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Category: iWorld

  • Locobuzz turns 10 with a buzz, unveils AI-powered CMOverse.ai

    Locobuzz turns 10 with a buzz, unveils AI-powered CMOverse.ai

    MUMBAI: Mumbai’s marketing scene just got an AI-powered jolt as Locobuzz celebrated its 10th anniversary in style. The milestone event, held at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, wasn’t just a birthday bash, it was the launchpad for CMOverse.ai, an AI-driven tool set to revolutionise real-time insights for brands.

    Gathering over 150 CMOs and marketing leaders, Locobuzz also unveiled an exclusive coffee table book, chronicling its decade-long journey and vision for the future of digital customer interactions.

    Designed to give brands a competitive edge, CMOverse.ai taps into social and digital data, transforming real-time chatter into actionable insights. With capabilities spanning brand performance tracking, sentiment analysis, competitor intelligence, and emerging trend detection, the tool significantly reduces the time taken for traditional market research from weeks to just hours.

    As demand for real-time customer intelligence surges globally, Locobuzz is setting its sights on expanding across Southeast Asia, the middle east, and the U.S., targeting enterprise clients looking to harness AI-powered marketing intelligence.

    Locobuzz has been on a stellar growth trajectory, registering a 50 per cent year-on-year increase over the past five years. Recognised by Microsoft and AWS for its AI-first innovations, the company is now on track to hit a Rs 100 crore revenue milestone within the next 18 months.

    “Our glorious journey of 10 years is not a simple one. We started with the vision of redefining customer engagement, and now, we have established ourselves as one of the trusted partners to some of the biggest brands in the world. The journey is forward now, and with it, we remain committed to smashing new barriers with AI and technology to realize much greater customer experiences,” said Locobuzz COO Shubhi Agarwal.

    Currently partnering with 350 plus marquee brands across sectors including telecom, aviation, FMCG, banking, and retail, Locobuzz aims to become the go-to AI-powered bridge between brands and their customers.

    With CMOverse.ai leading the charge, the next decade for Locobuzz looks set to be even more transformative where AI-driven marketing isn’t just the future, but the now.

  • South Korean gaming titan Krafton guns for India’s lucrative market: PTI report

    South Korean gaming titan Krafton guns for India’s lucrative market: PTI report

    MUMBAI: South Korean gaming powerhouse Krafton, creator of the wildly popular Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), is loading up its investment arsenal as it targets expansion in India—a territory that ranks among its top five global markets. The company has already pumped $200 million into Indian ventures and isn’t about to hit pause on its spending spree anytime soon.

    Krafton India chief executive Sean Hyunil Sohn is positively bullish about the country’s gaming prospects. “We want to double down on gaming and its addressable area,” Sohn told PTI, adding that the company sees “much bigger potential for the next two to three years.”

    What makes India such an irresistible playground for Krafton? The answer lies in its unique “mobile gaming native” status. While gamers in mature markets typically evolved from consoles to PCs before embracing mobile, Indian players cut their teeth directly on smartphones—a distinction that has Krafton’s boardroom salivating.

    The demographics certainly stack the deck in India’s favour. A young, tech-savvy population coupled with rapidly increasing smartphone adoption creates the perfect storm for gaming growth. Despite being a relative lightweight on the global gaming scene, India’s potential has Krafton ready to place hefty bets on its future.
    “We will not stop investing… say at $200-300 million,” Sohn declared. “We are still actively looking at opportunities to invest and maybe acquire.” 

    After a cracking financial performance in 2024, the company feels flush enough to double down on India, which it views as one of its strongest performing markets.

    What’s Krafton looking for in potential partners? 

    The company, which prides itself on maintaining a developer’s mindset despite its global publisher status, seeks collaborators who are “really passionate about game development.” Any acquisition targets must share Krafton’s enthusiasm for India’s gaming potential.

    Sohn believes India has the muscle to create games for global markets but laments the lack of awareness about gaming as a viable career path. 

    “We need support from the government and education institutions to put the best talent out for the younger generation,” he urged, calling for a concerted effort to level up India’s gaming ecosystem.

    With its mobile-first culture, youthful demographics, and Krafton’s deep pockets backing it, India’s gaming industry appears primed to score big in the coming years. Game on!

  • Google’s AI arm gets new marketing muscle in Anuj Gulati

    Google’s AI arm gets new marketing muscle in Anuj Gulati

    MUMBAI: Google has appointed a new ringmaster to its artificial intelligence circus. Anuj Gulati, a 12-year veteran of the search giant’s marketing ranks, has been tapped as head of global growth marketing for Gemini, the company’s conversational AI platform that aims to give ChatGPT a run for its money.

    Gulati announced his promotion on LinkedIn with the customary corporate humility: “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as head of global growth marketing, Gemini at Google!” The exclamation mark suggests genuine enthusiasm—a commodity as rare in Silicon Valley these days as profitable startups.

    The appointment comes at a crucial moment for Google’s AI ambitions. As the chatbot wars heat up faster than a neural processor under load, Gemini represents Google’s best hope of maintaining relevance in a world where users might soon bypass traditional search entirely.

    Gulati brings a developer-focused pedigree to the role. He previously served as group marketing manager for developer growth and performance, where he led global growth, lifecycle and paid media marketing for Google’s developer products across mobile, web and the increasingly crowded AI landscape.

    His career trajectory reads like a textbook case of corporate ladder-climbing done right. Prior to his developer marketing stint, Gulati spent nearly six years as senior product marketing manager for developer platforms based in Singapore, where he helped developers in India and southeast Asia “build great products and successful businesses” on Google’s ubiquitous platforms.

    Before joining the Google mothership, Gulati cut his teeth at The Times of India, where as head of mobile products he claims to have increased mobile traffic sixfold in just 12 months—a performance that likely caught Mountain View’s acquisitive eye.

    His CV also features a brief philanthropic interlude as head of marketing at Save the Children, sandwiched between stints at The Times of India, where he began his career as a brand manager after a short consultancy role at Tata Technologies.

    As Google continues its desperate sprint to catch up with OpenAI’s head start, Gulati will need to draw on every marketing trick in his considerable playbook. For while Google may have invented much of the technology underpinning today’s AI boom, it finds itself in the unfamiliar position of underdog in the race to commercialise it.

    Whether Gulati can help Gemini outshine its competitors remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: in the increasingly cutthroat world of AI, Google is gemini-ly serious about winning.

  • Stage secures $12.5m funding to take regional content centre stage

    Stage secures $12.5m funding to take regional content centre stage

    MUMBAI: Stage, the streaming platform championing India’s regional languages and cultures, has secured $12.5m in Series B funding led by Goodwater Capital and Blume Ventures, with Physis Capital and angel investors also piling in.

    The platform, which focuses on underserved linguistic communities, has become something of a dark horse in India’s crowded streaming market. Stage now boasts Rs 180 crore in annual recurring revenue, 4.4m paying households and over 20m app installations—impressive figures for a service that began by exclusively targeting Haryanvi speakers.

    Stage’s numbers tell a compelling story: a 289 per cent surge in revenue and 286 per cent jump in subscribers over the past year. Popular originals such as Videshi Bahu (Haryanvi), Kaand 2010 (Haryanvi) and Bhawani (Rajasthani) have helped drive growth, alongside the National Award-winning Dada Lakhmi featuring Bollywood veteran Yashpal Sharma.

    stage investors

    “What if stories could make people fall in love with their roots? That’s the question we asked five years ago,” reflected Stage chief executive and co-founder Vinay Singhal, on X (foremerly Twitter). “To everyone who’s ever hidden their dialect to sound ‘professional’… Walk taller today. Your culture, your dialect is not a liability. It is a matter of pride. And we’ll keep fighting to prove it. And this funding isn’t just about capital—it’s a resounding validation of India’s regional culture.”

    The platform’s success challenges the conventional wisdom that regional content remains a niche play. Harsh Mani Tripathi, chief product officer and co-founder, puts it bluntly: “Every subscriber who joins Stage isn’t just a user—they’re custodians of their culture.”

    Ritesh Malik, a Stage board member, waxed lyrical about the company’s mission: “By amplifying underrepresented voices and making regional dialects aspirational, Stage is not just shaping content—it’s shaping culture.

    With Bhojpuri content now live, Stage’s roadmap for 2025-26 involves breaking into new cultural territories while deepening its footprint in existing markets. “This isn’t just a growth story. It’s a movement. As we always say: ‘Company Nahin, Hum Kranti Hain!’,” declares Singhal.

    Reflecting on the journey, Karthik Reddy of Blume noted with satisfaction: “To see it bloom to Rs 15 crore a month when sceptics said no one would pay or watch this as primary content is very satisfying.” 
    The once-free Haryanvi app has certainly found its voice—and paying audience.

  • Mumbai Comic Con 2025 levels up, plays host to epic Indie Game Utsav

    Mumbai Comic Con 2025 levels up, plays host to epic Indie Game Utsav

    MUMBAI: Hold onto your joysticks, folks—Mumbai Comic Con 2025 is gearing up to be a high-score event! Forget Batman and anime cosplay; this year, indie games are the real superheroes. With the inaugural edition of Indie Game Utsav, the spotlight’s firmly set on made-in-India PC and console games. It’s time for homegrown games to finally drop the mic—or controller—in style.

    Set for 12-13 April 2025, at Jio World Convention Centre, Indie Game Utsav brings together over 40 stellar indie games from India, ready to dazzle audiences at Mumbai Comic Con. Backed by big-hitters like Xbox, Xsolla, Specter, and Nodwin Gaming, the festival also boasts IGDA India as its community partner, making it a gamer’s paradise on steroids.

    Given India’s surging gamer base—132 million on PC platform Steam alone and PC gaming contributing 22 per cent to India’s video game revenues—Indie Game Utsav is perfectly timed. It’s not just about showing off some shiny new pixels; it’s about nurturing India’s thriving PC and console gaming culture.

    The brains behind this gaming extravaganza is Avichal Singh, makers of the smash hit Raji: An Ancient Epic. Singh explained, “Indie Game Utsav wants to pave the way for upcoming quality indie games from India to find success just like Raji, we are aiming to resolve long existing B2B and B2C problems for indies. I’m grateful for Nodwin’s support to help us celebrate India’s best and brightest indie developers at Mumbai Comic Con.”

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder & MD Akshat Rathee echoed, “Nodwin started with two guys who just loved PC gaming, so supporting indie developers feels like coming full circle. We’ve always believed in the incredible talent of Indian indie game creators and that their work should be easily accessible to gamers. Indie Game Utsav at Comic Con is just the beginning—one of many steps towards making gaming more open and exciting for everyone.”

    To help Indian games level up internationally, Indie Game Utsav is also connecting local developers with top-tier global publishers like Krafton, Garena, Epic Games, and more. On top of that, special digital meetups will see publishers such as Devolver Digital, Rawfury, and Plugindigital ready to scout the next big gaming sensation.

    And that’s not all—various pre-event initiatives are lined up to sharpen the skills of indie devs, from intimate sessions with Rawfury and Epic Games veterans to casual mixers and global showcases through MGN Indie Game Events in China.

  • Puja Sethi bags top digital editorial job at Times Network

    Puja Sethi bags top digital editorial job at Times Network

    MUMBAI: Puja Sethi has landed a plum role as managing editor digital at Times Network, bringing her two-and-a-half-year stint at India TV to a close.

    “Excited to share that I’m starting a new chapter in my career,” Sethi announced, tipping her hat to the “incredible teams and mentors” who’ve propelled her career forward. Her digital trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric, with previous roles including group editor digital at India TV and a similar position at Zee Entertainment.

    The LSR graduate cut her teeth in broadcasting, having anchored India’s first Hindi breakfast news show Subha Savere for Moving Pictures  before diving headlong into the digital deep end. Her impressive CV boasts of transforming myUpchar.com as vice president and steering Jagran New Media as general manager and digital head.

    During her six-year tenure at  Dainik Jagran  Cityplus, Sethi orchestrated an ambitious expansion, launching 48 editions across major Indian metros. Her digital acumen truly shone at OnlyMyHealth.com, where she catapulted user engagement to over five million visitors.

    No stranger to the Times Group ecosystem, Sethi previously handled mobile content at Indiatimes, managing the once-ubiquitous 58888 short code service that delivered news, contests and horoscopes to millions of Indian mobile users.

    With her formidable background spanning broadcast, print and digital media, industry watchers will be keeping their eyes peeled for how she plans to energise Times Network’s digital offerings in an increasingly competitive landscape.

  • India plays its game at GDC – San Francisco developer conference

    India plays its game at GDC – San Francisco developer conference

    MUMBAI: India has levelled up its presence in the global gaming industry with its  pavilion at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco. The showcase, inaugurated by India’s consul general in San Francisco K. Srikar Reddy, puts the spotlight on the country’s burgeoning gaming sector and its ambitions to become a worldwide content powerhouse.

    The India Pavilion features an impressive roster of exhibitors, including established players like Nazara Technologies and WinzO, alongside plucky award-winning upstarts such as Wala Interactive, Brewed Games, Xigma Games, and Singular Scheme. These companies are demonstrating that India’s gaming industry is no longer just pressing “play”—it’s pressing ahead.

    Several champions of the “Bharat Tech Triumph Season 3” challenge are also showcasing their wares, including Yudiz Solutions, Brahman Studios, and the whimsically named Over the Moon Studios. The pavilion serves as a matchmaking service of sorts, connecting Indian developers with global publishers, investors and potential collaborators.

    Beyond gaming, the pavilion is drumming up interest for the upcoming World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (Waves), scheduled for May in Mumbai. This flagship event, organised by the ministry of information and broadcasting through the National Film Development Corp (NFDC), aims to position India as the “Content Hub of the World”—a lofty ambition for a country already producing films and television at an industrial scale.

    The timing could hardly be better. GDC, running from 17 to 21 March, attracts the crème de la crème of the global gaming industry. By planting its flag at this influential gathering, India is signalling that its developers are ready to play in the big leagues.

    For a nation long associated with outsourced IT services, the pivot to creative digital content represents a strategic shift. India’s gaming companies are no longer content to be mere back-office operations—they’re designing the games, creating the characters, and writing the storylines that could captivate players worldwide.
    As one industry insider quipped, “India has been the world’s back office. Now it wants to be its arcade too.”

  • The Finals League 2.0 gears up for action with top gamers and big stakes

    The Finals League 2.0 gears up for action with top gamers and big stakes

    MUMBAI: The battleground is set, the teams are locked in, and the stakes have never been higher, The Finals League 2.0 is all set to unleash a gaming spectacle like never before. After an intense player auction, six city-based teams, helmed by India’s biggest gaming stars, are ready to fight for glory in the ultimate esports showdown, kicking off tomorrow, 21 March .

    This adrenaline-charged 10-day tournament, running from 21 to 30 March, will feature a group stage followed by a high-octane main stage where only the best will survive.

    The Finals League 2.0 will unfold in two electrifying stages, leading to one ultimate champion. The Group Stage, running from 21-23 March , will see six teams divided into three groups, competing in a double round-robin format. Only the top four squads will earn their spot in the high-stakes Main Stage, scheduled for 29-30 March . 

    Here, the final four will battle across two intense series of six maps each, with the team securing the highest points emerging as the undisputed champion.  

    The Finals League 2.0 will be played in Cash Out mode, where four teams of three players each drop into a fully destructible battlefield. Their mission? Eliminate opponents and secure Cashouts, with the team collecting the most cash emerging victorious.

     Each of the six city-based teams in The Finals League 2.0 is captained by a renowned gaming content creator, who handpicked their squad in a high-energy player auction on March 14. Leading the charge for Mumbai Moonlanders is Binks, with HADDIII, Pashu, Zeb, and Jitzsu on his roster. Blossom spearheads the Haryana Hypernovas, joined by Exotic, Spaceinsane, Zer0, and Buzz. Rakazone commands the Delhi Celestials, teaming up with Yclown, Flyx, Gator, and JJ FPS YT. The Ahmedabad Meteors, under Hydraflick, feature Ghostlyboii, Parag, Vanshaj, and Shooter. Meanwhile, Tbone leads the Hyderabad Halos, with 7aze, Blackhole YT, Nightmare, and Mukku battling alongside him. Finally, Bengaluru Starbusters, captained by Red Parasite, bring together Alva, Fragrift, Morax, and Tempest in their quest for glory.  

    For those ready to witness esports mayhem unfold, all matches will be live-streamed from 4 pm on The Finals India and Skyesports Youtube channels.

    The Finals League 2.0 features a 5,000 dollars prize pool, with the champion team taking home 2,300 dollars while the runner-up secures 1,200 dollars. The third-place squad will earn 700 dollars and the fourth-place finishers will receive 400 dollars. Adding to the competitive excitement, individual players will also be rewarded for their standout performances, the “Ruthless Assassin” award for most kills comes with a 200 dollars prize, while the “Helping Hand” award for best support also grants 200 dollars to the most selfless teammate on the battlefield.  

    With bragging rights, cash prizes, and the ultimate title on the line, the action is about to explode. Will your city rise to the top, or will the competition be too fierce? Buckle up, because The Finals League 2.0 is ready to redefine Indian esports, one intense match at a time!
     

  • Anupam Mittal takes a spin in Dupahiya as he makes his acting debut

    Anupam Mittal takes a spin in Dupahiya as he makes his acting debut

    MUMBAI: Anupam Mittal is switching gears from the boardroom to the big screen well, almost. The Shark Tank India judge and entrepreneur is making his acting debut in Dupahiya, Prime Video’s upcoming dramedy, bringing his signature business wisdom to the show’s small-town chaos.

    In a recently released promo, Mittal finds himself in the thick of Dupahiya’s central plot, a missing motorcycle that turns an entire village upside down. Blending sharp humour with his entrepreneurial persona, he playfully evaluates the stolen bike’s “business potential,” making for a tongue-in-cheek crossover that has already sparked buzz online.

    Set in a North Indian village, Dupahiya promises a laughter-packed ride, combining love, family, and unexpected twists in a fresh take on rural storytelling. With its sharp wit, vibrant characters, and now, an unexpected pop-culture twist, the show is primed to become a fan-favourite.

    As Prime Video gears up for the grand premiere of Dupahiya, this surprise collaboration ensures that the show’s promotional campaign is just as entertaining as the series itself. Buckle up, this dramedy is about to take audiences on a joyride!

  • Amagi and Olyzon plan to shake up CTV ads with AI-powered partnership

    Amagi and Olyzon plan to shake up CTV ads with AI-powered partnership

    MUMBAI: The world of connected TV (CTV) advertising just got a serious upgrade. Cloud-based SaaS pioneer Amagi and AI-driven adtech disruptor Olyzon have teamed up to redefine how brands engage viewers and monetise content. This technical partnership enables clients to roll out cutting-edge CTV ad formats—without the hassle of additional integrations or vendors.

    By tapping into Amagi’s Thunderstorm server-side ad insertion (SSAI) platform, the collaboration allows for seamless fetching and insertion of AI-optimised ad formats from Olyzon. The move introduces innovative ‘in-content’ ad placements—think overlays and L-band units—designed to hold viewers’ attention beyond traditional ad breaks.

    “We are excited to partner with Olyzon to enhance the experience for viewers and advertisers while improving monetisation opportunities for streaming content. With six overlays per hour, this collaboration allows advertisers to use diversified ad formats for increased reach,” said Amagi co-founder and chief revenue officer Srinivasan KA.

    Olyzon’s co-founder and CEO Jules Minvielle called the deal a “game-changer” in the complex world of CTV advertising. “Our unique formats deliver tangible results—boosting engagement, brand impact and publisher revenue. With this integration, our clients can stand out in the battle for attention with just a few clicks—no technical complexity required.”

    Amagi, trusted by media giants like NBCUniversal, Lionsgate, and DAZN, continues to lead the charge in cloud broadcast and advertising solutions. Meanwhile, Olyzon’s AI-powered platform, used by the world’s top 100 advertisers, is on a mission to transform CTV advertising with unparalleled targeting and automation.
    With this partnership, the future of CTV ads is sharper, smarter, and more profitable—giving advertisers, publishers, and viewers a winning deal.

    (Picture courtesy Adobe)