All posts by Rabindra

15th October, National: DoubleTree by Hilton Goa- Panaji is delighted to announce the appointment of Nikita Dugade as Assistant Director of Sales. The recent senior positions onboarding is a strategic move underscoring DoubleTree by Hilton Goa- Panaji’s commitment to strengthening leadership. As part of her new role, Nikita will be spearheading on-ground operations, enhancing stakeholder relationships and overseeing sales operations in Goa.

Nikita brings with her a rich background from her tenure at Westin Goa, Westin Powai, JW Marriott Juhu, Vivanta by Taj Goa amongst others. She has been recognized with several prestigious awards throughout her career, including ‘Manager of the Month’ at Westin Goa and for her pivotal role in organising and executing the “Shaadi by Marriott” campaign at JW Marriott, Juhu

“We’re excited to welcome Nikita to our team. With her impressive track record, we’re eager to see her vision translate into greater productivity and growth for our property. We wish her all the best.” said Harshad Nalawade, General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Goa- Panaji.

Commenting on her appointment Nikita Dugade, Assistant Director, Sales expressed, “I am excited about my new role. I look forward to leveraging my expertise gained through the years to drive operational excellence and sales growth.”

When not counting numbers or chasing targets, Nikita likes to unwind with Travelling and putting on her dancing shoes.

Hyderabad, 15th October 2024: Hyderabad-based Troo Good, India’s largest millet-based snack brand, has successfully raised USD 9 Million in a funding round led by Puro Wellness. Existing investors Oaks Asset Management and V Ocean Investments also participated, strengthening their support for Troo Good’s growth strategy. This capital infusion will support the company’s efforts in expanding infrastructure, enhancing distribution capabilities, and driving product innovation.

This latest round brings Troo Good’s total funding to approximately . Troo Good last raised  in a Series A round in November 2021. The company has consistently remained profitable, showing revenue growth year-on-year while competing in the highly competitive FMCG market. This focus on profitability and expanding its retail footprint, online sales channels, and new geographies has cemented investor confidence, as demonstrated by Oaks Asset Management and V Ocean Investments’ continued support.

Vivek Anand PS, Partner at Oaks Asset Management, expressed his confidence in the brand, saying, “Troo Good has consistently delivered value year after year, proving the strength of its business model and the exceptional leadership of founder Raju Bhupati. Our confidence in the brand has only grown, and we are very happy to be part of this next phase of their journey.”

Speaking on the successful fundraise, Raju Bhupati, Founder and CEO of Troo Good, commented: “This funding marks a pivotal moment in our growth journey as we scale our infrastructure, expand our distribution network across India, and focus on innovative millet-based products. We are committed to making healthy, affordable snacks accessible to all and are excited about the opportunities ahead. The funds will help us enhance our manufacturing capabilities, reach more consumers, and innovate with new products that cater to our customer’s evolving tastes and needs. I am extremely excited about the partnership with Puro Wellness in particular since they bring immense complementary skills and strategic distribution depth to Troo Good.”

 

Troo Good will continue to focus on growing its market share in the rapidly expanding healthy snacks segment. The company is preparing to establish the Troo Good brand as a leader in the millet-based snack category.

Since its founding in 2018, Troo Good has become known for its range of millet-based snacks, including chikkis, protein bars, and Nutri bars. The company sells over 3 Million units daily of its popular millet chikkis and other millet snacks. With this fresh capital, Troo Good is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for healthy, affordable, and sustainable snack options across India.

Mr. Ruchir Modi, Founder of Puro Wellness, stated, “We are deeply aligned with Troo Good’s vision of delivering healthy, affordable snacks to India’s mass market. This partnership is a natural fit for Puro Wellness as we expand our mission to build a comprehensive wellness foods platform. Beyond capital, we are bringing our extensive distribution network and strategic expertise to the table, ensuring that Troo Good becomes a household name across the nation. Together, we aim to elevate the wellness food industry and make healthy eating accessible to millions more.”

Pune, 15th October 2024: Kinetic Engineering Limited, a leading auto component manufacturer in India, has announced an investment of  into its newly formed electric subsidiary, Kinetic Watts and Volts Limited. This strategic infusion builds upon the company’s initial investment of , raising the total investment to. This investment underscores Kinetic Engineering’s focus on advancing innovation in the electric vehicle (EV) space, particularly in the areas of advanced EV technology and battery solutions.

The fresh capital investment will focus on expanding Kinetic Watts and Volts limited’s research, development, and manufacturing capabilities. With the EV market growing rapidly in India and globally, the company is poised to leverage its expertise and infrastructure to contribute significantly to the country’s green mobility transformation. The funding will support the development of high-performance, efficient, and sustainable electric vehicle systems, with an emphasis on state-of-the-art battery solutions designed to enhance vehicle range, reliability, and energy efficiency.

Commenting on this development, Mr Ajinkya Firodia, Managing Director of Kinetic Engineering, stated, “The electric vehicle market is rapidly evolving, and Kinetic Engineering is dedicated to staying at the forefront of this revolution. With the latest infusion of capital into Kinetic Watts and Volts Limited, we are not only reinforcing our commitment to innovation but also taking tangible steps towards a more sustainable future. This investment will empower us to create efficient, reliable, and advanced electric mobility solutions for our customers in the Indian market.”

Kinetic Watts and Volts Limited was established to spearhead Kinetic Engineering’s transition into the green energy sector. This recent investment is aligned with the company’s strategy to drive innovation through sustainable technologies. By focusing on EV technology and battery solutions, Kinetic Watts and Volts Limited aims to bring next-generation electric mobility solutions to the market while supporting India’s ambitious goals for reducing emissions and promoting renewable energy.

With India’s electric vehicle market poised for exponential growth, Kinetic Engineering is committed to making electric mobility accessible, reliable, and sustainable for all. The additional funding will accelerate the company’s efforts to deliver on this promise and position Kinetic Watts and Volts Limitedas a leader in the EV space.

New Delhi, 15 October 2024: University of Essex, a prestigious institution ranked in the top 30 in the UK (Complete University Guide 2025 and Guardian University Guide 2025) is pleased to announce its innovative Integrated Masters in Science (MSci) in Nursing, offering a Dual Award in Adult and Mental Health Nursing.

The University currently holds the 11th position in the UK for Mental Health Nursing and 28th in UK for general nursing, according to the Guardian University Guide 2025, and 23rd in the UK for Nursing and Midwifery, according to The Mail University Guide 2025. Essex also ranks 4th for mental health nursing and 14th for adult nursing for overall positivity scores in the National Student Survey 2024 (English broad-discipline higher education institutions). The Integrated Masters in Science (MSci) in Nursing is a four-year, full-time programme and is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge to excel in two key fields of nursing, making them versatile professionals capable of delivering both physical and mental healthcare.

The structure of the programme blends 50% clinical practice and 50% theoretical study, allowing students to develop hands-on experience in various healthcare settings while learning the core principles of nursing. Students will spend the first three years specializing in either adult or mental health nursing, with the flexibility to transition into the dual award track at the end of their third year, subject to academic performance. The final year focuses on the alternative field, allowing students to graduate with dual qualifications. Placements will be offered across Essex, giving students exposure to a wide range of healthcare environments, including NHS, private, and voluntary settings.

Graduates of this programme will be eligible for dual registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as both Adult and Mental Health Nurses. This dual qualification significantly enhances career opportunities, allowing graduates to work in diverse settings such as hospitals, mental health facilities, community healthcare, and specialized units that require professionals with cross-disciplinary expertise. Furthermore, graduates will be well-prepared for leadership roles within the healthcare sector, making them highly sought after in both the UK and international job markets.

Entry requirements for the programme include a minimum of BBC-CCD (112-88 UCAS tariff points) at A-Level, or equivalent qualifications. Applicants must achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in writing and 7.0 in other components. Eligible students can also benefit from the NHS Learning Support Fund, which provides a £5000 grant per academic year to support their studies, along with potential additional financial support for students with dependents.

Kathak virtuoso Shinjini Kulkarni, an eminent torchbearer of the Lucknow gharana, will exhibit a grand spectacle pulsating with intricate techniques at REACH Virasat 2024. The evening of October 21, 2024, at the Dr. BR Ambedkar Stadium, Dehradun will leave the audience stunned with Kulkarni’s grace, intricate techniques, and expressive abhinaya.

Brightening the stage with her dedication and passion, Shinjini has garnered the audience’s affection and blessings. Her performances, a powerhouse of poetic uniqueness and creative approaches have never failed to catch the spectator’s admiration worldwide.

At Virasat 2024, her performance will dive into the rich traditions of the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak, offering the dance aficionados the opportunity to experience the intricate nuances of the dance form. Her presentation will include recitals in Teentaal and Rupak, showcasing her skill over rhythm and craft. In addition, she will present an enthralling abhinaya segment that brings together the emotions and art of narration through dance.

From the Ninth Generation of the Kalka Bindadin Lineage, Shinjini began her training at an early age under the tutelage of her grandfather Pt.Birju Maharaj ji and since then she has been exploring her passion for dance. From performing in groups to solos at prestigious national and international events, the ardent dancer put her mind and soul to the concept to deliver an unforgettable performance on stage.

Virasat 2024, starting from October 15 to October 29, 2024, offers a platform for esteemed artists to share their expertise and passion that enriches the cultural tapestry of folk life and rich heritage by featuring classical dance, music, art, craft, theatre, cinema, literature, yoga, and much more.

Monday, 15th October 2024: Condé Nast Traveller India, the country’s leading luxury travel and lifestyle multimedia brand, is thrilled to announce the fifth edition of its prestigious Top Restaurant Awards in a multi-year partnership with Zomato. This landmark collaboration in hospitality will kick-off with a glittering awards ceremony on Monday, 11 November in Mumbai and play across digital & social platforms and via curated experiential experiences.

The Top Restaurant Awards stand out for their credibility, built through a rigorous selection process. Thousands of restaurants from all over India are scored by 100 jury members from across ten regions. These include India’s foremost food writers, creators, and tastemakers, who vote across two rounds to score India’s 50 top restaurants. A few notable jury members include Rashmi Uday Singh, Harsh Goenka, Kunal Vijaykar, Sadaf Hussain, Raghavendra Rathore, Sid Mewara, Jayanti Reddy, Jim Sarbh, Rohan Joshi, Pernia Qureshi, Vinita Chaitanya, and many more. The process and tabulation is overseen by an independent consulting firm. Condé Nast Traveller will appoint an independent consulting firm for the voting process and tabulation.

Condé Nast Traveller’s partnership with Zomato marks a pivotal moment in the industry and will be focused on developing unique dining experiences across India. This collaboration is designed to shine a spotlight on India’s rich and diverse dining landscape and the people behind it.

“Condé Nast Traveller is thrilled to have partnered with Zomato for the Top Restaurant Awards. This collaboration marks a new chapter for us, bringing together two powerhouses in food and hospitality. Over the next few years, we will work together to celebrate India’s vibrant culinary landscape.” – Sandeep Lodha, Managing Director, Condé Nast India

“Thrilled to partner with Condé Nast Traveller in our endeavour of powering India’s changing lifestyles across use cases including dining out, going-out, staycations and more. Looking forward to building more unique and premium going-out experiences for our customer.” – Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO, Zomato

“The process of selecting India’s finest restaurants of the year remains unchanged and meticulous–100 jurors from 10 regions vote confidentially over multiple rounds till we arrive at the Top 50. With Zomato as our partner, we’re taking this celebration of Indian dining beyond that one awards night, with content and experiences that I’m sure diners will enjoy. Top Restaurant Awards are all about cheering the people who make eating out so much fun. Now, things just got more delicious!” – Salil Deshpande, Head of Editorial Content, Condé Nast Traveller India

Bengaluru, October 15, 2024: Cashfree Payments, India’s leading payments and API banking company announced that its UPI(Acquiring) Switch has received certification from the NPCI and has started processing transactions. The UPI Switch is a software that enables communication between core banking systems and NPCI’s UPI systems to process UPI transactions and is integral to deliver high success rates and reliable processing.

The UPI Switch from Cashfree Payments is a gamechanger as it can allow businesses to accept UPI payments at a very large scale of 12000 transactions per second without experiencing payment failures or customer issues, even during days of peak traffic for events like Big Billion days, IPL etc. In addition to reporting upto 5% higher success rates, the UPI Switch offers businesses much more control and visibility over UPI payment acceptance through faster onboarding, immediate access to new UPI features, instant refunds, easier payment retries for customers, better visibility of reasons of payment failures, better fraud prevention, control over the narration in the account statement and quicker transaction completion. UPI Switch is built in partnership with NSDL as the sponsor bank.

Commenting on the launch Akash Sinha, CEO & Co-founder, Cashfree Payments said, “Our advanced UPI Switch significantly elevates Cashfree Payments’ payment processing value proposition. This solution transforms the UPI payment experience with faster onboarding, customizable account statements, improved payment retries, instant refunds, immediate access to new UPI features, and enhanced visibility of payment failure reasons. Positioned as a leader in India’s digital payments landscape, Cashfree Payments’ deep ecosystem understanding empowers businesses to thrive as India’s digital economy evolves.”

Built in-house by Cashfree Payments’ sharpest engineering talent, UPI Switch minimises businesses’ losses due to fraud by detecting patterns through trained machine learning models and rejecting risky transactions, particularly those involving QR codes.

The UPI Switch excels in error handling and reduces customer queries by more than 70% by showing accurate reasons for payment failure, making retries intuitive, supporting instant refunds and by proactively reversing invalid transactions, such as payments made to expired QR codes. Supporting various UPI flows like UPI Credit, UPI PPI, UPI Collect, Intent (Push), Dynamic QR codes, UPI Auto Pay, and OTM (One-Time Mandate) on Payee PSP, it ensures businesses’ flexibility and efficiency in payment processing. The UPI Switch also enables quick adoption of new NPCI features, as they are launched.

As UPI evolves, this switch will be pivotal to drive faster innovation and cutting-edge solutions for businesses and customers.

Cashfree Payments is a leading RBI-licensed payment aggregator and a payment service provider in India processing transactions worth USD 80+ billion annually and is a trusted choice for over 6,00,000 businesses for digital payment solutions. Since receiving the PA license in December 2023, the company has onboarded thousands of large, medium and small scale merchants helping them seamlessly transact and grow. It recently became the first entity to receive the payment aggregator license for cross border payments. The company has been at the forefront of redefining the way businesses approach digital payments, verification and payouts through its wide range of tech-first offerings. Over the last few months it has introduced industry-first products like FlowWise, KYC Link, Risk Shield and more. Outside of India, Cashfree Payments is expanding its presence in the UAE region through its acquired partner, Telr.

In the world of television, actors often have to perform a variety of scenes, and many times female actors set boundaries for certain scenes they’re not comfortable with. However, it’s not just female actors who set limits—male actors do it too. A great example of this is Lakshay Khurana, who plays the lead role of Aditya in Sun Neo’s show Ishq Jabariya. Lakshay believes in setting boundaries when it comes to certain scenes and openly expresses his views on maintaining these limits as an actor.

Lakshay Khurana shared his thoughts on fully committing to his roles while recognizing the boundaries necessary for him as an individual and as a husband. He said,” As an actor, when we perform, we truly become the character we’re playing. Of course, there are some limitations, and that’s necessary. But TV is a very different medium—it’s a safe space. On TV, nothing goes overboard, and I’m comfortable with that. If there’s a romantic scene or something intimate, it’s all part of the character I’m portraying.”

He further added, “To do justice to the role, I have to be honest with the character. If I’m not, I won’t be able to perform well. However, there are certain boundaries I keep in mind, especially when it comes to something as sacred as applying sindoor. For me and my wife, sindoor holds a deep meaning, and I believe it should be done only once, with the right person. I can’t imagine putting sindoor on anyone else except my wife—that’s something I truly stand by. It’s about balancing the character’s truth while respecting my personal values.”

Ishq Jabariya, airing on Sun Neo at 7:30 PM, is an engaging love story centred around Gulki, a determined young woman with big aspirations. The show boasts a stellar cast, including Kamya Panjabi, Siddhi Sharma, and Lakshay Khurana in key roles, bringing depth and emotion to this captivating narrative.

Bengaluru, 15th October, 2024: Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Limited, India’s premier electric two-wheeler (e2W) and electric three-wheeler (e3W) manufacturer, is thrilled to announce a limited edition of Safar Smart passenger vehicle available in both lead acid and lithium battery variants. Designed for customers who require dual functionality, it offers space for both passengers and cargo. It features a hard top roof with a dedicated carrier, allowing passengers to travel comfortably while securely storing their goods on top. Additionally, it includes a new music system, floor mats, and stylish wheel caps—all for just more than the standard model.

In alignment with the upcoming festive season, Kinetic Green is also offering special deals across its entire e3W range, combining affordability with enhanced features to deliver exceptional value. These electric three-wheelers, including the special edition, are paired with attractive financing options from leading partners, making ownership easy and accessible. These offers can be availed at dealerships starting from the first day of Navratri.

Kinetic Green has teamed up with two prominent financiers, Cholamandalam Finance and ReVfin Finance, to offer an appealing financing package, making it convenient for customers to own their desired e3W. For instance, the Kinetic Green Passenger Safar Smart Lead Acid e3W now requires a down payment as  the Kinetic Green Lithium Battery version comes with a down payment of  and  can choose either a one-year warranty and 18 months loan term for the lead acid e3W or a three-year warranty and three-year loan period for the lithium model, based on their individual preferences and usage patterns. These initiatives will ensure that e3W ownership becomes easier and more accessible while offering a seamless buying experience for consumers.

Commenting on these initiatives, Mr. Debashish Mitra, President of Kinetic Green’s 3 Wheeler Business said, “This is an exciting opportunity as we aim to make electric vehicles more accessible by offering attractive financing and choice of batteries for their Kinetic Green electric three-wheelers. These options will enable people to switch to sustainable mobility with ease. By making electric vehicles more accessible and feature – loaded, we hope to encourage a larger segment of the population to embrace sustainable transportation solutions and decarbonize last mile connectivity in India.”

India, 15 October, 2024: Accel-backed Jetapult, a global strategic investment company in the gaming landscape, takes a major stake in Saudi Arabia based UMX Studio. The company invested $4.5mn in an all-cash transaction.

In addition to acquiring equity, Jetapult will provide capital to support the expansion of UMX’s existing portfolio, expand its audiences across global markets, and build games in new genres.

This will be Jetapult’s first investment in the MENA region, with further investments planned in markets like South East Asia and Europe.

Jetapult’s team of global gaming experts, will help catalyse the studio’s capabilities to enhance user acquisition, scale monetization efforts, and adopt cutting-edge analytics and AI tools through their “Invest & Operate” (I&O) model

Jetapult, co-founded by Sharan Tulsiani and Yash Baid, is backed by Accel Partners, Fireside and JetSynthesys, amongst others. The company aims to support game studios with a scientific approach to sustainable growth in markets such as Southeast Asia, MENA, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, through a $100 million commitment over the next five years.

UMX Studio founded by Mr. Ali Alharbi in 2014, is one of the first homegrown game development studios established in Saudi Arabia. The studio develops high-quality mobile games featuring stunning graphics, engaging gameplay, and suitability for all ages. Their games have garnered over 70 million downloads till date, and the company has shown consistent year-on-year growth, driven by a portfolio of games that consistently top the Apple and Google charts in the region.

The investment comes in the context of the exponential growth of the gaming and e-sports sector in the MENA region with Saudi Arabia representing 39% of the Middle East’s gaming revenue from consumer spending and is the fastest-growing market in the region, according to Sensor Tower, 2024

Jetapult is committed to UMX’s vision of fostering the Saudi Arabian market to become a hub for game development by harnessing Jetapult’s strategic expertise and UMX’s local talent and cultural nuance.

Speaking on the occasion, Sharan Tulsiani, the Co-Founder and CEO of Jetapult said “Jetapult’s investment in UMX goes beyond providing capital; we bring a wealth of proven gaming expertise and cutting-edge technology to this partnership with an aim to enhance gaming experiences across the Middle East’s emerging development ecosystem.”

Mr. Ali Alharbi – Founder UMX stated “This significant investment from Jetapult not only marks a milestone for UMX Studio but also heralds a new era for the Saudi Arabian gaming industry. We are thrilled to partner with a globally recognized leader in the gaming investments space. This collaboration will not only accelerate our expansion but also empower us with advanced tools and expertise.”

Mr. Rajan Navani, Chairman and MD, Jetsynthesys said “The people of India and Saudi Arabia have been trusted partners for trade in goods and global expertise for millennia. This strong legacy has been carried forward in the fastest-growing and digital-first market of gaming through Jetapult’s investment in UMX. This partnership of deep expertise and culture will bring together the gaming and eSports communities in both these youthful markets.”