Archive: May 31, 2023

Valley Insurance Agency Alliance Promotes, Hires Team Members

Amy Russell promoted to Lead Pod Marketer and Michael Welch named Commercial Marketer.

(St. Louis, Mo., May 31, 2023) Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a cohesive family of more than 160 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois, recently promoted Amy Russell to Lead Pod Marketer and hired Michael Welch as Commercial Marketer.

Russell, who previously served as marketing specialist and account manager, brings more than 30 years of experience in the insurance and marketing industries to her new position. She pioneered VIAA’s Pod marketing program, a carrier rating platform that assists agents with obtaining the best quotes for commercial clients. Russell’s responsibilities include marketing new and renewal business for agents, as well as training the growing insurance alliance’s marketing team members.

Russell earned her Master’s degree in Business Management from Lindenwood University and her Bachelor’s degree in Health Management from Brown Mackie College. She has her Missouri licenses for Property & Casualty, Life, and Accident & Health. Russell has two designations including Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist (AFIS) and Professional Workers Compensation Account Manager (PWCAM).

Welch has more than 35 years of insurance experience. As Commercial Marketer, he will oversee the quoting and requesting issue of policies for several alliance members. Welch will focus on new and existing business development, as well as renewal business marketing.

Prior to joining VIAA as a Commercial Marketer, he worked in commercial marketing at various insurance agencies in the Northeast. Welch earned his Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Math and Economics from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill. His designations include Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Certified Professional Insurance Male (CPIM), and PWCAM certifications.

Founded in 2006, Valley Insurance Agency Alliance generates more than $600 million in written premium and is the regional founding member for the Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance (SIAA), a $11 billion national alliance. Founded in 1991, sister company Powers Insurance & Risk Management provides personal and business insurance, surety, risk management, and employee benefits. The companies are headquartered at 6825 Clayton Ave. For more information, call (314) 725-1414 or visit www.viaa4u.com.

ClearLeaf Secures Three New Key Country Registrations for its Non-Toxic GotaBlanca 500 Product

Paperpal Crosses 200K Users Worldwide

India, May 31, 2023: Paperpal, the CACTUS brand offering AI-powered assistance for language and technical compliance checks and translation for research manuscripts, crossed the 200K user mark worldwide on 20th May, 2023. This milestone took only 8 weeks after Paperpal hitting the 100K mark in March 2023. This can be attributed to the growing engagement around AI tools on various social platforms and signifies that researchers are enthusiastically adopting Paperpal for its relevance in academic writing.

Abhishek Goel, CEO, and Co-Fborounder, CACTUS, said, “We launched Paperpal to help researchers write better papers, edit them on the go, and make them publication ready within a very short duration. This tool is convenient; it can be plugged into MS Word and provides suggestions that are relevant to academic research. It gives us great joy when we find researchers praising Paperpal for helping them get published and recognising it as a tool specifically purpose-built for them.”

With over two decades of experience in delivering high-quality academic language editing services to researchers across the globe, CACTUS launched Paperpal, the AI-powered manuscript screening tool to facilitate researchers’ academic writing journey, in October 2020. Paperpal’s AI has been trained on millions of published articles and manuscripts edited by professional academic editors who have extensive experience enhancing manuscripts to meet the requirements of top journals. Paperpal helps improve authors’ chances of publication by flagging common errors and omissions in language and technical reporting prior to journal submission.

Nishchay Shah, Chief Technology Officer, CACTUS said, “Language solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the scholarly communication landscape. Academic writing assistants are witnessing a revolution with the exponential advancements in AI, especially with the explosion in Large Language Models (LLMs) due to the commercial success of chatGPT. Presently, authors have at their disposal a multitude of language editing tools or academic writing assistants that can aid them in their journey of writing a research paper. However, researchers have to use many different tools to get their paper ready for publication, which involves writing; translating; checking for technical journal compliance; reviewing the paper for clarity, style, and consistency; etc. At Paperpal, we blend the best AI tech developed inhouse and leverage bleeding-edge language models from the open-source community to build an integrated solution that seamlessly guides the author in their publication journey.”

Language editing is an essential part of the manuscript preparation process, and AI tools can greatly enhance the quality of academic texts. While AI language editing tools are increasingly being used to ensure clear, error-free writing, there are very few tools that are specifically designed for academic writing, such as Paperpal.

With over 200 B2G meetings in a single day, the roadshow woos investors to Northeast

Mumbai,  May 2023: The Northeast Investors Roadshow held today by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) received interest with over 200 business-to-government (B2G) meetings being organised in a single day. Besides a significant number of investors, the event also saw key policymakers and government officials from North East grace the occasion.

Addressing the First Mumbai Investor Roadshow, Shri Lok Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of DONER, said, “With the investor interest in the region, the North East region has achieved several industrial landmarks. The central and state governments and facilitators such as DoNER have together discussed several investible opportunities with businesses. Our interactions with businesses have revealed several welcoming and proactive experiences around North East.”

He further added, “Efforts are being made to invest and develop the entrepreneurial spirit of the Northeast region. The progress of the trilateral highway between Bangladesh and India will further enhance the prospects of integration. We are receiving significant support and contributions from various stakeholders. Logistics has been given due attention, and sectors such as food processing, IT, and solar energy have been capitalized upon. From the Ministry of DoNER’s perspective, we view these initiatives as proactive steps eagerly embraced by investors.”

Senior government officials from North Eastern states, the Ministry of DoNER, and officials from FICCI (Industry Partner), EY (Knowledge Partner), and Invest India (Investment Facilitation Partner) guided investors through new age avenues. Senior officials from North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), North Eastern Council (NEC), North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFI), and North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) also provided crucial insights during the Investor Roadshow. The event saw keen participation from leading industry associations, Global Investors, and Entrepreneurs.

Present during the roadshow were Shri Lok Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of DONER and Shri Harpreet Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of DONER, Mr. Ranjit Barthakur, Chairman, FICCI North East Advisory Council who deliberated on the abundant trade and investment potential of Northeast India. Shri Harpreet Singh, welcoming investors to the North East Roadshow in Mumbai, said, “The North East region is a compelling business and industrial destination. Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has referred to it as a growth-engine driver of the country. The region is a gateway to South East Asian markets and even beyond.”

He further added, “We have identified several priority and marquee sectors such as Agriculture, food-processing and allied sectors; Education and Skill Development; Healthcare and medicine; Power generation; Textiles handicrafts and handloom; IT and IT enable services; tourism and hospitality sector. Many states in the North East region have set up empowered committees on industrial and investment development after the DoNER’s roundtables in the North East state capitals. There is considerable ease of doing business and industrial assistance provided by the central and state governments which should facilitate investors keen to start a business in the region.”

The North East provides immense opportunities for enterprises keen on double-digit organic growth. Some of the top business houses that participated include names such as Dabur, Patanjali, Amul, Parle Agro, Pepsi Co, ITC, Britannia, Hindustan Unilever, Sun Pharmaceuticals, JSW Energy, Indian Oil, Adani Ventures, Mahindra Holidays and many more.

During the media briefing, key government officials and state representatives addressed queries on a wide variety of topics. On the aspect of entrepreneurship, officials explained how start-ups in the Northeast could leverage several programs such as Assam’s Nest, an incubator program to assist start-ups. Among start-up initiatives, the Entrepreneur Development Scheme in Mizoram saw 60% of start-up assistance to women-led businesses found critical mention. Investors and the media were also appraised of successful programs instituted by Arunachal Pradesh (Mission and Investment Park) and Nagaland.

Elaborating on the start-up and business culture, Shri Ranjan added, “The central and state governments realise the potential of start-ups. Agencies like the North East Development Finance Corporation have gained success by handholding start-ups. At the ministry also there are a number of requests for start-ups which we have supported through unique incubation programs. We are also in the stages of a new system which should help start-ups avail required support and assistance from the ministry.”

North East is a strategic gateway to South East Asian economies. Each of the eight states in the North East offers a significant business advantage to investors. Sikkim, known for being the country’s first fully organic state, has also observed a spurt in pharmaceutical businesses. Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura too have seen an uptick in investor interest particularly in the Tourism sector. In states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Nagaland, investment avenues such as power generation, biotechnology, natural resources, and eco-tourism have gained significance in recent years. The Northeastern states recently hosted G20 meetings as well.

The Northeast region is crucial to India’s economic target of a five trillion-dollar economy. Significant government investments in capacity building have been observed in the region recently. Through special schemes and packages, such as the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Scheme, Social and Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF), PM-DevINE scheme, and more, clearly, the focus is on building rapid, robust and sustainable development in the region. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, recently referred to the North Eastern region as ‘Ashtalakshmi’ or eight goddesses of wealth.

The North East Global Investors Summit is a flagship campaign instituted by the Ministry of DoNER. As part of the Northeast Global Investor Summit, successful Investor Roundtables have been organised across Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Meghalaya and are scheduled to be organised in other North Eastern states. Similar to Mumbai, the Ministry is expected to organise Investor Roadshows in Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Dhaka (Bangladesh) in the run-up to the lead investment summit in New Delhi later this year.

Combonation Transforms Retail Experience with Exciting Grab-and-Go Model for Combo Deals

New Delhi, 31 May 2023: Combonation, India’s first and only combo deal destination, is pleased to announce that it has adopted a state-of-the-art grab-and-go model in an effort to revolutionize how customers shop for combo deals. The adoption of this ground-breaking idea will increase accessibility, choice, and affordability while securing Combonation’s position as the market leader in India’s retail sector.

The grab-and-go model was developed in response to changing consumer preferences and the retail industry’s environment. The fast-paced lifestyles of modern consumers call for streamlined shopping experiences, and Combonation is aware of this need. By introducing this novel idea, Combonation hopes to give its devoted customers a seamless and trouble-free shopping experience.

Key features of the grab-and-go model include:

Unmatched Convenience: Customers can choose from a wide selection of combo offers that have been meticulously curated by Combonation’s team of experts and are tailored to meet a variety of needs and preferences. Customers will be able to quickly pick up their preferred options and continue with their day by quickly accessing these combo deals.

Diverse Product Selection: Combonation’s grab-and-go model will provide a wide range of high-quality products in a number of different categories, including food and drink, electronics, necessities for the home, fashion, and more. Customers have a variety of carefully crafted combo deals to choose from, all of which provide excellent value for money.

Competitive Pricing: Combonation is dedicated to giving its customers an unbeatable value. With the grab-and-go model, customers can benefit from affordable pricing on combo deals, allowing them to save a lot of money while taking advantage of a variety of premium products.

Combonation has put cutting-edge technology and store designs in place to guarantee a seamless shopping experience. Customers will discover a user-friendly interface that offers clear information on the products and pricing. Additionally, Combonation’s knowledgeable staff will be on hand to help clients with any questions or suggestions.

Ms. Pooja Sodhi, Combonation’s co-founder, and CEO, expressed her excitement about this strategic move, saying, “We believe that the grab-and-go model is the future of retail, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this revolution. By combining convenience, variety, and affordability, we are confident that our customers will experience unparalleled satisfaction when shopping for combo deals at Combonation.”

Combonation will be implementing the grab-and-go model in all its stores nationwide, with the roll-out expected to be completed in the near future. The business extends an invitation to clients, associates, and members of the press to personally experience the novel shopping concept.

Plum’s whitepaper on inclusion – What goes into building a company that cares

Bengaluru, May 31, 2023:
Plum, India’s leading employee health insurance platform, has unveiled its whitepaper, ‘What Goes into Building a Company That Cares’ that reveals the gaps in healthcare and insurance access faced by underrepresented groups in the workplace and urges corporations to recognise the significance of employee health insurance, not only as a comprehensive benefit but also a genuinely inclusive one at that.
While the conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has gained considerable traction over the recent years, the needle is yet to move to ensure access to quality healthcare and insurance coverage for underrepresented groups: including members of the LGBTQAI+ community, people with disabilities, and women. Plum’s whitepaper on inclusion through insurance addresses these disparities and also proposes corrective measures to make benefits at workplaces truly inclusive.

These underrepresented communities make up approximately 50% of India’s population and yet, here are some statistics on how they are insured:

•  60% of Plum’s customers have opted for new-age insurance coverage, demonstrating a growing demand for comprehensive healthcare.
• However, while progressive and comprehensive, less than 1% of these covers are inclusive. For example, there is much to be done to cover people with disabilities (for example Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or Autism) or even add LGBTQAI+ specific treatments (like gender reassignment surgery and mental health support) to these comprehensive policies.
•  Additionally, less than 25% of Plum’s customers have comprehensive insurance that caters to women’s unique healthcare and lifestyle needs, resulting in higher out-of-pocket expenses for an overlooked segment of the population.

Abhishek Poddar, Co-founder and CEO of Plum said, “At Plum, we are on a mission to redefine corporate healthcare practices by advocating for comprehensive employee health benefits that truly embrace inclusivity. By acknowledging and addressing the disparities faced by diverse employees, particularly those belonging to underrepresented groups, we have the potential to instigate change in the way companies prioritize the well-being of their workforce. It is our unwavering commitment to ensure that every individual receives the holistic benefits they rightfully deserve, fostering a culture of care; where every employee thrives.”

Plum collaborated closely with top DEI experts and activists like Dr Saundarya Rajesh – Founder-President at Avtar The Power of Diversity, Harish Iyer, an equal rights activist, Akshay CM – DEI & Talent Management Consultant, Priti Shetty – Chief People and Culture Officer at WeWork, etc. to develop this whitepaper, solidifying its commitment to driving meaningful change.

In the whitepaper, Harish Iyer, an equal rights activist, emphasises, “Inclusivity is an ongoing journey, not a destination. The absence of DEI initiatives within any organisation can have detrimental effects on both individuals and the company as a whole. Individuals may encounter obstacles, discrimination, and a stressful work environment, while companies may experience high attrition rates and a decline in productivity, ultimately hindering overall growth. Historically underrepresented groups bear the brunt of such toxic work cultures.”

Plum recognizes that the dialogue around DEI is an ongoing one (and not only restricted to benefits, but also includes workplace practices, physical infrastructure, tech accessibility, and a change in mindset too). This whitepaper marks the company’s first significant step towards addressing inclusion through insurance, being fully aware that true progress and change require continuous effort and genuine intent. The company is committed to building upon this foundation both internally and externally, as it drives a transformative cultural shift in corporate healthcare practices. By fostering a supportive work culture that values the health and well-being of every employee, Plum is dedicated to ensuring inclusivity within its own workplace and beyond.

Delicut: The Ultimate Gourmet Ready-to-Eat Meals

Delicut is a brand revolutionizing the FMCG sector with its innovative, ready-to-eat meals. The brand has brought to the market a range of products that are not only delicious but also convenient to prepare. Delicut’s USP lies in its use of sous vide cooking technology, which ensures perfect doneness of the food and retains the nutrients and flavors, and the meals are fully cooked to perfection, making the results identical every time. What sets Delicut apart from its competitors is its wide range of gourmet products with recipes crafted by master chefs, and the ease of cooking. The brand has also ensured that its products are healthy by making them gluten-free, lactose-free, trans-fat-free, and GMO-free, with no added preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors. Founder and CEO Tarun Arora brought Delicut to life during COVID-19 lockdowns. A hotelier and restaurateur with a passion for the FMCG industry, Tarun saw a need for ready-to-eat gourmet meals amidst the tumultuous scenario, bringing the brand on board. Delicut’s meals come at an affordable average price of Rs. 200. The brand’s name is a combination of two words: deli and cut, which refers to premium stores across the world selling meat products and premium cuts of meats, respectively. Delicut’s target audience has been highly satisfied with the brand’s offerings, with a repeat customer rate of 60%. The brand aims to etch its name as a game-changer in the FMCG industry and become the market leader in the B2B space. Currently, the brand is available in Delhi NCR as a D2C brand with 90-minute delivery via its e-commerce portal. Delicut is also expanding its reach to other e-commerce aggregators such as Blinkit and Instamart, and it is available in pan India as a B2B brand, with its eyes on the export market as well. Delicut is a brand that combines gourmet food with convenience and affordability, making it the perfect choice for consumers who want a delicious and healthy meal with minimal effort. With its unique approach to ready-to-eat meals, Delicut is set to become a market leader in the FMCG industry.

SentinelOne® Shields India’s Premier Hospital from Increasing Cyber Attacks

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital leverages market-leading AI-based security tools to keep critical infrastructure safe

NEW DELHI – May 31, 2023 – Cyberattacks are on the rise, and healthcare organizations are increasingly being targeted. In the first quarter of 2023, the sector experienced nearly 1,700 attacks per week – a 22% increase over 2022, when it was the victim of a record 1.9 million attacks in total. Most hospitals rely on legacy software to remedy the ills that cyberattacks can cause. But as the threat landscape continues to evolve and become more complex, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital decided a more modern approach was needed. And it turned to SentinelOne (NYSE: S), a global leader in autonomous security, to prescribe a plan.

“Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is the oldest hospital in the region, and our IT systems reflected that,” said Arun Goyal, CIO at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. “In the changing cybersecurity environment and with the evolution of ChatGPT, we knew we needed to be much stronger in our endpoint security and leverage the same AI capabilities adversaries are using to execute attacks to keep our infrastructure and data safe.”

Modern Solutions for Modern Threats

Enter SentinelOne. A pioneer in deep learning models and neural networks, SentinelOne has redefined Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) with SingularityTM XDR, a market-leading, intelligence-driven platform that extends protection beyond the endpoint, providing unfettered visibility, AI-powered protection, and unparalleled response capabilities that security teams can use to defend the entire technology stack.

In a post-COVID era, Goyal views this as critical. “People are working from home and working remotely, so you have to have endpoint security, where in the absence of the Internet or your access to the endpoint, you have something sitting there to stave off threats,” he said.

And this is where SentinelOne stood out.

AI as a Force for Good

“One thing which attracted us towards SentinelOne was the AI sitting within it,” Goyal said. “It was functional and worked even in the absence of the Internet. Everybody’s taking care of endpoint and gateway-level security and data at rest. But one should be taking care of the data in transition as well. Because that is the one piece that is very vulnerable. And with SentinelOne, we can do this.”

“Whether they are healing on the front lines or researching a healthier tomorrow, SentinelOne provides healthcare organizations with a simpler, more effective way to secure their distributed and diverse IT ecosystem,” said Diwa Dayal, Managing Director – India & SAARC, SentinelOne. “Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is an innovator in cybersecurity, and we are pleased to be helping them to protect the business of protecting us.”

SentinelOne provides a unique portfolio of solutions that healthcare organizations around the world can use to improve their security posture. To learn more about the offerings and the value they are delivering, click here.

Innovative Tech Mavericks Revolutionizing Industries for the Digital Age

In the dynamic realm of the contemporary digital age, technology assumes a crucial position in molding the operational dynamics and customer interactions of businesses. Within this transformative landscape, a handpicked assortment of forward-thinking enterprises has emerged as pioneers, harnessing technology to challenge conventional practices and reshape their industries. By elevating customer experiences, streamlining compliance procedures, promoting financial inclusivity, and reinforcing cybersecurity measures, these five tech-driven companies are spearheading the journey toward a more streamlined and interconnected tomorrow.

Smartcoin: Revolutionizing Microfinance with Technology

Smartcoin is a technology-driven microfinance company that provides small-ticket loans to individuals who lack access to traditional banking services. Through their mobile app and online platform, Smartcoin offers quick and hassle-free loan disbursals, leveraging data analytics and alternative credit scoring models. By leveraging technology to reach the underserved, Smartcoin is transforming the microfinance landscape and fostering financial inclusion.

Trezix: Enhancing Import Export Sector with End-to-End Solutions

TreZix is a unified SaaS platform for importers and exporters across the globe. With digitization and Automation, the platform comprehensively manages documentation, approvals, license usage, shipment tracking, and active notifications of businesses to ensure seamless operations. It offers access to a smart dashboard to its clients with real-time data on critical business metrics needed for effective decision-making.

Revfin: Revolutionizing Financial Inclusion

Revfin is a fintech company that aims to bridge the financial inclusion gap by providing innovative financial solutions for EVs to underserved individuals and businesses. Leveraging technology, Revfin offers digital lending services, empowering customers with easy access to credit. With streamlined application processes and quick disbursals, Revfin enables individuals and small enterprises to realize their financial goals.

Teamlease Regtech: Streamlining Compliance with Technology

Teamlease Regtech is a cutting-edge technology company focused on simplifying regulatory compliance processes. Through its innovative solutions, the company assists organizations in managing complex compliance requirements effectively. By automating tasks such as document verification, reporting, and risk assessment, Teamlease Regtech empowers businesses to navigate regulatory landscapes efficiently.

Sprinklr: Transforming Customer Experience Management

Sprinklr is a leading customer experience management platform that leverages advanced technology to enable companies to engage with their customers across various digital channels. By providing a unified view of customer interactions, Sprinklr helps businesses optimize their marketing, sales, and customer service strategies, resulting in enhanced customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

These tech-savvy companies serve as prime examples of how technology can bring about profound transformations across diverse industries. They are revolutionizing customer experiences, regulatory compliance, financial inclusion, cybersecurity, and microfinance through their cutting-edge solutions. By harnessing innovation, these companies are propelling businesses to thrive and flourish in the digital era.