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  • Why Zithara AI Is Prioritising Kerala’s Jewellery Retail Sector 

    The retail AI company begins working with jewellery businesses in the state to support customer engagement and relationship management.

    Kerala’s jewellery retail sector has become the latest operating focus for Zithara AI, as the retail AI company begins working with jewellery businesses across the state to support customer engagement and long-term relationship management. The move signals Zithara AI’s intent to align its technology with sectors where trust, repeat purchases, and personal relationships play a central role in business outcomes.
    Kerala is widely recognised for its concentration of established jewellery retailers and a customer base that places high value on service continuity and long-term association. Zithara AI’s expansion into the state is structured around these characteristics, with its platform designed to integrate into existing retail operations rather than replace them.

    At the core of the company’s offering is an AI-native retail system built on a composable infrastructure. The platform includes a proprietary AI CRM designed specifically for retail use, along with web and mobile toolkits, predictive analytics through its sales intelligence module, and a Model Context Protocol server that enables data-driven decision-making across customer touchpoints. Together, these components are positioned as an intelligence layer that works alongside current point-of-sale and customer management systems.
    According to Varun Kashyap, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Zithara AI, jewellery retail differs from other categories due to the emotional and milestone-driven nature of purchases. He said the company has adapted its platform to help retailers manage customer relationships more systematically while maintaining the personal element that defines the segment.

    The system allows retailers to analyse purchase histories, track customer preferences, and identify key occasions such as anniversaries, festivals, and family milestones. These insights are used to support timely and personalised communication, helping stores remain relevant to customers beyond individual transactions.
    Sridevi Reddy, Co-founder and Director at Zithara AI, noted that Kerala’s jewellery market combines traditional service practices with a growing openness to digital tools. She said the company plans to use Kochi as an operational hub to work closely with retailers across the state, supporting adoption and ongoing usage of the platform.

    In addition to customer intelligence, the platform includes features for loyalty management and automated engagement. Retailers can set up structured programmes to reward repeat customers and manage communication through channels commonly used by their clientele, including WhatsApp. This approach is intended to support consistent engagement without adding operational complexity for store teams.
    Zithara AI’s entry into Kerala forms part of its broader effort to support offline retail businesses with AI-driven tools that prioritise usability and relevance. Founded in 2021 in Hyderabad, the company focuses on equipping retailers across categories with technology designed to improve sales effectiveness, customer understanding, and long-term retention.

    The company indicated that its work with jewellery retailers in Kerala will serve as a reference point for similar relationship-led retail segments in other regions.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTub
  • Franchise-led expansion moves to the forefront as HomeLane’s franchise model begins to scale 

    After closing FY25 with improving unit economics, the interiors platform plans a 100-store franchise rollout across metros and emerging cities

    A franchise-led expansion strategy has moved to the forefront at HomeLane as the company closes FY25 with improving unit economics and outlines plans to add 100 new franchise stores over the next 12 months. The development follows a year in which the interiors platform recorded steady revenue growth and reached an operational turning point.
    For the financial year ended March 2025, HomeLane reported revenue of ₹756 crore, reflecting 22 percent year-on-year growth. The company also turned EBITDA positive in the fourth quarter, marking a key milestone after several years of investment-led expansion. Management views this phase as a transition from rapid market entry to disciplined scale built around predictable execution and cost control.

    Central to this shift is HomeLane’s franchise-led operating model. The company currently runs its network through two formats: Franchise-Owned, Company-Operated (FOCO) stores, and the more recently introduced Franchise-Owned, Franchise-Operated (FOFO) model. Together, these formats have enabled HomeLane to expand its presence across more than 40 cities, balancing standardisation with local execution.
    During 2025, the company completed over 55,000 home interior projects nationwide, averaging close to 30 installations per day. Its footprint spans major metropolitan markets such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi-NCR, as well as emerging centres including Siliguri, Jaipur, and Kochi. According to the company, the franchise model has played a key role in extending reach beyond metros while maintaining delivery timelines and cost predictability.

    Commenting on the company’s direction, Srikanth Iyer, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of HomeLane, said the progress made in FY25 has laid the foundation for the next stage of growth. He noted that expanding the franchise network, alongside investments in operational systems, has helped bring technology-enabled interior solutions to a wider base of homeowners. Looking ahead to 2026, the focus remains on deepening presence in high-potential urban clusters while continuing to scale in fast-growing Tier II and Tier III markets.
    HomeLane’s operating model is underpinned by SpaceCraft, its proprietary AI-driven design and planning platform. The system integrates machine learning with 3D visualisation to enable real-time pricing, automated planning, and faster decision-making for both designers and customers. The platform is designed to ensure coordination across the entire workflow, from design finalisation to manufacturing and on-site execution.

    The company’s supply-side control is supported by a curated catalogue of more than 160 laminate finishes and its private-label product lines, including Tyrox hardware and Hydroguard Plus boards. These elements, according to the company, are intended to reduce variability in quality and timelines as the franchise network scales.

    In 2025, HomeLane also completed the acquisition of DesignCafe, strengthening its position in the organised home interiors segment. Financially, the combined entity reported an improvement in fundamentals, with consolidated net losses narrowing to ₹80 crore in FY25 from ₹121.7 crore in the previous year. EBITDA losses also reduced to -9.9 percent from -15 percent, reflecting tighter unit economics.
    The company raised ₹225 crore in fresh capital in 2024 to support consolidation efforts and long-term growth initiatives. Management has indicated that this capital, along with the asset-light franchise model, provides sufficient runway to expand the store network while continuing to improve profitability metrics.

    Looking ahead to FY26, HomeLane plans to focus on strengthening its franchise base in established urban clusters such as Mumbai and the National Capital Region, while accelerating expansion into Tier II and Tier III cities where demand for branded, end-to-end interior solutions is increasing. The company aims to move closer to full-year profitability by maintaining discipline on costs, execution timelines, and partner performance.

    As India’s home interiors market gradually shifts from fragmented, unorganised players to branded and technology-driven platforms, HomeLane enters the next financial year focused on consolidation, franchise-led scale, and operational stability, positioning the business for its next phase of growth.
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  • December 31 Becomes a Milestone Date for Amity Global School Noida 

    Amity Global School Noida brought students, faculty, and staff together through cultural and co-curricular activities.

    December 31 marked a milestone for Amity Global School Noida as the institution held its first Founder’s Day on campus. The programme brought together students, faculty members, and staff for a series of planned academic and cultural activities, establishing the occasion as a formal addition to the school’s calendar.
    The day’s schedule focused on student participation through curated cultural and co-curricular segments. Performances included classical and contemporary dance presentations designed around themes drawn from Indian cultural traditions. These were complemented by student speeches, assemblies, and presentations prepared across different grade levels, allowing students to contribute in multiple formats.

    Faculty members coordinated the programme to ensure representation across age groups and disciplines. The activities were structured to emphasise expression, collaboration, and stage confidence rather than competitive performance. According to organisers, the intent was to create a shared institutional moment rather than a showcase-led event.
    Addressing the school community, Anita Paul, Principal of Amity Global School Noida, spoke about the relevance of Founder’s Day within an academic setting. She noted that the occasion offered an opportunity to revisit the principles on which the institution was established and to reaffirm the school’s approach to education beyond classroom instruction.

    Throughout the programme, faculty members highlighted the role of education in shaping well-rounded individuals, with emphasis placed on values, cultural awareness, and social responsibility alongside academic learning. The Founder’s Day activities were positioned as part of the school’s broader effort to integrate cultural literacy and ethical grounding into everyday school life.

    The event concluded with collective participation from students and staff, signalling the close of the school’s year-end activities. School officials indicated that Founder’s Day will continue as an annual observance, forming part of the institution’s long-term academic and cultural planning.

    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTub

  • An international audit puts Red FM’s regional playbook under the spotlight 

    The American Quality Council certifies the network’s Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan operations for quality and innovation standards

    An international audit has brought regional radio operations into focus as 93.5 Red FM’s Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan stations receive certification from the American Quality Council. The assessment recognises the network’s quality systems, management practices, and approach to innovation within the media and entertainment sector.
    The certification follows an evaluation of Red FM’s operational frameworks, particularly its ability to deliver structured yet creative brand solutions across B2C and BTL activations. The audit examined how the network integrates technology, content formats, and audience engagement models while maintaining consistency with international compliance and quality benchmarks.

    The recognition was formally presented by Santosh Shukla, Chief Executive Officer of the American Quality Council. According to the certifying body, Red FM’s regional operations demonstrated a strong emphasis on audience-centric programming, execution discipline, and innovation-led thinking, particularly in experiential radio and on-ground engagement formats.
    Commenting on the certification, Nisha Narayanan, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Red FM, said the recognition reflects the network’s sustained focus on quality and listener relevance. She noted that Red FM’s teams continue to work towards building content and brand solutions that go beyond entertainment, while remaining grounded in responsibility and relevance across local markets.

    Over the years, Red FM has received multiple national and international recognitions for its work across radio programming, brand activation, and social impact initiatives. The network has been awarded Golden Mic Awards for radio and on-ground campaigns, AFAQ Media Brand Awards for brand activation and digital innovation, and ACEF Global Customer Engagement Awards for mobile and digital effectiveness.
    One of its most widely recognised initiatives, Kabaad Se Jugaad, has received global attention, winning a New York Award and securing a place in the Limca Book of Records. Red FM’s content-led work has also been acknowledged at the E4M Indian Content Marketing Awards and the India Audio Summit and Awards, particularly for regional podcasting and purpose-driven communication.

    The American Quality Council is an autonomous certifying body headquartered in Seattle, Washington, providing independent evaluation and certification services across products, services, and management practices. Operating separately from government-linked accreditation systems, the organisation has, in recent years, certified Indian institutions and companies across media, education, aviation, information technology, and consulting.
    Red FM operates one of the country’s largest private FM networks, with a significant regional footprint and a strong focus on hyper-local content. Beyond radio broadcasting, the network is active across podcasts, digital formats, on-ground events, and independent music, positioning its regional stations as platforms for expression, community engagement, and experiential storytelling.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTub
  • DotMe brings in external counsel as it prepares for its next growth chapter

    Sagar Nair steps into a strategic advisory role to guide product, monetisation, and ecosystem partnerships

    As DotMe prepares for its next phase of growth, the platform has brought in external strategic counsel to support its evolving product and monetisation roadmap. DotMe has engaged Sagar Nair in a strategic advisory role, marking a step toward strengthening leadership input as the company scales.
    Nair will work closely with DotMe’s leadership team to guide strategic growth initiatives, advise on product direction and monetisation frameworks, and help strengthen ecosystem partnerships. The move follows DotMe’s recent association with Nikhil Chinapa, as the platform deepens its engagement with creators and culture-led communities.

    DotMe operates as a link-in-bio and creator monetisation platform, allowing creators, businesses, and professionals to consolidate content, connect platforms, track performance, and monetise through a single, customisable digital link. As creator-led businesses grow more complex, the platform is positioning itself as infrastructure that supports ownership, data visibility, and commercial clarity.
    Nair brings experience across gaming, consumer technology, and interactive media. He is the co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Qlan, a gamer-first community platform focused on user acquisition, retention, and monetisation. During his tenure, Qlan raised pre-seed funding, expanded into international markets, and tested early monetisation use cases.

    He currently serves as Head of Incubation and Initiatives at ChimeraVC, where he leads LVL Zero, an incubator supporting early-stage gaming founders across India. His advisory role at DotMe draws on this background in building and scaling digital communities.
    Commenting on the role, Nair said the creator economy continues to expand, but monetisation and ownership remain fragmented across platforms. He noted that DotMe’s approach of combining simplicity with data capabilities enables creators and businesses to better understand their audiences, validate value through measurable metrics, and maintain greater control over growth.

    Harsh Vijaykumar, co-founder of DotMe, said Nair’s experience in scaling digital communities with a focus on monetisation aligns closely with the company’s current priorities. He added that as DotMe enters its next growth phase, the advisory support is intended to strengthen strategic decision-making around product and ecosystem development.
    DotMe has seen increasing adoption among creators across entertainment and digital culture, with names such as Prince Narula, Hamid Barkzi, and Ashish Bhatia shifting their link-in-bio tools to the platform. The company is positioning itself as a data-driven alternative within a segment dominated by global incumbents.

    Founded by Harsh Vijaykumar along with co-founders Ajay Ghanti, Pranay Jain, and Akshay ND, DotMe reports over 100,000 unique monthly users. The platform raised USD 150,000 in funding in March 2025 in a round led by Mirza L. Baig, as it continues to invest in platform capabilities and creator–brand engagement.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTub

  • A dual mandate emerges at Cosmo First as Zigly leadership expands 

    Saurabh Jain takes on oversight of the pet care business and corporate development functions

    A dual mandate has taken shape at Cosmo First as the group expands leadership responsibility across its pet care and corporate strategy functions. Saurabh Jain has taken charge as Chief Executive Officer of the company’s pet care division, Zigly, while also assuming responsibility for corporate development at the group level.
    In his role at Zigly, Jain will oversee business expansion and guide the next phase of growth for the pet care vertical. Alongside this, his corporate development mandate will include driving strategic initiatives across Cosmo First, with a focus on long-term growth planning and the evaluation of potential mergers or acquisitions.

    Jain will work closely with Pankaj Poddar, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cosmo First, and Neeraj Jain, Group Chief Financial Officer, as the company aligns leadership oversight across business development and strategy.
    Commenting on the leadership change, Pankaj Poddar said the group sees value in Jain’s ability to manage complex assignments across different business environments. He noted that Jain’s experience and leadership approach are expected to contribute meaningfully to Cosmo First’s long-term objectives.

    Jain brings over sixteen years of experience spanning the packaging films sector, investment banking, and corporate strategy. Prior to joining Cosmo First, he served as Global Chief Executive Officer for overseas business at Jindal Films, and has previously been associated with organisations including SB Packaging, Wodehouse Capital, Religare Capital Markets, and Jaypee Capital.
    Speaking on his expanded role, Jain said he looks forward to contributing to Cosmo First’s long-term strategic goals by drawing on his experience across industries. He added that the opportunity to work across both operational and corporate development functions presents a platform to support sustainable growth across the group.

    Jain holds a master’s degree in business administration from Faculty of Management Studies Delhi and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Delhi College of Engineering.
    Cosmo First operates across multiple business segments including films, sheets and containers, pet care, consumer products, and specialty chemicals. The alignment of leadership responsibilities across Zigly and corporate development reflects the group’s focus on integrating operational growth with long-term strategic planning.

    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTub

  • How Troop Messenger is weaving AI into everyday enterprise conversations 

    With AI Smart Responses and Instant File Summaries now live across mobile, desktop, and web, founder and CEO Sudhir Naidu outlines how the platform is reducing response time and document friction for enterprise and government teams while keeping data control intact

    As enterprises look to integrate artificial intelligence into daily workflows, the question is no longer about novelty, but about control. Troop Messenger, a secure internal messaging and collaboration platform, has begun embedding AI directly into routine team conversations, focusing on speed and clarity without shifting users outside enterprise boundaries.
    The latest update introduces two AI-driven capabilities: AI Smart Responses and Instant File Summaries. Both are designed to operate within the chat interface itself, addressing two common friction points in enterprise communication, delayed responses and time spent opening and reviewing shared documents. The features are available across Android, iOS, desktop, and web versions of the platform.

    AI Smart Responses appear contextually within conversations, offering suggested replies based on incoming messages. The prompts are optional and editable, allowing users to respond faster when needed while retaining full control over what is sent. The intent, according to the company, is not automation for its own sake, but assistance that reduces routine effort without changing how teams communicate.
    Instant File Summaries address another frequent bottleneck. When documents are shared in chat, users can view concise summaries directly within the conversation, without opening the file. The summaries extract key points and provide enough context for teams to understand relevance quickly, particularly useful for reports, proposals, and technical notes exchanged in fast-moving environments.

    Both features have been built with enterprise governance in mind. They can be enabled or disabled based on organisational policies, and operate entirely within Troop Messenger’s secure infrastructure. Files remain protected within the platform, with no external processing that could compromise data sovereignty.
    In a market dominated by platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Slack, Troop Messenger is positioning itself differently. Rather than layering AI as a separate workflow, the platform is moving toward what it describes as an agentic, AI-native collaboration model, where automation, security, and compliance are integrated into everyday operations.

    Speaking about the approach, Sudhir Naidu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Troop Messenger, said the focus has remained on addressing real communication challenges faced by enterprise and government teams. He noted that the new AI capabilities are intended to reduce everyday friction while maintaining strict control over data and security, particularly for organisations operating in regulated environments.
    Troop Messenger is built as a fully Indian, Make-in-India platform, with features such as end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, SAML-based single sign-on, and extensive administrative controls. It supports both hosted SaaS and fully self-hosted, on-premise deployments, making it suitable for defence, government, and large enterprise use cases where data residency and compliance are critical.
    The platform already includes messaging, voice and video calling, screen sharing, and workflow integrations through REST APIs and automation tools. The addition of AI Smart Responses and File Summaries marks a shift from feature expansion to workflow optimisation, where small time savings compound across large teams.
    According to the company, further AI capabilities are under development as part of a broader roadmap. The emphasis, however, remains consistent: AI should serve operational needs without introducing opacity, dependency, or loss of control.
    As enterprises evaluate how much intelligence to bring into collaboration tools, Troop Messenger’s approach reflects a growing preference for AI that works quietly in the background, improving efficiency while staying firmly within the boundaries of trust, security, and compliance.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTub

  • Annual Flower Show Held at Central Park Residential Projects in Gurugram 

    The event was held at Central Park Resorts and Central Park Flower Valley, with remarks from Vikram Singh and Neeraj Gupta.

    An annual flower show was held at residential developments in Gurugram, with events organised across Central Park’s Central Park Resorts and Central Park Flower Valley. The programme brought together residents from both locations for a series of scheduled activities centred on seasonal floral displays and community participation.
    The event featured curated winter plant varieties, including chrysanthemums, spider pompons, daisies, and other seasonal flowers arranged across landscaped areas within the two residential projects. Designated zones and pathways were prepared to accommodate resident movement and viewing, with installations positioned across common areas at both sites.

    Proceedings opened with a lamp-lighting ceremony led by senior citizen residents, followed by a sequence of live musical performances. Over the course of the programme, residents participated in a range of organised activities that included children’s art sessions, sustainability-themed games, a community fashion presentation, Christmas tree decoration exercises, talent showcases, live singing segments, and DJ-led evening gatherings. Food services were provided on-site through St. Jerome, the in-house hospitality vertical associated with the Central Park developments.
    According to organisers, the programme was designed to be resident-led, with participation from multiple age groups across both communities. Activities were scheduled across different time slots to allow residents from Central Park Resorts and Central Park Flower Valley to attend without overlap or congestion.

    Speaking during the event, Vikram Singh, President at Central Park, said the flower show has become a recurring community programme within the organisation’s residential developments. He noted that the initiative aligns with the company’s approach to maintaining shared spaces that combine landscaping, design planning, and resident interaction.

    Neeraj Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, also addressed residents during the programme. He stated that community-focused initiatives play a role in encouraging regular interaction among residents and supporting shared responsibility within large residential townships.
    Organisers confirmed that the flower show is intended to remain an annual fixture across Central Park’s residential properties. Planning for future editions will continue to involve resident participation and on-site programming linked to seasonal landscaping cycles.

    Central Park Resorts and Central Park Flower Valley are part of the developer’s larger residential portfolio in Gurugram. The completion of the flower show programme marked the close of the year-end community calendar at both locations.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTub