Skydo enters Canada as first Indian cross-border payments platform licensed overseas

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June 23, 2026

Skydo enters Canada as first Indian cross-border payments platform licensed overseas — Srivatsan Sridhar & Movin Jain, Co-Founders, Skydo

The Canadian licence enables local collections and payouts, strengthens the India-Canada corridor, and marks Skydo’s first step as a multi-country payments operator.

Bengaluru, June 23, 2026: Skydo, a cross-border payments platform, has secured an international payment licence in Canada, becoming the first Indian cross-border payments platform to be licensed overseas. The approval marks Skydo’s first regulatory milestone outside India and a major step in its global expansion.

The licence enables Skydo to support two-way payment flows between India and Canada, including local collections and payouts, while expanding beyond international collections into a broader suite of cross-border payment services.

Canada is a strategic market for Skydo. The country’s annual exports and imports collectively exceed CAD 1 trillion, while India-Canada bilateral trade stands at approximately CAD 13.6 billion, with ambitions to grow to CAD 70 billion by 2030.

With licences in India and Canada, along with its GIFT City approval, Skydo is well-positioned to support this corridor across trade, education, tourism, and business services. Skydo also plans to support Canadian businesses with global collections, local accounts, and supplier payments across multiple countries.

“Securing our first international licence marks Skydo’s evolution from an India-focused cross-border payments platform to a multi-country payments operator,” said Srivatsan Sridhar, Co-Founder and CEO of Skydo. “With Canada, we are expanding beyond collections to enable seamless two-way payment flows and support growing India-Canada commerce.”

“Our ambition is to build for the world, from India,” said Movin Jain, Co-Founder of Skydo. “Canada strengthens our global footprint, enables local collections and payouts, and creates a strong foundation for future expansion across North America.”

The expansion brings Skydo into Canada’s regulated payments ecosystem under the Retail Payment Activities Act (RPAA), overseen by the Bank of Canada. It requires robust controls around operational risk, safeguarding customer funds, anti-money-laundering compliance, fraud prevention, and regulatory reporting.

The Canadian licence creates a foundation for Skydo’s future growth across North America, including the United States.

About Skydo

Skydo is a cross-border payments platform for businesses that sell, buy, and hire across the world. It helps businesses manage international collections and payouts with transparency across pricing, compliance, and every payment. With its first international licence in Canada, Skydo is expanding beyond India to build a global payments network for businesses.

Backed by Elevation Capital and Susquehanna Asia Venture Capital, Skydo serves more than 40,000 businesses, enables payments across 150+ countries, and processes about $1 billion in annualised transaction volume.

Tipai by Wildlife Luxuries Strengthens Its Focus On Experiential Family Travel With ‘Junior Ranger’ Programme

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June 23, 2026

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Tipai’s Junior Ranger programme reflects a new era of family travel

New Delhi, June 2026: As experiential and nature-led travel gains momentum in the family travel segment, Tipai by Wildlife Luxuries sees strong engagement with Tipai Rangers—an immersive wilderness-based learning experience for kids.

Set on the fringes of the biodiverse Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, the programme unfolds within one of western India’s most remarkable wilderness landscapes. Home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, over 180 species of birds, and a rich variety of flora and fauna, the sanctuary provides an extraordinary backdrop for young guests to engage with nature in a deeper and more purposeful way. The initiative reflects a growing shift in family travel, as parents increasingly seek experiences that foster curiosity, confidence, and environmental awareness beyond traditional holidays.

At the heart of Tipai Rangers is the belief that meaningful luxury lies in authentic connection to nature, culture, and self. Thoughtfully designed for children, the programme balances exploration with comfort, learning with play, and adventure with mindfulness.

The experience begins with guided nature walks led by expert naturalists, introducing children to the region’s biodiversity through birdwatching, wildlife tracking, sensory exploration, and storytelling. Young guests are encouraged to slow down, observe closely, and develop a deeper understanding of the ecosystems that surround them.

Creativity forms another key pillar of the programme. Inspired by the morning’s discoveries, participants engage in a relaxed creative session amidst nature. Using natural textures, colours, and landscapes as inspiration, children are encouraged to explore self-expression through painting and artistic exploration in an open-air setting. This experience nurtures imagination while fostering a deeper emotional connection with the environment.

Another highlight is the property’s interactive Junior Chef Programme, where food becomes a gateway to discovery. Through engaging culinary activities, children learn about seasonal ingredients, healthy eating, and simple cooking techniques while gaining an appreciation for the journey from farm to table. This extends into Tipai’s vegetable gardens and orchards, where immersive horticulture experiences introduce young guests to organic growing practices, seasonal produce, and sustainable living.

Under the Sky – Within the Wild is a curated evening experience featuring storytelling beneath the stars, guided nocturnal exploration, stargazing, and nature-inspired activities. As darkness settles over the forest, children encounter a different side of the wilderness—one filled with wonder, observation, and discovery.

About Tipai by Wildlife Luxuries

Located on the fringes of the Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Tipai by Wildlife Luxuries is a boutique forest retreat founded by Keyur Joshi, Co-Founder of MakeMyTrip. Guided by a philosophy rooted in sustainability, localisation and immersive wilderness experiences, the property offers a distinctive approach to luxury hospitality, one that is deeply connected to its natural surroundings and local communities. Through Tipai Rangers, this vision is extended to younger travellers, creating a holiday experience where curiosity is nurtured, discovery is celebrated, and the natural world becomes the greatest teacher.

BharatTender Raises ₹1.25 Crore Pre-Seed Funding to Build India’s First Structured Private Tender Marketplace

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June 23, 2026

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The startup is building digital infrastructure for private-sector procurement, bringing transparency, competitive bidding, and secure payments to enterprise sourcing.

National, June 2026: BharatTender, a B2B procurement technology platform modernizing how private enterprises source goods and services, has raised ₹1.25 crore in pre-seed funding from Angel Investor. The funding round was completed earlier this month and will be used to accelerate product development, customer acquisition, and the rollout of AI-powered procurement capabilities.

While government procurement in India has been transformed through digitization initiatives such as GeM, private-sector procurement continues to operate largely through fragmented and informal channels. Businesses frequently rely on phone calls, WhatsApp conversations, spreadsheets, and personal vendor networks to source products and services, resulting in limited price discovery, weak audit trails, and payment-related risks.

BharatTender is building a structured procurement marketplace designed to bring transparency, efficiency, and trust to this process.

The platform enables businesses to manage the entire procurement lifecycle digitally from floating tenders and onboarding verified vendors to receiving sealed competitive bids, executing digitally signed contracts, and releasing escrow-backed payments. By bringing these workflows onto a single platform, BharatTender aims to help businesses make better purchasing decisions while reducing operational inefficiencies and procurement risks.

The platform is already live and serves startups, manufacturers, and enterprises seeking a modern, auditable procurement workflow.

BharatTender was founded by Rankit Singh, Sanyam Jain, and Anshul Kochar, three operators with experience across startups, procurement, finance, and supply chains. Together, the founding team brings expertise spanning business operations, procurement ecosystems, financial infrastructure, and enterprise technology.

The fresh capital will be deployed towards product development, onboarding anchor customers, expanding the supplier network, and building AI-powered tender evaluation capabilities. The company is also in discussions with several large enterprises for pilot deployments and strategic partnerships.

“Indian businesses lose money every day to opaque procurement not because they want to, but because there has never been infrastructure for anything better,” said Rankit Singh, Co-founder & CEO of BharatTender. “We’re building that infrastructure. Our goal is to make procurement as transparent, efficient, and trusted as digital payments have become over the last decade, enabling businesses to discover the right suppliers, secure the best prices, and transact with confidence.”

Since launch, BharatTender has onboarded over 50+ businesses and 200+x verified suppliers. Companies using the platform have reported procurement cycle times reduced by 3x and sourcing savings of up to 10-15%x, highlighting the growing demand for structured procurement infrastructure in India’s private sector.

As India’s B2B economy continues to formalize and digitize, BharatTender aims to become the operating system for private-sector procurement, bringing structured tendering, verified supplier discovery, secure payments, and intelligent decision-making to businesses across the country.

About BharatTender

BharatTender.ai is an AI-powered B2B procurement marketplace that helps businesses streamline sourcing through verified vendors, sealed competitive bidding, digital contracts, and escrow-secured payments. Designed for India’s private sector, the platform replaces informal procurement methods with a transparent, secure, and efficient tendering process, enabling cost savings, faster sourcing, and trusted transactions.

Info Edge shares rise as startup portfolio value surges to Rs 41,300-Cr

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June 23, 2026

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Info Edge shares rise as startup portfolio value surges to Rs 41,300-Cr — Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder and executive vice-chairman, Info Edge

Shares of Info Edge, the parent company of Naukri.com, gained momentum on Tuesday after the company highlighted the performance and scale of its startup investment portfolio in its latest communication to shareholders.

The stock climbed nearly 4% during intraday trading and reached a high of 3.96% before trading at Rs 1,011.40, reflecting a gain of 2.73%.

In its shareholder letter, Info Edge revealed that it has invested nearly Rs 4,900 crore across 135 startups. The company currently values this portfolio at approximately Rs 41,300 crore, delivering an impressive 8.4x return multiple and a gross internal rate of return (IRR) of around 33%.

According to the company, Info Edge and its group entities contributed approximately Rs 3,600 crore of the total investment amount. Meanwhile, external limited partners invested around Rs 1,300 crore through alternative investment funds managed by the group. Together, these funds have generated a combined gross IRR of approximately 22%.

The company reaffirmed its long-term investment strategy and emphasized its focus on high-growth sectors such as artificial intelligence, deeptech, and consumer technology.

“We believe future value creation will be driven by three themes predominantly—Artificial Intelligence, Deeptech, and Consumer Technology,” founder and Vice Chairman Sanjeev Bikhchandani said in the letter.

Since 2020, Info Edge has invested Rs 1,003 crore across 54 artificial intelligence and deeptech startups. The portfolio includes investments in 28 AI companies and 30 deeptech ventures and currently carries a fair value of Rs 1,827 crore.

Furthermore, the company stated that advancements in artificial intelligence will transform both emerging and established internet businesses. It also noted that India is increasingly emerging as a hub for building globally competitive technology companies.

Among the latest additions to its portfolio are Temple and LAT Aerospace, startups associated with Eternal founder Deepinder Goyal.

Info Edge also highlighted that several of its portfolio companies have received support under government-backed technology and innovation initiatives. Voice AI startup Gnani.ai secured selection under the IndiaAI Mission and received GPU compute credits. Similarly, ePlane and Manastu Space obtained support through the government’s Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) programme.

Consumer technology remains the largest contributor to the overall portfolio value. The company has invested Rs 2,755 crore across 45 consumer technology and consumer AI startups. Today, this segment alone carries a valuation of Rs 37,214 crore, underscoring the strength of Info Edge’s long-term investment approach and its ability to identify high-potential technology businesses.

Info Edge continues to strengthen its position as one of India’s most successful startup investors through its strategic focus on artificial intelligence, deeptech, and consumer technology. With a startup portfolio valued at over Rs 41,300 crore, strong return multiples, and growing exposure to next-generation technology companies, the company has demonstrated its ability to create substantial shareholder value. As India’s startup ecosystem matures and AI-driven innovation accelerates, Info Edge appears well-positioned to benefit from the next wave of digital transformation and technology-led growth.

Innov8 acquires Vatika Business Centres to strengthen coworking footprint across India

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June 23, 2026

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Innov8, one of India’s leading coworking and managed workspace providers, has acquired Vatika Business Centres to strengthen its market position and capitalize on the growing demand for flexible office spaces across the country.

Although the company did not disclose the financial details of the transaction, the acquisition significantly expands Innov8’s footprint in key commercial markets. According to the company, the deal brings 11 premium business centres under Innov8’s direct management across New Delhi, Gurugram, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Noida, and Pune.

As a result, Innov8 has substantially enhanced its presence in some of India’s most prominent business hubs, further reinforcing its position in the rapidly evolving coworking and managed office space sector.

Commenting on the acquisition, Varun Jain, Chief Operating Officer-Asia, PRISM and Innov8, said, “This acquisition aligns with our vision of building a leading premium coworking and managed workspace platform in India. Vatika Business Centres has built a strong reputation for quality and enterprise-grade offerings, and we see significant synergies in integrating their portfolio with Innov8’s design-led, community-driven approach.”

The acquisition comes at a time when demand for flexible workspaces, managed offices, and hybrid work solutions continues to rise among startups, enterprises, and multinational corporations seeking cost-efficient and scalable office infrastructure.

Vatika Business Centres has established itself as a trusted provider of premium office solutions and enterprise-grade workspaces. Through this integration, Innov8 aims to leverage the strengths of both brands while enhancing service offerings and expanding its customer base.

Gaurav Bhalla, Managing Director, Vatika Hospitality, welcomed the development and highlighted the opportunities that the partnership will create for clients and stakeholders.

“This would open up new avenues for growth and innovation. Together, we aim to deliver enhanced value to our clients through expanded offerings, improved technology integration, and a broader network of premium workspaces,” Bhalla added.

Founded in 2015, Innov8 has emerged as one of India’s most prominent coworking operators, offering flexible office spaces, managed workspaces, private offices, meeting rooms, and enterprise solutions tailored to the evolving needs of modern businesses.

The acquisition reflects the broader consolidation trend within India’s coworking industry, where operators continue to expand their footprints through strategic partnerships and acquisitions. Furthermore, the move positions Innov8 to serve a larger base of corporate clients while strengthening its ability to deliver innovative workspace solutions across multiple cities.

As businesses increasingly embrace hybrid work models and flexible office strategies, demand for premium managed workspaces is expected to remain strong. Consequently, Innov8’s acquisition of Vatika Business Centres places the company in a stronger position to capture future growth opportunities in India’s expanding flexible workspace market.

Real estate platform SquareYards secures $95 Mn in funding, achieves unicorn status

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June 23, 2026

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Real estate platform SquareYards secures $95 Mn in funding, achieves unicorn status — Tanuj Shori, Founder & CEO of Square Yards

SquareYards, one of India’s leading real estate and mortgage technology platforms, has raised Rs 900 crore (approximately $95 million) through a combination of debt and equity financing. EAAA Alternatives anchored the funding round, while global corporate credit manager Muzinich & Co. also participated in the investment.

The latest funding comes after the company secured $35 million (approximately Rs 313 crore) in November 2025. As a result, SquareYards has officially entered the unicorn club by achieving a valuation exceeding $1 billion, marking a significant milestone ahead of its planned Rs 2,000 crore Initial Public Offering (IPO).

According to industry sources, SquareYards is currently discussing an additional fundraising round and aims to secure another $50 million to $60 million during the next quarter at a valuation of approximately $1.6 billion.

“We have spent the last few years building a highly profitable, scalable, and fully integrated platform. As we gear up for our upcoming IPO, this capital raise will provide us with the strategic firepower to accelerate our market expansion, deepen our technological moats, and continue delivering exceptional value to our customers and stakeholders,” said Tanuj Shori, Founder & CEO of Square Yards.

The company delivered strong financial performance during FY26. SquareYards reported revenue of Rs 2,086 crore (approximately $223 million), representing a robust 48% year-on-year growth. Simultaneously, the company significantly improved profitability, with EBITDA increasing 3.7 times to Rs 176 crore (approximately $19 million).

“Our investment thesis was anchored in backing a profitable market leader operating with significant operating leverage in a highly fragmented market, providing a long runway for future growth. This transaction reflects our continued focus on supporting high-quality businesses with tailored capital solutions while maintaining a strong emphasis on downside protection and risk-adjusted returns,” said Amit Agarwal, CEO, EAAA Alternatives.

Previously, South Korean venture capital firm Smilegate Investment led SquareYards’ funding round, alongside participation from existing investors, at a valuation of approximately $900 million.

“Square Yards has demonstrated a unique ability to scale their business rapidly while still maintaining capital efficiency,” said Andrew Tan, CEO Asia Pacific, Muzinich & Co.

Beyond its core real estate brokerage and property transaction business, SquareYards has developed a diversified portfolio of consumer-focused brands that serve multiple segments across the real estate ecosystem.

Its subsidiary Urban Money has emerged as one of India’s largest secured mortgage and lending marketplaces. During FY26, Urban Money facilitated loan disbursals worth Rs 87,831 crore through an extensive network of agents and strategic partnerships with more than 150 banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).

Additionally, SquareYards operates Azuro, one of India’s largest rental and property management platforms, and Interior Company, its wholly owned home interiors and modular furnishing business.

Furthermore, the company has strengthened its technology-driven offerings through innovative B2B solutions. These include a data intelligence platform that supports property valuation and title searches, as well as PropVR, an AI-powered platform that delivers immersive 3D, virtual reality, and augmented reality property experiences for buyers, developers, and real estate professionals.

With robust revenue growth, rising profitability, a diversified business portfolio, and ambitious IPO plans, the company appears well-positioned to capitalize on expanding opportunities across real estate, mortgage lending, property management, and AI-powered property technology. As it prepares for its public market debut, SquareYards continues to strengthen its leadership position in India’s digital real estate ecosystem.

VivaTech Paris, 12-Year-Old Aanya Presents Her Father’s Startup to PM Modi and Macron

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June 23, 2026

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India, 22nd June 2026: At VivaTech Paris 2026, Europe’s largest technology and startup summit, one of India’s most striking startup moments came not from a seasoned founder, but from a 12-year-old student from Delhi.

Aanya Aggarwal, daughter of Unstop Founder and CEO Ankit Aggarwal and a Class 8 student at DPS Vasant Kunj, presented her father’s startup, Unstop, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron during their visit to the India Pavilion in Paris.

Unstop, an AI-powered talent discovery and engagement platform, is among the select Indian companies participating at VivaTech Paris 2026. The summit has brought together global founders, technology leaders, investors, and policymakers, with leading Indian businesses showcasing the country’s innovation, entrepreneurial talent, and global ambitions on an international stage.

Aanya’s presentation stood out for more than just her age. In a distinctive move aimed at connecting with the local audience, she presented Unstop in French, helping communicate the platform’s mission in the language of the host country and making its vision more accessible to international attendees.

Her VivaTech journey began on Day 1, when she pitched Unstop to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Her clarity, confidence, and understanding of the platform earned appreciation from the Minister, making her one of the youngest and most memorable voices representing an Indian business at the global technology summit.

The moment became even bigger on Day 2, when Aanya presented Unstop to PM Modi and President Macron. At just 12, she took an Indian startup story from a founder-led business showcase to a rare human-interest moment involving two world leaders.

President Macron was especially appreciative of Aanya’s fluency, accuracy, and command over the French language. Her ability to articulate Unstop’s purpose in French made the interaction more personal and impactful, allowing the platform’s mission to resonate beyond a standard business presentation. The moment also reflected the change Unstop aims to drive: making opportunity, confidence, and access more visible for young talent on global platforms.

Speaking about the experience, Ankit Aggarwal said, “Watching Aanya present Unstop with such confidence on a global stage was an incredibly proud moment for me, both as a father and as a founder. What made it even more special was her ability to communicate our vision in French and connect with people from a different culture. At 12, she has shown that curiosity, confidence, and the willingness to step forward can transcend age.”

Aanya’s story reflects a new kind of Indian startup narrative. At a summit focused on AI, talent, and the future of work, a young student became one of the most unexpected faces of India’s innovation story. From a Delhi classroom to a global technology stage in Paris, her moment shows how young Indians are not just watching the future of technology unfold but are already learning to represent it.

About Unstop

Unstop is India’s largest early talent community engagement and hiring platform, connecting around 30 million students and early professionals with 35,000+ employers across domains. Incorporated in 2019, Unstop enables democratised access to opportunities through competitions, hackathons, assessments, learning programs, internships, and jobs. With 200,000+ engagements and 25 million+ assessments completed, Unstop powers programmes such as Flipkart GRiD, Amazon ACE, HUL L.I.M.E., Tata Imagination Challenge, EY Techathon, and more.

Website: https://unstop.com/employers

About VivaTech

VivaTech, also known as VivaTechnology, is one of the world’s largest technology and innovation summits, held annually in Paris, France. It brings together global founders, startup founders, technology leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators to showcase breakthrough technologies, emerging startups, and cutting-edge solutions.

In 2026, VivaTech marks its 10th anniversary, featuring core themes such as artificial intelligence, deep tech, health tech, sustainability, and digital transformation. The event serves as a key global stage for collaboration, investment, and cross-border innovation, with India participating prominently and its leading startups presenting on an international platform.

Website: https://unstop.com/employers

Saif Shaikh Elevated to Assistant Director of Food & Beverage at Fairmont Mumbai & Roswyn, A Morgans Originals Hotel

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June 23, 2026

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Mumbai, June 2026 – Fairmont Mumbai has announced the elevation of Saif Shaikh to Assistant Director of Food & Beverage for Fairmont Mumbai and Roswyn, A Morgans Originals Hotel. Having been an integral part of the hotel’s leadership team, Saif has played a key role in shaping the food and beverage experience across the property’s restaurants, bars, banquets, and guest-facing dining concepts.

His elevation reflects the hotel’s confidence in his operational expertise, commercial acumen, and ability to deliver exceptional guest experiences while driving innovation across diverse dining formats.

With over 11 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Saif brings extensive expertise gained through leadership roles with renowned hospitality brands, including Fairmont, Enissmore, Hilton Garden Inn, JW Marriott, Grand Hyatt, and Sofitel. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong ability to lead multi-outlet operations, drive revenue growth, optimise profitability, and build high-performing teams.

Prior to joining Fairmont Mumbai, Saif served as Director of Restaurants & Bars at JW Marriott Pune, where he oversaw multiple dining destinations and successfully launched Tao-Fu, Pune’s first authentic Sichuan restaurant. His career journey has also included progressive leadership roles at Grand Hyatt Mumbai, where he managed award-winning outlets including China House and Celini, further strengthening his expertise in luxury dining operations and guest engagement.

Speaking on his elevation, Saif Shaikh said, “Food and beverage today is about creating memorable experiences that bring people together through exceptional cuisine, thoughtful service, and meaningful moments. Being part of Fairmont Mumbai’s journey has been incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to further elevating our dining offerings while continuing to create innovative experiences that resonate with our guests and reinforce Fairmont’s position as a leading culinary destination.”

In his role as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage, Saif will oversee food and beverage operations across restaurants, bars, banquets, in-room dining, and events for both Fairmont Mumbai and Roswyn. His responsibilities will include driving strategic revenue initiatives, enhancing guest experiences, strengthening operational excellence, and fostering a culture of service, innovation, and team development across the portfolio.

This elevation reflects Fairmont Mumbai’s commitment to recognizing talent from within and nurturing future leaders who contribute to the continued growth, innovation, and success of the brand.

“Saif has consistently brought creativity, energy, and a strong guest-first approach to our food and beverage experiences at Fairmont Mumbai. His understanding of evolving dining trends, combined with operational excellence, makes him a valuable leader for our growing portfolio. We are excited to see him continue shaping memorable culinary journeys for our guests.” — Rajiv Kapoor, General Manager, Fairmont Mumbai & Roswyn, A Morgans Originals Hotel

About Fairmont Mumbai

Fairmont Mumbai opened its doors in April 2025 as Mumbai’s Grand Entrance—a dazzling destination where grandeur and extraordinary theatre meet the timeless elegance of the 1920s. Located near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, the hotel offers 446 luxurious rooms and suites, one of the city’s largest event spaces, and seamless connectivity for global travellers, corporate guests, and leisure seekers alike.

Designed to make special happen, the hotel blends legacy and innovation through exceptional dining, pioneering wellness, and thoughtful hospitality. At its heart is Blu Xone at Fairmont Spa and Longevity, India’s first longevity-focused wellness space in a luxury hotel—redefining modern self-care through personalised healing, rejuvenation, and purposeful living.

About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is renowned for the international luxury hospitality brand’s unrivalled portfolio of more than 94 extraordinary hotels where grand moments of life, heartfelt pleasures, and personal milestones are celebrated and remembered long after any visit. From grand hotels to urban retreats, since 1907 Fairmont has created magnificent, meaningful, and unforgettable hotels, rich with character and deeply connected to the history, culture, and community of its destinations—renowned addresses such as The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, Fairmont Doha, and Fairmont The Palm in Dubai.

Fairmont hotels are the social epicenters of their cities—iconic gathering places where people, culture, and ideas converge. Famous for its engaging service, awe-inspiring public spaces, locally inspired cuisine, and iconic bars and lounges, Fairmont also takes great pride in its pioneering approach to hospitality and leadership in sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group counting over 5,600 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL, a booking platform and loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services, and experiences.

The St. Regis Mumbai Welcomes Manila’s Celebrated MICHELIN-Starred Toyo Eatery for an Exclusive Culinary Residency at By The Mekong

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June 23, 2026

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Mumbai, June 2026: The St. Regis Mumbai, the city’s best address for timeless luxury and bespoke service, invites discerning diners to experience the flavours and stories of the Philippines as By The Mekong hosts an exclusive two-night residency with Toyo Eatery, Manila’s celebrated One MICHELIN Star restaurant, on 25 and 26 June 2026 from 7:30 pm onwards. Widely regarded as one of Southeast Asia’s most influential dining destinations, Toyo Eatery was named The Best Restaurant in the Philippines 2025, received the prestigious Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award 2025, and secured the No. 71 position on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list.

Founded in Manila in 2016 by Chef-Founder Jordy Navarra, Toyo Eatery explores Filipino identity through food, drawing inspiration from humble ingredients, regional traditions, and time-honoured cooking techniques. Named after the Filipino word for soy sauce, the restaurant presents a thoughtful and contemporary interpretation of Filipino cuisine, celebrating the country’s rich culinary heritage through flavours that span generations.

For this exclusive showcase, Jordy Navarra will be joined by Head Chef Patch Marce, who has played an integral role in shaping Toyo Eatery’s culinary philosophy since joining the restaurant in 2016. Together, they will present a specially curated seven-course menu offering a deeper understanding of Filipino culture through food. Featuring Toyo Eatery’s signature storytelling approach, the menu will showcase contemporary Filipino cuisine through seasonal produce, traditional techniques, and thoughtfully selected ingredients, while incorporating subtle inspirations from Mumbai and India to create a dining experience unique to this residency.

Presented in collaboration with Elemental, this exclusive residency offers Mumbai’s gourmands a rare opportunity to experience one of Asia’s most celebrated restaurants without leaving the city. For two evenings only, By The Mekong will bring the spirit of Manila to Mumbai, promising an immersive dining experience that celebrates the richness and evolution of contemporary Filipino cuisine.

Event Details

Date: June 25 and 26, 2026

Time: 7:30 PM onwards

Venue: By The Mekong, The Penthouse, The St. Regis Mumbai

Price: Seven-course menu at INR 8,000++ per person

For reservations, please call – M: +91 86575 22956, T: +91 22 6162 8422 or +91 22 6162 8000

About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts

Combining classic sophistication with a modern sensibility, St. Regis is committed to delivering exceptional experiences at nearly 40 luxury hotels and resorts in the best addresses around the world. Since the opening of the first St. Regis hotel in New York City over a century ago by John Jacob Astor IV, the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and anticipatory service for all of its guests delivered flawlessly by signature St. Regis Butler Service. The ultra-luxury brand is set to expand its legacy to 50 hotels by 2018. For more information and new openings, visit stregis.com or follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. St. Regis is proud to participate in the industry’s award-winning loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest®, in which members can link accounts with Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer.

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of nearly 9,500 properties across more than 30 leading brands in 144 countries and territories. Marriott operates, franchises, and licenses hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel platform. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on X and Instagram.

Marriott encourages investors, the media, and others interested in the company to review and subscribe to the information Marriott posts on its investor relations website at www.marriott.com/investor or Marriott’s news center website at www.marriottnewscenter.com, which may be material. The contents of these websites are not incorporated by reference into this press release or any report or document Marriott files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and any references to the websites are intended to be inactive textual references only.

Cybersecurity startup Mitigata secures $15 Mn to expand AI-powered cybersecurity operations globally

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June 23, 2026

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Cybersecurity startup Mitigata secures $15 Mn to expand AI-powered cybersecurity operations globally — Mohit Anand, Sarthak Dubey, Mayank Morya, and Akshit Kaushik, co-founders, Mitigata

Bengaluru-based cybersecurity company Mitigata has secured $15 million in a funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Existing investors Nexus Venture Partners, Titan Capital, and WEH Ventures also participated in the round, further strengthening confidence in the rapidly growing cybersecurity startup.

The company will use the fresh capital to expand its workforce, accelerate research and development efforts, and strengthen its presence in international markets, particularly across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. According to market intelligence platform Tracxn, Mitigata has raised nearly $7 million before this latest investment.

“These funds are going to be used to expand our team. We will add another 100 employees in the coming year across different domains. Our security operation centres in Bengaluru and Delhi will now be enabled by an AI stack, which will be able to analyse 10x alerts with the same number of analysts,” cofounders Mohit Anand and Sarthak Dubey said.

Currently, Mitigata employs approximately 130 professionals and operates from its headquarters in Bengaluru, along with offices in Delhi and Mumbai.

Mohit Anand, Sarthak Dubey, Mayank Morya, and Akshit Kaushik founded the company in 2023. Since then, Mitigata has built a full-stack cybersecurity platform that provides cyber insurance, threat detection and response, compliance solutions, and AI-powered cybersecurity services for enterprises.

The startup serves several prominent clients, including e-commerce platform Zepto, software services company Zoho, and financial services firm Motilal Oswal. Moreover, the company continues to witness increasing demand from manufacturing businesses, while financial services, healthcare, and consumer-focused companies remain its largest customer segments.

“We start selling one product and slowly end up being a full-stack cybersecurity provider for the end user,” said Dubey.

Meanwhile, cybersecurity threats continue to rise across India. Geopolitical developments, including the Gulf conflict and the India-Pakistan conflict, have significantly increased the need for advanced cyber defence solutions, prompting businesses to strengthen their digital security infrastructure.

The Indian cybersecurity market reached $5.5 billion in 2025 and expects to grow to $6.5 billion in 2026. Furthermore, market research platform Mordor Intelligence estimates that the market will reach $15 billion by 2031, highlighting substantial growth opportunities for cybersecurity companies and AI-powered security platforms.

Pankaj Mitra, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, highlighted the growing challenges facing enterprises in the digital era. He stated that AI-powered cyberattacks and the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals have created a “perfect storm” for Indian businesses. He added that Mitigata addresses these challenges through a comprehensive platform that combines risk assessment, cyber insurance, security tool deployment, and managed protection services.

The latest investment positions Mitigata to strengthen its AI-driven cybersecurity capabilities, expand globally, and meet the rising demand for enterprise security solutions. As cyber threats become more sophisticated and businesses increasingly adopt digital technologies, the company aims to play a significant role in shaping the future of cybersecurity in India and international markets.

With strong backing from leading venture capital firms, ambitious hiring plans, AI-powered innovation, and international expansion strategies, the Bengaluru-based startup aims to capitalize on the rapidly growing cybersecurity market. As organizations face escalating cyber risks and increasingly complex digital threats, Mitigata’s comprehensive cybersecurity platform could emerge as a key player in protecting enterprises across India and beyond.

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