Emerging startups to watch.

1. Emerging TO watch START-UP INSIGHTS Benefits of Start-up Culture STARTUP DYNAMICS Overview of Startup Ecosystem Post Covid-19 2020/ VOL. 10/ ISSUE 07

4. Editor’s Note O f many lessons that the pandemic is still teaching us, one is being self-sufficient and self-dependent. This is not just limited to individual households but the country as a whole. Exports, imports, trade relations all took a back seat when it came to containing the spread of the virus. This is just an indication of how fragile the market is when it is dependent on global forces to cater to local demands. CONSUMER RESPONSE PERTINENT FOR GROWTH OF STARTUPS True, a country cannot have it all and trade- relations are not just about the money that countries exchange but the underlying goodwill and relations the exchange builds. However, the pandemic has shown that it is in a country’s interest to fulfil its demands locally. Supporting startups is the first step towards it. The number of startups in India shot to 50000 from a mere 7000 in the last decade and the trend continues to grow. From food to AI, India has created a startup ecosystem that cuts across

5. Darshan Parmar Managing Editor darshan@insightssuccess.com industries and is buzzing with ideas. True, there are more failures than success stories, but the momentum the startup movement has gathered is hard to beat. special edition of Insights Success, we celebrate the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship as we bring Emerging Startups to Watch. These home-grown companies are trying their bit to bring their ideas to life and services to you. Also, go through a few of the articles written by our in- house editors to enhance your reading experience. So, what are you waiting for? While the government is trying at its end to support startups in ways it can, from easy loans to annual fests and competitions, the onus lies on consumers now. As a customer, we should be ready and receptive towards these startups. The way customers respond to a service or product by a startup is a key decider in whether the startup will stay afloat or not. So, until consumers go local, the buzz will not translate into a storm that it intends to kick off. Read Away! As consumers, every time you buy a product or utilize a service, take a pause and look for a local option. DarsHP Chances are it will turn into a pleasant experience and something more than you expected. In this

6. C O N T E N T S Bastar Valley Foundation Empowering Children through Education 12 Bdiapers 13 Healthy and Eco-Friendly Diapering Solutions 14 Collective Foods (India) LLP Goodness of Home- Cooked Meal, Anytime 15 GD ASH BRICK Green Cementing Solutions Global Integritus Facilitating Business Decisions 22

7. C O N T E N T S Hao Crafts (OPC) Pvt. Ltd For the Betterment of Artisans 23 Konnections India Riding the Digital Way Dynamically 24 LiaisonIT Customized Solutions for Preeminent Business Problems 30 MICE AFFAIRS MEDIA GROUP A Rising Media Outlet 32 Mindsor LLC Providing the best of Software and Satffing 33

8. 34 OpEx Accelerator Pvt. Ltd Bridging the Gap between Job Seekers and Creators Social Paltan 36 Delivering Creative Digital Marketing Services 38 SR INNOVATIONS Delivering Sustainable Packaging Solutions Articles 18 28 Startup Dynamics Overview of Startup Ecosystem Post Covid-19 Start-up Insights Benefits of Start-up Culture

10. Editor-in-Chief Sumita Sarkar Managing EditorDarshan Parmar Assisting Editor Vrushali Rakhunde Contributing Writers Ananda, Ashish sales@insightssuccess.com OCTOBER, 2020 Corporate Offices: Chief Designer Asha Bange Designing Head Deepanjali Jena Co-designer Vivek Mane Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Off. No. 22, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk, Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017 Phone - India: +91 7410079881/ 82/ 83/ 84/ 85 Email: info@insightssuccess.in For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.in Operations Head Megha Mishra Business Development Manager Nandan Deshpande Asst. Manager Ashwini Pahurkar Business Development Lead Tejswini Whaval Business Development Executive Dhiraj Nikam Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-602-1754 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com Technical Head Pratiksha Patil Technical Specialist Amar Sawant Digital Marketing Manager Amol Wadekar SME-SMO Executive Atul Dhoran Circulation Manager Tanaji Cover Price : RS. 150/- https://twitter.com/insightssuccess Follow us on : www.facebook.com/insightssuccess/ We are also available on Copyright © 2020 Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd., All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success. Printed and Published by Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. RNI NUMBER: MAHENG/2018/75953

11. Emerging TO watch Management Company Name Brief Bastar Valley English Medium School (BVEMS) is currently comprised of pre-primary, primary academies and seniors. Rita Mane Director Bastar Valley Foundation Bdiapers are India’s only cloth diapers that work with both reusable and disposable inserts. Saurabh Singhal CEO Bdiapers Collective Foods’ vision is to provide with healthy, nutrition- intact meals that are like home cooked food and is convenient to carry anywhere. GD Ash Brick are Manufacturer and Suppliers of Bricks, Pavers Block, Roof Tile, and all types of Cement Products at a customer affordable price. Collective Foods (India) LLP Harsh Akbari Partner Gyani Darode Proprietor GD Ash Brick Global Integritus understand the need for a competent, professional and reliable workforce in today’s professional world and it’s more than ever before. Dr. Mustafa Attarwala Founder and Promoter Global Integritus Ahum Shimrah Tamreipam Director Hao Crafts Society is a collective of young tribal artisans from Manipur engaged in making traditional black pottery known as longpi pottery. Hao Crafts (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. Konnections is a new-age IT organization that builds and delivers quality solutions to the clients. Divyesh Rajput CEO and Founder Konnections India Anant Mishra Director of Operations, APAC LiaisonIT is a company that started in the digital era and boomed in the super digital era (during and post-pandemic period). LiaisonIT MICE AFFAIRS MEDIA GROUP Sachin Mannocha Founder MICE Affairs Media Group offers News Coverage for MICE, Travel and Association Business. Mindsor LLC is located at 7361 McWhorter Place, Suite 302 Annandale, VA and it operates in the staffing industry. Saroj Kumar Behera Sr. Resource Executive Mindsor LLC OpEx StartUp Accelerator was started with the sole motto of creating awareness regarding start-ups, mostly among students and budding entrepreneurs. OpEx Accelerator Pvt. Ltd. Sachin Kumbhoje Founder and CEO The team at Social Paltan ensures that a business’s brand looks great to its customers and other online platforms or whoever its target audience is. Abhilash Bende CEO Social Paltan SR Innovations is leading the industry with its constant endeavour to deliver the highest quality of woven and non- woven bags to its customers at a competitive price. Avvaru Harish CEO SR Innovations

13. Subscribe Today Stay in touch. Subscribe to Insightssuccess Get Insightssuccess Magazine in print, & digital on www.insightssuccess.in www.insightssuccess.in Cheque should be drawn in favour of : INSIGHTS SUCCESS MEDIA AND TECH PVT. LTD. CORPORATE OFFICE Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Off No. 22 & 510, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk, Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017. Phone - India: 020- 7410079881/ 82/ 83/ 84/ 85 USA: 302-319-9947 Email: info@insightssuccess.in For Subscription : www.insightssuccess.in

14. Emerging TO watch Rita Mane Director E What services/products/solutions do you offer? As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? ducation is a basic right. However, many are deprived of it. To bring equality in society, one must start with providing equal education opportunities to children, the foundation of tomorrow’s society. Education and charity for children of backward section. It is important to face the competition and helpful to grow in every field. What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategise on scaling your company in the future? Rita Mane, Director, Bastar Valley Foundation shares how her team has been working on the same. providing online education to the children is the toughest job for teachers during this pandemic. Learning with technology is not an easier task. Ÿ What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. Learning with Technology is important it helps to do the task in the smartest way also it helps to keep the record safely and consumes less time. Ÿ To build up good education system for the betterment of the society and children. 12 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

15. Emerging TO watch Bdiapers hybrids come in a patented two-part pouch system that separates the “cloth” from the “diaper”. This helps reduce washing and encourages reuse. The covers are trendy and come with matching T shirts while the waterproof pouches that hold the disposable inserts are coated and do not’crack’ like ordinary plastic. The disposable inserts are chemical, bleach & dye free and hypoallergenic. As these are sized diapers ( S-XL ) they give a better fit than the regular MCDs hence preventing leaks and blow outs. BDIAPERS Healthy and Eco-Friendly Diapering Solutions With less washing, and the option for using any insert – these are the like a great option for eco-friendly, healthy diapering. “ convenience of disposables to mothers like myself who are eco-conscious and frugal. What services/products/solutions do you offer? Our range includes trendy cloth diaper covers with disposable and washable inserts. Our inserts are eco- friendly, chemical, chlorine, fragrance and dye free. Apart from diapers we also have several unique accessories for green mommies such as our Newborn Organic Muslin Nappies, Organic Diaper Rash Balm, Diaper Wash Spray and our unique SafetyB Silicone Diaper Fasteners Bdiapers brings the “ What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? We had several supply chain issues in COVID which included factories closing down and us losing our trusted tailors. We also had issues with financing and supply chain of our raw materials for accessories. A lot of our PR initiatives also got canceled as publications started to look for paid advertisements and we did not have the deep pockets to pay for press. D isposable diapers might be convenient, but they heavily cost the nature. Apart from taking over a hundred year to decompose, they also contain some toxic elements like dioxin, sodium polyacrylate and more that contaminate the land. Amrita Vaswani, Founder, Bdiapers presents solution to this compounding problem. As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? I have been very fortunate with the startup landscape and have had several people help me out with my story. As this is a mom-based business, we have been fortunate to get help from reviews by other mothers with small babies. We have had some issues with compliance and contracts for delivery – and this is an area where I feel we can improve. There should be more incentives from the government and established startups to encourage small businesses What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. Bdiapers are India’s only cloth diapers that work with both reusable and disposable inserts. Bdiapers was designed to solve the two main problems mothers faced with diapers, those of rashes and leaks. Bdiaper Hybrids bring you the convenience of disposables with the health of cloth in a diaper that is unique, affordable, eco-friendly and healthy. The product was designed by me over several years of trial and error and of diapering my own two babies. I was fed up of the chemicals in disposables and organic diapers were very expensive. Cloth diapers were time consuming and complicated and I wanted to find an ecofriendly option for diapering. According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategise on scaling your company in the future? Technology is the key to communicating with our customers. It is our only link to directly engaging customers for feedback and product improvements and hence we all need to be updated with the latest tools and software to reach out to our audiences. Bdiapers is a true labor of love and my goal for designing this product is to bring the convenience of disposables to mothers like myself who are eco-conscious and frugal. October 2020 | 13 www.insightssuccess.in

16. Emerging TO watch COLLECTIVE FOODS (India) LLP Goodness of Home-Cooked Meal, Anytime ood isn’t just essential for our survival, at times, it is F well. However, finding such food while traveling can be a tough job. Harsh Akbari, Partner products, and due to COVID-19 being a startup financial crunches are always a setback. the center of our existence. Healthy, wholesome, nourishing food sustains us and brightens up our day as As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? India is a land of innovation and uniqueness and as we live in an era that thrives to grow, India just needs a push to make it big in the world of rising startups and entrepreneurship. The passion of young entrepreneurs is often buried under the rebukes and pressure of having a stabilized nine-to-five job. But Indian startups have shown that we can grow as a country and become super power across the Globe. The idea is not to criticize but to introspect and analyze the startup ecosystem of India. Startup such as Paytm, Byjus etc have taken Global market by storm by developing unique product. So, the Indian Startup Ecosystem is here to stay and become so good and will be recognized across the Globe. Harsh Akbari, Partner, Collective Foods (India) LLP, shares how his business idea, which revolves around food, came about. What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. The idea behind MAKE YOUR MEAL Brand was to Develop unique Ready to Eat Meals that are convenient, easy to carry and can be consumed anytime, anywhere. The idea struck when one of family member traveling via train had to buy Fresh Meal on Railway platform and while having it, he neither found it tasty, nor worth the price he paid for it. And then the situation was discussed and we developed a unique Ready to Eat Thali with Extended Shelf Life and also various Meals. According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategise on scaling your company in the future? The rate at which technology trends evolve can be daunting for any business owner. It seems at times, that almost as quickly as a company adopts new technology, it’s outdated, or a new version or product has already been launched to take its place. With tech trends changing so quickly, it is highly required for all people and companies to stay updated with technology such as digital platforms have become must these days for quick transactions for payment, bookings etc. Because without technology upgradation no companies can compete and survive. It has become necessary. Our Vision is to provide with Healthy, Nutrition-intact Meals that are like home Cooked food and is convenient to carry anywhere. What services/products/solutions do you offer? We are manufacturer of Ready to Eat Meals with extended shelf life. What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? We as a startup had to go through many difficulties such as constructing a manufacturing unit, development of food ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ We, MAKE YOUR MEAL, as a brand would like to take our products across the Globe and make it available to each person so that they can try them and have the best meals served to them. Further we are also planning with health- based products which is must these days with pandemic such as Covid -19. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ We would like to turn ‘Make Your Meal’ into a Global Brand. 14 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

17. Emerging TO watch GD ASH GREEN CEMENTING SOLUTIONS BRICK s ustainability comes in many shapes and sizes. For the real estate and construction industry, sustainable building material are key ingredients when they target creating green homes.A key component for them is Fly Ash brick. These self-cementing bricks save energy, reduce pollution and carbon footprint and cost less than conventional bricks by almost 20%. Catering to this growing demand in India is GD Ash Brick. The Nagpur based company is led by Gyani Darode, the Proprietor. He shares more details about the company. Gyani Darode Founder/CEO What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. The core idea was generating employment to the local population and our near ones. I wanted to motivate them to start a new business and with new technology and join hands for India’s development. “ WE PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIAL AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.“ What services/products/solutions do you offer? We are Manufacturer and Suppliers of Bricks, Pavers Block, Roof Tile, and all types of Cement Products at a customer affordable price. We specialize in ash bricks parking tiles paver block and give a warranty on them which is unique as no other manufacturer or supplier gives a warranty. What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? The situation was unprecented and a dangerous one. But now we take care of all necessary safety measures regarding equipment and people. and machinery, it will help and benefit more people and motivate them to start on their own. According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategise on scaling your company in the future? It is crucial in my view. Technology is a necessity as it brings accuracy and speed. This speed is required for companies like ours to grow. As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? The future looks great. I feel that if the Government can start and implement learning program for new technologies October 2020 | 15 www.insightssuccess.in

20. Startup Ecosystem POST COVID-19 OVERVIEW OF 18 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

21. Startup Dynamics October 2020 | 19 www.insightssuccess.in

22. S The discovery of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the spread of COVID-19 have led many governments to take drastic measures in their countries. The lockdown has brought large parts of society and economic life an exogenous shock. Nothing could have got the world ready to face such a hit in the year of 2020. Almost in one night, trillions of dollars were lost, putting the lives of billions in chaos. Businesses faced an existential crisis, with thousands of entrepreneurs wondering what they would do with their future. For the first time since World War 2, both supply and demand chains were demolished. In the technology world, there was despair all around as VC’s began to hold back their salary's, turning entrepreneurial dreams into torment. As it is said, one man's downfall is another man's uprising. As the world struggled to find itself amid a deadly pandemic, new businesses emerged winners with solutions for a Covid hit world. truck with the virus Government has been motivating local entrepreneurs to innovate further, plunging Indian startups into becoming self-sustainable or Atmanirbhar. The pandemic triggered this off but in the long run this surely will help the economy. Acclimatizing to New Ways The pandemic has caused a havoc all around the world and people are still adjusting to the new ways of living. Wearing masks, social distancing, not crowding public places etc. have made humans make changes in their daily ways of living. Similarly, businesses also have made changes in the everyday ways that they work. It is becoming possible to think of a world of business in which human contact is minimized, but not eliminated. Getting back to normal will include walking into stores again, and many patients will still want to chat with their doctors in person. Still, the trends are unmistakable and businesses may need to reallocate investment for example, hospitals might offer both telemedicine and clinic visit options and rethink their strategic plans to take them into account. Adjusting with the Pandemic Impact on Small Startups India’s startup ecosystem experienced the full strength of the progressive effect of the pandemic as well as one of the hardest lockdowns in the country. Startups needed to curtail, reduce teams, increased customer issues and some literally had to face shut down. Prudently, several startups that were loaded with cash minimized their cash burn by focusing on optimizing operational costs while cutting expenditures wherever possible. Small startups and businesses are the most affected in times of the pandemic. It has been forecasted that 38 million Indian employees are rendered jobless already and the number is expected to grow substantially in the upcoming months. Small scale F&B firms, retailers and budding entrepreneurs are facing a dilemmatic situation to let go of resourceful members or save the venture. In absolutely no time, the business founders soon realized that if they had to survive, and flourish, they would have to keep pace with the dynamics of the changing world. Entrepreneurs quickly reverted to the situation by reimagining their businesses. Salary cuts, delayed payments and other revenue hits are just the start. According to Rajan Anandan, MD, Sequoia Capital; “There are tougher times waiting for us ahead for startups in India.” Investors from US, that are of a huge need are already in stress positions and expecting an inflow of capital which is the last thing anyone would expect. Reimagination was more or less what they had to vouch for. A large number of startups moved forward by going digital. Social distancing saw a huge market for digital consumption, and this provided a strong thrust to sectors such as healthcare, e-commerce, fintech, education, entertainment, etc. The need to go online and remote, became the epicenter of new business models catering to a changed customer behavior. Other businesses like travel and hospitality were brutally impacted and many businesses in these sectors have been brought to a halt or moved to the graveyard, regrettably. As the lockdown is being lifted, many of the businesses are recovering slowly. The With no clear vision ahead, delays are expected in further funding’s from overseas investors and the fate looks uncertain for a number of growth-stage startups in India. How should we cope with the situation at hand? We need a productive culture, something like work from home or provisioning insights and a support mechanism which will forecast better-yielding results way ahead of time, along with other contingency plans to tackle the bumps ahead. - Ashish Chandgude 20 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

24. Emerging TO watch GLOBAL INTEGRITUS Facilitating Business Decisions T here are many a slip between an entrepreneur’s dreams and its realization. An idea is good but to execute it through a company needs a strategy, a roadmap and a direction. The right kind of information about the market and business-related aspects can help entrepreneurs make the right decision. Dr Mustafa Attarwala Founder & Promoter “ “ Helping these businesses take the right decision is Global Integritus and its Founder and Promoter-MSME, Dr Mustafa Attarwala. We Bring The Power of Insight To Every Great Professional Decision Here’s how they help the entrepreneurs: What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? Solutions against COVID-19 including Risk Monitoring and Prevention, Classification and Diagnosis, Patient Monitoring and Intensive Care. In addition, there is an “Open Challenge” category which covers other themes. What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. When we say “startups,” we think about bootstrapped, edgy, adaptive, and agile cultures that don’t get caught up in the way things have always been done…and don’t really want to. That frequently means they look at “strategy” like the plague and written plans as nothing more than a vehicle for dust. To ensure greater access for the population, companies, startups, institutions, government, universities, and professionals that have low or zero-cost solutions that can be deployed to the end-user within 15 (fifteen) days from the approval date are welcome to participate. After all, a lot of startups can’t think beyond a single month in advance, and not just because they’re wildly busy or just ADD. In some cases, they are pioneering market areas or business models that are truly changing week-by-week, and keeping pace means not being too attached to any specific roadmap or tactic. As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? Through innovation and scalable technology, startups can generate impactful solutions, and thereby act as vehicles for socio-economic development and transformation. The Indian startup ecosystem has evolved dynamically over the last two decades But honestly, if you want to be an effectively responsive and rapidly evolving culture, what could be more valuable and helpful than knowing the baselines; the “what and why” behind your business (your mission) and “where you want to go” (your vision)? In fact, how effective do you think your path will be without them? According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategise on scaling your company in the future? The Indian startup ecosystem has scaled to become third- largest start-up hub in the World. Numerous startups are still on the rise and are now widely renowned as market disrupters. The more significant aspect is the hi-tech enhancement they bring to the country. We serve best because we never get another chance to make a first impression. What services/products/solutions do you offer? We Bring The Power Of Insight To Every Great Professional Decision. Highest Standards. Precise Matches. Extraordinary Expertise. Unparalleled Success. Types: Technology, Industrials, Consumer Goods, Hedge Funds, Private Equity, Consulting, Market Research. 22 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

25. Emerging TO watch Hao Crafts (OPC) Pvt. Ltd For the Betterment of Artisans andicrafts are always special. They depict the culture H Ahum Shimrah Tamreipam, Director, Hao Crafts of the land and the strength and imaginative power of those who craft them. (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. is working to uplift the condition of artisans in this age when machines rule. What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. My vision is to train and promote artisans better living What services/products/solutions do you offer? I have my own manufacturing handicrafts products unit in hometown, Manipur and branch in Delhi, What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? Ahum Shimrah Tamreipam, Director Some issue in arrangements raw materials As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Mission Is To Train Artisans To Help Them Live Better. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ My In my opinion, Govt. Ministries should provide facilities like schemes, loans directly to the startup companies not through banks According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategise on scaling your company in the future? ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Technology is very important for my new company for mass production. October 2020 | 23 www.insightssuccess.in

26. Emerging TO watch KONNECTIONS INDIA Riding the Digital Way Dynamically D the advent of Covid-19 pandemic, the need for digitization has increased in businesses all over the globe. India is also not far behind this race. Digitization has become the need of the hour which has paved the way for digital services in a dynamic manner. There is hardly any industry left who is not in the requirement of making its process go digital without having any negative effects on its operations. But businesses have realized that their core competencies need to stand out from the rest of the competition and that is only possible with the help of exceptional digitally oriented services. For this specific reason, the market is in demand for exceptional digital solutions and services providers who can help the traditional as well as new- age businesses to stay relevant in this cutthroat competitive market. One such company providing dynamic digital solutions to its clients is Konnections India. The company’s CEO and Founder – Divyesh Rajput says, “Konnections is a new-age IT organization that builds and delivers quality solutions to the clients.” To know more about the dynamics of Konnections India, let us read what Divyesh has to say: igital age in India has brought a lot of opportunities for the people to capitalize on. With The vision was to start a new-age digital business that builds and delivers quality solutions for its clients. It all started with just a small marketing venture in college. We had envisioned ourselves to become this digital agency in the Future. Our competitive advantage lies in framing the customized delivery models that empathize with client’s needs and requirements. We also have special expertise in custom system development – providing specialized products, IT services, and custom end to end solutions to our enterprise customers. We gain a competitive advantage from these distinctive capabilities and have developed the ability to implement and manage complex IT systems in changing times with greater effectiveness. What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID-19? marketing or even general meetings online, we would say it was partially positive for us. As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? The startup culture in India is amazing. The amount of help and support we get from the Government or the society and even the education institutes is commendable. We would like to encourage more startups and student businesses to emerge and rise in the coming times. India is an emerging superpower; we can already see glimpses of it. According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? How do you strategize on scaling your company in the future? Being updated with technology, keeps us going and moving ahead in the IT Industry. Every second of every day there are new languages or physical tech or some new innovations coming up in the world. With such brilliant minds as your competition, we need to keep ourselves and our employees updated and upgraded so that we can stand in the market with pride and amazing testimonials. COVID-19 as we know hit the market hard. All the industries suffered losses. For us as in the IT Industry, it was a time of learning and adapting to the new normal. Working from home was just a text in the agreements which now was implemented beautifully by all the employees. Trust and faith played important roles in strengthening the relationship between our team members. If we look at the business during COVID-19 lockdown, I will say a lot of businesses made decisions to go digital with their firms. May it be making shopping portals or digital What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. 24 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

27. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ business and We believe that bringing together people, technology is the way forward‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Divyesh Rajput Founder, CEO 2 Mobile Application Development: Android, iOS, Flutter Dev, React OS 1 3 Web Designing and Development (Designing/Re-designing/Maintenance) E-Commerce Solutions Konnections India provides its clients the following services Digital Marketing/Social Media Marketing (SMM) 4 Branding – Online and Offline 5 October 2020 | 25 www.insightssuccess.in

28. The company also possesses a system specially made for the jewelry industry. Jewelzie is a Web and App based solution that will help you achieve Cataloguing, Inventory, and Customer Management like – order management, inventory management, cataloging, customer evaluation, reporting, and karigar system, etc. Jewelzie Prime also consists of various modules like: ONLINE APPS POS SYSTEMS (ANDROID + iOS) OFFLINE TAB APPLICATION (Android + iOS) Jewelzie Expo WEBSITE Some of the important modules in its product line are: Sales Application – The Tab Catalogue iOS and Android Mobile Apps Admin Panel with User-Friendly Features E-Commerce Solutions for B2B and B2C Karigar System Customer Evaluation Product Tagging. SEO Modules WhatsApp Integration Point of Sales Notifiers Inventory System Label Printing Reporting Vouchering Advanced Search Analytics 26 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

30. BENEFITS of Start-up Culture 28 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

31. Start-up Insights Do you remember the faces of Indian cities like Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai before they became IT hubs? After the IT sector strengthening its roots, these cities have seen drastic developments on many levels. “I don’t believe in making the right decisions. I take decisions and then make them right.” R countless start-ups have been established, many of trans- forming into national corporations and international organizations. The booming start-up culture not only has made individuals into strong leaders and eminent entrepreneurs but has also boost up the Indian economy. Data analytics firm Tracxn, in its ‘India Tech Annual Factsheet, 2019’ observed that the contribution of start-ups in fundraising has gone huge to $14.5 billion in 2019 from $550 million in 2010. atan Tata’s decision to founding Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in 1968, indeed became the right start of the Indian start-up ecosystem. Since then, Solving problems with technology and innovation Start-ups often bring unique and innovative ideas to the saturated business space. Start-ups often come into the game because the founder has a unique solution in the form of a product or service to address a complex problem. The Indian start-up ecosystem is a buzzing example of innova- tive solutions as it originated to provide services to fulfil Indian software needs. EdTech and healthcare are other buzzing start-up sectors in India incorporating technology to address students’ educational needs and solving growing healthcare issues, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the power and possibilities in the start-up space, The Government of India has launched ‘Start-up India’ and ‘Stand-up India’ initiatives and has been actively promoting entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing various benefits. EdTech companies such as BYJU’S and Vedantu have pioneered a new way of interactive learning revolutionizing the private tutoring sector. Apart from contributing to the nation’s economy and turning the lives of founders and entrepreneurs 360°, the booming Indian start-up culture has indirectly improved livelihoods of many. During COVID-19 small businesses and home-grown setups greatly contributed by providing masks, PPE kits, and other essentials to meet the market shortage. Small start-ups making a big impact Start-up is the ‘new normal’ Since 2013, transformational start-ups – the companies aiming to be national or international – have become a trend in India. However, subsistence start-ups who aim to stay small still make an impact. These start-ups since their inception have created countless job opportunities and continue to do the same. Talking about the growing start-up culture, India is now the 3rd largest start-up ecosystem in the world expecting 12- 15% annual growth. After the U.S and the U.K. with the largest shares, Indian start-ups have brought Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad in the list of top 20 cities for venture capital lists. The tech start-ups in India have alone created 60,000 direct jobs in 2019. Moreover, these spaces provide opportunities to employees to nurture their talents and skills through which they bring new ideas to the table essential to stir innovation and enhance competition. Although the start-up sector in India holds promising opportunities, post-lockdown entrepreneurs are facing major challenges in fundraising. With the rise in coronavirus cases and the market still moving slow, investors are cautious about putting their money into something new. A ripple effect of development A small factory established in the area attracts many associated business opportunities for the entrepreneurs also giving rise to more jobs and structural, developmental, and lifestyle changes around. With more people residing in an area, like a ripple effect, it brings forth other related businesses such as essentials, entertainment and leisure, real estate, and more. But this too shall pass. Coming out of this situation has become the need of the hour for everyone, including the government, large organizations, small businesses, and start-ups as well as individuals. As these entities in an ecosystem are interdependent, together they can conquer the crisis and move forward taking their business and the economy to new heights. - Vrushali Rakhunde October 2020 | 29 www.insightssuccess.in

32. Emerging TO watch LIAISONIT Customized Solutions for Preeminent Business Problems W here there is life, there are problems. And more often than not, the solutions lie within the reach. All we need to do is introspect and look for points that prove hindrance to growth. What services/products/solutions do you offer? This pandemic taught us LIFE and is still taking us by surprise every day. We’ve revamped the whole working policy for the organization and are more empathetic than ever. While we incubate and practice design thinking, we are intrinsically absorbed towards understanding the impact in a better way. LiaisonIT was setup as an integral move to captivate businesses with the right framework, we grew beyond the offset and fell in the shoes of management consulting after successfully delivering custom-crafted solutions to preeminent problems. We are an outsourcing organization to all your needs, that can build up your presence without a hitch. We set up the required captive based on your values, ethics, and principles, coupling in mind the right needs for your business to help your operations operate smoothly and in the parallel note, craft an extended business development arm for your business. Anant Mishra, Director of Operations, APAC, LiaisonIT, helps businesses find these functional issues and help plan business growth. Here’s how Our motto is to set up an actual growth for the business chain to which we build up the required framework based on their values, ethics, and principles, coupling in mind the right needs for the business to support their operations. We undertook a major shift within our own principles and started working towards a major shift within the organization’s delivery module. We shifted from being management consultants towards delivering IT solutions, bridging the digital gap for the smaller segment of clientele and the journey was pretty interesting wherein we stood at a 1500% increase in our NET revenue during the pandemic itself. What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. While we were studying the facts that check the scalability of a startup, our study revealed what curbs the efforts vs achievement growth and as worrisome as it sounds, the hindrance lies somewhere amid the functional cores. This is where the vision of setting up the right cores and captives was born. We believed we could neutrally align the irrational and erratic problems to a position that serves the efforts and delivers results. Running around a requirement analysis, deep diving within the analysis is the approach to setting up the right manpower. This is done by an enriched team of equation balancers and problem solvers. The experience of handling the right team and a balanced delivery mentions us in high spirits. Disruption is the key here! To be fairly precise, we work on the 3 cores of any business, marketing, operations, and sales actively called the MOS fulcrum of the business. As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? To which, while we let them set up the nodes of their domain, we help them accelerate the process by setting up an extended arm of their business operations, drawing their business growth hacks – in concise. Consider us, your in-house team to set up your captives and captivate your proximity. In my opinion, this is a great time to be in the startup business as you are not alone. Today everyone’s mental shift is to do something innovative, to create a sustainable economy, and to ensure financially there is a 2nd source of What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? 30 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

33. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ We Work On The 3 Cores Of Any Business, Marketing, Operations, And Sales Actively Called The Mos Fulcrum Of The Business.‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Anant Mishra Director of Operations According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategize on scaling your company in the future? ncome as the pandemic has taught that you cannot survive if you don’t have options. Start-ups are not easy and I can say that with my own experience. If you are doing it alone you actually require every minute of a day to perform and execute your foundation plans. If you have a team, you have to ensure that as a team the vision is being met and goals are achieved. Today the startup culture is more collaborative and in co-creation mode. Everyone is realizing the need to support each other to ensure we are creating an ecosystem where we can all thrive prosperously. The startup landscape is very progressive and dynamic natured, holding great potential for those who have the zeal to invest their efforts in starting and building a startup all the verticals. We make sure everyone is updated or in the process of getting updated to the current trends in technology, specific to their domain. Along with learning, we believe in hands-on experience and ensure to apply the new knowledge learned to our internal strategies or on our client projects. We have some unique strategies in the process of getting finalized to ensure that LiaisonIT as an organization is able to spread across multiple cities and countries so that we can create a digital scaling ecosystem for different organizations. i LiaisonIT is a company that started in the digital era and boomed in the super digital era (during & post-pandemic period). Technology is our enabler through which we ensure we are able to scale and support business in different verticals. Today we live in such times, where there is an app or software available for most of our requirements especially when you have to ensure you are digitally scaling your client's organization. Within our setup, we ensure that we have continuous upskilling programs and learning events for all our team members from October 2020 | 31 www.insightssuccess.in

34. Emerging TO watch MICE AFFAIRS MEDIA GROUP A Rising Media Outlet I n this day and age, media houses play a vital role in relaying appropriate information amongst the masses. To get the clear picture of what is going on in the society is very important and a good media house enables just that. A media outlet has a responsibility to provide fair and right news or report to the public. Sachin Mannocha Group CEO Technology post Covid-19 will be the game changer ““ One such media house staying true to its roots while facilitating right news to the audience is MICE AFFAIRS MEDIA GROUP. Sachin Mannocha, the Group CEO is spearheading this media outlet on its way to the top. Key challenges we faced at the start were working within budgets, taking brand name to key players in the market and covering expenses. What we have realized, your startup has to be given treatment like your own baby, you have to nurture, care and handle it in same manner and passion. And that's what we did and things came on the way. Moreover, being focused has been the key for us. Read on to know what Sachin has to say about the dynamics of a robust media house: 1.What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. It was a passion for me to take the offbeat roads to any business line. After having worked for more than 18 years in Travel, MICE, Exhibition Industry, it was more like a dream to start a media firm and dream came true with time when I had to bid good bye to 9 to 6 PM work life and ventured into my dream to follow my passion. Today we have 3 media platforms around my interest area i.e. Travel, MICE, and Association Business. So, following dreams and passion led us here today. 4. As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? As far as we think, startup culture in India is more focused on getting funding and then selling your dreams to others for short term benefits. It's a very short game as per my opinion. Young Entrepreneurs should think a step ahead and nurture their dream projects before asking for funding. Just let the strong investors chase you for your success model. 2.What services/products/solutions do you offer? We offer News Coverage for MICE, Travel and Association Business. We were the first media house in India who launched a dedicated news portal for Association Business. Apart focused MICE Publication was also the first one from India which is covering all verticals of MICE together. Moreover, we do organize Business Connecting Workshops, Conferences and Seminars. Recently we have concluded three-day Virtual Expo and Conference named Life Expo 2020 bringing together 2000 + Delegates and 45 + International Speakers from various domains. 5. According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategize on scaling your company in the future? There is a paradigm shift, if any industry is not flexible enough to adapt, I am afraid they shall be able to compete or not or may be even exist in market. For us, we are open for collaborations in next phase and looking out for more partners across the globe to make our start up a global brand. 3. What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? 32 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

35. Emerging TO watch MINDSOR LLC Providing the best of Software and Satffing or the inevitable digital transformation, most F Mindsor LLC helps companies with both of them. Saroj Kumar Behera, Sr Resource Executive, shares more about Mindsor: companies need to focus on two aspects – the software required and the people who can do it. What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. The first and foremost idea was to start a business through which I could give job to the deserving. This idea to me while I was employed with another company. While working there, my experiences pushed me towards entrepreneurship. What services/products/solutions do you offer? We offer Software development and staffing. SAROJ KUMAR BEHERA Sr Resource Executive What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? There was a dearth of work with most of the clients cutting down on hiring. Not getting more work from old clients and no new client was challenging. According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategise on scaling your company in the future? As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? I am positive that the startup culture is here to stay with new ideas and unique implementations. I am feeling good about it! We would like to expand our services in the software industry and e commerce. October 2020 | 33 www.insightssuccess.in

36. Emerging TO watch OPEX ACCELERATOR PVT. LTD Bridging the Gap between Job Seekers and Creators A t the two ends of a bridge are educated young people who want to be employed and companies who would love to hire them. In between is the need of these youngsters to transition from being educated to being employable. prototype generation, launching and scale-up of the business. What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? Starting back in 2016, it was a daunting task to set up an accelerator in South Maharashtra, especially in Kolhapur- region. People were not at all accustomed to entrepreneurship cells and startups. Institutions were quite reluctant to tying up as they had created a mindset of non-availability of sufficient knowledge of startups. Creating massive awareness about startup and its ecosystem was the first big step to bring institutions, faculty, students, etc. into the mainstream of Startups. “ Sachin Kumbhoje, Founder & CEO have been unearthed due to subsequent lockdown especially in the healthcare sector, massive funding and growth will be seen in this sector in the coming months. People are getting tech-savvy and the youth of today are getting more involved in Tech Sector thus, this highlights and puts good sunshine in solving India's pertinent problems of Public Service and Sustainable Development. Bridging this gap between the people and company are startups like OpEx Accelerator Pvt. Ltd. Here’s Sachin Kumbhoje, Founder & CEO, OpEx Accelerator sharing his story. What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. OpEx StartUp Accelerator was started with the sole motto of creating awareness regarding StartUps, mostly among students and budding entrepreneurs. OpEx focuses on major directions for the Skill Development Framework, including increasing the capacity, synergy among existing academia. It seeks to address the lacunae in Entrepreneurship by steps like streamlining entrepreneurship in the education system, inventing business through mentorship, fostering social entrepreneurship, promoting inclusivity, improving the ease of doing business, and providing access to the Global market. According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategise on scaling your company in the future? Technology is the next big thing and in that data management and data mining will be again the next big thing. Looking at how Information Technology is evolving at current times and all- inclusion of AI, ML, 3D Printing as well as other technologies such as Blockchain Tech. The StartUp is sure to incorporate in no time and thus, everyone will get to see the transformation in near future. Everyone uses Smart Devices these days and innovation in other products and thus making them smart, will eventually lead to people becoming smart in the coming months to years. We are in the business of making graduates Industry-ready by improving their employability through our unique personalized blended learning model. “ CoVID-19 Pandemic was such a challenging time as institutions were closed and students had to leave their hostel and study center to their hometowns. Thus, providing the required support to already enrolled students and institutions was a big task. As a result, we came up with Online Sessions for students, faculty, and institutions regarding startups and what prerequisites can be used in setting it up. What services/products/solutions do you offer? OpEx Accelerator Private Limited offers diversified StartUp & Skill Development services to Institutions, Industries, Emerging StartUp’s, and Students. We support student startups and other startups irrespective of the business sector in Tier II and Tier III region, through organizing StartUp Events, Mentoring, handholding, funding assistance, business management, As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? StartUp and its ecosystem is still an evolving factor in tier 3 and small towns of India. But, I am very much optimistic about the future of Startups in India. Looking at the present loopholes that With the changing times and realization that awakened us with the current lockdown measures, we have employed Online Lecture Series, Virtual Meets and thus Virtual Competitions, LMS Programs for students, Online Consultation for entrepreneurs and budding enterpriser etc. are in pipeline. 34 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

38. Emerging TO watch Social Paltan Delivering Creative Digital Marketing Services C Creativity in marketing has a synergy that outsmarts all the available outlooks and engages the customer on a personal level. People when relate to things that are closer to them, any memory, feeling, or a thought can be leveraged in marketing but with appropriate approach and creativity at top. A lot of marketing companies are deriving creativity in their operations to the best extent possible in order to enhance their client experience. reativity has always been the frontrunner when it comes to marketing of any business. customers and other online platforms or whoever its target audience is. It believes that the traditional marketing is their ‘Gold that Never Gets Old,’ but digital marketing is their ‘Kohinoor ka Heera.’ What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? Abhilash: Our business is directly proportional to our client’s business. Due to pandemic the market was disturbed, and it hampered our business also. But our team came up with creative ideas to keep people engaged on social media during such crucial times as well. We started quizzes, giveaways and live sessions. It is helping our clients to stay connected to the customers and deal with the current situation. As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? Let’s read what more Abhilash has to say about the in and outs of his marketing agency, Social Paltan through the below insights he has shared with us: What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. One such marketing agency servicing its clients with a pinch of creativity is Social Paltan. The agency has two branches in India, namely Pune and Nagpur in the state of Maharashtra. “Our aim is to use the power of the internet and customer engagement to grow your business,” says Abhilash Bende, CEO of Social Paltan. Abhilash is the brain and heart behind the company. He brings 4 years of creative experience leveraging his expertise from a series of industries that he catered to, namely event organizing, customer-support, and advertising agencies. Abhilash: As of today, there are many companies that are offering marketing solutions in the market. But, very few of them offer both online and offline services. So, we came up with an idea to build a company that will offer 360 degree and cost-effective marketing solutions to small and medium size businesses. This will help businesses to boost their audience interaction, presence and sales in an efficient manner. What services/products/solutions do you offer? Abhilash: We are a country known for innovation and creativity. Many startups have achieved their mark in a very short period. They work hard to achieve their goals and make things happen. I think if someone has an idea, he\she should come forward and make it happen. In the next few years, India will be known as a start-up hub, with maximum number of successful startups in the world. According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategize on scaling your company in the future? “Our relationships are built on real- time communication, reporting, and feedbacks,” states Abhilash. The team at Social Paltan ensures that a business’s brand looks great to its Abhilash: Social Media Marketing, website designing, ERP solutions, UI/UX design, Sales Support, Business Development, Ads Making, Product Shoot and Video Making, and Printing. 36 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in

39. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ We want our company’s presence all over the world and we want to provide genuine assistance to the companies for marketing and business development‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Abhilash Bende CEO Abhilash: Emerging technology and data in the new oil.Technology will not be able to avoid the consequences of a pandemic; nevertheless, it can assist in managing this crisis more effectively. From distance learning to ordering food online, to OTT platforms and health monitoring technologies has disrupted the current market. During this time of uncertainty and constant fear, our willingness to adopt technology has been our lifeline. October 2020 | 37 www.insightssuccess.in

40. Emerging TO watch SR INNOVATIONS DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS L eading an eco-friendly lifestyle is not a trend but a necessity. So is staying away from plastic. Realizing the same, the packaging industry has been looking for solutions that can help them make the switch from plastic to sustainable material for their packaging purposes. Assisting them in this transition are companies like SR Innovations. bags for shopping malls, Textiles & ready-mades, Jewellery Shops, Gift for all occasions& events, Promotional Online Shopping, Wholesalers, Retailers, Collages, Corporate Clients, Fundraisers, Food Companies, Grocery Stores, Organizations, Restaurants, Temples, Retailers, Tradeshows and Many More Avvaru Harish, CEO As the founder/CEO, what is your opinion on the current landscape of startup culture in India? In recent years, start-ups have been receiving increased attention in many parts of the world. In India, the number of start-ups has increased fast and more support has become available in all dimensions. Indian start-up ecosystem has come a long way in providing a level playing field for innovators to flourish by strengthening capabilities and fostering co-creation. Packaging Bags for Industries, Textiles, Rice, Seeds, and Many More Commodities. SR Innovations is leading the industry with its constant endeavour to deliver the highest quality of woven and non- woven bags to its customers at a competitive price. We have already introduced Bopp Laminated Non-Woven Box Type Shopping Bags exclusively for Shopping Malls. “ Here’s Avvaru Harish, CEO, sharing his and the company’s journey. What is your vision behind your startup? Tell us how the idea came about. Supplier of Choice in our Selected Industries with a Global Presence. Since the usage of plastic bags is harmful to our environment, we came up with an idea of alternative to Plastic Bags which are Eco-Friendly Non- Woven Bags. These Non-Woven bags are Reusable, Recyclable and Eco- Friendly to Environment. Our woven and non-woven bags are widely appreciated for their eye-catching and trendy designs and durability. “ Government should provide more benefits and must encourage Start-ups According to you, how important is it to be updated with technology as per your industry sector? And How do you strategise on scaling your company in the future? It is very important to get updated with the latest technology. To give competitive price to customers we have to adopt new technology with increased productivity and even reduced operational costs and labour cost by investing and updating to new automated technology. What were the challenges you came across during the inception of your startup and in COVID 19? Competitive Pricing, Competitors, Production Quality, Capital Investment Finding Customers, Financing, Winning Trust of Customers What services/products/solutions do you offer? Our products are Multicolour Bopp- laminated Non-woven Box type bags, Plain Non-Woven Box Bags, Flexo Printed Box type bags, Box Bag with Handle, Flat Bag with Handle, D-Cut Bag, W-Cut Bag, Shoe Bag, PP-Woven Rice & Seed Bags These bags are manufactured with latest Ultrasonic Sealing Non-woven In future, we will focus on acquiring customers before having a product to sell, Creating Employment and Career opportunities to New Teams and Providing Tailormade Solutions to the Customers, Planning Investment of Capital in Advance During COVID 19 we have faced financial problems like non-payments from customers. To maintain capital to run business was harder and so was presenting salaries to employees 38 | October 2020 www.insightssuccess.in