Archive: August 1, 2025

Real Estate’s Silent Boom: Are emerging hubs challenging legacy hotspots in NCR

Over the past few years, India’s urban skyline has undergone a steady transformation. With residential real estate on an upward path across the country’s top seven cities, sales volumes are projected to rise by 5–7 per cent in the coming fiscal year as per a recent CRISIL Ratings report, with average property prices tracking a similar climb.

According to Mihir Jha, Head Sales, Better Choice Realtors Pvt Ltd., in the National Capital Region (NCR), emerging hubs are challenging legacy hotspots, and infrastructure is shaping investment decisions more than ever before.

“The luxury and premium housing segments have stepped into the foreground. Once a niche, this category now accounts for the majority of the new launches,” Jha said.

According to Mihir Jha, Head Sales, Better Choice Realtors Pvt Ltd., in the National Capital Region (NCR), emerging hubs are challenging legacy hotspots, and infrastructure is shaping investment decisions more than ever before.

“The luxury and premium housing segments have stepped into the foreground. Once a niche, this category now accounts for the majority of the new launches,” Jha said.

Affordable Housing Seeing Steady Slide

In contrast, affordable housing – once the primary focus of mass development – has seen a steady slide. From comprising 30 per cent of new launches just five years ago, it is expected to account for merely 10-12 per cent by the next fiscal cycle. The same trend applies to mid-income homes, whose share has halved since 2020.

“Much of this shift is playing out in NCR, where the urban landscape is being reshaped not just by demand, but by intent. Intent in the form of wide expressways, new metro corridors, upgraded rail links, and an airport that has already begun altering investor sentiment even before it becomes operational. Micro-markets like the Dwarka Expressway, New Gurugram and suburbs like the Kundli-Sonipat belt are now commanding attention,” said Viineet Chellani, Founder and CEO Asset Deals.

Plotted Development In The Area

The completion of the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway and renewed industrial interest are redrawing the maps of investor interest. Long dismissed as peripheral, the region now sees plotted development and gated township models gaining traction, especially among end-users priced out of central Gurugram.

Surender Kaushik, Founder and Managing Director ARIPL, said “On the western flank, the long-delayed but now fully functional Dwarka Expressway has unlocked a new residential corridor. Once viewed as a satellite to Gurugram, it is now evolving as a self-contained ecosystem, with multi-format housing, commercial nodes, and rapid transit options converging. Rental yields in the area have improved, appreciation values have surged, and what was once seen as an extended commute is now a thirty-minute drive to the airport.”

On the eastern front, New Noida – designed as an industrial and logistics cluster – is being closely watched for its scale and planning. The land-use distribution is deliberate: nearly half is designated for industry, over one-tenth for housing, and large allocations for green and social infrastructure. With direct freight corridor connectivity and metro extensions on the cards, its evolution appears scripted for long-term resilience.

Developers In Better Position

Across NCR, the momentum isn’t just a product of connectivity or land affordability. It is also underpinned by improved developer balance sheets. Reduced debt levels, joint development models, and an equity-funding push have collectively brought down the debt-to-cash flow ratio from alarming levels in 2020 to more manageable ranges today. As a result, developers are now in a better position to navigate unsold inventory, which, while rising marginally due to increased launches, remains within tolerable limits.

As the urban fabric stretches outward, NCR isn’t just expanding – it’s reorganising. The region is seeing a decentralised, multi-core evolution that reflects not just demographic pressure, but changing aspirations. From investors recalibrating their portfolios to end-users looking beyond the usual suspects, NCR’s new real estate map is being drawn at the intersection of infrastructure, policy, and evolving lifestyle needs.

Forever New Launches Resort-Ready July Collection Inspired by Tropical Escapes and Summer Romance

New Delhi, 01st August 2025: Forever New, the iconic Australian fashion brand known for its feminine charm and timeless silhouettes, unveils its July 2025 collection — a vibrant celebration of sun-drenched getaways, floral romance, and effortless elegance. Drawing inspiration from tropical prints, vintage glamour, and balmy resort moods, this collection blends elevated daywear with occasion-ready pieces, offering versatile style from brunch to beach to evening soirées.

The July drop highlights three signature print stories —

• Bright Havana: A playful tropical edit in linen blends and halter silhouettes for beachside glamour
• Carmen Floral: Day-to-night florals with tiered midis, puffed sleeves, and feminine fit-and-flares
• Coral Layla Botanic: Petite-friendly occasionwear featuring tie-up details, viscose fabrics, and elevated glamour

Key Styles Include

– Romee Halter Neck Midi – Bright Havana

– Elyssa Puff Sleeve Mini – Carmen Floral

– Darcy One Shoulder Mini – Coral Layla Botanic

– Shauna Tiered Midi – Carmen Floral

– Serena Halter Peplum Midi – Coral Layla Botanic

Crafted in premium summer fabrics like linen, viscose, and tencel — and accentuated with 3D appliqué, ruching, and delicate trims, the July collection aligns with key global trends such as minimal tailoring, feminine vintage revival, and sustainable elegance.

This July, Forever New invites women to embrace a season of sunshine and spontaneity — one outfit at a time. Whether you’re chasing sunsets or city lights, these versatile pieces promise to be your perfect companion.

SnackPure Unveils 5 Crunchy New Chips Flavors to Spice Up Your Snacking Game

New Delhi, India, 1st August, 2025: SnackPure by Zuari International, the guilt-free premium snacking brand that redefined healthy indulgence with its line of Makhanas, Chips, and Oat Chips, has launched five exciting new variants of chips – Makhana Chips, Black Chana Chips, Mix Veg Chips, Corn Tikka Chips, and Brown Rice Chips to satisfy the tastebuds of all snack lovers. But this isn’t just another product launch—it’s a crunchy, chatpata revolution. Move over regular flavours; ever heard of Makhana Chips? SnackPure made it happen, pushing boundaries and changing the way we think about snacking, one guilt-free bite at a time.

Say goodbye to bland bites and hello to a fresh wave of snacks that are high in flavor, low on guilt, and bursting with desi tadka and global flair. Whether you’re powering through back-to-back Zoom calls, enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon, or hosting your next party, SnackPure’s new chips range is here to satisfy your cravings without compromising on health. From the crispy, chatpata goodness of Black Chana Chips to the nostalgia-packed Mix Veg Chips in Desi Masala, these new additions bring you the magic of homemade flavor with a modern twist. The Cream & Onion Makhana Chips offer a light yet satisfying crunch, perfect for social gatherings, while Corn Tikka Chips with Peri Peri seasoning bring the spice and sizzle of a tandoor to your snack bowl.

“At SnackPure, we believe snacking should be fun, flavorful, and good for you. This new range reflects our commitment to bringing innovative, health-conscious options to today’s consumers without compromising on taste. The variants we’ve taken are inspired by both Indian street food and global taste trends to create something truly exciting for today’s mindful snackers. Each product is crafted to deliver bold flavor without the baggage of guilt,” said Surjya Meher, COO, Zuari International.

With a rising wave of health-conscious consumers seeking clean-label snacking alternatives, SnackPure is leading the charge in transforming everyday munching into a mindful habit. From superfoods like makhana to nutrient-rich legumes and vegetables, SnackPure chips offer an elevated experience that doesn’t force you to choose between taste and nutrition. Low in guilt, high in flavor, and free from artificial additives—this is snacking done right.

All five variants are now live on Amazon, Flipkart, and our official website.

Metaforms raises USD 9M to give market research agencies their own AI workflows

Metaforms to expand its platform of intelligent agents purpose-built for the market research industry. With leading agencies already in production, the company is reshaping how insight work gets done.

San Francisco, CA – August 1, 2025: The market research boom is creating an unexpected casualty: the agencies themselves. In an industry where clients expect faster turnarounds, competitive pricing, and diverse capabilities, agencies are turning down work – not for lack of interest, but because outdated operational systems keep them from meeting client expectations. Metaforms, a startup born from this bottleneck, is helping research teams scale without burning out. Today, the company announces a $9 million Series A to expand its AI infrastructure platform and accelerate adoption across the $130 billion global research industry.

The round was led by Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia India), with participation from Nexus Venture Partners and Together Fund. It brings Metaforms’ total funding to just over $10 million and will be used to grow the team, expand into new workflows like report generation and voice-based research, and deepen integrations with tools like Decipher, SPSS, and Confirmit.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Akshat and Arjun as they reimagine what a market research agency could look like in an AI-first world. Metaforms is scaling rapidly, by enabling some of the largest research agencies globally to automate workflows such as survey programming and data processing through their suite of AI agents.” Shailendra Singh, MD, Peak XV

When a global brand like a shoe company wants to make critical decisions about how to market it’s new pair of shoes in a geography it has never ventured into before. It engages a market research agency to figure out lifestyle habits and cultural perceptions of a population. For this the agency has to recruit a target population, design a research study, convert the survey questions into an online link, clean the data for fraud, do in-person interviews, combine all the data to finally make a presentation.

Metaforms builds AI agents designed to work within research agencies’ existing workflows, automating the manual processes that limit capacity and erode margins. Instead of replacing research expertise, the platform acts as a force multiplier: turning questionnaires into survey code, flagging bad data before it breaks a project, coordinating panel vendors, and tracking quotas across complex multi-country studies.

For many agencies, this means the difference between turning away work and scaling up confidently.

Metaforms has been incredibly successful thanks to their uniquely thoughtful approach to modernizing research operations—embedding seamlessly into the workflows, tools, and platforms that researchers and agencies already use. I’m excited to continue supporting the team as they build on that momentum with this Series A— Jonathan Tice, GTM Consultant [Prev: Chief Customer Officer, Forsta]

Founded in 2022 by Akshat Tyagi and Arjun S, Metaforms was born out of a personal pain point. As early-stage founders, they struggled to access professional market research. The problem wasn’t demand – it was bandwidth. So Akshat and Arjun set out to build software that gave agencies a way to do more with what they already have.

“Our goal is simple: help great research teams spend less time firefighting and more time doing the work that actually matters,” said Akshat Tyagi, co-founder and CEO of Metaforms. “When you automate the grunt work, you make high-quality research more accessible to more companies.”

Since launching commercially just six months ago, Metaforms has signed four of the world’s top twenty research agencies, including Strat7, one of the largest market research agencies globally. The platform now processes over 1,000 surveys per month, and serves Fortune 500 companies. Every customer that started with a single AI agent has expanded to adopt additional ones, achieving a 100% expansion rate.

“Metaforms is a breakout example of the India-to-global play in AI,” said Manav Garg, Co-founder and managing partner at Together Fund. “They’re not just automating tasks — they’re rebuilding research infrastructure for the modern era. With their early traction across global agencies, Akshat and Arjun are showing what’s possible when deep customer empathy meets technical ambition.”

That accessibility is already changing the industry. By compressing turnaround times and reducing operational costs, Metaforms enables agencies to serve clients they would otherwise turn away, from early-stage startups testing their first ideas to global brands launching multi-country trackers.

“Our partnership has delivered strong ROl, thanks to Metaforms’ exceptional service and prompt support.” Tabita Razaila Head of operations, Strat7

“They’re solving a major pain point for the entire industry. That focus and ability to deeply understand customer needs and address that using genetic AI is the hallmark of Metaforms team. We are thrilled to back Akshat and Arjun in their journey of building a remarkable company!”, said Jishnu Bhattacharjee and Arjun Gandhi, Nexus Venture Partners.

Looking ahead, Metaforms plans to triple its team and continue expanding the breadth of its agent capabilities. Voice research, automated report generation, and expanded language support are all on the roadmap. The long-term vision is to process over 100,000 surveys per year and make professional-grade research available to every business that needs it.

“When research agencies grow, better business decisions get made,” added Akshat Tyagi. “We’re not here to replace the humans in the loop. We’re here to give them leverage.”