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Druid Sport Appointed as Exclusive Commercial Representative of the Argentine Football Association in the Indian Subcontinent

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The Argentine Football Association (AFA), reigning FIFA World Cup Champions, has appointed Druid Sport as its exclusive commercial representative in the Indian subcontinent.

 

Druid Sport Appointed as Exclusive Commercial Representative of the Argentine Football Association in the Indian Subcontinent

 

This landmark agreement will see Druid Sport manage and sell regional sponsorship rights for the Argentina National Teams, giving businesses across the Indian subcontinent direct access to one of football’s most iconic teams and its legendary players. With established partnerships in India already, including brands such as Amul and Kingfisher, the commercial potential is clear. The period leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2026 offers a powerful platform for new partners to activate campaigns, engage fans, and align with the reigning World Champions.

 

This collaboration comes as Argentina prepare to visit Kerala this November for a special international friendly, in the lead up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, which is expected to be global superstar Lionel Messi’s last World Cup appearance. The AFA has one of the largest and most passionate followings in the region. From the extraordinary welcome Diego Maradona received on his visit to India, to the overwhelming support for Lionel Messi and the National Team during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, millions of fans across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and beyond have embraced Argentina as their own. With more than 250 million fans in India alone, the subcontinent has become one of the largest and most passionate Argentinian fan bases outside South America.

 

Druid Sport is a boutique international sports marketing agency with a track record of delivering cross-market partnerships for major sports properties. Already exclusively representing AFA in China, Druid Sport now manages AFA’s rights in two of the world’s most dynamic regions – China and the Indian subcontinent, together representing nearly half of the global population. As part of its long-term commitment to this market, Druid Sport is opening a new office in India to serve regional partners, seed new initiatives and commercial programmes and scale operations within this rapidly growing sports ecosystem.

 

Diarmuid Crowley, Chief Executive Officer, Druid Sport, said, “We are honoured to represent the FIFA World Cup Champions in one of the most passionate football regions in the world. Our goal is to bring Argentina closer to the millions of fans across the Indian subcontinent and to create meaningful partnerships between AFA and leading regional brands. With our presence now spanning both China and India, we are uniquely positioned to connect the Argentina National Team with audiences that together make up almost half the world’s population.”

 

Claudio Tapia, President of the Argentine Football Association, commented, “We know the passion that South Asian fans have for our team, and we are excited to strengthen this connection through our new partnership with Druid Sport. Its proven expertise in Asia will help us expand our commercial presence and deliver unforgettable experiences for our fans and partners in the region. Looking beyond this year, we feel confident these new associations will build lasting relationships with key business partners, inspiring even greater enthusiasm to play and watch this beautiful game for generations to come.”

India Enters World Masters Orienteering Stage for the First Time Bengaluru's Sayeesha Sridhara Kirani Creates History in Spain

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For the first time in history, India’s flag was raised at the World Master’s Orienteering Championship (WMOC), as Bengaluru’s Sayeesha Sridhara Kirani represented the nation at the prestigious event held in Girona, Spain. The championship was organized by the Catalan Orienteering Federation (FCOC) and sanctioned by the International Orienteering Federation (IOF), Sweden.

 

https://www.newsvoir.com/images/article/image1/33491_nthadventure_image-.jpeg

Sayeesha Sridhara Kirani


Competing among over 3,000 athletes from 50 countries, Sayeesha created a landmark moment as the only and first Indian athlete ever to participate in this century-old sport’s world master’s championship. Orienteering, also known as the “Thinking Sport,” tests both the body and the mind.


About Orienteering – A Global “Thinking Sport”
Originating in Sweden more than 100 years ago, Orienteering combines speed, stamina, and sharp decision-making skills. Athletes navigate through unknown terrain using only a specialized map and compass, racing across forests, cities, mountains, or even water and snow. The sport features multiple disciplines – Foot-O (Sprint & Forest), MTB-O, Kayak-O, and Ski-O – with age categories ranging from under-10 to 100 years.


Globally recognized for developing cognitive skills, leadership, and decision-making, Orienteering is part of the World Games and is gearing up for its entry into the Olympics.


Sayeesh’s Journey – Inspiring the Next Generation
Standing at the start line in Spain as the only Indian gave me goosebumps,” said Sayeesha Sridhara Kirani. “This journey is bigger than me—it’s about writing India’s story in Orienteering. I believe that with the right ecosystem, we can nurture talent and create opportunities for Indian athletes to make their mark on the global stage.”


Under his leadership, NthAdventure Orienteering Club has been building the sport from the ground up – conducting training, workshops, races, and awareness programs. In 2024, the club clinched one Gold and two Silver medals at the Indonesia Orienteering Championship and represented India at the Asian Orienteering Championship in Thailand and Singapore.


The Road Ahead – Building an Indian Orienteering Ecosystem
NthAdventure has been working relentlessly to bring Orienteering to India – not just as a sport, but as a tool for youth development, adventure tourism, and life-skills training,” said Ajita Madan, Founder of NthAdventure. “Sayeesh’s achievement is proof that India holds immense untapped potential in Orienteering. Our mission now is to build athletes for upcoming Asian and World Championships, host internationally recognized events in India, and prepare for the World Games 2029. With the right support from government and other stakeholders, India has the opportunity to emerge as a serious global contender.”


NthAdventure is now training Indian athletes for the upcoming Indonesian Orienteering Championship and Abu Dhabi Open Masters Games – Orienteering, alongside the 4th Edition of Namma Adventure Race in Karnataka. The organization invites brands, communities, and partners who share the vision of empowering youth through adventure and sports to join hands and support this growing movement.


Call to Action
Orienteering in India is still at a nascent stage, but the passion and potential are undeniable. NthAdventure invites schools, educational institutions, corporates, government bodies, private clubs, and sports enthusiasts to come together in shaping India’s Orienteering journey.


Connect with NthAdventure: www.nthadventure.com.

 

Drone Show Lights Up Skies Across India for PM Narendra Modi's 75th Birthday Celebration

For the first time in history, four Indian cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad – lit up in unison with spectacular drone shows performed by BotLab Dynamics to mark the birthday of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 

 

BotLab Dynamics celebrates PM Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday across India with Multi-City Drone Shows


The PM Modi Birthday Drone Show, designed and executed by BotLab Dynamics, an IIT Delhi Startup, showcased the scale, precision, and vision of India’s homegrown drone technology. For the first time ever, four cities witnessed coordinated multi-city drone shows, making this celebration as iconic as the leader it honored. The showcase proved that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), once seen primarily through the lens of defense, are now redefining entertainment and public celebrations in India at an unprecedented scale.


About the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Birthday Drone Show
The formations carried deep symbolic significance. A glowing portrait of Prime Minister Modi opened the show, followed by the Indian Map and Globe, reflecting India’s expanding global influence. The fighter jet salute symbolized national defence and pride, while the commanding Made in India lion embodied Atmanirbhar Bharat. This formation was especially significant as every drone in the performance was designed and manufactured in India by BotLab Dynamics.


The journey continued with depictions of Digital India and Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, cornerstones of Modi Ji’s leadership. This was followed by a powerful formation of the Prime Minister as “The People’s Champion” – addressing the nation as a visionary leader who has driven India’s development while honoring its rich history and cultural roots.


From there, the skies transitioned to the image of a Global Leader through “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One World, One Family,” symbolizing India’s role in uniting the world. The show culminated in the message “Happy Birthday Modi Ji – From Citizens of India,” creating a deeply emotional and unifying moment across all four cities.


These Prime Minister Birthday Drone Shows demonstrated that India now leads in deploying drone technology for large-scale celebrations, setting a benchmark for the world in how technology can honor leadership, culture, and collective pride.


About the Drone Show Company
Speaking on the achievement, a BotLab Dynamics spokesperson said, “We are proud that this tribute, made possible with our drones designed and built in India, reflects the spirit of Atmanirbharta, that our PM supports. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of the Government of India, and we see it as an opportunity to showcase India’s innovation on the global stage.”


Another spokesperson highlighted “This show came to us just last Saturday, and in three days our team pulled off four simultaneous drone shows at this scale….honestly, we’re amazed ourselves. No one else in India could have taken this on in terms of tech, scale, or ambition. If we hadn’t said yes, it simply wouldn’t have happened.”

 

The IIT startup is best known for working with brands like Mercedes, Zomato, TATA, Mahindra etc. They have also performed drone shows in India for events like Mahakumbh 2025, IPL, ICC Cricket World Cup, IIFA, National Games, Ayodhya Deepotsav, Beating Retreat etc. In 2024, the company also secured five Guinness World Records during the Amaravati Drone Summit, cementing its reputation as India’s leader in drone light shows.

 

Click here to learn more about the company: www.botlabdynamics.com


Show Locations: Delhi (Yamuna Ghatt), Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium), Bengaluru (RBNMS Ground), and Ahmedabad (Sabarmati Riverfront).

 

India's Bullion Ecosystem Ready to withstand Global Pressures and Lead Worldwide, Says Mohit Kamboj

Gold prices worldwide have surged past US$3,000/oz, touching record highs as global debt concerns, geopolitical uncertainties, and monetary easing expectations reshape the bullion landscape. In India, this has translated into domestic prices hovering around Rs. 1,01–1,02 lakh per 10 grams. Despite the elevated levels, demand remains resilient, with families pawning old jewellery, Jewellers innovating with lighter designs, and investors increasingly shifting toward financial gold products reflecting a dynamic consumer market adapting to affordability without severing cultural ties.
 

Mohit Kamboj, CEO, Aspect Global Ventures and Former National President, IBJA outlines reforms, consumer assurance, and future opportunities for India in bullion markets
 

One of the most significant structural changes this year has been the reduction of import duties 6% on refined gold and 5.35% on gold doré. This reform, hailed as the most consequential in a decade, has curbed smuggling, encouraged legal imports, and strengthened transparency in the retail ecosystem. Alongside, regulatory measures such as hallmarking of 9K gold and the extension of HUID-based hallmarking to silver are reinforcing consumer trust by ensuring product quality and minimizing disputes.
 

Institutional infrastructure is also maturing. The India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) has expanded into silver and gold futures, providing exporters and jewellers with vital hedging tools while gradually positioning India as a participant in global price discovery. If participation deepens, IIBX could be a critical lever in shifting India’s role from a price taker to a price influencer on the global stage.
 

“India has already made path-breaking reforms that put the bullion industry on a transparent and resilient basis. If we persist with disciplined policy implementation, hallmarking, risk management, and extended use of infrastructure such as IIBX, India can not only withstand global pressures but also emerge as a reliable leader in bullion markets worldwide,” said Mohit Kamboj, CEO, Aspect Global Ventures and Former National President of the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA).

 

Key words: Mohit Kamboj, Aspect Global Ventures, Aspect Bullion & Refinery, Mohit Kamboj Bharatiya

India's Sovereign AI BharatGen Secures Rs. 988.6 Crore Under IndiaAI Mission; Receives Largest Share of MeitY's Rs. 1,500 Crore Allocation

BharatGen, India’s first government-backed multimodal Sovereign AI flagship initiative, has been awarded funding of Rs. 988.6 crore by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The formal announcement was made by Hon’ble Union Minister of Electronics G IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, during an event at Hotel The Ashok, New Delhi.

 

Hon’ble Union Minister of Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, made the formal announcement at an event held in Delhi

 

The allocation positions BharatGen as the foremost beneficiary of the Rs. 1,500 crore IndiaAI Mission 2025, highlighting its central role in building India’s sovereign AI ecosystem.

 

The funding will help BharatGen create powerful AI models, including Large Language and Multimodal Models with up to one trillion parameters, as well as smaller models designed for specific uses. It will also boost the development of India-focused technologies like text-to-speech, speech recognition, and vision-language tools. The models are expected to support real-world applications across key areas such as agriculture, governance, finance, healthcare, and education. To make this possible, BharatGen will train the models on advanced supercomputing clusters, while also setting aside resources for other essential needs.

 

Earlier this year, BharatGen launched Param-1, a bilingual LLM with 2.9 billion parameters, pretrained on 5 trillion tokens in English and Hindi. The next phase will expand to multilingual and multimodal AI systems across all 22 scheduled Indian languages, ensuring equitable access for every citizen. The BharatGen consortium includes leading institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Mandi, IIM Indore, IIIT Delhi, and IIT Kharagpur, strengthening the mission’s collaborative foundation.

 

Sharing his excitement on the announcement, Prof. Ganesh Ramakrishnan, IIT Bombay & Principal Investigator stated, “The allocation will empower BharatGen to advance its foundational models, strengthen India’s AI infrastructure, drive enterprise adoption, and enable developers through our Sovereign AI stack, while ensuring inclusive access across the country’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape. As a national sovereign AI ecosystem, BharatGen brings together a consortium of dedicated faculty members committed to this vision.”

 

Commenting on the development, Rishi Bal, Executive Vice President, BharatGen stated, “This landmark allocation by MeitY signals India’s resolve to build sovereign AI at scale. With BharatGen, we are laying the foundations of an AI ecosystem that reflects the diversity of our nation while advancing India’s leadership in the global technology landscape.”

 

Prof Abhay Karandikar, Secretary DST also expressed his enthusiasm, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire BharatGen team for this well-deserved support by India AI Mission for scaling the technology. It’s truly inspiring to witness the remarkable scale and speed of the progress that the BharatGen team has achieved. We at the Department of Science & Technology are proud to have been a part of the revolutionary journey for sovereign LLM and we are confident that with this ‘whole of government’ approach, BharatGen is poised for an even brighter and greater future.”

 

Professor Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay stated, “At IIT Bombay, we are very happy to host BharatGen as a National Sovereign AI Ecosystem that works laterally across academia and industry. It is to the credit of Team BharatGen’s leadership of Prof. Ganesh Ramakrishnan and Mr. Rishi Bal that IIT Bombay will play a central role in India’s sovereign AI journey. We are extremely grateful to the India AI Mission, MeitY and the Department of Science and Technology for helping set up this initiative through BharatGen.”

 

Mr. Krishnan, Secretary MeitY states, I am delighted to see BharatGen taking on the crucial responsibility of developing a sovereign GenAI stack for our nation. The India AI mission is delighted to facilitate their effort through 988.6 Cr of funding over 1 year to build LLM models in the range of 1 trillion parameters. This unique consortium has set a good precedent for effectively bridging the gap between academic research and downstream applications. We are proud to see this completely government-funded mission thriving in its goal to build a robust Gen AI ecosystem for India. We are looking up to Team BharatGen to make a mark globally as India’s Sovereign AI.”

 

BharatGen is led by Rishi Bal, Executive Vice President, and Prof. Ganesh Ramakrishnan, IIT Bombay, Principal Investigator. Their combined leadership bridges cutting-edge academic rigor with enterprise-scale execution.

 

About BharatGen

BharatGen is a pioneering initiative by the BharatGen Consortium, envisioned as a comprehensive suite of Generative AI technologies designed to serve India’s diverse socio-cultural, linguistic, and industrial needs. Anchored under the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH), IIT Bombay, and supported by the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, BharatGen is the nation’s first government-funded Multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) project. The initiative is developing inclusive and efficient AI across 22 Indian languages, integrating text, speech, and images to create robust AI solutions built for India’s realities.

Tetra Pak Start-up Challenge Winner, ZUMI, Launches Lactose-Free, No Refined Sugar Milkshakes

Beanery Foods, a Hyderabad-based startup, has launched a range of lactose-free, no refined sugar, clean-label milkshakes, crafted for those with lactose intolerance, digestive sensitivities and the fast-growing community of health-conscious Indians seeking smarter indulgences. Launched under the brand name ‘Zumi’, the naturally creamier and sweeter lactose-free formula is gentler on the gut and sweetened with monk fruit and jaggery, making it a healthier alternative. The product is now available across three cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai via www.zumifoods.com and amazon and will soon be available on quick commerce platforms.

 

Tetra Pak start-up challenge winner, ZUMI, launches Lactose-Free, No Refined Sugar Milkshakes

 

ZUMI is one of the winners of Startup Challenge 2024 by Tetra Pak India, in partnership with Startup India, an initiative aimed at fostering innovation in India’s F&B ecosystem. Through the programme, Zumi received comprehensive support in product development, mentorship, and commercialization, along with access to Tetra Pak’s Product Development Centre in Chakan for hands-on assistance in product formulation and testing.

 

The milkshakes come in three delectable flavours inspired by the Indian desserts including Rose Kulfi, Rasmalai, and Chocolate- catering to varied palates across the country. Packaged in convenient, hygienic, ready-to-drink Tetra Pak packaging, Zumi’s milkshakes are designed for today’s on-the-go consumer, with each 200ml package serving delivers 6–7 grams of protein.

 

Lactose-Free Formula for Everyone

Lactose-free milk delivers the same rich nutritional profile as regular milk, while being easier to digest. This makes it a smarter everyday choice for a spectrum of consumers – from fitness enthusiasts, schoolchildren, and working professionals, to individuals with digestive sensitivities, and anyone seeking a healthier lifestyle. Milk is a dietary staple in India, and nearly 30% of consumers recognize their lactose intolerance—despite studies indicating that up to 70% may actually be affected. Zumi’s products are thoughtfully crafted to meet these varied dietary needs, transforming everyday indulgences into healthier, functional choices—without compromising on taste or experience.

 

Naturally Sweeter, Makes for a Dessert with No Guilt
Lactose-free milk is made by adding lactase [naturally occurring enzyme], which breaks down lactose into simpler sugars (glucose and galactose), making it naturally sweeter than regular milk. Combining lactose-free milk with natural zero GI sweeteners like monk fruit gives ZUMI Milkshakes it’s creamy rich taste which makes these milkshakes an ideal alternative to calorie-heavy desserts. Perfect when served straight from the pack, or even as a base for smoothies and healthy dessert recipes, Zumi’s shakes bring convenience, nutrition and delectable flavour to the table.

 

Commenting on the launch, Thapasya Vijayaraghavan, Founder, Zumi Foods, said, “We are excited to serve the ever-conscious Indian consumer with our clean, lactose-free, no refined sugar milkshakes and redefine how India snacks and indulges. At ZUMI, our vision is to make better-for-you indulgence a joyful, guilt-free choice for everyone, combining nutrition with exceptional taste. Lactose-free milk retains all the nutrition of regular milk while being gentler on the gut and naturally sweeter, making it a healthier choice for everyone-not just those with lactose intolerance. With the extraordinary support and mentorship of Tetra Pak and Startup India, we’ve transformed our vision into reality-redefining indulgence in India-where taste meets health, without compromise.

 

Cassio Simoes, MD, Tetra Pak South Asia, added, “At Tetra Pak, we see it as our responsibility as an industry leader to nurture India’s food and beverage ecosystem. Zumi brings a refreshing perspective to India’s beverage space, combining functionality and flavour, and we are delighted to have supported their journey from concept to shelf through our Startup Challenge—providing access to our global expertise, infrastructure, and mentorship. As we continue to collaborate with promising entrepreneurs, our goal is to build a stronger, more sustainable F&B ecosystem that benefits consumers, startups, and the industry.”

 

Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Startup India said, “India’s startup ecosystem has become one of the most dynamic in the world, with over 180,000+ recognised startups across 770+ districts (as of August 2025). Nearly 52% of them are from tier-2 and 3 cities.

 

Home-grown startups are therefore in a unique position to combine global best practices with local insights, creating products that resonate with modern Indian consumers and push India’s reputation as a hub for food & beverage innovation. We are proud to support initiatives like Tetra Pak’s Start-Up Challenge and remain committed to fostering an ecosystem where these startups can scale, generate meaningful employment, and help India capture even greater value from its innovation landscape.”

 

With the launch of its no refined sugar, lactose-free milkshakes, Zumi Foods is setting a new benchmark for healthy indulgence in India. Over the coming year, the brand aims to expand its footprint across more cities, introduce new flavours, in paper-based Tetra Pak packaging – continuing its mission to make functional, clean-label beverages accessible to all.

 

Know more about Tetra Pak’s technology here: Tetra Pak – lactose-free milk production.

 

About Zumi Foods

Zumi Foods is a Hyderabad-based startup redefining everyday dairy with its range of lactose-free, no refined sugar, protein-rich, clean-label milkshakes. Founded by a young entrepreneur, Thapasya Vijay, who discovered her own lactose intolerance, the brand was born out of a need to create indulgent yet functional alternatives in a country where dairy beverages is a staple. Over time, she realized that lactose-free milk isn’t just for lactose intolerant, it can be gentler on the gut, naturally sweeter, and a healthier choice for everyone. With flavours inspired by India’s culinary heritage and crafted for the modern, health-conscious consumer, Zumi Foods is on a mission to make smarter, healthier indulgence accessible to all.

Zen Mobility Launches Pixi Pod and Pico Pod for Urban EV Needs

Zen Mobility, an emerging player in sustainable urban mobility solutions, announced the launch of its latest electric vehicles — Pixi Pod and Pico Pod. This expansion adds to the company’s range of solutions for India’s micro-mobility and short-haul logistics sector.

 

Zen Mobility launches Pico and Pixi Pod

 

Over the past year, Zen Mobility’s three-wheeler Micro Pod has been adopted by platforms including Zomato, Blinkit, Porter, Flipkart, Amazon, and Delhivery. Developed over seven years, the Micro Pod addressed practical challenges in ‘large order’ deliveries, providing an alternative to overloaded two-wheelers and underutilised vans. From concept to category-creator: Zen Micro Pods have logged 8.5 million+ km in just two years, completing over 5.6 million deliveries.

 

The launch of Pixi Pod and Pico Pod comes at a time of rapid change in urban transport and delivery patterns. These vehicles are built for durability and practical use, aiming to serve personal mobility and urban logistics networks in the future.

 

Product Highlights

Pixi Pod

  • The Urban Workhorse: Sleek two-wheeler designed for personal use, shared mobility, or light cargo transport.

  • Capacity: Passenger 1+1 or 1+light cargo box | Battery: 2.3 kWh swappable LFP | Speed: up to 45 km/hr | Range: 80-100 km

  • Starting Price: Rs. 65,000

Pico Pod

  • The Ultimate Delivery Beast: Next-Gen two-wheeler designed for heavier loads and enhanced stability

  • Capacity: Rider + Cargo (up to 50kg) | Battery: 3.8 kWh swappable LFP | Speed: up to 45 km/hr | Range: 80–100 km | Cargo volume: 15 cu. ft.

  • Starting Price: Rs. 1,11,000

 

Both vehicles include suspension systems, LED lighting, and options for refrigerated or insulated cargo boxes for food, pharma, and cold-chain deliveries.

 

Commenting on the launch, Namit Jain, CEO and Founder of Zen Mobility, said, “Consumers today expect fast deliveries, convenience, and affordability—it’s no longer a luxury, it’s the standard. With our new Pico Pod and Pixi Pod, we’re introducing vehicles that are nimble, long-lasting, and highly affordable—built to support the gig economy, personal mobility, and last-mile delivery networks. Our approach is simple: deliver the highest quality and reliability at the lowest cost. These vehicles reflect that promise. Designed for India with global potential, they cater to the evolving needs of our domestic market while also serving the fast-growing regions in the MENA and Southeast Asia. At Zen, this isn’t just the launch of new vehicles—it’s the start of a mobility movement: making sustainable, efficient, and dependable transport accessible to all, while shaping the future of urban commerce worldwide.”

 

Availability

Pre-bookings open 25 September 2025, with deliveries starting 7 October 2025 through Zen Mobility’s official channels and authorized partners across major urban centers in India.

 

About Zen Mobility

Zen Mobility is a visionary electric vehicle company committed to redefining sustainable mobility in India. Focused on innovation, design, and impact, Zen develops tailored EV solutions that empower businesses, reduce emissions, and transform urban transportation. From purpose-built logistics vehicles to smart personal mobility solutions, Zen is accelerating India’s transition to a cleaner, greener, and more efficient future.

SaveSage Welcomes Paytm Ex-COO Bhavesh Gupta as Senior Advisor and Anchor Investor

  • Bhavesh will advise on Strategy, Growth, Product & Technology and User Experience

  • From 200,000 users today, SaveSage is on track to serve 1 million by March 2026

 

SaveSage, India’s leading AI-driven platform for credit card and loyalty programs optimisation, today announced the appointment of Bhavesh Gupta as Senior Advisor and Anchor Investor.

 

SaveSage Welcomes Paytm Ex-COO Bhavesh Gupta as Senior Advisor and Anchor Investor

 

Bhavesh previously was President & COO at Paytm helping it scale financial services and payments to dominant position. Before that, he led Clix Capital (a leading NBFC) as its founding CEO and had senior roles at IDFC First Bank and ICICI Bank in areas of retail banking in a career spanning over 27 years.

 

His appointment comes at a critical moment for India’s credit card market. The country has over 112 million^ credit cards across 75 million* unique users, yet more than 50%** of reward points go unredeemed each year due to low awareness or complicated redemption processes.  SaveSage is tackling this challenge through its AI-driven platform that helps users seamlessly track, manage, and maximise rewards.

 

Bhavesh Gupta said, “The credit card and loyalty rewards space in India is at an inflection point. With increased rewards awareness, evolving customer preferences, and digital adoption, SaveSage is poised for exponential growth. The opportunity to help users derive maximum value from their credit cards and loyalty programs is massive, and I’m excited to partner with the team to shape this journey.”

 

Ashish Lath, Founder & CEO of SaveSage, said, “We are thrilled to have Bhavesh Sir guide us as we scale our efforts to empower users across India. His experience and strategic insights will help us deepen our impact and ensure that users are not just using their credit cards for expenses, but optimising them intelligently. With over 200,000 users already leveraging our platform, his guidance will enable us to hyperscale and bring even more value to our community.”

 

Since launching in October 2024, the SaveSage app has already grown to 200,000 users, ranging from students to professionals to UHNIs, and is on track to reach 1 million users by March 2026. With Bhavesh’s guidance, SaveSage is doubling down on its mission to make every credit card in India work harder for its users.

 

About SaveSage

SaveSage is a mobile application that empowers users to track, manage, and maximize the value of their credit cards and loyalty program reward points. Launched in October 2024, SaveSage has quickly scaled to over 200,000 users and is on track to reach one million by March 2026. With a 4.8 rating on the Google Play Store, SaveSage is trusted by a fast-growing community of savvy consumers. The company is backed by leading investors including DSP Family Office, iSeed, Atrium Ventures, LV Fund, and prominent angels such as Bhavesh Gupta, Dr. Shriram Nene, Ravi Narayanan amongst others.

 

To know more, visit www.savesage.club

^As per RBI monthly data release for July 2025

*SaveSage internal estimates

**SaveSage Credit Card Survey 2025

Xflow Launches Compliance Desk to Simplify Cross-Border Payment Compliance for Indian Exporters

Xflow today announced the launch of Compliance Desk, a managed service that allows Indian exporters to outsource the complex compliance requirements tied to cross-border payments. With every foreign inward remittance involving bank-specific paperwork and regulatory steps, Compliance Desk centralizes and automates these workflows so exporters can focus on business growth instead of administrative overhead.

 

Anand Balaji, Co-Founder and CEO, Xflow

 

For Indian exporters, ensuring compliance with foreign inward remittances is time-consuming, fragmented across banks, and prone to errors. Compliance Desk standardizes the process across purpose codes, bank templates, and document formats, significantly reducing delays and back-and-forth with financial institutions.

 

The payment service operates through regulatorily compliant payment rails. Once the transaction is concluded, Xflow’s partner bank (an authorised dealer 1 bank) issues an official payment advice. This document, available on the exporter’s Xflow dashboard, supports the issuance of e-FIRCs, BRCs, or IRMs by the merchants’ respective banks. Where additional paperwork is required, Xflow automatically provides bank-specific forms to streamline processing and proactively assists the exporters.

 

Managing compliance is essential, but it often takes time and energy away from growth,” said Anand Balaji, Co-Founder and CEO of Xflow. “Every international payment comes with its own set of bank requirements, paperwork, and follow-ups. For exporters, this creates unnecessary delays and frustration, when their focus should be on building markets and serving customers. With Xflow’s Compliance Desk, we bring together our technology platform, regulatory expertise, and hands-on support to make the entire process seamless. Our goal is to give exporters the confidence that compliance is taken care of, while they concentrate on expanding their business globally.”

 

This initiative builds on Xflow’s recent FX AI Analyst launch, which helps businesses optimize treasury functions. Together, these solutions position Xflow as one of India’s most comprehensive platforms for exporters navigating global payments.

 

One of Xflow’s clients shared, “The Xflow team provided exceptional support at every step of the process. Thanks to their guidance, we were able to get our eFIRC issued smoothly by our bank, without any confusion. Our experience with Xflow has been exceptional while moving funds from the US to India.”

 

About Xflow

Xflow – a leading fintech offering cross-border payments for SMEs (ITES & Funded Startups). Designed to eliminate inefficiencies in international transactions, Xflow offers a seamless, transparent, and fully compliant payment experience for businesses of all sizes – from freelancers and startups to large-scale enterprises. The company is currently servicing over 12,000 businesses & has processed hundreds of millions of dollars.

 

Founded by Anand Balaji, Ashwin Bhatnagar and Abhijit Chandrasekaran, Xflow simplifies global money movement with innovative solutions that ensure effortless international transactions, efficient currency conversion, instant settlements, and full regulatory compliance. Headquartered in Bangalore, India, Xflow is backed by Lightspeed, Square Peg, General Catalyst, and Stripe, providing a strong financial foundation for long-term innovation.

L&T Finance Ltd. Launches 'Pitch Point,' a Competition for AI Startups Ahead of RAISE' 25

L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF), formerly known as L&T Finance Holdings Limited, one of the leading Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in the country, is pleased to launch ‘Pitch Point,’ a competition for AI startups ahead of RAISE’ 25, India’s premier Artificial Intelligence (AI)-themed event in the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) sector.
 

The application period for ‘Pitch Point’ is open till October 20, 2025
 

LTF is giving an opportunity to AI startups that are in their early to growth stage to present their solutions, applicable for any BFSI or Non-BFSI domains, to a panel of Venture Capitalist, LTF’s senior management, and industry experts at RAISE’ 25. Two winners will be eligible for prize money of Rs. 25 Lakhs each. In addition, winners will get an opportunity to engage in discussion with LTF, or with any of the L&T Group companies identified by LTF, to explore a PoC, as well as to engage in discussion with L&T Innovation Fund, the venture capital arm of Larsen & Toubro, regarding potential equity funding.

 

Mr. Sudipta Roy, Managing Director & CEO at LTF, said, “Given L&T Finance’s sharp focus on leveraging next-gen AI technologies to transform our lending business, this competition is a significant step towards identifying, mentoring, and investing in the next set of game-changing startups. The launch of ‘Pitch Point’ underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and exploring the broader applications of AI, discovering new solutions that can deliver value not only in the BFSI space but also across multiple industries.”
 

The product offering that will be evaluated at ‘Pitch Point’ must align with one of the domains that synergises with any of the LTF’s or L&T Group Company’s current and future offerings, namely, Cyber Security & Fraud Prevention, Rural & Agri Fintech, Gen AI Application, Embedded Finance Solutions, Smart Contract & Blockchain Solutions, Alternate Data Based Lending Solutions, AI-Driven Credit Scoring & Risk Assessment, Regulatory Technology & Compliance Tools, Digital Financial & Robo-Advisors, AI-Powered Collections & Recovery Solutions, Agentic AI for Enterprise, Image Processing and Recognition, and AI Geospatial and Remote Sensing.

 

LTF encourages eligible startups to apply online by submitting the registration form along with their pitch deck and product demo link. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a virtual interaction round, and five finalists will then be selected to present live at RAISE’ 25.

 

The jury members for Pitch Point are Mr. Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Peak XV Partners & Surge, Ms. Tanusree Deb Barma, IAS, Deputy Director General, UIDAI Technology Centre, Bengaluru, Mr. Piyush Shah, Co-founder, InMobi and President, Glance, Ms. Sushma Kaushik, Head, L&T Innovation Fund, Mr. Arpit Agarwal, Investment Partner, Blume Ventures, and Dr. Debarag Banerjee, Chief AI & Data Officer, LTF. 

 

The application period for this program is open till October 20, 2025. The final shortlist is set to be announced on November 1, 2025. The program culminates in a final event at RAISE’ 25 on November 7, 2025, which will be held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.

 

Link to the ‘Pitch Point’ page:

www.ltfraise.com/event/4d429b6b-d104-434b-a315-62437285911d/pitch-point

 

For any questions pertaining to the application process, eligible companies can contact the organising team at raise.pitchpoint2025@ltfs.com.

 

About RAISE’ 25
LTF’s RAISE’ 25 is an AI-focused event centered on the theme “Accelerating Financial Services with AI.” The conference offers a unique and comprehensive exploration of AI through its three-pronged approach: Accelerated, Applied, and Advanced. Attendees will unlock future trends with industry and tech leaders, get hands-on experience in the Generative and Predictive AI zones, and track real-time case studies on custom AI solutions. Building on the success of the inaugural RAISE’ 24, which convened over 4,500 virtual and in-person participants – including regulatory leaders, unicorn startups, deep tech firms, and representatives from media, the second edition is set to provide even more invaluable insights from the AI pioneers.

 

Find more information at www.ltfraise.com.

 

About L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF)
L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF) (www.LTFINANCE.com) formerly known as L&T Finance Holdings Ltd., (LTFH) is a leading Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), offering a range of financial products and services. Headquartered in Mumbai, the Company has been rated ‘AAA’ – the highest credit rating – by four leading domestic rating agencies. S&P Global Ratings has recently upgraded LTF long-term Issuer Credit Rating to “BBB/Stable” from “BBB-/Positive” and short-term issuer credit rating to “A-2” from “A-3”. Fitch Ratings has assigned LTF Long-Term Foreign and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings of “BBB-” with a Stable outlook. It has also received leadership scores and ratings by global and national Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating providers for its sustainability performance. The Company has been certified as a Great Place To Work® and has also won many prestigious awards for its flagship CSR project – “Digital Sakhi”- which focuses on women’s empowerment and digital and financial inclusion. Under Right to Win, being in the ‘right businesses’ has helped the Company become one of the leading financiers in key Retail products. The Company is focused on creating a top-class, digitally enabled, Retail finance company as part of the Lakshya 2026 plan. The goal is to move the emphasis from product focus to customer focus and establish a robust Retail portfolio with quality assets, thus creating a Fintech@Scale while keeping ESG at the core. Fintech@Scale is one of the pillars of the Company’s strategic roadmap – Lakshya 2026. The Company has over 2.6 Crore customer database, which is being leveraged to cross-sell, up-sell, and identify new customers.

 

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