New Delhi, 14th October, 2024: GrowthJockey, India’s first full-stack Venture Architect company, appoints Mr. Mrinal as its Vice President of Technology. With over 14 years of experience, Mrinal has established himself as a leader in the technology space, having built a career that started at Google, where he spent nearly a decade leading innovative projects and building scalable solutions. After Google, he took on key strategic roles at Misys and Johnson Controls, where he managed global engineering teams and implemented agile development strategies that transformed business operations.

In his new role, Mrinal will lead GrowthJockey’s technology strategy, driving the development of cutting-edge platforms that blend AI and machine learning with high-growth business solutions. His leadership will be instrumental in expanding GrowthJockey’s corporate venture incubation efforts, helping large enterprises build, scale, and accelerate new ventures that capitalize on market opportunities and disruptive technologies.

“Mrinal’s extensive experience in leading complex global projects and his focus on AI and scalable solutions will enable GrowthJockey to deliver world-class digital transformations and incubate high-value corporate ventures,” said Aresh Mishra, CTO of GrowthJockey. “We are excited to have him lead the next chapter of our growth as we continue to empower businesses through innovative technology and venture incubation.”

Mr. Mrinal added, “I am excited to be part of GrowthJockey at such a crucial time in the industry. The pace of technological innovation is creating new opportunities, and GrowthJockey is uniquely positioned to lead this charge. I look forward to working with the team to drive our vision of creating bold and innovative ventures that impact businesses across industries.”

Ashutosh Kumar, CEO of GrowthJockey, stated “We are excited to have Mrinal join our leadership team. His wealth of experience and leadership in technology will be invaluable as we continue to scale and innovate in the venture architecture space. Mrinal’s ability to blend strategic vision with execution will undoubtedly help us accelerate the pace at which we deliver transformative solutions for our clients.”

GrowthJockey disrupts the present and creates the future by building bold new products, services, and businesses. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Gurgaon, GrowthJockey is at the forefront of venture architecture, committed to fostering innovation and driving businesses to new heights. With a vision that the future is crafted by those who dare to build, their team merges cutting-edge technology with bold entrepreneurial ventures to spark and expand innovative solutions. Featuring a multifaceted team of experts in venture design and building, product, P&L management, design thinking, digital strategy, branding, and data & AI from diverse fields, GrowthJockey is dedicated to developing ventures that drive substantial impact for businesses and society alike.

With a track record of over 500 large projects and 25+ Corporate Venture Incubation across 20+ industries, GrowthJockey has consistently achieved a customer satisfaction rate of over 95%. Notably, several ventures have surpassed the significant milestone of crossing Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of 100 crores within just 12 months, across sectors such as healthcare, BFSI, Energy and EV, ecommerce, D2C, Automobile, and FMEG. Backed by a team of over 200+ professionals with a strong entrepreneurial mindset, with 90% hailing from tier-1 institutes engineering, management and design colleges, ensures that clients receive top-notch expertise and service.

GrowthJockey has also made significant strides in AI innovation with its proprietary platform, intellsys.ai, helping businesses boost demand generation through data-driven sales and marketing strategies. intellsys with more than 100+ AI modules generate real time deep analytics and works as a co-pilot for digital marketer and business owners.

Mumbai, 10th October 2024: Ashnam, a premium home décor brand, has launched its new festive collection, ‘Serene Lights.’ Designed to bring elegance and calm to the festive season, the collection showcases beautiful pieces perfect for creating a peaceful and welcoming ambiance in any home.

The collection features exquisite pieces from polyresins, such as the Meditation Buddha in antique gold and bronze-grey, the Lotus Candle Buddha in bronze-grey, and stone-finish tealight holders. Each piece is handcrafted and hand-painted, offering a touch of tranquillity to festive celebrations and adding charm to everyday spaces. These artifacts blend the warmth of tradition with a modern aesthetic, providing homeowners with a unique way to adorn their living spaces during this festive period.

Speaking about this, Manojkumar Sharma, founder of Ashnam, said, “Our ‘Serene Lights’ collection is more than just decor; it is about bringing a sense of peace and mindfulness to the spaces we inhabit. Each piece is designed to inspire calm and connection, allowing homeowners to elevate their surroundings with timeless beauty during the festive season and beyond.”

The brand’s vision includes scaling up its operations, catering to a broader market segment, and becoming a BSE-listed company in the future.

The ‘Serene Lights’ collection is now available across Ashnam’s retail network and online channels, ready to grace homes this festive season.

New Delhi, October 10th, 2024: Signature Global (BSE: 543990 | NSE: SIGNATURE), amongst the leading real estate development companies in India with a well-established brand in Delhi-NCR, has reported its best-ever half-year pre-sales with INR 59.0 billion in H1FY25, reflecting an impressive 217% growth year-on-year. With these pre-sales’ performance, the company has already achieved 59% of its sales guidance of INR 100 billion for FY25. These strong pre-sales performance was driven by the successful launch of a mid-income housing project in Sohna, South Gurugram, and a large group housing project on SPR Road, Gurugram. Despite the “Shradhh” period, Q2FY25 pre-sales amounted to INR 27.8 billion, a 184% increase against the Q2FY 24.

The Company’s collections in H1 FY25 grew by 60% to INR 21.3 billion. Net debt stood at INR 10.2 billion at the end of H1 FY25 in comparison to INR 11.6 billion as at the end of FY24.

Commenting on the company’s performance, Mr. Pradeep Kumar Aggarwal, Chairman and Whole- Time Director, said ” We feel both humbled and elated by our operational growth, which is the result of our team’s commitment to efficiency and thoughtful expansion. We’re also excited about how our investments in innovation are making us stronger. As we move forward, we’re confident in maintaining this momentum and building on our shared achievements.

Our resilience in the face of market fluctuations underscores the strength of our business model and our ability to adapt to evolving industry dynamics. As we scale new heights, we remain dedicated to enhancing shareholder value and driving sustainable growth. Our focus on premium and mid-housing projects, strategic land acquisitions, and the introduction of new customer-centric initiatives will ensure we stay ahead of the curve. We are well-positioned to seize emerging opportunities and further reinforce Signature Global’s leadership in the sector.”

AXA announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art office space in Pune, Maharashtra, designed to embody the essence of a future-ready workspace for its 4,000 strong team in India. The new office space, with an area of more than 160,000 sq.ft. and spread across 4 floors, has been envisioned to reflect the company’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and sustainability. Located in Kharadi, Pune, it is equipped with cutting-edge technology and collaborative spaces showcasing state-of-the-art resimercial design, tailored to meet the evolving needs of a dynamic and tech-driven workforce.

“The inauguration of our new office in Pune marks a significant milestone in the evolution of AXA’s Global Business Services, positioning it as an end-to-end managed services provider for our AXA entities globally. We are confident of the potential of our skilled talent in India to deliver high quality services and operational excellence. I’m also very proud that our new sustainable office demonstrates our active contributions to fulfilling our strategic ambition in acting against climate change across geographies.” [Alexander Vollert, AXA Group COO and AXA Group Operations CEO.]

“AXA’s new office space in Pune showcases Indian creativity at its best, a true testimony to ‘Made in India’- with work from local artisans and architects. Our vision is to establish a ‘home away from home’ for our employees, embracing the very best of the exciting resimercial trends, to build a workplace where our colleagues can easily collaborate, thereby boosting creativity and productivity. AXA Global Business Services is committed to grow our Technology, Data & Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Consulting Capabilities, in addition to our strong Insurance and Corporate Functions Services. We are bringing diverse talent into our organization and we are confident that the new space plays a crucial role, not only in attracting the best talent from the industry, but also for nurturing the talent we already have. We believe that our new site strategy will continue to solidify our position as an employer of choice and differentiates us significantly amongst other global capability centers in the country.” [Michele Rochefort, CEO AXA Global Business Services]

“The opening of AXA’s new office marks a pivotal moment for our employees as it reinforces our commitment to investing in our people and their wellbeing. It contains flexible configurations that cater to diverse working styles, promoting an inclusive and productive work environment. The office is designed with artwork sourced from local, differently-abled artists, adding to its cultural charm and reaffirming our vision to support the communities around us. You will also see state-of-the-art technology beautifully sharing space with biophilic zones across the floor, an ode to our focus on sustainability. The office adheres to diverse accessibility requirements, making sure that everyone at AXA feels a sense of belonging.” [Prashanthi Thorat, Head, Insurance Operations Services and Business Sponsor, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.]

AXA’s new office is IGBC certified from the Indian Green Building Council, signifying a strong commitment to sustainable practices and environmental responsibility. IGBC, a part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), aims to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly building practices in India. The IGBC certification ensures that AXA’s new workspace meets the highest standards of energy efficiency, water conservation, and overall environmental performance.

As a mark of this momentus journey of AXA in India, AXA Global Business Services employees will be planting 2000+ saplings in Anandvan, Pune, reaffirming the Group commitment to promote environmental sustainability. Biodiversity is an integral part of AXA’s corporate social responsibility vision and AXA Global Business Services has been working with Anandvan Trust as a flagship project, focused on preserving the environment through sapling plantation and restoration of water resources.

Mumbai, October 9, 2024: In a major boost to India’s renewable energy sector, Saatvik Solar, India’s premier solar PV module manufacturer, has inked an agreement with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to supply a 213 MW order for solar PV modules. This agreement marks a substantial contribution to India’s renewable energy sector.

This order is designated for L&T Energy’s 245 MW Bihar Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project. Of this, 185 MW will power a solar PV grid-connected power plant, while 45.4 MW will support a 4-hour battery storage system in Kajra district. Saatvik Solar will deliver its advanced Mono PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) Bifacial Modules of 545 Wp, featuring glass-to-back sheet technology. These high-efficiency solar modules are engineered to provide outstanding performance and long-term dependability, making them perfect for large-scale solar systems. The delivery is scheduled for completion by March 2025.

Expressing his thoughts on the occasion, Mr. Prashant Mathur, CEO, Saatvik Solar, said, “This order represents a major milestone for Saatvik Solar and underscores our commitment to advancing India’s clean energy landscape. By collaborating with industry leaders like L&T Energy, we are not only expanding our business but also actively contributing to India’s sustainable future. This partnership reflects the growing capabilities of domestic manufacturers in meeting the sophisticated demands of large-scale solar projects.”

This award strengthens Saatvik Solar’s position as a leading player in the solar sector, building on its continuous efforts to increase production capabilities to provide new solutions. Further, Saatvik Solar is actively pursuing several key infrastructure tech innovations to stay ahead in the renewable energy sector. The company is developing high-efficiency solar PV modules, including half-cut modules and premium modules with advanced features like ‘0 buzz bar’ and ‘24 buzz bar’ technology. In addition to module manufacturing, Saatvik Solar is also exploring investments in electrolyser battery manufacturing and storage solutions to enhance energy storage capabilities. Saatvik Solar’s R&D infrastructure and in-house manufacturing skills enable the firm to address the rising demand for high-efficiency solar modules in both the Indian and global markets.

Mumbai, 09th October 2024: India’s leading eight residential markets experienced a year-on-year decline in both housing sales and new launches during the July-September quarter of 2024, as revealed in the latest ‘Real Insight Residential Report’ by PropTiger.com, part of REA India, which also owns Housing.com. A sharp increase in home prices—averaging a nearly 20% increase across the top eight cities—impacted affordability leading to a 5% YoY drop in overall sales. New launches witnessed a more significant 25% YoY decrease compared to the same quarter in 2023.

Key Findings:

● Sales: A total of 96,544 units were sold in Q3 2024, down from 1,01,221 units sold during the same period in 2023, reflecting a 5% annual decline

● New Launches: The number of new residential units launched in the top 8 markets decreased from 1,23,080 units in Q3 2023 to 91,863 units in Q3 2024, marking a significant 25% drop

Mr. Vikas Wadhawan, CFO of REA India and Business Head of PropTiger.com, commented, “The year-on-year decline in both sales and new launches reflects the market’s response to rising prices. While the demand and supply for homes moderated during the April-June period due to the General Elections and a temporary slowdown in the approval process during July-August, consumer sentiment remains positive. This is driven by strong market fundamentals, which continue to encourage real estate as a preferred investment avenue.”

He further added, “We are observing a healthy moderation in market activity, which is beneficial for end-users as it brings about sustainable growth. Over the last few quarters, prices have increased by 3% to as much as 50% in some prime localities of key markets, affecting immediate buying decisions. However, we expect buyers to gradually adjust to the new price realities. With the festive season kicking off with Navratri, renewed buyer interest and a spike in sales activity are anticipated. The market frenzy has slowed, creating a more stable environment for end-users. Developers, particularly in Hyderabad and Pune, have also recalibrated their supply strategies to align with shifting demand patterns, while Delhi NCR continues to display robust momentum in both sales and launches. The festive season is expected to bring fresh energy as developers introduce attractive offers, revitalising the market despite recent challenges.”

Major Drops in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Pune:

In the July-September quarter of 2024, Delhi NCR saw a significant sales surge of 29% year-on-year (YoY), with 10,098 units sold compared to 7,800 in the same period last year. Mumbai, while leading in overall volume, experienced a slight 1% dip, selling 30,010 units versus 30,299 in Q3 2023. Hyderabad faced a notable decline, with sales dropping 19% YoY to 11,564 units from 14,191 units. Bengaluru’s sales decreased by 11% YoY, with 11,160 units sold, down from 12,588 units in the same period last year. Similarly, Ahmedabad recorded a 9% YoY drop, with 9,352 units sold compared to 10,305 units in the previous year.

New Launches Comparison (YoY Q3 2024 vs. Q3 2023):

In Q3 2024, Delhi NCR witnessed a robust 76% YoY rise in new launches, with 11,955 units introduced, compared to 6,810 in Q3 2023, indicating strong developer confidence. Conversely, Mumbai saw a 13% drop in new supply, with 31,123 units launched versus 35,923 last year. Hyderabad experienced a sharp 58% YoY decline, with new launches falling to 8,546 units from 20,481 in the previous year. Pune’s new supply also contracted 36% YoY to 13,543 units from 21,287. Despite a quarterly rise, Kolkata saw a 61% YoY drop, launching just 1,516 units compared to 3,850 units in Q3 2023.

Estates are often large expanses of cultivated land, and people sometimes worry that farming on such a scale could disrupt the natural balance of the local ecosystem.

However, some estates are showing that it’s possible to create environments where agriculture and nature thrive side by side. These estates take a thoughtful approach, ensuring that their practices enhance rather than harm the biodiversity around them. In India, a few such estates are leading the way in proving that cultivation can be a force for environmental harmony and preservation. Let’s explore their impact on biodiversity conservation.

Let’s take a closer look at what they are doing:

Elkhill Estates

Elkhill Estates, nestled in Coorg’s peaceful hills, is a sanctuary where sustainable agriculture and conservation meet. Acquired by Orange County Resorts and Hotels Ltd. in 2023, Elkhill spans over 1,008 hectares and produces premium coffee, including organic varieties. With a deep commitment to environmental sustainability, the estate prioritizes biodiversity, protecting local flora and fauna through native tree planting and land restoration efforts.

When you visit or enjoy their coffee, you are contributing to an initiative that goes beyond farming. It’s about preserving the land, restoring native species, and uplifting the rich biodiversity of the region. Every cup of coffee is a step toward building a sustainable, harmonious future for both the environment and its people.

Cauvery Peak Estates

Cauvery Peak Estates, in the misty hills of the Western Ghats, has perfected the art of growing coffee, fruits, and spices by working with nature. Their philosophy is simple: farming should help, not harm, the land. By using two layers of shade trees, organic compost, and relying on natural rainfall, they create a microclimate where their crops and local wildlife can thrive together.

But Cauvery Peak’s commitment goes beyond growing coffee. The shade trees not only protect the coffee plants but also create a home for rare birds, mammals, and reptiles. This careful balance ensures that every element of the estate supports a thriving ecosystem. So here, the coffee is not just rich in flavor; it is grown with a deep respect for the land and biodiversity.

Kerehaklu Estate

The Kerehaklu Estate in Chikkamagaluru has garnered significant attention for its efforts to safeguard biodiversity. Covering 250 acres, Kerehaklu Estate is a sanctuary for local wildlife. Kerehaklu takes pride in preserving a habitat that sustains both plants and animals, thereby safeguarding the local ecosystem.

Kerehaklu’s dedication to creating a space where wildlife and farming can coexist helps support a wide range of species. Here, it is not about merely growing and laying out crops, but rather how caring for land and all the flora and fauna living on it creates a beautiful balance between agriculture and nature.

Tenzing Bodosa’s tea estate

Tenzing Bodosa’s Elephant-Friendly Tea Estate in Assam has adopted a unique approach to biodiversity conservation by prioritizing the protection of elephants. Instead of viewing the elephants as enemies for their tea fields, they’ve figured out a way to share the land with them peacefully.

The estate’s farming practices allow elephants to move freely through their land, making it one of the few places where humans and wildlife truly coexist. The estates protect the natural habitat and plant native shade trees, thereby conserving the ecosystem as well as producing excellent-quality tea.

Bengaluru, Oct 8, 2024: Bengaluru, renowned for its pleasant climate and cosmopolitan vibe, continues to attract people from across India and abroad. The city has rapidly evolved, with new IT parks, townships, malls, and commercial hubs springing up. Its booming economy, combined with exceptional living conditions, has created a high demand for real estate, making Bengaluru a sought-after destination for homebuyers and investors alike.

With the ongoing growth of businesses and job opportunities, Bengaluru’s real estate sector is more vibrant than ever. 2024 has seen buoyant investments across all real estate asset classes, and the momentum is expected to continue through the second half of the year. With increasing market stability and favourable regulatory reforms, real estate investments are proving to be a reliable and profitable option, even amidst global economic uncertainties.

Whether it’s residential or commercial properties, Bengaluru is witnessing a surge in inquiries. Post-pandemic, many are opting for homes nestled in serene, green spaces away from the city’s bustling urban areas. High-net-worth individuals and startup founders are especially drawn to luxury properties and plotted developments in key locations. Real estate has also become an essential diversifier in investment portfolios, thanks to its long-term stability.

To capitalize on this growing demand, The Times of India in association with State Bank Of India hosted a Mega Property Expo. This two-day event held on October 5 and 6, at State Bank of India’s Local Head Office, 65 St. Mark’s Road, Bengaluru promised an excellent opportunity for prospective homebuyers and investors to explore a wide range of projects, both existing and upcoming. With more than 30+ top developers showcased 250+ properties under one roof, attendees engaged in face-to-face discussions, got comprehensive project details to make informed decisions about their next property investment. State Bank of India, the presenting sponsor of this Expo has offered competitive Home Loan Interest Rates and other concessions for Home Loans booked under this Fair.

“SBI being Country’s largest Home Loan provider is excited to collaborate with TOI for this Mega Property Expo. With its 426 Branches, 9 Home Loan Centres, 750+ Sales Force & 900+ Builder Tie Ups, SBI has widespread presence in Bengaluru City. Our esteemed customers had used this opportunity and availed special Home Loan rates & other concessions given during the Expo.” Smt. Joohi Smita Sinha, CGM, Bengaluru Circle, SBI.

Mumbai, October 08th, 2024: As old buildings and many eligible in MMR await redevelopment, there is a need to create enough housing stock for which redevelopment is a better compliant by exploring possibilities of public-private partnerships, stated Dr Bhushan Gagrani, Commissioner, BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation. He was speaking at a Panel Discussion ‘Society Redevelopment under Various Sections’ organized by NAREDCO Maharashtra on a third-day HOMETHON Property Expo 2024 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.

Responding to the demand of reducing the premium on redevelopment by the state’s real estate industry, Dr Gagrani stated that various redevelopment avenues could be structured properly with due feasibility.

Dr Gagrani also emphasized upon the need for incentivizing redevelopment in order to address various issues affecting redevelopment, but also cautioned that the incentive provided had nothing to do with feasibility. “For undertaking any redevelopment project, it has to be financially feasible where awareness among the society members is necessary towards redevelopment”.

Speaking about the BMC’s vision to match the infrastructure with rapid growth of Redevelopment and whether Mumbai would be able to cope up with redevelopment, Dr Gagrani added that Mumbai’s Infrastructure might face challenges when the city would undergo redevelopment. “For surface infrastructure like urban mobility, parking areas, quality of roads, we already have the plans ready. The infrastructure below the land like sewage water, water supply might face challenges, as the amount of water per capita is going up”.

The Commissioner highlighted that Section 33(7A) applicable for redevelopment of dilapidated, unsafe, existing, authorized tenant occupied-buildings in suburbs, had been getting a good response from the private societies, as they were going for competitive bidding from the developers.

Shri Gautam Chatterjee, Former Founding Chairman of MahaRERA advised that incentivizing redevelopment was necessary, but needed to be balanced to take it forward. He stated, “When about 8000 projects are stuck in Mumbai due to timeline issues, there is a need to disseminate knowledge and information to educate the society members and other stakeholders about the processes of redevelopment to be followed and acquaint them with various Acts, Regulations, RERA guidelines, Court orders, etc that are necessary to understand. For disseminating such information transparently and seamlessly, we need a web portal; so that all information is displayed to resolve problems and see that projects are monitored”. He added, “We need e-monitoring methods and an Alternate Dispute Resolution’ for stalled projects. Also, we need a ‘Self-Regulated Organization (SRO) platform like a Section 8 Company for self-regulation”.

Meanwhile, NAREDCO Maharashtra Collaborated with Ex-MahaRERA Chief Shri Gautam Chatterjee for a Launch ‘Grihamony Redevelopment Stakeholders Federations (GRSF)” for Awareness in Redevelopment.

Dr Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman, NAREDCO and Co-founder, Hiranandani Group, advocated for the need to reduce premium on redevelopment. He said, “The challenge is to match the pace of redevelopment. Reduction of premium would create more affordable housing in the city and hence, at least 50% reduction in premium is necessary. Redevelopment should provide aspirations for a better quality of life”.

Mr. Rajan Bandelkar, Vice Chairman, NAREDCO and Director, Raunak Group said, “It is important to balance viability for the private sector for undertaking redevelopment projects. The Government should incentivize the societies, which undertake self-redevelopment and consume lesser FSI. People who use lesser FSI, there should not be any premium considering the climate change challenge and the issues engulfing the redevelopment agenda”.

Talking about the need to have a conciliation mechanism in Redevelopment, Mr Hitesh Thakkar, Vice President, NAREDCO Maharashtra and Partner, Prem Group, suggested that there needed a framework for resolution of disputes for finding amicable redressal, as the projects would get delayed and entail into high litigation costs.

Ludhiana, 7th Oct 2024 : Hero Realty, known for its innovative concepts, dedication to sustainability, and client-centric approach, celebrated the spirit of Navratra with the unveiling of its new sales gallery for Phase 2 of Hero Homes Ludhiana. Channel partners and other dignitaries were invited to take part in the celebrations, which began with a traditional Havan Puja followed by a brunch.

The sales gallery is a modern showcase of what Hero Homes Ludhiana has to offer. Designed to provide a fully immersive experience and allow potential homebuyers to explore the development’s features firsthand, this cutting-edge space is equipped with advanced technology to give visitors a clear sense of the living spaces and amenities on offer, creating a seamless journey for anyone looking to invest in a home.

Madhur Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of Hero Realty, expressed his enthusiasm for the new gallery, stating, “This is an important milestone for us. The sales gallery is not merely a space it serves as a window into the lifestyle we are cultivating at Hero Homes Ludhiana. We have designed it to provide our customers with a more insightful experience, allowing them to truly appreciate what makes our homes unique.”

Phase 2 of Hero Homes Ludhiana continues to focus on delivering smart, thoughtfully planned homes. With an emphasis on modern living, sustainability, and community, this phase is expected to draw strong interest from homebuyers seeking a balanced lifestyle that combines comfort with contemporary features.

The Navratri event set the perfect tone for the unveiling, starting with the Hawan Puja, a ritual to invoke prosperity and good fortune for all. Afterward, channel partners had the chance to explore the gallery and connect over a relaxed brunch. The gallery itself reflects Hero Realty’s forward-thinking approach, offering a glimpse into a future where innovation meets quality.

Hero Realty continues its commitment to building sustainable, high-quality homes, and Phase 2 of Hero Homes Ludhiana is a prime example of how the company is bringing this vision to life.