Archives September 2023

WazirX collaborates with TaxNodes, heralds transformation in Indian Crypto Tax Filings

Mumbai, 7th September 2023 — WazirX, India’s leading cryptocurrency exchange platform, has streamlined tax filings for Indian crypto investors through its collaboration with TaxNodes, paving the way for a more straightforward and efficient approach to addressing the complexities of crypto taxation.

Together, WazirX and TaxNodes have embarked on a mission to simplify the lives of Indian crypto investors, providing them with a precise and hassle-free process to fulfil their tax obligations. Key success metrics that highlight the collaboration’s achievements include:

• Inclusive Participation: Over 30,000 Indian cryptocurrency investors, hailing from diverse genders and geographic locations, have found immense value in this collaboration.

• Geographical Reach: The collaboration has extended its reach to encompass more than 1,000 Indian cities, ensuring that investors from every corner of India can confidently manage their tax responsibilities. Mumbai emerged as the frontrunner in engagement, followed by Delhi and Jaipur.

• Efficient Time Management: On average, users reported saving a remarkable 8 hours in crypto tax computation and income tax return filing by leveraging TaxNodes’ user-friendly platform provided through this collaboration. Users could effortlessly upload their transactions and receive their Scheduled VDA tax reports in less than 30 minutes.

• User Satisfaction and Feedback: Impressively, TaxNodes has secured an exceptional 4.8-star Google rating in its debut year, primarily driven by strong user satisfaction and feedback. This rating reflects the significant positive influence the partnership between WazirX and TaxNodes has had on enhancing the overall tax filing experience. Users added more than 50 different wallets with 4000+ cryptocurrencies, with 30% of users accurately filing their income returns by 15th July 2023 (early filers).

• Educational Initiatives: WazirX and TaxNodes conducted a series of informative sessions, webinars, contests, and published educational blogs. These initiatives greatly enriched participants’ understanding of crypto taxation, making knowledge accessible to investors across India.

Reflecting on this transformational partnership, Rajagopal Menon, VP at WazirX, emphasized, “Our partnership with TaxNodes underscores our unwavering commitment to the Indian crypto community. As we guide investors through the complexities of tax regulations, it exemplifies our genuine dedication to ensuring their successful financial journey.”

Avinash Shekhar, Founder of TaxNodes, added, “We are proud that this partnership has been a huge success. Together, we have helped Indian crypto investors calculate, evaluate, and file their taxes accurately. We have also provided them with expert advice and personalized services to help them trade crypto freely without worrying about the intricacies of tax filing. This partnership has promoted compliance and eased regulatory uncertainties, thus fostering the growth of the Indian crypto market.”

For revised and belated returns, WazirX and TaxNodes remain steadfast in simplifying crypto tax compliance for the Indian crypto community. The partnership’s significance lies in the lasting boost to investors’ confidence and understanding of tax regulations. This partnership stands as a testament to WazirX and TaxNodes’ unflagging dedication to serving the dynamic requirements of Indian crypto investors, promoting compliance, and ensuring financial empowerment.

The role of leadership in driving diversity and inclusion initiatives

The role of leadership

In today’s interconnected and diverse world, fostering an inclusive work environment isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s a strategic advantage. A company’s success hinges on its ability to harness the power of diverse perspectives and experiences. This is where leadership steps in as a driving force, shaping and steering diversity and inclusion initiatives toward meaningful and lasting change. Through setting the right cultural tone, modeling inclusive behaviors, strategically aligning D&I with business goals, and fostering accountability, leaders shape the path toward a more diverse and inclusive organization.

Here’s how leadership drives diversity and inclusion

 1. Modeling inclusive behaviour –Leadership holds the key to shaping organizational culture. By actively championing D&I values, leaders signal their commitment to creating an inclusive environment. When employees witness their leaders championing diversity, they are more likely to buy into D&I initiatives, resulting in increased collaboration, engagement, and innovation. Leaders serve as role models. Their behaviours set the standard for the entire organization. When leaders demonstrate inclusive behaviours, such as actively seeking diverse perspectives, valuing contributions from all, and addressing bias, they pave the way for others to follow suit. In this way, leadership becomes the driving force behind a cultural shift towards inclusion.

 2. Seeing an expert’s help – Leaders who regularly collaborate with DEI experts help instil a sense of responsibility in the entire organisation. They also help all the employees understand the need for inclusive spaces. This includes recognizing the importance of communication tailored to diverse audiences. By bringing in an expert to address these, leaders can bridge gaps and create understanding. Bringing in an expert renders the team with the required tools, knowledge and communication styles to resonate with different cultural backgrounds and perspectives, ensuring that messages about D&I initiatives are inclusive and impactful. This skill fosters open dialogue and engagement across the organization.

 3. Empowering Marginalized Voices – DEI aims to ensure that marginalized voices have equal opportunities and visibility. A leader can play an instrumental role in the same. Leaders have the power to uplift marginalized voices by providing mentorship and opportunities for growth. When they actively seek out individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and offer guidance, it sends a powerful message that the organization values diverse talent. This not only fosters a sense of belonging but also helps to cultivate a pipeline of diverse leaders for the future. 

4. Sense of Accountability – Leading by example is the way. Leadership’s role extends to holding teams and individuals accountable for diversity and inclusion progress. When leaders make diversity metrics a part of performance evaluations and recognize inclusive behaviour, they instil a sense of responsibility within the organization. This accountability motivates continuous improvement and reinforces the idea that DEI is a shared goal.

 5. Continued education about DEI – The way to ensure diversity and inclusion is to keep yourself informed and this needs to translate from the topmost to the bottommost rung of the ladder. By analyzing diversity metrics, leaders can gain insights into where gaps exist and where progress is being made. This allows them to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation, training needs, and policy adjustments, ultimately propelling diversity and inclusion initiatives forward.

 As organizations continue to recognize the importance of diversity and inclusionleadership‘s role in driving these initiatives has become increasingly important. Beyond the foundational responsibilities, leaders can transform their organizations into beacons of inclusion, innovation, and equity in an ever-evolving world.

ICICI Bank opens a digital branch in Bhubaneswar

ICICI Bank opens a digital branch in Bhubaneswar
• It has an ATM-cum-Cash Recycler Machine (CRM), available 24×7

Bhubaneswar: ICICI Bank has set up a digital branch in Patia Kalarahanga, Bhubaneswar. This is the Bank’s fourth digital branch in the city. Housed at Z1 society, the branch has an ATM-cum-Cash Recycler Machine (CRM) to offer cash deposit and withdrawal services to the customers 24×7. This new branch takes the total number of the branches of the Bank in the city to 29.

Prof. Bidhu K Mohanti (M.D), Director-Academic, Bagchi Sri Shankara Cancer Center inaugurated the branch.

The branch offers a comprehensive range of accounts, including savings and current accounts, trade and forex services, fixed and recurring deposits, loans- business loan, home loan, personal loan, auto loan, and gold loan– along with remittance and card services. It also provides locker facility at its premises. Door-step banking services for senior citizens, differently abled, and visually impaired individuals are also available. It operates from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm on Monday to Friday and on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of the month.

The Bank has a network of about 180 branches and 350 ATMs in Odisha.

ICICI Bank services its large customer base through a multi-channel delivery network of branches, ATMs, call centres, internet banking (www.icicibank.com), and mobile banking.

TiE Hyderabad Women Regional Final Winner announced

The winner Saisri Akondi will represent TiE Hyderabad at TiE Global Summit in Singapore in November and compete with 40 other winners from across the globe

 

Ms. Saisri Akondi

Hyderabad, September 07, 2023….. TiE Women Regional Final of Global Pitching Competition Winners announced. They are Ms. Saisri Akondi, founder of Axolotol Health Pvt. Ltd winner. The name of the product of her startup is D.Sole.

Panoplia Digital Protection Pvt Ltd, Founder Pratyusha V was the first runner up and Heamac Healthcare Pvt. Ltd, Founder Akitha Kolloju and OsteoForge MedTech PVT Founder Dr. B Sri Sai Ramya were second runner-ups.

The Winner, Ms. Saisri Akondi will now represent TiE Hyderabad at the TiE Global Summit in Singapore to be held in November. She will contend with other 40 Chapter Winners worldwide for a chance to secure $50,000 worth of equity-free prize money.

TiE Women Global Pitching Competition 2023 will create an opportunity for access to Investors, and funding for women entrepreneurs.

TiE Hyderabad Women initiative aims to foster and encourage women’s entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, education and funding to create a strong women’s entrepreneurial community.

TiE Women is a transformative initiative that was launched by TiE Global in 2020 across all TiE Chapters, with the purpose to Embrace, Engage, and Empower women entrepreneurs, fostering a climate of inclusiveness and growth. As part of this initiative, each chapter selects one Women Entrepreneur to participate in a Global Pitch Competition. This year, the Global Pitch Competition is scheduled to take place in Singapore at the TiE Global Summit in November 2023.

At TiE Hyderabad, this marks the 4th edition of the TiE Women program, which received 64 applications from Women-led start-ups. All applicants have through the TiE Bootcamp, an Entrepreneurship Development Program consisting of intensive mentoring sessions. Following the Bootcamp, 30 applicants were selected for the semi-finals, where a jury panel selected the top 10 Regional finalists. Each of these 10 entrepreneurs was then paired with a Charter Member mentor for personalized one-on-one mentoring. From ten finalists Ms. Saisri Akondi, founder of Axolotol Health Pvt. Ltd was chosen as the winner to compete with 40 other winners across the world.

The jury for the regional final was composed of Ms Renuka Bodla- Venture Partner at Silverneedle Ventures, Mr. Kishore Ganji Angel Investor and mentor, Astir Ventures & Mr Rathnakar Samavedam, Investment Director at Hyderabad Angels.

Ms. Suman Kumar Founder & Director, SUKASO, ALEAP & COWE & Ms. Deepthi Ravula, CEO of WE-Hub who were guests at the regional contest delivered keynote address and shared their remarkable journeys & contributions in their fields.

Right after the event, TiE Hyderabad Women Committee was approached by various angels and venture capital firms like Hyderabad Angels, Astir Ventures, SucSEED Indovation Funds, Silverneedle Ventures and HNI angels. Our top 5 selected start-ups are going for the next round of presentations with fund houses and based on the current interest, they may potentially raise up to $1 million -just locally!!

There is money and there is talent at Hyderabad – it’s unstoppable and the TiE Hyderabad chapter has created a history by being a pioneer in fundraising for our women entrepreneurs!

This event was sponsored by HeraNow, Isprout Co-working Spaces, Just Transform, MAK Projects, SuCSEED Innovation Funds, TAL Radio and Zenwork

Ms. Ekta Bahl, Partner, Samvād: Partners & Mentor to the Chapter Winner quoted “It is important to have platforms such as TiE Women that encourage women entrepreneurship, provides them mentorship and a stage for them to connect with other stakeholders. Over the years, I have seen TiE women grow from strength to strength and the journey is incredible. Sasri’s passion, belief, and understanding of the space and dedication to the cause were outstanding. Her articulation of this in her pitch was captivating. It was wonderful to have interacted with her.”

Mr. Srini Chandupatla, TiE Hyderabad Vice President, Co-Founder & COO Manjeera Digital, mentor to the 1st Runner quoted “Very excited to witness some amazing women-led startups with mind-blowing ideas. It was an exhilarating experience mentoring one of the startups in the security space – AI Kavach. The winner startup AI Kavach’s founder Pratyusha Vemuri’s passion and focus are clearly visible in her electrifying pitch. Thrilled to see many more women run startups from our ecosystem.”

Mr. Rajesh Varma Manthena, Executive Vice President, American Oncology Institute (AOI), Hyderabad & Mentor to 2nd Runner up said “Akitha is a very passionate and committed founder. She is working on something that can make a big difference in infants’ health. I wish her all the best!”

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bengaluru conducts Orientation Ceremony for PG batch

 (MAHE),

Mumbai, 7th September 2023: Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Bengaluru Campus welcomed its latest cohort of post-graduate students pursuing LLM, M.Com, MA and M.Sc. The orientation ceremony, that was held from July 28th to August 26th, 2023, was a vibrant celebration of new beginnings, with enthusiastic participation from students, faculty members, and staff.

Prof. (Dr.) Madhu Veeraraghavan, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bengaluru Campus, said “In the dynamic intersection of academia and industry, we stand at a pivotal juncture. MAHE is committed to nurturing the growth of our students, equipping them with a unique blend of knowledge and a profound insight into the demands of the industry. Our students emerge not just with better knowledge and abilities but also with a substantial competitive advantage over their colleagues who choose to enter the job market immediately after their undergraduate studies.”

Over the span of two months, different departments under MAHE Bengaluru including Manipal School of Life Science (MLS), Department of Commerce (DOC), Department of Liberal Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (DLHS), Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Department of Public Policy (DPP), and Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine (MIRM), conducted individual orientation sessions tailored to their respective programs.

There were engaging interaction sessions between HODs, faculty, students and parents. Throughout the orientation period, students were provided with a comprehensive overview of their upcoming college experience, encompassing both academic and social aspects.

This grand orientation ceremony not only marked the commencement of their academic pursuits but also fostered a sense of belonging and camaraderie among the fresh PG batch at MAHE Bengaluru.

Brookfield Properties hosts India’s largest corporate campus quizzing fiesta Qriosity 2023

7th September 2023: Brookfield Properties, a leading global developer and operator of high-quality real estate assets, hosted India’s largest corporate campus quizzing fiesta Qriosity 2023. This knowledge initiative was organized by Brookfield Properties for its tenants and employees to mark India’s 77th Indian Independence. In association with QShala, an eminent quizzing organization, the event witnessed resounding success from Corporate India across Brookfield Properties campuses in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai.

Qriosity 2023 witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 2000 contestants across India. Conducted by celebrity quiz master Mandira Bedi, the event attended by the leadership of Brookfield Properties and its tenants covered an array of topics, spanning current affairs, history, films, music, and sports. This engagement not only invigorated knowledge-sharing but also rekindled a sense of camaraderie that is quintessential to Brookfield Properties’ workplace culture.

Ms. Reema Kundnani, Senior Vice President of marketing and branding and Regional Head – of Western Region | India at Brookfield Properties sheds light on the company’s vision of crafting an elevated workplace experience: “We strongly believe that community is the active ingredient in creating a cohesive and inspiring environment for our tenants. By providing a holistic employee experience through creativity, community, and collaboration, we are building the future of work and disrupting traditional workspaces. It was very encouraging to see participation from employees having fun during this stimulating event.”

The success of Qriosity 2023 reaffirms Brookfield Properties’ commitment to fostering community engagement and placemaking, and exemplifies its strategic approach to embracing the importance of the workplace in building a corporate culture for organizations. These initiatives enhance employee wellness, and productivity and add value to more than 5,00,000 tenants across its Grade A office campuses.

Winners of Qriosity 2023:

  • ü The winning team – WestBridge Capital, Ecoworld, Bengaluru – Vikas Gupta and Aswath Venkataraman
  • ü Runners up – Tiger Analytics, Millenia Business Park, Chennai – Abhilasha Singh and Ganesh
  • ü Second Runners up – Expeditors International, NXT, Bengaluru – Prema Bharadwaj and Avinash Srihari

FableStreet X – Great Fits. Great Styles. Extended Sizes

FableStreet X

FableStreet is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest offering, FableStreet X – a sub-brand that redefines fashion for plus sized women. With a resolute commitment to delivering impeccable fits and contemporary styles, FableStreet X is set to revolutionize the world of women across sizes 2XL-5XL.

In response to the fashion industry’s limited offerings for curvier women, Ayushi Gudwani, the Founder and CEO of FS Life – the umbrella organization that runs FableStreet, said, “FableStreet has always been about giving women the best fits. While we offered tailored clothing as an option, having standard sizes for bigger bodies was a demand we had been getting for a long time now. To give the best possible solution, we spoke to over 200 curvy women, and a common theme emerged – the struggle to find clothes that fit their curves and are stylish at the same time. FableStreet X is our answer to this problem, designed to empower plus sized women to be stylish and comfortable at the same time.”

FableStreet X’s journey towards perfection included a meticulous analysis of over 10,000 body measurements. This research allowed the brand to identify key insights vital to achieving the perfect fit for extended-szie clothing, ensuring that each piece enhances the natural beauty of the wearer.

Adarsh Sharma, the Chief Revenue Officer of FS Life, has recognized FableStreet X as a strategic priority for the company’s growth trajectory. He stated, “We anticipate that FableStreet X will contribute significantly to our overall revenue, reaching 20% by the year 2025.”

FableStreet X offers a diverse range of Western wear styles, including top wear, dresses, and trousers, catering to both casual and formal occasions. With an emphasis on quality, comfort, and style, the brand guarantees that curvier women will find options that not only meet their size requirements but also their fashion desires.

Mark your calendars for the exciting launch of FableStreet X on September 5th, 2023. These stunning collections will be available exclusively at www.fablestreet.com.

Bollywood star Anushka Sharma roped in by India’s leading Women’s fashion brand W as a W Woman

Bollywood star Anushka Sharma

Bangalore, 7th September 2023: India’s leading women’s fashion brand – W, on-boarded famous Bollywood actor and entrepreneur Anushka Sharma as its brand ambassador. With this partnership the brand prepares to launch its high-decibel festive campaign that beautifully merges the warmth of festivities with the spirit of modernity. The campaign talks about every festival having a story that is synonymous to the story of women. It captures the essence of women being the centre of every celebration, thereby urging women to cherish their individuality and ‘Celebrate your story’.

Speaking about the association, Anushka Sharma said, “I am happy to be a part of the W for Woman family as a brand ambassador. The brand’s ideology resonates with my beliefs and values. The brand celebrates the essence of every woman, her unique story, her convictions, her beliefs, her challenges and her wins. To me, W for Woman is the embodiment of a thinking woman’s brand, reflecting the modern woman who embraces her roots- a woman who is truly Indian at heart and global in her outlook.”

Anant Daga, Managing Director – TCNS Clothing Co Ltd., said, “Anushka’s vibrant persona and strong individuality perfectly complement the essence of the brand. Anushka epitomises the inspiring and accomplished modern woman, seamlessly transitioning through diverse roles, embodying the true spirit of the W woman. Our festive range, unveiled alongside this campaign, takes on a fresh identity- an all-new avatar. We are excited to have Anushka on board as the W woman.”

The specially curated Festive Collection by W includes its widest range of Anarkalis, Festive sets, dresses and lots more. It boasts of an exquisite array of fabrics, carefully selected to enhance the festive experience. From cotton lurex sets adorned with metallic gota trims to velvety textures with matte sequins, the collection offers a tactile journey through the opulence of the festive season. The incorporation of coloured zari weaves, mirror work, and intricate dori work with sequin highlights bring a rich and diverse palette of textures and embellishments.

Heritage International Xperiential School Elevates Educational Excellence and Innovation with the Unveiling of its new Heritage Avenue Campus

Gurugram,7th September 2023 Heritage International Xperiential School (HIXS), a distinguished institution in the international education space and ranked among the top 3 International Schools in India, is delighted to announce the inauguration of its new middle and senior campus at Heritage Avenue, near Sec 58 in Gurugram.

Committed to delivering unparalleled educational experiences, the avant-garde facility is meticulously designed to foster holistic development and innovation in education. The school’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, well-equipped labs, advanced classrooms, maker-centred and design thinking centers, sports infrastructure, and vibrant learning spaces create a conducive environment to nurture young minds and foster holistic growth.

The inauguration of the new campus is a testament to HIXS’s dedication to shaping the future of education via experiential learning, critical thinking, and collaboration.

The inauguration ceremony also encompassed a host of captivating events, including-:

Grade 7 Student Learning Expedition, Humanising Building Structures

The highlight of the event was the presentation by students of grade 7 on their learning expedition, Humanising Building Structures. At HIXS, learning expeditions are a way of organising the curriculum to develop skills and content area knowledge to prepare students for global citizenship. These are long-term, in-depth interdisciplinary studies that involve the students in sophisticated research in a real-life context, engage with the community in authentic ways, and demonstrate their knowledge with high-quality products that are presented to an authentic audience. The construction of the new school campus for HIXS Middle and Senior School provided the real-world and local context for the expedition with a special focus on learning spaces as the third teacher and brick-and-mortar structures as organic entities. The student’s presentation on the Learning Expedition exemplified the transformative potential of learning expeditions in empowering students to become active and engaged learners.

Panel Discussion on the Future of Education

The event also witnessed an insightful panel discussion on “The Future of Education in the World of AI”. The panel featured prominent experts and thought leaders who are also parents of the school. The thought-provoking discussion explored the changing education landscape, including emerging trends, challenges, and innovations.

“The Heritage Avenue Campus inauguration marks a significant milestone in HIXS’s journey to redefine education, empowering students to excel in an ever-changing world. The institution is committed to providing a transformative educational experience that nurtures creativity, innovation, and holistic growth. With our new campus, we aim to inspire students to embrace challenges, ignite their curiosity, and become the change agents of tomorrow while upholding HIXS’s core values,’’ said Daisy Rana, Principal & Head, HIXS

“The Heritage Schools have been at the forefront of research, innovation and thought- leadership in the field of education in India. The launch of the Heritage Avenue campus is a testimony to our commitment to excellence and we hope to continue this legacy of being a thought-leader in education.” Said Vishnu Karthik, Member of Advisory Board, The Heritage Schools and Co founder HIXS.

As part of the consecration of the new building, a collaborative mosaic panel, ‘The HIXS Spirit’ created by parents, students and educators was also unveiled, symbolizing the strong sense of community and unity that defines HIXS. The inauguration of the Heritage Avenue Campus marks a new chapter in HIXS’s journey, where innovation and education come together to shape future leaders.

Shah Rukh Khan and Sourabh Raaj Jain Steal the Spotlight

The highly anticipated Bollywood release of the season, ‘Jawan,’ has chosen to collaborate with various news channels. Recently, Shah Rukh Khan was seen in a 30-second promo that not only sheds light on the film but also introduces Zee News’ flagship show, DNA, and its new host, Sourabh
Raj Jain.

In this promotional video, Shah Rukh Khan discusses the show’s return to TV screens with Sourabh Raj Jain as the new host, using the opportunity to cross-promote his upcoming film. This promo is currently being aired between shows on Zee News.