Category business

9th June 2023– Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC) today announced ambitious new corporate sustainability targets that extend the company’s core commitment to positively impacting its global environmental footprint. The new targets focus on powering the company’s operations with 100% renewable energy, achieving net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions across the company’s operations, as well as water and waste reduction targets.

Sustainability strategies are core to Western Digital’s business. Through thoughtful planning and execution, the company has already set and achieved goals such as running certain facilities on renewable energy and reducing energy consumption per unit produced. Specifically, the company’s new target commitments include:

• Running its global operations on 100% renewable energy by 2030
• Achieving net zero emissions in the company’s operations (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) by 2032
• Reducing water withdrawals by 20% by 2030
• Diverting more than 95% of our operational waste from landfills by 2030

“Committing to these new, aggressive sustainability targets furthers Western Digital’s priority to be a good environmental steward and put forth data-driven goals and metrics to hold our organization accountable for mitigating the impacts of climate change,” said Irving Tan, Executive Vice President of Global Operations at Western Digital. “We have already made significant progress undertaking measures to reduce emissions, water and waste, to leverage renewable energy as well as low-carbon product design and packaging. These new targets reiterate our commitment to be an industry leader in sustainability.”

Western Digital’s established sustainability program has already set aggressive goals and has been recognized by industry organizations. For example, the company’s goals to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030 and reduce scope 3 use-phase emissions/Terabyte by 50% by 2030, both from an FY2020 base year, were approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2021, and since then the company achieved nearly 15% absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction. Additionally, as a founding member of the First Movers Coalition, Western Digital has committed to at least 10% net-zero fuels by 2030 for ocean shipping. ​​Western Digital’s facilities in Shanghai, China and Penang, Malaysia have been recognized by the World Economic Forum’s Lighthouse Network as Sustainability Lighthouses.

“As sustainability becomes a business priority for organizations, companies that commit to and show progress towards achieving actionable sustainability targets will be recognized as sustainability leaders in the industry,” said Curtis Price, VP Sustainability Research at IDC. “Western Digital’s new commitment in the areas of net zero emissions, water and waste reduction and renewable energy, exemplifies the company’s dedication to reducing the impact of its business operations on the planet and paving the way for other companies to follow suit.”

Mumbai Metropolitan Region – Naigaon, June 8, 2023: There isn’t anything more enjoyable than time spent in a park, the feel of the lush green grass below your feet, neatly trimmed hedges, colourful flower beds, butterflies and the cheerful chirping of birds. Bringing joy to the residents of Naigaon East this World Environment Day, Sunteck Foundation offered development of a park at Tivri in Naigaon with the help of the local authorities to provide a clean and green community and a recreational space for children and adults.

Sunteck Foundation by Sunteck Realty have always been in the forefront to improve community conditions and uplifting the environment towards a sustainable lifestyle.

Parks positively impact the environment as they help in improving air quality, promote biodiversity, and also naturally cool air and surfaces. Moreover, they offer people recreational opportunities and encourage an active lifestyle helping to relieve stress and increase sense of wellness. This initiative by Sunteck to develop the community park at Naigaon is towards building more sustainable spaces to encourage and engage the community in green initiatives for the betterment of the overall environment and society.

Speaking about sustainability being central to Sunteck Anupma Khetan, the customer experience evangelist at Sunteck Realty, expressed, “As an organisation we are committed to developing sustainable spaces and believe that development should not be limited to within the boundaries of our projects. In our endeavour towards the betterment of community, we have been dedicatedly working towards supporting environment and social causes that encourage sustainable living among public at large.” 

Sunteck has supported in the development of this 450 sqmt park at Tivri in Naigaon by providing soil & manure filling, along with lawn grass and a variety of plants and shrubs namely Calliandra Brevipes (Powder Puff), Tecoma Stans (Yellow Bells), Murraya Paniculata (Orange Jasmine), Nerium Oleander (Sweet Scented Indian Oleander), Hibiscus Variegated (Javakusum), among others.

For media queries, Contact BeanstalkAsia: 

Jyoti Prakash | +91 8010681238 | jyoti@beanstalkasia.com

Samakshi Sawal | + 91 9082980959 | samakshi@beanstalkasia.com

Schbang has launched a joint venture with global influencer and entrepreneur Masoom Minawala called Mmaximize. It brings the personal and professional experience of Minawala with Schbang’s strategy, industry know-how and business acumen.

A content creator herself, Masoom Minawala has been the recipient of Forbes Asia’s 30 under 30 list, and has represented India at many global platforms She is collaborating with Schbang, the digital and technology transformation company associated with key Indian and international brands like Amazon, TATA Neu, H&M, Johnson & Johnson, Fevicol, Mattel and Jio. The eight-year-old company has over 1200 employees and has been awarded LinkedIn’s top startups in India in 2018, 2021, and 2022. Schbang has also won the Social Media Agency of the Year by ET Brand Equity and has been awarded as India’s Fastest Growing digital agencies 2023 by Agency Reporter.

As per the Influencer marketing report, the Indian influencer marketing industry’s value will reach Rs. 2,200 crores by 2025, growing at an annual rate of 25% over the next five years. Creators are doing more with their platform, like conducting workshops, bagging big-budget productions, and venturing into entrepreneurship, among many other things.

Mmaximize aims to provide a 360-degree multifaceted approach for creators to build their personal brands. The services will include PR & Image building, identifying revenue streams, legal and financial support, invoicing and billing, negotiating brand deals, building brand strategy and monthly and quarterly content planning.

Mmaximize’s vision is to build an unassailable business model for India’s top creators that fuses their creative prowess with Mmaximize’s strategy, analytical thinking, industry know-how and business acumen to foster the creation of personal brands and realize their full potential.

On the collaboration, Masoom Minawala – Global Influencer, Entrepreneur and Investor said, “The business of influencing has been a passion from the day I started creating content —the art of strategy, brand building, client servicing, cultivating relationships with brands to create multiple streams of revenue, all of it. While I’ve been fortunate to establish a solid framework for myself, there has always been a burning desire to extend this expertise to others in the industry.”

“That’s how Schbang MMaximize was born—an amalgamation of my 12 years of experience & expertise and Schbang’s digital reign, infrastructure, & access to over 300 brands” she continued.

Harshil Karia, Founder, Schbang said, “For Schbang, this is an important strategic move. It brings us closer to creators and helps us leverage our efficient service standards, and access to tech companies and clients to be able to deliver a market-beating service for Talent in India and beyond. It will also help the large client pool in Schbang give the first opportunity to co-create IPs with many exciting creators and celebrities.

I could not think of anyone better than Masoom to partner with on this joint venture.” he continued.

8th June 2023 Uber´s advertising division and Uber India have today announced the official launch of Journey Ads, a first-of-its-kind advertising option for India, as well as its partnership with Httpool by Aleph to help connect India’s brands with innovative advertising solutions.

Journey Ads, an initiative from Uber’s advertising division, offers an engaging way for brands to connect with consumers throughout the entire ride process – from the moment they book their trip through to the end of their ride. Journey Ads deliver brands unparalleled share-of-voice and consumer attention from millions of riders across the region.

Through leveraging Uber’s first-party data and insights, Uber can surface interesting and relevant ads to users without compromising their privacy or experience, or sharing their personal data with advertisers. This allows brands to place relevant content in front of purchase-minded riders in brand-safe and captivating ways while respecting consumer privacy.

With a one-hundred percent share of voice during the entire trip, consumers are exposed to the ad content for more than 100 seconds, well above industry averages.

In addition to Journey Ads, brands are also able to leverage Uber’s first-party data and insights to reach riders while in the vehicle via Uber’s in-car tablet pilot in Delhi and Mumbai.

Uber will partner with Httpool by Aleph, to help connect India’s brands with these effective and high-impact advertising surfaces. With an innovative set of proprietary technology, performance solutions, and extensive market knowledge, Httpool by Aleph enables advertisers to connect with their audiences in the most effective ways, consistently maximizing their ROI.

Dr Mark Grether, VP, General Manager of Uber advertising said: “Since Journey Ads launched last year, we’ve seen advertisers embrace the surface with click through rates above 3% and an average global view time of over 100 seconds – both well above industry standards, Given that impact, it’s exciting to see this impactful advertising surface scale in India.”

Prabhjeet Singh, President, Uber India and South Asia added: “The Uber advertising team’s surfaces, such as Journey Ads and in-car tablets, offer brands a unique opportunity to grow relationships with consumers by connecting them at a moment when a customer is uniquely attentive. I’m excited to see this offering expand to give more Indian brands a space to create meaningful audience engagement.”

Rabin Yaghoubi, Chief Corporate Development Officer at Aleph, said: “We are proud to partner with Uber to bring its unique advertising solutions to India. This is a milestone moment for on-the-move digital advertising globally. Connecting brands with consumers is in Aleph’s DNA and partnering with Uber in the region allows us to leave our mark together from the start of the journey.”

Amit Gupta, Managing Director with Httpool by Aleph in India, reiterated the significance of the partnership. “We are proud to partner with Uber to help bring its unique advertising solutions to India. The collaboration between Uber and Httpool by Aleph has unlocked an extraordinary opportunity to tap into the vast potential of reaching consumers during their journeys by leveraging the power of Journey Ads and in-car Tablets. This enables Indian brands to establish meaningful connections with potential buyers throughout their entire travel experience.”

Bengaluru, 8th June 2023: Scoring yet another industry first, Ather Energy, India’s leading electric scooter manufacturer, today announced a new 60-month vehicle loan product that will make EV scooters more affordable and accelerate its adoption in the world’s largest two-wheeler market. This is also the first time that a finance product with a tenure of 5 years has been rolled out in the EV industry.

Despite a long and successful track record of vehicle financing, Indian banks and NBFCs (non-banking financial companies) have until now refrained from exposing themselves to loan tenures longer than 36 months and 48 months under special circumstances.

Monthly repayment of the loan or EMI (equated monthly instalments) under the new 5-year vehicle loan offered by Ather can be as low as INR 2,999, making it one of the most compelling financial products available for EV two-wheeler buyers in India.

Ravneet S. Phokela, Chief Business Officer Ather Energy, said, “Affordable vehicle loan products have for long been a critical last-mile enabler for the stupendous growth of the Indian two-wheeler market. The growing popularity of EV scooters in the country has necessitated the need for vehicle loan products with a longer tenure. It is an ongoing journey for us to ensure we make our scooters accessible to a wider audience, and attractive financing is an effective tool to quicken EV adoption in the country. As an industry pioneer, Ather has worked closely with some of India’s leading retail finance players, banks, and NBFCs to design and offer the country’s first 60-month EV loan product and pave the way for other OEMs. We believe this extended loan period will make EVs even more lucrative and bring in more customers. We hope and expect other two-wheeler brands, particularly in the EV market to also start offering a similar 60-month loan product to their customers.”

Ather has partnered with IDFC First, Bajaj Finance, and Hero FinCorp to offer India’s first 60-month EV two-wheeler loan and expects more retail financiers and banks to join hands to strengthen its pioneering effort.

India’s current global stature as one of the leading automobile markets owes a good part of its success to a robust retail finance industry in the country, a fact best highlighted by the two-wheeler market. Three out of every four vehicles sold in India are two-wheelers, and again three of every four of these are bought with loans. Given the relatively premium price of the current generation of EV scooters in the country and its increasing popularity, the time was just ripe for Ather to step in to create a pioneering financial product for its perfectly engineered fourth-generation performance scooters.

“Since November 2022, we have seen the number of customers who opt for loans increase from 20% to 50% now. With the segment poised to grow in the coming years, attractive EV financing schemes are even more relevant and they will be crucial to fuel the industry’s growth in the coming years. I am very happy that Ather is the first to offer a 60-month loan in the Indian EV two-wheeler industry,” Ravneet added.

Despite being a recent entrant in one of the most fiercely competitive two-wheeler markets in the world, Ather is already recognized as an industry pioneer. As an electric mobility start-up, founded by two “industry outsiders”, Ather built India’s first aluminum frame scooter, with first smart vehicle implementation (touchscreen interface, navigation, on-board diagnostics, and mobile and data connectivity) and the first to deliver a field-proven technology stack (Connected Charger, Battery Pack, BMS, Motors, Motor controllers).

The superior quality of Ather scooters which comes with another industry-first five-year warranty, was one of the key reasons for banks to extend loan tenure for Ather customers to five years.

For more details: https://www.atherenergy.com/#pricing

Scheme details:

Mumbai,8th June 2023 GARRTEN, a luxury leather fashion brand, has introduced a range of functionally chic luxury leather accessories for men and women. The newly introduced range of products by GARRTEN includes 4 styles in leather backpacks – signature, slim, rolltop, travel, and 2 styles of leather accessories – dopp kits and wallets, available in full grain & saffiano leather. All products are available in a variety of colors.

GARRTEN backpacks and accessories have been designed through years of research to highlight the stylish luxury element while being mindful of their functional demands. Made using the finest 100% full-grain leather, GARRTEN’s leathers are soft and supple with a sheen, adding that luxurious touch and feel. The brand’s focus on durability intersects with fun when using top-grade polyester interior lining in classy contrasting colors like red and cinnamon, complementing the exterior leather hue. All products are equipped with Japanese YKK® metallic zippers that are world-renowned for their quality, standard, and durability.

Leather backpacks from GARRTEN are equipped with – leather top handles that add to the style and support the modern lifestyle that we are living today; double zipper closure; front zipper pocket with pen & card slots, cable loops, pockets for mobile & key strap; Back zipper pocket for extra reach for small essentials; hand-pounded rivets at the stress points for added durability and weight management, and last but not the least, they come with a padded laptop compartment. See all styles at www.garrten.com.

“We believe in offering exactly what the customer desires – exclusivity, high quality, and exceptional customer service. Everything in our collection can be summed up in two words – Stylish Luxury, said Harshminder Sidhu, Founder & Chief Brand Officer at GARRTEN. “We are inspired by the classics – design, fashion, architecture, etc., but love to mix it up, creating functional luxury handcrafted pieces to meet our modern lifestyle needs. The result is a luxury leather accessories brand innovating to elevate personal experiences of modern-day global citizens who are constantly on the move.”

Interestingly GARRTEN products are handcrafted by local artisans with generational craftsmanship skills, hence directly impacting them and their families. They are empowered to earn a stable, healthy income through dignified work and environment.

The Indian market is projecting high demand for leather products, with Statista reporting that the Leather & Related Products market in India is projected to grow by 8.33% (2023-2028) resulting in a market volume of US$3.65bn in 2028.

8th June 2023, Pune: Attron Automotive, a leading provider of innovative motor and controller solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), today announced the successful completion of the first round of funding, raising a total of 4.75 crores. It was led by Anicut Capital and the round saw participation from Pontaq VC, Venture Catalyst and Yashovardhan Shah. The funds will be utilized to support the company’s key growth initiatives, including the setup of an assembly line, establishment of a prototyping facility, team expansion, and research and development efforts to drive innovation in existing and new technologies.

The infusion of funds will enable Attron Automotive to make significant progress towards achieving its goals – the company plans to set up an assembly line with an initial capacity of 10,000 units per month with an aim to expand it to 70,000 units per month within the next five years. Additionally, Attron Automotive will grow its team, focusing on research and development and sales to meet the growing demand for products. The company’s R&D team will also be responsible for developing new technologies, allowing Attron Automotive to maintain a competitive edge in the market. Furthermore, the establishment of a prototyping facility will streamline the production of samples for customers, reducing lead times and fostering faster adoption of Attron Automotive’s solutions.

“We are thrilled to have successfully raised 4.75 crores in this fundraise, which will be instrumental in driving our expansion plans and fuelling our innovation initiatives. The involvement of Anicut Capital as investor and mentor brings valuable expertise, insights, and guidance to Attron Automotive. Their support will help the company navigate challenges, make strategic decisions, and avoid common pitfalls. This assistance has prepared us to provide an exceptional experience to our future customers and undertake significant responsibilities for larger OEM players in the industry. Additionally, Anicut Capital’s extensive network will introduce us to potential customers, partners, suppliers, and other investors, opening up new opportunities for collaborations and resources. Post fundraise, we have outlined a set of milestones aimed at capturing a significant market share. We aim to acquire 10% market share in the 3 and 4-wheeler load carriers’ market within the next three years, leveraging our proprietary motor and controller E-powertrain solutions. This investment not only validates our potential but also positions us for significant growth and market leadership in the electric vehicle industry”, said, Mosam Ugemuge, Founder and CEO, Attron Automotive.

“We are excited to back Attron Automotive in their journey towards transforming the electric vehicle industry. Attron Automotive’s young and enthusiastic team, their innovative product, and the vast potential for market penetration is poised to revolutionise the Indian market. With the Niti Ayog’s EV policy aimed at reducing EV dependence on China, Attron’s proposition of an IP driven Made in India electric motor will further give them the required market impetus to excel.”, said, Ashvin Chadha, Managing Partner, Anicut Capital.

Looking ahead, Attron Automotive has formulated an expansion and growth strategy. The company plans to target original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) seeking to transition from Chinese powertrain components to domestically manufactured solutions. Furthermore, Attron Automotive aims to collaborate with other EV component OEMs, such as battery, BMS, DC-DC Converter, and VCU manufacturers, to offer complete EV solutions for retrofitting and new product development.

With a successful track record in the industry, Attron Automotive has developed a proprietary motor topology that achieves motor efficiency exceeding 97%. The company’s pre-integrated motor controller solutions cater to various low voltage and high voltage applications, including automotive, defense, aviation, and agriculture. Attron Automotive has already completed field testing of its system with multiple OEMs and is now poised for mass production following the setup of its assembly line.

08th June 2023, SURAT, India: IVY Growth Associates, a venture capital firm and start-up accelerator, in partnership with SteamHouse India Limited announces the second edition of its annual Start-up Summit ‘21BY72’ in Surat city. The summit is set to witness the grand participation of 60+ Venture Capitalists and 500+ Angel Investors and over 200+ start-ups hailing from all over India and globally. The summit is scheduled for 16, 17, 18 June at Avadh Utopia, Surat. All in all 10,000 attendees from across the globe are expected at the summit which will facilitate opportunities worth roughly over 20 Crores and contribute to the national start-up ecosystem.

Surat ranks among one of the fastest-growing cities in the world and one of the wealthiest cities in India with Diamond and Textile Industries being the key contributor on a Global Landscape. Surat has witnessed over 600+ emerging angel investors participate in the Indian Start-up Ecosystem just in the past couple of years and has seen success stories from Surat-based Startups.

The summit works around the core objective to catalyze collaborations, providing a platform to entrepreneurs to exhibit and present their concepts, and open investment opportunities for investors from across the world. The summit has successfully served as the Launchpad for start-ups like Emotorad, Legalpay, Stylework, and Gorillalink (An Israeli Start-up).

The upcoming edition will see some key names from the ecosystem participating including Shark Aman Gupta (Co-Founder & CMO, Boat), Arjun Vaidya, CA Sarthak Ahuja and notable VC Firms like 100XVC, Blume Ventures, Artha Ventures and many more.

There will be knowledge-sharing sessions from over 80 Industry Veterans and 10+ Mega Influencers and live pitching sessions. It is expected to fuel funding to 20+ start-ups in the live pitching sessions.

IVY Growth Associates has already gained ground in the city of Surat, and various parts of India like Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, and The United Arab Emirates. It further aims at expanding its wings across Tier-2 and Tier-3 Cities like Indore, Nagpur, Pune, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The summit will add another stud in the start-up accelerator’s portfolio and encourage budding minds from other cities and countries too as the brand moves ahead in its journey.

IVY Growth aims at facilitating start-up funding worth 50 Crores, across at least 30 start-ups by the end of the current fiscal, and take the same number up to 200 start-ups in the next five years.

“We have a very ambitious target of providing opportunities to at least 30 start-ups by the end of the ongoing fiscal. To achieve the same this summit will play a key role. The summit is expected to accelerate the entire process and help us reach our goal faster. At the same time, not that it brings investors and entrepreneurs under one roof, but also motivates others to come forward and participate. This is largely to encourage more ideas, and inspire more minds,” said Mr. Rachit Poddar, Co-founder, IVY Growth Associates.

IVY Growth Associates is not just working in India but has also grown the community globally. It has organized conferences in the UK, UAE, and few more with the vision of building global corridors by the rise of angel investors.

Mangalore; 8th June 2023: Pantaloons, India’s leading fashion brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd., announces the grand opening of its store at Fiza by Nexus, Mangalore. Spanning an expansive 13,500 sq. ft., the store was inaugurated by noted Tulu and Kannada actor Mr. Arjun Kapikad. The store marks a milestone in Pantaloons’ ongoing commitment to delivering a new and exciting shopping experience to customers across the country.

The brand’s much-awaited summer collection on display covers a noteworthy set of the latest trends in men’s wear, women’s wear, and kids’ wear. Offering a wide range of options for the young and fashionable, Pantaloons also covers accessories, home décor, and lifestyle offerings. With a host of exciting brands catering to formal, casual, festive, and occasion wear, Pantaloons truly brings alive its proposition as a playground for fashion.

Pantaloons have firmly established its presence across 195+ cities in the country, emerging as a prominent fashion brand for over two decades. It caters to the varied apparel and non-apparel need of Indian consumers, creating a modern retail environment and making contemporary fashion accessible across the country.

The store is extending an exciting inaugural offer of an Rs. 500 gift voucher on every bill of Rs. 3000 or more, valid until 30th June 2023.

Store Address: Pantaloons, first floor, Fiza by Nexus, Mangalore

Italy, 8th June 2023: A brief pause in the 2023 season comes to an end as the MotoGP World Championship chases top speed around the 5.25km of the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello.

Three races in three weeks start with the Italian GP in Mugello, the Tuscan circuit a favourite among fans and riders alike. Round six of the 20-round World Championship will see the Repsol Honda Team pairing of Marc Marquez and Joan Mir continue to work on the evolution of the Honda RC213V.

Marc Marquez has been able to deliver consistent flashes of brilliance during his truncated start to the year with a pole and a podium in Portimao and a front row and fierce ride to challenge for the top three in Le Mans. The #93 has been the protagonist to many of the most memorable battles at the Italian GP and has taken three podiums in the premier class in Mugello, including a win in 2014.

For Joan Mir, the weekend will be another chance to improve his feeling on the Honda as he works to unlock the full potential of himself and the bike. The 25-year-old achieved his first premier-class podium at the Italian GP in 2021 when he was third. Growth and improved consistency remain the primary focus for the #36 as he prepares to get back on his Repsol Honda Team machine again.

After Mugello, the teams and riders will head straight for the German GP and then the Dutch TT ahead of the traditional mid-season Summer Break.

Marc Marquez

“Time to get back to work. We start in Mugello which is always a very demanding weekend, the track is very fast and flowing. I’ve had some great battles there in the past and pushing the top speed of a MotoGP bike down the straight is always enjoyable. We of course need to see what possible this weekend and see what we can do together with the team to get the maximum from the bike and keep trying to make steps forward.”

Joan Mir

“It seems a long time since we were last on the MotoGP bike, but I have been able to do some good riding and training during this time away. We have one more push before the mid-season break, so of course I want to achieve my maximum during this triple. A lot of time on the bike is something I am looking forward to as I think we can keep making progress forward and unlock what we have been missing. Mugello is the first of the three races in a row, I was on the podium there in 2021 and it’s a spectacular circuit to ride. Maximum effort, maximum focus and maximum determination.”