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Tag: Mayank Kumar

  • Glance-upGrad partner up to tackle India’s 13.4 per cent unemployment rate

    Glance-upGrad partner up to tackle India’s 13.4 per cent unemployment rate

    MUMBAI: Imagine unlocking your phone and unlocking your future at the same time.

    In a world where smart screens are as essential as the air we breathe, Glance and upGrad are reshaping how we learn and grow. This groundbreaking collaboration turns your lock screen into a gateway of endless possibilities, offering free, job-ready skills through upGrad’s Intern-Zip programme.

    With the swipe of a finger, millions of young Indians now have access to life-changing upskilling opportunities, proving that in the 21st century, innovation and ambition go hand in hand.

    Glance reaches 235 million users daily, nearly 47 per cent of whom are under the age of 24—making it a strategic platform to connect with young Indians. Within three weeks of the launch, upGrad’s content has garnered over 100 million views (glances) on lock screens, underscoring the programme’s reach and impact.

    The Intern-Zip programme, designed for individuals aged 20-24, aims to address India’s 13.4 per cent unemployment rate among graduates by equipping them with skills for professional success. Courses include foundational topics such as technical expertise, soft skills, and professional development, all accessible directly from the users’ lock screens.

    InMobi co-founder & Glance COO & president, Piyush Shah expressed optimism about the initiative, “With Glance, we’re not only reaching millions—we’re empowering them to seize opportunities and inspire them to discover something new every moment. By bringing upGrad’s workforce-ready content directly on smart lock screens, we’re equipping users with technical expertise, soft skills, and professional development tools.”

    upGrad co-founder, Mayank Kumar highlighted the relevance of skilling in a transforming economy, “India has now become a global epicentre of learning and skilling, and this is the most opportune time to scale our value proposition to a different demographic altogether. Partnering with Glance allows us to expand our reach and leverage smart tech integration, further reinforcing our commitment to this cause.”

    Glance chief marketing officer, Bikash Chowdhury underscored the programme’s alignment with India’s broader economic goals, “As India works towards becoming a $5 trillion economy, a skilled, adaptable workforce is essential for sustaining growth and solidifying the nation’s standing as a global talent hub. Our goal with the Glance for Good programme is to inspire positive behaviour and drive large-scale, real-world impact.”

    By combining Glance’s AI-driven lock screen platform, available in seven Indian languages, with upGrad’s expertise in skilling, the initiative creates an unparalleled opportunity to empower India’s youth and address the evolving demands of a tech-driven economy.

  • Lowe Lintas introduces a new campaign for Dabur Real featuring Sidharth Malhotra

    Lowe Lintas introduces a new campaign for Dabur Real featuring Sidharth Malhotra

    Mumbai: Dabur Real, renowned for its innovative beverage offerings, is to announce the launch of a captivating new campaign starring Bollywood heartthrob Sidharth Malhotra. conceptualised by Lowe Lintas, the campaign spotlights Dabur Real’s exciting range of Fizz beverages, which includes tantalizing flavours such as cranberry, orange, jeera cola, apple, and Nimbu.

    The film has been beautifully choreographed to complement a captivating soundtrack, enhancing the visual appeal and charm of the film. With its lively presentation and a catchy melody, the TVC promises to resonate strongly with viewers, showcasing Dabur Real’s commitment to delivering delightful beverage experiences.

    Dabur India vice president of Marketing Mayank Kumar said, “We are happy to expand our beverages category with the launch of Réal Fizzin and super excited to welcome Youth Icon Sidharth Malhotra to the Réal family. Réal offers the consumer the widest range of healthy beverages such as Réal Juices & Beverages, Réal Drinks and Réal Milkshake Frappe. With Réal Fizzin, our latest offering, the goodness of fruit is combined with the fun of fizz. We have launched Real Fizzin in 5 amazing variants– Cranberry, Orange, Nimbu (Lemon), Apple and Jeera Cola. We believe that our consumers will love this new Fizzin Drink as it truly offers the best of both worlds in terms of fruit and fizz.”

    Commenting on the campaign, Lowe Lintas regional creative officer Vasudha Misra shared, “A refreshing film for a refreshing drink. It says all that has to be said about Fizzin with effortless swag and some fun soundtrack. Nicely done by Mohit Arora and his team.”

  • Shark Tank India 3 invites innovators on an entrepreneurial triumph journey

    Shark Tank India 3 invites innovators on an entrepreneurial triumph journey

    Mumbai: Shark Tank India has successfully cemented its position in the Indian market, and its third season has begun streaming on Sony LIV. The show is making a significant impact with its compelling pitches, stories and deals generating widespread excitement among viewers. The inclusion of 6 new sharks on the panel has not only captured the audience’s attention but has also received an enthusiastic response from brands and advertisers.

    The all-new season has garnered support from influential brands, fortifying its impact. ACKO continues its dedicated support as the co-presenting partner, maintaining a steadfast three-year alliance. Pokerbaazi, has joined as the co-presenting sponsor, and with the support of co-powered by upGrad, the show strategically broadens its reach and influence. IDFC First Bank has come onboard as the banking partner, and ICICI Direct along with Unicharm’s Sofy Feminine Care brand have joined as partner sponsors, enriching the show’s network of pivotal partnerships.

    The panel of season 3 includes – Varun Dua, founder and CEO, ACKO, Amit Jain, CEO and co-founder, CarDekho group – InsuranceDekho.com, Anupam Mittal, founder and CEO, Shaadi.com – people group, Aman Gupta, co-founder and CMO, boat, Azhar Iqubal, co-founder and CEO, Inshorts, Deepinder Goyal, founder and CEO, Zomato, Namita Thapar, executive director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Peyush Bansal, CEO and co-founder, Lenskart, Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO, OYO Rooms, Radhika Gupta, MD and CEO, Edelweiss MF, Ronnie Screwvala, co-founder, and chairperson, UpGrad, and Vineeta Singh, co-founder and CEO, SUGAR Cosmetics. The show is hosted by Rahul Dua.

    With its diverse and seasoned panel, Shark Tank India is not only poised to elevate the entrepreneurial spirit but also reshape the business terrain with this all-new season.

    Comments

    Sony LIV head ad sales revenue  Ranjana Mangla

    Shark Tank India has revolutionized the realm of reality shows in our country. Offering a unique fusion of education and entertainment, the show delivers a distinct viewing experience. It serves as an exceptional platform, allowing brands and marketers to execute purposeful advertising within a highly engaged environment. By associating with the show, brands ride the wave of entrepreneurial spirit, engage with a diverse audience, and elevate their presence in the hearts and minds of millions, all while being part of the journey to transform dreams into thriving businesses.

    ACKO EVP Marketing Ashish Mishra

    Shark Tank India has single-handedly run the largest educational campaign for promoting Entrepreneurship in India. It has given courage to millions of Indians to chase their dreams. Terms like Debt, Equity, ARR etc are being discussed at dinner tables in households across India. Parents no longer frown when their kids say “Mujhe Startup Karna hai”. This is a big testament to the reach and popularity of STI. After Doctor, Engineer and Cricketer, India finally has a fourth popular profession – Entrepreneur.

    upGrad co-founder & MD Mayank Kumar

    Continuous learning is a fundamental tenet of Entrepreneurship and Shark Tank India offers the most immersive platform to catalyse and make upskilling a household phenomenon. Interestingly, upGrad and Shark Tank India synergize in nurturing innovative mindsets and contributing to society, making this a high-value and outcome-driven proposition. India is at the epicentre of the Industrial Revolution and upGrad stands firm in the process of nation-building by offering individuals between 18 to 60 years with learning capabilities for the evolving and transformational job market. We see this opportunity as a driving force to position India as the next big talent provider and Vishwa Guru among other developing and developed countries.

  • The Advertising Club collaborates with MICA

    The Advertising Club collaborates with MICA

    Mumbai: The Advertising Club has announced a partnership with India’s leading marketing and communication management institute, MICA – The School of Ideas, for an online programme on Performance Marketing. Kickstarting in January 2024, the collaborative initiative is aimed towards empowering individuals with industry-relevant skills and knowledge through a specially curated leadership and management development module on Performance Marketing. The programme is designed to help experienced professionals as well as freshers develop contemporary need of the hour capabilities that employers are seeking in order to maintain their competitive advantage.  

    The 36 hours intense live online programme is curated in a workshop format by the industry and academic experts and will include a significant level of self-study. Designed for advertising and marketing professionals, creative specialists, digital marketing experts, and learning enthusiasts, the Performance Marketing programme will include live teaching sessions, self-learning, group-learning and will culminate with an evaluation which will include assessments, presentations and quizzes.  Spanning 9 weeks, the programme will cover the basics and advanced technicalities of performance marketing, social media marketing, display advertising, email and affiliate marketing, SEO & SEM, targeting and audience segmentation, Generative AI, Machine Learning and much more, ensuring a holistic learning experience.

    Speaking on the partnership with MICA, The Advertising Club president Rana Barua said, “The landscape of the MarTech industry is constantly evolving. With this programme, we aim to provide a platform for freshers and experienced professionals, and empower them to upskill their knowledge, thereby becoming industry ready. We believe this collaboration will foster learning, transform careers, inspire creativity, and ultimately elevate standards within our industry.”

    MICA professor Mayank Kumar further said, “At MICA, we unravel the intricate layers of Performance Marketing, offering a panoramic view of its evolution and strategies. Join our experts as they decode the dynamic marketing landscape, empowering your prowess in this ever-evolving field.”

    The Performance Marketing programme will commence in January 2024, starting with 2 live sessions each week conducted over Zoom. More details on the programme can be found on The Advertising Club website as well as the MICA website.

  • upGrad names Srikanth Iyengar as CEO – workforce development for North America & Europe

    upGrad names Srikanth Iyengar as CEO – workforce development for North America & Europe

    Mumbai: Edtech major upGrad announced the appointment of Srikanth Iyengar as the CEO of workforce development, effective September 2022.

    Srikanth has over two decades of work experience spanning North America and Europe. In his previous profiles, he led large multinational businesses across diverse industries like tech services and learning/talent upskilling, consistently driving revenue growth and profitability across a portfolio of 2000 global clients across North America, Europe, and APAC regions. In addition, he is a passionate advocate of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and has championed various initiatives around technology-led business transformation, IT solutions, FMCG, and skills & training development for driving strong brand recognition and financial growth at large.

    In his current role, Srikanth will build and scale a B2B proposition that upskills experienced technology professionals. With this offering, upGrad is well placed to address a significant and growing technology skills gap in the global marketplace by delivering a world-class proposition. It will also be responsible for leveraging the company’s unparalleled breadth of technology curriculums, significantly large alumni community, and proven expertise in delivering tangible learning outcomes. Srikanth’s efforts will be instrumental in setting up a robust ‘diversity and inclusion’ (DnI) framework to allow businesses to build a future-ready and productive workforce.

    upGrad co-founder & MD Mayank Kumar said, “We continue to strengthen our focus on the global enterprise segment in pursuit of predictable, profitable, and sustainable growth. With Srikanth joining our leadership team, we look forward to leveraging his sharp business acumen and multi-cultural intellect to further sharpen our client focus, strengthen our operational excellence and global presence, and also enhance sales leadership for continued growth.”

    “The results of the conference board 2022 global CEO survey show that a shortage of skills, especially technology skills, is one of the biggest short and medium-term challenges facing global corporations today,” added Srikanth Iyengar.

    “We are confident that upGrad’s workforce development proposition will help our clients address this problem in a scalable and holistic manner. The workforce development approach is critical for businesses to follow as it would not just upskill but also build employees’ resilience to empower organisations and corporates with the tools needed to adapt to the future job markets. Over the last few months, I have developed much respect for upGrad founders and the leadership team as a result of their strategic clarity and relentless, disciplined approach to growth and market leadership. I am really excited to be joining such a high-performing team and to help build a truly special organisation going forward,” he concluded.

    With a strong focus on the US, Europe, and select western markets, Srikanth will continue to work from London, United Kingdom. In the most recent development, the global edtech player has closed its sixth key acquisition of CY2022 to further strengthen its enterprise (B2B) business portfolio in India and beyond.

  • Dabur India forays into fizzy drinks market

    Dabur India forays into fizzy drinks market

    MUMBAI: Dabur India announced its foray into the fizzy drinks market with the launch a range of fruit juice-based aerated drinks.

    The new range, Réal Volo, has been prepared using a blend of exotic fruits like Cranberry, Blueberry, Blackberry and Grape. The range will be available in 250ml cans priced at Rs 40.

    “Today’s health conscious consumers prefer healthier beverage options. We have been
    witnessing an increase in consumer demand for ready-to-drink beverages that are aerated but not unhealthy. With Réal Volo, we are meeting this consumer demand with a range of fizzy fruit drinks that retain the goodness of the fruits and comes without the guilt of unhealthy consumption. Our Réal Volo range contains 20-25% fruit juice content making the fun of fizz healthier with the goodness of fruits. Consumers can now have a can of Réal Volo without the guilt of consuming carbonated drinks,”said Dabur India Fruit Juices and Beverages category head Mayank Kumar.

    Réal Volo, which does not have any added preservatives, is being launched in two variants: Cranberry-Blueberry, and Grape-Blackcurrant. The company plans to extend this range in the coming months with the introduction of newer variants.

    “Dabur has always been at the forefront of innovation. We pioneered the concept of packaged fruit juices in India with the launch of with Réal and were also the first to introduce 100% fruit juices and fruit-vegetable juices under with Réal Activ. We expanded the category with India’s first fruit fiber beverage – Réal Activ Fiber+ and are now expanding our range with the launch of fruit juice-based aerated drinks with with Réal Volo. With the launch of Réal Volo, we aim to not only extend brand Réal to give our consumers more choices but also make the experience of consuming aerated beverages more enjoyable and nutritious,” added Kumar.

  • Dabur India forays into fizzy drinks market

    Dabur India forays into fizzy drinks market

    MUMBAI: Dabur India announced its foray into the fizzy drinks market with the launch a range of fruit juice-based aerated drinks.

    The new range, Réal Volo, has been prepared using a blend of exotic fruits like Cranberry, Blueberry, Blackberry and Grape. The range will be available in 250ml cans priced at Rs 40.

    “Today’s health conscious consumers prefer healthier beverage options. We have been
    witnessing an increase in consumer demand for ready-to-drink beverages that are aerated but not unhealthy. With Réal Volo, we are meeting this consumer demand with a range of fizzy fruit drinks that retain the goodness of the fruits and comes without the guilt of unhealthy consumption. Our Réal Volo range contains 20-25% fruit juice content making the fun of fizz healthier with the goodness of fruits. Consumers can now have a can of Réal Volo without the guilt of consuming carbonated drinks,”said Dabur India Fruit Juices and Beverages category head Mayank Kumar.

    Réal Volo, which does not have any added preservatives, is being launched in two variants: Cranberry-Blueberry, and Grape-Blackcurrant. The company plans to extend this range in the coming months with the introduction of newer variants.

    “Dabur has always been at the forefront of innovation. We pioneered the concept of packaged fruit juices in India with the launch of with Réal and were also the first to introduce 100% fruit juices and fruit-vegetable juices under with Réal Activ. We expanded the category with India’s first fruit fiber beverage – Réal Activ Fiber+ and are now expanding our range with the launch of fruit juice-based aerated drinks with with Réal Volo. With the launch of Réal Volo, we aim to not only extend brand Réal to give our consumers more choices but also make the experience of consuming aerated beverages more enjoyable and nutritious,” added Kumar.

  • UpGrad partners with LetsVenture to educate Angel investors for India

    UpGrad partners with LetsVenture to educate Angel investors for India

    MUMBAI: Online education platform UpGrad led by Ronnie Screwvala and Mayank Kumar and LetsVenture have designed a four to six weeks Angel Investment Programme of a mixture of interactive content and lectures from the world’s leading Angel Investors as well as high-end offline meet-ups for networking opportunities.

    The aim is to give individuals hoping to become investors an unmatched access to the startup ecosystem of the country.

    Due to the significant growth of investment opportunities in the Indian Startup ecosystem, LetsVenture expects more than 4,000 new Angel Investors to join their investment network over the next year. The joint online programme between UpGrad and LetsVenture aims to reach over 2,500 individuals over the next two years.

    “Our programme is designed to satisfy the increasing demands of individuals to be educated in the area of Angel Investing, driven by the strong growth in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India and great developments in the funding landscape. LetsVenture has had huge impact on the positive development in the country and we are extremely excited to partner up with them to educate the next set of investors”, said UpGrad co founder Ronnie Screwvala.

    “Ever since we started LetsVenture, we have seen a significant demand of new Angel Investors to get trained and educated in some of the key areas of Angel Investing. We have done smaller training workshops throughout the years, but we want to make this available to the many more individuals who want to step into this exciting field of investments. We want to make angel investing more accessible to investors living outside of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. That is why we have partnered with UpGrad to create a first-class programme for the next generation of Angel Investors”, said LetsVenture Co founder and CEO Shanti Mohan.

    “There is keen and strongly growing interest in investing in early stage start-ups. UpGrad & LetsVenture are strongly aligned in their vision to further strengthen and nurture India’s most promising ecosystem of startups and investors and build a global hub of thought-leadership in the area”, said UpGrad Co-founder and MD Mayank Kumar.

    The programme slated to commence in the second quarter of 2016 in India will also be launched in select international markets to give international investors access to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India and in the respective country.

  • UpGrad partners with LetsVenture to educate Angel investors for India

    UpGrad partners with LetsVenture to educate Angel investors for India

    MUMBAI: Online education platform UpGrad led by Ronnie Screwvala and Mayank Kumar and LetsVenture have designed a four to six weeks Angel Investment Programme of a mixture of interactive content and lectures from the world’s leading Angel Investors as well as high-end offline meet-ups for networking opportunities.

    The aim is to give individuals hoping to become investors an unmatched access to the startup ecosystem of the country.

    Due to the significant growth of investment opportunities in the Indian Startup ecosystem, LetsVenture expects more than 4,000 new Angel Investors to join their investment network over the next year. The joint online programme between UpGrad and LetsVenture aims to reach over 2,500 individuals over the next two years.

    “Our programme is designed to satisfy the increasing demands of individuals to be educated in the area of Angel Investing, driven by the strong growth in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India and great developments in the funding landscape. LetsVenture has had huge impact on the positive development in the country and we are extremely excited to partner up with them to educate the next set of investors”, said UpGrad co founder Ronnie Screwvala.

    “Ever since we started LetsVenture, we have seen a significant demand of new Angel Investors to get trained and educated in some of the key areas of Angel Investing. We have done smaller training workshops throughout the years, but we want to make this available to the many more individuals who want to step into this exciting field of investments. We want to make angel investing more accessible to investors living outside of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. That is why we have partnered with UpGrad to create a first-class programme for the next generation of Angel Investors”, said LetsVenture Co founder and CEO Shanti Mohan.

    “There is keen and strongly growing interest in investing in early stage start-ups. UpGrad & LetsVenture are strongly aligned in their vision to further strengthen and nurture India’s most promising ecosystem of startups and investors and build a global hub of thought-leadership in the area”, said UpGrad Co-founder and MD Mayank Kumar.

    The programme slated to commence in the second quarter of 2016 in India will also be launched in select international markets to give international investors access to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India and in the respective country.

  • UpGrad appoints Anshul Khandelwal as marketing head

    UpGrad appoints Anshul Khandelwal as marketing head

    MUMBAI: Ronnie Screwvala’s UpGrad has appointed Anshul Khandelwal as marketing head effective from March 2016.

     

    Khndelwal will be responsible for driving the marketing, positioning and branding for UpGrad and report to UpGrad MD Mayank Kumar.

     

    In a joint statement, UpGrad co-founder Ronnie Screwvala and Kumar said, “We are happy to have Anshul on board to lead the marketing operations for UpGrad as we continue to expand our portfolio of programs. We look forward to working with Anshul and benefitting from his expertise and out-of-the-box thinking. Education is a large sector and there is a lot of disruptive thoughts that can be executed to build a long standing brand. Together we hope towards achieving and setting new industry benchmarks as we scale up.”

     

    Khandelwal added, “In today’s context, online education is becoming more mainstream and acceptable. This is the way our country has to go. UpGrad, within a very short time since its launch, has made waves in the industry with its holistic approach towards education for professionals.I am very excited about working with the dynamic team to help further their vision and to build on their success.”

     

    Prior to joining UpGrad, Khandelwal worked with BlueStone as VP – marketing where he led brand strategy and positioning, creative development, brand activation, customer acquisition and marketing-led innovations.

     

    He also led new product development initiatives and launches during his stint at 3M’s healthcare division and has worked with companies like Mahindra & Mahindra and GlobalLogic.