Tag: expansion

  • GT Force eyes nationwide expansion with 100 new dealerships by 2024

    GT Force eyes nationwide expansion with 100 new dealerships by 2024

    Mumbai: GT Force, a pioneer in electric two-wheeler manufacturing, has announced its ambitious plan to expand its retail presence across India. By the end of the year 2024, GT Force aims to establish a total of 100 dealership showrooms, each equipped with proper infrastructure adhering to the 3S model, which includes sales, service, and spare parts support. By following this setup, the company is committed to providing service, not only to support its patrons but also to assist consumers of other brands who may face difficulties with after-sales service. This showcases GT’s broader commitment to environmental sustainability within the EV two-wheeler ecosystem.

    Currently, GT Force boasts 35 outlets across multiple states, including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, and Delhi-NCR. This existing network provides a strong foundation for the company’s forthcoming expansion into several regions. In Eastern India, the target states are West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar. The Northeastern region will see new showrooms in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. In Western India, all major cities of Maharashtra, including Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik, are part of the expansion plan.

    Commenting on the expansion prospects, GT Force co-founder & COO Rajesh Saitya expressed, “We have meticulously chosen our target geographies after thoroughly understanding these markets and identifying great potential for EV two-wheeler sales. Our new lineup is well-suited to meet the needs of diverse consumers in these regions, which we believe will enhance our brand’s reputation and drive adoption. We are confident that we will develop a holistic network of dealers in the coming months who will play a pivotal role in our growth journey, ensuring broad accessibility and customer satisfaction.”

    GT Force is actively seeking long-term dealer partnerships, with stringent criteria for selection. Prospective dealers are required to uphold high standards, including maintaining well-branded automobile showrooms and fully equipped service centers staffed by skilled technicians. To support their branding efforts, GT Force will provide marketing assistance to dealership stores. Moreover, dealerships can expect attractive margins on both vehicle and spare parts sales, incentivising their commitment to the brand.

    As part of its strategic rebranding initiative, GT Force recently unveiled its latest lineup of electric two-wheelers, catering to both low and high-speed preferences. The GT Vegas, priced at Rs 55,555 (ex-showroom), boasts a 1.5 kWh battery pack, delivering a range of up to 70 km. Following suit, the GT Ryd Plus, priced at Rs 65,555 (ex-showroom), features a 2.2 kWh battery pack, providing a range of 95 km. Moving up the range, the GT One Plus Pro, priced at Rs 76,555, sports a 2.5 kWh battery, offering an extended range of 110 km. Notably, the brand’s flagship model, GT Drive Pro, priced at Rs 84,555, shares similar features and specifications with the One Plus Pro. In addition to this lineup, GT Force is gearing up to introduce a new electric motorcycle in the Indian market. Teased with a glimpse of its headlamp, this upcoming model targets urban riders and promises an impressive range of 130 km on a single charge, with a top speed of 70 km/h.

  • Whilter.AI unveils expansion plans and projects revenue growth of Rs 7 cr by FY 24-25 end

    Whilter.AI unveils expansion plans and projects revenue growth of Rs 7 cr by FY 24-25 end

    Mumbai: Whilter.ai, a createch company in the GenAI space, announces its expansion plans and revenue growth, setting the stage for the next evolution of b2c communication. Whilter.AI is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technology to deliver customise solutions for its clients. Currently scaling video communications as a service, the company aims to make the pricing very affordable, add more language support, and soon move towards a self-serve platform for brands and producers.

    With several successful projects under its belt, Whilter.ai has garnered acknowledgment and praise for its impeccable work. Collaborations with prominent brands across industries have resulted in remarkable engagement rate upliftment and conversions, catching the eyes of industry leaders. Since its inception, Whilter.AI has onboarded clients such as RoyalEnfield, W for Women, Domino’s, Aditya Birla Capital, and MotoGP to name a few.

    “At Whilter.AI, our goal is to enable businesses to enhance customer engagement and uplift conversion rate (multifold) through hyper-personalized videos. As the global digital video advertising market is projected to skyrocket from $53.2 billion in 2021 to $712.6 billion by 2031, driven by a compelling CAGR of 29.6 per cent, this data shows that consumers and brands increasingly valuing personalized experiences.” said Whilter.ai co-founder Pankaj K Arora.

    Speaking on this Whilter.ai co-founder Prashant Yadav said, “We’re enthusiastic about our upcoming expansion plans as they reflect our commitment to offering practical and effective solutions in personalized video creation. Our primary focus remains on advancing our solutions to ensure it delivers not just creative content, but also scalable and efficient solutions for our clients. We aim to extend the reach of our platform, enabling more businesses to leverage the power of personalized video in their marketing strategies.”

    The market for personalised video creation is witnessing unprecedented growth, fueled by the increasing demand for hyper-personalization in digital advertising. According to recent studies, the global digital video advertising market is projected to skyrocket from $53.2 billion in 2021 to $712.6 billion by 2031, driven by a compelling CAGR of 29.6 per cent. Consumers are increasingly valuing personalized experiences, with 73 per cent citing customer experience as a key factor in their purchasing decisions. Whilter.AI is at the forefront of this trend, catering to early adopters across various industries, including healthcare, BFSI, fashion, and more.

    Whilter.AI has identified the US and European markets as key targets for expansion. With strategic initiatives underway, the company aims to penetrate these markets and establish a strong presence, offering its solutions to a global audience.

    CMOs recognize the importance of engaging personalized visuals, but scaling video production is often time-consuming and expensive, posing a significant deterrent. To address this issue, Whilter.AI plans to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, making its solutions more accessible and effective. By focusing on real-time delivery and affordability, the company aims to promote widespread adoption across various industries and use cases.

    Whilter.AI’s client roster includes leading brands from diverse sectors, including healthcare, fashion, automobiles, airlines, and more. The company’s marketing strategy involves a combination of direct engagement and partnerships with industry-leading companies, leveraging joint GTM initiatives and product integrations to reach new clients and markets.

  • Thanos Technologies launches new manufacturing facility and corporate office

    Thanos Technologies launches new manufacturing facility and corporate office

    Mumbai: Thanos Technologies, a pioneer in agricultural drone technology, launched its new corporate office and production facility in Jeedimetla, Hyderabad on 15 April 2024. This strategic expansion is a milestone for Thanos and a major step towards its aim to transform agricultural practices with innovative drone technologies.

    The state-of-the-art facility is a testament to Thanos’s commitment to meet the evolving needs of farmers across India. It boasts an initial annual production capacity of 3000 drones, with plans for further scalability to match the increasing market demands. Additionally, in the last six months, Thanos has doubled its workforce, recruiting experts across various sectors to enhance customer experience, particularly in after-sales service and production and training support. The company is also actively channeling investments into its technology team to bolster and broaden its production capabilities for the development of technologically advanced agricultural solutions.

    “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our production facility and corporate office in Hyderabad. In the last fiscal year, we have witnessed tremendous growth and significant traction in the local market. At present, we are operating in different states of India, and in the current fiscal year we aim to penetrate international markets specifically Southeast Asia and Africa.” said Thanos Technologies founder and chief executive officer Pradeep Palelli.

    As part of the expansion strategy, the company intends to raise its first round of investment to enhance its products with newer technologies, scale up operations, and reach more customers nationally and internationally. Furthermore, Thanos is dedicated to securing certifications for three new agricultural spraying drone models this year, expanding the customer base. The company also plans to deploy its in-house developed mapping drones for agricultural intelligence, offering farmers valuable insights for enhanced crop management.

    Furthermore, with a sales target of 2500 drones for the current fiscal year and anticipated usage of more than 10,000 drones by FY 2026–2027, Thanos is dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture innovation and empowerment.

  • Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Ltd embarks on US market expansion

    Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Ltd embarks on US market expansion

    Mumbai: Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Ltd is pleased to announce its upcoming foray into the US market following the acquisition of USFDA registration. This pivotal achievement marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards international expansion and underscores its unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality food products globally. The diversification of Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Ltd’s product offerings encompasses a wide array, including RTE (ready-to-eat) meals, frozen products, spices, sauces, condiments, and beverages.

    Effective from the commencement of the new financial year 24-25 quarter one, Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Limited will commence exporting to United States. The initial phase will focus on key cities including Chicago, New Jersey and Texas, where consumers will have the chance to indulge in the rich and authentic tastes of India’s culinary offerings. Spanning from convenient RTE (Ready-To-Eat) meals to delightful frozen products, aromatic spices, savory sauces, versatile condiments, and refreshing beverages, the company’s extensive range is meticulously tailored to tantalise every taste bud.

    Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Ltd chairperson and MD Sheetal Bhalerao expressed her profound excitement regarding this significant milestone, stating, “We are truly elated to embark on this exhilarating journey of exporting our products to the USA, a market renowned for its discerning taste and unwavering standards. This achievement is a clear reflection of our steadfast dedication to delivering the authentic flavors of India to consumers worldwide. The attainment of USFDA registration stands as a proud validation to our steadfast commitment to product quality and regulatory compliance. This certification not only reaffirms the exceptional quality of our products but also underscores our strict adherence to stringent food safety standards, instilling unwavering confidence among consumers and stakeholders alike.”

    As part of the company’s meticulously crafted market expansion strategy, Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Limited has made strategic partnerships to ensure seamless delivery of the products to American consumers. The company’s entry into the US market represents a significant opportunity for growth and showcases dedication to meeting the evolving demands of discerning consumers worldwide.

    Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Ltd takes pride in offering a range of RTE and Frozen products free from preservatives, MSG, and artificial food colors, ensuring a wholesome and authentic culinary experience for consumers. With a focus on retail distribution and private labeling, we are committed to delivering unparalleled quality and taste to the US market and beyond.

  • upGrad onboards Myleeta AgaWilliams as CEO – International

    upGrad onboards Myleeta AgaWilliams as CEO – International

    Mumbai: EdTech company, upGrad has announced the appointment of Myleeta AgaWilliams as CEO-International to spearhead growth across the APAC, EMEA and US regions. She assumed office in August this year.

    With over two decades of experience in global and digital businesses, Myleeta will be responsible for managing end-to-end international operations and creating region-specific product pipelines, thereby driving high-impact revenue and profitability results.

    Myleeta AgaWilliams will be leveraging her experience in scaling businesses through strategic interventions across content and global distribution for broadcast and streaming media. She will engage with managerial teams based in multiple geographies to align short-term and long-term business objectives for accelerating profitability.

    Previously, she has managed diverse product portfolios and led marketing and sales teams across geographies at Netflix, BBC Studios, Discovery, and UTV, amongst others.

    Commenting on the appointment, upGrad co-founder & MD Mayank Kumar said, “We are at such a high point of our international expansion that we require a leader who has seen these markets evolve to make sound business decisions. Myleeta comes with a strong entrepreneurial mindset and cultural intellect that will augment our operations across existing and upcoming markets.”

    “While we are leading the higher education space in India and have penetrated successfully across SE Asia, we felt it’s the right time to go aggressive with other geographies, which will require strategic linear and non-linear movements to support the growth. Myleeta, who has built and scaled operations across niche markets including Asia, will continue to accelerate our ambition of becoming a global leader within the LifeLongLearning segment,” Kumar added.

    “Taking the hugely successful online learning portfolio that upGrad has pioneered to transform the lives and careers of learners across the globe is a fantastic opportunity,” said Myleeta while talking about her new role at upGrad.

    “In this next stage of growth, we will be looking at each of the markets in which we have ambitions to achieve scale and apply a nuanced and focused strategy, leveraging my past experience and deep knowledge of digital consumption habits. I am thrilled to be joining Ronnie, Mayank, Phalgun, and the leadership team at this exciting phase of high growth,” she concluded.

  • Eros Now announces partnership with Fetch TV; expands in Australia

    Eros Now announces partnership with Fetch TV; expands in Australia

    Mumbai: South Asian OTT platform Eros Now owned by Eros Media World (a global entertainment company) on has announced that Eros Now has expanded its presence in Australia through a partnership with the leading Australian content aggregation platform Fetch TV. Fetch viewers will now have access to Eros Now’s rich content library across multiple languages & genres. 

    The collaboration is in line with Eros Now’s strategy to focus on growing direct-to-consumer relationships while strengthening and expanding key distribution partnerships.  This new distribution partnership with Fetch TV provides over 6,30,000 active Fetch subscribers with access to Eros Now’s rich content of over 12,000 Indian movies, originals, music, short-form content, and more across several languages and genres.

    Eros Now CEO Ali Hussein said, “Streaming platforms are gaining popularity worldwide and have emerged as a key driver for multilingual content across a wider audience segment. Fetch TV has been a leading aggregator of streaming services and other entertainment content in the Australian market for over 10 years. This collaboration will certainly help us enhance our horizons in terms of international audience and their preferences, and further strengthen our offering.”

    India enjoys a strong connection with Australia generated through its shared colonial history, growing Indian diaspora in the region, Bollywood, cricket, and tourism. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics data, with over two per cent increase, Indians comprise the third largest population base in Australia. Additionally, Australia is among the most popular destinations for Indian students. With a good mix of young, old, and native South Asian population base, demand for Indian content has surged across the continent.

    Commenting on the collaboration, Fetch TV chief content and commercial officer Sam Hall said, “We are witnessing a huge demand for streaming services amongst our customers and have observed a shift in demand for multilingual content from traditional linear channels to streaming. We are thrilled to collaborate with a South Asian streaming leader like Eros Now to offer existing and future Fetch subscribers’ access to popular and high-quality South Asian content.”

    Fetch combines free-to-air TV channels, catch-up, premium linear channels, streaming apps, and movies all in one place. It offers an intuitive user experience (UX) and universal voice search to make it easy for users to find and view content. First time users of Eros Now will have access to a one month free trial on Fetch, allowing them to enjoy Eros Now’s premium content such as “Ram Leela,” “Go Goa Gone,” “Padmavaat,” “Manmarziyan,” “Tanu Weds Manu Returns,” “Raanjhana” and more.

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  • VerSe Innovation expands its operations into global markets

    VerSe Innovation expands its operations into global markets

    Mumbai: VerSe Innovation on Tuesday announced its foray into the global market, with the launch of the local language content platform Dailyhunt in the Middle East (ME) countries. Media veteran Shekhar Iyer has been appointed as director and general manager of VerSe Innovation, MENA.

    VerSe Innovation has rolled out its offering of Dailyhunt in the Middle East countries including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait with its headquarters in Dubai. Dailyhunt has launched in the ME region with over 5,000 content partners catering to the UAE market. The local language content platform will soon be partnering with news publishers including MENA Newswire, Al Khaleej, The Brew, Chalk Media, Brandknew, KKompany, Mudgal Kreations, Buzzing, Gulf Today, among others.

    Commenting on the global expansion, VerSe Innovation co-founder Umang Bedi said, “UAE is one of the world’s most vibrant economies and is experiencing an exponential phase of growth. As a part of our global expansion strategy, we are excited to bring Dailyhunt to audiences in the Middle East market. Dailyhunt has constantly strived to deliver content that has informed, enriched, and entertained audiences in different languages. There is a tremendous opportunity to tap into the unmet content needs of the Middle East market, given the rich linguistic diversity and an extensive news consumption behavior of the market. In this strategic growth plan, we will soon expand Dailyhunt in MENA countries including Iraq, Iran, Israel, and Egypt, and support languages like Hebrew, Farsi, and Arabic.”

    The digital media landscape is very promising in the MENA region and is poised for rapid growth. Hence, strengthening VerSe Innovation’s leadership in MENA, Shekhar Iyer’s appointment as director and general manager of VerSe Innovation, MENA, will act as a change catalyst. In his previous stints, Shekhar has worked with Abu Dhabi Media (Radio Mirchi), Percept Gulf (MAME), Zee Entertainment, Indian Express, and Khaleej Times and in his new role, he will spearhead strategic and business development in the region.

    VerSe Innovation, MENA director and general manager Shekhar Iyer said, “I am thrilled to join VerSe Innovation and I am convinced that Dailyhunt will deliver outstanding results to our partners and advertisers. It is interesting to witness the end-user content growth in this region, and we are excited to see the impact that Dailyhunt creates in MENA.

    In addition to helping brands drive awareness, acquire users, and generate revenue, we are confident in enhancing the overall customer experience and deepening brand relationships. I look forward to building the largest local language content discovery platform for the MENA region.”

  • Outbrain begins to rollout of new Native Header Bidding solution

    Outbrain begins to rollout of new Native Header Bidding solution

    Mumbai: Outbrain Inc, a leading recommendation platform for the open web has announced the global rollout for a new Native Advertising Header Bidding solution designed to help media partners boost their monetisation strategy by enabling Outbrain to serve ads on any ad placement.

    Native Header Bidding allows the Outbrain advertising engine to programmatically bid into the display and video ad units to serve Outbrain Native Ads. This strategic move is designed to help Outbrain media partners maximize revenue from traditional ad units while creating more opportunities for Outbrain advertisers to show their ads and engage customers with Outbrain Native Ads.

    “We are committed to innovate and help media partners in the open web fund content creation. With Native Header Bidding our goal is to help our partners maximise revenues while delivering a better advertising experience to consumers through Outbrain Native Ads,” said Outbrain chief revenue officer Eytan Galai. “Native Header Bidding unlocks new revenue potential by creating more advertising opportunities for Outbrain while increasing yield on traditional display and video ad placements.”

    Outbrain enters the Header Bidding space by leveraging its deep integration with media partners which provides unique visibility into contextual performance and behavioral interest signals, enabling bidding efficiency. The result is a more personalised and relevant ad experience for the consumer and maximum performance for marketers.

    “Up until now, Outbrain ads were only shown in our recommendation feed but with Native Header Bidding, we now show ads also on display and video ad placements.” said Outbrain VP of advertising Ayal Steiner. “The expected result is that users will experience more relevant ads served through native ad experiences that are much more user friendly, and Outbrain advertisers will benefit from more ad inventory which creates new opportunities to engage potential customers on the open web.”

    Outbrain’s Native Header Bidding leverages open web header bidding standards with Outbrain remaining an active member and contributor to prebid.org. Outbrain now begins a global rollout of Native Header Bidding with strategic media partners.

  • Snapdeal opens 130 new distribution hubs across India

    Snapdeal opens 130 new distribution hubs across India

    Mumbai: E-commerce marketplace Snapdeal announced that it has opened 130 new distribution hubs across all of India since January, covering 26 states and two union territories. The expanded network is designed to cater to the surge in demand ahead of the festive season starting in India from early October. 

    The e-tailer further shared that the maximum number of these hubs are located in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. In addition, Snapdeal has augmented its logistics network in Jammu & Kashmir and in the North-East. 

    The network expansion serves the growing demand for online shopping from smaller cities, said the e-tailer, such as Baramulla (J&K), Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Khammam (Telangana), Alwar (Rajasthan), Sambalpur (Odisha), Tumkur (Karnataka), Latur (Maharashtra), Dimapur (Nagaland) and is designed to speed up deliveries for customers in these cities and in surrounding areas.

    “The new hubs are located in areas where there is either growing buyer demand or higher seller concentration. The new facilities are designed towards rapid pick-ups from sellers and faster deliveries to buyers”, a Snapdeal spokesperson said. “The network expansion will also reduce the distance that some of our shipments travel by helping fulfill some of the demand from within the region,” the spokesperson added. 

    With the addition of these new hubs, Snapdeal now serves over 26,000 pin codes, reaching over 90 per cent of Indians across India, including metros, tier 1 & 2 cities, and most of tier 3 and 4 towns of India, stated the e-tailer.

    The growing importance of online consumers from India’s smaller cities in driving India’s e-commerce growth was highlighted in a recent report by global consulting firm Kearney. The report shared that aspiring & mass households earning less than Rs 10 lakh per annum account for nearly 70 per cent of India’s non-food, value-driven retail demand. However, this segment today accounts for only 16 per cent of value e-commerce demand. This is expected to grow to 38 percent by 2026 and to nearly 50 per cent of value e-commerce demand by 2030. 

    Growing internet adoption and whittling away of resistance towards online shopping during the pandemic is driving online adoption in this segment. The Gen-Z users in India’s smaller cities are digitally savvy and they are joining the millennials as independent shoppers, which is expected to accelerate the growth of value e-commerce in India. 

    The rise of value-conscious shoppers, especially beyond the bigger cities in India is expected to be one of the key drivers of value e-commerce growth in India, the Kearney report added.

  • ClearTax unveils ‘Clear’ as umbrella identity to fuel expansion

    Bangalore: The Indian fintech SaaS company ClearTax on Tuesday announced ‘Clear’, an umbrella name under which all of its offerings across taxes, invoices, wealth management, and credit for businesses will reside.

    Under this new identity, the company will continue its tax offerings (Income Tax and GST) and other products nurturing its legacy of accuracy, security, and reliability, complementing the ClearTax brand, it said in a statement.

    As per estimates, Clear is expected to manage invoices worth over $ one trillion by 2023, it further added.

    “We started the company to simplify taxes, over the years we have evolved beyond taxes and have grown tremendously,” Clear’s founder and CEO Archit Gupta said in the announcement, “Today we make SaaS for taxes, invoices for connected businesses and offer wealth management. Clear captures our huge ambitions to serve Indians in the areas of invoicing, wealth management, credit, and much more.”