Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (July 8, 2024)

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130+ developers innovate at Stellaris and Entrepreneur First's AI agents hackathon

Over 130 developers, data scientists, and AI enthusiasts participated in Bengaluru's AI Agents Hackathon, where teams created prototypes within 24 hours for various use cases like developer tooling, numerical data processors, automated brokering, and travel planning.

The event was organised by Stellaris Venture Partners and Entrepreneur First and was supported by industry giants like Whatfix, AWS, LlamaIndex, Bolna, and Composio, featured a panel discussion on AI agents with experts from RapidClaims.ai, Dashtoon.ai, Hanomi, and Composio. AI practitioners and technical leaders also served as mentors, helping teams refine ideas and develop effective solutions.

The hackathon showcased various AI-led projects, including property brokerage tools, browser automation, and sales preparation agents, with winners receiving Rs 2 lakh in cash prizes and vouchers from LlamaIndex and Bolna.

Niraamaya Life appoints Ashwani Gandhi as CEO to drive digital transformation in wellness

Niraamaya Life has appointed Ashwani Gandhi as its new CEO. He comes with over 18 years of experience in the digital space. Gandhi has worked with renowned brands like Pfizer, Paras Pharma, Himalaya, and Believe Pte. He is an IIM Lucknow alumnus and holds multiple management degrees.

Gandhi will lead three business verticals: Retreats, D2C, and Products, transforming Niraamaya Life into a digital wellness platform.

He plans to enhance retreats with personalised wellness programs, expand D2C reach through innovative e-commerce strategies, and introduce new wellness products. The 'Niraamaya Life' Wellness App will offer services like Yoga, Ayurveda, Sleep Management, and Mindfulness.

Mercer announces Siddhartha Gupta as India President

Mercer, a Marsh McLennan business, has appointed Siddhartha Gupta as its India President, bringing extensive experience and expertise from his previous role as Mercer Mettl's Chief Executive Officer, and a focus on redefining work, retirement, investment outcomes, and health and well-being.

Gupta will join Marsh McLennan's leadership teams in India and Mercer's in India, the Middle East, and Africa Region, reporting to Sanjay Kedia, Marsh McLennan's India Chief Executive Officer.

Mercer, a professional services firm, focuses on redefining work, retirement, investment outcomes, and health and well-being. With over 20,000 colleagues in 43 countries and operations in over 130, Mercer is part of Marsh McLennan, the world's professional services firm in risk, strategy, and people.

With over 85,000 colleagues and an annual revenue of $23 billion, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate complex environments. For more information, visit mercer.com and follow Mercer on LinkedIn and X.

Namma Yatri’s Mahila Shakti Program Empowers 100 women drivers to earn Rs 42 lakhs

Namma Yatri's Mahila Shakti Auto Driving Program has enabled nearly 100 women drivers to collectively earn Rs 42 lakhs. The top women drivers were recently honored in a ceremony attended by Dr Ramalinga Reddy, Karnataka's Transport and Muzrai Minister.

The Mahila Shakti programme provides a free one-month training course on electric auto driving, traffic regulations, app usage, and customer service skills, with continued mentorship and access to electric vehicles at nominal rents.

The programme aims to empower women drivers to achieve financial independence, flexibility, and respect in their work, while fostering a safer and more inclusive city.

Mahila Money, Appreciate Capital, and TRTL ventures drive Indo-Japanese trade and investment

Mahila Money Founder Sairee Chahal and Appreciate Capital, in partnership with TRTL Ventures, hosted Japanese delegations to enhance business and startup investment cooperation between the two nations.

The event, attended by prominent business owners, founders, CXOs, investors, and ecosystem leaders, significantly boosted bilateral trade and investment between India and Japan.

It was attended by a delegation from the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO Japan), including representatives from Startia Holdings Inc., SegueGroup Co. Ltd., Findstar Group Co., Ltd., D-Pops Group Co. Ltd., SAKURA internet Inc., Yumenosora Holdings Inc., Cosmo Beauty Co., Ltd., and Cloud Ace, Inc.

Mashreq appoints Tushar Vikram as Country Head and CEO of India

Mashreq, a MENA financial institution, has appointed Tushar Vikram as its new Country Head and CEO of India, starting in June 2024, to oversee the bank's operations, strategic direction, and growth in the country.

Vikram, a seasoned business banker with three decades of experience, previously served as the Group Head of Investment Banking at HDFC Bank, overseeing Project Finance, Equity, Debt Capital Markets, and M&A.

He has extensive experience in investment banking, corporate finance, and strategic financial management, enabling him to navigate complex financial landscapes and drive sustainable growth strategies.

Mavericks unveils key insights on consumer attention and content trust

Mavericks' research report, The Attention Game, offers insights for marketers and content creators on capturing consumer attention in the digital landscape. The report challenges the belief that short-form content lacks trust and suggests a societal shift towards quicker, easily digestible experiences.

This shift could be game-changing for marketers seeking credibility and deeper audience engagement.

The report highlights that 34% of consumers trust long-form content more than short-form for accuracy and reliability. Long-form content consumption peaks in the morning (23%), showing a preference for in-depth reading. It dominates both entertainment and informational content, with 41% preferring videos and 43% written content.

Gen Z spends over 5 hours daily on content, indicating strong digital engagement. Marketers should prioritize high-quality long-form content to build trust while using short-form content to capture quick attention.

M1 NXT appoints Munindra Verma as CEO to lead global ITFS platform expansion

M1 NXT, an ITFS platform licensed by IFSCA and a subsidiary of M1xchange, has appointed Munindra Verma as its new CEO.

Verma previously served as Chief Product Officer and Head of Strategy & Transformation in Transaction Banking Group at YES Bank.

Verma, a seasoned banking professional with over 26 years of experience, will lead M1 NXT as a trusted Trade Finance solution provider. He will expand the global financier network on the platform, enhancing liquidity for Indian and global enterprises.

Verma will also lead efforts to integrate digital technologies to streamline trade processes, enhance transparency, and reduce transaction costs, making M1 NXT a reputed global ITFS platform.

Scandron receives DGCA nod for advanced agri-drone, SNDAG010QX8

Scandron Private Limited, an agricultural drone technology innovator, has received the DGCA Type Certification for its advanced Agri-Drone model, SNDAG010QX8, marking a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionise the Indian agricultural sector with advanced drone solutions.

The drone enhances efficiency in spraying fertilizers, pesticides, crop surveillance, field monitoring, and livestock management, supporting sustainable farming practices and improving crop yields.

Magellanic Cloud, through Scandron Private Limited, has been certified to strengthen its leadership in the Agri-Drone market. This certification reduces dependency on foreign technology and components, supporting the Make in India initiative, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality drones for Indian farmers.

Stellar IR Advisors Appoints Rajesh Agrawal as CEO

Stellar IR Advisors has appointed Rajesh Agrawal as its Chief Executive Officer, an IR firm specialising in investor relations and strategic financial advisory services.

Agrawal, with over two decades of leadership experience in various fields like Investor Relations, Treasury, Corporate Finance, and Debt Capital Markets, has demonstrated a strong ability to drive growth and create value for clients.

Agrawal, a former Senior Vice President at Orient Capital (India), played a key role in the firm's rapid growth into one of India's fastest-growing IR advisory firms.

(The copy will be updated with the latest news throughout the day)