JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF) Backs Nautical Wings

National, April 16, 2025 ; JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF) has announced its strategic investment in two promising startups, RawRX (Blueday Living Private Limited) and Nautical Wings Aerospace, as part of its commitment to fostering entrepreneurial excellence.

RawRX, founded by Rahul Parakh, former Director at TATA 1mg, is a natural self-care brand delivering vegan supplements and topical wellness products. Born out of a personal need for clean and science-backed healthcare solutions, the company is redefining how chronic ailments are managed through food-based, high-absorption formulations like algae-based Omega-3 supplements and magnesium lotions for sleep and muscle recovery.

RawRX has successfully raised funding in its Angel Round, attracting notable investors such as the Baidyanath family, JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF), Amit Mehta, Dr. Varun Gupta, Mohita Mascarenhas, and Jermina Menon. The funds will be utilized to expand RawRX’s product line and team, ensuring greater access to clean and effective wellness solutions.

Nautical Wings Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based startup pioneering electric propulsion technology for the aviation industry, has raised an undisclosed amount in a pre-Series A funding round from JIIF. Founded in 2020 by Shiv Varun Singh Rajput, Praveen T, and Vikas Kamath, the company specializes in delivering state-of-the-art, tailored propulsion solutions to OEMs on a global scale.

Its upcoming flagship product, the Integrated Electric Propulsion Unit (iEPU), is a cutting-edge turnkey solution designed to simplify adoption for drone manufacturers and air mobility companies. The iEPU features a plug-and-play design for seamless integration across various aircraft, catering to the specific needs of each client.

With JIIF’s backing, Nautical Wings aims to accelerate the development of its iEPU technology, enhance its R&D capabilities, and scale its reach in the global electric aviation market.

JIIF’s continued support for groundbreaking startups underscores its vision of empowering innovative businesses and fostering sustainable economic growth.

AGI Glaspac Secures GPTW Honor for 4th Year Running

16th  April, 2025: AGI Glaspac, India’s leading container glass bottle manufacturer, has once again certified as one of India’s Best Workplaces by the Great Place to Work Institute for the 04th consecutive year. This recognition underscores AGI Glaspac’s commitment towards creating and sustaining an ideal environment for its employees, associates, and partners .

The Great Place to Work certification is based on a comprehensive assessment of employee experiences, workplace culture, leadership effectiveness, and HR policies. AGI Glaspac’s continued acknowledgment underscores its strong commitment to fostering a workplace where employees feel valued, trusted, and inspired to achieve excellence .

As part of its ongoing efforts to promote diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being, AGI Glaspac has implemented several key initiatives. These include the establishment of a POSH committee, conducting POSH awareness sessions, and implementing progressive HR policies in Telangana to ensure a safe and equitable workplace. Additionally, to support new employees and enhance their integration, AGI Glaspac has introduced the Kit and Buddy Program, designed to provide structured onboarding support through detailed SOPs.

Mr. Rajesh Khosla, CEO, AGI Glaspac, expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating: “Being certified as a Great Place to Work for the 4th consecutive year is a reflection of our commitment to fostering a collaborative, rewarding, and empowering workplace. Our dedication to employee experience, a positive work environment, talent development, and career growth programs further solidifies our position as an employer of choice at a national level.

We are honoured to be Certified as a Great Place To Work, and we are committed to building an even stronger company.”

Realme, Optiemus Join Forces for AIoT in India

New Delhi, April 16, 2025: realme, the most popular smartphone brand among Indian youth, partners with Optiemus Electronics Ltd. (OEL) to manufacture its next-generation AIoT products in India, in a significant step towards strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem and supporting the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

As part of its long-term vision to strengthen domestic manufacturing, realme aims to produce all of its AIoT product portfolio in India, including earphones, smartwatches, and tablets. Beginning this year, key products such as the realme Buds T200 series, realme Buds Wireless series, and realme Buds Air series will start rolling off local production lines.

In parallel, realme is also accelerating efforts to source a majority of critical components, such as PCBAs, batteries, mechanics, cables, and chargers, from within India. Beyond addressing the growing needs of Indian consumers, realme is also evaluating opportunities to export Made-in-India AIoT products to global markets, establishing India not just as a manufacturing base but as a global hub for innovation and production.

Together, realme and OEL target to manufacture 5 million AIoT devices annually while generating over 2,000 new employment opportunities in India. This partnership will also contribute to the creation of a stronger local supply chain and skilled workforce to support high-volume and high-quality production.

The collaboration has already taken off with the commencement of production for the realme Buds T200 Lite—an advanced earbud that delivers crystal-clear calling via Dual Mic AI Deep Call Noise Cancellation, powered by DNN voice recognition technology.

realme’s spokesperson on the partnership said, “India is a dynamic and fast-growing market for next-generation AI-enabled hearables, wearables, and power management devices. We are excited to partner with Optiemus Electronics Ltd. (OEL) to bring the manufacturing of all our high-performance and value for money AIoT devices to India. This collaboration will enable us to expand our manufacturing base to cater to domestic demand, while also reinforcing our commitment to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. At the same time, it opens up new opportunities to extend our global footprint through world- class manufacturing capabilities established here in India.”

Mr. Ashok Gupta, Chairman, Optiemus Group said, “We are thrilled to sign up this partnership with realme as we believe in realme’s philosophy of ‘Make it real.’ The fusion of AI and IoT is making hearable-wearable products and power devices smarter, more efficient and thus deliver a great value. We are thoroughly delighted to be an eminent part of this AI based product evolution. OEL will continue to play its role in shaping electronics manufacturing in India, generate more employment opportunities, and forge the path ahead to become Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

Startups Set Sights on Nvidia’s AI Crown

While Nvidia dominates the AI chip landscape, a wave of ambitious startups is working on next-gen processors to challenge its grip—especially in data centers and at the edge. These startups are exploring a wide range of technologies, spanning advanced optical systems and purpose-built edge AI chips, to drive the next era of AI computing.

Celestial AI

Based in Santa Clara, Celestial AI is reinventing how data moves inside AI systems with its Photonic Fabric, an optical interconnect that promises to crush bandwidth and latency limits. The company raised $175 million in a hotly pursued Series C round with backing from AMD, Samsung, and Porsche SE. Already seeing interest from major hyperscalers, Celestial AI bolstered its edge by acquiring key IP from Rockley Photonics, making it a major force in silicon photonics for AI infrastructure.

SiMa.ai 

SiMa.ai, based in San Jose, delivers a software-first machine learning system-on-chip (MLSoC) platform designed specifically for edge AI. Its Modalix chip family supports everything from computer vision to large multimodal models—all with 10x performance-per-watt improvements over existing solutions. With $270 million in total funding and recent partnerships with Lanner, Arrow, Supermicro, and Cvedia, SiMa.ai has positioned itself as the go-to solution for efficient, scalable AI at the edge.

Enfabrica

Enfabrica, headquartered in Mountain View, is building ultra-fast connectivity solutions tailored for AI workloads. Its flagship chip, the Accelerated Compute Fabric SuperNIC, supports massive throughput—up to 3.2 TB/s—along with robust Ethernet and PCIe capabilities. With a fresh $115 million Series C fundraise, Enfabrica is gearing up to roll out its game-changing silicon to high-performance GPU clusters in data centers.

Hailo

Tel Aviv-based Hailo is building low-power AI chips optimized for GenAI workloads in devices like PCs and smart vehicles. Its latest Hailo-10 chip pushes high-performance AI processing with minimal power draw. With $120 million raised and tie-ups with Raspberry Pi, Adlink, and SolidRun, Hailo is fast becoming a key player in cost-effective AI acceleration at the edge.

Groq

Groq, another Mountain View startup, is focused on AI inference at blazing speeds. Its unique language processing unit (LPU) powers both cloud-based and on-premise AI deployments. With $640 million secured in Series D funding and a $2.8 billion valuation, Groq is scaling fast. The company has signed strategic deals with Carahsoft and Aramco to bring its compute power to the public sector and massive data centers across the Middle East.

Meghalaya Receives Two Prestigious Awards from UIDAI Event

Mumbai / National, 16th April 2025: The Government of Meghalaya has been honored with two prestigious awards by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) at the Aadhaar Samvaad event held on 8 April 2025 at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre, New Delhi.

Meghalaya was recognized in the following two categories:

1. Award for Best Performing State in Carrying Out Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) of Children, and

2. Award for Best Performing State in Verification of Adult Aadhaar Enrolment.

These awards are a testament to the State’s exemplary performance in strengthening Aadhaar-related services and ensuring comprehensive and accurate enrolment for both children and adults across Meghalaya.

The awards were received on behalf of the State by Shri Shai Kupar War, Nodal Officer (Aadhaar), General Administration Department (GAD), Government of Meghalaya.

Dr Joram Beda, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya and State Nodal Officer for Aadhaar, expressed his satisfaction and appreciation for the achievement. He remarked, “This recognition reflects the unwavering commitment and dedication of our Aadhaar team from field-level staff to district officials and technical staff. I congratulate everyone who contributed to this outstanding performance.”

The General Administration Department remains committed to working in close coordination with UIDAI and various departments to further improve the delivery and outreach of Aadhaar services in Meghalaya, ensuring that every resident has access to their unique identity and to essential government schemes.

Ofis Square Hosts Startup Power Meet

Noida, April 16 2025 Ofis Square, the new-age coworking destination redefining professional workspaces in India, recently served as the venue partner for a dynamic business networking meet at its Sector 62, Noida centre. Organised by Let’s Collab, a full-service agency that bridges the gap between talented influencers, sports personalities, and brands, in collaboration with Vastu Shilp Design the event focused on empowering small businesses, startups, and creators. Held in Ofis Square’s fully equipped 50-seater auditorium, the event also featured a special video session at their newly launched in-house theatre highlighting the space’s tech-enabled infrastructure and vibrant community focus.

The meet brought together a diverse and inspiring lineup of creators, entrepreneurs, professionals, and wellness experts. The day began with a rejuvenating Reiki healing session, followed by engaging talks from Tarandeep, a well-known lifestyle and fitness influencer, who shared tips on incorporating wellness into busy routines. Arti Singh, a marketing professional and content creator, emphasized brand positioning in the digital age. Entrepreneur Sumit Varma, Founder of School Yatra, The Great India Kids Festival, and College Yatra, and Director of SVEI, offered business insights and also spoke about his podcast, Brewed Talks. Business leader and influencer Dr. Kushi Gupta shared her journey, while popular food and lifestyle influencer Rahul Ahuja (@eatsindia) added flavor to the discussions with his content creation expertise. Sagorika Bhattacharya, GM and Creative Director at TV9 Network, who also heads IPs at the network, spoke about the evolving content landscape. Nehal Bharadwaj, entrepreneur and content creator, hosted the event with enthusiasm and flair.

Surbhi MittalDirector of Public Relations & CSR at Ofis Square, shared her thoughts: “We’re proud to host events that support the spirit of collaboration and entrepreneurship. Ofis Square is more than just a workplace—it’s a community where innovators, creatives, and changemakers can truly thrive. Our state-of-the-art spaces, including the new in-house theatre, reflect our commitment to creating inspiring environments that foster growth and idea exchange.”

Nehal Bhardwaj, Founder of Vastu Shilp Design shared, “Our goal was to create a vibrant platform where creators, professionals, and changemakers can engage meaningfully and support each other’s growth. Hosting this at Ofis Square, a place that mirrors our energy and vision, made the experience all the more powerful. It’s important for small businesses and influencers to have access to such networks and spaces that encourage collaboration.”

Adding star power to its innovative brand ethos, Bollywood actor Shraddha Kapoor was recently announced as the official Brand Ambassador of Ofis Square. Her youthful energy and entrepreneurial spirit align seamlessly with the company’s mission to inspire the next generation of dreamers, doers, and disruptors.

With premium infrastructure, modern amenities, and a strong emphasis on community and collaboration, Ofis Square continues to serve as a springboard for startups, freelancers, and digital creators across Delhi NCR.

SingleInterface Brings AI to Storefronts in Retail

New Delhi, April 16, 2025: SingleInterface, Asia’s largest retail tech platform for multi-location brands, today unveiled its integrated AI platform – SingleInterface AI – marking its transformation into the first full-stack AI software suite built exclusively for storefronts.

From digital-first to AI-first, SingleInterface AI redefines how multi-location brands get discovered by their customers and engage with hyperlocal audiences—at every store, every pin on the map, and every customer touchpoint.

“We believe the future of hyperlocal marketing and commerce is AI-native. It’s transforming how every storefront shows up in “near me” searches, responds, and grows. With SingleInterface AI, we’re embedding enterprise-grade intelligence into every hyperlocal brand interaction,” said Tarun Sobhani, Co-Founder and CEO, SingleInterface.

AI That Impacts Every Location
This launch unifies and elevates SingleInterface’s core offerings—from business listings to engagement—into one smart, self-learning platform. With advanced interaction analytics and real-time sentiment decoding, SingleInterface AI turns every storefront into a performance engine. Brands gain sharper visibility into local trends, intent signals, and campaign impact—driving measurable growth and actionable insights at every touchpoint.

What’s Inside SingleInterface AI

SingleInterface AI offers a modular yet deeply integrated suite of AI engines, each solving a distinct challenge faced by multi-location enterprises.

  • Presence AI: Ensures every location (branch, outlet, or store) is easily searchable with up-to-date information, enabled by automated listings across Google, Apple Maps, car navigation systems and AI voice assistants.
  • Pages AI: Automatically generates high-performing, search-optimized microsites for each individual location complete with real-time content, embedded chat, and actionable CTAs.
  • Reviews AI: Understands location-level customer reviews with AI-powered emotional intelligence, allowing marketers to respond with empathy.
  • Engagement AI: Connects the dots between CRM data and real-time conversations, enabling hyper-contextual WhatsApp, email, and web chat outreach.
  • Campaigns AI: Localizes brand campaigns with geo-fenced insights, content fatigue detection, and audience behaviour tracking across every city or Pin/Zip code.
  • Interactions AI: Transcribes and analyzes every customer interaction made with the brand or the nearest location to reveal sentiment, missed opportunities, and conversion blockers.
  • Audience AI uses real-world behavior signals—like location patterns, visit frequency, and category interest—to identify high-intent buyers before they enter your funnel, powering more precise campaigns and stronger ROI.
  • Competition AI: Maps search performance block-by-block, benchmarking each outlet and highlighting areas to win more “near me” searches.
  • Insights AI: Unifies data across modules to deliver a 360° view of brand performance—highlighting trends, and surfacing actionable intelligence at every location.

With over 400 multi-location brands across industries such as F&B, automotive, telecom, retail, banking, financial services, real estate, education, travel, and healthcare, SingleInterface is setting a new benchmark for AI-driven location-based marketing.

Wings of Time Dazzles with Extended Fireworks

Delhi/Mumbai, April 16, 2025 – Mount Faber Leisure Group (MFLG) is proud to announce the enhancement of Singapore’s award-winning night show, Wings of Time , now rebranded to Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony. Following its 10th anniversary celebration in 2024, this iconic show at Sentosa’s Siloso Beach has undergone a stunning upgrade, offering an even more immersive and grandiose experience for audiences worldwide. Since its debut in 2014, the night show has become a landmark attraction, captivating over six million visitors with its unique fusion of advanced technology and captivating visual effects. Starting 1 February 2025, Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony will unveil a major upgrade: an extended fireworks display, now four times longer, delivering an even more spectacular experience.

Mr Buhdy Bok, Managing Director of MFLG, stated, “The Wings of Time show has long been a highlight for Indian tourists and MICE groups visiting Sentosa. With the enhanced fireworks display, featuring nearly 200 spectacular shots lighting up the sky above Siloso Beach each night, we are elevating the experience to new heights. The fireworks, soaring up to 40 meters, are seamlessly synchronised with key moments of the show, creating an even more immersive and unforgettable spectacle.”

The show follows Shahbaz, a mystical prehistoric bird, as he embarks on an extraordinary journey with his friends Rachel and Felix through awe-inspiring landscapes and pivotal moments in history. With a combination of synchronised fireworks, 3D projection mapping, lasers, water fountains, and effects, Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony offers a mesmerising experience designed to appeal to audiences of all ages, making it a must-see experience for visitors from around the world.

Located at the heart of Beach Station and easily accessible via Sentosa Sensoryscape, Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony offers two nightly performances at 7:40 PM and 8:40 PM, each lasting approximately 20 minutes. With a capacity to accommodate 2,500 guests per show, it serves as the perfect grand finale to a day at Sentosa, captivating audiences with its dazzling spectacle set against the island’s scenic backdrop, making it a one-of-a-kind experience in Singapore.

100 Years of Caterpillar: Sustainability Through Teamwork

National, 16 April 2025 – As Caterpillar Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives, celebrates its monumental 100th anniversary, Caterpillar team in India takes immense pride in its role in this legacy. With over 50 years of operations in India, Caterpillar has contributed significantly in building infrastructure and driving industrial progress in the country.

For a century, Caterpillar’s customer-centric innovation and industry-leading transformation have helped shape the modern world—including India. From the Bhakra Nangal Dam to the Atal Tunnel and the Purvanchal Expressway, Caterpillar’s equipment has been instrumental in building the country’s infrastructure since 1930s.

“At Caterpillar, innovation and customer-centricity have always been the cornerstones of our success. As we celebrate 100 years globally and over 50 years in India, we recognize that our people are the driving force behind our achievements,” said Bhuvan Anandakrishnan, India Country Manager and Vice President, Integrated Component Solutions Engineering Division, Caterpillar. “Their dedication has not only met India’s evolving needs but has also set new benchmarks on a global scale. We remain committed to building a more sustainable, efficient, and technologically advanced future—together, we are shaping the next century of progress.”

As India strengthens its position as a key global manufacturer, Caterpillar remains deeply committed to supporting the nation’s industrial and infrastructure ambitions. With cutting-edge technology and a highly skilled talent, Caterpillar continues to be an integral part of India’s growth story.

As part of the celebration, Caterpillar Inc. pledged $100 million over the next five years globally to help equip the workforce of the future with the skills needed, leveraging technology to meet global market demands as the world undergoes a rapid digital transformation.

Experts Urge Early Eye Checks for Kids

New Delhi, Apr 16, 2025: Imagine seeing the world through two windows—one clear and one foggy. Now, suppose your brain starts ignoring the foggy one altogether. This is what happens in amblyopia, or lazy eye. The eye isn’t lazy—it’s just being overlooked by the brain.

Lazy eye is a childhood condition where one eye doesn’t develop normal vision. It usually begins when the brain starts favoring one eye over the other, often due to differences in focus or eye alignment. Over time, the weaker eye becomes less active, and if left untreated, this can lead to lasting vision problems.

Amblyopia affects around 5% of children under 15, making it the leading cause of vision loss in kids. The condition can be caused by unequal focusing abilities between the eyes, crossed or drifting eyes, or anything that blocks clear vision—like droopy eyelids or cataracts. Children born prematurely or with a family history of eye issues are more likely to develop it.

Lazy eye isn’t always easy to notice, especially in young kids. Some signs parents can watch out for include squinting, closing one eye, tilting the head, or bumping into things often. If an eye seems to drift or appear crossed, it may also signal a problem.

Treatment works by encouraging the brain to use the weaker eye, helping it catch up. Common approaches include eye patching—covering the stronger eye for a few hours a day, prescription glasses to improve focus, and sometimes even eye drops to temporarily blur the stronger eye. In some cases, surgery may be required to fix alignment or remove obstructions,” observes Dr. Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director, Orbis(India). Early diagnosis—preferably before age 7—offers the best results, though vision in older kids and even adults can still improve with the right care.

The good news? Lazy eye can usually be treated successfully if caught early. Routine eye exams, especially in the preschool years, can catch hidden vision problems and help your child grow up seeing clearly with both eyes.