Archives May 2024

23rd May 2024, London, United Kingdom – In yet another moment of pride for India, the City of London has conferred upon Rev Daaji – the Guide of Heartfulness & President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission the prestigious Freedom of the City of London Award at Guildhall in recognition of his lifetime dedicated to humanity and noteworthy efforts in education, wellness, and environmental initiatives. As the Guide of Heartfulness, Daaji has made meditation accessible to millions of people around the world and has helped bring transformation in their lives, thereby the award ceremony also aptly coincided with World Meditation Day.

The Freedom of the City of London Award is the greatest honor that is in the power of the City of London to bestow. The past recipients of the coveted award were Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Nelson Mandela, as President of South Africa; Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru – the first Prime Minister of India; Bill Gates – Co-Founder of Microsoft; J K Rowling – renowned author and many other prominent personalities. Recent high-profile recipients include Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, who initiated and led the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine; theatre entrepreneurs, Dame Rosemary Squire and Sir Howard Panter; and former Managing Director and Chief Privacy Officer at the London Stock Exchange, Vivienne Artz.

Known as ‘Daaji’ by his followers and celebrated for his teachings on meditation and spirituality, Shri Kamlesh Patel (Daaji) was nominated by the City of London Corporation’s Policy Chairman, Mr. Chris Hayward, and the Chair of the organization’s Freedom Applications Sub-Committee, Ms. Rehana Ameer. Daaji’s ceremony was attended by members of his family, friends, and local Heartfulness practitioners, and was conducted by the Clerk of the Chamberlain’s Court, Ms. Laura Miller.

Expressing his gratitude upon being conferred the honour, Rev. Daaji – Guide of Hreartfulness & President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission said, “I am delighted to reconnect with the United Kingdom and accept the Freedom of the City Award. This recognition is an honour to all the volunteers and practitioners of Heartfulness not just in London, but around the world. Now more than ever, unity and harmony are important. Meditation serves as an important means to bring the world together.”

Speaking after the Freedom ceremony, City Corporation Policy Chairman Mr. Chris Hayward said, “It was my pleasure to nominate Kamlesh D. Patel for the Freedom, which can be awarded to individuals in recognition of their contribution to public life, and which continues to attract people from a wide range of backgrounds and areas of expertise. Mr. Patel received a very warm welcome from my colleagues at Guildhall and I hope that he and his guests enjoyed the ceremony and will remember it for many years to come.”

Former Chair of the City Corporation’s Freedom Applications Sub-Committee, Rehana Ameer, said, “I admire people who make a tangible difference to other people’s lives, and who feel fulfilled and derive pleasure from their work. I was delighted to support the nomination for Kamlesh D. Patel Ji, whose work on meditation and spirituality will have helped bring a sense of calm, peace, and improvements in the mental health and well-being of so many people over the years. As a woman with a proud Indian heritage and someone who recognises Daaji’s contribution to the diverse communities as a spiritual leader and author, this award from the City goes some way towards thanking him for his achievements in education, environment, and wellness over the last four decades.”

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade. As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.

Earlier this year Rev. Daaji was also appointed as the Global Ambassador for Peacebuilding and Faith to the Commonwealth by Her Excellency Patricia Scotland, KC, Commonwealth Secretary General. Last year The House of Lords conferred the India-UK Triumph Award upon Rev. Daaji for his extraordinary contribution to the world as a spiritual catalyst for a heart-centered approach to life. Rev. Daaji is also a Padma Bhushan recipient in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the world.

This is Rev. Daaji’s first visit to the UK in a decade. The other chief highlights of his visit are marked by signing a special Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth Secretariat, delivering a speech at the 22nd Commonwealth Education Ministers Conference at Marlborough House, engaging with Members of Parliament at the House of Lords, and meeting with practitioners of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha at the Neasden Temple in London.

23rd  May 2024: JSA Advocates and Solicitors (JSA), amongst India’s leading law firms, appoints Santosh Vijay as a Retained Partner, in its Bangalore office. He brings a wealthy thirteen years of experience in advising clients on a wide range of corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture capital transactions across sectors. His career includes pivotal roles in various aspects of company laws, foreign exchange laws, and technology laws.

He joins the Bangalore team of Raj Ramachandran, Partner at JSA, who will act as his mentor. With a proven track record at leading law firms, Santosh brings extensive experience in advising on significant investment transactions and has been involved in transactions like Strides Pharmaceuticals’ sale of manufacturing facility to Rxilient, KuKu FM’s Series C investment from IFC, Serosoft’s investment from SIDBI, Amazon’s acquisition of Tapzo, Quikr’s acquisition of Zefo, among others. His remarkable expertise aligns well with the firm’s dedication in providing top-notch legal services to its clients.

Amit Kapur and Vivek K. Chandy, Joint Managing Partners at JSA Advocates and Solicitors, greeted Santosh stating, “We are excited to have Santosh join us and look forward to his contributions in strengthening JSA’s M&A PE and VC transactions across sectors. His previous experience and knowledge in the field will be of great addition to our firm’s commitment of providing the best legal solutions to our clients.”

Prior to joining JSA, Santosh was associated with Krishnamurthy & Co (K Law) as a Counsel where he served several clients on various matters. He has also worked with Price Waterhouse & Co LLP (PwC) as an Associate Director in the regulatory team and has advised on several corporate transactions. Previously, Santosh has been a part of other esteemed law firms including Algo Legal, Trilegal, Desai & Diwanji, and Rajani Associates.

Sharing his gratitude on the new role, Santosh Vijay, “I’m delighted to be a part of JSA and excited to start this new journey. I’m very positive and confident to work alongside the best of legal minds and look forward to further strengthening the firm’s M&A practice with experience.”

Santosh has completed his LL.M in Commercial and Corporate Laws from Queen Mary, University of London and his LL.B from Bangalore University. He is a member of the Bar Council of Karnataka.

Mumbai, India – 23rd May 2024: Acer today launched its first Copilot+ PC with the Swift 14 AI laptop, in collaboration with Microsoft and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., ushering in a new AI era with brand new user experiences and AI capabilities on Windows 11. The Swift 14 AI has multiple device models, powered by Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus platforms, and both feature one of the world’s fastest NPUs for laptops to enable on-device AI processing. Users can streamline everyday tasks with smarter PC functions and tackle complex workloads more effectively.

“Engineered for AI from the inside out, the Swift 14 AI is the first among many Acer Copilot+ PCs to come,” said Jerry Kao, COO, Acer Inc. “These next-generation AI PCs see significant leaps in AI processing power, unlocking brand new experiences that we know users will love.”

“It’s exciting to collaborate with Acer to bring AI technology to its Windows PC range of devices from sleek ultrabooks to powerful gaming rigs. Our collaboration has been crucial in delivering productive and secure PCs that cater to a broad spectrum of customers while also balancing style and performance with affordability, making technology accessible to a wider audience while also focusing on sustainability. With Acer’s launch of its Copilot+ PC, the Swift 14 AI laptop, we will bring new AI experiences to life for customers, taking advantage of on-device and cloud AI to empower individuals and organizations to achieve more,” states Mark Linton, VP of Device Partner Sales, Microsoft Corp.

“The Swift 14 AI is a remarkable device that demonstrates the power, performance and intelligence capabilities of the Snapdragon X Elite platform,” said Kedar Kondap, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Compute & Gaming, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Powered by the world’s fastest NPU for laptops and high-performance CPU cores, the Swift 14 AI delivers groundbreaking AI, enhanced productivity and creativity, making Acer’s new device a game-changer in the world of AI-enabled laptops.”

Snapdragon X Series Platforms: Powering the Next-Generation AI PCs

The Snapdragon® X Series processors are built for AI and are designed to be among the most powerful, intelligent, and power-efficient processors created for Windows in its class today. The new Acer Swift 14 AI, powered by Snapdragon X Elite, features 12 high-performance CPU cores on a 4nm process node, integrated Qualcomm Adreno™ GPU of 3.8 TFLOPS, and Qualcomm Hexagon™ NPU capable of 45 TOPS. It is also equipped with up to 32 GB LPDDR5X-8533 memory and up to 1 TB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD to enhance system performance and navigate demanding multi-tasking workloads across productivity, creativity, and immersive entertainment scenarios without sacrificing power. Paired with the hundreds of premium apps that are optimized for Arm-compatible architecture, Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus processors enable user experiences that run smoothly and efficiently.

A New AI Era Begins with Copilot+ PCs

The new Swift 14 AI has been optimized with powerful AI, unlocking new productivity, creativity, and communication experiences.

With Recall, users can easily find anything they have seen on their PC by simply describing the clues they remember. With an explorable timeline, users can easily scroll across time to get back to apps, documents, or messages they previously used. Live Captions with live translations provides automatic speech captions and conducts translations in real-time of any live or pre-recorded video from 44 languages into English.

To spark imagination and creative abilities, visual or written prompts can now be used to co-create AI images and texts on the device with Cocreator. Auto Super Resolution automatically upscales graphics resolution and frame refresh rates of games in real-time to deliver the visuals players crave without taking a hit on performance. For those who always want to look and sound their best while better engaging their audience in video calls, Windows Studio Effects helps to automatically improve lighting conditions and cancel out unwanted noise. It can also be used to activate three artistic filters on any video platform via Quick settings, allowing users to express themselves in new and creative ways during video calls. Copilot, the everyday AI companion, is accessible via a single click of the dedicated Copilot key.

Premium Design and Features

As a reflection of its modern capabilities and usability, the Swift 14 AI sports a refined Copilot+ PC-exclusive design, highlighted by a unique AI icon stamped on the cover of the thin-and-light chassis and an Activity Indicator on the touchpad that illuminates when the device or Copilot is activated. The laptop features a 14.5-inch WQXGA (2560×1600) IPS display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and support for 100% sRGB color gamut. It is available with edge-to-edge touchscreen options and comes with TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe® Certification 2.0 to help minimize the effects of harmful blue light without sacrificing color accuracy. A 180-degree hinge design provides the flexibility of a different user mode and enables easy opening of the aluminum cover with one hand.

A 1440p QHD IR webcam with a triple microphone array and privacy shutter supports Acer’s suite of AI-boosted conferencing tools in Acer PurifiedView™ 2.0 and Acer PurifiedVoice™ 2.0 to ensure users always look and sound their best. These can be swiftly calibrated thanks to Acer QuickPanel which intuitively appears when the device’s webcam or microphone has been switched on. A dedicated key directs users to the Red Dot Design Award-winning AcerSense™ app for device management and a library of AI features available on the device through the Experience Zone.

This Copilot+ PC comes with Windows Hello and supports biometric and facial recognition login for quick and secure access. Sustainability remains a vital pillar for Acer’s next-generation products, with the Swift 14 AI utilizing PCR plastic in the device, shipping with 100% recyclable packaging, and receiving the EPEAT Gold certification for its compliance with the highest EPEAT criteria. The device also boasts Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth™ 5.4 connectivity to deliver speeds of up to 5.8 Gbps and low network latency of under 2 ms, plus a host of generous port selections including two USB Type-C and two USB 3.2 Type-A ports for added flexibility.

[Shenzhen, China,23rd May 2024 ] Huawei was named a Customers’ Choice in the 2024 Gartner Peer Insights™ Voice of the Customer report for Distributed File Systems and Object Storage, marking the third consecutive year that it has received the distinction. According to the Gartner report, Huawei earned 100% for “Willingness to Recommend” for its OceanStor Scale-Out Storage.

Gartner Peer Insights is a free peer review and ratings platform designed for enterprise software and services decision-makers. Reviews are organized by products in live markets that align to Gartner research markets, defined as Magic Quadrant or Market Guide-defined markets, or GPI-defined markets that are opened at the discretion of the GPI team and do not require research published to open the space on Peer Insights. A total of 10 vendors were recognized in the Voice of Customer report. Huawei received 119 comments from customers in the telecom, finance, healthcare, services and manufacturing industries across the Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East regions and had the highest number of reviews among recognized vendors.

A customer in the energy and utilities industry commented: “We chose this product for our local data center project, which is our digital oil field foundations. The product is easy to deploy and quick to expand and upgrade, and also has a very good compatibility for other hardware and software…. After deploying this product, the database and app performance is greatly improved (at least more than 10 times faster than before). The private cloud platform is finally working perfectly with VMs HA and supports failover on the unified storage.” [1]

Another customer, this time a cloud architect from the IT industry, also spoke highly of Huawei’s Scale-Out storage: “Good product. We have a good performance with a unique geo-redundant solution in 4 different data centers. The geo-redundant cluster feature helps to reduce the costs and gives us the possibility to write data in all active-active mode…. We notice that the time to write 1 TB of data on disk is very short and this meets our business goal.” [2]

“It is a great honor for Huawei to obtain a Customers’ Choice from Gartner Peer InsightsTM for scale-out storage once again. We believe the results demonstrate the recognition and trust of our customers around the world in the comprehensive competitiveness, maturity of large-scale commercial use, and after-sales service quality of Huawei OceanStor scale-out storage.” Yuan Yuan, President of Huawei Scale-Out Storage Domain said. He added: “We value each and every one of our customer’s voices. They encourage us to continue making great strides in our product development. We will prioritize customer-centricity and develop a unified scale-out storage platform to assist users across industries in creating more flexible, greener, and more accessible data infrastructure in the future.”

Novotel Pune is delighted to announce a Lebanese Food Festival from May 24th to June 2nd, featuring the celebrated Chef Jameela Ghani. With 27 years of experience in Syrian, Lebanese, and Middle Eastern cuisine, Chef Jameela will bring her culinary expertise to this vibrant event. Chef Jameela’s illustrious career has taken her to various prestigious hotels and restaurants, where she has honed her skills and introduced traditional Middle Eastern flavors to a diverse audience.

The festival, themed “Taste of Lebanon: A Culinary Odyssey,” celebrates the rich tapestry of Lebanese cuisine. Guests will be treated to a specialized menu featuring authentic dishes such as mezze platters, grilled meats, traditional stews, and flavorful vegetarian options.

Chef Jameela’s signature dishes, Qouzi (stuffed baby lamb) and Kunafa (baked vermicelli-like cheese pastry), showcase her dedication to quality, taste, and culinary creativity. She emphasizes the use of fresh Arabian ingredients sourced from the finest local suppliers, ensuring a feast that satisfies every palate.

Join us at Novotel Pune for an unforgettable celebration of Lebanese cuisine.

What: Lebanese Food Festival
Where: The Square, Novotel Pune
When: May 24 – June 02, 2024, 19:30 to 23:00

The advent of Spydra’s innovative low-code asset tokenization platform marks a paradigm shift, simplifying a traditionally complex process. It caters to the needs of both tech-savvy investors and those new to the investment sphere. This strategic use of no-code technology fosters a more inclusive financial ecosystem, where participation is encouraged and barriers are dismantled.

The introduction of Spydra’s no-code asset tokenization platform heralds a significant departure from the conventional, cumbersome methods. It not only simplifies the investment process but also embraces inclusivity by enabling both tech-savvy and novice investors to engage seamlessly.

What is Asset Tokenization?

Asset tokenization is like turning something valuable, such as real estate or artwork, into digital building blocks that can be easily bought or sold online. Imagine your valuable asset, like a piece of art, being transformed into smaller, digital tokens. These tokens represent ownership or shares in the original asset.

For example, think of a pizza. If you tokenize it, you’re breaking it into slices. Each slice (token) represents a portion of the whole pizza (asset). You can buy or sell these slices (tokens) without needing to buy the entire pizza (full asset). This process makes investing in valuable assets more accessible. You don’t need a huge amount of money to invest; you can buy as many slices (tokens) as you can afford. It’s like owning a piece of something big, even if you can’t afford the whole thing.

The cool part? These digital tokens are stored securely on a computer system called the blockchain. This makes transactions safe, transparent, and easy to track, ensuring everyone knows who owns what. It’s a modern way to make investing simpler and open up exciting opportunities for everyone, whether you’re a tech whiz or just starting your investment journey.

Spydra and Hyperledger Fabric: Quick Overview

Hyperledger Fabric is an open-source enterprise-grade blockchain framework hosted by the Linux Foundation. It provides a foundation for developing blockchain applications with a focus on modularity, scalability, and security. Unlike public blockchains like Bitcoin or Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric is designed for permissioned networks, where participants are known and trusted.

Spydra leverages the power of Hyperledger Fabric to provide its users with a secure, efficient, and customizable blockchain solution. By integrating Hyperledger Fabric’s features, Spydra ensures that its platform is built on a foundation of advanced security and scalability, crucial for real-world enterprise applications.

Spydra’s No-Code Tokenization Platform Comes into the Picture

This approach simplifies the complexities of investment and enhances the inclusivity of the financial ecosystem. Spydra’s groundbreaking Low/No-Code platform is a game-changer in the world of technology and software development. It empowers individuals, regardless of their technical expertise, to create applications, automate workflows, and innovate without the need for extensive coding knowledge.

Imagine having the ability to build & deploy powerful decentralized applications or Hyperledger Fabric projects using a simple, user-friendly interface. Spydra’s Low/No-Code platform allows just that. It’s akin to constructing a digital masterpiece with Lego-like blocks, where you can piece together functionalities and features effortlessly.

For tech-savvy individuals, this platform offers a rapid way to bring their ideas to life, significantly reducing the development cycle. They can fine-tune the intricacies and dive into the code if desired, giving them the flexibility they need. On the other hand, for those new to the tech arena, our platform is an entry point into the world of software creation. It eliminates the intimidation factor of coding, making it accessible and inviting. You can build, customize, and launch applications without needing to be an expert coder.

Key Advantages of Spydra’s No-Code Asset Tokenization

Spydra’s No-Code Asset Tokenization platform offers a multitude of advantages tailored for mid to large enterprises, streamlining the process of transforming assets into digital tokens without requiring intricate coding expertise:

Simplicity and Speed: Mid to large enterprises can rapidly tokenize their assets without the need for extensive coding. The intuitive no-code platform allows for a swift transition from traditional assets to digital tokens, saving valuable time and resources.

Cost-Effective Solution: Implementing asset tokenization through a no-code approach significantly reduces development costs. Enterprises can allocate resources more efficiently, directing funds towards growth and expansion initiatives rather than hefty development expenses.

Enhanced Accessibility and Inclusivity: Our no-code platform democratizes asset tokenization by making it accessible to a broader range of team members within the enterprise. Employees from diverse backgrounds can actively participate in the tokenization process, promoting inclusivity and collaboration.

Customization to Suit Unique Needs: Enterprises have the freedom to tailor the tokenization process to their specific requirements and asset types. Our no-code platform offers customizable options, ensuring that the tokenization aligns seamlessly with the enterprise’s business goals and asset portfolios.

Security and Compliance Assurance: Spydra’s no-code platform adheres to stringent security measures and compliance standards. Enterprises can tokenize assets with confidence, knowing that the platform maintains robust security protocols, safeguarding sensitive data and transactions.

Efficient Resource Allocation: By simplifying the tokenization process, mid to large enterprises can allocate their skilled workforce more efficiently. Technical experts can focus on strategic initiatives, while non-technical personnel can actively participate in asset tokenization using the no-code platform.

Scalability for Future Growth: The no-code platform is designed to scale with the enterprise as it grows and diversifies its asset portfolio. Enterprises can tokenize additional assets seamlessly as their business expands, ensuring a scalable solution that grows with their needs.

Looking Ahead

Spydra’s foray into low/no-code asset tokenization is a game-changer, revolutionizing the investment landscape and setting a new standard for accessibility and inclusivity. By breaking down the barriers to entry and simplifying the investment process, we’re empowering a new generation of investors, unlocking the potential for substantial market growth.

23rd  May 2024: International asset management companies Incofin and Maj Invest collectively invest USD 13 million in India’s leading rural financial services conglomerate, SAVE Group. The funding comes from Incofin India Progress Fund and Maj Invest Financial Inclusion Fund III K/s.

Established in 2009, SAVE has emerged as a trailblazer in India’s Banking Business Correspondent (BC) Network, serving over 25 million customers nationwide. Under the leadership of Ajeet Kumar Singh, Pankaj Kumar and Ajay Kumar Sinha, SAVE has diversified into a robust rural financial services conglomerate, extending its reach deep into rural communities.

Leveraging its extensive network, SAVE plans to expand its lending verticals through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, providing Microfinance Loans, Secured MSME Loans, and Affordable Housing Loans.

Maj Invest Financial Inclusion Fund III K/s previously infused approximately USD 3 million into SAVE Solutions, the Holding Company of SAVE Group in March 2024. Now, IPF’s investment of USD 10 million comes into SaGgraha Management Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SAVE specializing in Microfinance Loans through the BC model sharing the commitment to empowering rural communities through improving financial access.

Ajeet Kumar Singh, Co-Founder and Director of SAVE Solutions Private Limited, expressed enthusiasm stating: “We are delighted to partner with Incofin IPF and grateful for Maj Invest’s continuous support. Beyond strengthening our ability to expand our loan book, this infusion emboldens our pursuit of delivering high quality financial services in the rural underserved segment. We will benefit immensely from Incofin’s and Maj Invest’s global experience and value creation and eagerly anticipate our collaboration with them!”.

Siva Vadivelazhagan, Director at Maj Invest, comments “We are excited about the opportunity to invest in SAVE Solutions and recognize their potential to revolutionize rural finance on a large scale. Together, we aim to amplify the impact of financial inclusion initiatives, empowering communities nationwide.”

Aditya Bhandari, Partner & Regional Director, Asia Equity, Incofin, emphasised the strategic alignment between the SAVE mission and Incofin core values. “SAVE & SaGgraha’s commitment to providing accessible financial services to underserved populations resonates deeply with Incofin’s ethos. We are quite impressed with SAVEs diversified product offerings. It’s one of its kinds in India. We are excited to partner with the group in its mission of inclusive finance to rural masses.”.

New Delhi,23rd May 2024 – Dharampal Satyapal Foods Ltd. (DSFL), the confectionery arm of DS Group, has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing ₹1,000 crores in annual sales turnover in FY 2023-24. DS Group is the second largest confectionery player in the non-chocolate category and amongst the largest, fastest-growing Indian confectionery players in the industry commanding a leadership position in the Hard Boiled Candy (HBC) and Indian ethnic confectionery (IEC) segments. The confectionery division of DS Group has grown by over 20 percent CAGR in the last three years while the industry has grown at 9 percent and plans to accelerate business with a CAGR of approx. 30 pc over the next 5 years through organic and inorganic growth.

With one of the largest distribution networks in the country today, DS Group’s confectionery products are available in over 26 lakh retail outlets, directly and indirectly, and its market share dominates the closest competitor in Hard-Boiled Candy (HBC) and Indian ethnic confectionery (IEC) segment. Innovation and the route-to-market strategy with an omni-channel presence including modern retail, e-commerce, and quick commerce, have been the key growth drivers. Building upon its strong foundation and leveraging the strength of its understanding of flavors and fragrances and consumer taste buds, the confectionery arm of DS Group aims to achieve a sales turnover of ₹5,000 crores over the next five years. This ambitious goal will be achieved through organic and inorganic growth. Currently, the company holds a dominant position in North and East India and is strategically expanding its presence in South and West India.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman of DS Group, said, “We are thrilled to announce the ₹1000 crore sales turnover of the confectionery arm of DS Group in the financial year 2023-24. This achievement is a result of our strategic focus on enhancing indigenization, expanding our product portfolio, and having one of the largest distribution networks in the country. Looking ahead, we aim to grow our presence in the chocolate segment while strategically expanding our leadership position in the Indian ethnic confectionery category with innovative products.”

Championing sustainability efforts, a robust fleet of 800+ electric vehicles is deployed in the distribution of confectionery products, thereby contributing to a cleaner environment. The Group is driven towards responsible expansion with intense investments planned in the ESG space. The aim is to govern DS Group through the highest professional and ethical standards lead with integrity, and deliver impact responsibly while maintaining the trust of partners, colleagues, and society.

DS Group’s culture of innovation and commitment to quality is evident across all segments of DSFL’s business. The company has crafted compelling brand narratives and distinct consumer propositions for its key brands like Pulse, Pass Pass, Rajnigandha Pearls, Chingles, Pulse Natkaare, and the recently acquired LuvIt. Despite the competitive nature of the hard-boiled candy market, DSFL’s brand “Pulse” has maintained its position as the market leader for the past 8 years. In the competitive Indian Ethnic Confectionery segment, DSFL stands out with its diverse offerings. The “Pass Pass” blend caters to those who enjoy a mix of flavors, while “Rajnigandha Pearls” offers a single-ingredient experience.

Through continuous innovation, DSFL has successfully transformed the Indian Ethnic Confectionery category into a branded and organized market, providing consumers with unique options to suit their preferences. Leveraging its innate understanding of the flavors and tastes of modern India, the company is strategically contemporizing its ethnic product portfolio while focusing on Gen Z habits, strengthening modern trade channels, capitalizing on influencer marketing, and harnessing new-age technologies to amplify product reach. This accentuates the corporate ideology of ‘Create What is Worth Creating’.

Mumbai, 23rd May 2024: In the dynamic job landscape where 90% of organizations are predicted to face skills gaps by 2026, contributing to significant unemployment and economic loss, apna – India’s leading jobs and professional networking platform – has partnered with Rubicon to empower 50,000 job seekers by providing them with essential skills and job opportunities. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between talent and industry demands via customized training and development programs, enabling jobs across BFSI, IT & ITES, Retail, HR and the various sectors.

The platform has already facilitated job applications for more than 5,000 job seekers and plans to add another 100,000 users by the end of FY2025. Recording active participation from women in the workforce, the initiative has drawn 60% of job applications from women.

The collaboration between Apna and Rubicon is set to make a significant impact across India, targeting a wide range of cities to maximize reach and effectiveness. In Tier 1 cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, the partnership aims to create 20,000 job opportunities. Meanwhile, in Tier 2 and 3 cities like Jaipur, Surat, Lucknow, and Bhubaneswar, the focus is even greater, with 30,000 job posts planned. This strategic distribution ensures that job seekers from various regions and cities have access to the opportunities they need to advance their careers, reflecting a deep commitment to tapping into the potential of India’s diverse workforce.

Nirmit Parikh, Founder & CEO, apna.co, commented, “In today’s dynamic job landscape, we remain dedicated to shaping India’s future by equipping its youth to thrive both nationally and globally. Our partnership with Rubicon aims to address the significant challenges young individuals face in securing employment through skill development initiatives. This move aligns perfectly with our mission of bridging the employment gap and revolutionizing the hiring process while connecting candidates with the right job opportunities.”

Dhanya Narayanan, COO, Rubicon commented, “We are thrilled to join forces with apna.co, an innovative job opportunities platform, in our shared mission to empower individuals with the skills and resources needed to thrive in today’s competitive job market. By combining our experience and expertise in skilling and training with apna’s cutting-edge recruitment solutions, we are confident to make a meaningful impact in bridging the gap between education and employment of the 2 million job seekers we plan to support by 2030”

Through this collaboration, apna.co’s mission is to leverage Rubicon’s expertise in skill development and complement its extensive job placement network. This synergy enhances apna.co’s capacity to empower individuals via comprehensive training, augmenting employability, streamlining recruitment processes and creating meaningful job opportunities. Leveraging Rubicon’s skill development expertise, apna.co plans to streamline recruitment processes, diminish hiring timelines and achieve a 70% increase in job placements within the inaugural year.

New Delhi, 23rd May 2024 – Fix My Curls, a leading curly, & wavy hair-focused haircare brand, today announced that it has secured a seed funding round led by Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund. Other investors in this round include India Quotient & DSG Consumer Partners. This latest round of funding is intended to help Fix My Curls’ efforts in accelerating new product development, advancing innovations in hair care, and enhancing leadership & branding initiatives. It is also intended to help Fix My Curls reach more consumers in Tier 2 cities across India who are looking for effective solutions for their textured hair.

Founded by Anshita Mehrotra, Fix My Curls was born from her realization of the glaring neglect of curly hair in India’s beauty and salon industry. To bridge this gap, Anshita launched her homegrown brand, Fix My Curls, offering a comprehensive range of hair care products including shampoo, conditioner, accessories, styling products, and more.

Sharing her thoughts on the funding, Anshita Mehrotra, the founder of Fix My Curls, commented, “Through the strands of innovation and power of inclusivity, Fix My Curls is not just redefining haircare, but with time, it has become a symbol of representation and acceptance in the Indian beauty landscape. We are excited to welcome Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund into our investor group and get the backing of consumer-focused VCs like India Quotient & DSG Consumer Partners. We believe we can grow this category, educate consumers as well as our community of all textured-haired people who share their common experiences and struggles with embracing their natural hair in India.”

Abhijeet Muzumdar, VP Corporate Development, Amazon & Head of Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund said, “Our vision with the $250MM Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund is to empower the next generation of innovative startups led by strong founders. Anshita and her team at Fix My Curls are bringing a comprehensive range of products for textured hair and we are excited to partner with them for the next phase of their growth.”

Sahil Makkar, VP India Quotient also said “Anshita, along with her team have created highly differentiated and innovative products that resonate positively with those having curly, wavy, and textured hair. Drawing from her own experiences, she possesses profound customer insights, positioning her to build a large-scale, impactful brand in this niche market. We believe that this segment has long been underserved within the haircare industry and are excited to partner with FixMyCurls.”

Since its inception, the brand has expanded its presence across various marketplaces, including Amazon.in, Nykaa, BlinkIt, and its website. With a customer base of 1.2 lakh individuals, Fix My Curls has also entered the global arena, with products distributed to a total of 11 countries, including Germany, Romania, and Malaysia, among others.