Archive: March 25, 2023

Funding not an issue, but startups need to adopt more frugal business model, say top experts

Ahmedabad: Amid challenging economic conditions, startups, and businesses must relook at their business models and adopt more frugal business practices to attract investor interest, experts said at the GVFL Annual Investors Meet 2023 on Friday.

The GVFL Annual Investors Meet, held in physical mode after a gap of three years, brought together more than 250 startup founders, investors, incubators, institutional investors, funds, and other stakeholders to discuss investment trends and other relevant topics.

“The times are challenging. Money is there, but funds are going to be choosy in the startups they invest in. Startups will have to relook at their revenue models, adopt more frugal business practices, reduce expenses, and focus on profitability to tide over the crisis,” Kamal Bansal, MD, GVFL said in his welcome address.

Mr. Bansal also shared GVFL’s future plans saying it will launch its 10th fund very shortly. He said that with the Gujarat Young Entrepreneurs Venture Fund announced by the Government of Gujarat in the budget, GVFL hopes to catalyse investment of more than Rs. 3,000 crores in startups in Gujarat in three to five years.

In his remarks, Mihir Joshi, GVFL President, said, “There is certainly a cash crunch. Investors are being cautious. But is this the funding winter? No, we are back to normal from the unsustainable highs startup valuations had touched.”

The day-long meeting saw panel discussions on upcoming sectors and investing trends, lessons learned in startup investment & way forward, and risks and rewards of seed-stage investments. Representatives of Speciale Invest, Jupiter Capital, JSW Ventures, Omnivore Partners, Carpediem Advisors, IVY Cap Ventures, Blume Ventures, Mumbai Angels, and CIIE.co, Venture Garage, and Iroller Capital participated in the panel discussions.

Nine startups, in which GVFL is an investor, also made presentations about their business, their growth, and their future plans. The startups include Zero Cow Factory, Video SDK, Saarthi Pedagogy, Zoivane, Pivoting, PetPooja, All that Dips, Qarmatek, and Eronkan.

During the meeting, experts stressed finding business models that will cater to the middle and the bottom of the pyramid and not just the top of the pyramid. They also emphasized the need for innovation, ideas that help in solving real-world problems, and the right execution.

Delivering the keynote address, Piruz Khambatta, CMD, of Rasna Group, said, “India has emerged as an oasis in a world facing the pandemic, war and financial instability. The world is looking at India. In my opinion, the biggest opportunity for India is in manufacturing, making in India for the world.”

He urged startups to find innovative solutions that reach the grassroots level and help in promoting inclusive growth and nation-building.

In his address, Sunil Parekh, who is an advisor to leading corporates and works extensively in promoting startups, said, “Indian startups have had a huge impact on us as consumers and citizens, but have tech startups and unicorns developed any new technologies, done some foundational technological research? The answer is a big no.”

He also said that India is home to 91,000 registered startups, 108 unicorns, and the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. He, however, noted that almost no unicorn in India has been formally incubated in an incubator and called upon the audience to deliberate why the most successful ventures are outside the formal incubation ecosystem.

Empowering Voices: Disabled Children Take the Lead in Innovative Collaboration

New Delhi, March 2023 – Winston, a personal care brand, has recently taken a step toward corporate social responsibility for the welfare of the local communities. The brand partnered up with an organisation called Feet Me Up which aims at providing training to uniquely abled people to hand curate shoes and accessories so as to open employment opportunities for these people and help them in becoming functionally independent in life. As part of the initiative to spread the motto of sharing happiness and kindness, Winston, hosted an event at Feet Me Up, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi.

The event included a painting session where the children supported by Feet Me Up showed their creativity and helped in making some beautiful paintings. The day of joy concluded with a dance session with the children and it became a memorable experience for the whole team building up an emotional connection with those disabled kids.

“Most people see the uniquely abled as how they are and not how they can be. Winston believes in the ideology of spreading support and happiness for such a kind by supporting organisations such as Feet Me Up which live up to the motto of making dependents independent. This partnership will give more strength to our efforts in mainstreaming employment opportunities for the uniquely abled and thereby making them independent. “says Himanshu Adlakha, founder of Winston.

This collaboration has embarked the brand on a new journey altogether towards the betterment of the local communities and uniquely abled groups of the country.

GrowthSchool integrates No code AI and chatGPT in it’s courses

Bangalore, March 2023: GrowthSchool, a fast-growing ed-tech platform, today announced a first-of-its-kind initiative to enable people to leverage AI tools like Open AI’s ChatGPT in their work. The company has integrated the know-how of No code AI and chatGPT in its courses, giving professionals like marketers, designers, product managers, founders, and other learners an unprecedented advantage in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The aim is to not only enable them to boost their productivity but also excel in their career faster, thereby staying ahead of the curve.

GrowthSchool offers a wide range of courses, including UX Design, Product Management, Management Consulting, Marketing and Content, and Growth Hacking. With AI tools integrated into its curriculum, the company is set to transform the way professionals learn and work. By partnering with the top 1% of instructors, the ed-tech startup creates high-impact workshops and cohort-based courses that provide hands-on learning experiences and deliver real-world results.

“In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, it’s essential for professionals to stay ahead of the curve. We are the first company to integrate the use of AI tools like ChatGPT into our programs. The initiative is expected to have a lasting impact on their professional growth and the future of work at large,” says Vaibhav Sisinty, CEO & Founder of GrowthSchool.

“We are very excited to be the pioneers in integrating AI tools into the programs we offer and step into the future. Marketers can harness their power to analyze data and generate creative content, while designers can rapidly prototype concepts, making the design process a breeze. Product managers and founders can rely on AI insights for strategic decision-making, task prioritization, and trend identification, added Vaibhav Sisinty.

GrowthSchool is dedicated to equipping a new generation of trailblazers with the skills they need to excel in today’s competitive market. With a focus on providing hands-on learning experiences that deliver real-world results, the ed-tech startup has quickly become a go-to platform for professionals looking to upskill and stay ahead of the curve. Last year, the company raised $5 million in a funding round led by Sequoia Capital India and Owl Ventures, with participation from over 80 angel investors, including Kunal Shah, Tanmay Bhat, and international angels like Austen Allred (founder of Lambda School), Shaan Puri, and Eric Siu.

Dekton Ultra-Compact Surfaces by Hafele

Häfele partners with the world’s first ultra-compact surface manufacturer – Dekton® to offer you unique surfaces created through an innovative combination of 28 natural minerals found in nature. It’s exclusive Ultra Compacting Technology replicates and enhances the metamorphic changes that natural stone undergoes over a millennium through exposure to high pressure and high temperature.

This evolution represents a technological and industrial leap that generates a revolutionary material and leading product capable of resisting scratches and stains, and surviving blowtorches, sun rays, icy storms, mildew, and mold, all while looking good. Dekton surfaces are designed to be the toughest and most durable products in the market today with colors that replicate and reimagine everything that nature has to offer. With its large format slabs, Dekton has the ability to fit into and redefine a multitude of applications – flooring, cladding, and facades for both inside and outdoors making it every architect’s and designer’s dream solution.

1. Sirius: Sirius, is a black that will bring realism and strength to any environment with its textured visual sensation and greenish touches.

2. Sirocco: With a background sepia brown, you will be able to glimpse soft veins in soft shades that break the monotony of this timeless color that represents the calm.

3. Kelya: Kelya provides a finish inspired by natural stone with a dark shade. Based on black marble with soft veins, it is presented as a warm proposal.

4. Aura15: Aura has a magnetic attraction. Fabulous veins are clearly drawn on a soft truncated white background evoking natural rock formation. Aura 15 is inspired by the famous Italian marbles Calacatta and Carrara which, with their winding veining, perfectly match elegance and trend.

5. Liquid Sky: A swirling, marbled, cloud-like pattern that celebrates the scientific principles of fluid dynamics. Liquid Sky’s unique characteristics consist of a white base with flowing grey veins. The design explores the movement of gravity, the interplay of the elements, and their matter, and pays homage to swirling energy and perpetual motion.

TASVA presents ZARI, the opulent Brocades collection

New Delhi, March  2023: TASVA’s latest collection brings you a spectacular variety of age-old brocade designs, adding a spin of a new perspective. The Indian menswear brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd, and ace designer Tarun Tahiliani reinvents the perfect summer style to keep up with the modern man’s celebration.

TASVA’s brocade kurta-Bundi, achkans, and zardozi bandh gala are all set to add fiery energy to men’s dressing this season. The collection is crafted in a palette of the sky with shades of blue and aqua and is the perfect pick for an evening out or an intimate gathering with loved ones. The opulent brocades add a luxurious style statement, while the zardozi adds a royal charm to the overall look and feel of the pieces.

TASVA aims to recreate the staple attire for men, especially grooms, with a modern take. These exquisitely detailed attires are a fusion of elegance and modernity and will leave a lasting impression. Adding a spin of a new perspective to the age-old brocade designs, this collection presents several styles with zardozi and heavy embroidery in airy fabrics and silhouettes.

Miles for Meals’ 10 KM marathon organized by IIIT Bangalore at 6 am

As part of our year-long Silver Jubilee Celebrations, IIITB in collaboration with ELCIA will be organising a 10 KM long marathon in electronic city on April 01, 2023. The marathon has been positioned as “Miles for Meals” with a campaign to collect funds for mid-day meal for needy school students studying in Government Schools in and around electronic city.

The united strength of a society is mirrored through the vulnerable community it feeds. IIITB has always risen to such benevolent opportunities.