18
THE
INNOVATIVE
StaRTUPs TO T O LOOK LOOK IN 2020
THE SHOWSTOPPERS OF THE INDIAN START-UP INDUSTRY
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ndia is gradually emerging as a prime hub for start-ups, providing numerous opportunities to rising entrepreneurs, who intend to make their mark and thrive in the business arena. Major reports state that the country’s startup industry is growing by leaps and bounds, with focus on the b2b and deep tech spaces.
Editor Ananda Kamal Das
Ananda Kamal Das
Moreover, many young entrepreneurs, who were once merely replicating successful business models, are now introducing innovative products and services. They are stepping up, while bringing their ‘A’ game into play and embracing out-of-the-box procedures to march ahead confidently and attain excellence. In addition to increasing their own revenues, these start-ups are also contributing towards the rise of the country’s GDP, along with providing numerous employment opportunities to individuals. They are introducing fresh perspectives and ideas about how businesses can be revitalized efficiently. These start-ups stand a class apart, trying new things every time, with the objective of introducing path breaking products and services.
The leading start-ups of the country are providing their best services, while staying abreast with the latest developments. They play a key role in introducing innovation in businesses and revolutionizing major industries at the same time. Hence, to showcase the front runners of the Indian start-up industry, Insights Success comes up with the issue, ‘The 18 Innovative Startups to Look in 2020’. This issue features CASHe; Caterspoint Food and Beverage Pvt. Ltd; Jewelove; Robolab Technologies; SfarmsIndia; Shortlist; The Moms Co; YULU; and Zekko Tech Private Ltd. We have also included Construmart; LegalWiz; Orgstead Consulting Private Limited; Revfin; ROOTER SPORTS TECHNOLOGIES; SHAADISAGA; THE GOOD LIFE; TruePush; and Zestmoney. Furthermore, this issue includes an excellent article written by Nikee Sheth, the Co-Founder and Director- Sales of CA BIZNet. Hence, browse through the pages, for more information on these leading startups.
EDITOR’s NOTE
CONTENTS 10
Interview with Insights Success
Gram-Haat: Committed to Refurbish the Buying Experience of Rural India
36
CXO
Exploring the upcoming trends in the technology for ď€ nancial services market
CASHe 14
16
Lending, Simpliď€ ed for the Contemporary Professional
Caterspoint Food and Beverage Pvt. Ltd Providing a Fulď€ lling Culinary Experience
Jewelove 20
26
The Authentic Source of Platinum Jewellery for Customers
Robolab Technologies A Perfect Platform to Explore, Learn, and Build Ideas
SFarmsIndia 28
Decoding India's First Agri-land Marketplace
Editor's Pick 22
Article
Promoting a Culture of Learning within a Start Up
Shortlist 32
Unlocking the Professional Potential of Aspiring Candidates
The Moms Co. 34
Offering Natural Products for New Moms and their Babies
Yulu 40
Pedaling towards a Pollution-free Future
Zekko Tech Private Ltd 42
Connecting India, Transforming India
AD
Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal Managing Editor Editor-in-Chief Publishing Control Team Managing Editor Quality Assurance Team Contributing Writers Contributing Writers Art & Design Head Art & Design Head Associate Designer Associate Designer Art & Picture Editor Art & Picture Editor Co-designer Co-designer
Ananda Pooja M.Kamal BansalDas Shruti, Rahul Ananda Kamal Das Abhishaj, Sneha, Darshan Ananda, Varshita Shambhavi, Vishal Amol Kamble Amol Kamble Poonam Mahajan Poonam Mahajan Sapana Shinde Sapana Shinde Shweta Ambilwade Ambilwade Shweta
Business Development Manager Megha Mishra Business Development Lead Tejaswini Whaval Business Development Executive Sarika, Ashwini Sarika Kawade Technical Head Pratiksha Patil Technical Specialist Amar Sawant Digital Marketing Manager Prashant Chevale SME-SMO Executive Uma Dhenge Circulation Manager Tanaji sales@insightssuccess.com
February, 2020 Corporate Ofď€ ces: Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Off. 22, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk, Off. No. 22No. & 510, Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017 Phone - India: +91 7410079881/ 82/ 83/ 84/ 85 Email: info@insightssuccess.in For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.in
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Copyright Š 2020 Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd., All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success. Printed and Published by Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. RNI NUMBER: MAHENG/2018/75953
Interview with Insights Success
GRAM-HAAT
COMMITTED TO REFURBISH THE BUYING EXPERIENCE OF RURAL INDIA
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oday in the 21st Century, the words of Mahatma Gandhiji still have their significance. In this world of globalization and rapid digital penetration in the life of citizens, hunger for services with ease of availability matters the most. There is a dire need of an efficient catalyst for inclusive growth through bridging urban–rural divide with commercially viable solution. This is where Gram-Haat makes its presence felt.
Gram-Haat, a Rural Retail business model of eRMPL Technologies LLP is working on click and brick model using off-line and on-line activities and catering service needs of rural consumers and businesses. In an Interview with Insights Success, Sanket Jasmin Desai, the Chief Business Officer of the company sheds light on its inception, unique facilities, major achievements, and so on. • Could you please give us an overview of the company? Gram-Haat®, the eRMPL Technologies LLP Rural Retail Initiative is connecting Urban brands with Rural Consumers and 10
business. We are the only initiative addressing 4 (A) challenges of Rural segment – Awareness, Acceptance, Affordability and Availability in single go. Our Assets-light, Technology based bricks and mortar model operate at Tire-II & beyond serving Rural market for their daily needs of Product - Service – Consultancy from Agriculture, Finance, Education, and Health & Hygiene, Govt Services, and Personal & Household care through On-line and Offline process. Today with 14000+ PoS / IT equipped Outlets Gram-Haat® serves appox. 40M population aiming to reach to 150m from 45000+ Outlets by 2021. • Kindly tell us about your company's inception and how the idea of it was conceived. Walking down the memory lane of 2012-14, while working for corporates, I travelled more than 15000 Tire-II/III Towns and Villages and analyzed that in spite of infrastructure growth and digital connectivity still people need to travel 25-35 Kms or end-up paying premium price with not assured quality for their various needs for
Urban brands. Two-sided value proportionate solution was the need of hour and that's how the GramHaat® initiated to bridge urban brands' offerings and rural demands at most viability. It took 2 Years for the pilot to create 83 CoFos in Western India. • Could you tell us about the mission and vision of your company? Gram-Haat® is the widest spread rural retail outlet serving 500M Indians through 50+ most valued brands & start-ups in the space of Agriculture, Finance, House-hold and Personal Care. • Who or what are the inspirational factors behind the organization? Today in the 21st Century, the words of Mahatma Gandhiji still have their significance. In the rapid world of Globalization and Digital Penetration in the life of citizens, hunger for services with ease of availability matters most. There is the need for an efficient catalyst for inclusive growth through bridging urban-rural divide with commercially viable solution, and February 2020|
Sanket Jasmin Desai Chief Business OďŹƒcer
|February 2020
11
h
ere “Gram-Haat®” appears. We have been working on the principal to create entrepreneurship in rural area, where minimum 10th pass youth who is having inclination towards business with basic knowledge for IT can work with Gram-Haat®. We not only give him earning opportunity but also increase his capability to serve rural citizen in various modes. GramHaat® is connecting urban brands at most affordable cost for out-reach & logistics and to create actual social and economic impact on the life of people where real India resides. We take an opportunity to share credits with our mentor Mr. Amit Varma (Ex. President RIL) who taught us "Out-reach". • Kindly give us an idea of the facilities or process that the company deals with. India has 2 largest infrastructure set-ups in Rural 1. India- Post and 2. Panchayat Office. To create the asset light model with public engagement we are operating Gram-Haat® from every single Gram-panchayat building on margin sharing business. In turn the model is CoFo. Urban brands have tie-up with us to promote – market – sell their products / service / consultation. Gram-Haat® operators are continuously trained on digital services and product marketing and sales by associated business partner's trainer. IT equipped with connectivity outlet serves On-line as well pre-sales activities are done through Events & promotions at village level. Gram-Haat® contributes appox 42% digital transactions of Gujarat from various Financial Inclusion initiatives i.e. AePS Payments, Money Remittance, Bharat Bill Pay, Recharges and so on so forth.
Gram-Haat® is founded by Rural and Retail Industry experts and has Advisory Board members from Agronomy, Insurance, Banking, Telecom, e-Market Space, Education, e-Governance and Hospitality verticals to empower the Gram-Haat® initiative. All of us have high level of synergy to build the best Solution for Rural. Together we continue to effectively innovate, operate and market Gram-Haat®. Initiative is operationally supported by sister companies – SdMC & Kanan Solutions and functionally by parent company eRMPL Group. • Could you tell us about the awards and recognitions that have been earned by your institution so far? Gram-Haat® has been awarded with Grant & Recognition as Top 20 Start-ups by CIIE and IIM-A at The Power of Idea as well Sanket got selected for Fellowship program by Royal Academy of Engineering, London for the said project. Continuing the march, eRMPL Technologies LLP inked MoU with State Government of Gujarat during Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2017 for rolling-out B2B & B2C and G2C support Services at 14000 Gram-Panchayats of the State. The company is recognized as Start-up by DIPP – Govt of India. Committed to Empowered India.
Their single largest platforms where at no cost any brands or start-up can reach to more than 40M beneficiaries and create own market space through Gram-haat®. eRMPL is Rural Technology & Innovation continuum. • Please tell us about the major factors behind the success of the company.
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February 2020|
AD
CASHe
Lending, Simplified for the Contemporary Professional the most preferred for digital lending purposes. CASHe also recognizes the concerns of young professionals and offers them instant, short-term personal loans with no inconvenience caused. These loans are given after considering a few factors such as the client’s digital footprint, merit and earning potential in addition to their social profiles. This is implemented into the system, and using its proprietary algorithm based machine learning platform, the company goes ahead with the digital lending process.
Ketan Patel CEO
Being a new-age company, mathematical algorithms are also helping determine the risks from a potential borrower using the above information. Any publicly available data is examined, and the model of technology goes beyond the basic credit-risk metrics. Additionally, it assesses the goodness quotient of the borrower and his potential to repay. The company thus lends mostly to the younger crowd who are close to their prime or sub-prime levels, with or without any previous history of credit. Emphasizing on the Technology and Target Audience
T
he past couple of years saw a wave of transformation within the Indian financial technology along with financial services platforms. Technology had taken over most of the industries, and finance was not far behind. This brought with it plenty of changes in the way any financial procedure was implemented, along with its operational methods. Currently, some of the firms taking advantage of this scenario are Fintech start-ups who started by delving into the unexplored segments. They worked to bring innovation to the field, which was previously a tough task. CASHe is one such company and has been
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Every young professional, due to various time restraints tries to seek easier ways to do complicated tasks, mainly the ones that involve paperwork. Going to a bank to get their work done seems inconvenient for them, but CASHe contains a much-simplified borrowing experience. It eliminates any requirement of tedious paperwork, human interactions or any complexities in opting for a loan. As Ketan Patel, the CEO of CASHe states, “FinTechs bring speed and efficiency to the table along with precise products for precise audience.” Speaking of the company, he also says, “Most of the
February 2020|
FinTechs including us, are on the right track to creating something unique. We’re now in a position where the customer is truly the king.” The UX of the online application is user-friendly and contains multiple loan options, which are completely digital. One of the key highlights of the app is how the user, without leaving their home, can avail a loan within an 8-minute Turn Around Time. Elaborating on the uniqueness of the company, it also utilizes the proprietary credit evaluation framework or the Social Loan Quotient. It also combines Big Data Analytics with AI-based algorithms to assess the traditional inputs. The SLQ also calculates the loan amount and the interest rate to be charged. The growth of any business requires tremendous use of the latest technological enhancements as well as address a larger market within the country. Hence, India is the ideal choice to invest in, for innovative fin-techs, especially keeping in mind the young population, and the immense contribution to the GDP. A Deft Personality with an Advanced Outlook Ketan Patel brings with him plenty of knowledge and experience which has constantly helped the company grow. He held the gargantuan responsibility of steering the it through strategic transformation by implementing innovative techniques. With the majority of the companies client base being young professionals, Ketan speaks of how CASHe focuses on them as a target audience, “CASHe aims to focus on a specific target audience. It is possible to focus on people in the age category of 24-34 and try to cover the person’s ecosystem to the best of abilities.” Elaborating on the intentions to serve them the best, he also says, “Observe what a 24-34-year-old would ideally want and accordingly serve that need. For example, rent deposit, 2 wheelers or even travel, e-commerce or insurance.” Being a seasoned leader, his prior work experience involves an illustrious career at Kotak Mahindra Bank
|February 2020
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The future plans of CASHe involve transforming into a digital bank in the next 5-7 years
for close to 18 years, where he held some key positions. The one that he held the latest was in the Composite Business Solutions and E-Commerce Vertical. Between 2010 and 2015, he assisted in the establishment of a Private Banking Business with the Kotak Group in the UK. Apart from all of these, Ketan also managed various other sectors within Kotak, such as Kotak Securities, Kotak Wealth Management, Mortgages as well as Heading the division focused on NRI business. He holds an ideal track record of bringing in innovation as well as operational excellence while achieving revenue and profitability in business. With the country coming up with initiatives such as ‘Digital India’, fin-tech companies have been finding plenty of opportunities. Using this they’re able to capitalize on and popularize cashless transactions. Banks being digitized have also given fin-techs the chance to become the future of the banking and financial sector of India. CASHe is initiating this step into the future and creating a hassle free pathway towards loans and other such transactions.
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Caterspoint Food and Beverage Pvt. Ltd Providing a Fulfilling Culinary Experience Anshu observed, through meticulous research and development within the field of products, market, and procurement, that there needs to be a change in the food delivery industry. There was also plenty of space to bring out something new, and implement positive solutions. He comprehends that currently, people are exploring food, but while seeking out healthier options. The company is trying to fulfill this requirement with its team of skilled professionals including graphic designers, marketing, operations, and procurement team. They started in Gurgaon where the head office is currently located, and spread to prime areas of Delhi/NCR like Sohna Road, Malviya Nagar, and Dwarka. The firm is now aiming to create a better food ecosystem while promoting healthier lifestyles. Hygiene is also one of the top priorities for the company as it is what the clients demand, and the Chef is extremely particular about the top-notch quality of every product.
Chef Anshu Raj Founder
F
ood is one of the primary necessities of a human being, and it has with time evolved and grown as a full-fledged industry. Today we have plenty of food companies that are implementing creativity to bring a fresh wave of change. One such company, which was initially just a dream but eventually found its way into reality is Caterspoint, founded by Chef Anshu Raj.
This start-up brought with it a meaningful yet unique concept within the food and beverage industry. Being a professional in the world of culinary art and creativity, Anshu believes immensely in innovation. Upon the establishment of Caterspoint, its inventive menu gained a lot of customers all through the initial stages. 16
Concept Behind Caterspoint The food industry has numerous ways in which it can experiment, and Caterspoint has ensured that a unique concept is implemented. Multiple factors inspired the inception of the company, especially the aspect of food delivery. Most of the apps continually offer a myriad of offers and coupons to attract customers but tend to fall short when it comes to presentation. Caterspoint is working to ensure that the quality of food delivered is exceptional while also assuring orderly presentation. They emphasize upon the packaging of the products being intact while avoiding any spillage. The firm also intends for the product to look presentable when the customer receives it while also containing high-quality ingredients.
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Story of Inception Anshu observed the market with proper research and development. He then deduced that an ideal company needs a more reliable system to cater to clients and corporates. This is where the concept of Caterspoint struck, which would manage both the principal aspects of B2B and B2C. But this had to be done without disrupting the quality or hygiene of the products. To fill the gaps between the customer and the company, he decided to lower the packaging costs while maintaining the cost of the consumables. The company was started to provide quality with bulk orders meant for family occasions, birthdays, corporate clients, and more. It turned into a novel concept to transform popular yet familiar dishes into something extraordinary. The company caters to diverse cuisines and food products that people tend to choose. This provides plenty of options for every foodie, with 250 types of dishes while also preparing for gifts and giveaways. All the orders delivered to the clients have multiple offers that have built up a loyal customer base. Distinguished Visionaries The efforts and enthusiasm of the entire team of Caterspoint have contributed equally to the growth of the company. Since its inception, the team of over 80-100 members has been giving their inputs within the culinary field. After all, a start-up requires the most work and needs to overcome various circumstances before rising to the top. Speaking of a couple of prominent individuals within the organization, Anshu states, “For me each team member is important, but the key indiviual of our company is Mr. Ajay Kumar. He is the first member since day one and I believe that he has given his soul to the company. He is responsible for the entire company’s procurement and supply chain. His commitment and zeal to bring out the best in the company have always motivated other employees as well.” He also goes on to say how Ajay’s optimistic personage, ideas, and opinions, have played an important role in many of the company’s decisions. Another personality |February 2020
who has been vital to the image of the company, is Ms. Ira Abel is the Brand Designer of the company who visualises the needs of the clients. She is an expert in understanding the psychic of the new age customer's comfort to know what they want and expect. She feels that the packaging should be convenient and comfortable for the clients to use also one should analyze market trends and formulate strategies to reach customers. Also, we have another key member in the front end Upasana Bhan, who manages all the B2B clients and their corporate fooding requirements. Being a hospitality expert she makes sure that the corporate events and food delivery is of high quality and creates an unforgettable experience for all, with long term loyalty. She plans and tracks the growth of the business by focusing on the value that the customer can see. This allows the company to differentiate itself from the competition. Recognitions Galore The company, due to its various steps and initiatives to keep the customers as their priority, has earned multiple accolades in various forms. They were given the title of being Fan Favorite by the Zomato Food Delivery Summit and was featured in the Silicon India Start-up City. It also found coverage in the HT City – Weekend Planner as well as on various platforms online such as whatshot.in (Times of India) Food is a common point among people, which makes Caterspoint a unique facility available for the customers. To know more about Caterspoint and its various options for foodies, Visit here - caterspoint.com 17
Jewelove
The Authentic Source of Platinum Jewellery for Customers
• Could you please give us an overview of the company? Jewelove is an online platform for authentic platinum jewellery. Founded by Sambhav Karnawat, Jewelove has been awarded by the Platinum Guild International for the highest sales of Platinum Jewellery across North India for 2 consecutive years. Every piece of platinum jewellery comes with a Certificate of Authenticity issued by PGI. Jewelove showcases over 1000+ designs of platinum love bands, engagement rings, chains & kada for men & women.
Sambhav Karnawat Founder
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n today’s era, every product or service is available online at the click of a button. Having said that, jewellery items have also made their way into the digital market. However, it is a challenging task to find jewellers, who provide us with authentic ornaments. Hence, customers are always at the lookout for credible service providers, who guarantee products of the highest quality, accompanied by quick services. With the aim to bridge the gap between demand and supply for bonafide platinum jewellery, Jewelove was established in January 2016. It focuses on providing genuine information to clients, while educating them more about the same. Throughout the excerpts mentioned below, the company shares its impressive journey with us.
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• Kindly tell us about your company’s inception and how the idea of it was conceived. Jewelove was founded in 2009 by Sambhav Karnawat in his second year at IIT Kanpur. Sambhav has always been passionate about technology & coming from a jewellery family, he has always had exposure to the jewellery industry. Sambhav could clearly see the inefficiencies in jewellery retail & how jewellers incur very high inventory costs. He deployed an online justin-time business model that reduces inventory costs & middle-man costs significantly and saves the consumer almost 15-20% as compared to regular retailers. • Could you tell us about the mission and vision of your company? We aim to provide authentic platinum jewellery at a very reasonable price to every nook & corner of India, even the smallest village in India. We have already delivered items to small villages in Rajasthan, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir & even the distant Andaman & Nicobar islands.
• Who or what are the inspirational factors behind the organization? February 2020|
Jewelove is all about providing the customer an exceptional experience. We already have over 475 reviews from existing customers. This target for providing an exceptional experience is what drives us at Jewelove.
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We craft authentic platinum jewellery with dedication and nesse.
• Kindly give us an idea of the facilities or process that the company deals with. Jewelove ensures that every piece is certified and marked for Pt 950 to ensure the highest quality standards.
• Could you tell us about the awards and recognitions that have been earned by your institution so far? 2019 – Winner of “Platinum Season of Love – Highest Sales – in North India” by Platinum Guild International 2018 – Winner of “Platinum Season of Love – Highest Sales – in North India" by Platinum Guild International Wharton Economic Forum – Selected as Top 20 Startups in Wharton India Economic Forum 2019
About the Founder Sambhav Karnawat, Founder of Jewelove, is an IIT Kanpur alumnus and 4th generation jeweller. He brings a unique combination of traditional heritage and technological advancements to all his endeavours. Sambhav has been featured on various important media platforms such as ET NOW Leaders of Tomorrow, CNBC TV18, Wharton India Economic Forum, Authority Magazine, YourStory, Inc 42, and many more.
|February 2020
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Editor's Pick
PROMOTING A
Culture of
Learning WITHIN A STARTUP
W
ith the objective of increasing productivity, learning is often neglected in many start up companies. The authorities may get involved in the day-to-day processes in order to achieve various goals. However, they should also focus on nurturing a culture of learning, which is essential for the long-term success of the start up. It is important to note that a positive culture of learning is crucial for attracting creative and devoted talents. Most people are of the opinion that it is very important for organizations to provide professional or career growth and developmental opportunities not only for individual growth, but also for the company’s growth. Many individuals consider the opportunity to learn and grow as a key factor while selecting a company to work for, or to stick around with the same company for a long time. Workplace Learning is Crucial A start up should not only emphasize on employee retention, but should pay close attention towards 22
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|February 2020
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workplace learning. This will help in enhancing the knowledge and skills of the team, which will further assist to keep up with an ever-evolving industry. A batch of employees which can adapt quickly will help a company excel in various endeavors. However, remaining stagnant can lead to failure. Guiding the employees to navigate through life and work will help them to refine and reshape their existing knowledge, while learning new skills. Managers can guide their subordinates towards creativity and innovation, and encourage them to overcome conformity and stagnation. Strategies to Enhance Learning In order to create a better learning environment, it is essential that a company interacts with the employees and provides them opportunities to explore their potential. Additionally, employing various strategies that nurture creativity, coordination, teamwork, and productivity can bear better results. Start ups can implement the below-mentioned methods to promote a learning environment and enhance workplace productivity:
the assigned targets, completing a project ahead of time, and so on. Acknowledging employees for their contributions towards the growth of the company can help in building a happy, effective, and motivated staff. However, start ups should not only celebrate outcomes and results, but should also recognize growth and improvement. Rewarding employees can have a lasting impact, as it will motivate them to take on new challenges, in turn, benefiting the company. Coaching is More Important than Managing For most start ups, budgets are tighter, while workloads are heavier. As a result, leaders have a tough time serving as coaches due to the lack of time and resources. However, it is essential for them to act as a guide for the employees, rather than a commander and controller. This will help managers to effectively lead their team within a start up. They can coach the employees, assist them in honing their skills, correct ineffective practices, while fostering a culture of learning. This will lead employees towards higher levels of achievement, in turn contributing towards growth, productivity, employee satisfaction, and further attainments of the start up. Opening Various Doors for Learning
Learning from Mistakes A successful person possesses the curiosity and eagerness to learn. They are willing to take risks, while embracing and learning from their mistakes. Flaws and failures provide every individual the opportunity to learn and grow. Organizational leaders should accept and even encourage mistakes, which will lead employees to attain mastery over their craft. It is important to treat failures as learning opportunities. This will help in establishing a culture of creativity and innovation, while preparing employees for the future. Furthermore, employees gain confidence to work on new things, try out out-of-the-box ideas, and experiment in order to find better solutions that bring out the best results. Celebrating Achievements Companies can motivate employees by recognizing their achievements, such as acquiring a major client, exceeding
Encouraging diversity at workplace enhances dynamism and benefits a start up in a variety of ways. Leaders should realize that every person in their company has a unique way of learning. Some employees may excel with handson learning experiences, while others may prefer learning through podcasts, videos, or in-person learning events. Employees nowadays can benefit from on-demand and micro-learning experiences. These help them to stay abreast of the various developments taking place, and they can keep moving forward. While building a culture of learning, start ups should ensure that it reflects the diversity of the learners and offers different pathways of learning. For better outcomes, companies should assist their employees on their journey to attain mastery. No matter at whatever level of competence they currently are, the company should assist them to reach the level of competence which is required to attain excellence and to stand tall among the fierce competition in the market.
- Ananda Kamal Das 24
February 2020|
Robolab Technologies A Perfect Platform to Explore, Learn, and Build Ideas
the students to show their skills and talent and to create employment for the youth. Having worked on a variety of projects, participating in various types of competitions and securing laurels for the alma mater at all levels, the founders decided to continue with the same zeal and impart the knowledge to the newcomers and other students. Robolab is a dynamic, on campus, centre of excellence in robotics, internet of things (IoT), AI, rapid prototyping (RP), and industrial automation, tailor-made for the students. The advanced and state-of-the-art platform provides scope to explore, learn and build robots, and related technologies. The company provides innovative and interactive training by experts consistent with the latest curricula and the industry requirements. A Multitude of Exceptional Offerings
Ajit Balaji Pawar Pratik Pravin Amol Ashok Deshmukh Gulhane COO Director Director & CEO
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e live in an age where most of the activities are driven by advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and so on. Robotics is also revolutionizing businesses, easing procedures, and leading them towards innovation and excellence. Many noteworthy institutions are embracing robotics to achieve the competitive edge and to provide excellent services. One such torchbearer leading from the front is Robolab Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (RTPL). A venture by the alumni of College of Engineering, Pune (COEP), the company is mentored and supported by BHAU Institute of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership (BIEL). How it all Began RTPL came into existence out of the rigorous efforts of its founders as an attempt to transform the educational facilities in the country and to provide a larger platform to 26
The company aims to attain excellence in offering academic, training, and development facilities. It not only provides with cutting-edge research facility, but also, hands on practical experience along with required theory. Students can avail consolidation of concepts and industry–institute interaction. Moreover, the company offers standard guidelines and essentials along with superior quality and advanced robot study platforms. Training sessions conducted by industry experts and affordable excellence with quick return on investment are some of its key features. The Centre of Excellence in robotics and industrial automation includes technologies such as electronics, mechanical, pneumatics, vacuum, and rapid prototyping. The Centre of Excellence in Internet of Things includes peripheral software, IoT kit, IoT components along with providing expert training. Additionally, the Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence offers peripheral software and AI platform along with expert training. The Persistent Leaders The company conquers numerous challenges under the dedicated stewardship of Amol Ashok Gulhane, the Director & Chief Executive Officer and Pratik Pravin February 2020|
Deshmukh, the Co-Founder & Vice President-Sales and Ajit Balaji Pawar, the Chief Operating Officer. Amol is a first generation entrepreneur and a roboticist shaping the company. He is the recipient of the National Entrepreneurship Award (GoI), Youth Inspiration Award (Sakaal), and 30 under 30 startup entrepreneurs (Hindustan Times). Amol is an expert speaker on robotics, internet of things, artificial intelligence, industry 4.0, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Pratik is a first generation entrepreneur and a roboticist. He is well versed in executing technology projects and has deep knowledge on various industry methodologies. Pratik comes with unique ideas of working with large corporations majorly in the space of sales & marketing domains. With business development background and technical education, he has a fitting understanding on extensive areas of sciences. Ajit is also a first generation entrepreneur and is deeply passionate about latest technologies. He is an expert in executing technology projects and has deep knowledge of the industry working methodologies. He comes with an experience of working with large corporations majorly in the space of technology and operations domains. His experience in management and business operations is an asset for our company.
Benefits of Robolab RTPL provides numerous benefits to the students. It is a hub of inter-branch student activities, which provides necessary technical edge under proper guidance in an ideal environment. The company provides the perfect environment for the future roboticist in the making. It bridges the gap between the industry requirements and present academic content. The company provides a platform that allows students to explore multiple disciplines of engineering. It assists students in exploring their fields of interest. The RTPL certification helps students achieve a competitive edge among others. Instead of relying on others, students can strengthen their knowledge and create their own projects |February 2020
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We focus on delivering the highest quality solution to our clients
during academics. It also offers industrial internship/ scholarships to meritorious candidates. RTPL builds a bright career pathway in embedded systems/ application development/ mechanical/ robotics and so on. Winning Numerous Laurels RTPL has made rapid strides throughout its illustrious journey. It has achieved numerous accolades for its dedicated endeavors. The company has won the National Entrepreneurship Award 2018, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India. It is the recipient of Young MSE Achiever Award by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and The Economic Times 2018. RTPL was chosen for the Startup India Initiative, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India. It was also awarded for the Best ICT Start-Up in India by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, ASSOCHAM and ERICSSON. Furthermore, the company won the Best Startup award in the field of artificial intelligence innovation in education and industry by MITSOT, ITU, the IET. It has also won StartUp of the Year under Future Education category at World StartUp Expo 2016, Bengaluru and the HOT100 Startup Award by CORE.
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SFarmsIndia
Decoding India’s First Agri-land Marketplace investments as an alternative asset, but are facing issues in finding the right lands. One company that is creating and opening up pathways for this very process is SFarmsIndia. A leading Agri Land Marketplace, it went through multiple phases of testing before being given the command to go ahead. Story of Inception
Kamesh Mupparaju CEO
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griculture is a process that began centuries ago when humans found a way to regrow any crop or plant that they preferred. India is one country which depends primarily on farming and as per reports of 2018, this sector employed a 50% workforce of the country. Being the largest livelihood provider in the country, especially in rural areas, it contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product as well. But off late, the farmer and agri-realty developers have been experiencing roadblocks while trying to sell agri-lands due to lack of liquidity. On the other hand, according to the present trends, High Networth Individual or HNI’s are looking at agri-land
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SFarmsIndia is a company that required an elaborate plan and in-depth research to find itself at the pinnacle. During the initial days of research, it was found that most property websites across India required a focus on agricultural land. This is where the idea struck, that there had to be a platform for these forms of land as well. Various traditional property websites are a contrast to each other, where the agri-reality exchange market plays a larger part in terms of valuation. Upon further research, it was found that in Telangana alone, for the Fiscal Year 2018-2019, the registration value of agricultural land market size was Rs. 15,000 Cr and the market value stood at 50,000 crores. The area transacted was 3.2 Lakh acre, and this is where things became clear that agri-realty is one aspect left unexplored throughout India. This identification acted as a catalyst towards the launch of a web application which contained detailed listing and fractional trading functionality. Post rigorously testing the concept, the listing platform’s beta version was launched by the team in July 2018. On this platform, potential buyers can find land, while sellers can list theirs on it. A few types of land listed are agri-lands, estate lands, and eco-farms. This was followed by the launch of the beta version of fractional trading in January 2019. Within this section, agrilands are divided into smaller tradable fractions which
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provide flexibility to the buyers. This is especially beneficial for those belonging to the medium to small income groups. These two primary functions can work collectively, and this is helping individuals buy small pieces of agricultural land. It can be traded and is simple as the buyers are in direct contact with sellers, so there is no commission as no middlemen are involved. One of the fundamental USP of SFarmsIndia is the seller being able to finance land fractions digitally. A Prudent Personality and SFarmsIndia's Backstory Kamesh Mupparaju, the CEO of SFarmsIndia has 12 years of trading experience as well as functional experience of trade engine. This turned out to be a plus point when it came to designing and developing a powerful trade engine as well as a robust listing platform. He holds a B.Tech degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from IETE (2004) and an MBA in Finance from Osmania University(2007). His prior work experience involves being an FX Analyst and Dealer at Six Capital as well as a Research Analyst at Religare Commodities. The inspiration behind his company was his father who worked as a farmer and eventually struggled to sell his agricultural land. Being located in the village, there were no buyers due to lack of awareness and the same situation was observed with other farmers as well. Brokers were also another factor of hindrance. This is when it occurred to him that there needs to be an effective system in place for this cause. The Operating System of the Firm Being an online web application, SFarmsIndia has two core functions that help in simplifying the processes of the company.
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Speaking about the goals for the company, Kamesh says, "The rm aims to evolve into being the most respected and trusted brand for on-demand trading/liquidity solutions in Agri-Realty market and tap at least 10% market share in Agri Realty sector in India.
Trading Process–The company first establishes an agreement with the seller to issue fractions by digital land contracts against their lands. Following this, they are credited to the agri-realty developer’s wallet on the platform, and the developer can sell directly through the trading platform. Users can either use the site via the web interface or connect through the API to access the trading platform. The trading platform uses a proprietary trading engine that is automated and manually overlooked. Recognizing these efforts, Szuper Agridigital Solutions Pvt. Ltd that came up with SFarmsIndia found recognition as a start-up by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Govt. of India., under the Start-up India initiative. The company was also spotted in the Start-up Talky as an agricultural start-up in India.
Listing Process– This where the seller enlists on the platform and creates his profile according to the requirements. He can then choose the category under which the land needs to be listed. Once listed, the buyer can search the Agri lands based on the chosen category and contact the seller directly.
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AD
Shortlist
Unlocking the Professional Potential of Aspiring Candidates from full-service recruitment for mid to senior positions on its tech platform, to a lighter-touch software solution to a highly customized executive search offering. This allows employers to efficiently and objectively identify top talent for junior, mid-level, and even executive-level roles. With offices situated in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Nairobi, it has provided services to over 500 clients across 20 countries, of which more than 350 clients are from India. Shortlist has an impressive line up of esteemed clients including DHL, ITC, Dunzo, Ather, UberEats, Rockefeller Foundation, Google, Zee, Milaap, Epigamia, Sula Vineyards and many more. The company raised a $2 million Series A funding round led by Blue Haven Initiative in January 2019. The Genesis
Paul Breloff CEO, Co-founder
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ndia has emerged as one of the fastest growing startup nations in the world. It is ranked third globally in terms of job creation and innovation. The country has witnessed the rise of around 50,000 startups in 2018. Moreover, around 1300 new tech startups were born in 2019 alone. This speaks for the massive reach and scope of startups in the country. The leading startups of India are transforming businesses by embracing innovation and proceeding towards development and prosperity. A leading player in one such industry (recruitment) is Shortlist. It is a talent technology company that helps employers in India and Africa use data to build world-class teams. The company offers recruitment services that are enabled by a technology platform that screens candidates using an automated chatbot and online skills-based assessments, letting employers skip the most timeconsuming and bias-prone phase of hiring. Emphasis on Excellence
Before the company's inception, its co-founders Paul Breloff and Simon Desjardins (along with third co-founder Matt Schnuck), were impact investors in India and Africa. During this time they realized that recruitment and access to talent was consistently the number one barrier to growth facing these promising enterprises. Their companies were facing difficulty in selecting the right person for a job, while candidates were stuck in a demoralizing cycle of applying to hundreds of jobs and never hearing back. This led to the inception of Shortlist with the goal of matching talent with promising opportunities leveraging smarter data and technology. Upholding Team Values Shortlist embodies five team values, which define it as an organization. These are as follows: “Own it: Own yourself and your work. Don’t wait; see the needful and do it. Generate discipline. Drive for results.” “Act with intention: Do the work to get clear. Buck convention. Big goals start with small steps; step with purpose.” “Find the adventure: Changing the world should be fun. Inject spirit into the everyday. Be bold. Dream loud. Swashbuckle.”
The company provides a wide array of offerings ranging 32
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“Be a whole person: We’re more than our work. Seek balance and health. Learn from differences. Unlock your potential.” “One team: Teammates come first. Mood is infectious. Listen loudly. Feedback is a gift. “We” instead of “I”. When the team wins, we all win.” About the Visionary Leader The person stewarding Shortlist towards excellence is none other than Paul Breloff, the CEO and co-founder of the company. He was also the Founder and Managing Director of Accion Venture Lab, a financial-inclusion-focused venture capital fund. Prior to that, Paul worked with SKS Microfinance, leading on business development and strategic partnerships. He has a B.A. from Amherst College and a law degree from Yale Law School. Bagging Numerous Accolades The company has always focused on delivering the best, and its dedicated efforts have been recognized by many. It has been named among ‘Top 5 Companies with Great People Managers’ from Small Enterprise Category by Forbes India’s 100 Great People Managers for 2019. Shortlist CEO Paul Breloff & CTO Sudheer Bandaru have been named among India’s 100 Great People Managers for 2019 by Forbes. The company was named among 10 Shortlisted AI Startups By Facebook, T-Hub for India Innovation Accelerator programme in 2019. It was also shortlisted for the 2019 MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge. Shortlist has also been listed as one of India’s’ 20 most promising HR tech startups' by CIOReview India in 2019. Dedicated Services On Shortlist, job applicants have to go through an intensive vetting process before making it to the client’s dashboard as a potential candidate. Firstly, a chatbot provides information to the candidates on requisite criteria such as relocation, salary preference, and experience level, among other things. Next is the assessment stage where the candidate performs on-the-job tasks (for instance, a finance candidate would answer questions about a balance sheet) to |February 2020
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We are guided by our mission to unlock professional potential, to create a level playing eld and to help companies build the best teams they can
gauge their ability to excel in the role. Based on these inputs, Shortlist creates a holistic, skills-based profile of the candidate for the employer to engage with on the platform. Overcoming Challenges Efficiently The company opines that the single biggest challenge for growing companies and startups is finding the right talent to scale. “We believe that both job seekers and employers deserve a better way to find each other and gauge fit,” Paul Breloff, CEO and co-founder of Shortlist states. It regards that looking past the pedigree and refocusing on potential and demonstrated ability is the first step towards a world where everyone gets a shot at fulfilling professional experiences. A Class Apart Shortlist conducts detailed research, finds and engages the right talent online. It screens candidates’ performance using interactive online questionnaires and assessments. The company automates data collection and determines whether candidates meet recruiting requirements. Additionally, it provides candidates a positive recruiting experience that will strengthen their employer brand.
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The Moms Co.
Offering Natural Products for New Moms and their Babies same reason gave rise to The Moms Co. which helps pregnant women, moms and babies through its naturalbased products. The Moms Co. provides products to new moms, moms-tobe and babies. Its products are Australian certified toxinfree and made safe. The products are also Australian Allergy Certified which are natural, safe and effective. The Journey The Moms Co. was Malika Sadani’s idea. She is the Founder of the company. The idea of the company is truly based on her personal experience during her pregnancy. Malika faced a deeply concerning problem when her first daughter got a skin reaction and she could not find a natural product.
Malika Sadani Founder
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ne of the most important phases of a woman’s life is pregnancy, and giving birth to a child is undoubtedly an emotional moment. During this entire course of time, a woman goes through numerous changes internally as well as externally. In this phase, the woman goes through a lot of hormonal changes which can alter the emotions of the woman.
Malika faced a similar problem with her second daughter. She further talked to other mothers and found out they also faced the problem of not having a safer and all naturalbased products. That’s when she came up with The Moms Co. Before The Moms Co, Malika was working as a banker. She completed her engineering and further pursued a degree in management. An expert in her own right, Malika feels she has always been an obsessive mother. She believes there are many moms like her who want the best for themselves and their babies. Range of Products
Craving for a specific food item at three o’clock in the morning to getting nauseous because of it the next moment, a woman has to deal with a lot of emotions. At times, the mother has to compromise everything she likes so that the baby is safe and healthy. During pregnancy, women are advised to avoid the application of any chemical products on any body part, there are little options available for natural products. This
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There is a vast range of products offered by The Moms Co. to its customers. Currently, the product range is divided into 5 groups: Pregnancy, Baby Care, Hair Care, Face Care and Skin Care. • Pregnancy: During pregnancy, a woman goes through various changes due to hormonal effects. The Moms Co. provides products depending on the problems faced by the expecting mother. The products are divided on the trimesters as well as specified to certain problems. It has February 2020|
products for problems like dryness, damaged hair, morning sickness, etc. • Baby Care: Baby care products are generally based on the age of the baby. Apart from this, the products are available on problems like skin dryness or redness, mosquito protection, etc. The company also offers different types of oils, moisturizers and hair care products.
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We are a brand that is truly a mom’s partner on their journey into motherhood
• Hair Care: Many women during the pre-birth and postbirth phases go through a high rate of hair loss. Focusing on this concern, The Moms Co. offers hair oils, hair masks, hair protein, shampoo, conditioner, serum, etc. Depending upon the hair condition, the company also offers specific types of hair repair kits. • BFace Care: The face is one of the sensitive skin areas. During the pre and post-pregnancy period, the face skin gets deteriorated. Hence, The Moms Co. makes products that restore the suppleness and rejuvenates the skin. • Skin Care: A mother of a newborn generally faces problems like stretch marks, dryness and itchiness. Taking care of these issues, The Moms co. makes products like oils, body butter, body wash, lotions and creams. Certified Products The Moms co. follows a standardized procedure for manufacturing its products. Malika says, “All our facilities are GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) compliant and follow safety measures to ensure we create the safest products for moms and babies. The ingredients that are used in our products are chosen once we’re sure that they meet various international standards across Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan and Australia.” The ingredients are validated against international toxicity databases such as Environmental Working Group, Made Safe, Paula’s Choice, etc. This is followed by extensive |February 2020
safety tests to ensure product stability and that they are free of microbes. The products are then clinically tested by expert dermatologists to ensure that they are non-irritant and safe to use on sensitive skin. The products are screened by FDA and Safe Cosmetics Australia. All the tests for harmful substances like carcinogens, parabens, heavy metals, GMOs, neurotoxins, developmental toxins, reproductive toxins, etc are done. Awards and Recognition The Moms Co.’s products have won the trust of many moms, and also awards across numerous categories. Namely, Kids Stop Press - India’s foremost parenting website has recognized the company as Best Emerging Skincare Brand in 2018 and Best Mommy Venture for Kids in 2017. Its Natural Body Butter was adjudged the best body cream by Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards 2019. Apart from that, Malika was awarded BW 40 Under 40 Achievers Award 2019 and Exceptional Woman of Excellence by Women Economic Forum 2019. Furthermore, Malika and her team will keep on protecting mothers and their babies from harsh chemical products by their constant up-gradation of these natural products. 35
EXPLORING THE UPCOMING TRENDS IN THE TECHNOLOGY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES MARKET ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nikee Sheth
Co-founder & Director Sales of CA BIZNet.
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Nikee Sheth is the Cofounder and Director - Sales of CA BIZNet. She started her professional journey in a CA firm 5 years back and has worked closely with clients to understand the financial and taxation systems in India. She understands the challenges faced by SMEs and corporates as far as finances and compliances are concerned. Nikee understands their needs in depth. She helps corporates to improve efficiency and effectiveness in their finances. Nikee co-founded, an online platform for businesses to connect to the right professionals for their works. CA BIZNet is improving the efficiency in the system and also redistributing work in the best manner. The company is helping professionals to grow their practice by getting work as per their specialisation and also collaborating with other professionals. February 2020|
Astute Thoughts
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e are very fortunate for living in the golden age of business. We have witnessed rapid innovation and technological advancements which have changed the online business including business-to-business (B2B) eCommerce. B2C Ecommerce industry has grown to enormous levels in last few decades but same cannot be said about B2B Ecommerce. In B2B ecommerce space, things have moved little slowly as compared to its potential. B2B Ecommerce companies can really explore the possibilities as there is lot of interest and participation expected from clients. There are new innovative and interesting developments every day in this field which need to be taken benefit of. Ecommerce has made things easy, fast and any service can be availed on few clicks sitting at home or office. It's totally hassle free. There are many interesting features like discounts, referral schemes, easy referring to others, gifting to others which has caught the fancy of clients. Today we will explore the opportunities and challenges for financial services like Chartered Accountants services, Company Secretaries and lawyer’s services in Online market. We feel lot of efficiencies can be achieved if these services can be offered and availed online. Professionals using B2B ecommerce platforms will undoubtedly have a great advantage over their competitors. Right now professionals get business on referral basis and word of mouth which is slow & inefficient and may be faulty in some cases. If Trust can be taken care of, online connecting can be boom to this industry. Also these efficiency benefits can be |February 2020
partially transferred to clients as well in form of discounts.
Amazon Echo which use voice search so well.
Today businesses connect to professionals through close contacts like friends or business contacts. These contacts themselves have limited knowledge about specialities of professionals. So recommendations are not 100% sure. Data is not easily available. If the data can be made available over some platform, efficiency will increase and large scale redistribution of work will happen. Only issue remains is of Trust, which can be built by many tools available like robust profiles, public rating of professionals.
Machine Learning
Opportunities Let’s start with opportunities first. Let’s understand various aspects of technology which can be utilised with great effect. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial Intelligence was first discovered in 1950s and drives the E-commerce Industry today. It has great impact on how ecommerce is done today. Whether it is automation of routine works or obtaining powerful insights into huge data or quick real time decision making, AI can help. Use of Chatbots, personalised searches, finding fake reviews or profiles are few examples of use of AI in online market. Chatbots is the powerful example of how efficiency and speed is possible in response to customers’ queries. It has reduced support costs in businesses which earlier were huge. Voice search and visual search is seeing lot of innovations and great use in business. Today everyone is aware of google voice search,
Machine learning is helping businesses to learn more and quickly about customer behaviours and their needs, making right services available to them and helping businesses to earn more. This data gathering happens in real time and more customised and personal offerings to clients are possible. It gives clients more delight. Data Analytics Frankly, we have tremendous opportunities to achieve better intelligence and in turn, provide better services to the clients. Data analytics has made a great progress where machine can find patterns, trends. It will help businesses to get Best quality services at Best Prices. Finding Right Professional Candidates will be far easier. Public opinions can be taken by way of Surveys in Real Time. Seamless Payment Process Daily progress is made towards Payments related safety and security and it is making customers get more confidence to do online payments and it is helping businesses to earn more sales online. Concepts of Ewallets and discount coupons, gift cards are adding to user delight, and are driving more and more clients to online portals. Cloud Technology Cloud technology has made major inroads and it has made integrations with CRMs and company ERP possible giving further boost to use of online portals. 37
All time online Customers are getting the services round the clock. Professionals are available 24/7/365. Services are updated faster. Clients can avail almost anything online at any time. Dashboards B2B E-commerce companies can build customized dashboards for their clients which will provide much-needed data-points and service recommendations. With so many innovations, online financial services market can grow manifold in near future. Professionals who understand this and come online will have fantastic growth quickly. Challenges B2B Ecommerce has made some progress but there are many challenges which need to be tackled. It has not yet achieved its full potential. If the challenges are handled well, we will see a huge surge in online market for B2B financial services. It has become somewhat difficult for businesses offering services online to keep up with the competition, speed of innovation and needs of contemporary business buyers. Professional service providers are facing following challenges in doing so. Complex implementations Online portals need complex implementation and knowhow is still not wide spread and easily available. That customer-specific and complex services information resides not only in the software, but also in the minds of the sales and service representatives, some of whom are 38
retiring. Companies that are working on integrating and making this data more accessible for their team and their clients, will continue to grow in the future. Change in Mindset Businessmen in remote places are still in old mindset and they need to be made aware of new technologies. It needs commitment from higher level management and enough investments in future. It goes beyond IT department. Trust needs to be created in their mind by making them aware of safety and security of online portals. Focus on Clients Blind focus only on ecommerce platform is wrong, central focus should be creating an environment for clients. One cannot follow competitors for name sake. Just having big technologies without its proper application is not going to help. It’s critical to maintain a unified view of customer data which is a core element of B2B eCommerce success. Importance of Marketing The successful businesses which are growing and moving forward with e-commerce are the ones which are using modern marketing tools with data at its core to really learn about who their clients are and how they like to avail financial services. Technical staff Online technology is relatively a recent one and not enough technical staff is available. Attracting and retaining the top talent needed to manage an increasingly complex customer experience ecosystem, is a
big challenge. Continuous updation of new innovations is required. Multiple channels In online marketplace there are multiple channels for service offerings. It is a big struggle to maintain consistency in pricing and ensuring a consistent brand experience across multiple channels. Rapid growth in use of digital channels has complicated how we do business. At the same time no one can avoid it as competitors have adopted it, so to be in competition one has to learn it. There is continuous Struggle to grow marketshare for our services. Businesses need to ensure that technologies are seamlessly working together with current systems such as ERP and CRM. Conclusion Technology’s role in e-commerce is unavoidable. It is the basis of E-commerce, right from its birth to every development on continuous basis in the industry. In fact, almost 75% of Businesses who currently use a B2B eCommerce platform reported a sales lift of 15-20% or more, and three out of four businesses have seen large increases in order value through the use of their B2B platform. Large scale of Redistribution of financial professionals work will be a great advantage to business. If trust can be built in online markets, business will be far efficient and effective. If health industry can have online platforms, financial services industry too can come online. If that happens, there will be better utilisation of resources and it will result into better Economy.
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Yulu
Pedaling towards a Pollution-free Future Founded in the year 2017, Yulu aims to transform the very crux of commuting. UMaaS or Urban Mobility as a Service is the concept that involves budget-friendly and shareable solutions that individuals can use for short-distance travel. This is the basis on which the company has been built and has its operations in cities such as Bangalore, Pune, Greater Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, and Delhi. Recently, the company has received Series A funding from Bajaj and have also attained a partnership with Uber. Today, Yulu has the largest fleet of shared vehicles and is on a journey to build the largest Electronic Vehicle (EV) ridesharing system in India while aiming for an eco -friendly commute. Eco-friendly Travel Options
Amit Gupta R. K. Mishra Co-founder & CEO Co-founder &
President Ecosystem Partnerships
Naveen D Hemant Gupta Co-founder & CTO Co-founder & Chief of Operations
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ow many times have we stepped out and seen transport from the old-school point of view? The kind of transport that is not only efficient and budget-friendly but also helpful for the environment as well. It was probably a decade or two ago where people utilized more of public transport or used bicycles to travel. This very aspect is required today, as the environment is in a dire need of a break from pollution. Comprehending this necessity of protecting and saving the environment, several conglomerates have devised sustainable technologies and solutions. One company in particular, with a vision of reducing traffic congestion and related pollution by providing a scalable, affordable, efficient and clean solution is Yulu.
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The firm's passion for design in amalgamation with innovation within an urban scenario led them to come up with this unique idea. It needed to involve the benefit of traveling in cities where it has started taking half an hour to scale shorter distances of less than 2 kms. The makers decided to bring in a sharing-friendly smart bicycle, namely the Yulu Move, where local cultural suitability played a significant part. Alternatively, the company eventually decided to add one of the most preferred modes of transport in every modern city – the e-bike. The company came up with a lightweight battery-operated two-wheeler that is easy to ride named, the Yulu Miracle. It has a maximum speed of 25 kmph which exempts it from being required to have a license or a helmet. This two-wheeler also contains a swappable lithium-ion battery. Yulu has also built a highly scalable network of charging stations. The two-wheelers consisting of bicycles and electric powered vehicles also use the latest technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning (ML), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to function efficiently. This February 2020|
Our vision is to decongest
initiative has further encouraged people to opt for this affordable option that is working to rapidly reduce carbon footprint. Elaborating Further on the Concept Yulu has currently been changing how Indian citizens travel around the city and also stays true to its root cause of ensuring no harm to the environment. The bigger cities are majorly intrigued by this initiative and have been adopting it with much ease. Yulu vehicles are dock-less and can be rented on a pay per use basis. Its simplicity is portrayed by the easy bookings via iOS or Android apps that take only a couple of minutes and one only needs to scan the QR code to unlock them. About the Innovators Extraordinaire It took the collective efforts of four individuals to bring a revolution into the environment-friendly travel category. A graduate of IIT Kanpur, Amit Gupta has also earned the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award. He then went on to be the co-founder of a billion-dollar start-up called InMobi and played a key role in ensuring its profits and expansion to over 15 countries. Following this, he then moved on to be the Co-Founder and CEO of Yulu. With a similar interest and passion for creating sustainable travel options, R. K. Mishra took on the role of CoFounder and President Ecosystem Partnerships at the company. In the past, he has also founded Tent Technologies which was sold to Hughes. He also holds association with various organizations such as Carnegie India, Center for Smart Cities (Founder), SAHYOG (Founder), and Karnataka CM's Vision Group. On the academic front, Mr. Mishra graduated from IIT Kanpur and also holds a master's degree from Tokyo University. Naveen D is the Co-founder and CTO of Yulu and is also a graduate from IIT Kanpur. He also holds a master's degree |February 2020
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urban trafc by providing a highly scalable, affordable, efcient and clean mode for the rst and last mile connectivity and short distance commute
in computer graphics from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea. His immense technical background has been helpful in the implementation of ML/AI and IoT into the functioning of the company. His past work experience involves the position of a Technical Director for Data Analytics at BIAS Corporation and he also co-founded Learnora an online education platform. With 14 years of professional experience, Hemant Gupta took on the role of the fourth Co-founder and Chief of Operations of Yulu. He has an MBA from Symbiosis, Pune and joined A.P Moller-Maersk as a part of their highly acclaimed global talent management program. Accolades and Accomplishments Being a part of the start-up community is always challenging and it takes immense efforts to ride to the top. Since its inception, Yulu has earned various awards for its unique and budget-friendly concept. Popular business magazine Entrepreneur India bestowed Yulu with the award for the Emerging Startup of the Year. It was also awarded the titles of the Coolest Start-Up of the Year by Business Today, Most Innovative Startup by Inc42 and Cypher – Great Data Science Awards 2019 for AI implementation in Mobility. Yulu with its bikes and two-wheelers is working towards creating a cleaner and greener environment. 41
Zekko Tech Private Ltd Connecting India, Transforming India
its solution, delivery excellence, caring for its employees and collaborating with all out customers to deliver innovative, cost-effective and value-driven technology solutions’. Zekko aims to provide end-to-end solutions in Telecom/Enterprise/IT/Industrial Automations/ Public WiFi Solutions and other allied sectors that exceed customer’s expectations. Its solutions enable businesses to build a powerful, secure and reliable communication network, thereby improving their product, Quality and service levels. Its Unique Services
Mr. Chandrasekaran Iyer Founder
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ndia has seen a dream of Digital India. From the latest science to technology, everything should be available at the tip of one’s finger.” – Shri. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India launched ‘Digital India’ in 2015. Since its inception, India is strongly moving forward towards progress. It has provided immense opportunities to already existing companies and empowered aspiring individuals to take a step towards their dreams. Today, these visionaries have established some of the prominent companies in India. Among them, Zekko Tech Private Ltd is one leading startup, committed to provide timely, customized, integrated, and cost-effective solutions. The company’s vision is ‘To be a successful global technology solution provider, trusted by its customers for
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Zekko Tech Private Ltd was founded by eager and likeminded brains with diverse industrial backgrounds and rich collective experience of over 150+ years. These passionate innovative minds were united by an unquenchable thirst with a vision of standing by, for 'Digital India Smart India Revolution’. Established in 2016, the young and youthful startup with 3+ years of experience aggressively targets large corporates and MSME enterprises, Smart City projects, etc. Its unique, cost-effective telecom, enterprise, industrial automation & networking, smart cities, public wifi solutions and healthcare solutions are tailored to meet its customer’s exact needs. Along with these, the company provides procurement and supply chain consulting, strategic marketing research, which helps its clients to protect bottom-line up profits and front-line services. Zekko ensures that its solutions are designed to suit customer’s needs, simple in architecture and easy to operate for years to come. To ensure reliability, the company sources components from industry leaders across the globe and integrates as per the design. Thus, Zekko creates technological and innovative advanced
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solutions for the customer, which takes care of their future tech and business growth. The Industry Expert Leading a company of passionate individuals who are committed for the betterment of the Nation’s future, requires personalities who firmly believe in the abilities of these young minds. These individuals use their years of experience to help the next generation in their endeavors. Zekko’s brainchild-cum-founder Mr. Chandrasekaran Iyer is one such dynamic personality who, with diverse experience, is leading Zekko and its team towards excellence. Mr. Iyer has over two decades of hands-on experience in the field of telecommunication with the renowned industry giants and more than a decade of experience in Research and Development. After the Indian government’s revolutionary Digital India initiative, he was triggered to venture out, to synergize India's growth path towards Digitalization. This venture was conceived in the form of Zekko. After the emergence of advanced technologies, he felt it is important to pitch his expertise to industry stalwarts. This allowed him a path of exploration and helped him connect to his worldwide contacts to elevate the digitalization and IoT era in India. A Promising Future Though being an established solution provider in the telecom industry, Zekko is developing innovative solutions to enter a varied range of business verticals. In 2020, the company plans to provide its services for EV Charging Solutions, IoT based Industrial charging, automation solutions and Public WiFi Solutions. The company has started to heavily invest in the development of innovative fast-charging solutions for Electric
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We target Large and MSME Companies, Smart cities, etc. specically with cost-effective solutions that allow established and emerging businesses to compete in product and service levels
Vehicles and IoT based industrial charging solution. Zekko desires to equip the country’s youth to combat real-world challenges. Hence, it is planning to start a mid-size manufacturing facility & to set up a skill development training center for young engineers and technicians. The company aims to support, train and develop a minimum of 5000+ resources over the next five years in futuristic technologies and opportunities. Such initiatives will help the youth to identify the right opportunities in the job market and will help future job employment constraints. Zekko’s founder, Mr. Iyer strongly believes that the development of the organization lies with the youth and they are the future of India’s development. To support these initiatives, he is working with many organizations and investors who also believe in his vision to transform India to reach the height of technological excellence. To know in brief about the company’s solutions and services, visit: http://www.zekko.co.in/index.html
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