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Team Marksmen Network’s Marketing and Communication Excellence Awards recognised those that “Influence with Intent”

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Who owns influence today? Would you say brands do so? Perhaps you believe leaders rule the roost? Or maybe you’re of the belief the algorithm rules supreme?

Think about it. Really think about it. It is a question that sounds deceptively straightforward until you actually try to answer it. Because the truth is that the ownership of influence has become genuinely contested, and the rules are being rewritten in real time.

Getting to the bottom of this rabbit hole might not be as easy as you think, but the inaugural edition of the Team Marksmen network’s Marketing and Communication Excellence Awards brought together 80+ senior leaders, including corporate communication heads, industry experts, and decision-makers, to discuss the evolving nature of influence in today’s digitally driven and decentralised ecosystem.

The event commenced with a welcome address by Sharad Gupta, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Team Marksmen Network, who highlighted the growing significance of purposeful influence in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. In his remarks, he emphasised that influence today is shaped not only by brands but also by leadership voices, digital platforms, and evolving audience expectations.

A key highlight of the conference was a thought-provoking panel discussion on “Who Owns Influence Today – Brands, Leaders, or Algorithms?” which examined how influence has evolved in a world where digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and leadership narratives play a defining role in shaping public perception.

The panel featured distinguished industry leaders including Honeydeep Singh Sabharwal, Chief Operating Officer & CMO, Pando.ai; Priti Gandhi, Head of Communications, TKIL; Natasha Kedia, Head – Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals; and Samina Khalid, Head – Corporate Communications, Thermax Limited. The discussion was moderated by Karan Karayi, Editor-in-Chief, Team Marksmen Network, who guided the conversation on key themes such as the shifting ownership of influence in a fragmented media ecosystem, the growing impact of algorithms on perception, the role of leadership credibility in building trust, and the importance of balancing AI-driven communication scale with authenticity and ethical responsibility.

Adding further depth to the conference, Mohit Shrivastava, AVP – Research & Consulting at Coherent Market Insights, shared insights into the evaluation framework and research methodology used to identify influential leaders and organisations, highlighting the parameters used to assess leadership credibility and communication impact.

The conference also featured a special address by the Chief Guest, Shri Subhash Desai, Former Minister of Industries, Government of Maharashtra, who spoke about the importance of responsible leadership, trust, and purposeful communication in shaping meaningful influence across governance and business. He also felicitated the distinguished leaders, acknowledging their contributions to driving impactful and responsible communication.

The event concluded with a felicitation ceremony, where 35 leaders were felicitated for their excellence in corporate communications, leadership influence, and industry impact. Those recognised in this celebration par excellence included:

The Marketing and Communication Excellence Awards recognised something specific: not the loudest campaigns, not the biggest budgets, but the leaders and organisations that have built influence that lasts. Influence grounded in trust, credibility, and a genuine commitment to impact, whose ripple effects will be felt far and wide.

The following leaders were felicitated under the respective categories:

Leaders in Focus – Marketing

* Amit Garg, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited

* Anchit Chandra, Muthoot Fincorp Limited

* Bansri Rajadnye, Galderma

* Divya Batra, Haldiram’s

* Honeydeep Singh Sabharwal, Pando.ai

* Jiteen Aggarwal, Hettich India

* Khyati Shah, Welspun World

* Priti Vinchhi, Leap India

* Priyankka Sethhi, Haier Appliances

* Rajashakher Intha, Cyble

* Ranjan Dhar, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India)

* Reema Wadhwani, Uniphore

* Ruchi Mohan, IBM India Pvt. Ltd.

* Salman Hamdulay, NTT Data Global Data Centers

* Shreyashi Keshri, McCain

* Sumit Puri, Tata CLiQ

* Stuti Anand, NiCE (India & ME)

* Vinod Philip, Lumina Datamatics

Rising Star – Marketing

* Aakash Mishra, Donear Group

* Abhijit Rajkumar Bakhtiani, GM Modular

* Harsh Gulati, Fenesta

* Pooja Rawal, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India)

* Prabhsharan Kaur, SKF India

* Sonam Shetty, NTT Global Data

Leaders in Focus – Corporate Communications & PR

* Apoorva Saigal, Piaggio

* Joeleen Gomez, Ramboll India

* Meena Iyer, Tata CLiQ

* Priti Gandhi, TKIL Industries

* Shirley C. Dsilva, Lenovo India

* Jaikishin Chhaproo, ITC Limited

* Madiha Vahid, Piramal Pharma

* Natasha Kedia, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd

* Samina Khalid, Thermax Limited

* Shilpashree Muniswamappa, Colgate Palmolive

* Shree Das, Britannia

Team Marksmen Network’s Most Trusted Brands of India 2026–27 Recognises Brands Building Strong Consumer Confidence

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BRL Editor
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The 6th edition of the Most Trusted Brands of India, a gala industry event bringing together the who’s who of the industry, successfully concluded on March 13th at the Sahara Star in Mumbai. This unique industry platform brought together 200+ senior professionals, including marketing leaders, CXOs, and key decision-makers from across industries to explore the evolving dynamics of consumer trust, brand perception, and market leadership.

The event commenced with a welcome address by Rajesh Khubchandani, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Team Marksmen Network, who highlighted the growing importance of trust and perception in shaping brand leadership in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace.

A key highlight of the evening was a thought-provoking panel discussion on “Reputation, Relevance & Reinvention – The New Rules of Consumer Perception,” which explored how brands can remain relevant in an era defined by changing consumer expectations and an increasing demand for authenticity.

The panel featured distinguished marketing leaders, including Prashant Sukhwani, VP Marketing, Burger King; Abhishek Kumar Srivastava, Vice President Marketing (CMO), Piramal Consumer Healthcare; Deepak Oram, SVP – Growth Marketing & Martech, HDFC Bank; and Gaurangi Desai Mehra, Director – Marketing & Communications, APAR Industries. The discussion was moderated by Amiya Swarup, Partner – Marketing Consulting, Ernst & Young, who guided the conversation on key themes such as the role of culture and communities in shaping brand reputation, the rise of purpose-driven consumer behaviour, and strategies for managing perception amid disruption and increasing consumer scepticism.

Adding further depth, Mohit Shrivastava, AVP—Research & Consulting, Coherent Market Insights, presented insights into the evaluation framework and research methodology used to identify the Most Trusted Brands of India, outlining the analytical parameters used to assess brand trust and consumer perception.

The event also featured a special address by the Chief Guest, Shri Kripashankar Singh, Former Minister of State for Home Affairs of Maharashtra and Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who emphasised the importance of trust, credibility, and responsible leadership in both governance and business. He also felicitated the winning organisations, recognising their commitment to building strong and enduring consumer relationships.

The evening culminated with the felicitation ceremony, where a clutch of eminent brands were felicitated for their excellence in fostering consumer trust through innovation, transparency, and consistent value delivery. Those recognised included:

The event successfully brought together industry leaders and experts to share meaningful insights on the evolving landscape of consumer perception, reinforcing the growing importance of trust, authenticity, and purpose in building enduring brands.

The evening honoured the following brands as the Most Trusted Brands of India 2026:

* APAR Cable Solutions

* Appliances Business, Godrej Enterprises Group

* ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel

* Avaada

* BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED

* BirlaNu Leakproof Pipes

* Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd.

* Bright Outdoor

* Burger King

* CooperVision India

* DURASHINE® By Tata Steel Colors

* EaseMyTrip

* Everest Food Products Pvt. Ltd.

* Fenesta

* Google Cloud

* Greenpanel Industries Limited

* Haier Appliances India

* HDFC Bank

* HETTICH

* Independence

* Insolation Energy Limited (INA Solar)

* i-pill daily

* JAIRAJ GROUP

* Jio-bp

* Johnson’s Baby

* KALLIYATH TMT

* Kissht

* Konica Minolta Business Solution India Pvt. Ltd.

* Lacto Calamine

* Laljee Godhoo & Co.

* Luminous Power Technologies

* Meenakshi Udyog (India) Pvt. Ltd.

* Mold-Tek Packaging Limited

* Muthoot FinCorp Ltd.

* Neelam Stainless Steel

* Nova

* OMRON Healthcare India

* OneAssist Consumer Solutions

* OSEL Devices Limited

* Shalimar Paints Ltd.

* Škoda India

* Tata CLiQ Luxury

* TenderCuts Farm-Fresh Meats & Fresh Fish

* UltraTech Cement

* UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED

* V.P. Bedekar & Sons Pvt. Ltd.

* Wagh Bakri Tea

* WONDERCHEF HOME APPLIANCES

Spacetech startup Bellatrix Aerospace secures $20 Mn in funding to scale satellite propulsion systems

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BRL Editor
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Rohan M Ganapathy and Yashas Karanam, co-founders, Bellatrix Aerospace

Bellatrix Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based spacetech startup, has raised $20 million (Rs 190 crore) in a funding round led by Cactus Partners as it aims to scale the commercial production of its satellite propulsion systems and expand global deliveries.

Additionally, the round attracted participation from Hero Investment Office, 35 North Ventures, Indusbridge Ventures, and Monarch Holdings. Existing investors, including Inflexor Ventures, Pavestone, GrowX Ventures, StartupXseed, and Survam Partners, also continued their support.

Founded in 2015, Bellatrix Aerospace develops electric and green propulsion systems for satellites. The company follows a vertically integrated model by managing design, manufacturing, and testing operations in-house, thereby ensuring greater control over quality and innovation.

Earlier, Bellatrix gained recognition after winning the Best on Campus award at the Economic Times Startup Awards 2020.

Commenting on the development, co-founder and CEO Rohan Ganapathy said the company has already flight-qualified its core technologies and is now focused on building a reliable production propulsion system. “This investment allows us to increase our annual production capacity significantly, ensuring we remain the most trusted partner for operators requiring propulsion at scale.”

Furthermore, Bellatrix plans to deploy the fresh capital to expand its manufacturing capacity and establish new production lines to meet the growing demand from satellite constellation operators in India and international markets. The funding will also support ongoing customer programmes.

Co-founder and COO Yashas Karanam highlighted the company’s progress, stating, “We’ve moved from flight-proven to factory-ready,” while adding that Bellatrix has reduced propulsion system lead times to under six months and improved unit economics.

The funding comes at a time when global demand for satellite propulsion systems continues to rise, driven by the rapid expansion of low-earth orbit satellite constellations. At the same time, several Indian and global startups are approaching key launch milestones, further accelerating demand for reliable propulsion technologies.

Sharing his perspective, Amit Sharma noted that Bellatrix represents a strong asset in the spacetech ecosystem. “Bellatrix is a unique asset with a robust history of space technology innovation. Rohan and Yashas have invested more than a decade in creating leading, cost-effective technologies for electric and green propulsion systems,” he said.

He further added that Bellatrix’s propulsion systems have the potential to de-risk a critical component of satellite missions, reinforcing its strategic importance in the global space industry.

As satellite deployments accelerate worldwide, the company’s focus on efficient and scalable propulsion systems could play a crucial role in shaping the future of space missions.

Furniture rental platform Rentomojo moves ahead with IPO plans

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BRL Editor
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Geetansh Bamania, founder and CEO, Rentomojo

Backed by leading investors such as Accel, Edelweiss, ValueQuest, and Chiratae Ventures, Rentomojo filed its draft red herring prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India on March 27 to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO).

The Bengaluru-based company plans to raise Rs 150 crore through a fresh issue of shares. In addition, existing investors will offload up to 2.83 crore equity shares via an offer-for-sale (OFS). Notably, shareholders such as Accel India, Edelweiss Discovery Fund, ValueQuest, Madison India, Chiratae Ventures, GMO Payment Gateway, and promoter Geetansh Bamania will participate in the OFS.

Furthermore, the company may raise up to Rs 30 crore in a pre-IPO round as part of the fresh issue component. Currently, promoters hold a 21.51 percent stake in Rentomojo, while public shareholders own 73.66 percent. Meanwhile, employee trusts account for the remaining 4.83 percent stake.

Among public investors, Accel India IV (Mauritius) holds the largest share at 20.92 percent. It is followed by Edelweiss Discovery Fund with 10.53 percent, Chiratae Ventures with 10.28 percent, and ValueQuest with 8.92 percent.

Rentomojo operates a direct-to-consumer online rental and subscription platform for furniture and appliances across India. The company intends to utilize Rs 70 crore from the net proceeds of the fresh issue to repay certain outstanding borrowings. Specifically, it will allocate Rs 42.5 crore towards lease rentals and license fees for warehouses and experience stores, while the remaining funds will support general corporate purposes.

As of January 2026, Rentomojo reported total outstanding borrowings of Rs 179.5 crore on a consolidated basis. At the same time, analysts estimate the broader home furniture and appliances rental market in India at Rs 69,520 crore in CY2025 and project it to grow at a CAGR of approximately 11 percent to reach Rs 1,17,210 crore by CY2030.

On the financial front, the company has demonstrated strong growth momentum. It reported a 92.3 percent increase in profit to Rs 43.1 crore for the financial year ended March 2025, compared to Rs 22.4 crore in the previous year. Additionally, revenue rose 38 percent to Rs 266 crore from Rs 192.7 crore during the same period.

Moreover, for the six-month period ended September 2025, Rentomojo posted a profit of Rs 61.3 crore on revenue of Rs 176.6 crore, further underlining its improving financial performance.

To manage the IPO process, Rentomojo has appointed Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors, Axis Capital, and IIFL Capital Services as merchant bankers.

Rentomojo’s IPO move reflects its intent to strengthen its balance sheet and accelerate growth in a rapidly expanding rental market. With solid financial performance and strong investor backing, the company is well positioned to capitalize on the rising demand for flexible and affordable home solutions in India.

Robotics startup Physical Intelligence eyes $1 Bn funding to scale AI ambitions

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BRL Editor
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Physical Intelligence, a two-year-old robotics startup based in San Francisco, is currently in discussions to raise approximately $1 billion in fresh funding at a valuation exceeding $11 billion. Notably, this potential deal would nearly double the company’s valuation from $5.6 billion in just four months, signaling strong investor confidence in its long-term vision.

Meanwhile, prominent investors are lining up to participate in the round. Founders Fund is expected to join the funding, while Lightspeed Venture Partners is also in talks to invest alongside existing backers Thrive Capital and Lux Capital. However, since the deal remains in its early stages, terms may evolve as discussions progress.

Earlier this year, during a visit to the company’s headquarters, co-founder Sergey Levine outlined the startup’s core ambition, stating, “Think of it like ChatGPT, but for robots.” At that time, Physical Intelligence had already raised over $1 billion and built a team of around 80 employees. The company actively develops general-purpose AI models that enable robots to perform a wide range of tasks, including folding laundry and peeling vegetables.

In addition, co-founder Lachy Groom emphasized the company’s unconventional approach to commercialization. He confirmed that Physical Intelligence is not operating on a fixed timeline to bring products to market—an approach that has not deterred investor interest. “There’s no limit to how much money we can really put to work,” Groom said. “There’s always more compute you can throw at the problem.”

As a result, Physical Intelligence continues to position itself at the forefront of next-generation robotics by focusing on scalable AI infrastructure rather than immediate revenue generation. This strategy reflects a broader trend in deep tech, where long-term innovation often takes precedence over short-term commercialization.

The company’s aggressive fundraising efforts and rapidly increasing valuation underscore the growing momentum in the AI-powered robotics sector. If the deal materializes as expected, Physical Intelligence could significantly accelerate the development of general-purpose robotic intelligence, potentially reshaping industries ranging from household automation to manufacturing in the years ahead.

Radisson Hotel Group announces the signing of Radisson Resort Kalimpong expanding its presence across Eastern India

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BRL Editor
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Radisson Hotel Group has announced the signing of Radisson Resort Kalimpong, marking its entry into the scenic hill station of Kalimpong in West Bengal. This move highlights the Group’s strategic focus on strengthening its footprint in secondary and high-barrier markets while expanding its presence across Eastern India through unique leisure destinations.

Located in the Eastern Himalayas, Kalimpong offers a cool climate, showcases colonial-era charm, and provides panoramic views of the Kangchenjunga range. Consequently, the destination continues to attract steady demand from weekend travellers and holidaymakers seeking alternatives to more saturated hill stations. Moreover, its proximity to established tourism circuits further enhances its appeal, positioning Kalimpong as an emerging premium destination for experiential and nature-led travel.

“Kalimpong represents a compelling opportunity as an underpenetrated leisure market with strong long-term potential. Being the first internationally branded hotel in the destination reflects our consistent first-mover strategy of entering emerging markets early and shaping their hospitality landscape with trusted global brands. It will further strengthen our footprint in Eastern India while reinforcing our commitment to bringing globally recognised hospitality brands to new tourism markets across the country,” said Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group.

Radisson Resort Kalimpong will offer uninterrupted views of the Kangchenjunga range. Additionally, the resort will feature 100 guest rooms, including 90 standard rooms and 10 suites. It will also include contemporary dining options such as an all-day dining restaurant and a tea lounge. Furthermore, the property will provide extensive meeting and event facilities, including a banquet hall, conference room, business lounge, and multiple meeting rooms, making it suitable for corporate retreats, social gatherings, and destination weddings. To enhance the overall guest experience, the resort will also include a spa, a fitness center, and an infinity swimming pool, thereby delivering a balanced mix of leisure, wellness, and business amenities.

“Radisson Resort Kalimpong affirms successful implementation of our strategy to establish Radisson Hotel Group as a leading hospitality chain in Eastern and North Eastern states of India. This resort, at an advanced stage of construction, is a strong opportunity to establish a premium branded resort in a destination with exceptional natural appeal and limited branded competition. The elevated site, combined with comprehensive MICE and wellness facilities, enables us to create a well-rounded resort product that can cater to leisure travelers, weddings, and corporate off-sites. We see strong long-term value in this market and look forward to developing a landmark property that blends international standards with the distinctive character of the Eastern Himalayas,” said Davashish Srivastava, Senior Director, Development, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group.

In addition, the development partner expressed confidence in the collaboration. “This partnership with Radisson Hotel Group marks an important milestone for our project in Kalimpong. The destination has long been admired for its natural beauty but has lacked a globally branded hospitality offering. By collaborating with an internationally recognised brand, we aim to create a resort that will elevate the tourism landscape of Kalimpong while offering world-class service and facilities to travellers. We are confident that Radisson Resort Kalimpong will emerge as a preferred destination for leisure stays, weddings, and corporate retreats, and we look forward to a long and successful association with the Group,” said Rohit Gupta, Director, Gajbadan Tradewing Private Limited.

Radisson Hotel Group is strategically entering Kalimpong to capitalize on the region’s rising leisure demand and limited branded hospitality presence. By leveraging its first-mover advantage and focusing on experiential travel, the Group can shape the destination’s hospitality landscape while strengthening its leadership in Eastern India.

Birla Estates enters Mumbai redevelopment market with ₹1,700-Cr project

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Mr. K. T. Jithendran MD & CEO - Birla Estates

Birla Estates, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aditya Birla Real Estate (formerly Century Textiles and Industries), has announced its entry into the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s (MMR’s) redevelopment market with its first project, which carries a revenue potential of ₹1,700 crore.

The company will redevelop Anmol Co-operative Housing Society and Bhartiya Bhavan Co-operative Housing Society in Khar West, one of Mumbai’s most sought-after residential micro-markets in the western suburbs. Moreover, Birla Estates is developing the project under a joint redevelopment arrangement with Parinee Real Estate Builders.

The project will offer a saleable area of 2.9 lakh square feet and will feature luxury residential apartments. Notably, redevelopment continues to play a central role in Mumbai’s real estate ecosystem due to the city’s limited land availability and sustained demand for high-quality housing. As a result, developers are transforming ageing residential communities into modern, well-planned living spaces within established neighbourhoods.

Ananya Birla, director, Aditya Birla Group, said, “Mumbai’s redevelopment cycle presents a significant growth opportunity in a structurally land-constrained market, reshaping the city’s real estate landscape and creating a scalable avenue for well-capitalised, design-led developers. At Birla Estates, our entry into this segment is a natural extension of our growth strategy, leveraging our proven track record in luxury developments.”

K T Jithendran, managing director and chief executive officer, Birla Estates, said, “Our entry into redevelopment marks a significant milestone in Birla Estates’ growth journey and reflects our commitment to creating enduring value in India’s leading markets. In a supply-constrained city like Mumbai, redevelopment is key to unlocking land potential and enabling modern living environments.”

Furthermore, the company stated that this redevelopment project strengthens Birla Estates’ expanding portfolio while marking its foray into Mumbai’s western suburbs. The company continues to scale its presence through a mix of new developments, joint ventures, and redevelopment opportunities.

Additionally, market data highlights strong momentum in the region. In 2025, Khar West recorded 142 new sale transactions with a gross sales value of ₹773 crore, according to Square Yards Data Intelligence. Meanwhile, as of Q4 2025, the average property rate in the area rose to ₹56,663 per square foot, compared to ₹48,696 per square foot in the same quarter last year.

Birla Estates is strategically entering Mumbai’s redevelopment segment to capitalize on high demand and limited land supply. By focusing on premium housing in established micro-markets like Khar West, the company is positioning itself to drive sustained growth and strengthen its footprint in one of India’s most competitive real estate markets.

Product-first fintech Uncia raises INR 25-Cr in funding to scale AI lending platforms globally

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BRL Editor
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Hari Padmanabhan, Chairman, Uncia

Uncia Technologies Private Limited has announced the successful closure of its first funding round, raising INR 25 crore from Pavestone VC, a Hyderabad-based venture capital firm. Notably, this investment marks a strategic inflection point for the company, which, over the past five years, deliberately focused on building its product, validating its market, and establishing institutional credibility before raising external capital.

With this fresh capital, Uncia plans to accelerate its growth across India. At the same time, the company will fund its expansion into international markets, including the Middle East, North Africa (MENA), and North America. Furthermore, Uncia has revealed its intention to pursue a public listing in the coming years. Consequently, the company positions this funding round as the first step in a long-term journey toward becoming a globally scaled and publicly accountable lending technology institution.

“We made a deliberate choice to build before we rose. Every rupee we invested came from the conviction that if we solved the right problem well enough, the market would validate it. Today, we manage over 2 lakh crore rupees cumulatively for some of India’s top NBFCs, and we believe we’ve proven our thesis. This funding is not a beginning but a gear shift. We have the product. We have validation at scale and diversity. Now we have the capital to take this to the world. We’re pleased to partner with Pavestone. Their investment values align closely with our mission, and we look forward to drawing on the strategic insight of their leadership team,” said Hari Padmanabhan, Chairman, Uncia.

In contrast to the broader fintech landscape, often driven by aggressive funding and rapid scaling, Uncia has adopted a disciplined, product-first approach. Instead of relying on early-stage capital, the company prioritized precision in product development and market fit. As a result, it has built an AI-native platform suite that powers loan origination, loan management, and supply chain finance operations for several leading financial institutions in India.

Moreover, Uncia has designed its platforms around what it calls ‘self-serve lending infrastructure.’ This approach enables financial institutions to independently configure, launch, and manage complex lending products without relying on IT dependencies, change requests, or prolonged implementation cycles. Over the past two years, the company has also invested heavily in AI research in collaboration with IIT Madras at the IITM Technology Research Park. Consequently, these AI models are already delivering tangible benefits to early adopters, including cost efficiencies and improved underwriting outcomes.

“At Pavestone, we focus on backing businesses that are solving structural problems in large enterprises, with a clear path to scale and profitability. The lending ecosystem is expanding rapidly, yet much of the underlying technology remains constrained by legacy systems that cannot support the speed, flexibility, and intelligence lenders now require. Uncia has built a unified, cloud-first platform with embedded AI capabilities that addresses these challenges while enabling rapid deployment and ‘pay-as-you-grow’ scalability. We believe the company is well-positioned to deliver durable value,” said Srikanth Tanikella, Managing Partner, Pavestone Capital.

Uncia’s first funding round not only validates its product-first philosophy but also sets the stage for accelerated domestic and global expansion. By combining proven scale, AI-driven innovation, and a clear roadmap toward public listing, the company is positioning itself as a formidable player in the global lending technology ecosystem.

Royal Orchid Hotels signs new Regenta property in Mundra, targets industrial growth hubs

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BRL Editor
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Chander K. Baljee, Chairman & Managing Director, ROHL

Royal Orchid Hotels (ROHL) has announced the signing of a new upscale hotel project in Mundra, thereby strengthening its presence in key industrial and port cities across India.

The company will develop the upcoming Regenta Hotel, Mundra, under a hotel management agreement, aligning with its asset-light expansion strategy. Moreover, the property will open by the fourth quarter of 2027, reinforcing the brand’s long-term growth roadmap.

Strategically located in the prominent port city of Mundra, the hotel aims to cater to rising demand from business travellers and logistics professionals. Additionally, the property will feature 103 well-appointed rooms, designed to meet the needs of modern corporate guests.

To enhance the guest experience, the hotel will offer a range of premium amenities, including an all-day dining restaurant, a swimming pool, a fully equipped gym, and a spa. Furthermore, it will provide extensive parking facilities with a capacity for over 150 vehicles. At the same time, the property expects to emerge as a key venue for corporate and social events in the region, supported by expansive banquet facilities spanning 14,000 square feet.

Chander K. Baljee, chairman and managing director of Royal Orchid & Regenta Hotels, said, “The signing of Regenta Hotel, Mundra, aligns seamlessly with our vision of expanding our footprint in high-growth economic hubs. As we continue to march toward our goals, this property will deliver the distinctive hospitality experience that defines the Regenta brand in Gujarat’s industrial landscape.”

In addition, the directors of Bonava Hospitality LLP stated, “We are delighted to partner with Royal Orchid & Regenta Hotels for this landmark development in Mundra. With its strategic location and robust infrastructure, we are confident this hotel will set new benchmarks in hospitality for the region and cater effectively to the growing demand from business and industrial travellers.”

Royal Orchid Hotels operates and manages hotels and resorts while providing related hospitality services through its diversified portfolio of properties.

However, on the financial front, the company reported a mixed performance. Its consolidated net profit declined 49.3% to Rs 9.02 crore, despite a 26.6% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 113.03 crore in Q3 FY26 compared to Q3 FY25. Meanwhile, reflecting investor sentiment, shares of Royal Orchid Hotels slipped 1.24% to trade at Rs 299.20 on the BSE.

While Royal Orchid Hotels continues to expand aggressively through strategic, asset-light developments in high-growth regions like Mundra, near-term financial pressures remain evident. Nevertheless, rising demand from industrial and business travel segments is expected to strengthen the company’s market positioning and drive long-term value creation through the new Regenta Hotel.

Smallest.ai launches Lightning V3 to redefine real-time conversational voice AI

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Sudarshan Kamath and Akshat Mandloi, co-Founders, Smallest.ai

Smallest.ai, a research-first Voice AI company focused on building proprietary speech models and production-grade voice agents, has officially launched Lightning V3, its most advanced text-to-speech (TTS) model designed specifically for real-time conversational AI.

Notably, Lightning V3 delivers strong performance in conversational evaluations, achieving a 3.89 MOS. As a result, it outperforms leading models from OpenAI, Cartesia, and ElevenLabs. In addition, the model leads in key voice quality metrics, including intonation (3.33) and prosody (3.07)—two essential elements that define natural, human-like speech. Alongside this performance, the model integrates multilingual capabilities, instant voice cloning, and streaming generation, making it highly suitable for real-world conversational applications.

However, most TTS models today are still evaluated using complete sentences generated in isolation. While this method simplifies optimization, it fails to replicate real-world scenarios. In production environments, voice systems generate audio in segments, often without full conversational context, and must dynamically adapt as interactions evolve.

To address this gap, Smallest.ai has engineered Lightning V3 to function the way voice systems actually operate in production. Specifically, the model generates speech in chunks, processes incomplete context, and continuously adapts to the flow of conversation. Consequently, it maintains consistency across dialogue turns and adjusts tone and pacing even within a sentence—an area where many existing systems struggle.

Furthermore, this architecture enables Lightning V3 to operate across multiple use cases without requiring retraining. These include voice agents, contact centers, podcasts, audiobooks, dubbing, and interactive applications. At the same time, the model supports 15 languages with automatic detection and can seamlessly switch languages mid-sentence, enhancing its versatility.

In addition, Lightning V3 can clone voices using just 5–15 seconds of audio input. These cloned voices often sound more natural than preset alternatives, as they preserve the nuances and variations of real human speech. The model also outputs high-quality audio at 44.1 kHz, while allowing downsampling to 8–24 kHz for telephony applications.

“Conversation is where most voice systems fall apart,” said Sudarshan Kamath, Founder and CEO, Smallest.ai. “It’s not just about sounding clear—the voice has to track context, timing, and emotion at the same time. If it works there, it works everywhere.”

At the same time, the launch signals a broader shift in how voice AI quality is measured. Traditionally, benchmarks rely on static outputs, which rarely reflect real-world usage. In contrast, Lightning V3 undergoes evaluation in dynamic, use-case-specific scenarios. This approach assesses how effectively the model maintains coherence, responsiveness, and believability throughout an interaction, rather than within a single utterance.

Moreover, this shift emphasizes that voices should be evaluated within context—based on whether they align with the intended persona, convey appropriate social cues, and feel authentic in real-time interactions.

From a commercial standpoint, Lightning V3.1 is available through a flexible pay-as-you-go pricing model. Importantly, it does not require upfront commitments, seat licenses, or minimum usage thresholds. As a result, teams can seamlessly scale from early-stage prototypes to high-volume deployments across both voice agents and content generation, supported by usage-based pricing and non-expiring credits.

Smallest.ai’s Lightning V3 marks a significant advancement in conversational voice technology by aligning performance benchmarks with real-world usage. By prioritizing contextual intelligence, adaptability, and natural speech dynamics, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of next-generation voice AI innovation. As demand for more human-like digital interactions continues to grow, solutions like Lightning V3 are likely to play a critical role in shaping the future of conversational interfaces.

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