Apollo Cancer Centres launches “ArtCan” to raise awareness about Breast Cancer

For the first time in the country, artists and survivors join hands to win over cancer

The Apollo Cancer Centres (ACC), ranked among the world’s best cancer hospitals, launches – ArtCan, a unique initiative which uses art as a medium to spread awareness on Breast Cancer. Apollo Cancer Centres joined hands with mural artists and survivors to curate art that educates and empowers every woman about the importance of regular self-breast examination.

Through ancient Kerala Mural Arts, 8 steps of self-breast examination bring attention to the issue of breast cancer. Each frame reflects the story of a woman who discovered this condition while performing a self-breast examination, acted on time and defeated cancer. These eight steps have also been depicted in a book format called ‘Chitra Sutra’.

The Mural Arts were unveiled today at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi. This unique initiative was inaugurated by Mrs Amal Allana, Director Art Heritage Gallery, Lifetime Trustee, Alkazi Foundation for the Arts and Ex-Chairperson, National School of Drama along with the eminent artist Ramesh, breast cancer experts, and winners.

Speaking during the launch of the campaign, Mrs Amal Allana, Director, Art Heritage Gallery, said, “Art facilitates communication between patients and healthcare personnel by bringing forth insights from the patients’ views that can be communicated to the world. I appreciate Apollo Cancer Centres' use of art as a medium to educate and raise awareness about self-breast examination. I'm hoping that this initiative will reach women from all over the country and help them win over breast cancer.”

Mr Shivakumar, Managing Director, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said, “In keeping with our vision of being at the forefront of cancer research, we have launched the 'ArtCan' breast cancer awareness campaign. It’s a popular belief that life imitates art and hence, art has the power to transcend languages and cultural barriers. Our initiative, ArtCan, will create a silent conversation and leave a deep impression on the audience. Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer globally and accounts for 25% of all cancer cases in women. So, early detection is the key to better outcomes. We believe an ancient Kerala mural art is a unique medium to create awareness about breast cancer and the importance of self-breast examination (SBE)”.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ramesh Sarin, Senior Consultant –  Surgical Oncology, said, “In 2022, over 20 lakh cases of breast cancer have been witnessed so far. Apollo Cancer Centres has been a leader in oncology and has treated multiple complex cancer cases. Understanding and getting tested for cancer at the right time can make a difference in saving a life. This initiative of ours to teach EARLY DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER BY BSE (breast self-examination) IN THE FORM OF ART will convey a MESMERISING message to the masses SO THAT THEY ARE AWARE of breast HEALTH AND BREAST cancer and understand the symptoms to get tested at an early stage.”

The cancer winner shared her thoughts on the initiative, said, “Apollo Cancer Centre has been my pillar of strength throughout my journey of winning over cancer. Breast cancer came with stigmas and loads of challenges, but the timely medical treatment and tender loving care of Apollo helped me through. As a survivor myself, in line with this initiative of ArtCan, I encourage women all around India to get regularly tested for breast cancer. The early detection not only increases the chances of survival but can be treated in the best way possible without complications.”

 

“It was truly fulfilling to work on this one-of-a-kind project, ArtCan. We are glad that Apollo Cancer Centres is using this powerful medium of storytelling through traditional Indian art to disseminate important medical information. Information that can save thousands of lives. At the same time, this effort is shining a spotlight on India's proud artistic heritage and our master artists, which really aligns with our mission,” said Ramesh, mural artist.

 

Breast Cancer is a result of multiple factors which include environmental and lifestyle changes. In most cases, it is due to anomalies that arise out of the aging process, while in 5-10% of the cases, it is genetically inherited. Early detection is the best protection against breast cancer. Regular self-examination and mammography at regular intervals have proven to be most effective in early diagnosis and in achieving better results in treatment and cure. Apollo Hospitals has been a pioneer in introducing comprehensive screening protocols for the early detection of breast cancer.

#WinningOverCancer

PFNDAI Associates with IFBA to Promote Healthy Living

Protein Foods and Nutrition Development Association of India (PFNDAI) and Ind Food & Beverage Association (IFBA) joined hands to promote healthy living amongst consumers. This association is a strategic move that will urge people across the country to prioritize health and make mindful choices whilst facilitating credible information on the benefits of nutritional foods.

 

The Indian food industry is making concerted efforts to produce food that is flavorful yet safe and nutritious. Encouraging the fortification of foods by regulatory bodies is further helping in the preparation of healthier food products. This is a major reason why protein consumption has witnessed a surge in India owing to its requirement for optimal functioning of the body. This consumer shift towards healthy choices is also leading to an increase in the marketing of nutraceutical and dietary supplements, which is playing an integral role in preventive healthcare.
 

L-R: Mr. Deepak Jolly, Chairperson, IFBA and Dr. Shatadru Sengupta, Chairman, PFNDAI

 

Dr. Shatadru Sengupta, Chairman, PFNDAI, said, “We at PFNDAI help guide industries, institutions, government initiatives, etc. that design and apply food science along with nutrition on aspects such as product manufacturing and delivery with the sole aim to provide high-quality, health-promoting and safe foods to the consumers. IFBA is working with a similar ideology to drive the growth of the food and beverage industry in the country. We are grateful to them for their support and we sincerely hope that our collaborative efforts would go a long way to improve the health quotient of the Indian consumers and improve the overall landscape of the industry.”

 

PFNDAI and IFBA aim to bring about a change in the Indian food landscape by making consumers aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The idea is to share credible information about food regulations and food safety to promote compliance, and push the industry’s growth by building consumer trust through shared responsibility. Furthermore, the entities plan to sustain the market with the assistance of proactive engagement with policymakers, institutions, academia, and regulators along with building a positive perception of the country’s food processing sector.
 

Sharing his viewpoints and elation on this partnership, Mr. Deepak Jolly, Chairperson, IFBA said, “We are delighted to associate with Protein Foods & Nutrition Development Association of India (PFNDAI). Both of us share a common vision and work on the same path of protecting, supporting, and growing the Indian food and beverage industry in our own different ways. We are sure that our joint efforts will help not just the consumers but it will also be beneficial to the industry at a larger scale.”

 

PFNDAI has already been working with the Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (AFST) and Indian Dietetic Association to seamlessly combine food science and nutrition to leverage the ideas of nutritionists and dieticians and not only make healthy products but also create awareness about them amongst consumers and other important stakeholders. In today’s digital-driven world, false and misleading information sharing is highly likely. Aiming to curb this practice and promote authentic information exchange, PFNDAI and IFBA have associated to strengthen their collaborative efforts in this direction. Together, they intend to spread awareness about nutritious foods as well as sustainable production of agricultural produce.
 

For more information, please visit www.indfba.comwww.pfndai.org.


(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NewsVoir  India and this publication takes no editorial responsibility for the same)

UL Solutions Laboratory in Bangalore Receives Top Honor for Operational Best Practices, Sustainability and Societal Contributions in India

The Quality Council of India's National Board for Quality Promotion recognized the UL Solutions laboratory in Bangalore, India, as a center of excellence for its digitalized processes, quality management system and service to customers, employees and the community.

BANGALORE, India, Oct. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — UL Solutions, a global leader in applied safety science, today announced that its laboratory in Bangalore, India, received a Prof. S.K. Joshi Laboratory Excellence Award Certificate of Appreciation.

UL Solutions receives a Prof. S.K. Joshi Laboratory Excellence Award Certificate of Appreciation from the Quality Council of India. Pictured here from left: Vipin Sondhi, former CEO, Ashok Leyland, Sudhir Zutshi, director of Global Government Affairs at UL Solutions, Nandakumar Sarangan, laboratory manager at UL Solutions, Adil Zainulbhai, chairman, Quality Council of India, Vinutha M.U., quality engineering manager at UL Solutions, V. Srinivasa Desika, sales director at UL Solutions.

The Prof. S.K. Joshi Laboratory Excellence Award, an award program of the Quality Council of India (QCI) National Board for Quality Promotion (NBQP), was established to promote laboratory quality and performance improvement in India, including a laboratory's commitment to achieving excellence. This includes providing high precision testing and calibration services in line with applicable national and international quality system requirements as well as health, safety and environmental factors. The award recognizes testing, medical and calibration laboratories that have outstanding achievements in the areas of quality in services and sets benchmarks through best practices in their domain.

In naming UL Solutions as the recipient of the Prof. S.K. Joshi Laboratory Excellence Award, the QCI noted the company's contributions to the community, quality management system and operational efficiency. The Bangalore laboratory utilizes cloud-based intelligent data acquisition, real-time insights and paperless electronic data recording to enhance operational speed, accuracy and efficiency. The laboratory's sustainability efforts include a 90% reduction in paper documents through digitalization as well as recycling 100% of its electronic waste. UL Solutions further stood out for its commitment to people through staff volunteerism in the community, continuous evaluation of career advancement opportunities for employees and implementation of a web-based learning management system. A robust quality management system was also established to support excellence in service, accuracy and transparency.

The Bangalore laboratory delivers comprehensive testing, certification and global market access services for a wide range of wireless, renewable energy, power and automation, composites material and medical equipment products. The facility's capabilities enable UL Solutions to serve customers in a variety of industry segments, such as automotive, information and communications technology, industrial products and systems, consumer electronics, medical devices and household appliances.

“It is truly an honor and a proud moment for our Bangalore laboratory to be recognized by the NBQP for our service quality and best practices,” Nandakumar Sarangan, laboratory manager at UL Solutions, said. “Receiving the Prof. S.K. Joshi Laboratory Excellence Award Certificate of Appreciation is a testament to our work to help advance science, safety, opportunity and economic growth. Thank you, to our entire Bangalore laboratory team, for your efforts and contributions that made this achievement possible.”

The award was open to all currently operational testing, medical and calibration laboratories in India, including their proficiency testing providers and reference material producers. Laboratories that applied for consideration were required to comply with quality system requirements regarding implementation and monitoring as stipulated in ISO 17025, testing and calibration laboratories; ISO 15189, medical laboratories; ISO 17043, conformity assessment; and ISO 17034, general requirements for the competence of reference material producers.

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ASEAN Heads of Missions in India attend Business Summit in Bhubaneswar

A senior delegation of ASEAN Heads of Missions in India led by Ms. Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador to Royal Thai Embassy, India completed their 3-day visit to Odisha with a fruitful meeting with Shri Naveen Patnaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha. In a meeting held at the Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhavan, Bhubaneswar, Shri Patnaik thanked the delegation for visiting Odisha. Addressing the Heads of Missions, Shri Patnaik said, “Odisha has the boon of geography and has been blessed with natural resources and major ports on the Bay of Bengal. We are the gateway to the ASEAN region. As we move to a modern world, connected more and more through technology, I hope that we can renew the strong ties between our two regions. I hope that in the coming years we can further strengthen our trade ties and not just that, I also hope that we can increase our cultural ties and come up with more cultural exchange programs.”

The Hon’ble Chief Minister also invited the Ambassadors to attend the Make in Odisha Conclave’22 along with their trade delegations. He further said that the MIO Conclave’22 is a great platform to further strengthen the business ties between the two regions and Government of Odisha will facilitate G2B and B2B meeting with local companies and the trade delegations of ASEAN Nations. He also requested them to set up country desks in the International Pavilion at the MIO Conclave.

The delegation of ASEAN Heads of Missions in New Delhi had accepted the invitation to visit Odisha by the Hon’ble Chief Minister on 31st August 2022 during the Ambassadors’ Meet held in New Delhi in the lead up to Make in Odisha Conclave’22. The delegation came to Odisha on 26th October 2022. The delegation visited various industrial sites and cultural sites in the state on 26th and 27th October 2022. They also attended a cultural program hosted by Shri Pratab Keshari Deb, Hon’ble Minister of Industries, MSME and Energy, Government of Odisha on 27th October 2022.

On 28th October, the delegation visited the Khandagiri Caves and attended the 50th anniversary of Dhauli Shanti Stupa. After attending the event at Dhauli, the delegation came to Lok Seva Bhawan to participate in a Mega Business Summit organized by the Industries Department, Government of Odisha. The Business Summit was also attended by senior Government of Odisha officials led by Shri Suresh Mahapatra, Chief Secretary to Government, Shri Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Shri Shadique Alam, Director of Industries, MSME Department, and Shri Reghu G, Director, Technical Education and Training. The summit also saw the participation of all the major business associations and industries of Odisha. The aim of the summit was to discuss ways to further strengthen the trade as well as cultural ties between Odisha and South East Asia. Speaking during the summit, Shri Mahapatra highlighted the strong trade and cultural ties between South-East Asia and Odisha. He said, “Our two regions have a long and distinguished history of maritime trade and shared cultural values. I hope that we can further strengthen these ties and increase the trade and commerce between the two regions even more.” The Chief Secretary also thanked the business community in Odisha for their role in making Odisha an Industrial Hub. Talking to the industry leaders and associations, he said, “You have been an ambassador for Odisha and our business ecosystem. You have played an immense role in ensuring the goodwill generated for Odisha and have been a partner in our growth story.”

The 3-day visit by the ASEAN delegation to Odisha has been a historic one, rekindling the strong cultural and trade ties between the two regions. This visit will open up new avenues for not only Government to Government but also Business to Business and People to People contact. It also establishes Odisha as the epicenter of India’s trade ties with South East Asia. 

Convergent Finance LLP enters into a strategic partnership with Belgium-based Ackermans & van Haaren

Convergent Finance LLP (“Convergent”) today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Ackermans & van Haaren (“AvH”), an independent and diversified group aiming at creating shareholder value through long-term investments in a limited number of companies with international growth potential. The AvH group represented, at an economic level, a turnover of 6 billion euros in 2021 and is based in Antwerp, Belgium.

 

Through this partnership, Convergent seeks to leverage AvH’s operating and industrial expertise and global networks. Convergent expects that this partnership will help its platform companies (whose businesses are global) explore opportunities in AvH’s sphere of influence. Through this partnership, AvH expects to tap the Convergent team’s diverse network and decades-long expertise in investing in Indian companies and to create industrial and co-investment partnerships over time.

 

Further, as part of this partnership, John-Eric Bertrand (“John-Eric”), AvH’s co-CEO, will be appointed as the Chairman of Convergent’s Advisory Council. John-Eric, who has held various leadership positions at AvH during his 14 years with the group, will work closely with Convergent on investments and future strategies.

 

Harsha Raghavan, the Managing Partner at Convergent, welcomed the partnership and stated, “Convergent’s core objective is to partner with great companies and help them transform into global leaders. We hope our partnership with AvH will help our platform companies achieve this goal by leveraging the group’s network and experience in helping businesses grow. We are also delighted to have John-Eric chair the Advisory Council. As Chairman, he will work with our platform companies on matters including bolt-on acquisitions, organic growth opportunities, and ESG.”

 

John-Eric commented, “The Convergent management team has proven its relevance and distinctiveness in the dynamic Indian market by actively supporting entrepreneurs and management teams in building efficient market leaders, applying a relentless focus on performance improvement across the value chain. AvH and Convergent share similar investment philosophies, aimed at concluding long term partnership with families and management teams in companies with a strong track record of operational and financial success. I and the rest of the AvH team are delighted to partner with Convergent to identify investment opportunities and then working with those companies to expand their businesses.”


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(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NewsVoir  India and this publication takes no editorial responsibility for the same)

Bank of Baroda launches bob World Benefits customer engagement programme

–  To deepen digital engagement, customers will now earn points on transactions made through the bob World app; can redeem accumulated reward points on a wide range of products, gift vouchers etc

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Bank of Baroda (Bank), one of India's leading public sector banks, today announced the launch of 'bob World Benefits' – a customer engagement programme that seeks to reward customers for carrying out digital banking transactions through the bob World mobile banking app. The programme encourages customers to accomplish milestones through financial and non-financial transactions on bob World. Customers will earn reward points as incentives and can redeem the points from a wide range of products, e-vouchers and charitable causes available in the rewards catalogue on bob World.   .

The 'bob World Benefits' programme is live for all customers of the Bank and customers are auto enrolled in the programme. Transactions that can earn customers points include fresh activation & login to bob World; fresh UPI activation & UPI transaction; UPI Collect; third party transfers within bank and outside; bill payments; recharges; Scan & Pay; flight, bus & hotel bookings; buying FASTag; applying for a locker and credit report generation. Each point amounts to INR 0.25 and the points are valid for a period of 36 months.

Shri Akhil Handa, Chief Digital Officer, Bank of Baroda said, “bob World provides a wide range of quick, convenient and hassle-free services for customers and with the launch of 'bob World Benefits' we are now making it rewarding too. The aim of the programme is to increase customer engagement and encourage more customers to experience and take advantage of the many features of bob World. Customers are accustomed to receiving reward points on credit card purchases and we are now pleased to extend that experience to mobile banking too.”

Customers can conveniently redeem their accumulated reward points on a wide range of products across different categories such as apparel, electronics, jewellery, home decor, kitchen appliances as well as e-gift vouchers and charitable causes through the bob World app itself. These redemption options have been enabled under the 'bob World Benefits' section in bob World. For a more convenient experience, customers can combine their points with cash for ease of redemption. 

In addition, new-to-Bank customers who open a B3 Digital-only Savings Account through bob World will also receive coins that can be redeemed for an OTT subscription. The B3 Digital-only Savings Account can be opened by customers sitting at their home through Video KYC.

(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire  India and this publication takes no editorial responsibility for the same)

Nova Eyewear’s Sports Combos amalgamate style and eye care in a fashion-forward manner

 

~ Launches this complete eyewear solution for sports enthusiasts ~

 

Nova Eyewear, the flagship brand from the house of Vision Rx Lab launches Nova Sports Combos, their state-of-the-art customized prescription (Rx) sunglasses in sleek frames for best visual acuity and comfort for any outdoor activity or sports with optimum UV protection, glare protection and advanced lens technology for sharper vision. This exclusive range amalgamates style and eye-care in a fashion-forward manner for everyone who loves to indulge in outdoor activities and sport.

 

As everyone resumes their normal lifestyle, people have begun to return to their favorite outdoor activities out in the sun to stay fit and active. Nova Eyewear’s brand-new range brings a stylish sun solution to consumers who not only lead an active lifestyle but also has an eye for fashion. Nova Sports Comboswith its advanced sun lenses embedded in chic framesblocks harmful UV rays of the Sun in a trendy way. With cutting-edge vision solution in-store; the brand combines advanced UV protective lens technology with finely crafted sports frames to bring out the best offering in the concerned segment. With UV protected powered lenses to glare protection, the brand provides advanced vision technology for better and sharper vision. The plethora of such innovative sunglasses enables athletes to wear powered sun lenses in accordance with their prescription.

 

The brand-new product range also solves an age-old problem for athletes who love to up the style game while being attentive to their optical requisites. Nova Sports Combos specializes in customized lenses for curved sunglass frames and high-curved sports frames making it possible for athletes to wear powered sun lenses as per their prescription in fashionable curvy sports sunglasses with outstanding optical performance.

 

Given that vision protection and glare-free vision are the two key constituents which attracts every sport and outdoor adventures enthusiast, Nova Sports Combos offers its wrap-around sun wear which optimally protects vision from both. To make the most out of their preferred outdoor activities, consumers are constantly in search of accessories which are functional as well as have an aesthetically appealing quality. The new range from Nova Eyewear promises a seamless experience to its consumers. Nova Sports Combos comes with polarized lenses along with a varied range of tint options in trendy frames.

 

All products of Nova Eyewear along with its latest Nova Sports Combos are available in leading optical retail outlets across the country.  The products are also available online, only on https://www.novaeyewear.com/.

 

Speaking on the product launch, Pammi Jamalpuria, VP, Corporate Marketing, Vision Rx Lab, said, “Nova Eyewear meets the need for vision protection and clarity of sports enthusiasts with the complete sun solution offered under Nova Sun Combos. This range comes with innovative tint options, including polarized tints for enhanced clarity and comfort in differing light conditions. Whether it’s the lens or the frame, the best of materials are used to offer customised sports eyewear that’s in line with the best global standards. Wearers can now look forward to clear vision, supreme comfort, all-day vision protection and durability with high quality offerings from a single brand.”

Dia Vikas Capital, a Subsidiary of Opportunity International Australia Makes its Exit from SATYA MicroCapital

Dia Vikas Capital Pvt. Ltd., the India based subsidiary of Opportunity International Australia Limited has exited from the RBI registered NBFC-MFI SATYA MicroCapital Ltd. Dia was the initial institutional investor in SATYA. The partnership lasted for 5 years, during which SATYA received equity infusion from Dia in three tranches.

 

It is also prudent to mention here that at present, SATYA is at the cusp of its expansion with strengthening of its business across corporate development, operations, customer success, marketing, and IT transformation. It is a testimony of SATYA’s performance, and the faith imposed by investors that Dia Vikas Capital could make approximate 5X return on its investment.

 

Sharing his views, Vivek Tiwari (MD, CIO & CEO – SATYA MicroCapital) stated, “I extend my heartfelt wishes and gratitude to Dia Vikas Capital for the trust they have fostered in our organization since inception. This is indeed one of the most remarkable exits any investor has secured in Indian Microfinance Industry post outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. Our ambition is to consistently keep making positive impact and make a difference in the lives of micro entrepreneurs. We are grateful to Dia Vikas Capital that it has always aligned and shared our vision of socio economically uplifting the lives of people at the bottom of the pyramid.”

 

Dia Vikas Capital’s Chairman, Scott Walters, said, “We feel privileged to have been able to work with Vivek, his team, and the SATYA family as they ‘ve made a difference to micro entrepreneurs.

 

To witness the enthusiasm and development of SATYA to become a major force has been an exciting journey. Moving forward, Dia Vikas whilst not being an equity partner, remains committed to supporting SATYA as it continues to empower those living in poverty and assist them in achieving economic self-sufficiency.”

 

Headquartered in the capital city of New Delhi, with the first loan disbursement at the Sikandrabad branch in the Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh, SATYA started its operational journey in January 2017. With the foremost and fundamental goal of empowering rural women, both digitally and financially, SATYA has come a long way since its incorporation.

 

SATYA has recently crossed the milestone of reaching 10 lakh active clients by offering collateral free micro credit services through cashless transactions to women entrepreneurs living in rural semi urban areas of India. Satya has achieved several milestones since its inception on 28th October 2016. Having an impressive loan disbursement portfolio of worth more than INR 6,800 Crores and currently having more than INR 3,250 Crores Assets Under Management. SATYA aims to facilitate socio economic assistance to five million households by the year 2025. Till date, SATYA has established its terrestrial footprints in more than 37,000 villages across 21 states.

 

SATYA is integrally concentrated towards providing financial services to people generally excluded from traditional banking channels because of their low, irregular, and unpredictable income. It aims to set up and boost the provision of easily accessible, cost effective and sustainable financial services to the impoverished to build their financial capacity and ability to grow to financial self-sufficiency. In addition to yielding financial aid to unbanked sections of the population, SATYA MicroCapital consistently associates with institutions of the same wavelength to disseminate the importance of digital and financial literacy in rural areas.

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(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NewsVoir  India and this publication takes no editorial responsibility for the same)

GoFloaters, Hybrid Workplace Platform Startup, Raises Seed Funding led by Loyal VC

GoFloaters Logo

The fund raised will be used to strengthen GoFloaters hybrid workplace solution for teams

CHENNAI, India, Oct. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — GoFloaters, the leading hybrid workplace platform in India, today announced it has secured an undisclosed amount in seed funding. The funding is led by Loyal VC, a Canada-based global venture fund with 220+ investments across 50+ countries. Funds will be primarily utilized to strengthen and accelerate its unified hybrid workplace solution – WorqFlexi.

GoFloaters has built a one-of-a-kind unified hybrid workplace platform aimed at helping teams to work and collaborate in-person from anywhere. GoFloaters customers include the SaaS unicorn Chargebee, Wingify, world-class fintech Branch International, edtech startup Kraftshala, IT services company Ignitho, Incubyte, NotionPress to name a few.

“GoFloaters outperformed great companies from around the world to earn this recent investment by Loyal VC,” said Kamal Hassan, Managing Partner, Loyal VC. “They have done an impressive job of building up partnerships India-wide to offer an innovative new real estate model to corporations. We are delighted to work with them, and to support them through our network of global mentors as they grow in India and beyond,” Mr Hassan added.

Founded by Shyam Sundar Nagarajan and Srivatsan Padmanabhan in 2017, GoFloaters pioneered the concept of low-cost coworking desks with work cafes. GoFloaters currently offers 2000+ on-demand coworking spaces, meeting rooms and long-term offices across 40+ cities in India including a solid presence in Tier 2 & 3 towns. GoFloaters has curated these work and meeting spaces by partnering with over 250 coworking providers including WeWork, Cowrks, 91Springboard, AWFIS, Indiqube and OYO.

“In the post-pandemic world, office space needs have been radicalized. 'The Great Resignation' and 'Quiet Quitting' movements signaled the demand for healthier work-life balance. Employees no longer want to commute to office campuses. They want alternatives to beat isolation, productivity issues and other work-from-home challenges. With company support, employees want workspaces on the go that are outside of home but closer to home. They want flexible spaces to meet, collaborate and bond without returning-to-office. All this together has expedited the adoption of on-demand flexible coworking, meeting and hybrid workplaces, which we have been advocating since long,” said Founder and CEO, Shyam Sundar Nagarajan, GoFloaters. He added, “GoFloaters is helping companies seamlessly transition to a hybrid workplace model with WorqFlexi, a unified hybrid workplace solution.”

Congratulating on this significant milestones, R U Srinivas, Sr. VP, People Success, Chargebee, added, “In a post-Covid world that's still figuring out work models that keep employees at the heart of its success, GoFloaters has been a great partner in helping us adapt to the changing needs and demands of the people that contribute to our business's success. At Chargebee, we have been continuously developing an operating format that provides flexibility, convenience, and compliance — both for our people and the business. We have implemented what we call the Adaptive Workplace Model – a sustainable operating format that gives our people, who are spread over 22 cities in India, the fluidity to do their best work, while being adaptive to business needs and external environments. Our experience with GoFloaters, to that end, has been great from the beginning with a data-driven approach and extremely proactive support.”

“GoFloaters made the whole process simple and convenient for us,” said Vineet A, Executive General Manager, GAIN Credit. He added, “Providing our teams across India the flexibility to work near their home location and collaborate in person was crucial for employee experience and business. Working with GoFloaters, we set up on-demand collaboration hubs in Noida, Gurugram, and Bengaluru.”

GoFloaters' innovative platform helps businesses and teams book a space of their choice and helps the management to provision, monitor and measure the outcome of their hybrid workplace strategy.  The platform also offers Virtual Offices in select cities. GoFloaters has grown 100% month on month post pandemic. More than 80% of its booking comes from B2B teams for meeting spaces, offsites, in-person interactions and day offices for teams.

(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire  India and this publication takes no editorial responsibility for the same)

People with COVID history might be more susceptible to lung issues due to Diwali pollution”: Experts

Diwali, a festival that holds a special place in every heart of the people of India. It is the most exciting festival of lights, celebrations, and enjoyment. It is commonly celebrated by socializing with family and friends and on this occasion, people light up lamps or candles to represent the success of light over darkness. However, burning firecrackers as a part of the celebrations has become a matter of concern. The darkest side of Diwali is the harmful plunge in the air quality. This certainly makes the air very dangerous to breathe. The effect of increased air pollutants remains as it is even some days after Diwali causing several health problems.

According to Dr. Gajendra Singh, Public Health Expert, “In recent days, many countries worldwide have seen a steady surge in COVID cases and omicron sub-variants Cases of new COVID variants XBB and XBB.1 is spreading in several countries at a fast pace. India has also seen 80+ cases in states like Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Hence, immediately after the Diwali festival is over, health experts are concerned about awareness regarding precautionary methods especially with the rise in cases of XBB. It is important to understand how precautionary vaccination as necessary as previous doses is to avoid the risks of getting re-infected with the new variant”.

Dr. Gajendra Singh further added, “Diwali indicates the onset of winters, and it is the time when people aged beyond 50, people with different co-morbid health issues become more vulnerable and fall sick with breathing issues due to changing weather and increased air pollution. People with pre-existing health conditions like Asthma, Bronchitis, or COPD should take their all due COVID vaccine doses on priority. There should be no further delay in getting their booster shots because it has been proved by multiple clinical studies that all the booster doses available in India, Covishield, Covaxin, Cobervax, and Sputnik can significantly contribute to re-strengthening the vaccine efficacy and reduce the chances of hospitalization and other complex health conditions especially in people who suffer from some pre-existing respiratory disorders”.

Speaking about the Diwali pollution, Dr. Gurmeet Singh Chabbra, Director & HOD – Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Marengo QRG Hospital said, “The most noteworthy thing is that the smoke of burning crackers remains in the air for many days after Diwali. During this time, Diwali is a crucial time of the year when the air pollution rises to its peak, and we have witnessed aggravation of breathing issues in people during this time. People with a history of COVID should be more careful during Diwali because, COVID has been seen to have long-lasting, adverse effects on the lungs. Due to the maximum exposure, to different air pollutants such as high levels of carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in size, may result in symptoms like irritation in the throat, cough, and breathlessness during Diwali and even after some days post-Diwali. Therefore, it is vital for people with chronic lung diseases to get themselves vaccinated with booster shots so that they remain safe from getting re-infected with coronavirus as that can now become life-threatening for them.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on every individual across the globe but in India, specifically, patients with respiratory disorders had the most difficult time due to Diwali pollution. Furthermore, Diwali is being celebrated amid the coronavirus pandemic for the last three years. Looking back on the last year’s celebration, India had witnessed a huge spike in COVID-19 infections with new variants just immediately after the Diwali. Since, the festival always indulges gatherings, and therefore, increased number of cases have always been observed in the country post-festive celebrations. Despite most of the eligible adult population being at least vaccinated with the primary doses of COVID-19, we can never ignore the possibility of another wave anytime soon if we do not prioritize taking the required precautions. The vaccine is a weapon against community transmission of any virus, therefore there should be multiple booster doses to ensure we move towards the complete eradication of COVID-19.