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Pankaj Tripathi Joins Hyundai India as Brand Ambassador, Bringing Star Power with a Heartland Touch

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Pankaj Tripathi Joins Hyundai India as Brand Ambassador, Bringing Star Power with a Heartland Touch

Hyundai Motor India has signed up actor Pankaj Tripathi as its newest brand ambassador, adding a distinctly relatable and rooted voice to its brand image. Known for playing characters that feel deeply real, Tripathi’s style and persona strike a chord with everyday Indians—making him a fitting face for Hyundai’s next chapter.

This move signals Hyundai’s intent to deepen its bond with consumers not just through cars, but through culture and storytelling. With a reputation built on reliability and innovation, the automaker is now betting on a more personal, emotionally resonant approach to connect with its audience across regions.

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“Pankaj Tripathi isn’t just a brilliant actor—he represents honesty, humility, and the kind of grounded appeal that mirrors what we stand for,” said a senior Hyundai executive. “We believe his presence will help us speak more meaningfully to the millions of Indians who see a part of themselves in him.”

Tripathi now joins Hyundai’s growing list of celebrated ambassadors—each chosen for the unique audience they engage with—as the brand looks to strike a balance between mass appeal and meaningful messaging.

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This partnership is more than a celebrity endorsement—it’s a step toward making the brand feel even more familiar to Indian families, big cities and small towns alike.

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Coca-Cola Sees Strong Consumer Demand in India, Looks to Curb Seasonal Dependence with Year-Round Strategies

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Coca-Cola Sees Strong Consumer Demand in India, Looks to Curb Seasonal Dependence with Year-Round Strategies

Despite unpredictable summer rains across parts of India, Coca-Cola says demand for its beverages remains steady and shows no signs of slowing. The company is now working on a broader strategy to push consumption beyond the traditional summer peak, aiming to build more year-round relevance for its drinks.

“India continues to be a high-growth market for us. Even with seasonal challenges, consumer interest holds firm,” said Henrique Braun, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Coca-Cola. Speaking about the brand’s long-term plans, Braun emphasized the need to reduce the heavy reliance on peak summer months by creating new consumption moments throughout the year.

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“Globally, summer drives a large chunk of beverage sales—but that doesn’t mean we should wait around for the heat,” Braun said. “We’re focused on building events and habits that encourage people to enjoy our products no matter the season. It won’t happen overnight, but the trend is clear when you zoom out: Indian demand is strong, and it’s growing.”

India ranks as Coca-Cola’s fifth-largest market by volume worldwide, and the company is investing accordingly—not just in products, but also in digital infrastructure. One key initiative is Coke Buddy, the company’s tech platform for local kirana stores. Currently, over 1 million retailers in India have adopted Coke Buddy, helping them streamline bulk ordering, track deliveries, and receive personalized suggestions.

“We’ve learned a lot from the Indian market, especially in how digital tools can drive adoption and convenience at the grassroots level,” Braun noted.

On the product side, Coca-Cola India is leaning into shifting health trends by expanding its portfolio of low- and zero-sugar drinks. The company recently launched Thums Up XForce, a no-sugar version of the popular Indian cola. Other options like Diet Coke, Coke Zero, and Sprite Zero also cater to health-conscious consumers. Smaller packaging formats, such as the Affordable Small Sparkling Package (ASSP), are being pushed to encourage portion control while maintaining price accessibility.

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“As consumer preferences evolve and regulations tighten, we’re adapting quickly,” Braun added. “From reformulating beverages to offering more transparency, the focus is on giving people choices without compromising on taste or accessibility.”

For Coca-Cola, the long game in India isn’t just about selling more drinks in the heat—it’s about making those drinks a part of daily life, rain or shine.

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Madame Opens Second Store in Raipur’s Pandri, Eyes Aggressive Tier-2 Expansion Across India in 2025

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Madame Opens Second Store in Raipur’s Pandri, Eyes Aggressive Tier-2 Expansion Across India in 2025

Women’s fashion label Madame is doubling down on its presence in Chhattisgarh with the launch of a new outlet on Main Road, Pandri—right in the bustling heart of Raipur. This marks the brand’s second store in the state, following its earlier debut at Magneto Mall.

The company isn’t stopping there. With an aggressive retail rollout lined up for 2025, Madame is gearing up to plant its flag in more tier-2 and tier-3 cities, especially across Central India.

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“Chhattisgarh has proven to be a high-energy market with a real appetite for fashion-forward pieces,” said Akhil Jain, Managing Director and CEO of Madame. “We’ve seen tremendous traction in our existing stores, and that’s pushed us to speed up our plans. People here aren’t just shopping—they’re choosing style, and they’re choosing quality.”

Founded in 1993 under the banner of Jain Amar Clothing Pvt. Ltd., Madame has carved out a niche for itself as a go-to destination for chic western wear for young women. The brand offers a wide range of seasonal collections, from everyday essentials to occasion-ready outfits, all tailored for the style-savvy Indian shopper.

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With growing interest from fashion-conscious consumers outside the metros, Madame’s latest move shows that the brand is thinking well beyond the big cities—and tapping into India’s rapidly evolving fashion map.

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Grammarly Secures $1 Billion from General Catalyst as CEO Shishir Mehrotra Charts Bold AI Productivity Push

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Grammarly Secures $1 Billion from General Catalyst as CEO Shishir Mehrotra Charts Bold AI Productivity Push

Grammarly, now helmed by Shishir Mehrotra and rooted in Indian heritage, has secured a hefty $1 billion in funding—without giving up any equity. The investment comes from long-time backer General Catalyst and represents one of the biggest cash injections into the AI-powered productivity space this year.

This raise follows Grammarly’s recent acquisition of Coda, the collaborative doc platform, signaling a clear push beyond grammar checks and writing suggestions. The company is now eyeing a broader play in workplace tools and enterprise workflows. This particular funding came through General Catalyst’s Customer Value Fund, which zeroes in on expanding real-world market reach.

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Grammarly plans to use the new capital to strengthen its marketing efforts, scale up sales, and explore new acquisitions. Already boasting more than 40 million daily users and generating north of $700 million a year in revenue, Grammarly is steadily transforming into a multi-layered AI platform that stretches across apps, digital assistants, and enterprise systems.

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Mehrotra noted that bringing Coda into the fold has reshaped Grammarly’s identity—from a writing sidekick to an all-in-one productivity platform built for the modern workspace.

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Gold Jewellery Sales to Shrink in FY26 as Prices Soar, But Investment Demand Stays Strong

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Gold Jewellery Sales to Shrink in FY26 as Prices Soar, But Investment Demand Stays Strong

India’s love affair with gold isn’t ending anytime soon—but rising prices are definitely changing how people buy it. A new report by ICRA predicts that gold jewellery consumption by volume could drop 9-10% in FY26, thanks largely to a massive 33% spike in gold prices over the past year.

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While people may cut back on buying jewellery, they’re turning to gold as a financial safety net. Demand for gold bars and coins—often seen as safer investment options—jumped 17% and 25% in FY24 and FY25, as global uncertainties and geopolitical tensions made investors nervous. That trend isn’t going away, either. ICRA expects bars and coins to make up around 35% of total gold demand in FY26, with demand rising another 10%.

Interestingly, even though people are expected to buy less jewellery by weight, the total value of jewellery sales is still projected to grow—by 12-14% in FY26. That’s on top of the 28% value jump in FY25, which was driven almost entirely by the surge in gold prices.

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Jitin Makkar, Senior VP and Group Head at ICRA, explained that larger, organised jewellery retailers are still expected to do well. Their revenues could climb 14-16% year-on-year, helped by expanding store networks, climbing gold prices, and a continued shift of market share away from smaller, unorganised players. A favorable calendar with more auspicious days for weddings and festivals will also help prop up demand.

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KhiladiPro Raises $1M to Revolutionize Grassroots Sports Scouting in India

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KhiladiPro Raises $1M to Revolutionize Grassroots Sports Scouting in India

Bengaluru-based sportstech startup KhiladiPro has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding, marking a major step forward in its mission to overhaul how young talent is identified and nurtured in Indian sports.

The investment round saw participation from Shastra VC and MGA Ventures, who co-led the funding, along with a mix of notable family offices and individual investors. Among them were M Pallonji, Jeena & Co., Ayaz Billawala, Nimesh Kampani, and Jaimin Bhat—lending a strong vote of confidence in the startup’s vision.

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Founded in August 2023 by Utkarsh Yadav, KhiladiPro is attempting something few others in India are doing: blending cutting-edge video-based AI analysis with globally recognized training models to assess young athletes through nothing more than a smartphone.

The fresh capital will go toward scaling the company’s reach across India and fine-tuning its in-house AI technology. The startup’s flagship tools, like the KPro Sports Ability Test (SAT) and the Khiladi Ability Index (KAI), are designed to give clear, structured insights into a child’s athletic capabilities—something that’s often missing in India’s chaotic grassroots sports scene.

The assessments are rooted in international methodologies like Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) and the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model, which are used by sports academies and Olympic training programs worldwide. KhiladiPro brings that level of rigor to schools, academies, and families across India, with nothing more than a mobile phone and a video recording.

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For a country where sporting potential often gets lost in the noise, KhiladiPro is trying to turn raw talent into measurable progress—and investors are clearly paying attention.

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Razorpay Co-Founder Shashank Kumar Brings Parent Firm Back to India Ahead of IPO Dreams: $7.5 Billion Fintech Completes Reverse Flip

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Razorpay Co-Founder Shashank Kumar Brings Parent Firm Back to India Ahead of IPO Dreams: $7.5 Billion Fintech Completes Reverse Flip

After months of planning, the fintech giant has successfully shifted its parent entity’s base from the U.S. to India—an important milestone as the company gears up for a potential IPO.

The announcement came after Razorpay’s board was informed that the Regional Director (Southeast) of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs had signed off on the merger between Razorpay Inc. (the U.S. entity) and Razorpay Software Pvt. Ltd., which is headquartered in Bengaluru. With that, the long-discussed “reverse flip” is now complete.

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This move was made possible thanks to updated regulations that simplify the process for companies wanting to relocate back to India, bypassing the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and instead working directly through the Reserve Bank of India and the MCA. With all approvals now in place, Razorpay’s global headquarters officially sits in India.

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“We’ve crossed a big milestone,” said Shashank Kumar, co-founder of Razorpay. “This isn’t just a legal or logistical change—it’s deeply personal. Razorpay was always about building for India, and now, by planting our global HQ here, we’re making a clear statement: India is where our heart is, and it’s where we’re building our future.”

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Poonawallas Bet Big on Ayurveda: Yohan and Michelle Back TOVA’s Herb-Infused Water Brand in Strategic Undisclosed Deal

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Poonawallas Bet Big on Ayurveda: Yohan and Michelle Back TOVA’s Herb-Infused Water Brand in Strategic Undisclosed Deal

Yohan and Michelle Poonawalla—well-known names in both business and philanthropy—have made a strategic investment in TOVA, a young beverage startup that’s putting a modern spin on India’s ancient wellness traditions. While the exact size of the deal hasn’t been disclosed, the backing itself is a strong signal of confidence in the brand’s potential.

TOVA, launched in 2022 by Lakshmi and PS Srinivasan under the Ayushkalki Wellness banner, focuses on functional hydration. Its line of herb-infused waters draws directly from Ayurveda, offering blends designed to support immunity and overall health—without compromising on taste or convenience.

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Working closely with Indian food tech researchers, the team behind TOVA has developed a set of clean, thoughtfully formulated drinks that are equal parts therapeutic and refreshing. The idea? Take centuries-old herbal knowledge and repackage it into something that fits neatly into a busy, modern lifestyle.

For the Poonawallas, the investment is more than just financial. “We’re strong believers in encouraging healthier living, and TOVA stands out for the way it connects ancient wisdom with today’s wellness needs,” said Yohan Poonawalla, Chairman of the Poonawalla Group. “We’re excited to be part of their journey and help scale their impact.”

Michelle Poonawalla, Director at the Group, echoed the sentiment: “TOVA’s commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability mirrors our own values. This partnership is about backing a vision that’s both forward-thinking and rooted in something timeless.”

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TOVA is now setting its sights on expanding distribution, growing its product lineup, and becoming a familiar name in health-conscious homes across India—and beyond.

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Cleevo Bags $1 Million to Supercharge Manufacturing, R&D, and Global Ambitions

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Cleevo Bags $1 Million to Supercharge Manufacturing, R&D, and Global Ambitions

Cleevo, the emerging home hygiene startup, has just pocketed $1 million in seed funding as it gears up for its next phase of growth. The round was led by Eternal Capital and saw backing from a strong lineup of investors including Zeca Capital, DeVC, Utsav Somani’s iSeed, Suhail Sameer of OTP Ventures, Sumit Jalan, Ajay Kumar (Action Tesa Group), Alok Mittal (Indifi), and select members of the Venture Garage investor network.

Started with a goal of modernising everyday hygiene products, Cleevo has quietly built a loyal customer base—serving over 1.5 lakh households via online marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart, and Zepto, alongside its own direct-to-consumer store.

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With fresh capital in the bank, the company is now looking to scale its operations aggressively. The plan? Multiply manufacturing output tenfold, invest heavily in R&D to develop more advanced formulations, and widen its digital footprint. It’s also exploring B2B distribution and testing the waters in a few international markets, signaling a much bigger play on the horizon.

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Cleevo’s team says this round marks a key milestone in its mission to take on legacy hygiene brands with cleaner, smarter alternatives—and to do it with speed.

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Ola Electric’s Losses Deepen to ₹870 Crore in Q4 FY25 Amid Demand Slump and Piling Inventory

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Ola Electric’s Losses Deepen to ₹870 Crore in Q4 FY25 Amid Demand Slump and Piling Inventory

Ola Electric, helmed by Bhavish Aggarwal, ended the March 2025 quarter with a bruising net loss of ₹870 crore—more than double the ₹416 crore it reported in the same quarter last year. The steep drop comes as India’s largest electric two-wheeler manufacturer finds itself navigating a tough patch marked by falling demand, delayed deliveries, and operational hiccups.

Revenue from operations nosedived 62% year-on-year to ₹611 crore, a stark fall from ₹1,598 crore in Q4 FY24. Scooter registrations mirrored the slide, dropping 52% to 56,760 units. But Ola’s own internal delivery tally came in even lower, at just 51,375 scooters—pointing to swelling unsold stock sitting idle in warehouses or showrooms.

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On the profitability front, the numbers were grim. The auto division’s EBITDA margin took a nosedive, crashing from -9.3% to a staggering -78.6% in just one year. Ola’s overall consolidated EBITDA for the quarter plummeted further into the red at -101.4%, reflecting intense margin pressure and ballooning provisioning costs.

Despite the dismal results, there was one silver lining. The company’s gross margin nudged up slightly to 19.2%, thanks largely to its next-generation Gen-3 scooters. These new models promise 20% more performance and range, while shaving off 11% in production cost compared to their Gen-2 predecessors—making them a small but significant bright spot in an otherwise rocky quarter.

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As Ola Electric gears up for the coming months, the question now is whether its Gen-3 platform can drive a turnaround—or whether the company’s ambitious scale-up has run ahead of real-world demand.

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