Tag: Snapdeal

  • Waayu delivers 1,10,000 Mahakumbh prasad boxes across India

    Waayu delivers 1,10,000 Mahakumbh prasad boxes across India

    Mumbai: Waayu, India’s first 0 per cent commission food delivery platform in partnership with ONDC, has successfully delivered over 1,10,000 Mahakumbh prasad boxes and Sangam Jal orders by the conclusion of Mahakumbh 2025. This initiative allowed devotees across the country to experience the spiritual essence of the event from their homes.

    Launched on 13 January, Waayu’s campaign distributed Mahaprasad across 19,000 pin codes in India. The shuddh desi ghee besan laddoos, freshly prepared in Prayagraj, Ayodhya, and Varanasi using traditional methods, met strict hygiene standards. The initiative also aligned with Mahakumbh’s sustainability goals by using eco-friendly, plastic-free packaging.

    As Mahakumbh concluded on 26 February, 40 per cent of orders came from tier-1 cities such as Bangalore, Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, 35 per cent from tier-3 cities including Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, and 20 per cent from tier-2 cities such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, and West Bengal. Approximately 23,000 boxes were delivered to travellers in Prayagraj.

    Waayu co-founder & CEO, Mandar Lande credited partnerships with major logistics providers, including delivery, blue dart, shiprocket, amazon shipping, and India post, for ensuring timely deliveries nationwide. He also highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability through plastic-free packaging.

    Waayu collaborated with ONDC and many platforms such as Paytm, Snapdeal, Bajaj Finserv, Digihaat, Mystore, and Rubaru, streamlining Mahakumbh prasad orders. ONDC’s open network enabled swift nationwide delivery within seven days, making prasad accessible to devotees regardless of their location.

    Waayu MD & co-founder, Anirudha Kotgire stated, “We are extending prasad delivery beyond Mahakumbh 2025 to build a broader spiritual commerce ecosystem. We plan to replicate this model for festivals such as Ram Navami, Krishna Janmashtami, Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, regional Kumbh Melas, and Makar Sankranti.”

    Following the success of this initiative, Waayu is expanding its reach in tier-1 and tier-2 cities, offering local restaurants a cost-effective alternative through its ONDC partnership. By addressing gaps in food delivery across smaller cities, Waayu aims to establish itself as a sustainable and restaurant-friendly market competitor.

  • Anand Chandrasekaran joins Celesta Capital as managing partner

    Anand Chandrasekaran joins Celesta Capital as managing partner

    MUMBAI: Anand Chandrasekaran’s  is quite a familiar face to those  in the media and entertainment tech industry. A geek to the core, he has also been recognised as a shrewd observer and investor in the evolution of tech. Recently, it was announced that he joined Celesta Capital in the Silicon Valley  as a managing partner. 
    Celesta was founded and is led by Nicholas Brathwaite, Sriram Viswanathan, and Michael Marks,  and primarily invests in early-stage deep tech, companies with high potential hardware and software technologies that have a clearly identified market application. 

    Anand knows how to pick winners. At one stage, he led Yahooi in its mobile and search division as senior director, a position he held for three years. He led product development at Airtel and created the Wynk music app for Airtel. 

    Soon thereafter,  he joined Snapdeal as chief product officer, a position he let go of within a year. He then went on to work with Facebook (now Meta) as director of platforms partnerships at messenger which he followed up with a sojourn at Five9. 

    He then went on to  go on board General Catlayst as an investor and partner. Along the way he seed invested in several start ups and has been recognised as one of India’s top seed investors for three years consecutively. 
    Most recently, he co-founded Celesta Capital portfolio company Crescendo, helping to incubate and grow the company to over $50M in revenue and a $500M valuation in less than a year.

    “We are fortunate to expand the firm’s team with such an accomplished investor, technologist, and operator. In getting to know Anand through the process of investing in his latest entrepreneurial venture Crescendo, it became clear that he shares Celesta’s passion for advancing important technologies, company creation, and the huge growth potential within the US  – India tech corridor,” said Viswanathan in a note welcoming him to the company on Linkedin.

  • Kunal Bahl joins Shark Tank India season four panel

    Kunal Bahl joins Shark Tank India season four panel

    Mumbai: Shark Tank India returns with its highly anticipated fourth season, promising an exciting lineup of innovative ideas, dynamic entrepreneurs, and game-changing deals. The new season welcomes a new shark, Snapdeal & Titan Capital co-founder and Unicommerce promoter Kunal Bahl.

    A renowned entrepreneur and investor, Bahl has built and scaled various technology businesses and has also invested in more than 250 start-ups. An influential voice in the Indian start-up space, Kunal has received numerous accolades, including the Economic Times Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Joseph Wharton Award for Young Leadership, Fortune’s 40 Under 40, amongst others.

    Kunal will be joining the panel of: People Group founder and CEO Anupam Mittal, boAt Lifestyle co-founder and CMO Aman Gupta, Emcure Pharmaceuticals executive director Namita Thapar, and OYO founder & group CEO Ritesh Agarwal.

    This season introduces new hosts, Sahiba Bali and Ashish Solanki, bringing their unique energy and flair to the show. 
     

  • Rohin Desai rejoins Madison Media as chief client officer – Media Buying

    Rohin Desai rejoins Madison Media as chief client officer – Media Buying

    Mumbai: Madison Media, a unit of Madison World, is happy to announce the appointment of Rohin Desai as the chief client officer – Media Buying. He will be reporting to Madison Media CEO- Investments, Vinay Hegde

    Desai’s illustrious career spans several leading organizations, including GroupM, Lintas Media Group, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, and Enterr10 Television, where he served as Head of Revenue and Sales Strategy. He previously worked at Madison Media from August 2013 to May 2016, managing a diverse set of clients such as Pidilite, Piramal, Raymond, CEAT, Bluestar, and McDonald’s. He also led media buying for ITC at a national level at Madison. Rohin’s expertise lies in crafting and executing integrated media buying strategies that have driven exceptional success for top-tier clients, including Unilever. His career highlights include managing cross-channel media strategies across various sectors such as FMCG, Telecom, E-commerce, BFSI, Automobile, and Retail. His impressive client roster features industry giants like Snapdeal, Aditya Birla Group, Tata, Colgate, Vodafone, McDonald’s, Raymond, Pidilite, CEAT, and Bluestar. Rohin holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing and Finance from IES Management College and Research Centre.

    Vinay Hegde, CEO, Investments, Madison Media, said, “I am delighted to welcome one more senior resource back into Madison. His extensive experience and proven track record in media buying and strategy and client management make him a valuable addition to our leadership. We are confident that his expertise will be instrumental in driving our continued success and expanding our impact in the industry.”

    Desai said, “I am more than happy to rejoin Madison Media and look forward to contributing to its exciting journey. The opportunity to work with such a dynamic team and build on the company’s strong foundation is truly inspiring. Together, we will explore new horizons and set new benchmarks in the industry.”

  • Moneycontrol and CNBC-TV18’s AI alliance comes to the National Capital Region on 17 May

    Moneycontrol and CNBC-TV18’s AI alliance comes to the National Capital Region on 17 May

    Mumbai: Following the resounding success of its Bengaluru and Pune edition, Moneycontrol and CNBC-TV18’s AI Alliance is set to host its next chapter, themed ‘AI: Shaping the Future of NCR’ on 17 May 2024, at The Oberoi, Gurgaon. The summit promises to highlight the transformative potential of AI across various industries and its pivotal role in shaping the future of the National Capital Region (NCR).

    Known for its diverse array of IT/BPM firms, multinational corporations, and a thriving startup ecosystem, NCR has been a key contributor to India’s prominence in the technology sector. With its inherent advantages, tech talent and potential in AI innovation, NCR was a natural choice for the AI alliance.

    The AI Alliance in NCR will serve as a platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators, fostering collaboration and charting a path for NCR’s AI-driven future.

    The event will be graced by distinguished speakers such as S Krishnan (Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology), Abhishek Singh (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology), Rajan Anandan (Managing Director, Peak XV Partners) Kunal Bahl (Co-Founder, Snapdeal and Titan Capital), Rafee Tarafdar (CTO, Infosys), Prateek Maheshwari (co-founder PhysicsWallah) Varun Alagh (co-founder and CEO, Honasa Consumer) Mayank Kumar (Co-founder & MD, upGrad), Pratham Mittal (Founder, Masters’ Union) and Ruchi Kalra (Co-Founder, OfBusiness and Oxyzo).

    The event will also have top executives from Nandan Nilekani’s people+ai to take the audience through why India can emerge as the AI use case capital of the world.

    Attendees can expect to gain valuable insights as the discussions touch upon themes ranging from India’s AI mission, AI regulation and policy, impact of AI on the IT sector, building population scale AI, its implications on education, to the essentials of building a thriving AI startup ecosystem in the region. The audience will also get a chance to interact with founders, policymakers, and thought leaders, and explore networking opportunities and potential collaborations.

    Moneycontrol deputy executive editor Chandra R Srikanth said, “With the NCR city chapter of AI Alliance, we are deepening our commitment towards fostering and building an AI community in India and shining a light on its impact across sectors. Just as our Pune edition highlighted the city’s vibrant auto, Saas and deep tech ecosystem, this event will delve into NCR’s tech DNA and the opportunities it can leverage in the AI era. It will serve as a platform to boost collaboration and innovation.”

  • “The influencer marketing industry in India has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years”: DRIM’s Yulia Aslamova

    “The influencer marketing industry in India has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years”: DRIM’s Yulia Aslamova

    Mumbai: DRIM Global- India’s 1st & only performance-based influencer marketing startup that offers end-to-end management to D2C brands and has over 250k influencers, 200 brands, and nearly 2000 influencer talent managers and develops campaign strategies to help brands like Domino’s Pizza, McDonald’s, Swiggy, Amazon, Snapdeal, and others.

    The brand has developed practical algorithms that ensure 500+ lakhs monthly results to assist businesses. DRIM is the only performance-influence marketing company that works with social media influencers on a CPA (pay-per-action) approach in India.

    DRIM has formed alliances with more than 300k social media influencers on YouTube, Instagram, Telegram, Moj, and Twitch in just two years. The brand is building a women’s community where every single woman from any part of India with no experience gets a chance to work and learn at DRIM.

    On DRIM Global setting apart from other influencer marketing startups

    At DRIM Global, we are revolutionizing the influencer backed performance marketing space in India with our innovative and data-driven approach. Our focus is on driving real results (sales, installs, or high-quality traffic) for brands, and we achieve this by leveraging the power of AI and machine learning to identify the best influencers and channels for each campaign.

    One of the things that set us apart from our competitors is our rigorous influencer selection process and easy scalability and optimisation of the influencer marketing campaign. Selection of effective influencers involves analyzing a massive pool of data to identify the best-performing segments and influencers for each campaign. The in built fraud detection system on our platform weeds out influencers with bots and fake followers.

    Additionally, our proprietary technology allows us to track and measure the success of campaigns based on actual results, rather than just vanity metrics such as likes and followers that do not translate into conversions. Our platform makes it possible to scale campaigns seamlessly with no downtime, so that as soon as the system identifies the winning approach, the campaign is scaled and optimized in no time.

    Our recent collaboration with McDonald’s India (South and West) is a testament to the success of our strategy. By working with a diverse range of influencers and using a cost-per-action model, we were able to generate 27,000+ new orders for the brand. Our efforts have been recognized by the industry and we have won accolades for it.

    On explaining the key services provided in your end-to-end management for D2C brands

    We offer a full range of services as part of our end-to-end management for direct-to-consumer companies, beginning with market research and strategy development. We use influencer partnerships to our advantage, produce engaging content, and customize brand positioning. We refine ways for optimal performance in our influencer marketing campaigns, with a particular emphasis on data analytics. For D2C companies, our end-to-end solution fosters brand loyalty and drives sustainable growth by ensuring a consistent brand experience.

    On your platform identifying and collaborating with suitable influencers for specific D2C brands

    For each D2C company, our platform uses a methodical approach to find and work with the best influencers. We begin by gaining a thorough understanding of the target audience, campaign goals, and brand ethos. We carefully examine the audience legitimacy, engagement rates, content quality, and demographics of influencers using cutting-edge AI-driven data. By using this data-driven strategy, we are able to identify influencers whose values are in perfect harmony with the brand, which guarantees sincere interactions that connect with the target market. Our team of Influencer Talent Managers look after relationship-building and individualized outreach with influencers to create genuine partnerships that have a significant positive influence on the brand’s direct-to-consumer (D2C) initiatives.

    On the process or steps involved when a D2C brand partners with your platform for influencer marketing

    The influencer marketing approach that a D2C brand and our platform work together on is broken down into strategic phases. First, we perform a thorough brand study to determine the target audience’s goals and demographics. After that, we create a customized influencer marketing plan that complements the brand image and defines clear goals. Next, influencers are carefully chosen by us using engagement, relevance and performance metrics. A coherent message is ensured through collaborative briefings with the brand as well as all stakeholders. Once the campaign is launched, we constantly monitor the performance and make necessary real-time adjustments. The campaign is scaled as soon as it becomes feasible.

    A thorough performance analysis is provided after the campaign. This methodical strategy guarantees influencer collaborations that have a genuine impact on the D2C brand’s audience, and has proven to increase brand loyalty and revenue.

    On level of customization you offer to ensure influencer campaigns align with a brand’s specific goals and values

    We prioritize high levels of personalization to guarantee that influencer campaigns are aligned with the distinct objectives and core values of the brand. We hold in-depth discussions to fully grasp target demographics, messaging nuances and brand objectives. Every influencer partnership is carefully crafted, taking into account the campaign goals and brand identity.

    Everything is customized, even the tone of voice and content development rules. This is done without losing the influencer’s authentic style, which is what their audience is used to. Influencer relationships are guaranteed to blend in smoothly with the brand’s ethos thanks to this custom strategy, which also maximizes the impact of reaching targeted marketing goals and connecting with the audience.

    On your platform staying updated with changes in social media algorithms and regulations, ensuring effective influencer marketing strategies

    Our platform remains at the forefront of social media dynamics through continuous monitoring and adaptation. We employ dedicated teams for real-time tracking of algorithm changes across platforms. Regular industry updates, participation in conferences, and collaboration with platform specialists keep us informed. Compliance officers stay vigilant about evolving regulations, ensuring campaigns adhere to legal standards. This proactive approach allows us to swiftly adjust strategies, optimizing influencer content for algorithmic shifts and maintaining compliance with changing regulations. Our teams are regularly coached and given training sessions to stay up to date with the latest developments in technology and on social media platforms.

    By keeping our teams agile and well-informed, we ensure our influencer marketing strategies consistently align with the latest social media trends and guidelines.

    On innovations you foresee in the influencer marketing landscape that DRIM Global India is prepared to capitalize on

    The influencer marketing industry in India has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years. With the widespread adoption of social media platforms and the increasing influence of digital media, brands have recognized the power of influencer marketing in reaching their target audiences effectively.

    One of the key trends we foresee – brands will seek a community of micro influencers to empower brand advocacy.  While macro-influencers with large followings have traditionally been sought after by brands, there is a shift towards micro-influencers who have smaller but more engaged and niche audiences. Also, being able to reach out to regional audiences is key.

    Building a connection and long-term collaboration with micro-influencers have the ability to establish a personal connection with their followers, resulting in higher levels of trust and engagement. DRIM relies on its own network of micro influencers who have time and again proven themselves to bring results for brands across varied segments like food tech, financial services, home interiors and even pharmaceuticals.

    DRIM’s emphasis on ROI rather than just vanity metrics aligns with this trend. We believe that compelling and authentic content and measurable results is crucial for impactful influencer marketing campaigns that justifies the brand’s investment into influencer marketing.

    Furthermore, as the influencer marketing industry matures, we expect to see an increasing focus on data-driven strategies and performance measurement. Brands are becoming more deliberate in their approach to influencer marketing now have budgets earmarked specifically towards influencer marketing campaigns.

    Brands are demanding measurable results and return on investment. DRIM’s forte is delivering results on the Cost Per Action basis, by which brands pay only for the results we deliver. We make influencers a reliable performance marketing channel for brands.

    Practical algorithms play a significant role in delivering monthly results and assisting growth marketing efforts for big brands, helping them optimize their influencer marketing initiatives based on data insights.

  • ‘Mission Start Ab’ new competitive business reality show set to launch on Amazon Prime

    ‘Mission Start Ab’ new competitive business reality show set to launch on Amazon Prime

    Mumbai: Manish Chowdhary, the co-founder of WOW Skin Science, beauty and wellness brand, is all set to appear as an investor and mentor on ‘Mission Start Ab’. The brand new competitive business reality show is all set to launch, conceptualised as a part of Amazon Prime Video’s partnership with the office of the principal scientific advisor to the Government of India.

    The show will feature other luminaries of the Indian business and start-up ecosystem. Snapdeal’s Kunal Bahl and Anisha Gupta – founder, She Capital will join Chowdhary as mentors. Designer and actress Masaba Gupta, and actor and video jockey Cyrus Sahukar will be the friends and guides of the entrepreneurs, helping them narrate and detail their journeys.

    Chowdhary currently acts as a mentor for several early-stage ventures and start-ups. During his stint with the soon-to-be-released show, he aims to help build home-grown businesses, provide courage and motivation to budding entrepreneurs and guide them on becoming India’s next unicorn. His mantra of ‘Fail Fast, Fix fast’ to innovate to taste failure and to learn is sure to aid entrepreneurs in their journey. Chowdhary believes in repeated experimentation and innovation to fine-tune and maximise the quality of WOW Skin Science products while remaining undeterred by failure.

    WOW Skin Science co-founder – Aspiring entrepreneurs Manish Chowdhary Manish Chowdhary said, “We are super excited to feature the next generation of entrepreneurs on this show. I want them to master the art of ‘fail fast, fix fast’ – a mentality of overcoming adversity and emerging on top. All of them come with diverse experiences and incredible journeys. They will be evaluated by a distinguished panel of business leaders who have toiled equally hard to assert themselves as experts in their respective sectors. We look forward to an extensive exchange of ideas and a memorable show from which we can all learn and have valuable takeaways,”, will speak about their journeys, challenges, shortcomings, strengths, innovations, and achievements during the show. Chaudhary and other mentors will look at these businesses through a unique lens, by assigning tasks and assessing their performance, which may pave the way for potential investments.

  • Prime Video unveils the trailer of the original reality series Mission Start Ab

    Prime Video unveils the trailer of the original reality series Mission Start Ab

    Mumbai: Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment destination, today unveiled the captivating trailer of its upcoming Original competitive reality series – Mission Start Ab.  The series has been conceptualized as part of Prime Video’s partnership with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. Mission Start Ab is a first-of-its-kind series that celebrates innovative, grassroots ideas. The show meticulously evaluates 10 early-stage founders and entrepreneurs under the mentorship of three distinguished investors – investors Kunal Bahl (co-founder Snapdeal and Titan Capital), Anisha Singh (founder She Capital, founder and ex-CEO, MyDala), and Manish Chowdhary (co-founder WOW Skin Science). During the course of this competition, the competing founders also face challenges featuring prominent faces from the business and entertainment world such as Ritesh Agarwal (OYO), Rohit Shetty (Filmmaker), Riyaaz Amlani (Impresario Entertainment Hospitality), Zeenah Vilcassim (Zomato Live Entertainment), Nilesh Kothari (Trifecta Capital) and Saikiran Krishnamurthy (xto10x Technologies). Executive Produced by Indrajit Ray, directed by Srimanta Senguptta, this Endemol India production is written by Bhavesh Mehta, and hosted by Masaba Gupta and Cyrus Sahukar. The series is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on 19 December. Mission Start Ab is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Prime members in India enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership for just Rs 1499/ year.

    Enthralling, engaging and inspiring, the trailer of Mission Start Ab, introduces audiences to the three top investors along with ten extraordinary early-stage founders. Each founder confronts formidable challenges that test their entrepreneurial mettle. Promising a ‘deal of a lifetime’ for the winner, the trailer heighten anticipation for the series launch on December 19 enticing viewers to discover the last-standing founders and potentially witness the birth of India’s next Unicorn.

    “India is a land of billion-plus dreams, and these dreams encapsulate infinite possibilities. Mission Start Ab is a series that aims to fuel the dreams of an increasingly entrepreneurial India,” shared Prime Video head of Originals, India & Southeast Asia Aparna Purohit. “At Prime Video, we are committed to telling stories that are rooted, relatable, and designed to entertain, inspire and provoke. Mission Start Ab goes beyond storytelling; it embodies the very essence of dreams, aspirations, and brilliance scattered across the length and breadth of India. As storytellers, we believe there is nothing more compelling or inspiring than the stories of resilient individuals using their unwavering grit, determination, and tenacity to achieve success. The core philosophy of Mission Start Ab aligns with Prime Video’s overarching vision of serving as a catalyst, actively contributing to the economic growth and development of the nation. We are confident that audiences, not only within India, but across 240 countries and territories will be inspired and entertained by it.”

    Elaborating on the role that series like Mission Start Ab can play in furthering the growth of India’s startup ecosystem, Shri Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India said, “I am extremely happy to see Prime Video has developed episodes on the storyline shared by Office of PSA for future startups to learn through OTT on skill sets required to lead as founders of startups. Scalable capacity building can be achieved through such breakthrough interventions.”

    “Entrepreneurship is an intense, transformative journey, and I’ve witnessed this through the lens of being a founder, mentor, and investor,” said Bahl. “The startup sector in India buzzes with brilliant minds and innovative ideas that have immense potential to accelerate our nation’s economic growth. To catalyze their success, we need a robust ecosystem that provides them with the necessary resources, support, and guidance. This is where Mission Start Ab steps in, marking a significant leap towards building a stronger foundation of knowledge and support for our aspiring entrepreneurs and startups. Each of the 10 founding teams on the show represent the youthful energy and diverse talent of our nation, embodying not just skills but an insatiable hunger to succeed against all odds. I am elated to be a part of this journey, sharing my experiences and insights, and acting as a guide and mentor to these passionate individuals who are scripting their own stories of struggle and triumph across India.”

    “When people look at a founder’s life, especially a successful founder’s life, people assume it is an easy ride. But founder life is hard, and everyone needs to work crazy hard on each little thing. Having been a founder for most of my life, I deeply respect founders who can stick to their values and show grit.” said Anisha Singh, founder She Capital, founder and ex-CEO, MyDala “Mission Start Ab is unlike any other startup show – it is a boot camp that gives a bird’s eye view into the real ‘founder’s life’.

    The best part about it is that you get to see how Bharat’s start-up ecosystem and founders have evolved. They are building from Bharat for Bharat and from Bharat for the world. I am thrilled to be part of a series that shows just how cool these founders are, and how the pressure they deal with on the show makes them diamonds.”

    “Mission Start Ab is not just another reality series, it is a potential gamechanger for the Indian startup economy,” said Manish Chowdhary, co-founder WOW Skin Science. “It offers deep insights into the kind of challenges and opportunities our innovators face, and at the same time, what the investor community looks for, while evaluating investment in a startup. I am immensely proud to be a part of such a pathbreaking show and grateful to Prime Video for this unique opportunity. As investors, incubators, and mentors, we cannot reach out to every aspiring entrepreneur, but with this show, every budding entrepreneur will have a better insight into the right measures they need to take to grow in their space.”

  • Prime Video to premiere Mission Start Ab on 19 December

    Prime Video to premiere Mission Start Ab on 19 December

    Mumbai: Prime Video has announced the premiere of its original reality series Mission Start Ab. The first-of-its-kind competitive series will focus on grassroots entrepreneurs in India, and take their stories of determination, resilience and unwavering perseverance to global audiences in 240+ countries and territories with its worldwide premiere on the service on 19 December. The series has been conceptualized and developed in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, with the objective of discovering entrepreneurs from diverse corners of India, and empowering them to create the next potential Unicorns. The series features three of India’s most knowledgeable and experienced investors—Kunal Bahl (Snapdeal and Titan Capital), Anisha Singh (She Capital), and Manish Chowdhary (Wow Skin Science)—who not only act as judges and investors, but also step in as mentors to guide and nurture contestants to sharpen the skills needed to scale their startups. Hosted by Masaba Gupta and Cyrus Sahukar, Mission Start Ab is executive produced by Indrajit Ray, directed by Srimanta Senguptta, and is an Endemol Shine India production. Mission Start Ab is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Prime members in India enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership for just ₹1499/ year.

    Mission Start Ab brings together a diverse array of new-age startups and entrepreneurs spanning sectors such as robotics, fintech, edtech, health and wellness, technology-enabled marketplaces. The series offers viewers a front-row seat to the dynamic innovation and development taking place at the grassroots level in India. It explores the unique stories of these founders coming from modest backgrounds, showcasing bold aspirations, cultivated skills, personal sacrifices, and their vision to tackle real world challenges. Through a series of intense tasks, interactive exercises, and one-on-one mentorship sessions, the show not only prepares these ten entrepreneurs to not only turbo-charge their made-for-India innovations, but also serves as an invaluable guide for aspiring innovators across the country.

    “At Prime Video, we strive to be a force for good for the country. Through our multiple skill-development initiatives, including the Letter of Engagement signed between Amazon and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, we have worked towards developing talent that can directly and indirectly contribute to the nation. We are incredibly excited to collaborate with the Office of the PSA, Government of India, on Mission Start Ab, a series that leverages the power of entertainment to encourage all Indians to be audacious and bold with their ambitions,” said Prime Video India country director Sushant Sreeram. “Unlike any other entrepreneurial reality show, this series goes beyond financial support, providing invaluable mentorship and guidance from India’s top tier investors. Through challenges that are designed to hone their business acumen and cultivate critical problem-solving capabilities, Mission Start Ab is poised to ignite the aspirations of numerous young Indians, propelling them towards their entrepreneurial dreams.”

    Talking about the show Rishi Negi, EndemolShine India group COO Banijay Asia said, “Mission Start Ab goes where no series has ever gone before. It seeks to inspire, engage, and entertain viewers through stories of real people who are bringing a change at the grassroots level with their innovations. Through the 10 founders, audiences are taken on a journey that makes them privy to their dreams and struggles, and the path they have had to chart to bring their ideas to fruition. At the same time, the insightful advice from the three judges, who also act as mentors, serves as the guiding light for all those seeking to bring their vision to life. We are certain that the show will break barriers, and challenge everyone to dream and dare to try.”

  • Kinnect appoints Varun J. Bansal as AVP of media

    Kinnect appoints Varun J. Bansal as AVP of media

    Mumbai: On Thursday, Kinnect India announced the onboarding of Varun J Bansal as associate vice president of media, to handle its Delhi operations. He will directly report to Kinnect VP of media Mihir Palan.

    With over 14 years of experience in integrated media planning and strategizing, Varun has worked with brands like Nestle, GSK, Pernod Ricard India, Snapdeal, Gaana.com, ITC hotels, and Uber. His last stint was with Wavemaker as business director.

    Talking about Varun’s appointment, Kinnect COO Chandni Shah said, “Post-covid19, we see more brands transitioning to digital transformation. We, as media partners, are constantly striving towards bringing in meaningful business outcomes with measurable targets, and that’s where Varun steps in. His experience and portfolio perfectly fit our integrated business and complement our data-driven philosophy. I am happy to onboard him, especially to lead our Delhi media operations and wish him all the success.”

    About his new role, Varun said, “Kinnect’s reputation precedes itself. The organisation is at the forefront of all media skills in a highly competitive sector. All of this is supported by an inspiring leadership team, of which I’m proud to be a member. By developing cutting-edge solutions for client and agency business objectives, I am excited to use this chance to elevate further and enrich the current media function.”