development journey. Through the Parivartan Start-up Grants programme we aim to empower these innovative ventures to make a meaningful impact and create a better future for all,” said Mr. Arup Rakshit, Group Head, Treasury, HDFC Bank.

Chiala Watkins-Reed Selected for Missouri Leadership Class

Nonprofit leader to join an elite group of women dedicated to driving positive change across Missouri.

(St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 4, 2025) Chiala Watkins-Reed, Chief of Workforce Development at Child Care Aware of Missouri (CCAMO), has been selected to join the Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge Class of 2025. This prestigious honor places her in a class among 33 distinguished women leaders dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities and professions.

The program will address critical issues facing Missouri and provide opportunities for participants to engage with thought leaders and collaborate with inspiring peers. The curriculum includes sessions on governmental and political processes, education, urban issues, diversity and race relations, rural development, and global perspectives. More than 1,300 women have participated in this transformative challenge class since its inception.

Originally established in 1982 by Texas Governor Ann Richards and sponsored by Southwestern Bell Corporation, the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation was created to prepare women for leadership roles within the state. The foundation has since grown to include more than 1,200 alumnae from diverse backgrounds across both rural and urban areas, all committed to professional development and community engagement.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed to this esteemed leadership class,” said Watkins-Reed. “This opportunity will not only enhance my understanding of our state’s pressing needs but also empower me to collaborate with fellow leaders to drive meaningful change in our communities.”

Founded in 1999, Child Care Aware of Missouri is a statewide nonprofit that focuses on a comprehensive early childhood education experience through impactful programs and partnerships. The organization’s services include workforce development, child care business supports, advocacy and policy work, and its new Child Care Keeps Missouri Working, a regional campaign offering concierge solutions to businesses undergoing employee recruitment and retention challenges due to the overwhelming shortage of quality child care options. For more information, call (314) 535-1458 or visit www.mochildcareaware.org.

QR678 Partners with Spectra Medical to Expand Access Nationwide

Mumbai, February 4 ,2025: QR678®, a pioneering company dedicated to revolutionizing hair science through clinical research and innovative solutions, has partnered with Spectra Medical, a leading distributor of high-quality aesthetic equipment and products. The collaboration aims to make cutting-edge, non-invasive hair restoration solutions of QR678 widely accessible across India addressing the growing demand for advanced, patient-friendly treatments.

Spectra Medical’s expertise in distributing high-quality medical equipment and products from some of the world’s leading manufacturers makes it an ideal partner to bring QR678’s solutions to a broader audience. Known for its commitment to innovation and quality, the company has played a vital role in equipping healthcare providers with state-of-the-art equipment that improves patient outcomes.

Speaking about this, Mr Indrajit Dutta, Vice President, QR678®, said, “Hair loss is not just a cosmetic concern; it often impacts emotional well-being and confidence. Our partnership with Spectra Medical is a strategic step to ensure QR678’s products reach clinics and patients nationwide, enabling them to experience world-class hair regrowth solutions. By joining forces with a partner that values quality and innovation, we’re confident in shaping the future of non-surgical hair restoration in India and be known as the Hair Science people.”

Adding further, Mr Ramamoorthy Sundaram, Managing Director of Spectra Medical, said, “At Spectra Medical, we’ve always believed in delivering solutions that add more beauty to our lives. QR678® is an exceptional addition to our portfolio, combining cutting-edge science with tangible results. This partnership reflects our commitment to providing the Indian healthcare industry with transformative products. Together, we aim to empower aesthetic practitioners with tools that redefine patient care standards in hair restoration.”

QR678 has emerged as a pioneering innovation in the field of hair regrowth therapy. Developed after years of rigorous research, this regulatory-approved treatment utilizes biomimetic polypeptides to stimulate hair follicles, effectively halting hair loss while promoting the density and thickness of existing hair. As a non-surgical solution, QR678 offers patients a safe and effective alternative to traditional procedures.