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<div type="image" title="In 2024, India has seen around $12.2 billion worth of IPOs, including mainboard and SMEs" msid="113878163" hostid="261" sizebytes="45300" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In 2024, India has seen around $12.2 billion worth of IPOs, including mainboard and SMEs&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Missing some action, adrenaline rush, and thrill in your life? Are the good old, albeit mundane money investment avenues like mutual funds and fixed deposits not making the cut for you? Want to experience a heart-pounding, financial rollercoaster that will constantly keep you and your portfolio on tenterhooks? Well then, welcome to the world of initial public offers (IPOs), especially those brought to you by SMEs, or <keyword id="6375845" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Small-and-Medium-Enterprises" source="Orion">small and medium enterprises</keyword>. Truth be told, <keyword id="19938687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sme" source="keywords">SME</keyword> IPOs have been all over the bourses this year. So far, 2024 has seen 206 SMEs debuting on both BSE and NSE, out of which 146 listed in gains and 46 listed in losses. Odds seem good, right? In contrast, the year has only seen 63 IPOs from the elder brother i.e. mainboard, only 48 of which managed to post any listing gains. And getting an allotment has also been a major uncertainty, given the unusually high demand this year. <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">So, what's an <keyword id="5559702" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="SME-IPO" source="Orion">SME IPO</keyword>, you ask?</h2>Think of a mainboard company as Shah Rukh or Salman Khan—well-established, financially stable, strong legacy of profitability, and fairly well-known. On the other hand, SMEs are your Prateek Gandhi (Harshad Mehta, Scam 1992), Siddhant Chaturvedi (MC Sher, Gully Boy) or Avinash Tiwary (Majnu, Laila Majnu). While they are doing super well, they are yet to make it big like the Khans. They’re currently underdogs, lesser known, but who knows? They can be the next big thing in the future! And SME IPOs are getting a stellar reception. In 2023, 182 such IPOs had raised a substantial Rs 4,967 crore. In 2024, more than 200 companies have already raised over Rs 7,500 crore, and we have four months to go. This, with one quarter of the year still remaining. <div type="image" title="In 2024, India leads IPO activity in the Asia-Pacific region" height="900" width="1200" msid="113875643" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In 2024, India leads IPO activity in the Asia-Pacific region&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> But what does it take for a company to be classified as a small enterprise? The company has to have an annual turnover/income of up to Rs 50 crore, and for a medium enterprise to be called so, its annual income has to be up to Rs 250 crore. When such companies go public, in a bid to raise funds from investors and expand their operations, they launch an <keyword id="19898327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipo" source="keywords">IPO</keyword>, but not on the main exchange, but separately, on NSE’s Emerge and BSE’s SME platform. As of September 2024, <keyword id="4484133" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NSE-Emerge" source="Orion">NSE Emerge</keyword> has 147 listed participants, while <keyword id="1885131" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BSE-SME" source="Orion">BSE SME</keyword> has 155 market makers. Mounting an SME’s IPO is comparatively less stringent than their mainboard counterparts, as far as regulations are concerned since their DRHPs (draft red herring prospectus) are not filed with SEBI. So, wouldn’t a lenient treatment make them inherently riskier? Why are they so appealing, you ask? <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/a-company-with-8-employees-looking-to-raise-12-crore-ended-up-getting-applications-worth-over-4700-crore/articleshow/112824522.cms">Delhi firm with just 8 employees seeks ₹12 crore via IPO, gets ₹4,700 crore worth of investor applications!</a> Well, for one, some of them have delivered exceptional returns—we’re talking 100%, 200%. Consider this—Owais Metal and Mineral Processing, which launched its IPO in February this year, delivered a whopping listing gain of 201%. Another SME, Maxposure, whose IPO was out in January 2024, had earned its investors listing gains worth 317.40%! Apparently, higher risks also mean higher returns, and also super high investment. Most SME IPOs need a minimum investment of Rs 1,00,000 or more, as opposed to mainboard IPOs, where you can buy one lot of shares for anywhere between Rs 14,000-15,000. Even the minimum trading lot size for SME shares is about 10,000. In short, you’d have to potentially empty your pockets to invest in an SME IPO. And still, there’s no guarantee that the listing will fill your wallets. For all you know, your pockets before and after the IPO is listed might stay the same - EMPTY! There's also the question of whether or not these SMEs are able to maintain their listing day mojo, or do they just fizzle out thereafter? Data from Prime Database highlights more instances of the latter. As of August 2024, about 166 SME IPOs had made it to the exchanges. Around 72 of them, or close to 50%, could not sustain their momentum going ahead, and were trading below their listing day prices. Consider this. The post listing gains of Medicamen Organics, whose IPO came out in June 2024, earned its investors massive listing gains of over 300%, by listing at Rs 137.85, significantly higher than its price issue price, which was set between Rs 32-34. But as of October 1, 2024, the stock was trading at Rs 64.2. Talk about falls. Additionally, risks of pump-and-dump, and illiquidity, among others makes SME IPOs dangerous See, you're largely venturing into unknown, pitch-dark territories, without much light to guide you. For starters, SME IPOs face less scrutiny from market watchdog SEBI. This also means they are able to list quickly, just 3-4 months. On the other hand, mainboard IPOs can take upto a year before they are cleared for listing. Also, there is far less information and disclosures available about their financials, fundamentals and performance to investors for making an informed decision, as compared to mainboard stocks. Then there’s the issue of illiquidity. Once purchased, you might find it hard to sell off your SME stocks, since they are not traded as frequently in the market, which means lower liquidity. Trivesh D, COO, Tradejini explains that liquidity is a major concern for such stocks. “These stocks typically have a smaller free float, and are traded in lots, which can lead to volatility and sharp price swings. This means it can be challenging for investors to buy or sell shares without significantly impacting prices. Additionally, speculative trading practices, like 'pump-and-dump' schemes, can inflate stock prices, leaving retail investors vulnerable to sudden drops”. Recently, SME IPOs have gained notoriety for price manipulation via showing fictitious sales and revenue in their books of accounts, selling of promoter holdings at inflated prices, and being the facade for many infamous pump and dump schemes. This is where select people create frenzy, or mass euphoria over a particular stock or company, causing its prices to soar, and then dumping them, or selling their shares at this massive price to make a killing! Infact, it's not just the promoters, but also the investment banks floating these IPOs. At present, SEBI is investigating around 6 investment banks which have allegedly charged SMEs a staggering 15% of funds raised via IPOs as fee, as opposed to the standard 1-3%. In March 2024, SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch had also highlighted witnessing signs of manipulation in the SME space. “We do see signs of manipulation in the SME segment. We are able to see certain patterns.” Buch had observed back then. Adds Kresha Gupta, Founder &amp; Director, StepTrade Share Services, “Investing in SME IPO comes with significant risks, despite their impressive returns in recent years. Limited participation from institutional investors and public in some SME IPOs also mean that those companies may lack the support and stability that comes with larger-scale investments” “Additionally, many SMEs may not have strong fundamentals to justify their valuations. High P/E ratios can be misleading, and while some IPOs have delivered impressive returns, they often come with significant volatility, continues D of Tradejini. <h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.7em; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; list-style: none; background: 0px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">So, should I stay away?</h2>Yes, and No. Yes, if you don't want to do your homework of researching the company thoroughly beforehand. Anand K. Rathi, Co-Founder of MIRA Money suggests asking a couple of questions before investing your hard earned money: <ul><li>What is the company's financial performance over the past 3-4 years?</li><li>What is the company's governance structure?</li><li>Is the financial success driven by the IPO, or is it a result of consistent performance?</li><li>Does the company have what it takes to scale its operations to the next level?</li><li>Are the company’s promoters trustworthy, capable and experienced?</li><li>What is the level of participation by large, institutional investors?</li></ul> But staying away completely? Not necessary. Gupta adds that retail investors, in particular, should avoid viewing SME IPOs as quick money-makers based on their short-term performance, as this can certainly lead to poor investment decisions. “To mitigate risks, investors should always focus on long-term fundamentals rather than just short-term price movements. Key indicators include the participation of institutional investors like DIIs and FIIs. This often signals confidence in the stock”, she continues. A red flag you should look out for is if a company is only offering OFS, or Offer for Sale. This can indicate early investors looking to exit, potentially signaling weaker future growth. That's why it is better to look for companies which are raising capital for expansion purposes. This is a sign of healthy business growth prospects and improving fundamentals. In conclusion, backing the underdog, or SMEs, is not a bad proposition, but not without its risks. Investing in SME IPOs is like riding a unicorn—but you don't know whether you're riding it to rags or riches! So, take your pick.

SIMPLY PUT: Why investing in SME IPOs should not be on top of your adventure to-do list!

The <keyword id="19987636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bihar-government" source="keywords">Bihar government</keyword> is making serious efforts to give a fillip to <keyword id="23049947" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="small-scale-and-medium-enterprises" source="Orion">small-scale and medium enterprises</keyword> which would play a crucial role in the overall <keyword id="352701" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-development" source="Orion">economic development</keyword> of the state, a top official of the Industries department said. Around Rs 2,900 crore have been disbursed to nearly 74,540 beneficiaries under two schemes, one of which was launched only last year, for promoting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( <keyword id="19910977" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="MSMEs" source="keywords">MSMEs</keyword>) in the state, the official said. <keyword id="19903647" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bihar" source="keywords">Bihar</keyword> has a strong MSME base. To promote innovation ecosystem and unlock the enormous entrepreneurial potential of the state, the Mukhya Mantri Udyami Yojana (MMUY) and <keyword id="23049946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bihar-Laghu-Udyami-Yojana" source="keywords">Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana</keyword> (BLUY) were launched in 2018 and 2023 respectively focusing on promotion of MSMEs in the state. "A total of Rs 2,697 crore was disbursed to 34,441 beneficiaries from 2018 till now under MMUY. Similarly, till date Rs 200 crore of the first instalment has been disbursed to 40,099 beneficiaries under BLUY", Secretary, Department of Industries, Bandana Preyashi told PTI. On the one hand, Bihar is getting big ticket investments for major manufacturing units and on the other hand, the state government is also enabling an ecosystem where the MSMEs can thrive on the ground level for the benefit of the rural economy, Preyashi said. The Bihar Laghu Udyami Yojana aims to provide job opportunities to at least one member of poor families whose monthly income is less than Rs 6,000 a month, she said. The state government is providing Rs 2 lakh to each beneficiary in three instalments to set up and run micro and small industrial and processing units, Preyashi said. The government's objective is promotion of MSMEs through awareness, training and handholding support, the Industries secretary said. The state government is encouraging entrepreneurs and investors through the provision of a safe and sound work environment and basic infrastructural facilities which include land, roads, electricity, and water availability, she said. The Industries secretary further said, "With new policies of the state government, Bihar is witnessing significant investment promotion activities, reinforcing its position as an emerging business and industrial hub in the country. During the Bihar Business Connect 2023, 278 companies signed MoUs, committing to investments totalling Rs 50,530 crore." the secretary said. The state government has implemented the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (BIPP), Bihar Logistics Policy 2023, Ethanol Production Incentive Policy 2021 and Textile and Leather Policy 2022 to promote industrial growth and investment in the state. "Under these policies, stage-1 clearance was given to 481 applications, with a proposed investment amount of Rs 4,512.85 crore. A total of 175 units were given clearance for financial incentives with an investment of Rs 2,195.10 crore, an all-time high, since the inception of the state investment promotion policies," she said. In 2023-24, 255 startups were recognized in the state and a total of Rs 11.92 crore has been disbursed as seed funding to these startups. From April 2023 to January 2024, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) allotted plots/sheds to 427 units having a total investment size of Rs 6,145 crore covering 492 acres of land and also creating 35,224 employment in the state, said the secretary. "Infrastructure development in industrial areas was given top priority. Funds of Rs 409.33 crore were approved under Part I and Rs 212.68 crore for construction of unity mall under special assistance to states in 2023-24. In the current financial year of 2024-25,149 units have been granted stage I clearance for a proposed investment amount in Rs 3,950.48 crore in Bihar State Investment Promotion Board", she said. At present, Bihar's proposal to establish a multi-sector Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nawanagar and Kumarbagh has been approved by the Government of India. "Authorities concerned are also working on the establishment of Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) in Bihar that will help Bihari Exporters to expand their businesses to international markets", said the secretary. Bihar Chief Minister <keyword id="19907431" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nitish-kumar" source="keywords">Nitish Kumar</keyword> on August 3 this year laid the foundation stone for Rs 1,600 crore cement grinding unit of Ambuja Concrete North Private Limited, a subsidiary of Adani group's Ambuja Cements, in Warisaliganj block in Nawada district. This is considered the largest investment in the state by a cement industry player. "The project is expected to create 250 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs on the site. The project will meet the growing infrastructure needs of Bihar. Adani Group has decided to invest additional Rs 5,500 crore in Bihar in various sectors, including cement manufacturing (in Muzaffarpur), logistics (near Patna) and projects related to agro-industry in Araria, Kishanganj and Begusarai. A total of 40,000 employment will be generated by these investments", said the statement issued by the CMO after the conclusion of the event on August 4.

Bihar government disburses Rs 2,900 crore to 74,540 beneficiaries for promoting MSMEs: Official

Small and medium enterprises (<keyword id="20086849" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SMEs" source="keywords">SMEs</keyword>) are driving a major surge in <keyword id="21881529" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="job-applications" source="keywords">job applications</keyword> across key sectors, with more than 35 million job applications recorded in the first eight months of 2024, according to a report by jobs and professional networking platform apna.co. The growth is fueled by rising demand in sectors like BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), and hospitality. The report highlights that the surge in job applications is largely for roles such as Sales &amp; Marketing Managers, Accounting Technicians, Telecallers, Back Office Executives, and Business Development Associates. These positions are critical for the expansion of businesses in these sectors, and the growing demand reflects a strong upward trend in hiring. "SMBs and MSMEs employ more than 110 million people, making them the backbone of our economy. Their success is crucial for our nation's journey towards achieving a USD 5 trillion economy," said Nirmit Parikh, Founder &amp; CEO of apna.co. Parikh emphasised that the demand for skilled workers in these sectors is expected to continue growing, creating vast opportunities for <keyword id="20019820" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-seekers" source="keywords">job seekers</keyword> across India. <h2>Major growth in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities</h2>An interesting trend noted in the report is that over 55% of the total job applications for SMB roles came from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, including Jaipur, Indore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kochi, and Bhubaneswar. As businesses expand into these cities, the talent pool is evolving to meet the growing demand, fostering a symbiotic relationship between employers and job seekers. Out of the 35 million job applications received, 14 million came from women, marking a 30% year-on-year increase in female participation. Women are increasingly taking on roles across diverse fields like finance, accounts, marketing, and graphic design, reflecting their rising involvement in the workforce. As SMEs and MSMEs continue to grow, the <keyword id="19972727" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment-opportunities" source="keywords">employment opportunities</keyword> they generate are set to further contribute to India’s economic goals, fueling progress toward the USD 5 trillion economy target. (With inputs from PTI)

Small businesses generated 35 million job applications till Aug 2024, 14 million were from women: Report

In an effort to give a further boost to partnership, India, and the US signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (<keyword id="19914814" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MoU" source="keywords">MoU</keyword>), which will enable the Micro, Small and medium enterprises (<keyword id="19910977" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="MSMEs" source="keywords">MSMEs</keyword>) of the two countries to participate in <keyword id="19908188" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-markets" source="keywords">global markets</keyword> and foster trade. "<keyword id="20233690" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-US" source="keywords">India-US</keyword> joining hands to promote cooperation in MSMEs," the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, wrote on X. "Today, India-US signed a landmark MoU that enables MSMEs of the two countries to participate in global markets, drive innovation, foster trade, and support <keyword id="19930409" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="women-entrepreneurs" source="keywords">women entrepreneurs</keyword>," he added. S. C. L. Das, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Isabel Casillas Guzman, Administrator, <keyword id="21149255" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="small-business-administration" source="keywords">Small Business Administration</keyword> (SBA), United States of America, signed the MoU here in New Delhi. The MoU provides a framework for both sides to discuss issues concerning micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and explore possibilities for cooperation. It envisages the exchange of expertise between the two sides on issues related to improving MSME participation in the global marketplace through mutual visits as well as webinars and workshops on topics including access to trade and export finance, technology and digital trade; green economy, and trade facilitation. The MoU also provides for the joint conduct of programmes for women entrepreneurs to empower them and facilitate trade partnerships between women-owned small businesses in the two countries. Recognising the crucial role that MSMEs play in advancing <keyword id="20421749" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inclusive-growth" source="keywords">inclusive growth</keyword>, expanding exports, and boosting employment, the two sides also agreed to explore the development of a "Business Matching Digital Platform" to boost <keyword id="20035864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="business-opportunities" source="keywords">business opportunities</keyword>.

India-US join hands to promote cooperation in MSMEs

New Delhi [India], May 20 (ANI): A recent Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) Australia survey has revealed an overwhelming optimism among <keyword id="21735155" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-small-businesses" source="keywords">Indian small businesses</keyword>, with 84 per cent anticipating continued growth in 2024, significantly surpassing the market average of 70 per cent. Despite global <keyword id="20413867" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-uncertainties" source="keywords">economic uncertainties</keyword>, 80 per cent of Indian respondents remain confident about the local economy's prospects for 2024, well above the survey average of 65 per cent. This buoyant outlook has been on an upward trajectory since 2022, highlighting the resilience and dynamism of India's small business sector. <keyword id="21735156" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CPA-Australia-survey" source="keywords">CPA Australia survey</keyword> showed a rise in the growth rate of Indian <keyword id="390673" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="small-businesses" source="Orion">small businesses</keyword> from 73 per cent in 2022 to 77 per cent in 2023--the highest since 2019. Indian small businesses are riding a wave of optimism and growth, according to <keyword id="21735157" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CPA-Australia" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="CPA Australia" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="CPA Australia">CPA Australia</keyword>'s latest annual Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey. The survey reveals that over three-quarters of Indian small businesses reported growth in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and making India's small business sector one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing in the Asia-Pacific region. Prafulla Chhajed, a CPA member of CPA Australia in India, emphasized the critical role of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (<keyword id="19910977" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MSMEs" source="keywords">MSMEs</keyword>) in driving India's economic success. Chhajed said, "Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) are making a significant contribution to India's economic success. Not only is India's rapid economic growth and improving business environment boosting their confidence, support from the government ranging from digitalisation to access to funds, is assisting businesses to recover from the pandemic." He further said, "India's small businesses are enthusiastically improving their performance through innovation, adopting technologies, and building connections with overseas markets. 'Good staff' was nominated as the top positive factor that benefited India small business performance in 2023. It explains why Indian respondents have been so willing to add new employees over the past two years". "This year the pace in jobs creation by small businesses is expected to slow, although remain high in comparison to other markets. This is most likely due to a combination of factors including increasing levels of automation and rising labour costs," he added. However, Chhajed cautioned that the pace of job creation might slow down due to rising automation and labor costs, though it will still remain high compared to other markets. The survey highlighted several challenges faced by Indian small businesses, including increasing costs, competition, and cashflow difficulties. Staff and material costs were particularly detrimental in 2023, rising slightly from the previous year. To cope with these expenses and support growth, 68 per cent of small businesses sought external funding last year, though this figure dropped 20 percentage points from 2022. This year, 81 per cent plan to seek finance, despite tougher financing conditions. Only 42 per cent of respondents found it easy to secure funds in 2023, a sharp decline from 69 per cent in 2022. This trend is expected to continue, with just 43 per cent anticipating ease in accessing funds this year, down from 64 per cent previously. "Difficulty in accessing finance is a common challenge for small businesses worldwide. Though government loans like <keyword id="20151906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pradhan-mantri-mudra-yojana" source="keywords">Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana</keyword> (PMMY) helps to foster entrepreneurship by offering financial support, MSMEs should not solely rely on borrowing to fund their long-term development, particularly in a high-interest rate environment", Chhajed explained. A significant number of Indian small businesses focused on managing costs and cash flow last year. Among the technologies they invested in, accounting software was particularly popular, with 23 per cent adoption. Professional advice was also sought frequently, with 34 per cent consulting accountants and 38 per cent seeking advice from friends and family. "Indian MSMEs are very competitive in many areas such as digitalisation and innovation, now they should focus on cost management and cashflow to increase their financial return. It's wise to use accounting software to control cost and analyse financial performance regularly. Further, financial experts like qualified accountants may provide professional advice to small businesses to manage technical issues like taxation and improve financial performance", Chhajed suggested. Indian small businesses also show a strong inclination towards innovation and global expansion. Leading the 11 surveyed markets, 34 per cent of respondents expect substantial revenue growth from overseas markets this year, significantly higher than the survey average of 19 per cent. Additionally, 44 per cent plan to introduce new products or services, compared to the market average of 29 per cent. Chhajed said, "The Indian government has established good platforms to bolster our MSMEs' global expansion, for example, international trade fairs for MSMEs. He added, "They could leverage these opportunities to connect with overseas customers and promote their novel products globally. Besides, our thriving digital economy also fosters MSMEs' innovation and revolution in the digital era." The survey gathered insights from 4,222 small businesses across 11 Asia-Pacific markets, including 505 respondents from India, providing a comprehensive overview of the region's small business landscape. (ANI)

84% of Indian small businesses anticipate robust growth in 2024: CPA Australia survey

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Taboola on Tuesday is set to unveil a new generative-AI-powered chat assistant called Abby.</li><li>Abby aims to make it easier to create and run an ad campaign.</li></ul>The content-recommendation company <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-16-hottest-adtech-companies-solving-the-industrys-big-challenges-2023-12">Taboola</a> is set to announce on Tuesday a new generative-AI-powered chat assistant called Abby, which it hopes will encourage more small- and medium-sized businesses to use its platform.Business owners will be able to spark up a conversation with Abby, entering prompts such as, "I own a florist and I want more people to come to my site to buy flowers." After a few back-and-forths, it can quickly spin up an ad campaign across its network of publishers and choose the best images to use.The tool was built using OpenAI's GPT-4o and data input from years of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taboola-ipo-spac-2021-1">Taboola ad campaigns</a>. The company says it has around 18,000 advertiser clients and that its network reaches almost 600 million daily active users. It works with publishers including the BBC, CBS, Yahoo, Apple News, and Business Insider.Adam Singolda, Taboola's chief executive, said Abby is designed to take the pain points out of advertising for busy, resource-sapped business owners who aren't necessarily familiar with the latest marketing jargon — like CPAs (cost per acquisition) or CPCs (cost per click)."They want alternatives. They've maxed out Google and Facebook, not because their threshold for margin is tapped, but the way most spend on Google and Facebook, they will spend, and spend, and spend, and they stop because it gets expensive," Singolda said in an interview. "They don't spend on the open web because they don't know for the life of them who to go to or how to do so."Singolda said Abby was designed to help Taboola bring on more advertisers and tackle the onboarding process. Over time, Abby will evolve to become more like an account manager to help retain those advertisers, he added.Taboola, which reported $428 million in revenue and a net loss of $4 million in its second quarter, said around one-third of its advertisers currently use its self-serve buying platform.With the launch of Abby, Taboola is the latest in a raft of advertising companies harnessing their own campaign data and generative-AI technology in an attempt to simplify and cut down the time it takes to create ad campaigns.Big Tech giants like Google and Meta have trumpeted the gains made by their AI-powered performance advertising software, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-ai-boosts-ad-performance-but-some-advertisers-push-back-2023-11">Performance Max </a>and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-facebook-advertising-execs-with-the-most-power-2019-6">Advantage Plus</a>, respectively. Advertising holding companies like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/omnicom-launches-artbotai-generative-ai-ad-creation-platform-2024-7">Omnicom</a>, WPP, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ad-group-publicis-lays-out-300-million-ai-ambitions-2024-1">Publicis</a> have committed to spending millions on the tech over the next few years.The independent adtech companies that Taboola more directly competes with have long touted the use of AI in areas like targeting and data analysis, but have more recently <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.adexchanger.com/data-exchanges/viant-launches-generative-ai-tool-that-lets-advertisers-talk-to-their-data/">added generative AI features</a>, too. And Taboola itself already offers an AI tool called <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.mediaweek.com.au/taboola-maximize-conversions/">Maximize Conversions</a> that automates its clients' ad bidding strategies.Amid this crowded field of competition, Taboola intends to use its existing sales teams as well as its ad inventory around the web to encourage prospective advertisers to spark a conversation with the Abby assistant.But gaining adoption among SMBs could be an uphill challenge, according to industry analyst Andrew Lipsman, a self-confessed generative-AI skeptic, who said the industry is offering such products way ahead of consumer adoption of AI tools."I don't see generative AI tools as likely to drive near-term adoption of new ad platforms among SMBs," Lipsman said. "Even a theoretically more intuitive UI still requires a behavior change from advertisers, and inertia is a powerful force — especially among SMBs where advertising isn't a core competency."

Taboola is looking to compete with Google and Facebook for small-business clients using a new generative AI tool for ad campaigns

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Many emerging brands sell and advertise on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-worried-about-economy-bad-sign-for-consumers-inflation-jobs-2024-8">Amazon</a> to boost sales and attract new customers.</li><li>But Kate Assaraf, founder of hair care brand Dip, says she has no plans to take that path.</li></ul>Amazon owes part of its success as a retailer to small businesses selling their wares on its website.But Kate Assaraf, the founder of hair care brand Dip, said she's resolved not to sell her products there.Dip might seem like the ideal brand to benefit from the millions of shoppers that Amazon attracts — not to mention all the Prime members, who make up 75% of US shoppers. The brand's shampoos, conditioners, and body washes come in bar form, start at $14 each, and are meant to appeal to people who want to avoid personal care goods packaged in lots of plastic.But Assaraf is skeptical of the retail giant. For one thing, she said, there are all the costs of selling on its website, from the fees all sellers pay to optional ones such as advertising.All those fees add up for a business just getting its footing, Assaraf said. "Amazon is an aggregator of wealth," she told Business Insider in an interview.For another, there are the risks to smaller businesses — and society — that Assaraf says Amazon presents. She pointed to the retail giant's track record of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-hit-with-antitrust-lawsuit-alleging-ebook-price-fixing-2021-1">exercising power over specific markets</a>, often at the expense of small, local retailers and companies, as a challenge for emerging brands like hers.Instead, Assaraf said, she's taking other, if slower, avenues to grow her brand and reach customers.For example, Assaraf said she distributes Dip's products through local stores, particularly those focused on selling zero-waste goods, and visits sites around the country to pitch her products to business owners.Lest customers be tempted to search for replacements when they're almost out, the boxes for Dip's bars include a QR code that directs them to the nearest store where they can buy more. Shoppers can also order for delivery directly through Dip's website."There's something to be said about redirecting people in a community to shop in the stores in their community," she said. They're "integral to education and just keeping money circulating within your town."<div type="image" title="Bars of Dip's shampoo and conditioner sit on a glass shelf against a white tile background" height="1920" width="1920" msid="112298446" hostid="261" sizebytes="79076"></div>Assaraf isn't alone in her skepticism of Amazon as a way to grow her company.Small business owners who have started selling on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-seller-business-model-chokes-out-small-business-2021-5">Amazon have said the fees and other costs</a> have made it tough to actually make money, even if their products get more exposure than they would on other websites.Even <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-amazon-seller-picks-products-avoids-sales-flops-tips-fba-2023-11">sellers who have found success on Amazon</a> say it involves finding out which products sell best on the platform, including which ones provide the greatest return on advertising spending.Plus, "sometimes, your savings buying through Amazon are not even that strong" for the purchaser, Assaraf said.An Amazon spokesperson told BI that the company is "investing more than ever in supporting" small businesses that sell through its website. The spokesperson also pointed to various incentives for new sellers, such as discounts on Amazon's fulfillment options and money back on sales of brands that register with Amazon.For brands focused on sustainability, Amazon also offers a Sustainability Solutions Hub, including data and guidance that can help brands highlight earth-friendly products on Amazon, the spokesperson added.Roughly 60% of the sales on Amazon's website come from independent sellers, "most of which are small and medium-sized businesses," the spokesperson said.Meantime, Dip works with ambassadors who represent the brand on social media, Assaraf said — but only if they are devoted users. "Please do not apply if you aren't already a customer of Dip," its website reads.Many forms of advertising and acquiring new customers, including ads on Amazon, have become prohibitively expensive for new brands, Assaraf said. "Attention's the new currency, and the cost of cost of getting any of that is very high."Do you work for Amazon or sell through its website and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com

This small business founder won't sell on Amazon. Here's what she does instead.

<ul><li><keyword id="186684" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="iit-guwahati" source="Orion">IIT Guwahati</keyword> sets up a technology incubation centre to encourage its students to transform their business ideas into businesses.</li><li>The centre will provide technical support, business mentoring, and a soft loan facility.</li><li>The centre also focuses on the empowerment of women in terms of entrepreneurship; it has partnered with NSRCEL-IIMB for Women Startup Program (WSP).</li></ul>To encourage its student entrepreneurs, the <keyword id="666878" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Institute-of-Technology-Guwahati" source="Orion">Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati</keyword> (IITG) has created a technology incubation centre (TIC), which will provide a place for students to transform innovative ideas into viable business propositions on campus. The centre will also provide technical support, business mentoring, and a soft loan facility (subject to availability). It aims to promote advancement in science and technology, traditional knowledge and biodiversity resources; facilitate a platform for entrepreneurship and incubating research mindset for the development of society; and create an interface among researchers, technocrats, and industries. “IIT Guwahati through the TIC has embarked on encouraging the students, faculty, staff and other entrepreneurs to provide necessary technological guidance and convert their ideas into products and technology that will be useful to the society and make the country Atmanirbhar,” said Prof. T.G. Sitharam, director, IIT Guwahati. These incubated startups will work in different sectors such as robotics, information technology, water, oil sector, biotechnology, machine learning, internet of things, renewable energy, home automation and logistics, among other sectors. The Institute said that its incubation centre is recognised by the Ministry of <keyword id="6464993" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="micro" source="Orion">Micro</keyword>, <keyword id="6372449" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="small" source="Orion">Small</keyword>, <keyword id="4022726" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="and-medium-enterprises" source="Orion">and Medium Enterprises</keyword> (MSME), Government of India. The grant assistance from The <keyword id="694074" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="technology-development-board" source="Orion">Technology Development Board</keyword>, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, has also been approved to support startups, it added. It connects to a pool of experts in terms of faculties, funding agencies such as <keyword id="56072" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="oil-india-limited" source="Orion">Oil India Limited</keyword> (OIL) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), among others, and other financial institutions like Indian Bank and YES bank. The centre also focuses on the empowerment of women in terms of entrepreneurship; it has partnered with NSRCEL-IIMB for Women Startup Program (WSP). It has also partnered with Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) in building the ecosystem for startups to interact with the Indian Defence establishment. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/fintech-company-moneyplanned-raises-over-2-5-crore-from-inflection-point-ventures-others/articleshow/94298456.cms">Fintech company MoneyPlanned raises over ₹2.5 crore from Inflection Point Ventures, others</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/is-covid-19-finally-over-in-india-this-is-what-who-and-experts-have-to-say/articleshow/94298319.cms">Is Covid-19 finally over in India? This is what WHO and experts have to say</a>

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You Searched For "small and medium businesses" and got 8 results

SIMPLY PUT: Why investing in SME IPOs should not be on top of your adventure to-do list!

Ira Alok Puranik

Bihar government disburses Rs 2,900 crore to 74,540 beneficiaries for promoting MSMEs: Official

PTI

Small businesses generated 35 million job applications till Aug 2024, 14 million were from women: Report

BI India Bureau

India-US join hands to promote cooperation in MSMEs

ANI

84% of Indian small businesses anticipate robust growth in 2024: CPA Australia survey

ANI

Taboola is looking to compete with Google and Facebook for small-business clients using a new generative AI tool for ad campaigns

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This small business founder won't sell on Amazon. Here's what she does instead.

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IIT Guwahati starts incubation centre to help its students turn entrepreneurs

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