Archives September 2023

Digital marketing and PR agency, Team Pumpkin, has won the social media, website maintenance and performance marketing mandate for Shalimar Paints. The announcement comes after a multi-agency pitch to the 120+ year old legacy company based in Howrah, West Bengal.

With the help of Team Pumpkin, Shalimar Paints aims to scale their brand visibility across its consumers and influencers, harnessing the power, scope, and reach of digital tools. The mandate has been entrusted to the agency’s branch in Gurgaon.

Reflecting on the mandate, Varun Malik, Head of Marketing at Shalimar Paints Ltd. said, “Team Pumpkin’s industry insights expertise and strategic thinking stood out for us, andtheir vision and communication ideas are a perfect fit for us as a partner. The team camewith a host of dynamic creative ideas that will help us strengthen relationships with ourtarget audiences on social media. We are partnering at just the right moment when the brand is looking forward to build Shalimar 2.0 and this relationship will be pivotal to achieve the brand ambitions. We will also engage Team pumpkin for Phy-gital activations to engage our consumers on ground and connect them back with the digital side.”

Expressing her excitement, Swati Nathani (CBO & Co-Founder) commented, “Shalimar Paints’ legacy is one that invokes in us a great sense of admiration for what the company has done since its inception. We are truly honored to have them on board with us. This collaboration comes at an exciting time, precisely when the paints industry is going through massive disruptions. Our approach for Shalimar Paints will involve long-term result driven strategic approaches to ensure longevity and sustenance in our advertising approach.”

Bengaluru, 5th September 2023 Cashfree Payments, a leading payments and API banking solutions company, has partnered with Jamboree, a leading educational consultancy, to simplify fee payments for Indian students studying overseas. The partnership leverages Cashfree Payments’ cross-border payment solution, which streamlines and digitises the entire payment process from KYC verification, payment collection, to outward remittance. It eliminates the need for physical bank visits, offline KYC submission and verification, providing students with a convenient, fast, cost-effective, and transparent payment experience.

With this partnership, students can initiate transactions 24/7, even on weekends and holidays, providing them with flexibility. It enables students to make remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) established by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), catering to a wide range of payment needs permitted by regulations, including admission fees, education rental payments, student maintenance expenses, Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) payments for students heading to Canada, as well as blocked account payments for students bound for Germany. Further, it also substantially reduces the forex markup, rendering the transactions cheaper for Indian students. Students can also track the status of the remittance, from KYC verification status, payment confirmation, remittance initiation to the stage of downloading a SWIFT copy.

With the Cashfree Payments solution, Jamboree can start to extend the remittance service to students without any integration, and Jamboree can also cater to students who are not able to visit offline branches of Jamboree. The partnership has empowered Jamboree by making the entire payment process simpler, faster and cheaper. With Cashfree Payments’ cross-border solution, Jamboree can offer education consultation and can facilitate international fee payment under one roof without having to invest separately in building a tech stack. Cashfree Payment’s cross-border solution empowers Jamboree to monitor its transactions through a transaction tracking dashboard.

With Cashfree Payments’ cross-border payments solution, Jamboree can seamlessly extend the remittance service to students without the need for integration, including those who are unable to visit offline branches. This partnership has empowered Jamboree by simplifying, accelerating, and reducing the cost of the entire payment process. By leveraging Cashfree Payments’ cross-border payment solution, Jamboree can provide education consultation and facilitate international fee payments under one roof, without the need for separate investments in building a tech stack. Additionally, it also enables Jamboree to monitor its transactions through a convenient transaction tracking dashboard.

Reeju Datta, Co-Founder, Cashfree Payments said, “We are excited to partner with Jamboree to simplify international fee payments for Indian students. Our cross-border payments solution aims to provide students with a seamless and convenient payment experience, eliminating the need for physical bank visits. By removing unnecessary hurdles and saving valuable time, this collaboration allows students to focus on their educational goals. This partnership represents a significant milestone in simplifying the payment process for international students and highlights our commitment to delivering convenience, security, and flexibility.”

Vineet Gupta, Managing Director, Jamboree said, “We are excited to join hands with Cashfree Payments to redefine how students pay their tuition fees to colleges abroad. This collaboration signifies a significant stride in our journey towards providing unparalleled services that cater to the evolving needs of our students who embark on international educational pursuits.”

With over 50% market share among payment processors, Cashfree Payments today leads the way in bulk disbursals in India with its Payouts and is also among the leading online payment aggregators. India’s largest lender, SBI invested in Cashfree Payments underscoring the company’s role in building a robust payments ecosystem. Cashfree Payments works closely with all leading banks to build the core payments and banking infrastructure that powers the company’s products. Cashfree Payments is also integrated with major platforms such as Shopify, Wix, Paypal, Amazon Pay, Paytm, and Google Pay. Apart from India, Cashfree Payments products are used in eight other countries including the USA, Canada, and UAE.

Mumbai, 5th September 2023: In a move to strengthen its senior leadership and scale business growth, hBits, a fractional ownership platform for commercial real estate that aims to democratize access to real estate for everyday investors, has announced the appointment of Anish Mody as its Chief Product Officer (CPO). The appointment comes at a time when hBits is witnessing a 20 percent year-on-year growth in registered users on its platform and is emphasizing technology and customer-centric offerings.

In his new role Anish will guide the company to further enhance its product offerings to digitally transform investment in real estate, launch innovative offerings, and drive exceptional customer experiences.

An industry veteran, Anish brings more than two decades of experience in project leadership, cross-functional team management, and groundbreaking product launches. His tenure in the industry has been marked by several game-changing initiatives, including the development of a Client On-boarding KYC and Renewals Management Platform, which slashed base costs, manual effort, and turnaround time through the implementation of advanced automation solutions. In the past, Anish has held leadership positions at various leading organizations, such as Coforge, CapGemini, Enel X Services, Northgate Public Services and eClerx, among others.

Shiv Parekh, Founder and CEO of hBits said, “We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to Anish Mody as a valuable addition to our leadership team. As we propel forward in the rapidly expanding PropTech sector, which is projected to reach a valuation of US $100 billion, his exceptional expertise will undertake a pivotal role in shaping our strategies and propelling our vision to new heights. In his new capacity, Anish will contribute to nurturing a high-performance environment, fostering innovation, and steering the company’s trajectory. With Anish’s adept leadership, we are confident in our capability to attain unmatched growth and persist in delivering remarkable opportunities to our investors.”

Anish Mody, Chief Product Officer, hBits, said “As I embark on the role of Chief Product Officer with a strong sense of enthusiasm, I am deeply motivated. hBits represents a cutting-edge platform, where the values of innovation and advancement are of paramount importance, propelling us to the forefront of shaping the landscape and future of real estate investments. This juncture marks a pivotal moment in my professional growth as well as the trajectory of hBits. I look forward to serving as its advocate for innovation, elevated customer service, and enriched experiences. The significance of this role lies in its commitment to driving innovation and we must continue to be watchful, adaptable, and challengeable.”

5th September 2023, Mumbai: After successfully completing a year of offering the best creamy coffees and tasty confectionaries, Ritual Daily Coffee plans to refuel its menu with some more unique brews. On the occasion of their 1st year anniversary, the coffee house is introducing a new range of creamy lattes and coffee lemonades – with their signature of providing distinct taste with a lasting impression.

Ritual Daily Coffee, a vision of Michelin star and ex-NOMA chef, Rahul Ramnani and partner Meher Kohli, opened its doors in Pali Hill, Bandra in September 2022. Its snug ambience paired with crafted brews served as a great spot to relax in the city’s otherwise chaotic neighbourhood. Their variety of strong coffees and unique coffee mocktails combined with sandwiches, wraps and buttery croissants never goes wrong. With vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free and Jain options they resonated with people who are more conscious about their choices without compromising on the taste.

Talking about the success of the venture partners of Ritual Daily Coffee, Rahul & Meher say, “We started Ritual to create a welcoming space to brighten your morning coffee run, catch up with friends, unwind after a long day & serve nostalgic ‘feel good’ meals. We’re grateful for the support we’ve received in the past year & are excited to introduce our upcoming projects.”

To celebrate this continued love and support from their patrons, the coffee house is presenting a new menu from their famous creamy lattes to refreshing lemonades. The new menu staples include Banoffee Oat Latte, which brings your classic pie dessert in every sip of coffee, Arabian Date Iced Latte, which combines the vitamin-rich essential in your daily beverage, Peanut Butter Latte, enticing the nutty creamy coffee with the pleasing sweetness of the butter. For those who love infusing caffeine in their mocktails, you should try out the Blueberry Coffee Lemonade, picking fruity notes of fresh blueberries with Ritual’s medium-dark roasted coffee. They unveil another unique method of serving coffee with the Espresso Coco Brew which is a perfect option for those with vegan or lactose-intolerant preferences.

The best part about these beverages is the deliberate choice of mixing healthy ingredients in your everyday beverage. Be it dates or berries, Ritual Daily Coffee promotes unique flavours without spiking blood sugar levels & considering the lifestyle choices people inherit.

The new menu will be available starting 2nd September at the Ritual Daily Coffee outlet in Bandra. So if you are always on the lookout for trying new coffees and love exploring café settings, this quaint spot calls you in for their celebration. With an attractive presentation of their special brews, you won’t help but take out your phone for that aesthetic flatlay of your favourite potion.

Mumbai, 5th September 2023 Safexpay, a leading global payments platform known for its innovative digital payment solutions, introduces APIX, an integrated RegTech platform that provides a comprehensive set of API solutions within a unified framework. These solutions range from banking processes to payments and document verification, catering to a diverse array of businesses. It addresses the complexities of multiple API integrations from different sources for businesses, thereby improving its operational efficiency.

Most banks and merchants integrate with separate platforms for PAN, Aadhaar, vendor verification and information access, leading to functional bottlenecks or accessing multiple portals. With APIX, various aspects of verification for banking, payments and other utility-related functionalities are streamlined under one-stop platform.

The company aims to extend its customised API suites to over 1 lakh entities, including banks, online and offline merchants and businesses desirous of getting all verification done at one-platform. APIX can process multiple verifications daily, reducing operations time by 70%.

“Taking cognizance of the challenges faced by various businesses using multiple APIs and platforms, we wanted to create an integrated and simplified regtech platform that empowers businesses. Our solution is designed to help variety of businesses, across sectors like retail, e-commerce, and financial services to streamline their KYC verification and other allied processes. It allows businesses to focus on growth and innovation, while we handle their RegTech needs, ensuring operational efficiency. This leads to a significant enhancement of operational efficiency by 200-300%, underscoring our commitment to business excellence,” said Ravi Gupta, Founder & CEO at Safexpay.

The platform enhances both security and compliance through a comprehensive range of document verification solutions, among other features. The Aadhaar Verification API ensures secure customer identification using OTP. Likewise, APIs for verifying Driving Licenses, PAN cards, Bank Accounts, Voter IDs, and Passports are at your disposal. Moreover, a smooth and secure Video KYC solution is provided for remote customer verification. The Banking APIs supported by APIX extend its reach to rural banking, enhancing financial access for underserved communities. Furthermore, APIX facilitates easier integration of APIs instead of clean documentation.

With the capacity to concurrently support over 25 banking and payment APIs, it serves multi-vendor partnerships, reliable bank switching and seamless transaction journey, enhancing platform dependability. Committed to partner satisfaction, APIX provides a dedicated support desk for prompt assistance. Additionally, the platform enhances transaction accuracy via uniform verification of bank account details, minimizing errors in fund transfers.

With this innovative solution, Safexpay reaffirms its commitment to simplifying financial operations, enhancing compliance, and providing businesses with the tools they need to excel in today’s dynamic business landscape.

[South India, 5th September 2023]: OKIE, India’s leading home entertainment brand, is gearing up to launch its flagship 32-inch Sports Series Smart TVs in South India. Timed perfectly with the upcoming sports season, featuring events such as the much anticipated ICC World Cup 2023 and the Asia Cup 2023, this launch is a significant step forward for OKIE. With a strong foothold in states like Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, OKIE is now setting its sights on reaching even more homes in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. This expansion is fueled by the increasing demand for high-quality electronics at affordable prices, underscoring OKIE’s dedication to bringing advanced technology to every part of the country.

With a deep understanding that India is a country passionate about sports, OKIE has designed these TVs to provide an exceptional viewing experience for sports enthusiasts and entertainment lovers alike. The OKIE Sports Series Smart TVs, starting at just Rs. 8,990/- for the 32-inch model, Rs. 17,999/- for the 40-inch model, and Rs. 19,999/- for the 43-inch model, offer a range of advanced features such as full HD display, 4K Ultra HD resolution, in-built voice control, and 10+10 watt powerful sound output. With immersive soundbars, surround sound, and multiple connectivity options, these TVs bring every moment of the game to life. The TVs also boast a brightness level of 280 NITS, ensuring clear picture quality even in bright daylight conditions.

Jitin Masand, Founder and Managing Director of OKIE, said, “In recent years, largely thanks to the stellar performance of our sportspersons from across India, including the south, in the international arena, there has been an increased interest in watching a variety of sports at home. With homegrown league tournaments for different sports such as Kabaddi, Football, IPL and other international sporting events for both men and women, non-cricketing events have also witnessed a surge in viewership. We have seen dramatic growth in demand for quality entertainment systems, especially from Tier 2 and 3 cities that are traditionally price-sensitive markets. This is why we have launched the OKIE Sports Series Smart TVs in South India with some of the best features that Smart TVs have to offer, at truly affordable prices.”

OKIE’s innovative line of Sport Series Smart TVs, priced under INR 9k, is geared to meet the growing demand for sports content, especially with the upcoming ICC World Cup in India. Positioned strategically, OKIE aims to tap into the thriving sports entertainment market, offering households an accessible way to enjoy live sports. By providing top-quality products at an affordable price, OKIE is poised to revolutionise the realm of sports entertainment, making it more accessible to all.

The burgeoning smart TV market, estimated at nearly INR 80,000 crores, is forecasted to witness a robust growth rate of around 16.7% over the next five years, signifying a thriving landscape. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, OKIE has emerged triumphant, selling close to 1 lakh TV units across seven states during the 2022-2023 fiscal year. This resounding success attests to the swift adoption of smart TVs and the escalating demand for advanced features among discerning consumers.

The introduction of OKIE’s Sports Series Smart TVs marks a pivotal moment in the home entertainment sector, promising an immersive, cost-effective, and unparalleled viewing adventure for patrons across India. With a wide network of distributors across the Southern region, OKIE has been able to expand its reach and cater to the growing demand for its products from 1 state to 8 states, from 300 retailers to 2500 retailers, from 8 locations to 45 locations.

As the demand for smart TVs continues to grow in the South India market, OKIE is poised to capitalise on this trend by providing innovative and high-quality products at fair prices. The brand’s commitment to customer satisfaction and product innovation is what makes it a trusted name in the smart TV segment.

Bengaluru, 05th September 2023: Born to streamline and transform philanthropy in the country, Trusted Donations – A fully integrated Donation-as-a-Service platform was launched today by CIGS Tech Innovations. It is a fully integrated, unified platform for verified NGOs that helps corporates and individuals access a diverse range of causes and donate securely. With access to on-ground trained workforce, Trusted Donations has deployed a phygital model to physically verify and certify the impact of NGOs across every nook-and-corner of the country before listing them on the platform.

Commenting on the launch, Dr. Mohan Kaul, Chairman – Commonwealth Inclusive Growth Services Ltd, said “We are delighted to launch an integrated, unified Donation-as-a-Service platform that aims to make a positive difference in the social impact ecosystem. Our vision at Trusted Donations is to create a world where philanthropy is accessible, transparent, and impactful. We aim to revolutionize the way people perceive and engage with NGOs by providing a secure and user-friendly platform that fosters trust, transparency, and accountability. The platform is built on a strong foundation of technology that helps provide donors with a vision of their fund reaching the right hands and the impact it is creating. I congratulate the team on the launch and wish them for their remarkable journey ahead.”

Mr. Mahesh Ramachandran, Founder & Chief Mentor – Trusted Donations, added, “The culture of philanthropy is ingrained in many societies, more so in India. However, the gap really is a common platform that offers insights into the country’s most valuable NGO ecosystem. We have launched Trusted Donations to address this need and provide a trusted platform for corporates and individuals to fulfill their philanthropic drive in a more sustainable and secure manner. We are confident that Trusted Donations will play a catalytic role in bringing together the NGOs, individuals and corporates on one unified platform, so that the right impact is created for a better tomorrow.”

Trusted Donation is a platform that provides a user-friendly interface for individuals & CSR Funds to reach deserving, verified NGOs seamlessly. The platform also employs a dedicated team of consultants who will closely work with organizations to design customized donation programs that align with their values and objectives.

The companies can, through Trusted Donations’ support, enhance their social impact, engage employees, and contribute to sustainable development. For Individual donors, the platform will provide the ease of identifying verified NGOs and track their donations, all on a single, user-friendly platform.

Mumbai, 5th September 2023: Amazon miniTV’s dance reality show – Hip Hop India saw a spectacular Grand Finale and the long-awaited results are in. Rahul Bhagat won the inaugural season with a picture-finish win. The reality show was a dance marathon, with rappers Badshaah and Raftaar adding glitter to the stages with their Swag avatars for the gala grand finale. Judged by dance masters Remo D’Souza and Nora Fatehi, Hip Hop India has witnessed the greatest and toughest battles with incredible raw underground talent from all over India.

Following 7 weeks of fierce competition and electrifying performances, India’s first Hip Hop based dance reality show has concluded with Rahul Bhagat, emerging as the Hip Hop Champion. The 21-year-old defeated two other finalists – dancing crew UGH, and the energetic duo Divyam & Darshan to clinch the trophy at the grand finale. Rahul, who hails from Ranchi, took home the brand new Nissan Magnite Geza Special Edition and the Hip-Hop India Championship belt for his victorious performance. Rahul, the maestro of Popping and Waving, began dancing when he was in the fourth grade and has been enthralling audiences across dance shows for a decade. Having won 10 titles to date, his goal is to foster the authentic hip-hop culture all over Jharkhand.

The Grand Finale witnessed enthralling dance performances by not just the contestants, but also by the judge Nora Fatehi. The stage also witnessed Remo D’Souza live in action after 3 long years. She set the stage on fire, taking away everyone’s heartbeats with her scintillating dance performance to songs Dilbar ko dil sadke and Divine’s Mirchi. Celebrity Judges Badshaah and Raftaar raised the entertainment bar with their dynamic performance packed with energy.

Judge Remo D’souza said, “Rahul is India’s Hip Hop dancing prodigy. I am elated to see him lifting the Hip Hop Championship Belt. His talent, unwavering passion will be a source of inspiration to the nation, that has led him Gully se Glory Tak! Not just Rahul, but a big shout-out to all the contestants of Hip Hop India who gave it their all. I would like to thank all the audience for their unwavering support and for making the first edition of the show a huge success.”

Sharing her thoughts, Nora Fatehi said, “We all embarked on this exciting dance journey, to find India’s next hip hop sensation and I couldn’t be happier that Rahul has bagged top honors! His performance throughout the show was nothing short of legendary, and it really showed his commitment and love for hip hop. I would also like to take this opportunity to give a huge round of applause to all the contestants and Amazon miniTV and everyone involved in taking hip hop Gully se Glory Tak!”

Hip Hop India is streaming exclusively on Amazon miniTV for free. You can download the Amazon miniTV on Playstore, or watch within the Amazon Shopping App or on Fire TV.

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India, 5th September 2023: India is a country known for its opulent traditions, vibrant culture, and striking festivals! It embraces a tapestry of over a thousand festivals, creating a symphony of boundless joy and everlasting festivities throughout the year. To witness some of the grandest festivals of India, National Geographic India along with celebrity chefs Gary Mehigan & Pablo Naranjo Agular are all set to take viewers on a mesmerizing journey through a brand-new series titled ‘India’s Mega Festivals’. Premiering on September 6, at 8pm, the hosts will immerse themselves in the country’s rich heritage, and traditions and revel in flavors and fervour of the Indian festivals in the six-part series.

Each 44-minute episode will feature a host unraveling unique celebrations: from the spirited Pulikali dance to serving a mega meal in the iconic Thrikkakara Temple during Onam; learning to play rhythmic beats on dhol to visiting mega pandals during Ganpati celebrations; pandal hopping to relishing Sandesh during Durga Puja and learning the war dance with the Sumi tribe to cooking with the famous Tetseo Sisters during the Hornbill Festival. Gary will also be seen experiencing the playfulness of Ras Leela, Lath-maar and Phoolon ki Holi, and discovering the essence of fasting, feasting, giving and forgiving on Eid-al-Fitr.

“I was truly left speechless by the stunning display of devotion and the way it reflects the rich culture of India. National Geographic is a brand that has always inspired me through its unique, powerful, and thought-provoking style of storytelling. I am so happy that with National Geographic, I got an opportunity to explore, learn and experience some of the country’s biggest festivals. With this show, not only did I witness diverse cultures & traditions, but also immersed myself in regional cuisines and cooking techniques. I hope that viewers will also enjoy the show as much as I did,” said Gary Mehigan.

“At National Geographic, we harness the power of storytelling and exploration to tell stories that can change the way we see the world while establishing a profound connection with our audiences. With India’s Mega Festivals, we are committed to bringing our viewers closer to the mesmerizing diversity of India’s rich heritage and offering a compelling and unforgettable journey through its vibrant festivities. Moreover, Gary Mehigan, with his unique charm and humor, adds an extra layer of delight to the narrative, ensuring a riveting viewing experience for our audience,” said Gaurav Banerjee, Head – Content, Disney+ Hotstar & HSM Entertainment Network, Disney Star.

India’s Mega Festivals will premiere on National Geographic in India at 8PM on 6th September 2023 and the episodes will be aired every Wednesday thereafter.

India – 5th September 2023 – GoDaddy, the company that helps entrepreneurs thrive, is introducing Instant Video to help small business owners become confident content creators. Instant Video is a new AI-powered feature within the GoDaddy Studio app that can quickly and easily meet the growing need for video-based digital marketing and social commerce, all at no additional cost.

GoDaddy Studio already provides all the resources entrepreneurs need to create beautifully designed content for websites, social media, marketing and more. With thousands of templates to choose from, small business owners can create branded and professional assets for use across their social platforms, website, and email marketing to help drive customer engagement and business growth.

With the addition of AI, GoDaddy Studio customers will now be able to choose the most relevant video style and create and post watermark-free, influencer-quality videos, acting as the perfect companion for social media promotion, product demos, tutorial videos, and more. The app also uses AI to auto-generate slogans based on the video clips or images users upload. No prior design experience is required, with tools available for seamless plug-in of both entrepreneur-owned video and photos, along with content available in GoDaddy Studio’s built-in library. Exporting the video is simple and can be done directly from the Instant Video editor.

Apurva Palnitkar, Senior Director of Marketing at GoDaddy India said, “Engaging videos are essential for a small business to thrive in the digital landscape and GoDaddy Studio’s AI-powered Instant Video tool brings this capability to Indian small businesses and entrepreneurs so they can amplify their businesses online quickly and easily. This latest addition to GoDaddy’s tools and resources is designed to support the needs of entrepreneurs to help them grow online.

Creators can produce videos that convey their unique brand personality by using royalty-free music through a partnership with Melodie – meaning all music available within GoDaddy Studio is created by small, independent artists and supports musicians around the world.

Also new within GoDaddy Studio: Entrepreneurs looking to expand their online presence can now purchase a domain name directly within the app and add a free version of Website Builder, and have the ability to upgrade to a matching email address.

GoDaddy Studio PRO users will have additional access to stock photos and videos within the GoDaddy Studio library. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to experiment with included licensed music and pre-designed transitions, adding brand logos, colors, and fonts alongside millions of available graphics and stickers to heighten social media engagement.

GoDaddy Studio’s new features are available now exclusively in the GoDaddy Studio app for iOS and Android. To start making your own Instant Videos, download GoDaddy Studio today. You can also learn more here.