Archives February 2024

08th February, 2024, Bengaluru  Embassy Group, one of India’s leading real estate developers, announced today that it had inked a joint development pact for 3.75 acres of land in Whitefield to launch a premium residential project. Designed for millennials with cosmopolitan mindsets, the project will offer future-first housing that blends modern efficiency, unparalleled amenities, and timeless aesthetics. It will have an estimated revenue potential of around Rs. 550 crore.

The land, strategically located on Whitefield Main Road, is also close to Hoodi Junction and will cater to a global lifestyle with the area’s booming social infrastructure comprising of hospitals, schools, banks, employment hubs, and malls and shopping centres. With easy access to public transport and recent connectivity through the East-West corridor of the Metro Purple Line, the project is well-linked to the rest of the city.

Encompassing about 5.4 lakh square feet of saleable area, including approximately 400 apartments (comprising 2 BHK, 2.5 BHK, and 3 BHK), the units will feature natural lighting and ventilation, large windows, and balconies with expansive views. The project is expected to go live by Q4 FY24 and will cater to the housing demand from young professionals of the booming IT and ITeS sector in the area.

A part of Embassy’s ongoing pivot towards the residential asset class, the Group has over Rs. 2,000 crore of OC-compliant projects ready for possession this year. Additionally, they are looking to launch around Rs. 5,000 crore of inventory in the coming year to meet the existing demand for premium and luxury living spaces.

New Delhi, 08 February 2024:  ETS announced today an innovative, first-of-its kind test prep platform for learners preparing for the TOEFL iBT^® test. With the goal of elevating test takers to their highest proficiency, TOEFL^® TestReady™ cements itself as the only comprehensive test prep platform currently available that leverages AI to offer personalized insights and targeted recommendations for a high-stakes English-language test to study or work abroad.

TOEFL TestReady combines existing official TOEFL iBT prep offerings with a variety of new products and features in one cohesive portal.

New free offerings include:

• Scored activity of the day: a fully scored question set or task (e.g., a Listening lecture + 6 questions)
• Personalized prep plan: a customized journey with a recommended timeline for preparation based on learners’ unique needs
• Videos, courses, books, tips, progress tracking and more

New paid offerings include:

• Section Tests: scores and insights upon completion of a full test section (Reading, Listening, Speaking or Writing)
• Section Practice: feedback and insights at the question/task type (e.g., Integrated Speaking) and feature (e.g., grammatical accuracy) level within a specific test section; also includes example responses
• Focused Practice: feedback and insights on one question/task type (e.g., complete multiple Integrated Speaking tasks)

The platform is uniquely designed to bring all of a test taker’s performance metrics together and offer targeted recommendations and insights that help them close their individual skills gaps, while tracking their progress. Targeted insights help learners focus their time and prepare more effectively and efficiently – enabling them to meet their goals faster than ever. In addition, initial research has found the better one’s performance in TOEFL TestReady, the more likely they’ll be to achieve a higher TOEFL iBT score.

“The unveiling of TOEFL TestReady is important not only because it addresses a need we’ve heard directly from our test takers, but because we designed this with them as well,” said Rohit Sharma, SVP of Global Higher Education and Workskills, ETS. “Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback and data we’ve collected to date, we’re confident that learners will find this platform to be an invaluable part of their testing experience.”

Test takers who have already created a TOEFL iBT account to register for a test, or who have engaged with the TOEFL Go! app can use their login credentials at www.testready.ets.org to access the portal. Test takers who are new to TOEFL can create an account at the same link to begin their test prep journey. For general information about what TOEFL TestReady has to offer, visit https://www.ets.org/toefl–testready.

Bengaluru, 08th February 2024: Ashwin Sheth Group (ASG), a prominent real estate developer in India, has received the prestigious award – ‘Best Brand to Work For’ at the Golden Aim Conference and Awards for Excellence and Leadership in HRM (2024) in Mumbai.

This recognition highlights the company’s commitment to fostering a strong organizational culture that cultivates a positive work environment while aligning seamlessly with overarching business objectives. This acknowledgement is a testament to the culture of fostering equal opportunity, diversity and constant learning that empowers its people to enhance the company’s success and deliver excellence to all internal and external stakeholders.

Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Ashwin Sheth, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Ashwin Sheth Group stated, “Receiving this honour is truly remarkable and serves as a solid affirmation of our dedication to establishing a workplace that motivates employees, fosters performance excellence, and drives the organization towards sustained success. Encouraging the sharing of knowledge and adopting a culture of continuous learning are integral elements of our organization’s ethos”.

Mr Prabhakar Azad, Chief People and Process Officer (CPPO), Ashwin Sheth Group, added, “We are extremely pleased to receive ‘Great place to work for’ certification and this is Ashwin Sheth Group’s ethos of a collaborative approach and people-focused company. This achievement is an endeavour to the constant efforts and contributions from all our employees every day. Their commitment to excellence and fostering a positive work environment has been the driving force behind this incredible success of the company. We are on an expansion spree and we are building an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture and workforce in the company. Furthermore, we have established a robust feedback loop that empowers our employees to share their thoughts and experiences regarding our learning initiatives. We greatly value this recognition since it acts as a compass for our efforts to continuously enhance learning and growth”.

Ashwin Sheth Group is committed to nurturing a workplace that inspires, drives excellence, and ensures lasting success. Recognizing the significance of knowledge sharing and continuous learning, the company has established a dedicated ‘Learning and Development’ role, underscoring its commitment to upskilling employees. Through workshops, experiential learning, coaching, and mentoring, Ashwin Sheth Group (ASG) provides comprehensive support tailored to diverse learning preferences, enabling employees to thrive in their roles.

Gurugram, 08th February, 2024: The Xth Convocation of Amity University Haryana (AUH), held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, marked a momentous occasion as the university conferred degrees upon 1573 graduands, comprising 960 Undergraduate, 559 Postgraduate, and 54 PhD recipients. The ceremony, graced by esteemed dignitaries and luminaries from various fields, celebrated the academic achievements and contributions of its graduates.

The Convocation, presided over by Hon’ble Chancellor Dr. Aseem Chauhan and Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) P.B. Sharma, witnessed the presence of Trustees of RBEF, distinguished faculty members, proud parents, and invited guests. Among the notable attendees were Prof. (Dr.) Govindan Rangarajan, Director of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Mr. Kishore Jayaraman, President of Rolls-Royce, India and South Asia; and legal luminary Mr. Shardul S. Shroff, Executive Chairman of ShardulAmarch and Mangaldas& Co., who were honoured with Honoris Causa Doctorates for their remarkable contributions to their respective fields.

In addition to the honorary doctorates, AUH conferred Honorary Professorships upon Dr. Mukund Deshpande, Former Chief Scientist, CSIR-NCL; Prof (Dr) Chin-Tsan Wang, Director, Science and Technology Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Center, India and Dr. Brent N Holben, Senior Scientist, NASA, Goddard Space Flight Centrerecognizing their significant contributions to academia and research.

The Convocation commenced with an Academic Procession led by the majestic Rajputana Rifles band, setting the tone for the grandeur of the event. The ceremony began with Vedic Hawan  in the morning followed by Saraswati Vandana, to invoke the blessings of the divinity.

Addressing the graduands, Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) P.B. Sharma emphasized the importance of responsibility and ethics in their future endeavours, urging them to strive for perfection. He also highlighted AUH’s recent achievement of being ranked among the top 100 universities in India by NIRF University Ranking 2023.He shared his vision with the words “Kushlann Na Paramaditabhyam, Swadhyay Na Pamaditabhyam” inspiring the young professionals to work relentlessly for achieving perfection, being their own inspiration and not shying away from self-study.

Chancellor Dr. Aseem Chauhan commended the graduates for their commitment to making a positive impact on society, emphasizing AUH’s mission to instill a sense of social responsibility in its students. The Chancellor hailed the graduands on their achievements and urged them to “walk the talk” and make their nation and Alma Mater proud.

Expressing gratitude for the honorary doctorate, Prof. Dr. Govindan Rangarajan lauded AUH’s focus on research and innovation, highlighting the university’s unique approach to education that integrates human values and ethics.

Mr. Shardul S. Shroff, recipient of the Honoris Causa Doctorate in Law, inspired the graduands with his words on perseverance and excellence, urging them to pursue success with dedication and effort.

The ceremony also recognized academic excellence with the conferral of 176 medals and the presentation of the Baljit Shastri Award for Human & Traditional Values. Additionally, AUH honoured students for their outstanding work in sustainability with the GBCI Corporate Award of Sustainability.

AUH’s commitment to sustainability and innovation was underscored by its LEED Platinum certification and impressive patent portfolio. The university’s dedication to research and academic excellence has solidified its position as a leading institution in India and beyond. Today, AUH stands taller with 242 patents filed out of which 168 have been published. In 2023, The Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded AUH with a 4-Star rating in the University category. The Amity Universe hosts 13 campuses in India and 17 reputed international campuses. In a short span of 14 years, AUH has emerged as a major hub for world class research and a cradle for innovation.

For more information about Amity University Haryana, please visit https://www.amity.edu/gurugram/

08 February 2024- Ather Energy, one of India’s leading electric scooter manufacturers, has been teasing about its upcoming family scooter, the Rizta, for the past few weeks. In a recent social media post Tarun Mehta shared two images comparing Rizta’s seat with two leading scooters in the category. The Rizta’s seat was much larger in comparison indicating that Rizta would have the largest seat in the family scooter segment.

In his recent tweets, which gathered a lot of attention on social media, Ather CEO Tarun Mehta shared this interesting comparison of the seat size of Rizta. Tarun’s tweet read as, “There are a lot of folks who love @atherenergy but wanted a bigger scooter from us. So when we were designing our family scooter, we made sure we tick that box. I wanted to give you all a sneak peek at what we mean by “bigger.” This will be the biggest seat in the market! Launching on our Community Day 2024 real soon! “. While Tarun did not mention the competing brands, it was found out that the two seats were of the Ola S1 range and the Honda Activa, which have been dominating their respective segments. The Rizta’s seat was seen to be much larger and more spacious, affirming that Rizta will provide significantly more space and offer a comfortable riding experience for both the rider and the pillion

.Although very little is known about the Rizta, from the couple of weeks it has been spotted testing, it is clear that Ather now wants to target an audience looking for a family scooter. Last week, the scooter was spotted testing with two riders and additional load, giving us a closer look at its practicality and overall usability. Being a family electric scooter, it is expected to be ridden with ample weight and a pillion, as we see in the real world. Even the fairly large floorboard area is an indicator of the family-oriented approach.

As the electric scooter industry witnesses a surge in demand, Ather strategically positions itself as a responsive player, catering to a diverse range of consumer needs by venturing into the family-oriented market. With precision engineering and proudly donning the “Made in India” badge, the forthcoming family scooter from Ather is set to make substantial strides in comfort and safety, exemplifying the brand’s commitment to exceeding conventional expectations.

The brand has already slated the Ather Rizta’s launch during Ather’s Community Day 2024. So we expect an official announcement soon.

ONGC and NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) signed a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) to develop renewable energy projects focusing on offshore wind. This was signed on 7 February 2024 during India Energy Week held at Goa. The JVA was signed in the presence of Hon’ble Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri.

The Joint Venture agreement was signed between NGEL CEO Mohit Bhargava and ONGC Executive Director Satish Kumar Dwivedi. The signing took place in the presence of ONGC Chairman and CEO Arun Kumar Singh, and NTPC Limited Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh in the presence of Minister Puri

The JVA marks a pivotal collaboration aimed at spearheading Renewable Energy Projects both within India and on the international stage. Specifically, the agreement encompasses ventures in offshore wind projects while also delving into potential opportunities in Storage, E-mobility, Carbon Credits, Green Credits, Green Hydrogen business, and its derivatives such as Green Ammonia and Green Methanol.

 8th February 2024: Biz2X, a leading Digital Lending SaaS platform and subsidiary of global digital lender Biz2Credit in India, announced the appointment of Mr. Pankaj Sharma as its Chief Revenue Officer. In his new role, Pankaj will spearhead the revenue generation efforts, focusing on strategic sales, business development, and marketing initiatives to drive growth in alignment with Biz2X’s expansion plans. His key priorities include building a top-notch sales team and gaining momentum in new client acquisition.

Before joining Biz2X, Pankaj has served in key roles at Lentra, Experian, and Dun & Bradstreet. In his previous positions, he demonstrated leadership in enterprise sales within digital lending SaaS and data analytics, catering to banking, financial services, and large/mid-corporates. He has consistently driven multi-million dollar deals, acquiring large banking and financial services clients in the SaaS and digital lending tech space, and introducing industry-first products in supply chain risk assessment and finance solutions.

On his appointment, Mr. Pankaj Sharma stated, “I am honored to be a part of such a dynamic and fast growing organization committed to the cause of empowering indigenous businesses, helping them to grow and scale. I look forward to playing an integral part in the growth and success of Biz2X by leveraging my understanding of financing needs across industry segments to shape up the organization’s marketplace model, Maadhyam, and build a strong lender ecosystem on the platform as well as scaling up the Biz2X digital lending SaaS platform”.

Mr. Rohit Arora, CEO and Co-founder, Biz2Credit and Biz2X, stated, “The appointment of Mr. Pankaj Sharma will strengthen Biz2X’s position as the market leader in the marketplace and SaaS ecosystem in India. His role at Biz2X will accelerate the distribution of credit in the SME sector, aligning with India’s $10 Trillion economy goal. We look forward to the valuable contributions and leadership that he will bring to the organization as the Chief Revenue Officer”.

Pankaj Sharma holds an MBA degree and boasts 19 years of extensive professional experience in the field. His skills include driving large deals, rapid scaling up of business, creative marketing campaigns, product knowledge and competition dynamics.

This Valentine’s Day, Mauji Time Cafe invites everyone to redefine the celebration of love at “Mauji VINGLES V(valentines) S(ingles).” This event is dedicated to embracing the beauty of being single, fostering self-love, and creating memorable experiences.

Celebrate independence and self-love. Embrace the joy of being single and appreciate the freedom it brings. Mauji will be transformed into a haven of positive energy, with vibrant decor, uplifting music, and an atmosphere that radiates self-love.

Enjoy a lineup of engaging activities designed for solo enjoyment and group participation. From games and trivia to self-care stations, Mauji Vingles ensures a delightful experience. Along with this, indulge in a specially curated menu of delectable treats and refreshing beverages, creating a culinary experience that complements the joyous occasion.

Attendees are encouraged to wear outfits that make them feel confident, empowered, and ready to celebrate their fabulous single selves. Let’s make this Valentine’s Day a day to cherish our independence, enjoy the company of friends, and revel in the joy of being single.

Details:

Date: February 14, 2024

Time: 6:00 pm onwards

Venue: Mauji Time Cafe, Bhosale Nagar

To Register: https://www.maujicafe.com/event-details/mauji-vingles-celebrating-singlehood

Entry Fee: Rs. 299

Contact: +91 80106 32001

Note: Pre-registration is mandatory, so please register on the link. We have limited spots only.

India, 08 February 2024: Cactus Venture Partners (CVP), an India-focused, early growth stage venture investment firm that backs purpose-driven entrepreneurs, announced the successful final close of its first fund. The fund has secured a total corpus of more than INR 630 crores. This is one of the largest first-time venture capital funds raised in the country.

CVP has received capital commitments from a diverse investor base, with 60% originating from domestic sources and the remaining 40% from international Limited Partners (LPs), predominantly from the USA, Singapore, EU, and the UK. Leading Indian development financial Institutions, such as SIDBI, Self-Reliant India Fund (SRI Fund), and the UP Startup Fund, backed the emerging manager co-founded by General Partners, Anurag Goel, Amit Sharma, and Rajeev Kalambi. Sizeable commitments were received from international and domestic Family Offices and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNIs).

Cactus Venture Partners has a broad sector focus, with a primary interest in climate tech, health tech, and B2B SaaS businesses. The firm is committed to contributing to the growth and success of innovative ventures that have the potential to revolutionize industries, improve lives, and positively impact the environment.

Commenting on the fund closing, Rajeev Kalambi, General Partner, Cactus Venture Partners said, “The overwhelming support from both domestic and international investors underscores the growing confidence in the Indian startup ecosystem. We are immensely grateful to our LPs for their trust and confidence in our ability to deliver on our stated investment strategy.

Cactus Venture Partners is a strategic partner to our portfolio companies. Our Growth Acceleration Playbook (GAP) is designed to supplement founder efforts, providing them with the resources and guidance needed to scale successfully. We remain committed to fostering the growth of innovative startups that align with our vision of creating a positive impact on a global scale.”

Amit Sharma, General Partner, Cactus Venture Partners said, ” The success of our fundraising effort underscores the confidence placed in our ability to identify and nurture high-potential startups. We follow a disciplined investment approach focused on building a high-quality high-conviction portfolio. We are committed to working with our purpose-driven founder partners to help them realize their innovative vision with not just capital, but all the strategic resources at our disposal. We would like to express our gratitude to our investors as well as our portfolio companies to partner with us. As we look ahead, our strategic imperative is to not only expand our portfolio but to position our investments for sustainable, long-term success.”

Cactus Venture Partners will focus on Series A and early Series B fundraising stages, targeting companies that have established Product-Market Fit (PMF). While the primary investment focus is on Indian startups, CVP actively encourages and supports portfolio companies to expand internationally. With 5 companies in its current portfolio, CVP is targeting to make an additional 8-10 investments over the next 1-2 years.

Bengaluru, 8th February 2024: India Yamaha Motor (IYM) Pvt. Ltd., in line with ‘The Call of The Blue’ brand campaign, today introduced FZ-X in a stunning Chrome color scheme, elevating the style quotient of the line-up. This recent introduction reaffirms Yamaha’s dedication to keeping its product range refreshed and contemporary, ensuring it resonates with the dynamic preferences of its customer base, particularly the vibrant younger buyers.

The Chrome color scheme exudes timeless elegance with its brilliant finish. The variant retains the FZ-X’s robust performance and cutting-edge technology that Yamaha is renowned for. The new color addition guarantees a blend of both style and performance to customers. The FZ-X in Chrome color is available at a price of INR 1,39,700 (Ex-showroom, Delhi). The first 100 online bookings for the variant will get a Casio G-Shock watch on delivery of the vehicle.

FZ-X will maintain its current features, including a 149-cc engine with 12.4 PS peak power @ 7,250 rpm and 13.3 Nm peak torque @ 5500 rpm, Traction Control System (TCS), single-channel ABS in the front with a rear disc brake, Multi-function LCD instrument cluster, LED headlight, rear mudguard, lower engine guard, and Bluetooth-enabled Y-Connect App, among others.