Category Archives: Business

BluSmart introduces the smartCitizen campaign to encourage India to vote

Bengaluru, 23rd April 2024 – BluSmart, India’s leading electric vehicle (EV) ride-hailing service and EV charging infrastructure network, is proud to announce the launch of its #SmartCitizen campaign to encourage Indian citizens to exercise their democratic right to vote on election day. This initiative aims to generate awareness, and empower and mobilize the voters in Delhi, Gurgaon, and Bengaluru to participate actively and responsibly in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

On polling dates in Bengaluru – on 26th April and in Delhi NCR – on 25th May, BluSmart will offer discounted rides to its customers, enabling eligible citizens to cast their vote including the youth of India and the first-time voters to exercise their fundamental right to vote conveniently and on time.

BluSmart passengers traveling anywhere within 30 kilometers of polling stations in Bengaluru and Delhi NCR will be provided a one-time 50% discount. This offer can be availed on BluSmart rides to and from the polling station from 6 am to 7 pm on the respective polling days in these cities. The initiative underscores BluSmart’s commitment in promoting civic engagement and responsible and smart citizenship.

“Every vote counts, and every citizen can make a smart choice to contribute to the democratic process. As a partner in driving India’s growth, our #SmartCitizen campaign is a call to action for all citizens to exercise their right to vote and be active participants in shaping a smarter future for our nation. The campaign reflects BluSmart’s values as forward-thinkers, fostering a sense of responsibility among citizens and empowering them with seamless access to the polling stations.” said Anirudh Arun, Co-founder & CEO, BluSmart Fleet.

A month-long election awareness campaign will be executed through online and offline channels such as communication inside BluSmart EVs, in-app notifications, emailers, and social media. The #SmartCitizen campaign will further educate users on the significance of voting and how one vote can make a difference. Moreover, the incorporation of a voting badge by BluSmart for riders who participate in elections will incentivize civic engagement and foster a sense of accomplishment.

OneEarth Foundation’s EarthDay2024 Philanthropic Initiative Transforming Waste into Opportunity

Goa, India, 23rd April 2024 – To commemorate Earth Day 2024 and contribute to a cleaner environment, OneEarth Foundation is donating study tables and benches made from segregated low-value plastic waste collected during the 30-day Drive Against Plastic Pollution (DAPP) campaign to an underprivileged school in a slum near Old Goa. The campaign, aimed at combating plastic pollution and promoting sustainable practices, sensitized over 1300 individuals and students, collected 1.4 tonnes of waste, conducted 59 workshops & clean-up drives and paddled 120 km along the Goa coastline. This initiative, beyond being a symbolic gesture, embodies OneEarth Foundation’s core principles rooted in circular economy practices. It believes in closing the loop by sustainably managing waste, contributing to a more environmentally conscious society.

Moving forward, OneEarth Foundation’s focus is on government schools, differently-abled schools, and underprivileged institutions, where resources and opportunities are limited. The Foundation aims to deliver engaging climate education workshops and programs to empower these communities with knowledge and tools for environmental conservation.

Ferdin Sylvester, Founder of OneEarth Foundation said, “We strongly believe in the power of conscious communities and holistic systems, which is evident in every action we take. Today, we take pride in our contribution to these young minds by providing benches made from zero-value waste that would otherwise have ended up in landfills or oceans. They grasped the impact of waste on their lives and have now transitioned from lacking even a basic dustbin to actively segregating waste in their school. It’s immensely satisfying to know that our organization has truly made a positive difference in their lives. Going forward our focus areas encompass implementing a circular model through recycling, educating youth on climate resilience, promoting mangrove restoration, and collaborating with coastal communities, including fisherfolk, to eradicate ghost gear and other plastic waste.”

Earth Day Every Day: India Sweet House Makes Sustainability a Sweet Deal

This Earth Day, India Sweet House, a beloved name for traditional Indian sweets and savories, is taking a delicious step towards a greener future. In a thoughtful initiative, they are encouraging customers to be part of the solution with “Unbox Sustainability”, offering a 10% discount to those who choose to forgo disposable packaging.

Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22nd, serves as a vital reminder of our responsibility to protect the planet. Sustainability is not just a buzzword, it’s the key to ensuring a healthy and thriving environment for generations to come. India Sweet House recognizes this and is committed to making a positive impact.

Leading by example, India Sweet House has always strived to minimize its environmental footprint. They prioritize using eco-friendly alternatives like bamboo and paper products whenever possible, actively discouraging the use of plastic in their daily operations.

The “Unbox Sustainability” initiative kicks off on Earth Day, April 22nd, and will continue for the entire year. Customers are encouraged to bring their reusable containers for their favorite sweets, enjoying a discount while making a sustainable choice. This small step collectively contributes to a significant reduction in single-use packaging, fostering a healthier planet for everyone.

Vishwanath and Shwetha, the Founders of India Sweet House said, “At India Sweet House, the sweetness extends from our treats to the world we create. By offering eco-friendly options, we hope to inspire a ripple effect of conscious consumption, one delicious bite at a time. The ‘Unbox Sustainability’ initiative is a simple yet impactful way to reduce waste and promote a mindful approach to consumption.”

Sandeep Ahuja appointed as the Global CEO of Atmosphere Living

Mumbai, 23rd April 2024: Sandeep Ahuja has been elevated to the position of CEO of Atmosphere Living. He was previously the Managing Director, and now in his new role is responsible for operations in India along with Sri Lanka, Dubai, and Maldives. Atmosphere Living is an innovative luxury player that is focused on transforming luxury living with customized end-to-end amenities and indulgences, including coffee lounges, wine cellars, private transport, and bespoke concierge services.

Sandeep has extensive experience in media, hospitality, and retail, having worked with firms such as Tata Housing and Barista Coffee Company, among others. During his stint at Tata Housing, he bought 26 projects totalling USD 3 billion across ten active cities and established businesses in international markets. He also introduced the “Riva” Senior Living project in Bangalore as the head of “New Business Initiatives”.

Salil Panigrahi, Managing Director, Atmosphere Core, said, “Atmosphere Living is an innovative concept that will transform the way luxury real estate is viewed, especially in India and Asian countries. With his expansive experience, business acumen and progressive ideas, we are certain Sandeep will rewrite the rules of luxury in residential real estate under his able leadership.”

Sandeep specializes in business development, strategic planning, retail, sales, and entrepreneurship, and he has an elite Leadership Program in Business Administration and Management from the prestigious University of Michigan. Along with pursuing his professional ambitions and personal hobbies, he believes in living a healthy lifestyle, striking a work-life balance, and maintaining a positive attitude.

“I am very bullish about the untapped potential in India for providing ultra-luxury residences to HNIs and UHNIs. This segment lacks enough avenues within this space and we hope to bridge this gap with Atmosphere Living,” said Sandeep Ahuja, CEO of Atmosphere Living.

CHANGE STARTS HERE initiatives for wellbeing of the community and environment at Ronil Goa – part of JdV by Hyatt

Goa, 23rd April 2024: Ronil Goa the first JdV by Hyatt Hotel in India and Southwest Asia is committed to sustainability across the colleague and guest areas. From bio-degradable guest amenities to large format dispensers in the bathrooms, VRV systems, motion sensor monitored lighting, water recycling to wooden key cards and supporting and working with local communities and vendors – here Sustainability is not a program but a way of life.

“Everything we do at the first JdV by Hyatt property – Ronil Goa is designed around our commitment to World of Care – Hyatt’s global approach to advancing care for the planet, people, and business. At the first JdV by Hyatt hotel in India, we have ensured that we not only embrace sustainability as a way of life but also support local businesses who are committed to sustainability,” said Pratiti Rajpal, General Manager, Ronil Goa – part of JdV by Hyatt

Here are some of the sustainable practices at Ronil Goa-

Energy Efficiency: Energy conservation by using non-CFC equipment for its HVAC systems. Utilizing heat pumps instead of traditional boilers not only reduces carbon emissions but also ensures efficient hot water generation. The integration of solar water heater panels further optimizes energy usage, elevating the resort’s dedication to harnessing renewable resources.

Waste Management: Our boutique resort and the free-spirited team is committed to waste reduction and recycling through its waste segregation practices. By proper segregation of wet and dry waste, we ensure proper disposal and recycling, with a dedicated wet pulverize machine ensuring efficient processing of food waste before disposal.

Waste Water Management: We minimize the water pollution, and we conserve water through the optimized operation of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Recycled water is used in maintaining landscaping across the property and rainwater soak pits help in recharging the groundwater source and help to maintain cleanliness around the property.

Sustainability in the Guest Rooms: From biodegradable guest amenities in rooms, large format toiletries, Hyatt’s Conserve Program to motion sensor controlled lighting and VRV units – we ensure our guests continue to make conscious choices, while on vacay. By partnering with locally loved brands such as Tea Trunk and Hermit Coffee, who pack their products in bio-degradable packaging respectively, we endeavor to not only support local businesses but also promote their efforts towards sustainability.

Sustainability in the Food & Beverage: Our unique Farmhouse breakfast concept helps us reduce food waste while ensuring guests enjoy seasonal and locally inspired dishes served fresh as per their liking. Eco-friendly sugarcane pulp packaging upcycled paper bags, bio-degradable straws, wooden stirrers, and coconut straws are few of the current examples. To reduce the use of plastic water bottles, we serve RO water in all our dining venues – Ronil Bistro, Patrao’s, and The Hub. Also, we have installed water dispensers across our residential-style venues – Ronil Studio, The Loft, and Stay Fit by Hyatt Gym.

More Sustainable Practices: Operating to ensure current and future generations can live healthier and better lives, we have installed electric vehicle chargers on site. Also at our Souvenir Shop – we support local brands and organizations thereby trying to make a difference to the local artisan communities.

Ronil Goa – part of JdV By Hyatt is located on the iconic Calangute Baga Road in North Goa. In its new avatar under the World of Hyatt, this boutique resort is the first five-star hotel on this bustling stretch and is well connected to key tourist attractions as well as upscale shopping and entertainment areas. With 135 rooms with private balconies and countless reasons to celebrate the joy of life, this is the quintessential Goan Susegad destination.

Mumbai Comic Con Wraps Up with a Bang, A Celebration of Pop Culture and More

Mumbai, India – 23rd April 2024 – The city of dreams, Mumbai witnessed an exhilarating weekend of the year for all things pop culture. Comic Con India brought pop culture enthusiasts from across the city for the last of this season’s event. The event served as a haven for cosplay enthusiasts and spectators alike, offering a gateway to a world where fantasy and reality collide. The weekend was filled with interactive activities, games, and an array of merchandise, keeping the spirit of Comic-Con soaring high.

Presented by Maruti Suzuki Arena, powered by Crunchyroll and in association with Android, Mumbai Comic Con 2024 treated every attendee to an exclusive copy of Spiderman-India (No.1 Issue) comic book, in collaboration with Marvel Comics. The event showcased comics in a big way with a slew of upcoming publishing houses and Indian artists like Indusverse, Holy Cow Entertainment, Acid Toad, Garbage Bin, Bullseye Press, Bakarmax, Art of SAVIO, and Abhijeet Kini and many more along with International guests Jason Loo and GUY Delisle graced the event. The event saw immense love pouring in for popular movies, games and comic book characters like Itachi, Luffy, Goku, Deadpool & Wolverine, Spidermans, Batman, Viper (Valorant), Victor (Pubg shooter), Subzero (Mortal Kombat), Franklin (GTA), Xiao, Zhongli (Genshin Impact), Brimstone (Sage) and so much more.

The venue buzzed with excitement as new comic book launches took center stage, including Karejwa by Bakarmax, Monday To Friday by Corporate Comics, Ghosts of South India by Abhijeet Kini, Minnal Murali by Tinkle Comics, and the announcement of Suppandi’s birthday by Google Android. Art Guy Rob conducted a captivating session igniting nostalgia among audiences.

A special panel on Demon Slayer, featuring voice-over artist Natsuki Hanae, stole the spotlight, while the dynamic duo Rohan Joshi and Sahil Shah delivered yet another hilarious session of Binge-O-Clock. Popular rapper MC Altaf set the stage on fire with his rap, and the cast of Lakadbaggha also made an appearance. DJ Kazu and Shahrule kept the crowd grooving with their electrifying beats and rap. The talented comedian Harsh Gujral brought laughter to everyone with his wit.

Speaking about the thrilling weekend celebration, Jatin Varma, Founder, Comic Con India, said, “The excitement and enthusiasm that the celebration brings along with boundless creativity and passion of pop culture enthusiasts at Comic Con, fills me with immeasurable joy. Each edition of Comic Con has been a rewarding journey, and Mumbai, as the final stop, embodies the vibrant spirit of our community. The infectious energy witnessed at our shows creates memories that last a lifetime. I am grateful to our audience for their unwavering support and participation and eagerly anticipate more unforgettable moments in the editions to come.”

MC Altaf shared, “Mumbai Comic Con is very close to my heart as it’s my home turf. Performing here was a memorable experience that I will always cherish.”

Comedian Harsh Gujral said, “This is my first Comic Con experience. I think the energy in the audience was exceptional. I was scared in the beginning to perform in the open, but I was really surprised. People were enjoying the entire event while also paying attention to all the various performances happening and that’s what I loved the most. The vibe and energy of the audience was commendable.”

Comic artist and cartoonist Jason Loo said, “Working with Marvel comics is always a dream. I’m always amazed at every project I do, I get to draw or write this character today like Thor or Captain America; this is awesome, and Mumbai Comic Con has been overwhelming. It has exceeded all my expectations with the high energy and enthusiasm of all the fans. I’ve never been shown this kind of love before in any kind of show. I would definitely like to be back for another Comic Con in India.”

On April 20th-21st, 2024, the event also featured The Arena – a dedicated gaming expo, featuring amazing experiences, tournaments, free play zones as well as the opportunity to meet & greet with leading streamers. Key Event Partners include brands such as CELIO, HDFC, Comedy Central, OnePlus, Android, NYX Cosmetics, McDonald’s & VH1.

AutoVRse Partners with JSW, to Revolutionize Workplace Safety Training with Virtual Reality(VR)

April 22, 2024 – AutoVRse, India’s pioneer provider of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) training solutions for enterprises, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with JSW, a renowned $23 billion conglomerate with diversified interests spanning industries such as Steel, Energy, Cement, Paints, and Infrastructure. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in revolutionizing workplace safety training through the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) technology.

JSW has long been recognized as an industry leader, setting benchmarks with its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and execution of technically complex projects. With a renewed commitment to excellence and choosing AutoVRse, JSW is placing a heightened emphasis on workplace safety this year, recognizing the pivotal role of technology in fostering a safer work environment.

By harnessing the immersive power of VR, they aim to elevate safety training initiatives to unprecedented levels of effectiveness and engagement. These VR-based safety modules, developed in partnership with AutoVRse, will be seamlessly integrated into their existing corporate systems. This integration not only delivers immersive training experiences but also enables JSW to analyze training data comprehensively, facilitating continuous improvement in safety protocols.

With an ambitious goal of training over 50,000 employees by 2025 and extending these innovative solutions across all its business verticals, JSW is poised to set new standards in safety training within the industry. This initiative underscores JSW’s commitment to prioritizing the safety and welfare of its workforce while embracing technological advancements to drive operational excellence.

“We are thrilled to partner with JSW in revolutionizing workplace safety training through the power of Virtual Reality,” said Vishal Ahankari, Business Development Lead at AutoVRse. “Our immersive training solutions have been designed to deliver impactful learning experiences that resonate with employees, driving lasting behavioural change and enhancing safety outcomes.”

As AutoVRse continues to innovate and lead across its diverse portfolio of industries, this partnership with JSW exemplifies its commitment to leveraging technology to address critical business challenges and drive sustainable growth through immersive solutions.

Reliance Nippon Life Insurance launches App Digi Daftar

Mumbai, April 22, 2024 : With an aim to professionalise the work-tooling of financial advisors, Reliance Nippon Life Insurance Company has unveiled its latest digital app: ‘Digi Daftar’ – a wide range mobile app tailored exclusively for financial advisors. This groundbreaking innovation, aptly dubbed “Aapka Apna Digital Office,” promises to revolutionize the very fabric of how sales advisors operate, setting a new benchmark for efficiency, productivity, and success.

In the beta phase of its launch, the app found its appeal in its design keeping minimal tech savviness of a smartphone user at its core. This design approach has helped users self-discover over 90% of the features without any need for assistance or guidance during the pre-launch phase.

A Paradigm Shift in Financial Advisory:
Advisors are often handicapped by disjointed legacy systems in generating Return On Time Invested (ROTI). Further, they are limited by the lack of real-time insights in offering superior service experience and are thus perceived as ‘sellers’ instead of ‘service providers’. Digi Daftar is RNLIC’s endeavour to solve these ROTI and perception challenges of its financial advisors.

Before ‘Digi Daftar,’ financial advisors often grappled with outdated processes and a lack of real-time insights. Now, with ‘Digi Daftar’ advisors wield a powerful tool at their fingertips, empowering them to navigate the complexities of their profession with unprecedented ease and precision.

Key Features Redefining the Game:
• A dynamic glimpse into the performance metricsof an Advisor, such as customer base, policy count, and AUM through Digi Daftar to guide informed decision-making.
• Seamlesslymonitor commission incomesand incentives in real-timewith Digi Daftar, fostering transparency and accountability.
• Employ Digi Daftar’sgoal planner to set and track monthly earnings targets precisely and clearlyfor proactive success planning.
• MonitorMonth-to-Date (MTD) to Year-to-Date(YTD) performance trends and leverage advanced analytics to optimize strategies and maximize incomes.
• Leverage predictive analytics capabilities of theapp to identify and nurture promising leads, boosting efficiency and conversion rates.
• Elevate customer experience bysending personalized greetings on special occasions directly from the app.
• Access to a treasure trove of training materials and product resources such as leaderboard rankings, exclusive clubs and councils, real-time branchactivities updates, and training resources.

Reflecting on the launch, Mr. Ashish Vohra, Executive Director & CEO, expressed his unwaveringbelief in the transformative power of ‘Digi Daftar.’ He remarked, “The launch marks a pivotalmoment in our journey towards empowering our advisors to achieve unparalleled success. With’Digi Daftar,’ we are not merely providing a tool – we are ushering in a new era of empowerment,innovation, and limitless possibilities. In addition to its practical features, ‘Digi Daftar’ embodiesour company’s ethos of innovation and continuous improvement. It represents a significantmilestone in our journey towards leveraging technology to empower our advisors and elevate theirprofessional capabilities.”