Archives June 2023

Three-day program focuses on effective leadership behaviors and successful business performance.

(St. Louis, Mo., June 7, 2023) Psychological Associates (PA), a consulting company that improves business performance through its leadership and talent development services, will hold its Q4 Leadership: The People Skills Advantage™ program. The three-day intensive workshop will take place Tues., Aug. 8 through Thurs., Aug. 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The program will be held at the Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center located at One Brookings Dr. on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis.

The program’s individualized experience focuses on helping a company’s top talent improve team success through the people skills they need to engage and influence others. Q4 Leadership comprehensively identifies and adapts effective leadership behaviors with more intricate job-related feedback. The program combines the latest in instructional design along with PA’s six decades of pragmatic leadership development.

The workshop – which uses real-world issues and situations – is designed for C-level leaders, vice presidents, and general managers who will improve their interpersonal skills to break down silos and contribute to synergistic teams.

Psychological Associates’ facilitator Marianne Whelchel will lead the sessions. She brings more than 16 years of global leadership development, training, and human resources experience to the workshop. Whelchel has managed the design and delivery of leadership curriculum for over 6,000 leaders globally.

Psychological Associates helps clients select, develop, and retain their best leaders, enabling them to build exceptional organizations. Its exclusive Q4 Dimensional® Model of Behavior™ – an industry-renowned structure that categorizes observable actions into understandable groupings – inspires high performance while attaining comprehensive results. Consulting capabilities include talent assessment, leadership development, succession planning, people analytics, and executive coaching. Founded in 1958, Psychological Associates is headquartered at 8000 Maryland Ave. in Clayton, Mo. Reservations are required since space is limited. For more information, call (314) 725-7771 or visit www.q4solutions.com.

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CIARA V4.0 boosts compliance with security regulations and best practices while providing effective mitigation guidance. “CISOs are doing more with less, making it challenging to understand their current standing across the OT Cybersecurity landscape,” said Ilan Barda, Radiflow CEO, and Co-founder.

Tel Aviv, Israel, June 6, 2023 – Radiflow, creators of the award-winning OT cybersecurity platform, CIARA, announced the general availability of CIARA 4.0. This release introduces a leading benchmark tool as well as delivers actionable insights for managing and minimizing risk in large multi-site industrial facilities.

Today, CISOs and security teams are responsible for the cybersecurity of OT facilities. However, they lack the ability to evaluate the ever-changing cybersecurity risks to their operations. Unlike other sectors, they can not easily assess risk exposure or the effectiveness of specific security activities. To address this, Radiflow released CIARA 4.0, a data-driven platform that continuously monitors changes in the site topology as well as vulnerabilities and threats, always re-evaluating the risk posture of facilities and their digital components. This continuous monitoring enables the CISO to review the strategic and tactical OT security plans and adapt them if needed.

In order to further assist the CISO with the evaluation of their risk posture, Radiflow is introducing a  new free-to-use cloud benchmark tool. Utilizing collected industry-specific benchmark information based on Radiflow’s vast experience and enriched with CS2AI surveys, the new benchmark tool provides the user with a quick risk posture assessment compared to the industry status and best practices.

“CISOs are under enormous pressure to do more with less, making it challenging to understand their current standing across the OT Cybersecurity landscape,” said Ilan Barda, Radiflow CEO, and Co-founder. “Data-driven CIARA 4.0 automates the delivery of the necessary insights concerning the changes in the risk posture that actually direct users toward optimal security actions.”

At the same time that threat actors are getting more sophisticated and vulnerabilities are becoming more diverse, national and industrial regulatory bodies are tightening cybersecurity regulations. But these are often highly complicated and challenging. For example, while the widely accepted IEC62443 international series of standards provides a detailed map of security controls, it is often too complex for companies to understand and implement. For these situations, CIARA 4.0 delivers a view of Best Practices of Security Controls which are simpler to understand and map better to the planning of security projects in an individual factory or across a sprawling, geographically diverse complex of interlinked facilities.

“A centralized, highly intelligent solution that enables OT cybersecurity teams to identify vulnerabilities, and stay up to date with industry standards and/or best practices, while prioritizing and evaluating mitigation efforts, slashes the investment in time and effort required to conduct secure operations,” explained Michael Langer, Radiflow’s Chief Product Officer. “With the accelerating pace of so many new devices being interconnected via expanding OT networks alongside decades of legacy versions, CIARA 4.0’s ability to automate accurate risk analyses and furnish actionable insights becomes vital for ensuring zero downtime.”

Bengaluru, India, 06th, June 2023 – Verizon Business today released the results of its 16th annual Data Breach Investigations Report (2023 DBIR), which analyzed 16,312 security incidents and 5,199 breaches. Chief among its findings is the soaring cost of ransomware – malicious software (malware) that encrypts an organization’s data and then extorts large sums of money to restore access.

The median cost per ransomware incident doubled over the past two years, with 95% of ransomware incidents that experienced a loss costing between $1 million and $2.25 million. This rise in cost coincides with a dramatic rise in frequency. Last year, the number of ransomware attacks was greater than the previous five years combined. That prevalence held steady this year: Representing almost a quarter of all breaches (24%), ransomware remains one of the top cyberattack methods.

The human element still makes up the overwhelming majority of incidents, and is a factor in 74% of total breaches, even as enterprises continue to safeguard critical infrastructure and increase training on cybersecurity protocols. One of the most common ways to exploit human nature is social engineering, which refers to manipulating an organization’s sensitive information through tactics like phishing, in which a hacker convinces the user into clicking on a malicious link or attachment.

“Senior leadership represents a growing cybersecurity threat for many organizations,” said Chris Novak, Managing Director of Cybersecurity Consulting at Verizon Business. “Not only do they possess an organization’s most sensitive information, they are often among the least protected, as many organizations make security protocol exceptions for them. With the growth and increasing sophistication of social engineering, organizations must enhance the protection of their senior leadership now to avoid expensive system intrusions.”

Like ransomware, social engineering is a lucrative tactic for cybercriminals, especially given the rise of those techniques being used to impersonate enterprise employees for financial gain, an attack known as Business Email Compromise (BEC). The median amount stolen in BECs has increased over the last couple of years to $50,000 USD, based on Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) data, which might have contributed to pretexting nearly doubling this past year. With the growth of BEC, enterprises with distributed workforces face a challenge that takes on greater importance: creating and strictly enforcing human-centric security best practices.

“Globally, cyber threat actors continue their relentless efforts to acquire sensitive consumer and business data. The revenue generated from that information is staggering, and it’s not lost on business leaders, as it is front and center at the board level,” said Craig Robinson, Research Vice President at IDC. “Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report provides deep insights into the topics that are critical to the cybersecurity industry and has become a source of truth for the business community.”

In addition to the increase in social engineering, other key findings in the 2023 DBIR include:

While espionage garners substantial media attention, owing to the current geopolitical climate, only 3% of threat actors were motivated by espionage. The other 97% were motivated by financial gain.
32% of yearly Log4j vulnerability scanning occurred in the first 30 days after its release, demonstrating threat actors’ velocity when escalating from a proof of concept to mass exploitation.
External actors leveraged a variety of different techniques to gain entry to an organization, such as using stolen credentials (49%), phishing (12%) and exploiting vulnerabilities (5%).

One of the ways that enterprises can help safeguard their critical infrastructure is through the adoption and adherence of industry-leading protocols and practices. Verizon recently became the first nationwide telecom provider to become a participant of Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security (MANRS): a global initiative that provides crucial fixes to reduce the most common routing threats that can be exploited by attackers. Participation in MANRS demonstrates Verizon’s commitment to implementing industry-best fixes to common routing threats and best practices geared at helping to prevent cyber incidents for customers on the network.

Mumbai, 07th June 2023: Internovo Ventures, a joint venture between the family office of financial services veteran Karan Desai and Novostack, a new-age technology company has launched Indirow, a state-of-the-art B2B2C loan origination platform. Live on Google Playstore and soon-to-be available on Apple app store and in web version, Indirow aims to meet the growing demand for various retail loan products in India with its diverse product offerings. This unique platform also offers opportunities to businesses to become partners and monetise their client base and develop new revenue streams.

Indirow offers a broad range of credit solutions such as personal loan, home loan, business loan, loan against property, and gold loans, to name a few. Indirow aims to emerge as the most sought after digital credit solutions platform with strong product diversity and personalized services. For that, Internovo Ventures has entered into a strategic partnership with RULoans, one of India’s leading lending services businesses, which distributes over Rs.3,000 crore of retail loans to over 200 banks and NBFCs across India every month.

Indirow provides curated financing solutions to customers by leveraging an integrated credit assessment system with a leading credit bureau agency. The system helps Indirow evaluate the customer credit profile and prescribe suitable solutions and financiers. Customers will truly experience a seamless digital borrowing journey with end-to-end assistance and a fast and user-friendly interface for tracking each phase of the journey. Unlike broker-driven small-scale loan arrangement marketplaces, the platform does not charge its customers for its services.

Apart from offering credit solutions to end-customers, this loan origination platform caters to small to midsize businesses that are into providing non-lending related services to a large captive pool of customers. By becoming Indirow partners, these businesses can offer credit solutions to their captive clientele via dedicated links, API integration and co-branded arrangements through the platform.

Commenting on the launch of Indirow, Karan Desai, Co-Founder at Internovo Ventures, said, “With Indirow, we aim to disrupt the conventional digital borrowing and lending model and present a futuristic, transparent, responsive and efficient borrowing and loan origination platform which safeguards its customer interest as well as helps businesses monetise their client base. User-friendly on-boarding is at the core of a strong customer relationship and we have made it possible through our strategic technology stacks and network collaborations.” Akshay Srivastava who is also a Co-Founder and leads technology added, “Putting the customers first, we have introduced initiatives like customer-led scrubbing of consumer data on the credit bureau so that credit score remains unaffected and customers are able to borrow right. We are working towards making Indirow a robust, differentiated and trusted customer acquisition platform to businesses. Our initial goal is to disburse over Rs.100 crore through Indirow in FY24.”

Indirow comes with a strong tech-enabled back-end capable of efficiently managing customer acquisition, onboarding, and borrowing journeys with minimal manual intervention. Thus, the customer acquisition-to-loan disbursement process on the platform doesn’t require operational interventions from partners. Using the Indirow mobile app or website, the partners can view real-time dashboards to track the loan processing status of their customers.

Kolkata,7th June 2023– Top-notch MFI 1 graded, Arohan Financial Services has won recognitions in the categories of “Innovation in Lending” for ArohanPrivilege – a first-in-the industry digital lending platform for microfinance customers, “Lending Solutions” for Nirnay – an industry leading credit scoring system and “Financial Inclusion Programme” for ApnaArohan at the SKOCH Fintech Awards, 2023. recently.

Arohan’s industry-first credit scoring system ‘Nirnay’ stands out with its advanced algorithms and holistic evaluation, considering various factors beyond traditional credit metrics.

ApnaArohan Customer App is a 3600 mobile app for the millions of customers that Arohan caters to. Equipped with regional language capabilities, the app allows customers to get information on their existing loans, including eligibility checks for future loans, and information about various cross-sale products, including insurance and even allows customers to pay their EMIs online directly through the app. As an industry-first initiative, the app facilitates for a select group of customers – ArohanPrivilege, the facility of getting a loan within 10 minutes after a successful loan application on the mobile app.

Mr. Manoj Nambiar, Managing Director, Arohan Financial Services Limited, said “Arohan’s prudent investment in building a state-of-the-art technology landscape is a testimony of the Company’s commitment to transparency, robust operational processes, scalability, and sustainability. We are focused on our Vision of impacting 20 million lives by the year 2027.”

Such milestone technology innovations set the platform for a paradigm shift in the ethos of the microfinance industry in the country. Arohan has also been conferred the top-notch MFI 1 grading, the seventh year in a row, by CARE Advisory Research and Training Limited (CareEdge Advisory) after a comprehensive evaluation conducted in April 2023. The MFI 1 grade is assigned on an 8-point scale and signifies the “Highest capacity to manage microfinance operations in a sustainable manner”.

As Arohan Financial Services Limited continues to receive industry recognition and expand its reach, it remains steadfast in its commitment to providing inclusive financial services, driving one of the key national priorities of financial inclusion.

India, 06th June 2023: oraimo is set to launch FreePods 4 in India to offer affordable yet top-notch technology and quality devices to young customers. Designed for those who prefer quality sound without compromising on comfort, FreePods 4 gives crystal-clear calls and an immersive listening experience in busy and noisy environments.

Features

The premium wireless earbuds are equipped with the latest ANC technology which can reduce up to 30dB of noise. Additionally, it boasts an advanced 4-mic Proprietary Beamforming Array and AI Deep Neural Network algorithm that can accurately detect and reduce noise in calls.

The all-new Transparency Mode in the device gives listeners the flexibility to reconnect with the surroundings without removing the earbuds. It also features a low-latency gaming mode that reduces audio delay and ensures seamless connectivity. The device comes with a slide-to-open feature while the anti-drop magnets keep the pods tucked safely even with a bit of a shake.

Long-lasting battery life

In addition to its fast-charging technology, the FreePods 4 comes with an impressive battery life of up to 35.5 hours of music listening. A 10-minute Quick Charge can provide up to 170 minutes of battery life.

Match your musical taste with the all-new oraimo Sound App

With unmatched sound quality, FreePods 4 provides audiophiles and music lovers with the tools to create their exclusive styles. One can seamlessly turn the audio on the newly introduced oraimo Sound app which allows to choose from five EQ modes, adjust the touch controls, switch between noise control modes, and even find the earbuds in case they are lost with Find My Device feature.

Lightspeed connectivity

One can easily connect their devices to FreePods 4 in a matter of seconds with Google Fast Pairing by simply taking the earphones out of their case and turning on Bluetooth on the device. The earbuds come with a highly sensitive sensor that precisely reacts to the requests, so listeners can effortlessly change the music, answer calls, and adjust the volume levels with a press or quick touch.

Durability and safety redefined

FreePods 4 is IPX5 splashproof and has sweat protection that prevents moisture damage, making it a perfect companion for intense workouts and outdoor activities in the rain. Furthermore, the product comes with antibacterial ear tips reducing the risk of bacterial and fungal infections.

Price and availability

The FreePods 4 is priced at INR 1,999 and will be exclusively available on Flipkart beginning June 8th at a launch price of INR 1,599.

Adding to the fashion statement of young users, the stylish FreePods 4 is the ideal TWS for anybody looking for high-quality sound without compromising on comfort. Slide, wear and play to experience ultimate tranquillity.

“We are thrilled to introduce FreePods 4 to the Indian market. We have also integrated it with advanced ANC technology to offer the best and noise-free calling experience at affordable pricing. We are confident that FreePods 4 will capture the hearts and ears of young Indian listeners by enabling them to immerse in their favourite audio content, said Sachin Kapoor, BU Head, oraimo India.

The Fern Hotels & Resorts, a leading hospitality brand known for its commitment to sustainable luxury, is delighted to announce the grand opening of its 100th hotel, The Fern Shelter Resort, Palghar (Maharashtra).

The Fern Shelter Resort, Palghar, located on National Highway 48 between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, promises a distinctive and unforgettable stay for its guests. Nestled amidst serene surroundings, the hotel has 81 tastefully appointed rooms that offer a blend of modern amenities and elegant décor. Each room has been thoughtfully designed to provide the utmost comfort and convenience to discerning travelers. For those seeking a panoramic view and an elevated experience, the rooftop lounge provides the perfect ambiance to unwind and enjoy scenic vistas.

In addition to its exceptional infrastructure and dining options, The Fern Shelter Resort, Palghar boasts top-of-the-line banquet facilities, including a picturesque lawn. This makes it an ideal destination for weddings, social events, and corporate offsites, offering a seamless blend of luxury, comfort and convenience. The hotel will be fully operational from the end of June.

The Fern Shelter Resort, Palghar follows the brand’s ethos by incorporating eco-friendly features and initiatives to minimize its environmental impact. The Fern Hotels & Resorts takes pride in its sustainable practices and has received several accolades for its initiatives in eco-friendly hospitality.

The group celebrated its 100th Hotel Milestone with a Green Gesture by planting 100 tree saplings at The Fern Shelter Resort, Palghar. This eco-conscious initiative serves as a powerful symbol of the group’s unwavering dedication to environmental preservation and sustainability. Distinguished guests, dignitaries and representatives from The Fern Hotels & Resorts participated in the event, coming together with great enthusiasm to plant the 100 saplings. This act not only signifies the brand’s commitment to greening the planet but also reflects its responsibility towards nurturing and safeguarding the environment.

Mr. Suhail Kannampilly, Managing Director, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, expressed his utmost pride and joy as the brand reached this momentous milestone with the launch of its 100th hotel. He added “The unveiling of The Fern Shelter Resort, Palghar not only marks the expansion of the brand into this bustling business district but also signifies a significant achievement in the group’s journey. We are grateful to our valued guests, dedicated team members and esteemed partners who have played a significant role in our growth and success. As we celebrate this achievement, we remain dedicated to expanding our presence and setting new benchmarks in the hospitality industry.”

Mr. Rahul Chaudhary, MD & CEO, CG Corp Global and CG Hospitality Holdings said, “The Fern Hotels & Resorts, India’s premier management company, proudly announces the inauguration of its 100th hotel, The Fern Shelter Resort, located in Palghar, Maharashtra. This momentous milestone solidifies our position as the second largest management company in India for five consecutive years. Additionally, for three consecutive years, we have been recognized as the top organization for opening the highest number of hotels, ranging from 15 to 20 annually. The Fern Hotels & Resorts has been recognized as the trailblazer of the ‘green hotel’ movement in India, setting industry standards for sustainability and eco-friendly practices. With the launch

of The Fern Shelter Resort, we continue our legacy of spearheading the concept of responsible hospitality, even two decades after introducing this trend to the nation.”

Mr. Chaudhary further reiterated “CG Hospitality proudly commemorates its history of successful joint ventures and globally renowned assets alongside esteemed partners in the hospitality sector. Over the two decades, we have forged strategic alliances with leading brands across the world, as well as our very own CHPL brands. CG’s extensive portfolio includes over 150+ hotels and resorts across 12 countries, spanning 91 sought-after destinations. These remarkable properties stand as a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in the hospitality industry.”

Mr. Noshir A Marfatia, Senior Vice President – Sales & Marketing, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, shared, “It is a proud moment for us as we accomplish this significant milestone in the group’s journey, by opening our 100th hotel in India in our ever-growing portfolio. It further reinforces our commitment to expand our service offerings to newer destinations in the country. It also supports the company’s objective of achieving growth through domestic dominance.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Harish Shetty, Managing Director, Shelter Group of Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd said, “We are absolutely delighted to partner with The Fern Hotels for our flagship hotel and are doubly proud to be their 100th hotel. Our hotel will surely benefit from The Fern’s operational processes and their strong sales & marketing focus and reach across India.”

The achievement of reaching 100 hotels in India reflects the relentless dedication and hard work of The Fern team. The brand has consistently aimed to provide unparalleled hospitality experiences while maintaining a strong focus on sustainable practices. This milestone showcases their commitment to expanding their service offerings to diverse destinations across the country.

LOCATION: The hotel is 68 km from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, 36 km from Palghar Railway Station and 0.4 km from Dhekale Bus Stop

Mumbai,7th June 2023 In a whirlwind of audio fantasies, audio series has achieved a remarkable feat. Pocket FM’s six fantasy audio series with its gripping storytelling have conquered their spots in IMDb’s coveted Top 50 Fantasy Podcast Series. This index serves as the ultimate yardstick for exceptional fantastical tales. Besides, these were the only Indian inclusion in this global listings.

Pocket FM’s remarkable audio series have made a strong impression on audiences. ‘Number Zero’ stands out at an impressive 12th spot, immersing listeners in its unique storytelling. Following closely behind is ‘Hiss – Rebirth of a Destroyer’ at the 14th spot, captivating with its gripping narrative. ‘Mahabali Mayank’ weaves enchanting mythological elements, securing the 16th spot, while ‘Super Yoddha’ finds popularity among fantasy enthusiasts at the 24th spot. The ‘Immortal Warrior’ and ‘Aflatoon Daddy’ claim the 38th and 40th spots, showcasing Pocket FM’s diverse and captivating content.

S. Sridhar, the accomplished writer behind ‘Super Yoddha,’ expressed immense joy at the resounding success of the audio series. “I’m overjoyed as a writer to see ‘Super Yoddha’ reach the top ranks of the fantasy podcast list on IMDb. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that our hard work is being recognized and appreciated. This achievement strengthens our dedication to providing outstanding content and showcases the remarkable talent and creativity in the Indian audio entertainment industry. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to our loyal listeners for their unwavering support and gratitude to Pocket FM for their consistent backing. With this accomplishment, we’re even more inspired to bring our audience even more captivating and engaging experiences.”

Other notable podcasts included ‘The Sandman’ at the numero-uno spot, ‘The Batman Audio Adventures’ at the 2nd spot, ‘Batman Unburied’ at the 3rd spot, ‘Marvel’s Wastelanders’ at the 4th spot, ‘Marvel’s Wastelanders Hawkeye’ at the 5th spot, ‘Intra Quest’ at the 13th spot, ‘Birds of Empire’ at the 14th spot, ‘Bookbukners’ at the 23rd spot.

World Environment Day was celebrated with full enthusiasm across the nation. Environmentalists, celebrities, and activists from different facets came ahead and contributed their part for the well-being of the environment. Colaba’s Former Corporator who is also a renowned Advocate took a different angle to make this day a memorable one. Makarand along with the youth of the Rotaract Club started off the day with 500 saplings along the pedestrian area.

Followed by this, the initiative was extended to Nariman Point where Makarand Narwekar handed 200 saplings to the families of the individuals traveling by Uber’s latest travel invention e-carriage, replacing the ‘Godha Gadi’ that circles the mesmerizing sight for the eye Queen’s Necklace. The Former Corporator was also spotted explaining the utmost salience of preserving and protecting the environment while distributing those saplings and appealing the responsible citizens to plant the same.

In an exclusive conversation with us, Makarand Narwekar said, “As responsible citizens of the country it is an utter happiness and satisfaction to be able to conduct these plantation drives. The citizens who supported us also took an oath to opt for more sustainable alternatives. It is truly very important that one enacts this righteousness not only today but every day from now on! Supporting this aim, we have multiple campaigns aligned in the coming days as well.”

Narwekar subsequently supported countless attempts to embellish his representing region, with impressive initiatives like bicycle-sharing services in conjunction with Mybyk, tree-planting drives, and many more. This event is undoubtedly the culmination of Narwekar’s ongoing efforts to enhance the environment and make it suitable for society.

New Delhi,7th June 2023 PURE, a leading electric two-wheeler company dedicated to sustainable mobility solutions, is pleased to announce its partnership with SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) to deploy 20,000 electric two-wheelers (EV 2W) nationwide.

At the event hosted by SIDBI and World Bank India, PURE was honored to be chosen as a pioneering partner in the EVOLUTION program, enabling the deployment of 50,000 leased vehicles to aggregators and facilitating the seamless and sustainable adoption of electric vehicles.

PURE’s diverse range of commute segment vehicles, including the ETrance NEO, ePluto 7G, and ecoDryft models, have been impaneled for this ambitious initiative. Moreover, PURE has secured empanelment with IDBI, enabling easy fleet financing solutions for customers. This partnership aims to simplify the process of fleet acquisition, further encouraging the transition to sustainable transportation options.

Highlighting this milestone, Mr. Rohit Vadera, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, PURE EV, said, “I am thrilled to announce a significant milestone for PURE as we have been impanelled as an eligible OEM for EVOLVE-RSP/ EV4W scheme with SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) to deploy 20,000 electric two-wheelers (EV 2W) across India. This strategic collaboration not only reinforces our commitment to sustainable mobility but also positions us as a key player in driving the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) nationwide.

The esteemed recognition validates PURE’s commitment to transforming the transportation landscape by embracing clean and green mobility. With the generous financial support from SIDBI, we have the opportunity to make a substantial impact on the B2B and fleet segments”.

PURE EV has been expanding its product portfolio which is available via their 130+ exclusive dealerships across Pan India. The company plans to further expand its footprint across 300 cities by the end of 2023.