Glance and upGrad Partner to Bring Free Upskilling to India’s Youth
Popular smart lock screen platform Glance has entered into a partnership with edtech giant upGrad to offer free upskilling.
This partnership has upGrad providing free courses & the same is an exciting opportunity for Indian youth.
Top Executive Opines on this Partnership
Talking about this collaboration, Piyush Shah, Co-founder of InMobi and COO & President of Glance, said, “With Glance, we’re not only reaching millions—we’re empowering them to seize opportunities and inspire them to discover something new every moment. By bringing upGrad’s workforce-ready content directly on smart lock screens, we’re equipping users with technical expertise, soft skills, and professional development tools. We’re creating a platform that fuels career growth, closes the skills gap, and directly contributes to India’s future.”
upGrad’s Intern-Zip program aims to equip young adults aged 20 to 24 with practical, job-ready skills. Glance, which connects with over 235 million users daily—nearly half of whom are under 24—has been a key platform for the initiative.
Zomato Hits ₹2.83 Lakh Crore Market Cap, Ahead of Indian Auto Giants
In a major milestone, Zomato led by Deepinder Goya has leapfrogged two Indian automotive giants, Tata Motors and Bajaj Auto—in terms of market capitalization.
This is yet another sign of the company’s explosive growth that only seems to be accelerating.
Zomato Crosses a Phenomenal Milestone
Zomato’s market capitalization has soared to around ₹2.83 lakh crore this year, marking an impressive 162% jump. This surge has propelled the company ahead of Tata Motors, valued at ₹2.79 lakh crore, and Bajaj Auto, which stands at ₹2.5 lakh crore.
This milestone comes just in time for the Deepinder Goyal-led company’s inclusion in the benchmark Sensex on December 20. Zomato is set to replace JSW Steel, whose current market cap is ₹2.31 lakh crore.
The Sensex, managed by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), comprises 30 prominent companies that meet specific criteria for financial stability and liquidity. Additions and removals from the index are based on an average six-month float-adjusted market cap. Being part of the Sensex often attracts significant attention from both domestic and international investors, as it’s widely regarded as a key indicator of the Indian stock market.
Mili Raises $2 Million in Seed Round to Revolutionize Wealth Management with AI
A new AI meeting assistant platform for wealth management firms, Mili has raised $2 million in seed funding round led by Chiratae Ventures and BoldCap.
Mili Bags Crucial Investment
Apart from the aforementioned investors, other key investing participants included: Sparrow Capital, SFMG Wealth Advisors, Gregg Fisher of Quent Capital, and Better Capital. This crucial funding would facilitate product development, strengthen integrations, scale partnerships, and grow its engineering and customer success teams.
Mili, founded in early 2024 and spearheaded by Chirag Gandhi, seeks to simplify operations for wealth management firms with its advanced meeting documentation software. The platform helps minimize administrative tasks by offering secure, real-time AI-powered support that seamlessly integrates with existing workflows.
In a statement, Gandhi said: “AI in Wealth Management isn’t about technology, it’s about trust. We’ve built Mili to be the most secure, compliant, and customisable solution that empowers advisors to focus on what matters most—client relationships”
Zingbus Raises $9 Million in Series A Funding Led by bp Ventures
bp Ventures, the investment arm of bp, has committed $9 million to Delhi-based Zingbus as part of its Series A funding round.
Zingbus Gets an Enormous Investment
Zingbus has developed a technology platform designed to support electric bus operators and their customers traveling between cities. The platform offers both front-end and back-end digital solutions, including pricing tools, fleet management, route optimization, and a dedicated ticketing marketplace.
Founded in 2019 by Prashant Kumar, Mratunjay Beniwal, and Ravi Verma, Zingbus brings together smaller bus companies under one unified brand, helping them increase profitability while ensuring a reliable service for travelers.
The company claims to have partnered with numerous small and medium-sized bus operators, reaching over two million users across 300 cities in India. Zingbus’s technology is designed to help traditional bus operators transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) buses to electric vehicles (EVs), fostering a more sustainable future for transportation in India.
Pepperfry Promotes Madhusudan Bihani to Chief Financial Officer
Popular furniture e-commerce Pepperfry has elevated Madhusudan Bihani to the position of chief financial officer (CFO) of the company.
Cofounder & CEO Comments on Madhusudan Bihani’s Promotion to CFO
Cofounder & CEO of Pepperfry Ashish Shah made a statement about this significant elevation: “Madhusudan’s extensive experience and leadership will be critical in executing our future vision. His efforts have been instrumental in strengthening our financial foundation.”
On the other hand, newly appointed CFO Bihani had this to say about his new role: “I am excited about this new opportunity and look forward to contributing towards Pepperfry’s growth story. The company’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence aligns perfectly with my professional ethos. I am optimistic that working closely with Ashish and the leadership team will help strengthen Pepperfry’s financial health, operational strategies, and market leadership”
Madhusudan Bihani’s Stellar Corporate Journey
Madhusudan Bihani, a Chartered Accountant, joined Pepperfry in 2019 as Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Finance and was promoted to Vice President (VP) of Finance in 2021.
During his tenure, Bihani has been pivotal in driving the company’s growth, maintaining financial discipline, and optimizing operational processes. His leadership has been key in enhancing profitability, improving financial workflows, and ensuring strong compliance across the organization. Before his time at Pepperfry, Bihani spent ten years at Kraft Heinz, where he played a significant role in improving financial efficiencies and ensuring regulatory compliance for the FMCG giant.
Flipkart Partners with NCERT to Enhance Access to Educational Resources Across India
In a major step towards making educational resources more accessible, Flipkart, the e-commerce giant owned by Walmart, has entered into a strategic partnership with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
Flipkart Signs a Major Partnership with NCERT
This collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was announced with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan present at the event.
The primary goal of this partnership is to make NCERT textbooks more affordable and accessible, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India. The MoU, signed at NCERT’s Delhi office, reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that quality education reaches every corner of the country.
The Partnership Between NCERT & Flipkart would be Super Beneficial for All
With Flipkart’s extensive logistics network and technological capabilities, NCERT books will now be delivered directly to students and families, even in the most remote areas.
The initiative will be supported by authorized NCERT sellers, ensuring that students have access to genuine, high-quality textbooks through Flipkart’s platform. Minister Dharmendra Pradhan praised NCERT for its foundational role in shaping India’s education system, calling it “a repository of knowledge for our nation.” He emphasized that the collaboration with Flipkart will make educational resources more easily accessible, benefiting students nationwide.
Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy Enters Luxury Tequila Market with Volcan de Mi Tierra
Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy is debuting in the luxury tequila category with Volcan de Mi Tierra. MD of the business Ipsita Das made the announcement. This comes amidst a wave of premiumization in India.
Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy Ventures into the Luxury Tequila Scene
The launch was made with a fascinating lineup of products including: Blanco at Rs 10,267, Reposado at Rs 12,198, Cristalino at Rs 15,967, and the exceptional Volcan X.A at Rs 39,107.
Das gave a statement on this important launch of the company & said: “We are riding the wave of how India is responding to the absolute desire for luxury. We have seen a boost in consumer expectations as they are looking beyond what comes in a bottle. We are happy to bring in a lot of premium offerings to India because we believe this is a great time for Indians to experience what they would otherwise experience in the West”
Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy is a Significant Player in the Broader Segment
Explaining this foray into a new category, the top executive continued: “Innovation is a big part of our DNA. We are going to continuously innovate to satiate the demand of the Indian luxury consumers”.
Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy remains one of the more significant players in this segment. It has impressive financials to back this, and the same was reflected in the MD’s statement: “In cognac, we are the market leader with almost 60 per cent market share and registered 17 per cent growth in FY 22-23. In champagnes, we are a market leader with almost 90 per cent market share and between FY 22-23 we saw north of 20 per cent growth.”
Shein Returns to India with Reliance Retail Partnership, Under Strict Data Rules
Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein is set to make a comeback in India through a new partnership with Reliance Retail, following its ban in 2020.
Shein Partners with Reliance to Re-enter Indian Market
Under the agreement, Shein will provide technology services, while Reliance Retail will oversee the operations, ensuring that all customer data remains within India under stringent security protocols. This collaboration is aimed at boosting local manufacturing and creating new jobs.
Shein’s re-entry into India is subject to meeting strict data localisation requirements. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed that the company must comply with these conditions to regain access to the Indian market.
This Re-entry Comes With a Strict Set of Rules
This includes transferring control of local operations and data to Reliance Retail, with the assurance that all data will be stored and processed within India.
In a recent statement in Parliament, Minister Goyal elaborated on the details of the partnership. He explained that Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL) has entered into an agreement with Shein’s parent company, Roadget Business Pte Ltd, based in Singapore. As part of the deal, Shein will operate only as a technology provider, while Reliance Retail will maintain full ownership of the platform and control over all data collected from Indian customers.
Seekho has secured new funding, following earlier reports that it was aiming to raise between $8 million and $10 million at a $45 million valuation, with investors targeting a 20% stake in the company.
Seekho’s Detailed Plans to Use this Fund
The funds will be used to enhance Seekho’s offerings and expand its user base. Founded in 2020 by Rohit Choudhary, Keertay Agarwal, and Yash Banwani, Seekho is dedicated to helping individuals build new skills and knowledge through accessible learning resources.
The platform provides a range of short video courses across various topics, including parenting, stock market investing, Instagram marketing, finance, and personal development, among others.
Packaging with a Purpose: How FMCG is Driving Sustainability Forward
The Indian packaging industry is experiencing a significant transformation, driven by the need for sustainable and responsible practices. The industry, particularly in the food sector, is shifting towards eco-friendly packaging solutions to meet the growing consumer demand for sustainable products.
Indian packaging industry
Consumer awareness of the environmental impact of packaging has grown significantly in recent years, prompting businesses to prioritize safe and sustainable packaging. A survey by the Indian Institute of Packaging reveals that 75% of Indian consumers consider packaging sustainability when making purchases, and 60% are willing to pay a premium for sustainable packaging.
Reportedly, the Indian packaging market was valued at INR 6,399 billion in FY 2023, growing at a CAGR of 2.8% from INR 5,581 billion in FY 2018. The market is estimated to reach INR 6,656 billion in FY 2024, growing at a rate of 4.0% in the last financial year. Within the packaging industry, packaged processed food holds the largest share of 48%, followed by personal care packaging (27%) and pharma packaging (6%).
Meanwhile, the Indian food and beverage packaging industry is projected to reach US$ 86 billion in 2029, with an annual growth of 14.8%, according to Invest India. The industry includes items like containers, cups, tableware, straws, bags, wraps, and boxes designed to safeguard or store food.
FMCG’s take on sustainable packaging
Several FMCG companies have adopted eco-friendly packaging practices. Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has pledged to make 100% of its packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025. Similarly, Nestlé India has launched sustainable packaging initiatives to reduce packaging waste and increase recycling.
“Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Skippi, and we are deeply committed to eco-friendly practices across our product lifecycle. Every step is carefully designed to reduce our environmental impact, from the materials we use for packaging to the processes we adopt,” said Ravi Kabra, Co-founder of Skippi.
Startups are also driving innovation in sustainable packaging. Delhi-based Ecoware, Pappco Greenware, Evirocore, and Trishula focus on providing eco-friendly solutions for the food industry. Notably, Noptala offers seaweed-based packaging for beverages, Replan creates packaging from upcycled waste, and Celluforce develops cellulose-based materials for food and beverage packaging.
The use of bioplastics, plant-based materials, compostable options, and edible packaging is gaining traction. Companies are further exploring post-consumer recycled materials, renewable energy sources, and sustainable supply chains to lower environmental impact.
Consumer trends
Consumer trends indicate a growing preference for sustainable packaging. Nearly 40% of all plastic produced globally is used for food and beverage packaging. Yet 91% of it remains unrecycled, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
The Food Institute’s research states that for 43% of consumers, sustainability is extremely important. According to the EIT Food Trust Report 2021, 78% of customers believe that plastic-free packaging is better for the environment. According to Trivium Packaging’s 2022 Global Buying Green Report, which included 15,000 consumers worldwide, 86% of customers under 45 are willing to spend more for sustainable packaging.
Major companies are also innovating in this space. PepsiCo introduced 100% compostable packaging for its SunChips brand, while Coca-Cola launched a sustainable packaging initiative called “World Without Waste.”
As consumer awareness grows, companies prioritizing sustainability are poised to gain a competitive edge. With the FMCG sector accounting for a significant share of the packaging market, the question remains: will consumer preference for sustainable packaging transform the sector, and how will it be received?
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