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  • Sporshita Goswami shifts from fundraising to marketing at EAAA Alternatives

    Sporshita Goswami shifts from fundraising to marketing at EAAA Alternatives

    MUMBAI: Sporshita Goswami has joined EAAA Alternatives as director, marketing and communications, returning to pure-play communications after a stint straddling fundraising and PR at Modulus Alternatives Investment Managers.

    The October 2025 appointment marks a homecoming of sorts for Goswami, who spent the bulk of her career in public relations before moving into investor relations. At Modulus, where she spent two years and five months, she married her media savvy with capital-raising, pitching private credit opportunities whilst managing stakeholder communications.

    Before Modulus, Goswami logged nearly five years in group corporate communications at L&T Financial Services, handling messaging for the diversified financial conglomerate. That role followed a four-and-a-half-year stretch as associate director at Perfect Relations, the Mumbai PR shop, where she managed high-stakes client relationships across sectors.

    Her career foundations were laid at Adfactors PR, where she spent two and a half years generating story ideas, managing IPO communications and orchestrating product launches. She later moved through MSLGROUP and a brief independent consultancy before landing at Reliance Communications as manager, corporate communications.

    Goswami’s pitch is simple: the skills that win media coverage—narrative crafting, relationship building, market intelligence—translate seamlessly to wooing limited partners. Understanding what journalists want isn’t far from decoding what investors demand. Both require trust, transparency and knowing your audience cold.

    At EAAA Alternatives, she’ll deploy that crossover expertise in India’s increasingly crowded alternative investment space. The private credit market is heating up, capital is getting pickier, and everyone’s fighting for the same pool of sophisticated money. Goswami’s bet: the firms that tell the best stories will win the biggest cheques

  • India pitches homegrown large language model as AI summit pre-events kick off

    India pitches homegrown large language model as AI summit pre-events kick off

    NEW DELHI: India is making a play for AI self-reliance. At pre-summit events for the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, held during the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi, the government announced plans to launch an Indian large language model by year-end, aiming to cut dependence on foreign systems.

    The IndiaAI Mission, approved last year, is already delivering results: 38,000 graphics processing units are now available at Rs 65 per hour, whilst 12 companies are developing foundation models. “We envision to launch an Indian Large Language Model by year-end, reducing dependence on foreign systems,” says ministry of electronics and information technology additional secretary,  chief executive of IndiaAI and director general of the National Informatics Centre Abhishek Singh. 

    The pre-summit events drew leaders from government, industry and academia to explore how AI can drive inclusive growth across telecom and digital infrastructure. Four panels tackled AI’s role in telecom impact, trustworthy deployment, workforce development and social empowerment. Representatives from Reliance Jio, Tata Consultancy Services, Google, Airtel, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft joined government officials for the discussions.

    MeitY secretary S Krishnan framed India’s approach as both innovative and frugal. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from the experiences of others to build viable projects and products that will truly make a difference for us,” he says. “A number of international agencies have also found our approach very appealing, to build a model which can be used for the rest of the global South.”

    IndiaAI Mission chief operating officer and scientist G at MeitY Kavita Bhatia highlighted AI’s potential in telecom—from spectrum management to fraud detection. “AI in telecom holds immense potential. It can ensure reliable connectivity in rural areas, enhance resilience against network disruptions, and power new services across various sectors.”

    The main India–AI Impact Summit 2026 is scheduled for 19-20 February at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Organised around three “sutras”—people, planet and progress—and seven thematic “chakras”, the summit will position India as a global convener on responsible AI deployment.

    Whether India can deliver a competitive LLM by December—or merely another government deadline—will test its ambitions. For now, the rhetoric is running ahead of the code.

  • YouTube adds Nykaa and Purplle to shopping affiliate programme as beauty commerce booms

    YouTube adds Nykaa and Purplle to shopping affiliate programme as beauty commerce booms

    MU7MBAI: YouTube is turning beauty tutorials into storefronts. The video platform has added Nykaa and Purplle to its shopping affiliate programme, expanding creators’ ability to monetise content as shopping-related watch time in India jumps 250 per cent year-on-year.

    The move doubles down on beauty and lifestyle, a category where 89 per cent of Indian shoppers say YouTube helps them make confident purchase decisions. Creators enrolled in the programme can now tag products from Nykaa and Purplle alongside existing partners Flipkart and Myntra, earning commissions when viewers buy.

    More than 40 per cent of eligible creators in India have signed up since the programme launched a year ago, tagging products in over three million videos. Over 200 million logged-in users in India have made shopping-related searches on YouTube, creating what the platform calls a “complete monetisation ecosystem”.

    “The next era of video commerce is already being defined by India’s vibrant creator economy on YouTube,” says YouTube India managing director Gunjan Soni. “We are scaling content-driven shopping from a successful programme to a complete monetisation ecosystem.”

    YouTube is sweetening the deal with artificial intelligence tools that automatically tag products the moment they’re mentioned in videos, capturing viewer interest at its peak. The platform will also test automatic product identification later this year.

    Flipkart vice president of growth and marketing Pratik Arun Shetty, frames the partnership as commerce meeting creativity. “India’s creator economy is transforming how people engage with brands,” he says. Myntra reports creator collaborations have grown threefold in the past year, whilst Nykaa positions itself as a pioneer in content-led commerce.

    YouTube is also rolling out tools to make brand deals more lucrative: a flexible format for inserting and replacing sponsored segments, links to brand sites in Shorts, and a Creator Partnerships Hub inside Google Ads to connect advertisers with influencers.

    It’s a bet that authenticity converts. Whether creators cash in or merely chase clicks will depend on whether viewers trust recommendations—or just skip to the comments.

  • Ceuticoz promotes Arvin Mondal to head of marketing as global push accelerates

    Ceuticoz promotes Arvin Mondal to head of marketing as global push accelerates

    MUMBAI: Ceuticoz is gearing up for a growth spurt. The medical-grade skincare brand has promoted Arvin Mondal to head of marketing, tasking him with building a global footprint as the company chases revenues of Rs 150-200 crore by financial year 2029-30—a compound annual growth rate of 30-35 per cent.

    Mondal, who previously steered the brand’s international expansion, will oversee marketing across retail and e-commerce whilst leading regional campaigns in Britain, the European Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council states and south-east Asia. His brief: turn a dermatologist-trusted label into a household name.

    Ceuticoz projects revenues of Rs 50 crore in FY 2025-26, up from a record monthly turnover of Rs 4 crore in November-December 2024. The brand already operates in over 10 countries, including Canada, Kenya and South Africa. America, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are next on the list, with a target of 25-plus markets by 2030.

    “Arvin has played a vital role in the company’s international expansion,” says managing director Sukhbir Singh Chimni. “His new role allows him to craft our brand’s story as we move towards becoming a globally acclaimed skincare brand, driven by science and authenticity.”

    Founded in 2005, Ceuticoz positions itself as evidence-based and clinically proven—skincare that doctors recommend rather than influencers hawk.

    Whether that pitch resonates beyond dermatology clinics will determine if Mondal’s targets are ambitious or merely optimistic. Either way, he’s got skin in the game.

  • Nexus Select Malls recruits Ayushmann Khurrana to sell emotional decluttering this Diwali

    Nexus Select Malls recruits Ayushmann Khurrana to sell emotional decluttering this Diwali

    MUMBAI: Nexus Select Malls is betting that guilt sells better than glitter. The mall operator has roped in Hindi cinema actor Ayushmann Khurrana for a Diwali campaign urging Indians to declutter their emotional baggage alongside their homes—and then head to the shops to celebrate.

    The digital film, Declutter Wali Diwali, wraps a shopping pitch in feel-good messaging. “Adhure vaade, ankahee baatein, pending apologies iss Diwali, emotional space bhi declutter karo, aur apno ke liye dil mein jagah banao,” Khurrana intones against a backdrop of festive lights. Roughly translated: sort out your unfinished business, make space for loved ones, and—conveniently—do it at Nexus.

    “Our idea was to go beyond traditional festive advertising and tap into what the season truly stands for: togetherness, reflection and genuine joy,” says Nexus Select Malls chief marketing officer  Nishank Joshi.

    The campaign’s sign-off is less subtle: “Asli Happyness sirf yahan hai, at Nexus Select Malls.”

    The film will run across digital and social platforms throughout October, backed by on-ground activations at 19 malls across 15 cities. It arrives as India enters peak shopping season, with Diwali serving as the year’s biggest retail moment.

    Whether consumers buy the emotional angle or just the merchandise remains to be seen. Either way, Nexus is counting on footfall—reconciled or otherwise.

  • Steve Madden taps Shanaya Kapoor as first India brand ambassador

    Steve Madden taps Shanaya Kapoor as first India brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Steve Madden is rolling the dice on Hindi cinema’s next generation. The American footwear and accessories brand has named actress Shanaya Kapoor as its first-ever brand ambassador in India, marking a calculated bet on youth appeal as it deepens its retail footprint across the subcontinent.

    Kapoor, whose style straddles contemporary trends and accessible glamour, will front the brand’s autumn-winter 2025 and spring-summer 2026 campaigns. The partnership, brokered through Reliance Brands, aims to position Steve Madden’s shoes and handbags as tools of self-expression for a generation that treats fashion as identity.

    “Steve Madden has always been a go-to brand for me—it’s where I find pieces that are both fashion-forward and incredibly versatile,” says Kapoor. “I am honoured to be their first brand ambassador in India.”

    The announcement arrives alongside the brand’s latest campaign, Step Into Your Story, which pitches its products as declarations of individuality rather than mere accessories. It’s standard-issue empowerment marketing, but Steve Madden reckons India’s fashion-conscious youth will buy it—literally.

    Reliance Brands, which operates over 1,590 stores across India, is banking on Kapoor’s reach to crack a market where aspiration meets affordability. Steve Madden already sits in its sprawling portfolio alongside Burberry, Versace and Tiffany & Co.

    For Kapoor, it’s another rung on the ladder. For Steve Madden, it’s a wager that star power still shifts product. Time will tell if the shoes fit.

  • Cars24 turns Zomato delivery bags into mobile adverts across Bengaluru

    Cars24 turns Zomato delivery bags into mobile adverts across Bengaluru

    BENGALURU: Bengaluru’s gridlock has found a new purpose. Cars24, the used-car platform, has plastered its branding across thousands of Zomato delivery bags, turning food couriers into roving billboards. The logic is simple: if the city won’t move, let the marketing do the moving.

    The partnership transforms everyday delivery bags into brand real estate. With Zomato’s army of riders weaving through traffic and queuing at signals, Cars24 reckons it’s found a captive audience where traditional out-of-home advertising stands still.

    “OOH is great. But MOH—moving out of home—is better,” says Cars24 head of creative, content and communication Prachi Sharma. “We had one simple idea: take the brand to the streets in a city that is constantly moving.”

    The company frames this as part of a broader hunt for unconventional brand surfaces. Delivery bags today, something else tomorrow. For now, Cars24 is treating the exercise as an experiment, promising to share learnings and impact data once the campaign wraps.

    It’s marketing that moves with the traffic—and in Bengaluru, that means it moves very slowly indeed. Which, for advertisers, may be precisely the point.

    Second-hand car platform tests “moving OOH”  as traffic-choked city becomes captive audience

     

  • Prime Volleyball League adds Kannada feed as regional push gathers pace

    Prime Volleyball League adds Kannada feed as regional push gathers pace

    HYDERABAD: The RR Kabel Prime Volleyball League powered by Scapia is betting big on regional languages. From Saturday, matches will be available in Kannada—the sixth tongue added to a lineup that already includes English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam. The move targets Karnataka’s volleyball-mad fanbase, particularly supporters of the Bengaluru Torpedoes.

    The tournament, now in its fourth year, is underway at Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad. First-day viewership on YouTube was robust, with reach spread across all regional feeds. The Kannada addition comes as the league chases deeper penetration in southern markets.

    “The support we receive from Karnataka is immense,” says Bengaluru Torpedoes co-owner and director Yashwanth Biyyala. “Providing the livestream in our local language is a sincere effort to engage more deeply with our loyal fans.”

    Prime Volleyball League  chief executive Joy Bhattacharjya frames the expansion as nation-building. “Our large viewership on the opening day demonstrates the massive, multilingual appetite for volleyball across India,” he says. “This is about more than just numbers—it’s about creating a model for deep, inclusive fan engagement.”

    The 2025 season is being broadcast live on Sony Sports Network and streamed globally via YouTube. The channel offers match highlights, recaps, behind-the-scenes footage and other content designed to hook armchair fans. Four teams clash on Saturday: Kochi Blue Spikers face Bengaluru Torpedoes, whilst Chennai Blitz take on Kolkata Thunderbolts.

    The tournament runs until 26 October. By then, the league will know whether its multilingual gambit has scored the breakthrough it so craves.

  • Papa Johns slices into India with Bengaluru launch

    Papa Johns slices into India with Bengaluru launch

    MUMBAI: Bengaluru is getting a taste of international flavour as Papa Johns makes its Indian debut with four restaurants in Indiranagar, Hennur, Electronic City, and Sarjapur Road. Operated by PJP Foods India Private Limited, the launch brings the brand’s iconic promise of “Better ingredients. Better pizza.” to local diners, featuring a Bengaluru-exclusive ghee roast pizza.

    Speaking on the launch, PJP Investments group – group CEO Tapan Vaidya said, “This is a proud moment as we deliver the Papa Johns experience to Indian customers. Our pizzas are crafted with fresh, never-frozen dough and premium toppings. Bengaluru is the perfect city to start this journey, and we look forward to expanding rapidly across the country.”

    Papa Johns chief financial officer & executive vice president Ravi Thanawala added, “Opening our first restaurant and quality control center in Bengaluru sets a strong foundation for long-term growth and ensures the highest standards of quality and service that define our brand.”

    The brand’s entry blends global favourites with local innovation. Each pizza is made with fresh dough, real mozzarella, and vine-ripened tomato sauce, staying true to its international recipes. The ghee roast pizza, available in chicken and paneer variants, infuses south Indian spices with indulgent ghee, creating a distinct local twist.

    Pulsar Capital & Ambrosia QSR managing partner Vish Narain said, “Our goal is to provide excellent quality pizzas at affordable prices while appealing to India’s diverse palate.”

    All Bengaluru outlets will be supported by a centralised Quality Control Center in Hennur to maintain consistent freshness. Customers can enjoy dine-in, takeaway, and digital ordering through the app and website, with delivery services coming soon.

    With this launch, Papa Johns India signals the start of an ambitious expansion, bringing premium-quality pizzas to a growing market hungry for global flavours and local twists.

  • Hrithik Roshan brews a storm with Prime Video

    Hrithik Roshan brews a storm with Prime Video

    MUMBAI: Hindi cinema’s Greek God is ready to stir up a storm, quite literally. Hrithik Roshan has joined hands with Prime Video for his first-ever streaming venture, producing a gripping new thriller series titled Storm (working title) under his banner HRX Films, a division of Filmkraft Productions.

    Created and directed by Ajitpal Singh, the series promises an intense cocktail of ambition, secrets, and survival set in the beating heart of Mumbai. With Parvathy Thiruvothu, Alaya F, Srishti Shrivastava, Rrama Sharma, and Saba Azad leading the cast, production is set to roll soon.

    Speaking about the collaboration, Prime Video vice president APAC & MENA Gaurav Gandhi said, “Hrithik is one of Indian cinema’s most distinguished creative forces. This partnership marks an exciting milestone for us, bringing together his artistic vision and our global storytelling platform.”

    HRX Films founder Hrithik Roshan said, “Storm presented the perfect opportunity to make my debut as a producer in the streaming space. The world Ajitpal has created is raw, layered, and powerful. It’s a story that will resonate with audiences not just in India but around the world.”

    Storm marks a dynamic new phase for HRX Films, led by Hrithik and Eshaan Roshan, and signals Prime Video’s continued investment in bold, homegrown narratives with international appeal.

    With its layered characters, powerhouse female leads, and an undercurrent of suspense, this is one storm viewers will want to get caught in.