Category business

Bangalore, March 29, 2023: In a unique initiative that gave a glimpse of the agricultural milieu, Greenwood High International School organized a ‘’Farmers Sante’’ for their pre-primary kids that gave a wonderful exposure to farmers’ lives. Teachers and farmers explained the significance of farming to the children with activities related to agriculture, food, animal rearing, health and nutrition. At the Sante, freshly harvested vegetables along with domesticated animals were on display for the kids to witness a real life Sante (Market) experience.

The children purchased vegetables and milk while the teachers guided the young ones on how to trade. The farmers market provided an exhilarating learning opportunity as children learned the importance of eating fresh & healthily and the need for supporting local farmers. They also got to know about different types of produce, how they are cultivated, and to pick fresh fruits and vegetables. They also learned on how to handle money. With all this, they also gained an appreciation for natural products and it also proved to be a great place for children to practice social skills by interacting with farmers, vendors, and other shoppers.

Commenting on the event, Ms. Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High International School, said: “The Farmers Sante was an excellent opportunity for young children to be exposed to village life which is the backbone of the country. Inculcating young children with values around rural lifestyle is important so that they know how people live in non-urban places with a different set of values. At the event, children felt overwhelmed by a sense of satisfaction upon accomplishing independent shopping. We thank the farmers who made this event possible and we will continue to encourage such activities in our school campus.”

Mumbai, 29th March 2023: Campus Activewear, one of India’s largest sports and athleisure footwear brands announces a major milestone in its journey towards expansion and growth by achieving the landmark of 200th stores across India. To celebrate this achievement, the company opened its first exclusive outlet in Kochi at Lulu Mall as a testament to its commitment to providing high-quality, fashionable, and affordable activewear to customers.

Campus Activewear, began its retail journey in 2017, with the opening of 35 brand outlets till 2020. Since then, the brand has continued to thrive and expand, with a strong focus on retail expansion opening 100 stores last year. Today, Campus has reached 200 stores across India, making its products more accessible to customers than ever before.

To mark this milestone, Campus Activewear has opened its first exclusive brand outlet in Kochi, at the prestigious Lulu Mall. The outlet boasts a contemporary design, reflecting the brand’s commitment to a fashion-forward active wear. The new store will showcase the latest collections and exclusive designs, providing customers with an unparalleled shopping experience. The outlet launch is a part of the brand’s growth journey from continuously driving fashion forward narrative and adopting a multi-channel sales approach to add value to the customer’s brand journey while serving the latent demand.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Nikhil Aggarwal, CEO, Campus Activewear Ltd. said, “We are excited to announce the launch of our first exclusive outlet in Lulu Mall of Kochi, which also marks our momentous 200th store milestone across India. This remarkable achievement is a reflection of our unwavering dedication to delivering footwear that seamlessly blends quality, style, and affordability. Our newly inaugurated outlet boasts a state-of-the-art shopping experience that promises to elevate our customer’s retail experience. With better brand visibility, accessible pricing, and increased customer touch-points, we are committed to ensure highest level of customer satisfaction.”

Campus Activewear 200th store milestone video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B6e2-QsMrU

With the support of all customers and stakeholders, Campus honours that the fondness for its products, quality, and design has grown exponentially across cities and towns. Evolving with time, Campus aims to boost confident self-expression and raise shoe consciousness in youth. As an ambition, Campus Activewear aims to emerge as the most preferred athleisure brand in India, and bets big on design and product innovation every single time to provide fashion for consumers’ feet.

Mumbai, March 29, 2023: Columbia Pacific Communities (CPC), India’s largest and most preferred operator of senior living communities, launched its sonic identity on March 27, 2023. Sonic branding is one of the new trends that brands are adopting, which uses music to establish a distinctive brand identity. Similar to a visual identity, the sonic identity includes a MOGO® (musical logo) which is the core element to support the extension of the brand.

With the launch, CPC becomes one of the few brands in the country, and the only senior living brand, with a sonic identity. The purpose of the new musical logo, or MOGO®, is to emotionally engage with its audience and help deepen their connection with the brand, while also producing a powerful sonic identity that the audience can instantly connect with and recall. While Columbia Pacific Communities is part of a global conglomerate, the brand intended to develop a sonic identity that was deeply rooted in India and mirrored emotions and the spirit of the country. The brand launched the sonic identity in collaboration with BrandMusiq, a global sonic branding agency.

Speaking on the occasion, Piali Dasgupta, Senior Vice President – Marketing, Columbia Pacific Communities said, “Sound is considered one of the most important senses by scientists, second only to sight. In the age of digital technology, sound and visuals are equally important to a brand’s identity and awareness. The sonic identity of Columbia Pacific Communities makes use of sound technology to elicit the desired persona, characteristics, and sentiments of the brand. Together with BrandMusiq, which is recognised as a pioneer in the industry for designing unique sonic identities, CPC produced a zone of sound that was motivated by our approach to community living with harmony, honesty, and transparency. Our basic values of care, empathy, and compassion, as well as the representation of the brand’s core concept of positive ageing, are the key components that have been incorporated into the sonic identity. The importance of a strong sonic identity in creating a brand that is easily recognisable, memorable, and builds a lasting connect with its consumers, is undeniable ”

Rajeev Raja, founder and sound smith, BrandMusiq, said, “BrandMusiq is thrilled to have created the sonic identity for Columbia Pacific Communities. CPC’s promise of ‘positive ageing’ mirrors BrandMusiq’s emotions of ’empathy and care’ with optimism acting as a balance. We created the MOGO® based on the master sound or MOGOSCAPE®. We combined several Indian ragas and scales to compose the brand’s sonic identity. The tune used is Raag Tilak Kamod in one portion, highlighting the brand’s empathetic and affectionate demeanour, and Raag Desh in another, reflecting Indian values and tradition of caring for the elderly.”

The key touch points for customers and prospects to experience the MOGO® include during on-ground events, video assets and video campaigns, in elevators, on the community app (Genie) for residents as notifications and updates, mobile ringtones of the frontline staff, in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, amongst others.

29th March: Freedom Healthy Cooking Oils launched a new campaign on Freedom Rice Bran Oil to inform the customers about the health benefits of using Rice Bran Oil. This is the continuation of the ‘Freedom Oil Knowledge Series’ on the benefits of using Rice Bran Oil. The new campaign highlights the harmful effects of high levels of cholesterol and the benefit of using Rice Bran Oil for daily cooking to control the same. In the video released as a part of the campaign, renowned Nutritionist Dr. Matheen Asrar (Ph.D. Nutritionist) recommends people to take a balanced diet, do regular exercise, and switch to a healthy cooking oil like Freedom Rice Bran Oil for everyday cooking to live a healthy life. The campaign has been rolled out across social, digital, electronic, and print platforms. It has already garnered 1 million plus views from the social media platform.

In the earlier campaign of ‘Freedom Oil Knowledge Series’ an animated video was rolled out to explain the process by which Freedom Rice Bran Oil with 10000+ ppm Oryzanol, tocopherol, and tocotrienols which are natural Antioxidants, helps to reduce Bad Cholesterol (LDL), and maintain Good Cholesterol (HDL). The new campaign shares the inputs by a renowned dietitian on steps to be taken to take care of heart health. The campaign is designed to communicate the message in a simple yet effective manner from an expert and encourage people to use Freedom Rice Bran Oil for daily cooking.

According to Mr. P. Chandra Shekhara Reddy, Senior Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Freedom Rice Bran Oil, said, “We try to conduct focused campaigns as a part of ‘Freedom Oil Knowledge Series’ to inform the customers about the health benefits of edible oils. This new campaign on Freedom Rice Bran Oil, is designed to share insights on healthy living from an expert Dr. Matheen Asrar (Ph.D. Nutritionist), who recommends people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet, and cook food in a healthy oil-like Rice Bran Oil. Freedom Physically Refined Rice Bran Oil contains an ideal quantity of Oryzanol ie. 10000+ ppm therefore we request people to #SwitchtoFreedom and #ChangeForTheBetter and stay healthy with #ricebranoil.”

According to experts, if people maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat right, drink at least 2 liters of water, avoid bad habits like smoking, regularly monitor and control diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and Cholesterol levels and choose healthy oil like Rice Bran Oil for everyday cooking, they are likely to stay healthy and safe.

Paytm, India’s pioneer of QR code and mobile payments, now enables devotees visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi to pay via Paytm UPI LITE and Paytm UPI. To make the pilgrims’ experience of making donations, buying prasad, and paying at shops at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi hassle-free during Navratri, the fintech pioneer has placed direction boards along with Paytm banners, stickers at shops, and UPI LITE for branding across the temple. It has also provided EDC machines to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the nearby shops.

Devotees across India can make donations at the temple from the comfort of their homes, and can make online orders of prasad for home delivery using Paytm Super App.

India’s most innovative tech company, Paytm, has also enabled lightning-fast payments that never fail with UPI LITE at the shrine, and devotees can scan QR code to pay via Paytm UPI.

Bengaluru, March 29th, 2023 – The Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID), the incubation wing of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore is inviting applications for its deep science incubation program. Applications particularly from women entrepreneurs and SC/ST/OBC/minorities are encouraged. The applications are to be emailed to stem.cell@iisc.ac.in before March 31st, 2023.

FSID’s focus on women/minority groups stems from the recognition of obstacles entrepreneurs face when heading a deep science enterprise, and the challenges faced by these groups make it even harder to build a successful startup. They require the necessary support and guidance in order to bridge this gap, and FSID will play this role.

The incubator offers access to state-of-the-art resources, invaluable mentorship, and a vibrant community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for innovation and change. It focuses on accelerating startup growth by helping entrepreneurs commercialize their innovations, taking products from the lab to the market.

Currently, FSID has a portfolio of over 80 startups spread across various domains such as Agri-Tech, Bio-Tech, Space-Tech, Medical devices, Life sciences, and others. For over 30 years, FSID has used an incredible repository of knowledge, world-class infrastructure, and talent to help incubate business enterprises. FSID was founded in close collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore.

29th March 2023, Hyderabad: Techwave, a global IT and engineering solutions firm, joined hands with WaterAid India, a global non-governmental organization, to support ‘The Blue Mile’ program, which aims to increase awareness of water scarcity, sensitize individuals, and encourage water conservation practices to help secure a safe and clean water supply for future generations.

To combat the water crisis, Techwave associates took part in the six-day virtual than “The Blue Mile” with great enthusiasm towards the cause, and people from all regions participated actively in the initiative. Techwave associates joined the initiative by participating in running, walking, and cycling activities, demonstrating their support for the cause, and helping to raise awareness about water scarcity.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Raj Gummadapu, CEO, Techwave, expressed, “At Techwave, we strongly believe that each individual has a responsibility towards encouraging sustainable development. Water scarcity is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention. We are delighted to partner with WaterAid India and join hands with the Blue Mile community to tackle this crisis. We take pride in the active participation of our employees, and we are confident that this initiative will enhance their understanding of the significance of water and its actual struggles. Through our combined efforts, we aspire to create a positive impact on the environment and pave the way for a better future for generations to come.”

Mumbai, March 29, 2023 Post clocking the milestone of achieving 2.5 lakh unit sales in India, Okinawa Autotech today introduced a wide array of vibrant color options to its Praise family. This step is in line with the brand’s commitment to delight its customers with unparalleled electric scooter riding experience and greater personalization options. The Praise platform (PraisePro and iPraise Plus) will be available in eight new colors (Electric Green, Ocean Blue, Mauve Purple, Liquid Metal, Military Green, Mocha Brown, Seafoam Green, and Sun Orange).

The Okinawa Praise Pro has been designed with a plethora of innovative features that reflect the ultimate blend of elegance and technology. The electric scooter has superior grade ergonomics that give users a comfortable ride. It includes a battery that can be fully charged in 3-4 hours, peak speed of 56 km/hr, running cost of just 14 paise/km, all LED lights and E-ABS (Electronic Assisted Braking System) with regenerative energy. It also boasts of a central locking system with an anti-theft alarm, the Locate My Scooter function, a USB charging port for mobile devices, and walk assistance.

On the other hand, iPraise Plus is designed with both aesthetics and functionality in mind. The scooter offers a range of 137km on a single charge and is integrated with the Okinawa Eco App. This is a great way to go around daily for the customers.

Both scooters display enriched designs inspired by Okinawa’s strong testament to the quality and customer delight. The additional color options will allow the riders to select a scooter that aligns with their unique style and personality, ultimately making their riding experience enjoyable and memorable.

Okinawa Autotech has played an instrumental role in fostering the growth of electric mobility in the country, with its wide range of two-wheelers. To celebrate the company’s phenomenal feat in achieving its sales landmark, the company rolled out its 250,000th unit, the popular Praise Pro model from its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Rajasthan.

Leading the EV revolution from the outset, the company began operations in 2015 and released its first model, the Ridge, in 2017. Okinawa Autotech currently has the most diverse product portfolio, 540+ 3S touchpoints, unrivaled after-sales support, and improved customer connectivity. The path to this milestone is also consistent with Okinawa’s goal of achieving sustainable mobility.

New Delhi, 29 March 2023: BenQ, a leading provider of advanced display technology solutions, has launched its newest line of professional monitors, the BenQ PD UA Series. DesignVue UA series designer monitors are designed to be the ultimate tool for creative professionals who demand the highest performance and functionality in their work.

The PD Ergo Arm Designer is a 4K (3840×2160) IPS monitor with 99% sRGB & Rec 709 and 95% P3. The monitor has a new Ergo Arm that supports swivel, height adjustment, pivoting, tilting, and amazing cable management inside the arm. Its features enhance productivity for pro designers and photo video editors, providing 90W Power Delivery through Type-C connectivity.

Mr. Rajeev Singh, Managing Director, BenQ South Asia said “Catering to the evolving demands of creative professionals, the BenQ PD UA Series monitors have been designed to offer unparalleled color accuracy and image quality. These monitors are a testament to our commitment to providing cutting-edge display technology solutions that meet the needs of professional designers. With advanced features such as KVM Switch, Dual View, PIB/PBP, CAD/CAM & Animation mode, these monitors are the ultimate choice for professionals who demand the best quality and performance.”

The BenQ PD UA Series monitors are Calman Verified, Pantone & Skintone validated which boast exceptional photo and video color quality while editing and innovative features to enhance the user experience. With USB-C connectivity, users can enjoy seamless data transfer and device charging. The Dual View function allows for the display of multiple windows or applications side by side, boosting productivity. The Hotkey Puck provides quick and easy access to frequently used settings, streamlining the user interface. Furthermore, the monitors are equipped with Eye-care technology, reducing eyestrain during extended use, thus ensuring comfort during prolonged usage. These features make the BenQ PD UA Series monitors the ultimate choice for professionals seeking the highest standards in quality and performance.

Chennai, 29th March 2023: Across the last few decades, technology has played a key enabler role in increasing banking penetration in India. However, with banking services even today offered primarily in English, individuals who may not be literate continue to face various hurdles. Further, there are limited solutions available for individuals with visual impairment or certain locomotive disabilities to access financial services. Focusing on solving this grassroots challenge at the heart of financial inclusion, IITM Research Park (IITMRP) and IITM Incubation Cell (IITMIC) have partnered with the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) to conduct a hackathon that aims to drive innovation in banking inclusion.

The event, called ‘Vaulter Voice,’ is focused on developing a solution that can perform basic banking transactions through voice commands in the Indian languages of Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu to start with, in addition to English. This initiative will primarily help the underbanked population in overcoming language barriers and people unable to use touch-based applications due to any disability, gain access to formal banking services.

Speaking on the outcome of the hackathon Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, President – IIT Madras Research Park, IITM Incubation Cell & RTBI, said, “About 85% of households in India have incomes less than ₹25000 per month. Digitally driven fintech has the transformative potential to reach these often-neglected sections of the population and help them manage their finances better. ‘Vaulter Voice’ is a unique opportunity to bring together young creative minds in tech to develop a solution that can benefit millions of Indians who are unable to enter the formal financial fold due to a majority of the banking services being available only in English.”

The hackathon challenge is being conducted with the help of technology resources developed by IITs as a part of the Bhashini group, for building a public platform for languages for the development of various services. The hackathon is also supported by a number of banks and associated financial institutions. The resultant innovation will be further scaled up across the country, expanding to other Indian languages as well.

“I strongly believe that consumer experience is the key to financial inclusion, which in turn can strengthen our economy at its very core. Delivering financial products and services through regional languages can expand reach significantly. In this context, I am excited to explore and implement innovations that come through the Vaulter Voice hackathon” said Rajesh Bansal, CEO, of Reserve Bank Innovation Hub.

The hackathon also ties into one of IITMRP and IITMIC’s ambitious 10X goals, to make India a leader in ‘Fintech for Inclusion’ with the vision of achieving sustainable and inclusive socio-economic growth for the country. By working along with dedicated “Fintech for Inclusion” partners, the aim is to drive innovation with transformative potential in this sector.

Students, startups, and young working professionals across the country passionate about developing voice-based solutions that promote financial inclusion in India are encouraged to apply for the Hackathon. IITM Research Park will also potentially look at identifying, commercializing, and helping scale innovative solutions, under its “Fintech for Inclusion” initiative.