Category Archives: Business

AI-Powered Travel Tech Startup The Tarzan Way Raises ₹2 Cr in Seed Round from Inflection Point Ventures

Noida, 7^th June 2025– The Tarzan Way, an AI-powered travel tech platform redefining how the world travels, has raised ₹2 crore in a funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures. The funds will be utilised for product development (35%), operational streamlining (25%), marketing (20%), HR and admin (15%), and miscellaneous expenses (5%). The round also saw participation from Your Trips Limited (UK-based travel company), Prateek Maheshwari (Founder at PhysicsWallah) and other angel investors.

Founded in 2020 by Shikhar Chadha and Shivank Tripathi, The Tarzan Way is an intelligent travel companion that enables users to design hyper-personalised, authentic holiday experiences across the globe in just a few clicks. The company is driven by the mission to simplify and elevate travel through technology.

Both founders bring complementary skills and a shared passion for travel innovation. Shikhar and Shivank aim to break the clutter in the travel industry by combining deep tech with human-centric storytelling, enabling each trip to be memorable and meaningful.

Ankur Mittal, Co- Founder, Inflection Point Ventures, said, “As more people venture out to explore the world, the demand for experiential travel — journeys that are immersive, personalized, and meaningful — is rapidly rising. Yet, most travellers still rely on traditional travel agencies that offer rigid plans, or they find themselves overwhelmed trying to plan it all on their own. Tarzan Way bridges this gap by using AI and technology to create smart, tailored travel experiences that act as a true companion throughout the journey — making every trip not just a getaway, but a story worth remembering.”

The startup operates on a global scale and is fast emerging as a go-to platform for immersive travel experiences. The fresh funds will be deployed towards product development, operational efficiency, marketing, and team building, alongside the launch of its new “Exploration App.”

What makes The Tarzan Way stand out is its hyper-personalised itineraries, AI-backed booking engine, 24×7 live concierge support, and one-click booking experience. Their platform integrates local flavours and authentic experiences with tech-powered efficiency.

“Our passion lies in creating memories that last. We don’t just plan trips; we help people craft stories that stay with them forever. That’s the core spirit behind The Tarzan Way,” said Shikhar Chadha, Co-founder, The Tarzan Way.

In terms of performance, the company has witnessed a 300% YoY revenue growth and 70% MoM user growth. With 35K+ social followers and over 10M content views, it has already clocked ₹13.5 Cr in gross value of bookings.

The Indian travel & tourism sector contributed over $199B to the GDP in 2023 and is projected to touch $512B by 2028. The space is primed for disruption, especially with the rise of AI and experiential travel.

IGP Cake Fest Brings Together Bakers and Cake Lovers for a First-of-its-Kind Celebration

Mumbai, 07 June 2025: IGP, a global D2C multi-category gifting platform, is set to host the country’s most indulgent event — the first-ever IGP Cake Fest — on Sunday, June 8, from 2 PM to 8 PM at Versova Social, Mumbai. This one-of-its-kind, community-led celebration will bring together bakers and dessert lovers for a high-energy experience that blends cake, culture, and creativity.

The festival aims to spotlight India’s freshest baking talent by crowning the best local bakers, creating iconic cake moments, and turning dessert into a full-blown cultural experience. Central to the event is “Battle of the Bakers” ,where one standout baker will win a grand prize of ₹1 lakh and the opportunity to feature their cake on igp’s D2C website which has a global customer base of over 5 million. The celebration will feature celebrity chef Natasha Gandhi as the headline judge – top finalist for Masterchef India. Attendees and cake lovers will also cast live votes to determine the Popular Choice Award, recognizing the crowd’s favorite creation.

Adding to the flavor of the day will be a stand-up performance by the much-loved comedian Shreeja Chaturvedi. The event promises a lively atmosphere with dessert tastings, live cake showcases, engaging games, photo ops, and branded giveaways.

The IGP Cake Fest isn’t just a fun competition; it’s a powerful testament to IGP’s position as a leading brand in cakes across India. More than an event, it serves as a vibrant platform for emerging bakers, creators, and dessert enthusiasts to connect, create, and be celebrated. It reflects IGP’s commitment to building communities around food and reinforces its role in shaping the future of India’s cake and gifting culture.

Commenting on the launch of Cake Fest, Tarun Joshi, Founder & CEO of IGP, said, “IGP has emerged as a leading platform in the cake category in India, delivering joy through thousands of celebrations every day. With Cake Fest, we’re creating a vibrant space for bakers and dessert lovers to connect, express, and be discovered. It’s a natural extension of our belief in celebrating people and their passions — and a step towards building a joyful, inclusive culture around cakes.”

RBI’s 100 bps Rate Cut Boosts Housing Demand, Eases EMI Burden for Homebuyers

RBI’s Rate Cut and Liquidity Push to Spur Private Investment, Support 7% Growth Potential

By-DK Srivastava, Chief Policy Advisor, EY India

“India’s GDP growth has performed admirably well in the post-COVID years. It has averaged 7.8% over the period 2022-23 to 2024-25. This is in spite of a challenging global economic environment where global GDP growth has been limited to 3.5%. Over this period, the contribution of net exports to India’s GDP growth has been 0.2% points, (-)2.8% points, and 2.3% points, respectively. Clearly, India’s growth has been largely driven by domestic demand. Within domestic demand, it is mainly the government’s capital expenditure which has been driving India’s growth. A more balanced profile of growth drivers would call for a tangible pickup in private investment demand and external demand. While much can not be said about the way external demand might evolve, domestic private investment demand can be stimulated. In this context, monetary policy is of considerable importance since it affects cost of capital.

The RBI, in its monetary policy review held on 06 June 2025, lowered the policy rate by 50 basis points to 5.5% with the objective of supporting growth. It projected real GDP growth at 6.5% in 2025-26 driven by private consumption and fixed capital formation. The RBI, however, changed its policy stance to neutral from accommodative. The frontloading of policy rate reduction is welcome. However, given the likely global growth slowdown and trade related uncertainties, the RBI may carry forward the momentum of the present interest rate reduction cycle at least until the policy rate reaches 5%. Conditions are ripe for maintaining this downward thrust since CPI inflation remains below the RBI’s target of 4%. In fact, the RBI has revised downwards its CPI inflation forecast for 2025-26 to 3.7% from 4.0% projected in April 2025. As private investment keeps improving, the ongoing rate reduction cycle could incentivize private investment and take India’s potential growth closer to 7% in the next few years.”

By-DK Srivastava, Chief Policy Advisor, EY India

The front loading of the rate cut action plus crr cut indicates focus is on enhancing  the transmission of monetary policy . The neutral stance indicates that the bar for further rate cut is higher but isn’t completely off the table . In the next few policies we expect rbi to remain on pause.

The crr cut which will infuse liquidity in h2fy26 , will ensure system liquidity remains above the 1%of ndtl till March 2026. The need for further omo purchases is much lower now.

RBI’s Timely 50 bps Rate Cut Aims to Boost Inclusive Growth and Lending Access

By-Tushar Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, Stashfin

“The latest 50 basis point rate cut by the RBI comes at a pivotal moment for the Indian economy. Although inflation is easing gradually, global uncertainties remain. Therefore, the RBI’s intent to balance growth alongside stability is crystal clear. As India consolidates its position as the world’s fourth-largest economy and keeps growing rapidly, the rate reduction will help in lowering borrowing costs and expanding credit access, particularly in underserved regions and segments. For fintechs and other digital lenders, it’s an excellent opportunity to offer more accessible, fair and transparent loans. These conducive measures will facilitate the establishment of a lending ecosystem that supports long-term financial health while helping the economy grow inclusively and sustainably.”

Sony Future Filmmaker Awards Announce Winners of 2025 Global Competition

New Delhi, 6^th June 2025: The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards announced today the 2025 winners during a special ceremony hosted by Emmy-award winner Denny Director (Entertainment Tonight). The third edition of these global awards were held in the iconic Sony Pictures Studios Scenic Arts Building in Culver City, celebrating emerging visionaries, amplifying bold storytelling from different corners of the world. Among the standout talents recognized this year were Indian filmmakers Riah Taipodia and Muhammed Ashfaque. Riah Taipodia was shortlisted in the Non-Fiction category for her work, Khiew Ranei (Black Clay). In the Student category, Muhammed Ashfaque was shortlisted for his film URA, representing the K R Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts.

Chosen for their exceptional work from a pool of over 11,750 film submissions by more than 7,500 filmmakers representing 158 countries and territories, the 2025 Sony Future Filmmaker Awards winners were: Rossana Montoya (Colombia, Fiction), Juliet Klottrup (United Kingdom, Non-Fiction), Santiago O’Ryan & José Navarro (Chile, Animation), and Hayder Hoozeer & Franz Böhm (United Kingdom/ Germany, Student).

The jury comprised prominent industry leaders, including filmmaker and writer Minhal Baig (We Grown Now, Hala, BoJack Horseman); Elizabeth Gabler, President of 3000 Pictures (Where the Crawdads Sing, upcoming Klara and the Sun, Life of Pi); Academy Award®-nominated director Jason Reitman (Saturday Night, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Juno); and award-winning filmmaker Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, The Other Boleyn Girl, upcoming Sierra Madre), who served as Chair of the Jury. Together, they evaluated creative excellence and innovative storytelling to select the winners from a distinguished shortlist.

The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards jury shared their collective admiration for this year’s winners and shortlisted filmmakers: “It is truly exciting to look towards the future of filmmaking through the eyes of this incredible group of winners. As new custodians of the craft, each of them brings a particular vision that challenges the status quo as well as breathing new life into the stories we tell. The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards are not only about recognizing this talent — they’re about supporting and empowering those who will shape the industry for years to come, and we are eager to see how they continue to redefine the cinematic landscape.”

The Awards aim to inspire, equip, and empower the next generation of filmmakers at a crucial stage in their creative journeys. As part of their prize, this year’s winners—along with the wider shortlist across all four categories—took part in an immersive four-day industry program held at Sony Pictures Studios from June 2–5, 2025, culminating in the official Awards ceremony.

The program featured a thoughtfully curated line up of workshops led by Sony Pictures executives, film screenings, and exclusive behind-the-scenes access. Participants gained deeper insight into the filmmaking process, refined their skills, and built valuable connections with industry leaders and fellow creators from around the world. Topics included cinematography masterclasses, screenwriting, navigating talent agreements, innovative technology demonstrations, and the art of scoring a film. In addition to the professional development experience, the four winners also received cash prizes and Sony Digital Imaging equipment.

The winners of the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2025 are:

FICTION

The Fiction category rewards narrative-led submissions that convey an original fictional story or event. The category winner receives Sony Digital Imaging equipment and a $5,000 (USD) cash prize. In the Fiction category, the winner was presented by Jason Reitman, Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker and Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2025 jury member:

• Rossana Montoya (Colombia), My Demon – As they race to the hospital for the imminent birth of their first child, Eva and Jacobo clash over their relationship. Shot in a single 17-minute take, the film infuses the raw emotional intensity of two on-screen characters into this intimate narrative.

NON-FICTION

The Non-Fiction category awards short films that are predominantly factual in content. These can include archive footage, documentary footage, reenactments and animation. The category winner receives Sony Digital Imaging equipment and a $5,000 (USD) cash prize. In the Non-Fiction category, the winner was presented by Elizabeth Gabler, President, 3000 Pictures and Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2025 jury member:

• Juliet Klottrup (UK), Travelling Home – An English Romany Traveller reflects on his heritage and the annual pilgrimage to Appleby Fair. Shot on 16mm film, the analogue texture enhances the film’s exploration of time, tradition, and belonging, reflecting Klottrup’s collaborative approach with local communities and her visual artistry focused on rural identity.

ANIMATION

The Animation category embraces filmmakers using stop-motion, motion graphics, computer animation, drawn-on-film, rotoscoping, experimental animation, and additional available techniques. The category winner receives Sony Sony Digital Imaging equipment and a $5,000 (USD) cash prize. In the Animation category, the winner was presented by Minhal Baig, filmmaker, writer, and Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2025 jury member:

• Santiago O’Ryan & José Navarro (Chile), Hermanos Casablanca (Casablanca Brothers) – At the height of the Pinochet dictatorship, two divers agree to help an army official in the hope of receiving information on their missing sister in return. The film employs engaging visual storytelling and a muted and dark colour palette to evoke a sense of loss, uncertainty and danger.

STUDENT

The Student category rewards filmmakers studying a film course at a registered institution at a diploma or degree level worldwide. The category winner and their institution each receive Sony Digital Imaging equipment. In the Student category, the winner was presented by Tatsuhito Tabuchi, Head of New Contents Creation Business Unit, Sony Corporation:

• Hayder Hoozeer (UK) & Franz Böhm (Germany), The National Film & Television School, Rock Paper Scissors – Based on a true story, a father and son in a warzone hospital face life-or-death choices as their hideout becomes increasingly compromised. Their direction uses stark color contrasts and claustrophobic settings to heighten the film’s emotional impact, supporting the actors’ powerful performances.

Toprankers Expands Educational Footprint with 50th Test Prep Centre in Bengaluru, Targets Deeper Presence in South India

Delhi India — 6th June 2025 — Toprankers, one of India’s leading ed-tech platforms guiding students toward careers beyond engineering and medicine, has launched its 50th offline learning centre recently, marking a major milestone in its mission to democratise quality education. The new centres in Whitefield and Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, represent Toprankers’ strategic foray into South India, aimed at delivering premium, accessible test preparation closer to students’ homes.

This expansion builds on the platform’s remarkable growth across North and Central India, where it has established 48 centres in 20 cities including Delhi, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ranchi and Patna. In FY 2024 alone, Toprankers trained over 25,000 students, achieved 5,000+ selections, and saw a 40% YoY growth in enrollments across its learning verticals — Law, Management, Design and Architecture.

“Where can my child train for competitive exams without compromising their mental well-being?” This recurring concern from parents at our webinars sparked our decision to scale responsibly. Bengaluru, with its rising demand for structured offline mentorship and with a strong student base in our online ecosystem, was a natural next step.

The newly launched centres feature hybrid classrooms, smart-learning infrastructure, and student-first zones aimed at replicating Toprankers’ trusted mentorship model — one that emphasizes small batch sizes, live doubt resolution, career mapping, and holistic preparation beyond textbooks.

Students, parents, and mentors enthusiastically participated in the event, which was graced by Saksham Gautam, All India Rank 1 in CLAT 2025 and a student of Toprankers’ LegalEdge program.

Gaurav Goel, Founder & CEO of Toprankers, said:
“Parents in Bengaluru juggle multiple responsibilities, and we understand the importance of making entrance exam prep both high-quality and convenient. Our entry into this city is not just about geography—it’s about empathy, and empowering students with on-ground, real-time mentorship that matches the pace of their dreams.”

He added, “Toprankers has seen over 15,000 selections in the last 3 years alone, with students cracking top exams like CLAT, IPMAT, CUET, NID, CAT, NIFT and Judiciary. The Bengaluru centre is another leap toward our commitment to redefine what accessible, student-first education looks like across India.”

Powered by the House of Brands, Toprankers’ success is driven by its House of Brands—LegalEdge, SuperGrads, CreativEdge, Judiciary Gold, and Udaan, each dedicated to a unique learner profile and exam segment. Together, they’ve enabled lakhs of students to access curriculum-aligned, result-oriented preparation powered by live classes, national-level mocks, and personalised mentorship.

Students across India echo the impact:

“LegalEdge provided an ideal study environment for a prospective topper. The study material, particularly the CLATPost, was exceptional, and the faculty was highly effective. The mental fortitude to stay focused and disciplined was the final piece of the puzzle.”
– Saksham Gautam, All India Rank 1, CLAT 2025

“The personalised attention and mentorship changed the game for me,”
– Sanya Gupta, cracked IPMAT on her first attempt

As India’s education landscape shifts toward career flexibility and multi-stream opportunities, Toprankers’ 50th centre is more than a number—it is a strategic commitment to meet learners where they are and move with them, every step of the way.

Edmund Sze-Wing Tse to Retire as AIA Group Board Chairman, to Be Succeeded by Sir Mark Tucker on 1 October 2025

HONG KONG, 6 June 2025 – AIA Group Limited (“AIA” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) announces that Mr. Edmund Sze-Wing Tse, Independent Non- executive Chairman and Independent Non-executive Director, has informed the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) of his intention to retire from his positions with the Company effective 30 September 2025.
The Board is delighted to announce that Sir Mark Tucker, who previously served as Group Chief Executive Officer and President of AIA between 2010 and 2017, has, subject to regulatory approval, been appointed Independent Non-executive Chairman and an Independent Non- executive Director of the Company effective from 1 October 2025. Sir Mark has also been appointed as the Chairman of the Nomination Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee, effective 1 October 2025.

Sir Mark has more than 40 years in-depth experience in the financial services industry, including in Asia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Africa. He will complete his tenure as the Non-executive Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings plc (“HSBC”) on 30 September 2025.

 Edmund Tse said: “It has been the greatest honour of my professional life to serve AIA, both as an executive and as the first Independent Non-executive Chairman. Throughout more than six decades with AIA, I have benefited from the support of outstanding colleagues, and I would like to thank all of them, past and present, for their unwavering support and dedication.

 “I would also like to thank my Board colleagues for their outstanding support during my 14 years as Board Chairman. AIA is very well positioned for continued and lasting success. I am immensely proud of all that we have accomplished together, and I know that, with Mark leading such an august board, AIA will continue to grow and thrive in the years ahead.”

Mr. Tse, who led the appointment process, added “Mark’s significant contributions to AIA during his tenure as the Group Chief Executive and President have been substantial and enduring. His experience and expertise, both as a Group Chief Executive and more recently his role as Group Chairman of one of the world’s largest financial institutions ensures that AIA will benefit from his strong leadership. I am truly delighted to welcome Mark to the Board.”

 Lee Yuan Siong, AIA Group Chief Executive and President, said: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to express my profound appreciation to Edmund. AIA owes him a great debt for his unparallelled contributions over a remarkable career. His leadership, through a host of increasingly senior roles as an executive and more recently as the Group’s first independent Chairman, has enabled the Group to put in place a strong and solid foundation.

 “Edmund’s vision and ambition have been instrumental in shaping AIA into the leading franchise it is today. Under his guidance, we have achieved remarkable milestones including excellent growth, expansion into new markets and pioneering innovations that support our communities. He retires with an enduring legacy, having played a pivotal role in advancing the sustainable development of our industry across Asia. For all of these reasons, the Board has unanimously chosen to confer upon Edmund the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus for AIA Group, reflecting the high esteem in which we will continue to hold him and honouring his unmatched legacy at AIA.

“We are delighted to welcome back Sir Mark Tucker as our Independent Chairman. Sir Mark worked closely with Edmund in leading the Company through its initial public offering during which he laid the foundations for AIA as a world leading independent listed group. Sir Mark’s very strong international reputation has only grown in the intervening years, and we look forward to benefiting from his deep experience in financial services and his passion for Asia as he leads our Board forward.”

Sir Mark said, “I have known Edmund for many decades and have admired him as an executive, a fellow Board member and as a friend. He has done a remarkable job at AIA, and I wish him all the very best for a happy and fulfilling retirement.

 “I am deeply honoured and excited to be taking on the role of Independent Chairman of one of the world’s largest insurance companies. AIA plays a critical role in protecting the financial wellbeing of millions of families across Asia, enabling them to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives. I look forward to working with the Board, Yuan Siong, the Executive team, colleagues, agents and partners across the region to build on the Group’s success.”

Dynatrace Powers the Future of Agentic AI

WALTHAM, Mass., June 6, 2025 – Dynatrace, the leading AI-powered observability platform, is accelerating the generational shift in enterprise software development by extending the Dynatrace platform with agentic AI capabilities. Designed to predict and prevent disruptions, protect systems and data, and optimize operations autonomously, these advancements mark a new era of productivity and agility, fundamentally redefining how businesses manage digital transformation.

Enterprise organizations are significantly increasing investment in AI to enhance productivity, particularly in software development. Despite these efforts, developers still spend up to 80% of their time securing, debugging, and optimizing digital systems in production. Dynatrace leverages agentic AI to address this challenge by enabling enterprises to transition from manual oversight to autonomous, AI-driven workflows that streamline operations and foster innovation.

“We anticipated the growing complexity of digital systems outpacing the capabilities of traditional observability solutions reliant on human intervention,” said Bernd Greifeneder, Founder and CTO, Dynatrace. “This is why we built the next generation of our platform to help customers leverage advanced AI to offload work and unlock entirely new possibilities. By unifying observability, security, and business data in a revolutionary data lakehouse architecture, we’ve created the foundation for AI to deliver real-time insights and act autonomously in ways that were unimaginable a few years ago.”

The core of Dynatrace is a purpose-built foundation for agentic AI, seamlessly unifying observability, security, and business data in a schema-free, indexless data lakehouse. This foundation empowers intelligent decision-making and autonomous action, enabling enterprises to transition from human oversite to intelligent, self-operating systems. Together, the platform serves as the knowledge, reasoning, planning, and actioning framework of agentic AI, delivering trustworthy precision and adaptability.

• Grail, an indexless, schema-free data lakehouse, hot/hot by design, provides real-time access to petabytes of data in context, eliminating the inefficiencies of re-indexing and rehydration, to address the complexity and scale of agentic AI systems.
• Smartscape, a dynamic, real-time topology discovery, maps causal dependencies across complex digital ecosystems, enhancing the platform’s ability to deliver precise insights and automation, fueling Dynatrace AI for fact-based reasoning.
• Davis AI combines causal, predictive, and generative AI techniques to analyze unified data, deliver trustworthy insights, and intelligently plan actions to minimize hallucinations, maximize precision in insights and answers, and adhere to responsible AI practices and compliance requirements.
• AutomationEngine executes autonomous tasks and integrates seamlessly with first-party and third-party AI agents, driving differentiated efficiency and adaptability, all in a safe and privacy-protected manner for controlled agentic AI actions.

Through sustained innovation, Dynatrace provides the intelligence and autonomy developers, business leaders, and organizations need to tackle digital complexity and achieve extraordinary outcomes.

“These innovations provide the transparency, automation, and agility enterprises need to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. The result is a platform capable of autonomously preventing potential issues, optimizing resource use, and adapting to unforeseen challenges,” Greifeneder added. “Agentic AI represents a fundamental transformation in enterprise technology. Our platform not only delivers insights but actively enables businesses to anticipate challenges, adapt to changing conditions, and achieve their boldest ambitions. This evolution embodies our long-standing vision to empower organizations through trustworthy automation and actionable intelligence.”

Panasonic partners with MeitY Nasscom Centre of Excellence to accelerate innovation in Smart Residential Living

Bengaluru, 6th June, 2025: Panasonic Life Solutions India (PLSIND), a leading diversified technology company, today, in collaboration with the MeitY Nasscom Center of Excellence (CoE), convened an industry-academia roundtable – Ignition Bridge Innovation – at the Nasscom’s CoE facility in Bengaluru. The strategic dialogue platform brought together senior leaders from industry, academia, and startups to discuss the co-creation of the future of smart residential living spaces in India. The initiative is part of Panasonic’s broader vision to catalyse innovation with a focus on energy efficiency, automation, health, wellness, and safety.

Mr. Manish Misra, Chief Innovation Officer, Panasonic Life Solutions India, said, “At Panasonic, we believe the future of smart living lies at the intersection of technology, collaboration, and purpose-driven innovation. With that in mind, we’d initiated the ‘Ignition Challenge’ i.e., a corporate accelerator programme aimed at improving the lives of Indian consumers through tech breakthroughs. The Ignition Bridge Roundtable is an extension of this initiative that further bolsters our mission. Here, in association with Nasscom CoE, Panasonic is fostering innovation through collaborations with high-potential startups, academic institutions, and public-private partnerships to advance air quality, energy solutions, and smart residential initiatives. These efforts include research partnerships, smart home cluster deployments, and scalable community pilots to drive sustainable living. Our goal is to translate these innovations into accessible, affordable, and scalable experiences for Indian consumers.”

The roundtable featured insightful discussions on a wide range of themes, including smart surveillance, air quality monitoring, AI-based home automation, predictive safety systems, and sustainable energy management. Senior leadership from Panasonic, institutions such as IIT Madras, IIT Tirupati, IIT Hyderabad, IISc Bangalore, and BITS Pilani, along with deeptech startups from the Nasscom CoE network, explored collaborative models to co-develop and pilot smart home solutions that are scalable and tailored for the Indian market. Startups such as Bolt.Earth, Charzer, Biomoneta, The Energy Company, Devic Earth, and Inxense showcased innovations ranging from AI-powered security cameras and air purification systems to intelligent battery management and EV charging infrastructure.

Shri. Sanjeev Malhotra, CEO, Nasscom CoE, said, “At Nasscom CoE, we believe that the future of smart living will be shaped by collaborative innovation that bridges industry, startups, and academia. Our partnership with Panasonic is a powerful step toward this vision – bringing together cutting-edge technology, domain expertise, and entrepreneurial agility to address critical needs in residential energy, automation, and wellness.”

Over the years, Panasonic India’s Innovation Centre (IIC) has been instrumental in shaping the company’s India-led innovation strategy. Flagship initiatives include the Miraie platform—Panasonic’s connected living ecosystem that integrates smart appliances via a unified app interface; the launch of India’s first Matter-enabled air conditioner, showcasing interoperability and smart home readiness; and the Ignition – corporate innovation program that fosters partnerships with high-potential startups in collaboration with T-Hub and Beyond Next Ventures (BNV). The IIC also led the commercialisation of Nessum, a next-generation wired communication technology that enhances device connectivity within homes. Through these initiatives, PLSIND is committed to building a robust innovation ecosystem that not only delivers seamless and sustainable smart living experiences for Indian households but also contributes meaningfully to the country’s digital and energy transition goals.