HDFC Life, one of India’s most trusted and leading life insurers, announced its association with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as an Official Partner for the recently commenced cricket season. The partnership brings together a brand built on the promise of financial security and a cricket franchise that has captured the hearts of millions, especially across the length and breadth of India’s Eastern region.

Pritika Shah – Head of Marketing, HDFC Life

Pritika Shah, Head-Marketing, HDFC Life, said, “Given India’s diversity, we have been building our brand through culturally relevant region focused efforts in India. This association with Kolkata Knight Riders continues that journey for us. KKR’s fantastic following gives us an opportunity to deeply connect with households across the country, especially in the East.”

Binda Dey, Chief Marketing Officer, Knight Riders Sports, said, “We are delighted to welcome HDFC Life as our Official Partner for IPL 2026. The most meaningful partnerships are those built on shared values, and HDFC Life’s ethos of pride and respect strongly reflects what KKR stands for as a team. Just as our fans trust us to give our all on the field, HDFC Life empowers millions of Indians with the confidence to face life beyond it. Together, we look forward to a collaborative partnership that creates memorable moments and resonates deeply with fans across the country.”

Over the course of this association, HDFC Life will roll out a series of high‑impact visibility and engagement led promotions across digital, social, on-ground and other touch points in collaboration with Kolkata Knight Riders.

Oaksmith Packaged Drinking Water, from Suntory Global Spirits, today announced its association with Mumbai Indians as the Official Style Partner for the season. Mumbai Indians are widely regarded as one of cricket’s most accomplished franchises, consistently setting high benchmarks across performance, preparation, and presence on and off the field. Known for aiming higher each time they take the field and delivering on that ambition, Mumbai Indians represent a culture of excellence and discipline that has shaped the tournament over the years. This ethos aligns closely with Oaksmith’s philosophy of standing tall and elevating standards in every space the brand engages with.

Oaksmith Packaged Drinking Water teams up with Mumbai Indians as Official Style Partner, celebrating a shared spirit of excellence and ambition

Through Oaksmith Style Studio, the brand engages with the summer of cricket as a platform where the game is experienced across style, fan engagement, and contemporary culture.

The association will be activated through a season‑long, 360‑degree brand presence that mirrors the rhythm of the tournament. Oaksmith Packaged Drinking Water will feature on the Mumbai Indians kit, reinforcing consistent visibility during the franchise’s high‑impact moments. This will be complemented by digital storytelling and cultural narratives driven through Oaksmith Style Studio, reflecting how elevated standards and intent show up around the game, across players, fans, and the wider cricket ecosystem.

Commenting on the partnership, Neeraj Kumar, Managing Director of Suntory Global Spirits India said, “Partnering with Mumbai Indians aligns with our intent to associate Oaksmith with platforms that hold strong cultural significance in India. The summer of cricket continues to be one of the country’s most powerful shared experiences, and Mumbai Indians represent a franchise that resonates deeply with a wide and diverse fan base. This partnership strengthens Oaksmith’s presence during moments where culture, identity, and sport come together on a national scale.”

Rishi Walli, Senior Director, Marketing & IMFL, Suntory Global Spirits India, added, “Mumbai Indians have a history of impressive performance and setting new benchmarks, which aligns closely with Oaksmith’s philosophy of standing tall & pegging it higher. The summer of cricket offers a unique opportunity where new standards in style, identity and fandom come together, and this association via the Oaksmith Style Studio allows us to engage with that space in a manner that is relevant to our consumer.”

A Mumbai Indians spokesperson said, “We are delighted to have Oaksmith Packaged Drinking Water as our Official Style Partner. As a team that continuously looks to raise benchmarks, Oaksmith’s approach to blending style, culture, and the spirit of the game adds a distinctive dimension to our journey.” 

Across the 2026 season, the Oaksmith–Mumbai Indians partnership will be brought to life through consistent engagement aligned with the season’s defining cultural moments. With this association, Oaksmith Style Studio strengthens its footprint within one of India’s most influential cultural platforms, reinforcing the brand’s understanding of how contemporary India experiences franchise cricket — through performance, personality, and distinctive style.

Navanc, India’s pioneering AI-native banking infrastructure company, has successfully closed its Pre-Series A funding round, raising a total of Rs. 10.5 crore. The extension saw an investment of Rs. 5.5 crore from Equentis, joining the initial investment by GrowthCap Ventures.

Building Foundational AI Models for Banking in India from India

The round also saw participation from a powerhouse group of fintech veterans and technologists, including Navin Kukreja (Founder, Paisabazaar), Gaurav Aggarwal (former CXO, Paisabazaar), Prasanna Rao (Co-founder, Arya.ag), along with a diverse group of Bay Area angels and also counts leading investors including Brigade REAP, Prarambh Ventures, IIMA Ventures, Inflection Point Ventures on its cap table.

Revolutionizing Secured Lending through AI

The capital infusion comes as India’s financial services sector undergoes a structural shift toward AI adoption in secured lending, risk assessment, and underwriting. With Micro-LAP and secured MSME credit emerging as strategic priorities for Banks, HFCs, and NBFCs, Navanc’s AI-driven infrastructure has moved from a “value-add” to a core necessity for institutional growth.

Navanc provides explainable credit underwriting AI infrastructure designed specifically for Home Loans, Secured Working Capital, and Loan Against Property (LAP). By digitizing and standardizing property diligence, Navanc enables faster, compliant loan origination, automated revaluation, and real-time portfolio monitoring.

Leadership Perspective

“We are excited to partner with Navanc as they build the digital infrastructure layer for India’s secured lending ecosystem. With strong enterprise adoption and clear product-market fit, Navanc is well-positioned to become a category-defining property-credit intelligence platform. We look forward to supporting the team as they scale into a large and enduring financial infrastructure company,” Manish Goel, Founder, Equentis

“The investment from Equentis has come in at the dawn of Navanc’s exponential growth, with our ARR, and client size increasing by 150% and 283% respectively,” said Nagachethan SM, Co-founder and CEO of Navanc. “This additional capital allows us to double down on our vision of building an intelligent, self-improving ecosystem that financial institutions can trust as their foundational risk layer.”

Byom Kesh Jha, Co-founder and CT&DO, added, “Property-based lending requires more than digitization—it demands deep domain intelligence and a strong foundational assessment AI stack. At Navanc, we are building across multiple layers of property assessment, with live use cases already reducing human dependency by 80–90% and turnaround times from days to hours. This funding is a significant milestone for us, enabling stronger R&D and deeper domain capabilities. It will help us move closer to building a scalable, pan-India property intelligence stack.”

Expanding Footprint

Navanc currently operates as a B2B platform, serving over 35+ institutional customers, including Small Finance Banks (SFBs), NBFCs, and HFCs. The newly raised capital will be deployed to:

• Accelerate Product Development: Enhancing the AI-first architecture for deeper property risk insights.

• Market Penetration: Scaling operations to meet the surging demand across the secured credit ecosystem.

• Team Expansion: Hiring top-tier talent across all departments.

About Navanc

Navanc is India’s first AI-native banking infrastructure company, dedicated to transforming how financial institutions understand and manage property-led risk. By bridging the gap between physical collateral and digital underwriting, Navanc is setting the default standard for secured lending in the “Decisive Decade” of Indian fintech.

Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru has been honoured as one of India’s Leading Kidney Transplant Centre at FICCI Advantage Healthcare India 2026. This prestigious recognition underscores the hospital’s clinical excellence, advanced capabilities in renal care, and its emergence as the most preferred hospital in India for both Indian and International patients seeking complex kidney transplant procedures.

Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road team with Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy, Principal Director of Renal Sciences and senior leadership after being recognized by FICCI

A key milestone in this journey has been the introduction of TREAT Program (Total Robot Enabled and Assisted Transplant), a first-of-its-kind clinical initiative introduced in India, that is redefining clinical outcomes related with kidney transplants. The program enables the simultaneous use of two robot aided systems – one for the donor and one for the recipient, marking a significant advancement in surgical innovation. Importantly, the program plays a critical role in enabling life-saving transplants for high-risk patients, especially those with obesity, multiple co-morbidities, prior transplant history, or complex anatomical conditions, which were previously considered unsuitable for surgery.

Drawing patients from India as well as from other countries including Africa, Middle East, and South East Asia, the hospital continues to strengthen its position as a global healthcare destination. In addition to its excellence in kidney transplantation, Fortis Bannerghatta is recognized for excellence across other specialties – Oncology, Neurosciences, Urology, and Cardiac Sciences, backed by advanced healthcare infrastructure.

Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy, Principal Director, Renal Sciences, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru, said, “The kidney transplant program at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road has always prioritised high‑quality, patient‑centric care powered by cutting‑edge surgical techniques. Innovations like robotic‑assisted transplantation have further enhanced our ability to provide safer, more precise procedures and broaden access to advanced treatment options for a wider range of patients.”

Mr. Gautham CB, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road, said “This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to clinical excellence and innovation. At Fortis, our focus is on making advanced, world-class healthcare accessible to patients across geographies, and this milestone further strengthens our position as a leading centre for kidney transplantation in India. This recognition further underscores Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road’s steadfast commitment to delivering patient‑centric, technology‑driven, and outcome‑focused care, where innovation and clinical excellence combine to improve and save lives.”

About Fortis Healthcare Limited

Fortis Healthcare Limited is a leading integrated healthcare delivery service provider in India. The healthcare verticals of the company primarily comprise hospitals, diagnostics, and day care specialty facilities. Currently, the company operates 36 healthcare facilities (including JVs and O&M facilities) across 12 states and union territories. The Company’s network comprises over 6,000 operational beds (including O&M beds) and 400 diagnostics labs.

Victoria, Seychelles

Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) to host a blockchain seminar and workshop under its Blockchain4Youth programme. The campus session brought together more than 280 students for a workshop focused on blockchain fundamentals, decentralized systems, and emerging opportunities in Web3.
 

Bitget Brings Blockchain4Youth to IIT Delhi as Demand for Web3 Education Surges
 

Held on March 27, the event drew participants from leading institutions including the Indian Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT Delhi), Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT), University of Delhi (DU) and other institutions across the capital. More than 650 registrations were recorded for approximately 300 seats, highlighting strong demand for structured blockchain education among Indian students.
 

Blockchain4Youth is Bitget’s global initiative dedicated to expanding blockchain literacy through campus engagements, workshops, and long-term support for young builders entering the digital asset ecosystem. India remains one of the most active regions for technical talent and early-stage blockchain participation, making university engagement an important part of long-term ecosystem development.
 

“India continues to stand out for the depth of technical talent entering blockchain,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “What stood out at IIT Delhi was the curiosity students approached the discussions with. Blockchain4Youth is designed to create early access to knowledge and help young builders understand where decentralized technologies are moving beyond theory into practical infrastructure.”
 

Speakers at the event underlined the long-term importance of sustained ecosystem investment in Indian talent. Vinayak Kalra, founder of KaiFoundry, noted that the level of curiosity and ambition among students reflected how quickly India’s next generation of blockchain talent is emerging, adding that initiatives of this kind are important if leading Web3 organizations want to invest meaningfully in the country’s talent pool. The event also drew strong attention from ecosystem contributors present at the session. Sahil Thakur, founder of BlockseBlock, pointed to the turnout as evidence that blockchain interest on campuses is increasingly driven by long-term curiosity rather than short-term market cycles.
 

Bitget’s Blockchain4Youth programme continues to expand through partnerships with universities and educational communities worldwide, with a focus on expanding blockchain access and supporting the next generation of developers and entrepreneurs.
 

About Bitget
Bitget is the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 100+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships with LALIGA and MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry’s lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.
 

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com
 

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Bisleri International, India’s leading packaged drinking water brand, has announced its continued association as the Official Hydration Partner with five leading T20 cricket franchises – Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 

Bisleri Marks Its Largest T20 Season Play with Five Leading Cricket Franchises

With a legacy spanning over five decades, Bisleri continues to champion hydration as a critical pillar of performance, building one of the region’s most expansive sports marketing portfolios across India and the Middle East. The ongoing partnerships further deepen the brand’s association with high-energy cricketing platforms that resonate strongly with passionate audiences.

Expressing enthusiasm on the extension of this partnership, Tushar Malhotra, Director of Sales & Marketing, Bisleri International said, “The T20 cricket season is one of the biggest sporting spectacles in the world and represents one of our largest sports partnerships at Bisleri. As we mark our fourth consecutive season of hydration partnerships with some of the most celebrated cricketing franchises in the country, it provides a powerful cultural moment to engage with consumers at scale. Through integrated activations across retail, on-ground experiences and digital storytelling, we aim to enhance visibility while continuing to champion the importance of everyday hydration as an essential part of performance and lifestyle.”

Sunil Gupta, CEO, Delhi Capitals, said, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Bisleri for another exciting IPL season. Over the years, this association has evolved into a strong and meaningful collaboration, and together we aim to create memorable experiences for our fans.”

Satish Menon, CEO, Punjab Kings, said, “We are delighted to welcome Bisleri to the Punjab Kings family as our official partner. Bisleri is a brand that enjoys immense trust across the country, and this long-term partnership aligns with our vision of working in collaboration with the brands that share values of performance, consistency and fan-first engagement.”

Alok Chitre, Chief Operating Officer, Rajasthan Royals, said “Continuing our partnership with Bisleri as our Official Hydration Partner reflects a strong and valued association for the Royals, centred around elevating the fan experience. This season, we look forward to championing the partnership through engaging digital content and unique on-ground activations that bring us even closer to our fans.”  

Rajesh Menon, CEO of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Bisleri as our Official Hydration Partner. With one of the most passionate fan communities in cricket, strengthened associations like this enable us to create memorable experiences and celebrate the unmatched energy of RCB fans throughout the season.”

Mr. K Shanmugam, CEO of Sunrisers Hyderabad, said, “We are proud to welcome Bisleri into the Sunrisers Hyderabad family. Their legacy of quality and consistency makes them a natural fit for our ecosystem. This partnership reinforces our focus on working with brands that bring tangible value to our team, our players, and our fans.”

The partnerships are designed to bring fans closer to the action – from limited-edition team bottles to high-energy stadium experiences, retail activations, and interactive digital content throughout the season. By integrating with each franchise’s unique regional fan base, the initiative aims to celebrate the passion, loyalty, and identity that define Indian cricket fandom. We have also partnered with Star Sports to be present with our television commercials across all the matches of the season. 

With partnerships spanning 120+ sporting associations, Bisleri commands one of the largest hydration portfolios across India and the Middle East, cutting across virtually every major sporting genre. Our associations include some of the most iconic sporting properties such as all Procam Marathons, the Dubai Marathon, the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, the Professional Golf Tour of India, seven football teams in the Indian Super League, five teams in the UAE ILT20 League, Ultimate Table Tennis, the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Tennis Open, leading WTA Tour and ATP Tour events in India, the Hockey India League, the Ladakh Marathon, the JSW Indian Open, Spartan Race, and many more, reinforcing our commitment to powering athletes and sporting excellence at every level.

About Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd
With a legacy of over 50 years, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd has grown to become one of the largest premium beverage businesses in India. Being the makers of the country’s largest-selling packaged drinking water, Bisleri follows a stringent process of 114 quality tests and a 10-stage purification. It remains true to its core value of providing consumers with pure, safe and healthy water.
 
Bisleri International has a strong presence with 128 operational plants and a robust distribution network of over 6,000 Distributors and 7,500 Distribution Trucks across India and UAE market. It offers a range of beverages that are produced for all occasions. Whether it is the promise of goodness, trust, and purity with Bisleri packaged drinking water, or a daily dose of health offered through Vedica Himalayan Spring Water. Besides, Bisleri International has ventured into fun-filled refreshments with a diverse range of carbonated drinks available in multiple flavours, such as Bisleri Limonata, Bisleri Rev, Bisleri Spyci Jeera, Bisleri Pop and Bisleri Soda. These Bisleri products are also available on the e-commerce platform – Bisleri@Doorstep. This D2C platform reassures customers that they will receive a safe and uninterrupted supply of their most trusted brand at their doorstep.
 
The core values of Bisleri International lie in yielding growth and embedding sustainability by being responsible in all aspects of the business. The organization has unveiled Sustainability 2.0 with Bisleri Greener Promise that focuses on creating greener future for all through implementing initiatives under the program of recycling, water conservation, and sustainability.

For more information on Bisleri International, our people, brands, and OSR initiatives, visit www.bisleri.com

Clockwork Rituals, a new-age oral care brand rooted in science and biomimicry, has officially launched in India with a mission to transform everyday oral hygiene into a mindful wellness ritual. Founded by Uditya Sharma and Rohan, the brand aims to redefine conventional oral care by going beyond surface-level cleaning to actively strengthen and restore tooth enamel.

Clockwork Toothpaste range for everyday oral care

At the core of Clockwork Rituals’ innovation is its proprietary Hydroxy™ blend, powered by Nano-Hydroxyapatite (nHAp)—a clinically backed ingredient that closely mimics the natural composition of human enamel. The brand has developed differentiated formulations tailored to specific consumer needs. Its kids and adults variants in Natural Strawberry Watermelon and Natural Orange Vanilla are formulated with 5% nHAp and 10% Organic Xylitol, while its adults variant in Natural Peppermint is formulated with 10% nHAp and 10% Organic Xylitol.

Unlike traditional formulations, the brand’s products are designed to repair microscopic damage and support enamel remineralization, offering a more advanced and holistic approach to oral health. The formulations are 100% natural, non-toxic, and free from SLS, making them suitable for daily use by families, including children and expecting mothers.

The idea for Clockwork Rituals stems from a personal need experienced by co-founder Rohan. During his search for safe and effective fluoride-free oral care solutions for his child, he identified a significant gap in the Indian market, which continues to rely on outdated formulations. This insight led to the creation of a brand that combines global scientific advancements with consumer safety and transparency at its core.

Uditya Sharma, Co-Founder, Clockwork Rituals, added, “Having built and scaled a Rs100 crore B2B business, I saw a strong opportunity to bring operational excellence and product innovation into India’s Rs15,000 crore oral care category. With Clockwork Rituals, we are building a brand that consumers can trust—one that combines scientific credibility with a premium experience.”

Since its launch on February 22, 2026, the brand has gained strong early momentum, clocking over 200 organic orders and signalling a positive consumer response. The brand is currently available on Amazon, Blinkit, and OZI (Kids Quick Commerce), with an upcoming launch on FIRSTCLUB, marking the next phase of its retail expansion journey.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Rohan, Co-founder, Clockwork Rituals, said, “We realized that while global markets had already evolved towards safer, more advanced oral care solutions, India was still largely underserved in this category. Clockwork Rituals was created to bridge this gap by offering products that are not only effective but also safe and rooted in science.”

Clockwork Rituals is built on the philosophy of turning brushing from a daily chore into a conscious ritual. By combining clean-label ingredients, clinically relevant science, and thoughtfully crafted formulations, the brand is poised to lead a new wave of innovation in biomimetic oral care in India.

About Clockwork Rituals
Clockwork Rituals is a high-performance natural premium oral care brand for kids and adults, redefining everyday dental hygiene through science-backed, non-toxic formulations. Built on biomimetic innovation, the brand’s products are powered by its proprietary Hydroxy™ blend, combining Nano-Hydroxyapatite (nHAp) and organic xylitol to support enamel repair and long-term oral health.

Designed to be SLS-free and aligned with global standards, Clockwork Rituals aims to transform oral care from a daily routine into a mindful self-care ritual.

Website: www.clockworkrituals.com

• An MoU was formally signed, marking the beginning of a strategic collaboration between the two institutions.

• The initiative will offer a comprehensive, industry-integrated learning experience through microcredit courses, expert-led lectures, hands-on internships, and real-world projects.

National Institute of Technology (NIT) Tiruchirappalli and Kauvery Hospital, Trichy, have joined hands to launch a Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Technology, integrating engineering expertise with real-world healthcare applications.

Dr Manivannan Selvaraj, Founder & Managing Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals & Dr. G. Aghila, Director, NIT Tiruchirappalli

The programme, to be offered by the Department of Instrumentation and Control Engineering at NIT Trichirapalli, is scheduled to commence in July 2026. The initiative will feature microcredit courses, guest lectures by industry experts, on-site internships at Kauvery Hospitals, and student projects addressing real-world healthcare challenges, along with joint research and continuing education opportunities.

An MoU formalising this collaboration was signed recently by Dr. G. Aghila, Director, NIT Trichirapalli, and Dr. S. Manivannan Selvaraj, Founder and Managing Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals.

Commenting about the initiative, Dr. Aghila said “This Postgraduate Diploma programme has been thoughtfully designed to address current challenges and emerging trends in the healthcare sector, in line with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020. By bringing together the strong technical capabilities of NIT Trichirapalli and the clinical expertise of Kauvery Hospital, the programme will drive meaningful research and innovation, while creating structured pathways for higher education, research, and advanced professional certifications aligned with evolving industry needs.”

In his comments, Dr. Manivannan Selvaraj said, “We are committed to bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world healthcare practice. Through our partnership with NIT Trichirapalli, we aim to provide meaningful industry exposure to students through guest lectures, structured internships, and hands-on projects. This collaboration represents a significant step in strengthening healthcare education, research, and skill development in the country.”

Dr. S. T. Ramesh, Dean (Academic); Dr. G. Uma, Dean (Industrial Development); Dr. M. Umapathy, Professor (Higher Administrative Grade); and Dr. K. Srinivasan, Head, Department of Instrumentation and Control Engineering, were present at the MoU signing, along with faculty members of the Department of Instrumentation and Control Engineering, including Dr. Ramakalyan, Dr. N. Sivakumaran, Dr. Sridevi, Dr. Periasamy, Dr. P. A. Karthick, and Dr. Geetha.

Course Coordinator: Dr N Sivakumaran – Professor, Department of ICE & Course Coordinator, PG Diploma