Choco Up, Asia’s leading growth financing platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), today announced three strategic leadership appointments as part of its ambitious expansion across Asia-Pacific. These hires position the company to scale sustainably as a trusted financing partner within the region for the SME ecosystem.

Leadership changes span corporate strategy, risk governance, and market execution to drive hyper business growth

To date, the company has supported 1,000 SMEs across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia. It has deployed growth capital to businesses in e-commerce, software-as-a-service, and technology-driven sectors.

With the expanded leadership structure in place, strategic planning and risk governance will be centralised. Local market execution will be strengthened to support disciplined regional scale.

Strengthening Strategy and Governance
Koichi Saito has been appointed Head of Corporate Strategy, bringing over 20 years of experience across corporate planning, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capital markets, and venture building in Asia-Pacific.

As Founder and General Partner of KK Fund, a leading seed-stage VC firm focused on Southeast Asia, Mr Saito has worked closely with founders across scaling operations, entering new markets, and navigating complex cross-border environments. His earlier career includes roles at ORIX Group, private equity with George Soros’ IHG, investment banking at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, and venture capital at IMJ Investment Partners, where he backed category-defining startups. Across his investment career, he has led investments in more than 30 companies and advised on cross-border expansion across the region.

With the new appointment, Mr Saito will shape the company’s long-term strategy, forge strategic alliances, and drive the company’s next phase of regional dominance.

Elevating Risk as a Core Growth Function
Kitti Chiraseivinupraphand has been promoted to Chief Risk Officer as the company scales transaction volume and expands across multiple Asia-Pacific markets.

Mr Chiraseivinupraphand joined the company in 2021 as Head of Risk and brings over 20 years of experience in corporate banking risk management across Asia. Prior to joining, he held senior roles at Bangkok Bank Co. and holds an MBA from Boston College. Since joining, he has played an instrumental role in developing Choco Up’s AI-powered credit assessment framework, enabling same-day approvals while maintaining rigorous controls.

In his expanded role, Mr Chiraseivinupraphand will continue to advance risk governance and risk technology, ensuring consistency, resilience and control as operations accelerate.

Strengthening Market Execution in Australia
Bart Joanilho will take on the role of Country Head, Australia, as the company continues to deepen its presence and operating footprint in the Australian market.

He has led the Australian business since its market entry in 2023. Mr Joanilho brings over 15 years of experience as a serial entrepreneur across property, food and beverage and e-commerce, combined with deep expertise in tech ecosystem partnerships. Since spearheading Choco Up’s market entry, he has driven enormous growth to the Australian businesses through innovative go-to-market strategies and localisation efforts.

As Country Head, Mr Joanilho will continue to deepen local partnerships and oversee market execution in Australia, ensuring alignment with the company’s broader priorities.

“Koichi, Kitti, and Bart each bring experience that is important to how we operate today,” said Percy Hung, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Choco Up. “As we expand across markets, aligning strategy, risk management and local execution becomes increasingly important. This leadership structure gives us the confidence to support SMEs more effectively as we propel towards becoming the go-to financing partner for APAC’s SMEs and e-commerce merchants.”

Choco Up
Choco Up is a global technology and financial services platform that offers alternative financing and growth solutions for SMEs. With data analytics and machine learning at its core, Choco Up employs vast integrations to automate fund deployment, providing fast-growing companies with zero-equity funding in a quick and seamless manner. Choco Up has offices in Singapore and Hong Kong and serves businesses with smart-growth analytics and global payment solutions to fuel their growth.

India’s students are no longer waiting to graduate to participate in the economy they are already powering it. The Doers’ Report 2025, released by TimBuckDo, India’s largest student gig platform, reveals how over 4.5 lakh students across the country are using gig work not as pocket money, but as a critical survival and independence tool earning anywhere between Rs. 800 micro-gigs to Rs. 65,000 high-responsibility roles.

Student Gig Trends in 2025

The report, based on platform data spanning metros and fast-rising tier-2 cities, shows that the most common monthly gig earnings fall between Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 15,000, a range that closely mirrors essential student expenses such as rent, food, and commute. TimBuckDo introduces the Gig Survival Index (GSI) to quantify this shift highlighting that for many students, gig income now covers 40–100% of monthly living costs, particularly in tier-2 cities.

Geography of Gigs

Key findings from The Doers’ Report 2025 include:

• Average monthly student gig payout: Rs. 8,000

• Top earning cities: Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Pune

• Work format split: 48% on-ground, 32% remote, 20% flexible

• High-demand roles: Telecalling, delivery, social media, event operations, AI-assisted research, and content optimisation

• Top individual earnings: Up to Rs. 1.5 lakh annually by student DOers

Commenting on the findings, Mythri Kumar, Co-founder & CEO, TimBuckDo, said, “What 2025 confirmed for us is that student gigs are no longer transitional, they are foundational. In 2026, we expect this shift to accelerate as AI-powered matchmaking, smarter work design, and deeper employer trust make student gig work faster, safer, and more predictable. Gigs will become seamlessly embedded into student life, not as an interruption to education, but as an enabler of financial independence and real-world readiness. TimBuckDo’s focus in the year ahead is scale with structure, ensuring every opportunity is backed by systems that protect, formalise, and grow student earnings.”

Adding to this, Apoorv Sharma Prasad, Co-founder & COO, TimBuckDo, said, “Opportunity alone is not enough. If student income isn’t formal, protected, and supported by the right systems, it breaks the moment life throws a challenge. In 2025, our focus shifted from just enabling gigs to building the infrastructure that makes student earnings sustainable.”

Beyond income generation, the report highlights TimBuckDo’s evolution into a full-stack student work ecosystem. In 2025, the platform enabled students to formalise income through PAN cards, secure earnings with affordable wellness and insurance coverage, and stretch income through real-world student discounts and travel partnerships.

On the employer side, the report reveals 10–50x application rates per role, repeat hiring behaviour from trusted companies, and increasing demand for large-batch student hiring across sales, delivery, events, and digital roles. Reinforcing its commitment to trust, TimBuckDo also blocked 800+ scam job listings during the year.

With India’s gig workforce expected to reach 24 million by 2030, The Doers’ Report 2025 positions students not as future contributors, but as an active workforce already shaping India’s gig economy.

About TimBuckDo

TimBuckDo is India’s leading student gig and work enablement platform, built exclusively to help students earn early, earn safely, and earn meaningfully. Powered by a nationwide community of over 4.5 lakh students, TimBuckDo connects verified employers with student talent across on-ground, remote, and flexible roles spanning sales, operations, content, events, technology, and customer support. Beyond gig discovery, the platform has evolved into a full-stack student work ecosystem enabling income formalisation through PAN cards, protection through affordable wellness and insurance solutions, and savings via exclusive student benefits and travel partnerships. By combining opportunity with infrastructure, TimBuckDo is helping build India’s next generation of financially independent, work-ready students.

Indians are increasingly replacing long, once-in-a-year astrology sittings with quick, “one question a day” check-ins that offer bite-sized clarity on work, money, and relationships. Neo Astro’s “Daily Ask 1 Question Free” feature fits directly into this new habit, turning astrology into a daily micro-guidance ritual rather than an occasional deep-dive.​
 

One question a day for astrologers
 

From Big Life Decisions to Micro-Guidance

For decades, astrology in India was reserved for big moments: marriage, property, childbirth, or starting a business. Now, urban Indians especially younger professionals are using it to navigate everyday questions like “Should I switch this job?”, “Is this the right time to propose?”, or “Will this client deal work out?”. Instead of waiting months for a formal consultation, they want quick, situation-specific clarity that feels as routine as checking the weather.​
 

This shift mirrors broader lifestyle changes. Long attention spans are shrinking, work and relationships are more fluid, and uncertainty around careers, AI, and finances has become a daily reality. In this environment, astrology is evolving from a once-in-a-while ritual into a micro-decision tool people consult in real time.​
 

The ‘One Question a Day’ Habit

The “one question a day” format converts vague faith into a structured daily habit. Users log in, frame one key doubt, and receive an answer that becomes their guiding nudge for the next 24 hours. This reduces decision fatigue; instead of overthinking ten different worries, people prioritise a single area that needs clarity whether it’s a salary negotiation, a confusing situationship, or a risky investment.​
 

It also creates a sense of emotional safety. Knowing that there is a daily space to ask “What should I focus on today?” offers reassurance to users who feel overwhelmed by constant change. Over time, these micro-check-ins act like a reflective journal, helping users connect patterns between planetary movements, their actions, and outcomes.​
 

Why Work, Love, and Money Lead the Questions

Career anxiety is one of the biggest drivers behind this micro-guidance trend. As AI and automation reshape jobs, more Indians are turning to astrologers with questions on job security, promotions, and timing of career moves. A single daily question like “Is this a good week to push for a raise?” feels less intimidating than an expensive, hour-long consultation about one’s entire professional future.​
 

Relationships are the second big theme. Questions around commitment, compatibility, and timing of marriage or breakup dominate queries, often framed as “Will this work out if I stay?” or “Is this the right time to move on?”. Money, especially in a volatile economy, forms the third pillar, with users asking about investments, debt, business openings, or cashflow timing—micro-doubts that they want resolved before acting.​
 

Neo Astro, the leading Astrology App, has positioned itself squarely in this micro-guidance culture with its “Daily Ask 1 Question Free” feature. The app invites users to sign up, claim free features, and get at least one focused question answered every day through a quick chat with an astrologer. This lowers the barrier to entry no large payments, no formal appointment, just an instant, app-based reassurance loop.​
 

The platform extends this into a broader ecosystem: free daily horoscope checks, panchang, and chat-based consultations, all available 24/7. By promising instant, personalised guidance on career, relationships, finances, and family life, Neo Astro effectively blends ancient Vedic wisdom with UX patterns users recognise from fintech, gaming, and wellness apps.​
 

Astrology as a Daily Digital Ritual

Daily horoscopes from mass platforms still exist, but personalised Q&A is now becoming the next layer, offering more specific and interactive support. Instead of passively reading “Today may be good for finances,” users are actively asking, “Should I sign this contract today?” and receiving contextual guidance based on their birth details.​
 

In doing so, astrology is being reframed as a digital ritual—checked on the phone between emails, commutes, meetings, or late-night overthinking spells. Neo Astro’s “Daily Ask 1 Question Free” doesn’t just answer doubts; it mirrors how Indians now live, decide, and seek comfort: one small question, one clear nudge, one day at a time.

Kauvery Hospital and Tamil Nadu Seniors Tennis Club successfully organised the Open Tennis Tournament for senior citizens on January 3rd and 4th at the YMCA Grounds, Nandanam, Chennai.

Tennis Tournament

The two-day tournament witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 210 senior tennis players from Chennai and nearby regions. The matches were conducted across multiple age categories, including 45–50, 50–55, 55–60, 60–65, 65–70,70–75 and 75 above, highlighting the growing passion for competitive sport among senior citizens.

The tournament featured seven categories each in singles and doubles, offering players an excellent platform to compete, stay active, and engage socially. The matches were played in a spirited yet friendly atmosphere, reflecting the importance of physical fitness, mental well-being, and camaraderie in promoting healthy and active aging.

The awards were presented by Dr. Singaravadivelu V, Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon, Kauvery Hospital Alwarpet who graced the valedictory function. Participants expressed their appreciation for the smooth organisation and facilities provided throughout the event.

The successful conduct of the tournament reaffirmed the commitment of Tamil Nadu Open Senior Tennis Club and Kauvery Hospital towards encouraging fitness, wellness, and active lifestyles among senior citizens through sports initiatives.

Planning a one-time investment often begins with setting expectations rather than predicting outcomes. Investors may want to understand how a single allocation could behave over time under different assumptions. In this context, a lumpsum calculator may help you visualise potential investment values across time horizons, while keeping in mind that market-linked outcomes remain uncertain.

Understanding one-time investments with lumpsum calculator

What a lumpsum investment involves

A lumpsum investment refers to investing a single amount at one point in time, rather than spreading contributions periodically. This approach may be considered when you have surplus funds available or when aligning investments with a specific financial milestone.

The performance of a lumpsum investment is closely linked to market entry timing and subsequent market movement. As a result, short-term fluctuations may influence outcomes more visibly than with staggered investments.

How a lumpsum calculator works

A lumpsum calculator typically requires inputs such as the investment amount, assumed rate of return, and time. Based on these assumptions, it provides an indicative future value of the investment.

The calculator is an aid, not a prediction tool. It may provide only an indicative picture.

By using a lumpsum calculator, you are exploring hypothetical scenarios rather than forecasting actual returns. Real market behaviour may differ from assumed conditions.

Understanding assumptions behind calculator illustrations

Every calculator output is based on fixed assumptions. Equity funds move through cycles, and returns may vary from year to year. A lumpsum calculator does not account for interim volatility, portfolio changes, or external economic events.

It may be useful to review assumptions periodically and treat calculator outputs as a reference point rather than a basis for decision-making.

The calculator is an aid, not a prediction tool. It may provide only an indicative picture.

Market timing and its influence on lumpsum investments

Since a lumpsum investment is made at one time, market levels at the point of entry may influence short- to medium-term outcomes. Entering during a market peak or correction may lead to different interim experiences.

Over longer horizons, market movements may even out, but this is not guaranteed. Understanding this sensitivity may help set realistic expectations when planning a lumpsum allocation.

Role of asset allocation in managing variability

Asset allocation plays an important role in shaping how investments respond to market conditions. A diversified allocation across equity and other asset classes may help balance volatility, depending on market behaviour.

While a lumpsum calculator does not reflect allocation-level dynamics, it may still help frame discussions around time horizon and assumed growth rates.

Exploring equity exposure in long-term planning

Equity-oriented investments are often considered for long-term financial objectives due to their market-linked nature. When you invest in equity fund options, outcomes depend on company performance, economic conditions, and broader market trends.

Past performance may or may not be sustained in future.

When planning to invest in equity fund categories through a lumpsum approach, aligning the investment horizon with risk tolerance becomes particularly important.

Using planning tools thoughtfully

Planning tools may help organise financial thinking, but they do not replace professional judgement or market understanding. A lumpsum calculator helps illustrate mathematical possibilities, not market realities.

Similarly, deciding to invest in equity fund categories involves understanding volatility, liquidity, and time horizon. Tools and insights may support this process, but certainty is not possible.

Conclusion

A lumpsum calculator may help you understand how a one-time investment could evolve under assumed conditions. It is best used as a planning aid rather than a predictive measure. When combined with an understanding of market behaviour and personal risk tolerance, such tools may support more informed investment conversations, while acknowledging that actual outcomes may vary.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

India is witnessing a decisive shift in the way women participate in entrepreneurship, with rising numbers of young women from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities entering sectors traditionally seen as male-dominated — from device repair to accounting and compliance services, according to new internal data released by Tide1, the UK’s leading business management platform. Women between 27 and 31 years old form a significant share of new business owners on the Tide platform, reflecting India’s broader working-age population profile. With over 180,000 women entrepreneurs, women currently account for 18.7% of Tide’s India member base. This age cohort represents India’s largest demographic segment and is increasingly visible on digital business platforms — as part of a wider formalisation shift among women choosing entrepreneurship as a viable and structured livelihood pathway.

Women Entrepreneurs Are Entering Sectors Once Dominated by Men: Tide Insights

This surge is most visible outside metros. Across smaller towns such as Gulharia in Uttar Pradesh, Harnul in Maharashtra, Bisrakh in Uttar Pradesh, and Indore in Madhya Pradesh, women from India’s working-age population are formalising skill-based and service-led enterprises through digital platforms. While women in their late twenties and early thirties are prominently represented — in line with India’s largest demographic cohort — the growth reflects broader participation across working-age women, pointing to a structural shift towards entrepreneurship for long-term financial independence and flexibility in non-metro India.

Women Expanding Beyond Traditional Sectors – New Categories Gain Momentum
While sectors like tailoring and beauty services have long been dominated by women, Tide’s data reveals a notable rise in women-led businesses across skilled services and tech-driven categories. These include:

• Mobile, tablets, and computer repair, led by women in West Bengal and urban clusters of Tier 2 cities

• Accounting and tax services, with young women taking up formal financial and compliance-led business roles

• Nursing and personal care services, emerging strongly from Madhya Pradesh

• Sewing machines and micro-manufacturing now formalising through digital payments and accounting tools

This shift underscores how Indian women are breaking occupational stereotypes, entering previously male-dominated sectors, and adopting digital tools to scale their income.

Gurjodhpal Singh, CEO, Tide in India, said, “What’s most inspiring is how women are breaking stereotypes — whether it’s repairing devices, managing accounting services, or running nursing-led service models. This shift represents a generational transition. Women in their late twenties and early thirties enter entrepreneurship with stronger digital familiarity and a clear desire for self-determined growth. For many, this phase has become the launchpad for building businesses that contribute directly to household incomes and local employment.”

More Women Are Formalising Their Businesses — A Post-2025 Trend
The rise of women-led businesses is closely tied to digital adoption. Tide’s data shows a sharp jump of 111% in new women-led businesses between March and November 2025, indicating a broader trend of women moving towards formalisation, digital payments, and regulated business practices. This trend is especially strong among women in their early careers (late 20s to early 30s), many of whom are running solo businesses while managing families, caregiving responsibilities, or flexible work arrangements.

These behaviours are strengthening credit visibility and enabling more women to access financial products needed for growth — a persistent hurdle for women microentrepreneurs in India.

Key Tide Products Driving Growth for Women-Led Businesses
Women-led businesses on Tide are not only growing in number but are also emerging as high-engagement digital users on the platform. The top three products used by women entrepreneurs are:

1. Debit Services 
Women entrepreneurs are actively using Tide’s debit services to streamline day-to-day business spending. With seamless card management, real-time tracking, and secure transactions, debit usage helps them maintain tighter control on their business finances.

2. Bill Payments
Women are increasingly adopting digital bill payments to manage utility expenses, vendor payments, and recurring business costs. This shift towards structured financial management helps them maintain clean records and improve creditworthiness.

3. Payment Acceptance via QR Codes
QR-based payments are playing a central role in helping women-run microbusinesses — from sewing shops to repair desks to home-based services — accepting customer payments instantly and securely has removed cash-dependence and improved business visibility.

Tide will continue to expand its digital tools, financial education initiatives, and on-ground programmes to support women-owned businesses across Tier 2, 3, 4 and 5 India, as part of its commitment to help 500,000 women entrepreneurs start and run their businesses by 2027.

About Tide
Launched in 2017, Tide is the leading business management platform in the UK. Tide helps SMEs save time (and money) in the running of their businesses by not only offering business accounts and related admin services, but also a comprehensive set of highly usable and connected administrative solutions from invoicing to accounting.

Tide has nearly 800,000 SME members in the UK (14% market share) and 1,000,000 SMEs in India. Tide launched in Germany in May 2024 and in France in September 2025. Tide has also been recognised with the Great Place to Work certification three years in a row. Tide has been funded by Anthemis, Apax Digital Funds, Augmentum Fintech, Creandum, Salica Investments, Latitude, LocalGlobe, SBI Group, Speedinvest and TPG, amongst others. It employs more than 2,500 Tideans worldwide. Tide’s long-term ambition is to be the leading business management platform globally.

LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/company/tide-banking
Twitter: twitter.com/TideBusinessIND 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tidebusinessindia
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TideBusinessIndia

On the 133rd birth anniversary of Padma Vibhushan Smt. Jankidevi Bajaj, Mr. Shishir Bajaj, patriarch of the Bajaj Group, paid tribute to his grandmother, remembering her as a beacon of simplicity, courage, and selfless service to the nation.

(Left) Bajaj Group’s Instagram post remembering Smt. Jankidevi Bajaj. (Right)  A rare photo of Mr. Kushagra Bajaj (Group Chairman) on his Great Grandmother’s lap

Remembering her life and legacy, Mr. Shishir Bajaj said, “My grandmother, Jankidevi Bajaj, lived her life rooted in discipline, compassion and unwavering commitment to Gandhian values. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, she embraced swadeshi, khadi and a life, dedicating herself to the service of society, women empowerment and rural upliftment. My son Kushagra was blessed to have played on her lap, and I am glad that her quiet strength and moral clarity continue to guide the Bajaj Group’s philosophy of nation-building through ethical enterprise.”

Born on 7 January 1893 in Jawra, Madhya Pradesh, Jankidevi Ji devoted her life to social reform and public service after marrying Jamnalal Ji Bajaj at a young age. She moved with him to Wardha, Maharashtra and actively got involved in India’s freedom movement. She worked for women’s education, social equality, animal welfare and rural development. She played a significant role in the Bhoodan Movement alongside Acharya Vinoba Bhave and served as President of the Akhil Bharatiya Goseva Sangh.

Awarded the Padma Vibhushan by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1956 for her exemplary contribution to society, Jankidevi Bajaj remained a living embodiment of humility and service. Her autobiography, “Meri Jeevan Yatra,” reflects the values of simplicity and discipline that defined her life.

As the nation remembers her legacy, the family-owned business group under her grandson Shishir Bajaj currently led by her great grandson Kushagra Bajaj pays a heartwarming tribute to Jankidevi Ji with a short instagram video on @bajajgroupofficial Click to watch.

About Bajaj Group
Founded in 1926 by the eminent freedom fighter and philanthropist Jamnalal Bajaj, the Bajaj Group has emerged as one of India’s most respected and diversified conglomerates. The Group’s flagship companies include Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Ltd., India’s largest integrated sugar company operating 14 sugar mills and 6 ethanol plants; Bajaj Energy Ltd., running 6 power plants in Uttar Pradesh with a total capacity of 2,430 MW supplying about 10% of the state’s electricity demand; and Bajaj Consumer Care Ltd., market leader in the premium hair oil category with its flagship brand Bajaj Almond Drops Hair Oil. The Group continues to blend industrial excellence with social responsibility, embodying its enduring philosophy of “Nation Building Through Business and Service.”