Airrived Named Gartner Emerging Tech AI Vendor for Transforming Autonomous Security Operations with Agentic AI

Technology

Airrived Named Gartner Emerging Tech AI Vendor for Transforming Autonomous Security Operations with Agentic AI

Jun 17, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

DUBLIN, Calif.– Airrived, the company behind the Agentic OS, today announced it has been named by Gartner as an Emerging Tech AI Vendor in its “Emerging Tech: AI Vendor Race: Most Prominent Use Cases in Agentic AI by Industry” report (June 5, 2026). This recognition follows Airrived’s recent distinction as a twice-named Gartner Tech Innovator in Agentic AI.

Airrived was spotlighted for its Agentic OS, which enables enterprises to deploy, scale, and manage custom AI agents—positioning the company as a leader in domain-specialized agentic AI for enterprise security, IT, and business operations.

The Gartner report highlights Airrived in the use-case insight, “AI Agents Proactively Remediate IT and Security Issues to Improve Enterprise Security Posture.” The report details a case study of a global enterprise that faced mounting operational challenges across its security operations center (SOC), security engineering, and compliance functions due to disconnected tools, manual investigations, and repetitive tasks.

To overcome these hurdles and a lack of specialized AI expertise, the organization deployed Airrived’s modular, agentic AI platform. The solution unified the analyst experience by enabling conversational support across disparate systems like Splunk and CrowdStrike, while integrating prebuilt AI agents to autonomously handle incident triage, gather evidence, and execute audit questionnaires.

According to the report, “The deployment transformed operations by autonomously handling 90% of SOC alert triage and investigation activities, reducing mean time to respond (MTTR) by 80%, and automating post-incident reporting. AI agents continuously gathered and correlated evidence across security products, improving analyst productivity by 90% while significantly accelerating audit readiness. The AI-driven self-service portal also reduced security engineering ticket volume by 50%, eliminating multiday response delays. As a result, security professionals became creators of AI agents, enabling autonomous operations, scaling expertise, automating decisions, speeding compliance, and focusing on strategic risk reduction over manual tasks.”

“Being recognized by Gartner validates where the market is heading rather than a destination – from AI experimentation to true autonomous operations at scale – a massive market transformation,” said Anurag Gurtu, Co-Founder and CEO of Airrived. “Our mission is to help organizations transition from AI-assisted workflows to fully autonomous operations while maintaining governance, security, and trust.”

A Different Kind of Foundation

While much of the market remains fixated on copilots, wrappers, and orchestration layers dressed up as intelligence, Airrived is building something categorically different: the Agentic OS — a new foundational layer for the enterprise that doesn’t just assist, but executes, adapts, governs, and scales.

The Agentic OS combines fine-tuned domain models, deep reasoning, multi-agent orchestration, and policy-driven control into a single governed infrastructure. It transforms autonomous AI from experimental capability into trusted, production-grade operation. Others are enabling AI to act.

Airrived is defining how AI can be trusted to act.

At the center of this vision is AetherClaw — Airrived’s flagship security capability and the clearest expression of its mission: autonomous systems that operate across every domain of the enterprise, governed by design, and trusted by default.

Already in Production

Months after emerging from stealth in February 2026, Airrived is not a promise — it is a platform. The company is already deployed in production at some of the world’s most demanding enterprises:

  • Airrived and Wisdom Technology launched Qatar sovereign cloud with Agentic AI, powering secure, intelligent operations for energy, government, and financial institutions.
  • A Fortune 150 insurance company, running high-volume, mission-critical agentic workflows at enterprise scale.A global bank, with governed autonomous agents operating across regulated financial environments.
  • One of the largest fast-casual restaurant chains in the world, deploying operational intelligence at scale.
  • A major telecom infrastructure provider, running autonomous operations across complex, high-availability infrastructure.

These deployments are not pilots. They are proof that governed, reliable, scalable agentic intelligence is not a future capability — it is a present one.

Industry Recognition

Since emerging from stealth, Airrived has earned major recognition: 2x Gartner Tech Innovator in Agentic AI • Inc. Best Workplaces • Globee Pioneers Award “Best of Category” in AI-Powered App Development Disruptors • Cybersecurity Excellence Award, Agentic AI Platform (highest votes) • Global InfoSec Award, Most Advanced in Agentic AI • Security Today CyberSecured Award • BIG Innovator in Agentic AI • 2026 AI Excellence Award, Business Intelligence Group.

These honors are not accolades collected at a distance. They are independent validation that Airrived is delivering what the industry has long demanded: agentic AI that enterprises can actually trust.

What Comes Next

Gartner’s report makes clear that the urgent imperative for enterprises is to move beyond single-task AI toward multi-agent systems capable of orchestrating complex, cross-domain workflows at scale. The question is no longer whether agentic AI will transform the enterprise. The question is who will build the infrastructure that makes it safe to do so.

Airrived has answered that question.

Technology

Bridge Conference closes its second edition with startups shortlisted for investment talks as Jukebox Ventures joins as partner

Jun 17, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

200 delegates from the music, tech and startup worlds gathered at Petram Resort & Residences in Umag, Croatia, last month.

Bridge Conference closes its second edition with startups shortlisted for investment talks as Jukebox Ventures joins as partner

 

The second edition of Bridge Conference brought 200 delegates from the music, technology, startup, tourism and creative industries to Croatia’s Istrian coast for three days of programming, closing with a tangible result: of more than 50 startups that pitched during the conference’s accelerator programme, 11 have been shortlisted by lead partner Jukebox Ventures for further talks and potential investment.

This year’s edition was held in partnership with Jukebox Ventures, the music-focused startup accelerator and investment platform.

“I came back so inspired, there was so much talent in the room,” said Alex Jukes, Founder and CEO of Jukebox Ventures. “We’ve really built something special there for the first year of doing it as Jukebox Ventures… we’ve found 11 projects that we wanna continue further talking to and hopefully, invest further into.”

Bridge Conference closes its second edition with startups shortlisted for investment talks as Jukebox Ventures joins as partner

 
The programme drew senior figures from across the live and recorded music business, including Maria May (Head of Electronic, Creative Artists Agency) and Steve Hogan (Agent & Partner, WME), who opened the second day with a keynote on electronic music’s rise from underground scenes to global stages. Further sessions brought together leaders from Sziget, Boom Festival, Yourope, Sony Music Latin-Iberia, Pollstar and the International Live Music Conference.

Artificial intelligence ran throughout the programme – from “Ticketing 2.0: How AI is Revolutionizing the Ticket Journey” to “The Human Edge: Why Belonging Beats Engagement in the Age of AI,” which weighed technology’s reach against the value of authentic human connection. Other panels tackled the financial realities of building events, data-led artist development, music tourism, women’s leadership across the industry, and sustainability.

“When we launched Bridge, we hoped to create a place where the future of the industry could be shaped through real human connections,” said Dušan Kovačević, Founder and CEO of EXIT Festival Group. “This year, seeing startups pitch their ideas, investors discover new opportunities and industry leaders begin new conversations showed us that the future is already being built here.”

Held overlooking the Adriatic, the conference paired high-level sessions with networking events, gala dinners, sunset meetups and its signature La Dolce Vita evenings. Jennifer Cochrane (CEO, Getahead; Booker, EXIT Festival Group) called this year’s edition “nothing short of outstanding,” adding the team is “already looking forward to what next year will bring.”

Business

Limitless Labs raises $20M Series A to Expand Its Physical AI Foundation Model and Platform for Precision Manufacturing

Jun 17, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Building the physical world’s first agentic AI foundation model, already deployed with Blue Origin, Iscar, and Sandvik, the company is bringing AI out of the digital world and onto the factory floor.

TEL AVIV, Israel and NEW YORK, NY, June 17th, 2026 — Limitless Labs (formerly LimitlessCNC), the world’s first Agentic Physical AI platform for CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing) in mechanical manufacturing, on 16th June announced a $20 million Series A round co-led by Dell Technologies Capital and Square Peg, with participation from Grove Ventures, Meron Capital, and Kinetica. The agent works inside the CAD/CAM systems that engineers already use, helping manufacturers capture, standardize, and scale the expertise of their most experienced programmers.

Since emerging from stealth, Limitless Labs has scaled from initial pilots to full production deployments with Blue Origin, Sandvik, and Iscar across aerospace, defense, motorsports, and industrial machinery, reducing CNC programming time by up to 50%. The platform is ITAR-compliant and deployable on AWS GovCloud, meeting the rigorous security requirements of the industry’s most regulated environments.

As demand for complex, high-precision parts grows, manufacturers are facing a deepening talent crisis. Nearly a quarter of the US manufacturing workforce is 55 or older, and 97% of manufacturers cite knowledge retention as their top concern. With 409,000 positions already unfilled, a gap projected to reach 1.9 million by 2033, programming critical aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial parts still depends on manual work, tribal knowledge, and years of hard-won experience.

“The manufacturing world doesn’t just need more automation, it needs a better way to capture and scale the expertise that still lives inside the heads of a relatively small number of experienced machinists,” said David Priev, Co-founder and CEO of Limitless Labs. “We built Limitless Labs to work inside the CAD/CAM systems manufacturers already use, helping teams standardize best practices, reduce programming bottlenecks, and free senior programmers to focus on the hardest work, without giving up control. We believe the next major AI platform will be built for the physical world, and that starts with giving manufacturers a way to scale their best knowledge across every new part and every new engineer.”

At the core of the platform is the company’s Physical AI Foundation Model, trained not on text or generic code, but on the physics of metal cutting, CAD geometry, and the operational constraints of real machines. The model powers Limitless Labs’ CAM Agent, which currently works inside platforms such as Mastercam, NX, and Creo. Given a CAD file, the CAM Agent identifies features, recommends tools, sequences operations, generates toolpaths, and helps produce a shop-floor-ready program, reducing programming time by up to 50% while engineers maintain control of the workflow.

“Limitless Labs represents the next wave of enterprise AI, moving beyond digital workflows and into the physical world of precision manufacturing,” said Yair Snir, Managing Director at Dell Technologies Capital. “Their unique foundation model and the caliber of their production deployments gave us conviction that this team is building the defining platform for AI in manufacturing.”

“Eighteen months ago, we backed Limitless Labs’ vision that agentic AI could transform the factory floor,” said Lior Handelsman, General Partner at Grove Ventures and Co-Founder of SolarEdge. “What the team has achieved since then has exceeded expectations. They are combining deep technical innovation with practical software in a way that could reshape how the world’s most critical parts are made.”

The new funding will be used to build out a dedicated U.S. commercial organization, advance its Physical AI Foundation Model toward closed-loop CNC automation, and grow its CAM Agent, which helps manufacturers automate key parts of CNC programming inside the CAD/CAM systems engineers already use. The company plans to expand its deep-tech research lab in Tel Aviv and expects to roughly double headcount over the next 12 months. Limitless Labs will also be in attendance at Reindustrialize 2026 on June 16-17 in Detroit, Michigan, taking part in the push to rebuild American manufacturing, which continues to gain momentum.

News

India’s Digital Fraud Rate Nearly Double the Global Average: TransUnion

Jun 17, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

New Delhi, June 17 (UDN): India is witnessing an alarming rise in digital fraud, with the rate of suspected online fraud attempts reported to be nearly twice the global average, according to a recent report by TransUnion. The findings have raised concerns over the growing sophistication of cybercriminals and the increasing vulnerability of digital transactions.

India’s Digital Fraud Rate Nearly Double the Global Average: TransUnion

Representational image

The report highlights that as digital adoption continues to expand rapidly across sectors such as banking, e-commerce, financial services, and telecommunications, fraudsters are also leveraging advanced technologies and social engineering techniques to target consumers and businesses.

Experts attribute the surge in digital fraud to the widespread use of online platforms, increased digital payments, and the growing volume of personal data shared through internet-based services. Common forms of fraud include phishing attacks, identity theft, account takeovers, fake investment schemes, and financial scams conducted through social media and messaging applications.

The report underscores the need for stronger cybersecurity measures, robust identity verification systems, and greater public awareness to counter emerging digital threats. Industry experts have advised users to exercise caution while sharing personal information online, verify suspicious communications, and adopt multi-factor authentication to safeguard their accounts.

The findings come at a time when India is experiencing unprecedented growth in digital transactions and internet usage, making cybersecurity a critical component of the country’s digital transformation journey. Stakeholders have called for closer collaboration between government agencies, financial institutions, technology companies, and consumers to strengthen fraud prevention mechanisms and enhance digital trust.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, the report serves as a reminder of the importance of digital vigilance and the need for continuous efforts to protect users in an increasingly connected world.

Business

GFTR 2026 Highlights Pune’s Blend of Traditional Snacks and Modern Food Trends

Jun 17, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Godrej Vikhroli Cucina unveiled the ninth edition of the World Gourmand Award-winning Godrej Food Trends Report 2026 at Tasting India: Culinary Conversations in New Delhi. This year’s theme, Stories, reflects how food is increasingly experienced beyond taste through provenance, cultural memory, and human connection.

Top trends from GFTR 2026 include the rise of chatpata piquant flavours, female farmers taking centre stage, mithai going Indo-modern, protein turning namkeen, and home cooking evolving intelligently. In Pune, legacy food brands and new-age local players are building strong narratives around regional snacks like bhakarwadi and chivda, blending nostalgia with modern formats. This reflects the trend of protein turning namkeen and familiar snacks getting functional upgrades, as well as storytelling rooted in everyday Maharashtrian food culture that connects strongly with younger, urban consumers.

Food writer, Rukshana A Kapadia, shared her thoughts on snacking, “These products have become indispensable thanks to their accessibility, affordability, taste, convenience, and perceived gratification. Constant innovation in flavours, packaging, and marketing keeps this category fresh, exciting, and relevant, but comes with trade-offs. The emotional connection with these foods makes them difficult to replace entirely, but growing awareness of the detrimental effects of ultra-processed foods, presents an opportunity for innovation for snack manufacturers.”

Business

Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway Marks Father’s Day with a Memorable Brunch at Feast

Jun 17, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

June 17 : This Father’s Day, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway presents a special brunch dedicated to the remarkable men who inspire, guide, and support their families every day. The brunch is a tribute to fathers whose strength, commitment, and steadfast presence shape countless cherished memories. It offers an opportunity to honour their invaluable role, express appreciation for their constant encouragement, and support they bring to the lives of those around them. 

Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway Marks Father’s Day with a Memorable Brunch at Feast

Hosted at Feast, the hotel’s vibrant all-day dining destination The indulgent brunch brings together thoughtful venue arrangements designed to welcome fathers and their families in a warm and inviting ambiance, complemented by rustic elegance and festive touches. Guests can savour an array of offerings, including live grill stations, premium barbecue specialties, and comforting classic favourites. Curated to foster togetherness, appreciation, and memorable moments, the experience creates the perfect setting for families to bond and celebrate, ensuring every dad feels valued, cherished, and truly special. 

Beyond an indulgent dining experience, the occasion brings families together to create cherished moments and express gratitude to fathers and the remarkable men who shape everyday life, all while enjoying a leisurely afternoon of exceptional food and warm hospitality.

What: Father’s Day Brunch 
Time: 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Where: Feast, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway
When: 21st June 2026

Entertainment

First Look of ‘Batwara 1947’ Unveiled; Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta Bring Partition-Era Story to Life

Jun 17, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Mumbai, June 17: The makers of the upcoming historical drama Batwara 1947 have unveiled the much-awaited first look of lead actors Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta, offering audiences a glimpse into a powerful story set against the backdrop of India’s Partition.

First Look of ‘Batwara 1947’ Unveiled; Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta Bring Partition-Era Story to Life

The first-look posters introduce the central characters whose lives are profoundly shaped by the events of 1947, one of the most defining and emotionally charged chapters in the history of the Indian subcontinent. With the tagline, “Meet those who lived through it,” the film aims to portray the human experiences, sacrifices, resilience, and emotional turmoil faced by millions during the Partition.

The visuals have generated considerable excitement among cinema enthusiasts, with Sunny Deol appearing in a strong and intense avatar, while Preity Zinta’s look reflects the emotional depth and complexities of the era. The film marks a significant project for both actors and is expected to blend historical events with compelling personal narratives.

First Look of ‘Batwara 1947’ Unveiled; Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta Bring Partition-Era Story to Life

Industry observers believe that Batwara 1947 has the potential to resonate deeply with audiences by revisiting a pivotal moment in history through the lens of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. The film is expected to highlight themes of identity, displacement, courage, and hope amid one of the largest mass migrations in human history.

Following the release of the first look, anticipation has grown among fans eager to see the celebrated actors share screen space in a story rooted in history and human emotions. More details about the film’s release schedule and promotional campaign are expected in the coming weeks.

News

Swaranjali Delhi to Present “Colours of India 2026” in Sri Vijaya Puram, Celebrating the Nation’s Rich Cultural Heritage

Jun 17, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

June 17: Swaranjali Delhi is proud to announce “Colours of India 2026”, a grand cultural extravaganza showcasing the vibrant diversity of Indian classical music, dance, and folk traditions. The event will be held on 13 August 2026 at 5:00 PM at the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Auditorium, Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, opposite the LIC Office.

The festival aims to bring together artists from different parts of India, creating a platform that celebrates the country’s rich artistic legacy while fostering cultural unity and harmony.

The evening will commence with an energetic group dance presentation by Vikash Dance Akademi, Port Blair, followed by a distinguished Classical Vocal Recital by Pt. Bhutnath De of Jharkhand, accompanied on tabla by Pt. Susamoy Mishra. Audiences will also witness a captivating Solo Sitar Recital by Vidwan Subrata De, accompanied by Pt. Susamoy Mishra.

The program will further feature performances by Daksh Akademi, Port Blair, an elegant Bharatanatyam recital by Ms. Rajasi Wagh from Pune, and a vocal presentation by Mrs. Vineet Talukdar of Muktadhara, Port Blair.

A major highlight of the evening will be the concluding performances by Hakimpara Nritya Malancha, Siliguri, under the guidance of Guru Vidushi Sangita Chaki. The group will present a series of classical and devotional performances including Ganapati Shlokam, Saraswati Shlokam, Durga Kirtanam, Shiva Kirtanam, and Kathak recitals by talented young artistes.

The grand finale, themed “Colours of India,” will take the audience on a cultural journey across the nation through vibrant folk dance traditions representing Bengal, Assam (Bihu), Nepal, Odisha (Sambalpuri), Tripura, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kashmir, Gujarat, and Punjab. The evening will culminate with a stirring rendition of Vande Mataram by the Hakimpara Nritya Malancha ensemble.

“Colours of India 2026” seeks to celebrate India’s cultural plurality and strengthen bonds of peace, unity, and mutual appreciation through the universal language of art and music.

The organizers extend a warm invitation to art enthusiasts, cultural patrons, tourists, students, and residents of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to be a part of this memorable celebration.

Program Schedule

  • Opening Group Dance – Vikash Dance Akademi, Port Blair
  • Classical Vocal Recital – Pt. Bhutnath De (Jharkhand), accompanied by Pt. Susamoy Mishra on Tabla
  • Solo Sitar Recital – Vidwan Subrata De (Delhi), accompanied by Pt. Susamoy Mishra on Tabla
  • Group Dance Presentation – Daksh Akademi, Port Blair
  • Bharatanatyam Recital – Ms. Rajasi Wagh, Pune
  • Vocal Recital – Mrs. Vineet Talukdar, Muktadhara, Port Blair

Concluding Segment by Hakimpara NrityaMalancha, Siliguri

The troupe will present a series of classical and devotional performances:

  • Ganapati Shlokam – Hrishita Das, Doli Mahanta, Kasturi Das Barman, Prakriti Thapa & Shrestha Sarkar
  • Kathak Solo – Avipsha Adhikari
  • Saraswati Shlokam – Doli Mahanta
  • Durga Kirtanam – Shrestha Sarkar
  • Shiva Kirtanam – Kasturi Das Barman
  • Avata Shyam – Prakriti Thapa
  • Shiva Kirtanam – Hrishita Das
  • Kathak Presentation – Guru Vidushi Sangita Chaki

Grand Finale: Colours of India

A vibrant celebration of India’s diverse folk traditions featuring:

  • Bangla Folk Dance – Doli Mahanta, Shrestha Sarkar & Avipsha Adhikari
  • Bihu (Assam) – Sharmistha Das, Moupia Adhikari & Priti Karmakar
  • Nepali Folk Dance – Prakriti Thapa
  • Sambalpuri Folk Dance (Odisha) – Hrishita Das & Kasturi Das Barman
  • Tripura Folk Dance – Avipsha Adhikari
  • Rajasthani Folk Dance – Shrestha Sarkar & Prakriti Thapa
  • Marathi Folk Dance – Kasturi Das Barman, Hrishita Das & Doli Mahanta
  • Kashmiri Folk Dance – Avipsha Adhikari
  • Gujarati Folk Dance – Sharmistha Das, Moupia Adhikari & Priti Karmakar
  • Punjabi Folk Dance – Hrishita Das, Kasturi Das Barman, Doli Mahanta & Shrestha Sarkar
  • Vande Mataram – Grand Finale Presentation by Hakimpara NrityaMalancha, Siliguri

This concluding segment promises to showcase the rich cultural tapestry of India through music, movement, and tradition.

Event Details

Event: Colours of India 2026
Organizer: Swaranjali Delhi
Date: 13 August 2026
Time: 5:00 PM onwards
Venue: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Auditorium, Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands – 744103

RSVP

9910300319 | 9933211868 | 9818300319 | 7695021548

Website: www.swaranjali.org
Website: www.nrityamalancha.com

Acknowledgements

The organizers gratefully acknowledge the support of Mr. & Mrs. Ratna Wagh (ABSS Pune), Shri Mridul Nath (RMS Audio Hyderabad), Dhwani Foundation Delhi, Shri Debraj Das (Jamshedpur), Shri Sanjit Debnath (Port Blair), RepairnFix Faridabad, Daksh Dance Akademi, Vikash Akademi, and Muktadhara.

Media Partner: Shreyas Webmedia Solutions, Bhubaneswar

Location – https://maps.google.com/maps?vet=10CAAQoqAOahcKEwjA94T4z42VAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQEg..i&sca_esv=cad0c82d9e7a6f03&pvq=Cg0vZy8xMWM2N3JfcTV2&fvr=1&cs=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&fb=1&gl=in&sa=X&ftid=0x308895a078ef13fb:0xb0c2df4383f5c577

Business

BKC’s ‘Public Transport Day’ Highlights Urgent Need for Smarter Last-Mile Mobility Solutions

Jun 17, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

BKC's 'Public Transport Day' Highlights Urgent Need for Smarter Last-Mile Mobility Solutions

The recent launch of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) “BKC Weekly Public Transport Day” initiative has reignited an important conversation around sustainable urban mobility. While the objective of encouraging commuters to shift from private vehicles to public transport has received broad support, the initial response from office-goers in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) has highlighted a persistent challenge, the last–mile connectivity. Many commuters cited inadequate feeder services, limited mobility options between transit stations and workplaces, and concerns around convenience as key reasons for continuing to rely on private vehicles. 

As one of Mumbai’s most prominent business districts, BKC attracts nearly two lakh commuters daily. Despite significant investments in metro, rail, and road infrastructure, the gap between major transit hubs and final destinations remains a critical hurdle in achieving meaningful modal shifts toward public transport. Reports from the first Public Transport Day indicate that many commuters found the transition difficult due to limited last–mile options, long walking distances, and insufficient feeder connectivity. 

Sharing his experience, one of the daily commuters to BKC said, “The initiative is a step in the right direction, but last–mile connectivity remains a challenge. Reaching the office from the station can be time-consuming, especially during peak hours. Better feeder services and seamless connectivity will encourage more people to choose public transport over private vehicles.” 

Industry experts believe that solving this challenge requires a combination of technology-driven mobility infrastructure, intelligent parking management, and seamless multimodal integration. 

Commenting on the issue, Mr. Ashish Majithia, Founder & CEO, Nextkraft Parking Technologies said, “The success of any public transport initiative ultimately depends on how efficiently commuters can complete the first and last leg of their journey. While Mumbai has made remarkable progress in expanding metro and rail networks, last–mile connectivity continues to be the missing link. Smart mobility ecosystems must integrate parking, feeder transportation, pedestrian infrastructure, and digital mobility solutions into a single commuter experience. Automated parking systems near transit hubs can also play a significant role by enabling park-and-ride models that encourage people to leave their vehicles at designated locations and complete their journey through public transport.” 

According to urban mobility experts, transit-oriented development cannot be successful through mass transit investments alone. Global cities have demonstrated that seamless integration between public transport and localized mobility infrastructure is essential to reduce private vehicle dependency and improve commuter adoption. Research studies have also highlighted that efficient first- and last–mile solutions significantly increase public transport usage and overall system efficiency. 

Sharing his perspective, Mr. Navin Rajagopalan, Director, City Lifts India Limited said, “As Mumbai’s commercial districts continue to densify, mobility infrastructure must evolve beyond roads and transit lines. Vertical mobility, pedestrian circulation, and access between transport nodes and workplaces are becoming critical now. Smart elevators, escalators, skywalk integrations, and efficient people-movement systems can substantially improve commuter experiences within high-density business districts such as BKC. The future isn’t just about moving people across the city but it’s about designing an uninterrupted journey from station to workplace work as one seamless system.”

 Mr. Khetsi Barot, Managing Director, The Guardians Real Estate Advisory, whose office is located in BKC said, “BKC has evolved into one of India’s most important business districts, attracting thousands of professionals and visitors every day. Initiatives such as the Weekly Public Transport Day are important as they encourage greater adoption of public mobility solutions and help reduce congestion in a high-density commercial hub. However, the response to such initiatives also highlights the importance of strengthening last–mile connectivity, which remains a key factor influencing commuting choices. For public transport usage to increase meaningfully, the journey must be seamless from start to finish. Better integration between metro stations, bus networks, pedestrian infrastructure, and last–mile transport options will be crucial in enhancing commuter convenience. A well-connected business district not only improves accessibility and employee experience but also contributes to higher productivity, sustainability, and the long-term competitiveness of the city.”

Experts believe that upcoming infrastructure initiatives, including enhanced metro connectivity and proposed advanced mobility systems in BKC, offer an opportunity to address these challenges more comprehensively. However, they emphasize that infrastructure projects must be supported by integrated planning focused on commuter convenience, accessibility, and last–mile efficiency to achieve their intended outcomes. 

As Mumbai continues its journey toward becoming a more sustainable and transit-oriented city, the lessons emerging from BKC’s Public Transport Day underscore a clear message – improving last–mile connectivity will be critical in determining whether public transport becomes the preferred choice for daily commuters.

Technology

Laser startup LITILIT Brings Femtosecond Lasers to Industrial Scale With New Vilnius Factory

Jun 17, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Laser startup LITILIT Brings Femtosecond Lasers to Industrial Scale With New Vilnius Factory

Nikolajus Gavrillinas, co-founder and CEO of LITILIT. (Source: LITILIT) 

LITILIT is developing one of the highest-capacity femtosecond laser production facilities in the world, designed to reach an annual production capacity of up to 3,000 lasers within a few years of launch. The company aims to address one of the key barriers to wider femtosecond laser adoption: the need for scalable, industrially practical production.

June 17, Vilnius, Lithuania: Femtosecond laser startup LITILIT has begun developing a new large-scale femtosecond laser production facility in Vilnius, with a project value of approximately six million euros. The company plans to complete the main construction and fit-out works by the end of this year and reach annual production capacity of up to 3,000 lasers within approximately a few years of launch.

Femtosecond lasers are among the most advanced tools for high-precision material processing. Their extremely short light pulses enable highly accurate processing with minimal thermal impact and makes them suitable for a wide range of applications – from semiconductor and advanced electronics manufacturing to medical procedures such as eye surgery.

According to Nikolajus Gavrilinas, co-founder and CEO of LITILIT, one of the biggest barriers to mass femtosecond laser adoption today is that there are no ways to manufacture lasers at the scale that industry will require.

“Traditionally, femtosecond laser architectures evolved from scientific systems. They can deliver strong performance, but are often complex to assemble, difficult to automate and dependent on highly qualified specialists. Our lasers are based on a purpose-built architecture with lower component complexity, modular design and a high level of automation. This allows us to organize assembly, testing and quality control faster and more efficiently,” Gavrilinas explains.

The factory will be located in Vilnius with a business area covering 4,000 square meters. It will include two main production areas: a modern CNC metal machining shop and robotic femtosecond laser assembly and testing workshops.

The main construction and fit-out works are planned for completion in the final quarter of 2026. During its first year of operations, the factory is expected to produce up to 1,000 femtosecond lasers, with capacity set to increase to 3,000 lasers annually within the following few years. The total value of the project is expected to reach around six million euros.

Patented technology

Gavrilinas explains that the technological foundation behind LITILIT’s approach to scalable production traces back to a 2014 discovery – a fundamentally new and patented method of generating ultrashort pulses. The company has been developing the technology since it was founded in 2015 and in 2022, it raised €3.7 million from Taiwania Capital and Iron Wolf Capital to support further technology development, becoming the first company to receive investment from Taiwan’s USD 200 million CEE fund.

Based on the invention, made by LITILIT co-founder Kęstutis Regelskis at the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC) in Vilnius, Lithuania, the company developed a patented laser architecture that enables more efficient, compact and industrially scalable femtosecond laser systems.

“Our architecture achieves around 20% electrical-to-optical femtosecond efficiency, which is a strong result for this industry. In practical terms, this means lower energy consumption, reduced cooling requirements and reliable operation in industrial environments. The same architecture also allows us to build compact and robust lasers that require no maintenance and are robust to external disturbances,” Gavrilinas says.

The Vilnius factory is designed as the first step in a broader international expansion. LITILIT plans to replicate the model in other regions together with international partners.

“Femtosecond lasers are becoming an essential tool for next-generation manufacturing, but wider adoption will depend on making the technology more accessible. With this factory, we are taking the first step toward a repeatable global production model – and we are proud to begin that journey in Lithuania, a country with a strong tradition in laser science and engineering,” Gavrilinas concludes.