India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch.pdf

India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch.pdf
Thrust Towards Growth Startups - Ways to Survive and Thrive in Unprecedented Times India's Fastest GROWING to Watch Going Digital How is Digital Transformation Enhancing Businesses? 3 5
Editor’s Note n the slowly settling times post-pandemic, startup Ientrepreneurship is fast evolving. In fact, during the last two years, when many established businesses were doomed, a booming fleet of startups has grown so quickly that the future looks very bright for the industries. In the 2022s first quarter, the fastest growing Indian startups have raised over $8.4 billion (a 22% YOY growth), while with ninety-six unicorns (Startups with a billion-dollar or th more valuation), globally, India ranks 4 . That is an impressive global mark. These fastest-growing startups are from various industries. Industries like healthcare, web and mobile app development, utilities comparison and sales, logistics, sustainable home appliances, agriculture supply chain, photo studios, etc. Though scattered across various sectors, there are some common qualities they and the entrepreneurial spirits behind their emergence share. These qualities include passion, innovation, perseverance, resilience, astute CHAMPION STARTUPS OF THE RACE TO THE SUCCESS
leadership, a people-centric approach, out-of-the-box thinking, a never-to-die attitude, tech-savvy-ness, professional insights, a sustainable outlook, highest quality, ethics, and morals. In the ever-changing stream of time, challenges will come and go, and ups and downs will be the constant norm, however, those with the most formidable business instincts will survive and thrive amidst the adversities. As these adversities will test the entrepreneurial minds, these business champions will develop a mind of steel and nerves of electric current. In such a situation, they will further develop their skillset to adapt seamlessly to the evolving corporate norms. This way, they will build their enterprises to solve old and new problems with some unique and novel solutions. In the race to innovate, update, upgrade, adapt, and adopt modern technologies and strategies, they are moving ahead with such a speed that nothing looks impossible for them. In an attempt to gauge their tremendous success in the shortest span, this latest exclusive edition titled ‘India’s Fastest Growing Startups to Watch’ of Insights Success has brought you the enthralling stories of the fastest of them. Two of them are from the education sector, and two are from the technological industry, with the rest from different strata of business. Along with their awe-inspiring stories, there are included two trendy articles crafted by our in-house editorial team to further your enjoyment. Hop in to experience the adventure and thrill by reading on! Abhishek Joshi Deputy Editor abhishek.joshi@insightssuccess.com
AAS Vidyalaya India’s First Anytime Anywhere School 08 C O N T ARRCOAT Surface Textures Pvt Ltd. India’s homegrown Jewel to the World Beyond Water Your Honest go-to Drink, always! Heart Up My Sleeves Taking the Fashion World by A Storm Insurance Samadhan A Trusted Insurance Redressing Tech-Forum 12 14 20 28
E N T A r t i c l e s Moonshine Meadery Bringing Back the Elixir of the Gods PNT Robotics and Automation Re-defining the Future with Emerging Technologies Watt Technovations Private Limited Solving Everyday Issues by Expanding Technical Horizons 30 38 42 24 34 C X O Why should nancial values be introduced to children early? 18 Thrust Towards Growth Startups - Ways to Survive and Thrive in Unprecedented Times Going Digital How is Digital Transformation Enhancing Businesses?
Copyright © 2021 Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd., All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success. Printed and Published by Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Follow us on : www.facebook.com/insightssuccess/ https://twitter.com/insightssuccess Cover Price : RS. 200/- RNI NUMBER: MAHENG/2018/75953 Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal Deputy Editor Abhishek Joshi Managing Editor Gaurav PR Wankhade Art and Design Head Sandeep Tikode Associate Designer Rashmi Singh Sr. Vice President Megha Mishra Sr. Sales Manager Tejaswini Whaval Business Development Lead Neha Bhilare Sr. Business Development Executive Kiran Pawar Technical Head Prachi Mokashi Technical Specialist Amar Sawant Digital Marketing Manager Renuka Kulkarni SME-SMO Executive Nikita Khadalkar Circulation Manager Tanaji Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-602-1754 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Off. No. 22 & 510, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk, Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017 Phone - India: +91 7410079881/ 82/ 83/ 84/ 85 Email: info@insightssuccess.in For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.in Corporate Offices: sales@insightssuccess.com MARCH, 2022 We are also available on
Management Brief Company Name Purva Aggarwal, Founder Good Good Piggy develops good behavioural habits in kids and explains to them the concept of money. Good Good Piggy Bank Vikas Kakwani, Founder and Leena Kakwani, Co-founder AAS Vidyalaya is India’s first online school aiming to make every Indian pass the tenth standard. AAS Vidyalaya Saransh Anand, Head of Communications ARRCOAT Surface Textures offers a replacement to the modern-day chemical-induced and unsustainable surface decor products such as Paints, Tiles, Marble, and wallpapers. ARRCOAT Surface Textures Devang Singhania, Founder Shachi Singhania, Co- Founder Beyond Water promotes natural and tasty hydration solutions for everyone. Beyond Water India's Fastest GROWING to Watch Pratik Tirodkar, CEO and Founder PNT Robotics & Automation Solutions creates technical products with automation and robotics for a better life and a better future. PNT Robotics & Automation Solutions Riya Khattar and Chandni Khattar, Founders Heart Up My Sleeves is a homegrown luxury fashion label which curates transformable clothing. Heart Up My Sleeves Deepak Bhuvneshwari Uniyal, Co-founder and CEO Insurance Samadhan is a developer of a grievance redressal platform designed for all insurance policyholders to file a complaint. Insurance Samadhan Mr Nitin Vishwas, Co-founder Moonshine Meadery is Asia and India's first Meadery. It is bringing back Meads, the world's oldest alcoholic beverage. Moonshine Meadery Nihaal Singh Adarsh, Founder and CEO Watt Technovations developes innovative devices to help provide creative solutions to daily life problems. Watt Techonovations Pvt Ltd
After healthcare, the Pandemic had its severe impact on the education industry so much so that, even today, the educational scenario is in disarray. Those who can afford to go to private schools are affected to some extent. However, what about the billions of other children who rely on Government schools for their minimum education of at least passing tenth grade? Many studies show that student dropouts are the biggest worrying concern made severe by the continuity of the pandemic. In such times, when all hope seems lost, AAS Vidyalaya is solving the problem of availability and accessibility of good quality education by bringing the school to those children who are not able to go to school. AAS Vidyalaya covers all courses - mathematics, science, Hindi, English, social science, Sanskrit, computers, and Marathi - and follows the NCERT CBSE curriculum, NIOS, UP Board, MP, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra Board. The app and portal digitally give a whole school learning experience, with regular tests, report cards, teacher interactions, online lessons with India's finest teachers, and parent connections. Established by Vikas Kakwani and Leena Kakwani, the Founders, AAS Vidyalaya ensures that students do not have to spend thousands of rupees on guides or tuitions any longer. Leena is a Postgraduate in Psychology (child, abnormal, and clinical) and her strengths include having superhuman observation power. She is a fitness enthusiast, a fantastic cook who also loves travelling, music and Zumba. She manages the operations of the school on the ground. Vikas graduated from IIT(Roorkee) and IIM(Lucknow) and worked for over 20 years in Corporates. He is a self- proclaimed maverick, an avid reader, loves travelling and watching TV series. He has already published three books himself and one co-authored with Leena. He is the CEO. Along with AAS Vidyalaya – The Anytime Anywhere School, they are proud parents of a fine young man. They live in Mumbai, India. In an interview with Insights Success for its edition ‘India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch’, they speak about their unique mission and this legendary vision. Please brief our audience about AAS Vidyalaya, its USPs, and how it is currently positioned as a leading player in the industry it is catering to. AAS Vidyalaya is India’s first online school aiming to make every Indian pass the tenth standard. We provide quality education to the students who do not have the facility or resources to acquire the knowledge they deserve. We focus on the real Bharat, who intend to study and learn but not the means to do so. With all the ed-techs focussing on the rich, we are concentrating on the section of the India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch! 8 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Our curriculum is apt for kids who are not enrolled in any school and can s ll pass the tenth standard via NIOS (open schooling) Vikas Kakwani Founder Leena Kakwani Founder 9 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
country that comprises most of the children’s population and the country’s future. Our USPs: • We cater to the State Boards and CBSE. Our curriculum is apt for kids who are not enrolled in any school and can still pass the tenth standard via NIOS (open schooling), • With the smartphone availability in India on a boom, we provide education via our app as well as our web portal, • Our curriculum is available in Hindi, Hinglish, English as well as Marathi for Maharashtra Board, • Along with the study material, we provide a complete classroom setting such as teachers for doubt clearing, regular marking of attendance, assigning mentors at our education cafes to guide the students, generating report cards for the students to track their academic growth and we also offer an option for PTA meeting, • We offer the subscription for a year for as low as ₹200/month per child, making it the most affordable educational aid in the country. • What other products/solutions does AAS Vidyalaya offer, and how are these making an impact? We have a very holistic learning approach for the students, and that is why besides the studying material, we also provide extracurricular activities to our students. They can take a break from studies (part of our program) and enjoy short educational videos or watch stories on our platform to refresh their minds. The most comprehensive solution that we are offering besides affordable education is helping the students have a better future. With almost 70% of students dropping out of school after the fifth grade, their prospects with regards to jobs are very low. But with being at least tenth grade, they can themselves decide what they want to do next. Either pursue further education or look for a decent job to support their family. Being an experienced leader, share your opinion on the impact the adoption of modern technologies such as AI, big data and machine learning had on the industry you are catering to and what more could be expected in the future? AI and ML are the biggest components for any country to develop in today’s world. Everything from medicines to education to food to fashion has imbibed AI and ML in their businesses. When it comes to education, it helps to track a student’s progress, their skillsets, and mainly their adaptive learning skills, as every kid is unique and will learn at their own pace. This helps us monitor every student individually and helps us help them to learn and develop at their pace. This wasn’t possible earlier when we would have a classroom full of 50 kids, and the teacher could not give individual attention to each kid. Thanks to technology, it is possible today. With a surge in online education and internet connectivity in India, it is possible to provide education to every stratum of kids. With the help of AAS Vidyalaya, quality education is not restricted to a few but is available for all. In the coming years, there will be more advancement in the field, and I hope with the help of ML, we can create a platform that understands a student’s aptitude, wants, financial backgrounds etc., and helps them find the right course to a better future. Considering the current pandemic, what initial challenges did you face, and how did you drive AAS Vidyalaya to sustain operations while ensuring the safety of your employees at the same time? AAS Vidyalaya was always online. In fact, before COVID, it was a challenge for us to convince people about online education. Unlike many other industries, COVID has actually helped the online education industry as today it needs no convincing. Our education cafés were shut for a brief period during the first two waves, but otherwise, we remain unscathed. In fact, we launched AAS Teach app for teachers to conduct their online classes from home and started AAS Vidyalaya 24x7 TV channels on JioTV to reach out to the students who do not have smartphones. How do you envision scaling AAS Vidyalaya’s operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond? We are in our evolving and expansion phase now. Our vision is to make every Indian pass tenth grade, but that will take some time. As for 2022, we are looking forward to enrolling at least 50,000 students and taking a small step towards our vision. We will be entering two-tier to three-tier markets in the given year and setting up more education cafes is our goal. 10 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Chemicals, hazardous compounds, harmful substances have made our entire life unhealthy and unsustainable. So much so that the paints we use to decorate our home, the plasters we use to polish its walls, and more chemical- stimulated cemented surfaces of the house's floors are polluting the environment. Today, the global community is wary of this unsustainable living. Everybody is committing to reducing pollution and its carbon footprints, eliminating global warming, and saving ourselves from an inhabitable world's present and future threats. ARRCOAT Surface Texture Pvt Ltd. is doing it by providing eco-friendly alternatives to your surface décor. They are India's first manufacturers of all- natural home decorative products. The company will ultimately turn your wall or space into your vision, erasing your environmental footprint. ARRCOAT’s presence in every city of India, with offices in NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Pune. They are your best bet when it comes to the smoothest, most convenient way of getting your surfaces sustainable and reflecting your personality and family values. In an interview with Insights Success, for its current edition of 'India's Fastest ARRCOAT Surface Textures Pvt Ltd. India's Homegrown Jewel to the World Saransh Anand, Head of Communications
India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch Growing Start-ups to Watch' company's young and dynamic Head of Communications, Saransh Anand, tells us more about this unique company and how they are bringing Indian way of sustainable and joyful living back into home décor space. Saransh Anand himself is 22 years optimistic, humble, and grateful being with a great interest in learning more about the world with every progressing day. "I look for the opportunities to build my surroundings with the most positive thoughts and with the people who inspire me," Saransh says. Please brief our audience about ARRCOAT, its USPs, and its current position as a leading player in its catering industry. Walls define spaces, and we define borders. ARRCOAT Surface Textures offers a replacement to the modern-day chemical-induced and unsustainable surface decor products such as Paints, Tiles, Marble, and wallpapers as we manufacture all-natural and health- friendly decorative plasters. Initially, a product of Italy, this segment of surface decorators saw a surge worldwide as the product grew in gravitas in the architectural community owing to its superior life and sustainable properties. Venetian plasters, polished plasters, stuccos, and prelates have dominated the world market of surface decor products. But soon, the over-saturation of such products saw a dip in product quality and life. That was the case till ARRCOAT started manufacturing these products in India. With the Indian touch of jugaad, we could churn these products through all-natural ingredients adding superior strength and durability. And with this, we introduce India to the world of luxury surface decor at an affordable price. Our products are washable, crack-proof, scratch-resistant, water- permeable, safe for washroom use and kitchen use, exterior and interior grade, certified 0 VOC, and come in all sorts of dimensions. One can create all sorts of designs, textures, colours, and add as many dimensions onto the surface as one pleases. Feel free to play around with the gloss, matt, reflectiveness, depth, and sheen and extend your personality onto your walls with ARRCOAT Surface Textures. What other products/solutions does ARRCOAT offer, and how are these impacting the industry and your clients? We are known in the architectural industry for the promise that we keep and the value that we deliver to our clients. We believe in timely operations, quality servicing, and on- demand samples that help facilitate the process of selection. We cater to the individual needs of all our clients that help us personalize as per the project's requirements, giving the client the freedom to decide from a multitude of options. We involve the client in the whole process to maintain transparency and credibility in terms of the delivery of the project. However, we still believe that our most significant offering to the client is understanding what is unspoken and delivering designs that no one else can. Considering the current pandemic, what initial challenges did you face, and how did you drive ARRCOAT to sustain operations while ensuring the safety of your employees at the same time? The pandemic was a tough time for the entire world, and there is nothing more to talk about it. And instead of talking about how we maintained the safety of our employees, we would like to commend the strength, grit, and determination shown by our employees. They are the true heroes, and we salute them. In the face of uncertainty, our employees stood still and worked together to have our company stay afloat during its worst-ever financial phase. They all took pay cuts and still managed to get the company through the worst times. Where we stand today is because of the courage shown by our employees. What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the consultancy space? Do the work. There is nothing more rewarding, more satisfying than the absolute pleasure of doing the work. So, keep focused and believe in your work, and you shall have the success you deserve. How do you envision scaling ARRCOAT's operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond? With a more robust distribution network and franchises, we hope to scale the business through training applicators for our products tied with the Skill India initiative. We also want to introduce chemical-free flooring solutions. ‘‘ARRCOAT Surface Textures offers a replacement to the modern-day chemical-induced and unsustainable surface decor products ‘ ‘ 13 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Your Honest go-to Drink, always! Before going for your next soft drink, please beware that it will harm your health in many ways. First, it is laden with artificial sugar to gain weight the fastest. Second, the fructose in the added sugar will be converted by your liver into the fats, which will deposit itself over your liver, making it fatty liver. Third, it might cause diabetes if your intake is excessive or high and calorie burn is more minor or minimal. Fourth, the empty calories (minerals or nutrient less), with the addictive dopamine released by the sugar. It will satiate your cravings and cause tooth decay instead, which will be the last harm you ever want. An aching tooth is a pain in the mouth. But if you still want to drink something, which will be as tasty but healthy and more than water, then Beyond Water is perfect for you. Launched by Devang Singhania – the Founder, and Shachi Singhania – the Co-founder, this unique venture is leaping and going that extra mile to empower everyone with the ability to customise what they consume. In an interview with Insights Success, for its current edition of ‘India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch,’ they are talking about their offerings for your health, hydration, and convenience and how they aim to be your go-to drink, using the highest quality ingredients that are all-natural and very tasty. Please brief our audience about Beyond Water, its USPs, and how it is currently positioned as a leading player in the industry it is catering to. At Beyond Water, our mission is to gain peoples trust back in bottled beverages. We use simple - naturally, sourced ingredients to create high-quality products. Our product line is completely natural, low calorie and without any sugar. We use flavours and colours from natural fruits, vegetables, and herbs. For example - our orange, lime and lemon flavours come from cold-pressed oils extracted from fruit peels. Our colours come from natural sources like dried carrots and turmeric (also known as Ghar ki Haldi). Our products have just one calorie per serving and are great for all age groups and fit for consumption by diabetic consumers. Isn’t this just the best way to get the 15% daily recommended dosage of your essential vitamins in your body by just a simple squeeze? You can choose to add as little or as much of it as you wish. The power is in your hands, literally. What is more astonishing is that our products come in a portable, convenient palm-sized squeeze bottle that you can carry anywhere, to the office, on the run or even with friends. We love the planet and aim to reduce plastic waste, so every time you buy from us, you are effectively consuming twenty-four times less plastic than you would have otherwise, in the form of ready-to-drink beverages. India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch! 14 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Meet the Founders Par Excellence Our product line is completely natural, low calorie and without any sugar “ “ Devang previously managed family- owned tea estates located in North Bengal with a significant concentration in Bought Leaf conversion, essentially operations centric. Also, a graduate from Babson College, he majored in Operations and Entrepreneurship. His key strengths are knowledge of products, operations, and trends, strong network and connections that will benefit product promotions and marketing. Devang Singhania – The Founder Shachi graduated from Babson College with a Strategy and Entrepreneurship Major and then set out to explore what she like doing the most – designing and branding. She collaborated with several companies, with exposure to varied roles like curating, designing, branding new businesses, and reinventing old ones. But today, it is thrilling and all- encompassing for her to collaborate with her brother on something that they believe will be a go-to drink for everybody. The vision for Beyond Water is to be that honest drink you can reach out to without any guilt, always! Shachi Singhania – The Co-founder 15 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
What kind of products does Beyond Water offer to its consumers? We have three product lines and twelve SKUs. • Vitamin - Zesty Orange, Lemon Mint, Lemon Iced Tea, Mango Peach, Strawberry Lemonade, Watermelon Mint. • Electrolyte - Ginger Lime, Raw Mango. • Cocktail Mixers - Lavender Honey, Rose Lemonade, Cucumber Mint, Mojito. • Our product is: • Calorie-free • Sugar-free • Made of 100% Natural Ingredients only • Contains15% RDA of Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E • Comes with an easy-to-carry bottle, which makes up to twenty-four drinks • Each serving comes to around 13/-, so it is very price competitive as well. How has the current pandemic impacted Beyond Water and its operations? Educating the customer about the usage has been the biggest hurdle. It is a new mechanism where it is not ready to drink, and you must add it to the water/soda/tonic etc. So, it is a new behaviour that needs education. It is a liquid and not a sachet that needs to be added, so that is new. Due to the pandemic, we could not participate in the events and do sampling, which was a hurdle. Due to this, we adopted the complete D2C aspect and explored that as a channel of education. What would be your advice to the budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into this field? A key takeaway is that the journey is enriching and full of difficulties, but it all seems very well worth it when any milestone is reached. Everyone has a right to dream and take a shot at making it a reality. So always try it out and never regret it. How do you envision scaling Beyond Water’s operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond? We plan to have more verticals like single-serve and ready- to-serve more product lines. We will also be exploring modern retail and airport formats in the coming year. 16 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Subscribe Today CORPORATE OFFICE Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Off No. 22 & 510, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk, Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017. Phone - India: 020- 7410079881/ 82/ 83/ 84/ 85 USA: 302-319-9947 Email: info@insightssuccess.in For Subscription : www.insightssuccess.in Cheque should be drawn in favour of : INSIGHTS SUCCESS MEDIA AND TECH PVT. LTD. Stay in touch. Subscribe to Insightssuccess Get Insightssuccess Magazine in print, & digital on www.insightssuccess.in www.insightssuccess.in
Why Should Financial Values Children Early? Introducedto be Pocket money and piggy banks have been used for years to impress upon the children the importance of managing money. However, this practice is usually done with teenagers and with very little to support this learning. Children learn about the transitory value of money very early on in their lives. So why do parents wait to teach them about money? The age-old argument about preserving their innocence does not quite cut it. They are already learning about money from their environment, if not implicitly. By introducing the topic, parents are not taking away any innocence but providing context to what they are already seeing all around them. There are many reasons why parents should address this topic early on, like the following: Understanding of Consequences Children need to learn that not only does money have value to buy things but there are financial consequences to all spending decisions. This is a crucial part of their development. Decision making Children at an early age learn the art of decision making. This affects them in every sphere of life and is set at an early age. It would be helpful to guide this learning when the child is impressionable and still developing these core habits. 18 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Understanding the value of work Children need to understand that nothing comes free. The things they buy and the gifts they get are results of hard work, not handouts from an ATM. Delayed gratification and impulse control These values are very important in anyone's life. They affect all types of decision making and can cause severe life changes. Hence, the need to enforce these values early on and set the right foundation for the future. Many parents feel like this conversation is too stressful to bring up with their little ones. However, this stress is felt by the adults who are struggling with the issue, not the child intent on learning everything about the world around them. Money is an integral part of life which affords us the right education, a good environment and social security. Therefore, money management is not a life skill that should be ignored or put off. So, when is the right time to start impressing the right values about money? Right when a child stop putting it in their mouth! This article is written by Purva Aggarwal, Founder of Good Good Piggy, an Ed-Fintech Company. India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch 19 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Taking the Fashion World by A Storm he fashion world moves by the mantra that change Tis the only constant. It got so caught up in the turbulence of that change that when the pandemic came knocking, it had been suddenly blown off into pieces, which nobody needed anymore. The fashion world was utterly lost in that doom and gloom. It will never be lively and happening again. But as they say, those with a never-say-die attitude will take on the crisis with their storm of invincible willpower. And will do the unthinkable. All it took was an idea nobody had imagined before and a spirit or two, willing to make it happen. Meet Riya Khattar and Chandni Khattar- the Founding spirits and minds behind Heart Up My Sleeves. They started the brand smack in the middle of the pandemic while considering the value of sustainable fashion. Their brand sells detachable sleeves crafted with reusability and creativity as goals. Riya and Chandni aim to create a perfect combination of simplicity and luxury while remaining sustainable. From a fashion background, Riya understands the need to focus on fast fashion but not lose out on fresh outfit looks. The brand started as just a hobby for the Delhi daughters of a wholesaler of Indian garments. The sisters began enhancing efforts once they noticed that people liked and believed in their idea. They roped in influencer marketing, which helped the brand grow with popular Instagram Influencers like Komal Pandey and Niki Mehra. This led to a significant hike in sales coming from organic marketing, taking the initial investment of ₹ 10,000 on samples to sales worth ₹ 11.5 Lakhs- and that too, in a year of the launch. India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch! 20 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Platforms like Nykaa and Aza also feature Heart Up My Sleeves. With their successful and fascinating pitch on Shark Tank, the brand has caught the eyes of Sharks Vineeta Singh and Anupam Mittal. There is a long and exciting journey ahead for the founders, dotted with expansion, exposure, and excitement. In an interview with Insights Success, the two charming divas talk about their fast-emerging brand for its apt edition titled ‘India's Fastest Growing Start- ups to Watch!’ Please brief our audience about Heart Up My Sleeves, its USPs, and how it is currently positioned as a leading player in its catering industry. Adding to the closet is fun, but cleaning it? Not so much. Especially when there is a lot in there that skips from ‘Never wearing that again’ to ‘I love this, I cannot throw it away!’ Guilty? It is a problem that many of us face! ‘Heart Up My Sleeves’ is a unique brand that is here to settle things down with minimalism, sustainability, and a dash of panache. We do this with detachable statement sleeves and accessories—a modern concept that is fit for transforming India and is suitable for changing your perfect fit. “ “ Riya Khattar Chandni Khattar Founders Our brand focuses on reducing the carbon footprint and bringing down the intensity of fast fashion shopping sprees
fashion creativity as a brand, something that people can explore within themselves with our detachable sleeves. Oh, and we have also recently expanded our product range to invite capes and brooches that are available in many colours! Good-bye, boring outfits. Being an experienced leader, share your opinion on the impact of the adoption of modern technologies such as AI, big data, and machine learning on the industry you are catering to, and what more could be expected in the future? Fashion has never lagged when it is about innovation. Fashion has been the birthplace of many life-changing innovations like the sewing machine and has contributed massively to the rise of e-commerce too. And today, we can see robots, AI algorithms, and VR work wonders, from sewing and cutting fabric to predicting style trends and simulations in dressing rooms. A range of technological advances show us how technology is revolutionizing the fashion landscape with automation and personalisation. Various brands can now understand customers better- even predict their following demands- thanks to the sophisticated data collection methods, which hint towards a fashion future, where AI is reshaping how brands tackle product designs and development. Development and change in any industry are not a one- person battle. Fashion is a cyclical and forward-looking industry, a lot like tech, and advancements will paint a new picture for everyone involved, from designers to manufacturers and retailers to stylists. And, of course, the consumers. We stumbled upon this solution and started the brand in the middle of the pandemic- literally while cleaning the closet. Heart Up My Sleeves offers a quick fix to any dull outfit with detachable sleeves and accessories. From sequins to frill and balloons to flair, you can find sleeves in every size, fabric, and colour for a holistic and wholesome choice. The brand has quickly received a great response from influencers and celebrities like Neha Kakkar, Hansika Motwani, and Komal Pandey. What makes ‘Heart Up My Sleeves’ unique is the concept of reusability, something we’ve all seen our parents do in Indian households. And there is nothing wrong with it. The pandemic brought many lessons, and sustainable living is probably part of the greatest ones. Our minimalistic approach with the reusable and detachable sleeves ensures that no outfits are ‘repeated.’ We cater to our customers with supreme quality of products. Each cloth is handpicked, and every design is born while keeping in mind the diversity in body types out there. We aim to deliver happiness at our customers’ doorsteps, which in turn has positioned us as a leader in our home-ground industry. What other products/solutions do Heart Up My Sleeves offer, and how are these impacting the industry and your clients? We can all agree on one thing- the pandemic taught us the beauty and importance of slowing down: not going too fast. And we think that is true for fashion as well. Fast fashion needs to slow down! A sustainable lifestyle is critical, and fashion should be a part of it. So, our focus has been towards blending sustainable plus ethical fashion with something fresh- in the form of our detachable sleeves. Growing up in the heart of India’s fashion capital, Delhi, we understood how rapidly changing trends can be expensive and exhaustive. With that, the primary intent behind Heart Up was to bring a collectible that instantly raises the glam quotient of your attire and, therefore, entire wardrobe. Outfit repeats are a concern for all fashion-freaks and women too, and we have found a sustainable solution to that. Our products can transform your outfit, make it go from day and night. Not just this, but our brand focuses on reducing the carbon footprint and bringing down the intensity of fast fashion shopping sprees! We also believe in promoting A sustainable lifestyle is critical, and fashion should be a part of it “ “ 22 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Consumers today are gaining more awareness about the ugly side of fast fashion. We now have socially and environmentally conscious shoppers who embrace the rising movement of ‘slow fashion.’ The movement spotlights sustainable materials and transparent, ethical labour and manufacturing. AI and innovative technology may have a role to play in the race towards sustainable fashion. Considering the pandemic, what challenges did you face, and how did you sustain your operations while ensuring safety of your employees at the same time? The pandemic and lockdowns have not been easy for anyone. For us, too, they brought a tsunami of challenges. Our business experienced a massive impact. There was a hike in prices across every sphere due to a shortage of workers. The prices went up from the materials to the wages and couriers, while the product’s demand decreased. Nobody was stepping out, so there was minimal focus on buying fashion items, and most people were focusing on saving rather than spending. Our brand is all about our customers and all about ethical practices. We care about everyone who works with us and asks for our products. To sustain operations while ensuring the safety of your employees, we put in much effort to sanitize products. We also kept a close check on every employee’s health. What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into this space? There is a good reason we see passion depicted as fiery in popular media. Believe in your passion for being your fire and starting something, you feel strongly about. We encourage you to be confident in your idea and the problem you solve. Remember, you need to solve your targeted problem better than anyone else attempting to solve it. Or, if you have identified a problem nobody is solving yet, make sure you put your heart and mind into it and make it impactful. Once you are confident of that, make it a point to understand your target audience and your market. Hey, instead, become best friends with them! We live in a generation where social media significantly influences customers, so we can definitely leverage that and put it to use. You need to align with your customers' thinking, so constant feedback is always a good idea. Social media has made this pretty easy. Being an entrepreneur, there will be tough decisions and challenges that you might face, but never be afraid of them. An entrepreneurial journey is a fulfilling one, but it is not an easy one. You will learn a lot, so make sure you keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Network, accordingly, too. Confidence, passion, risk, customers, and the solution to a problem together forge the key that unlocks success! How do you envision scaling Heart Up My Sleeve’s operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond? Shark Tank has given our business a brilliant boost. Moving ahead, we, as a brand, are focusing more on marketing. We are literally on top of the world to have Vineeta and Anupam on board! With their support, knowledge, experience, and the kind of networks they have, we can make this brand big memorably and recognizably- together. They bring quite different kinds of expertise to the table, which will surely be beneficial for us. We are already available on Nykaa fashion and Aza, which has given us a larger pool of customers and made us more accessible. The good news is, soon, you will see us on all major e- commerce platforms as well! We are hopeful about our journey ahead. 23 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Thrust towards Growth 24 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Start-ups -Ways toSurvive and Thrive in Unprecedented Times hese days, start-ups are growing in numbers and Tstrength constantly. Led by innovative entrepreneurs who observe problems and issues, which nobody saw earlier, these business entities are coming up with unique solutions. And then, by productively using technology and innovation, they are creating an entirely new category of goods and services around these solutions. But like everything, they must go through hard times, like the time of the pandemic. And to survive in adverse situations and then for growing and prospering amidst the future challenges, they must know the time tested and modern strategies. Here are a few of them listed, though the list is not exhaustive. Maintaining the cash flow An established business can suddenly experience an unexpected bill, which can affect the bank balance. To manage a stable organisation, cash flow is extremely important. It is the lifeblood of any start-up. For optimum business health, money must continue inflowing and outflowing. So, start-ups should focus on bringing more money than they spend on their expenses. With enough cash flow, businesses can continue to grow their brand and improve their operations in any situation. It also helps them to be prepared in case of a financial emergency. Analysing the competition If a start-up needs to grow, it must continuously analyse the competition. In tough times, they should not lose hope. With the proper understanding of what others are doing to attract customers, they can get a better idea of their competitors. 25 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
By secretly shopping from competitors, businesses can get a better understanding of what they are offering to their customers. This can be a secret strategy. Knowledge of competitors' pricing strategies, exclusive offers, strengths, and weaknesses helps understand the competition and form a better strategy. Proper pricing of the product Start-ups should observe the competition and examine their prices. It helps them to know where their product stands in the market in terms of monetary value. The product's proper pricing helps the clients know the cost to work with a particular start-up or business. So, it is essential to be aware of it unless one can lose critical prospects. Pricing of the product also plays a significant role in customer satisfaction. If the product's price is not affordable, it can result in losing customers. So, the correct pricing is substantial to achieving business goals. Focus on marketing In the case of start-ups, marketing starts from the root level. Founders assess the idea and collect information to decide whether the product idea is a success with the customers. So, they spend a considerable amount on marketing. In the tough times, start-ups often cut their marketing budget. But this is the time when they need marketing the most. These days, the customers are restless and constantly changing their buying decisions. So, it is essential to help them find the products and services easily. It is possible, by stepping up marketing efforts, Digital media has made marketing cost-effective and influential. So, start-ups with a lower budget can use digital media to promote their brands and achieve customer engagement. Analysing the data Start-ups should not underestimate the value of tracking data within the business. It can provide valuable insights, useful for business. A routinely updated data dashboard will reveal current trends and forecasts. These trends and forecasts give the actual idea of what customers really like in the present time. Start-ups can establish a profitable business strategy by analysing it. A proper data analysis helps to make informed decisions and achieve business goals fast. Reducing inventory costs In times of recession, start-ups should focus on reducing inventory costs without sacrificing the quality of goods sold. For this purpose, they can avoid ordering too many items, or they can also buy at a better price. They can go for options like drop-shipping. It will help them to eliminate shipping and warehousing costs. By purchasing from another supplier, they can do things in a unique way to save money. Customer retention During tough times, businesses should focus on current customers rather than potential customers. An existing customer is a bird in the hand. So, they are an excellent opportunity to make more sales without incurring costs of searching for new customers. By giving more sales opportunities, start-ups can make loyal customers. So, they should not ignore the potential profits from established customers in a hurry to attract new customers. Excellent customer service is essential here. Start-ups should ensure that customers love what they do or sell and should keep them happy. Identifying their needs, likes, dislikes, and preferences and satisfying them in the right way is imperative for business. More comfortable and loyal customers can also result in profit for the business. An Afterthought As the pandemic wreaks havoc around the globe, these are truly difficult times. It is a challenge for businesses to keep their doors open and protect their employees. Still, it has also created a significant demand for new products and services in the market. These are all ways a start-up can survive and thrive even in unprecedented times. Let us hope that this crisis period will make them learn new things and reinvent themselves for the future. -Pooja Jaipal 26 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Were you ever been sold an insurance policy with a promise of a moon and then ultimately were made to go through hell to make your actual claim? And the final result of that nightmare was a shock of technical skulduggery, without any light at the end of the tunnel. On top of it, you never knew whom to approach with your grievances. Or who will help you, support you, fight for you, and make sure that you receive your rightful claim and that also soon? And many more such insurance-related complaints you have/had, which never got resolved. From today onwards, it will never happen again as Insurance Samadhan provides a tech platform for all the insurance policy-related grievance redressal mechanisms and ensures that you know all your insurance rights well enough not to be bullied in the future. Marshalled by the likes of Deepak Bhuvneshwari Uniyal, Co-founder and CEO, Insurance Samadhan or InSa for short, is fighting for all those people, who those insurance miscreants have hassled. And it will keep fighting for the cause. In an interview with Insights Success for its latest edition of ‘India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch,’ Mr Uniyal is speaking about his unique InSa, which gives satisfaction to thousands of customers. Please brief our audience about InSa, its USPs, and how it is currently positioned as a leading player in the industry it is catering to? We are a tech platform in resolving insurance grievances like misselling and claim rejection for life, health, and general insurance. We have resolved more than fourteen and a half thousand grievances in the last three-point-five years. One of our USPs is that our filtration process selects only genuine grievances, and tech helps aggrieved customers represent their complaints and get their claim amount; insurance companies can take the informed decision as the representation is done in a technical language helps them understand the grievance. What other products/solutions does InSa offer, and how are these impacting the industry and your clients? We resolved insurance grievances; now, we are upgrading from service to a product. Our App would be launched very soon, and we would start assisting policyholders in filing their claims to maintain and service their insurance portfolio. One of our unique offers would be “check the quality of your insurance policy”, which on various parameters would tell you if your insurance policy had any error which can be the hindrance to the future claim, we not only scan your policy, but we also would be helping you in resolving the error. Being an experienced leader, share with us your opinion on the impact the adoption of modern technologies such as AI, big data, and machine learning had on the industry you are catering to and what more could be expected in the future? The insurance industry has been working on legacy systems, Insurtech start-ups, and new-age insurance companies have had a significant change with tech. AI, ML, and big data have reduced the TAT of the processes. It is just the start of the tech journey of the insurance industry; it would go for a complete overhaul and benefit every stakeholder in a big way. Considering the current pandemic, what initial challenges did you face, and how did you drive Inca to sustain operations while ensuring the safety of your 28 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
employees at the same time? Interestingly we were just nine team members, including Co-founders, before the pandemic hit in 2020. Today, we are a team of 32 strong individuals; we have practically built the entire team and business in the pandemic. It wasn’t easy to hire, train and motivate everyone on video calls. Every step was a challenge; we are in a super niche space, which gets trained professionals for the processes weren’t the option, so we hired freshers from college and management institutes and taught them. Building the bond and developing a great culture wasn’t easy. We used to start our day at nine A.M., with video calls. Keeping the video on was mandatory; that was a discipline mark. To hold the means fun element high, we used to have an “InSa rejuvenation session” It has been an incredible journey building InSa against all odds. What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the consultancy space? It is a bit of straightforward advice- it is all about intent and people and what you do with both. Be passionately positive and disciplined. How do you envision scaling Insurance Samadhan’s operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond? For the last three-and-a-half years, we have mastered the grievance resolutions, and now we would upgrade to the product. We will be part of every single insurance policyholder in the country and in servicing their policies. Our USP would remain that we don’t sell insurance. The Soul of InSa, Shilpa Arora, Co-founder and COO, has a total of 26 years of work experience and 15 years in the insurance space. She has trained more than 2000 insurance advisors/professionals. She takes care of everything from onboarding the customer to resolution. The Backbone of InSa, Ravi Mathur, Co-founder and CTO, has a total of 12 years of experience and is entirely in the start-up ecosystem. He has built the tech from the scratch. The Face of InSa, Deepak Bhuvneswhari Uniyal, Co-founder and CEO, has a total of 25 years of experience, 17 years in the Insurance domain. Left his successful career (AVP) and became a full-time insurance advisor, was handling the HNI insurance portfolio. He is keeping the team aligned towards the vision of being the most trusted platform for resolving insurance complaints Three is The Team Spirit 29 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in Co-founder and CEO
Moonshine Meadery Bringing Back the Elixir of the Gods ‘‘ ‘‘ Mead is extremely versatile as a beverage, and at Moonshine Meadery, we make it using ingredients like apples, coffee, or grilled pineapples 30 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
This is the story of Mead. I know you might not have heard about it if you are a teetotaller. But ancient cultures of China, India, Greece, and Egypt referred to it as the world’s oldest alcoholic drink. Mead as a drink is fermented honey mixed with water. And its history is long and glorious. Some of the oldest records suggest that mead (aka Somras), a fermented honey beverage, was a favoured drink of Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) around four millennia ago. And the ancient Greeks used to call it ambrosia or nectar. They also believed that mead was the elixir of the Gods, which descended as dew from the heavens before bees gathered it in the form of honey. And heavens continuously poured water on us from the clouds. Thus, the mix was believed to have magical properties too. You can all call the last statement hearsay, but Benevolent Overlords Rohan Rehani and Nitin Vishwas rediscovered mead in a garage in 2014 and remade it into Moonshine Meadery by 2018. Rohan and Nitin have been friends for thirty-five odd years. Nitin is an alumnus of the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, and has worked with McKinsey and Abbott Pharma. And by profession, Rohan is a mechanical engineer and has worked in core manufacturing for most of his career. Their experience combined with the new-age approach to business that thinks about the shareholders and the stakeholders and the organization’s place in society has been instrumental in shaping the work culture that a start-up requires to grow sustainably. In an interview with Insights Success for its edition of ‘India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch’, Mr Nitin Vishwas, Co- founder, was talking about Moonshine's mission is to bring back this drink which was Nitin Vishwas Co-founder India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch!
previously reserved for the kings and the royalty, to this and future-century lovers of all things craft. Moonshine Meadery is taking your palate on a soothing journey while you sit back, relax, lower your inhibitions, and indulge in the excerpts of this inducing interview. Please brief our audience about Moonshine Meadery, its USPs, and how it is currently positioned as a leading player in the industry it is catering to? Moonshine Meadery is India’s and Asia’s first meadery, started by Rohan Rehani and Nitin Vishwas. We make mead, an alcoholic drink made by fermenting honey with fruits and spices. Over the last four years, we have created a new category that caters to an audience interested in knowing where their food and beverages come from. We can play in the white space between flavourful, non-alcoholic drinks like Coke and alcoholic, bitter beverages like commercial beer. Mead is highly versatile as a beverage, and we make it using ingredients like apples, coffee, or grilled pineapples. It is also mildly carbonated to give consumers a very flavour-packed, seasonable beverage made with all-natural ingredients. This focus on crafting flavourful drinks using all-natural ingredients did not exist in the Indian alco-bev space before this. What other products/solutions does Moonshine Meadery offer, and how are these making an impact on the industry and your clients? At Moonshine, we are constantly experimenting with
various ingredients on offer due to India’s tropical climate. This variety is not limited to fruits & spices alone but extends to honey. Using very seasonal ingredients, we make limited edition batches called mead Labs. Some of which are - Guava Chilli, Grilled Pineapple, Salted Kokum, and Project X made using single-variety honey sourced from our bee boxes. As honey is the main raw ingredient used to make mead, we can consume high volumes. This has started to give impetus to small to medium-scale beekeeping businesses. Other than this, we also have our bee boxes under the Moonshine Honey Project, which aims to revive dwindling bee populations while sourcing the purest single-origin honey. The positive environmental implications of using honey instead of grains or grapes to make alcohol are huge, as honey is a bonus/by-product that nature provides us. We can support farmers by providing them with a supplemental income and becoming a +1 to the value stream of the food ecosystem. Being an experienced leader, share your opinion on the impact the adoption of modern technologies such as AI, big data, and machine learning had on the industry you are catering to and what more could be expected in the future? Thus far, AI and Big Data have had little to no impact on the alco-bev space, but with better regulations coming into place slowly, one day, we will directly be in touch with our customers, and that's when we’ll see these technologies come into play. Considering the current pandemic, what initial challenges did you face, and how did you drive Moonshine to sustain operations while ensuring the safety of your employees at the same time. The pandemic severely affected us as our sector did not benefit from e-commerce sales. However, our home state of Maharashtra has been very progressive by implementing home delivery models and giving a new lease of life to the alco-bev sector. We are hoping these progressive policies are adopted by other states as well. We did de-risk our business by expanding geographically. We realised that having clustered markets like Maharashtra and Goa meant that we would shut down and start up on similar timelines if there were to be a lockdown. By being available in more states with the added benefit of no signs of another nationwide lockdown, we feel safeguarded ourselves. How do you envision scaling Moonshine’s operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond? We have recently launched our operations in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Daman, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh as the last territories in this expansion phase. Hence, our focus will be on consolidating these markets with special attention to increasing our distribution. Furthermore, we have always envisioned Moonshine as a national and global brand, so our efforts to make that happen will always continue. We have been working on high alcohol meads (12% Abv) made using speciality honey for two years. They will be launched by the end of this year.
Going Digital How is Digital Enhancing Businesses? Transformation here is a substantial change in almost every Tbusiness area due to digitalisation. As per Customer Think, the global digital transformation market will grow by 16.5% each year and reach $1 trillion within five years. It has also changed the fundamental way of business operations. In accelerating efficient workflows, enhancing security, and increasing profitability, digital transformation plays a key role. Improved data collection Various companies gather mountains of customer data, but the real benefit is optimising this data for analysis that can drive the business forward. The use of digital transformation creates a system for collecting the right data and incorporating it fully for business at a higher level. This innovative technology has created a way that different functional units within an organisation can translate raw data into insights across various touchpoints. It assists in developing a single view of the customer journey, operations, production, finance, and business opportunities. Assists in better resource management With the help of digital technology, companies can consolidate information and resources into a suite of tools. It combines company resources and reduces vendor overlap. By integrating applications, databases, and software into a central repository for business intelligence, digital transformation is adding success in today's business. As Digitalisation has impacted every area of business, it can lead to process innovation and efficiency across units. Every department leverages data, from sales and marketing to finance and the C suite. By optimising and securing data everywhere it flows, companies can get their jobs done. Assists in creating a better business strategy For Unlocking customer insights, data can be a key. Businesses can better understand customers and their needs, desires, and preferences to create a business strategy that is even more customer-centric. 35 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
In business, structured and unstructured are essential. Structured data involves personal customer information. Unstructured data involves social media metrics. Productively using this information can help business growth. Helps in cost savings Numerous companies spend a good amount of money and time simply maintaining old, legacy systems and products. Digital transformation helps to save this money. If an organisation integrates more efficient processes and quicker problem identification, it can save both money and time. With the efficient use of digital technology, there are many opportunities for cost savings in general operations. Likewise, a product-based company can get better information into the volume needs and timelines of raw materials. They can save costs by ordering raw materials in a strategic, data-based manner. Results in Revenue growth It is easier to grow revenue by minimising costs. A key to driving a company forward is maximising opportunities by recognising flaws within current business processes. As more things are going digital, it improves transparency in various aspects of the business and management. So, companies can achieve revenue growth through trend evaluation, pattern recognition and capitalisation of data- driven opportunities. Improves customer experience A better customer experience is essential for the success of the organisation. It is the new battleground for brands. A single point increase in customer experience score can result in millions of dollars of annual growth. By using technology, companies deliver more seamless, intuitive experiences for the customers. With the help of email communications to user portals and digital products, it helps to reach out to new prospects. So, companies can provide a better customer experience with the help of digital transformation. Derives a better employee engagement culture Organisations can use Human Capital Management Software to attract and retain talent. This system ensures that employees get the proper coaching, training, and support from their leadership and dial in on areas of improvement on a per-employee basis. Digital transformation can improve the overall work experience. With the application of the right system in place, it can make an employee's job more efficient, straightforward, and intuitive; their job becomes less stressful. Companies can set up their existing and future employees by managing them with an efficient, transparent, and seamless technology. It will enable them to stay organised and know their needs in their own work by making their output more valuable and their time at the company even more enjoyable. Results in increased agility Organisations can be more agile with the use of digital technology. With the help of software development, they can increase their agility. It assists in enhancing speed-to-market and adopting Continuous Improvement (CI) strategies. Allowing faster innovation and adaptation while providing a pathway to improvement also improves productivity. Last Words These days, every business is going online. Digital transformation has made this possible. It has created entirely new classes of business. Organisations are also revisiting everything they do, from internal systems to customer interactions both online and in person. A better collaboration between organisations, improved customer experience, better employee engagement culture, and increased agility and productivity are possible with this technology. It assists in extracting accurate insights from data that adds to business growth. So, businesses can prosper even in tough conditions. - Pooja Jaipal 36 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
In today's modern industries, robots are deployed to execute repetitive tasks. The robots' overall task performance hinges on the accuracy of their controllers to track predefined motions. The ability of robots to handle unconstructed, complex environments, such as the flexible grasping of previously unknown objects or the assembly of new components, is minimal. Endowing machines with greater levels of intelligence to acquire skills autonomously and to generalize unseen situations is a game-changer for the modern industrial sector. What does this all mean for the future? AI-enhanced robotics is considered a prerequisite for flexible manufacturing and lot-size-one-production. When pre- programming is unnecessary for every robot motion, robots will become economically viable for rapidly changing product configurations. As robotics and Automation enable operations efficiency, there is an immense thrust in almost all the leading niches to implement these futuristic solutions. PNT Robotics and Automation Solutions, a leading company in this niche, make human lives easier with robotics and AI. With greater productivity, increased efficiency, improved safety, remote access, increased quality, and flexibility, the company is fulfilling the increasing demands of industries with its reliable services. In an interview with Insights Success, Pratik Tirodkar, CEO and Founder, highlights the journey of PNT, its USPs, and his opinions on the future of the company. Pratik, please enlighten our readers about your company, its USPs, and how it is currently positioned as a leading brand in the industry. PNT Robotics and Automation Solutions LLP commenced in 2020. PNT is a sister branch of Build My Project operational in 2016. PNT Deals mainly with Automation and Robotics projects based on new technologies. Our start-up was born in the year 2020 when COVID-19 was at its peak—with the idea of helping our frontline warriors. Ward boys, nurses are the frontline corona warriors in our society who treated COVID-19 patients for the most prolonged duration. With a noble thought of helping these warriors, we, 'PNT Solutions,' came out with the idea of developing a robot that would dispense food, water, and medicines to COVID-19 patients in their wards without the necessity of the ‘‘PNT focuses on the present and future problems, attempting to address them through robots and automation ‘ ‘ Re-de ning the Future with Emerging Technologies P N T Robotics and Automation 38 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
About the Leader Mr Pratik Nandan Tirodkar, CEO and Founder, PNT ROBOTICS and BUILD MY PROJECT It began with inter-college Robotics Training organised by Mr Pratik in his college Government Polytechnic Mumbai. He then got to know his main area of interest is Robotics and Automation. He followed his passion and started selling final year engineering projects; he realised it needed to have one website; while completing his education, he started his firm called Build My Project. He has completed his diploma and got admission for B.E. in Bharti Vidyapeeth college of engineering, Kharghar. He then started working as a freelancer to fund his education. As he was working on different technologies and provided workshops in different colleges and corporate clients, he has gained tremendous knowledge on the latest technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, etc. In 2019 he had completed his degree and started working full time on his venture. Meanwhile, he has got many offers from good companies like L&T, Emerson. However, he decided to follow his dream and make his venture successful. In 2019 when there was a COVID wave in INDIA, he contributed by helping frontline warriors minimise contact with COVID-19 patients; he deployed a Coro-Bot that used to serve COVID-19 patients by delivering foods medicines and entertaining them. After successfully deploying these Robots in TMC and KDMC, he started his ROBOTICS firm PNT ROBOTICS, a company that manufactures Industrial Robots and provides automation solutions. With all the knowledge gained in 2021, we have launched a fully autonomous robot made in India and got its first investment from Shark Tank India. Pratik Tirodkar, CEO and Founder
physical presence of nurses and other caregivers. Still, the problem was not yet solved because there was a lack of automation and robotics solutions in India. Hence, we started working on our AI-based, fully automated Humanoid Controlled Robot, which can be deployed in various industries, specifically where interaction and engagement with people is essential. When AI started to kick off, we started fusing it with robots, and that's where ADO came into existence. ADO – Artificially Intelligent Advertisement Humanoid Robot. This is an AI-based, fully automated humanoid Robot with human-like emotions and gestures. This Robot can market products, give presentations, Auto navigation to destinations by avoiding obstacles and guiding people at the airports or any other area, and act as a kiosk. It detects human faces and can memorize people, display ads, and generate proper analytics of the ads displayed using AI algorithms. We can use this Robot where interaction and engagement with people is quintessential. Our start-up focuses on the present and future problems, attempting to address them through robots and Automation. It primarily tackles the problem by decreasing the workforce and maintaining the human touch by creating and manufacturing humanoid robots for socializing and marketing while considering COVID-19. This can be deployed to other businesses such as hospitals, airports, hotels, and restaurants. It can be used for various purposes, including mask checking, social distancing, facial recognition, edutainment, delivery purpose, receptionist, and caretaker to decrease coronavirus infection risk during and after the pandemic. This Robot can impress your guests and deliver a positive and innovative first image with up-to-date skilled, quality, and effective communication, with efficient and accurate information. • Welcome and engage people in a unique emotional way to make a memorable first impression and satisfy visitors. • Delivers information in a more compelling way to Improve service quality to satisfy users. • Provides reception services and integrated solutions by developing a productive relationship with visitors. • Shorten the registration process for the visitor to reduce waiting time and frustrations. • Minimize visitors waiting time and frustrations by shortening the registration process. • Optimize the waiting time by providing promoting value information and services. • Improve the quality of real-time interactions. • Understand and remember people's preferences, interests, and perceptions to increase footfall to your physical places. It gives all your customer analytics and guarantees the quality and consistency to provide services under any conditions across all locations while ensuring low-cost operatives. What other products/solutions does your company offer, and how are these impacting the industry and 40 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
your clients? At PNT Robotics and Automation Solutions, we have autonomous and manual-controlled robots which help people in day-to-day life activities. This Robot can be purchased and rented as per our customers' requirements. During the pandemic, we sold 'Coro-Bots,' the robots used in hospitals of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation and Thane Municipal Corporation for non-contact delivery of medicines, food, water, and other essentials for the patients. We also provide tech services where we built Internet-controlled robots for other companies concerning app-based industrial process control and monitoring systems like AI-powered apps and vision systems. We also provide training services based on our technologies to build our products, including Robotics, the Internet of Things, Machine Learning, and AI. Being an experienced leader, share your opinion on the impact of the adoption of modern technologies such as AI, big data, and machine learning on the industry you are catering to, and what more could be expected in the future? Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have realized that India is moving towards Robotics and Automation. In many industries lot of work has been made easy by deploying AI, ML, and ROBOTICS applications. In each sector, robotic applications can be deployed Even we are planning to launch intelligent Robots in the following domains to cater to the need for Automation.  Any brand who wants to market themselves  Event Organizing Companies  Malls  Airports  Hotels  Schools and Colleges  Real Estate  Hospitals  Museum's  Children's Play Areas  Personal Use  Corporate Offices  Theatres  25 lakhs market  The market for humanoid Robot by 2025 is 9.2 billion These are the domains where AI, Ml, Robotics, and Data Science play a significant role. Considering the current pandemic, what challenges did you face and how did you drive your company to sustain operations while ensuring the safety of your employees at the same time? We were not prepared for any situation like this, but as said, "Every difficulty has a solution, we have never thought we would make such a smart robot during COVID due to shortage of electronics part, material, but we never lose hope and have successfully built 15 Robots with our team efforts." – Pratik Tirodkar, CEO and Founder, PNT. To make it happen, we have arranged all the facilities at our office. (Accommodation for our on-field staff, food). What is your advice for the budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the consultancy space? Stay focused, rather than focusing on your strengths, work on your product's weaknesses and think of solving a bigger problem, In India, it's the right time for entrepreneurship, find your niche, and go in that direction. How do you envision scaling your company's operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond? Make more industrial contacts and by raising investments. We have raised investment from Mr Piyush Bansal, Founder of Lenskart, and we also got featured on Shark Tank India. By collaborating with partners like Mr Piyush, who's also into technology, we want to bring the Robotics revolution to India India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch 41 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Wise people say that every crisis brings along with it an in-depth learning opportunity for those who are curious enough learning to see the bigger picture without losing the focus on the micro- level. Watt Technovations Private Limited, established by Nihaal Singh Adarsh, Founder and CEO, is precisely doing that. Nihaal is the chief innovator of the company. He is the man behind India's patented, indigenous, and revolutionary technology- The COVTECH ventilation system. While in his second year of Engineering, he had developed this device to help the medical community and frontline workers struggling with discomfort during the pandemic. Nihaal's mother, also a doctor, was facing similar problems. Nihaal first developed this device to solve his mother's discomfort while treating the patients wearing thick PPE suits. His mother, Mrs Poonam Kaur, along with his father, Mr Sanjeet Singh Adarsh, she has been a persistent supporter of all the innovative solutions developed under Watt Technovations and great contributors to the company's success. The development and research period stretched out for the next few months with the creative idea in mind. The company received a grant under the 'Nidhi Prayas' program through RIIDL, the incubation center, which helped fund the development of the device. Nihaal is the inspiration for the company's innovations and success. The device's design kept improving for the most user- friendly experience, and various doctors conducted trials to test the working and efficiency. The prototypes were developed in the Dassault Systems 3D EXPERIENCE Lab in Pune. The device was patented, and it is clinically tested as well. The team consisted of two more members - Digital Marketer/Graphic Designer – Ms. Sayli Bhavsar, and the Design Engineer, Mr. Rutwik Marathe, who largely contributed to the development of the product and the growth and success of the company. Nihaal further commercialized the technology, partnered with different manufacturers in the state, and made the device ready to help millions of doctors and frontline WATT Technovations Private Limited Solving Everyday Issues by Expanding Technical Horizons 42 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
Nihaal Singh Adarsh, Founder and CEO
workers in India. He also exported the device to countries like Thailand, the Philippines, etc. Nihaal constantly works to create impact and maintain a healthy environment within the company. A great work environment with a great leader makes all the difference in building successful businesses. Nihaal also pitched his company on the reality show SHARK TANK INDIA on Sony TV and onboarded four sharks in his entrepreneurial journey. While speaking in an interview with Insights Success for its edition of 'India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch,' Nihal said, "We constantly work towards developing economical solutions for the common man, especially in the medical industry where devices have cost much on the higher end. Building products for the common man takes much innovation and depth thinking, and we at Watt Technovations make it our priority to focus on these two aspects that set us apart from the competitors in the industry." Please brief our audience about Watt Technovations, its USPs, and how it is currently positioned as a leading player in the catering industry. Watt Technovations is focused on intelligent, innovative, tech-based solutions to combat society's wide array of problems. At Watt Technovations, we believe in 'Expanding Technical Horizons' by developing innovative devices to help provide creative solutions to solve daily life problems. Currently, the company is focused on the COVTECH Ventilation System. During the COVID-19, doctors, health care professionals, and other critical service providers have become our most significant assets. Having to wear thick PPE suits for long hours leads to the development of enormous amounts of sweat and bacteria, causing discomfort and increased risk of fungal infection. The sole purpose of creating the 'COVTECH Ventilation System,' a PPE ventilation device, is to comfort the healthcare professionals working during the COVID-19 pandemic safely. The 'COVTECH Ventilation System' compact ventilation system for PPE kits. Maintaining safety and user experience, the device is extremely lightweight and portable, explicitly designed to act as an add-on component to the existing PPE suits to bring comfort to our front-line medical workers. What makes Watt Technovations the leader in this industry is the unique design that we have patented, and that makes the device extremely ergonomic and easy to use. The 44 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
patented technology ensures an edge over the other players in the market whose solutions are way costlier and heavier in weight than the COVTECH Ventilation System. What other products/solutions does Watt Technovations offer, and how are these making an impact on the industry and your clients? The Company works in varied domains. One of the upcoming products is the next version called COVTECH Ventilation System 2.0, which caters to the PPE suit and hazmat suits, medical suits used by the army, fire suits, used in steel plants (oxy flame areas), mining, etc. The COVTECH Ventilation 2.0 is a plug-and-play device that can be used in all kinds of suits. It uses the patented technology of compact design developed in the first version but also considers various environmental conditions outside these suits, different scenarios of usage of the claims, safety aspects, etc. This new device provides relief to workers and ensures that anyone who risks his life for others by wearing these suits shall be relieved from discomfort and health issues. The company is also working on SaaS ideas in its service domain, targeting the day-to-day problems we face in today's services. The company's efforts to identify other issues faced by professionals in the medical industry or any other industry and their economic solutions are being brainstormed every day within the team to make them possible. Being an experienced leader, share your opinion on the impact of the adoption of modern technologies such as AI, big data, and machine learning on the industry you are catering to, and what more could be expected in the future? I am a tech geek and pay attention to the small changes and growth in technologies that create significant societal changes. I believe that with the rise of portable diagnostic devices, intelligent sensors, IoT, medical tattoos and thumbprints, virtual reality, holographic diagnostics, and other such great technologies, the medical and healthcare sector is going to become more and more efficient, easy to analyse for the medical professionals, and decisions could be much more reliant, and proof based. The impact of AI, ML, and other technologies will be the most on the healthcare sector. These technologies will change the way we look at our health and impact those who cannot afford suitable medical treatments. It is essential to build products that affect the common man's life in India. Many upcoming technological changes in the medical and healthcare sectors have more or less impacted the higher sections of society, with little help for others. At Watt Technovations, we work to build these technologies for the lower sections of society, with a strong belief that Ours is the patented, indigenous, and revolutionary technology of India- The COVTECH ventilation system ‘‘ ‘ ‘ India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch 45 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in
AI, ML, and robotics will primarily affect people's lives in rural areas of India if we implement a great execution strategy to use them efficiently. Robotics is a field that catches my eye and will also change the medical industry in the upcoming years. Medical robots will perform perfect surgeries that require concentrated needlework and save lives. Taking into consideration the current pandemic, what initial challenges did you face, and how did you drive Watt Technovations to sustain operations while ensuring the safety of your employees at the same time? Initially, Watt Technovations was born during the pandemic and for the warriors of the pandemic. Hence most of the work done by us in the establishment and growth of the company dates back to the lockdown time. During the pandemic time, the primary issue we faced was the risks we were taking while working and traveling, meeting scientists, visiting different laboratories, and testing and commercializing the product to reach the doctors and frontline workers when they needed it most. Pandemic, however, affected the device's manufacturing, as the scale-up was much slower due to the lesser number of workers during the lockdowns. We had to focus on maintaining a healthy environment within the team continuously, especially when any member was fighting the virus, which affected the morale of others. Apart from this, we had to grow quickly, to help the doctors, and this was a constant pressure on us to be highly efficient and work hard throughout the lockdown. What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into this industry? I would advise all the entrepreneurs to keep working towards their goals, no matter the circumstances. Do not get discouraged if you face any problem or failure because entrepreneurs are made for solving problems day and night. That is what makes us different from the crowd. Start-ups are made for evolving continuously and creating innovative products. Innovating solutions take great efforts, passion, and grit. Try out different solutions that make you curious. Lead the way throughout the challenges because your entire team is looking up to you! How do you envision scaling Watt Technovations' operations and offerings in 2022 and beyond? Watt Technovations will continue to develop innovative solutions for the medical community. We will be working on the COVTECH Ventilation 2.0 version, which would also open channels in foreign markets. We will also be working on different SaaS-based ideas in 2022. At the same time, our marketing team is working towards the B2B scaling of the first version of the medical device. The operations team will take care of the manufacturing of this device, feedback, and other modifications, and production shall be increased in different parts of India. With more products lined up, we plan to expand our team horizontally to more software engineers and young talent in sales and branding to scale up quickly with a solid in-house software foundation. We believe that young India has the passion for working in their fields and creating the impact. We want to support young talent in Watt Technovations and grow together. In the long run, Watt Technovations would be a tech company offering a wide range of technological products, with one of the best research and development teams to focus on the latest scientific innovations and their implementations for building meaningful outcomes for the evolving society. 46 | March 2022 | www.insightssuccess.in

India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch.pdf

India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch.pdf

Recommandé

Contenu connexe

Similaire à India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch.pdf(20)

Plus de Insights success media and technology pvt ltd(20)

Dernier(20)

India's Fastest Growing Start-ups to Watch.pdf