Latest news with #Bengaluru-born
Mint
a day ago
- Business
- Mint
Data creates a revenue path for India's fledgling space startups
For India's fledgling space startups, offering data analytics to clients across sectors is turning into a viable revenue stream as the industry grows out of the early phase of proving its technical and product competence. Bengaluru-born Pixxel uses its hyperspectral or high-resolution imaging satellites to supply earth observation data to clients,according to media reports. Its same-city peer Digantara, which also has one satellite in orbit, offers processed data to fellow satellite operators to help them map the earth's lower orbit, and manoeuvre satellites better to avoid debris and incidental collision, Mint previously reported. Fellow startup GalaxEye is, too, building its first imaging satellite and placing it in orbit later this year. Suyash Singh, GalaxEye's chief executive, told Mint that in the long run, the company expects its satellite capability to help gain clients who would purchase high-resolution, low-latency data to circumvent cloud covers and challenging terrain. The race for satellite data marks the coming of age of India's space startups since the sector was significantly opened up to private players five years ago. The ecosystem has gradually matured, with satellite firms transitioning to commercial models. India's space economy is projected to generate $44 billion in annual revenue by 2033, according to estimates by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (In-Space). Earth observation and data-related services could account for nearly 40% of it. Such a scale would come from customers who repeatedly purchase satellite data, according to Devroop Dhar, managing director and cofounder of management consulting firm Primus Partners. He cited examples of subscription access for change detection in crops, alerts for maritime anomalies, risk scoring for insurers and more. 'It is less about owning a piece of space and more about embedding space into day-to-day business decisions." 'The question is no longer what you captured, but how it helps someone make a decision," said Dhar, suggesting that monetization has changed from earlier when it was centred around payloads, launch contracts or tech demonstrators, mostly to government clients or for niche commercial engagements. Queries sent to Pixxel and Digantara did not immediately elicit a response. Digantara's chief executive officer Anirudh Sharma told Mint previously that the company is setting up an assembly line in response to rising demand from governments worldwide over the past six months, as more of them look to build their own space defence and surveillance systems and seek direct access to satellite data. Technological advances and a shift in strategic focus are propelling this transition. As satellite hardware shrinks and onboard processing becomes more advanced, space startups are no longer just focused on being satellite manufacturers or simply supplying raw data to vendors. They call it an "orbit to insight loop" to supply large volumes of processed data at low latencies as their core business model. Launch service providers, too, see data driving demand. Agnikul Cosmos and Skyroot Aerospace have completed solitary sub-orbital demonstrator missions—these do not enter the earth's orbit and serve as proof of technology only. The startups are in talks with data-focused clients such as agri-tech companies, fleet monitoring players and analytics firms. 'Our plan is to scale to a launch every two weeks," said Srinath Ravichandran, cofounder, Agnikul Cosmos. 'Even at 50 launches a year, I'm barely at 10% of the market demand. Our order pipeline already indicates clear dominance of satellite payloads increasing due to the demand for data—about 35-40% are imaging satellites." Ravichandran said the demand for data is coming "from hedge funds trying to predict urbanization, land utilization and betting on real estate, to city corporations using high-resolution imagery to track urban trends". Naga Bharath Daka, cofounder of Skyroot Aerospace, said that satellite manufacturers striking early deals with the firm for 'putting GPUs in satellites to process data in orbit. Many are downlinking only insights, not raw images." 'Many large firms across end-user applications are now investing in having their own satellites to gain direct insight," he said. 'As more operational players enter the market, booking a launch could soon become as simple as booking a cab at short notice." Earlier this month, Mint reported the rise of space-based surveillance as a major business stream for Indian space firms, with clients willing to pay up to $100 per square kilometre per week from a single satellite and providing scope for multi-million-dollar satellite data contracts on an annualized basis. However, to reap all the benefits, these startups will have to invest heavily early on to put multiple satellites in orbit—without which uninterrupted satellite data is difficult to procure. 'There can be no substitute for in-orbit satellites," said Sreeram Ananthasayanam, partner at consulting firm Deloitte India. 'You need a certain number of satellites to improve latency. In other words, demand and capital are akin to the perennial chicken and egg problem, plaguing several deep technology sectors."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bengaluru girl, Medha Rana, joins the star cast of Border 2. A look at her educational qualifications and career
Who is Medha Rana? Bhushan Kumar about selecting Medha Rana for Border 2 Her educational qualifications You Might Also Like: Diljit Dosanjh silences Border 2 exit rumours amid Sardaar Ji 3 row with behind-the-scenes Instagram post. Internet erupts Her career About Border 2 The makers of Border 2, one of the most awaited war dramas in recent times, have introduced a promising new face to the big screen. Bengaluru-born actress Medha Rana will be cast opposite Varun Dhawan . Makers of the movie took to Instagram to share the news. They wrote, 'Every story finds its people. We're happy to welcome Medha Rana to the Border 2 family as the female lead opposite Varun Dhawan. Get ready for a monumental saga of courage and patriotism, as Border 2 arrives in cinemas on January 23, 2026.'Raised in Gurgaon in an Army household, Medha's journey into acting wasn't textbook — it was built on bold leaps, unexpected opportunities, and a clear sense of purpose. She began modelling at 16, but her discovery was quite serendipitous. In an interview with The New Indian Express, she recalled that her entry into modelling happened by chance during a visit to a shopping mall in Chandigarh, where fashion expert Prasad Bidapa spotted her at a small fashion show and suggested she try modelling. Though her family didn't take it seriously at first, her dad's transfer to Bengaluru soon after changed everything. At 16, she began training under Bidapa, stepped into modelling, and eventually moved to Mumbai to pursue acting Bhushan Kumar shared that casting Medha Rana in the lead role was a deliberate and thoughtful choice, as cited by Variety. He explained that they were looking for someone who could genuinely reflect the dialect, spirit, and rooted essence of the region. Medha stood out to the team not only for her raw talent but also for her natural grasp of the regional dialect and strong emotional range. The team believes she will bring both depth and authenticity to the is not just about screen presence — she's academically grounded as well. In her conversation with The New Indian Express, she mentioned that she studied at Army Public School before completing her BBA at Christ University in Bengaluru, with a specialisation in finance and big break came with London Files on Voot, but her on-screen journey had already started with Armaan Malik's music video Barsaat, which earned her early praise. She's also appeared in ad campaigns for brands like TRESemmé, Lenskart, and Cadbury, gradually building a solid presence in the entertainment space. Her film credits so far include Friday Night Plan, London Files, and Ishq In The 2 marks a major milestone in her career. As the legacy of the original Border (1997) continues, the sequel is shaping up to be a high-stakes blend of emotion, action, and patriotism. With a cast led by Sunny Deol and Varun Dhawan, and now joined by a grounded and ambitious newcomer like Medha Rana, the film promises both cinematic spectacle and emotional depth. As the January 2026 release draws closer, all eyes will be on Medha as she steps into one of the most iconic franchises in Indian cinema
Hindustan Times
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Emiway goes flying out of car while shooting daredevil stunts for music video; internet says ‘sar ke bal gira!'
Rapper and singer Emiway Bantai is all set to launch his latest song, Dubai Company. He has been sharing videos and teasers from the song, raising fans' expectations with a luxe vibe and daredevil stunts. However, a video that has surfaced on online is really taking away from his 'Aura points'. Emiway Bantai had not the best time shooting the music video for his song Dubai Company. 'He does his own stunts' The video, which Emiway shared on his YouTube channel, shows him racing around in a large Toyota car on the streets of Sharjah. He pops out of the left rear window as the driver of the car does wheels around an open road. On a tight turn, the car wobbles a bit and Emiway goes flying out of the window. He lands on his head in a brutal mishap. 'Stunt Gone Wrong (Day to day with Emiway) Ep. 3 Full episode out now on my youtube channel,' the rapper wrote on Instagram. The video made his fans wince. 'Oh 😮that's right he fall down while they are doing stunts behind this beautiful video a lot of hard work but he done it for us and yeah AlHamdullah he is safe now it's our turn to show our love & support,' wrote a fan. Someone also noticed how the video showed the accident from multiple angles. 'Itna Dedication mat laao lala , ki jaan chali jaaye (Don't go so hard that you risk your life),' wrote a person. 'Mt kr lala, mt kr, mai bolra hu na tereko mt krr... (I am telling you don't do it),' said a person. 'Damn... Sar ke bal gira tha he be really doing his own stunts (He fell on his head),' noticed another. 'Damn bhai sar ke bal gira hai,' said another person. Dubai Company will be out on Wednesday, July 23. About Emiway Emiway's real name is Muhammad Bilal Shaikh. Widely recognised as one of Indian hip-hop's biggest success stories, Emiway Bantai is also one of the scene's most contentious and divisive voices. The Bengaluru-born, Mumbai-raised rapper—whose real name is Muhammad Bilal Shaikh—made his debut in 2013 with the English rap song Glint Lock. But on his father's advice, he shifted focus to rapping in Hindi, finding early underground success with 2014 single Aur Bantai.
New Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Meet your AI guide, Radhika Subramaniam
Scroll long enough on Instagram today and you'll spot them. The flawless faces. The perfect backdrops. Everyone, it seems, has tried their hand at making the idealised version of themselves or their world through AI-generated art. So when Radhika Subramaniam (@indiawithradhika on Instagram) pops up on your screen, sipping chai on a cloudy afternoon in Coorg, it's easy to assume she's another beautifully built illusion. Except, she isn't pretending to be real. In fact, she is India's first bilingual AI travel influencer, launched by Collective Artists Network. She is designed to tell stories in Tamil and English. We meet Radhika in one of her reels, where she asks viewers, 'Ungalku theriyum-la ennaku travelling evalavu pidikkum?' She then goes on to detail her food journey from Mysuru. This Bengaluru-born Tamil AI ponnu has since travelled to Coorg, Goa, and Jaipur, enticing her 6,000-plus followers to join in her trail and take a break in these locales.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty celebrate RCB's historic IPL win with Virat and Anushka
Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Bengaluru-born wife, Akshata Murty, were among the jubilant fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3, witnessing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinch their maiden IPL title after an 18-year wait. The couple's presence added a touch of international flair to the historic evening, as they passionately supported RCB throughout the match. Sharing a pre-match selfie with Akshata on X (formerly Twitter), Rishi captioned the post by saying, "Let's go @RCBTweets," showcasing their excitement. The final was a nail-biter, with RCB setting a target of 190 runs. Punjab Kings fought valiantly but fell short by six runs, resulting in RCB winning their first-ever IPL championship. The victory was particularly emotional for Virat Kohli , who was seen in tears, embracing his wife, Anushka Sharma , in a heartfelt moment that resonated with fans worldwide. After the match, Sunak and Akshata posed with Virat and Anushka, capturing the joy of the moment. Reflecting on the experience, Akshata took to Instagram to share her sentiments: "What a night. What a match. What a moment for Bengaluru. To have been in Ahmedabad, witnessing @ make history was something truly special! From the electric energy at the ground to the celebrations echoing across Bengaluru, this victory means so much to all of us who've waited and believed. Proud of this brilliant team and the city I grew up in." The triumph sparked massive celebrations across Bengaluru, with fans chanting "Ee Sala Cup Namdu" (This year, the cup is ours) amid fireworks, and a victory parade scheduled in the city on June 4 .
