3^rd April 2025: The grandest Paw Pageant in India, launched in collaboration with Bark Out Loud, Solitario, and Supertails, was an absolute sensation! With over 1,000+ entries, 8 million+ impressions, and 3 lakh+ interactions from pet parents across the country, this celebration of our furry companions was truly one for the books!

With such an overwhelming response, our esteemed jury had the tough task of shortlisting 12 incredible finalists, whose videos were then put to public vote on social media.

What followed was pure magic! Each finalist’s video received an outpouring of love from the pet-loving community, amassing over 2.5 lakh votes. The excitement and engagement made this campaign a paw-some success!

While every finalist was a star in their own right, one entry stole hearts like no other— @thara_taau_ramphal charmed everyone with their quirky, adorable, and hilarious video, featuring [a humorous concept and conversational script]. With 5,400+ likes, 32,000+ shares, and 1,30,000+ impressions, they claimed the prestigious title of Crown Winner of the Paw Pageant!

The grand winner walked away with a stunning diamond-studded crown worth ₹7.8 lakh, designed by Solitario, a brand known for its sustainable and ethical lab-grown diamonds.

The celebration didn’t stop there!
@casperthefluffycloud – The new Face of Bark Out Loud for upcoming campaigns, with an exclusive professional photoshoot by a renowned photographer.
@pixiethelhasaprincess – Set to enjoy an entire year’s supply of Bark Boxes filled with exciting Bark Out Loud goodies, delivered by Supertails.

A huge shoutout to the campaign creators:
Bark Out Loud – A leading pet brand committed to crafting premium products that bring joy and well-being to furry companions.
Supertails – India’s first digital pet-care platform, offering a one-stop solution for pet food, supplies, and veterinary consultations.
Solitario – Specializing in lab-grown diamonds, promoting sustainable and ethical jewelry choices.

The Paw Pageant was a celebration of love, companionship, and the unbreakable bond between pets and their families. With such a woof-tastic response, we can’t wait to bring back an even bigger and better edition next year

April 03, 2025 – Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today introduced TrackWise Manufacturing, an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted, cloud-native platform designed to transform how life sciences companies manage, automate and digitalize operations. Trackwise Manufacturing is one of the first in the life sciences industry to offer a revolutionary new approach to workflow management that bridges the gap between the digital and physical manufacturing environments.

Most organizations in the life sciences manufacturing sector still rely on paper-based methods for workflow management, leading to errors and inefficiencies that cause data to go unused and can delay the introduction of new drugs, resulting in profit loss per drug. To address these challenges, TrackWise Manufacturing enables organizations to digitize operations and automate workflows through AI-assisted processes that can help companies to bring drugs to market faster and safer.

The solution is built on a new containerized platform that allows software applications to run consistently across different computing environments, eliminating the need for complex, siloed integrations. As a result, manufacturers can achieve greater flexibility and efficiency, allowing them to respond quicker to business needs and regulatory changes.

“TrackWise Manufacturing is designed to advance the industry’s inefficient systems by leveraging Honeywell’s extensive expertise in automation technologies and life science compliance,” said Pramesh Maheshwari, President of Honeywell Process Solutions. “By embedding AI-assisted workflows, we are leveraging automation to help life science manufacturers reduce technology transfer times and get products to patients faster.”

By harnessing the capabilities of TrackWise Manufacturing, organizations can not only optimize process execution but can also safeguard operational continuity. The platform’s containerized architecture supports flexibility and adaptability, empowering manufacturers to adjust swiftly to evolving market demands while staying compliant with regulatory requirements.

“In the face of economic pressures, shifting market demands, and evolving regulatory requirements, the Life Sciences industry is at an inflection point,” said Daniel R. Matlis, President and Founder at Axendia, Inc. “Industry leaders must seize the opportunity to transform and leverage technological advancements to unify digital quality and manufacturing. Embracing modern technologies, Industry can significantly enhance operational effectiveness, improve product quality, streamline regulatory compliance, and accelerate time to market.”

The platform leverages Honeywell’s established Unit Operations Controller (UOC) for critical control functions while seamlessly embedding an industry-first quality framework that promotes true quality-by-design manufacturing. By embedding quality metrics into the manufacturing process, this framework changes how manufacturers handle production and compliance, which can ultimately result in faster time to market for products.

TrackWise Manufacturing expands on Honeywell’s TrackWise platform and its 30-year quality management legacy that has helped life sciences organizations get safe products to market in a timely manner. The platform’s launch marks a significant leap forward in the evolution of manufacturing technology, unifying various operational functions to streamline processes, enhance operational efficiency, and accelerate product time-to-market.

April 2, 2025: Neela Mediatech, the next-gen digital venture founded by Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (TMKOC) creator Asit Kumarr Modi, is opening doors to top media and creative agencies as it scales its digital venture across gaming, animation, gamified learning, Web3, and merchandise. Backed by an ambitious annual marketing budget of ₹25 crore, the company is now seeking strategic partners to lead its user acquisition and retention initiatives.

Asit Kumarr Modi

After two years of intensive product development and testing for Product-Market Fit, Neela Mediatech is entering its growth phase — taking India’s most loved IP beyond television into global interactive experiences.

TMKOC Rhymes, With 1.5 crore subscribers and 15 million daily views, these multilingual animation channels have become a household favorite in 12 regional languages and English. Gada Electronics – The flagship mobile game has surpassed 5 million downloads in just three months, trending across both Android and iOS. With EBIT-positive operations, it’s now set to launch globally with a target of 1 billion+ downloads. TMKOC PlaySchool – A gamified learning app with 1,000+ interactive games, real-time performance tracking for parents, and skill-mapping features. A full-scale marketing launch is planned across TV, Print, and Digital. Neela Mediatech’s merchandise line — currently in soft launch — is also gearing up to bring iconic TMKOC characters to life through collectibles and branded products.

“For over 16 years, TMKOC has been a source of joy for families across India. With Neela Mediatech, we’re transforming that legacy into digital-first experiences for a global audience,” said Asit Kumarr Modi, Founder of Neela Mediatech and Neela Film Productions.

“We are now looking for visionary agency partners to help us scale this innovation and create a global phenomenon.”Harjeet Chhabra, CEO of Neela Mediatech, added, “Our goal is to merge storytelling, education, and play in ways the world hasn’t seen. With our strong foundation and passionate 70-member team, we’re ready to level up.”

Neela Mediatech, a subsidiary of Neela Film Productions, is rapidly emerging as a leader in interactive entertainment — blending technology, creativity, and the power of India’s most loved family IP. The company is now inviting media and creative agencies to be a part of this transformative journey as it expands across new genres, platforms, and global markets.

Agencies interested in shaping the future of entertainment can reach out now to join TMKOC’s next big leap.

 April 2, 2025 – Splunk, the cybersecurity and observability leader, today announced new innovations to deliver a seamless OpenTelemetry experience that offers organizations flexibility, customization, and freedom from vendor lock-in with no manual setup. With the introduction of these new capabilities, Splunk provides a more intuitive, simplified OpenTelemetry experience – ensuring organizations can seamlessly integrate open-source observability into their software delivery and build a leading observability practice.

Nearly 60% of surveyed organizations say their primary observability solution relies on OpenTelemetry, making it a critical framework to advance business operations. Recognizing the great advantages of OpenTelemetry, Splunk made it the foundation of its Splunk Observability Cloud solution and continued to innovate to ensure organizations benefit from the framework’s vendor-neutral telemetry with unmatched ease of use. These new solutions include Service Inventory, enhanced capabilities for Kubernetes troubleshooting, and expanded support for automatic setup of OpenTelemetry instrumentation for applications.

Simplifying OpenTelemetry Adoption with Service Inventory and Expanded Automation

Service Inventory addresses the operational challenges of large-scale observability building on infrastructure inventory, automatic discovery and automatic configuration. This new capability:

• Provides end-to-end visibility – Automatically detects all third-party applications, like databases and message queues.
• Guides users through configuration – Provides step-by-step recommendations for seamless OpenTelemetry setup.
• Identifies and resolves visibility gaps – Highlights missing instrumentation, allowing enterprises to proactively address blind spots across their infrastructure.

“Splunk customers benefit from OpenTelemetry’s full power, with a frictionless experience that ensures complete visibility, so they can attain flexibility and ownership of their data,” said Morgan McLean, OpenTelemetry Co-founder and Senior Director of Product Management at Splunk, a Cisco company. “OpenTelemetry should be effortless to use, and Splunk is committed to making that a reality with the introduction of Service Inventory and expanded automation. These enhancements give customers the power to build a leading observability practice with the ability to instrument and monitor their environments without the complexity of manual configuration.”

Deepening Kubernetes Observability and OpenTelemetry Support

Splunk enhanced its Kubernetes monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities to further enrich visibility and empower teams to quickly detect and resolve issues within Kubernetes clusters, reducing downtime and improving performance.

Further strengthening Splunk’s OpenTelemetry offering, the company is rolling out OpenTelemetry Python 2.0 and Node.js 3.0, delivering greater flexibility and improved performance for cloud-native applications.

“OpenTelemetry is rapidly becoming the industry standard for building an effective observability practice, but complex instrumentation remains a significant barrier. Splunk’s latest innovations have the potential to make its adoption more seamless than ever,” said Archana Venkatraman, Senior Research Director, Cloud Data Management, IDC Europe. “Cloud-native and Kubernetes strategies are becoming mainstream, requiring enterprise-grade management. Amid this, by automating instrumentation and deepening Kubernetes troubleshooting, Splunk continues to make OpenTelemetry a practical and powerful solution for digital enterprises.”

Cisco & Splunk: Better Together in OpenTelemetry

As part of Cisco, Splunk continues to champion OpenTelemetry adoption. Cisco ThousandEyes and Splunk AppDynamics natively support OpenTelemetry, enabling a seamless observability experience across the entire IT stack. As the first assurance solution to support OpenTelemetry, Cisco ThousandEyes allows customers to infer correlations between digital experience health and observability metrics for end-to-end visibility that helps solve problems quicker, and get services restored and running faster. Splunk AppDynamics provides an OpenTelemetry-compatible backend to ingest trace data using OpenTelemetry components and leverages Splunk AppDynamics agents to produce OpenTelemetry data for easy consumption by Splunk Observability Cloud

2nd April 2025: MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU), Pune successfully hosted HackMITWPU 2025, a three-day hackathon that brought together over 7,000 participants, fostering a spirit of innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving. With fourteen diverse tracks, the event served as a launchpad for groundbreaking ideas, bridging academia and industry to address real-world challenges.

This year’s theme, ‘ले छलांग’ (Le Chhallang) – The Leap of Faith, encouraged participants to step beyond their comfort zones, challenge existing norms, and push the boundaries of technology and entrepreneurship. The event featured lineup of competitions, including Ideathon, Workathon, Capture the Flag, Pharmathon, Bio-Thon, Hack-AI-Thon, and Data Quest, among others, allowing students to apply their knowledge in AI, cybersecurity, space technology, pharmaceuticals, and more.

Throughout the hackathon, participants engaged in high-impact problem-solving, developing innovative solutions that were evaluated by a panel of 450+ industry experts, academicians, and researchers. Projects spanned multiple disciplines, from artificial intelligence and blockchain to sustainable energy and healthcare.

Prof. Prakash B. Joshi, Founder Trustee of MIT and Director of MIT-TBI; Dr. R.M. Chitnis, Vice-Chancellor of MIT-WPU; and Dr. Milind Pande, Pro-Vice Chancellor of MIT-WPU and Chief Convener of HackMIT-WPU, provided guidance to students throughout the event.

Dr. R.M. Chitnis stated: “The AI Research Institute, Robotics and Automation Engineering Center, and Blockchain Centre of Excellence played a crucial role in mentoring students and providing access to the infrastructure. Several standout projects emerged from the event, including Chem-E-Car, a chemically powered shoebox-sized vehicle that runs solely on chemical energy, and STeRG (Space Technology Research Group), which focused on advancements in spacecraft systems.”

Echoing the same, Dr. Milind Pande added that other notable projects, such as Team Phoenix’s autonomous drone technology, Team Skytroopers’ aeromodelling innovations, and Team Drifters’ Formula 1-inspired combustion vehicle ‘Primus,’ enabled students to expand their horizons, step beyond their comfort zones, and take a true leap of faith.”

The event also provided a platform for final-year project showcases, where students presented research across electronics, robotics, civil engineering, and more, offering younger students invaluable insights into real-world applications of their coursework. In addition, the hackathon facilitated mentorship, incubation opportunities, and potential funding for promising ideas, with select teams receiving financial support of up to ₹1 lakh to further develop their prototypes.

The event successfully connected academia with industry, equipping students with hands-on experience and the skills required to thrive in the evolving technological landscape.

April 2, 2025:Covestro is committed to sustainable solutions in agriculture and has developed specialized solar dryers made of polycarbonate to support coffee farmers in Ethiopia during the harvest. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and aims to assist people in disadvantaged regions worldwide with simple yet effective technologies.

Coffee is one of Ethiopia’s most important trade commodities and provides a livelihood for many smallholder farmers. However, changing climate conditions—such as rising temperatures and irregular rainfall—are significantly impacting coffee cultivation. Yields are decreasing, and plants are becoming more susceptible to diseases. This is where the Covestro and GIZ project comes in, working to make coffee production more efficient and resilient.

To achieve this, Covestro has supported to develop solar dryers—parabolic structures that function like greenhouses but offer better control over temperature and humidity. Instead of glass, lightweight, transparent, and insulating polycarbonate multiwall sheets are used, which also provide UV protection. This technology enables fast and hygienic drying of coffee while protecting the harvest from rain, pests, and mold.

GIZ supports the project as part of the German development program develoPPP, which promotes sustainable initiatives in developing and emerging countries. The goal is to combine private sector engagement with development policy objectives to achieve long-term economic and social benefits. “The solar-powered greenhouse dryers have significantly reduced drying times for both washed and naturally processed coffees. This allows farmers to process their coffee more efficiently and bring it to market faster. Additionally, the sealed environment of the dryers protects the beans from contamination, improving quality and minimizing waste. Local cooperatives have embraced this innovation as a valuable asset for their coffee production,” explains Dr. Helene Widmer, Project Manager at GIZ. “Our collaboration with Covestro demonstrates how innovative material technologies can contribute to stabilizing agriculture.”

Pejman Norastehfar, Head of Inclusive Business EMEA at Covestro, adds: “The successful implementation of solar dryers impressively demonstrates the positive impact that innovative and sustainable technologies can have on the coffee industry. We are proud to work with GIZ and local cooperatives to provide a solution that not only increases efficiency but also enhances the quality and shelf life of coffee. With our solutions, we can help address the challenges of climate change right here on the ground.”

So far, six solar dryers have been installed in Ethiopia, and the project continues to gain momentum. One of Ethiopia’s largest coffee roaster has taken notice of the solar dryers and has already purchased four additional units for its own production, which are installed at the moment.

2^nd April 2025 – Kyoorius has announced the jury for the Kyoorius Creative Awards 2025.

The Kyoorius Creative Awards has built a reputation and credibility for its rigorous and impartial judging process, ensuring that only the most deserving work is honored.

Each jury member is carefully selected for their expertise, experience, and commitment to pushing the boundaries of creativity.

Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder and CEO of Kyoorius, said, “The Kyoorius Creative Awards have always stood for integrity and creative excellence. We take the time to get the jury right, ensuring an inclusive panel that truly represents the breadth of talent in the industry. With diverse perspectives coming together, we’re excited to see how this year’s jury upholds our commitment to recognizing work that truly leaves its mark.”

Here’s the list of the overall jury, by the disciplines they’ll be judging:

Integrated, Commerce, Media, PR, B2B:

Chair: Prasoon Joshi, Chairperson, McCann Worldgroup

Co-Chair: Sandipan Bhattacharyya, CCO – SA & Managing Director – India, Grey Worldwide India Pvt Ltd

Hephzibah Pathak, Executive Chairperson, Ogilvy India

Vikram Pandey, CCO, Leo India

Kavita Chaturvedi, Chief Operating Officer – Snacks, Noodles & Pasta, ITC Foods Division

Theresa Ong, Head of Creative Shop, SEA & India, Meta

Aalap Desai, Co-Founder & CCO, tgthr

Gautam Reghunath, Co-Founder & CEO, Talented

Prajato Guha Thakurta, Co-Founder & CCO, Manja

Branded Content, Gaming, Direct, Experimental:

Chair:Paul Nagy, CCO – APAC, VML

Co-Chair: Jung A Kim, CCO, Innocean Worldwide

Vasudha Misra, President, MullenLowe Lintas Group

Umma Saini, CCO, Schbang

Shriram Iyer, Co-Founder, ZeroFifty Mediaworks

Giamaria Fernandes, NCD – West, Dentsu Creative Webchutney

Pallavi Chakravarti, Founder & CCO, Fundamental

Hemant Sharma, Executive Creative Director (Copy), Ogilvy India

Kali Sayak Mukherjee, Creative Marketing Head, Amazon Prime Video India

Digital + Social + Tech, Digital Craft:

Chair: Rajdeepak Das, CCO Publicis Groupe SA & Chairman, Leo, SA

Co-Chair: Binaifer Dulani, Creative & Founding Partner, Talented

Julie Jihyun Kang, CEO & Managing Partner, Serviceplan Korea

Kartikeya Tiwari, Digital Creative Partner, FCB Group India

Shikha Gupta, Independent Creative Director, Self Employed

Ajeet Shukla, NCD, Dentsu Creative Webchutney West

Pooja Ambulkar, Creative Director, Accenture GN Song

Sidharth Singh, Sr Manager – Countlines & Gifting, Mondelez India

Soven Mandal, ECD, MediaMonks India

Film, Broadcast:

Chair: Kainaz Karmakar, CCO, Ogilvy India

Co-Chair:Swati Bhattacharya, Global Head, Godrej Creative Lab

Kalpesh Patankar, Group Chief Creative Officer – VML India, VML

Adarsh Atal, Group Chief Creative Officer, Tilt Brand Solutions

Garima Khandelwal, Founder and Creative Director, BusyPeople

Mayuresh Dubhashi, CCO, FCB India

Roshni Kavina, NCD, Saatchi & Saatchi India

Sumeli Chatterjee, Category Head, Sparkling Flavours, India & Southwest Asia, The Coca Cola Company

Veronica Copestake, Creative Director, DDB Aotearoa

Film Craft:

Chair: Ashish Khazanchi, Managing Partner & CCO, Enormous

Co-Chair: Rahul Mathew, CCO, DDB Mudra Group

Afshan Hussain Shaikh, Director & Founder, Not Bad Films

Akanksha Seda, Director, Good Morning Film

Shirsha Guha Thakurta, Founder & Director, Oink Films

Surya Balakrishnan, Co-Founder & Director, Footloose Films

Aakash Bhatia, Co-Founder & Director, LoudMouth

Dilshara Jayamanna, CCO & Film Director, DEFY

Rajay Singh, Film Director & Founder, Think Tank Group of Companies (S.E.A)

Press, Outdoor, Radio + Audio, Regional, Industry Craft:

Chair: Surjo Dutt, CCO, Dentsu Creative India

Co-Chair: Mayur Hola, VP Brand, Swiggy

Raj Kamble, Founder & CCO, Famous Innovations

Suchitra Gahlot, NCD, FCB Ulka

Shruthi Subramaniam, Sr. Creative Director, BBDO India

Chockalingam S, Co-Founder & Director, Opn Advertising Pvt Ltd

Nilay Moonje, Creative Head & ECD, Sideways

Yash Kulshresth, Co-Founder & CCO, ^a t o m network

Yash Modi, Copywriter & Senior Creative Director, VML

Health & Pharma:

Chair: Geet Rathi, Independent Creative Director and Design Director, Self Employed

Praful Akali, MD, Medulla Communications

Juneston Mathana, ECD, Ogilvy

Lyndon Louis, ECD, McCann Health India

Sachin Talwalkar, CCO, Havas Life India

Creativity for Good, ZEE Equality Award:

Chair: Anupama Ramaswamy, Jt MD & CCO, Havas Creative India

Co-Chair: Manish Bhatt, Founder Director, Scarecrow M&C Saatchi

Asha Kharga, Chief Customer & Brand Officer and Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra Group

Harshada Menon, ECD, DDB India

Oindrila Roy, Managing Director, Publicis India

Rohan Mehta, CEO, FCB Kinnect and FCB/SIX India

Yatnesh Pandey, VP-Marketing, Greenply Industries Limited

Judging is set to begin on 24 April 2025. The winners will be announced at the Kyoorius Creative Awards Night on 24 May 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai.

Commenting on this experiential initiative, Mr. Tarun Garg, Whole-time Director & Chief Operating Officer, HMIL said, “At Hyundai, we believe in creating enriching experiences for our customers, be it through our products and services, or through unique initiatives such as the Hyundai Explorers Carnival. Now in its second year, with 11 successful editions completed pan-India, the Hyundai Explorers Carnival continues to bring together the closely knit community of Hyundai owners. The upcoming edition promises to take customers on an experiential journey through Nashik’s scenic and historical attractions, culminating in an exciting carnival abuzz with local flavors, thrilling games and enthralling live music. Epitomizing Hyundai’s brand ethos of innovation, adventure and community, the Hyundai Explorers Carnival is much more than an event; it is an opportunity to curate unforgettable memories for our valued customers.”

April 2,2025:Panchkula is rapidly reimagining itself— from a serene suburb to a vibrant luxury hub—through strategic investments and master-planned township schemes that are transforming its skyline. Previously discounted in comparison to Chandigarh, the area is now making headlines through record-breaking property deals that promise a bright future for luxury living.

A new record was recently established at The Valley Gardens, with a single stand-alone floor selling for a record ₹4 crore. Not only is this the highest recorded sale of its kind in the Tricity area but also goes on to strengthen Panchkula’s position as a serious player in luxury property. As one of the initiatives developed under DLF’s illustrious The Valley Ecosystem, this transaction serves as a very positive pointer towards the city’s ability to challenge established metro markets.

Dotted across a spread-out 175-acre township is The Valley Gardens, which has seen a marked 26.7% hike in prices over time, the rates going from ₹8,329 per sq. ft. when it came on the map to ₹10,556 per sq. ft. now. Targeting purchasers looking for exclusivity, seclusion, and abundant open area, the scheme has independent luxury floors that provide an elevated life.

“The Valley Gardens is a true statement of luxury, crafted for those who seek an elevated lifestyle in a serene, nature-rich environment. As part of DLF’s prestigious The Valley, it stands as a testament to premium living and high-value investment. With an exceptional track record of appreciation, independent floors here have seen remarkable growth—a 1,750 sq. ft. 3 BHK that was ₹40 lakhs in 2013 now commands up to ₹1.90 crore, while a 2,450 sq. ft. 4 BHK has surged from ₹65 lakhs to ₹2.5-2.6 crore. It has been a privilege to facilitate the highest single-unit independent floor sale in Tricity at ₹4 crore. More than just real estate, The Valley by DLF is a legacy of exclusivity and exponential returns said Brig Mahinder Singh, Veteran and DLF Authorised Channel Partner”

The success of The Valley Gardens is followed by the launch of The Valley Orchard in December 2023. The new project spanning 15.833 acres provides 512 low-rise homes with choices ranging from 3 BHK (1,850 sq. ft.) to 3 BHK + Study (2,500 sq. ft.) configurations. The Valley Orchard has been designed by award-winning architect Hafeez Contractor and features contemporary architectural features like bay windows, expansive decks, private lawns, and stilt parking, merging design aesthetics with functional daily needs.

DLF’s vision goes beyond residential excellence. The upcoming DLF Valley Township, conceived as a lively retail and commercial hub, will provide residents with an accessible live-work-play lifestyle. Blending high-end retail, entertainment, and office space within a serene, green setting, this venture promises to attract not just local homebuyers and NRIs but also investors looking to skirt the traffic of metropolitan areas.

This record-breaking deal and what followed is a throwback to the changes observed in Gurgaon and Noida a decade back. Panchkula’s swift transformation into a luxury realty destination is also driven by its great connectivity through NH5 (Zirakpur-Panchkula-Kalka Highway) and a strong history of property escalation. As discerning shoppers and high-net-worth individuals look more and more towards this area, the city’s top-end integrated townships are redefining luxury living beyond classical metros.

Essentially, the tale of Panchkula is one of evolution and possibility—a story where visionary projects and strategic development are coming together to leave a legacy in luxury and upscale urban living.