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Lifeness Science Institute Led India’s First Conference on “Pre-diabetes to Diabetes: The Trajectory of Concern” Concludes with a Collective Call for Action and Commitment

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Lifeness Science Institute (LSI) has once again showcased its commitment to advancing healthcare knowledge with its two-day international conference on – Pre-diabetes to Diabetes: the Trajectory of Concern – a Presentation of VishwaSwasthyam 2024 held on the 5th and 6th January 2024 held at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. This conference delved deep into the pressing issue of Pre-diabetes condition and its trajectory towards Diabetes. Through this one of its kind Conference, Lifeness Science Institute has taken a baby step toward the mammoth task of preventing 136 million Pre-diabetic stage Indians to become Diabetic.

Organising Committee of LSI with Eminent Speakers at Inauguration of Conference

LSI, as Indias premier academic collaborator, has established partnerships with renowned institutions affiliated with the University of Mumbai. These include Malad Kandivali Education Society Nagindas Khandwala College, B.K. Birla College, and the IPA-MSBs Bombay College of Pharmacy, all of which offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Integrative Nutrition and Dietetics.

Reputed organizations like Nutrition Society of India (Mumbai Chapter), Indian Dietetics Association (IDA), Diabetes Core group – Indian Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Association of Sports Nutrition & Fitness Sciences, DENMA Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., and Academy for Skills in Nutrition, Health & Research were the collaborators for the conference.

The conference witnessed a remarkable turnout on both days, and it was preceded by two content and skill-oriented workshops. The event attracted eminent national and international experts who shared their invaluable insights on various aspects of prediabetes, including diagnosis, assessment, prevention, and management.

Dr. Daksha Shah – Deputy Executive Health Officer, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) highlighted about the initiatives of MCGM towards prevention of diabetes in the population. The inaugural session was graced by Mr. Luke Coutinho, Dr. (Mrs.) Ancy Jose, Director, MKES Group of Institutions and Dr. (Prof.) Moushumi Datta, Principal, Nagindas Khandwala College along with Prof. Dr. Subhadra Mandalika Advisor Lifeness Science Institute Mr. Gopal Sharma and Mr. Vipul Solanki, Director Future Varsity Education Group and LSI.

Day 1 of the conference featured a keynote address by Padmashri Dr. V. Mohan– a renowned Diabetologist. Dr. Mohan highlighted the diagnostic criteria for prediabetes and drew attention to the alarming rate at which it progresses to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in India. He emphasized the critical importance of early detection and intervention.

Subsequent sessions of Day 1 explored a wide range of topics related to prediabetes, including its prevalence, risk factors, mental health connections, and the role of gut microbiota. Experts like Padmashri Dr. Shashank Joshi, Dr. DheerajKapoor and Dr. Tetyana Rocks (Australia) provided comprehensive insights, offering attendees a holistic understanding of prediabetes.

The conference also featured discussions on the long-term consequences of prediabetes and effective assessment methods. A panel of expert dietitians from the Indian Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition group shared their knowledge, covering topics such as Anthropometry, Body Composition Analysis, and Biomarkers for Pre-diabetes assessment. Eminent experts like Dr. Anuradha Khadilkar, Dr. Archana Juneja, and Dr. Mansi Patil equipped attendees with valuable tools for identifying individuals at risk.

Dr. Suvarna Patil presented findings from a comprehensive study conducted in rural Maharashtra, highlighting significant health challenges in the region, including a high prevalence of pre-diabetes, pre-hypertension, and low levels of HDL cholesterol. Dr. Patils insights underscored the need for holistic interventions and lifestyle modifications to promote better health in rural areas, emphasizing the urgency of addressing prediabetes in diverse populations.

Day 1 concluded with an engaging dialogue between Ms. Sheetal Joshi, a renowned dietitian, and Dr. Neeta Deshpande, a diabetologist, exploring the possibility of pre-diabetes remission and offering practical insights for individuals at risk.

Day 2 began with an inspiring address by Mr. Luke Coutinho, an acclaimed Integrative lifestyle coach. Mr. Coutinho stressed the importance of personalized lifestyle interventions tailored to an individuals unique characteristics, emphasizing the role of addressing root causes in preventing and managing prediabetes.

Scientific sessions on Day 2 focused on Nutrition, Metabolism, Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and Precision nutrition in the context of Pre-diabetes. Experts like Dr. Datta Patel, Dr. Kalpana Bhaskaran (Singapore), G Bhanuprakash Reddy, and Dr. Geeta Dharmatti shared their profound knowledge and research findings. These sessions provided attendees with evidence-based insights into the critical aspects of Pre-diabetes management, including Dietary considerations and Metabolic adaptations.

A group of eminent Dietitians from the Indian Dietetic Association (IDA) addressed issues related to faulty eating behaviors through power talks. These talks covered topics such as unmindful eating/food selection, non-judicious use of sweeteners, untimely eating habits, and faulty food choices, providing practical strategies for dietary behavior modification in preventing and managing prediabetes.

The importance of exercise as a key pillar of a healthy lifestyle was highlighted by experts like Dr. Ashish Contractor, emphasizing its significant impact on insulin sensitivity and overall well-being. Ms. Puja Heliwal, a Yoga Expert, shared insights into the benefits of Yoga in prediabetes management, promoting physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

The scientific sessions concluded with a valedictory address by Dr. Chittaranjan Yajnik, Director and Consultant of the Diabetes Unit at KEM Hospital, Pune. Dr. Yajnik presented practical strategies for preventing prediabetes, drawing on his extensive experience in the field, leaving attendees with actionable insights and a renewed sense of purpose in tackling prediabetes.

In addition to presentations and discussions, the conference provided a platform for researchers to share their research outcomes. Approximately 50 scientific abstracts were submitted from across India, showcasing the latest research in the field. A select few were chosen for oral presentations, and others were featured in poster presentation competitions. The winners were recognized with the prestigious VishwaSwasthyam best Oral and Poster Presentation Awards, acknowledging their contributions to advancing knowledge in pre-diabetes research.

In summary, the two-day “VishwaSwasthyam 2024” International Conference was a resounding success, contributing significantly to the knowledge and skills of all participants. It emphasized the importance of comprehensive approaches, lifestyle interventions, and personalized strategies in addressing the pressing global health concern of Pre-diabetes and its prevention.

To know more about the Conference visit: lsiworld.in/vishwa-swasthyam.

Business Outreach Magazine Features One of the Top Minds on 40 under 40

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Leadership and innovation goes hand in hand when it comes to development of an economy. The innumerable amount of hard work that goes behind the strategic approach for scalability shapes the very core of creativity. Business Outreach Magazine took it as a top objective to feature some of the brightest minds in our 40 under 40 2023 monthly edition.

Business Outreach

The goal has always been and will be to put forward the definition of entrepreneurship draped with compassion and gratitude. When we look closely into this month’s approach, our magazine covered leaders from a diverse range of industries from skincare, technology, real estate, drone technology, healthcare, talent acquisition, corporate communications, digital marketing and many others. Getting to know these forward-thinkers is an extremely insightful experience.

Dr. Debanjoy Goswami

Dr. Debanjoy Goswami is a renowned skincare entrepreneur aiming to provide top quality services for his clients. He built Dgcosmetico with the goal of creating a community that empowers premium products at an affordable rate. The 23 year old compassionate leader takes a pivotal note to offer free consultation and services, where his clients reach him for several follow-up visits. Professionally, Dr. Debanjoy finds immense fulfillment when he gets motivation from his mother. Coming forward and serving the society with his knowledge and expertise has allowed Dr. Debanjoy to maintain a diverse clientbase.

Under the leadership of Dr. Debanjoy Goswami, Dgcosmetico has been providing a positive impact towards its clients. Dr. Debanjoy is very vocal about the health of his client’s skin and often advises “Invest in your skin. It is going to represent you for a long time.” The fast-paced society inspires Dr. Debanjoy to adapt to the latest market trends, where he ensures that his clients get the best skincare solutions under his guidance.

Navjot Singh Sandhu

Navjot Singh Sandhu empowers technological advancements with leadership, consistency and hard work. Heis at the forefront of technological progress offering multiple products and services across Telecom, Media, Broadcast, Data Center, IT, Aviation, Green Energy and Real Estate. Navjot Singh Sandhu has always advocated taking calculated risks to yield maximum growth for his company. In full transparency, Navjot wants us to understand that when there is a passion towards tech and innovation, no amount of time can equate that with the scalability of the company.

Being curious about the latest developments in the tech sector, Navjot Singh Sandhu founded Abacus to penetrate the market for growth and scalability. The company Abacus is highly equipped with services like VPS Hosting, Private Cloud, Public Cloud, Rack Space, Bare Metal Servers, Interconnections, Storage Solutions, Content Delivery and Manage Network Services. Navjot Singh also actively contributed to social and environmental causes through tech-driven initiatives, making a positive difference in the world. He has also mentored and inspired the next generation of tech entrepreneurs, fostering a culture of innovation and sharing knowledge and experience.

Ramneet Kaur Bhasin

Ramneet Kaur Bhasin is currently heading the Corporate Communications & Strategy division for Padma Shri Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Honorable Member of Parliament – Rajya Sabha. Her resilience towards enhancing productivity is the contributing factor behind immense professional development. She is a strong woman pursuing her desire to scale as a successful corporate leader. Ramneet Kaur Bhasin has one objective as a corporate communication professional and that is to bridge the gap between organizations goals and stakeholders understanding.

She is very vocal about her thoughts towards a project and considers it as a key for effective collaboration and professional fulfillment. Due to Ramneet’s take on clear communication strategy, she has been successful in identifying any shortcomings to a business objective and handled it seamlessly. Ramneet Kaur Bhasin is an exceptional leader who has picked up indispensable experience from a distinguished career. She says, “Be a learner for life.”

Poonam Chaudhary

Poonam Chaudhary is a visionary in the real estate industry. Her stellar leadership skills allowed her to scale companies towards massive growth. Poonam ensures minimum investment and maximum business. Her strategies generated Rs. 35 crore business with just Rs. 9000 of marketing. In Bahadurgarh, she spent about Rs. 10 lakh and generated about Rs. 280 crore business. Poonam felt the limitless opportunities in a career-oriented individual. It is hugely inspirational to seek such leaders in modern times, who are women, magnificent and exceptional. Poonam Chaudhary became the head of sales and marketing of Purvanchal, a renowned brand of real estate. She was given the Royal City, Purvanchal project.

Without taking a single leave in 6 months, Poonam achieved the business target provided to her by the CMD. Poonam’s massive leaps of success does not stop here. She was the senior vice president. HL Residency, where she handled a high rise project in Bahadurgarh. Although the local real estate network was against the high rise project, Poonam Chaudhary worked 16 to 17 hours a day and handled crm, sales, marketing, vetting of documents, graphic designing. She said, “Limit only exists in mind.”

Yogesh Thakur

Yogesh Thakur is a strategic digital marketer in the real estate industry. Yogesh Thakur invested hundreds of hours to get well-versed in real estate and gradually incorporated various digital marketing pathways. He has been in the industry for over a decade. But at that time, digital marketing was at a nascent stage. And it has been highly challenging to Yogesh to convince real estate moguls to embrace digital marketing strategies into their traditional mindset. With an engineering degree, Yogesh’s analytical prowess helped him achieve his goals as a digital marketer.

A mindset of continuous personal development has inspired Yogesh to put his foot into the remarkable opportunities in Artificial Intelligence. He has worked with Omaxe Limited, one of the top 10 real estate developers in India, with a notable presence in 8 states and 29 cities. Within 30 days of joining Omaxe, he was swiftly promoted from GM marketing to AVP, which is a proactive conclusion from Yogesh’s expertise in his work. Yogesh said, “Dream with clarity, act with purpose, and let passion be your guiding light.

Vishal Surani

Vishal Surani is a remarkable leader in the cryptocurrency industry embracing innovation and strategy. He is the Chief Managing Director of Crypto Tex Coin (CTEX). Vishal’s technical business acumen with his computer engineering degree is effectively sculpting entrepreneurship and technological pathways. Vishal Surani’s immense dedication toward his work has played a pivotal role in understanding the intricate technical aspects of blockchain technology.

This knowledge has strategized the growth and success of Crypto Tex Coin, a company deeply rooted in the blockchain ecosystem. Vishal Surani is very vocal about an inclusive work culture that portrays clear communication and transparency towards team goals. Being a phenomenal leader, Vishal is always empowering an environment of care and team support. His vision is centered on adaptability and ethical leadership, striving to create positive change in the organizations he leads.

A great product benefits a market. But a great leader benefits a nation. It is the statistics that indicate that leaders with resilience take a nation towards excellence. Our 40 under 40 2023 edition is a beacon for entrepreneurship that could aspire leaders of tomorrow to test their limits and ultimately build some of the greatest products for society. Looking into a broad range of industries, we could analyze that visionaries share the same passion for productivity. It is the beauty of the entrepreneurship that 40 under 40 2023 clients have skillfully portrayed through their success stories.

HRTech startup InCruiter raises Rs 1.1-Cr in funding 

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InCruiter, an HR Tech Startup, has raised Rs 1.1 crores in undiluted Revenue-Based Funding from GetVantage. The Bangalore-based startup, established in 2018, offers interview solutions for businesses.

Recently, the company introduced a new product called “IncBot”, opened a new office in the USA, and welcomed 87 new clients in the past year. Through AI video interviews, they saved over 10,000 minutes of HR time in three months and exceeded the milestone of conducting a total of 4 million+ interview minutes.

Despite facing challenging economic conditions, layoffs, and a funding winter, InCruiter withstood these difficulties and achieved success through bootstrapping. Talent acquisition involves three stages: Sourcing, Screening, and Onboarding. 

With a portfolio of 6 products focused on screening, the company aims to excel in this stage by offering diverse solutions. The strategy involves using the funds to become a comprehensive solution for businesses, enabling them to hire superior talent more efficiently.

Talking about the company’s future and what it plans to achieve this year with the funds raised, Mr Anil Agarwal, CEO and Co-Founder of InCruiter, said, “As we reflect on our journey, I truly believe that a more aggressive approach could have yielded better results, propelling us to grow at a 5X speed. Inspired by this realization, we have even higher aspirations for the upcoming year, we will onboard more clients and elevate our service quality through process automation. We plan to expand our global footprint beyond that of the Indian clientele. To achieve these targets, we plan to exponentially expand our team size by hiring across tech, sales, and marketing sectors.”

In the last six years, InCruiter has transformed remote hiring with video interview software. The advanced interview solutions play a crucial role in reshaping the recruitment landscape. Having a network of over 3000+ expert interviewers, they have emerged as the ultimate partner in speeding up the hiring process.

In the previous year, the company acquired INR 2 million in debt-based funding through the Startup India Scheme. These funds were directed toward expansion initiatives, facilitating the company’s entry into new markets. Subsequently, the interview solutions provider secured an additional INR 10 million from Recur Club in a revenue-based funding round. This funding was earmarked to promote its recently launched IncBot – AI Video Interview Software in the US, Canada, and Dubai markets, accelerating geographical expansion efforts.

EdTech Leader PowerSchool Makes Substantial Infrastructure Investment in India & Aims to Expand the India Employee Base to 2000 in 3-5 years

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PowerSchool, a global leader of cloud-based software for K-12 education, is gearing up for strategic expansion in the Indian market. PowerSchool aims to expand the India-based employee base to 2,000 personnel within the next 3 to 5 years which represents an expansion of their current existing workforce of 1,300 in India. To accommodate this investment commitment, PowerSchool has augmented its Bengaluru headquarters by significantly expanding space for their cutting-edge Centre of Excellence (CoE) from the current 75,000 sq. ft. to 112,000 sq. ft. with an investment of nearly 40 crores. PowerSchool also plans to expand its Chennai office in 2024. This move is in alignment with PowerSchools robust growth strategy for the India-based education technology sector.

Mr. Hardeep Gulati, Chief Executive Officer of PowerSchool and Mr. Apoorav Nischal, Managing Director and Country Head, PowerSchool India unveiling the new cutting-edge Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru

The CoE is aligned with PowerSchool’s commitment to empower educators to help every student learn in a way that’s right for them. The CoE will be focused on bringing the latest technology into PowerSchool’s edtech products to address different challenges faced by educators and improve student learning outcomes. Hiring is planned across all PowerSchool business units in India to elevate R&D, product innovation, customer service & success, marketing, and sales functions. Some of the key technology-focused positions to be added include Data Scientists and Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI/ML) experts. The future-focused positions will support PowerSchool’s plans to integrate AI functionality that enables educators to unlock the untapped potential of personalized education.

Earlier this year, PowerSchool acquired Jarulss Software Solutions Private Limited, also known as Neverskip, a Chennai-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) software company, to strengthen PowerSchool’s India business and expand its reach to more than 900 schools and 1.2 million students in India. PowerSchool also specializes in providing a leading learning management system (LMS), PowerSchool Schoology Learning, to some of the top schools in India.

Sharing his views on the development, Mr. Hardeep Gulati, Chief Executive Officer of PowerSchool, said, “India is a critical part of PowerSchools global strategy, and we envision a robust future in this region. Our strategic focus will be on leveraging local talent, fostering innovation, curating cutting-edge technology solutions, and contributing to the growth of the education technology landscape and student achievement overall.The expansion of our new Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru not only reflects our commitment to the Indian market but also serves as a strategic hub for our expansion plans in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. We will be responsibly growing the PowerSchool team in India in the coming years.”

Mr. Apoorav Nischal, Managing Director and Country Head, PowerSchool India, added, “Our hiring focus in India will be multifaceted, with 50% emphasis on bolstering our capabilities distributed across various functions. Looking ahead, we are committed to fostering AI/ML skills, which are integral to our product innovation strategy and will play a crucial role in shaping the future of education technology. We have invested in this new CoE which is thoughtfully designed keeping in mind PowerSchool’s collaborative work culture and evolving industry requirements, creating a symbiotic and sustainable working ecosystem for all. Additionally, we will also be looking into the expansion of Chennai office space in the near future.”

PowerSchool, recognized recently by Great Places to Work in India, currently serves over 50 million students across 90+ countries. Their intuitive LMS, Schoology Learning, is used today by millions of students globally. With a public markets valuation of over $4 billion, and revenues expected to reach approximately $700 million in 2023 and growing to $1 billion by 2026, PowerSchool has proven financial stability and a strong growth trajectory.

About PowerSchool

PowerSchool (NYSE: PWSC) is the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America. Its mission is to empower educators, administrators, and families to ensure personalized education for every student journey. PowerSchool offers end-to-end product clouds that connect the central office to the classroom to the home with award-winning products, including Schoology Learning and Naviance CCLR, so school districts can securely manage student data, enrollment, attendance, grades, instruction, assessments, human resources, talent, professional development, special education, data analytics and insights, communications, and college and career readiness. PowerSchool supports over 50 million students in more than 90 countries and over 16,000 customers, including more than 90 of the top 100 districts by student enrollment in the United States.

Learn more at www.powerschool.com.

Insurtech startup Riskcovry raises $4.5 million in bridge round 

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Morphosis Venture Capital, a Dubai-based B2B firm, spearheaded a bridge round of fundraising for insurtech company Riskcovry, securing approximately $4.5 million. The notable Indian financial services giant IIFL also participated in this funding round.

A small part of the funds served as an opportunity for early investors to exit, providing liquidity to a handful of employees, as reported by The Economic Times.

“With this small round in place, we intend to achieve cash profitability on a br of $25 million (Rs 200 crore approximately) in gross written premium processed per month, post which, we might raise a healthy Series B,” said Chiranth Patil, cofounder, Riskcovry.

This funding will assist Riskcovry in boosting its revenue and eventually completing the Series B investment round. 

The company is actively implementing its strategy of creating an end-to-end insurance digital structures platform catering to companies across various industries.

Riskcovry is building a “financial infrastructure” stack to streamline insurance distribution in India. They provide a comprehensive solution known as “Insurance-in-a-Box,” facilitating the distribution of any insurance product from any insurer through various customer engagement channels. 

Their clients range from traditional distributors like banks, NBFCs, and brokers to emerging companies in the insurance distribution sector, such as digital platforms, telecom companies, fintech firms, retail businesses, payment networks, business correspondents (BCs), and tech startups.

Mankind Pharma Joins ONDC Network to Further Strengthen its Market Reach

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MankindPharma‘s Consumer Health Division, a prominent player in Indias health and wellness sector with brands like Manforce, Prega News, Gas-O-Fast, Health OK, and AcneStar has become a part of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). With this, MankindPharma has expanded itsnetwork for buyers and customers to access its wide range of products.

Leveraging retail intelligence firm Bizom’s Seller Platform, MankindPharmas extensive product catalogue is now effortlessly within reach for buyers across the ever-expanding ONDCNetwork

Leveraging Bizom’s Seller Platform, MankindPharmas extensive product catalogue is now effortlessly within reach for buyers across the ever-expanding ONDCNetwork. This integration will help with the widespread visibility of MankindPharmas brands on every buyer app within the network, presenting consumers with an unparalleled and widespread shopping experience marked by utmost convenience.

The consumer health division is a rapidly expanding segment of MankindPharma, having achieved a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 22% in FY21-23. By joining the ONDCNetwork, the division looks to strengthenits nationwide presence after having already established the division as a market leader in consumer healthcare products.

ONDC has been successful in disrupting the e-commerce industry in the country and MankindPharma will seek to add invaluable medical products to the extensive range of offerings that the home-grown e-commerce network currently offers to its user base. With this, MankindPharma envisions creating numerous consumer touchpoints through innovations within the ONDCNetwork.

ONDC is built to empower all kinds of businesses to attain a deeper penetration into the consumer market without any entry barriers. MankindPharma getting onboard will serve as a key addition to the health and wellness category on our Network. With more major brands joining us, it solidifies the inclusive nature of the open network that will further boost innovation and economic opportunities for millions,” said Shireesh Joshi, CBO, ONDC.

Joy Chatterjee – AVP Sales & Marketing – Consumer Division said, MankindPharma has played a pivotal role in influencing and shaping the trajectory of the Indian Health and Wellness sector. The companys collaboration with ONDC represents a significant milestone, symbolising a strategic move that enhances its commitment to advancing healthcare inclusivity across a wider demographic spectrum throughout the nation. This move is a representation of MankindPharmas proactive approach to contribute significantly to the health and well-being of the Indian population by embracing innovative partnerships and strategies.”

Lalit Bhise, Co-founder & CEO of Bizom said,“As a technology leader in the CPG space, Bizom always believes in the intersection of technology and transformation. From that point of view, Bizom wholeheartedly believes in ONDCs mission and is committed to bringing itsmarket leadership to ONDC through hundreds of brands, and millions of retailers. MankindPharma is a key partner to Bizom and is a leader in the health and wellness category in India. We are proud to be bringing them to ONDC as a category leader.”

About Mankind Pharma

MankindPharma (BSE: 543904 | NSE: MANKIND) is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in India, which focuses on the domestic market with its Pan India presence. Mankind operates at the intersection of the Indian pharmaceutical formulations and consumer healthcare sectors with the aim of providing international quality products at affordable prices.

The company is a leading player in the domestic pharmaceuticals business present across acute and chronic therapeutic areas. This includes products for anti-infectives, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, anti-diabetic, neuro/CNS, VMN and respiratory diseases, among others with a strategy to increase market presence/share for chronic ailments. In the consumer healthcare business, the company operates in the condoms, pregnancy detection, emergency contraceptives, antacid powders, vitamin and mineral supplements and anti-acne preparations categories, among others, with several category-leading brands. The company has 25 manufacturing facilities across India and has over four thousand manufacturing personnel as of December 31, 2022. Manufacturing a wide range of dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, syrups, vials, ampoules, blow fill seal, soft and hard gels, eye drops, creams, contraceptives and other over-the-counter products.

Mankind has a consistent track record of product innovation. As of December 31, 2022, the company had a team of over 600 scientists and dedicated in-house R&D centres with six units located in Haryana, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

For more information, visit www.mankindpharma.com.

About ONDC

Incorporated on 31st December 2021, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a Section 8 company, is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India to create a facilitative model that revolutionises digital commerce, giving greater thrust to penetration of retail e-commerce in India. ONDC is not an application, platform, intermediary, or software but a set of specifications designed to foster open, unbundled, and interoperable Open Networks.

About Bizom

Bizom is the Retail Intelligence Platform that digitises global distribution engines, with AI-based, outcome-driven sales automation tools like Bizom SFA, Bizom DMS, and Bizom Retailer App. With a keen focus on revolutionising the distribution landscape in emerging markets, Bizom’s advanced solutions aim to empower retail businesses to optimise their distribution networks, enhance supply chain efficiency, optimise inventory management, and enhance overall sales and operational performance.

Implemented across 50+ countries for more than 600 leading retail brands and 8 million stores, Bizom empowers each stakeholder in the downstream supply chain with intelligent analytics to place the right products at the right outlets.

Revolutionizing Retail: The Emergence of Blucart’s Omni-Channel Marketplace

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After leading the home care products segment for the past 40 years, Sunny Home Care is diversifying itself into IT, Education, and Hospitality sector. Sunny Group has recently launched their B2C marketplace Bluecart.

Mr. Bhushan Pandey, Founder of Blucart

Blucart serves as a primary online marketplace, intending to connect the local businesses with the customers, forming a vital bridge between them. It operates as a platform empowering the local businesses to expand their outreach by adopting a hybrid model, transforming their businesses into an OmniChannel setup.

Various small-scale establishments such as restaurants, retail stores, grocery stores, hardware stores, sweet shops, dairy, bakery, among others, have the opportunity to register on Blucart. By uploading their products onto the Blucart Platform these businesses can effortlessly establish their online presence & create their online stores in just a few simple steps.

Customers can save time by fulfilling all their needs on a single platform, Blucart, instead of visiting multiple apps. During the pilot phase, Blucart has successfully onboarded more than 250 sellers, attracted over a lakh of registered customers within a specific area in Mumbai.

The Blucart team intends to expand its operations across Mumbai gradually and subsequently into other cities. The Blucart team offers comprehensive support and training for navigating and utilizing the platform, both from web and through the app.

Sellers are responsible for managing products, pricing, discounts, deliveries & collect payments, ensuring top-notch service for their esteemed customers. Sellers can access these services by paying a nominal subscription fee, payable quarterly or monthly.

For more information, please visit: www.blucart.in.

Droom Releases Resale Value Report 2024 for India’s Compact SUV Segment

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Droom, India’s pioneering online automobile transactional marketplace, today released its ‘ResaleValueReport2024‘ for the highly competitive compactSUVsegment in India. The study evaluated cars such as the Hyundai Creta, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq and Kia Seltos on multiple parameters, and rated the MG Astor as the highest-resale petrol car in the segment.

MG Astor sets a benchmark as the Highest Resale Petrol Car in India

In this rigorous comparative analysis by Droom, the MG Astor received the highest resalevalue of close to 75% compared to its peers. Launched in 2021, the Astor is India’s first SUV with personal AI assistant and ADAS level 2 technology and is popular for its advanced tech features.

Speaking about the study, Omkar Palit, Senior Director, Operations, Droom said, “As one of the leading e-commerce players for used car sales, Droom stays committed to empowering its customers with the right knowledge, helping them make informed purchase decisions. Our ResaleValue Study evaluated some of the most popular compact SUVs over an extended period of time. The MG Astor emerged as the best choice for individuals and families seeking a reliable, secure, and technologically advanced pre-owned option.”

The study rated Hyundai Creta at a resalevalue equal to or less than 70%, Skoda Kushaq at 65-70% and the Volkswagen Taigun and Kia Seltos in the range of 60-65%, signifying a moderate level of depreciation.

Droom offers a 21st-century pure play e-commerce experience for automobile buying and selling. Droom is the market leader for automobile retail in India. Droom offers India’s largest selection of automobiles with 300k+ vehicles online in 1100+ cities – both used & new, cars & 2-wheelers, and other vehicles too. Droom is a technology and data science company that facilitates automobile buying and selling online through a combination of our asset-light automobile e-commerce platform along with a technology-driven vertically integrated proprietary ecosystem of products and services for the automobile industry.

Our automobile e-commerce platform, which includes our website and mobile apps that offer users selection, low price, trust, and convenience second to none. Our US patented proprietary technologies offer full control and curation in buyers journey including benchmark pricing, inspection, vehicle history, vehicle discovery, used vehicle certification, loan, insurance and doorstep delivery.

Droom has sold 500k+ vehicles and served over 1.5 million happy customers with its products and services. Droom was founded by Sandeep Aggarwal, the only tech-entrepreneur in India who has funded two Unicorns back-to-back (ShopClues and Droom). Droom is among the most trusted consumer internet brands in India often recognized for its innovative approach and technology and is backed by marquee global investors including Lightbox, Digital Garage, Toyota Group, Recruit, Beenext, Beenos, 57 Stars and many multibillion-dollar family offices in SE Asia and Hong Kong.

Healthcare startup CureBay raises Rs 62-Cr in funding

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Healthcare startup CureBay has raised around Rs 62 crore in a funding round led by existing investor Elevar Equity.

These funds will be utilized to enhance access to affordable healthcare in underserved locations. CureBay also plans to develop a robust data platform and recruit skilled professionals in both the technology and healthcare sectors.

In November 2022, CureBay had previously secured Rs 50 crore in funding from Elevar Equity.

“The company aims to focus on driving profitability and data monetization by investing in recurring revenue streams such as its membership programme and building its data practice – both in technology and on the go-to-market front,” it said in a statement. 

The funding will be allocated to recruit over 200 professionals, including data scientists and healthcare experts in diagnostics and pharmacy, as stated in a press release from the startup.

With these funds, the company aims to expand its clinics from 90 to over 200, covering regions such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.

“Our hybrid model leverages data and technology, driving affordability and strongly differentiates our approach to solving healthcare challenges at the grassroots level,” said Priyadarshi Mohapatra, founder and CEO, CureBay.

Jyotsna Krishnan, managing partner, Elevar Equity, said, “The company’s approach is unique; it does not aim to solely be a telemedicine provider or delivery aggregator. CureBay’s blended distribution model, augmented with technology, is well-positioned to address a massive gap – millions of customers in medically underserved locations are eager to pay for timely, quality healthcare.”

Uber expands flexible pricing service to more tier 2, 3 cities in India

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Uber, a leading ride-hailing company, is currently experimenting with its adaptable pricing feature in various tier 2 and 3 cities across India. This move aims to broaden its user base by enabling commuters to propose a specific fare for their rides.

Called Uber Flex, this flexible pricing service underwent its initial trial in India back in October of the previous year.

According to TechCrunch, the service has now been expanded to cities like Aurangabad, Ajmer, Bareilly, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Gwalior, Indore, Jodhpur and Surat, among other cities. 

“We are piloting this feature in some of the tier 2 and 3 markets in India currently,” an Uber spokesperson said in a statement. 

Uber Flex is currently undergoing testing not only in India but also in Lebanon, Kenya, and Latin America. In contrast to Uber’s usual pricing structure, Flex empowers riders to propose their desired fare from nine available pricing points, with a default price selected.

With this innovative approach, riders can choose a fare, and this information is shared with nearby drivers. Subsequently, drivers have the option to either accept or decline the ride based on the offered fare.

Drivers also have the freedom to provide their desired rates to the user. Riders can choose from the offers presented by various drivers, and once a selection is made, the ride is confirmed.

Meanwhile, another ride-hailing app, inDrive, currently enables riders to manually input a specific fare of their choice.

Notably, inDrive secured a significant investment of $150 million in February, emphasizing its intention to utilize the funds for customer acquisition and retention, as well as to support ongoing expansion efforts.