New Delhi, 20th February 2025 – Priyanka Kanwar, Co-founder and CEO of Falcon has been recognized as the “Fintech Leader of the Year” for her significant contributions to advancing financial services, technology, and inclusion in India. This recognition was awarded at the third edition of Digital Fifth’s Bharat Fintech Summit 2025, held in Mumbai. The award is the testament to Priyanka’s visionary leadership and relentless drive in revolutionizing fintech, exemplified by Falcon’s rapid innovation, including groundbreaking solutions like the Credit Line on UPI and the Falcon Portfolio Maximisation Tool.

The “Fintech Leader of the Year” award is presented to individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the growth and innovation of the fintech sector in India. The recognition highlights both business achievements and the broader influence a leader has in reshaping financial infrastructure.

Under Kanwar’s leadership, Falcon has processed over INR 10,000 Cr in transaction volume, and partnered with leading institutions, including ICICI Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, PNB, NSDL Payments Bank, and DMI Finance. By focusing on sustainable scaling, Falcon is building a foundation to drive transformative impact at scale while unlocking financial access for millions.

The Bharat Fintech Summit is a two-day event focused on the evolving BFSI sector, with an emphasis on digital transformation. It provides a platform for regulators, BFSI stakeholders, fintech innovators, investors, industry associations, and technology providers to share insights and collaborate. The summit’s goal is to empower participants with knowledge, drive innovation, and accelerate digitization, ensuring financial services reach even the most remote areas. This event aims to foster industry-wide collaborations and contribute to the widespread dissemination of the benefits of the digital revolution, advancing financial inclusion across society.

New Delhi, 20th February 2025: Leading luxury watch company, Ethos, has deployed Unicommerce’s Uniware suite of solutions to elevate the experience for customers to optimize order management and streamline delivery processes for its growing base of online buyers.

Established in 2003, Ethos operates over 70 Watch Boutiques in 23 cities across India. As an authorized retailer of luxury watches, it offers more than 70 premium watch brands, including Rolex, Tissot, Breitling, BVLGARI, Maserati, Corum, Hublot, Rado, Tag Heuer, and Armin Strom, among many others. Ethos also sells through its website and multiple marketplaces.

Ethos has adopted Unicommerce’s multi-channel order and warehouse management systems to streamline order processing from its brand website and various marketplaces. With this, Ethos aims to leverage cutting-edge technology to automate processes previously done manually.

By managing orders via Unicommerce’s unified dashboard, Ethos can optimize its order processing across multiple platforms, enable seamless check-out for high-value items, and also make after-sales more efficient. The automated shipping allocation also makes order tracking updates available to the end customer from the point when the product is shipped. Unicommerce’s technology also powers Ethos’ returns management operations. This ensures customers enjoy a hassle-free experience for all orders placed across different platforms.

The Unicommerce platform also allows Ethos to offer a wider assortment of products online, making store inventory available to shoppers across smaller towns and cities where their physical stores are not present, ensuring their commitment to making luxury products accessible to tier 2 and tier 3 buyers.

Speaking on the partnership, Nikhil Adhlakha, Head of E-Commerce at Ethos, said, “We are seeing a tremendous growth opportunity in the Indian market. We are optimistic that this partnership with Unicommerce will further strengthen our operational efficiency to meet growing demand.”

Kapil Makhija, MD & CEO of Unicommerce, said, “We are excited to support Ethos in scaling their operations and achieving their e-commerce goals. Our technology solutions have consistently registered faster order processing and reduction in operational errors for our clients. We are confident that we will add value to Ethos’ luxury e-commerce operations. ”

According to consulting firm BCG, the luxury retail market in India is currently valued at approximately $8 billion and is expected to grow to $14 billion by 2032. This rise in wealth is contributing to an ever-expanding demand for luxury goods across the country. The growth in luxury retail is not limited only to the big metros. Towns like Dehradun, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Guwahati, and many more are also showing a keen interest in premium goods.

Mumbai,20 February 2025: Only Women, an eight-month-old community of senior women professionals, began its giving-back-to-society initiative, Helping Hands, this Saturday with a visit to Mumbai Roti Bank’s kitchen at Chembur and handed over a cheque to the NGO’s Managing Trustee, D. Sivanandhan, former Director General of Police – Maharashtra.

Five members of Only Women were given a tour of the kitchen by Mr. Sivanandhan and the staff of Roti Bank. Nutritious meals including dal, rice, roti, and sabzi are cooked for thousands of underprivileged people, including children and patients, every day in a nutritious manner without any contact with hands. Only Women members later had lunch with Mr. Sivanandhan and ate the food cooked at Roti Bank.

Founded in December 2017 under Mr. Sivanandhan’s leadership, Mumbai Roti Bank has distributed about 20 million nutritious meals in eight states till now. Narrating the story of its creation and reiterating its vision that ‘no individual should have to endure the hardships caused by hunger’ Mr. Sivanandhan said, “95% of Roti Bank’s benefactors are the corporate houses. Students too collect money and donate to us, which I humbly accept. Some give us grains, some give us mobile vans to transport food and some give us money. I am thankful to all of them”.

Roti Bank is now looking for a 3000 sq.ft. built-up area to have its permanent kitchen. “I will pay for it,” says Mr. Sivanandhan, NGO’s Managing Trustee, and former Director General of Police – Maharashtra.“But I do not want to leave this mission incomplete. What happens tomorrow when I am not there? I want it to run even after I am gone. I want to hand over a permanent kitchen to the people who have stayed with me all these years, who can take forward this mission of providing food to those in need”. The area Roti Bank is looking for can be anywhere between Mumbai and Palghar.

“I have known Mr. Sivanandhan for over 20 years now and I haven’t stopped learning the art of humility, integrity, and dedication from him till today,” said Vidyottama Sharma, Founder & CEO, of Only Women and a former journalist. “For someone who wielded such amazing power as Mumbai’s police commissioner and as Joint Director of CBI, and is even credited with neutralizing the underworld in the city, it is so humbling to see him leave no stone unturned in feeding the underprivileged children and patients without taking a break. Only Women feels privileged to begin its Helping Hands project with a worthy cause,” said the former journalist.

Mr. Sivanandhan, equally happy with the visit, said, “Many people and organizations have visited the Roti Bank kitchen over the years. Only Women team’s visit is close to my heart as it was led by Vidyottama Sharma, a senior journalist, who I have known for over 20 years. It was touching that Only Women, a new community of women professionals, offered to help Roti Bank in any way they could. We all had lunch together. It was a happy meeting for all of us”.

Incorporated in May 2024, Only Women is a domain agnostic networking community and think tank of women thought leaders, with C-Suite executives, founders/ entrepreneurs, and senior independent professionals as members, who meet periodically to enhance their learning curve, deliberate on and take up issues related to women professionals, mentor younger leaders, strengthen bonding and support and have shared experiences. Only Women’s initiatives include expert talks series, knowledge series/ leadership series, roundtables, panel discussions, annual summits, sports events, job fairs for women, mentorship programs for young leaders, sensitization and knowledge workshops, social causes, education of children, and experiential events. Within 15 days of its inception, Only Women was invited to an international summit held in Athens, Greece and it participated in it with a six-member delegation. It also partnerswith  Vinayaka Law School Mission, Chennai in training students.

A cheque was handed over by the Only Women members to Mr. Sivanandhan. They included Vidyottama Sharma, Aavrutti Sharma, Nilu Kohli, Ashmi Parekh and Sapna Sharma.

Mumbai, February 20, 2025: Sony SAB is set to captivate audiences with its upcoming mythological, Veer Hanuman – the story of Lord Hanuman’s discovery of his powers. The show explores the incredible journey of Maruti’s transformation into the powerful Lord Hanuman, whose name is now synonymous with unwavering strength, loyalty, and devotion. The young and talented child artist, Aan Tiwari, will be seen portraying the young Lord Hanuman.

Keen to make a mark as the lead character, Aan has devoted himself to learning chaste Hindi and Sanskrit specifically for this show. As part of his preparation for the role, he has not only learnt the language but has also developed a deep devotion to Lord Hanuman and he has memorized 30-35 mantras while his parents have read him 12-14 books on Pavanputra Hanuman. His love for singing also plays a role in his preparation, as he often devotedly chants shlokas. Aan frequently discusses his character in detail with his parents, deepening his understanding of the role and ensuring an impactful performance.

An excited Aan Tiwari said, “I love to learn new things, and I took learning Sanskrit as a fun challenge. At first it was a bit difficult, but now I find it easy! Also, saying Hanuman ji’s special prayers makes me feel happy and close to him. I feel so lucky to play Lord Hanuman in the show and my friends are waiting to see me onscreen.”

Stay tuned to witness the beginning of an epic journey as ‘Veer Hanuman’ premieres on 11th March and will air every Monday – Saturday at 7.30 pm on Sony SAB!

February 19, 2025 – JBI Aerospace and VIK-COMPOSITE GmbH, Germany have announced a strategic alliance to strengthen the Indian composite industry, with a sharp focus on Aerospace, Space, and Defence applications.

Jayanthi Bhagatha, Founder and CEO of JBI Aerospace, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “VIK-COMPOSITE is committed to delivering tailored solutions that address complex challenges. Their emphasis on innovation, quality, and customer-centric solutions makes them an ideal partner. This collaboration will leverage joint efforts in manufacturing, material processing, and market strategies to advance the industry.”

Victoria Ruppel, Executive Director of VIK-COMPOSITE GmbH, Germany echoed this sentiment: “We are pleased to join forces with JBI Aerospace, a trusted and valuable partner in India’s Aerospace, Aviation, Wind Energy, Space, and Defence sectors. Their deep understanding of end-user requirements, combined with their market expertise, aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver high-quality composite manufacturing solutions.”

As part of its expansion strategy, JBI Aerospace is set to establish a state-of-the-art facility in India, aimed at reducing costs, shortening lead times, and addressing specific customer needs. This initiative will not only fortify support for the local composite industry but also enhance indigenous manufacturing capabilities through innovation and collaboration.

NOIDA, India, Feb 19, 2025—HCLFoundation, which drives the corporate social responsibility agenda of global technology company HCLTech in India, and the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) announced a partnership to support indigenous crafts and tribal artisans in India.

HCLFoundation will train artisans approximately 4,500 artisans and promote their products on its My E-Haat platform, which will connect them directly with customers.

“TRIFED has over three decades of experience in marketing indigenous products. By collaborating with HCLFoundation, we aim to further improve the livelihood opportunities for tribal artisans,” said Shri Sandeep Pahalwan, General Manager (I/c), Marketing, TRIFED.

“This partnership with TRIFED is another example of our commitment to fostering long-term, sustainable change in communities. By empowering tribal artisans with the skills, resources, and market access they need, we are contributing to the preservation of India’s rich cultural heritage,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Sr. Vice President, Global CSR at HCLTech & Director, HCLFoundation.

Sun Neo’s popular show Ishq Jabariya is all set to welcome a new face. Actor Aditya Syal landed his first television role, making his TV debut with Ishq Jabariya on Sun Neo as Vyom the son of Devi Sahay, portrayed by Dipshikkha Nagpal, bringing a fresh twist to the story. Aditya, a dedicated theatre actor, recently shared how he landed the role and his excitement about being part of the show.

Talking about how he bagged the role, Aditya shared, “I had been looking for work in television for a long time. Originally, I was a theater actor. When you do theater, the next step is to look for opportunities in other mediums. I was given multiple auditions, but I had no real connections in the television industry. One day, I got a call from my friend. He told me about Sun Neo’s show Ishq Jabariya and asked if I would like to audition. I immediately said yes. They gave me a script and a brief about my character. They needed the audition immediately, and these days, self-tests have become common. Earlier, before the lockdown, we used to go directly to production houses for auditions, but now we have to record and send them ourselves.”

The Ishq Jabariya actor further added, “So, I quickly set up my audition. I asked my mom to act as my tripod stand and my sister to read the opposite lines for me. Sweetly, they both helped me out and with their support, I managed to record a good audition. Luckily, the production team liked my audition. I think my curly-haired look also worked in my favor. But more than anything, I always try to give my best in every audition, and fortunately, I cracked it. I am really happy and excited about this opportunity.”

Ishq Jabariya, airing at 10:00 PM on Sun Neo, is a captivating love story about Gulki, a determined young woman with dreams bigger than life itself. Featuring a talented cast including Kamya Panjabi, Dipshikkha Nagppal, Siddhi Sharma, and Lakshay Khurana, the show promises to deliver a perfect blend of emotion and drama.

February, 2025: Silky, smooth, straight hair is a dream for many, but it often feels achievable only through salon treatments or heating tools. TRESemmé, a leading Hair Care innovation brand, has proudly introduced a groundbreaking range of products designed to give you Silky, Straight hair without heat or harsh chemicals. Yes, you heard it right!

This latest addition to TRESemmé’s collection introduces a simple 4-step hair regime.

1. Step 1 begins with a rich, creamy ampoule (pre-wash) designed to enhance hair alignment and deliver straight hair (from root to tip).
2. Step 2 includes a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo that tackles frizz and dryness,
3. Step 3 a nourishing mask that deeply hydrates, refines rough edges, and leaves hair smoother and shinier.
4. Step 4 An innovative finishing serum that provides instant smoothness for a polished look.

Together, these products deliver smooth, perfectly aligned, straight hair with salon quality, allowing you to enjoy this sleek look for up to 100 hours. Inspired by the transformative silk press trend, this range delivers professional-grade sleekness, straight and shiny hair directly to your home, making it effortless to achieve a polished, straight-hair look with the luxurious finish of salon-treated hair.

Speaking about the launch, Sairam Subramanian, Vice President, Hair Care, Unilever said, “At TRESemmé, we are always focused on delivering cutting-edge innovations to our consumers in the comfort of their homes. The Silk Press Range embodies this dedication. Formulated with Amino Press [20] technology, it provides an ‘at home’ hair regime to achieve professional-grade sleek, straight & smooth hair. This range is ideal for those looking for sleek straight hair with no heat & minimum effort, taking everyday hair care to a new professional standard”

The Silk Press Range: Break-through Science, Trend-Inspired, Category first Premium Salon-Style treatment

The TRESemmé Silk Press Range is formulated with Amino Press [20] technology that works from within. This amino press technology restores uniformity by pressing amino proteins into the hair shaft from root to tip. This process smoothens deeply from the inside and refines alignment by mending hair cuticles for visibly straighter hair. With consistent use, the range offers progressive benefits, ensuring your hair becomes smoother, shinier, and more manageable over time. Each product in the range, the pre-wash, shampoo, mask, and serum, works together to create a radiant, & sleek finish. Inspired by the belief that straight hair signifies great hair, this collection makes sleek, silky locks more attainable than ever, offering professional-quality results for every beauty enthusiast. These products are available on Nykaa, Myntra, Amazon, Tira, Purplle, Blinkit and other leading e-retailers.

By – Ramesh Jude Thomas, Founder & Director of Equitor Value Advisory

Three decades ago, valuing a business was straightforward. Around 80% of its worth could be found on the balance sheet, primarily in tangible assets. Back then, creating capacity—whether through technology or infrastructure—was a significant competitive advantage. Limited access to resources or capital meant competitors couldn’t easily replicate this capacity, making it both an asset and a barrier to entry. These tangible assets dominated the balance sheet, leaving just 20% as what we called goodwill—a balancing figure in the books.

Today, this equation has flipped entirely. When assessing a company’s value now, only a small fraction is reflected in its balance sheet. Instead, the balance sheet has become more of a historical record, capturing what once was. The true value of a business lies in its intangible assets—namely, its brand and intellectual property (IP). These assets play a pivotal role in forecasting and determining a company’s future value.

Across industries and economies worldwide, the majority of value now resides in intangible assets. This is an undeniable reality. Yet, balance sheets—the cornerstone of quarterly board meetings—fail to account for 80% of a company’s true value. This gap exists because traditional accounting systems have not evolved to recognize the growing importance of intangible assets.

Leading companies, however, have recognized the shift. They understand that building a sustainable, valuable future means prioritizing and leveraging these intangible assets. But this realization raises an important question: What are the biggest challenges businesses face in recognizing and utilizing these assets effectively?

The first hurdle lies in accounting and reporting systems. These systems fail to capture intangible assets in measurable, material terms. When these assets are not reported, they remain invisible, starting at the board level and filtering throughout the organization. Without recognition, there is no accountability for managing these assets.

Consider the widely used metric “return on capital employed.” The denominator in this calculation is based solely on tangible assets from the balance sheet. But why aren’t brand and IP included? If they were added to the equation, the metric would provide a far more accurate picture of returns. Currently, 80% of the assets driving profits are excluded from the calculation, making the numbers look disproportionately favorable. This disconnect means that much of the profit-driving numerator comes directly from intangible assets, yet it is divided only by tangible capital.

So, what’s the solution? Businesses must take proactive steps, going beyond standard compliance requirements. First, they need to scientifically value their intangible assets. Second, they should report these assets transparently, just as they do with tangible assets. Third, organizations must hold managers accountable for optimizing and integrating these assets into strategic decision-making.

By embracing this approach, companies can transform how they measure return on capital. The metrics won’t just look different; they’ll finally reflect the real value that resides within the business. Recognizing and leveraging intangible assets isn’t just an accounting adjustment—it’s a strategic imperative for businesses that want to thrive in today’s economy.

Bengaluru, India, Feb. 19, 2025 —Today, Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking and security, and Rockwell Automation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand their strategic partnership and launch the ‘Digital Skills for Industry’ program. Addressing the growing skills gap in India’s manufacturing sector, the program aims to empower the next generation of workers with essential digital skills, combining IT and OT curriculums in the areas of cybersecurity, networking, IoT, data science, AI, programming and automation technologies. To meet the evolving demands of the industry, the program aims to improve digital literacy in the industry, attract new talent, enhance workforce productivity, help accelerate career growth and bridge the global digital divide.

With a vision of exporting goods worth USD 1 trillion by 2030, India is well on its way to cementing itself as a major manufacturing hub. However, a shortage of skilled workers poses a significant barrier to progress. In fact, according to a Team Lease report, by FY 2027-28 the electronics manufacturing industry is expected to generate 12 million jobs, yet a staggering skills gap of 10 million trained professionals persists. Bridging this skills gap is critical to ensure that India’s manufacturing industry remains globally competitive, efficient, and future-ready.

To address this gap, organizations are intensifying their investments in operational technology while prioritizing workforce upskilling. In July 2024, Cisco and Rockwell Automation signed an MOU pledging to close the digital skills gap in manufacturing across the Asia-Pacific region through social impact programs which include the Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad). In India, NetAcad has already trained more than 2.2 million students through collaborations with educational institutions and industry partners. With courses in emerging technologies such as networking, programming, and cybersecurity, NetAcad is equipping the workforce with the skills needed to succeed in the jobs of the future.

“As we navigate the digital-first era, we’re witnessing a significant shift where industries without the right skilled talent risk falling behind. This transformation, driven by AI and emerging technologies, is especially critical for the manufacturing sector,” said Daisy Chittilapilly, President, of Cisco India & SAARC “We are excited to partner with Rockwell Automation to build a future-ready, skilled workforce that can bring to life new possibilities of digital technologies, paving the way for a smarter and globally competitive manufacturing landscape.”

“India’s manufacturing sector is poised to be a key engine of the nation’s economic transformation. Amidst rapid technological advancements, the need for workforce upskilling and reskilling has never been more urgent. Rockwell Automation’s 9th annual State of Smart Manufacturing report identifies ‘change management’ as the top workforce challenge for 2024, highlighting the crucial role of human capital in the adoption of smart manufacturing technologies,” said Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director, Rockwell Automation India

Recognizing the growing need for a skilled workforce in automation technologies, Rockwell Automation offers solutions to help both customers upskill workers and academic institutions to train students in industry-relevant skills. These training solutions can be deployed with Rockwell Automation support through a blend of virtual or instructor-led courses to help enterprises mitigate workforce challenges and prepare for the future of smart manufacturing. These courses, spread across a variety of fundamental and product-specific automation technology topics, deliver a training solution that can be implemented directly on the plant floor, in classrooms, or through virtual sessions.

“While companies are committed to maintaining and even expanding their workforce in this era of automation, simply hiring isn’t enough. A strategic investment in robust upskilling and reskilling programs is essential. These programs must empower workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to leverage emerging technologies effectively. By cultivating a dynamic talent ecosystem equipped for the future of manufacturing, we can realize India’s national vision: establishing the country as a global manufacturing powerhouse, competitive on the world stage,” added Dilip Sawhney.