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Archive: December 31, 2022

Shashi Tharoor’s latest book Ambedkar: A Life launched at Kitaab Kolkata event draws bibliophiles young and old

1 Pic ST book launch
From L to R: At the launch of Shashi Tharoor’s latest book Ambedkar: A Life in Kolkata at Kitaab event organized by Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF). Anindita Chatterjee, Executive Trustee, PKF, Bashabi Fraser, award-winning poet and children’s writer, an associate of the Foundation from Scotland, Madhuri Halwasiya, Ehsaas Woman of Lucknow, Malika Varma, Ehsaas Woman of Kolkata. Shradha Saraf, Chairperson Ficci FLO Kolkata Chapter, author-politician, Shashi Tharoor, Suhel Seth, Esha Dutta, Ehsaas Woman of Kolkata, Nitin Bahl, General Manager of ITC Sonar Bangla, Sangeeta Datta, Ehsaas Woman of London.

31 December 2022, Kolkata: Parliamentarian and author, Shashi Tharoor’s latest book Ambedkar: A Life was recently launched at the Kitaab Kolkata event organized by Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF) at the ITC Sonar presented by Shree Cement. The event was attended by bibliophiles young and old, members of Ehsaas Women and FICCI FLO. Suhel Seth, management consultant, author, columnist and public speaker, was in an hour-long conversation with the author and kept the excitement of the audience on the ledge.

The biography of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is neither the first one nor the last, but Shashi Tharoor’s meticulously-researched work adds a new perspective to one of India’s most revered icons and an intellectual giant. In Tharoor’s own words, “Dr Ambedkar’s greatness cannot be reduced to any one of (his) accomplishments, because all were equally extraordinary.”

Tharoor lucidly provides a panoramic view of Ambedkar’s illustrious life while sharing deep insights and anecdotal references into his multi-faceted personality and life’s turning points – historical decisions, social ostracism and stigmas, political leanings, endless struggles and of course his strong personality which made him stand up for the causes he espoused including his brutally honest and scathing views about Gandhi ji.

Madhuri Halwasiya, Ehsaas Women of Lucknow, introduced the author and conversationalist to the audience and Suhel Seth set the pace of the discussions stating reasons why one should read Tharoor’s book. “It is unarguably one of the finest books [on Ambedkar]. First, it contextualizes the person who we have credited with the making of the Indian Constitution. Second, it paraphrases, its profiles, it puts into context the enormous intellectual struggle that Dr Ambedkar had to wage with people who were his contemporaries. Third, it also tells you that while a lot has changed, nothing has,” Seth said.

Shashi Tharoor stated a fourth reason to read the book – “The book is mercifully brief. It’s just 200 pages long. Especially in today’s Tik Tok or Whatsapp generation, nobody would read any of those substantial biographies. So I thought it would be good to write something short and accessible to today’s young people.”

Self-questioning – Why (read) Ambedkar and why now? Tharoor said, “You realize that there is probably no other Indian who has more statues of him around the country. Perhaps Gandhi might have slightly more. But there is no village in India without a bust or a statue of Ambedkar. In these circumstances, he probably is the most revered Indian. He is also somebody whose stature has grown after his death, which is not true for so many other great figures of the times.”

Suhel Seth touched upon chronicling various historical landmarks like in 1927 Ambedkar decided that he needed political weaponization to further the cause of the what was then called the depressed classes; as in 1932 when Ambedkar had to ask Gandhi ji to call off his fast-unto-death and the first fissures between the two giants occurred. Commenting on Suhel Seth’s point, Shashi Tharoor said, “When you write a biographical account of someone like Ambedkar, these are some of the romantic inflection points.”

Tharoor touched upon Ambedkar’s strong political stances and decisions that shaped his career. “The portfolio he was given by Nehru in the Cabinet was law but he resigned on the issue of Hindu Code Bill. When he tried to introduce it, he was massively opposed by the Congress Party, and I believe slightly unfairly, as he believed that Nehru had not fought hard enough for him. Nehru did fight. But the traditional parties still had an upper hand and they were reluctant to proceed with reforms as far-reaching and ambitious as Ambedkar thought. The manner in which he was treated after his resignation was truly shocking. It’s a constitutional right for a party minister to explain his resignation but he wasn’t allowed to speak on the grounds that he hadn’t submitted the text of his resignation speech in advance,” said Tharoor.

Anindita Chatterjee, executive trustee, PKF, mentioned, “As a foundation, we are constantly promoting literature, culture and social work. It’s not just one particular book. It is a book which has substance, a book which everybody should know about.”

Kitab is a signature event of Prabha Khaitan Foundation conceptualised by Mr Sundeep Bhutoria which provides a forum for writers, poets, intellectuals and thinkers to launch their books and share their thoughts and views on varied topics leading to thought-provoking and stimulating intellectual discourses and discussions.

Godawari Electric Motors to showcase its entire EV range at Auto Expo 2023

Raipur, 31 December 2022: Raipur-based Godawari Electric Motors announced that it is going to showcase its entire EV 2 & 3-wheeler range to be launched in 2023 at the upcoming Auto Expo 2023. The company is going to launch two products which include an e-auto (L5M) and an e-bicycle at the expo.

The company last month announced its e-auto will have complete vehicle body panels made of DCPD material. DCPD is the latest plastic technology and offers a wide range of benefits. The material is impact resistant and has been referred to as “virtually unbreakable” making the vehicle strong enough to work during harsh conditions and rust-proof.

The company is also going to showcase the prototype of its e-scooter, e-loader and e-rickshaw at the Auto Expo. All these products will be manufactured from its upcoming manufacturing facility in Raipur. These three products are expected to be launched in the upcoming financial year.

The company had announced that it has invested up to INR 150 crore for setting up an EV manufacturing plant in Raipur.

Quote on Overview of Startup Investment in 2022 and Outlook for 2023

Neeraj Tyagi_Co-founder&CEO, We Founder Circle

Neeraj Tyagi, CEO & Co-Founder, We Founder Circle

2022 has seen the trend shifting from growth at all costs, to more sustainable growth. Both startup founders & investors have become cautious of high cash burn and have started focusing more on cost reducing & bringing visibility of profitability or at least making businesses unit economics right.

We are looking at a lot of course corrections in terms of team restructuring, bridge fundraising, founders cutting their own salary cuts, removing perks & focusing on core business rather than trying multiple side products. And this trend will continue in 2023 also.

There’s no denying that funding has been slowdown for start-ups, especially at the growth stage, but funding as a whole is not going to stop. In fact, those startups that were prioritizing profitability are getting center stage & are hot favorites among investors.

The funding winter seems to be a prolonged one and would probably extend for the first half of 2023, as the global market corrects itself further in the rising interest rate environment. However, startup funding is not likely to see any imminent pause, especially for early-stage ventures. From Tier 2/3/4, a huge inflow of new angel investors is on the rise and so seed to angel stage funding will see a lot of investments and the contribution of angel investors will be the most significant in overall funding in 2023.– said Mr. Neeraj Tyagi, CEO & Co-Founder, We Founder Circle

Year-Ender Quotes- AI and SaaS Startups

Mr Kushang, Co-Founder and CEO- Supplynote_
Mr. Kushang, Co-Founder and CEO- Supplynote

SaaS Based Startup- SupplyNote

As the market is recovering from the pandemic, this year has been all about clarity for us. The business has witnessed 300 per cent Year-on-year growth in revenue, however major focus has been towards refining our offerings to further empower the F&B Industry. This year alone, we acquired a point of sale product to strengthen our SaaS offerings, pivoted our service vertical making it more pocket-flexible and solving wider problems for our customers. We also incepted a new business vertical to facilitate procurements for small to medium F&B enterprises.

As we stand today, we offer a complete stack of software and services for F&B Businesses that allows them to completely outsource their supply chain without compromising on quality and at a more efficient cost model. With this vision, we believe 2023 will be a year where we can expect substantial growth and transformation within the industry.– said Mr. Kushang, Co-founder and CEO of SupplyNote

The Food Industry has been growing consistently for the last decade, despite the later part of the decade being the pandemic. In 2022, we have witnessed that the industry has been making a comeback and is getting stronger than ever. The technology adoption within the industry is also increasing phenomenally. There are hundreds of startups starting every year dedicated to food tech and the market is still vastly untouched. But that is all about to change.

With young entrepreneurs being the face of innovation within the F&B businesses, the tech adoption has been higher than ever. We’ve acquired many clients this year who are data-driven, leveraging the power of technology to optimise their operations and switch to a smoother, data-led supply chain.
With the awareness increasing within the industry, SupplyNote won’t be left behind but will be at the centre of this transformation. We are planning to launch multiple initiatives to increase awareness within the industry of technologies that can make life easier for everyone.– said Mr. Harshit Mittal, Co-founder and CTO of SupplyNote.

Mr. Ankit Ruia_Co-founder & CTO_ SuperBot (PinnacleWorks)
Mr. Ankit Ruia_Co-founder & CTO_ SuperBot (PinnacleWorks)

AI Startup- SuperBot

2022 for us was more of a learning year for us. The reason to state this is because any technology when introduced in the market takes some time for getting its fair share of market acceptance. The same was the case with SuperBot. A technology which was built with the vision of Disrupting Calling, needed a lot of education, to make businesses understand what it does, how it does and what benefit it brings to them. Initially, we were trying to make everyone understand the technology, but later we realised that it’s the challenges and pain points of the businesses which need to be first identified and then addressed. That’s when we changed our approach, and instead of educating people about technology, we started discussing how SuperBot can help address all the communication-related challenges. Guess what? It worked for us!

And as stated by Bob Dole, “The best way to cope with change is to help create it”, its now that we have started getting our share of market acceptance. The name of the SuperBot has spread, and the technology is now known to businesses. Following this, we are now all set to enter 2023, to expand SuperBot in a full-fledged manner. When we say expansion it includes everything from technological upgrades, to coming up with more industry-specific use cases, supporting more languages as well as offering it in the international demography. We are really looking forward to the new year and to achieving the scalability which we have planned and projected.– said Mr. Sarvagya Mishra, Co-founder and Director of SuperBot (PinnacleWorks)

If we talk about 2022, it has been another year of a roller coaster ride for us. Because let’s keep the business perspective apart, being the Co-Founder and CTO, one thing which has always stayed on my priority list is to make SuperBot as advanced and smart as possible. But the journey, which might sound easy is a difficult one. Be it developing the Real-Time Fulfillment Functionality, which is yet offered by none at least in the Indian Market, building in-house ASRs with efficiency as high as 85% and introducing the DIY Platform, etc has their own challenges to overcome.

But today while standing at the end of the year, when once those features and functionalities which seemed next to impossible to introduce in such a short span, are live and working perfectly fine today, gives a sense of achievement. Talking about the next year, we are having expansion plans to enter the International Markets very soon, while spreading the wings to almost all the industrial segments in India & helping them address their communication needs. So yeah while keeping my eyes on the stars and feet on the ground, as said by Theodore Roosevelt, I am looking forward to the year 2023 and am all set to make SuperBot more and more advanced for disrupting calling in the near future.– Mr. Ankit Ruia, Co-founder and CTO of SuperBot (PinnacleWorks)

Mr. Atul Rai, CEO and Co-founder of Staqu.
Mr. Atul Rai, CEO and Co-founder of Staqu.

AI Startup- StaqU

Investments in artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups grew steadily in the years preceding and following the COVID-19 pandemic, as this ground-breaking technology displayed its potential to promote people’s lives. In 2022, venture capitalists partnered with a large number of promising early-stage start-ups in disciplines where artificial intelligence can have a notable influence, such as health care, climate science, retail, security, and education, and where AI tools can empower individuals by assisting them in being more productive and meaningful.

The funding winter, which gained momentum in the fourth quarter of 2021, will still be felt in 2023, but start-ups will emphasize overtaking the slowdown itself by managing investments appropriately, streamlining operations and cost structures, and implementing aggressive monetization strategies. To make this happen, start-ups from all industry verticals will deploy AI, ML, big data, and data analytics to enhance services and add a dynamic outlook to their client practices. For greater latency and predictability as well as minimizing decision risk across industries, existing AI models will also be fine-tuned to serve specific purposes which will be supported by the fresh infusion of capital by stakeholders– said Mr. Atul Rai, CEO and Co-founder of Staqu.

Respiratory Disorders Increased Among Senior Citizens and Children Due to Air Pollution

Mumbai – Since last month, the air quality index in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai city has been showing more than 200 to 300 AQI. Last Friday, the Air Quality index in Nerul was 353 and this level was the second highest in the state in pollution, while the air quality level in Bandra Kurla Complex was 390. Navi Mumbai city which is away from the crowd of Mumbai and has got the honor of planning city i.e. planned city, is the most affected by pollution and in the last ten days due to increasing dust and vehicular pollution in the city, many citizens have contracted respiratory diseases, it has been expressed by the Terna Specialty Hospital and Research Center in Nerul. Pregnant mothers, children and senior citizens with asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis and throat diseases have started to suffer more. The rate of respiratory disorders has increased by 20 to 30 percent in the last ten days and the real test of these patients will be faced in the month of January.

Navi Mumbai Air Pollution

Giving more information about this, Dr. Abhay Uppe, Pulmonologist from Terna Specialty Hospital & Research Centre, said, “From the last ten to twenty days, mild fog has been falling in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai in this fog, vehicle smoke, dust particles in the atmosphere and smoke or toxic gases from chemical companies do not rise in the sky. lives below, so the citizens who are allergic or suffering from it quickly start suffering from sore throat, frequent sneezing, mild cough and swelling of the throat and if not treated properly, many patients have to be admitted to the hospital. In case of danger, the patients should contact the doctor immediately otherwise it can lead to death. Due to the increasing level of sulfur compounds mixed in the air, respiratory disorders like difficulty in breathing and suffocation are aggravated. When the level of nitrogen compounds in the air increases, the lung function slows down.”

Due to one of the largest industrialization zones in Taloja the air is becoming more polluted in Navi Mumbai. In a survey conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board between 2011 and 2015, Navi Mumbai has been declared as the third most polluted city in the state. Along with particulate matter 10, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide have been found to be many times more than the prescribed level in the air in Navi Mumbai. If the situation continues, it will not take long to include Navi Mumbai as the number one polluted city. Terna Specialty Hospital and Research Center informed that it is necessary to take preventive measures against this background and we are advising citizens to be alert in this regard.

An NRI entrepreneur who is also TANA Foundation Trustee scripts success with movers.com, relocation portal in the USA, celebrates 20 years in the city now

Hyderabad, December 31, 2022: The USA and India-based leading relocation portal, movers.com completed 20 years and celebrated its 20th Anniversary in a gala function held at Hotel Daspalla at Jubilee Hills on Friday night. Speaking to the gathering at the celebrations, Vidhyadhar Garapati, CEO of movers.com said it is one of the very few success stories of an NRI. What started as a small “one bedroom” apartment and grew to a 75-team company now and further plans to add 50 more resources in its Indian operations. Further, it also plans to expand its operations to other parts of India.

 Vidhyadhar Garapati, CEO of movers.com seen with guests at the Celebration of 20 years of their relocation platform

It has served 3.5 million customers in the past 20 years and reached a turnover of a 20-million US $ dollar turnover company. Now it aims at US $ 252 mn. We serve 7000 customers every month, he shared

Unveiling future plans, Vidhyadhar informed that their focus in coming few years would be to transition the company from a Lead Aggregator to Relocation Management Company. Nearly 32 to 35 million moves take place every year. We have only tapped 3.5 million customers in the last 20 years. There is a lot of scope for growth, he added.

An average person in America moves about 11.7 times in their lifetime. And they spend well over US $ 3000 on every move. We aim to acquire 15000 leads per month from which we aim to convert 35% leads. Thus, we target to acquire 7000 customers every year and each one paying 3000 $, we will be able to achieve a turnover of US $ 252 million in next four years, he added.

Speaking further he added, our vision is also to get into Cross-Selling Services such as Insurance, Home Improvement, Home Security etc, shared by Vidhyadhar. The motto of the company is ‘every day is a new day, start from scratch’. And we treat every single customer as a new customer. With these plans in place, we will be aiming to IPO in the next four years, he declared.

Moving.com is part of Move, Inc., a subsidiary of News Corp, and a leading provider of online real estate and moving services. The platform makes moving simple and secure, he shared.

Movers.com is a name to reckon in the industry it operates. We also have an advantage of a generic domain, which also gets a lot of traffic organically, he shared.

TANA Foundation Trustee and philanthropist, Vidhyadhar Garapati, is a survivor of 9/11 while on the ground floor of the World Trade Centre, scripted the success story with hard work, focus and determination.

Movers.com is a member of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Our website is verified by McAfee, a global leader in virus and malware protection, each day to protect against hacking attacks and fraud.

In 2010, we added software consulting. Then in 2019 we added another division “US Relocation, Inc.” which quickly grew from ZERO to 5M in less than 4 years, he shared a hall full of invited guests.

In 2017, the company was listed on the New Jersey Fast 50 as the 27th rank, and later listed on INC 5000 for two consecutive years; 2017 with 1038th rank and 2018 with 3672nd rank.

Year-End Real Estate Review and Outlook for 2023

Ms. Shraddha Kedia-Agarwal: Year-End Real Estate Review and Outlook for 2023

By Ms. Shraddha Kedia-Agarwal, Director, Transcon Developers

Sector performance in 2022

While India’s real estate market makes a certain move for investment due to attractive prices, increased transparency, and digital progression; the fact that the world has restored itself after the pandemic jolt is an opportunity in itself. The all-time low interest regime gave a much-needed push to the real estate sector especially the luxury housing segment. The Indian Government has recalibrated its approach towards remobilizing the economy and introduced various reforms to ensure adequate liquidity in the system. RBI’s accommodative stance for such a long duration too helped mitigate the effects of Covid-19 on businesses and was a key to the recovery of real estate and the overall economy. However, the recent consecutive hike in interest rates has still not affected the housing demand. The interest rates which were still lower than the pre-Covid levels for the last few quarters have already given a boost to the real estate sector upticking the demand and enhancing the confidence of the homebuyers.

Today, in the post-pandemic world processes have rapidly moved to online modes offering investors much transactional ease, even if they are across borders. The recent volatile stock market and the currency benefit of the rupee-dollar exchange have made it favourable for the NRIs to invest in Real Estate in India. A large section of non-residential Indians, previously aligned to the stock market as primary investment policy have shifted more to real estate as a form of long-term investment. Also, the rupee’s decline in value against the dollar, heavy returns, good rental, improving infrastructure have been the additional key drivers.

Outlook for 2023

In the post-Covid world, there is a shift in demand for sea-facing homes with large open spaces like balconies, terraces, courtyards, gardens, and parks in the vicinity. Work-from-home and the hybrid work culture have changed the pattern for most home buyers in the post-Covid era. Owning a home is no more a matter of investment preference, but a necessity, given the boost that a luxury residence has come to lodge in the wider perspective of the work-life choices. The latest trends of customer preferences have shifted from premium real estate to a more sophisticated approach, buyers who want to get a lifestyle that can flawlessly include the work-from-home notion, while not giving up on the lavishness and comforts of luxury living. These trends are expected to continue in 2023 as well.

The residential real estate market in India has become more lucrative for ultra-high net-worth individuals (UHNIs) and NRIs as a result of the increased transparency and ease in investment norms. With RERA ensuring transparency and laws allowing 100% FDI in construction, Indian real estate is witnessing sharp investment infusions from NRIs. The new class of ultra-rich people is on a buying spree of luxury homes in global cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, etc. The Indian markets are proving their grit and potential, it is now time for investors to decide if they want to benefit from India’s future potential.

That’s a wrap: Business leaders reflect on 2022 and predict trends for 2023

Shashidhar Angadi, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Exterro

Shashidhar Angadi, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Exterro
“India remains one of the most challenging economies when it comes to protection and enforcement of intellectual property. Coupled with the new hybrid work model, in house investigations have become doubly challenging as insider threat poses serious threat to businesses . When conducting a covert investigation, to detect if any user has been stealing proprietary information, it’s no longer a case of physically borrowing that laptop. Organizations need to obtain remote access to that device, scan and image it quickly . What Indian businesses need are digital forensics solutions that centralize data and analyze it so it can be sent to relevant investigative teams. These solutions will be a gamechanger in 2023 as businesses veer towards workflow automation to cut costs amidst turbulent economic conditions.”

Bob Huber, Chief Security Officer, Tenable

Bob Huber, Chief Security Officer, Tenable

“Nation states will begin to target cloud service provider (CSP) managed services as companies migrate more of their attack surface to these managed services. Cloud adoption continues to rapidly rise, in fact, CSP managed service market is projected to grow to $117.65 billion by 2028, a 14.5% spike from 2020. While there are numerous benefits to cloud adoption and outsourcing cloud services to a MSP, the opportunities for exposure increases significantly, which attackers will without a doubt capitalize on.”

Dr. Mukesh Gandhi, Founder and CEO, Creative Synergies Group

Dr. Gandhi, Founder and CEO, Creative Synergies Group

“Going into 2022, businesses were cautious that the economic slowdown in the US and Europe, would produce consequences at a global level. However, India held its stronghold. Businesses reported strong growth rates and according to IBEF, the industry hired 380,000 freshers in 2022. While the year wasn’t devoid of challenges such as addressing the 5 lakh talent gap, shortage of skilled labor and pressures to increase investments in R&D and sustainability, predictions point to a positive outcome in 2023. For us at Creative Synergies Group, 2022 was a very rewarding year. We achieved new milestones, invested in our team’s growth and continued to uphold the 92% customer retention rate. The core of our vision has always been to make things simple, efficient and rapid for businesses across the globe and 2022 gave us the opportunity to expand our capabilities. In 2023, our goals are to leapfrog our unwavering expertise in upcoming NextGen technologies. We look forward to extending our deep-domain prowess to our customers across sectors and welcoming high caliber professionals to our team.”

Deepak Agrawal, CEO and Co-Founder, TurboHire

Deepak Agrawal, CEO and Co-Founder, TurboHire

“In 2022, recruitment automation came into its own as a must-have of the future. Given the large number of layoffs that occurred, the number of candidates actively seeking jobs shot up – which created a clear need for companies to quickly sort through applicants’ profiles and identify the ones most suited for the job. In 2023, we expect an increase in the adoption of AI and automation in recruitment as companies recognise the high costs of poor hires. Applicant tracking systems are already becoming a necessity, with a variety of features to help companies keep tabs on each applicant. To further streamline the process, pre-employment assessments and auto-scheduled interviews will become popular, especially as the remote/hybrid work trend continues. As businesses gun for success after the two-year pandemic slump, having the right talent on board is vital. Recruitment automation will not only speed up the hiring process but also get recruiters in touch with top-quality talent pools – which will ensure that vacancies are always filled with the best fits, both now and in the future.”

Nitish Rai, CEO and Co-Founder, FreightFox

Nitish Rai, CEO and Co-Founder, FreightFox

“2022 has been a year of reckoning for global logistics and supply chains. The year created the sensitivity and need for strong supply chain visibility and resilience across manufacturing logistics. This year has also been instrumental in laying the foundation of rapid digitalisation and data-led transformation to create future-ready logistics.
Also, 2022 saw strong tailwinds with organisations globally talking about ESG / Sustainability also as a core theme and taking aggressive objectives towards building net zero value chains. We believe this year was foundational in many ways and learnings post-Covid and carved a well thought future path for transformation and resilience in 2023.”

Subodh Parulekar, CEO and Co-Founder, AFour Technologiesimage.gif

Subodh Parulekar, CEO and Co-Founder, AFour Technologiesimage
“2022 saw cybersecurity come into the spotlight as a high-priority area, even as attacks continued. As many as 54% of organizations experienced a cyber attack in the last 12 months. Around 75% of organizations have experienced some form of security incident due to credential theft, lost/stolen devices, or ransomware attacks. In 2023, we expect to see ransomware protection come into its own through the choice of security tools that a company makes and the training it imparts to its employees. Cloud configuration will also take priority, as misconfigurations can account for up to 70% of all cloud-related challenges – IT teams will take on a more proactive role in testing out different cloud vendors before signing one on. And finally, identity threat detection and response will become a top priority when designing IT infrastructure. Given that hybrid work is here to stay, cybersecurity needs to expand and adapt to the needs of a remote economy – both small and large organizations must therefore build robust practices to dissuade attacks and minimize the damage if they do occur.”

Padmakumar Nair, CEO & Co-Founder of Ennoventure Inc

Padmakumar Nair, CEO & Co-Founder of Ennoventure Inc
“With the digital ecosystem being integrated in our daily lives, there is a need for a holistic solution to protect the authenticity of products and services. Counterfeiting is a major roadblock in India’s digital aspirations while costing the Indian economy approximately INR 1 trillion annually. In India, industries such as FMCG and Pharmaceuticals have been the worst affected due to this alarming issue of counterfeiting.

With governments implementing stricter norms and taking stringent actions against counterfeiting across the globe, it is imperative for brands to integrate anti-counterfeit solutions backed by technology to protect authenticity of products. Cryptographic code embedded into the packaging solutions is one such cutting edge technology tool that will stand as a strong deterrent to counterfeiting.

At Ennoventure, we provide covert brand authentication and engagement solutions to create a direct relationship between the brand and the consumer. We believe that adoption of a connected packaging solution will increase conversion rates by multiple times, enabling brands to build a trustworthy relationship with their customers. We have several global engagements and look forward to building a counterfeit-free world.”

Naman Shah, CEO and Founder, NowPurchase

Naman Shah, CEO and Founder, NowPurchase
“The year 2022 was a positive one thanks to the increased adoption of technology and the provision of procurement services enabled by technology. Tech has played an increasingly important role in the supply chain in years past, leading to an ever-increasing reliance on tech-enabled sourcing. New factories and industrial parks have emerged since the introduction of the government’s pro-manufacturing “Make in India” policy, which has significantly boosted the growth of the sector. Other government initiatives, such as the National Manufacturing Policy and the PLI scheme for production, aim to bring India’s core manufacturing sector up to international manufacturing standards, and these have helped the country make steady progress toward Industry 4.0.

With the development of technologies like blockchain, AI, and augmented or virtual reality, the outlook for the procurement industry in 2023 appears promising. If SMEs in retail end up being a major economic force, the role of in-house sourcing experts will likely give way to that of consultants who work with multiple buyers to pool their procurement resources. Data and analytics are other significant factors that will continue to remain in the spotlight because they enable quicker decision-making, which in turn leads to better results.”

Meet Vij , Co-founder, Lyne

Meet Vij , Co-founder, Lyne
“The consumer electronics sector, which is among the most active and quickly growing sectors, is showing no indications of slowing down in terms of sales or technological advancement. 2022 has also seen nothing but growth for the consumer electronics market. Especially with the health factor gaining more prominence and relevance, health tracking gadgets have taken the centre stage in innovation. Customer demand for smartwatches, with extensive health monitoring features has increased, leading to brands developing gadgets at affordable costs. Lyne, for example, has introduced the Lancer-1, a smartwatch with a complete health assessment system where it measures and monitors your necessary body vitals like heart rate, body temperature, and stress levels.

Other accessories such as headphones, earpods, and TWS showed a 62% QoQ growth in 2022, with an increased penetration, due to low prices, convenience of use, and suitable gifting options. By 2023, it is anticipated that 490 million wearable devices will be shipped worldwide.

As basic electronics are constantly updating their features to meet consumer expectations, the market growth for power banks has traditionally been slow. Despite this, since the “Work From Anywhere” idea has gained widespread acceptance throughout the globe, innovators are attempting to provide fast charge through all of their charging ports in order to gain a competitive edge.

The consumer electronics and accessories industry is anticipated to expand in the year 2023 as well. For example, the market for wireless headphones and earphones was worth INR 11.47 billion in 2016 and throughout the estimated period, it is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 12.1%. Growth is undoubtedly impacted by manufacturing and importation expenses, but since overall demand also has an impact on these costs, the market will undoubtedly keep growing.”

Gaurav Burman- VP & APAC President, 75F, India

Gaurav Burman- VP & APAC President, 75F, India
“The Building Management System industry has witnessed a significant spurt in demand for HVAC systems and advanced IoT-embedded solutions. Throughout the year 2022, the industry has been amidst a technological revolution to keep up with the evolving needs of homebuyers and builders. Rapid technological advancement coupled with the adoption of IoT technologies have resulted in the creation of smarter and more efficient HVAC systems, which are enabling buildings with intelligent solutions. Building owners and facility managers are now striving towards newer energy efficiency standards as they get empowered by actionable intelligence.

The increase in pollution and poor indoor air quality has prompted India to prioritize building management solutions for ensuring an optimal working environment. With the government emphasizing on energy efficiency, green buildings, and climate control measures through its Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, sustainable business practices have started gaining momentum. Businesses are prioritizing converting to green buildings to be in line with the Indian government’s goal of achieving a net-zero emission status by the year 2070.

At 75F, we are very optimistic about the year ahead as we see a high demand for services in the BMS industry as businesses and building managers look towards optimizing operations and increased energy efficiency. With our Smart Building Technology and IoT solutions we look forward to being an active part of this journey towards a greener and sustainable future.”

Sachidanand Updadhyay, MD & CEO, Lord’s Mark Industries (Lord’s Automative Pvt Ltd, a part of Lord’s Mark Industries

Sachidanand Updadhyay, MD & CEO, Lord's Mark Industries (Lord's Automative Pvt Ltd, a part of Lord's Mark Industries
“The EV space in India is rapidly evolving. The growth opportunity is huge because of growing EV adoption. Our outlook is positive, and we are geared up to play our role in the transportation landscape transition. With multiple EV launches in the two-, three-, and four-wheeler space, and a robust growth rate of 686 percent in the first quarter of FY22, it’s evident that this has been the biggest year for electric mobility in India. Electric two-wheelers alone saw 250 percent y-o-y growth, while carmakers across all categories launched more models than in any previous year, and we’ll see a steady rise in EV launches in 2023.

In 2023, the government will focus more on developing EV infrastructure. The government is expected to propose provisions in the upcoming budget to promote the adoption of EVs and provide incentives for battery manufacturing. It will announce incentives to promote the domestic production of EVs and energy storage systems. There is also the possibility of a reduction of 5-20% of the existing import duty on parts used to make lithium batteries. Further, the government has also decreased the goods and services tax (GST) on EVs. To encourage domestic manufacturing of EVs, taxes on items like synthetic separators, anodes, and cathodes used in lithium-ion batteries can be reduced as well.”

Mr. Jose Ramapuram, Marketing Director at Evolve Back Resorts

Mr. Jose Ramapuram, Marketing Director at Evolve Back Resorts

“Interestingly, 2022 saw most travelers look up luxurious accommodations that checked all of their boxes for wellness, adventure, and authentic yet immersive experiences. An uptick in demand for enlightening and culturally unique activities was also observed. Our coracle ride, historical treks and trails in Hampi, coffee plantation and worker’s trail in Coorg, and the safaris to discover the Indian biodiversity in Kabini; all piqued people’s interest this year. This also drove a lot of people to choose our properties for their intimate weddings and honeymoon. Furthermore, we have noticed a shift in the industry over the last few years as demand for ethical and sustainable travel has increased. As we foresaw the environmental impact of our sector, the core of Evolve Back’s philosophy was implemented to preserve the ‘Spirit of the Land’, curate experiences around local culture and heritage. Keeping this in mind, most hotel and resort chains are also moving toward sustainable practices as inflation, the recession, and awareness of climate change are predicted to increase. While sustainable travel is here to stay, demand for bleisure (business+leisure) is also rising. In the era of flexible, work-from-anywhere trend, we saw multiple corporate employees visit our properties for leisure purposes that also enabled them to work remotely. Additionally, it is projected that tourists would favor locations that are great for solo travel or for capturing the aesthetic on social media while also providing a unique experience. We envision all these trends will continue to be popular in 2023 and look forward to another successful year of creating lasting experiences.”

Sridhar Balram, Founder and CEO Intech Additive Solutions

Sridhar Balram, Founder and CEO Intech Additive Solutions
“We had an incredible year where we exported our 1st mid-format LPBF Metal 3D Printer iFusion325 to Europe, launched our 2nd Gen iFusion150 Metal 3D Printer and showcased our ‘iFusion325’ Metal 3D Printer at Formnext along with our One-of-a-kind Parameter Optimization Software ‘AMOptoMet’. Additionally, we established several business alliances with significant aerospace, tyre, defence, and research players, including Bellatrix Aerospace, UIT Dresden, and others. We have been a part of this industry for over a decade, which helped us recognize the pertinent need for sustainable technology across all production sectors. This has increased market awareness of the need to move away from traditional methods and gradually adopt Additive Manufacturing (AM). We anticipate a rise in demand for AM solutions for high-volume production as India transforms into a manufacturing hub for large-scale international businesses. With the rapid advancements and perpetual upgrades in software and solutions, AM is keeping up with consumer demands and various industrial needs. It is said that the global additive manufacturing market size is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26% from 2022 to 2030. In 2023, we are committed to growing our capabilities and increasing our base globally to build supply chain resilience. As most customers are turning to additive manufacturing for their manufacturing needs, we hope to reinforce our position as leaders in the AM space worldwide.”

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Gufic Biosciences Limited launches India’s first indigenous Botulinum Toxin injection Zarbot

Mumbai, December 2022: Reiterating its commitment to Make in India, Gufic Biosciences Limited (“Gufic”) a fast-growing pharmaceutical player recognized for its innovative, high-quality pharmaceutical and herbal products has launched indigenously produced ‘Zarbot’ (Botulinum Toxin Type A) injection in India.

‘Zarbot’ was unveiled by Dr. Dirk Dressler, Dr. Balaram Singh and several other prominent Healthcare Practitioners of India in a well-attended event held in Mumbai. ‘Zarbot’ has been developed and manufactured in collaboration with USA-based Prime Bio. One of the most important USPs of ‘Zarbot’ is that it has been manufactured using purified HALL strain and proprietary technology which results in thin film formulation and better stability compared to other botulinum toxin brands.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rajesh Lalchandani, Consultant Medical Director said, “Illustrating our continued commitment to bring out the best possible treatment for the people suffering from neurological deficits in India, we have launched Botulinum Toxin Type A injection ‘Zarbot’. With its biological potency similar to international brands ‘Zarbot’ complies with European and British Pharmacopeial standards.”

‘Zarbot’ is an effective option for treating certain neurological conditions which can be more challenging with conventional therapy. It comes in a unique pack with 10 ml Normal saline to improve compliance and can be stored at 2-8 °C for 36 months or 25 °C for 6 months before reconstitution and also stable up to 14 days at 2-8 °C after reconstitution and multiple withdrawal of injection solution from vial under aseptic precautions.

The event thronged by the key opinion leaders from across the globe also witnessed the launch of the first state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for Botulinum Toxin in India by Gufic. Currently only limited healthcare Practitioners in India are well versed in injection technique of Botulinum Toxin. In this backdrop the Centre of excellence launched by Gufic will offer training to Healthcare Practitioners on techniques of delivering complex injectable products like Botulinum Toxin.

Gufic is well-recognised as one of the largest manufacturers of Lyophilized injections in India and its lyophilized product portfolio includes Antibiotic, Antifungal, Cardiac, Infertility, Antiviral and proton-pump inhibitor segments, among others. The products of Gufic Biosciences are supplied to all the major hospital chains and leading medical facilities.