Agility Robotics set to become first publicly traded humanoid robot company

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June 25, 2026

Agility Robotics is preparing to become the first publicly traded company focused entirely on developing and selling humanoid robots after announcing a planned merger with an investment firm that values the company at approximately $2.5 billion.

The Salem, Oregon-based robotics company revealed that it intends to merge with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) managed by Churchill Capital Group by the end of the year. The move marks a significant milestone for the rapidly growing humanoid robotics industry, which continues to attract substantial interest from investors and major technology companies.

Agility Robotics currently manufactures Digit, a humanoid robot designed to lift, carry, and transport heavy bins and totes within warehouses and industrial facilities. Michael Klein, Co-founder and Chairman of Churchill Capital Group, described Digit as the first humanoid robot to achieve commercial deployment and active employment in warehouse and industrial environments.

During an investor call, Klein highlighted the company’s strong backing from major global organizations, including Amazon, Nvidia, SoftBank, and Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn. He also noted that Agility’s customer base includes automotive leader Toyota, industrial supplier Schaeffler, and Latin American e-commerce company Mercado Libre.

Although Agility classifies Digit as a humanoid robot, Co-founder and Chief Robot Officer Jonathan Hurst emphasized that the company never intended to create a machine that closely resembles a human being.

“We’ve never set out to build a machine that looks like a person,” Hurst told investors.

Instead, Agility designed Digit with a functional approach that prioritizes workplace performance. The robot features bird-like legs rather than human-style limbs, allowing it to move efficiently while performing industrial tasks. Additionally, its hands resemble grippers or claws rather than human hands, enabling it to handle materials more effectively in warehouse environments.

Agility Robotics CEO Peggy Johnson explained that Digit focuses on physically demanding tasks that often involve repetitive movements, dirty conditions, and increased injury risks for human workers.

“The demand here is large and increasing,” she said during the investor call. “We have companies reshoring production, older workers retiring, and younger generations just not opting for these types of menial jobs.”

The company also aims to expand Digit’s capabilities in future generations. Unlike traditional industrial robots, which typically operate behind safety barriers because of their size and speed, upcoming versions of Digit will work more closely alongside human employees in warehouses and manufacturing facilities.

As labor shortages continue to affect industries worldwide and businesses increasingly seek automation solutions, Agility Robotics is positioning itself at the forefront of the humanoid robotics market. The planned public listing could further strengthen its ability to scale production, accelerate innovation, and meet growing demand for intelligent automation across industrial sectors.

Century Real Estate Unveils Century Immencity, a 50+ Acre Globally benchmarked Urban Lifestyle Destination in North Bengaluru’s Jakkur

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June 25, 2026

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Spread across 11 million sq. ft., Century Immencity is envisioned as a five-district lifestyle destination in North Bengaluru, featuring 5 unique districts, including homes, offices, hospitality, retail, and F&B

Bengaluru, 22nd June 2026: Century Real Estate, one of Bengaluru’s leading real estate developers, has announced Century Immencity, a 50+ acre mixed-use development in Jakkur, North Bengaluru, designed to become a landmark lifestyle address on the International Airport Road corridor. The project brings together commercial spaces, premium residences, high-street retail, hospitality, food, culture, open spaces, and curated lifestyle experiences within one integrated urban ecosystem.

North Bengaluru is moving beyond being a connectivity-led corridor to becoming one of Bengaluru’s most important business, residential, and lifestyle growth centres. This transformation is being supported by airport-led development, improvements to road infrastructure, and planned metro connectivity. Key infrastructure initiatives such as the Satellite Town Ring Road, Bengaluru Business Corridor, and improved connectivity to Kempegowda International Airport are further strengthening the region’s long-term potential. Jakkur’s strategic location; proximity to established and fast-growing catchments such as Hebbal, Yelahanka, Thanisandra, Sahakarnagar, and Hennur; and access to large contiguous land parcels create a rare opportunity to shape a destination of this scale and ambition.

Century Immencity has been envisioned as an integrated destination where business, living, and lifestyle work together from the outset. Being developed in collaboration with DP Architects, Singapore, and BDP Landscape, London, the project brings global design thinking and mixed-use benchmarking to North Bengaluru. Inspired by leading international urban districts such as Hudson Yards, Canary Wharf, and other modern global ecosystems.

In terms of scale, Century Immencity will comprise close to 10 million sq. ft. of commercial leasing, alongside expansive residential and high-street retail development, complemented by a proposed 5-star hospitality development. The development will be introduced in phases, with Phase 1 comprising approximately 1 million sq. ft. of residential and commercial development already under construction. Planned as a high-intensity business and lifestyle destination, Century Immencity is expected to attract a strong mix of Fortune 500 companies, GCCs, global enterprises, premium couture, F&B, and hospitality brands. The campus will also include a planned metro station within the development, further strengthening access for professionals, residents, and visitors. At maturity, Immencity is expected to support over 1 lakh professionals while creating a strong economic and social anchor for one of Bengaluru’s fastest-growing corridors.

Designed as a city within a city, Century Immencity brings together the key elements of modern urban life within one integrated destination. With premium residences, Grade A commercial spaces, high-street retail, hospitality, dining, open spaces, and curated lifestyle experiences planned within a single ecosystem, the development is intended to offer residents, professionals, and visitors the comfort of having work, leisure, convenience, and community close at hand. The idea is to create a self-sustaining urban environment where the everyday experience is elevated, seamless, and complete, reducing the need to step out frequently for workday conveniences, social engagements, or lifestyle needs.

Its location in Jakkur on North Bengaluru’s Airport Road corridor further strengthens its appeal as a premium business and lifestyle address. With Kempegowda International Airport located within a convenient driving distance, Immencity is well-positioned for global enterprises, senior leadership teams, business travellers and expatriate professionals who require efficient airport access while avoiding the city’s heavier traffic corridors. The development also offers strong connectivity to Bengaluru’s established business districts, with the CBD reachable in approximately 45 minutes. The upcoming Blue Line metro is expected to significantly improve access between North Bengaluru, the airport corridor, Whitefield, and the IT hubs along Outer Ring Road. This combination of airport proximity, future metro connectivity, and integrated mixed-use planning positions Century Immencity as a world-class urban destination for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.

The residential component will feature an intentionally limited collection of 334 Neo Luxe residences, including 3 & 4 bed homes ranging from 2,200 sq. ft. to 3,020 sq. ft., along with exclusive penthouses.

Speaking on the announcement, Mr. P. Ravindra Pai, Managing Director, Century Real Estate, said, “Century Immencity is envisioned as a landmark development for North Bengaluru, shaped by the scale and momentum of the airport corridor. We intend to create an ecosystem inspired by the world’s finest global campuses, where the best of international design, commerce, hospitality, and lifestyle converge in one destination. Our vision is to build a future-ready urban environment that supports how businesses scale, how professionals spend their day, and how families experience a more connected way of living. With its location, scale, and planning approach, Century Immencity reflects Century Real Estate’s commitment to building future-ready urban communities that create long-term value for Bengaluru.”

The commercial component of Century Immencity is designed for leading global and domestic enterprises, including Fortune 500 occupiers and GCCs. The development draws from a human-centric planning philosophy, where business, mobility, landscape, and everyday experiences are designed to work seamlessly together. With a largely vehicle-free campus, pedestrian-first movement, shaded walkways, electric internal transport, and thoughtfully planned public realms, the project prioritises comfort, accessibility, and ease of movement. Sustainability is embedded into the planning logic, with 75% open spaces, including over 35 acres of curated open space for residents, professionals, and visitors, along with native tree retention, green buffers, and climate-responsive design. Guided by Platinum LEED-aligned development principles, Century Immencity is being planned as an efficient, responsible, and future-ready urban environment.

As North Bengaluru enters its next phase of growth, Century Immencity is positioned to become a defining urban anchor, drawing businesses, residents, visitors, and communities into a destination designed for both daily convenience and long-term value creation.

About Century Real Estate Holdings Private Limited:

Founded by Dr. P. Dayananda Pai and Shri P. Satish Pai in 1973, Century Real Estate is an integrated, full-service real estate development company. With a rich legacy of 50+ years, Century Real Estate is regarded as one of the oldest and most respected real estate companies in South India. At the helm of affairs since 2003 is Mr. P. Ravindra Pai, the Managing Director. The company has a land bank of over 3000 acres and a development portfolio of over 25 million sq. ft., comprising premium residential and commercial assets like hotels, office buildings, residences, educational institutions, and integrated townships.

The company owns among the most prime lands and real estate in the region. Century Real Estate has seen remarkable growth in recent years, with many of its new projects getting sold out within a few months of launch—a testament to the demand for the company’s high-quality and new-age offerings. It has also won numerous awards for its new-age product design, differentiated marketing campaigns, customer experience, and its people-culture initiatives.

Brij Hotels Collaborates with Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna

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June 24, 2026

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Brij Hotels Collaborates with Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna — Udit Kumar, Co-founder, Brij Hotels

Reflecting the rise of experiential luxury, the partnership blends fashion and hospitality to create memorable lifestyle experiences beyond traditional brand engagement.

June 2026, New Delhi – Brij Hotels, part of the IHCL brandscape, has announced an exclusive collaboration with celebrated fashion designers Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna. As experiential luxury continues to redefine, collaborations such as this reflect a growing demand for experiences that extend beyond products and services.

Bringing together luxury hospitality and contemporary Indian fashion in a meaningful way, the association has been designed to offer elevated experiences for the designers’ discerning clientele. As part of this collaboration, Brij Hotels will extend exclusive stay privileges to Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna’s VVIP clientele. The curated experience includes a complimentary two-night stay across participating Brij Hotels properties such as Brij Paraiso in Goa, Brij Sone Bagh in Bandhavgarh National Park, Brij Pola in Jawai, among others.

Known for their refined design language and understated luxury, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna share a natural synergy with Brij Hotels, a brand celebrated for its immersive hospitality experiences rooted in culture, heritage, and individuality.

Speaking about the collaboration, Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna commented:

“At RGRK, we’ve always believed luxury extends beyond clothing; it’s about the overall experience and the emotions attached to it. Our association with Brij Hotels felt very organic because both brands value detail, atmosphere, and a certain sense of understated indulgence. There’s a shared appreciation for craftsmanship, storytelling, and creating experiences that feel personal and memorable rather than excessive.”

Commenting on the partnership, Udit Kumar, Co-founder, Brij Hotels, said:

“At Brij Hotels, we have always believed that travel and hospitality are extensions of a person’s lifestyle. Through this association with Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, we are bringing together two worlds that cater to guests who value authenticity, individuality, and meaningful experiences. We are delighted to welcome their patrons into the Brij family and offer them an opportunity to discover India’s rich cultural landscapes through our hotels and experiences.”

This collaboration reflects a growing shift towards lifestyle-led luxury, where fashion, travel, and hospitality seamlessly intersect to create memorable experiences for discerning audiences.

About Brij Hotels

Brij Hotels, part of the IHCL brandscape, is a collection of design‑forward boutique retreats, each shaped by the soul, stories, and subtle nuances of the place it inhabits. Every property unfolds as a living narrative—where thoughtful architecture, local textures, and contemporary sensibilities come together to create spaces that feel intimate, expressive, and deeply rooted in their surroundings. Rather than following a single template, each Brij retreat is crafted to honour its locale, allowing guests to experience every destination in a way that is personal, authentic, and gently immersive.

Website: https://www.brijhotels.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brijhotels/

About Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna

Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna is a New Delhi-based fashion label founded in 1997, renowned for its fusion of architectural design elements with contemporary fashion. The brand specializes in sharp tailoring and intricate metallic embellishments, catering to both men and women. Their designs draw inspiration from modern art, linear structures, and architectural forms, resulting in garments that are both structured and dynamic. As one of the founding members of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the duo has been instrumental in shaping the Indian fashion landscape.

Website: https://www.rohitandrahul.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rohitgandhirahulkhanna/

SaffronStays Raises $3.5M Led by Infinity Ventures to Fuel Expansion and Tech Growth

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June 24, 2026

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Mumbai, India: SaffronStays, one of India’s leading managed holiday-home and villa hospitality brands, has raised $3.5 million in growth capital in a funding round led by Infinity Ventures, with participation from prominent family offices. The round comprised a mix of fresh primary capital and a partial secondary sale by existing investor Sixth Sense Ventures.

The capital will support SaffronStays’ next phase of growth, including expansion across existing and emerging leisure destinations, investments in technology and product innovation, enhancement of guest experiences, and continued growth of its premium portfolio of managed homes across India.

Over the last two financial years, our focus markets have grown substantially faster than the overall portfolio, with inventory increasing by 70% in North, 90% in South India, and 200% in Goa. This growth has strengthened the company’s presence in some of India’s fastest-growing staycation and holiday-home destinations.

Alongside portfolio expansion, the company has maintained a strong focus on financial discipline. SaffronStays has remained profitable for the last four consecutive years, reinforcing its commitment to building a sustainable hospitality business with long-term value creation.

“SaffronStays has always focused on building a sustainable and profitable hospitality platform rather than chasing growth at any cost,” said Devendra Parulekar, Co-founder, SaffronStays. “Over the past three years, we have expanded our portfolio by over 150%, scaled meaningfully across our focus markets, and built a business where more than half of our revenue now comes from premium homes. Throughout this journey, we have remained profitable while continuing to invest in technology, operations, and guest experience. This capital raise allows us to accelerate those investments and further strengthen our position in India’s managed holiday-home market.”

“We believe the holiday-home sector in India presents a significant long-term opportunity,” said Tejas Parulekar, Co-founder, SaffronStays. “Direct bookings today contribute nearly 70% of our business, our recently launched app is already gaining meaningful traction, and demand for experiential stays continues to grow. Our vision is to build five regional business units, each capable of generating ₹100 crore in annual business, while maintaining a disciplined approach to profitability, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction.”

The company has also continued to deepen its focus on premium and experiential hospitality offerings, with a growing share of revenue coming from higher-value homes, curated experiences, and destination-led stays that cater to evolving traveller preferences.

About SaffronStays

Founded in 2015 by Tejas Parulekar and Devendra Parulekar, SaffronStays is India’s leading network of fully-staffed, professionally managed private vacation homes. Headquartered in Mumbai, the company curates a portfolio of 450+ handpicked villas, heritage homes, estates, and retreats across 80+ destinations in India, including Maharashtra, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Delhi NCR.

Built on the belief that travel is centred around meaningful time with loved ones, SaffronStays creates stays designed for family holidays, milestone celebrations, reunions, intimate weddings, and corporate offsites. Each home combines the warmth and privacy of a personal residence with the consistency and service standards of professional hospitality.

The company also partners with homeowners to unlock the value of their second homes through end-to-end hospitality management, making it one of India’s earliest and most recognised brands in the managed villa category.

Backed by Sixth Sense Ventures and Infinity Ventures, SaffronStays has emerged as one of India’s most trusted hospitality brands in the private stays space and has been featured in publications including Condé Nast Traveller, Forbes India, Architectural Digest, and The Economic Times, among others.

For more information, visit www.saffronstays.com

Unnati Agri Secures ₹17 Crore in Growth Capital from Recur Club Following Gramophone Merger

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June 24, 2026

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Unnati Agri Secures ₹17 Crore in Growth Capital from Recur Club Following Gramophone Merger — Ashok Prasad and Amit Sinha, co-founders, Unnati Agri

Capital to support seasonal working capital and distribution expansion as the company targets 66% sustainable product adoption and a ~$30-35 million equity raise

India, New Delhi, 23 June 2026: Unnati Agri (Akshamaala Solutions Pvt. Ltd.), one of India’s largest integrated agri-input platforms, has raised ₹17 crore in debt from Recur Club, India’s largest AI-Native debt platform for startups and SMEs.

The capital will be used to strengthen seasonal working capital, support inventory procurement, and expand distribution capabilities following its merger with Gramophone, which brought together Unnati’s wholesale distribution network with Gramophone’s farmer-facing digital platform, giving the combined entity the largest integrated reach in India’s agri-input sector.

Founded in 2010 by Ashok Prasad and Amit Sinha, Unnati operates across the agri-input value chain, spanning manufacturing, wholesale distribution, retail, and farmer engagement. Over fifteen years, the company has built a deep presence in India’s agricultural ecosystem and raised more than US$13.24 million in equity from institutional investors, including NABVENTURES.

A key focus for Unnati is accelerating sustainable product adoption. Sustainable agri-inputs currently account for 35-40% of sales, with the company targeting 66% within two to three years—a shift it describes as demand-driven, reflecting genuine uptake across its retailer and farmer network.

Commenting on the development, Amit Sinha, Co-founder, Unnati Agri, said, “Agriculture runs on seasonal cycles, and timely access to working capital is critical to keeping the supply chain moving. Debt is the right instrument for us at this stage because it allows us to scale efficiently without diluting equity ahead of our planned fundraise. Recur Club understood the dynamics of our business and delivered capital aligned with our operational requirements.”

Eklavya Gupta, Co-founder and CEO, Recur Club, added, “Unnati has spent fifteen years building what very few agri platforms have—real distribution depth combined with direct farmer reach. Their push toward 66% sustainable product adoption is commercially grounded, not aspirational, and their trajectory from this raise toward an IPO is credible. We’re excited to be part of that journey.”

Unnati is targeting an equity raise of approximately US$30-35 million in the second half of 2026 to further accelerate growth. The company also intends to pursue a public market listing within three to four years as it continues to strengthen its position in India’s agricultural value chain.

About Unnati Agri

Unnati is a Noida-based agri-fintech and digital farming platform that works with farmers, agri-retailers, and other agriculture stakeholders. The company enables retailers to digitally engage with farmers and fulfill their agri-input needs through its platform. It also supports the farming ecosystem with access to crop-specific advisory, agri-input distribution, and financial services, helping reduce farming risks and improve transparency across the value chain. Founded in 2017, Unnati operates in the farming sector and is positioned as one of India’s leading agri-input distribution platforms.

About Recur Club

Recur Club is India’s largest AI-Native debt platform for startups and SMEs, having facilitated over ₹3,000 crore in growth capital to more than 2,000 businesses. Their AICA platform (AI Credit Analyst) enables founders to access customized financing solutions through a network of 120+ institutional lending partners, enabling them to access 30+ debt structures, including working capital facilities, term loans, and structured debt, through a seamless, technology-first process. They are also the creators & producers of Bharat ke Super Founders, Season 1, streaming on Amazon Mx Player.

ONE Atmosphere commits Rs 500-Cr to expand luxury service apartments across India

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June 24, 2026

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ONE Atmosphere commits Rs 500-Cr to expand luxury service apartments across India — Sandeep Ahuja, Managing Director, ONE Atmosphere

ONE Atmosphere has announced plans to invest Rs 500 crore to accelerate the expansion of its luxury service apartment portfolio, targeting the addition of approximately 7,500 keys over the next five years across India and select international markets. The investment highlights the company’s confidence in the rapidly growing extended-stay hospitality segment, which continues to attract both business and leisure travelers seeking greater flexibility, comfort, and hotel-grade services.

India’s extended-stay hospitality market reached a valuation of more than USD 1.6 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 15% through 2030. Industry growth continues to gain momentum as travelers increasingly prefer spacious accommodations, premium amenities, and flexible stay options that combine the convenience of a hotel with the comfort of a residential environment.

To support its ambitious expansion strategy, ONE Atmosphere operates under an asset-light business model through management agreements and lease partnerships with developers and property owners. This approach allows the brand to scale efficiently while maintaining consistent service standards across its portfolio.

“The shift in the market is clear. Guests want a full hotel experience, delivered into an apartment where they can actually live for the duration of their stay. This investment allows us to bring that experience to more cities, more markets,” said Sandeep Ahuja, Managing Director, ONE Atmosphere.

Furthermore, the company expects corporate partnerships and bulk room-night agreements to contribute nearly 60% of its inventory demand. The brand continues to benefit from rising demand among relocating professionals, expatriates, corporate travelers, and long-stay guests seeking premium serviced accommodations.

ONE Atmosphere also projects average stay durations of five nights or more across its properties. At the same time, the company continues to attract a growing number of short-stay travelers who value spacious living environments, premium hospitality services, and the convenience of fully managed accommodations.

The company plans to launch its first property, ONE Atmosphere Suites at Corner Walk, Gurgaon, in September 2026. Developed in partnership with M3M India, the property will serve as a flagship destination that showcases the brand’s vision of blending luxury hospitality with residential comfort.

ONE Atmosphere operates as the fourth premium brand under Atmosphere Core, a hospitality group that currently manages nine luxury resorts in the Maldives and continues to expand its footprint across India and international markets. While Atmosphere Living focuses on branded residences and hospitality-backed real estate developments, ONE Atmosphere functions as a dedicated hospitality vertical that delivers hotel-grade operations, personalized services, and premium guest experiences within residential-scale apartment communities.

Meanwhile, the company’s India expansion strategy covers major metropolitan markets, including Gurgaon, Noida, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. In addition, ONE Atmosphere plans to strengthen its international presence through expansion into Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reinforcing its position as a growing player in the global luxury serviced apartment and extended-stay hospitality sector.

As demand for luxury serviced apartments, extended-stay accommodations, corporate housing, and hospitality-led residential experiences continues to rise, ONE Atmosphere aims to capitalize on evolving traveler preferences and establish a strong presence across high-growth domestic and international markets.

Sand2Sky launches premium real estate advisory platform in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack

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June 24, 2026

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Sand2Sky has officially entered Odisha’s premium real estate market with a vision to redefine luxury property buying in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Founded by Truptikanta Swain, one of Odisha’s most recognized real estate professionals and influencers with more than seven years of industry experience, the platform aims to offer a highly curated and personalized approach to luxury real estate advisory.

As Bhubaneswar continues its transformation from India’s historic temple city into a modern hub of global infrastructure, smart urban development, and luxury living, Sand2Sky seeks to cater to the evolving aspirations of discerning homebuyers and investors.

Positioned as more than just a property listing platform, Sand2Sky exclusively focuses on premium residential and commercial real estate, including luxury apartments, villas, penthouses, duplex residences, and high-end commercial spaces. Sand2Sky serves buyers who prioritize quality, exclusivity, lifestyle, and exceptional service in every real estate decision.

At the core of Sand2Sky’s approach is a commitment to helping premium buyers navigate the property market with confidence through a combination of trust, expert guidance, personalized recommendations, and a deep understanding of luxury living preferences. The company aims to connect clients with properties that align not only with their investment goals but also with their lifestyle aspirations and long-term vision.

Speaking on the launch, Truptikanta Swain, Founder & CEO, Sand2Sky, said, “Bhubaneswar is no longer just a temple city—it’s now a rising hub for luxury living, global infrastructure, and future-forward development. Sand2Sky is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation, bringing world-class living options to the city’s elite. We are not just helping people buy property—we are helping them find homes that reflect who they are and where they are headed.”

As Bhubaneswar continues to emerge as a major destination for luxury living, smart urban development, and global infrastructure investments, Sand2Sky is positioning itself as a trusted partner for premium real estate buyers and investors. The platform aims to elevate the property-buying experience in Odisha. With the expertise of Truptikanta Swain, Sand2Sky is set to play a significant role in shaping the future of luxury real estate across Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

Starline Hospitality launches end-to-end hospitality consultancy and asset management services

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June 24, 2026

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Starline Hospitality launches end-to-end hospitality consultancy and asset management services — Abhijit Dey, Founder, Starline Hospitality

As the hospitality industry continues to evolve amid changing guest expectations and increasing competition, Starline Hospitality (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. has launched a comprehensive portfolio of hospitality consultancy, asset management, and expansion advisory services aimed at helping hotel owners unlock sustainable growth and operational excellence.

Led by Principal Hospitality Consultant Abhijit Dey, who brings more than 28 years of extensive industry experience, the company offers customized, data-driven solutions designed to enhance operational performance, maximize profitability, and strengthen long-term asset value. Through its strategic advisory approach, Starline Hospitality seeks to bridge the gap between hospitality aspirations and measurable business outcomes.

The company supports hotel owners, promoters, and institutional investors throughout the hospitality asset lifecycle through six integrated service pillars that address every stage of hotel development, management, and expansion.

Under its Operations Audits & SOP Development practice, Starline Hospitality conducts detailed departmental assessments to establish robust operational frameworks, implement standard operating procedures (SOPs), and identify cost optimization opportunities while maintaining exceptional guest experiences.

Additionally, the company offers Sales, Loyalty & Membership Development services that include advanced distribution channel analysis, online travel agency (OTA) optimization, and the creation of customized loyalty programs. These initiatives help hospitality businesses maximize revenue generation across corporate, MICE, direct booking, and other key customer segments.

To support growth ambitions, Starline Hospitality provides Asset Procurement & Expansion Advisory solutions that encompass market research, feasibility studies, commercial negotiations, and strategic guidance across revenue-sharing, lease, management contract, and hybrid Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) models.

Furthermore, the firm’s Project Development & Asset Management services assist clients from the early stages of greenfield hotel projects through property repositioning initiatives. The service portfolio includes Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), budget planning and monitoring, operational reviews, and ongoing profit-and-loss management to ensure financial discipline and project success.

Recognizing the importance of talent development in hospitality, Starline Hospitality also offers specialized Training & Leadership Development programs. These include Leadership Development Programs (LDP), Management Development Programs (MDP), and Train-the-Trainer (T3) initiatives that help organizations build strong leadership capabilities and sustainable internal talent pipelines.

Moreover, the company’s Quality Assurance & Brand Positioning services focus on strengthening guest satisfaction and long-term brand value. These services include comprehensive compliance audits, continuous Net Promoter Score (NPS) monitoring, guest experience enhancement initiatives, and strategic brand repositioning frameworks.

“Every recommendation we make is anchored in financial reality,” says Abhijit Dey, Principal Consultant, Starline Hospitality. “We don’t apply generic, templated frameworks. We embed ourselves directly as trusted partners within our clients’ organizations, offering tailored, measurable, and highly transparent advisory cycles that guarantee performance and sustainable growth.”

With a growing focus on operational efficiency, revenue optimization, hotel asset management, leadership development, and strategic expansion, Starline Hospitality aims to become a trusted advisory partner for hospitality businesses seeking long-term success in an increasingly competitive market. By combining industry expertise with data-driven decision-making, the company is positioned to help hotels and hospitality assets achieve stronger financial performance, enhanced guest experiences, and sustainable growth.

MoEngage acquires Aampe to accelerate agentic AI-powered customer engagement

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June 24, 2026

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MoEngage acquires Aampe to accelerate agentic AI-powered customer engagement — Raviteja Dodda & Yashwanth Kumar, co-founders, MoEngage

In a significant move that could reshape the future of AI-powered customer engagement, MoEngage has announced the acquisition of San Francisco-headquartered Aampe, an AI infrastructure company known for creating dedicated autonomous AI agents for individual customers. The strategic acquisition strengthens MoEngage’s position in the global Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) market and advances its vision of delivering hyper-personalized customer experiences at scale.

MoEngage, an agentic customer data and engagement platform trusted by more than 1,350 consumer brands worldwide, will now integrate Aampe’s reinforcement learning engine directly into its platform. As a result, the combined offering will create what the company describes as the first engagement platform where workflow agents designed for marketers and decisioning agents dedicated to individual users operate within a unified ecosystem.

The acquisition addresses one of the biggest challenges in modern marketing: scaling personalization effectively. As brands expand customer engagement initiatives, they often face increasing complexity in managing audience segments, customer journeys, experiments, and operational resources. Additionally, many traditional decisioning platforms require teams to repeatedly rebuild customer context for new campaigns instead of leveraging accumulated intelligence from previous interactions.

The development arrives at a time when Southeast Asia’s digital economy continues to grow rapidly. Consequently, brands across sectors such as e-commerce, mobility, financial services, and digital content face mounting pressure to deliver highly personalized experiences throughout increasingly complex customer journeys. With an expanding regional footprint, MoEngage has established itself as a trusted customer engagement platform for businesses operating across some of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets. The acquisition of Aampe further enhances its ability to help brands deliver individualized experiences to millions of users in real time.

“Every marketer wants to show up at the right moment, with the right message, for every individual user. The challenge has never been ambition; it’s been infrastructure,” said Raviteja Dodda, Co-founder and CEO, MoEngage. “Aampe has built something the rest of the market hasn’t cracked: a system that continuously optimizes content, timing, channel, and frequency together at an individual level. What impressed me equally was the team behind the technology. Paul, Schaun, Sami, and the entire Aampe team bring a rare combination of research depth and production rigor to one of the hardest problems in marketing. Together, we’re building the future of agentic marketing, and we’re thrilled to have them building it with us.”

MoEngage has already invested significantly in AI-driven marketing workflows through its Merlin AI platform. However, Aampe introduces a specialized agentic decisioning layer that has demonstrated success across several leading global consumer brands. Each AI agent independently determines what message to send, when to send it, how frequently to communicate, and which channel to use. Furthermore, the system continuously learns from customer responses and outcomes while marketers retain control over content, business objectives, and operational guardrails.

“We built Aampe on one conviction: one agent per user, not one model per segment,” said Paul Meinshausen, Co-founder and CEO, Aampe. “A per-user agent builds a persistent and continuously evolving understanding of each individual customer, their rhythm, their content preferences, and what actually moves them to act. And because it learns over meanings rather than specific messages, everything it knows carries forward to the next interaction; nothing starts from zero. MoEngage gives us the infrastructure, channel depth, and customer relationships to make that the default for every brand, not the exception.”

As part of the transaction, Aampe’s founding team, including Paul Meinshausen, Schaun Wheeler, and Sami Abboud, will join MoEngage and lead its Agentic Decisioning initiatives. Meanwhile, Aampe’s existing customer base will continue to receive uninterrupted service while gaining access to MoEngage’s expanded engineering, data science, and customer support capabilities.

Aampe’s technology currently powers customer engagement strategies for several leading consumer brands, including Grab, Swiggy, ZenBusiness, and Taxfix. At scale, the platform operates hundreds of millions of dedicated AI agents and processes more than 200 billion decisions every week, demonstrating the robustness and scalability of its infrastructure.

Among its notable customers, Grab stands out as Southeast Asia’s leading super app, serving more than 52 million monthly transacting users across eight markets. The company manages communications across mobility services, food delivery, and digital banking through a unified platform.

“The real unlock with Aampe wasn’t just the personalization, it was the compounding. When we learn that a user responds to convenience as a value proposition, that learning carries forward into every future product launch, every new feature, and every campaign. We’re not starting from zero every time. That changes the entire economics of how a team like ours operates at our scale,” said Matias Singers, Head of Product Comms, Grab.

Additionally, the acquisition introduces what MoEngage describes as a “Start Anywhere” approach. Under this model, B2C brands can integrate Aampe’s per-user AI agents into their existing customer engagement or marketing automation platforms without disrupting ongoing operations. Existing MoEngage customers will receive native access to Aampe’s capabilities without requiring platform migrations or workflow changes. Consequently, brands of all sizes can adopt individual-level agentic decisioning more efficiently.

The acquisition also combines the AI research and development efforts of both companies under a unified vision. By bringing together their respective AI Labs, MoEngage and Aampe aim to accelerate innovation in agentic marketing. Moreover, Aampe’s research team will gain access to production-scale insights generated across MoEngage’s global customer network, enabling faster development and deployment of next-generation AI-powered marketing solutions.

As businesses increasingly seek more intelligent and personalized ways to engage customers, the MoEngage-Aampe combination positions both companies at the forefront of the rapidly evolving agentic AI and customer engagement landscape.

Flipkart Minutes crosses 1,000 dark stores, intensifies quick commerce battle in India

By

BRL Editor

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June 24, 2026

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India’s quick commerce industry continues to witness unprecedented growth, and Flipkart Minutes has now achieved a major milestone in the rapidly evolving sector. Walmart-backed Flipkart announced on Wednesday that its quick delivery platform, Flipkart Minutes, has established a network of 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers across the country in less than two years since its launch. These strategically located warehouses enable ultra-fast deliveries and strengthen Flipkart’s position in India’s increasingly competitive quick commerce market.

Furthermore, the company plans to expand its network to 1,500 micro-fulfillment centers by the end of 2026. This aggressive expansion strategy will help Flipkart increase its market presence as competition intensifies among major players such as Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Amazon.

According to a recent Jefferies report, Flipkart could become India’s second-largest quick commerce network by micro-fulfillment center count based on existing store numbers and announced expansion plans. Currently, Blinkit leads the segment with 2,243 micro-fulfillment centers, while Zepto and Swiggy Instamart continue to scale their infrastructure to capture a larger share of the market.

India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing quick commerce markets. Companies across the sector continue to invest heavily in infrastructure, technology, and customer acquisition to deliver groceries, electronics, beauty products, personal care items, and household essentials within minutes. Blinkit, owned by Eternal, currently dominates the segment, while Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart, and Amazon continue to strengthen their footprints nationwide.

Meanwhile, Amazon has accelerated the rollout of Amazon Now in recent months. The service currently operates in more than 15 cities and utilizes over 500 micro-fulfillment centers. Amazon aims to expand the service to 100 cities while operating more than 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers. Additionally, the company plans to diversify its product assortment beyond groceries and offer categories such as fashion, consumer electronics, and home products.

Consumer shopping behavior on Flipkart Minutes has also evolved significantly since the platform launched in August 2024. Demand now extends beyond grocery purchases and increasingly includes electronics, beauty products, and personal care items. Kunal Gupta, Head of Flipkart Minutes, shared these insights during an interview.

According to Gupta, orders on Flipkart Minutes have increased by approximately 400% compared to the previous year, while customer retention has improved by 20% year-over-year. However, the company provided both figures, and independent verification remains unavailable.

“What began as a way to fulfill everyday essentials has evolved into a fundamentally new shopping habit for millions of Indians,” Gupta said. “Customers are not just ordering more; they are ordering differently.”

In addition, Flipkart has expanded Minutes operations to more than 130 cities and over 8,000 postal codes across India. The company has increasingly driven growth from smaller cities beyond major metropolitan regions. According to Flipkart, these emerging markets delivered growth exceeding 4,000% compared to the previous year, supported by expansion into 90 new cities.

Gupta emphasized that newly launched markets continue to mature at a faster pace than expected. He highlighted cities such as Patna, Guwahati, and Siliguri as examples where newly opened fulfillment centers have gained traction rapidly. He also identified Lucknow as one of the platform’s strongest-performing markets despite the company not yet achieving complete network coverage across the city.

Similarly, Amazon continues to focus on smaller cities and emerging markets. The company informed TechCrunch that 70% of its new Prime members originate from non-metro locations. Amazon also stated that it remains on track to double its Prime membership base from 2023 levels by the end of the year. Additionally, the company revealed that everyday essentials now account for one out of every two units shipped through Amazon.in, while Amazon Now has encouraged customers to shop more frequently.

Gupta further noted that customers increasingly use Flipkart Minutes alongside the company’s core e-commerce platform rather than replacing traditional online shopping entirely. This complementary usage pattern has increased purchasing frequency and supported category expansion into fresh produce and daily essentials. The company also reported a 30% year-over-year increase in average order values for fruits and vegetables.

Looking ahead, Flipkart plans to maintain its aggressive growth trajectory by opening between 75 and 100 micro-fulfillment centers every month. Simultaneously, the company intends to expand its operations into additional cities throughout India.

The rapid expansion efforts by both Flipkart and Amazon highlight India’s growing importance as a global testing ground for the future of e-commerce and quick commerce. Companies increasingly seek to transform quick commerce from a grocery-focused delivery model into a comprehensive shopping ecosystem that caters to a wide range of consumer needs.

Industry data from Bernstein indicates that India already hosts more than 5,500 dark stores. Analysts expect this number to increase to approximately 7,500 by 2030 as companies expand deeper into Tier-II and Tier-III cities while broadening their product portfolios.

“We will continue to expand rapidly, will not slow down after 1,000 stores as well, and we are going all in,” Gupta said.

As India’s quick commerce market continues to expand at an unprecedented pace, Flipkart Minutes and Amazon remain at the forefront of a transformation that is reshaping consumer shopping habits. With aggressive investments in dark stores, micro-fulfillment centers, logistics infrastructure, and category expansion, the sector is moving far beyond grocery delivery. Consequently, the next phase of India’s e-commerce growth will likely depend on how effectively companies scale operations, improve delivery speeds, and capture demand from emerging cities across the country.

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