Category Archives: Business

Portable Soft-Serve Ice Cream Cart for Indoor Stadiums and Venues

New York, NY, April 02, 2024 –Exergy Energy today announced their recent success in developing a prototype battery-operated mobile soft serve ice cream cart. This effort was accomplished in response to a request by MC VENUE Services Inc. MC VENUE is the leading provider of Mr. Softee, “the very best,” for indoor sports arenas and entertainment venues. MC VENUE helps make the event memorable.

“MC VENUE SERVICES INC. is looking forward to launching this first of its kind sustainable ice cream cart in sports and entertainment venues throughout the country,” says Craig Zoly, Senior Vice President at MC Venue.

The battery-powered ice cream cart represents a fusion of convenience, mobility, and environmental consciousness. Equipped with state-of-the-art battery technology ensuring prolonged usage without compromising on performance, eliminating the need for electricity to power the cart. MC VENUE can now operate their ice cream businesses virtually anywhere, without being tethered to traditional power sources. This allows MC VENUE to take their beloved ice cream directly to the customer allowing the customer to enjoy the event uninterrupted.

PROTEGO Expands Reach with Setpoint Integrated Solutions

Houston, TX, April 02, 2024 — PROTEGO®, a global leader in providing comprehensive safety solutions for industrial process applications, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Setpoint Integrated Solutions, a renowned sales, service, and manufacturing company. Effective April 1, 2024, Setpoint Integrated Solutions will officially represent the PROTEGO® brand across the Texas Gulf Coast, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi markets.

The collaboration with Setpoint Integrated Solutions marks a significant milestone in PROTEGO®’s commitment to providing unparalleled service and support to clients in key regions. Setpoint Integrated Solutions’ extensive expertise, along with its 11 locations, will enhance PROTEGO®’s ability to deliver cutting-edge safety solutions to customers in the designated territories. Additionally, ten of Setpoint’s locations will be qualified Protego Authorized Repair Centers (PARC) covering Texas Gulf Coast, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

“We are thrilled to welcome Setpoint Integrated Solutions to the PROTEGO® family,” said Chris Mason, Chief Executive Officer at PROTEGO®. “Their proven track record and dedication to excellence align perfectly with our mission to safeguard industrial processes and protect lives. Together, we look forward to delivering exceptional value and innovation to customers throughout Eastern Texas Gulf Coast, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi.”

Setpoint Integrated Solutions will offer the full range of PROTEGO® products, including pressure and vacuum relief valves, flame arresters, and tank accessories. With Setpoint Integrated Solutions’ local presence and industry knowledge, customers can expect tailored solutions and responsive support to meet their specific safety requirements.

Mail World Office Veteran-Owned & Operated

Tulsa, OK, April 02, 2024 –Mail World Office, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is excited to announce that they now offer Oklahoma Turnpike Pike Pass services at their store. This new addition is part of the many services provided by Mail World Office to meet the diverse needs of their customers.

In addition to the Oklahoma Turnpike Pike Pass services, Mail World Office encourages customers to take advantage of their private mailbox services. By signing up for a private mailbox, customers can protect their mail and packages from potential theft by porch pirates.

“We are thrilled to offer the convenience of Oklahoma Turnpike Pike Pass services at our store,” said a representative from Mail World Office. “We are committed to providing our customers with a range of services to meet their needs, and we believe that the addition of the Pike Pass is a valuable offering.”

Customers are invited to visit Mail World Office to sign up for the Oklahoma Turnpike Pike Pass and explore the benefits of having a private mailbox.

Nicolock Paving Stones Invests to Expand Manufacturing

Lindenhurst, NY, April 02, 2024 — Nicolock Paving Stones, a leading manufacturer and retailer of premium hardscape supplies, will invest $25 million to construct a state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Concord, North Carolina. The company will also open a new distribution yard in Raleigh, North Carolina. Both facilities will create dozens of new jobs across the two cities.

Nicolock is known for its rich, vibrant color blends of paving stones and retaining walls for a wide variety of outdoor living items, from outdoor kitchens to fire pits. The brand-new facility will utilize exclusive paver-shield™ technology to produce paving stones with surface protection and rich color.

“Our company has entered an exciting time of growth recently expanding across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana,” said Roberto Nicolia, CEO of Nicolock Paving Stones. “Expanding our manufacturing and distribution footprint in North Carolina allows us to bring innovative hardscape solutions to more customers across the state and more jobs to the Concord and Cabarrus County communities. We also pledge to source our materials locally when possible—reducing transportation emissions and supporting local businesses.”

Nicolock expects to open the new distribution yard in May. Construction of the new manufacturing facility will begin later this year.

Central PA Woman-Owned Business Hill Woodworks Plans for Growth

Brogue, PA, April 02, 2024 — Hill Woodworks, a builder of finely crafted commercial cabinetry and fixtures for over 40 years in the Mid-Atlantic region, proudly announces the hiring of new Project Manager Mark Leonard. Mark has over 30 years of experience in the Cabinetry & Fixtures industry, much of that time as Director of Operations for a multi-million-dollar company. Mark has experience in all phases of manufacturing operations and will work with Hill Woodworks owner Chris Foltz to lead the company in meeting their goals for future expansion of company operations. Chris Foltz states, “Mark has the experience and leadership abilities that will help Hill Woodworks to grow into the next phase of our business growth plan. Our entire staff is highly skilled and experienced and are the best in the business at creating and crafting high quality products. There are wonderful opportunities ahead for our company.”

Hill Woodworks, based in southern York County, PA, has been providing precision-crafted custom commercial cabinetry and fixtures to business customers since 1981, and specializes in creative designs for workstations, reception desks, storage cabinets, and a wide variety of custom fixture designs for business applications. Hill Woodworks is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), PA Small Business & PA Small Diverse Business, and works with the top contractors in the region.

8ghtX Enters Real Estate Sales Space

Palm Beach Gardens, FL, April 02, 2024 — 8ght Companies CEO Craig Shawn Williamson today announced the company’s newest innovation of 8ghtX, it’s financial lifestyle management mobile app, entered the residential real estate sales space in 2024.

“8ghtX is not just another payment platform, rather it is high touch fintech for our members, investors, vacation home buyers and now, Realtors,” said Williamson, “enabling centralized, personalized, and simplified control over their finances and the power tool to grow income, savings, and total purchase process from deposit to close, and payment of commissions all in one easy to use mobile app.”

Coming quickly is the addition of the 8ghtX user driven syndication and fractional formation and sales all within the 8ghtX app. These are areas with zero real innovation in 30 years. “We already have fractional vacation resorts lined up to utilize our app.” Adds Mr. Williamson, “This innovation will change the landscape in vacation fractional ownership and group sales for both the seller and buyer processes.”

8ghtX is designed to work for users by delivering an online community of services within the atmosphere of learning, fun, travel, property ownership, giving and now real estate listing sales and earning. The mobile app, developed over 2 years, has seen rapid growth in 2024 with over $24 million in sales in Q1.

From Derek Carlson, Top 100 Real Estate Company CEO and 8ghtX user, “As the owner of a large real estate company in Florida, with a track record of successfully closing over 30,000 properties, I can confidently say that the future of real estate transactions is here, and it’s embodied in the revolutionary 8ghtX app. Gone are the days of antiquated processes and lengthy transaction times.”

Mr. Carlson adds, “With 8ghtX, the entire real estate journey transforms into a seamless and efficient experience. From property selection to contract signing, and even tracking earned commissions, every step is effortlessly integrated into one user-friendly platform.”

Venture Catalysts Spearheads Investments in Plotch.ai, Pioneering India’s ONDC Infrastructure

2nd April 2024: Venture Catalysts, India’s first integrated incubator and the largest early-stage investment firm, today announced that it has led an undisclosed seed funding round worth for Plotch.ai, the country’s largest ONDC rails infrastructure company, playing a critical role in enabling seamless participation in the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). With Venture Catalysts and AC Ventures contributing this investment will fuel Plotch.ai’s continued growth and solidify its position as a leader in facilitating ONDC adoption.

Founded by Manoj and Monica Gupta, the visionary minds behind Craftsvilla.com, India’s largest ethnic marketplace, Plotch.ai is built upon a deep understanding of the e-commerce industry. Their comprehensive suite of software products acts as a one-stop shop for businesses of all sizes, streamlining essential processes like transaction flows, payments, and grievance management. This holistic approach ensures a frictionless experience for both buyers and sellers within the ONDC network.

Several key factors solidify Plotch.ai’s position as a frontrunner in ONDC infrastructure. The company boasts the fastest go-to-market (GTM) strategy, enabling businesses to join the ONDC network in a mere four weeks – a significant reduction from the traditional onboarding time of 9-12 months. Additionally, Plotch.ai offers the largest suite of ONDC-specific products, encompassing e-commerce, insurance, payments, CRM, and more, catering to the diverse needs of all ONDC network participants.

Expressing enthusiasm for the partnership, Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, MD & CEO of Venture Catalysts, said, “We are incredibly excited to join forces with Plotch.ai as they spearhead the transformation of e-commerce in India. Their innovative solutions and deep understanding of the ONDC landscape position them perfectly to unlock the network’s immense potential. Venture Catalysts is confident that Plotch.ai will play a pivotal role in democratizing digital commerce for millions of businesses and consumers across the nation.”

Manoj Gupta, CEO, of Plotch.ai, echoed a similar sentiment, saying, “This investment serves as a significant validation of our vision for ONDC. We are steadfastly committed to empowering businesses and fostering a thriving e-commerce ecosystem that is inclusive and accessible to all. With Venture Catalysts’ invaluable support, we will accelerate product development, expand our customer base, and play a leading role in building a truly inclusive digital marketplace for India.”

“Technology service providers (TSPs) are catalyzing the growth of ONDC network. Plotch.ai has played a critical role in some of the key launches in the network. We hope to see a lot more enablers like Plotch.ai in ONDC network”, said T Koshy, CEO and MD of ONDC.

Plotch.ai’s impressive track record speaks volumes about its impact. The company currently processes close to 1 million transactions every month, experiencing a remarkable 100% month-on-month growth. They have fostered a strong client base that includes leading names like Snapdeal, Meesho, Paytm, Marico, and Bluestar, highlighting their industry credibility. Furthermore, Plotch.ai’s strategic partnership with Google to integrate AI into the ONDC network is a pioneering move that will promote local language adoption and enhance accessibility for rural India. This commitment to innovation has been recognized by ONDC itself, awarding Plotch.ai the prestigious “Best Tech Company” distinction.

With a strategic roadmap focused on achieving 10 million transactions per month within the next 12 months and reaching $100 million in revenue by the end of the decade, Plotch.ai is poised for exponential growth and innovation in the years to come. The funding infusion, led by Venture Catalysts, will primarily be allocated towards product development (70%), customer growth (20%), and client acquisition (10%), solidifying Plotch.ai’s position as a frontrunner in India’s digital commerce revolution.

ClearTax unveils a revolutionary campaign to redefine the future of taxation; Needs taxpayers to just SMILE

India,2nd April 2024 No more stress and frowning while filing your tax returns! ClearTax, India’s leading online tax filing platform has come up with an innovative marketing campaign to showcase the future of tax filing in India. It unveils a groundbreaking technology, the Smile app, ahead of the 2024 ITR filing season to redefine the tax filing experience for millions of taxpayers across the country.

But why unveil such a revolutionary campaign on April Fool’s Day? ClearTax believes that while today it may seem like an April Fool’s campaign, it represents what the platform aspires for the future of taxation. ClearTax will continue to pursue this journey of constant striving and improvement until this progressive solution becomes a reality.

As part of the marketing campaign, the online tax filing platform has released a video that features senior folks from various teams at ClearTax talking about their experience and challenges while making the revolutionary product. They claim that with the help of ClearTax’s advanced AI technology, the entire process of ITR filing will be streamlined. The users are only required to smile and the app will analyze their facial features and collect essential financial data. By granting temporary access to biometric data, they can seamlessly link their PAN details for swift and effortless tax filing.

The video further discloses that the product is already operational, with hundreds of taxpayers actively utilizing it. Meticulously crafted after rigorous research and in-depth collaboration with over 5,000 customers and India’s top 100 brokers, the ClearTax team takes immense pride in its creation. Throughout the video, the enthusiasm and dedication of the ClearTax team shine through. However, the tone of the video takes an unexpected and humorous twist towards the conclusion.

Avinash Polepally, Senior Director- Category, ClearTax remarked, “In today’s changing world, technology is reshaping everything, even tax filing. With this campaign, we want to show our commitment to making tax filing easier and faster for you. While the notion of filing taxes with a smile may seem unconventional, we believe in making the process better for everyone. Through this innovation and a steadfast dedication to our customers, we aim to make tax filing seamless, stress-free, and even enjoyable. The Smile app represents not just a product, but a bold step towards realizing this vision. While some may view it as an April Fool’s campaign, we see it as a glimpse into the future of tax filing—one where technology empowers individuals and transforms experiences. We are confident that this progressive solution will soon become a reality, shaping the landscape of tax filing for years to come.”

So, this April Fool’s Day, join ClearTax in rewriting the narrative of tax filing, one smile at a time. With breakthrough features and a commitment to excellence, the platform is all set to redefine the future of tax filing.

Tata International Limited Appoints Mr. Rajeev Singhal as Managing Director

Mumbai, 2nd April 2024: Tata International Limited, the global trading and distribution arm of the Tata Group has appointed Rajeev Singhal as its Managing Director. He will take over the new role on April 1st, 2024, from Anand Sen, who superannuated on 31st March 2024. Before this, Mr. Singhal was Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Tata International.

Noel N. Tata, Chairman, Tata International said, “I am pleased to welcome Mr Rajeev Singhal as the Managing Director. We are confident that under his leadership, Tata International will scale to greater heights into its next phase of growth.”

 

Rajeev Singhal, Managing Director, Tata International Limited said, “I am honored to take on the role of Managing Director at Tata International Limited. With the support of the dedicated Tata International team, I am confident that we will continue to drive value for our stakeholders.”

Mr. Singhal brings over 36 years of experience to his new position, having transitioned from Tata Steel. At Tata Steel he held various positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in his most recent role as Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Flat Products.

TiE Hyderabad Announces the Launch of 5th Edition of TiE Women 2024: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Globally

Hyderabad, 2nd April 2024 ….TiE Hyderabad announces the launch of the 5th edition of TiE Women 2024, a global platform dedicated to creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs to access international mentors, investors, and funding opportunities.

It was launched on Monday in a brief function held in Gachibowli

Applications for TiE Women 2024 are now open. To qualify, startups must have an active women founder or co-founder holding a minimum of 33%, be above the idea stage, and not more than 7 years old. The application is free of cost.

TiE Women 2024 is a flagship program of TiE Hyderabad. It works in collaboration with 60 other chapters worldwide, aimed at embracing, engaging, and empowering women’s entrepreneurship through investor connects, mentoring, networking, EDP sessions, and various other benefits. As part of this initiative, each chapter selects one woman entrepreneur to participate in a Global Pitch Competition. This year, the Global Pitch Competition is scheduled to take place in Bangalore at the TiE Global Summit in December 2024.

“TiE Women program marks a significant milestone in our journey of empowering women founders,” said Ms. Neetika Maheshwari, CEO of Accelero Corporation and Chapter Lead for the program. “We are committed to creating impactful outcomes for women entrepreneurs by providing them with access to valuable resources, mentorship, and investment opportunities.”

This year’s edition introduces four unique benefits:

1. Shark Tank Style Funding Opportunity: Venture capitalists and other funds have committed to funding startups that satisfy the laid-out criteria. TiE Chapters will select investable startups at their level, and recommendations will be forwarded to the global investor committee.

2. International Mentoring Opportunities: Participants will have the chance to receive feedback on their products, usability, market access, scalability, and more from international mentors, opening doors to valuable insights and guidance.

3. TiE Global Summit Finale Sponsorship: All chapter winners will be sponsored to participate in the TGS Finale happening in December 2024 in Bangalore. This presents an excellent opportunity to showcase talent to a global audience and network with industry leaders. Selected startups will also have the chance to participate in the TGS Funding Marathon.

4. Stanford Seed Spark Program Sponsorship: The top three startups will receive sponsorship from the Stanford Seed Spark Program.

At the Chapter level, TiE Hyderabad offers a multitude of opportunities for the applicants and finalists. While the selected women will receive various sponsorships for programs and events in the final stages of the competition, all applicants will receive complimentary access to the TiE Bootcamp, an Entrepreneurship Development Program consisting of exclusively curated, intensive online/offline mentoring sessions. Following the Bootcamp, top applicants will be filtered for the Regional finalists, each paired with a Charter Member mentor for personalized one-on-one mentoring.