Download the Deerika Express App to Enjoy Maximum Cashback with Exclusive Online Deals this Festive Season

Deerika plus membership program witnesses overwhelming response from consumers

Adding to the festive fervor, Deerika Retail today announced attractive cashback with exclusive online deals for consumers who are using its proprietary app. Every new app user will get 10% cashback on their first order, 20% cashback on their 2^nd order, and 30% cashback on their 3^rd order.

Deerika Express app introduces Subscription daily/weekly/monthly like Dairy/Fresh/Non Veg on a range of categories. The subscription allows you to get everything as per your convenience, choose the time slot and Deerika will get it delivered without you struggling.

Apart from the exclusive deals and offers, Deerika plus members also get an additional 5% discount over and above the current offers and no two offers will be clubbed together. Also, Deerika plus members get an additional 5% cashback on their favourite brands. This will help members to keep their budget under control while picking up the quality product.

The Deerika plus membership program that the brand initiated in September 2022 has been seeing an overwhelming response from consumers. The membership is available at an enrolment fee of Rs. 1999 + Taxes and is valid for 1 year. The benefits of the program include 5% cashback over and above all existing offers, an assured goodie bag of Rs. 2000 for every customer when they enrol. The bag contains Deerika king-size bedsheet, Deerika Towel and 6 Pc Glass set. Loyal customers also get the privilege of fast billing at counters on the shop floor without any waiting hassle. There is also free home delivery for members, with minimum shopping of Rs. 99, in addition to exclusive priority customer service.

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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)

Maple Diwali Offers: Get iPhone 13 for as low as Rs. 35,900 and MacBook Air M2 at just Rs. 69,900

The Diwali deals offered by Maple makes it the ideal time to buy an Apple device with the best buyback price, instant cashbacks, and exchange bonus.

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — If one has been holding out for an upgrade, Maple's lucrative festive offers are just the thing that they've been waiting for. Maple, one of India's leading Apple Premium Resellers has announced Diwali offers, a festive offer with irresistible deals. It includes a limited-time jaw-dropping offer on iPhone 13 and MacBook Air M2.

With a 12-megapixel front camera and a splendid 6.1-inch screen, the iPhone 13 with an original price of Rs. 69,900 can be bought at just Rs. 35,900. The Apple Premium Reseller is offering an exchange value of up to Rs. 28,000 and on top of it, consumers can also get an instant cashback of Rs. 3,000. Additionally, they also benefit from up to Rs. 6,000 exchange bonus. With its partner banks, Maple offers 24 months no cost EMI.

To further sweeten the offer, Maple also has a great deal on MacBook Air M2 making it a steal. With the Upgrader Fest offer, one can get it for just Rs. 69,900 which normally costs Rs. 119,900. The offer price is inclusive of buyback price of old device, an instant cashback of Rs. 6,000 and exchange bonus of up to Rs. 5,000. The MacBook Air M2's fan-less design, battery and performance per watt make it a device that can be used for years. Hurry up as these deals are limited.

Along with these two amazing offers, Maple also has many Diwali deals on the website. There are flat discounts with instant cashbacks on iPhone, MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watch, and Apple accessories. The discounts offered are up to flat 10% on all Apple devices.

Maple offers best-in-class customer experience and valuable offers, giving them an edge over others. It has a robust PAN India e-commerce presence with stores in Mumbai and Mangalore. Over its 15 years of experience, it has more than half a million customers and it aims to strengthen it further by offering exemplary customer service.

To know more about other offers, visit the nearest Maple store or log on to maplestore.in.

Please note: Terms and conditions apply.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1926825/maple_diwali_offer.jpg

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

Celebrating together: How one campaign sparked a mission of goodwill

Construction giant Suroj Buildcon's unique Diwali film shines a light on the nation's unsung heroes and spurs thousands to find festive joy even when away from home

PUNE, India, Oct. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — On the onset of the thrilling Diwali season, when millions of people journey home to ring a spirit of celebrations with their loved ones, Suroj Buildcon seized the moment to salute and celebrate the ones who stay behind in service to their nation and professions.

As one of India's leading civil engineering and construction companies, Suroj's commitment to the transformative growth of the country is deeply rooted in its ideals and core mission. Hence, when the festivities began, Suroj decided to carry out a new tradition for its employees, especially those unable to travel back home during the season.

Across all its locations and active sites, Suroj encouraged its people to step out and celebrate the festival of lights with locals, the poor and people who needed a sense of family the most at this time. By distributing gifts, helping families decorate their homes and bringing a general sense of festive cheer to the less privileged, Suroj employees all over India were able to make celebrations a little more brighter for each other and their local communities.

And the idea that sparked this little movement was a heartwarming little campaign film.

Before the festive season rolled in, Suroj Buildcon and their long-time ad agency Velocita Brand Consultants teamed up to create an enthralling Diwali campaign film that would capture the season's essence while promoting a special message that would resonate with the company's own ideals and people all over India. Once the campaign titled #YehDiwaliUnkeNaam was released, its real-world impact on the minds of the Suroj employees was even more inspiring and life-changing.

The film's touching tale of kindness and kinship is told through the perspective of an average Suroj employee – someone who understands the feeling of being away from home during the most emotional time of the year and who explores what it means to find family and the joys of Diwali in local surroundings while inspiring others to do so too.

As the moving sentiment rippled through the company, they decided to extend the campaign further and implement its message throughout all its real work sites.

Sachin Biyani, Managing Director at Suroj Buildcon, expressed how much this idea and its impact meant to the company. “Suroj has always been passionately dedicated to the growth of our country,” he says. “And, we have always wanted to honour the people who stay committed to their work, no matter what. Dedicated souls who stay behind to ensure the wheels of progress keep turning, allowing others to go home to celebrate. We hope our campaign film connects with them and that they feel seen and inspired.”

The film ends with an emotive tribute, dedicating the entire story to all the people who stay valiantly committed to their professional duties during the festive season, letting each one know that their contribution towards our nation's progress will never be forgotten.

Spreading festive joy, one act of kindness at a time

12 states
23+ active sites
1400+ employees
14000+ lives brightened

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

Dozee to launch AI-based ECG patch for remote Cardiac monitoring

· Dozee enters the cardiac monitoring segment with this minimal, flexible and light electrocardiogram (ECG) patch that detects abnormal heart rates and rhythms (arrythmia) when the patient is ambulatory

· This enhances Dozee's current made-in-India remote patient monitoring (RPM) offering. Comprehensive patient vitals can be captured with complete ease and convenience, in a cardiac patient's life.

Dozee, India's first contactless Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) company will soon launch an ambulatory Electrocardiogram (ECG) patch to monitor patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). This easy-to-use ECG patch augments Dozee's current AI-powered RPM system to play a key role in assisting Health Care Professionals (HCPs) in identifying early signs of cardiac deterioration ensuring there is timely medical intervention, thereby improving patient safety.

This ambulatory ECG patch monitors the electrical activity of your heart continuously over multiple days. It will help detect critical cardiac arrhythmias, so HCPs can manage critical situations with swift data-backed medical decisions. Since, Dozee also allows them to remotely monitor vital parameters such as heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and temperature, HCPs can get a comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition.

The ECG patch is small, flexible, light and convenient to use and the physician can remotely get alerts and view the live and continuous ECG of the patient from anywhere as the system is cloud-enabled.

Dr. Ruchit Shah, Interventional Cardiologist, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai said “The only way we can diagnose patients at an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest and death or cardiovascular disorders is by early detection. But, with a large gap in the number of healthcare facilities and people in need of care, these signs can often be missed by conventional testing methods and can be bridged by integrating with technology – and Dozee's ECG patch helps us do just that. Patients who are at risk of suffering from a cardiovascular incident tend to show some signal intensity changes on ECG which can be picked up by continuous remote monitoring. These changes, when picked up early and detected can be treated on time and can be lifesaving. Dozee's ECG patch is a small step in early detection and treatment and can help in improving longevity, lifestyle and reduction in mortality.”

“We are excited to enter the cardiac monitoring segment in India with our ECG patch, which is an addition to our vitals monitoring portfolio. This technology can be especially pivotal in India, as cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of morbidity and mortality over the last three decades. We envisage that Dozee's Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) portfolio will become an integral part of cardiac care in the near future both in hospital and at home,” said Mudit Dandwate, CEO & Co-founder – Dozee

With an estimated prevalence range from 1.3 million to 4.6 million cardiac cases a year, and an annual incidence of 4.91k–1.8 million ^[1], cardiac ailments are a fast growing disease burden. While there are efforts being made to contain the epidemic by educating people about preventive measures, especially those at higher risk, the ever increasing burden of patients living with life threatening indications of the ailment, poses a noteworthy challenge.

Dozee's new foray into cardiology will help take patient safety to the next level and change the way patients are monitored in the hospital – ensuring support across the spectrum of public and private healthcare.

Brillio Pledges to help 1 Million Children globally By 2030

Reached 800+ schools and impacted 1,00,000+ children

The program’s focus is to arm 10 to 16-year-old government school children with the tools to succeed in our digital-first, entrepreneurial and disruptive world.

Bringing Smiles, the CSR program of Brillio, a leading global digital consulting and technology services company, today announced that over 1,00,000 children and 800 schools have been reached through a combination of digital learning programs, scholarships, and STEM skills development program initiatives worldwide. Brillio also made a bold commitment to reach 1 Million children through a combination of global initiatives by 2030. In addition to the ongoing initiatives, Brillio also announced its aim to provide scholarships to hundreds of students from higher & secondary Government Schools.

Launched in 2015, Bringing Smiles combines financial resources from Brillio, robust employee engagement programs across Brillio’s 18 offices globally, and partnerships with schools and non-profit organizations to make an impact in the lives of underserved children. The overarching focus of the Bringing Smiles program is to prepare 10 to 16-year-olds to thrive in today’s digital-first, entrepreneurial and disruptive world.

On this occasion, Abhishek Ranjan, Director – Sustainability, Brillio said, “At Brillio, we strongly believe that youth hold the key to unlocking the future of innovation and creative problem-solving. We collaborate with Government schools to ensure that underserved students have access to the same digital tools and cutting-edge technology available to children in private schools. We are keen to continue lighting the way for government school children with science, math and technological skills needed for them to succeed and craft a bright, green future for India in the decades to come.”

On Brillio’s digital literacy initiatives, Mr D R Ramamurthy, Block Education Officer, Government of Karnataka, said that “Brillio” with the support of Department of Education, RMSA / SSA of Karnataka, has been successfully operating its “Digital-based learning program” in government schools in South-4 Bangalore from 2017.

Brillio provided E-Learning centres, organised Chota (little) scientist and Chota (little) engineer competition, hosted Digital Day in Brilliooffices, exposure visit to museums, and Planetariums. They also Organised Robotic car race competition under Brillio master maker competition.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brillio volunteers trained our teachers in digital literacy and helped to conduct online classes and awarded them as digital champion teachers and distributed Edu-Kits, and COVID-19 essential kits.

All these initiatives have helped us to provide quality education to thousands of children in our block.

Summary of student-centric CSR initiatives under Bringing Smiles

Component	Impact in figures	Details
Brilliant Achievers Scholarship	21 high-achieving students have been awarded the scholarship	National scholarships are provided with financial and mentorship support to meritorious students from government schools to pursue coaching for IIT JEE/CET/NEET entrance exams.
National STEM Program & Tablet-based education	13205 students from 345 Schools across 23 states	An all-India level STEM competition is conducted by Brillio, and STEM Learning for government school students which involves science and tech model making, DIY sessions and various similar engagement activities. We also provide tablet-based education to hundreds of high-performing students in the field of STEM.
Bridging Digital Divide (Digital classrooms in government schools)	27937 students from 104 schools	The e-learning centres and digital classrooms are set up within government schools in India. Internet facilities are also established, giving students access to digital content aligned with their school syllabus. Also include tools for audio-visual learning, which make learning more interactive and engaging.
Science and Math Labs	36444 students from 75 schools	The science and math labs are set up to stimulate curiosity and provide opportunities for students to explore complex concepts in simple ways. Students can develop appropriate hands-on experience in understanding science and math concepts that apply in real-world scenarios.
Education in rural schools of Karnataka	18969 students from 127 schools	To develop foundational literacy & numeracy (FLN) competencies among the students of primary & higher primary schools in the rural area of Karnataka, we provide access to learning material through smartphones (digital medium) and paper-based modules.

Reached 800+ schools and impacted 1,00,000+ children The program’s focus is to arm 10 to 16-year-old government school children with the tools to succeed in our digital-first, entrepreneurial and disruptive world. Bringing Smiles, the CSR program of Brillio, a leading global digital consulting and technology services company, today announced that over 1,00,000 children and 800…

A 18-year-old student’s cancer-effected right hand salvaged by doctors at Amor Hospitals

– With dual cancer spots at elbow and in the forearm, victim was earlier advised of amputation

Doctors at Amor Hospitals, a multi super-speciality healthcare provider in the city today announced, they have operated on an 18-year-old student suffering from cancer in the right hand. This osteo-sarcoma case which otherwise would have resulted in amputation required a specialist approach in treatment.

This student, a native of Guntur district was suffering from a swelling near the elbow and severe pain associated with it. While many doctors indicated this condition might necessitate amputation of the arm, the victim was brought to Amor Hospitals for the best diagnosis and surgical treatment. Tests indicated the presence of cancerous elements in the elbow and in the forearm regions, which seemed significant in size.

Commenting on the patient’s condition and the treatment administered, Dr. B Kishore Reddy, Ortho Oncologist, Amor Hospitals said, “The boy’s bright future would have suffered an adverse impact had his limb been amputated. Considering his age, we have put the boy under chemotherapy, and after a couple of sessions, a surgical procedure was conducted to remove the cancerous portion (20 cms x 10 cms size tumor) along with the bone in the elbow region. Subsequently, the elbow and the veins in the area was reconstructed to ensure his condition returned to normalcy with time.”

“The boy is now discharged from the hospital, and will undergo a few more chemotherapy sessions to ensure the cancer is weeded out fully. Though the possibility of a relapse is quite remote, the boy is required to undergo necessary tests from time to time, to assess any future risks,” added Dr. Kishore Reddy.

Initially, the family of this young man was shattered due to this sudden development, and was running from pillar to post to seek right medical advice and treatment. Two weeks after the surgery, the boy is closely returned to his usual routine and is expected to lead a normal life.

Lubrizol Advanced Materials wins CII National 5S Excellence Award 2022

Lubrizol’s Dahej manufacturing plant achieved Platinum Rating Certification at 7th CII National 5S Excellence Awards

Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc., inventors, and the largest manufacturers of CPVC compound worldwide have won the CII National 5S Excellence Award 2022 and received the Platinum Rating Certification for its manufacturing plant at Dahej for excelling in implementation of 5S System.

The award was received by Ashvinkumar Patel – Site Leader & Jignesh Shah – Associate Manager Dahej Site at 7th CII National 5S Excellence Awards held in Chandigarh on 12^th October 2022.

National 5S Excellence Awards was incepted in 2016 by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the manufacturing and service industries demonstrating successful implementation of the five-step methodology that aims to create and maintain a productive and organized workplace that reduces waste and increases efficiency. The concept of 5S constitutes the basic building block for competitive enhancement of industries across all sectors (both Manufacturing & Service). Given the importance of 5S concept, imbibing it shall help industry in marching ahead in domains of Competitiveness, Growth, Sustainability and Technology.

Lubrizol’s Dahej plant is the largest CPVC compounding plant in the country. Lubrizol supplies it’s FlowGuard Plus CPVC compound from this plant to its customers in South Asia. This plant has played a key role in enabling clean water supply to nearly 100 million homes in South Asia.

Commenting on the achievement: Mr. Scott Mold – General Manager TempRite Engineered Polymers, said “The recognition is a result of our commitment towards environment sustainability & work efficiencies. We are honored to have been recognized by a prestigious industry body like CII. This achievement is a testimony towards our team’s contribution in implementing and sustaining 5S practice at our Dahej plant and I take this opportunity to thank my team for making Lubrizol a safe and productive workplace offering sustainable benefits to our customers.”

Around more than 75 industries participated for National 5S Excellence Award 2022, out of which 37 industries were qualified and invited for Final presentation at CII Chandigarh basis successful 5S system site audits by CII Accessor.

Lubrizol’s Dahej manufacturing plant achieved Platinum Rating Certification at 7th CII National 5S Excellence Awards Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc., inventors, and the largest manufacturers of CPVC compound worldwide have won the CII National 5S Excellence Award 2022 and received the Platinum Rating Certification for its manufacturing plant at Dahej for excelling in implementation of 5S System. The award was received by Ashvinkumar Patel – Site…

AUM Biosciences, a Global Biotechnology Company Developing Precision Oncology Therapeutics, Announces Plans to Become a Public Company via Merger with Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V

The transaction reflects a pre-money equity value of $400 million for AUM Biosciences

-Transaction is expected to provide $69 million of gross proceeds (assuming no redemptions by Mountain Crest stockholders)

-Broad pipeline of drug candidates across multiple oncology programs; two lead clinical-stage candidates addressing a combined market opportunity of $10+ billion in metastatic colorectal cancer, and TRK Fusion and mutation cancers

-Vishal Doshi will continue to lead as the CEO of the publicly traded holding entity; a Mountain Crest representative will join the Board of Directors

-Company to expand US operations and clinical programs

AUM Biosciences Pte. Ltd. (“AUM”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, advancing a clinical stage pipeline designed to deploy multi-faceted inhibition strategies to reverse cancer resistance, and Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. V (Nasdaq: MCAG) (“Mountain Crest”), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company formed in Delaware, whose management team has an impressive pedigree of successful SPAC transactions, today announced that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement (the “Agreement”). Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company will operate under a holding entity to be formed as a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Holdco”) and intends to trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol AUMB. The transaction reflects a pre-money equity value of $400 million for AUM and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023. The transaction is expected to provide approximately $69 million of cash held in Mountain Crest’s trust account, assuming no redemptions.

AUM is advancing a broad portfolio of precision oncology therapeutics. AUM001 is a selective and synergistic MNK inhibitor as shown in current studies and expected to begin Phase 2 enrollment in the fourth quarter 2022. AUM601 is a promising therapy for TRK fusions and mutations within the kinase domain and is on track to enter Phase 2. AUM302 is a potentially first-in-class macrocyclic oral kinase inhibitor rationally designed small molecule to uniquely combine pan-PIM kinase, pan-PI3K and mTOR inhibition in a single agent. Comprised of pharma industry veterans with decades of research and development experience, the AUM leadership has an extensive track record of selecting distinctive early-stage assets, successfully exiting virtual biotech models, and has contributed to over 50 INDs and over 150 oncology clinical trials, and development of several currently marketed oncology treatments with annual peak sales up to $3 billion.

AUM completed a $27 million Series A funding round in 2021, and since then has demonstrated sustained growth, while partnering with major pharma companies and securing other non-dilutive funding sources such as grants in support of its development activity.

Upon closing of the transaction, Vishal Doshi, AUM’s CEO, will continue to lead Holdco as its CEO. Mr. Doshi, a pharmacist and medicinal chemist by background, is a seasoned leader with an extensive experience in commercial deal structuring valued at over $4 billion. He is also a Global Pharma Key Opinion Leader with the Korea Pharmaceutical Industry, a government-affiliated institution which provides professional and systematic support to develop domestic health industry and enhance health services.

Mr. Doshi commented, “Since our inception, we have worked to scientifically, commercially and financially de-risk our portfolio by leveraging our world class team, strong fundamentals, and un-paralleled executional track record. This merger allows AUM to further continue our focus on developing our scientifically differentiated portfolio. We are poised to achieve multiple development milestones over the next two years generating significant value for patients and investors.”

Dr. Suying Liu, Chairman, CEO and CFO of Mountain Crest, commented, “AUM is a unique and compelling investment opportunity, with its clinical-stage diversified pipeline of precision therapeutic candidates and global strategic partnerships with industry heavyweights, pointing to significant future growth potential and allowing the company to have a greater US footprint. I am thrilled to be partnering with Mr. Doshi and his exceptional team to bring their vision to fruition.”

AUM Investment Highlights

AUM’s lead candidate AUM001 has shown highly selective inhibition of MNK 1/2 in current studies, which in turn, is expected to lead to inhibition of eIF4E AUM expects to begin enrollment in the fourth quarter 2022 in a global Phase 2 trial of AUM001 as a monotherapy and in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA in metastatic colorectal cancer with a focus on the microsatellite stable subset, thereby seeking to render immunologically “cold” tumors “hot,” in collaboration with MSD, a tradename of Merck & Co., Inc. AUM has received authorization for the Investigational New Drug (IND) application from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this study (NCT05462236).
AUM has also secured a partnership with Roche to develop AUM001 in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq®), Roche’s anti- PD-L1 therapy, across multiple solid tumor
AUM is planning Phase 2 trials with AUM601, a potentially highly selective, oral small molecule designed to inhibit not only pan-TRK (TRKA, TRKB, and TRKC), but also resistance mutations of TRKs, by blocking the mutations that occur within the binding site. AUM601 was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the US FDA in September
AUM is advancing IND enabling studies for AUM302, a potentially first-in-class macrocyclic oral kinase inhibitor rationally designed small molecule to uniquely combine pan-PIM kinase, pan-PI3K and mTOR inhibition in a single agent and AUM003, a potential blood brain barrier penetrating selective MNK
AUM has sub-licensed the Greater China rights (AUM001, AUM302 and AUM003) to Newsoara making it eligible to receive up to $135 million in development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, plus up to double digit

Transaction Overview

As part of the transaction, (i) all outstanding AUM shares will be cancelled in exchange for approximately 40 million Holdco ordinary shares valued at $10 per Holdco share, subject to closing adjustments, (ii) each outstanding Mountain Crest unit will be automatically detached, (iii) each unredeemed outstanding share of Mountain Crest common stock will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive one (1) Holdco ordinary share, (iv) every ten (10) outstanding Mountain Crest rights will be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for one (1) Holdco ordinary share. Mountain Crest has not issued any warrants. The transaction is expected to provide approximately $69 million of cash held in Mountain Crest’s trust account, assuming no redemptions.

The Boards of Directors of each of Mountain Crest and AUM have approved the transaction. The transaction will require the approval of the stockholders of both Mountain Crest and AUM, and is subject to other customary closing conditions, including the receipt of certain regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023.

Additional information about the proposed transaction, including a copy of the Agreement, will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Mountain Crest with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and will be available at www.sec.gov.

Advisors

Global Fund LLC is acting as M&A advisor to AUM. DLA Piper LLP (US) is serving as legal counsel to AUM. Loeb & Loeb LLP is serving as legal counsel to Mountain Crest.

HCL Foundation launched My E-Haat Display Center in Noida

HCL Foundation, the CSR arm of HCLTech, launched the first-of-its-kind My E-Haat Display Center in Noida, UP, India. Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President and Director, HCL Foundation and Ms. Aoife Walsh, Senior Director, Global Thought Leadership, HCLTech inaugurated the Display Center.

This Display Center is an extension of My E-Haat, an online commerce portal launched in the year 2021 by HCL Foundation, to help artisans and community members showcase and market their products and be present at the center of the value chain. This portal is dedicated to strengthening the artisanal economy and promoting the philosophy of artisan-to-customer and artisan-to-business models. The My E-Haat portal enables the artisans and primary producers to showcase their products, thereby minimizing the informal intermediaries and empowering the self-help group of women and artisans across the country.

The My E-Haat Display Center has 1000+ products on display, promoting the stories of artisans and communities from across the country. The facility also has a live demonstration of handloom weaving, other handicrafts like Madhubani art, crochet making by artisans, and a dedicated corner for HCL Foundation's Samuday Craft products.

The Display Center also conducts artisan training and skill enhancement workshops. It facilitates centralized inventory support and product quality control support and is also equipped with a dedicated photography studio. My E-Haat has also facilitated 1000+ artisans' registration for artisan cards, which offers a wide range of benefits, including easy access to finance, design support, exhibition opportunities and eligibility to other government schemes.

As part of the first phase, five My E-Haat clusters are getting access to craft mark certification, an audit-based authentication system that authenticates genuine handicrafts after thorough checks on fair practices, ethical sourcing and authentic craft procedures. In addition, KOSHA, a technology-based craft authentication system using blockchain technology, IoT, AI, and cloud computing, provides information to the customer regarding geo-movement tracking, time duration of crafting and who made the product. These certifications help gain customer trust and expand the reach of artisan-made products to broader markets.

The center will also facilitate Artisans to participate in Shilp Charcha, an ongoing series of Webinars to discuss various aspects of the trade and industry. My E-Haat also aims to create an ecosystem for craft-based enterprises to become sustainable and strengthen the Indian handicraft sector.

Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President & Director, HCL Foundation said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of My E-Haat Display Centre and wholeheartedly congratulate all the artisans who are displaying their products. It is heartening to see them creating these environmentally friendly products that everyone is eager to use. The My E-Haat initiative will help promote art & culture and help build social security and financial independence among women. We at HCL Foundation, keep social security at the top of our agenda. We are looking to welcome more women entrepreneurs and artisans to join hands with the HCL Foundation to contribute to the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

India’s First Digital Escrow Platform-Escrowpay Closes Pre Series A2 round

Payments technology firm and pioneers in digital escrow solutions, Escrowpay (Trustmore Technologies) has raised an undisclosed amount in its most recent Pre Series A2 capital raise round. As per sources this is part of the firm’s ongoing plans to raise a larger round of US $ 15mn within the next few months to fuel its next round of growth and expansion.

The company currently offers digital escrow solutions to more than 500+ enterprises and businesses, including unicorns, listed enterprises, emerging digital first businesses across India and is now also planning to expand to key geographies overseas. Till now the current focus for the firm has been domestic transactions, cross border transactions will be the next big focus area. The company which also claims to be net cash flow positive, has seen rapid growth over the last 2 years. Starting its journey as a single category; real estate focused escrow solutions company it has manged to shore up quick and sizeable traction servicing multiple categories and use cases, driving efficiencies in collections and payments. Collaborating with multiple large best of breed RBI regulated banks it has built an open architecture stack that offers an integrated and convenient solution for businesses and platforms.

Besides seeing follow on investments from existing investors and some family offices such as CIL, the current round also saw participation from WFC- We Founder Circle, Angel List, JB Ventures etc. Existing investors includes some marquee angels and seasoned CXO angels and it is also backed by the likes of IPV Inflection point ventures, CC One Capital, Keiretsu Forum etc.

When contacted, Ashwin Chawwla Founder and Managing Director said, “We are not in a position to share exact details right now but yes; we are raising a larger investment round and will offer you all details on this as soon as we can. We have been conscious to raise so far and have focused on building the business ground up. Now that we are expanding and are keen to scale rapidly both within the country and overseas, we are looking at high-quality, like-minded partners and investors. We have been blessed so far and have some fantastic investors on the cap table who have consistently supported us. We remain firmly committed to driving value for our existing shareholders and also those who will continue to be part of this exciting journey.”

The Escrowpay digital stack built and developed in house offers instant identity checks for stakeholders on the platform, digital contracts and signatures, integrated banking, payment gateway and trusteeship services, pay-ins and pay-outs through an escrow mechanism connected to multiple payment rails. The company claims to have built an agile capital efficient model, led by a highly experienced management team. As a company they are targeting a TPV of over US $ 2 Bn over the next 12 months and claims to have already clocked almost INR 6,000 Cr plus of TPV.

Escrowpay originally started its journey as a consumer-focused digital escrow platform in the real estate category to protect buyers, sellers and agents in property transactions. However, being the first mover/pioneer in the segment and having evangelized digital escrow payments successfully the company was quick to pivot almost 2 years back during COVID-19 as a B2B / Enterprise focused “escrow as a service” platform, offering its solutions to companies who wanted to protect their collections and also transactions/payments on their platforms. Based out of Gurugram, It works in collaboration with multiple commercial banks, payment gateways and other ecosystem partners offering an agile and seamless solution to its customers.

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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)