Category Archives: News

Mother Dairy Signs Up as official ‘Dairy Partner’ For Pro Kabaddi League 2024

Mumbai, October 16, 2024: Mother Dairy, India’s leading milk and milk products major, has today announced its official association as the ‘Dairy Partner’ for the upcoming 2024 season of the prestigious Pro Kabaddi League. As part of this collaboration, Mother Dairy will be actively involved throughout the season, engaging with fans and consumers through various initiatives and promotional activities designed to enhance the excitement surrounding the sport.

Speaking on the association Mr. Manish Bandlish, Managing Director, Mother Dairy, said, “We are excited to be part of Kabaddi, a sport that is deeply embedded in India’s culture and heritage. This collaboration is a perfect fit for our brand, offering us a unique opportunity to engage with our consumers and the passionate Kabaddi community across the country. By bringing together the power of dairy nutrition and the dynamic energy of Kabaddi, Mother Dairy aspires to promote the growth of the sport while fostering a culture of health and wellness nationwide.”

Mother Dairy, as the official ‘Dairy Partner’ for the upcoming Pro Kabaddi League season will maintain a significant presence of brand and product portfolio at match venues and on official broadcast channels, while also engaging consumers across various platforms, including digital media.

Mr. Bandlish further added, “Mother Dairy has found a strong synergy with sports and its enthusiastic community, as seen in our previous association with cricket. With this association, we aim to further expand our reach into focus markets and households of untapped or potential consumers, enhancing our brand’s top-of-mind recall.”

“Today, the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has firmly established itself as India’s second most-watched sporting event, commanding an impressive 70% of the IPL’s audience. This rapid growth is a testament to the league’s fierce competitiveness, unyielding sportsmanship, and its broader impact on promoting physical well-being. We are thrilled to welcome Mother Dairy as a key sponsor, perfectly aligned with their mission to champion good health and vitality. This collaboration marks a significant step forward for both brands, and we look forward to a strong and fruitful association,” said Ajit Varghese, Head of Network Ad Sales, Disney Star.

The 2024 Season will feature a total of 12 teams competing for this year’s title. The league is scheduled to kickstart from October 18, 2024, with series of matches in Hyderabad, followed by Noida and Pune. Since its inception, the league has set new standards with packed venues and record viewership, becoming one of the most popular leagues in the country.

Tablesprint Secures Dollar1M to Enable Affordable AI-Powered App Development for Enterprises

Bengaluru 16th October 2024: Tablesprint, an AI-powered no-code app builder, has raised around USD 1 million funding round led by a group of prominent angel investors and syndicates including Ankit Bhati (Co-Founder, Ola), Ajeet Khurana (Founder, Reflexical), Sunil Sharma (CEO, Coingape), BlueLotus Ventures, TDV Partners, DGC Ventures, and Abhijeet Bhandari (Advisor-startups).

This funding will enhance Tablesprint‘s offerings, helping the company strengthen its team and drive product development, furthering its mission to empower enterprises with no-code, future-ready apps at a fraction of the cost and time typically associated with traditional app development.

Tablesprint offers an AI-first Saas platform that enables companies to build intuitive apps and playbooks across business verticals. The no-code platform offers customizable building blocks like AI Write/Image, Forms, Workflows, Kanban, and Charts, which can be tailored to specific business processes like Sales, Orders, Purchases, HR, and more.

Companies have the flexibility to start with simple use cases—such as surveys, forms, payments, notifications, product catalogs, employee onboarding, or HR document storage—and scale up to full business workflows like managing end-to-end sales processes. Tablesprint also provides pre-built playbooks, such as ‘Hire to Retire,’ ‘Order to Cash,’ and ‘Procure to Pay,’ which have pre-built modules for the complete business workflows.

For example, the ‘Hire to Retire’ playbook has pre-built app functionalities for the entire employee lifecycle, including document management, recruitment, onboarding, leave and timesheet tracking, office shift scheduling, and exit procedures. Companies have the flexibility to use these pre-built playbooks or create their own to meet evolving needs. This approach allows enterprises to adapt and improve their systems over time, ensuring operational efficiency and scalability.

Tablesprint fills a critical gap in the enterprise software market by tackling the inefficiencies of traditional Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, which often operate in silos. These legacy systems frequently present challenges with usability and complexity, leading to low adoption rates. According to Gartner, only 35-40% of ERP and CRM user licenses are typically utilized, with implementation success rates below 60%.

“We are building an AI-powered platform that helps enterprises go live in minutes, not months. By delivering a consumer app-like experience for enterprise use cases, we enable simple workflows to scale into complex, enterprise-grade systems, allowing businesses to adapt and grow seamlessly.” said Abhijeet Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of Tablesprint. He has previously co-founded RainCan, a B2C subscription startup that was acquired by BigBasket and rebranded as BBdaily.

Along with his former BigBasket colleague Chirag Jadhav, the duo started Tablesprint in early 2024 to address the growing challenges of enterprises in HR, sales, and operations. Abhijeet’s prior experience at Oracle Development and Enterprise Application Consulting provided him with deep expertise in supply chain management, which has been instrumental in creating Tablesprint’s intuitive playbooks.”Creating a truly multi-tenant system that resonates with both developers and business stakeholders is a significant challenge. We are excited with our progress so far and look forward to tackling more challenges ahead on this journey,” said Chirag Jadhav, Co-Founder and CTO of Tablesprint.

Tablesprint’s clients include large enterprises like Flipkart and startups in the wealth management space such as Elever. The platform is also running pilot programs with medium and large global enterprises across industries such as manufacturing, distribution, and investment management.

“We are excited to back Abhijeet Kumar and the Tablesprint team, who have proven their ability to build, iterate, and execute at scale. At BlueLotus Ventures, we support gritty founders who are building high potential companies.We see enormous opportunities for companies enabling SMBs in a thoughtful way. This fundraise marks the first milestone in creating what we believe will be an exceptional global product company from India”, said Uday Arya, Co-founder and Partner at BlueLotus Ventures.

Currently, Tablesprint is looking to onboard creators, influencers & partners who can hand hold clients to enhance user experience and expand its reach in the no-code app development market.

Fortis Gurugram Launches Dedicated Geriatric Clinic to Promote Healthy Aging and Specialized Elderly Care

Gurugram, 16 October 2024: To address the health needs of the elderly and vulnerable population and promote healthy aging, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram has launched a dedicated Geriatric Clinic for individuals over 60 years of age. The clinic offers comprehensive care for a range of age-related ailments, along with preventive services such as elderly vaccinations, bone health screenings, and cancer screenings. The clinic operates from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm.

The elderly patients can consult doctors at the clinic for a wide range of health concerns such as constipation, urinary incontinence, frailty, sarcopenia, mobility, nutrition, vision and hearing impairment, rehabilitation services. Outpatient care is also available for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, thyroid problems, joint pains, vertigo, dizziness and fatigue. Additionally, the clinic provides emergency and acute care services to the elderly requiring admission for various infections, altered mental status and other medical ailments requiring admission to the ward or ICU care.

Dr Satish Koul, Senior Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram said, “Geriatrics clinic is the need of the hour with more than 10% of India’s population above 60 years of age, the numbers are expected to increase by 41% every decade. Keeping in mind the ever-increasing numbers, need for special care of the elderly and the unique challenges they face with the increasing age; we have embarked upon this journey of Geriatric Clinic as a new pillar in healthcare”

Dr Rahul Bhargava, Principal Director & Chief-Haematology, Haemato Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram said, “It is imperative to ensure that our elderly population has access to quality care to live healthy, dignified and fulfilling lives. We are pleased to launch a Dedicated Geriatric Clinic alongwith a Dedicated Helpline Number. Currently, there is a dire shortage of geriatricians, and Fortis is one of the first hospitals to identify the need for a specialist clinic to cater to the needs of this growing population.”

Yash Rawat, Facility Director, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram said, “Ensuring that our elderly population has access to the quality care and support they deserve, the launch of the new geriatric program, is a crucial and a timely initiative. This clinic is specifically designed to address the unique needs of older adults, providing comprehensive management of their health conditions and empowering them to lead healthier, more vibrant lives.”

Col R K Sharma, President, Federation of Senior Citizens Welfare Forums, Gurugram said “Elderly and ageing populations should be viewed as assets rather than liabilities. This is a great initiative and we are thankful to Fortis Hospital for coming up with this clinic. Geriatric clinics are essential for providing specialized care to the growing elderly population. These clinics offer comprehensive healthcare services tailored to the unique needs of older adults, addressing both physical and mental health concerns. By providing regular check-ups, screenings, and specialized treatments, geriatric clinics can help improve the quality of life for the elderly. Additionally, this clinic provides social support and counseling, helping to address the emotional and psychological needs of older individuals and their families.”

Freudenberg Expands Operations with New Manufacturing Plant in Morinda, Punjab

Morinda, Punjab – 15th October 2024: Germany-based global technology conglomerate, Freudenberg Group, has officially inaugurated two advanced manufacturing facilities in Morinda, covering a total built-up area of 40,700 sq. m. These state-of-the-art plants are operated by Freudenberg-NOK India Pvt. Ltd. (FNI) and Vibracoustic India. The strategic move consolidates the company’s operations from its existing plants in Basma and Mohali, aimed at enhancing production efficiency and supporting Freudenberg’s long-term growth plans in India.

Freudenberg’s investment of over €42 million in the Morinda facility marks the company’s largest financial commitment in India to date. The new plants are equipped to serve both domestic and international markets, reinforcing Freudenberg’s dedication to India’s “Make in India” initiative. The facilities will cater to key sectors such as automotive and industrial manufacturing, ensuring the company remains competitive by optimizing material flows and leveraging modernized equipment.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Mohsen Sohi, CEO of Freudenberg Group remarked, “Our investment in the new facilities in Morinda reflects Freudenberg’s strong commitment to the Indian market and the ‘Make in India’ vision. This expansion not only aligns with our global growth strategy but also boosts our ability to serve customers with greater efficiency, innovation, and quality. As we celebrate 175 years of Freudenberg’s legacy of excellence, we are proud to further strengthen our presence in India.”

Sustainability is a core focus of the new facilities. Energy-efficient machinery and eco-friendly practices, such as photovoltaic cells that supply 15% of the plant’s energy needs and water-recharging stations, have been incorporated to reduce the environmental footprint.

Mr. Sivasailam. G, Managing Director at Freudenberg Performance Materials India and Director & CEO of Freudenberg Regional Corporate Center India, added, “The inauguration of our new manufacturing plants in Morinda showcases our long-term commitment to sustainable growth in India. By bringing our operations together in this advanced facility, we aim to create new job opportunities and nurture local talent. This investment helps us better serve our customers across different industries, offering high-quality products and solutions made in India for both domestic and international markets.”

Freudenberg’s expansion in Morinda is set to generate significant job opportunities, with plans to grow the local workforce by 20%, adding approximately 200 new positions. The site will also serve as a global engineering hub, attracting top talent from regional universities, particularly around Chandigarh.

Freudenberg Group is celebrating 175 years of success, with 52,000 employees across about 60 countries and nearly €12 billion in sales, overcoming various crises, wars, and economic challenges. The company operates in around 40 different market segments. Over the past 175 years, Freudenberg has built a legacy of industrial growth, guided by its values and responsible practices.

Capital-A Elevates Aswani Chaitanya to Partner Amid Significant Growth Phase

Bengaluru, 16th October 2024: Capital-A, a Venture Capital fund for seed to early-stage start-ups, announced the elevation of its VP of Investments, Aswani Chaitanya, to the role of Partner. This strategic move is part of the firm’s broader efforts to expand its influence across high-potential sectors such as manufacturing, deeptech, climate, and fintech.

As Partner, Aswani will work closely with Ankit Kedia, Capital-A’s founder, to develop investment strategies, lead fundraising initiatives, and enhance portfolio management. His significant contributions to the success of Capital-A’s Fund I, which supported high-impact start-ups like Chargeup, Tan90, Bambrew, Jiraaf, and Leumas, demonstrate his extensive expertise and proven track record in driving venture success.

In 2024, Capital-A launched Fund II with a targeted corpus of INR 400 crore, planning to invest in 17-20 innovative companies. The fund will provide initial investments of $750K to $1 million, with a total commitment of up to $3 million per start-up. This initiative reflects Capital-A’s commitment to fostering sustainable innovation and supporting enterprises that are set to redefine their industries.

Ankit Kedia, Founder and Lead Investor of Capital-A, commented, “With Fund II deploying capital, Aswani’s promotion strengthens Capital-A’s strategic growth. His expertise aligns with our focus on high-impact sectors, ensuring financial success while driving transformative change and creating lasting value for society and the environment.”

Aswani Chaitanya, newly appointed Partner at Capital-A, stated: “I am excited to assume this role at Capital-A. My focus will be on driving value for our portfolio companies as they scale, and I look forward to collaborating with the team to advance the success of both Capital-A and the innovative start-ups we support.”

Aswani brings over 15 years of corporate experience to his new role, having held positions at esteemed organisations including Wipro, Deutsche Bank, and Goldman Sachs. His entrepreneurial journey began with a D2C brand, Timios, a healthy snack brand for children, which he scaled and divested to FirstCry in 2021 before transitioning to Capital-A.

Eaton and SIAEC announce key milestones for joint venture

INDIA, 16 October 2024 – Intelligent power management company Eaton and SIA Engineering Company Limited (SIAEC) unveiled the logo for their joint venture, Eaton Aerospace Component Services Asia Sdn. Bhd. (EAS), at MRO Asia-Pacific today. Chin Yau Seng, chief executive officer of SIAEC, and Desmond Goh, managing director, Asia-Pacific, for Eaton’s Aerospace Group, representatives from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), as well as industry partners and stakeholders, attended the event to commemorate the milestone.

The new logo represents the branding of the joint venture as “Eaton Aero Services”, and signifies the partnership of two industry leaders dedicated to providing reliable, customer-focused solutions to clients in the Asia-Pacific region.

This logo unveiling follows the groundbreaking of EAS’s new facility in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, on 23 September 2024.

EAS will specialize in inspecting, testing, repairing, maintaining, modifying and overhauling Eaton-manufactured aircraft components installed on airframe and engine fuel systems and hydraulics systems.

EAS is scheduled to be fully operational within the next 18 months and is expected to significantly contribute to the local economy by fostering industry growth and strengthening the region’s position as a hub for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.

Datuk Sikh Shamsul, chief executive officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), applauded this partnership as an important landmark for Malaysia’s aerospace industry.

“The unveiling of Eaton Aero Services’ logo and the groundbreaking of its new facility in Shah Alam marks a major milestone in our nation’s aerospace development,” he said. “This joint venture between Eaton and SIAEC is a ringing endorsement of Malaysia’s aerospace ecosystem, skilled workforce, and business-friendly environment. It is a testament to the Malaysia Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2030’s strategic objectives and a vote of confidence in our country’s ability to attract foreign investment.”

“Our joint venture with SIAEC will offer best-in-class MRO services with the highest standards in quality and efficiency, and local support, to customers in Asia-Pacific region,” said Desmond Goh, managing director, Asia-Pacific, for Eaton’s Aerospace Group. “This marks the start of a new journey for both companies, joining hands to expand the MRO services to customers in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Dr. Bernd Riggers, senior vice president, Component Services, SIAEC said, “The quick progress made so far in this joint venture is a testament to our mutual commitment to exceed our customers’ expectations with top-quality services and efficiency. This collaboration marks a crucial advancement in expanding our expertise in aviation component repairs, enhancing our service portfolio and driving regional growth.”

The foregoing events are not expected to have a material impact on the net tangible assets per share or the earnings per share of the SIAEC Group for the financial year ending 31 March 2025. None of the directors and controlling shareholders of SIAEC have any interest, direct or indirect, in the foregoing events other than through their shareholdings (if any) in SIAEC.

LalitArpan Festival 2024 Delights with Stunning Performances at Stein Auditorium, New Delhi

The LalitArpan Festival, the brainchild of Kathak maestro Padmashri Guru Shovana Narayan, Dr. Jyotsna Suri, and the late Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan, one of the most eminent tabla players, was envisaged in 2002. It sowed the seeds to provide a platform to young artistes as well as to foster confidence and make a room in the realm of performing arts by making them participate along with reputed senior artistes, which we have strived to do to the best of their ability. Alongside, we envisioned to present the rasikas, various dimensions of the rich tapestry of classical performing arts through solo and group presentations, dance dramas and ensembles, and so on, to the aficionados. Organized by the dance institution Asavari and its volunteers, this festival has, till date, presented over 100 torchbearers of Indian classical performing arts.

Every year, the festival comes up with new themes. This year, the Lalit Arpan Festival 2024 exhibited a grand spectacle of performances pulsating with emotions and lively rhythms. The eminent guests who graced the event included Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, Indian Artist Shruti Gupta Chandra, Artist Naresh Kapuria, Artist Kavita Dixit, Designer Leena Singh, Abha Dalmia, Neelam Pratap Rudy, Bharatnatyam Dancer Rama Vaidyanathan, Former Austrian Ambassador Dr. Herbert Traxl, Mr. Suneet Tandon, Writer Prayag Shukla, & Ranjana Narayan. Through solo and trio creative presentations, renowned artists and torchbearers of their respective traditions put their minds and souls to the concept to deliver an unforgettable performance on stage:

October 14, 2024:

“Stree Spandan: Why I did what I did” by Shovana Narayan (Kathak), Gopika Varma (Mohiniyattam), and Sharon Lowen (Odissi)

“Stree Spandan,” a powerful abhinaya-based production that explores the emotional upheavals of three principled Mahabharata women characters, Kunti, Draupadi, and Gandhari, portrayed by Shovana Narayan, Gopika Varma, and Sharon Lowen, respectively. “On seeing the dead bodies of their loved ones on the battlefield, each one justifies their actions to themselves…WOULD they have acted differently? Were they winners or losers? Ultimately, the abhinaya reflects unchanging experiences and circumstances surrounding women through the ages and their emotions and emotional responses!”

October 15, 2024:

“Sapaad Pancha”: An Asavari Group Presentation by Pallavi Lohani, Komal Biswal, Suparna Singh, Mahima Satsangi, Anil Kumar, Ashish Kathak, Vishal Chouhan, and Mayank Gangani
Kathak recital by Praveen Parihar
Bharatanatyam recital by Rama Vaidyanathan

The visual extravaganza witnessed the display of graceful facial expressions, exquisite hand gestures, and energetic rhythmic patterns!

Es Magico Launches Mumbai’s First AI Studio, Empowering Startups with Advanced AI Solutions

Mumbai, 16th October: Es Magico, a leader in AI-powered products, has launched Mumbai’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) studio, marking a major milestone in the city’s tech and entrepreneurial landscape. The studio is designed to accelerate innovation, offering a platform for startup founders developing AI-powered products, as well as enterprises seeking bespoke AI and SaaS solutions to drive business transformation.

Es Magico’s mission is to empower both young innovators and established enterprises to leverage AI in creating scalable products that address business challenges while making a positive societal impact.

“AI has become essential for both modern products and legacy systems, yet access to the technology and the necessary expertise remains limited. Es Magico aims to bridge this gap by helping enterprises adopt and implement AI at pact and at scale.” said Shreyas Sanghvi, co-founder of Es Magico. “Our venture studio is designed to incubate AI startup ideas and rapidly launch MVPs for market proof of concept, allowing founders to move forward without the need to build an in-house team.” he added.

The launch event featured notable figures such as former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Dr. Nilay Yajnik, Professor at Reliance Foundation Jio Institute, and Naman Pugalia, Founder of Red Stub Club. These leaders emphasized the growing importance of AI and pledged support for future collaborations. Shri Chavan highlighted AI’s role in unlocking growth for India by encouraging youth to embrace AI technologies. “India’s edge on the global stage depends on our ability to upskill and harness AI for progress” he said. Tushar Arun Gandhi, author and great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, emphasized the ethical implications of AI and its potential to contribute to social reform, advocating for a more equitable society.

Milind Deora, Member of Rajya Sabha sent his wishes and scheduled his visit to the AI Studio to discuss how Mumbai can lead the AI wave in India. The event attracted over 100 industry leaders, including CXOs, Founders, AI Engineers, and Executives from Tata Digital, BookMyShow, IndusInd Bank, and PeekUp (Philippines), positioning the studio as a collaborative AI hub across multiple sectors.

Es Magico showcased several AI-driven SaaS products, including an AI Interviewer to streamline recruitment, a Gamification and Loyalty platform for customer engagement, and an

Multilingual voice first AI Support platform to enhance customer service. These products demonstrate Es Magico’s commitment to offering scalable AI solutions for impact.

Vedatya to Host Muqabla 2024, A Premier Talent Showcase

16th October 2024,New Delhi– Vedatya is set to host Muqabla 2024, an exciting competition designed to offer school students a platform to showcase their talents in hospitality, culinary arts, business, and design. Taking place on October 15, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Vedatya’s sprawling campus in Sohna, Gurugram, the event promises to be a day of creativity, innovation, and networking for the young professionals of tomorrow.

Students from renowned institutions, including The Shri Ram School, DAV Public School, Euro International School, Heritage Xperiential Learning School, K.R. Mangalam World School, and many others, will compete in a series of challenging and engaging competitions.

Muqabla 2024 offers a variety of creative competitions. Participants can showcase their culinary skills in the Budding Chef Competition by preparing traditional Indian dishes. The “Joy of Draping” competition focuses on innovative ways to adorn the body using uncut cloth. In the “Ad-Mad Show,” students create humorous and conceptual advertisements for different products and services. Finally, the “Be a ‘Change Maker‘” competition challenges participants to produce engaging reels that capture service moments or Muqabla-related content.

The event not only allows students to demonstrate their skills but also provides valuable networking opportunities with industry professionals. In addition to the competitions, attendees will enjoy a Hi-Tea and musical soirée, offering a perfect platform for participants to connect with potential employers and expand their career opportunities.

Prof. Sandeep Munjal shares, “Vedatya is known for its commitment to nurturing creative talent, and we believe this annual event will be a great opportunity for students from different schools to come together, compete, and share experiences! We look forward to welcoming students, educators, and professionals to this dynamic event that highlights the future leaders of the hospitality, business, and creative industries.”

Stuti Vinkle Reveals she left MBA for her lead role in Saajha Sindoor: “I chose to follow my heart…..”

Acting is a field that many people think about and choose well in advance, while for some, it just becomes a path they end up following. One such story is that of Stuti Vinkle, who plays the character Phooli in the Sun Neo show Saajha Sindoor. Recently, Stuti shared her journey, explaining how she decided to leave her MBA course to pursue her passion for acting in this show.

In my family, everyone is a lawyer, and I initially planned to pursue law too. However, after my father changed my school in 9th grade, I discovered my passion for acting. Before that, I didn’t know much about theater, but I was an enthusiastic kid who wanted to try everything—sports, dance, and any activities happening around me. When I found out there was a theater play at my new school, I was eager to participate. At first, I wasn’t selected because only 16 students were chosen, and I was disappointed since I really wanted to be part of it, even though I had no acting experience. Luckily, they decided to take one extra student, and I was the 17th chosen. Once I performed, I loved it and realized that acting was what I wanted to do.

After that, I spoke to my family about my passion for acting, and many things started happening that drew me further into the world of acting. I had also enrolled in an MBA program, but I decided to drop out after I got a lead role in Sun Neo’s Saajha Sindoor. It was a tough decision, as I had cleared the CAT entrance exam with flying colours. However, I chose to follow my heart and focus on acting instead. With the kind of love and support I am receiving as Phooli, I and my family are very happy with the decision.

Stuti Vinkle stars as Phooli in Saajha Sindoor, where her captivating on-screen chemistry with Sahil Uppal, who plays Gagan, has won over audiences. The show chronicles the marital journey of Phooli and Gagan, while Saroj, portrayed by Sangita Ghosh, plots to create discord between them. Saajha Sindoor airs on Sun Neo every Monday to Saturday at 8:00 PM.