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  • Morepen Labs FY25: 17 Percent EPS Growth, 40 Million Glucometers, and 600 Million Test Strips Signal Global Health Push

    For Morepen Laboratories Ltd., FY25 was not only about sustaining growth. It was about setting the stage for the next phase of its expansion. The company’s investor presentation revealed clear signs of progress across all verticals including medical devices, APIs, and branded formulations.

    The company reported a 17 percent year-on-year growth in earnings per share (EPS), supported by significant operational scaling. Morepen Labs has now ramped up glucometer production to 40 million units annually, with test strip capacity projected at 600 million strips each year. The installed base of glucometers stands at 14 million units, establishing its leadership in the diabetes monitoring space across India and beyond.
    Morepen has announced strategic expansion plans targeting the United States and Middle East markets, reinforcing its global outlook. The company is already a recognized market leader in six active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and holds the top spot in the Indian market for glucose and blood pressure monitors.

    The pharmaceutical division showed 19 percent revenue growth over a three-year period, with major launches during FY25 including Sitagliptin, Apixaban, and Resmetirom. Upcoming pipeline drugs include Baricitinib and Tafamidis. These launches reflect a focus on chronic and high-growth therapeutic areas, backed by in-house development.
    The company’s API export revenue now makes up 72 percent of its total API business, marking it as a consistent foreign exchange earner and a trusted global supplier. India is already one of the world’s largest producers of generic APIs, and Morepen continues to consolidate its position within this strategic category.

    In distribution, Morepen operates through 5,300 distributors and reaches 343,000 retail touchpoints across India. This wide footprint is one of the reasons for its ability to scale both health devices and over-the-counter wellness products effectively.
    Awards presented to the company in 2024, including ‘Best Healthcare Company’ and ‘Visionary Entrepreneur’ for its leadership, validate its positioning as a trusted innovator in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics ecosystem.
    Beyond numbers, Morepen Labs’ FY25 narrative is about long-term preparation. The company is not only scaling up manufacturing. It is shaping an integrated healthcare model across diagnostics, APIs, branded pharmaceuticals, and future digital offerings.

    Its medical devices segment remains a consistent growth engine. With over 14 million glucometers already installed across households and clinics, and a capacity of 600 million test strips each year, the company has become one of the most trusted names in personal diagnostics. These devices are not just tools. They are daily touchpoints for patients managing chronic conditions, especially diabetes and hypertension.
    Morepen’s global strategy now points clearly toward the United States and the Middle East. These markets are actively adopting connected diagnostics and chronic care solutions. With a track record in manufacturing and exports, and more than 70 percent of its API business already coming from overseas sales, the company appears ready to take a wider step into regulated international markets.

    In its pharmaceutical business, Morepen has shown that therapeutic value and affordability can move in parallel. The recent launches of Sitagliptin, Apixaban, and Resmetirom are targeted at long-term conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular risk, and liver disease. Under development, the company has Baricitinib and Tafamidis, both aimed at complex or underserved treatment areas. These efforts reflect a broader pharmaceutical trend in India, where companies like Morepen are building their own R&D momentum rather than simply licensing generic volumes.
    Digital health remains a forward-looking category. While not yet commercialised at scale, the company has indicated that digital integration with diagnostics will play a role in its roadmap. Patient data, adherence tracking, and device-led engagement are likely to become central to how its devices connect with consumers. In time, this may support new collaborations with digital platforms and telehealth providers across India and its new international markets.

    With over 5,300 distribution partners and 343,000 retail points of sale, Morepen’s domestic strength continues to anchor its physical presence. Its wellness and OTC range has also benefited from this reach, reinforcing its role in preventive care, not just treatment.
    Morepen’s recognition in 2024 with two national honours, Best Healthcare Company and Visionary Entrepreneur, reflects how the company is perceived within the industry. But beyond perception, it is the consistency of execution that sets it apart.
    At Prittle Prattle News, our focus is always on what lies behind the press note. With editorial leadership from Smruti Bhalerao, this report views Morepen’s FY25 not just as a financial chapter, but as a strategic map. From factories to pharmacies, and from India to the global stage, Morepen Labs continues to grow in steps that are steady, evidence-backed, and aligned with the country’s healthcare future.
    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 YouTube.

  • Kotak Life, Wondrlab, Mahindra Tractors, Morepen, Blue Tribe, and BML Lead India’s Top Mother’s Day 2025 Brand Campaigns

    From Kotak Life’s Viraasat and Wondrlab’s Mom, the Original Influencer to Morepen’s Glow On, Mom!, Blue Tribe’s Plant-Powered Mothers, Mahindra Tractors’ Maa Kehti Hai, and BML Munjal University’s She Taught Me First, these campaigns spotlight the strength, wisdom, and legacy of Indian mothers in 2025

    In Mumbai, Kotak Life Insurance partnered with Wondrlab to create a film titled Ma Ki Di Hui Viraasat. The campaign quietly observes what mothers leave behind through routine acts, not grand gestures. It highlights how unspoken lessons shape identity. Ashish Nair, CMO at Kotak Life, described the campaign as a reflection of values passed from one generation to the next. Creators Rahul Chandwani and Bhavesh Kosambia called it a nostalgic process that reconnected them with their own childhoods.


    In Gurugram, BML Munjal University released a self-shot film titled She Taught Me First. The video featured students and faculty sharing personal messages about the earliest lessons they received from their mothers. Shadan Raza Ahmed, Head of People and Culture at the university, said the initiative reflected the university’s commitment to values-based education. The film was built around authenticity, reminding viewers that learning begins at home, long before any classroom.

    In Bengaluru, Mahindra Tractors launched Ashwamedh, a flagship project within its national campaign Rag Rag Laal Hai. The initiative involved a convoy of six red Mahindra tractors starting from Nagpur and travelling across India. They stopped at over 500 dealerships and farming communities, thanking the people who keep India’s fields alive. Hemant Sikka, President of the Farm Equipment Sector, described it as a campaign rooted in emotion, celebrating not just machines but the families and mothers who support farmers every day.

    Morepen Laboratories contributed a wellness-focused tribute. The company spotlighted key products including Omega capsules, multivitamins, biotin, and marine collagen. Nitika Saini, from the communications team, explained that the campaign was about nurturing mothers through science-backed support. It was not a commercial pitch. It was a message that health is an expression of care and that mothers must also be cared for with intention.
    In Mumbai again, Blue Tribe Foods hosted a Mother’s Day event in partnership with AVI Smart Park. The experience was led by Nikki Arora Singh, Co-founder of the plant-based food brand. Children and their mothers explored sustainable eating through puppet shows, live tastings, and educational games. Instead of preaching sustainability, the brand demonstrated how simple changes in diet can help both people and the planet. The guests sampled soya chaap, sweet potato fries, nuggets, and plant-based kebabs while learning how conscious eating fits naturally into family life.

    These five campaigns offered different expressions of the same truth. That motherhood is legacy, nurturing, resilience, nourishment, and vision. And that honoring it is not about clichés. It is about commitment.
    Prittle Prattle News, under the editorial leadership of Smruti Bhalerao, continues to spotlight brands and communities who move beyond marketing to make meaning.
    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 YouTube.

  • Habson Communication Shines at ACEF 2025 With Eight Awards for Purpose-Led Campaigns

    Recognition across innovation, CSR, and data-driven marketing underscores the agency’s growing leadership in Asia’s customer engagement space

     At the 14th edition of the ACEF Global Customer Engagement Awards, Habson Communication and its digital wing Living Brands delivered a breakout performance, collecting eight awards across categories ranging from innovation to CSR excellence. These wins position the agency among South Asia’s most strategically relevant marketing firms in 2025.
    One of the most celebrated campaigns was Hygiene for All, Power for Her, created for personal care brand Harpoon. It won five awards, including two Golds for Creative Word of Mouth Marketing and Effective BTL Activity, as well as three Silvers in Effective Word of Mouth, Technology Integration, and CSR. The campaign centered around equitable access to hygiene products while promoting women’s empowerment. With live activations, storytelling, and measurable impact, it was seen by jurors as a model for brands integrating social values into commercial narratives.

    Habson also earned recognition for its campaign Poribeshbandhob Ranna, Shurokkhito Bhobisshot, executed for Walton Home & Kitchen Appliance. This kitchen-focused initiative was rooted in ecological sustainability and smart cooking solutions. It secured two Silver awards for Market Research and Experiential Marketing. The campaign was lauded for translating complex consumer data into immersive on-ground experiences that resonated across urban and regional markets. A third campaign, Smartly Kori Nijer Kaaj, also by Walton, earned a Bronze for its nuanced take on personal productivity through smart home solutions.
    The ACEF Global Customer Engagement Awards are considered one of Asia’s most credible platforms for evaluating innovation in branding and consumer connection. With participants from India, Sri Lanka, UAE, and Bangladesh, the awards reflect benchmarks in measurable impact and storytelling efficiency.

    The 2025 edition of the summit operated under the theme of strategy meeting innovation. Each of Habson’s awarded campaigns reflected that balance, with data-fueled execution backed by human insights. Whether through digital platforms, grassroots outreach, or experiential immersion, the agency demonstrated a deep understanding of purpose-driven marketing.Speaking after the summit, Habib Rahman, Curator at Habson Communication, explained that the agency prioritizes relevance over volume. He noted that the next generation of brand audiences is drawn to authenticity, and that Habson’s creative philosophy is to produce communication that not only informs, but transforms. The wins validate this ethos and further signal the agency’s intent to lead with responsibility and resonance.

    With an expanding client base, an award-winning digital unit, and campaigns grounded in real-world relevance, Habson is solidifying its role as a creative agency that blends purpose with precision. Its success at ACEF 2025 confirms that brands today require more than visibility. They need meaning.
    This feature is published by Prittle Prattle News, featuring you virtuously, under the editorial leadership of Smruti Bhalerao.
    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 YouTube.

  • India’s Zebu Raises $1M to Deliver Next-Gen Military Drones with Indigenous Capabilities

    Hyderabad-based defense-tech startup backed by Bluehill VC to accelerate production and deployment of four unmanned systems for armed forces

    Zebu Intelligent Systems, a rapidly emerging name in India’s defense innovation landscape, has secured $1 million in pre-Series A funding. The round was led by Bluehill VC, a Chennai-based venture capital firm focused on deep-tech investments. The funding will be used to fast-track the production and deployment of four indigenous unmanned aerial systems (UAVs) developed by the company for various divisions of the Indian armed forces.
    Founded in Hyderabad in 2021 by Santosh Balajee Banisetty, a Ph.D. in Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Zebu has grown into a vertically integrated defense-tech company. It specializes in AI-enabled UAVs designed for both combat and surveillance applications. Its portfolio includes systems for the Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, and Army border regiments. Each system is tailored to meet specific use-case scenarios and battlefield demands.

    One of Zebu’s flagship developments is a net-capture drone designed to neutralize hostile UAVs mid-air using a six-cartridge mechanism. This system, currently undergoing radar integration tests, has been engineered to trap unauthorized drones without collateral damage. For coastal applications, Zebu has built a search and rescue UAV capable of withstanding high-wind and water immersion conditions, with built-in AI for return-to-base operations. The company’s third offering is a swarm-enabled combat drone developed for the air force, equipped to execute coordinated strikes. Finally, Zebu has designed a tethered aerial surveillance platform for the Army, capable of delivering live border intelligence in continuous operations.The company’s fully indigenous manufacturing model has allowed it to develop all key components, including electronic speed controllers, camera gimbals, custom battery packs, and a mission-grade ground control station (GCS). Its GCS platform has already been tested in live operations with the Coast Guard and is slated to replace foreign-imported command systems currently in use

    Zebu’s work aligns directly with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It has filed seven patents, secured two trademarks, and is actively scaling its IP portfolio with new subsystems and mission software. In 2024, the company was awarded a Guinness World Record for achieving the longest drone endurance in the under-5kg category.
    The $1 million raised will support Zebu’s next set of field deployments and initiate production of its UAVs at scale. The startup is also preparing for a $5 million Series A round to expand internationally, with key export markets identified in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
    Investor Sridhar Parthasarathi, General Partner at Bluehill VC, said the company represents a significant opportunity in a global counter-drone market projected to cross $11 billion by 2030. He added that India’s defense ecosystem benefits tremendously from such ground-up platforms built by domestic engineers and field-tested on Indian soil.

    Zebu’s impact is not limited to defense. The company has already commercialized its battery packs and GCS systems for industrial drone inspections, unmanned logistics, and large-area mapping. Several Indian and US-based OEMs are currently piloting Zebu’s subsystems for civilian applications. Its dual-use strategy gives it a path to scale both within and beyond government contracts.
    The founder, Santosh Balajee, emphasized that sovereign defense technology is no longer optional, but foundational. He said the goal is to ensure India’s defense modernization is driven by local innovation, reducing dependency on imports and strengthening national security. Zebu’s ongoing hiring of a Chief Business Officer and domain experts in procurement and systems integration further signals the company’s intention to scale across defense and enterprise sectors.
    Zebu now stands among India’s most promising hardware-first defense startups, focused not only on product development but also on ecosystem building. Its technology roadmap, grounded in indigenization, is designed to deliver scalable solutions for both military operations and commercial drone markets. With this round of funding, Zebu enters a phase of operational maturity, ready to export India’s next-generation unmanned systems to global theaters.
    This exclusive editorial is published by Prittle Prattle News under the editorial direction of Smruti Bhalerao, featuring you virtuously.
    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 YouTube.

  • Shri Nitin Gadkari Inaugurates Heartfulness and PayPal’s Biochar Centre Empowering Rural Entrepreneurs Across India

    Kanha Shanti Vanam hosts landmark training model for biochar production, income generation, and ecological revival

    In the presence of farmers, environmental experts, and grassroots volunteers, Shri Nitin Gadkari formally inaugurated a new Biochar Centre of Excellence at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the global headquarters of the Heartfulness Institute located near Hyderabad. The initiative has been developed in partnership with PayPal, and its stated purpose is to train village-based entrepreneurs in sustainable farming and rural enterprise using biochar techniques.
    Shri Gadkari addressed the gathering with a message focused on agricultural reform and inclusive rural growth. “Our farmer communities need tools and platforms that work for their soil, their weather, and their village economy. This collaboration is about practical knowledge. Biochar is not just a product. It is a way to rethink farming so that we don’t damage the land while trying to grow from it,” he said.

    The centre is the result of long-term planning between Heartfulness trainers and PayPal’s social innovation team. The program is aimed at training rural youth and women in how to set up and operate small biochar production units. The focus is on enabling them to convert local crop residue into usable biochar and deliver it to nearby farms. Biochar, a byproduct of biomass pyrolysis, is known to improve soil fertility and water retention while also reducing the carbon footprint of farming.
    Shri Kamesh Patel, also known as Daaji, welcomed the minister and guests to Kanha Shanti Vanam and explained the evolution of the project. “We have worked with scientists and farmers on the ground. What started as an internal experiment in restoring dry land has now become something we can share. Biochar changed our plantations here. It can do the same for fields in every district if training is done well,” he said.

    The training curriculum at the new facility is entirely hands-on. Trainees walk through the biochar process using field-scale demonstration pits and work with instructors to apply the resulting material to test plots. The goal is to teach participants how soil quality, crop yield, and water usage respond to biochar in real conditions. It also covers how to market biochar locally, including cost, volume, and transport models that have already worked at the pilot stage in Telangana.
    The centre’s programs will run year-round and are structured in cohorts. Instructors come from agro-forestry backgrounds and include members of the Heartfulness ‘Forests by Heartfulness’ (FBH) unit. The facility is connected to FBH’s larger reforestation program, which is working toward planting 30 million trees using native species by 2030.

    Shri Nath Parameshwaran, Senior Director at PayPal India, was present for the launch and spoke about the company’s role. “Our contribution is to support the infrastructure and ensure the program is scaled beyond one centre. The Heartfulness team has the process. Our role is to bring in our skilling networks, tech partners, and make sure rural youth have access to real economic outcomes through this,” he said.
    Farmers from Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat who participated in early trials of biochar shared their experiences at the event. One cotton farmer, who applied the method in the previous season, reported a 27% increase in yield and noted that water usage had decreased due to the improved soil structure. Another participant from Gujarat highlighted fewer pest issues and better early germination rates.

    The broader impact of the initiative includes reducing the harmful practice of stubble burning. India produces over 600 million tons of farm residue each year, of which nearly 160 million tons are currently burned. Biochar production offers a clear alternative by converting this biomass into a high-value input that can stay in the soil for centuries.
    Kanha Shanti Vanam has already used this process across 200 acres of land that was previously uncultivable. The enriched plots now host medicinal gardens, native flowering trees, and herbal plantations. Birds and reptiles that disappeared decades ago have returned, and the area has begun to attract botany students from agricultural colleges in South India.
    This centre is one of the few in the country where science and community come together on the same soil. There are no virtual classrooms or online lectures. Everything is physical, direct, and run by experienced trainers who have already built and used the systems themselves.

    The organisers stated that 40 new rural entrepreneurs would be trained in the first cohort, with plans to scale that number to over 500 per year through regional partnerships. Scholarships for women and tribal entrepreneurs are being finalized, and several self-help groups from Andhra Pradesh have already signed up.
    The Centre of Excellence is expected to serve as a template for replication. Talks are underway with institutions in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu to establish similar facilities. Heartfulness has also opened discussions with agriculture extension officers in three states to integrate biochar modules into state-run rural skilling programs.
    As the day ended, village leaders walked away with sample biochar packs and field notes. Many expressed the same hope: to take this knowledge back to their gram sabhas and build something that benefits their communities.
    This centre is not a pilot. It is a working example of what can happen when vision, policy, and grassroots networks meet at the same ground level.
    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 YouTube.

  • NLB Services Launches BrandPipal, Targets $25 Million Revenue and 20X Growth in Martech by 2030

    With over 75 experts and a 500-member vision, the firm eyes 1800+ GCCs, MSMEs, and global expansion under Ashima Kakar’s leadership

    Mumbai, May 6, 2025 – In a major strategic shift, NLB Services, a leading global digital talent and workforce solutions firm headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, has announced the launch of BrandPipal, its new standalone marketing and employer branding venture. With a sharp focus on Martech, data-led storytelling, and digital marketing, BrandPipal aims to capture the growing global demand for integrated branding solutions, and scale its operations twenty-fold within five years.
    BrandPipal begins operations with a 75-member founding team and a mandate to scale to over 500 professionals. The firm targets a revenue milestone of $25 million by 2030. With a defined play across Global Capability Centers (GCCs), MSMEs, and enterprise clients in North America and the LATAM region, it marks NLB Services’ strategic foray beyond its core talent business into a full-fledged marketing and brand-building ecosystem.
    “The launch of BrandPipal is a reflection of our long-term vision to evolve as a full-spectrum business solutions partner,” said Sachin Alug, CEO of NLB Services. “As Generative AI and automation reshape the business landscape, the need to blend data-backed insights with authentic storytelling has never been stronger. BrandPipal will help our clients lead with purpose and scale with precision.”

    BrandPipal enters the market at a time when the branding landscape is undergoing rapid transformation. With more than 1,800 GCCs already operational in India and an estimated 400 new centers expected to launch in the next five years, the demand for differentiated employer branding, performance marketing, and AI-integrated campaigns is peaking.
    The firm will offer sector-specific solutions such as go-to-market strategies, online reputation management, content marketing, influencer programs, visual identity design, digital assets, and analytics.
    “This is a turning point for us,” said Ashima Kakar, Co-founder of BrandPipal and Head of Marketing at NLB Services. “We want to work with companies that have a clear purpose and help them build credibility, visibility, and identity in a digital-first world. Today, marketing is not just about creative visuals, it’s about combining strategy with storytelling, backed by data and AI maturity.”
    BrandPipal has already secured several early clients across AI startups, global system integrators, the publishing sector, and the travel industry. It plans to prioritize onboarding high-impact clients within its first year, offering solutions that cut across brand building, recruitment marketing, and digital engagement.

    NLB Services brings to this initiative its strong legacy of working with over 100 Fortune 500 companies, helping them with talent branding and workforce strategy. BrandPipal extends this experience into a new growth vertical with deeper capabilities in employer brand strategy, martech platform design, and AI-powered performance analysis.
    With marketing becoming one of the most crucial verticals in organizational success, BrandPipal aims to fill the whitespace that exists between design firms and traditional agencies. It positions itself as a hybrid solution provider: one that brings together the intelligence of an analytics firm, the storytelling finesse of a content studio, and the business discipline of a consultancy.
    The expansion into branding is timely. As global organizations increasingly set up GCCs across India, there is rising demand for agencies that understand both the local hiring landscape and the global brand expectations. NLB Services, with its roots in staffing and operations, is uniquely placed to serve this dual mandate.
    BrandPipal’s five-year roadmap includes:

    • Serving 1800+ existing and 400 upcoming GCCs with dedicated brand engagement teams
    • Expanding its reach across North America, LATAM, and other emerging markets
    • Growing its expert team from 75 to 500+
    • Generating $25 million in revenue through diversified service offerings

    This move repositions NLB Services not just as a talent provider, but as a technology-enabled solutions partner, responding to the needs of modern businesses navigating talent wars, digital competition, and brand identity challenges.
    “We are not here to replace traditional agencies, we’re here to raise the bar,” Ashima added. “Our aim is to build profitable, authentic, and purpose-led brands that connect deeply with customers, talent, and communities.”

    About NLB Services
    NLB Services is a global talent, skilling, and digital transformation partner headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, with operational hubs across India, LATAM, and Europe. Its services span digital workforce solutions, operations management, and tech transformation strategies.
    About BrandPipal
    BrandPipal is a marketing and employer branding firm under NLB Services. It specializes in storytelling, AI-driven campaign design, performance analytics, and strategic branding for growing and global enterprises.
    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 YouTube.

  • India OTT Industry Finds Its Global Voice at WAVES 2025, as Shri Ashish Shelar, Mr. Sajan Raj Kurup, and Ms. Amala Akkineni Lead Industry Roundtable

    From the launch of WAVES OTT to the Creatorland MoU, the summit draws focus on skilling, monetisation, and immersive content backed by Primus Partners, AWS, and Rolling Stone India

    The India OTT industry is entering a pivotal phase of transformation and this momentum was on full display at the WAVES Summit 2025 Roundtable, held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Curated by Primus Partners in collaboration with Amazon Web Services and Rolling Stone India, the event welcomed over one hundred influential voices from cinema, technology, public policy, venture capital, and content innovation.
    The Roundtable marked the launch of the joint report Press Play: India’s OTT Story Goes Global, co-authored by Primus Partners, AWS, and Rolling Stone India. The report was released by Shri Ashish Shelar, Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Heritage and IT, Government of Maharashtra, who noted that OTT is no longer confined to entertainment. Shri Shelar emphasized the sector’s intersections with education, gaming, and community-driven storytelling. He also congratulated Shri Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Prasar Bharati, for launching WAVES OTT, a digital-first public broadcasting platform that combines archival programming with new-age content. The Minister further revealed the state’s intention to support regional narratives by introducing a Marathi OTT platform.

    Mr. Sajan Raj Kurup, Founder of Creativeland Studios and Chairman of Creators Inc, played a key role in shaping the summit’s creator-focused vision. His keynote highlighted the need for sustainable narrative ecosystems, long-term policy commitments, and infrastructure that supports creators from ideation to monetisation. His leadership was central to one of the day’s biggest announcements, the creation of Creatorland, India’s first Transmedia Entertainment City.
    The sessions at the Roundtable explored three major themes guiding India’s OTT future. The first dealt with public and private collaboration, particularly the role of national broadcasters like Prasar Bharati in growing India’s multilingual content footprint. The second explored global co-productions, hybrid revenue models, and content internationalisation. The third focused on technology, where speakers discussed how cloud computing, AR, VR, and immersive storytelling tools are changing how content is created and consumed.
    In his keynote, Shri Gaurav Dwivedi recalled iconic programs such as Binaca Geet Mala, Hum Log, and Ramayan, which shaped Indian culture through public broadcasting. He described WAVES OTT as a platform that removes geographic and structural barriers, offering creators access to a national and global audience. He positioned it not just as a media product, but as an instrument of cultural participation.

    A pivotal moment in the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Andhra Pradesh and Creativeland Asia to build Creatorland. The agreement was signed by Smt. Amrapali Kata, Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh Tourism, and Mr. Sajan Raj Kurup. They were joined by Mr. David Unger, CEO of Artists International, and Mr. Nicolas Granatino, Chairman of Novaquark. Creatorland is projected to attract between ₹8,000–10,000 crore in investment, support over 150,000 jobs, and offer annual training to 10,000 youth in content and gaming technologies.
    Smt. Amrapali Kata invited storytellers from across the country and abroad to see Andhra Pradesh as a destination for cultural-tech innovation. She stressed the state’s support for high-quality infrastructure and progressive policies. Mr. Sajan Raj Kurup reiterated that Creatorland is designed not as a traditional film studio, but as a full-spectrum content innovation campus integrating storytellers, technologists, and producers.
    As the Roundtable progressed, several influential voices added clarity to India’s evolving OTT vision. Ms. Amala Akkineni, actor, educator, and director at Annapurna Studios, spoke about the need for a structured mentorship approach to nurture regional talent. She called for the creation of institutional funds that can support vernacular content creators who often remain invisible to national-level production houses and platforms. According to her, true decentralisation in storytelling would only happen when regional voices receive equitable access to training, resources, and global reach.

    Veteran filmmaker and actor Mr. Sachin Pilgaonkar made a crucial intervention during the monetisation dialogue, questioning the tendency to label platforms as regional or national. He argued that all OTTs in India are Indian by default, and the only distinguishing factor is language. This perspective was welcomed by content creators across geographies and was seen as a call to dismantle centralised industry hierarchies that overlook local success stories.

    Also present at the Roundtable were Mr. Sameer Nair, Chief Executive Officer of Applause Entertainment, Ms. Aditi Shrivastava, Co-Founder of Pocket Aces, Mr. Soumya Mukherjee, and Mr. Vishnu Mohta, both senior executives at Hoichoi. Together, they explored the scope of strategic licensing, global IP deals, and the possibility of building co-funded, multilingual franchises from India.
    Representatives from AWS India, including Mr. Pankaj Gupta, Mr. Manoj Padmanabhan, and Mr. Nitin Bawankule, brought to light the infrastructure demands of a growing OTT universe. They spoke about how cloud-native production pipelines, real-time analytics, and AI-enhanced scripting tools are transforming creative workflows and content lifecycle planning. These insights were contextualised through case studies showing how regional creators can scale up quality while keeping costs predictable.

    Technology-driven production was further addressed by Ms. Mahima Kaul, Public Policy Director at Netflix India, and Ms. Shruti Paul, Creative Strategist at Accenture. They emphasised the growing demand for immersive formats, pointing out how viewer engagement has shifted from linear consumption to participatory and on-demand formats. In this evolving landscape, new genres such as docu-gaming, interactive drama, and regional sci-fi have begun to find scalable audiences.
    Also sharing their insights were Ms. Shefali Bhushan, Ms. Kriti Kharbanda, Mr. Vaibhav Modi, Ms. Isha Talwar, and Mr. Vinod Bachchan. Their collective focus was on talent pipelines, the need for regional casting networks, and the revival of creative guilds in the OTT era. Ms. Rituparna Sengupta, Mr. Sandeep Marwah of AAFT, and author Mr. Amish Tripathi each contributed layered perspectives on audience taste shifts, mythological IP, and the importance of including folk traditions in the national content mix.

    Closing the Roundtable, Mr. David Unger, CEO of Artists International, and Mr. Nicolas Granatino of Novaquark, spoke about the global receptiveness toward India’s digital creative market. They highlighted how Creatorland’s model, if replicated regionally, could become an exportable blueprint for content-driven economies in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
    As the day drew to a close, the presence of directors and creators such as Mr. Jayant Somalkar, Mr. Om Raut, Ms. Tanvi Dhedia, Mr. Varun Mitra, and Ms. Shobha Sant added tangible credibility to the summit’s ambition. These individuals represent a new generation of storytellers, unafraid to cross formats and redefine audience expectations.
    WAVES Summit 2025 did more than launch a report or sign an MoU. It signalled the formal entry of the India OTT industry into a globally collaborative, digitally forward, and culturally rooted phase. With regional creators receiving institutional attention and platforms like WAVES OTT and Creatorland offering infrastructure and vision, India has made its intent clear.
    Prittle Prattle News will continue to follow the policy shifts, talent journeys, and platform evolutions that define the future of digital storytelling, featuring you virtuously.
    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 YouTube.

  • TiE Delhi-NCR Showcases 202 Indicorns at iDay 2025: Over 50 Delhi-NCR Startups Make Titan Capital’s ₹100 Cr List

    Backed by Titan Capital, the Indicorn list at India Internet Day 2025 reveals ₹1.5 lakh crore in revenue across 202 profitable startups, with leaders from Paytm, MobiKwik, Snapdeal, One97, Google, UIDAI, IN-SPACe, ChrysCapital, and Bombay Shaving Company driving the conversation at TiE Delhi-NCR‘s flagship tech summit

    In its 14th edition, India Internet Day (iDay), hosted by TiE Delhi-NCR, drew over 1,200 participants including founders, VCs, policymakers, and digital ecosystem stakeholders. The event was hosted at The Leela Ambience and centered around the unveiling of the Indicorn List 2025, a showcase of India’s top revenue-generating startups.
    The list, released by Titan Capital, co-founded by Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal, identified 202 startups in India that crossed ₹100 crore in annual revenue. Together, these ventures accounted for ₹1.51 lakh crore in FY24, ₹7,393 crore in profits, and more than 1.46 lakh jobs. Delhi-NCR led with over 50 of these startups, followed by Bengaluru and Mumbai.
    Kunal Bahl said the findings underscore a deeper evolution in India’s startup journey. He explained that a growing number of ventures are rejecting hypergrowth-at-all-costs models and choosing instead to build scalable, profitable businesses based on repeatable customer demand.

    Among the headline speakers was Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder of One97 and Paytm, who reflected on India’s early-stage funding struggles around 2014. He compared those times to “crossing flyovers on Outer Ring Road” where funding stops were disconnected. Today, he said, the infrastructure is in place and capital is accessible to founders who are solving real Indian problems.
    On the topic of artificial intelligence, Sharma said he has already started using AI tools as analytical assistants, but he warned that a role reversal may happen soon. He predicted that humans may start operating in support of AI systems rather than the other way around.
    The conference also featured Dr Abhijit Phukon, Economic Adviser, Department of Financial Services, Government of India. He said that regulatory infrastructure must evolve in sync with innovation and urged stakeholders to build systems that balance consumer trust with industry autonomy. He stated that India’s regulatory future should aim to anticipate disruption, not simply respond to it.

    Discussions covered themes including 5G, fintech, space tech, e-commerce, AI, smart cities, and digital public infrastructure. The conversation also touched on how Digital India is building the foundation for scale and formalisation across Bharat markets.
    Col Sanjeev Yadav, Director at UIDAI, explained how Aadhaar authentication services are enabling frictionless digital transactions and opening up identity-based innovations in civic tech and fintech.
    Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Dhananjay V Khot, now Director of Strategy at IN-SPACe, spoke on India’s entry into commercial and dual-use spacetech. He noted that the country is already building collaborative pathways between government labs and private satellite ventures.Prominent founder voices shaped the day’s discussions. Upasana Taku, Co-founder and CEO of MobiKwik, joined a session on fintech inclusion. Apurva Chamaria, Global Head of VC and Startup Partnerships at Google, shared investor trends and scale metrics. Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder of Leverage Edu, explored India’s edtech-to-university model, while Shweta Rajpal Kohli, CEO of Startup Policy Forum, spoke on regulatory friction in cross-border digital trade.
    Akshat Babbar, Managing Director at ChrysCapital, addressed funding patterns in B2B SaaS, while Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, shared his learnings from building a profitable D2C brand without deep external funding.The program also featured Ankur Warikoo, founder of WebVeda, who discussed brand-building and startup storytelling

    Havas Media Network India participated as the Silver Partner. Mohit Joshi, CEO of the network, noted that the partnership reflected a long-term commitment to supporting founders and India’s digital scale-up through meaningful brand narratives.
    Unlike unicorns that often focus on valuation, Indicorns are identified by revenue benchmarks. These are companies that cross ₹100 crore in real, recurring income. Many are self-funded or lightly capitalised, proving that disciplined, scalable entrepreneurship is working in the Indian market.
    The summit was curated under the leadership of Upasana Sharma, Executive Director of TiE Delhi-NCR, whose team reiterated that iDay 2025 was not just a showcase but a signal that India’s startup ambitions are now aligned with sustainable outcomes.
    At Prittle Prattle News, featuring you virtuously, we spotlight forums that shift India’s technology and policy narrative with clarity, data, and direction.
    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 YouTube.

  • Viksit Bharat by 2047 is a realisable ambition, says Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission at Isaac Centre’s Growth Forum

    Day 1 of the Isaac Centre for Public Policy’s Annual Growth Conference brought together India’s top economic minds to chart the course toward long-term development goals, with a focus on fiscal frameworks, employment, and governance.

    The Isaac Centre for Public Policy (ICPP) at Ashoka University launched its first-ever Annual Growth Conference on May 2, 2025, in New Delhi. The conference, hosted at the Taj Mahal Hotel, brought together an influential group of economists, finance officials, legal experts, and public policy leaders. It aimed to tackle India’s medium-term growth challenges while offering tangible policy directions in the areas of macro-finance, regulation, employment, and agriculture.
    The event opened with remarks from Prachi Mishra, Director and Head of ICPP, and Professor of Economics at Ashoka University. She highlighted the structural shifts in global trade, particularly the rising tariffs in the United States, and how such changes are introducing fresh uncertainties into international economic dynamics. Mishra stated that effective tariffs in the U.S. are now likely the highest seen in a century and warned that retaliatory actions by other countries could further destabilize global trade.

    Turning to India, Mishra pointed out that while reforms have continued steadily over the past decade, key areas such as manufacturing, private investment, and fiscal consolidation are still struggling to gain momentum. She described the current situation as a cyclical slowdown, despite long-term structural changes.
    The first major panel, titled “Macro-Public Finance,” was moderated by Shri N.K. Singh, former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission. Panelists included Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, Shri Ajay Seth, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, and Dr. Prachi Mishra, in her capacity as a research leader in macroeconomic policy.

    Dr. Panagariya, a respected economist and former Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, provided an overview of India’s recent growth performance. He noted that although the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a historic contraction of -5.6 percent, the Indian economy demonstrated a strong rebound. Growth reached 9.7 percent in 2021–22, followed by 7.6 percent in 2022–23. The provisional estimate for 2023–24 stands at 9.2 percent, while the advance figure for 2024–25 is projected at 6.4 percent.
    Reflecting on these numbers, Panagariya noted that, “We came out of the COVID downturn with an unexpectedly sharp recovery. The rebound confirms the underlying resilience in the economy and the effectiveness of macroeconomic stabilisation strategies.”

    He also addressed India’s aspirational goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 — a vision termed Viksit Bharat, set to coincide with the centenary of independence. Dr. Panagariya explained that reaching developed status would require India to raise its per capita income to around $14,000. To get there, the country would need to sustain a 7.3 percent annual growth rate in per capita terms for the next 24 years.
    “It is a realisable ambition,” he said, “but one that demands consistent reform, private sector development, and urban-led transformation across states.”

    The session also turned to fiscal federalism and inter-state disparities. Dr. Panagariya pointed to Bihar as a case study in slow growth, noting that while the state has seen some positive trends in recent years, it continues to lag behind more industrialised regions such as Karnataka. He emphasised the importance of fiscal transfers and encouraged renewed focus on private investment and targeted infrastructure for high-impact areas.
    Ajay Seth, representing the Ministry of Finance, reinforced the need for macro-financial stability. He acknowledged that inflationary trends have eased, but stressed that India’s medium-term fiscal roadmap still requires bold policy choices and enhanced state-level cooperation.

    Justice V. Ramasubramanian, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, spoke in the second panel focused on regulation. He discussed the changing role of judicial interpretation in policy formulation and enforcement. “We live in an era where content is abundant, but comprehension is fading,” he said. “As a society, we must move from passive reading to critical thinking.”
    The regulatory panel also featured Dr. K.P. Krishnan, former Secretary to the Government of India and Distinguished Fellow at ICPP, Smt. Anuradha Thakur, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General of India.
    Dr. Raghuvanshi spoke about the ongoing balance between encouraging pharmaceutical innovation and maintaining public safety. He mentioned that regulatory agility is key, especially in post-pandemic India where the drug approval ecosystem must evolve rapidly to match scientific progress.

    Day 1 concluded with a reaffirmation of ICPP’s mission. Established through a grant from the Ajit Isaac Foundation, founded by Ajit Isaac and Sarah Isaac, the Isaac Centre is focused on collaborative public policy work. Its ambition is to act as a bridge between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
    ICPP’s agenda includes workstreams on labour and employment, fiscal policy, gender inclusion, healthcare, and rural transformation. It is positioning itself as a non-partisan think tank with real-world implementation goals.
    The conference will continue on May 3, covering the role of agriculture in economic transformation, employment trends, and how advanced states can drive India’s composite growth.
    At Prittle Prattle News, featuring you virtuously, we continue to document long-term strategic shifts that shape India’s development journey. This forum provided a snapshot of where India stands, and where its institutions hope to go in the next two decades.
    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 YouTube.