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Tag: Puneet Johar

  • #fame to invest 10 million dollars across six countries

    #fame to invest 10 million dollars across six countries

    MUMBAI: To The New (TTN), an end-to-end digital services network, through its digital content platform #fame will be investing $10 million in the next couple of years as it sets a target to reach out to 5000 channels and 50,000 content creators across six countries in south east Asia.

     

    #fame CEO Saket Saurabh, who was previously working with the Network18 group, says the company will follow a three pronged strategy for its talent-first programmes. Saurabh elaborates, “In the first stage it will focus on emerging talent and to establish them and help them promote and build digital communities.  In the second stage, content through digital IPs’ will be created via innovative digital shows in genres such as food, fashion, music, comedy and technology and in the third stage the company will monetise by helping brands reach out and engage with audiences through digital conversations via digital video services.”

     

    The digital agency has adopted a multi-platform approach when it comes to distribution on social platforms like YouTube, Facebook, WeChat etc. “We are screen agnostic. We are looking at mobiles, movies, airports, television screens etc,” says Saurabh.

     

    #fame, which was formerly known as Four Cross Creative Services, in the last few months decided to redefine its business operations and thus ideated to come up with its multi-tier talent management programme, which is designed to help talented youngsters grow their presence digitally and evolve as performers.

     

    TTN Ventures MD Puneet Johar feels that video is the new language for consumers on internet. “It is combining powerfully with the smartphone explosion and the rise of social sharing across screens to inspire a new wave of talent. We have built a strong ecosystem of digital businesses well positioned to create value in such a landscape,” he informs.

     

    #fame has identified six key markets – India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines. It will now focus on creating Indian-based IPs and will begin its local businesses in other five countries in the coming six to eight months.

     

    To create talent inflow, it has partnered with Blogmint which is a fast growing network of bloggers. It currently has 5000 content creators and this figure is expected to reach 10,000 by the end of the year. It will also build a network of alliances with talent hubs such as comedy clubs, film and music schools, art and culinary academies.

     

    #fame announced a slew of digital shows like School of Style which it claims to be India’s first online hunt for top stylists and will be hosted by celebrated entertainment and fashion icon Karan Johar who will be the host, judge and mentor. Others include, Websinger which seeks promising young singing talent, Gang No 1 a search for top comedy collectives and the second season of Webchef the country’s largest online hunt for amateur chefs.

     

     When asked if the IPs will rest with either #fame or the hosts, Saurabh says it will be dealt on a case to case basis.

     

    Celebrities that have signed up with #fame include TV star Maria Goretti, child comic star Saloni, top fashionista Anusha Dandekar, celebrity chef Ajay Chopra, singing sensation Shibani Kashyap and style guru VJ Andy.

  • Getit Infomedia and To The New introduce ScaleIQ

    Getit Infomedia and To The New introduce ScaleIQ

    MUMBAI: Getit Infomedia, and To The New, have come together to offer market access and strategic mentorship to entrepreneurs through a non-traditional platform – ‘ScaleIQ’.

     

    This unique program aims at providing market access along with a set of seasoned advisors and mentors who are not only a functional fit, but also have in-depth industry knowledge thus helping the entrepreneurs establish themselves in the current competitive ecosystem.

     

    According to the study by Accel India, 1,000 companies across 62 different accelerators and incubators sprung up in India over the last few years, however, only 30 of them took a leap to the next level.  The report states that the key reasons of failure are lack of market access and adequate mentorship. 

     

    ScaleIQ will give them access to the existing consumers, market space, global advisors, infrastructure and technology that will help them reach their goal. It will help established companies that typically have made significant progress in its product or service development and are beginning to engage customers in discussions regarding the testing or purchase of its products and services.

     

    Getit Infomedia CEO Jaspreet Bindra said, “In India, there are only a handful of start-ups who have successfully taken their business to an enterprise level. Through ScaleIQ, we will ensure that we provide the start-ups with the right tools and platform that would help them grow further. ScaleIQ will also provide market access through To The New’s strong presence across Asia Pacific region.”

     

    The partnership between Getit Infomedia and To The New, with field presence across seven countries will provide start-ups access to services and applications such as mobile technology, analytics, marketing technology, video technology and social media.

     

    To The new, managing director Puneet Johar stated, “We are excited about this partnership with Getit.  With ScaleIQ, we can bring together many exciting new technologies and partnerships for the benefits of our clients. In turn, the young start-ups will benefit greatly with access to clients across different locations in Asia Pacific.”

     

    “ScaleIQ is a start-up market access platform for fresh entrepreneurs to launch their ideas. With To the new as our partner, we plan to provide vast exposure to start-ups, which will help them gain global outlook. We will work closely with them to mentor them basis their requirements and facilitate access to industry experts and coaches,” explained ScaleIQ Partner Chetan Bhargava.

     

    ScaleIQ will provide all the relevant elements to ensure sustainable growth for the start-ups. To The New’s innovative digital solutions would help start-ups pave the way for offering future services and global exposure will accelerate their growth. Over the next six- nine months, ScaleIQ plans to expand across Asia Pacific Regions to explore the vast start-up ecosystem.

     

    “This program will also be focused on helping start-ups go to the market by giving them access to the best-in-class technology, our existing customers and the market space to succeed. This program has been created as fully integrated solution for budding start-ups to help them develop further and leap onto the next stage,” added Bhargava.

  • Star India CFO G Subramaniam, AVP Vidyuth Bhandari quit

    Star India CFO G Subramaniam, AVP Vidyuth Bhandari quit

    MUMBAI: After the exit of Puneet Johar as Senior VP, Marketing and Communication last week, Star India has two more key executives leaving the organisation. According to reliable sources in the market, Star India CFO G Subramaniam and AVP Vidyuth Bhandari have quit the organisation.

    Subramaniam, who will be leaving the organisation at the end of June, is set to join a prominent cellular phone company. Bhandari has already joined Adlabs Radio as Interactivity Activation and PR head.

    Subramaniam and Bhandari were not available for comment at the time of filing this report.

    A chartered accountant by qualification, Subramanian joined Star India as Star Digital Platforms Group CFO in 2001. He was elevated to CFO of the network in 2003. Prior to joining Star, he worked with the BPL Innovision business group in their telecom ventures including four years with BPL Mobile, Mumbai as the CFO. The new move sees him returning to the telecom sector.