All posts by Neel Achary

New Delhi, Wednesday, 2nd March 2023: This International Women’s Day, Women Inspiring Network (WIN), an inspirational storytelling network, joins hands with FICCI G20 Empower, an accelerating women’s leadership action-driven alliance for a Global Mentoring Walk taking place on 2nd March 2023 at FICCI House New Delhi. Global Mentoring Walk will be attended by women leaders from across the fields of corporate, business, entrepreneurship, designers, influencers, and others. The panel discussion is also organized where the women leaders will share insights on various issues that women face in today’s time.

Stuti Jalan, Founder of Women Inspiring Network (WIN) believes “One of the most important things for young women to understand is that there are no boundaries and they can achieve anything they want to. It is of the utmost importance for us as women leaders to ensure that the right support and resources are made available to women in different walks of life for their ultimate holistic advancement. On this occasion of International Women’s Day, we are grateful to this dynamic group for coming together for the Global Mentoring Walk, which is an opportunity for women in our community, and around the world, to unite around a common purpose. Together, we will pave the way for the next generation of women leaders. Women Inspiring Network (WIN) in collaboration with FICCI, G20 Empower to join hands with the mutual goal of mentoring and connecting with one another to promote upliftment, because power expands the moment it is shared. “

Each year the Mentoring Walks take place in celebration of International Women’s Day. The Vital Voices global network of women leaders in more than 60 countries around the world, will host Mentoring Walks, sending the powerful message that women leaders around the world are giving back and investing in the next generation. Mentoring provides a unique opportunity for rising women leaders to unleash their full potential —and for established women leaders to share their successes and help future generations of women leaders grow and develop.

Thus, following the lead, Women Inspiring Network and FICCI G20 Empower are organizing the Global Mentoring Walk, where they want to encourage and strengthen women’s economic participation and leadership, increase women’s overall participation and strengthen the share of women in leadership positions, including growth in millennial leaders, women in startups, women in investment management, women in local and rural business communities, and women in SMEs.

The event will be graced by women changemakers like Payal Kanwar (Director General of Indo-French Chamber), Payal Jain (Designer), Angelique Dhama (CEO of Obeetee Carpets, Retail), Taranjeet Kaur (Project manager of Metabolic Balance India), Naina Ruhail (Founder and Co-CEO, Vanity Wagon), Malika Sadnani (Entrepreneur), Shivani Malik (Da Milano), Shailja Dutt (Corporate), Nidhi Modi (Entrepreneur- Mammlys), Harpreet Suri (Influencer), Akshra Dalal (JD Institue) and many more. It aims to inspire, learn, network, and celebrate women who are change-makers from different arenas and professions.

The panel discussion will raise awareness about careers for Women, Wellness, and Entrepreneurship. Through this Global Mentoring Walk, we want to encourage and strengthen women’s economic participation and leadership, increase women’s overall participation and strengthen the share of women in leadership positions, including growth in millennial leaders, women in startups, women in investment management, women in local and rural business communities, and women in SMEs.

Women Inspiring Network (WIN) has previously held several online webinars promoting various causes such as Breast Cancer Awareness, a Networking event at Qorum, Collaboration with Jai Hind College and Arthanomics, and online workshops and webinars.

Details of the event–

Day & Date: Thursday, 2nd March 2023

Time: IST 4:00-6:00 PM

Venue: FICCI House

Bangalore,2nd March 2023. Leading fashion designer, entrepreneur, and actor Masaba Gupta participated in a live session with Myntra’s shoppers through its live commerce proposition, M-Live on the platform on 22 February. The event was part of the launch of the face make-up category of LoveChild, a cosmo-wellness and beauty brand founded by Masaba. During the big-bang launch event, Masaba engaged with her fans, fashion enthusiasts, and beauty aficionados, who in turn flanked the platform to get a glimpse of the widely-admired beauty maven. The live session was undertaken to introduce LoveChild’s ‘Shaadi’ inspired Band Baaja Blush creme blushes and Highlighted Nakhre, highlighter palettes, the session attracted a whopping 40K+ viewers, making it one of the largest live launches for a beauty brands on M-Live, Myntra’s live commerce platform.

The live session was simulcasted on Myntra Studio, Myntra’s Instagram page, Myntra Beauty’s Instagram page, Lovechild’s Instagram page and Masaba’s Instagram page. During the live session with her fans, talked about her connection with LoveChild, including showcasing the latest products inspired by the joy of self-love and the grandeur of Indian weddings. She explained how the packaging design of her products captures the energy and vibe of these celebratory moments, bringing them to life. The session also saw her speak about LoveChild’s latest launches designed for all Indian skintones, which include the two shades of Highlighted Nakhre – Chandni and Sitara, and the six vibrant categories of Band Baaja Blush – Bubblegum Baraat, Peach Puchka, Shocking Sharbat, Brown Kudi, Lal Lal Land, and Cinnamon Choli.

Staying true to her personality, Masaba kept the interaction fun and free flowing. During the session hosted by popular beauty influencer, Debasree Banerjee, Masaba also touched upon dealing with acne and sensitive skin over the years her desire not to restrict women with preconceived notions of beauty and skincare. She spoke about her fascination with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, Shea butter, and niacinamide, while highlighting her admiration for ethical products, which led the way for her to ensure that LoveChild products are PETA certified and free from sulfates and parabens. The session culminated with mentions of unmatched offers that viewers could use to avail her products at attractive prices on Myntra Beauty.

With over 1400+ brands and 75000+ SKUs, Beauty and Personal Care is one of fastest growing categories on Myntra. With 100% engagement rates being witnessed across its sessions coupled with a significant growth in its live streaming traffic, Beauty is also a top-performing category on Myntra’s live commerce proposition, M Live. Myntra has facilitated 8000+ M-Live sessions so far with brands such as Lakme, MAC, Colorbar, Innisfree, Maybelline, MASIC, FAE Beauty, and Arata leveraging the proposition to interact with their communities on a deeper level. With the strong love and reception from the brands and customers for M-Live, Myntra plans to scale its brand-led M-lives to make up for a majority of all the live sessions in the next few months. On a daily basis, two hours of beauty content is scheduled on M-live with the Beauty Squad consisting of beauty experts such as make-up artists, skin specialists, dermatologists sharing reviews, trends, pro-tips and hacks on make-up, skincare and haircare, among others.

Mumbai, 2 March 2023: Axis Bank, one of India’s largest private sector banks, has completed the acquisition of Citibank’s consumer business in an accelerated time frame of within 7 months post receipt of CCI approval, displaying a strong testament of its execution strength. The deal has been closed with Axis Bank paying a total purchase consideration (after customary & contractual adjustments) of INR 11,603 Cr* to Citibank India.

The transaction comprises the sale of the consumer businesses of Citibank India, which includes loans, credit cards, wealth management and retail banking operations. The deal also includes the sale of the consumer business of Citi’s non-banking financial company, Citicorp Finance (India) Limited, comprising asset-backed financing business, which includes commercial vehicle and construction equipment loans, as well as the personal loans portfolio.

The acquisition is a healthy strategic fit in line with Axis Bank’s GPS (Growth, Profitability & Sustainability) strategy and its focus on premium segment growth. The Bank has gained access to the large, affluent and profitable customer franchise of Citibank, which aligns well with its Premiumization strategy.

With the acquisition, comes a quality credit card franchise with one of the highest wallet shares in premium cards, that is Complementary and consolidates Axis’ position in the cards business, market share improving from 11.4% to 16.2%(1).The acquired portfolio would increase Axis Bank’s credit card customer base by ~19%, with an addition of 1.8 million cards***. With the highest number of transactions per card across the industry and digitally engaged customers, the deal would strengthen Axis Bank’s position in the top 8 metros, while also providing the opportunity to adopt global best practices in client servicing and operations through Citi Phone banking.
Additionally, the acquisition of 2.4 million customers of Citibank India enhances Axis Bank’s presence in the key growth segments, complimenting the existing Axis franchise. The Bank now has aggregate deposits of INR 8,881 Bn of which high proportion of CASA is at 77%, with SA constituting 71%. Access to a premium deposit base with deep corporate salary relationships has improved the combined CASA ratio on proforma basis by ~150 bps to 46%. Affluent and digitally engaged SA customer base with access to ~1600 Suvidha corporate relationships that significantly strengthens Axis Bank’s Salary Business.

Post-acquisition, Axis Bank gains ready access to highly affluent wealth customers resulting in a 33% addition to overall AUM of Burgundy Private Banking portfolio, further strengthening the existing franchise. With an added AUM of INR 947 bn across Citi products in Wealth Management and Private Banking, the current AUM of the Bank’s wealth management portfolio stands at INR 3785 bn, making it the 3rd largest in the industry.

Through the acquisition, Axis Bank welcomes a diverse talent pool of ~3200 employees trained in global best practices, and an experienced leadership with deep domain expertise.

Benefits for Citibank customers

The Citi customers will continue to enjoy same benefits and privileges with no changes in their existing Bank account number, Credit/Debit Card numbers, cheque books, IFSC & MICR code. They will continue to be serviced by same relationship managers and teams. All the 21 in perimeter branches remain fully equipped to serve the incoming customers; we are also equipping 13 additional branches that would be available for incoming customer servicing during the transition period. The necessary IT applications and trained staff have been deployed at acquired branches. All the services to the incoming customers will continue to function as before as the same teams from Citi move to Axis intact.

On the other hand, the erstwhile Citi retail franchise will now have access to massive national scale of (~4900) branches and (~16,000) ATMs and recyclers as well as cutting-edge digital plus data-science assets through the Axis platform.

Further, Citibank’s customers will specifically benefit from Axis Bank’s wider geographical reach and comprehensive service offerings, along with One Axis capabilities that extend across all its subsidiaries ensuring ‘same or better’ offer to all Citi customers.

Speaking on the occasion, Amitabh Chaudhry, MD&CEO, Axis Bank said, “We welcome over 2.4 million customers and ~3200 employees to our Axis family ‘Dil Se’, as we successfully conclude the first leg of integration. This is a significant milestone in Axis’ journey of growth and leadership in the Banking industry and is set to bring great value for all stakeholders involved. We have a strong balance sheet, comfortable capital levels, and the right team and customer segments to further realize our ambitions.”

He added, “Citibank has a culture that is much like ours, with a commitment to best-in-class customer service, people focus and community engagement. Axis Bank already has a rich network of Citi alumni across the hierarchy, which reflects of the cultural alignment between the two organizations. Given the expertise that the new employees will bring to the table, we view them as a significant force to help drive our GPS objectives. The premium portfolio and business synergies through this deal will help accelerate and add further momentum to our already robust plans across priority segments.”

Subrat Mohanty, Group Executive & Head – Banking Operations and Transformation, Axis Bank said, “We are delighted with the addition of Citi’s premium consumer business and a high quality team of colleagues to Axis Bank. We expect our customers to experience the value of this integration with newer, innovative products and world class customer practices. Axis Bank is positioned strongly to power India’s growth story.”

Arjun Chowdhry, Group Executive & Head – Cards, Payments & Wealth, Axis Bank said, “Axis Bank is committed to building a strong consumer banking business in India, and already has deep market presence, across all segments and geographies. All ~3200 Citi colleagues, who carry a strong and diversified skill set, are extremely excited to join the Axis family and further build on its growth ambitions. We look forward to collaborating with Axis’ experienced senior leadership team and diverse talent pool, as we join the 88,000+ strong, dedicated workforce and live up to the brand’s credo ‘Dil Se Open’.”

Videocites Partners with NBA to Provide Greater Insights into League’s Social Media Exposure With Initial Closing of Series-B Funding led by Velocity Capital Management

NBA Equity invests in Videocites to understand the exposure and impact of fan behavior and user-generated content on social media.

Tel Aviv, Israel, New York, NY, March 1, 2023 – Videocites, the creator of the next-generation analytics solution that reveals the true social footprint created by fans and partners on social media, announced the initial closing of a Series B round led by Velocity Capital Management (“Velocity”) with additional investments by Series A investor Infront Sports & Media AG, and NBA Equity. With offices around the globe, including one newly opened in New York, Videocites is providing the NBA with greater insights into its global reach and brand exposure across social media content published by fans and media partners.

While user-generated content (UGC) has a significant influence on a brand’s perception and popularity across social media, it’s challenging to identify and categorize at scale. Nevertheless, as it continues to grow exponentially, it’s crucial to measure fan content. Videocites has perfected its AI-generated identification capabilities and video-fingerprinting technology to recognize and analyze UGC and trademarked assets related to the brand. Its award-winning technology reveals fans’ engagement through video identifiers and contextual search.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Videocites to better understand how user-generated content resonates with our fans,” said David Lee, Head of NBA Equity. “This partnership and our investment in Videocites reflect our commitment to continue to grow and embrace our fans across the ever-evolving global social media landscape.”

Eyal Arad, Videocites’ Co-Founder, and CEO

“Aggregating and analyzing real-time UGC and brand video data in one dashboard allows our clients to keep their finger on the pulse of their fanbase and partners,” said Eyal Arad, Videocites’ Co-Founder, and CEO. “It’s no secret that today’s user habits across social media have a significant impact on shaping public perception of any organization. We are turning that ‘perception’ into quantifiable data.”

Velocity is a sports, media, and entertainment domain-focused private equity firm founded in 2021 by David Abrams and Arne Rees. “We believe that Videocites can become the industry standard for tracking and measuring intellectual property across social media. Videocites’ technology greatly enhances monetization opportunities for rightsholders and creates a platform for streamlined direct-to-consumer engagement,” said Velocity Managing Partner David Abrams.

Videocites will use the funding to grow its global presence and recruit leading sales and business development professionals to expand its unique offerings to brands and content owners in the United States and Europe.

Hyderabad, March 1st, 2023: Hyderabad is getting ready to witness KISAN Agri Show, one of the largest agriculture exhibition in India will start on 3rd March and will continue till 5th March at Hitex. KISAN Agri Show 2023, is going to be the 32nd Agri exhibition in the series. The exhibition entry will be open from morning 10 AM to evening 5 PM. The show will be inaugurated by the Honorable Agriculture Minister of Telangana Shri. Singireddy Niranjan Reddy.

The past series of exhibitions received tremendous response and were very beneficial and useful for investors as well as farmers across the country. This year’s KISAN Agri show will have more than 150 exhibitors and is expected to have more than 30,000 visitors from all across Telangana and neighboring states.

The exhibition is spread over 10,000 sq.m of area and will connect 160+ companies in three days. The latest products and innovative concepts in agriculture will be displayed here. KISAN has been receiving support and participation from leading agricultural institutions.

SPARK, a special arena for Agri Startups is planned to present Advance technologies and innovative ideas. The penetration of mobile phones and Digital India Initiatives are empowering farmers. SPARK Pavilion of Agri Startups will be a major attraction at KISAN FAIR. Over 20 Agri Startups will present their new technologies and concepts here.

Gnana Kendram is a cluster of stands from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Agriculture University and ICAR institutions. Here farmers will get information and knowledge about new technologies and innovations appropriate for Telangana Farmers.

KISAN exhibition will focus on Agri Input, Water Management, Tools & Implements, seeds & planting material to help farmers locate things of their interest. Open Arena will display large farm machinery & implements. Farmers will see many innovative farm technologies especially evolved for Indian agro-climatic conditions.

By Mr. Ekant Singh, Founder & CEO – Page 2813

One of the greatest outcomes of the pandemic is that people are investing in doing up the décor of their homes much more than previously. With work from home becoming the new normal and people spending a lot of time at their homes, home décor today commands great attention. Let’s look at the trends that will be in vogue in 2023.

Gothic designs: Perceived to be related with a dark décor, gothic designs are sought after owing to their mystic, classic and intricate designs. Originating in the medieval period, one can see a lot of cathedrals and castle kinds of influence in these designs. The use of dark hues like charcoal grey, maroon, purple, matt blackish silver for the walls and contrast matching colours for curtains will give a grand gothic look. Opt for sweeping velvet curtains that look royal and match the theme. You can further accentuate the space with heavy intricately carved dark chocolate wooden furniture with rich velvet upholstery. Go for dark shades of rich colours like vintage purple or maroon to get that gothic look that will be ruling 2023.

The use of statement chandelier pieces, carved photo frames and wrought iron candle stands will add to the look. Use dim lighting that will add to the setting. Note that while the gothic look when put together is classy, the use of dark colours may make the area look smaller. So, for smaller configuration apartments, go minimal while opting for the gothic look else one will end up with crowded interiors instead. Also, as mentioned previously gothic designs are royal in nature and any clutter in the room dismisses the effect completely.

Poppy colours: The opposite to the gothic designs, as the name suggests poppy colours pop with energy, are subtle, give a very light calming effect. These include use of earthly colours like peach red, teal, olive green, mustard yellow, dusty lavender etc. You can do a two-colour combination of poppy colours and white to make your room look big and spacious. Sheer curtains will add that spunk to the entire look while getting in enough light and brightness in the room. While going for a décor with earthly colours, you can stay close to nature by carefully accessorising the room. For starters, a comfortable L-shaped sofa will pale floral upholstery will spring in a new vibe in the room.

Opt for lightweight and coloured furniture like oakwood instead of the heavy-duty teak. Also, instead of bulky all over the room pieces, opt for compact furniture that will be both efficient and clutter-free. Paintings, handicraft statement pieces and photo frames with family pictures will add to the room’s simple yet classy look. The advantage of these colours in your home is that even while being subtle and at the background, they become the heros the home décor. With the colours being bright in their own grounds, lighting in the room should be anything but dim. Finally, this kind of look is a breath of fresh air for smaller configuration units.

So, while these are two contrasting looks that will trend in 2023, each has its own beauty which when imbibed nicely will make your home, a dream home.

New Delhi, March 1, 2023: Two giant consumer brands, LG and Times Prime today announce their coming together for a strategic partnership for their “Assured Benefits Carnival,” where the electronic giant will gift Times Prime Annual Membership to its customers on purchase of any “Side by Side Refrigerator”.

Upon product purchase, customers will receive a voucher code for the Times Prime annual membership with access to a wide range of benefits from premium & popular brands such as Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, Cricbuzz Plus, Gaana Plus, EazyDiner, ET Prime, TOI+,and many more. This one-stop shop also provides exclusive offers and discounts over Rs.60,000 on your favorite brands such as Myntra, Uber, Chaayos, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, etc.

Speaking on the latest collaboration of the brand, Harshita Singh, Business Head of Times Prime said, “The aim of this strategic partnership is to enrich the offering bouquet of an appliance leader like LG with Times Prime’s holistic ecosystem of all lifestyle brands under one app. This wholesome nature of our app integrated with an umbrella of offerings by LG is bound to benefit both brands for sales and engagement.”.”

As one of the most preferred lifestyle super-apps, Times Prime offers an extensive range of benefits on a single platform, from shopping to entertainment and lifestyle brands like Starbucks, Myntra, Uber, Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, Google One, and many more. Times Prime positions itself as a unique Super App that curates subscriptions and benefits besides elevating lifestyle with superior & exclusive access to global brands and experiences. The campaign is designed to create a sense of urgency and dramatize the importance of availing the benefits of Times Prime subscription.

To know more about the LG InstaView Side by Side refrigerator, visit

LG Electronics: Buy TVs, Home Entertainment & Appliances | LG India

India, 1st March 2023: The inaugural DNA Women Achievers Awards 2023 is all set to celebrate and recognize the achievements of women game changers who have been successful in creating a better future through their intelligence, diligence, path-breaking performance, and grit. The upcoming on-ground event will also include panel discussions of women stalwarts across different industries on ‘The role of Indian successful women in boosting Indian economy and elevating the society’ and ‘Is Homemaking the first step towards Entrepreneurship for women?’ and will be held on 3rd March 2023 in Le Meridian, New Delhi.

The Women Achievers Awards 2023 event will be graced by Chief Guest- Darshana Jardosh, Minister of State for Railways and Keynote speaker – BK Shivani. Industry stalwarts like Supriya Paul (Josh Talks), Kanta Singh (Deputy Director-UN Women), Dr Ranjana Kumari(Director, Centre for Social), Maya Vishwakarma(Padwoman) etc will be a part of the panel discussion series at the event.

With the rollout of DNA Women Achievers Awards 2023, the Zee News-DNA team looks forward to rewarding deserving women leaders who have very meticulously turned every challenge into a meaningful opportunity and succeeded in various fields. Women leaders will be recognized under a huge umbrella of prestigious award categories in sectors like Auto, FMCG, Retail, Health, E-commerce, Start-ups, Jewellery etc.

Emphasizing on the key objective of Women Achievers Awards 2023, Mr. Sushant Mohan, CEO, DMCL, highlighted, “Women-led businesses provide a great impetus to the economy. We, at IDPL, look forward to appreciate the efforts and accomplishments of women leaders and entrepreneurs, who have been game changers their respective sectors and hope to inspire many more women to join the league.”

Mr. Shridhar Mishra, CRO, IndiaDotCom Private Digital Limited, further added, “We, at IDPL, look forward identifying the key areas where the women achievers have shone in the dark and overcome the most challenging phases of their career. These awards are not just the recognition for the hard work put in by these women, but a motivation for the larger society to follow the suit.”

The work of the nominees will rigorously be reviewed by an esteemed team of Jury members based on various judging parameters such as Leadership, Accomplishments, and Future Potential etc.

This event will be broadcasted LIVE on the Facebook platforms of Zee News and DNA.

Mumbai, March 1st, 2023: The final countdown begins and it’s time for you to start building your cart! Zivame, India’s No 1 D2C intimate wear brand announced the arrival of “The Grand Lingerie Festival” (GLF)- India’s biggest intimate wear sale. The sale is scheduled to start from Wednesday, March 1st, 8PM. Endorsed by the cheerful Kriti Sanon, this edition of The Grand Lingerie Festival offers consumer’s 50000+ styles across 100+ brands!

One of India’s most popular shopping events, Zivame’s Grand Lingerie Festival offers intimate wear for women for all her different occasions, moods and outfits. Along with Kriti Sanon, the event is being endorsed by popular TV faces across geographies from Krsyal D’Souza, Shanvi Srivastava, Malvika Menon, Aanchal Mujhal among others.

The brand has also roped in top influencers to create buzz around the event and encourage consumers to refresh their wardrobe for the upcoming ssummer season. The event will be promoted across multiple channels, including a large scale TV campaign, radio campaign, magazine ads across top metros and investments across digital channels.

Speaking about GLF, Khatija Lokhandwala, Head- Marketing, Zivame, said, “The Grand Lingerie Festival is a magnificent affair that celebrates intimate wear and gives consumers an opportunity to indulge in all that their hearts desire. Our campaign for the event aims to showcase the anticipation and excitement of shopping at the biggest intimate wear sale of the year and we hope that consumers will enjoy shopping their hearts out on account of the huge range of styles, attractive discounts, and fun games and contests”

Paytm UPI LITE enables users with quick and seamless transactions at a lightning fast speed on Paytm Super App. Users can carry out multiple transactions of smaller values of up to Rs 200 at one point. It allows users to add a maximum of Rs 2,000 twice a day, resulting in a total daily usage of up to Rs 4,000, at a single tap.

Paytm UPI LITE offers faster real-time transactions as no 4-6 digit PIN is required to make any payment. Owing to the ease, convenience, superior user experience, security and interoperability, Paytm UPI is the most preferred choice of users. Paytm UPI LITE is an ‘on-device wallet’ which enables real-time small value payments which reduces the load on the core banking system.

Currently, customers of UPI can only set up UPI LITE accounts. Also, users need to ensure that their bank supports UPI LITE features. Users can transfer UPI balance back to the same bank account anytime, without incurring any charges. It also declutters bank statements, with only one entry for all UPI LITE payments.

Paytm UPI LITE aims to make smaller value transactions hassle-free, quick and seamless. It also improves the success rate for UPI transactions while reducing the infrastructure load on the remitter bank’s systems. The process is so simple that users will be able to make smaller value transactions while paying for the groceries or topping up the phone balance with one-click single-factor authentication.

Making the entire experience quick and seamless, the company enables the users to conduct multiple transactions in a day up to Rs 4,000 in a single click without worrying about cap on the number of bank transactions. Paytm is the fastest in the industry with one of the lowest transaction failure rates in carrying out UPI transactions.