Video Telematics startup Cautio raises INR 6.5 Crore in pre-seed funding, co-led by Antler, 8i Ventures and others

Bengaluru/India – July 1, 2024: Cautio, a startup in the visual telematics space, announced a pre-seed raise of INR 6.5 cr led by Antler, 8i and AU Bank. The funding, a mix of equity and debt, was led by Antler, 8i Ventures, and AU Small Finance Bank; with additional participation from Cautio’s early believing customers and prominent angel investors.

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Founded by Ankit Acharya, former senior executive – Namma Yatri, Bounce & Bounce Infinity and Pranjal Nadhani, former senior engineer – Virtualness, Dream11 & Urban Company; Cautio is dedicated to addressing safety concerns within India’s mobility and transportation space. Offering cost-effective video telematics products, Cautio delivers tailored solutions aimed at mitigating safety issues prevalent in India. Through customizable dash cam devices and an AI-powered operating system, Cautio ensures accountability, improves driver conduct, minimises revenue loss, and adopts an API-first strategy.

Ankit Acharya – Co-founder & CEO, Cautio said – “Telematics in India has rapidly advanced from GPS, Bluetooth, and portable navigation to embedded connectivity. Initially focused on passive road safety measures, the emphasis is now shifting towards active real-time responsiveness due to high accident rates. India, ranking first in global road fatalities, recorded 1,68,491 deaths in 2022, with overspeeding responsible for 70% of these fatalities, along with approximately 4.4 lakh injuries. Video telematics and dash cams, driven by demand from the commercial vehicle sector, will be crucial in eliminating hearsay and enhancing road safety.”

Pranjal Nadhani – Co-founder & CTO, Cautio added: “With the support of our friends at Antler, 8i and AU, we are primed to escalate our efforts in deploying cutting-edge safety solutions across the country.”

Focusing on India’s passenger commercial sector, the startup counts among its clients prestigious institutions, mobility and logistic companies etc. It is also actively involved in multiple pilot projects across the country.

Commenting on the round, Nitin Sharma, Partner at Antler said – “As investors, we are excited to back founders like Ankit and Pranjal. Their ability to integrate cutting-edge technology into accessible and cost-effective solutions positions them uniquely to redefine road safety. During the Antler Residency, the team’s customer obsession and their exceptional adaptability stood out to us. The Cautio model is not just about capturing telematics data but transforming it into actionable insights to enhance driver behaviour, increase safety, and pave the way for autonomous vehicles.”

“With Cautio, as Ankit and Pranjal are solving a pressing problem that affects vehicle owners & drivers. From our first meeting, we were struck by the founders’ clear insight. Cautio’s solution should lead to a mass adoption of video telematics – bringing in safety and accountability on our roads.” – added Vishwanath V, General Partner at 8i Ventures.

Ranjan Agarawal, EVP and National Business Manager at AU Small Finance Bank added: “AU Bank is excited to support Ankit, Pranjal and Cautio in their journey. By supporting Cautio, we are investing in our belief of a future where technology seamlessly enhances safety and efficiency for all in every sector whether it be banking or mobility. The impressive lineup of clients and ongoing pilots nationwide are just the beginning of what Cautio is poised to achieve. We believe that with such dynamic leadership at the helm, Cautio will redefine the standards of excellence in this sector.”

As India progresses towards implementing active surveillance in mass transportation, states such as Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and others are endorsing the necessity for in-vehicle monitoring, showcasing a collective dedication to fostering a safer transport environment. The increasing adoption of dash-cams in Bengaluru, encouraged by law enforcement urging citizens to install these devices, underscores the crucial role of technology in augmenting road safety measures.

Cautio’s unwavering dedication to safety has attracted widespread interest from cab, auto and fleet owners and drivers. The enthusiastic support from operators highlights the critical need for proactive safety measures within our transportation networks.

The 2nd North India Garment Fair (NIGF 2024) by CMAI Commences; Brings Together 200+ Exhibitors and Expected to attract about 7000 Trade Visitors

New Delhi, June 11, 2024: The 2nd North India Garment Fair (NIGF 2024) organised by the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) commenced on Jun 11 till June 13, 2024, at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre (IICC), Dwarka, New Delhi. NIGF 2024 features over 200 exhibitors showcasing a diverse array of menswear, womenswear, and kidswear.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by leading North India retailers, including Manik Jain & Sahil Jain of Aristocrat Garments, Bharat Bhushan Taneja of Paul Garments, R D Gupta of Bindals Group, Ranjit Surana of Bachoomal Collection, Sanjeev Garg of Stanmax, Mohinder Chaudhary and Saurabh Chaudhary of Suvidha Stores, Tarun Langer & Chander Shekhar Mahajan of Yougal Sons as Guests of Honour. Key dignitaries from CMAI present at the Inaugural included Rajesh Masand – President; Rohit Munjal – Vice President; Santosh Kataria, Chairman – NIGF; Rahul Mehta – Chief Mentor and Pankaj Jain – Hon. Secretary – North and other office bearers of CMAI.

CMAI Dignitaries and Leading Retailers inaugurates 2nd edition of NIGF 2024 - IMG 1

Rajesh Masand, President, CMAI, expressed, “The Domestic Garment industry in India is poised for significant growth, driven by the country’s dynamic demographic and economic potential. NIGF 2024 is a testament to CMAI’s commitment to supporting MSMEs and enhancing the garment trade in North India. The upcoming festival season is a crucial period for the Garment industry and hence NIGF 2024 plays a pivotal role in connecting manufacturers with thousands of buyers ensuring they are well-prepared to meet market demands”.

At the Inauguration, Santosh Katariya, Chairman said, “NIGF 2024 has fast developed as a successful platform for Manufacturers from across the country. It offers North India’s Retail industry a fantastic opportunity to meet new Suppliers, new Brands and refresh their merchandise for customers from across India. For the benefit of Exhibitors, we have also organized a Business Networking Session tomorrow with leading Agents & Distributors from pan India”.

NIGF 2024 features a diverse array of garment manufacturers, with over 95% representing MSMEs from various parts of India, including key hubs like Mumbai, Surat, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Indore, Ludhiana, Uttar Pradesh, and the Delhi-NCR region. Retailers from across the country have pre-registered to visit the fair and expected to attend the fair.

Women Role Models in STEM Shine at myAvtar Career Conference, 2024

STEM Shine at myAvtar Career Conference, 2024

Bengaluru, May, 2024: Avtar Group, India’s leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Solutions firm, hosted the myAvtar Career Conference (MACC) at Karnataka Trade Promotion Organization (KTPO), Bengaluru today.

myAvtar Career Conference (MACC), the career extravaganza brought together inclusive companies and a vast pool of women talent from the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) under one roof. Participating Companies included, Aditya Birla Group, Publicis Sapient, Broadridge Financial Solutions India Limited, Moody’s, Renault Nisan Tech, IBM India, Google Cloud, HDFC ERGO, ACT, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Gallagher, Happiest Minds Technologies Limited, Stryker, Verisk, AKJ Somaiya Institute Of Management, among many others.

Tailored for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), MACC offered a unique platform to connect, collaborate, and converse with like-minded professionals, industry-leading companies, and renowned experts in the industry. The conclave was an ecosystem designed to foster learning, sharing, and networking for women in the STEM field; an opportunity to explore new horizons in the STEM field, to grow personally and professionally, and to unlock a world of possibilities. The conference witnessed a large gathering of students, educators, professionals, and industry leaders who shared their knowledge, experiences, and insights.

Avtar Group also announced the winners of their inaugural “Women in STEM” Awards. This Awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of women who are making significant strides in the STEM fields. In STEM Icons 15 plus years of work experience category, Vaijayanthi Srinivasa Raghavan Senior Director, UPS India Technology Centre, Priya Kanduri, CTO, SVP – Cyber Security Services, HappiestMinds Technologies Limited, Deepti Singh, Deputy General Manager- Head of Department System Installation, Renault Nissan Tech have received top 3 awards. In STEM Divas 8-15 years of work experience category, Subbulakshmi Ramkumar, Deputy Manager, RNTBCI, Yogita Bhanwaria, Senior Manager, Biocon Biologics Limited, MuthuSusithra Devarajan, Team Manager, Broadridge Financial Solutions have received top 3 awards. In STEM Stars 2-8 years of work experience category, Nishtha Mahendru, Consultant, Applied Innovation Exchange, Capgemini, Nidhi Raut, Sr. Engineer, Renault Nissan Technology Business Centre India (RNTBCI), Indujaa Thangavel, Broadridge Financial Solutions have received top 3 awards.

“One of the key sectors that has the potential to boost women’s workforce participation, is the STEM industry. While 43%of STEM graduates are women, they make up only 28% of the STEM workforce. Moreover, women drop out of the workplace due to childbirth, childcare and elder care. Consequently, only 3 percent of women hold CEO posts in the STEM Industry. While research has established that improving women’s workforce participation can boost India’s GDP by 27%, more women in STEM would set the stage for inclusive innovation and solution designs that are equitable for all. Women have historically been underrepresented in STEM, yet they bring invaluable perspectives and ideas to these fields. MACC awards recognizes the exceptional talent, the brilliance, and diverse perspectives of women in STEM,” said Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Founder – President, Avtar Group announcing the awards at the myAvtar Career Conference today in Bengaluru.

“Through MACC, we are acknowledging the remarkable work being done by women in STEM and also addressing the systemic barriers they face. Our goal is to create an environment where every individual, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to thrive and drive progress,” added Dr Saundarya.

At the conference, three organizations with the “Best Programs for enabling women in STEM”Biocon Biologics Pvt Ltd, Kyndryl and Molecular Connections Pvt Ltd were also recognized.

In addition to the awards, the myAvtar Career Conferences hosted a series of panel discussions, skilling tracks conducted by IBM, Google Cloud, Johnson & Johnson and Publicis Sapient exclusively for women. The event also provided a platform for knowledge exchange, mentorship, collaboration, further strengthening the presence and influence of women in the STEM field.

The conference hosted in the hybrid mode –saw an attendance of over 3000 women at the on-ground event, while there were over 2000 attendees virtually. Companies opened up jobs from entry-level to senior-level positions across India – Bengaluru, Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Pune, Bhubaneshwar, Madurai and Coimbatore.

Thunderstorm Titans Crowned the First Cue Sports Premier League Champion

Bengaluru, 14 May 2024: Thunderstorm Titans won the first edition of the Cue Sports Premier League 2024 organized by Bowring Institute, Bengaluru. Thunderstorm Titans led by R Santosh won 4-1 out of 7 games against Summer Tuskers led by Sourav Kothari. Rajesh Bajaj, Director of Embassy Group, and Raghavendra Y R, Chairman of Billiards – Bowring Institute handed over the trophy to the winners in the presence of Top Actress Ragini Dwivedi, and Mr. H S Srikanth, Secretary of Bowring amongst other dignitaries.

Thunderstorm Titans Won the first Edition of Cue Sports Premier League 1

In the first match of the final, Snooker Singles, Manan Chandra of Thunderstorm Titans defeated Sourav Kothari from Summer Tuskers to take an early lead in the final. The second, third, and fourth matches of the finals were snooker doubles that saw Titans Beating Tuskers in the first and second doubles, while Tuskers won the third doubles.

Thunderstorm Titans Won the first Edition of Cue Sports Premier League

In the 5th Frame R Santosh, the Captain of the Titans defeated D Rajkumar on the black ball to take the championship, 13-time national champion, Manan Chandra grabbed all the attention in the finals as he showed tremendous concentration and perseverance to grind out a closely contested long-drawn match that ultimately sealed the win for the Titans. Manan Chandra was chosen as the best player of the tournament. The emerging Player of the league was Daivik Bansi, the Highest break of the league was by Brijesh Damani, The Best pair of the league was Sri Hari and Kushal.

The First Edition of ‘Cue Sports Premier League’ to be held from 4th May 2024

Bengaluru, 26 April 2024: Bowring Institute announced the first edition of Cue Sports Premier League (CSPL), a national-level Snooker tournament in the city today. The tournament will be held at the South Pavilion Snooker Arena, Bowring Institute, Bengaluru from 4th May to 10th May 2024. Noted champions including Padma Bhushan and 27-time World Billiards Champion, Pankaj Advani, and Arjuna Awardees including Aditya Mehta, Sourav Kothari, and National Women’s Champion Vidya Pillai will feature in the first edition of CSPL.

CSPL 1

Embassy Group will be the title sponsor of the inaugural edition of Cue Sports Premier League. The organizers have also roped in Audi as a co-sponsor.

The tournament which will be played at one of the best Snooker Arena in the country at Bowring Institute will be telecasted live on the Club Liv app.

A total of 56 players including both international and national players from across the country will participate in the first edition of the Cue Sports Premier League. These players were selected via auction held in Bengaluru on 20th April 2024, by eight teams that will be competing in the first edition of CSPL 2024.

The eight teams competing in the league are named Lightning Legion, Cyclone Crusaders, Summer Tuskers, Hurricane Hawks, Thunderstorm Titans, Tornado Tigers, Whirlwind Warriors, and Monsoon Mavericks.

CSPL 3

Speaking on the idea behind CSPL, Pankaj Advani said, ” The CSPL is a unique event which is aimed at integrating players of 3 different categories – National, State and Club levels. I’m delighted that Bowring Institute is hosting one of the most exciting snooker tournaments India will witness. As the conceptualiser, ambassador and player of CSPL, I’m looking forward to wearing several hats. I am certain that a championship of this magnitude will attract more players to cue sports and inspire the aspiring cueists to further improve their game.”.

Raghavindrra Y R , Chairman Billiards and Snooker at Bowring Institute said, “CSPL is designed in such a way that the tournament will give the upcoming players a chance to showcase their skills at the highest level and compete with the best players in the country. We want to provide amateur players with the opportunity to learn, enjoy and succeed with the use of their minds and skills. The league has received a great response, and I am sure that the league will help to promote the sport further and more players will take up the sport professionally”.

The CSPL will be played in a league format where all the teams will play against each other once and the top 4 teams will play in the semi-finals and the final will be played on 10th May 2024. The matches will be played in a 7-frame format, with the first six frames having a mix of Singles and Doubles involving the National, State, and Club Categories. The match format has the best National Players playing alongside the State and Club Players, allowing them to pass on their experience and knowledge. The league also introduces a one-of-a-kind shootout as the 7th frame of every match which brings added and new excitement to the game of Cue Sports.

The Bowring Institute South Pavilion features a state-of-the-art snooker arena that boasts of 7 snooker tables, with a seating capacity of 140+ with live streaming facilities for the matches. The league will be played on World Championship Star Xingpai and Rasson Tables.

Motorola Solutions signs up with Arya Omnitalk to promote professional and commercial radios

Bengaluru, 16th April 2024: Pune-headquartered Arya Omnitalk, a joint venture between two of India’s most reputed business houses, Arvind Ltd. and the JM Baxi Group, has secured an exclusive partnership with Motorola Solutions to distribute Professional and Commercial Radios in India.

Arya Omnitalk operates three business divisions, namely Shared Mobile Radio Services (SMR), GPS-based Fleet Tracking and Management Solutions, and Toll and Highway Traffic Management Systems (HTMS). Under this collaboration, Arya Omnitalk will exclusively distribute Motorola Solutions’ MOTOTRBO Portfolio of products, along with continuing to distribute Wave PTX and associated services.

A leading provider of PMRTS (Public Mobile Radio Trunking Services), CMRTS (Captive Mobile Radio Trunking Services), and Broadband Push-to-talk devices, Arya Omnitalk holds licenses to operate in 18 cities including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Indore, Kolkata, Bharuch, Navi Mumbai, Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Vadodara, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Jaipur.

These radios are specially designed for organizations operating in today’s fast-moving business environment. They allow real-time, instant communication among teams, improving coordination in fast-paced environments. It allows cross-platform compatibility and works across various devices and platforms, ensuring seamless communication between different teams and devices within the company. These radios connect teams spread across different locations and facilities. It can integrate with existing communication systems and tools, streamlining processes and enhancing overall connectivity within the company.

These radios provide secure communication channels, crucial for the industries where confidentiality and data protection are paramount. It enables swift response during emergencies or critical situations, ensuring immediate communication for rapid decision-making and crisis management.

These services cater to important sectors such as Municipal Corporations, Manufacturing, Security, Oil & Gas, Transport and Logistics, Warehousing, Educational Institutes, IT/ITeS, Hospitality, Hospitals, Embassies, Mines, and Construction.

Speaking of the occasion, Mr. Paresh Shetty, CEO, Arya Omnitalk said, “We are thrilled to announce our continued partnership with Motorola Solutions, further solidifying the trust we’ve built with the brand and customers over the years. This exclusive partnership grants us the opportunity to sell best in class products in India. Our commitment remains unwavering in delivering unmatched customer experiences, ensuring every interaction mirrors our dedication to excellence and satisfaction.”

LG Empowers Consumers to Take Control of Energy Bills with New Air Conditioner Campaign: “You Decide Your Bill”

Bengaluru, March 21st, 2024: LG Electronics, India’s one of the leading consumer durables company, unveiled its new consumer campaign on 2024 range of Air Conditioners, “You Decide Your Bill,” focused on addressing the top purchase barrier i.e. running costs. Consumers often hesitate to purchase air conditioners due to concerns about high electricity bills. Based on this insight LG has Introduced India’s First AC with Energy Manager.

Energy Manager Feature in Air Conditioner: The feature is integrated into the LG ThinQ app, enabling user:

  •  To set electricity consumption for the AC for a specified period
  • To optimize cooling capacity of the AC based on the target set for one time, during the AC’s running period
  •  to manage the electricity consumption

This campaign aims to create awareness on how LG’s 2024 air conditioner range tackles this issue head-on with the innovative Energy Manager feature. This feature empowers user to control the electricity bill thus, defining the campaign thought – You Decide Your Bill.

The concept of this campaign is simple yet powerful. It leverages relatable scenarios, showcasing how rising electricity bills can disrupt families’ daily lives and cherished moments. By empowering consumers to manage their energy consumption, LG aims to restore those moments and ensure that families can enjoy the comfort of their homes without financial stress.

With an investment of approximately $3 million in consumer awareness campaign, LG is committed to bringing this transformative technology to consumers worldwide, reaffirming its position as an industry leader in innovation and consumer-centric solutions.

Sanjay Chitkara – Senior Vice President -Residential Air Conditioners, LG Electronics India said, “With LG’s Energy Manager, we’re putting the power to control energy consumption directly in the hands of consumers. This consumer campaign reflects our commitment to offering sustainable and user-centric technology solutions. With a relentless pursuit of innovation and a commitment to delivering products that enhance consumers’ lives, LG continues to push the boundaries of technology to create a more sustainable and connected world.”

Continental India Bags ACMA Excellence Award 2023

Bengaluru, India, March 20, 2024: Technology Company Continental’s Bangalore Plant won the ACMA Excellence Award 2023 and secured Bronze trophies for both “Excellence in Manufacturing” and “Excellence in Digitalization”. The 58 th edition of ACMA Excellence Awards & 9 th Technology Summit recognizes the steadfast commitment and innovation of Indian auto component producers. The awards are a testimony to Continental’s digitization, sustainability efforts and commitment towards localization in manufacturing.

Out of 344 nominations, ACMA honored the outstanding accomplishments and efforts of 59 renowned auto component makers, who took home a total of 112 prizes across categories. This honor acknowledges Continental’s years of hard work in manufacturing combined with digitalization which will further advance the company’s future-focused strategy, “Ready for the Future.”

Expressing his delight, Prashanth Doreswamy, President and CEO, Continental India said, “This award is a statement that testifies Continental India’s efforts towards localization and digitalization. As an organization we follow, ‘in the market, for the market’ approach, focusing on localizing the entire value chain to suit the needs and demands of the customers. The award not only recognizes our commitment to localization but also acknowledges the dedication and innovation of our team at the Bangalore Plant.”

He further added, “The Bangalore Plant is our largest electronics manufacturing plant in India and plays a major role in our growth strategy and digitization efforts. We have been continuously investing in the country to enhance the localization of safety and connected car technologies at the Bangalore Plant. Continental is ‘Ready for the Future,’ and this honor reinforces our determination to advance our localization efforts and contribute to the overall growth and sustainability in the automotive industry.”

Phanindra Karody, Head of the Bengaluru Plant, Continental Automotive India, said, “We are grateful for the recognition and are immensely proud. This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation and continuous improvement. These achievements reaffirm Continental’s leadership in harnessing cutting-edge technologies to drive efficiency and quality in our operations. We extend our gratitude to our dedicated team whose hard work and dedication have made this success possible.”

Bangalore Plant

Continental has embraced the digitization and automation of diverse processes in pursuit of creating a sustainable manufacturing ecosystem. Symbolic of a smart factory, Continental’s Bangalore Plant is the largest electronics manufacturing facility of Continental in India. Cutting- edge technologies, including collaborative robots (Cobots), Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI) for face recognition, automated replenishment systems, automated optical inspection, and Big Data applications, have been seamlessly integrated into the shop floor of the Bangalore Plant. These innovations contribute to operational efficiency, ensure adherence to quality standards, maintain precision and consistency, and also uphold a high level of transparency throughout the manufacturing process.

Phanindra also added, “At our state-of-the-art plant, we embrace Industry 4.0 practices, ensuring smart manufacturing and data-driven operational management in every aspect. The Bangalore Plant stands as a shining example of our commitment to localization in manufacturing. This award is a celebration of our efforts and a reaffirmation of our commitment to setting industry standards for excellence.”

Over the years, the Bangalore Plant has introduced various measures to ensure high levels of energy efficiency. The solar panels and a 5MW solar plant installed by Continental ensures that over 93 percent of energy for the plant is sourced from renewable sources. Additionally, the energy-efficient chiller facility has reduced the energy consumption by 5.6 percent and annually saves up to 5,400,000 units.

Past Accolades

The plant is ISO 50001:2018 certified for Energy Management System. Last year, the Bangalore Plant achieved a gold certification in Green Plant Labeling. After the Regensburg plant in Germany, it is the second location to receive a gold certification within Continental among 58 automotive plants globally. In the past, Continental has also won an award at the 4th VDMA Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2021 in the category ‘Energy Efficiency and Conservation’. The award recognizes the German Engineering Federation “Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau” (VDMA) members who have implemented sustainable manufacturing processes and creates a platform to share best practices for a better environment. The plant has also been recognized with a Level 5 Rating of sustainability by one of the top Indian automotive OEMs in 2020.

Ayushmann Khurrana Unveils CG Foods Delicious WAI WAI Noodle Flavors

Bengaluru 19th March, 2024 : CG Foods, owned by Nepal’s only dollar billionaire Dr. Binod Chaudhary, is all set to disrupt $1.88-billion instant noodle market in India. Chaudhary Group (CG), a diversified multinational conglomerate, announces the launch of two innovative noodle variants, SMN (Seasoned Masala Noodles) and Dynamite (Korean Super Spicy Range).

Ayushmann Khurrana Champions the Bold Flavours of SMN (Seasoned Masala Noodles)

The beloved Bollywood star and heartthrob of the millennials, Ayushmann Khurrana, endorses the “Masale Pe Masala” Seasoned Masala Noodles, an inventive take on the classic Ready-To-Eat (RTE) Brown Noodles. The SMN range is a flavourful adventure, packing seasoning and extra dehydrated veggies into a true value-for-money meal. Available in three pocket-friendly price points — Rs 15, Rs 20, and a Rs 90 six-in-one pack — SMN caters to diverse consumer needs because of its mild spicy appeal.

Dynamite: A Spicy Ode to Korean Flavours

The “Dynamite” range, known as the “Spice Blitz Noodles”, is a fiery tribute to Korean cuisine with a desi twist, a happy blend of Sichuan Pepper and Korean Chilli in vegetarian variants, and Xtra Spicy Chicken and The Himalayan Hot Chicken in non-vegetarian options.

Initially launched to cater to the palate of consumers in North-east India, the inclusion of the world-renowned Ghost Pepper or Bhut Jolokia — the hottest chilli in the world — in the Dynamite range is CG Foods’ innovative response to the growing demand for spicy flavours and the ever-increasing popularity of Korean cuisine.

Mr. Varun Chaudhary, Managing Director, CG Foods, who is powering WAI WAI’s growth in India and other geographies, is upbeat about the launch of a bouquet of products. “We’re excited to unveil our latest noodle innovations: Seasoned Masala Noodles (SMN) & Dynamite Range. We’re a firm believer in offering unique culinary delights to our customers at regular intervals. Endorsed by Ayushmann Khurrana, these new flavours seek to tap into the vibrant palates of millennials and Gen Z. Our latest offerings will further establish WAI WAI as an innovative, consumer-centric brand. They are perfectly aligned with the tastes and lifestyles of our consumers of varying age groups.”

Ayushmann Khurrana shared his excitement about the launch “I am delighted to partner with Wai Wai, a brand distinguished by its dynamic and eclectic product portfolio. Wai Wai’s exceptional range of noodles, designed to cater to a wide array of tastes, preferences, and regional flavours have struck a big chord with the consumers. It’s a brand that consistently lives up to its reputation by offering such a vibrant and diverse selection.”

Manvendra Amber Shukla, Global CEO CG Foods, weighed in on the brand’s legacy.

“WAI WAI is not just a brand; it’s a journey down memory lane for our loyal customers. At the heart of our growth lies innovation, seamlessly blending tradition with the pulse of contemporary palate. Our latest creation, the flavorful SMN pack, endorsed by the charismatic Ayushmann Khurrana, marks a new chapter in our quest to delight the evolving palate of our consumers. Witnessing the meteoric rise of the Korean noodles segment in India from a mere Rs 2 crore in 2021 to an impressive Rs 65 crore in 2023, we’re inspired to bring our own twist to the table with ‘Dynamite.’ This venture not only introduces a fiery Korean flavor but also expands our horizons with a diverse range of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. We’re excited to spice up the noodle market and can’t wait to see our cherished customers, old and new, relish these awesome flavours.”

WAI WAI is growing at a breakneck speed in over 46 countries across Asia, Europe and Africa. CG Foods, a pioneer in the $70-billion food industry in India and a part of CG Corp Global, reinforces its commitment to innovation and quality through its seven manufacturing units in the country coupled with its multiple production facilities in Nepal, Serbia, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, and Egypt.

PhonePe’s Indus Appstore Surpasses 1 Million Installs

Bengaluru, March 19, 2024: PhonePe’s Indus Appstore, India’s homegrown app marketplace, today announced that it has crossed over 1 million installs within a month of launch.

Indus Appstore’s rapid adoption signifies the market’s readiness for alternatives that prioritize the needs of Indian developers and cater to the linguistic and cultural preferences of the Indian audience.

Some Key Highlights and Growth Indicators:

Diverse Demand: Indus Appstore has seen a wide array of app categories gaining popularity, with Finance, Games, Social, Entertainment, Tools, Communication, and Shopping topping the download charts.
Tier 2 Traction: 45% of users hail from Tier 2 cities, demonstrating broad appeal beyond major metros.
● Localized Success: Indus Appstore’s availability in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Telugu and others has driven tremendous engagement, validating the demand for native language app experiences.and fostering a sense of inclusivity.
● Developer Embrace: Prominent developers, both Indian and global, are rapidly listing their apps on Indus Appstore, recognizing its commitment to developer success.
● Community-Driven: Indus Appstore has received positive user feedback and is actively welcoming user feedback and suggestions, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.

Commenting on the milestone, Akash Dongre, Co-founder and CPO, Indus Appstore, commented, “This remarkable achievement is a reflection of our team’s unwavering commitment and hard work. We will continue innovating and improving our app store experience to ensure that we remain at the forefront of delivering a superior product experience for both developers and consumers. This is just the beginning, and we are excited about the future of app discovery in India.”

Indus Appstore has new updates planned every 10 days. Features like video-led app discovery and voice search are in the pipeline which will help streamline the user journey, while enhanced developer tools like richer merchandising tools and video-based app promotion opportunities, will drive a thriving creator economy.

Indus Appstore has forged strategic OEM partnerships with Nokia and Lava, and is in advanced discussions with several other major smartphone manufacturers. With a target of pre-installation on 250-300 million devices by year-end, these collaborations promise seamless app installation and updates.