Reinforcing its commitment to transforming Ayurveda into a globally accepted evidence-based healthcare system, Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness Pvt. Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) to collaborate on scientific research, education, innovation, and product development in Ayurveda, phytomedicine, preventive healthcare, and integrative medicine.

From L to R: Dr. SHREEVARMA, Founder-Chairman, Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness Pvt. Ltd.; Prof. S. Ponnuaamy, Registrar, SRMIST

The partnership marks a significant milestone in Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Vision 2030, a long-term mission to build an integrated healthcare ecosystem where traditional wisdom is strengthened through modern science, innovation, education, entrepreneurship, and community wellness. The collaboration will be spearheaded by the Interdisciplinary Institute of Indian System of Medicine (IIISM) under the Directorate of Research at SRMIST, bringing together academic excellence and clinical expertise to generate globally relevant scientific evidence for Ayurveda.

Speaking on the occasion, Acharya Dr. SHREEVARMA, Founder-Chairman, Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness Pvt. Ltd., said, “Healthcare is entering a new era where prevention, lifestyle medicine, and scientific validation will play a defining role in improving human health. Ayurveda embodies centuries of knowledge that remains highly relevant today. Our responsibility is to preserve this invaluable heritage while validating it through rigorous scientific research. Our collaboration with SRM Institute of Science and Technology is a significant milestone in Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Vision 2030 to build an integrated healthcare ecosystem where research, education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and community wellness come together to improve lives and shape a healthier future for generations to come.”

Building the Future of Scientific Ayurveda
Driven by the growing global demand for preventive healthcare, personalised medicine, and holistic wellness, Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness has been actively working to bridge the gap between classical Ayurvedic knowledge and modern scientific validation. Through this partnership with SRMIST, the organisation aims to establish a robust research ecosystem that will generate high-quality scientific evidence, strengthen the credibility of Ayurveda, and contribute to its wider global acceptance. The collaboration will focus on preserving the authenticity of traditional Ayurvedic principles while validating their safety, efficacy, and therapeutic value through interdisciplinary scientific research.

Research and Innovation Focus
Under the partnership, Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness and SRMIST will jointly undertake multidisciplinary research in scientific validation of Ayurvedic formulations, phytochemical and analytical research, herbal drug standardisation, product innovation and formulation development, clinical pharmacology, lifestyle medicine, preventive healthcare, healthy ageing and longevity, integrative healthcare models, and clinical documentation for evidence generation.The collaboration will also create opportunities for student internships, doctoral and post-doctoral research, faculty development, professional education, skill development programmes, and industry-academia knowledge exchange, enabling research outcomes to translate into practical healthcare solutions.

Advancing Vision 2030
The collaboration further strengthens Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Vision 2030, which seeks to establish a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem encompassing scientific research, integrative clinical care, preventive healthcare, education, herbal innovation, entrepreneurship, and community wellness. By combining Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness’ expertise in Ayurveda with SRM Institute of Science and Technology’s multidisciplinary research capabilities, the partnership aims to develop globally relevant healthcare solutions while positioning India as a leader in evidence-based Ayurveda and integrative healthcare.

About Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness
Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness is an integrated healthcare organisation dedicated to advancing preventive healthcare through Ayurveda, lifestyle medicine, scientific research, education, and community engagement.

Under Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Vision 2030, the organisation is building a multidisciplinary healthcare ecosystem focused on Integrative clinical care, Scientific research, Preventive healthcare, Healthcare education, Community wellness, Herbal product innovation, Healthcare entrepreneurship and Leadership development.

Its key initiatives include ACE Foundation, ACEVEDA, PCR Herbals, and AYUSHPRENEUR, each contributing to research, innovation, education, and the advancement of evidence-based traditional healthcare.

About Acharya Dr. SHREEVARMA
Acharya Dr. SHREEVARMA is an Ayurveda physician, researcher, educator, wellness entrepreneur, and Founder-Chairman of Dr. SHREEVARMA’s Wellness. Through Vision 2030, he is leading initiatives in preventive healthcare, scientific research, healthcare education, wellness entrepreneurship, and community health, with the objective of building sustainable healthcare systems rooted in India’s traditional medical heritage.

About SRM Institute of Science and Technology
SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) is one of India’s leading multidisciplinary universities, recognised for excellence in higher education, research, innovation, and international collaboration.

Through its Interdisciplinary Institute of Indian System of Medicine (IIISM) under the Directorate of Research, SRMIST is committed to advancing scientific research that integrates traditional systems of medicine with modern healthcare science, supporting innovation and evidence generation in integrative medicine.

Reinforcing its position as one of India’s emerging leaders in medical education, healthcare innovation, and research, Vels Medical College & Hospital, a constituent institution of Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), successfully organized MED-AI Summit 2026 – Innovation to Impact, an International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, from 25 to 27 June 2026 at its campus in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu.

Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, inaugurates MED-AI Summit 2026 at VMCH along with Dr. Sujoy Kar

Held under the visionary leadership of Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Founder & Chancellor, VISTAS, the three-day international summit brought together leading clinicians, medical researchers, academicians, healthcare professionals, AI experts, technologists, policymakers, and industry leaders from India and abroad to explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the future of healthcare.

The conference served as a global knowledge-sharing platform, focusing on AI-powered diagnostics, digital healthcare, predictive analytics, clinical decision support systems, precision medicine, intelligent medical education, biomedical research, and next-gzzeneration healthcare technologies. Through keynote lectures, scientific sessions, panel discussions, workshops, oral presentations, poster sessions, and networking opportunities, participants gained valuable insights into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-enabled healthcare.

The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice President – Vels Group of Institutions, with Dr. Sujoy Kar, Chief Medical Information Officer & Vice President, Apollo Hospitals, serving as the Chief Guest.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sujoy Kar, Chief Medical Information Officer & Vice President, Apollo Hospitals, appreciated the visionary initiatives of Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Founder & Chancellor, VISTAS, particularly the institution’s commitment to providing free medical treatment to nearly 200 villagers in the surrounding communities through its healthcare outreach programmes.

Emphasizing the future of medicine, Dr. Kar remarked that “Doctors must lead Artificial Intelligence, not be led by it.” He urged young medical professionals to learn both the language of medicine and the language of AI, enabling them to harness technology responsibly for better patient care.

He further encouraged students and faculty to devote more time to active research, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, stating that research will be the driving force behind the next generation of healthcare advancements.

Expressing his enthusiasm for future collaborations, Dr. Kar said, “Apollo Hospitals looks forward to working closely with VELS. Together, we can strengthen research, innovation, and AI-driven healthcare for the benefit of society.”

Distinguished dignitaries present included Dr. S. Asokan, Chief Executive Officer, GEM Hospitals, Chennai; Dr. Kumudha Lingaraj, Dean, Vels Medical College & Hospital; Dr. Prince J. Samuel, Vice Principal (Academics); Dr. Maignana Kumar, Vice Principal (Accreditations); and Dr. Vijayashree R., Professor & Head, Department of Pathology and Organizing Chairperson, MED-AI Summit 2026. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from senior faculty members, researchers, healthcare professionals, students, and delegates representing premier institutions across the country.

Adding significant international value to the summit were globally acclaimed experts including Dr. Waqar M. Naqvi, Founder & Research Lead, AD Vivum Education & Research, Doha, Qatar, and Dr. Priyah Prathaban, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, AIMST University, Malaysia.

The conference also featured an impressive lineup of distinguished national experts including Dr. T. V. Geetha (Anna University, Chennai), Dr. Kalavathy Moses S. (SIMS Hospital, Chennai), Dr. C. N. Srinivas (Sukraa Software Solutions), Dr. Madhuvanthi Mohan (Rajan Eye Care, Chennai), Dr. S. Asokan (GEM Hospitals), Dr. Sudha Jasmine Rajan (Christian Medical College, Vellore), Dr. D. C. Mathangi (Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai), Dr. S. Rajendiran (Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Kolar), and Mr. Venkata Phanidhar Nelluri, who shared their expertise on AI applications in surgery, pathology, ophthalmology, laboratory medicine, medical education, biomedical research, and critical care.

The summit witnessed exceptional participation throughout all three days. The pre-conference hands-on workshops conducted on 25 June 2026 attracted 333 participants across seven clinical departments, highlighting the growing interest in AI-driven clinical learning.

The scientific conference held on 26 and 27 June 2026 recorded 447 delegates each day, comprising faculty members, undergraduate and postgraduate students, clinicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry representatives from leading medical colleges, hospitals, universities, and research institutions across India.

MED-AI Summit 2026 featured seven pre-conference workshops, nine scientific sessions, the prestigious Velan Oration Lecture, oral and poster presentations, award-winning research paper sessions, panel discussions, and collaborative networking opportunities, making it one of the most comprehensive AI-focused healthcare conferences hosted by a medical institution in the region.

During the conference, speakers emphasized that Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping modern medicine by improving diagnostic accuracy, strengthening clinical decision-making, enhancing patient outcomes, accelerating medical research, and transforming healthcare delivery. They also underscored the importance of ethical, responsible, and evidence-based integration of AI technologies to complement clinical expertise while maintaining patient safety and trust.

Speaking about the significance of the summit, the organizers reiterated that Vels Medical College & Hospital remains committed to creating an ecosystem that promotes innovation, interdisciplinary research, technology-enabled medical education, and collaborative healthcare solutions. The institution continues to invest in academic excellence while preparing future healthcare professionals to lead in the era of digital medicine and Artificial Intelligence.

MED-AI Summit 2026 stands as yet another milestone in the journey of Vels Medical College & Hospital towards becoming a nationally and internationally recognized centre for medical education, clinical excellence, healthcare innovation, and cutting-edge research. By bringing together globally renowned experts, leading academicians, clinicians, researchers, students, and industry pioneers, the summit has strengthened Vels Medical College & Hospital’s reputation as a destination for transformative medical learning and AI-driven healthcare innovation, paving the way for future collaborations that will shape the next generation of intelligent heaalthcare.

For more details please visit : velsmedicalcollege.com.

Truecaller, the leading global communications platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Route Mobile, a Proximus Global company and a leading provider of cloud communications and digital engagement solutions, to expand the reach of its Business Messaging platform. The collaboration aims to help enterprises connect more effectively with their customers through interactive & trusted messaging.

Truecaller and Route Mobile Announce Partnership to Strengthen Global Business Messaging

As part of the partnership, Route Mobile will enable access to Truecaller Business Messaging, empowering enterprises to deliver secure, reliable, and trusted communication at scale. Communication is at the core of every business, and this collaboration aims to make customer interactions more seamless, secure, and effective.

Priyam Bose, Global Head, GTM, Truecaller, said, “This partnership marks a significant step in expanding our global footprint by enabling more businesses to connect with their customers through trusted and highly contextual messaging. It will help drive broader platform adoption and create new strategic opportunities to better serve enterprise customers through Route Mobile’s extensive and well-established global network.”

Tushar Agnihotri, CEO, Route Mobile, said, “We are delighted to partner with Truecaller to bring advanced business messaging solutions to enterprises globally. By combining our robust CPaaS infrastructure with Truecaller’s extensive user reach and rich media messaging, we are enabling brands to communicate more effectively, build trusted interactions, and engage customers in a more meaningful way. This collaboration supports secure, reliable communication at scale, helping businesses strengthen customer engagement and improve campaign effectiveness.”

The partnership aims to enhance user engagement by enabling businesses to reach more than 500 million monthly active users globally on Truecaller with contextual, immersive, rich-media messages that seamlessly integrate images, documents, and videos.

The platform offers both one-way and two-way communication capabilities, with a broad range of functionalities, including verified business messaging, hyperlinks for actionability, smart-priority sticky notifications, and read receipts. These capabilities are designed to help businesses improve customer interactions and engagement.

About Truecaller
Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 500 million active users worldwide, with more than one billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company is headquartered in Stockholm and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021.

About Proximus Global
Proximus Global, combining the strengths of Telesign, BICS, and Route Mobile, is transforming the future of communications and digital identity. Together, our solutions fuel innovation across the world’s largest companies and emerging brands. Our unrivaled global reach empowers businesses to create engaging experiences with built-in fraud protection across the entire customer lifecycle. Our comprehensive suite of solutions – from our super network for voice, messaging, and data, to 5G and IoT; and from verification and intelligence to CPaaS for personalized omnichannel engagement – enables businesses and communities to thrive. Reaching over 5 billion subscribers, securing more than 180 billion transactions annually, and connecting 1,000+ destinations, we honor our commitment to connect, protect, and engage everyone, everywhere. For more information, visit www.proximusglobal.com.

Vishal Mega Mart, a leader in the retail domain, is happy to announce its inclusion in the prestigious 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 list, a definitive ranking of India’s 500 most valuable companies. This recognition highlights Vishal Mega Mart’s continuous commitment to make the aspirations of a billion Indians affordable.
 

Vishal Mega Mart Outlet
 

Mr. Gunender Kapur, MD & CEO of Vishal Mega Mart, stated, “We are pleased to be featured in the 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 List. It reflects the trust that millions of customers across India place in us and the dedication and hard work of thousands of our employees in our stores, warehouses and offices across the country.”
 

The 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 list, a collaboration between Axis Bank’s Burgundy Private and Hurun India, is a benchmark for corporate success in the Indian economy. It highlights the top 500 most valuable companies in India. Being part of this list puts Vishal Mega Mart among the elite group of companies that are shaping the narrative of India’s growth and dynamism.

About Vishal Mega Mart

Vishal Mega Mart Limited is a one stop destination for making aspirations affordable for India’s young and middle-income group customers. The company strives to provide an aspirational range of high-quality fashion, general merchandise and FMCG products at prices that are affordable. The company curates a unique range of merchandise through its portfolio of 26 own brands which contribute to 75% of our revenue.
 

Vishal has a pan-India presence with 800+ stores across 535+ cities. Further, Vishal’s digital quick commerce initiative is now available in more than 500 cities with a registered user base of 14 million.
 

With 169 million customers, Vishal’s loyalty program is India’s largest customer loyalty program and ranks as the 12th largest globally. Vishal Mega Mart has also been featured in the Kantar BrandZ™ 2025 Most Valuable Indian Brands List (Top 100).
 

About Hurun India 500
The Hurun India 500 is an annual ranking published by Hurun India that recognizes India’s 500 most valuable companies based on their market capitalization (for listed companies) or estimated valuation (for unlisted companies). The list serves as a benchmark of corporate excellence and reflects the strength, scale and resilience of India’s business ecosystem across sectors such as retail, FMCG, technology, financial services, manufacturing, healthcare and consumer businesses.
 

The 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500, published in collaboration with Axis Bank’s Burgundy Private, showcases companies that have demonstrated sustained value creation, strong business performance and long-term growth. The ranking highlights organizations that are contributing significantly to India’s economic development through innovation, employment generation and expanding consumer access. Being featured in the Hurun India 500 places companies among India’s most valuable enterprises and recognizes their role in shaping the country’s evolving corporate landscape.
 

The ranking is widely regarded by industry leaders, investors and policymakers as an important indicator of corporate performance and business leadership in India. It provides insights into emerging sectors, evolving consumer trends and the growing influence of Indian enterprises on both domestic and global markets. The annual list also celebrates companies that continue to build enduring brands, strengthen governance practices and drive sustainable growth while contributing meaningfully to India’s expanding economy.

Parimatch Sports, a high-quality sportswear brand inspired by the world’s top athletes, has launched its new YouTube show, “Inside the Game” – a series that goes beyond results and achievements to uncover the people behind the athletes. Each episode combines candid conversations with competitions, games and challenges, giving guests the opportunity to answer unconventional questions and reveal sides of themselves rarely seen in traditional interviews.

Parimatch Sports Launches “Inside the Game” YouTube Show, Kicking Off with Ritu Phogat

The first episode features wrestler and professional MMA athlete Ritu Phogat, who shares insights into her career path, the values and beliefs that guide her, and her ambitions beyond the sporting arena.

“Every stage of my career has required courage, discipline and a willingness to step into the unknown. It was great to share some of those experiences on Inside the Game and give fans a chance to see a different side of me beyond competition,” said Ritu Phogat.

The episode reveals that Ritu is always ready to embrace a total life pivot. If the right offer comes, she would gladly dive into a completely different industry like Bollywood.

“Fans usually see the performances, the results and the highlights, but there’s much more to every sporting story. With this series, we wanted to create a space for honest conversations, light-hearted moments and stories that fans don’t often get to see. Ritu Phogat was the ideal guest to launch the show, as her career, resilience and ambition reflect the qualities that inspire sports fans around the world,” said the Parimatch Sports Press Office.

Watch Inside the Game on the Parimatch Sports YouTube channel for a closer look at her journey. To stay tuned for upcoming episodes featuring leading names from the world of sport subscribe to the Parimatch Sports YouTube channel.

GrowthCap Ventures today announced its continued investment in Bengaluru-based portfolio company Spense, participating in the company’s USD 2.8 million Seed round led by Arkam Ventures, alongside Razorpay Ventures, Atrium Ventures, and a distinguished group of fintech and technology operators including Kunal Shah (CRED), Madhusudhan E (KreditBee), Ravishankar (Active.ai), Suresh Rayasam Venkatasubbaih (LinkedIn), and Sayandeb Banerjee (The Math Company). The round marks an important milestone for the company and reinforces growing institutional conviction in the future of asset-backed credit infrastructure.

Spense Founders and Growthcap Ventures Team, From Left to right – Srinivas Krishnamurthy, Pratekk Agarwaal, Pawan Kumar, Neeti Bokaria Source: Growthcap Ventures (Investors)

GrowthCap Ventures was the first institutional investor in Spense, leading the company’s pre-seed round in May 2025, and has continued to back the company as it scales. The follow-on investment reflects GrowthCap’s conviction in both the founders and the emerging opportunity to build the infrastructure powering India’s next generation of credit.

As India’s credit ecosystem evolves beyond unsecured lending, a vast pool of assets—including fixed deposits, mutual funds, equities, invoices and other financial assets—remains underutilised within the formal credit system. Spense enables banks to transform these assets into modern credit products through a bank-native infrastructure layer that integrates seamlessly with existing banking systems.

The company has already partnered with leading institutions to launch secured credit cards and credit lines backed by customer assets. Today, Spense works with seven major banks, powers over 2 lakh active cards, issues more than 40,000 cards every month, and contributes to nearly 8% of India’s monthly credit card issuance, underscoring the growing demand for modern asset-backed lending infrastructure.

The fresh capital will be used to deepen banking partnerships, accelerate product development, expand engineering and go-to-market teams, launch Credit Line on UPI (CLOU), and further build the infrastructure and intelligence layer for the future of asset-backed credit.

“India’s credit challenge is often viewed as a risk problem. We believe it is fundamentally an infrastructure problem. India does not have a shortage of assets. It has a shortage of infrastructure that can convert those assets into usable credit. We believe the next generation of banking will be built on two foundations: infrastructure that unlocks assets and AI that makes credit intelligent, scalable and accessible. If you have a valuable asset, you should have access to modern credit,” Pawan Kumar, Co-founder & CEO, Spense.

“For decades, banks digitized accounts, payments and transactions. The next phase of banking is the digitization of collateral itself,” Srinivas Krishnamurthy, Co-founder & CTO, Spense.

“We invested in Spense at the pre-seed stage because we believed asset-backed credit would become one of the defining themes in financial services. Pawan and Srinivas have demonstrated exceptional clarity of vision and execution, building infrastructure that enables banks to unlock liquidity against assets at scale. We’re delighted to welcome Arkam Ventures and our fellow investors, and are excited to continue supporting the team as they build the future of banking infrastructure in India,” Pratekk Agarwaal, Founder & General Partner, GrowthCap Ventures.

About GrowthCap Ventures

GrowthCap Ventures is an operator-led early-stage venture capital firm focused on backing category-defining startups across FinTech, AI and DeepTech. The firm partners with founders from the earliest stages of company building, often as the first institutional investor, providing not only capital but also hands-on operational support, strategic guidance and access to an extensive network of founders, operators and enterprise partners.

The continued investment in Spense reflects GrowthCap’s high-conviction approach of backing exceptional founders early and supporting them through successive stages of growth. As an operator-led fund, GrowthCap works closely with portfolio companies on product strategy, customer introductions, hiring, fundraising and long-term company building.

Spense’s successful upround is another example of GrowthCap Ventures’ commitment to identifying category leaders early and partnering with founders building the next generation of foundational technology companies from India.

One of India’s most trusted hyper local real estate platforms catering to the Chennai market, This real estate listing platform has officially transitioned from Chennaiproperties.in to Chennaiproperties.com, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards becoming a more accessible, future-ready, and globally recognized property destination.

Chennaiproperties.com Ushers in a New Era of Digital Real Estate Discovery

Since its launch in 2014, Chennaiproperties.in has helped thousands of home buyers connect with reputed builders and discover residential projects across Chennai. What began as a vision to simplify property discovery in the city has evolved into a leading hyper-local real estate platform trusted by developers, investors, home buyers, and NRIs alike.

The move to Chennaiproperties.com reflects the company’s continued commitment to enhancing user experience, strengthening its brand presence, and expanding its reach to a wider audience, particularly the growing global community of Chennai-focused property seekers.

A Decade of Connecting Chennai’s Property Ecosystem

Over the years, Chennaiproperties.com has built a strong reputation for offering verified property listings, detailed project information, and localized insights that help buyers make informed real estate decisions.

With Chennai witnessing rapid urban growth, infrastructure development, and increasing interest from both domestic and international investors, the platform has emerged as a trusted digital gateway to the city’s real estate market.

Why Home buyers choose Chennaiproperties.com

• Chennai-Centric Expertise

Unlike generic property portals, Chennaiproperties.com is exclusively focused on Chennai and its surrounding growth corridors. This dedicated focus enables the platform to provide deeper market insights and more relevant property options.

• Trusted & Verified Listings

The platform emphasizes quality and authenticity, ensuring that listings are sourced from trusted developers and verified partners, helping users search with greater confidence.

• Hyper-Local Intelligence

Property decisions extend beyond square footage and pricing. Chennaiproperties.com offers valuable neighborhood insights, including information about schools, healthcare facilities, transportation connectivity, shopping destinations, and civic infrastructure.

• Direct Developer Connect

The platform facilitates direct interaction between buyers and developers, enabling faster communication, better transparency, and a more efficient property-buying experience.

• Comprehensive Property Discovery

From affordable housing projects to premium residential developments, users can explore a wide range of options tailored to different budgets and lifestyle requirements.

More Than a Domain Change

The transition to Chennaiproperties.com represents more than a new web address. It signifies the next phase of growth for the platform, with a sharper focus on innovation, user experience, technology integration, and market expansion.

The new domain strengthens the brand’s global visibility while creating a foundation for future enhancements that will make property discovery faster, smarter, and more intuitive.

Looking Ahead

As Chennai continues to establish itself as one of India’s most dynamic real estate markets, Chennaiproperties.com remains committed to helping home buyers, investors, and developers navigate the market with confidence.

With a stronger digital identity and an ambitious road map ahead, Chennaiproperties.com is poised to play an even larger role in shaping the future of property discovery in Chennai.

Visit: Chennaiproperties.com

• 5 DeepTech Start-ups bag PoCs worth 75 Lakhs in 48 hours

• In a first for India’s B2B manufacturing sector, AGI Greenpac and SIG Tattva take 8 deep-tech start-up founders onto the factory floor co-creating solutions to live operational challenges and awarding PoC pilot engagements on merit

SIG Tattva, the Corporate Venture Capital and Innovation arm of Somany Impresa Group, in partnership with Pontaq Ventures, successfully conducted a two-day Founder Immersion & Start-up Workshop on June 24^th & 25^th June, 2026, at the manufacturing facilities of AGI Greenpac Limited, one of the Group companies of Somany Impresa Group and India’s leading glass packaging manufacturer. The program brought together start-up founders, investors, and industry leaders to strengthen collaboration between start-ups and the manufacturing ecosystem through an immersive shop-floor visit on Day 1 and a start-up-focused workshop on Day 2, fostering knowledge exchange, industry insights, and opportunities for innovation-led partnerships.

Founders, industry leaders, investors and mentors come together at India’s first Manufacturing-Tech Founder Workshop by SIG Tattva

The workshop brought together 8 carefully selected deep-tech start-up founders from Pontaq’s portfolio for an immersive, outcome-oriented engagement with the manufacturing operations of SIG Tattva and AGI Greenpac.

Unlike conventional start-up showcases or what the industry privately calls ‘innovation theatre’, this was a structured workshopping model: founders walked the shop floor, observed live manufacturing processes firsthand, co-developed solutions alongside department heads, and presented a pilot project to the C-suite for evaluation. This is widely regarded as a first-of-its-kind model for AGI Greenpac and among the few such initiatives in India’s manufacturing ecosystem, where a manufacturing company has moved beyond pitch-deck-based start-up engagement to structured, outcome-driven, merit-based collaboration on the factory floor.

The two-day programme was structured for maximum immersion and outcomes. On Day 1, founders participated in introductory sessions with leadership teams from AGI Greenpac, SIG Tattva, and Pontaq, followed by guided factory walkthroughs led by department heads who briefed them on live operational challenges.

The start-up founders then worked independently and collaboratively before presenting their solutions to AGI Greenpac and SIG Tattva’s C-suite. Their presentation was followed by a detailed Q&A to establish the viability of solutions proposed. The programme concluded with the evaluation and awarding of PoC pilot engagements assessed on merit, milestone readiness, and potential for full-scale commercial deployment.

The 8 participating start-ups were shortlisted from a pool of over 20, drawn from Pontaq’s portfolio of approximately 180 start-ups, and selected based on thesis alignment with AGI Greenpac’s manufacturing-tech priorities spanning AI/ML, industrial automation, robotics, energy management, quality inspection, emissions control, supply chain traceability, and cybersecurity.

The participating start-ups and their founders were:

• Novorbis Itus — Harsh Neekhra (Founder & CEO). Patented industrial emission control and pollution reduction systems for manufacturing environments.

• Kredily — Devendra Khandegar (Founder & CEO). AI-driven HRMS platform; brings deep fintech and investment expertise to operational efficiency challenges.

• Cairovision — Vedpal Singh / VP Singh (Founder). AI and computer vision-powered video analytics solutions for industrial sectors including manufacturing, energy, and logistics.

• mSense AI — Surekha Gupta (Co-founder & CBO) and Shiv Shankar Maurya (Co-founder & CEO). AI-powered quality inspection through computer vision and acoustic intelligence for manufacturing lines.

• Maxbyte Technologies — Ramshankar C.S. (Co-founder & CEO). Industry 4.0 and digital transformation solutions covering industrial automation, robotics, and decarbonisation.

• Presage Insights — Atul Sharma (Co-founder). AI and IoT-powered predictive maintenance and asset performance management to reduce industrial downtime.

• Goat Robotics — Muthu Vangaliappan (Co-founder & CEO) and Mugesh S (Co-founder & MD). Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) for industrial applications and intralogistics.

• Borlaug Web Services — Ayon Hazra (Founder & CEO). Blockchain-based supply chain transparency, carbon accounting, and sustainability traceability solutions.

The two-day workshop culminated in the awarding of PoC engagements worth INR 75 Lakhs to 5 deep-tech start-ups, spanning AMRs, computer vision, emission control, predictive maintenance, and logistics.

This workshop is the first in what AGI Greenpac and SIG Tattva intend to build as an ongoing, repeatable open innovation programme extending beyond Pontaq to include other leading VC funds.

Shashvat Somany, Founder, SIG Tattva, said, “The future of innovation lies in breaking down the barriers between start-ups and industry. For too long, founders have been expected to solve industrial challenges without direct access to the environments where those challenges exist. My vision is to democratise start-ups access to the shop floor, where the action really takes place. ‘Floor to Future’ is India’s first initiative to create a platform where start-ups, operators, and business leaders collaborate closely. This is the exact kind of structured, outcome-driven collaboration that accelerates successful pilots and drives long-term value creation for both start-ups and corporates. Through this initiative, we aim to bridge that gap by opening up SIG’s manufacturing ecosystem to entrepreneurs.”

Sriharsha Bandaluppi, Head, SIG Tattva, said, ” As an operator-led venture platform, our focus is on creating pathways from innovation to implementation. We believe this model can redefine corporate-start-up collaboration—moving away from superficial conversations and pitch decks toward real problem-solving, real pilots, and real outcomes. In the first chapter of ‘Floor to Future,’ we partnered with Pontaq bringing founders on the shop floor. What differentiated this workshop was the depth of execution, interactions with functional leaders to understand bottlenecks firsthand, and co-created solutions grounded in operational realities. Through this initiative, we aren’t just talking about the future of industry—we are building a repeatable model that transforms innovation from conversation into execution.”

Mr. Rajesh Khosla, CEO, AGI Greenpac Limited, said, “At AGI Greenpac, operational excellence and continuous innovation remain central to our growth strategy. As India’s leading glass packaging manufacturer, we see immense value in bringing external innovation into our manufacturing ecosystem. This workshop provided an opportunity for our teams to engage with entrepreneurs bringing fresh perspectives and emerging technologies to solve real business challenges. We are excited by the quality of ideas generated and look forward to exploring opportunities that can create tangible value for our operations, customers, and industry.”

Mr. Prem Barthasarathy, Founder & Managing Partner, Pontaq VC, said, “Large industrial conglomerates do not look for isolated point solutions; they seek integrated solutions that can improve quality, enhance productivity, increase revenues, and reduce costs across the value chain. Yet, for start-ups, breaking into large enterprises and securing pilot opportunities typically takes between 8 and 18 months. Through ‘Floor to Future’, we are fundamentally changing this dynamic. By bringing founders directly onto the shop floor alongside operational and business leaders, start-ups gain first-hand insight into real-world challenges while enterprises gain access to cutting-edge innovation. What is particularly exciting is that potential proof-of-concepts emerged within just 48 hours of engagement. This demonstrates that when industry and innovation come together in the right environment, the path from conversation to execution can be dramatically shortened.”

About AGI Greenpac Limited

AGI Greenpac Limited is India’s largest manufacturer of container glass and provides a comprehensive portfolio of PET bottles and products, along with anti-counterfeiting security closures. With seven strategically located manufacturing plants across India, the company serves over 500 globally recognized institutional clients.

About SIG Tattva

SIG Tattva, the corporate venture capital arm of Somany Impresa Group, empowers visionary founders and transformative start-ups. Inspired by the Sanskrit word “Tattva” – meaning essence, principle, or fundamental truth – the platform reflects a commitment to truth, excellence, and progress.

Focusing on early-stage ventures in deep-tech manufacturing, enterprise SaaS, clean technologies, next-generation e-commerce, and disruptive product innovations, SIG Tattva goes beyond capital to provide strategic guidance, industry access, and operational expertise. By bridging entrepreneurs with real-world industrial ecosystems, it aims to accelerate breakthrough ideas and strengthen India’s deep-tech innovation landscape.

About Pontaq

Pontaq was established in 2015 as the first India-UK VC fund in history.  Pontaq’s India HQ is in Chennai. Since inception Pontaq has been investing in impactful, scalable, and sustainable technologies that bridge domestic innovation with global opportunities.

Achievements –

• 190+ Investments: Spanning 23 Indian states and 2 UK regions.

• 15+ Multinational Operations: Portfolio start-ups operating in more than one country.

• Extensive IP Portfolio: Nearly 100 patents.

• Job Creation: Over 3,000 jobs created across India and the UK, with more than 10% for women.

• Women Leadership: ~30% of our portfolio start-ups are led by female founders.

Glow by Kirtilals, the contemporary natural diamond jewellery brand from Kirtilals, proudly announces the launch of its second showroom in Chennai, located at Mid Point, Block B, LB Road, Adyar. The inauguration ceremony, held on 29th June, was graced by the presence of the talented and beloved actress, Ramya Pandiyan. This expansion marks another significant milestone in the brand’s growth journey, bringing its signature collection of stylish, lightweight finest quality natural diamond jewellery closer to customers in one of Chennai’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.

Suraj Shantakumar, Director – Business Strategy, Kirtilals; actress Ramya Pandian; and Ms. Hamsapriya, Channel Partner, Glow Adyar, at the inauguration ceremony

Designed for the modern woman, Glow by Kirtilals offers an exquisite range of contemporary natural diamond jewellery that seamlessly blends elegance, versatility, and everyday wearability. With prices starting from Rs. 7,000, the collection is thoughtfully crafted for every occasion—from work and casual outings to celebrations and special moments.

Glow by Kirtilals new showroom at Adyar, 2nd showroom in Chennai

The Adyar showroom showcases an extensive range of rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces, and everyday diamond essentials, offering designs that reflect individuality, confidence, and evolving fashion sensibilities. With Glow by Kirtilals, diamonds are no longer reserved for special occasions—they become an effortless part of everyday style.

To celebrate the opening of the Adyar showroom, Glow by Kirtilals is delighted to introduce exclusive launch offers, including Flat 50% off on making charges, Flat 26% off on diamond value, and Rs. 125 extra per gram on the exchange of old gold towards the purchase of finest quality diamond jewellery, making it the perfect time for customers to upgrade to natural diamond jewellery.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Suraj Shantakumar, Director – Business Strategy, Kirtilals, said, “Chennai has always been an important market for us, and we are delighted to strengthen our presence with our second Glow by Kirtilals showroom in the city. Adyar is home to a vibrant community that appreciates contemporary style while valuing quality and craftsmanship. With Glow, our vision is to make natural diamond jewellery more accessible for the modern woman by offering designs that complement her everyday lifestyle and celebrate her individuality.”

Conveniently located at Mid Point, Block B, LB Road, Adyar, the new showroom offers customers an immersive shopping experience with a wide selection of contemporary finest quality natural diamond jewellery. Customers can also explore the collection online at www.glowjewels.com.

About Glow by Kirtilals
Glow by Kirtilals is the Gen Z and millennial take on the legendary Kirtilals legacy, crafting fine jewellery for over 87 years. Glow by Kirtilals has 11 exclusive showrooms across South India. With in-house artistry, manufacturing, and expert craftsmanship, Glow creates natural diamond and gold jewellery designed for everyday confidence, style, and self-expression. 

Firefly Diamonds, one of India’s fastest-growing lab-grown diamond jewellery brands, has crossed a significant milestone with the opening of its 10th store in India, reinforcing its position among the country’s largest and most rapidly expanding players in the lab-grown diamond jewellery segment. Firefly Diamonds has established a presence across five major cities – Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad – serving a growing community of over 2,000 customers celebrating life’s most meaningful occasions, from engagements and weddings to anniversaries, birthdays and everyday milestones.

From left to right: Adit Bhansali and Aayush Bhansali, Co-Founders of Firefly Diamonds

The milestone follows the recent launch of one of India’s largest four-storey lab-grown diamond jewellery stores in Mumbai and marks another step in Firefly’s ambition to make premium diamond jewellery more accessible to a new generation of consumers. 

At the heart of Firefly’s offering are lab-grown diamonds that are chemically, physically and optically identical to mined diamonds, while offering better brilliance, clarity and colour. Created using advanced technology and renewable energy, these diamonds are certified by the same globally recognised laboratories that certify natural diamonds.

“For three generations, our family has been in the diamond business. What has changed is the customer,” said Aayush Bhansali, Co-founder, Firefly Diamonds. “Consumers want exceptional craftsmanship, meaningful design, and a smarter way to own diamonds. Firefly was built to meet that demand. Reaching 10 stores across India is an important milestone, but it’s only the beginning as we work towards making world-class diamond jewellery more accessible to a new generation of buyers.”

Every Firefly jewellery piece undergoes a meticulous 20-step production process that takes over 100 hours to complete. Each diamond is set entirely by hand, followed by a rigorous 100-step quality assurance process. Only the top 2% of diamonds are selected, ensuring every piece is crafted to become a lasting heirloom for generations to come.

Firefly further enhances customer experience through a suite of personalised services. Through Firefly Studio, customers can explore more than 50,000 customised ring combinations across diamonds, settings and styles, while Firefly Reserve offers bespoke jewellery creation services that transform personal stories, inspirations and heirlooms into one-of-a-kind pieces. 

The brand’s Old Gold Exchange programme offers customers an opportunity to exchange their existing gold jewellery for Firefly store credit and added value, making it easier to upgrade to lab-grown diamond jewellery. As Firefly’s lab-grown diamonds are grown in India, every purchase supports domestic manufacturing and craftsmanship, ensuring that more value stays within the country rather than flowing into overseas mining supply chains. Together, the Old Gold Exchange programme and locally grown diamonds offer customers a modern, responsible way to own diamond jewellery while contributing to India’s jewellery ecosystem.

In 2025, Firefly secured USD 3 million in funding led by WestBridge Capital, a leading venture capital firm with over USD 8 billion in AUM. The investment will continue to support Firefly Diamonds’ plans to expand its store footprint to 25 stores this year and 60 stores next year, further strengthening its position as one of India’s largest lab-grown diamond jewellery brands. As part of this journey, the company is also looking to partner with franchisees who share its vision of bringing premium lab-grown diamond jewellery to customers across the country.

Its portfolio includes many collections, notably, All Ways You, a collection featuring transformable jewellery that transitions seamlessly from everyday wear to evening occasions; Maxim, a contemporary collection created for the growing men’s jewellery segment; and the Eden Collection, inspired by lush gardens, transforming freely climbing vines and light-catching leaves into delicate diamond silhouettes that capture nature illuminated. These sit alongside an expanding range of collections designed for versatility, self-expression and everyday celebrations. 

Sustainability remains central to the brand’s philosophy. The brand’s lab-grown diamonds are created using renewable energy, offering a more environmentally responsible alternative to traditional diamond mining. Extending this commitment beyond its products, Firefly plants a tree in the name of every customer. Through a digital tracking platform, customers can monitor their tree’s location, growth, carbon offset and oxygen contribution, creating a tangible environmental legacy linked to every purchase. 

Giving back to society is equally central to Firefly’s journey. The brand’s co-founders established CADIndia, a non-profit initiative that provides affordable training in CAD software used in jewellery design and manufacturing. The programme has trained hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds, many of whom have gone on to contribute to the jewellery industry, creating a direct link between skill development, employment and craftsmanship.

About Firefly Diamonds
Firefly Diamonds is a modern lab-grown diamond jewellery brand built on a 60-year legacy of craftsmanship. With a focus on sustainability, custom design, and everyday luxury, Firefly offers 100% real, certified diamonds powered by renewable energy, both online and across its stores in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Extending its sustainability-first ethos, Firefly plants a tree in the name of every customer, creating a lasting environmental legacy tied to each jewellery purchase.

For franchisee enquiries, contact us at info@fireflydiamonds.com