Archive: November 18, 2022

Wadhwani Foundation calls for supporting Women Entrepreneurs on Women’s Entrepreneurship Day 2022

Mumbai, November 18, 2022: Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, observed globally on November 19th, celebrates the accomplishments of women entrepreneurs around the world and strives to inspire more and more women into the entrepreneurship fold.

Women entrepreneurship is on the rise all over the world, making a positive impact on society, achieving financial independence, and changing the socio-economic status quo. While there are challenges that come with being a woman entrepreneur, such as finding funding, family support, lack of role models, and mobility constraints, there are also many opportunities available.

Commenting on Women’s Entrepreneurship Day 2022, Sanjay Shah, Chief Operating Officer – India/SE Asia, Wadhwani Foundation, said, “Women have always been the backbone of our society, but they are often underestimated in the business world. Though women face innumerable challenges in the entrepreneurial journey, they have always come out victorious. Women’s entrepreneurship develops the business environment and plays a pivotal role in creating a cascading effect for other women, thereby boosting the economy. With the increasing participation of the women workforce, India has the potential to add $700 billion to the global GDP and create an estimated 150 to 170 million jobs by 2030. On this Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, let’s celebrate the difference women make as entrepreneurs and as catalysts of change towards gender equality and economic development by pledging resources and support to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.”

The growing number of incubators and accelerators specifically designed to support and grow early-stage startups and make them investable present a great opportunity for women entrepreneurs, who can take advantage of business frameworks, mentorship, and access to networks and investors.

The rise of digital technologies is another opportunity for women entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses online. Multiple Seller Services platforms have made it easier for women to start an e-commerce business with minimal upfront investment from the comfort of their homes.

Rajeev Warrier, Executive Vice President, Wadhwani Entrepreneur at Wadhwani Foundation, says, “Women entrepreneurship is a powerful force for social and economic development. When women are empowered to start and grow their businesses, it benefits not just them and their families but also whole communities and economies. Wadhwani Foundation and National Entrepreneurship Network have been working for two decades to support women entrepreneurs, and we will continue our efforts to expand mentorship and networking channels, provide tailored knowledge resources, and work towards building a comprehensive policy framework that creates an enabling environment for women in business.”

While many challenges women entrepreneurs face in India remain, numerous opportunities are also available to them. With access to mentorship, seed funding, government initiatives, and digital technologies, there has never been a better time for women entrepreneurs in India to start up!

Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion Tour enters the Metaverse with a first-of-its-kind borderless fashion & lifestyle experience

New Delhi, November 18, 2022: The 16^th edition of Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion Tour, powered by Fashion Design Council of India, has reimagined its iconic legacy of 16 years to bring a more youthful, inclusive, and innovative edition this year.

In its cutting-edge new avatar, the Fashion Tour steps into the Metaverse with an industry-first move to create a first-of-its-kind amalgamation of fashion and technology, for young audiences to experience like never before.

As a first mover in the Metaverse in India, the Fashion Tour has launched ‘Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion Tour Park’ in Decentraland, a global web3 platform, where only renowned global brands have created an immersive metaverse experience for their fans. The Fashion Tour Park features multiple interactive areas, gamified zones and showcase areas, with several engaging activities in store for users to interact with throughout the duration of the tour.

Users can start at the Lounge, a zone that houses all the information about Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion Park, where they can claim a free ‘Proof of Attendance NFT’ from the POAPBooth. Users can then head to The Ramp, where they can strike a pose, walk the ramp as the showstopper or watch the live streams of the ultra-glamourous fashion shows from the Fashion Tour itself. Then at the Designer & Trial Zone, users can try on and buy one-of-a-kind wearable NFTs from renowned designers of the tour – Shantnu and Nikhil, Amit Aggarwal, Falguni Shane Peacock and Kunal Rawal. There are even different & unique Selfie Spots all around the Fashion Tour Park, where users can take a selfie and share it on social media with #BlendersPrideGlasswareFashionTour #MadeOfPride #MyLifeMyPride for a chance to win exclusive passes to the stellar shows of the tour. And then of course, there’s The Metaverse Treasure Hunt, an engaging activity where users must collect clues from across the Fashion Tour Park arena to stand a chance to get their hands on an iPhone 13, stylish Bluetooth earphones worth INR 15k or online shopping vouchers worth INR 5k. The Hunt begins on December 1, 2022.

But the most exciting attraction is India’s first metaverse-exclusive fashion show, set to take place at the Fashion Tour Park on December 10, 2022. This metaverse fashion show will feature outfits from the ‘Style Gallery’ exhibit of the Fashion Tour called ‘This is not a T-shirt’ project. These unique T-shirt outfits are designed by 60 designers & homegrown fashion labels, who have embellished or even deconstructed the basic T-shirt into a design celebrating their authentic interpretation of the four themes of the Fashion Tour.

Guests attending the exclusive shows of the Fashion Tour at the 4 city editions will also have the opportunity to ‘Step into the Metaverse’ – an experience zone that extends various elements from Fashion Tour Park metaverse platform. Guests can interact with a Smart Mirror, where they can try-on unique wearable NFTs designed by the Fashion Tour designers, take selfies in the outfits and even get their hands on the outfits by buying these one-of-a-kind wearable NFTs – an incredible new experience for the fashion & lifestyle elite.

Speaking about the exciting new metaverse experience, Kartik Mohindra, Chief Marketing Officer, Pernod Ricard India, said, “The 16^th edition of Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion Tour will set the foundation for a new era in fashion & lifestyle. The fashion world is ever-evolving, and the Fashion Tour has always led this wave of evolution in India. Taking the Fashion Tour to the metaverse is not just a first-of-its-kind initiative for the industry, but it’s our interpretation to make the tour more inclusive, accessible and futuristic, by allowing young audiences to experience Fashion Tour in an immersive way like they have never before. It is a part of our journey of celebrating the ‘Pride’ of today’s youth, with newfound vigour and vision.”

To experience Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion Tour Park in the metaverse,

Blenders Pride Glassware Fashion Tour 2022 Schedule:

Indulge in a unique dining experience with The Circus Brunch at Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach every Sunday

Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach rekindles nostalgic memories with “The Circus Brunch” every Sunday at The Square for a month. Indulge in varieties of classic circus munchies such as Cotton Candy, Popcorn, and Kulfi along with other live stations such as Street food stations and more.

Bring out your inner child with the quirky and colorful decor centered around the famous childhood memory, Circus. While you sip on refreshing beverages, relish a wide variety of exotic selections to choose from such as Indian, Asian and Continental cuisine, and enjoy the wild ride.

To make it a more compelling affair, activities such as magicians, jugglers, and cartoon artists along with live music and a photo booth will add more excitement to your Sunday Brunches.

Let’s Circus at TheSquare!

What: The Circus Brunch

Where: Square, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach

When: Every Sunday (From November – December)

Time: 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm

CredAble launches ‘I.M.P.A.C.T: Important to Act’ – a CSR & Sustainability initiative

India, 18 November 2022: CredAble – India’s largest working capital tech platform, is thrilled to launch a new initiative, I.M.P.A.C.T. – Important to Act, a CSR & Sustainability enterprise of the brand. The initiative is aligned with the company’s vision to create an ecosystem and provide numerous opportunities for people at CredAble to come together to identify and act towards social causes & participate in various sustainability initiatives.

Embracing this ideology, CredAble has associated with RAHI –Rise Against Hunger India to unveil the first leg of the program with a purpose of eradicating hunger in India. As part of the association, the company has volunteered to pack 20,000 meals in Mumbai and Noida, with the help of 150 + volunteers.

Excited to speak about the launch of the initiative, Mr. Nirav Choksi, CEO and Co-Founder, CredAble, said, “At CredAble, we are committed to creating a better tomorrow. CSR & sustainability initiatives have been core to our company’s values and an integral part of everything we have done in the past years. Along with powering the growth journey of businesses big and small, we are on a mission to give back to the socio-economically backward communities in society and back projects that create a greener future by building innovative sustainable solutions for the environment. In our continuous endeavors to bring greater change to the community, we’re extremely delighted to join forces with RAHI and launch  I.M.P.A.C.T.— Important to Act, a CSR and sustainability initiative of CredAble.”

RAHI envisages a world without hunger and, in line with UN Sustainable Goal 2, aims to end hunger by 2030. This is accomplished through a hands-on meal packaging program that provides volunteers the opportunity to package dehydrated, high-protein, nutritious meals. Over the last 5 years, CredAble has enabled liquidity for several small, midsized & large corporates across India Inc. and will continue to revolutionize the world of working capital financing. Its culture statement defines the organization’s beliefs and is centered around what they value the most when it comes to people’s behaviors. These cultural statements reinforce the company’s larger goals and feed into the everyday work life of their people.

Addressing the initiative and the much-valued association with CredAble, Mr. Dola Mohapatra Executive Director, of Rise Against Hunger India said, “Rise Against Hunger India is a non-governmental organization that works with a vision of a world without hunger.  The mission of the organization is to nourish lives, empower communities, respond to emergencies and grow the movement toward ending hunger.  Since operations were started in 2015, more than 23 million meals have been served to the hungry in 19 states of India.  Rise Against Hunger India carries out a volunteer engagement program where volunteers come together to package highly nutritious dehydrated meals comprising rice, dal (lentils) & vegetables, fortified with micronutrients & minerals. Rise Against Hunger India is thankful to CredAble team for hosting two such events in Noida & Mumbai on November 17th, 2022 where 20,304 meals will be packaged by employees of CredAble. “

Since 2015, Rise Against Hunger India has served more than 2 crore meals with the support of over 46,000 volunteers in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Gurgaon, Noida, Patna, Aurangabad, Ahmedabad & many other locations. Each meal comprises a dry uncooked mix of rice, dal, dehydrated vegetables, and a vitamin sachet comprising 23 micronutrients and minerals.

Nearly 60 to 70% of meals support education or youth development programs and the remaining go for disaster relief, shelter for the elderly, orphanages, homes for the destitute, etc. The aim of this association is to further build on the competitive advantage of both organizations and amplify the hunger eradication efforts carried out by both partners.

LVPEI initiates the campaign – Let’s Combat Myopia

Dr Pavan Verkicharla (Left), Head, Infor Myopia Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute; briefing media about the rising prevalence of Myopia in children and its serious complications leading to vision loss; at a press conference, today at LV Prasad Eye Institute, Banjara Hills; as Dr Ramesh Kekunnaya, Head, Child Sight Institute, L V Prasad Eye Institute; looks on.

Hyderabad, November 2022: Myopia, or near sightedness, is when our eyes cannot focus light correctly and distant objects appear blurred. Some of the early signs of Myopia are – children straining or squinting the eye to see distant objects, complaining of headaches and frequent change in eye power. Children with myopia often have trouble reading the blackboard at school and will hold their books or objects very close to their face or watch TV from a very close distance.

The current digital ecosystem, especially the COVID-19 pandemic with the increased digital exposure for young children, more indoor-centric lifestyle, involvement in intense near work activities (for entertainment and in strive for academic excellence – excessive homework and attending coaching classes invariably held late in the evening, or before school timing for entrance exams) has robbed school children of sunlight and outdoor activities, leading to myopia. Shorter sleep duration and poor nutrition are also associated with the development of myopia. Children with a family history of myopia (either parents or grandparents with myopia) have a higher risk of developing myopia.

“Undiagnosed and untreated myopia can lead to delayed milestones in children and negatively impact their academic performance, participation in co-curricular activities and social behaviour. Children having Myopia are at a higher risk of developing retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataract and other eye diseases. Some of these eye disorders can result into irreversible vision loss,” says, Dr Ramesh Kekunnaya, Head, Child Sight Institute, L V Prasad Eye Institute.

“Myopia is a serious public health concern. If no anti-myopia measures for prevention and control are initiated, it is projected to affect approximately half of the global population (5 billion) by 2050. At current prevalence rate, 5 out of 10 children (48%) living in urban regions of India are likely to have myopia by 2050. Myopia progression is rapid in children who develop myopia at a young age. About 4% of the Indian myopes tend to have complications that can lead to permanent vision loss,” says Dr Pavan Verkicharla, Head, Infor Myopia Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute.

L V Prasad Eye Institute is among the very few institutes in the country to have a dedicated Children’s Eye Care Centre and a dedicated Myopia Centre. LVPEI provides comprehensive and evidence-based anti-myopia treatment to prevent the onset of myopia and reduce its progression in children and young adults. This includes, environmental and lifestyle modifications, bifocal or progressive spectacle lenses, special contact lenses including Ortho-Keratology and peripheral defocus contact lenses, and medication (eye drops) as appropriate.

Controlling and Managing Myopia: Children’s health and well-being is a collective responsibility of families, teachers, doctors, healthcare organizations and government. The following safe measures will not only control the myopia progression but give better and healthier life to our children.

– Annual Eye Examination: Some children are born nearsighted, and some don’t become nearsighted until their teen years. Young children with myopia might not be able to express themselves or complain that their vision has become blurry. Hence annual eye examinations are very important in children to rule out Myopia.

– Encourage daytime outdoor activities: A great first step to prevent or slow the progression of Myopia is to encourage children to spend adequate time outdoors – natural sunlight helps protect the human eye from becoming myopic.

– Less Screen time: The amount of time the child spends using digital devices should be proportionate to the child’s age. While 12 to 16-year-olds can be allowed 8 hours of online study, the hours of screen time for younger children should be restricted to less than 4 hours. Toddlers (younger than 3 years) must be refrained from using any digital device.

– 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes of watching screens or studying or doing any near-work activity, the child should take a 20 second break and look at any object 20 feet away. This will relax the ciliary muscles of the eyes and ease the strain due to prolonged near work.

– Schools: It should be mandatory for schools to have enough space for playgrounds and each day, there should be 60 minutes of recess time and at least one session of physical exercise. Annual eye screening programs for early diagnosis of eye problems in children should be organized.

– Public Awareness: Parents and teachers should be vigilant on spotting the early signs of Myopia in children and get the child’s eye examined by a trained eye specialist.

– Healthcare: Appropriate identification of myopia and referral to a trained Myopia specialist and advocating and promoting anti myopia strategies at the school and community levels.

IN-SPACe authorizes India’s first-ever private launch of a Launch Vehicle

Bengaluru, November 18, 2022: Heralding a new age in India’s space sector, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), Department of Space (DOS), today authorized the first private sector launch of a Launch Vehicle by Skyroot Aerospace – a Hyderabad based space start-up. This will enable the first-ever launch of a privately designed and built rocket from India. The mission carries three customer payloads, and the launch is scheduled on 18 November 2022.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe) has been operating as a single-window, autonomous nodal agency of Department of Space (DOS) to boost private space sector economy in India. In their continued efforts to give India’s space sector a new and dynamic dimension, IN-SPACe’s authorization of Skyroot’s launch vehicle initiates a new chapter in India’s space domain.

Skyroot Aerospace is a space startup founded by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka in June 2018. It is a two-time national award-winning space startup, with 200 employees, and is the largest funded private space start up in India with Rs 526 crore raised as capital till date.

Skyroot will be launching its maiden rocket under the launch mission ‘PRARAMBH’. The Prarambh mission was unveiled by ISRO Chairman, Dr. S. Somanath in Bangalore on November 7, 2022, after the technical launch clearance from IN-SPACe.

The mission aims to launch Vikram – S (VKS), a sub-orbital rocket from India’s spaceport the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on 18 November 2022, between 11 AM-12 noon IST. VKS is a single-stage solid fuelled, sub-orbital rocket which has taken about 2 years to develop and has been built using advanced technologies including carbon composite structures and 3D-printed components.

Expressing delight on this historic milestone, Dr. Pawan K Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, Department of Space, said, “India’s space sector is going through tremendous changes thanks to the government’s holistic policies to promote the space sector, and to facilitate involvement by private players. We’re truly delighted to have authorized Skyroot’s maiden mission, which will enable India’s first-ever private launch of a launch vehicle. I hope the Vikram-S rocket marks the start of a new age in India’s private space domain. The seamless joint efforts of various ISRO centres including SDSC SHAR, ISTRAC and VSSC, Skyroot team, and IN-SPACe, have enabled the Skyroot VKS rocket to be launch-ready in a short period of time.’

The Vikram-S rocket flight is a technology demonstration flight to showcase the capabilities of the company. It carries with it three PCB based payloads for three customers which are equipped with sensors for the measurement of acceleration, pressure, etc. This rocket will help validate the technologies that will be used in the subsequent Vikram-1 orbital vehicle of Skyroot that is planned for launch next year, subject to technical clearance by IN-SPACe.

This is the fourth authorization issued to NGE (Non-Governmental Entities) for undertaking space activities in India, by IN-SPACe in six months. Till date, IN-SPACe has received more than 150 applications from Space NGEs for Authorization, Facilitation, and Promotion.