Latest from Business Standard
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business
- Business Standard
WANotifier Joins TinySeed EMEA Fall 2024 Batch to Help Businesses Market at Scale on WhatsApp
SMPL Dover (Delaware) [US]/ Pune (Maharashtra) [India], June 28: WANotifier, an all-in-one WhatsApp marketing SaaS platform built on the official WhatsApp API, announced today that it has joined the TinySeed EMEA Fall 2024 accelerator batch. The funding will be used to further develop its product and expand market reach to help small businesses effectively expand their reach and automate customer interactions on WhatsApp. Founded in 2022, WANotifier helps businesses streamline marketing, customer engagement, and automation through WhatsApp, one of the fastest-growing communication channels for businesses globally. As an official Meta Tech Partner, WANotifier offers a unique approach with 0% API markup and flexible onboarding options; businesses can either use a managed embedded signup flow or configure the API directly with their own credentials. "We had applied to TinySeed earlier as well but got in this time, and I couldn't be happier," said Ram Shengale, Founder of WANotifier. "I've always admired TinySeed's mostly bootstrapped mindset toward building sustainable SaaS businesses. Being the only Indian company in this batch makes it even more special. The TinySeed network and mentors are extremely knowledgeable and friendly; you can ask highly specific questions and get actionable advice. That's one of the best parts of being part of this fund." The company plans to use the funding primarily for product development and marketing. "We're behind a few of our competitors in terms of features, so our first goal is to build a strong development team and reach feature parity," Shengale added. "At the same time, we'll focus on penetrating key market segments. Our philosophy is simple: help businesses market at scale on WhatsApp without adding to the inherent complexity of the API. Many providers build clunky, hard-to-use software; we're committed to delivering a clean, user-friendly experience for marketers and business owners." WANotifier currently serves thousands of businesses across various industries, with notable customers including BITS Pilani, Iskcon, Dog Home Foundation, Bvlgari Casablanca, Mega Events (UK), and others. Having completed most core features recently, the team is now accelerating marketing efforts to reach new markets. About WANotifier WANotifier Inc. is an all-in-one WhatsApp marketing SaaS tool for businesses, built on top of the official WhatsApp API. It helps businesses automate marketing, customer engagement, and transactional messaging on WhatsApp with an easy-to-use platform and flexible onboarding options. WANotifier is an official Meta Tech Partner. The company is headquartered in Dover, Delaware (USA), with its India team based in Pune, Maharashtra. About TinySeed TinySeed is a remote accelerator and early-stage investment fund that helps SaaS founders grow profitable, sustainable businesses. The Fall 2024 EMEA batch supports founders across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Media Contact: Ram Shengale Founder, WANotifier Inc. Email: contact@ Website:
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Northeast has more young population than rest of country: Meghalaya CM
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said that the northeast region has more young population than the rest of the country. Addressing the 5th Regional Catholic Youth Convention here on Friday he said, "The northeast is not just young it is younger than the rest of India". "This makes our youth not only our greatest strength but also our greatest challenge. How we nurture them will determine the destiny of Nagaland, Meghalaya, and the entire northeast," Sangma said. Emphasising the importance of purpose, goal-setting, and entrepreneurship among youth, he said that "without a goal, you could be working endlessly and achieving nothing." He said, "Reservation has made our youth complacent. We must compete not because we are guaranteed a seat, but because we can win it on merit." Calling for a cultural shift, Sangma urged the youth to believe in themselves and embrace entrepreneurship. "Why do we wait for others to start businesses in our states? Our youth should become the job creators," he said, citing his government's extensive startup and entrepreneurship initiatives in Meghalaya. Underscoring the urgency of youth empowerment, Sangma warned that an unchannelled youth population could become a liability rather than an asset. "The same youth who can build our region can also become a destructive force it all depends on how we guide them," he said. "Above all, be good human beings. No amount of power or success can replace humility, respect, and fear of the Lord," Sangma said. The convention is being organised by North Eastern Regional Youth Commission in collaboration with Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) North East and hosted by Nagaland Catholic Youth Movement.
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Altimetrik and SLK Software join forces to create an AI-First Engineering Services Powerhouse
PRNewswire Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], June 28: Altimetrik, a pure-play AI, Data and Digital engineering solutions company, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire SLK Software ("SLK"), a global technology services firm focused on delivering AI, intelligence automation and analytics solutions. The acquisition will further strengthen Altimetrik's end-to-end enablement services and expand its customer reach, with a clear path to accelerate towards Altimetrik's goal of reaching $1billion in annual revenue. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second half of 2025. Financial details were not disclosed. Founded in 2000, SLK is recognized as a leader in the tech industry, and for its commitment to create innovative digital solutions. This strategic acquisition will significantly enhance the scale of Altimetrik's capabilities, bringing together Altimetrik's AI-first, platform-native engineering model and SLK's full technology services stack that will further accelerate the journey towards modernizing enterprise platforms for its customers. Altimetrik is among the most evolved digital services providers with advanced data and digital engineering capabilities, a bite sized approach that creates high ROI client outcomes and exceptional track record of data and AI led deployments. Altimetrik will additionally leverage SLK's deep customer relationships, global operational footprint and complementary leadership talent to further deliver innovation-led value creation for customers. "In today's world, AI, and especially Generative AI and Machine Learning, is the engine that is driving true business value," said Raj Sundaresan, CEO of Altimetrik. "To enable an AI-First business a robust data cloud infrastructure that is grounded in product and platform engineering rigor is crucial. Our investment in SLK reflects our intention to deepen our commitment to customers who are looking for digital, AI-driven solutions that enable business value creation at unparalleled speed and scale. We are incredibly excited and look forward to welcoming SLK Software to the Altimetrik family." "This is not a traditional integration. It is a strategic acceleration," said Parth Amin, Founder & Chairman of SLK Software. "In Altimetrik, we've found a partner who shares our values of customer intimacy, people centricity, and a passion for innovation and agility. Together we will unlock greater capabilities for our clients while preserving the speed and responsiveness they trust us for." Upon the closing of the transaction, the combined entity will serve a global customer base of over 150 businesses that include Fortune 500 companies and some of the most innovative tech enterprises. It will also enable a partnership network that includes era-defining pioneers such as OpenAI, Amazon Web Services, Snowflake, and Databricks. Together, the business will employ over 10,000 professionals around the world to support customers who are in their digital transformation journey and are looking for innovative solutions to modernize legacy systems through leveraging data and AI, while ensuring world-class governance, compliance, and platform security. This includes organizations across diverse industries, from Financial Services & Payments to Pharma and Lifesciences, to Technology and Manufacturing. "Altimetrik and SLK coming together is a strategic leap for the industry," said Puneet Bhatia, Co-Managing Partner and Country Head, India of TPG Capital Asia and Board Member at Altimetrik. "This combination creates an AI-first digital engineering platform with the scale, leadership, and execution muscle to deliver meaningful outcomes across industries. With TPG's track record and experience in supporting enterprise tech businesses, we are proud to be able to support this next phase of growth and value creation." "This acquisition underscores TPG's investment thesis in technology services, which is indexed on backing strategic technology providers that are leading the data and AI transformation journey for customers, with differentiated business, pricing and delivery models," said Vivek Mohan, Business Unit Partner at TPG Capital Asia and Board Member at Altimetrik. Highlighting the breadth and depth of the combined business, Raj Vattikuti, Board Member and Founder of Altimetrik said, "Beyond combining capabilities, bringing together the two businesses is about scaling what we do best: solving real business problems with precision and speed. With SLK, we are expanding our ability to bring industry context, simplify complexity, and deliver AI-native transformation." Ajay Kumar, CEO of SLK Software added, "SLK's customer-first approach has led to building offerings powered by AI to deliver outstanding results for our clients. As a combined entity, SLK and Altimetrik are now set to unlock exceptional value and drive measurable impact at scale for our clients." Avendus Capital acted as the exclusive financial advisor to SLK Software. EY acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Altimetrik and TPG. About Altimetrik Altimetrik is a pure-play AI, Data, and Digital business services company. We focus on delivering business outcomes with an incremental, product-oriented approach. Our industry-first, proven digital business methodology provides a blueprint to develop, scale, and launch new products to market faster. Our team of 6,000+ practitioners with software, data, and cloud skills builds an agile engineering culture of collaboration and innovation that modernizes technology and builds new business models in bite-sized increments. As a strategic partner and catalyst, Altimetrik quickly delivers results without disruption. Recognized as a Major Contender in Everest Group's BFSI IT Services Specialists PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2025 and a Product Challenger in ISG Provider Lens™ 2024 for Advanced Analytics and AI Services, Altimetrik continues to lead the way in delivering cutting-edge digital transformation. Learn more at About SLK Software SLK Software is a global technology services provider focused on bringing AI, intelligent automation, and analytics together to create leading-edge technology solutions for our customers through a culture of partnership with them, led by an evolutionary mindset. For 25 years, we have helped organizations across diverse industries -- insurance providers, financial service organizations, investment management companies, and manufacturers -- reimagine their business and solve their present and future needs. Certified as a Great Place To Work®, we encourage an approach of constructively challenging the status quo in all that we do to enable peak business performance for our customers and for ourselves, through disruptive technologies, applied innovation, and purposeful automation. Find out how we help leading organizations reimagine their business at
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Universal Sompo Extends Insurance Coverage to Pets
NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 28: Universal Sompo experiences a high demand for Pet Assure, a comprehensive and customisable pet insurance product tailored to meet the evolving needs of India's growing community of pet parents. Urban India is witnessing a dramatic shift in pet ownership trends, driven largely by Millennials and Gen Z. Now pets are no longer just companions but cherished as family members. This cultural transformation has fuelled rising demand for structured, preventive, and tech-enabled pet care solutions, particularly in Tier 1 cities, and increasingly across Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions. Pet Assure has been designed to support this growing responsibility by offering extensive coverage for pet dogs and cats aged between 3 months and 10 years. The policy includes protection for routine outpatient consultations, diagnostics, surgeries, critical illnesses, accidental injuries, and third-party liabilities. Optional benefits further extend to coverage for terminal diseases, pregnancy-related complications, dental care, post-treatment recovery, theft or loss, emergency pet minding, and even cremation expenses. Customers can choose from flexible sum insured options ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 2,00,000, with policy tenures of one to three years. Premiums start at an affordable Rs. 1499 per annum, making pet insurance accessible to a broad range of pet parents across the country. "Pets today are cherished family members and deserve the same level of healthcare and financial protection. With Pet Assure, we've built one of the most inclusive and customisable pet insurance offerings in the market," said the Pet Parents Fraternity at Universal Sompo. "This is a step toward not only meeting a growing market demand but also fulfilling our commitment to holistic customer well-being." Real-life testimonials already speak to its value. Mr. Jagrit Joshi, a pet parent working as a Digital Activations Lead, shared, "As veterinary costs and pet ownership in Indian cities surge, pet insurance is transitioning from luxury to a necessity. My pet dog, Coco, was unwell and advised diagnostic tests. Ultrasound findings revealed crystal formation and a cyst in the prostate, for which he underwent surgery. The Pet Parent Fraternity at Universal Sompo stood in strong support throughout and ensured timely settlement of all claims expenses." As pet tele-health services gain popularity and veterinary care grows more advanced, Universal Sompo's commitment and pet insurance offering is a timely and responsible initiative. More than just a financial safeguard, Pet Assure is a step toward redefining pet care in India, ensuring pet parents have peace of mind and their furry family members receive the care they deserve.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
'What can be done if a friend rapes friend?' TMC leader on Kolkata gangrape
Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee has triggered outrage with his remarks on the rape of a 24-year-old law student at South Calcutta Law College. While speaking to reporters, Banerjee responded with comments deemed 'disgraceful' by the opposition BJP. "If a friend rapes a friend, how can you ensure security? If such an incident happens inside a college, do you expect police deployment for security in campus? Do you think educational institutes should have police presence?" he said. He further said, "Irrespective of the 'reclaim the night' or day campaigns, security is same everywhere. Unless the male members of society correct their mindset, such incidents will continue to occur. You [journalists] have political agenda, so you are here with boom mics. Security is not an issue." Terming the college administration as responsible for the incident, he said, "Security in campuses should be ensured by colleagues. But here it is colleagues raping colleagues. So, who bears the blame? Of course, the college administration must be held accountable. But the first fault lies with the perpetrators — fellow students who commit such heinous crimes. If former students are able to re-enter the campus and engage in unlawful activities, it points to some suspicious links.' Banerjee's comments are reminiscent of remarks made by late Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav in 2014 opposing capital punishment for rapists. At the time, Yadav had said, 'Ladke, ladke hain… galti ho jati hai' (boys will be boys… they commit mistakes). He had further claimed that girls become friends with boys but press rape charges after the friendship sours. Two years before that, in 2012, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had made similar remarks, saying rape cases were increasing in the country because men and women had greater freedom to interact. The survivor's allegations and police action The survivor, a first-year student, has alleged that she was gangraped inside a guard room adjacent to the student union office on campus. According to her police complaint, the accused — Monojit Mishra (31), a former student and practising lawyer, and two current students, Zaib Ahmed (19) and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20) — lured her into the room and locked her inside, NDTV reported. Mishra is also a leading youth leader of the TMC and was regularly seen on campus even after graduation. In her complaint, the woman said Mishra proposed to her but after she refused, he and two others forcibly took her to a guard room, undressed her and raped her. 'I touched his feet, but he didn't let me go,' she stated, according to NDTV. She alleged they demanded loyalty to the Trinamool student wing, threatened her and her family, filmed the assault, and attempted to injure her with a hockey stick. According to The Indian Express, a medical exam confirmed her injuries. All three accused were arrested and remanded to four-day custody after being picked up from different locations in Kolkata. Political fallout and BJP's response The case has quickly taken on political dimensions. The survivor identified Mishra as a former student leader with ties to the TMC's student wing. Her complaint described him as an 'unofficial head' of the student unit, someone others in the college listened to. Photographs of Mishra with senior TMC leaders, including MP Abhishek Banerjee and Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, have surfaced, prompting BJP leaders to accuse the ruling party of shielding the accused. Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, demanded accountability and announced statewide protests. 'This is a result of political protection for rapists,' he said. (With agency inputs)
