Tag: Rakesh Hinduja

  • Wondrlab’s remarkable 2023 journey paves the way for a bold 2024 expansion

    Wondrlab’s remarkable 2023 journey paves the way for a bold 2024 expansion

    Mumbai: As we reflect on the transformative year of 2023, marked by technological leaps, environmental endeavours, and global shifts, the stage is set for the unpredictable landscape of 2024. From the evolution of artificial intelligence to the urgent focus on climate action, our journey unfolds against a backdrop of innovation and challenges. Join us as we explore the highlights of the past and anticipate the dynamics that will shape our world in the coming year. Welcome to a brief overview of the year that was and the forecast for 2024.

    Here is the year-end quote below on behalf of Wondrlab’s managing partner & co-founder Rakesh Hinduja

    This was the third year of Wondrlab and the game is three times. We continue to strengthen our cultural foundation with a focus on people, product & profit – In that order. The Wondrlab family this year is over 400 people diverse and motivated to achieve newer benchmarks. Our product continues to be strategically effective, creatively engaging and full-funnel in the rollout, bar none. With the first 2 P’s being strong, Profit is always healthy. This year we also added a new P, three times office place to our Mumbai HQ, an open layout for fun, positivity and a wonderful vibe for people and products to thrive.  

    We continue to embrace digital transformation, we leveraged technology and data to deliver cutting-edge solutions, solidifying our differentiated offering in the industry. This was the first time we entered Cannes which resulted in a shortlist. A pivotal part of our strategic vision for 2023 was expanding our footprint beyond borders. The recent acquisition of Cymetrix marked a significant milestone. This not only strengthened our capabilities but also positioned us for exponential growth in the global market.  

    We want to solve not just do one thing well, we want to do whatever it takes for brands to win in today’s complex marketing world and do it all well.  

    As I reflect on the year, I am filled with optimism about our trajectory in 2024. Our plan includes further exploration of new markets and industry verticals. Strengthening client relationships remains a top priority, with an unwavering commitment to understanding evolving needs and delivering tailor-made solutions. To create genuine products that help businesses. As well as wins at the biggest awards stage.  

    Our platform-first and technology-centric approach continues to be at the forefront. The potential of augmented reality and virtual reality excites us, and we are poised to seamlessly integrate these into our offerings. We are moving rapidly towards our goal of becoming a world-class network based in India, with more strategic acquisitions on the horizon. As we expand our reach, capabilities, our resilient team dedication to strategic vision, it positions us not just to navigate challenges but to thrive in the ever-evolving business landscape.

  • Wondrlab elevates dynamic content focus with Dimple Dugar as head

    Wondrlab elevates dynamic content focus with Dimple Dugar as head

    Mumbai: Wondrlab foremost platform-first global digital network, has today announced the appointment of Dimple Dugar as dynamic content head for the network. This strategic move aligns with Wondrlab’s mission to drive dynamic or fast content production and reinforces its commitment to pioneering marketing solutions in the ever-evolving media landscape.

    With over 16 years of experience, Dimple is a seasoned filmmaker and producer. She’s known for creating fast contextualised content at scale, which is the need of the hour in today’s dynamic marketing and content industry. Prior to joining WL, she has worn multiple hats from being an entrepreneur to corporate stints including creative director, head of content & production, brand solutions, (Sn. consultant) First post-Studio, Network 18.

    Wondrlab co-founder and managing partner Rakesh Hinduja said, “Recognising the paramount importance of dynamic and fast-evolving content in today’s marketing landscape, we are excited to welcome Dimple to our team. Her extensive experience in Dynamic content and production will be a driving force in propelling our content strategies to the next level. We welcome her and look forward to a fruitful partnership as we navigate the ever-changing dynamics of the content world.”

    Wondrlab the newly appointed dynamic content head Dimple Dugar commented, “It is an exciting opportunity to be working with Wondrlab, and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities Wondrlab will offer me. Currently, the company is India’s first marketing tech network and has many renowned clients on board. I am looking forward to developing the Dynamic content part to expand the existing business of Wondrlab and hope to bring in a more structured approach to its entire business ecosystem.”  

    Dimple Dugar’s appointment is set to inject fresh creativity and innovation into Wondrlab’s Dynamic content strategy and production, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing journey of transformation and growth. 

  • Panasonic Life Solutions India launches ‘Load Lega Leader’ TVC

    Panasonic Life Solutions India launches ‘Load Lega Leader’ TVC

    Mumbai: Panasonic Life Solutions India – one of the largest manufacturers of electrical construction materials (ECM) in the country, has launched a campaign focusing on the value of high-quality electrical products by being pertinent with the ICC World Cup season.

    Celebrations of the World Cup season are brought to life in the TVC, depicting the story about quirky Indian families gathering to watch and enjoy the match together. The campaign’s central theme is the efficient sharing of load across home appliances with quality wiring devices (switches), wires, switchgear and water heaters from Anchor by Panasonic, setting into shape the campaign tagline – Load Lega Leader.

    The film begins with the commotion at Mehraji’s house, with guests preparing to watch the World Cup and creating a stadium-like atmosphere, which requires the usage of several electrical appliances. The TVC showcases products from Anchor by Panasonic which are used throughout the film. The overall messaging emphasizes on the importance of load sharing especially in Indian households which sets the narrative of – ‘Jab cricket ka bukhaar chadhega, load toh badhega.’

    Speaking on the launch of the campaign, PLSIND deputy MD and PEWIN MD Yoshiyuki Kato said, “With the Cricket World Cup season approaching, our focus is to encourage consumers to share the load without any fear, while stating that, investing in quality products helps extend the life of gadgets, establishing Anchor by Panasonic as a first-rate electrical player in its segment.”

    The creative TVC conceptualised by Wondrlab, comprises the messaging strategy of utilizing the enormous gatherings of Indian families to watch the World Cup. With the ever-increasing electrical load, the use of quality electrical accessories plays an increasingly important role for a stress free celebration with friends and family. Commenting on the release of this TVC, Wondrlab co-founder Rakesh Hinduja said, “People are not too involved in switches, wires and MCBs as a category. We wanted to set up the context with situations and endearing nuances that people can relate to.” In addition to TV advertisements during the cricket World Cup, Panasonic is also releasing the campaign digitally on platforms like YouTube and Meta pan India to reach a wider audience.

  • Kapiva partners with Wondrlab’s WYP

    Kapiva partners with Wondrlab’s WYP

    Mumbai: Wondrlab’s creative arm, WYP, has won the creative mandate for Kapiva, a global Ayurvedic D2C brand and a leader in wellness solutions. WYP was chosen as Kapiva’s agency following a competitive multi-agency pitch.

    Wondrlab co-founder and managing partner Rakesh Hinduja expressed his excitement, “In an era where Ayurveda is gaining immense traction on the global stage, securing Kapiva’s business mandate is a thrilling achievement. Kapiva, which was launched as a modern Ayurvedic nutrition brand, holds a unique place in today’s wellness landscape. We are enthusiastic about harnessing our creative acumen to amplify Kapiva’s brand story. This partnership is an opportunity to create impactful narratives that not only celebrate Ayurveda’s universal appeal but also resonate with Kapiva’s diverse audience. By marrying our creative expertise with Kapiva’s Ayurvedic legacy and contemporary approach, we aim to craft campaigns that inspire healthier living on a global scale.”

    Kapiva co-founder Shantanu S said, “Ayurveda has been gaining prominence across the globe as a preventative medicine system- breakthrough research and innovation have been conducted in the space in the past few years.  As a front-runner in the industry, we believe in constantly pushing the needle to increase awareness and adoption. Keeping the same principle in mind, we have collaborated with Wondrlab. Through this partnership, our aim is to empower consumers globally with holistic and modern solutions.”

  • Wondrlab acquires performance marketing agency Neon

    Wondrlab acquires performance marketing agency Neon

    Mumbai: Leading MarTech network Wondrlab has acquired Neon – a leading performance marketing agency. The Neon acquisition follows the WYP acquisition and the Opportune acquisition.

    Neon uses data, creativity, and deep platform understanding to successfully deliver bottom-of-the-funnel campaigns. Since its inception, the agency has helped more than 100 brands grow, by delivering on conversions and leads.  

    Wondrlab advocates a full-funnel approach to helping brands win. This acquisition strengthens Wondrlab’s promise by enabling its clients to straddle brand creation as well as monetization. This is especially necessary for building a first-party digital landscape to survive in a cookie-less future.

    Wondrlab founder & CEO Saurabh Varma said, “Meher and his team share our passion for building incredible solutions that straddle both products and service. As the teams come together, it will help us deliver a seamless full-funnel experience for our clients. Super exciting.”

    Neon founder Meher Patel said, “We are excited to be a part of the Wondrlab family. The ambition to build India’s first Network is exciting, to say the least. The singular focus on delivering on the full funnel seamlessly is exciting. What is even more exciting is the ability of the Group to have real skin in the game. Our journey at Neon gets new wings.”

    “The only way to deliver on the full-funnel promise is to have incredible leadership and deep specialization. The balance between great storytelling and delivering performance has to go hand-in-hand. Beyond that, the chemistry and the human connection are critical. That is what we have focused on through the acquisition phase. Wondrlab wishes a warm welcome to the entire Neon family,” Wondrlab co-founder and managing partner Rakesh Hinduja added.

    Speaking on the acquisition, Neon co-founder Yesha Shetty said, “As a creative leader focused on performance, I look forward to learning how Wondrlab teams create magic through a deep understanding of human behaviour. And I look forward to adding my specialization to making the same thinking relevant and performance worthy. There is so much for us to accomplish together.”

    Malabar Capital Advisors served as financial consultants for the Neon acquisition.

  • Wondrlab onboards Sanju Menon as chief operating officer

    Wondrlab onboards Sanju Menon as chief operating officer

    Mumbai: Platform-first start-up Wondrlab has appointed Sanju Menon as chief operating officer to lead the Wondrlab content team. Menon will report to co-founder and managing partner Rakesh Hinduja.

    In his 16-year stint in advertising, Menon has spearheaded some noteworthy marketing and communication integrated initiatives. Keeping data and human behaviour at the center of his thinking, he has built consumer experience journeys that have helped yield compelling results for the brands that he has partnered with and led, said the agency in a statement.

    “We are committed to being a platform first company. And that means first being a master of the human journey and then using the right platform, the right context to craft the right solution,” said Hinduja. “Sanju is a master of that art. Our commitment on the best tools and data will be effectively deployed to create incredible value for our clients. And Sanju will drive the team to create wondrlful.”

    Menon was instrumental in leading the ideation and solutioning of Bajaj V – The Nation’s Bike advertising campaign, and his efforts landed India’s first Cannes Lion for Effectiveness for an Indian brand. The campaign also won multiple golds and the Grand Prix at the India Effies, as well as other celebrated global awards.

    He also drove the launch of the prestigious Jeep brand in India. As integration lead on the business, he steered Jeep’s award-winning activation – Jeep Democracy – during the 2019 Indian elections, the agency stated. He has led several notable campaigns like #wetweet movement for Twitter, relaunch of Medimix, launch of Husqvarna motorbikes as well the Isuzu MUX and recrafted the brand propositions for Bajaj Allianz Life and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance. He has worked extensively on brands like Citi, Skoda, Ferrero, Zee, Zee5 and Enamor.

    “It feels fantastic to join forces with Wondrlab on an expedition that will allow me to push forth with my ideas and abilities,” Menon said. “The ambition here is to create notable work and build rewarding narratives for the businesses we partner. With all the investments directed towards this singular purpose, I am excited to take on the responsibility and spark some magic together.”

  • Wondrlab ropes in Jateen Kore as digital head

    Wondrlab ropes in Jateen Kore as digital head

    MUMBAI: Martech start-up Wondrlab has appointed Jateen Kore as its digital head. He will be based in Mumbai and report to Wondrlab co-founder & managing partner – content platform Rakesh Hinduja.

    Kore joins from IDFC First Bank where he was the head – digital marketing. At Wondrlab, he has been tasked with setting up the digital practice and bringing forth the agency’s platform-first approach to help brands win on digital.

    “Jateen’s experience straddles the entire digital funnel; his key focus area is to apply a platform-first approach for our brands to win across social, performance marketing, influencer marketing, e-commerce and martech best practices. His diverse skill-set and deep understanding at top digital-first brands like Vodafone and IDFC First Bank will help us deliver tangible creative solutions to our client partners,” Hinduja said.

    “The opportunity to work with a dynamic start-up like Wondrlab is a great chance to augment my experience and contribute to the success of brands across categories. I completely believe in its platform-first strategy and I can contribute significantly to furthering their approach thanks to my digital-first experience. I look forward to an exciting and fruitful inning here,” Kore added.

  • Wondrlab appoints Haiderali Amir as  head – content production

    Wondrlab appoints Haiderali Amir as head – content production

    NEW DELHI: Wondrlab has appointed Haiderali Amir as its head – content production. Amir will be based out of Mumbai and will report to Wondrlab co-founder and managing partner – content platform Rakesh Hinduja. 

    Amir will be involved with delivering a myriad of content across Wondrlab’s clients ranging from hygiene production to high-level deliverables such as branded content and web series. With his vast experience, Ali infuses technology and platforms to tell an impactful brand story. 

    Rakesh Hinduja said, “We welcome Haiderali to the Wondrlab family. Content is one of the most important pillars of communication today, and we needed someone with formidable experience such as Haiderali’s. He perfectly fits Wondrlab’s vision of creativity delivered through technology, and with a platform-first lens. His experience brings in the understanding needed to create content at scale that’s contemporary, high-level and customised for brands’ business challenges.”

    Added Haiderali Amir,  “When it comes to content in today’s times, the sky is the limit. Wondrlab gives me the freedom and encouragement to explore different realms of content and creativity to solve clients’ business problems. Its platform-first lens is an interesting approach to content and a big step forward in the right direction. I’m excited to work in a start-up like Wondrlab that is dynamic, progressive and limitless in its thinking.”

    In a career spanning over a decade, Amir has diverse and rich experience in content and media production. He started his professional journey with Viacom18 as an assistant producer, further expanding his horizon with some of the biggest content houses like Endemol Shine, 120 Media Collective, and Medium Rare Productions among others. His last stint was as an executive producer at Content Factory by Prodigious, where he associated with clients across the Publicis Groupe network to produce cost-efficient, high-quality content solutions.