Archive: February 28, 2025

Servotech & CIMSME Commend Innovation with User-Friendly App for PM Surya Ghar Yojana

New Delhi, 28th February 2025: Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd. (NSE: SERVOTECH), a leader in sustainable energy solutions, and the Chamber of Indian Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (CIMSME) have signed MoU to significantly boost the adoption of solar energy across India. In support of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, they aim to install 100,000 solar rooftop systems in homes by 2026.

A key component of this initiative is the launch of a dedicated, user-friendly mobile application, developed by CIMSME in collaboration with Servotech. This app simplifies the entire solar adoption process, offering homeowners a seamless experience from initial roof inspection and documentation to installation, system monitoring, and subsidy application assistance.

To ensure efficient nationwide implementation, CIMSME will mobilize a network of approximately 30,000 individuals. Operating on a PIN code basis, this dedicated workforce will facilitate sales, provide on-the-ground support, and oversee the installation process.

Servotech, already registered with 62 DISCOMs across the country, will provide comprehensive end-to-end solar solutions, including the installation of Solar Photovoltaic Generation Systems (SPGS) ranging from 2kW to 10kW, tailored to meet diverse household energy needs. The company will also provide ongoing maintenance services to ensure optimal system performance.

Raman Bhatia, Founder and Managing Director of Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd. said This collaboration and the launch of our mobile app represent a significant leap forward in making solar energy accessible to every Indian household. By combining our expertise with CIMSME’s extensive network, we are empowering communities and driving the nation towards a sustainable future.

Mukesh Mohan Gupta, President of CIMSME said We are excited to collaborate with Servotech on this transformative project. In alignment with the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister towards sustainable development and enhance the wellbeing of the people, this initiative is a significant step towards nation-building. It also promotes ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) objectives, and accelerating solar adoption across India to ensure renewable power reaches to the last mile beneficiary, Mr. Gupta added.”

Mysore Saree Udyog Commends Tradition with Heartwarming ‘Generations of Love’ Initiative

Bengaluru, February 28th, 2025: Bold & Beyond, a new-age integrated PR and marketing agency and the official PR and Digital Marketing partners for Mysore Saree Udyog (MSU), an ethnic wear brand renowned for their legacy and quality, launched an emotionally powerful campaign, “Generations of Love: An MSU Tale,” in celebration of the season of love. This heartwarming campaign honoured couples who have been married for over 30 years, celebrating love across generations through the stories of MSU’s most loyal patrons.

The campaign highlighted the essence of everlasting love while reinforcing MSU’s deep-rooted presence in the lives of its customers. Presented as a three-part video on the Instagram and Facebook platforms, each film featured a unique love story, showcasing women adorned in MSU’s signature sarees and men’s ethnic ensembles as they reminisced about their journeys together and on how love evolves but remains ever-present. The three-part video series was crafted around the following themes:

• Wondering what love looks like after 40 years? The video captures a couple who have been married for over four decades, sharing the beauty of their evolving relationship and the role MSU has played in their cherished moments.
• Not all love stories begin with a choice- some are written by destiny. This story follows a couple whose love was shaped by fate, highlighting the serendipitous nature of their journey together.
• Love is an art, and for some, their first love is their craft. The third film narrates a story of passion beyond romance, where love intertwines with the art of performance, emphasising devotion in all its forms.

Each video took viewers on a heartfelt journey through time, reflecting on love, companionship, and the significant milestones MSU has been a part of. The campaign resonated deeply with audiences, evoking emotions and smiles, while strengthening the brand’s connection with its customers.

This campaign highlights Bold & Beyond’s expertise in creating engaging storytelling campaigns that promote meaningful engagement between brands and their audiences. The agency continues to drive creative campaigns across industries, consistently raising brand narratives and deepening consumer connections.

Optimum Nutrition Commends Nutrition with Project Protein Thali for Protein-Inclusive Meals

Mumbai 28th February 2025: On World Protein Day, Optimum Nutrition, the world’s #1 sports nutrition brand, is proud to announce the launch of Project Protein Thali, a pioneering initiative aimed at educating active Indian adults on protein sufficiency. This innovative project seeks to educate consumers to rethink daily meal compositions and prioritize a protein-rich diet.

India faces a significant protein gap, with 73% of the population deficient in protein and over 90% unaware of their daily protein requirements. This deficiency can lead to muscle loss. Project Protein Thali is designed to bridge this knowledge gap and encourage behavioural change by making protein the hero of every meal, leading to muscle gain and fast recovery after a workout/ fitness activity.

At the heart of Project Protein Thali is the concept of introducing one small but powerful change to transform the nutritional composition of your everyday meal. The initiative “Swap the Serve” encourages replacing a portion of carbohydrates with protein. Coupled with Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard 100% Whey, this “Protein Thali” demonstrates how one can get 40 grams of protein from a single meal.

On this occasion, renowned athlete PV Sindhu said, “Throughout my athlete journey, I have always felt the need to get expert guidance on the diet for peak performance. A well-structured diet is not just important—it’s a game changer for any athlete, and protein plays a vital role in enhancing recovery. Recognizing the power of protein, I joined forces with Optimum Nutrition to effortlessly integrate it into my daily diet. Now, I’m eager to share my insights and experiences with fellow athletes through “Project Protein Thali,” a campaign designed to empower others to harness the incredible benefits of protein.”

“We realized that protein portion in meals is important but is still not a habit for many Indians and, in fact, among many sports and fitness enthusiasts. We have made it very simple. We just picked up the ‘Indian Thali’, which represents quintessential daily meals, and transformed it into the Protein Thali. All you need to do is Swap the serve! With this initiative, we aim to inspire a movement towards making Indian diets protein-inclusive.” said Sumit Mathur, General Manager, South Asia, Glanbia Performance Nutrition

In an endeavor to walk the talk, Optimum Nutrition activated Project Protein Thali at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), where daily meals for the athletes featured the Protein Thali, including Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard 100% Whey. This initiative was aimed to inspire young athletes by demonstrating to them how easily protein can be included in their diet and support their goals.

As the go-to solution for the protein needs of active adults, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard 100% Whey is the trusted choice of billions. By integrating it into their daily meals, consumers can ensure that they are getting the optimum amount of protein. Optimum Nutrition invites everyone to join the conversation on social media using #SwapTheServe, sharing their own Protein Thali creations and tips for incorporating more protein into daily meals.

OBPP Association, in Collaboration with SEBI, and other Market Stakeholders, Launches Bond Central

Mumbai, February 28, 2025 – The Online Bond Platform Providers Association of India in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), NSE, BSE, NSDL, CDSL, announced the launch of Bond Central a pioneering initiative aimed at transforming India’s corporate bond market by improving accessibility, transparency, and retail investor participation.

Since the launch of the OBPP platform, there has been a 327% growth in monthly transactions in Corporate Bonds and SDIs in the last 1 year. (Source: BSE)

Bond Central is designed to further bridge the information gap in the corporate bond market, empowering investors with discovery, and comprehensive educational resources. The initiative aligns with SEBI’s ongoing efforts to deepen India’s corporate bond markets and provide retail investors with stable investment options.

Bond Central offers several key features to enhance the corporate bond investment experience. It provides a comprehensive bond listing, offering a unified view of corporate bonds across exchanges and issuers, ensuring seamless discovery and comparison. Retail investors can compare corporate bond prices with Government Securities (G-Secs) and other fixed-income indices, enabling better decision-making.

The platform also prioritizes retail investor-centric information by granting access to detailed risk assessments, bond documents, and disclosures, helping investors evaluate opportunities effectively. Additionally, Bond Central enhances transparency by standardizing corporate bond-related data, reducing information asymmetry, and improving trust in the fixed-income market.

Industry Leaders Welcome Bond Central

Mrs Aditi Mittal, Chairperson OBPP Association and Co-Founder of IndiaBonds, stated:

“For India’s corporate bond market to reach its full potential, investors need clarity, confidence, and accessibility—Bond Central delivers on all three fronts. By offering a consolidated platform with investor-friendly features, we are ensuring that Corporate Bonds and SDIs become as easy to invest in as any other asset class.”

Speaking on the launch,

Mr Aashish Jindal, Director of OBPP and Co-founder of Grip Invest, mentioned:

“Bond Central is a transformative step in growing corporate bond investments in India. By leveraging technology to integrate data, price, comparisons, and risk insights, we are creating a data-driven, transparent ecosystem that empowers investors.”

Driving Growth & Market Participation

Bond Central is expected to enhance market infrastructure, increase retail participation in corporate bonds market, and promote a balanced investment ecosystem, supporting SEBI’s vision of Bonds for Viksit Bharat.

Rang Barse Commends Sustainability with Modern, Eco-Friendly Colour Sprays

Mumbai, 28th February 2025: Rang Barse™, an Indigenous Brand dedicated to providing safe, toxin free, sustainable and innovative ways to play with colors in Holi, is revolutionizing the traditional celebration with their unique Rang Barse™ Colour Snow Sprays.

These Colour sprays offer a clean and mess-free alternative to traditional powdered Holi colours that are often made with hazardous ingredients that can have dire consequences on users playing with them, making them a popular choice at concerts, school and office events, gatherings, and street celebrations.

Rang Barse™ Colour Sprays are designed with safety and sustainability in mind. The colour sprays come in unique shades, like Lilac that are ready to use without requiring any mixing. Offering a touch-free Holi experience, the sprays allow users to enjoy playing with colours from a distance of 3 feet. Additionally, Rang Barse™ prioritizes environmental responsibility by packaging its products in recyclable materials and recycled paper boxes. Safe for people of all ages, these sprays ensure that everyone can partake in the festival’s joy without concern.

Krishna Maniyar, CEO of Micron Aerosols, shared, “We are thrilled to offer a modern and convenient solution for celebrating Holi. Our Colour Snow Sprays provide a fun and mess-free experience that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age or gender. We aim to provide a sustainable, safe and enjoyable festival experience for all.”

They have established itself as a go-to brand for those seeking an innovative and eco-friendly approach to Holi celebrations. The brand’s dedication to creating a safe and enjoyable experience has garnered praise from customers who appreciate the convenience and quality of the Colour Snow Sprays.

With Holi just around the corner, Rang Barse™ invites individuals and communities to embrace a new era of colour play with their range of innovative products. Say goodbye to sticky, hard-to-remove colours that can have sever health impact and join the movement towards a cleaner, more vibrant Holi celebration with Rang Barse.

Tech Mahindra Commends Innovation with IndusQ LLM and Qualcomm AI Hub Integration

New Delhi, February 28th, 2025: Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM), a leading global provider of technology consulting and digital solutions to enterprises across industries, announced a strategic AI-led collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. through the successful integration of Tech Mahindra’s proprietary AI model, IndusQ LLM, into Qualcomm® AI Hub – a dedicated platform for on-device AI model deployment. IndusQ is a branch of Indus, which has been specifically configured to work seamlessly with Qualcomm’s technologies. This milestone places Tech Mahindra as the only Global System Integrator (GSI) to achieve this integration, reinforcing its leadership in AI-driven enterprise solutions.

The collaboration combines Qualcomm Technologies’ AI expertise with Tech Mahindra’s AI-powered enterprise solutions to drive innovation in connected devices, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities. It offers scalable and transformative AI solutions for enterprises worldwide, democratizing AI and providing developers and businesses with enterprise-ready solutions that drive real-time insights, automation, and decision-making at the edge. The collaboration enhances on-device compute capabilities, supporting new use cases across diverse network conditions. For developers, the model’s seamless integration directly on the device allows for faster deployment and easier scaling of applications, eliminating the need for complex setup and making the process more efficient than ever.

Nikhil Malhotra, Chief Innovation Officer & Global Head of AI and Emerging Technologies, Tech Mahindra, said, “With AI research at its drive, many R&D organizations are working to bring AI to the edge, ensuring that low computing and low carbon facets are catered to. Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies addresses this by developing AI-powered use cases, helping businesses tap into advanced AI capabilities to enhance operational efficiency, automation, and customer experience at the edge. Together, we will revolutionize the AI landscape by making AI more inclusive and accessible for enterprises operating in diverse linguistic markets.”

Tech Mahindra’s AI model introduces Hindi and its 37 dialects, enabling businesses to offer tailored solutions for diverse markets, bridging language barriers, and ensuring AI accessibility in multilingual regions like India. Leveraging Tech Mahindra’s expertise to provide localized AI solutions, application developers can expand into new, untapped markets by offering localized AI solutions in India and Globally, strengthening its position in edge AI computing worldwide.

Savi Soin, Senior Vice President and President, Qualcomm India, said, “At Qualcomm Technologies, we’re driving innovation to unlock AI and edge computing potential. Our collaboration with Tech Mahindra to integrate IndusQ LLM into Qualcomm AI Hub makes AI-driven solutions more inclusive. This collaboration expands Qualcomm Technologies’ AI offerings and enables next-gen solutions. We are excited about the potential of new AI-based use cases for both consumer and enterprise applications.”

Qualcomm AI Hub supports various verticals such as mobile, compute, automotive, and IoT. For example, it features Snapdragon® X-Series platforms with one of the world’s fastest NPU in laptops with 45 TOPS – enabling on device LLM and AI use cases and making them more accessible to businesses in diverse linguistic markets such as India. The Snapdragon X-Series processors can democratize AI applications by providing developers and businesses with enterprise-ready solutions that drive real-time insights, automation, and decision-making to unlock new revenue streams, optimize operations, and accelerate their digital transformation journeys.

Lead Angels Commends Innovation, Rebranding as Lead Invest for Market Expansion

February 28th, 2025: Lead Angels, India’s pioneering, pre-eminent angel investment network, has announced its rebranding to Lead Invest, marking its evolution into a comprehensive investment platform with holistic offerings in India’s unlisted equity space. This transformation reflects the firm’s expanded, ongoing focus on late-stage pre-IPO investments, syndications, and next-generation startup investing, as compared to the previous years where they majorly focused on narrow focussed angel investments only.

With nearly a decade of operations and a strong track record of 100+ investments till date, Lead Invest aims to double down on its impeccable reputation for transparency, credibility, and governance in the near future. To that end, following this rebranding, the firm has ramped up capabilities to facilitate exclusive access to high-growth pre-IPO opportunities, helping investors participate in companies before they go public – a segment that has gained substantial traction in our country in recent years with lucrative potential returns year-on-year. Besides, they have also innovated structured investment vehicles with built-in diversification and risk mitigation capabilities, in a bid to make high-growth opportunities ranging from Funding in early stage bright Start-Ups to pre-IPO companies accessible to their network of investors.

Commenting on the rebranding, Sushanto Mitra, Founder & CEO, Lead Invest said, “We at Lead Angels have evolved from a pure angel network to now become a more comprehensive investment solutions provider committed to empowering investors and strengthening India’s private market ecosystem. To reflect this transition, we have rebranded ourselves into Lead Invest nxtgen – aligning with our expanded focus and future-ready nxtgen solutions for startup investing. This repositioning also reflects our commitment to offering contemporary investors access to high-quality opportunities across the entire startup lifecycle spectrum, from early-stage to pre-IPO. Through our platform which allows us to aggregate and deploy capital efficiently, we will continue providing curated investment opportunities across these different growth stages”.

Hanuman Tripathi, Manging Partner – Fintech, for Lead Invest added, “The world of angel investment is transforming. We are observing the shift in Investor preferences, over the last few years of a dynamic stock market. Investors are seeing value in tapping the unlisted equity market with an eye on the future with early exits, listings etc”.

The startup ecosystem funding is also going through a sea change itself. We have lots of funding opportunities from Bright Start-Ups coming to us where founders have a VC backing them up and there is a definite time frame in which their funding round needs to be completed with our participation. These are the times for high growth for good companies and they need quick & sure Investor backup.

Further, we see that founders wish to work with Investors who can partner their growth & strategy and give them access to overseas markets, network and new client acquisition.

This is the whole construct of the newly rebranded Lead Angels to Lead Invest. We are not just angels now, but a partner in growth for our start-ups and offering complete investment options in unlisted space to our discerning investors.

In this repositioning of the brand and business model, Lead Invest has introduced the below-mentioned key verticals under the aegis of its integrated model-

▪ Lead Invest nxtgen: A flagship offering by Lead Invest in our Cat-1 AIF, enabling high net-worth individual investors to make institutional investments into promising start-ups which are having high customer adoption and have a VC backing them. This product suits investors who are busy and don’t have time to sit in evaluations each time for smaller ticket size exposure.

▪ Lead Pre-IPO: Provides investors with exclusive access to curated companies/startups preparing for public listing at relatively lower valuation entry points and perceived to have strong upside potential.

▪ Lead Advisory: Under this vertical, Lead Invest provides comprehensive growth advisory offering, including consulting, fundraising support, and support and strategies for improved market access and scaling primarily to its portfolio startups.

So far, Lead Invest has nurtured a robust network of 500+ investors and successfully invested in close to 100 startups across diverse sectors, helping them scale and achieve business milestones. With a historic IRR of ~34% and investments made through a SEBI-registered CAT-1 AIF, Lead Invest is poised to become a trusted, full-cycle investment partner.

Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre Commends Leadership with Chandni P. Sharrma’s Appointment

Gurugram, 28th February 2025: Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre is pleased to announce the appointment of ChandniP Sharrma as Cluster Commercial Director. With nearly two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, ChandniP brings deep expertise in business planning, sales strategy, budgeting, and revenue management. In this role, she will lead commercial initiatives to drive growth and further enhance Hilton’s market presence in North India’s dynamic hospitality landscape.

ChandniP Sharrma has held leadership positions with renowned hospitality brands such as Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Shangri-La Hotels. Most recently, she served as Director of Sales and Marketing at a 395-key property in Gurugram with 40,000 sq. ft. of event space, achieving record-breaking revenue and securing high-profile events.

Located in the heart of Gurugram’s thriving business district, Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre is recognized for their world-class hospitality, contemporary accommodations, and exceptional service standards. ChandniP’s appointment reflects Hilton’s commitment to building high-performing teams and delivering market-leading results.

ChandniP Sharma added, “I am excited to join Hilton. Hilton’s commitment to excellence and innovation aligns perfectly with my passion for driving commercial success. I look forward to working with the talented teams at Hilton Gurugram to strengthen market leadership, optimize revenue strategies, and enhance the guest experience.”

With ChandniP’s leadership, Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre is set to further elevate their market positioning, delivering exceptional value for guests, partners, and stakeholders.

/Tamarind Restaurant Commends Tradition with New South Indian Summer Delights

As the summer heat intensifies across Kolkata and South India, the craving for light, refreshing, and cooling food grows stronger. Tamarind Restaurant, known for its authentic South Indian cuisine, has introduced Summer Saviour Dishes—a special menu curated to provide relief from the sweltering temperatures. These dishes are designed to keep the body cool, aid digestion, and ensure hydration without being heavy or overly spiced.

The Summer Saviour menu features classics like Curd Rice, Buttermilk with Mint and Coriander, and Lemon Rice, which are known for their cooling properties. For those seeking a heartier yet refreshing meal, Mutton Stew with Appam and Tawa Fish offer the perfect balance of flavor and lightness. Other highlights include Tomato Pappu, Beans Poriyal, Tamarind Rice, and Manidakai Pappu, each packed with nutrients while being easy on the stomach.

“Tamarind’s summer menu is crafted to help diners stay cool and comfortable during the hottest months,” said Gautam Purkayastha, Owner of Tamarind Restaurant. “From refreshing drinks to wholesome meals, every dish is meant to nourish while offering relief from the heat.” With a perfect mix of traditional ingredients and minimal spices, Tamarind’s Summer Saviour Dishes promise a flavorful escape from the summer sun.