Kathy’s Beverages Pvt Ltd, the company behind bubble tea and beverage brand Bobakat, has raised INR 6 crore (approximately USD 638,000) in a Pre-Series A funding round, a milestone that signals not just the brand’s next phase of growth, but the broader arrival of organised, experience-led beverage retail in India.

Dr. Rupali Ambegaonkar and Sannjeev Rao

The fresh capital will be deployed across product innovation, team expansion, marketing, and an accelerated retail rollout across the country. Bobakat’s growth engine is built on compact, experience-first outlets strategically positioned across high-footfall food courts and premium high streets, a format that is already proving its mettle with consumers and delivering strong unit economics for the business.

Founded in 2024 by Dr. Rupali Ambegaonkar and Sannjeev Rao, Bobakat was built on a sharp conviction: that India’s urban, young consumer was ready for a beverage brand that offered more than a drink; one that delivered a global experience rooted in local sensibility. That conviction has been validated decisively. The brand has served over 10 lakh consumers, is recording strong double-digit year-on-year growth, and is currently valued at INR 43 crore. The target now is INR 100 crore in Net Sales Value within 36 months, backed by a clear, capital-efficient expansion plan.

The macro tailwinds are undeniable. India’s beverage market, valued at USD 80.11 billion in 2025, is on course to reach USD 154.67 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 6.80%. Within this landscape, the premium and experiential beverage segment represents one of the most exciting white spaces and Bobakat is firmly positioned to capture it.

Speaking on the fundraise, Dr. Rupali Ambegaonkar, Founder, Bobakat, said, “The Indian consumer today is seeking more than just beverages; they are looking for experiences, community spaces, and global formats adapted for local preferences. With Bobakat, our vision has always been to build a culturally relevant beverage brand that combines quality, innovation, and accessibility. This fundraise gives us the momentum to strengthen our operations, innovate across our offerings, and scale aggressively across key Indian markets.”

Co-founder Sannjeev Rao added, “We see immense headroom in India’s organised beverage ecosystem, especially within youth-driven consumption categories. Our compact and scalable retail model allows us to enter high-potential locations efficiently while maintaining strong unit economics. The next phase of growth will focus on expanding our store network, building stronger consumer recall, and creating a differentiated beverage experience.”

What makes Bobakat a particularly compelling story is the founding team behind it. Dr. Ambegaonkar brings formidable category expertise as the founder of Tea Culture of the World (TCW), a premium tea brand now present across 200+ stores in India. A former medical professional turned tea sommelier, she has spent years crafting globally inspired beverage experiences for Indian consumers and understands, better than most, what it takes to build a beverage brand with staying power. Sannjeev Rao is one of India’s most accomplished retail operators, with over 30 years of brand-building and turnaround experience across Future Group, Aditya Birla Retail, Landmark Dubai, and Raymond, and most recently as CEO of Being Human. Together, they bring the rare combination of consumer insight, category depth, and hard-won retail execution expertise that early-stage brands rarely have access to.

Bobakat’s differentiation in the crowded premium beverage space rests on four pillars: a quality-first product approach, sharp and deliberate audience positioning, a curated in-store consumer experience, and a store format designed for speed of replication without compromise on brand integrity.

The expansion roadmap reflects the brand’s ambition with 35 new stores in FY26–27, followed by 50 stores each in FY27–28 and FY28–29, spanning metro cities and high-growth emerging urban markets. With this raise, Bobakat isn’t just opening new stores it is staking its claim as the defining bubble tea and experiential beverage brand of India’s next decade.

As geopolitical tensions, maritime security concerns, and disruptions across global trade routes continue to reshape economies, industries, and supply chains worldwide, Galgotias University hosted Rear Admiral Girish Kumar Garg (Retd.) for a Leadership Dialogue on geopolitics, maritime strategy, and global trade dynamics.
 

Rear Admiral GK Garg (Retd.) engaged with students at Galgotias University on geopolitics, maritime security, global trade, and leadership in an increasingly uncertain world

The interaction, organised by the School of Aviation, Logistics and Tourism Management (SALTM), brought together students and faculty members for discussions on some of the most pressing geopolitical and economic developments influencing the world today. The session explored how ongoing tensions across West Asia and other regions are impacting global shipping corridors, logistics ecosystems, energy movement, international commerce, and supply chain resilience.

Rear Admiral Garg spoke extensively about the strategic importance of critical maritime routes including the Strait of Hormuz and examined how disruptions across these corridors directly influence global trade flows, economic stability, logistics planning, and business continuity across nations. He also discussed the evolving role of India and the Indian Navy in maintaining maritime security and safeguarding strategic trade interests in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.

Students from across different schools and programmes actively engaged in discussions around strategic resilience, global trade dependencies, maritime logistics, risk management, and the growing intersection between geopolitics and business decision making. The dialogue encouraged students to think beyond conventional management frameworks and understand how international political developments increasingly shape industries, markets, and economic systems.

During his visit, Rear Admiral Garg appreciated the scale, infrastructure, academic environment, and overall learning ecosystem at Galgotias University. Reflecting on his interaction with students and his experience on campus, he remarked that the University was comparable with some of the finest national as well as international institutions he had visited during his extensive engagement with academic institutions. He further appreciated the energy, organisation, facilities, discipline, and student engagement visible across the campus.

Capt. Vaibhav Goutham Suresh, Director, School of Aviation, Logistics and Tourism Management, contributed academic and industry perspectives during the interaction and highlighted the importance of exposing students to contemporary geopolitical and economic realities that are increasingly shaping global industries and careers.

The session formed part of Galgotias University’s continuing efforts to connect classroom learning with real world global developments by enabling students to engage directly with distinguished leaders from strategic affairs, defence, public policy, and industry. Through such dialogues, the University continues to encourage interdisciplinary thinking, strategic awareness, and deeper engagement with the global realities students will navigate as future professionals and leaders.

PET FAMILY, an exclusive social networking platform dedicated to pet lovers, pet parents, veterinarians, pet businesses and the entire pet care ecosystem, has been officially launched with the vision of creating a unique digital community built around the emotional bond between humans and pets.

PET FAMILY founder and pet enthusiast Dharam Sidhu with brand ambassador actress Sonal Chauhan at the launch of the all-in-one pet care platform in Mumbai

The platform has been launched by 20-year-old entrepreneur and passionate pet enthusiast Dharam Sidhu, who transformed his deep love for animals into a professional vision aimed at building a meaningful and engaging platform for pet lovers. Driven by the idea that pets are an inseparable part of every family, Dharam Sidhu conceptualized PET FAMILY as a space where pet parents can connect, share experiences and celebrate the companionship pets bring into their lives.

Adding further prominence to the official launch held in Mumbai on May 10, 2026, renowned actress and passionate pet lover Sonal Chauhan was introduced as the Brand Ambassador of PET FAMILY. Known for her affection towards animals, she expressed support for the platform’s vision of building a dedicated community that celebrates the special bond between pets and their families.

Developed as a dedicated digital ecosystem for the rapidly growing pet community, PET FAMILY enables users to connect with fellow pet lovers, share memories, celebrate their pets and engage with a like-minded community that truly understands the emotional connection between pets and their families.

India today is home to nearly 40 million pet parents, while the global pet care industry and pet-loving community continue to witness significant growth. Recognizing the evolving needs of this expanding ecosystem, PET FAMILY has been designed to go beyond conventional social networking by offering an integrated platform for communication, engagement and pet-related services.

The app provides a one-stop destination for the pet community by allowing pet care brands, vendors and service providers to showcase their products and offer services directly to users. The platform aims to bridge the gap between pet parents and the pet care industry through a seamless and community-driven experience.

One of the app’s most distinctive features is that it allows users to create profile identities featuring themselves together with their pets, reinforcing the belief that pets are not merely companions but an inseparable part of the family.

With a vision to build a global community of pet lovers, PET FAMILY aspires to create meaningful emotional connections and a vibrant platform where every pet and every pet parent feels valued, connected and celebrated.

Speaking on the launch, the company stated, “PET FAMILY is not just an app — it is a family built on love, companionship and connection.”

For more information, visit website: petfamily.in, www.instagram.com/official.petfamily

DKMS Foundation, a non-profit organisation supporting patients with blood cancer and blood disorders, hosted the DKMS Lifesaver Honours to recognise partners, supporters, and medical professionals whose contributions have strengthened the donor registry, improved patient care, and enabled more patients to receive a second chance at life.
 

DKMS Foundation India brings together changemakers and medical leaders at the Lifesaver Honours Night in Bengaluru to support blood cancer patients
 

The event brought together key stakeholders whose collective efforts have driven the expansion of the blood stem cell donor registry and enhanced patient care in India. It highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration across the medical community, institutions, and civil society to address the growing need for stem cell donors, while also drawing attention to ongoing efforts to raise awareness and bridge gaps in access to timely, life-saving transplants for patients across the country.

Among the prominent guests at the evening were Karthik Reddy, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru City, and Mandira Bedi, actor, television presenter, and fitness advocate, who lent their support to the cause.

“Our mission to provide a second chance at life is a collaborative effort spanning medical science, corporate social responsibility, and public advocacy,” said Patrick Paul, Executive Chairman, DKMS India. “The Lifesaver Honours is our way of expressing gratitude to those who go above and beyond to bring hope to patients in need. Their commitment continues to form the backbone of our work in India.”

Dr. Elke Neujahr, Global CEO, DKMS said, “Every year, thousands of donor searches are initiated globally, highlighting the ongoing need for matching donors. At DKMS, we are committed to ensuring that every patient in need can find a suitable match.”

“This is only possible through collaboration. To save lives it takes voices that inspire action, institutions that mobilise communities, medical teams that deliver excellence, and individuals whose dedication never stops.”
 

A key highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Honour to Dr. Latha Jagannathan, Medical Director and Managing Trustee, BMST Bengaluru, in recognition of her contribution to the fight against blood cancer and blood disorders. “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition and to stand alongside those committed to this cause,” said Dr. Latha Jagannathan. “It is a privilege to contribute to work that brings hope to families when they need it most.”
 

The evening also served as a platform to discuss key challenges in blood stem cell transplantation, including gaps in donor availability, awareness, and timely access to treatment, while highlighting the need for stronger collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem to improve patient outcomes.
 

The evening honoured winners across four distinct categories:

Category 1: Awareness
Excellence in Blood Cancer & Blood Disorders Reporting: Awarded to Afshan Yasmeen, Deputy Editor, The Hindu, Bengaluru, for impactful reporting that brought the cause to the forefront of public discourse through the story, “A Silent Burden: Thalassaemia Patients in Karnataka Battle Disease with Hope and Hardship”
 

Category 2: Registration
Outstanding Institutional Partner: Recognising Manipal Institute of Technology (MAHE), Manipal, for leading the way in youth donor registration.
Outstanding Corporate Partner: Celebrating EXL Technologies, India, for integrating the DKMS mission into their CSR and employee engagement initiatives.

Category 3: Medical Excellence
Collection Centre of the Year: Awarded to BMST, Bengaluru, for demonstrating exceptional standards in donor care and stem cell collection.
Medical Advisory Group Felicitation: A special honour for 10 distinguished members of the medical community for their expert guidance.

Category 4: Special Recognition
Lifetime Excellence Award: A leadership-discretionary honour recognising an individual who has made a unique, transformative impact on the lives of patients with blood cancer and blood disorders.
 

About DKMS Foundation

DKMS Foundation, India, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, such as thalassemia and aplastic anemia. The foundation aims to improve the situation of patients in India and across the world by raising awareness about blood stem cell transplantation and registering potential blood stem cell donors.

For more information, please visit www.dkms-India.org.

Unbound, a high-performance men’s personal care brand, is breaking the fourth wall in an industry long dominated by airbrushed models and rigid routines. The brand unveils “Real Moments. Unscripted. Unbound.”, a digital-first campaign that blurs the lines between a brand film and a community-led documentary.

Unbound Presents a Bold New Take on the Modern Indian Man – Global in Mindset, Indian in Grit

At a time when a new generation is redefining aspiration beyond wealth, fame, and external validation, Unbound’s latest campaign captures a cultural shift, one where inner strength, balance, and being fully present are valued as much as traditional measures of success.

YouTube link: youtube.com/shorts/WrdXcD4miKk?si=viH9RAgV6T0kU_7C

The film marks a departure from the constructed masculinity often portrayed in Indian advertising. Instead of casting actors to play a role, Unbound built the campaign around the lives of real practitioners. The edit is a high-energy blend curated from the existing journeys of athletes, creators, and travellers across India, featuring technical boxing and yoga sequences led by real-life coaches and trainers. From inverted crunches to headstands on mountain cliffs, from skydiving to pushing physical limits through sport, the film reflects the grit, discipline, and cinematic quality of content being created by practitioners themselves.

From coaches helping others build strength to yogis balancing stillness with discipline; from everyday athletes building sustainable fitness lifestyles to creators documenting life in motion, each story is lived, not performed. As Unbound ushers in a new era of self-care for men who move, the brand offers a fresh interpretation of what it means to be #AlreadyUnbound through the spaces where they feel most alive.

Speaking about the initiative, Kanika Mittal, Founder of Unbound, said, “Authenticity, for us, comes from what is already being lived. Every day, men are moving, training, pushing their limits, and finding their own sense of balance in the middle of it all. These moments are deeply personal, instinctive, and shaped by everyday discipline. We simply brought them together into a campaign that reflects how men truly feel unbound when immersed in the sports and fitness activities they love. What we’re building is fluid, shaped not just by us, but by a growing community where every new experience adds to the evolving expression of what it means to be unbound.”

Atul Arora, Founder of Unbound, added, “With ‘Real Moments. Unscripted. Unbound.’, the intent was to move away from creating a defined narrative and instead curate one from real life. While our products are rooted in skin, hair, and body care, our values are rooted in supporting a generation that increasingly values personal growth and the freedom to define success on its own terms. We invite people to experience the world of Unbound at unbound-lifestyle.com”

Extending this idea, the brand introduces #AlreadyUnbound, inviting individuals to share their own moments and become part of a growing collective movement. With this, Unbound positions itself as more than a personal care brand, it represents a way of living, where self-care becomes an expression of self-respect.

About Unbound

Unbound is a performance-led self-care brand for men, built around the philosophy of Zero-Step Self-Care. Designed for modern lifestyles, the brand creates high-efficacy, multi-functional products across skin, hair, and body care that simplify routines without compromising on performance. Built for men in motion, Unbound addresses real everyday stressors such as sweat, sun exposure, pollution, and hard water through solutions that are efficient, intuitive, and effective. The brand is currently preparing for its launch in India.

About The Founders

Unbound is founded by Kanika Mittal and Atul Arora, entrepreneurs with deep experience across brand building, consumer businesses, and digital commerce.

Kanika Mittal has held leadership roles across global consumer and digital platforms, including Country Head for Twitter India, Country Manager at Taboola, and Marketing Director at Reebok India. She currently serves as an Independent Board Director at Datamatics and is a bestselling author. Her expertise spans strategy, revenue growth, digital media, and ad tech, bringing a strong consumer- and brand-first lens to Unbound.

Atul Arora brings extensive experience in Omnichannel & Digital commerce across India and the Middle East. Over the years, he has held senior leadership roles at Reebok, Benetton, Namshi and Landmark Group, where he played a key role in scaling e-commerce businesses across sports, fitness and lifestyle categories. His strength lies in building and scaling consumer-focused businesses.

Together, the founders are building Unbound with the ambition of creating a new category in men’s self-care, one rooted in performance, simplicity, and movement. Beyond products, Unbound is envisioned as a culture-first brand that celebrates real moments of men being unbound, from athletes and coaches to entrepreneurs and professionals who embody movement in their everyday lives. In a market defined by complexity and routines, Unbound is anchored in a simpler idea: self-care that moves with you.

About The Influencers

Aman Dhoni: Calisthenics coach with a strong focus on outdoor training and natural movement

Shivam Anand: ACE-certified fitness coach and nutrition specialist focused on longevity for busy professionals. Also, an avid biker and boxing enthusiast

Dr Amit: A yogi, corporate wellness coach, author, entrepreneur & environmental scientist practicing the pursuit of science and spirituality

Aayush: A sales director and senior corporate professional who enjoys pushing his limits through sports like sky diving

Taufeeq: Traveller who captures and documents his experiences

Deepak: Fitness coach focused on building strength & transformation

Shiva: Filmmaker focused on documenting travel experiences

In a moment of pride for the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), its Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Dr. Anilkumar Gaikwad, has been unanimously elected as the President of the India Chapter of the International Road Federation (IRF).
 

Dr. Gaikwad formally assumed charge during the Council Meeting held at India International Centre, New Delhi on 9th May 2026. His tenure will be of two years.
 

Dr Anilkumar Gaikwad, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC)

Further strengthening MSRDC’s representation at the global platform, MSRDC Chief Engineer S.K. Suravase has also been nominated as a Member of the Governing Council of the IRF India Chapter.
 

Established in 1948 and headquartered in Geneva, the International Road Federation is a non-governmental and non-profit global organisation dedicated to promoting safer roads, sustainable mobility, innovation, and world-class transportation infrastructure. The IRF works with governments, institutions, and industry stakeholders across the world to advance road safety and mobility solutions. Its India Chapter is headquartered in New Delhi.
 

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Gaikwad said, “It is an honour to lead the IRF India Chapter at a time when India is witnessing transformative growth in transportation infrastructure. I look forward to working with industry leaders, policymakers and stakeholders to promote safer, smarter and sustainable mobility solutions aligned with global best practices.”
 

Under Dr. Gaikwad’s leadership, MSRDC has emerged as one of India’s leading infrastructure agencies, spearheading several landmark mobility and connectivity projects in Maharashtra.

About Dr. Anilkumar Gaikwad

Dr. Anilkumar Baliram Gaikwad is a distinguished civil engineer and public servant with over four decades of exemplary service in transforming Maharashtra’s infrastructure landscape. Currently serving as Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), he leads one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure portfolios.
 

His leadership has been instrumental in delivering landmark projects that have redefined connectivity in the state. Most notably, he played a pivotal role in the conceptualization, planning, and execution of the Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg — India’s fastest expressway. As Chief Engineer and later Joint Managing Director (Engineering), he oversaw the successful delivery of this 701 km super-communication corridor. featuring 65 flyovers, 24 interchanges, six tunnels, and hundreds of underpasses, completed at record speed. The expressway now serves as a major economic lifeline connecting Mumbai to Nagpur and 24 districts.
 

With deep experience across the Public Works Department (PWD) and MSRDC, Dr. Gaikwad has held multiple key positions including Secretary (Works), Government of Maharashtra. His contributions extend to iconic projects such as the Bandra-Varsova Sea Link, Thane Creek Bridge III, and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link.
 

A recipient of the Best Engineer Award from the Governor of Maharashtra (1999) and the Rashtriya Gaurav Puraskar (2005), Dr. Gaikwad is known for his engineering excellence, project management acumen, and commitment to public service. He is an active member of leading professional bodies including the Institution of Engineers (India), Indian Road Congress, Indian Building Congress, and the American Concrete Institute. Passionate about knowledge sharing, he has trained numerous PWD officers and published research on critical infrastructure challenges.

Industry watchers argue the two recent statements urging citizens to save fuel, restrict non-essential imports, and promote local consumption should be seen in the backdrop of India’s energy security and economic robustness at a time when uncertainty looms over more western regions facing prolonged uncertainty due to ongoing geopolitical risk currently taking place in West Asia.

India’s energy backbone at work — balancing supply security, economic stability and uninterrupted fuel availability amid a volatile global energy landscape

The world economy was already under strain due to costs when the Ukraine conflict sent crude oil, gas, fertilisers, edible oil, metals, shipping, and food commodity prices skyrocketing. The effects of the ongoing Iran conflict and persisting disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are worsening these pressures further, constraining global supplies and creating extreme volatility across energy and commodity markets.

The reality is that India imports a large chunk of its crude oil, fertilisers, edible oil and more importantly all industrial inputs from the global markets. Higher global prices sharply push up India’s import bill, exerting further pressure on foreign exchange reserves, the rupee, inflation and overall government finances!

Economists note that many important imports for India are purchased largely in US dollars. For example, foreign exchange cannot be created at will like domestic currency. Foreign exchange inflow comes from exports, remittances, services, and investments, and it spends it on imports of crude oil, LNG, fertilisers, electronics, including software packages, in other countries to make up for the shortfall in domestic production against increasing demand resulting from a rising population, together with edible oil/gold. Consequently, during torturous worldwide crises, holding international trade is a strategic priority for economic stability.

In this context, measures to limit unnecessary imports and reduce excess energy consumption are increasingly seen as part of a broader economic resilience strategy.

That push on petrol and diesel consumption can help bring down crude oil imports, while public transport, domestic tourism and made-in-India products will keep economic activity and spending in the country. Likewise, natural farming, ethanol blending, solar pumps, and renewable energy efforts can, over time, gradually reduce reliance on imported fuel and chemicals.

The rationale behind such appeals, analysts note, is the broader theory that millions of small behavioral and consumption changes by citizens can aggregate to create macroeconomic effects at the national level — aiding foreign exchange conservation, reducing inflationary pressures, strengthening domestic industries, and fostering long-term self-reliance amid global disruptions.

India’s three state-run fuel retailers — IOCL, BPCL and HPCL — are also key to maintaining stable domestic petrol and diesel prices amid unprecedented global energy market volatility.

International energy markets continue to feel under immense strain amid persistent threats in and around the Strait of Hormuz — a vital energy artery through which nearly one-fifth of oil trade usually transits. Idle global fuel supplies, freight and marine insurance costs, and refining margins have all been sharply inflated, with the prolonged disruption affecting volatility in the crude and refined fuel markets, according to industry assessments.

India’s fuel supply ecosystem has largely maintained operational continuity under this pressure by bolstering logistics coordination, calibrated inventory management, and supply-chain planning. Domestic retail fuel supplies have been steady, with no major disruptions reported around the top consumption centers.

Industry observers say the current crisis extends well beyond crude oil pricing. Soaring shipping prices, high war-risk insurance premiums, reducing diesel and aviation fuel stocks in Europe and Asia Pacific, longer shipping routes and refinery bottlenecks have come together to cause one of the biggest global energy disruptions in a generation.

Many experts cite their implementation of fuel-rationing systems, advisories to conserve energy, and demand-curtailment mechanisms while taking emergency measures as the reason it doesn’t require such swift decisions, while India has so far been able to maintain more consistent availability and controlled retail pricing for fuel than its counterparts even amid the high global crude price.

Analysts say that initially, when the fallout over Iran first escalated, global expectations were for only a brief disruption. Globally, some governments and energy companies initially tried to bear the additional burden while betting on de-escalation. But now the conflict has lasted longer than expected and has drawn out into a stalemate; the collective weight of high crude prices, higher logistics costs, and higher insurance premiums has added to the pressure.

This pressure, they also point out, is not restricted to simply fuel. Fertiliser prices have been high globally for a few years now, and therefore this is another year when India continues to insulate domestic consumers and farmers from the full impact of sharp increases in international prices.

However, India’s integrated fuel infrastructure — including refineries, coastal terminals, LPG bottling plants, inland depots, and a pipeline network — has emerged as the backbone of resilience amid growing global uncertainty, according to sector experts.

Industry believes that as geopolitical uncertainty continues, India’s energy ecosystem will remain focused on demand security, operational resilience, measured market stability and long-term energy sustainability while simultaneously pushing for enhanced economic resilience and self-reliance at the national level.