All posts by K S Krishna

January 17, 2025: JIS University organised the much-anticipated Higher Education Summit 2025 at the JIS School of Medical Science & Research. The event brought together some of the most influential minds in academia, industry, and technology, to deliberate on transformative ideas shaping the future of higher education in India.

The summit witnessed a lineup of esteemed dignitaries, including Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General of the Association of Indian Universities; Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of Siksha O Anusandhan; Prof. Amlan Chakrabarti, Director, AKC School of IT, University of Calcutta (Virtually); Shri. Shamik Misra, Senior Escalation Engineer at Microsoft India; Shri. Subhendu Dey, Executive Architect at IBM; Padma Shri Prof. Ajoy Kumar Ray, Director of the JIS Institute of Advanced Studies & Research; Dr. Bhabes Bhattacharya, Vice-Chancellor of JIS University; Sardar Taranjit Singh, Managing Director of JIS Group; Sardar Amanjot Singh, Director, JIS Group and Sardar Simarpreet Singh, Director, JIS Group.

The one-day summit served as a vibrant platform for thought-provoking discussions on key themes, including the integration of emerging technologies in education, bringing forward innovation through interdisciplinary research, and the global outlook of India’s higher education system. Speakers shared actionable insights to equip educational institutions to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global workforce.

Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Taranjit Singh, Managing Director of JIS Group said, “The Higher Education Summit 2025 has once again reaffirmed our commitment to promoting meaningful dialogues and collaborations in the field of education. This platform exemplifies the transformative impact of the collaboration between academia and industry, uniting efforts to empower the next generation of learners and leaders.”

January 16, 2025 :  SVAG Pet Homes LLP, a Hyderabad startup creates a new segment of products. It comes out with Barkitecture products, the first of its kind in India. What Architecture is for human beings, Barkitecture is for Dogs.

Addressing a press conference at FTCCI on Thursday, the start-up unveiled futuristic products Barkkey Villas, Barkkey Pods, Barkkey Furniture and others. Barkitecture is the new trend in the Pet Industry. It is an animal-conscious architecture. These are dog-centric products such as homes, villas, pods, furniture.

Sushanth Kanneganti, Vishal Bothra, Founders, Gopal Varma, Anudeep Y, Co-founders and their colleagues together launched the products.

Talking to the media, they said post covid peaked the adoption of pets, particularly dogs. The dog’s parents’ numbers swelled. The covid also brought Barkitecture, the latest interiors trend for pet lovers. It is a dog centric approach to the interiors of the home. It is the interior design trend in which a specific area of the home is modelled according to your pet’s personal needs and tastes, added Vishal Bothra, one of the founders.

The dogs provided vital companionship and much-needed emotional support during the pandemic. That is why a lot of people started thinking of dogs as pets but beyond as their family members which reflects in the term ‘pet parenting’ emerging. Now they look for designer homes for their pet friends or upgrade the existing ones or make designer improvements.

SVAG Pet Homes launched first of its kind of Barkkey Villas, Pods, Pet friendly Furniture.

Barkkey introduced this new concept to this country. It will transform the traditional kennel into a haven of comfort and style for dogs. The Promoters of the startup feel that dogs deserve their own personalised space to rest, recharge, and feel safe. It’s innovative pet homes, paw shelters or paw sleeping spaces are thoughtfully designed with dog’s comfort in mind, they added

Barkkey has a manufacturing facility in Hyderabad with a wide variety of products for B2B and B2C. It has a manufacturing facility at Aramgarh in Hyderabad. Currently it has 25 SKUs. Soon they will introduce 50 more designs/patterns. It is a bootstrapped company. They have invested INR 1.8 crore.

Barkkey products are available online www.barkkey.com and Amazon as well. They can also be ordered on instagram: barkkey.india. The price range of these products starts from RS 15000 to 5 lakhs.

Our target is to sell 100000 (one lakh) pieces of furniture in the next one year.

It is also introducing B-Bowl, for the welfare of street dogs. Every street dog deserves love, a meal. The B-Bowl addresses that need.

India has 38 million pet population in the year 2023, and almost 34 million are dogs. India’s pet population is expected to grow 9% annually between 2022-2027. Spending on pets and pet care in India has reached a record $3.6 billion in 2024, up significantly from only $1.6 billion in 2019. That breaks down to 48% spending on products and the other 52% on services. Dogs are one of the most popular pets in India, prized for their companionship, loyalty, and protective nature.These statistics augur good for our products, said Sushanth Kanneganti.

Barkitecture is a Western trend, catching up very fast in India. Given India’s potential, we expect good prospects for our products shared by the founders of the startup. Vishal Bothra is an interior designer turned entrepreneur. It is a bootstrapped startup. The startups in the pet industry are doing well. Heads Up for Tails has INR 400 crore turnover, Supertails Rs 228 crore, Wiggles Rs 60crore and Just Dogs Rs 59 crore. The pet industry market size currently is put at Rs 5000 crore as of the year 2024. And the various projects of Rs 10,000crore are underway across India till the year 2028.

Barkeky also launched Barkkey Foundation. The foundation will promote responsible pet parenting. It is also dedicated to improving the lives of dogs through innovative and compassionate initiatives. Hyderabad has over 4 lakh stray dogs. It also promotes responsible pet parenting. Dogs are not just pets–they are family, companions and lifelong sources of unconditional love informed Gopal Varma, Anudeep Y, Co-founders

From the profits they earn by selling the products the company will support ten street dogs. The startup is also looking at volunteers who can help them in their endeavour of serving street dogs in the city.

The start-up doesn’t have any expansion plans nor foraying into any other pets. The market is huge and we would like explore it fully, they said.

January 16th 2025: Love to snack but want to skip the guilt? Try Twiddles, co-created by cricket icon Yuvraj Singh, is redefining snacking with its range of nutritious yet indulgent offerings. Designed to address the growing demand for healthy, guilt-free snacks, Twiddles is more than just a brand—it’s a reflection of Yuvraj Singh’s commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles for kids & adults and anyone looking to pursue healthier eating choices. Twiddles is co-created by Alfinity Studios, a venture studio that partners with celebrities to create innovative consumer brands.

Twiddles products are crafted with premium ingredients like cashews, almonds, and roasted seeds to ensure high nutritional value without sacrificing flavor. Instead of using palm oil, Twiddles opts for healthier alternatives such as sunflower oil in its spreads and ghee in its bites. Natural sweeteners like jaggery, dates, figs, and honey further enhance the nutritional profile, ensuring every bite is packed with goodness.

“As an athlete, I’ve always valued balanced nutrition and healthy eating habits,” said Yuvraj Singh, Twiddles’ co-founder and investor. “ “Twiddles was born out of my passion for mindful living and the desire to create snacks that are indulgent yet healthy. It’s about bridging the gap between taste and nutrition, making it easier for everyone to enjoy guilt-free indulgence, and by partnering with Alfinity Studios, I found a perfect ally for my efforts to promote healthy snacking. The ingredients and formulation used in our products are all top-class quality, and the effort taken to ensure that every bite tastes perfect is unmatched.”

Twiddles offers delicious spreads and bites that are as nourishing as they are indulgent. Their spreads, made with over 50% nuts and seeds, include standout flavors such as Almond Silk, Walnut Brownie, and Orange Noir. Meanwhile, their naturally sweetened bites come in exciting varieties like Almond Crumble and Nuts & Dates. Among their signature offerings, India’s first walnut-based spread, Walnut Brownie Spread, and the delectable Nuts & Dates Bites have been customer favorites.

With the upcoming Peanut Butter launch, Twiddles aims to expand its lineup of wholesome snack options while staying true to its ethos of creating products that are both delicious and sustainable.

Speaking about Twiddles, Rishi Dewan, Co-founder of Alfinity Studios, said, “Twiddles combines indulgence with conscious choices. Partnering with Yuvraj Singh to bring this vision to life has been an incredible journey. The initial response to our products are very encouraging and motivating and we’re constantly exploring untapped opportunities in the market, identifying white spaces where innovation can thrive, we aim to not only meet evolving consumer needs but also set new benchmarks in health and wellness. Our mission is to keep pushing boundaries, offering new products that truly make a difference.”

Twiddles’ products are available on their website & major online platforms such as Amazon, Blinkit and will soon be available offline and across the globe. Stay tuned for the peanut butter launch and explore snacking that’s smarter, healthier, and completely guilt-free.

Festivals in India are not just dates on a calendar—they are vibrant feasts of flavour, tradition, and togetherness. From the crackling bonfires of Lohri to the sweet harvest feasts of Pongal, every celebration is a sensory delight. But in 2024, these age-old traditions got a modern twist. Enter frozen and ready-to-cook snacks, adding a dash of convenience and innovation to festive tables. From the research-driven narrative by Vikhroli Cucina, The STTEM 2.0 report by Godrej Yummiez unwraps how India snacked smarter and tastier, turning every celebration into a perfect blend of tradition and modern indulgence.

Lohri: Warming Up to Comfort Snacks in the North

There is something magical about gathering around a roaring bonfire on a crisp January evening, hands warmed by the flames and hearts warmed by laughter. The vibrant beats of the dhol, the echoing Punjabi ‘Josh,’ and the warmth of shared stories set the perfect mood. Many recall sitting under the stars, tossing sesame seeds into the fire for good luck, and savouring crunchy phulliyan (puffed rice) and sweet til ladoos. Lohri, celebrated primarily in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, marks the end of winter and welcomes the harvest season. While traditional treats like sesame (til) sweets, jaggery (gur), puffed rice, and peanuts continue to dominate the festivities, Delhi saw a 44% rise in frozen snack consumption during festivities. Families gathered around bonfires, savouring not just rewri and gajak but also hot, crispy frozen snacks like aloo bites, and kebabs that added warmth and ease to the chilly night. Notably, in Amritsar, the heart of Punjab’s Lohri celebrations, residents gave frozen snacks an impressive preference score of 88%, reflecting how deeply these modern treats have blended into traditional festivities.

Makar Sankranti: Soaring Flavors Across the Nation

Makar Sankranti is celebrated nationwide with regional twists—kite flying in Gujarat, sesame and jaggery sweets in Maharashtra, and feasts in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The skies come alive with colourful kites, and the air hums with the cheer of Kai Po Che! In Ahmedabad, a 33% rise in frozen snack consumption during festivals showed how families embraced quick bites amid the celebrations. While savouring tilgul and undhiyu, families also enjoyed quick-to-prepare frozen treats, blending convenience with traditional flavours. Across India, 43% of northern and 37% of western regions turned to frozen snacks, showing how ease and taste are now integral to festive spreads.

Pongal: A South Indian Harvest Feast Meets Modern Convenience

Pongal, Tamil Nadu’s grand harvest festival, celebrates abundance with dishes like sweet sakkarai pongal and savoury ven pongal. The cheerful greetings of Pongalo Pongal! echo through homes as families come together. In Chennai, a 39% increase in frozen snack consumption highlighted how families embraced frozen delicacies alongside traditional dishes. Southern India overall recorded a 43% rise, with households pairing classic vadas and murukkus with ready-to-fry frozen snacks like crispy veg fingers, aloo tikkis—ensuring celebrations remained delicious yet hassle-free.

Magh Bihu: Assam’s Fiery Feasts with a Modern Twist

In Assam, Magh Bihu marks the end of the harvest season with community feasts featuring pithas, larus, and fish curries. The festive spirit is alive with Meji bonfires crackling and the sound of traditional drums. Eastern India saw a 41% uptick in frozen snack consumption during these celebrations. As bonfires lit up the chilly evenings, families enjoyed traditional flavours alongside ready-to-cook snacks like crispy fried chicken, chicken momos and sausages.

A Perfect Blend of Tradition and Convenience

The STTEM 2.0 report reveals that 71% of Indians now include frozen snacks in their festive feasts. Far from replacing traditional treats, these modern bites complement the warmth of celebrations with ease and flavour. As India’s snacking habits evolve, the future holds exciting ways to savour every tradition—bite by bite.

Here is to celebrating the best of both worlds this festive season!

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January 16, 2025: Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), one of India’s leading angel investing platforms, has announced its exit from Parablu, achieving 2.2X MoM in 36 months and delivering a 30%+ IRR for investors.

With 47 successful exits, IPV has consistently delivered high-value returns. Parablu’s exit further validates its strategy of backing visionary founders, unique business models, and startups at reasonable valuations.

Ankur Mittal, Co-Founder, Inflection Point Ventures, said: “When Parablu approached IPV in 2021 for funding, its groundbreaking technology stood out. Recognizing the immense potential in Parablu’s visionary founding team, and its unique business model, IPV provided critical funding and strategic support. This enabled the company to scale rapidly and establish itself as a strong player in the enterprise data management space. As one of India’s largest angel platforms, we are committed to nurturing innovative startups that not only benefit the ecosystem but also have a positive impact on the community and economy. Parablu’s journey exemplifies our focus on empowering visionary founders to achieve sustainable success.”

Parablu, a data protection pioneer, has been acquired by CrashPlan, a global leader in cyber-ready data resilience. This acquisition enhances CrashPlan’s ability to protect critical data from deletion, ransomware, and service disruptions.

Anand Prahlad, CEO of Parablu (now CTO at CrashPlan), added, “Inflection Point Ventures has been a vital partner in Parablu’s journey, in not just providing funding, but also in terms of strategic guidance which was instrumental in enabling us to scale effectively and establish ourselves as a player to be reckoned with in the data security and resilience space. IPV’s unwavering belief in our vision and technology was crucial through our journey. As we join forces with CrashPlan, we are excited to continue pushing past boundaries and strengthen our commitment to delivering unmatched data resilience to enterprises worldwide.”

Parablu’s acquisition by CrashPlan highlights the growing need for data resilience in a cloud-first world and IPV’s foresight in backing future-shaping businesses. By connecting visionary founders with forward-thinking investors, IPV drives innovation and creates value for startups, investors, and the broader ecosystem. Committed to reshaping industries, IPV continues to foster startups that contribute to India’s economic growth.

January 16, 2024: GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd, a prominent player in Essar’s Green Mobility initiative, has announced a new collaboration with Mondelez International (India) aimed at advancing the company’s sustainability goals through environmentally friendly road logistics. The partnership was formally launched with a flag-off event at Mondelez’s Alwar plant in Rajasthan, where LNG-powered trucks will now be used to transport the company’s products within India.

This initiative will significantly contribute to Mondelez’s efforts to lower its carbon footprint. By working with GreenLine, the company is furthering its commitment to environmental sustainability and reinforcing its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives. The partnership underscores Mondelez’s continued focus on creating a more sustainable future for both the environment and future generations.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Anand Mimani, CEO, GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd said, “Mondelez International, home to beloved brands like Cadbury, Oreo, and Toblerone, has chosen GreenLine as its partner in sustainability. By transitioning to our LNG-powered trucks, Mondelez demonstrates its commitment to a greener India while enhancing its supply chain efficiency. This partnership sets a new standard for sustainable logistics within the FMCG sector.”

GreenLine’s LNG-powered vehicles offer a cleaner alternative to traditional diesel trucks, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To date, the company has successfully cut 8,519 tonnes of carbon emissions. With Mondelez now onboard, GreenLine’s commitment to mitigating the environmental impact of India’s logistics sector is further strengthened. This collaboration not only supports GreenLine’s sustainability goals but also enhances Mondelez’s efforts to integrate sustainable practices across its operations.

Both companies are focused on creating a greener future, demonstrating the power of collaboration in addressing the pressing environmental challenges facing the logistics sector

16th January 2024: As the curtains close on 2024, Indeed, the global job matching and hiring platform, presents an in-depth look at the most sought-after job roles and search trends that defined India’s job market in 2024. This analysis uncovers how shifting workforce dynamics, advancing technology, and evolving career ambitions are reshaping the employment landscape.

High-demand tech roles and customer centric jobs reflect  jobseeker priorities

In 2024, India’s job market revealed a striking duality. Essential service roles like Customer Support Executive and Driver topped search trends, reflecting the growing weight of this segment in the economy. The BPO sector’s steady expansion has made customer support roles increasingly attractive, reliable income, and clear pathways for skill development. Likewise, the spike in demand for driver roles mirrors the relentless growth of quick commerce, e-commerce, logistics, and mobility services—industries now deeply embedded in India’s economic framework. This shift suggests a growing acceptance of blue-collar work, driven by formalization, rising demand, and the promise of steady employment.

Simultaneously, technology roles continued to dominate hiring, reaffirming the tech sector’s central role in shaping India’s economic trajectory. Businesses are racing to integrate advanced technologies, fueling demand for tech talent to lead digital transformation and innovation. The parallel rise of both blue-collar and tech jobs reflects a workforce adapting to diverse opportunities—balancing the demands of a digital future with the realities of an expanding service economy.

“2024 has been a transformative year for India’s job market,” said Rohan Sylvester, Talent Strategy Advisor at Indeed. “We’re seeing the rise of AI-driven roles, the growing significance of blue-collar work, and technology redefining traditional jobs. As we enter 2025, these shifts will only deepen. AI will drive efficiency and innovation, creating roles that didn’t exist before and reshaping how we work.”

Jobs employers hired the most for in 2024

Beyond technology, the persistent demand for Business Development Specialists signals a broader strategic shift. While companies invest heavily in tech to stay competitive, they are equally focused on building partnerships, expanding market presence, and driving revenue growth. This dual emphasis highlights a critical reality: technology alone doesn’t fuel growth—it must be paired with strategic business development.

India’s 2024 job market, then, tells a larger story. It’s one of convergence—where essential workers and tech talent are equally vital to economic growth, and where businesses must balance innovation with strategic expansion to thrive in an increasingly complex landscape.

5paisa Capital Limited (5paisa.com), which is one of India’s leading discount brokers today said that it has appointed technology and wealth management industry veteran Gaurav Seth as Chief Executive Officer as it aims to deepen its offerings for traders and investors and further bolster its tech platform.

Seth has over two decades of experience building businesses at the intersection of financial services and technology globally with experience spanning the US, India and Southeast Asia. Prior to joining 5paisa, he was the Chief Product Officer at Syfe where he focused on building Syfe as the leading digital wealth player in Southeast Asia. Earlier, Seth was the Chief Business Officer and part of the initial team at Paytm Money where he played a pivotal role in establishing Paytm Money as a top brokerage and mutual fund distributor in India. Prior to Paytm, Gaurav led the digital transformation of Morgan Stanley’s wealth management business in NY and advised leading wealth managers on their digital strategy.

Seth is an alumnus of the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, and a Bachelor of Engineering from the Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala.

Commenting on the appointment, Co-Promoter Mr. R Venkataraman said, “Mr. Seth’s experience in tech-driven innovations at major global and Indian firms will complement the digital transformation priorities at 5paisa Capital. We look forward to a great period of growth and innovation at 5paisa Capital under Mr. Seth’s leadership.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Gaurav Seth said, “5paisa Capital was the original disruptor in Indian broking industry and democratized equity investing for millions of Indians by offering a great platform at affordable fees. I am happy to be a part of this legacy and excited about the next phase of growth at 5paisa.”

5paisa.com is one of India’s largest discount brokers with more than 4.62 million customers at the end of September 2024. The company reported a net profit to Rs 219 million in Q2FY25, while revenues stood at Rs 1008 million. 5paisa.com is one of the most used stock investing apps in India with over 20.6 million users and has a high rating of 4.3 on Google Play.

January 16, 2025 – WIKA India is glad to announce the launch of its first-ever targeted campaign for the power sector, “RE-DEFINING ENERGY,” live from this month, and has been planned for the first quarter of 2025. This ground-breaking initiative aims to strengthen WIKA’s position in the rapidly growing power sector, which has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years.

With the theme RE-DEFINING ENERGY: From Power Generation to Distribution with Precision, the campaign will focus on WIKA’s innovative solutions supporting green energy and sustainable power generation, transmission, and distribution. The campaign aligns well with WIKA’s aim to enable accurate energy production, and sustainable solutions including leakage detection of SF6 gas, and energy monitoring solutions.

To reach its key decision-makers and expand its customer base, WIKA has decided to adopt an account-based marketing strategy across multiple platforms such as digital channels that include a dedicated landing page, LinkedIn posts, email campaigns, and search engine marketing; expert videos, customer testimonials, and webinars on industry trends; and event participation like Elecrama 2025.

Gaurav Bawa, Senior Vice President, WIKA India, said, “This campaign is more than a marketing initiative. It is our commitment to redefining the energy landscape with precise solutions that ensure sustainability and energy efficiency for the future. During this campaign, we will be showcasing our innovative offerings in power generation like wind, solar, and nuclear energy, IIoT Solutions & Services, WeGrid and SF6 gas monitoring solutions for safe and reliable energy supply.”

Prashant Sinha, Head of Marketing, WIKA India, said, “This campaign marks a key moment in our marketing journey at WIKA India, as we emphasize our commitment to delivering innovative, precise, and sustainable solutions for the power industry. By leveraging digital platforms, expert insights, and meaningful engagement through events like Elecrama 2025, we hope to connect with our stakeholders and demonstrate the critical role precision plays in building a sustainable energy future.”

WIKA India invites its stakeholders, partners, and employees to support the campaign by following the hashtag #WhenPrecisionMatters on LinkedIn and sharing campaign updates across their network.