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News18
04-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Fit Or Just Fancy? The Blood Test Craze At Bengaluru Gyms
Bengaluru isn't just lifting weights anymore, it's decoding them. Welcome to the city's new fitness obsession: personal biometrics. At a gym in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, 34-year-old techie Karan Mehta wraps up his deadlifts and heads straight into a consultation booth. Not for a physio or dietitian – but for his quarterly blood check. Vitamin D, testosterone, lipid profile, cortisol – the full works. Across the city, in coworking spaces like HSR's health-focused hub or Koramangala's start up dens, it's not uncommon to overhear conversations about gut flora, sleep quality scores, or even ferritin levels. Bengaluru isn't just lifting weights anymore, it's decoding them. Welcome to the city's new fitness obsession: personal biometrics. From Reps to Reports: What's Driving the Blood Test Boom In a city that thrives on optimization of code, commute, and caffeine, health was the next logical target. But this isn't the regular annual check-up. These are diagnostics layered into lifestyle, with monthly or even fortnightly panels built into gym memberships and fitness programs. According to Redseer's 2024 wellness trends report, Bengaluru saw a 53% year-on-year rise in demand for personalized health assessments and diagnostics as part of fitness regimens the highest among Indian metros. The boom is driven by: What Kind of Tests Are People Getting? Not just sugar, thyroid, or cholesterol anymore. Here's what's trending in Bengaluru's fit circles: Full-Body Blood Panels For tracking inflammation (CRP), B12, iron, testosterone, estrogen, thyroid function, and more – especially among those doing weight training or following restrictive diets. Vitamin and Mineral Profiling To justify supplement stacks. Magnesium, D3, zinc, selenium – people want numbers before popping pills. Gut Microbiome Testing Yes, stool samples. To decode digestion, bloating, mental fog, and immunity linked to gut health. Cortisol & Stress Hormone Panels To understand fatigue, weight plateaus, or burnout. Many suspect 'adrenal fatigue" from lifestyle overload. Sleep Data Integration Through wearables like Whoop, Oura Ring, or Fitbit Premium combined with melatonin bloodwork. DNA-Based Fitness and Nutrition Reports Expensive, yes but some health studios now pitch DNA swab tests to personalize workouts and diets. Biohacking or Buzzword? What's Actually Useful We asked experts to decode what's gold and what's gimmick: Useful (if done right): Basic blood panels + thyroid/Vitamin D/B12: Most Indians are deficient and don't know it. Catching these can improve energy, mood, and recovery. Cortisol testing: Helpful for those who overtrain or experience chronic fatigue. Iron and ferritin: Especially for menstruating women, runners, and vegetarians. Glucose & HbA1c: Early diabetes detection is critical — even among 'fit" folks. Overkill (for most people): Microbiome tests: Still an evolving science. You'll likely get generic advice. Testosterone obsession: Unless clinically low, minor variations won't impact you dramatically. DNA kits: Interesting, but expensive. Most don't alter day-to-day decisions much yet. Dr. Anjana G, functional medicine specialist at a wellness clinic in JP Nagar, Bengaluru says: 'A blood test doesn't replace intuition. You shouldn't need a cortisol panel to know you're stressed. But yes, for those who are serious about long-term health, these can reveal blind spots." Are Labs Just the New Protein Shake Counter? Many gyms now have 'wellness partners" – tie-ups with diagnostic labs or health brands. What started as optional add-ons have now become upsells: A handsome monthly subscription fee includes fitness tracking and a quarterly health report. Some elite plans come with personal dashboards and health coach calls. Coworking spaces are offering 'wellness hackathons" – with prizes for best improvements in biomarkers. How This Affects You (Even If You're Not a Gym Rat) If you're the kind who thought walking 10k steps was enough, you're not wrong. But here's where this trend matters: More awareness means early diagnosis. Many folks caught silent thyroid issues or pre-diabetes early. Normalization of regular testing. That's a good public health shift. But also, pressure to be 'always optimizing'. Not everybody is a dashboard. What to Keep in Mind Before You Jump In Before you sign up for the 'Biohacker Platinum Plan", consider: Don't test randomly. Let a certified nutritionist, general physician or sports doc recommend what's needed. Look at trends, not one-off numbers. A single low reading doesn't mean deficiency. Be wary of fear-based upselling. 'You're not absorbing protein!" isn't always true it's a sales line. Data without context can cause anxiety especially if you're new to fitness As Dr. Anjana puts it: 'Just like you wouldn't check your bank balance ten times a day, don't obsess over biomarkers unless you're treating something specific." Bengaluru is Not Just Getting Fitter, It's Getting Quantified The future of fitness in the city isn't just about how you feel, it's about what the blood says, what the wearable tracks, and what the dashboard tells you to tweak. It's smart and futuristic. But it's also a little extra. Know your body and use data wisely. First Published: July 04, 2025, 13:21 IST
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India's quick commerce booms in metros, but stays in slow lane in non-metros
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills India's quick-commerce sector is growing rapidly but struggles to scale profitably beyond metros, with non-metro areas contributing a mere 20% of gross merchandise value (GMV) due to lower demand, digital maturity, and local shopping habits, a report to market research firm Redseer, the Indian quick commerce industry grew by approximately 150% year-on-year during the first five months of 2025, fuelled by the rapid rollout of "dark stores," aggressive category expansion, and fierce despite this explosive growth and the presence of quick-commerce platforms in over 100 cities, non-metro cities (excluding the eight metros) contribute just over 20% of the sector's is starkly disproportionate to their 60-70% share of the overall retail market in India's top 100 cities, highlighting a significant untapped potential -- but also raising questions about the sector's ability to scale profitably in these per day per dark store drop sharply beyond the top 10-15 cities, falling below 1,000, and further below 700 in the next 20 the scale-up curve of a typical non-metro city (beyond the top 15) suggests that these cities tend to plateau out before the 1,000 OPD mark, reflective of weak demand, Redseer noted.A variety of factors contribute to this: many users in smaller cities have lower digital maturity and trust in online platforms, which limits how often they place orders and their comfort with digital density is lower in these areas, so there are simply fewer potential customers within each delivery preferences are highly specific, and the product selections offered by quick-commerce platforms often don't reflect these tastes, reducing their appeal to local strong local retail networks persist. Residents have long-standing relationships with local mom & pop store owners, who also facilitate home deliveries on credit in smaller cities is also a major hurdle. While the lack of demand maturity leads to lower average order values, the low demand city results in a larger delivery radius and higher delivery combined effect is that the breakeven dark store throughput in the smaller cities increases by 1.5-2x vs metros, making it highly challenging, Redseer challenges persist, there are bright spots. Student hubs like Prayagraj and Varanasi, and upscale cities such as Chandigarh, are showing robust demand for quick commerce."Quick commerce has unlocked incredible convenience in metros, but scaling it beyond demands more than just replication. Success in smaller cities will hinge on hyper-local strategies , deeper demand and supply understanding, and operational agility," Kushal Bhatnagar, Associate Partner at Redseer Strategy Consultants, to global management consulting firm Kearney, the quick commerce grocery market is expected to grow threefold between 2024 and 2027, reaching about Rs 1.5 lakh crore to 1.7 lakh crore.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Quick commerce divide: Metros lead as demand booms in top cities; small towns drag with just 20% share despite 150% growth
India's quick commerce industry is sprinting ahead in metros, but non-metro cities continue to trail behind, held back by weak demand, low digital adoption, and entrenched local shopping habits, according to a report by Redseer. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The sector expanded nearly 150% year-on-year in the first five months of 2025, driven by aggressive rollout of dark stores, rapid category expansion, and intense competition. Yet, non-metros account for only a little over 20% of gross merchandise value (GMV), despite platforms having a presence in more than 100 cities, PTI reported. This share is significantly lower than their 60–70% contribution to the total retail market in the top 100 cities, highlighting both a large untapped opportunity and the difficulty of building a profitable business in these locations. Daily orders per dark store see a steep fall beyond the top 10–15 cities, dipping below 1,000 — and further under 700 in the next 20. According to Redseer, most non-metros tend to plateau before reaching 1,000 orders per day, underscoring sluggish demand in these markets. Challenges range from low digital literacy and trust in online platforms to sparse population densities and localised preferences that don't align with standard quick commerce offerings. Consumers in smaller cities often maintain strong relationships with local kirana stores that offer informal credit and free home delivery, reducing the incentive to shift online. Meanwhile, the cost of servicing these markets remains high, as lower order volumes force larger delivery radii and higher payouts. These dynamics push up the breakeven throughput for dark stores in smaller cities by 1.5 to 2 times compared to metros, Redseer said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Education hubs like Prayagraj and Varanasi, and affluent towns such as Chandigarh, are bucking the trend with encouraging demand. 'Quick commerce has unlocked incredible convenience in metros, but scaling it beyond demands more than just replication. Success in smaller cities will hinge on hyper-local strategies, deeper demand and supply understanding, and operational agility,' said Kushal Bhatnagar, Associate Partner at Redseer Strategy Consultants, the agency quoted. According to estimates by global consultancy Kearney, India's quick commerce grocery market is likely to triple in size from 2024 to 2027, reaching Rs 1.5–1.7 lakh crore.
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Urban Company IPO: Home services provider readies for Rs 1,900-crore fundraise as skilled gig workers' earnings outpace peers, salaried counterparts
With many gig workers now earning more than the average salaried employee — without the accompanying job security and key benefits — a segment of India's gig economy is booming, and companies built on it are now tapping the markets for funding. Gurugram-based home services provider Urban Company is the latest to file for an initial public offering (IPO). It is set to become the third gig-based online platform after Zomato and Swiggy to list on the exchanges. However, unlike food delivery or ride-hailing platforms, which engage a less specialised workforce, Urban Company operates as an aggregator for skilled workers — electricians, plumbers, carpenters, cleaners, and beauty professionals — who typically earn more while working fewer hours. About 60 per cent of Urban Company's 50,000-odd active service professionals complete at least 30 orders a month, earning an average in-hand income of Rs 34,000, as per data disclosed in its IPO filings. The top 5 per cent, though, made Rs 49,719 in net earnings during the first three quarters of FY25, according to company data. Meanwhile, hyperlocal delivery partners make between Rs 20,000-26,000 per month, according to consultancy firm Redseer. In contrast, the average monthly salary of a formal employee in India stood at Rs 20,702 in FY24 as per official data, well behind that of gig workers. Skilled gigs, better pay Food delivery platforms have long faced criticism for their operating model — and last month, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal joined the chorus. 'What are India's start-ups of today? We are focused on food delivery apps, turning unemployed youths into cheap labour so the rich can get their meals without moving out of their house,' he had said at a start-up event on April 3. Urban Company offers a distinct take on the gig economy — by onboarding skilled service professionals, who undergo in-house training certified by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and providing them access to consistent demand, the online platform vastly increases their earning potential. In exchange, it charges them a 28 per cent fee. Compared to workers in the offline unorganised sector, who earn Rs 10,000-15,000 a month, or those in the organised sector, who make Rs 15,000-25,000 per month, Urban Company's service professionals tend to earn significantly more. While most service professionals (63 per cent) earned Rs 33,962 per month an average, the top 5 per cent made Rs 49,719 in net earnings during the first three quarters of FY25, according to Urban Company's draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) filed on April 30. On average, service professionals earn a little over Rs 300 per hour — the top 5 per cent work 160 hours a month, nearly double the overall average of 87 hours, the company added. Scope for home services market in India As per research by Redseer for Urban Company's draft prospectus, online services currently account for just 0.8 per cent of India's overall home services market — including both organised and unorganised offline players. That share is projected to grow to 1.3 per cent by 2029. The online home services market is expected to nearly double from $49 billion to $97 billion during the same period. It is set to grow at a CAGR of 20–22 per cent, in parallel with the broader expansion of India's gig economy, which currently represents less than 3 per cent of the total workforce — far below China's 20–25 per cent. While Urban Company faces no equivalent competitor yet, that could change very quickly as the market expands. Rs 1,900-crore IPO after positive financials Urban Company's IPO will comprise a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 429 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) by early investors — Accel India, Bessemer India, Elevation Capital, Tiger Global, and VY Capital — totalling Rs 1,471 crore. The Rs 1,900-crore IPO follows a turnaround in Urban Company's financials, with the platform posting a positive adjusted EBITDA of Rs 9.3 crore in the first nine months of FY25, compared to a negative Rs 119 crore in FY24. Operating in 48 Indian cities and select international markets — including Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the UAE — Urban Company also sells water purifiers and electronic door locks under its in-house brand, 'Native'. In FY24, it reported Rs 828 crore in operating revenue; for the first three quarters of FY25 alone, revenue has already touched Rs 846 crore. Urban Company plan to use the IPO proceeds primarily towards strengthening its technology and cloud infrastructure. While Urban Company offers its service professionals structured training, upskilling, and access to demand, they remain classified as 'independent contractors' — not employees — and therefore do not receive benefits such as insurance or provident fund contributions. In its draft prospectus, the company warned that the full rollout of the Code on Social Security, 2020, or state-level gig worker welfare laws, could dent its profitability by requiring additional social security contributions. The code consolidates nine Central labour laws and defines gig workers as individuals earning outside the traditional employer-employee framework, though several provisions remain unnotified. Meanwhile, states like Rajasthan, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Telangana, and West Bengal have introduced or passed laws to extend social security benefits to platform-based gig workers — most of which are still pending implementation. 'Changes in labour and employment laws and regulations that widen the scope of 'employment' may classify service professionals on our platform as 'employees', which would result in additional obligations on our company, including payment of statutory dues such as provident fund and obtaining additional registrations and licenses,' Urban Company noted in its draft prospectus.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Brutal economics of India's high-stakes influencer universe
Despite the surge in creators, very few can make a sustainable living. A recent Redseer report revealed that most creators earn less than a junior executive in a corporate job. Many end up working for 'exposure' or free gifts 'The growth was painfully slow. I don't know what else I could've done' 'The pressure to grow faster is killing creativity' 'Not everyone can deal with the stress' 'You need to build your brand – not follow someone else's' 'The hustle for numbers is real' 'There's no HR here. No safety net. No off days' Over 80 million creators – but where's the money? India has 80 million creators, per Kalaari Capital Only 1.5–2% manage consistent monetisation Typical earnings range from ₹ 16,000 to ₹2 lakh per month 83% of Gen Z in India now identify as content creators. Most new creators come from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities Instagram is not a real world and followers are not real love, please try to understand this' – 24-year-old content creator Misha Agarwal's family wrote this message last week along with their statement after Misha's tragic suicide. The family shared that Misha 'felt worthless' after her followers started incident has thrown a harsh spotlight on the unsparing world of digital fame. Her final Instagram story hinted at loneliness and burnout over declining follower count: a toxic cocktail increasingly common in the high-pressure influencer economy. So how does one navigate a career where metrics define self-worth and virality is mistaken for value?Kajal Kothari, now a successful lifestyle influencer, left a stable job as managingdirector to chase a less conventional dream.'Eight-and-half years ago, when I decided to take a break from corporate life and explore something more fun like blogging, it was exciting but scary. I didn't know if I'd ever make money. I gave myself a year and just took a chance. I didn't have any options so I had to make this work.' That gamble worked for her, but she acknowledges the uneven playing many creators, success is still elusive. Popular YouTuber Nalini Unagar, known for her food and lifestyle content, recently quit after investing `8 lakh over three a now-viral video, she admitted: 'I tried everything – shorts, reels, long videos – but the growth was painfully slow. I didn't even break even. I don't know what else I could've done.'Even seasoned influencers aren't immune to the constant pressure. 'There's a race to grow faster every month, to keep engagement high – it kills creativity,' says content creator Sourav Joshi. Whether you have 1,000 or a million followers, the pressure remains the same – to stay visible, relevant, liked. Kothari shares: 'Constant competition, constant creativity, bringing something unique, something the audience can relate to on a regular basis. .. it can get tough. But I thrive under pressure. It pushes me to do better.'Dr Marrita Monteirro, an orthodontist and lifestyle influencer, agrees. 'There can be a creator's block – it has happened to a lot of backend work that nobody sees. Editing, writing, shooting... it's overwhelming.'The mental toll of influencing is finally being recognised. Psychiatrists say the 'Lucky Girl Syndrome' – where positive thinking is promoted as the only ingredient for success – is especially harmful in the influencer ecosystem. 'If they believe success hinges on attitude alone, they may blame themselves when things fail,' warns psychiatrist Dr Rahul Chandhok.'They ignore factors like algorithms or a saturated market. ' Dr Vanaja Reddy Puli adds, 'Toxic positivity invalidates negative feelings. It can lead to guilt, shame, and emotional suppression.' Both advise frequent breaks, hobbies and offline support creator Ashish Chanchlani says building identity is everything. 'People should come to watch you — not just a trend. If you're just catching lightning in a bottle, they won't return.' He adds, 'There's a phase where you feel the pressure to do what everyone else is doing. But if you want to last, you need to build your own brand – one that reflects your voice, your story, your journey.' 'You become just another reel if you don't stand for something. ' That's why only a few transcend platforms to build lasting brands or break into films. Others disappear in the management agency heads confirm the hustle is nonstop. 'Engagement entails you're working 24/7,' says Prateek Jain of Gimmick Digital that is into celebrity management with a focus on creators. 'Brands want creators who can boost visibility and sales — everything else is secondary.' Aman Garg, an influencer manager, adds, 'We consider tone, visual style, audience trust, and the quality of engagement — not just numbers. Passion-based creators with a loyal community offer better returns.' Brand partnerships are a major income stream for creators — but the process is far from transparent. 'Honestly, it's like matchmaking,' says Arindam Biswas, Group Vice President at SVF & Hoichoi, that matches brands with creators. 'We don't just look at followers or trends — we try to understand the vibe of the brand and find creators who genuinely align with that. The hustle for numbers is real — I get it. But creators are starting to focus on loyalty — who's sticking around. Because brands are slowly realising it's better to be loved by 10k than scrolled past by 100k.'Influencers and creators work without basic job protections — no insurance, no sick leave, no structure. When burnout hits, there's no boss or colleague, only ever-changing algorithms. 'Protecting creator rights is critical,' says Dr Monteirro, 'Ideas get stolen. And funny reels go viral while meaningful content is often overlooked.' As Misha Agarwal's tragic end shows, the emotional cost of chasing validation in a hyper-competitive digital landscape could result in the kind of stress not every youngster is equipped to deal with.
