ITV

Tag: Entrepreneurs

  • EaseMyTrip 2.0: Nishant Pitti plots a first-class upgrade for Indian startups

    EaseMyTrip 2.0: Nishant Pitti plots a first-class upgrade for Indian startups

    MUMBAI: Buckle up—EaseMyTrip is switching lanes. Chairman and founder Nishant Pitti has just rolled out EaseMyTrip 2.0, a turbocharged phase of growth where the travel-tech player won’t just book your holiday—it may just bankroll your next big startup.

    Announced on 2 June, the move marks a bold pivot for one of India’s most profitable online travel agencies. Rather than gunning for control or swift exits, the brand’s new strategy will focus on acquiring up to 49 per cent equity in promising businesses while letting founders retain full operational control. The model? Think co-pilot, not cockpit hijack.

    “We want to back founders who are building exciting businesses and not replace them,” said
    Nishant Pitti. “EaseMyTrip 2.0 is about combining their vision with our platform to create real, lasting scale.”

    The sectors in Pitti’s sights are as wide-ranging as a world map—from core travel segments like spiritual tourism (Ayodhya, Kedarnath, Varanasi), luxury escapes, and student travel to the more offbeat like air ambulances and intercity cabs. But there’s also a pivot to lifestyle. Wellness clinics, spa services, EMI travel payments, insurance, airport lounges and bespoke gifting are all part of the wishlist.

    This is not angel investing in yoga pants. EaseMyTrip 2.0 aims to fuse scale with soul. Founders can expect working capital, access to customers, co-branded marketing, and full freedom to operate—without ceding their vision.

    Entrepreneurs looking to hop aboard this flight can submit business plans, past financials and a three-year growth roadmap to vikash.goyal@easemytrip.com.

    Founded in 2008, EaseMyTrip has managed to do the unthinkable in the OTA space—stay bootstrapped, profitable, and pandemic-resistant. With a 47 per cent CAGR in pre-tax profits (FY20–24), a zero-convenience-fee model, and presence in 10 global markets, the company is now ready to scale new altitudes. And this time, it wants fellow fliers.

    As Pitti put it, ““We’re building an ecosystem; not just a travel company. “EaseMyTrip 2.0 is our commitment to helping India’s most promising businesses scale faster and with our expertise behind them.”

    Let the startups take off.

  • Oriflame aims to empower 1M Indian micro-entrepreneurs by 2029

    Oriflame aims to empower 1M Indian micro-entrepreneurs by 2029

    Mumbai: Oriflame, the leading Swedish beauty brand with a global presence, has announced India as one of its top-priority markets. Building on its current success, the premier cosmetic brand aims to onboard one million brand partners within the next five years, thereby promoting micro-entrepreneurship and nurturing a dynamic start-up culture across the country. This ambitious target aligns perfectly with India’s growth trajectory and the government of India’s emphasis on employment generation and self-reliance.

    Oriflame is committed to promoting the entrepreneurial spirit. By enabling individuals to become brand partners, the brand instils entrepreneurial ethics and empowers the workforce, especially women, by offering the flexibility to design their own work schedules. This approach facilitates the creation of a fulfilling career that prioritises both social and mental well-being, creating the way towards financial independence.

    At the forefront of the ‘Made in India’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives, Oriflame is actively establishing research and development capabilities within the country to produce products tailored for Indian consumers, infused with Swedish quality and innovation. This approach adheres to global quality standards and European safety regulations while also promoting domestic manufacturing.

    Oriflame senior vice president and head of India and Indonesia Edyta Kurek stated, “India is a key market for Oriflame, and we are immensely grateful for the love and trust from our Indian consumers. Oriflame products sold in India are mostly produced locally, in our own factories, creating not only employment opportunities but also contributing to the nation’s economic growth. Our plan to transform 1 million brand partners into micro-entrepreneurs in the next five years demonstrates our dedication to this vibrant market and we’re in it for the long haul. We are excited to continue this journey with our Indian community, promoting micro-entrepreneurship and supporting India’s vision of self-reliance.”

    Oriflame offers a two-fold opportunity- individuals can either become brand partners to build their own businesses or join as VIP members to enjoy products directly from the website. In both scenarios, consumers gain access to the brand’s iconic, globally acclaimed products, all formulated with the highest quality standards and adherence to responsible and sustainable practices. Notably, Oriflame has been recognised as a Climate Champion in Europe for four consecutive years which showcases the company’s devotion to the environment and its people.

  • The path of the entrepreneur: Key challenges in growing a business

    The path of the entrepreneur: Key challenges in growing a business

    Mumbai: Starting and running a successful business is no easy feat. Entrepreneurs face many obstacles on the road to growing their ventures. Here are some of the major challenges entrepreneurs must overcome:

    Lack of funding

    One of the biggest hurdles for many entrepreneurs is accessing capital and financing. From startup costs to ongoing expenses, building a business requires significant financial resources. Entrepreneurs may bootstrap their business initially but eventually need outside funding from investors, loans or other sources to scale up operations. The process of raising funds can be time-consuming and frustrating.

    Building a customer base  

    Every business needs customers to survive. Attracting a customer base and expanding it takes strategic marketing, great products/services and robust sales efforts. Entrepreneurs need to identify their target audience, understand their needs and effectively communicate how their offering adds value. With infinite choices available to consumers, cutting through the noise and convincing them to buy from you is hard.

    Managing cash flow

    Ongoing cash flow management is critical but challenging. Entrepreneurs need working capital to keep their business running daily. But fluctuating income and expenses can make cash flow erratic. Periods of low sales or high operational costs can strain the business. Entrepreneurs must master cash flow forecasting, credit management and lean operations.

    Hiring and retaining talent

    Skilled talent is essential for a growing company. But hiring and retaining the right employees is tough and expensive. Entrepreneurs must compete for in-demand experts by offering competitive packages and career growth. Developing a supportive work culture and effective HR policies to engage employees is equally important. High turnover can cripple an organization.

    Scaling up operations

    Rapid business growth sounds great in theory but is hard to manage in practice. Entrepreneurs struggle to scale up quickly enough to meet rising customer demand. Expanding production, services and systems in a sustainable way requires immense coordination. Entrepreneurs need to delegate intelligently and invest wisely to support scaling up.

    Regulatory compliance

    Navigating complex regulatory and legal frameworks is tricky but non-negotiable. Entrepreneurs must comply with diverse regulations covering areas like tax, labor, intellectual property, permits, health and safety etc. Staying up-to-date and compliant with evolving rules takes time, money and effort. Non-compliance can lead to hefty fines or lawsuits.

    With dedication and resilience, entrepreneurs can overcome these challenges. But it takes great skill and perseverance to build a truly successful and sustainable business in the long run. The entrepreneurial journey is demanding yet rewarding for those who persist through difficult times. With flexible thinking and innovative strategies, entrepreneurs can adapt and flourish in a dynamic environment.

    The author of this article is India Bartender’s Guild founder Archit Singhal.

  • First India and Bharat24 honour entrepreneurs from Gujarat with Shikhar Samman

    First India and Bharat24 honour entrepreneurs from Gujarat with Shikhar Samman

    Mumbai: First India News and Bharat24 celebrated the contribution of entrepreneurs and businesses towards the development of Gujarat with Shikhar Samman in a glittering ceremony.

    Gujarat chief minister Bhupendrabhai Patel and home minister Harshbhai Sanghvi are the chief guest and guest of honour, respectively. They gave the prestigious “Gujarat Shikhar Samman – Pride of Gujarat” awards to the winners across various categories. The event was attended by business luminaries, leading journalists, and elite members of civil society.

    The initiative not only reinforced the significant role of entrepreneurs towards the state’s economy but also marked panel discussions on key developmental issues, including “Rising Gujarat, Badta Bharat” and “Swastha Gujarat,” a healthcare development in Gujarat that hosted esteemed panellists who addressed the issues and deliberated upon way forward strategies.

  • Good News Today to telecast ‘The Horses Stable’ from 11 December

    Good News Today to telecast ‘The Horses Stable’ from 11 December

    Mumbai: Hindi news channel Good News Today has announced a new show called “The Horses Stable: Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander.” The show launched will be launched on 11 December every Saturday at 8 p.m and Sunday at 5 p.m.

    The series will feature entrepreneurs who will pitch their business models to a panel of investors and convince them to invest money in their ventures, said the channel in a statement. The format of the show will be akin to the great Indian derby, it added.

    The investors or ‘horses’ include marquee names like Freeflow Venture Builders founder and chief ideator Suraj Juneja, Angels Network CEO and managing director Nandini Mansinghka, Saha Fund founder Ankita Vashistha, angel investor Mandar Joshi, deal advisor and startup mentor Deeksha Ahuja. Uniting these stalwarts is award-winning actor, producer, businessman and serial entrepreneur Suniel Shetty.

    The show is also sponsored by Vivek Bindra’s BadaBusiness.com and it is supported by the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and is a joint effort of Prashant Agarwal and Suniel Shetty. This initiative is also supported by MSH under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).

    “We are proud to see what India’s brilliant business minds and entrepreneurs are able to bring to this country everyday, and the challenger startup ecosystem we have created on a global stage,” said India Today Group CEO television and radio business Rahul Shaw. “The India Today group has been tuned to the needs and aspirations of the nation for over 4 decades, and are thrilled once again to be able to provide a platform to let ideas of all shapes and sizes find the support they need to blossom and strengthen the momentum of India’s startup story. We are thrilled to bring this home on the Good News Today platform where it can reach and inspire more people than ever before.”

    The India Today Group officially launched the show on 6 December. The event was attended by Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, Atal Innovation Mission mission director Dr Chintan Vaishnav, HPPL founder Prashant Agarwal, FTC Talent and Entertainment Suniel Shetty and India Today Group CEO television and radio business Rahul Shaw. 

  • Zee 24 Taas to host ‘Udaan – Dare to Dream’

    Zee 24 Taas to host ‘Udaan – Dare to Dream’

    Mumbai: Zee 24 Taas is set to host ‘Udaan – Dare to Dream’ event that aims to shine a light on emerging businesses that are achieving excellence through innovation. The event will celebrate and acknowledge the inspiring stories of achievers, champions, and entrepreneurs who have exemplified leadership, innovation, and perseverance by disruption.

    In the last one and a half years, the pandemic has completely shaken the whole world, but some people gathered the strength in those bleak times and kept pushing to attain perfection in their respective fields. The event will host a panel of industrialists and entrepreneurs who will speak about the complications faced during covid and after covid, and how they have kept up their businesses and helped the employees in that difficult phase.

    The event will be attended by the member of Rajya Sabha Sharad Pawar; union minister of micro, small and medium enterprises Narayan Rane; union minister of State for finance Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, and PWD minister Ashok Chavan among others.

    “Zee Hindustan launched the Udaan – Dare to Dream series earlier this year from the Nation’s Capital City – Delhi. We Come to Mumbai in the next leg of this series where Zee 24 Taas shall be proud to celebrate the people who gave wings to the economy and have inspired everyone with their fighting spirit in such difficult times,” stated Zee Media Corp Ltd CRO Manoj Jagyasi. “By hosting the Udaan – Dare to Dream event we salute and thank them for their wonderful contribution. We shall continue to honour Individuals and Businesses in our line-up of Udaan – Dare to Dream events in Udaipur on 28 November and in Ahmedabad on 30 November.”

  • Madison BMB creates memorable Vistaprint

    Madison BMB creates memorable Vistaprint

    MUMBAI: Madison BMB has created a TVC for its client Vistaprint, a leading printing solutions company. The TVC which focuses on printing solutions for businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals.

    The TVC showcases how convenient it is for small and medium-sized businesses to print their visiting cards, stationery, merchandise and apparels.

    Vistaprint India CEO Nilesh Parwani said that Vistaprint.in facilitated translating business owners’ tremendous sense of pride and passion into an identity for their venture through a wide range of beautiful, high quality printed products.

    Madison BMB CEO and CCO Raj Nair said that the tag line “What’s your print?” specifically asked the viewer in a memorable way to go ahead and make their choice depending on their specific printing requirement.

  • Madison BMB creates memorable Vistaprint

    Madison BMB creates memorable Vistaprint

    MUMBAI: Madison BMB has created a TVC for its client Vistaprint, a leading printing solutions company. The TVC which focuses on printing solutions for businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals.

    The TVC showcases how convenient it is for small and medium-sized businesses to print their visiting cards, stationery, merchandise and apparels.

    Vistaprint India CEO Nilesh Parwani said that Vistaprint.in facilitated translating business owners’ tremendous sense of pride and passion into an identity for their venture through a wide range of beautiful, high quality printed products.

    Madison BMB CEO and CCO Raj Nair said that the tag line “What’s your print?” specifically asked the viewer in a memorable way to go ahead and make their choice depending on their specific printing requirement.

  • IndiaMART bags 1 lakh customers, launches digital campaign to elevate SMEs

    IndiaMART bags 1 lakh customers, launches digital campaign to elevate SMEs

    NEW DELHI: Online marketplace IndiaMART has launched a digital video campaign that brings these emerging entrepreneurs to the limelight in a concise montage.

     

    Acknowledged as the true heroes of India’s growth story, these entrepreneurs share their journey to success while on how IndiaMART helped them scale their business effectively with the reiteration of ‘#IBelieveInIM.’

     

    A mammoth 1,00,000 premium customers have enrolled on the platform. IndiaMART has always endeavoured to give speed to its mission to ‘make doing business, easy.’

     

    The campaign brings to the fore these individuals who have gone on to not only survive but sustain and scale their businesses pushing the boundaries of how they trade today and achieving full-fledged sustainability for their venture. The campaign kick starts the new year on a note of promise and positivity and will run for 21 days across digital platforms including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube among others.

     

    Highlighting IndiaMART’s crucial role in the Small and Medium Enterprises sector, the campaign will showcase how small enterprises grew with increased profitability and size through the business matchmaker. The campaign videos showcase how sellers from various segments of enterprises have achieved real time growth and productivity. The videos focus on sellers who have built their brands and expanded their businesses on IndiaMART. They also talk about how coming on to the online platform has helped them to acquire new businesses, higher lead generation and also export their products.

     

    IndiaMART director Dinesh Gulati said, “By coming on board with IndiaMART, we have enabled the MSMEs of India with an Opportunity to Innovate. Through the launch of this digital campaign, we want to showcase the pride our customers take in associating with IndiaMART. As their business growth has multiplied over the years, their belief and trust in us has grown even stronger. SMBs see the highest Return on Investment with IndiaMART with an increased profitability and wider geographic reach. We aspired to put a face to the millions of stories we have experienced in our journey so far and what better way to do so than through social media. People will be able to easily relate to these stories as the campaign encompasses real people talking about how they achieved real growth in real businesses!”

  • IndiaMART bags 1 lakh customers, launches digital campaign to elevate SMEs

    IndiaMART bags 1 lakh customers, launches digital campaign to elevate SMEs

    NEW DELHI: Online marketplace IndiaMART has launched a digital video campaign that brings these emerging entrepreneurs to the limelight in a concise montage.

     

    Acknowledged as the true heroes of India’s growth story, these entrepreneurs share their journey to success while on how IndiaMART helped them scale their business effectively with the reiteration of ‘#IBelieveInIM.’

     

    A mammoth 1,00,000 premium customers have enrolled on the platform. IndiaMART has always endeavoured to give speed to its mission to ‘make doing business, easy.’

     

    The campaign brings to the fore these individuals who have gone on to not only survive but sustain and scale their businesses pushing the boundaries of how they trade today and achieving full-fledged sustainability for their venture. The campaign kick starts the new year on a note of promise and positivity and will run for 21 days across digital platforms including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube among others.

     

    Highlighting IndiaMART’s crucial role in the Small and Medium Enterprises sector, the campaign will showcase how small enterprises grew with increased profitability and size through the business matchmaker. The campaign videos showcase how sellers from various segments of enterprises have achieved real time growth and productivity. The videos focus on sellers who have built their brands and expanded their businesses on IndiaMART. They also talk about how coming on to the online platform has helped them to acquire new businesses, higher lead generation and also export their products.

     

    IndiaMART director Dinesh Gulati said, “By coming on board with IndiaMART, we have enabled the MSMEs of India with an Opportunity to Innovate. Through the launch of this digital campaign, we want to showcase the pride our customers take in associating with IndiaMART. As their business growth has multiplied over the years, their belief and trust in us has grown even stronger. SMBs see the highest Return on Investment with IndiaMART with an increased profitability and wider geographic reach. We aspired to put a face to the millions of stories we have experienced in our journey so far and what better way to do so than through social media. People will be able to easily relate to these stories as the campaign encompasses real people talking about how they achieved real growth in real businesses!”