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D2C home and sleep solutions platform Wakefit.co on Thursday launched a 'No Questions Asked' wellness leave policy for its employees. The policy extends a no-questions-asked leave to all employees once a month. These wellness leaves can be availed by the workforce to support their physical, mental, or emotional well-being by taking time off to unwind and rejuvenate themselves, the platform said in a statement. The employees can also utilise their wellness leaves to opt for leisurely activities. "With this policy, we hope to encourage our employees to unwind, focus on their health, and spend time with their loved ones by taking their wellness leave with no questions asked," said <keyword id="2800926" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="umanath-nayak" source="Orion">Umanath Nayak</keyword>, Head of HR, Wakefit.co. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company overhauled its existing policies to mould them into the digital-first world. It unveiled its landmark 'Right to Nap' policy in May 2022 to enable employees to take a power nap between 2 and 2.30 p.m. Additionally, Wakefit.co also launched the flexi work policy for new parents. "These initiatives are impactful steps towards enabling a healthy work-life balance among its workforce," it said. Founded by Ankit Garg and <keyword id="1639108" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="chaitanya-ramalingegowda" source="Orion">Chaitanya Ramalingegowda</keyword> in March 2016, the company received Series A funding from marquee investor <keyword id="136147" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sequoia-capital-india" source="Orion">Sequoia Capital India</keyword>, Series B funding from <keyword id="2248588" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="verlinvest" source="Orion">Verlinvest</keyword> and Sequoia Capital India, and recently received Series C funding from US-based <keyword id="857014" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sig" source="Orion">SIG</keyword>, while existing investors, Verlinvest and Sequoia Capital India also participated. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/cognizant-closes-q3-with-4-9-bn-revenue-to-acquire-onesource-ld/articleshow/95275456.cms">Cognizant closes Q3 with $4.9 bn revenue, to acquire OneSource (Ld)</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indias-services-sector-recovers-some-growth-momentum-it-lost-in-september/articleshow/95273704.cms">India's services sector recovers some growth momentum it lost in September</a>

Wakefit.co announces 'No Questions Asked' wellness leave policy for staff

<ul><li>Covid-19 has changed the way we buy, it has changed the reasons we buy certain products and brands too. There is an increasing focus on brands that are sourcing locally, helping the community and are transparent about everything that goes into making them.</li><li>Also, brands that are trying to help the environment, are sustainable are finding more and more takers, according to a recent study by <keyword id="172902" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mintel">Mintel</keyword>.</li><li>We look at this trend of an increased focus on <keyword id="9220437" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="localism">localism</keyword> and talk to a few brands that are gaining from it.</li></ul>Covid-19 has brought about a huge change in how and what we consume. Over the past one and a half years, people have become more and more conscious about where their products come from, the kind of ingredients that are being used, how closely brands are working with local communities and help benefit them and how serious they are about helping the environment. According to findings of Mintel’s recent ‘Attitudes towards Localism –Indian Consumer – 2021’ reports, consumers have been showing heightened interest in local products due to COVID-19. And no, it is not just Gen Z’s who are giving this trend a push. The pandemic led consumers across all age groups to lean towards traditions in foods, beauty regimes or health and wellness. The study, which took into account opinions of 3000 people across the country states that 39% of people aged 35-44+ expect brands to offer traditional ingredients in packaged formats. The pandemic has heightened concerns around product quality, and 48% of men aged 35+ look for products which offer transparency about use of local ingredients. The study also reveals that there is an increasing affinity for brands that give back to the society and are trying to support communities as 46% of 35-44 year old women are keen on products that support social causes. Moreover, around 45% of Indians switched to buying locally-grown produce since the pandemic, a trend highest among women aged 35-44 (58%). This same group of women also led the switch to buying more organic products. The report suggests that this is an opportunity for local brands to talk about their sustainability efforts by calling out how they source their products and how this impacts the environment. Speaking about some of the key factors that have led to people leaning towards localism, <keyword id="3056481" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nidhi-Sinha">Nidhi Sinha</keyword>, Head of Content, Mintel Indian Consumer said, “The pandemic paved the way for local products to come to the fore. With challenges in the supply chain coupled with the need for familiarity, consumers increasingly took to local products. With the health halo at its pinnacle, people were inherently looking to increase their immunity, improve their health and also deal with mental health issues. The answer to these was in the usage of traditional, ayurvedic ingredients like giloy, ashwagandha and so on. “Another sentiment which led to consumers leaning to the localism pillar is the fact that these products help local communities. As people struggled to meet ends due to the imposed lockdown restrictions, consumption of local produce helped consumers to pass on benefits to local artisans, farmers and communities. 34% of consumers prefer products that support local communities. Technology enabled small time local setups to reach consumers. Usage of apps like WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook helped connect consumers to producers thus making concepts like farm-to-fork easy to take to.” The need for comfort and familiarity has been one of the biggest factors in this trend. “With 37% of consumers looking for products that are aligned to local culture, consumers have been seeking familiarity and comfort especially in these tough times. The launch of products like thandai from paper boat and ubtan from Mama Earth are proof of how consumers look for familiarity in line with a global consumer trend of Culturally Connected,” shared Sinha. While Indians have been increasingly focusing on health for the past few years, the pandemic just gave this trend the right push. “Around 43% of consumers today expect products to have ingredients which provide added benefits. Also, the affinity towards online shopping as well as better last-mile-delivery means that traditional setups can reach consumers, thus, making local products easy to use,” added Sinha. <keyword id="9450009" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="wow-skin-science">WOW Skin Science</keyword> is a brand that has witnessed good growth in the past few years. A lot of its growth has come on the back of its usage of natural ingredients in its products. It has also been actively working on making its products and packaging more eco-friendly. On whether its focus on local ingredients has helped it attract consumers, <keyword id="4759349" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="manish-chowdhary">Manish Chowdhary</keyword>, Co founder, WOW Skin Science said, “There has been a greater preference for natural plant-based local products in recent times. Using high-quality local ingredients has been one of the factors responsible for our growth. Our product formulations are nature-inspired, science-backed and safety-tested, sourcing the best ingredients to create effective products that are also affordable. We’re completely transparent about the ingredients that go into our products and we stay true to our claim of being paraben, sulphate and silicone-free.” Just 7-years-old, this year, the brand aims to achieve revenues of around Rs 800 crore. Even when it comes to brands selling home décor, people are leaning towards brands that are intrinsically Indian, in terms of its designs and offerings. “We not only engage in sourcing our materials locally but also are actively collaborating with local artisans to introduce traditional arts and craft forms into the mainstream market. This includes products in our home décor and accessories range along with the addition of beautiful face masks made of Maheshwari fabric. As a brand that respects the value of tradition and heritage, we felt that this pivoting was a necessary step to keep our traditional crafts alive during the COVID-19 crisis. This range garnered quite a lot of attention, in fact, we sold out the range within a week of its launch and have placed repeat orders with these artisans for the products,” said <keyword id="3212292" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Krsnaa-Mehta">Krsnaa Mehta</keyword>, Founder &amp; Executive Director at <keyword id="3212293" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-Circus">India Circus</keyword>. The brand has witnessed over 2x growth over last year with products in decor and dining categories leading the chart. For <keyword id="9095287" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="slay-coffee">SLAY Coffee</keyword>, that sources its beans from the mountains of Chikmagalur, growth was consistent through the pandemic. “In the context of the pandemic, consumers are increasingly preferring brands that they can trust where the experience is consistent, predictable, and of course safe. While there has been an increase in the number of ‘Made in India’ labels, Indian customers are witnessing a more subtle and a good change. Likewise, we are giving our customers products that are not just made in India but that are made for India. The pandemic outbreak has left a significant impact on the export and import industry. Amidst the labels like ‘Made in India’, we've been seeing a lot of domestic commodities and local manufacturers come into the light and such initiatives are producing profitable results and this is also good for boosting the Indian economy,” shared <keyword id="2754555" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chaitanya-Chitta">Chaitanya Chitta</keyword>, CEO &amp; Co-founder, SLAY COFFEE. Whether this trend is here to stay, only time will tell. But for now, it is refreshing to see more and more brands listen to their consumers and offer them exactly what they have been wishing for.

Indian consumers are increasingly buying local products, brands that help benefit local communities and economies and focus on environmental issues after Covid-19

<ul><li>Season 2 of <keyword id="5891223" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Wakefit">Wakefit</keyword>.co’s Sleep Internship Programme is set to stir up a storm, as the hunt for India’s best sleeper begins again . </li><li>The inaugural batch of the <keyword id="10673866" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="wakefit-sleep-internship">Wakefit Sleep Internship</keyword> (Batch of 2020) saw 23 <keyword id="8392130" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sleep-interns">sleep interns</keyword> bagging the coveted internship, which had received almost 1.70 lakh applications from across the world. </li></ul>Ever heard of a job that pays to sleep? We bet you have, after Bengaluru-based sleep and home solutions company, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-ozYcE1thE&amp;feature=emb_title">Wakefit.co, created a viral sensation</a> with its Sleep Internship initiative in 2020. A year later, the world has faced a pandemic, and sleep has somehow taken a backseat again amidst the stress, health risks, and career turbulences. On the brink of the Budget 2021, as India looks to mitigate its health threats, resurrect its economy, and generate opportunities for job growth, Wakefit.co is doing its bit by simply reminding people that sleep is important too and that you can, well, earn to sleep! <a href="https://wakefit.co/sleepintern/">Wakefit.co is back with its epic Sleep Internship program</a> and Season 2 promises to be bigger and better than its hugely popular maiden season that rewarded sleep lovers with their #DreamJob. This year, selected sleep interns will not only earn INR 1 Lakh but the pool of interns will get to compete with each other too, for a grand prize of INR 10 Lakh and bragging rights to be called ‘India’s Sleep Champion’. Close to 60,000 applicants have already thrown in their hats to compete and be a Sleep Intern for the second edition of the annual Sleep Internship initiative. This year, applicants have a ready pool of information to help them create a winning entry. Wakefit.co’s sleep internship microsite <a href="https://wakefit.co/sleepintern/winners">features last year’s winning interns</a>, their hilarious interviews with our celebrity judges, and a profile capturing their love for sleep. The contenders who clear the rigorous selection process in Season 2 will have to turn up to work every night in the comfort of your home for a deep, uninterrupted sleep of 9 hours for 100 consecutive nights. Each of the interns will be provided with a state-of-the-art Wakefit.co mattress and a sophisticated sleep tracker. They will also get to participate in various sleep-related challenges as part of the internship to emerge as India’s most passionate sleeper. As part of its scientific approach to sleep, the company will also facilitate counseling sessions with sleep experts, fitness experts, home decor specialists, etc. for the interns. Talking about the unique internship program, <keyword id="1639108" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chaitanya-Ramalingegowda">Chaitanya Ramalingegowda</keyword>, Director and Co-founder, Wakefit.co, said, “2020 has been a tough year. Pandemic stress and work-from-home routines have translated into late sleeping hours, disrupted sleep patterns, and shorter sleep cycles. This is especially true for working adults between 25 and 45 years of age. We have brought back the Sleep Internship in its second season, to remind people to not relegate sleep to the bottom of their priority list.” He adds. “We aim to drive home the message that sleeping is a serious job. Just like any other job, it can be both, satisfying and rewarding, when done right. However, it needs an ideal ecosystem – something that Wakefit.co has been building over the last five years. The extraordinary response to our Sleep Internship program in 2020 has encouraged us to take forward this important conversation with season 2.” The inaugural season launched in 2020 had received close to 1.70 lakh applications from across the world, with applications pouring in from about 30 countries. With the stakes getting bigger this year, we can only imagine the competition that lies ahead. The hunt for the super sleepers to be part of the ‘Wakefit Sleep Internship 2021-22’ has begun. Are you ready for the challenge?

Wakefit brings back its sleep internship; this time, you can earn Rs 10 lakh by sleeping

<ul><li><keyword id="7239876" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="WAKEFIT-CO">Wakefit.co</keyword>’s Rewind Song, ‘<keyword id="10512279" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="bhaad-mein-jaa-2020">Bhaad Mein Jaa 2020</keyword>’ Qawwali, becomes the new internet sensation. </li><li>The song is conceptualised by Spring Marketing Capital. </li></ul>As a tumultuous year comes to a close, the trials and tribulations of 2020 was encapsulated in a funny, witty and <keyword id="10512281" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="topical-video">topical video</keyword> by sleep and home solutions company, Wakefit.co. The video, which has amassed more than 1.6 million views across the internet in three days, came at an opportune time to wrap up the highs, the lows, the untoward surprises and the eventful twists of 2020 and resonates with what people went through during the year. <div type="Youtube" id="lAhMQwtwNxs" title="Bhaad Mein Jaa 2020 | Viral Song 2020 | Funny Qawwali by HomeTime" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lAhMQwtwNxs/mqdefault.jpg"></div> The video was a raging success among netizens, as it struck an instant chord with people whose lives have been turned upside down due to the pandemic and being cooped up at home. Using the hashtag, #BhaadMeinJaa2020, some claimed that it captured the emotions of the year aptly while others declared it was the best video of 2020. The video reached more than 13 million people across social media within three days. <keyword id="1639108" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chaitanya-Ramalingegowda">Chaitanya Ramalingegowda</keyword>, Director and Co-founder of Wakefit.co, said on the release and success of the video, “We really wanted to sum up 2020 on a lighter note and give people something to chuckle about after a grueling few months this year. We created an independent YouTube channel called Home Time and released this video, which is our way of bidding 2020 goodbye once and for all. At Wakefit.co, we believe in creating content that makes people smile while also bringing to light the need for sleep and home wellness. We are thrilled to have received such an overwhelming response for our video from netizens.” Wakefit.co recently raised Series B funding of INR 185 crores from Verlinvest and <keyword id="136147" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sequoia-Capital-India">Sequoia Capital India</keyword> and plans to bolster its expansion plans in the year to come. The company will also double down on its marketing wherewithal and continue to create content that adds value to the lives of its consumers.

'Bhaad Mein Jaa 2020', says Wakefit.co in its quirky wrap-up qawwali for 2020

<ul><li>As demand for home and sleep solutions surges, the company witnesses a surge in website traffic of 84% and 139% in Tier I and Tier II cities respectively as compared to last year. </li><li>Due to COVID-19 and its impact on people’s lifestyles and residential arrangements, this year saw a marked increase in demand from deeper pockets of the country.</li></ul><keyword id="7239876" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="WAKEFIT-CO">Wakefit.co</keyword> has announced a record year with respect to traffic and revenues during the 2020 festive season. Wakefit.co’s flagship festive sale, The Dream Home Sale, resulted in a 104% increase in website traffic as compared to last year’s festive Sale and recorded a phenomenal increase in revenues which rose 223% from about INR 17 Crores last year to more than INR 57 crores this year. The yearly festive sale ran from October 1st to October 31st in 2019 and this year in 2020, it spanned from October 15th to November 15th, based on when Diwali falls. The Dream Home Sale offered discounts of close to 35% on all products along with allied bank partnership discounts and Wakefit Rewards. Anticipating the demand during the festive season, Wakefit.co had ramped up the production of certain products such as mattresses and comforters by 33%, beds by 100%, pillows by 200% and sofas by 75% well in advance to address the needs of the Indian consumers. This year’s festive season threw light on important behavioral trends, as consumers took to buying ergonomic products on the Wakefit.co platform, such as memory foam mattresses, adjustable pillows, hygienic mattress protectors and comforters, ergonomic work desks, chairs and sofas, which consisted of the top performing product lines for the company. Due to tectonic shifts in people’s lifestyles and residential arrangements due to Covid-19, this year saw a marked increase in demand from deeper pockets of the country. <keyword id="1639108" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chaitanya-Ramalingegowda">Chaitanya Ramalingegowda</keyword>, Director and Co-Founder of Wakefit.co said, “The Dream Home Sale received great feedback from customers and was especially successful in Tier 2 and 3 markets, which contributed to a significant share of traffic this year, with about 43% of people visiting our website from beyond the metros. This was a steady improvement from last year’s share, wherein 37% of our traffic constituted of Tier II and III markets." <keyword id="650855" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ankit-Garg">Ankit Garg</keyword>, CEO and Co-founder, Wakefit.co, said, "Currently, almost 30% of our revenue throughout the year is generated from Tier 2 and 3 cities. As we grow, we are committed to making Wakefit.co a household name and hence, we plan to double down our focus on these cities. We aim to drive as much as 50% of demand from these cities in the next few years.” In a reversal of fortunes for the online furniture segment from last year, the pandemic has compelled Indians to invest in scientifically designed home furniture, as consumers use their homes as multi-functional spaces. The online furniture market, although only 3% of the organized furniture segment at the moment, is set to grow at a CAGR of 80-85% over the next few years. Industry trends such as marketplace growth in online home segment categories as well as significant investments in popular furniture players point to a rising appetite for the sector, both among consumers as well as investors. Wakefit.co, which is targeting INR 450 crores in FY 2020, also ventured into furniture this year and has received significant upsurge in demand for its sleep and home segments.

Wakefit.co clocks 223% increase in revenues over last year during the Festive Sale; records 43% traffic from Tier-II cities

<ul><li>Wakefit.co, a Bengaluru-based startup was founded by <keyword id="650855" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ankit-Garg">Ankit Garg</keyword> and <keyword id="1639108" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chaitanya-Ramalingegowda">Chaitanya Ramalingegowda</keyword> in 2016.</li><li>In 4 years, the startup is now diversifying from its primary offering of <keyword id="9658763" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sleep-wellness">sleep wellness</keyword> products to <keyword id="306280" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-Solutions">home solutions</keyword>.</li><li>The startup has announced ambitious expansion plans and is also targeting Rs 450 crore revenue in FY2021. Garg and Ramalingegowda walk us through their strategy to achieve it.</li></ul> In a year when most organizations are being frugal, cutting costs and even slashing jobs, Wakefit.co recently announced that its expansion plan. It is going to invest Rs 15 crore towards setting up new facilities, expanding product lines and strengthening technological capabilities. It also aims to target Rs 450 crore in revenue for FY 2021. Moreover, the company also plans to hire close to 200 people in the next couple of months. The year 2020 has been difficult for organizations across the world. However, it is companies that have been able to adapt, stay agile and listen to its consumers and work on its offerings accordingly that have been able to weather the storm effectively. So how has Wakefit, a 4-year-old startup been able to not only grow in these adverse times without cutting any jobs but is now also looking at hiring and investing on expansion? Ankit Garg, CEO and Co-founder, Wakefit.co said, “We recently announced an investment of Rs 15 crore towards setting up of new facilities, expanding product lines and strengthening our focus on research and innovation. We believe that investing in Capex to improve quality, reduce manufacturing costs and thereby pass on the benefit to customers is the ideal way to grow a business, and we will continue to adopt that strategy while fuelling the next level of growth. As a company, our top priority will continue to be the enhancement of customer experience and satisfaction.” “As a fundamentally strong company that works on sound business values, we have always prioritized a solid balance sheet and employee welfare,” added Chaitanya Ramalingegowda, Director and Co-founder, Wakefit.co. “By virtue of these ethos, we have been able to pay full salaries to employees and avoid any layoffs during this time. In fact, being in the home solutions space, we have seen growing demand for our products, which strengthened our resolve to invest in Capex to bolster our back-end capabilities. While we have remained very frugal in marketing efforts and for potentially wasteful expenditure, we have not held back in terms of investments that will benefit the company and our hundreds of employees in the long term,” he shared. What started as an online mattress and sleep solutions startup is now diversifying its offerings too. It is now also looking at entering the home solutions space. However, that is one space that already has a few well-established players, both online and offline. So how is Wakefit.co trying to create differentiation in the segment? “With our foray into the home solutions space, we are now invested in the science and innovation of home wellness. Based on scientific research in home ergonomics, we have designed new products such as study tables, book shelves, bedside tables, coffee tables, TV units, sofas, shoe racks, and dining tables that offer superior value to customers at an affordable price. Given that we are a full stack company and own the manufacturing and back-end operations end-to-end, it is conducive to keep innovating on the products and keep the prices reasonable, yet be profitable,” explained Ramalingegowda. “Our direct-to-consumer DNA, powered by strong manufacturing capabilities, is definitely a big advantage. Currently, we have six world-class manufacturing facilities – spread across Bengaluru, Jodhpur and Delhi – to cater to the growing consumer demand,” he added. The lockdown experience The first two months when operations came to a sudden halt, there was a lot of uncertainty and confusions about the future. Supply chain had been completely disrupted. However, that halt also led to a lot of pent up demand. Moreover, with people staying more at home, they started paying more attention to wellness and sleep. “As the lockdown eased, we registered an increase in customer queries about our products. There has been a perceptible shift in customer preferences, possibly, due to prolonged stay at home as well as crucial conversations about health and well-being,” shared Garg. As working from home became the norm, Wakefit.com also witnessed an upsurge in the demand for better home solutions. “We understand that customers are creating their own efficient and ergonomic work spaces within their homes, while also filling the gaps in their home furniture needs now that they are spending more hours indoors. This has contributed to steady growth in demand over the last two months. We surpassed pre-Covid demand in June and are on track to do the same in July as well,” he added. Wakefit.co’s marketing plans for FY2021 Wakefit.co has had an interesting marketing journey so far. Last year, a campaign it did, inviting entries for its sleep internship went viral, for all the right reasons. It was a smart campaign, and appealed to a huge consumer base that was intrigued at the prospect of getting paid to sleep. More recently, another campaign the startup did featuring actors Sumit Vyas and Rasika Dugal was also widely shared, for voicing what a lot ofus had been experiencing during the first few weeks of the lockdown. So what comes next in their marketing journey? “Our goal is to build brand awareness and the best way to do it, in our opinion, is to take the stance of educating customers and to focus on innovative ideas and content that will resonate with our target audience. For instance, intelligent campaigns – such as our sleep internship campaign or the open letter campaign which went live during the lockdown period – give us opportunities to engage with our customers in meaningful ways,” said Ramalingegowda. Recently, the brand also launched the ‘Wakefit Rewards’ initiative to provide value-added benefits to its customers. It also partnered with brands like Gaana, Cleartrip, Bombay Shaving Company, Ajio, 1MG and Parentlane among others to offer value-added offers on the purchase of Wakefit.co products. The collaboration was purely on goodwill, without any commercial considerations. This allowed the partner brands to attract traffic from Wakefit.co’s users without incurring any marketing costs while Wakefit.co’s customers derived value too. On what kind of marketing budgets they are looking at allocating this year, Ramalingegowda said, “Our marketing budget allocations have always been made keeping consumer sentiment and situational awareness in mind. We do not believe in spending large marketing budgets for the sake of it or because other brands are doing it. We always think about the benefit it will add to the customer’s life and then create initiatives accordingly.” Going deeper into Bharat While the brand is expanding its offering by diversifying, its next phase of growth will also come from going deeper into the country. Already close to 30% of its demand comes from Tier II and Tier III markets. “When it comes to going deeper into the country, strategic collaborations will be the key. We work with multiple logistic partners, who have unique strengths in diverse geographies, to ensure that Wakefit.co has a robust distribution and delivery system in every corner of India. We have capabilities to deliver across 19,000+ pincodes in the country and around 30% of our demand comes from Tier 2 and 3 markets. As we grow steadily, we aim to target Tier 2 and 3 cities aggressively and target 50% demand from these markets,” shared Garg. Wakefit.co of the future Both Garg and Ramalingegowda are confident that the startup is on the right path. It will continue to keep the consumer at the heart of everything that it does. On what he thinks the Wakefit.co of the future will look like, Garg said, “The vision is to strengthen the brand and ramp up production capabilities as well as distribution network across Indian markets. Our focus is on providing cutting-edge home solutions to Indian consumers at a highly affordable price point. The idea is to create a pioneering company powered by constant innovation based on consumer data and feedback. At Wakefit.co, we are working towards inspiring healthy conversations that create greater awareness about the importance of sleep and home wellness.”

Wakefit.co is targeting Rs 450 crore revenue in FY2021. The founders tell us how they plan to reach there

<ul><li>Wakefit launched in 2016 and was built on the tenets of innovation, research, customer feedback, and quality supervision.</li><li>On the back of effective marketing and an innovative line of products, the startup is confident of earning ₹220 crore in revenue in FY20.</li><li>Chaitanya Ramalingegowda, Co-founder and Director, Wakefit.co walks us through the startup’s marketing and growth strategy.</li></ul>Wakefit.co, a sleep solution company that has been in existence since 2016, went viral for a clever campaign it came up with recently. The startup was offering to pay ‘sleep interns’ ₹1 lakh for sleeping at their job, literally. Candidates were expected to sleep for 9 hours on their mattress for 100 days. The objective? To analyse sleep patterns to come up with products better suited to solve consumer pain-points. That the initiative was a success is perhaps clear from the kind of attention it got, not just in India, but abroad too. And now that the startup has captured people’s attention, it wants to start building conversations around sleep health while educating people about the importance of a good night’s sleep. The mattress industry, that is poised to cross ₹14,000 crore by 2021, has largely been an unorganized sector, with lots of local players. It is also a segment that hasn’t witnessed a lot of innovations in the recent past. That is where Wakefit wants to make a difference. We recently caught up with Chaitanya Ramalingegowda, Co-founder and Director, Wakefit.co. He spoke to us, not just about the brand’s journey so far but about its upward growth trajectory in the past few years. While the startup ended FY 17 at ₹6.75 crore in revenue, it is confident of making ₹220 crores in revenue in FY20. He also spoke to us about the marketing strategies it will employ to ensure that people take their sleep, or the lack of it more seriously. Edited excerpts: Q) Your 'Sleep Internship' campaign has turned out to be quite a clever way of capturing the attention of the media and consumers alike. What was the thought behind the initiative? What kind of reactions are you seeing to it? We are a sleep solutions company – passionate about sleep and one of our key objectives is to bring sleep into the everyday consciousness of people. The most common casualty of our fast-paced, social media fuelled lives is our sleep. As a company we wanted to remind people about the importance of a good night’s sleep and spark organic conversations about the need to make sleep a health priority without sounding too preachy or boring. At Wakefit.co, we celebrate the love for sleep and wanted to applaud people who are as obsessed about sleeping well as we are. This spurred the idea of the sleep internship campaign. The initial reaction towards this internship was complete disbelief and we saw many people disregard the authenticity of the campaign and considered it a hoax. However, over time, as we addressed each query and skepticism, we began receiving queries about the JD, KRA, performance measurement etc., and soon we were inundated with applications for the job. Interestingly, many were sceptical of being able to sleep for about 9 hours every night (a key performance indicator in this internship), which is a sign of the unhealthy lifestyle habits of our generation Q) What has your marketing strategy been so far? How have you been communicating with your consumers? Our marketing strategy stems from the business focus on customer-centricity. Our key objective has been to understand customer pain points and gaps in the sleep solutions market and our core strategy has been to take an educative stance of ‘The More You Know; The Better You Sleep’. This essentially means that a significant focus of our marketing strategy is on educating people about the knowledge and science of sleep and empowering them with information to do their own research and take a decision that is best for them. The ‘Sleep Internship’ campaign is based on this larger strategy and endeavours to make sleep health a topic of conversation and action in households. Q) You launched Wakefit in 2016. How has the journey been so far, considering you have entered a space that has quite a few well-established players? We launched in 2016 with a vision to help India sleep better. Unlike other players in the market, our company philosophy is built on the tenets of innovation, research, customer feedback and quality supervision. Beyond everything, we believe that a good sleep is not just a rich person’s dream. Despite the Rs 10,000 crore market which is growing steadily to cross Rs 14,000 crore by 2021, the mattress industry is a segment that largely comprises unorganized players. This is also an industry that has not witnessed much innovation until recent years. Additionally, this industry is also characterised by numerous gaps at various points from pricing, quality adherence to standardisation. This drove us to start a company that endeavors to beat and surpass existing industry norms. Our direct-to-consumer business model looks at sleep from a holistic standpoint. Wakefit.co was launched with the idea of bringing sleep solutions to people at affordable prices and to raise awareness about the science behind a ‘restful sleep’. In order to do this, we structured our business in a way that it democratized our products and made it affordable for the masses. Our products are designed and priced such that they are accessible to a household with a monthly income of Rs 30,000 and above. Q) How has the 2019 been for Wakefit, in terms of performance - sales and growth? We have been fortunate to record encouraging growth numbers with a 3x rise year-on-year in revenues. Having gone from recording Rs 6.75 crores in FY 2017 to posting revenues of Rs 27 crores in FY 2018, we have maintained our growth trajectory to close FY 2019 at Rs 81 crores and are expecting to close FY 2020 at more than Rs 220 crore. This growth has come at a rapid and sustainable pace, with over 5 lakh customers catered to as of 2019. This has been achieved by a strong 600+ member team that has strived to uphold the principles of product excellence and customer-centricity. We service over 19,000 pin codes across India and have carried out business operations across the country, having maintained EBITDA profitability since inception. Q) In the next year are you going to modify your marketing strategy? Will you be using the traditional mediums to reach out to your consumers? We don’t really intend to change our larger marketing strategy, which is to use out-of-the-box and creative ways to bring sleep back into public consciousness. We will continue to concentrate on our core value of empowering customers with accurate information and presenting it in an interesting manner. As a fairly young company, we definitely believe in the integrated marketing communication model and will employ the optimal marketing mix to get the best possible results. Digital media will continue to be a key focus, with specific emphasis on content marketing. On-ground activations and traditional media will also be marketing drivers in the year to come. Q) You call yourself a sleep solutions company. How are you different from other players? We are a company which is constantly innovating based on consumer data and feedback. In fact, when Wakefit.co was launched, Ankit and I had personally delivered the first 100 mattresses to understand customer mindsets. Our strength and differentiation will continue to be our razor sharp focus on doing what is best for our customers. Research, both national and global, point to the fact that Indians are sleeping less and sleeping on poor quality products. They’re sleeping less due to increasing levels of stress while sleep-related products available in the market are either of poor quality or are extremely expensive. This is where we come in, with a motive to provide cutting-edge sleep products, educate people further and become thought leaders in this not-so-organised sector. We are aiming to spark conversations and create awareness around the space, which is likely to benefit the entire ecosystem. Another key focus area for us is to create a pioneering umbrella company where all of a customer’s sleep needs are taken care of, rather than them having to buy different products from different companies. Q) What kind of growth have you been witnessing since your launch? Our growth numbers, since inception, have been as below <ul><li>Ended FY 2017 at Rs 6.75 crore in revenue</li><li>Ended FY 2018 at Rs 27 crores in revenue</li><li>Ended FY 2019 at Rs 81 crores in revenue</li><li>On track for FY 2020 for Rs 220 crores in revenue</li><li>More than 5 Lakh customers served over 4 years </li></ul>Q) What new can we expect from Wakefit.co in the next few months/quarters? We are looking at the year 2020 as a year of growth and our focus will continue to remain on educating and spreading awareness around sleep health. We are aiming to create further thought leadership focused conversations through our future campaigns and like our previous campaigns, they too will be fun, witty and engaging. Sleep is an often misunderstood and a highly debated topic in healthcare, but today there is a gradual shift of perception and this topic is slowly coming under the healthcare spotlight. We intend to leverage this and be at the forefront of this change in conversation. Additionally, we will also look to expand our product portfolio in the next few quarters. Q) What is your vision for Wakefit.co? Where do you want to take it in the next few years? Any plans of expanding to global markets? Our vision is to enhance the quality of sleep among Indians and make great quality sleep affordable for households with a monthly income of as low as Rs 30, 000. At the moment, we are looking to penetrate deeper into the Indian market and make great sleep accessible to as many Indians as possible. We are especially looking at Tier II and Tier III cities as growth drivers, which currently constitutes about 25% of our business. Q) Are you already making profits? If not, by when do you expect to become profitable? With our current business model and financial prudence, we have remained profitable since 2016.

How Wakefit.co is using marketing to make sleep health a topic of conversation in every household

First time director <keyword id="3070438" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chaitanya-Tamhanhe">Chaitanya Tamhanhe</keyword>'s Marathi film "<keyword id="6355578" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Court">Court</keyword>" was on Monday chosen as India's official entry for the 88th <keyword id="9344" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Academy-Awards">Academy Awards</keyword>, Supran Sen, secretary general of the <keyword id="291689" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Film-Federation-of-India">Film Federation of India</keyword>, which selects the country's official entry in the Best Foreign Film category of the prestigious <keyword id="6376611" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="oscars">Oscars</keyword>, told IANS. 
 
"Court" is about a trial which unfolds in a lower court, where the hopes and dreams of the city's ordinary people play out. It was named the National Film Award winner in the Best Feature Film category for 2014. 
 
(Image credits: Indiatimes)

Chaitanya Tamanhe's Court is India's official entry to Oscars

For lovers of cinema, 23rd September was a momentous day. The 17-member Film Federation of India (FFI) jury headed by veteran director and actor Amol Palekar was about to announce India’s official entry for the 2016 <keyword id="6376611" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="oscars">Oscars</keyword>. Close to 30 films were in the running. 
 Social media transformed into a world of speculation, with critics and movie-buffs debating the merits and demerits of all the films in contention and predicting which movie would infact get the distinction of proving its mettle and be selected as the <keyword id="1282732" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Foreign-Film-Category">Foreign Film Category</keyword> at the Oscars. It was really a matter of the right pick. 
 The favourites were the usual- Masaan, <keyword id="6355578" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Court">Court</keyword>, Killa, Kaaka Muttai, and surprisingly even Baahubali. (Though, a majority, including me, fervently wished Baahubali wouldn’t make the cut) 
 
Finally, at 4 pm, the verdict was out. 
 The film chosen was the multi-lingual dramedy ‘Court,’ helmed by first time director <keyword id="1254212" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Chaitanya-Tamhane">Chaitanya Tamhane</keyword> and produced by <keyword id="1354966" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Vivek-Gomber">Vivek Gomber</keyword> (who also acted in the movie) 
The unanimous exaltation of ‘Yes, this movie might have a chance’ by movie-buffs, film critics and the general public alike, proved more than anything how deserving of this Court really was. 
 
As Amol Palekar later admitted, the decision to choose Court was unanimous. 
 
 
 
 
And, as India waits until 14 January, 2016 when the Oscar nominees would be out to find out whether or not Court finds a place in the Foreign Film Category, here’s an all you need to know about the film that needs to be watched- 
 
Plot: As the name suggests, Court is centred on a court case against a singer-activist accused of assisting a sewer worker’s suicide. The accused in question also has a reputation of being a thorn in the authorities’ side in the past. Through the case, the film has gives us an insight into the contrasting lives led by the prosecution, defense, judge and finally, the accused. 
 
Critical acclaim: Court released across India on the 17th of April and gained immense critical acclaim, mainly due to its sharp-eyed, satirical screenplay and its painstaking detailing. It recently released in the United States, as well where too critics heaped praise on how the movie lays bare the workings of the Indian bureaucracy, 
Awards: As of now, Court has more than 20 awards to its credit, including Best Feature Film at the 62nd Indian National Film Awards this March, the Lion Of The Future and Best Film in the Orrizonti category at last year's Venice International Film Festival. Court thus also holds the record of being an Indian film with the maximum number of awards. 
 
Reaction: Soon after the news broke, the director-producer duo who were in Japan sent across their statement over Whatsapp describing their happiness. It reads as follows- 
“At every juncture of the film's journey, we have felt that is has given us more than we could ever imagine. Once again, this has come as a genuine surprise to both Vivek and me. Ever since we started making the film, we kept our expectations low. Especially in this case, since these results tend to be so unpredictable, it just felt like a wise thing to not expect too much. Now that it has actually happened, we would like to thanks the jury for their decision and everyone who has supported the film so far." 
 
A place in history: If Court does manage to garner a nomination in the Foreign Films category at the 88th Academy Awards (of which it has a really good chance), it’ll go down in history as the fourth Indian film to have attained that honour, after Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988), and Lagaan (2001). 
And, if it does manage to win an Oscar in the Foreign Film Category, it’ll be the first Indian film to do so. 
 
The 88th Academy Awards are slated to take place on 28th February, 2016. 
 
For the moment, feast on the film’s trailer- 
 
 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

All you need to know about Court, India’s entry for the Oscars

New Delhi [India], December 21: While making significant strides in various sectors, there are leaders in India who are standing out for their work worldwide. The "Global <keyword id="397956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-leaders" source="Orion">Indian Leaders</keyword> 2023" list curated by World Brand Affairs has featured leaders from across the country who are known for their innovative, resilient, and persistent approach to functioning in their respective industries. These people are heading towards new heights and establishing standards for excellence. The list honors their outstanding efforts and accomplishments which have propelled their companies to unbound success. Their inclusion in the list highlights their exceptional abilities to navigate challenges, adapt to changing market trends, and consistently deliver groundbreaking results. Gaurav Munjal, CEO of Unacademy Gaurav Munjal is the co-founder and CEO of Unacademy, India's largest online learning platform. With a vision to democratize education, Munjal pioneered Unacademy's growth, transforming it into a leading ed-tech powerhouse. His innovative leadership has revolutionized accessible and quality education, empowering millions of learners across the globe. Kunal Shah, Founder of CRED Kunal Shah is the founder and CEO of CRED, a fintech startup revolutionizing credit card payments in India. As a serial entrepreneur, Shah previously founded FreeCharge, later acquired by Snapdeal. His innovative approach to creating rewarding credit experiences has helped CRED to redefine credit card usage while fostering financial literacy. Ashish Hemrajani, Co-founder and CEO of BookMyShow Ashish Hemrajis the co-founder and CEO of BookMyShow, India's leading online entertainment ticketing platform. Hemrajani's unique idea revolutionized the way people book tickets for movies, events, and live performances. His ingenious leadership transformed BookMyShow into a cultural phenomenon, reshaping the access to entertainment industry across the country. Fardin Sheikh, Managing Director at Wizence Group Fardin Sheikh is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of exemplary leadership experience, earning him recognition as a Distinguished Digital Transformation Leader. His dynamic career spans across various roles, showcasing a remarkable blend of strategic vision, project management acumen, and a strong commitment to driving digital innovation. Pariksha Rao, Founder of NuWe Starting as a Clinical Nutritionist, Pariksha Rao has morphed into various roles with the intent to help demystify and democratize healthcare. From maternal well-being to fetal health and tailored nutrition for weaning kids to teens, her work has helped impact over 200,000 lives over nearly two decades of her career. She continues to amplify her impact with NuWe. Poojaa Choprah, CEO and MD of Felix Impex Poojaa Choprah, a visionary CEO &amp; MD of Felix Impex Pvt Ltd., and founder of PNA ORIGINE, is renowned for strategic business acumen and market expansions. A trailblazer in entrepreneurship, her global fashion insights, artistic fervor as a Kathak dancer, and bespoke training expertise redefine success, weaving innovation and cultural fluency into her vibrant career. Amandeep Kaur Khangura, Director of Tru Prime Amandeep is a Canadian born entrepreneur who moved to India in 2011, and acquired Indian Citizenship to follow her passion to bring social empowerment in rural Punjab. During her time in Canada, Amandeep chaired HR &amp; Finance for a $500M project. Currently, in India, she operates Majara Dairy Farm which has 2,600 livestock and is the largest dairy farm operator in Punjab and one of the largest in India. Pt. Dr Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava, Nadi and Vedic Celebrity Astrologer Renowned globally as a luminary in Nadi and Vedic astrology, Pt. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava is celebrated across 70+ nations for his remarkable precision in predictions &amp; teaching Nadi Astrology. With an illustrious career spanning 27 years, his astonishing success rate of 95-97% and expertise in Nadi Nakshatra Sutras exemplify his command in the celestial arts. Dr Prachiti Punde, Director of Proluxe Dr Prachiti Punde is a powerhouse in Integrated Medicine, Director of Proluxe Pvt Ltd, and Mrs. Universe Tolerance 2021. She transforms health and lifestyle with an exclusive GLAMOWELL multi-experience centre and revolutionizes wellness with patented tools and a unique mobile app. Along with being a spiritually blessed child, she is also an Anesthetist and mindskills Trainer with 15+ books published. Sanju Pudyandil, Founder of Whitespace Brand Consulting Sanju Pudyandil, a luminary in brand management and marketing, launched Whitespace Brand Consulting after honing his expertise at Ray+Keshavan, presently Super Union. Renowned for orchestrating transformative corporate revamps, he spearheaded impactful makeovers for illustrious brands like Canara Bank, Trident Hotels, J&amp;K Bank, Punj Lloyd, CEAT Tyres, and Fair &amp; Lovely, among others. Stuti Galiya, Partner at Khaitan &amp; Co. Stuti, an esteemed Advocate and solicitor, serves as a Partner at Khaitan &amp; Co., excelling in mergers &amp; acquisitions, private equity, corporate laws, commercial contracts, and foreign investments. Recognized as the "Luxury Retail Lawyer of the Year 2023" by APAC Insider, her expertise in the luxury retail sector marks her as an ingenious leader in the Asia-Pacific legal domain. Srividhya, Founder of HITECH Engineering Solutions (India) Srividhya, founder of HITECH Engineering Solutions (India) holds a deeply rooted legacy in Construction since 1998. Her indomitable optimism defied industry challenges, establishing a prominent platform despite male-dominated norms. Under her guidance, the company thrives as a certified SSI unit with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 &amp; OHSAS 4500: 2018 qualifications, renowned for cost-effective solutions nationwide and across Asia. Debabrata Sarkar, CMD at MicroAlgae Solutions Debabrata Sarkar is an agricultural innovator with 26+ years of global experience. Armed with a BCKVV agriculture degree and IIM Kolkata alumni status, he led strategic units for esteemed firms in Asia Pacific. He is currently serving as the CMD at MicroAlgae Solutions India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of AlgaEnergy Spain. Mogilipuri Krishna Chaitanya, Director at Wonder View Media As a Director at Wonder View Media Pvt Ltd, a CMPTL franchise specializing in IT services and Business Consulting, Mogilipuri Krishna Chaitanya facilitated substantial growth for his brother's business. With over 9 years of experience, he continues to excel as a Software Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and has made significant contributions to tech giants like Apple, Google, and more. Subhajit Banik, Founder of Birdlens Creation Subhajit ventured into photography in 2007 as a model, cultivating expertise in lighting and creative framing. Winner of the Glamhunt competition by ABP group in 2010, he founded Birdlens Creation in 2015. Specializing in wedding photography, Subhajit crafts timeless, emotive images reflecting couples' love and joy. Dr Rahul Mirchandani, Chairman &amp; Managing Director of Aries Agro Limited Dr Rahul Mirchandani, ranked among the 30 Most Innovative CEOs in India, has pioneered unique strategies to build 130+ Aries specialty crop nutrition brands. With a PhD in Management Studies, he teaches Marketing, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship across 50+ B-Schools. He plays key roles in CII's agriculture council, and key governmental panels and was the National Chairman of CII's Young Indians. Vinay Kumar Singh, Executive Director and CEO of Thomson Digital and Q&amp;I (India) Vinay Kumar Singh is the Executive Director and CEO of Thomson Digital and Q&amp;I, with over 30 years of industry expertise. He pioneered Thomson Digital in India and globally, founding associated companies and an education technology startup. Specializing in scientific and educational content, Vinay completed his Executive Training Programs at ISB Hyderabad. Saurabh Gupta, Founder &amp; CEO of Verismart.ai A 3-time entrepreneur and angel investor in 9 deep tech firms, Saurabh Gupta is now leading Verismart.ai which pioneer in blockchain-based Ad-tech/Data Interoperability platform with over 520M+ users data pipeline while ensuring privacy compliance. He also acquired dolphinchat.ai., and has been a speaker at 50+ global conferences talking about Blockchain and data privacy. Vikkas K Jha, Founder of Brand Kettle Vikkas K Jha, an ace marketing professional turned visionary entrepreneur, founded Brand Kettle amidst the pandemic. With expertise in Commercial Fitouts, Retail Roll-Outs &amp; experiential marketing, he expanded Brand Kettle's services, integrating 30+ brands, within 3 years. He is also driving impactful social change via the Brand Kettle Foundation's NGO initiatives. Atharva Bahadur, CEO of Drishti Pures Atharva Bahadur is the CEO of Drishti Pures in Lucknow. Under Atharva's leadership, Drishti Pures, a pioneering endeavor, engages abandoned, differently-abled children in producing Cold Pressed Oil and processing pure spices, aiming to foster self-reliance among them. Currently housing 260 abandoned children, Drishti remains the largest institution of its kind globally. Harsh Niwas, Manager Legal and Team Lead at Unitech Limited Harsh Niwas is an international consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the Real Estate and Mining industries. His expertise lies in project management, legal strategy, and stakeholder communication, delivering successful outcomes and operational efficiency. Known for strong leadership, negotiation, and collaboration skills, he ensures compliance and value creation within teams and organizations. Hussain Kalsekar, Founder and CEO of 366 DigitX Renowned for fostering enduring relationships with corporate decision-makers, Hussain Kalsekar has steered 366 DigitX to unparalleled heights. His client-centric approach has garnered him accolades globally. Recognized as one of the top 100 smartest digital marketing leaders by the World Marketing Congress, he was also recently honored among the Top 50 Global High Flyers and awarded as the Leader in Digital Marketing for 2023. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

Global Indian Leaders of The Year 2023 as per World Brand Affairs

Kolkata, Independent Hindi films are not earning as much revenue as they did even four-five years back and such small-budget movies should be run for at least a week in theatres for word-of-mouth promotion, director <keyword id="157284" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vikramaditya-motwane" source="Orion">Vikramaditya Motwane</keyword> has said. An <keyword id="3178970" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="independent-film" source="Orion">independent film</keyword> or 'indie film' is a movie that is brought out mainly by people outside the mainstream industry, generally without the involvement of major studios. "What is happening is unfortunate. Filmmakers and writers are experimental. They are coming up with new ideas, but the audiences are fewer. Hindi <keyword id="1511709" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indie-films" source="Orion">indie films</keyword> are struggling now to get an audience when compared to the response received by films like Court or Masaan a few years back," Motwane said. 'Court' (2014), Chaitanya Tamhane's directorial debut, is a courtroom drama involving a teacher cum protest singer who was accused of abetting the suicide of a sewer worker. The film won several awards. Another indie film 'Masaan' (2015) tells the tale of four persons who confront personal tragedies. This movie won a national award. "These good content small budget films had got support from the audiences. But the situation has changed post-pandemic," Motwane told PTI on the sidelines of an event. Independent films need theatres to be screened so that people can watch them, said the director of 'Bhavesh Joshi Superhero' (2018). "If an independent small-budget film cannot run for a week, how can there be word of mouth (publicity) after two-three days? People need to watch it and know its contents," he said. In the USA with a population of 33 crores, there are 30,000 theatres and, in the case of India, only 10,000 halls serve 130 crores of its people, Motwane said. If there are more theatres, more people will be able to watch indie films, he said.

Indie films take a hit post-pandemic says movie director Vikramaditya Motwane

Flexible workspace provider <keyword id="4052133" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="wework-india" source="Orion">WeWork India</keyword> on Thursday made its first investment in the country, in Bengaluru-based conferencing and collaboration platform <keyword id="15243245" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="zoapi" source="Orion">Zoapi</keyword> for an undisclosed sum. Cofounded by Prashanth NS and Chaitanya Vasantarao in 2019, Zoapi is a member of the Intel IoT Solution alliance. The enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution provider combines four basic needs of a meeting room -- wireless screen sharing, video conferencing, online calendar, and room scheduler. "From an adoption perspective, it is affordable and compatible with numerous video conferencing platforms and devices. With its unique capabilities, this homegrown product has the potential to grow into a global player, implemented across all industries," said <keyword id="2015202" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="karan-virwani" source="Orion">Karan Virwani</keyword>, CEO of WeWork India. Built as an open platform, Zoapi supports numerous video conferencing facilities and collaboration applications such as <keyword id="10296" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="zoom" source="Orion">Zoom</keyword>, MS Teams, Skype, Google Meet, Webex, Polycom etc. Its interactive calendar features include easy integrations and a seamless conferencing experience. "Over the years, our strategic partnership with WeWork India has generated insightful data about user consumption patterns and needs. We believe that we can globally power conferences and meeting rooms, with our SaaS solution," said Prashanth, Cofounder and CEO Zoapi. Since entering the Indian market in 2017, WeWork India now has over 6 million square feet of assets signed across 40 locations in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, <keyword id="6354321" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bengaluru" source="Orion">Bengaluru</keyword>, Pune and Hyderabad. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/wipro-is-the-top-loser-on-the-exchanges-while-hcl-tech-is-the-top-gainer/articleshow/94827205.cms">Wipro is the top loser on the exchanges while HCL Tech is the top gainer</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-is-a-bright-light-economy-but-key-structural-reforms-needed-for-10-trillion-gdp-imf-chief-economist/articleshow/94824299.cms">India is a bright light economy, but key structural reforms needed for $10 trillion GDP: IMF chief economist</a>

WeWork India makes its 1st investment in Bengaluru-based Zoapi

<ul><li>“This is the single biggest reform in India’s space program,” Gateway House scholar Chaitanya Giri told Business Insider in an exclusive interview.</li><li>The new wave of reforms could create an Indian consortium like the one between <keyword id="6357957" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="boeing">Boeing</keyword> and <keyword id="112859" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lockheed-Martin">Lockheed Martin</keyword> — the <keyword id="199284" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-Launch-Alliance">United Launch Alliance</keyword> (ULA).</li><li>"Everyone will benefit," said Giri with respect to the reforms.</li></ul>Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword>’s announcements to help the private sector collaborate with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are the “single biggest reform in India’s space program,” according to Gateway House fellow Chaitanya Giri. In an exclusive interview, he told Business Insider that now, the road is clear for the likes of L&amp;T and <keyword id="6369697" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="godrej">Godrej</keyword> to join hands to create an Indian version of the United Launch Alliance (ULA), which is a US-based launch service provider with a 100% success rate of missions so far. Normally, ISRO has discouraged private players from being too big a part of their projects for fear of sensitive data falling into the wrong hands. This time, Sitharaman has assured the industry that sharing data will be done cautiously, it is necessary to help Indian startups thrive. Here are the excerpts from the conversation: Q: Are you as excited as I am right now? This seems like a big announcement! Chaitanya Giri: I have been advocating this for the past eight years. I don't have any vested interest in it. Being a scholar, I don't get funded by any startup, I don't get funded by any venture capitalist. Just out of pure passion for the exploration as well as my love for the nation that I'm advocating this. And I'm really glad that the government took this decision. They might have thought about it, they might have collated ideas from previous sources. And since we are in a crisis, crisis makes one really unleash a lot of inner energies. The government, by opening up space exploration for the private sector, is trying to unleash these energies. I’m very excited. This is the single biggest reform in India’s space program — nothing has been bigger than this before. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75776128" title="ISRO treasure trove of testing facilities and data will now be open to startups and private players" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Q: Do you think ISRO necessarily has to follow these guidelines or is this more of a, “we'll have to leave it to you and you can do what you want,” kind of scenario? Chaitanya Giri: They will have to. They will have to open it up. If they shrug right now, if they avoid, it won’t be good for the country. Certainly, not for those who are barricading. This is coming from the top. Q: Which company do you think is like going to be like the one to benefit the most from these reforms? Chaitanya Giri: I won't name companies. Everyone will be a beneficiary. There’s not first or second. Everyone will benefit. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="65073240" title="ISRO creates a space for the private industry, to collaborate for 27 satellites" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Q: So in terms of sharing data, Nirmala said this is going to something we’re going to approach with caution. It's not just gonna be an all out access. Does that mean that data access to data will be given as per specific requirements? Chaitanya Giri: As per specific requirements, what sort of institution are you — are you an Indian company, what your beneficial ownership pattern, who owns you, who are the stakeholders, are you invested in by Indian entities — and in that matter, yes. Q: And, also in terms of what project they're working on specifically, like data will be given accordingly? Only that bit of data will be shared? Chaitanya Giri: Of course. Of course. Whatever is demanded will specifically be shared. Geospatial data comes with coordinates and timestamps. You'll have to put in a proposal to get access to it. You will get it for a very key price or free if possible. So, it wasn't the case that the data wasn’t ever available but it was only available to government institutions until now. Now that it will be open to the private sector, especially startups who are into Earth observation and analysis. So for instance, if you see we've been launching quite a few ‘doves’ — these small satellites from a company called Planet Labs, which is an American company. We’ve been launching for them for the past three/four years. Now the Doves’ constellation has grown to more than 100 satellites and is moving towards Earth oversation spheres. It’s futile for ISRO to keep this competency close to its heart anymore. It’s not a baby, it’s grown up. You don’t keep a grown up child close to your heart. You let that child go. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="70375311" title="ISRO’s commercial operations clock in over ₹60 billion in revenue but leaves private players out of the equation" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Q: So the second thing that she spoke about in terms of private participation was future projects for planetary exploration, outer space travel and other things. What exactly is that going to include? Chaitanya Giri: Exploration has completely been in the domain of the Department of Space. All the cameras and instruments and what not have been coming from ISRO labs. None of the companies have built a lander. None of them have built rovers or payloads. All of these are coming from ISRO labs. They might be providing components for rocket manufacturing and satellite bus manufacturing but nothing more than that. These are trivial businesses. Unless you go ahead and become an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), you’re not a part of the industry. With this announcement, a Mahindra or a Tata or Godrej can participate, for exploring the Moon, exploring Mars and for exploring asteroids. I will tell them — please go. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="73063629" title="India's second mission to land on the Moon, Chandrayaan 3, confirmed by ISRO chief" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Q: So this essentially makes way for a SpaceX version of an Indian company, right? Chaitanya Giri: No, not a SpaceX version but a ULA version — United Launch Alliance. This is the consortium of Boeing, Lockheed Martin in space business. So, you may see Godrej and L&amp;T coming together for a space alliance and launching rockets. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="73462546" title="Exploring space is expensive — and ISRO needs more money from the 2020 Union Budget" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Q. The next thing I wanted to ask you about was FDI. Like for defence, they opened up FDI from 49% to 74%. Will these reforms make way for more foreign investment in the space sector as well? Chaitanya Giri: That will require some more scrutiny. But I don't see a problem with the opening up of space for FDI. Space exploration, per se, is an international business. These days you’re seeing a lot of transnational partnership. You see companies from New Zealand going to the US. You see, a Luxembourg company attracting investments from America.You see a Japanese rocket will launch an Emirati spacecraft to Mars. You can’t keep the doors closed. What you can do is, really make sure that your company is closer than the rest. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/now-day-four-of-nirmala-sitharamans-stimulus-plan-as-india-preps-for-lockdown-4-0/articleshow/75774080.cms">Now, fourth tranche of Nirmala Sitharaman's stimulus plan as India preps for lockdown 4.0</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/indigo-spicejet-adani-gmr-gvk-share-price-may-gain-after-civil-aviation-reforms/articleshow/75775888.cms">Indigo and Spicejet get shorter routes, cheaper fuel bills while Adani, GMR, and GVK get more airport projects to bid for</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/india-opens-nuclear-energy-for-private-players-but-for-cancer-research-and-consumer-applications/articleshow/75776354.cms">India opens nuclear energy space to private players but for cancer research and other consumer applications only</a>

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