The dynamic nature of the wealth tech industry in India has been experiencing an impressive strategic alignment, as InCred Money declared the selection of WPP Media as its new performance marketing partner. This partnership will become one of the foundations of the InCred Money policy, specifically aimed at hastening the next key step of digital development of the platform. The partnership is characterised by a bold mission: to use the best of data, technology, and creative capabilities to not only bring about business deliverables, but also to secure the status of InCred Money as a game-changer in the investment arena. The comprehensive full-funnel marketing approach of the wealth-tech platform has been assigned to WPP Media, with its operations being operated out of its centre in Mumbai.
Strategic mandate and core mission
The decision of WPP Media as an onboarding partner highlights the desire of InCred Money to pursue an intensive, intelligence-based approach to expand its market presence. The reputation of WPP Media in terms of providing measurable outcomes to brands with data-based precision and strategic thinking is a digital-first brand.
The knowledge will play a critical role in developing marketing campaigns that are high-impact and scalable, as well as targeted at long-term business results. The collaboration strengthens the already known capacity of WPP Media to combine intelligence, innovation and agility, which are the key components of creating meaningful and measurable growth in the extremely competitive digital economy.
InCred Money is evolving actively to transform the financial technology landscape in India with its platform, and the core pillars of technology and trust are the two building blocks of the platform. The fundamental objective of the platform is to make advanced financial instruments more democratic.
Traditionally, alternative assets were inaccessible to all typical investors, yet InCred Money is transforming it by making the high-value asset classes accessible to a new generation of users. These assets are specialised products like venture debt, high-yield debt, and unlisted equity. This platform will help enable consumers to diversify their portfolio smartly and accelerate their wealth as they will be empowered to do so and have access to these options.
The CEO, InCred Money, Vijay Kuppa, said, “Investing should feel empowering, not overwhelming. At InCred Money, we’re reshaping the financial ecosystem by building a holistic platform that brings all major asset classes together—from Unlisted Shares and Digital Gold to Equity Broking, and soon, Mutual Funds and US Stocks. Our partnership with WPP Media strengthens this vision by making alternative and emerging investments simple, transparent, and accessible for every investor. We want people to make confident, informed, and meaningful financial choices, so we are committed to expanding the possibilities available to them.”
The President Client Solutions, WPP Media South Asia, Priti Murthy, said, “Performance marketing today goes beyond driving clicks today it’s about engineering sustainable growth. Fintech players like InCred Money are reshaping the rules of engagement, where intelligence, creativity, and agility work together to create lasting impact. This partnership reflects our shared vision to design performance strategies that drive both business results and brand momentum in the digital economy.”
Conclusion
The appointment of WPP Media as the performance marketing agency of InCred Money is the indication of a significant commitment towards innovation in the field of fintech in India. This partnership is well-timed to ensure that InCred Money maximises its digital presence and market share as the country continues to transform and grow its wealth-tech ecosystem into one that is more experience-based and insight-driven. The collaboration offers a new direction to the industry by bringing the renowned performance marketing sense of WPP Media, combined with the ambitious platform of InCred Money, to simplify the complex alternative assets.
The leading furniture rental company in India under the subscription-based model, Furlenco, has managed to raise a new financing round, amounting to a total of ₹125 crores (approximately $15 million). This major inflow of capital was led by Sheela Foam Limited, parent of Sleepwell, as another move to invest further in the furniture rental space. Other important investors, such as Whiteoak and Madhu Kela, were also involved in the round. This investment is an essential move towards Furlenco as it swivels to the greater distributions and readiness of the public market and establishes its footing in the Indian home solutions market.
Strategic investment and financial performance
The investment by Sheela Foam Limited stands out especially since it is the first investment option by the company in Furlenco after undertaking a substantial acquisition operation in July 2023. By the time, Furlenco had a huge 35% stake in Sheela Foam. The initial transaction had a huge cash investment of ₹300 crore, which made Sheela Foam a key investor and a strategic partner of the subscription company.
This funding round of ₹125 crore is also a further reinforcement of this financial relationship, as it shows that Sheela Foam has faith in the business model and the long-term viability of Furlenco. Whiteoak and Madhu Kela’s involvement highlights the institutional and individual interests of investors in the company.
In addition to the scale of operation, Furlenco has recently experienced an impressive financial turnaround, where it has breached the most important barrier of profitability. As it was reported by the startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Furlenco turned profitable during the financial year FY25.
The figures show that the company achieved ₹240 crore revenue and ₹3 crore profit in FY25. It is an enormous contrast to the previous financial year, FY24, when the company had registered a massive loss of ₹139 crore. The company credits this massive change in its financial well-being to the advancement of its subscription model as well as the increased efficiency of its capital allocation strategies.
In terms of the total fundraising, Furlenco, according to TheKredible, has raised a considerable amount of total funding of $313 million to date. Sheela Foam and Lightbox Ventures are the lead investors that will contribute to this total. The shareholding structure indicates that, as of its last funding round, the founder and chief executive of the company, Ajith Mohan Karimpana, owned 12% of the company.
Operational achievement and primary objective
The new capital raised during this round will be used for various strategic plans to grow the business and make it a significant milestone. Furlenco will utilise the funds to realise three main goals: developing its product portfolio, enhancing the operation of omnichannels, and preparing the business strategically to go to the public market. The latter goal will be sought in terms of attaining wider distribution and achieving scale in its business lines.
This drive to scale of operation and the readiness to serve a public market, according to statements issued by Furlenco, is a long-term plan. The company, which is a major element of this strategy, has proclaimed that it is currently planning a possible Initial Public Offering (IPO) within the next few years. It is an indication of an aspirational transition, as a successful venture-backed company, to a publicly traded organisation, in search of capital via the larger market.
Furlenco was founded in 2012, and it was the first furniture company to boast of a subscription-based model in the Indian market. The company has, since its inception, undertaken several equity and debt rounds. Its prominent investors in the past are its present lead investor, Sheela Foam, and other venture capital organisations like Lightbox Ventures, Crescent Ventures and Eagles. The stability of this history of funding is a sign of a strong business model that has been able to draw and maintain substantial investor attention over the years.
At the operational level, the firm has gained significant coverage and size in the country. Since it was established, Furlenco has boasted of having provided more than 10 lakh residences across India. The company has a considerable number of users with over 1.5 lakh active subscribers.
Besides the main line of business of rental, Furlenco has diversified its services to offer a full line of home services to its customers, which can be both rented and purchased, as well as refurbished furniture. This diversified strategy aids in supporting the needs of various consumers and squeezing the maximum lifecycle value of its assets.
Conclusion
The effective raise of ₹125 crores by Furlenco through Sheela Foam, Whiteoak, and Madhu Kela is a milestone in the business journey of the company. This capital, along with the fact that the company has just reached profitability in FY25, puts Furlenco on the path of rapid growth and strategic focus. With its emphasis on diversifying the product range and enhancing its presence in the omnichannel, Furlenco is slowly creating the required base to fulfil its long-term goal of a possible IPO, which will ensure its position in the Indian furniture and rental industry as one of the major innovators.
Moonraker Electric tractor startup has been able to close a Series A funding round. The company, which is based in Bengaluru and operates in the electric vehicle (EV) market, raised $6 million (approximately ₹54 crore). This large capital inflow serves as a sign that more investors are excited about the prospect of sustainable, high-tech solutions in Indian agriculture, especially considering that the electric vehicle market of the country is on an aggressive growth path.
Capital infusion and market value proposition
The latest funding round concluded was led by pi Ventures, which was leading in the Series A round. Singularity AMC was also strategically involved in the round, indicating a solid confidence in the technology and market strategy of Moonrider. The loyalty of the current investors, AdvantEdge Founders and Micelio Fund, who are also involved in the round, supports the belief in the long-term outlook and performance of the startup because they have invested in it previously.
This investment is based on a previous seed round investment, which Moonraker successfully closed in January this year. In the same round of seed funding, the startup collected $2.2 million (₹19 crore ). The aim of the previous capital raise was actually to improve its capabilities in key areas such as vehicle engineering, vehicle software, and proprietary battery technology. The growth of the seed to the Series A round is an indication of the speed at which the company has grown and proven itself in a short period.
Moonrider was established in 2023 by former Volvo executives Anoop Srikantaswamy and Ravi Kulkarni. Moonrider has established itself as a major disruptor in the agricultural machinery arena. The company produces electric tractors that are aimed at providing significant financial returns to farmers. Moonrider asserts that its electric tractor makes the running cost of farmers less, i.e. the money spent on land preparation and other farming tasks is less by an estimated 80%.
One of the major pillars of this value proposition is the proprietary battery technology that the company possesses, and that is designed to introduce a high level of cost reduction in the manufacturing process. The most significant problem with electric vehicles (EVs) is their high initial cost, and the price of premium EVs can be 1.5X to 2X above that of an Electric Internal Combustion (ICE) vehicle.
Moonrider claims that its electric tractors will be priced similarly to the diesel versions, which will effectively remove a significant adoption obstacle to the Indian farmer. According to its website, the startup currently sells two models of electric tractors, 27 HP and 50 HP, with a rapid charge time of 30 minutes and a large 7-hour run time per charge.
Focusing efforts on increasing EVs
Another differentiating factor made by Moonraker in the market is that it states that it is the only electric tractor company in India and has a full homologated, road-ready product line. It is a major privilege, and the new funding should help move this pilot phase to the full commercial deployment in the entire country.
The funding round is also well-timed, as the entire sector of electric vehicles in India is at a critical stage. By 2030, the national EV market will have become a multi-billion-dollar industry of approximately $132 billion. Although mass adoption has been largely focused on electric two-wheelers and passenger cars, organisations such as Moonrider are currently devoting their efforts to filling in EV penetration in specialised, heavy-duty markets (such as buses and tractors).
The large market potential in the country and the government programs such as the PM E-DRIVE scheme are other factors contributing to this momentum. The interest of investors in the overall EV industry remains high, with recent examples such as EV battery manufacturer Neuron Energy raising ₹31 crore and EV OEM 3EV Industries raising ₹120 crore (approximately $14.4 million).
The Co-founder and CEO of Moonrider, Anoop Srikantaswamy, said to Inc42, “The funds will also support durability testing, scaling manufacturing readiness, and preparing the 27 HP, 50 HP and 75 HP models for commercial rollout, as the company moves closer to large-scale adoption of electric tractors in Indian agriculture.”
Moonrider has raised $6 million in the Series A round with investors such as pi Ventures and Singularity AMC, which is a breakthrough in the realm of electric vehicles within Indian agriculture. With its emphasis on technological perfection, mass-manufacturing preparedness, and market-competitive pricing, the Bengaluru-based startup has numerous opportunities to exploit the booming market of EVs. This capital will be used to increase the commercial deployment of its road-ready electric tractors, which could dramatically change the economics of farming and establish India as a major player in clean, agricultural technology.
In this digital world, a business can reach out to a customer in several ways, none as effective, affordable, or powerful as email marketing. Be it a small business, marketer, or growing brand, email marketing offers that unrivaled ability to connect with one’s audience and build trust while driving sales. Unlike social media-which keeps on changing-with email, you have direct access to your customers.
Why Email Marketing Actually Matters
With so many companies wondering if email marketing is still relevant, the answer is yes, it absolutely is. E-mail is one of the most popular means of communication to exist in the world, with billions of active users opening their inbox daily. It provides the following:
High ROI: One of the highest returns on investment compared with all other means of marketing.
Direct contact: you yourself are communicating with your customer.
Personalisation: Information is relevant to individual types of audiences.
Automation opportunities: Emails can be scheduled and automatically triggered.
In other words, email marketing reaches people and also effectively reaches them.
Create a High-Quality Email List
The core of your strategy is your mailing list. Never try to collect the most addresses; instead, make quality the goal. What does a high-quality list mean?
Those that are voluntarily subscribed to
People who are interested in your products or services
More engaged users result in greater conversion possibilities.
Strategies to use:
Forms for register on websites
Lead draws: layouts, checklists, and free eBooks
Never buy email lists.
Segment Your Audience for Better Targeting
Not all customers are created equal, nor should your emails be. Segmentation gives you the ability to break down your list into groups based on:
Age, location or gender
Purchase history
Engagement level
Interests or Behavior
Examples of this are: sending “New Product Launch” emails to customers who have bought similar products in the past, which increases the likelihood of conversion. Similarly, rewards for loyalty to frequent buyers increase your connection with them.
Adapting Emails to Increase Interactions
The basic concept of personalization makes subscribers feel like you know them. Rather than send generic messages, use personalization variables, such as
First name
Suggestions derived from previous purchases
Customized product suggestions
Special birthday or anniversary offers
Even little things like using the name of a user can significantly aid in improving click-through rates.
Take individualization a step further by composing in a tone that is accessible, relatable, and welcoming.
Write Message Lines That Attract Interest
The topic line of your email determines how many readers will click on it. The subject line ought to:
Short and clear
Attention-getting
Relevant to the reader
Straightforward, no clickbait.
Examples include:
“Your Special Discount Awaits!”
“We Thought You Might Like This…”
“Ready to Boost Your Business Today?
Additionally, steer clear of excessive capitalization and spammy terms like “FREE,” since they will lead your email to land up in the spam bin.
Focus on High-Value Content
It’s the content in your email that keeps subscribers reading and subscribed. Examples of such high-value content include:
Useful tips
Useful resources
Exclusive offers
Product updates
Educational content
Customer Testimonials
It’s all about crafting value-driven emails, not salesy emails. When subscribers learn to trust your messages, they are most likely to make a purchase with you afterward.
Use Visuals Judiciously
Adding pictures, graphics, and GIFs to your email will make it much more interesting. However, don’t overdo it: a number of them can affect the load time or distract your readers.
Visuals include the following:
Highlight products
Break long paragraphs.
Make information more digestible.
Add personality to your brand
A well-written, appealing email will enhance reading and user experience.
Make Your Electronic Communications Mobile-Friendly
Mobile devices are used to read over half of all emails.And if the emails you send aren’t compatible with mobile devices, you stand to lose a huge chunk of your readership.
Make sure your emails:
Have short paragraphs.
use large, readable fonts
Feature buttons, rather than tiny links
Have images optimized for phone screens.
A mobile-ready email guarantees that the content looks professional on every device.
Use Automation to Improve Results and Save Time
Automation eliminates the need for manual job duties and allows you to deliver a pertinent message at the appropriate moment.You may design an automation workflow like:
Welcome Emails for New Subscribers
Reminders for abandoned carts
Cheers to your birthday!
Follow-up purchases
Re-Engagement Emails
Automation increases efficiency, enhances conversions, and applies consistency in messaging.
Evaluate and Assess Your Campaigns
Smart email marketing is built on data, not guesswork. Keeping an eye on important metrics like:
Open rates
Click-through rates
Conversion rates
Bounce rates
Unsubscribe rates
A/B testing allows you to test the different variations of your:
Subject lines
Call-to-action buttons
Images Formats for mails Styles of content You can more effectively understand what attracts your audience and improve your next marketing by analyzing the results.
Keep Your Email Frequency Balanced
Sending too many emails upsets subscribers, while too few lead them to forget about the brand. It is all about the balance which one has to maintain by tracking the engagements and unsubscribes.Will I be able to provide the same quality every time? Work for a regimen that is manageable, helpful, and predictable.
Conclusion
Smart email marketing is the heart of business growth. With an email list, segmenting its target audience, personalizing messages, and optimizing every campaign, a business can reach their customers more effectively than ever before.
At the same time, email marketing could be used for something more than promoting goods: it is relationships-nurturing, value provision, and building trust. When implemented properly, email marketing should be an excellent and powerful tool which bolsters engagement, drives up sales, fortifies your brand, and helps your business grow long into the future.
Fireside Ventures, the well-known early-stage venture capital firm focused on the consumer sector, has announced one of the biggest news items about the effective closure of its fourth fund. Formally named Fund IV, the fund has raised a massive capital of ₹2,265 crore (approximately $253 million). Such a massive capital inflow reinforces the fact that this company fully believes in the untapped consumption potential of the Indian market. This was announced by a Bengaluru-based fund on a recent Tuesday, and it is an indication that it is ready to increase its dealmaking by quite a big margin in all of the most crucial phases of a startup’s life cycle. Under the leadership of Kanwaljit Singh, Founder and Managing Partner, Fireside Ventures currently has a large amount of capital to invest in the coming generation of disruptive consumer enterprises in India.
Strategic investment and global confidence
The Fund IV is being actively funded into the market with an emphasis on early-stage dealmaking, so the decision to close Fund IV is not surprising. The strategy of Fireside is clearly focused on supporting about ten to twelve startups each year. Although historically, the company invests mainly in seed and pre-Series A capitalisation, one of the strategic expansions of this new fund is to go further on its follow-on cheques as far as Series A capitalisation.
This strategic change belongs to a larger founder-first thesis oriented to offering overall assistance and funding to enable its portfolio companies to develop business from the first steps to success, to great heights. The Fund IV’s close at a substantial corpus is a confirmation of the specialised, sector-based investment strategy that Fireside Ventures is pursuing in a market where there is a potential for consumption growth.
In the majority of its portfolio, Fireside Ventures is modelling a solid profile of returns at a range of five to seven or eight times the original investment. This moderate strategy is vital, as it was described by Singh, in propelling the overall success of the strategy to the venture capital fund. The philosophy is highly focused on being founders-first and the need to work closely with the entrepreneurs to build their consumer brands on the ground. This goes beyond capital supply; it encompasses strategic direction and operational assistance in circumventing the intricate issues of expanding a consumer business in the Indian market, which would secure a strong base of success on high multipliers in the long term.
The close of Fund IV was successful in terms of obtaining commitments from a diversified and prestigious combination of international and local investors. The fund based in Bengaluru gained much interest in committing international funds, such as the US University Endowments and the powerful Sovereign funds of the cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This high level of international interest underscores the international confidence in the potential of Fireside to deliver returns and the long-term growth prospect of the Indian consumer market.
In the financial institutions segment, HarbourVest, Waterfield, and Fidelity International were among the distinguished companies that signed the commitment. Another strategic component added to the funding is a list of consumer-oriented companies, such as Sharrp Ventures, Mirabilis, and Emami Limited. This institutional, sovereign and corporate capital together ensures not only the financial depth but also introduces a lot of strategic knowledge and expertise to the Fireside ecosystem, and it allows Fireside to be able to support its early consumer bets.
Extensive portfolio and operational milestones
With an effective track record to highlight the feasibility of the targeted strategy, Fireside Ventures commences its deployment phase of Fund V. Its initial source of funds, which is yet to reach all its potential sources, has already reached a major milestone in terms of the financial ratio: it has registered a Distributed to paid in capital (DPI) of 3.6x. This critical performance indicator shows that the fund has already achieved a feat of returning three times the capital invested back to its limited partners, which is a good show of early success and good capital management.
With a large portfolio of about 60 brands in different consumer categories, Fireside Ventures operates a wide and broad portfolio. The aggregate of this existing portfolio is over 7 billion, which is a measure of the growth and acceptance of the brands the company has supported in the market. These portfolio firms have already generated a remarkable revenue of $1.6 billion.
Regarding operational milestones, approximately 50% of the portfolio companies have already surpassed the significant milestone of ₹100 crore in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), which implies that a significant part of the portfolio has already left the early-stage start-up phase and is well into the serious scaling stage. Since its launch in 2017, the fund has between 4 funds totalling an estimated $650 million of Assets Under Management (AUM) and has solidified its status as a leading sector-specific VC in India.
Conclusion
Fireside Ventures Fund IV closed at $253 million is a conclusive statement on why Fireside Ventures is a leading venture capital firm in the early-stage consumer market in India. With new capital and a well-established plan to deepen the investment by Seed to Series A, this fund has all it takes to realise the massive consumption potential that India holds. Its founder-first, sector-specific strategy is strongly supported by the successful work of its last fund and the strong development of its present portfolio. Fireside Ventures, with a mandate of supporting 10 to 12 startups per year and with a diversified base of esteemed global and domestic investors, is all the better positioned to make a mark on the future of new generation Indian consumer brands, and have a substantial financial payoff and a long-term impact on the domestic economy.
In today’s edition of our Founder’s Interview Series, we are proud to feature the remarkable journey of 11-year-old entrepreneur Mr. Athvik Amith Kumar, the young mind behind ZOZOconnect. At an age when most children are exploring hobbies, Athvik is leading a digital transformation through ZOZO Digital Business Card — a smart, interactive, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional business cards. His innovation is reshaping professional networking across India, proving that age is no barrier when passion, creativity, and vision come together.
What inspired you to start your entrepreneurial journey so early?
Honestly, it all started with curiosity. Every time I (Athvik Amith Kumar) went to events, I noticed people exchanging paper business cards that got lost, damaged, or forgotten within minutes. I’m growing up in a world where everything from schoolwork to entertainment is digital, but networking is still stuck in the old school. That felt strange to me.
At home, entrepreneurship was always part of the atmosphere. My parents run ServerCake, so conversations about technology, customers, and business ideas were just normal dinner-table talks. Because of that, building something of my own didn’t feel scary or impossible, it felt natural. So when I saw this problem, I didn’t wait for someone older to solve it. I just decided to build ZOZOconnect and fix it myself, Says Athvik Amith Kumar.
That’s really where my journey began: A mix of curiosity, observation, and the belief that age should never limit ideas.
Can you tell us the story behind ZOZOconnect? How did the idea come to you, and what problem are you solving?
ZOZOconnect began with a simple thought: what if sharing your identity could be as quick as a tap?
I wanted business cards to feel more alive, more interactive, and more useful than a piece of paper that people rarely keep. That idea slowly grew into a vision for a smarter, instant way to connect with people.
Using NFC, the same technology behind tap-to-pay systems, we created a smart card that lets someone share their entire professional identity in one seamless tap. No typing, no searching, no missed follow-ups. It turns a simple moment of meeting someone into something meaningful.
Today, we’re focused on perfecting that experience, creating premium, beautifully designed smart NFC cards that make networking simple and memorable, but ZOZOconnect isn’t just about a card. It’s the foundation for a much bigger vision.
Over time, ZOZO will evolve into a broader smart identity ecosystem, where your professional presence becomes effortless to share, manage, and grow across different digital touchpoints. For me, ZOZOconnect is the start of a journey, turning everyday interactions into smarter, more meaningful connections.
ZOZOconnect Team
How do you balance school, learning, and running ZOZOconnect?
Balancing school and ZOZOconnect is definitely interesting, but I’ve found a rhythm that works for me. I’m in 6th grade at Shraddha Children’s Academy, and I look at school and entrepreneurship as connected, not separate. When I learn percentages in math, I apply them to pricing and margins. When I study history, I think about how leaders built systems and solved problems. School actually prepares me for ZOZO in ways I didn’t expect.
My routine is simple: mornings are for school, evenings are for ZOZO meetings, ideas, planning, and sometimes testing new features.
Weekends are when I do the deeper work, like thinking through product improvements or new concepts.
The truth is, I enjoy both. When you love what you’re building, it doesn’t feel like you’re “balancing” things; you’re just growing in two different ways at the same time.
What challenges did you face as such a young founder—and how did your family support you?
One of my earliest challenges as a young founder was simply stepping into responsibilities that most people take on much later in life. But in a way, I was already prepared for it. I grew up in a startup environment—my parents run their own company, and since I was little, I would join them for events, office meetings, and product discussions. Listening to those conversations and observing how decisions were made became a natural part of my learning.
Because of that upbringing, starting ZOZOconnect didn’t feel unfamiliar. I had seen the energy, the hard work, and the problem-solving mindset that goes into building something. So when I began working on ZOZO a year ago, I wasn’t starting from zero; I was continuing a journey that began when I was five or six.
My family has been a huge part of this. They guide me like a real founder, not like a kid doing a side project. They help me think through strategies, understand customers, and make thoughtful decisions. It’s the perfect balance of support and mentorship, and it gives me the confidence to face new challenges with excitement instead of hesitation.
What skills or tools did you first start learning to build ZOZOconnect?
When I started building ZOZOconnect, the first skills I focused on were understanding the market and learning how businesses actually grow. I spent time studying how people connect, what professionals expect from identity tools, and how brands position themselves in the premium segment. I also learned about pricing, customer behaviour, and how a product can scale from an idea to a full ecosystem.
Since I grew up around startups, strategy came naturally to me. I enjoy analysing how successful companies build their vision, create strong value, and keep users engaged. I look at their approaches, understand the logic behind them, and then adapt those ideas to fit ZOZO’s stage and goals.
On the technical side, I collaborate with experts who are great at what they do. My focus is on strategy, product thinking, and decision-making; bringing ideas together, shaping the direction, and making sure we build something meaningful.
ZOZOconnect Team
Many people struggle to build websites or mobile apps. What motivated you to create a platform that helps others build apps without coding?
That’s a great question, and I’d love to clarify it. ZOZOconnect isn’t a no-code app builder; it’s a smart NFC business card platform designed to make professional networking effortless.
While websites and apps are important for many businesses, our focus at ZOZO is on something unique: enabling people to share their identity and connect instantly with just a tap. You don’t need any technical skills to use a ZOZO card. Managing your profile, updating details, and sharing your identity is all simple, intuitive, and designed for everyday users.
So instead of building tools for creating digital products, we’re creating a seamless way for people to introduce themselves, build trust, and make every interaction more meaningful.
How does ZOZOconnect work? For someone who has never used it, explain its features simply?
Imagine you’re meeting someone for the first time. Instead of handing over a paper card, you just tap your ZOZO card on their phone. Instantly, your digital profile appears; your contact information, social links, portfolio, and anything else you choose to share. It works on most modern smartphones, and the other person doesn’t need to install anything.
The card uses NFC technology, which enables contactless actions in a single tap. What makes ZOZO special is how easy it is to update and manage your identity; change your phone number or job role once, and it updates everywhere instantly.
We’re also building features that go beyond sharing a profile. Things like:
Switching between multiple identities (student, founder, creator),
Scanning traditional paper cards to store them digitally,
Syncing with business tools,wallet compatibility,
Insights that show how people engage with your profile
Looking ahead, we’re working on tools that make events more interactive and building a networking layer that rewards meaningful connections.
ZOZOconnect is all about making introductions smoother and helping people build real relationships without any complexity.
What has been your proudest moment so far as an entrepreneur?
My proudest moments always come from real users. When someone tells me that ZOZOconnect made networking easier or more meaningful for them, it feels amazing. That feedback shows me we’re building something useful, not just another product.
I’ve also felt proud when I’ve been invited to speak at platforms like CII, The StartupPark, Bangalore Tech Summit and Genworks AI, or when I’ve received young entrepreneur recognitions. Those moments make me feel like people see me as a real founder, not just a kid trying something out.
And one moment I’ll never forget is when organisations like StartupTN, StartupSingam and Bharat Ke Super Founders supported us, or when investors showed belief in what we’re building. That kind of trust means a lot.
But above everything, the best moment is always the same, seeing someone use a ZOZO card in the real world. Watching an idea turn into something people depend on is the most rewarding part of this journey.
Entrepreneurship can be stressful even for adults, How do you stay motivated and keep yourself focused?
Entrepreneurship can be intense, but two things keep me focused.
The first is clarity of vision. I’m not just building a product, I’m building a long-term identity and networking ecosystem. When I think about where ZOZOconnect can be in the next few years, it gives me a huge sense of purpose. I break that vision into small, daily goals, and every milestone, even a tiny one, keeps me excited.
The second is momentum. I’ve learned that in startups, consistency matters more than age or experience. Every day, I push ZOZO forward, whether it’s improving the product, talking to users, or planning the next feature, it builds energy. That progress becomes its own motivation.
At the end of the day, I enjoy what I’m doing. When you love the mission you’re building, staying motivated doesn’t feel like pressure, it feels like a journey you’re excited to wake up to every day.
What message would you like to give to students who want to build something of their own?
My message to students is simple, you don’t have to wait for the “right age” or the “perfect moment” to start something. If you have an idea that excites you, begin exploring it today. You’ll figure things out along the way, that’s what the journey is about.
Your age is actually your biggest strength. You see the world differently, you’re not limited by traditional thinking, and you bring creativity that older founders sometimes lose. That fresh perspective is something no big company can replicate.
And always focus on solving a real problem. When you create value, opportunities and growth naturally follow. Start small, stay curious, learn fast, and keep building. You’ll be surprised by how far you can go.
Where do you see ZOZOconnect in the next 5 years? Do you plan to expand into new features or technologies?
In the next five years, I see ZOZOconnect evolving from a smart NFC card into a complete identity and networking ecosystem. The card is just the beginning,the starting point for a much larger vision.
We plan to expand our identity formats, enhance the way people interact at events, and build a platform where professionals can discover each other, learn, collaborate, and grow. The idea is to use smart technology to make networking more intuitive and more meaningful for everyone.
As our user base grows, we aim to introduce premium experiences and subscription-based offerings that add long-term value and create a sustainable revenue model. We’re also exploring ways to protect and secure our innovations as we scale, ensuring that ZOZO develops into a trusted brand for smart identity, Says “Amith”.
Overall, ZOZOconnect in five years is not just a product, it’s an ecosystem that transforms how people share identity, connect, and unlock opportunities in the real world.
What are your long-term dreams not just as a founder, but as a person? What kind of impact do you want to create for India and the world?
My long-term dream is to build ZOZO into a global company that started right here in India, and to show that age doesn’t define what someone can accomplish. I want ZOZO to become a symbol of what young founders in India are capable of when they’re given trust, encouragement, and room to build.
My dream is bigger than just creating a successful company. I want to help change the way people look at young entrepreneurs. Today, kids are often seen as “inspiring” but not always taken seriously. I hope my journey makes it easier for the next generation, so that a 10-year-old with a strong idea is judged on the merit of the idea, not their age.
Globally, my vision is for ZOZO to become the default way professionals exchange identity and connect. When someone says, “Can I have your contact?”, I want the natural response to be, “Sure, just tap my ZOZO.”
On a personal level, I want to build a future where business and values go together; where solving real problems, being ethical, and creating meaningful impact can coexist with building a massive, world-class company. If I can prove that and make the path easier for young builders everywhere, that would be the impact I’m proud to leave behind.
Maharashtra has also established its top status as the preferred state in terms of eligible startups in the Startup India programme of the central government, and it has registered the most DPIIT-recognised startups as eligible to get tax exemptions in the first ten months of 2025. This information was presented in the Parliament by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, who showed that in the first half of the current year (between January and October), Maharashtra was able to add 116 of such entities. The performance of the state can be highlighted as a long-term trend since the state has occupied the first place in the list annually since the introduction of the Startup India initiative in 2016.
Tax exemption scheme and eligibility criteria
Startups which are issued this eligibility certificate, as provided in Section 80-IAC of the Income Tax Act, have a significant financial benefit. These organisations are subject to a deduction amounting to 100% of the profits and gains earned on their eligible business activities. Being a useful tax holiday, it is designed to last three successive assessment years, which is essential to offer a runway to early-stage development and reinvestment.
In the last ten months, Maharashtra has been narrowly surpassed by Gujarat, which registered 110 eligible startups. The already existing startup hubs of Delhi NCR and Karnataka, otherwise well known to have a thriving startup ecosystem, were observed to be significantly behind both Maharashtra and Gujarat in the count of startups receiving the much-needed tax exemption certificate.
The Parliamentary response was an in-depth analysis of the national impact of the scheme. As of now, 4,147 DPIIT-registered startups have managed to obtain the certificate of eligibility according to Section 80-IAC. Out of this cumulative number, 546 certificates were actually issued in the first ten months of 2025, and this shows the ongoing impetus of the exemption process.
A wider picture of the startup economy in India shows that it is the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. In official terms, as of October 31, 2025, the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) officially included an incredible cumulative number of 1,97,692 under the umbrella Startup India initiative, which are recognised as startups.
The conditions under which a firm is considered to have this recognised startup status have been well stipulated. The applicant should be registered as a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), a partnership, or a company in the form of a private limited company. The firm should not be older than ten years, and the annual turnover during any past financial year should also not exceed ₹100 crore.
The startup should be in the process of innovation or improvement of existing products, services or processes with a clear potential of creating either jobs or wealth. It is also clarified that those entities that arise due to the dissolution or reorganisation of an entity already in existence do not qualify to receive this recognition at all.
Sectoral distribution and Government efforts
When the sectoral distribution of the startups that were able to qualify successfully in the Section 80-IAC tax exemption is considered, according to the data, there are two main sectors that take the lead. The health and life sciences industry contributed the largest number of eligible companies, with 51. This was followed instantly by the IT Services industry, which added 50 tax-exempt startups to the list in the ten months up to October.
The broader government support mechanisms were also outlined by Minister Piyush Goyal for recognised startups. By October 31, 2025, 34,400 DPIIT-recognised startups will be successfully onboarded to the Government e-Marketplace ( GeM ), through which procurement with public entities is facilitated. The success of such integration is seen in the number of orders it has generated, as the involvement of the public in this integration came to over 4.8 lakh orders with these recognised startups, with a cumulative value of more than ₹47,500 crore.
India has recorded positive outcomes through the government initiatives to enhance the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime. According to the Minister, the reforms in this area have helped to receive over 16,000 additional applications to protect innovations by well-known startups, highlighting the intention to promote the protection of innovations.
Conclusion
The continued leadership in terms of the number of tax-exempt startups added in the year 2025 to date, over 116 startups have been added in the first ten months of the year 2025, which makes Maharashtra one of the biggest drivers of the emergent economy in India. This success, together with the good result of Gujarat, shows an indicative example of the decentralisation of the startup ecosystem outside the traditional hubs such as Delhi NCR and Karnataka, especially in terms of accessing certain government incentives. The information also substantiates the extensive success of the tax exemption program, which has granted more than 4,100 startups in the country, and healthcare and IT Services are some of the areas that have exploited this financial leverage.
The Generative AI in Healthcare Market is in a transformative stage where the adoption rate of the technology in the large segments, i.e., hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, diagnostics laboratories, and digital health solutions, is high. Recent findings of the Exactitude Consultancy point to the fact that generative AI is becoming one of the most influential and changing technologies in the healthcare ecosystem. These advanced Artificial Intelligence systems can now create life-like synthetic medical images, make correct predictions of how different patients will react to various treatments, create new molecule structures to develop new drugs, and automate many other tasks basic to clinical care.
Transformative market size for Generative AI
The Generative AI market size in Healthcare is confidently estimated to hit an incredible $98.4 billion by the year 2030. This is the expected growth rate, and this is a phase of hyper growth as shown by the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 34.8% expected in the period of growth between the years 2025 and 2030. The main developments and strategic changes in healthcare delivery globally support this strong growth trend. The area that has the most significant impact is drug discovery, and this is mainly due to generative AI, which also shortens the timeframes involved in the sophisticated research and development.
Generative AI models, which include Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), Large Language Models (LLMs), transformers, and diffusion models, are essentially transforming clinical and research processes within the healthcare industry. These modernized systems come with a variety of robust features that are transforming traditional ways of doing things. They can further be employed in research to generate novel drug molecules as well as accurately predict their binding affinity, which provides an unparalleled acceleration in pharmaceutical research and development.
These models provide transformative tools in the clinical setting. They have the capability to produce artificial medical images that are necessary to train diagnostic AI without exposing the privacy of patient data. They also offer useful aid to radiologists by giving automated interpretation of images. In the field of direct patient care, AI generative models can be used to develop highly individualized treatment plans and allow human-like communication through medical chatbot assistants.
The technology also makes administration and data management tasks, including summarising Electronic Health Records (EHR) data and the automatic creation of clinical notes, significantly easier. They can be used to simulate complicated clinical outcomes, thus expediting the development of precision medicine. The symbiotic syncretism of AI, scalable cloud computing, and integrated digital health systems is enabling both hospitals and pharmaceutical firms to make very big cost reductions, enhance overall accuracy, and provide very personalised care to the individual patient.
Global impact and market segmentation
The Generative AI in Healthcare Market will be divided into a variety of essential aspects, showing the variety of its applications and technological basis. Google DeepMind has also introduced innovative models such as Med-PaLM and AMIE, which have had a massive impact on medical reasoning and the ability of clinical assistants.
Microsoft has introduced GPT-based clinical note automation into the largest EHR systems. NVIDIA extended its BioNeMo platform to be able to use generative AI simulations to find drugs faster. Pfizer and Insilico Medicine have already launched drug candidates developed using AI into clinical preparations in the pharmaceutical industry. Generative imaging AI has been implemented by Siemens Healthineers to greatly streamline the operations of radiology.
The current market is dominated by North America, with its top ecosystem of AI research and development and a favorable regulatory framework for AI pilot programs. Europe is striving to prove itself as a model of responsible AI systems and quality clinical compliance. The economy of the Asia Pacific is expected to have the highest adoption rate due to the high government digital health programs and smart hospitals equipped with AI. The Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Latin America (LATAM) are also getting stronger on adoption and have new deployments centered around AI imaging and workflow automation.
Conclusion
The Generative AI in Healthcare Market is conclusively in a hyper-growth trajectory, and the trend is unmistakably moving towards the goal of becoming a $98.4 billion industry by 2030. The process is stimulated by the fact that the industry moves to smarter diagnostics, highly automated processes, actually personalized precision medicine, and AI-engineered therapies.
Shobhit Nirwan is a popular Indian YouTuber and an entrepreneur who changed how students learn things in India. His most popular videos are those on study tips, math tricks and motivation for CBSE boards, JEE and NEET exams. From being a regular college student to being one of India’s leading educators and a successful entrepreneur, his journey is an inspiration to many. Shobhit Nirwan has established himself among thetop Indian YouTubers, inspiring millions of students through educational and motivational content.
He has millions of students who look up to his videos for guidance in competitive and school exams. Shobhit’s easy and fun methods somehow make learning less stressful. This article is an updated guide to his life, career, and net worth. We will look at Shobhit’s journey from a regular student to a successful entrepreneur and YouTuber.
Category
Details
Full Name
Shobhit Nirwan
Date of Birth
March 17, 2001
Age (in 2025)
24 Years
Birthplace
New Delhi, India
Education
B.Tech (IIIT Vadodara)
Profession
Educator, YouTuber, Entrepreneur, Author
Company
Next Toppers (Co-founder)
Book
Unbarbaad: For Those Who Feel Lost
Estimated Net Worth
Rs 3–5 Crores
Early Life and Education
Shobhit Nirwan was brought up in a middle-class family, where education was given the highest priority. He went to a Delhi-based CBSE-affiliated school and scored 10 CGPA in his class 10th board exam. He shifted to Kota for JEE preparation after completing high school. His entrepreneurial journey reflects the rapid growth of Edtech unicorn startups in India, which are transforming digital learning.
He graduated from class 12th with a percentage of 87% in board exams while preparing for his JEE exam. Shobhit got disciplined and learned to manage time well, from his “tough environment” in Kota. He later opted for B.Tech (Information Technology) at the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Vadodara.
In college, Shobhit learned video editing and made short clips. This helped him later when he started creating content online. Shobhit finished his degree around 2023, and by then, he was already thinking about how to help other students who feel lost and struggle as he did in his early days of preparation.
Struggles and difficulties
Shobhit’s most profound struggles were not academic, but psychological. One of his toughest battles was the huge competition and extreme pressure in Kota. Every year, thousands of students enter Kota to prepare for exams. Shobhit mentioned it was stress, high expectations and occasional doubt that held him back. It was so hard he sometimes felt like giving up.
There were days he procrastinated, but this internal conflict taught him that academic success is the first half of the battle; mental stability is the other. It wasn’t easy again, being denied entry into his dream college the first time around. He was expecting much from the JEE results, but unfortunately, it didn’t turn out as he had thought so and that made him dejected. But he discovered failure was part of learning.
Shobhit talked about how he had to rebuild his confidence and find new ways to study smarter, not harder. There were times when he felt anxious before exams. All these experiences became the foundation of his unique teaching philosophy. Even after he launched his YouTube channel, Shobhit faced trolls and criticism.
Some suggested his tips are too basic, but he brushed those off and focused only on positive feedback. These things made him stronger and more empathetic. Now he provides solutions to overcome the problems he faced during his preparation time. This helps him to inspire others as a reminder that we all occasionally find things hard, but perseverance is everything. Shobhit’s success shows that you need to overcome real problems instead of avoiding them.
YouTube Journey: How it started
Shobhit’s YouTube channel “Maths by Shobhit Nirwan” began in 2019 when he was still in college. He noticed that many students were confused about how to study effectively. He decided to use his own experiences from Kota to make videos sharing simple tips. His content was based on solving non-academic problems first, before diving into the syllabus. He wanted to make sure that no student feels lost due to pressure.
The channel initially focused on competitive exam strategies and his personal life in Kota. The real breakthrough came when he started providing his own handwritten notes for Class 10 subjects. These notes attracted huge viewers for being concise, colourful, and perfectly tailored for board exams, becoming an instant, free resource for students across the country. His first video was about basic math tricks for exams. He filmed it with just a phone and a whiteboard in his room.
The channel grew slowly, but Shobhit kept posting regularly, covering topics like how to avoid common mistakes in tests or a study schedule. His friendly and easy-going approach helped him quickly establish a large audience. His subscribers started to increase in 2020, when he quit his other jobs and dedicated himself full-time to YouTube. Multiple channels run by Shobhit have millions of subscribers today.
His content includes marathons for last-minute prep and series on subjects like physics and chemistry. The journey started small but grew because Shobhit learned from audience feedback. His YouTube account has gathered more than 3.4 million followers. He is an established youth motivational speaker who has spoken in various youth forums, including Josh Talks and TEDx. By choosing to go solo and rejecting an offer from a major EdTech business, he solidified his role as a genuine mentor who believes in what he does.
The birth of Next Toppers
Shobhit teamed up with other popular educators, Prashant Kirad and Digraj Singh Rajput, to start Next Toppers, an online learning platform. The idea came after he saw students’ demands for structured courses beyond free YouTube clips. Next Toppers brought top educators for every subject under one roof. The platform offers paid classes, notes, quizzes, and live coaching for school exams.
Shobhit designed the platform to be affordable and easy to use. Next Toppers primarily targeted Class 9 and 10 students. The platform is known for its highly affordable paid batches. The platform grew fast because of Shobhit’s name; people trusted him from his videos. Next Toppers has thousands of users who bought paid courses.
Shobhit also wrote a book called “Unbarbaad” about overcoming confusion in life. It’s for students who feel lost, he wrote the book to help them with stories from his struggles. The birth of Next Toppers made Shobhit a businessman. He remained on course with his dream of making education better for everyone in India.
Estimated Net Worth in 2025
Shobhit Nirwan’s net worth is around 3 to 5 crore rupees, reflecting his massive influence and strategic business decisions. This is based on his earnings from YouTube, Next Toppers, and other works. YouTube is his main source, where ads and views bring in money. With multiple channels and millions of watchers, he earns Rs 23 lakhs per month.
He is the co-founder and a major stakeholder of the Edtech venture, Next Toppers. He earns from course fees and subscriptions. His book sales and event appearances also contribute. His positive image and loyal student base help him attract brand deals across educational platforms and other companies.
Assets and Lifestyle
Shobhit lives a simple and professional life. He has a home in Delhi where he works and relaxes. His assets include gadgets for making videos, like cameras and computers. His notable public asset is his car, the Tata Harrier, which he showed in his vlog. Despite his public career, Shobhit keeps his personal and family life private.
Conclusion:
Shobhit Nirwan’s story is an example that hard work and persistence are the keys to success. His journey from a Kota student to teaching for the JEE exam and becoming a popular YouTuber, entrepreneur has become an inspiration for many.Shobhit Nirwan’s journey remains one of the most inspirational success stories Anand Kumar Net Worthfor students and aspiring content creators across India.
His journey motivates students to dream and work hard. Shobhit’s story is just another testimony to the fact that if you really want something, do not deviate from your path and keep moving ahead. In this article, we have discussed Shobhit’s biography, including his early life, net worth and struggles.
FAQs:
Who is Shobhit Nirwan?
Shobhit Nirwan is an Indian YouTuber, student mentor, and educational content creator known for study and motivation videos.
What is Shobhit Nirwan famous for?
He is known for sharing study tips, exam strategies, and productivity advice for students.
What is Shobhit Nirwan’s net worth?
His estimated net worth is reported to be around Rs 3 to 5 crore.
How does Shobhit Nirwan earn money?
He earns from YouTube ads, brand deals, online courses, and digital learning products.
Where is Shobhit Nirwan from?
He is from India and often shares stories from his student life.
What is Shobhit Nirwan’s age?
He is believed to be in his early 20s, based on publicly available information.
What type of content does he create?
He creates videos about study techniques, productivity habits, motivation, and exam preparation.
Is Shobhit Nirwan a full-time YouTuber?
Yes, he is known to be a full-time content creator along with his educational projects.
Does Shobhit Nirwan offer any courses?
Yes, he offers study-related courses, productivity programs, and digital resources for students.
Why do students like Shobhit Nirwan?
Students find his content relatable, simple, and practical for improving their study routine and confidence.
Mini Diamonds (India) (MDIL) witnessed a massive jump in its share price after it announced the signing of a major export order. The share price of the company increased by 18.53% to a trading price of ₹32.95 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). This surge in market value was a direct response to the news of getting an export order worth $1.50 million (approximately ₹13.5 crore).
Export order details and financial performance
Jewellery Trendz is a Hong Kong-based company that was awarded the lucrative export contract. The order is specifically related to the export of lab-grown polished diamonds, as it was confirmed in an exchange filing by Mini Diamonds (India). The total price of the diamonds that will be exported according to this contract is above $1.50 million.
The firm has provided an effective schedule for how this order will be executed. The export will be completed within three months of the date on which the order was received. Upon delivery, the company will be paid after 150 days following the delivery date.
Mini Diamonds (India) has given a regulatory clarification where it said that its promoters and the promoter group do not have any interest in the Hong Kong awarding authority. The deal cannot be regarded as a related-party under the current regulatory standards.
Mini Diamonds (India) (MDIL) is essentially involved in the trade and manufacturing of diamonds. The second quarter of the fiscal year 2026 (Q2 FY26) has been a mixed financial performance for the company. The standalone net profit of Q2 FY26 was reported as ₹182 crore.
This amount is a minor decrease of 1.1% compared to the ₹1.84 crore net profit in the same quarter in the previous fiscal year (Q2 FY25). On the contrary, the operating revenues at the company are positively improved. Q2 FY26 revenue increased 12.7% year-on-year (YoY), and stood at ₹100.46 crore.
The chairman and managing director, Mini Diamonds (India), Upendra N. Shah, said, “The repeat order from our Hong Kong customer, focused on exclusively special-cut and shaped lab-grown polished diamonds, underlines the confidence in our product consistency and ability to customize as per client requirements through our in-house R&D. Fulfilment of the earlier orders to this customer is progressing as planned, and we expect to complete dispatches within the agreed timeframes. As we expand our offering beyond round shapes, we see better flexibility for our overseas partners and improved visibility for the lab-grown diamond portfolio in export markets over the coming quarters.”
The achievement of Mini Diamonds India in acquiring a $1.50 million export order with Jewellery Trendz of Hong Kong is one of the most notable business developments that enabled the company to gain over 18% in stock value. The agreement, based on the polished lab-grown diamonds that are customised, helps to strengthen the reputation of the company in terms of the quality of the products offered and specialisation in the export market. The commentary by the management cites strategic expansion to specialised diamond shapes to gain more visibility in the export market. The recent quarterly performance of the company indicates that there has been a slight decrease in net profit on a year-on-year basis, whereas revenue growth of 12.7% as a result of operations and the enthusiasm of an international client demonstrates that the company is in an excellent position to maintain its place in the global lab-grown diamond trade.
The move by OG Media 360, a progressive and new-age media and brand-building agency, to boost its Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio by announcing a landmark acquisition is strategic. The agency has also managed to acquire Times of Business, a reputable and powerful business news franchise. This is a strategic step that is directly related to the overall, long-term purpose of the agency, which is to build the most influential digital-first business media network in India, by being very careful in its construction. The major plan of this vision is the consolidation of high-impact intellectual properties into one cohesive and unified ecosystem to provide a maximum reach and thematic coherence to the digital domain.
Comprehensive ecosystem and newly acquired entity
Times of Business, the newly acquired entity, has managed to become one of the most popular Instagram-first business news communities. It has established itself as a reputable source of updated business information presented in real time, with value-added market insights and content that is of interest to the growing startup industry in India.
With time, Times of Business has developed a highly followed and loyal customer base whose major makeup is founders, seasoned professionals, and business enthusiasts who follow the platform in their daily intake of information. This specialized and high-retention community integration is a significant addition to the digital capabilities of OG Media 360, as well as its positioning in the market.
This purchase is not only an addition of a new brand but also an enhancement and expansion of the current network of OG Media 360. The Times of Business property will be incorporated into the greater digital system of the agency, the DOC Media Universe.
This broad universe has several successful and focused content IPs, namely, StartupByDOC, BusinessByDOC, and Startup IndiaStories. With Times of Business joining this club, OG Media 360 gains tremendous power to report and shape the entire business news, including both startup stories and macro business and market trends.
Growth roadmap
The aggressive growth roadmap that OG Media 360 has already outlined is specifically aimed at making Times of Business the top digital-first business content player in the country. This future roadmap is multi-dimensional since much emphasis is placed on the expansion of the brand on external platforms. The main expansion strategies include the development of a strong multi-platform presence on strong professional and content-oriented networks, including LinkedIn, YouTube Shorts, and X (previously Twitter).
The growth will be supported by the launch of new and higher-value forms of content, such as the debut of new daily video explainers focused on breaking down the complicated issues related to business, finance, market trends, and the current trends in startups. Moreover, the DOC ecosystem will also release a unique founder and industry leader interview series that will provide comprehensive insights and practical vision to readers.
The OG Media 360 will launch a new high-end offering under the TOB Insiders brand to appeal to the most devoted audience. The advanced partnership-based model will be prioritized for the growth of monetization through brands, startups, and fintech companies interested in identifying a targeted engagement with the influential audience of the agency. A fundamental part of this plan will be the careful utilization of cross-distribution on all OG Media 360 Intellectual Properties, whereby high-impact content has the reach and impact on the whole unified digital network.
Conclusion
The Times of Business acquisition is a conclusive and strategic fast-track on OG Media 360 aimed at developing the most powerful and dominant social-first business media network in India. Combining a highly successful, community-based property with an explicit emphasis on digital platforms, OG Media 360 is not only an addition and invention of an asset, but a gathering of high-impact IPs to make content experiences deeper and more meaningful. This acquisition will precondition the newly enlarged organization to implement an aggressive plan of platform growth, novel content format delivery, and specialized community development, making the DOC Media Universe, with Times of Business at its core, perfectly placed to become the leader of platform-based digital business stories in India.
A group of hospitality entrepreneurs and industry professionals have announced the formation of ISTHA (Indian Short-Term Rental Host Association), a collaborative platform aimed at representing and supporting India’s fast-growing short-term rental and alternative accommodation sector.
As India witnesses an unprecedented rise in short-term stays, boutique rentals, and experiential hospitality formats, ISTHA seeks to unify hosts, operators, and policymakers under one umbrella — promoting standards, transparency, and sustainable growth across the ecosystem.
“The short-term hospitality sector in India has outpaced traditional models, yet remains largely unorganized. Through ISTHA, we aim to create a credible voice for the industry — one that focuses on quality, compliance, and community,” said Ms. Priyanka, Secretary, ISTHA.
ISTHA’s objectives include establishing best-practice frameworks, liaising with government bodies for regulatory clarity, and offering knowledge-sharing platforms for hosts and property managers. The association also plans to launch state chapters, facilitating regional collaboration and representation for local operators.
“Our goal is not just to build a network, but to build trust — among hosts, guests, and policymakers. ISTHA will advocate for responsible hosting, safety standards, and a positive guest experience,” added Ms. Priyanka.
The founding team comprises professionals from across India’s hospitality, travel, and real estate sectors, who are inviting like-minded partners and entrepreneurs to join as founding or associate members. ISTHA will soon announce its first national meet and state host councils, aimed at building partnerships with technology providers, online travel platforms, and local tourism boards.
About ISTHA (Indian Short-Term Rental Host Association)
ISTHA is a non-profit industry body established to represent the interests of India’s short-term rental and alternative hospitality ecosystem. Its mission is to promote responsible hosting, encourage policy dialogue, and strengthen India’s position as a global hub for experiential and flexible accommodation.
