Category business

Pune, March 07, 2023: Celebrating the spirit of women riders, Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles organized all-women rides for their Kommuniti across various cities in the country, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Guwahati, Pune, and Chennai on March 5th.

The countrywide rides witnessed 150 women riders donning their riding attire on their Jawa & Yezdi motorcycles to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene among women in the less privileged sections of the society. The Delhi edition of the ride was led by popular rally driver Garima Avtar, who was joined by fellow female Jawa Yezdi riders. Across the cities, the rides were flagged off from the Jawa Yezdi dealerships and traversed the main streets and localities of the respective cities. The riders also took stops for sessions on social initiatives and refreshments.

Speaking about the initiative, Ashish Singh Joshi, CEO – Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles, said, “Motorcycling is liberating and we’re pleased to see the growing number of women enjoying the feeling on Jawa & Yezdi motorcycles. We have always encouraged more and more women to start riding and will continue to do so. Through strengthening our Kommuniti with female riders, we aim to generate awareness on various women welfare topics and support them.”

During the ride, the Jawa Yezdi Women Kommuniti conducted a session on menstrual hygiene for women residing in underprivileged areas of their respective cities. Food packets and sanitary napkins were also distributed by the riders for all the women and young girls in the area.

Harshvendra Soin, Global Chief People Officer & Head – Marketing, Tech Mahindra, “Every year on March 8th, we celebrate International Women’s Day to honor the numerous sacrifices, struggles, and successes of women throughout history. While women and people of all genders are consciously defying stereotypes and are actively contributing to break barriers, I truly believe that we have a long road ahead in overcoming conscious and unconscious biases. Having said that, we can all come together to bridge the gap by being supportive allies and creating a sense of, not just inclusion, but belonging at work for women.

While our quest of creating a diverse, equal, and inclusive world will take time, what we can collectively do today and each following day is to sow the seeds of change that will bear fruit in the future. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, I urge every woman to stay true to their purpose, stand tall, and march ahead to lead the world and bring about a positive change.”

Sqn Ldr Dimple Rawat (Retd), Director HR at Barco India said, “As more and more women make their mark in technology, we have also seen remarkable growth in the innovation quotient, leading to better and more advanced solutions and output. The Indian IT industry has shown tremendous improvement in bridging the gender gap and empowering women in technology. Gender parity remains essential to a resilient future, and there is a strong need to provide adequate mentorship and equal opportunities to women in the global STEM ecosystem. Moreover, organizations need to implement a consistent strategic approach to strengthen equality and foster an appropriate ecosystem with policies aimed at enhancing women’s career paths and unlocking innovative upskilling possibilities and technology-based education, starting at the grassroots.”

Rituparna Mandal, General Manager, MediaTek Bangalore said, “According to the UN, more women in the technology space results in more advanced solutions and has greater potential for innovations that promote gender equality. It is imperative that the global STEM ecosystem step up and provide women and girls with innovative upskilling opportunities and technology-based education, starting from the grassroots, to unlock a sustainable future for the planet and humankind. Additionally, organizations need to deploy a strategic and continuous approach to strengthen equality and equity by creating appropriate ecosystems and policies to grow their career path and to assist them in building long-term careers in tech.”

Vaishnavi Shukla, HR Head, Comviva said, “With the wave of digital transformation across sectors, it is also crucial to bridge the digital gender divide and create a future that is inclusive and equitable for all. The past few years have magnified the existing gender digital gap, but it has also presented an opportunity to accelerate our efforts towards digital as well as financial inclusion for women, enabling them to achieve their maximum potential. As women leaders, I believe it is our responsibility to advocate for policies and initiatives that will help close this gap and guarantee equal access to education, training, and job opportunities. We need to find more ‘STEM girls next door’ and encourage them to innovate, fail and most importantly, fuel the growth mindset. The government and policymakers can help address this issue by investing in digital infrastructure and skill development and promoting gender equality. Let’s aim to work together to create a world where diversity and innovation are encouraged and where all women have equal access to technology. We at Comviva have a strong culture of encouraging growth mindset and challenge the stereotypes. We believe that inclusiveness is the only path to sustained success.”

Ms. Niroopa Padmanabhan – Vice President Design, Smartworks, “Women are breaking gender stereotypes and stepping into this sector, which was once perceived as male-dominated. But that’s not the case anymore; there is a change in perception, and the unwavering determination, hard work, and honed talent have pushed the influx of women upwards in real estate in the last few years. The hiring conversations have moved from gender to experience and meritocracy. From entry-level or mid-manager roles, women today lead functions such as Sales, all-men-led Operations teams, Projects, and more.”

“Leading a team of 50+ people have its challenges, but when you know you are trusted and supported by the higher-ups, it makes all the difference- showcases that your skills and perspectives are recognized.

What’s worked well for me over the years is my continued investment in reskilling and upskilling, keeping up with the trends and industry updates. The organization has been instrumental in my growth by providing me with the resources and opportunities to grow, such as leadership training, involvement in key projects, mentoring, and networking opportunities.”

Bangalore, March 2023: Loco, the world’s leading independent esports and live-streaming platform, witnessed 2X growth for its female users in 2022 (YoY). During this period, the platform also saw a massive 10X spike in the viewership of female streamers and a 3X increase in female Daily Active Users in 2022 (YoY).

Female gamers have been finding their groove in online gaming, consistently ranking amongst the most popular streamers and building their own audience. This has attracted more female viewership to the platform, which will encourage more female creators and lead to more inclusivity in the online gaming ecosystem. In the first quarter of 2022, the number of female streamers on Loco increased by 10X, and the same period also saw a 7X increase in the number of female viewers on the platform. Some of the most popular games viewed by female users included Valorant, Free Fire Max, and GTA 5.

Female streamers on Loco are present from various geographies and regions across various tiers. In 2022, the female Monthly Active Users (MAU) saw a steady 3X growth on the platform, with strong growth from tier 2 & 3 markets in viewership, and content creation. This is led by the rising affordability of smartphones and high-speed internet paired with the rise of new role models on platforms like Loco has led to many women, in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, to start playing video games.

Driven by its mission to “democratize gaming”, Loco continues to prioritize inclusivity for its gaming community. This International Women’s Day, Loco launched its new”#shegotgame” campaign. Under this new initiative, in addition to its existing discovery tab, Loco will provide a high visibility spot in its trending feed to budding female streamers, encouraging them to showcase their content and find new viewership. On one Wednesday of each month starting March 2023, Loco will be dedicating a space on the platform just for up-and-coming female streamers.

Commenting on the occasion, Loco streamer, Kanika Bisht A.K.A Kani Gaming, said, “As a female gamer, I am proud to see the progress the esports sector has made toward inclusivity. Women today are breaking gender stereotypes and setting themselves up for success fuelled by their passion. As a female gamer, it is encouraging to see platforms like Loco provide women gamers with the right tools and resources to launch and grow their career to help shape this ecosystem admiringly.”

Loco streamer, The Bella a.k.a Anjali Atheya, added, “It is delightful to witness the Indian esports industry progressing toward embracing inclusivity. Women are no longer shackled by gender bias and are able to follow their passion with enthusiasm. To see platforms such as Loco, support female gamers jumpstart their career and help them establish themselves in the gaming scene is inspiring.”

In its user research, Loco found that one of the most critical items for retaining female viewership and streamers was quality of comments and safety on the platform. With this key consumer insight in mind, Loco rolled out its ML-driven moderation suite and also provided a layer of manual moderation tools to streamers, which enable female creators to maintain a safe stream environment and build a clean community around their content.

Loco recently raised $42 million, which was the largest Series A round in Indian and South East Asian gaming history. The platform has also partnered with other gaming publishers like Krafton, Activision Blizzard and Riot Games.

By Mr. Praveen Arora, Vice President-IoT, Tata Communications–

“As we continue to embrace digital transformation, National Safety Week acts as a reminder for us to ensure a safe working environment for employees across industries. In the last five years, at least 6,500 lives have been lost in factories, ports, mines, and construction sites, according to the Union Labour Ministry.

Working in an industrial setting is often dangerous due to the nature of work, working conditions etc. It’s vital, for such a workforce to be equipped with technologies that enable their safety at all times. As such, the Internet of Things (IoT) has shown great promise in improving worker safety, increasing productivity, reducing costs and also bringing in better efficiencies. We are also seeing an increasing demand for IoT enabled connected worker solutions by manufacturing set ups.

At Tata Communications, we combine wearables with the Internet of Things (IoT), analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to create technology solutions that saves lives, managed on a single window for safety and productivity requirements of an enterprise. Our Safety watch monitors a worker’s body vital stats and work environment and is capable of sharing two way alerts between the employees and supervisors in the event of fall detection, immobility detection, anomalous heart rate etc. The solution has been instrumental in preventing over 40+ critical incidents so far, by providing intelligent insights and enhanced decision support using intelligent sensors. Our enterprise SAFEPASS® solution has also resulted in 100% accuracy in locating workforce during emergencies and a 20% reduction in unauthorised entry at the workplace, making the organisation worker friendly.”

Kolkata, March 7, 2023: Bandhan Bank announced the opening of its Mega Currency Chest in Kolkata. This currency chest help the Bank in cash management for the 1,757 banking outlets and ATMs in the state of West Bengal.

Shri Gunveer Singh, Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India inaugurated the currency chest today. Senior officials were present at the inauguration of the Kolkata currency chest.

The currency chest is situated in New Town area of the city. This is the Bank’s third mega currency chest, the other two being in Patna and Guwahati. This chest would facilitate fresh currency circulation and manage the soiled notes from the economy. It would help the Bank to serve its clientele better.

In West Bengal, Bandhan Bank currently has a customer base of more than 1 crore. The Bank has 182 bank branches in its Kolkata region.

C S Ghosh, MD & CEO, Bandhan Bank commented on the occasion, “While Bandhan has spread its wings across the nation, right from the days of being an NGO to transitioning to an NBFC and finally as a universal Bank, Bandhan has continued to maintain its strength in its home market, West Bengal. We have received the trust and love of more than 1 crore customers in the state. The opening of this currency chest will further strengthen the Bank’s operations in the city of Kolkata in particular and the state of West Bengal in general. It is also a testament to our commitment to the development of the West Bengal and other eastern states of India.”

By Mr. Arun Nayyar, Chief Executive Officer, NeoGrowth Credit

“Women entrepreneurs are an inspiration to everyone. Right from a grocer to the owner of a manufacturing unit employing hundreds, women entrepreneurs are the epitome of grit and resilience. Our MSME Business Confidence Study 2023 revealed that ~80% of women MSME owners expect to opt for a business loan in 2023. It is crucial that we support and empower these women entrepreneurs with the necessary tools and timely credit to ensure their continued success.

Lenders such as NeoGrowth are supporting the needs of India’s women business owners by offering inclusive and speedy credit, irrespective of their background. ~25% of our total disbursements are to women entrepreneurs. We must continue to strive towards creating an enabling environment that supports and promotes women-led MSMEs, through a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including policymakers, financial institutions, and society at large. Together, we can build a more equitable and prosperous future for all.”

One97 Communications Limited (OCL) which owns the brand Paytm, India’s leading payments and financial services company and the pioneer of QR and mobile payments, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) on the sidelines of the Andhra Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023. The agreement aims to promote mutual cooperation in the areas of Industrial Development,

Financial Inclusion, Public Health, Cyber Security and Prevention of Financial Frauds in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Shri Saurabh Gaur, Secretary, Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Andhra Pradesh, and Shri Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder, Managing Director and CEO of Paytm. Under the MoU and in alignment with its mission of bringing half a billion Indians into the mainstream economy, Paytm plans to empower merchants, street vendors, and ChiruVyaparulu (street hawkers) in Andhra Pradesh to accept digital payments and provide them access to loans through its lending partners. Paytm plans to extend its platform to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for providing eGovernment services, which will be conveniently accessible to all Paytm Super App users. Additionally, Paytm plans to empower various GoAP departments to accept digital payments from citizens and businesses, thereby enhancing service delivery for
the people of Andhra Pradesh. The company proposed to also enable the digitization of toll plazas across the state to accept payments digitally.

In the area of Public Health, Paytm proposed to collaborate with the State Health Authority in facilitating seamless OPD appointment booking at government and private hospitals under the forthcoming Unified Health Interface (UHI) programme. As part of its commitment to promote safe and secure digital payments, Paytm plans to be conducting cybersecurity training for Andhra Pradesh police personnel and launch a joint campaign to raise awareness of cybersecurity best practices among citizens, particularly those residing in non-urban areas.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder and CEO, Paytm said, “We are happy to partner with the Government of Andhra Pradesh in their journey of sustainable development through inclusive growth. We are fully committed to driving Financial Inclusion at the last mile and this partnership is a step in that direction. We will continue to empower the people of Andhra Pradesh by enabling lakhs of small businesses with mobile payments and access to various financial services.”  with financial institutions.

Bangalore, March 07, 2023: Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI), the life insurance subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL), has unveiled the #IsseZarooriKuchBhiNahi campaign to showcase its recently launched “industry-first” product, ABSLI Nishchit Aayush Plan, a non-linked non-participating individual savings life insurance plan, that provides guaranteed income from the 1st policy anniversary (month/year).

#IsseZarooriKuchBhiNahi campaign intends to spread awareness among the viewers while ensuring that it puts a smile on their faces. The integrated campaign communicating this plan is captured through a series of scenarios wherein the protagonists find themselves stuck in unfavourable circumstances like being kidnapped or stuck in a lift. As the film progresses, ABSLI’s advisors find their way to meet the protagonists and humorously inform them about the Nishchit Aayush Plan and its benefits.

Speaking on this initiative, Mr Kamlesh Rao, MD & CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance, said, “At ABSLI, our focus is to help our customers with cutting-edge life insurance solutions that provide guaranteed income that too, immediately. It is an excellent investment opportunity that offers an optimal blend of protection and growth, providing peace of mind for you and your family.

The #IsseZarooriKuchBhiNahi campaign perfectly aligns to ABSLI’s vision of revolutionising the way guaranteed savings income plan category operates and the blend of awareness and humour will spread a positive message by instilling inquisitiveness about newer & better investment avenues in the minds of viewers.”

Ms Darshana Shah, Head of Marketing and Customer Experience, Aditya Birla Capital Ltd. said, “Our approach to ABSLI’s new campaign #IsseZarooriKuchBhiNahi is based on simple philosophy of capturing people’s attention by describing the product’s USP (guaranteed income from the 1st policy anniversary (month/year) in an engaging manner. Our new product, Nishchit Aayush Plan will empower the policyholders to leverage guaranteed savings product by decreasing the propensity for risk in their portfolio.”

At the heart of their thinking, Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI) believes that the product sells itself, however, #IsseZarooriKuchBhiNahi campaign intends to tell the truth interestingly. ABSLI reckons that its recently launched product will revolutionise the industry by transcending the “long term savings” approach of life insurance products & providing upfront guaranteed returns from the 1st policy anniversary (month/year)

India, 07th March 2023: In another landmark achievement, aha, one of India’s leading regional OTT, has won the Internet & Mobile Association of India’s (IAMAI) India Digital Awards 2023 ‘Best Entertainment App’ Award under the category Best Mobile & App Awards. The awards recognize the best in India’s digital ecosystem, including individuals, companies, and innovations.

Considered the fastest-growing local app, aha, in three years since its inception in 2020, has scaled to 9 million monthly active users, 2 million plus active subscribers, overseas subscribers of over 100k and 32 million app downloads. It is the only app providing 100% local content in Telugu and Tamil, respectively, which includes new content every Friday, first-of-its-kind originals, movies, talk shows, reality shows, games and live news.

aha, endorsed by celebrities Allu Arjun and Vijay Devarakonda, is seen as the most preferred Telugu OTT service, according to industry surveys. It’s also being talked about for its user-friendly features as an app and its unique distribution strategy, which ensures that everyone has access to its original local content through a wide range of channels – from local cable networks to grocery stores in public areas.

The endeavor to make the app the best source for regional entertainment continues. The brand recently announced its plans to invest Rs 1000 crore to expand it into new languages and genres. aha’s promoter, Mr Ramu Rao Jupally, and CEO, Mr Ajit Thakur, also reinforced their commitment to making the OTT service channel a super app in the next three years.

Happy with aha’s latest feat at the digital awards, Mr Ramu Rao Jupally, Promoter of aha said, “We are immensely proud of this recognition, which acknowledges our efforts to contribute to the Indian digital ecosystem through the entertainment sector. aha began with a need to provide new-age entertainment content in Telugu, and today it is synonymous with delivering 100% local content in Telugu and Tamil. We look forward to strengthening this position by bridging the OTT regional content gap across all languages in the next three years.”

Mr. Ajit Thakur, CEO of aha added, “We are thrilled to have received the ‘Best Entertainment App’ award at IAMAI’s India Digital Awards, and it’s an honor to be recognized for our efforts. It further validates the success of aha, given its recent trail of achievements as an OTT service provider of 100% local entertainment. We are committed to further transforming this experience by making it a super app in the next three years with content beyond films and original series; it includes interactive content, gaming and tapping into the hybrid model, which is the future of the streaming platforms.”

aha has, in the past, been awarded the Regional Platform of the Year and Game Changer of the Year at Economic Times SPOTT Awards -2022. One of its talk shows, Unstoppable with NBK, has also been rated No 1 on IMDB and had more than a billion minutes of streaming. The OTT service provider has started working on its plans to launch in Malayalam and Kannada.

As COO at Krank, Metcalfe will lead and scale business operations and go-to-market activities to deliver on Krank’s exciting business roadmap and expansion plans.

Metcalfe began his career in institutional sales at Legal & General Investment Management. This was followed by strategy, business growth and operations roles at various B2B technology and startup companies, most recently rising to a COO role at the fintech start-up Cobalt. At his time at Cobalt, Metcalfe was pivotal in raising major institutional investment and signing global clients, including Citi and Deutsche Bank. He joins Krank following the company’s transformative deals with US rental giant Maxim Crane and technology company Liebherr, where the unique Krank platform will underpin a large proportion of the companies’ used equipment disposals.

Giles Metcalfe, Chief Operating Officer at Krank.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Krank at such a formative and fast-moving time for Krank’s unique business model,” Metcalfe said of his appointment. CEO and founder of Krank Mark Turner meanwhile, says: “Giles is a very welcome addition to the team – with his experience in growing technology businesses, I am confident he will make a very strong contribution in driving Krank’s rapid expansion.”

From upstart to start up

Metcalfe’s career to date has been marked by his entrepreneurial spirit and lateral thinking – having ran and sold a business by the age of 18 and receiving national newspaper coverage during the financial crisis for his innovative approach to securing his first job in London’s financial district. (Metcalfe stood with a banner and handed out CVs in Broadgate Circle, London – resulting in over 25 interviews in the following weeks.)