Arlieta I. Baldwin Chosen for Distinction Award for Fall 2023 by P.O.W.E.R.

Houston, TX, August 23, 2023 — Arlieta I. Baldwin of Houston, Texas was selected for P.O.W.E.R.’s Distinction Award for fall 2023 for her outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of accounting. A distinguished member of P.O.W.E.R., Baldwin has received various other honors from the organization including Woman of the Month for May and June of 2023.

About Arlieta I. Baldwin
Arlieta I. Baldwin is the owner of A3J Services, an accounting firm located in Houston, Texas. Her company specializes in accounting and payroll services for small to large businesses. In her role, Baldwin performs services such as payroll, year-end tax reports, and monthly and quarterly reporting. With over 10 years of working experience in various industries including aviation, manufacturing, oil & gas, and legal, Baldwin has a passion for helping and training others, solving complex problems, and building relationships.

Baldwin earned her M.B.A. in Global Management at the University of Phoenix in 2004.

Roland A. Gibson Honored as a Professional of the Year for 2023 by Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide

Littleton, MA, August 23, 2023 — Roland A. Gibson of Littleton, Massachusetts has been recognized as a Professional of the Year for 2023 by Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide Edition for his outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of Education.

About Roland A. Gibson
With over 50 years’ experience, elementary school through graduate school, Roland Gibson is now an educational consultant responsible for facilitating workshops with teachers, administrators, students, parents, governing and nonprofit boards. He specializes in problem solving, conflict resolutions, and improved outcomes. He also provides coaching.

Gibson began his career as a teacher at The Bromfield School, a public school in Harvard, MA in 1965, and taught social studies there until 1969. He then went on to serve at the Cambridge School of Weston (CSW), a progressive independent school, as one of the school’s first African-American faculty members and administrators.

Gibson challenged traditional views of identity, and approaches to education, which profoundly impact student achievement. He strongly believes that each educator has a role to play in improving the education process for all students, and creating change in society. As a result of his work to improve outcomes for all students and facilitating change, Gibson has received numerous awards.

A civil rights activist, Roland says that he chose to work at a predominantly white suburban school district in 1965 because he “wanted young people to know there was life beyond their ‘suburban bubble’ and he believed he had experiences and perspectives that would enhance their world view.”

Roland grew up in Cambridge, MA and received his B.A. in Liberal Arts from Eastern Nazarene College, where he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. He is a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center and the N.A.A.C.P.

In his spare time, Roland enjoys family activities, traveling, and gardening.

Esports Trade Association Celebrates Visionaries and Innovators During EsportsNext 2023 Awards Luncheon

Chicago, IL, August 23, 2023–This year’s event was elevated by the generous support of Coca-Cola as the title sponsor, marking a significant collaboration that contributed to the event’s success.

Check out our 2023 State of the U.S. Industry Report by Leger, exclusive to ESTA members. Not a member? Join the Esports Trade Association today.

EsportsNext 2024 is proudly sponsored by Coca-Cola, reaffirming their commitment to the gaming and esports community. Their involvement underscored the company’s dedication to fostering growth, innovation, and engagement within the industry.

“We are thrilled to have Coca-Cola as the title sponsor for EsportsNext 2023. Their support has greatly enhanced the conference experience, and we are excited to collaborate with a company that shares our vision for the future of gaming and esports.” – Lindsay Poss, EsportsNext 2023 Event Chair

Looking ahead to EsportsNext 2024, the event is proud to announce Rachel Chahal, Director of Amusement and Entertainment Partnerships at Coca-Cola, as the Event Chair for the upcoming year. With a wealth of experience and a passion for fostering innovation and collaboration, Rachel Chahal will bring her insights and leadership to shape the conference’s agenda and programming. Additionally, Rachel will be spearheading our Leadership Certification Program ESTA chapter leaders.

Interested in the ESTA leadership program? Fill out the interest form.

“I am honored to serve as the Event Chair for EsportsNext 2024,” said Rachel Chahal. “The gaming and esports industry is dynamic and ever-evolving, and I look forward to contributing to an event that brings together thought leaders, professionals, and enthusiasts to drive positive change and growth.”

The Esports Trade Association 2023 extends its gratitude to all EsportsNext 2023 sponsors, partners, speakers, exhibitors, and attendees for their participation and contributions to the success of the event.

SanchiConnect’s PreSeed Accelerator announces Preseed Funding and Market Access Support to 6 Green Mobility Innovation

New Delhi 23rd August 2023 – SanchiConnect, a community focused on deep-tech start-ups, investors, and corporations unveiled its PreSeed Accelerator’s latest milestone in driving innovation and sustainability. Six exceptional startups have been selected for acceleration and capital infusion of INR 75 Lac, coupled with 100 days of focused market access support, through the pioneering PreSeed Accelerator program. This initiative is set to catapult the development of innovative solutions in the realm of green mobility.

The program received 552 applications from all over the country of which 6 startups after 75 days of intense screening and diligence were picked for investments. The selected cohort startups include EVhicle, Simactricals, Dockervision, Swappdesign, PerUse and The Energy Company.

“India stands on the cusp of a revolution in the field of sustainable mobility, and our partnership with Sanchi Connect for the Green Mobility Accelerator program serves as an exceptional platform to gain access to the entire Indian Mobility landscape along with providing a comprehensive pipeline of ongoing developments across the ecosystem, as we see great potential in these new age tech companies” said Karan Mittal, Partner, Ev2 Ventures

Addison Appu, ThinKuvate VP Investments said he and the team is excited to participate in this unique program and believes that “EV sector is going to witness unprecedented growth in the coming years, Be it battery tech, charging tech or EV financing, all the sub sectors present plethora of opportunities where we will see new unicorns emerging”.

The PreSeed Accelerator with cohort 1 as “Green Mobility,” is a testament to SanchiConnect’s unwavering commitment to fostering entrepreneurial talent and propelling innovation. With the backing of leading micro VC partners Ev2 ventures, Sea Fund, and ThinKuvate, the selected startups will benefit from not only substantial funding but also unparalleled mentorship and strategic guidance. The accelerator was launched in partnership with Yamaha Motors Solutions India, Desai & Diwanji law firm, and IDFC First Bank.

Speaking on the Preseed Funding Mayuresh Raut, Managing Partner at Seafund said “We are extremely bullish about the 6 startups that we are backing in this program. It’s a great representation of Indian entrepreneurs using their domain understanding and technical skills to solve India specific problems in Mobility that is going to change the face of this industry in the coming days.”

“Today, we mark a pivotal moment in our mission to champion innovations in deep and emerging tech,” said Dr. Sunil Shekhawat, CEO of SanchiConnect. “Our PreSeed Accelerator program, in partnership with esteemed micro VCs and industry majors is poised to empower these startups to redefine the future of green mobility.”

SanchiConnect itself is fortified by the formidable backing of the management of BaringIndia PE fund and IP Ventures, further solidifying the program’s foundation. This strategic collaboration reflects a shared vision to foster an ecosystem where groundbreaking ideas can thrive, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and vibrant future.

In line with its commitment to addressing pressing global challenges, Dr. Sunil Shekhawat announced the imminent launch of the next PreSeed Accelerator cohort, which will centre around climate technology and sustainability. This announcement underscores SanchiConnect’s dedication to being a driving force in advancing solutions that hold the potential to reshape industries and positively impact the world.

India’s rental market continues to grow with average rents increasing 4.9 percent QoQ: Magicbricks

New Delhi/Hyderabad, Aug 22, 2023 – Magicbricks, India’s leading real estate platform, released its flagship Rental Index for April-June 2023, observing that the rental demand across 13 major cities in India increased 18.1% QoQ , supply increased 9.6% QoQ while rents increased 4.9% YoY. Based on the behavior and preferences of over 2 crore customers on Magicbricks platform, the report also observed that notable cities such as Bengaluru (8.1%), Navi Mumbai (7.3%), and Gurugram (5.1%) displayed the highest increment in average rents QoQ. Conversely, Delhi (- 0.9%) and Mumbai (-0.1%) witnessed marginal decline in rents QoQ.

Sudhir Pai, the CEO, Magicbricks, commented, “Over the past year, rental housing demand surged in major Indian cities, driven by returning employees and students. Return to office culture boosted the need for workplace-proximate housing while educational institutions resumed in-person activities, drawing students back to city centers. Meanwhile, as property values soared, homeowners seized opportunities for profitable property sales over rentals, reducing supply. This, coupled with high demand, notably hiked rents across prominent Indian cities..”

As per the Magicbricks Report, the popularity of 2 BHK units remains unchallenged, commanding a significant 53% share in both demand and supply, followed by 1 BHK (27%) and 3 BHK (18%). The demand for 3 BHK units declined from 36% in Q1 2023 to 18% in Q2 2023, while the demand for 1 BHK units increased from 17% in Q1 2023 to 27% in the present quarter. This shift highlights a growing inclination toward compact apartments.

The report concludes that beyond the factor of proximity to employment hubs, a significant driving force for demand this quarter is affordability. Rental accommodations with a monthly rent within INR 10,000 to 20,000 emerged as the favored choice among tenants. These preferences were predominantly observed within unit dimensions spanning from 500 to 1,000 square feet of covered area.

Vaishnavi Group leases out nearly half of its premium office space in Vaishnavi Silicon Terraces to AON and House of Brands Mensa

Bengaluru, 22nd August 2023: South India’s leading real estate developer, Vaishnavi Group, announced the leasing of nearly half of its prime office space to professional services provider Aon and House of Brands Mensa at Vaishnavi Silicon terraces as it aims to strengthen its position as the preferred developer for occupiers in Bengaluru. Aon joins the growing list of marquee occupiers across categories such as Navi Technologies and Smartworks taking up premium office spaces at Vaishnavi’s state-of-the-art commercial properties in Bengaluru.

Vaishnavi Silicon Terraces, which is spread across 1.10 square feet, is situated in the heart of Bengaluru in Koramangala with 3 blocks in a ground +3 Upper Floors layout. The region is a bustling hub for new age companies and offers a perfect mix of prime location, excellent connectivity, a healthy availability of residential units nearby and an impressive social infrastructure, making it a destination of choice for employee-friendly companies. This new-age office takes a holistic approach with employee well-being at the centre of design. With the demand for Grade A properties with efficient space planning and attractive amenities increasing, Vaishnavi Group has renovated the façade of the commercial space to make it more attractive for occupiers as employees return to work-from-office.

Commenting on the development, Kishan Govindaraju, Director, Vaishnavi Group said, “As one of the leading real estate developers in the country, Vaishnavi Group has established itself as the preferred partner for occupiers across the value chain. Our state-of-the-art commercial spaces offer thoughtfully designed efficient floor space with amenities, which enhance the overall satisfaction score of occupiers. Owing to the rising demand for office spaces in primary and secondary business districts, we have renovated Vaishnavi Silicon Terraces in Koramangala to attract new age occupiers and we are delighted to welcome Aon and Mensa who have taken up nearly half of our premium office space. This is a testament to our commitment to our occupiers and investors as their partners in progress”.

Vaishnavi currently has over 10 million square feet of commercial and residential development in different stages of development.

According to international property consultant Cushman and Wakefield, India’s office market across the top seven cities (Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata,

and Pune) recorded a net absorption of 38.25 million square feet in 2022, hitting a three-year high. This comes on the back of increasing inflow of investments from foreign and domestic companies to spur growth in the world’s fastest growing market. With 25 years of experience in developing quality real estate, Vaishnavi Group has been the preferred partner for companies looking to expand their presence in India’s Silicon Valley. In the last year alone, it has leased 1.5 million square feet of commercial spaces to marquee occupiers.