Zelio E-Mobility, a rapidly expanding electric two- and three-wheeler manufacturer that has been doubling its growth year-over-year, announced that its SME IPO is going live today, 30th September 2025. With today’s listing, Zelio strengthens its position in India’s electric mobility market, building on years of strong performance and industry-leading innovation.
The EV two-wheeler brand has crossed sales of 1 lakh low-speed scooters across India, cementing its reputation as a fast-growing and reliable name in the sector. In FY25, the company reported ₹172 crore in revenue, ₹21 crore EBITDA, and ₹16 crore PAT, reflecting an impressive 83% CAGR in revenue and 128% CAGR in PAT between FY23 and FY25.
Commenting on the IPO, Kunal Arya, Managing Director of Zelio E-Mobility, said, “Today, as the Zelio E-Mobility SME IPO goes live, we are entering an exciting new chapter for our company and for India’s EV journey. Over the past few years, we have worked tirelessly to build a brand that is trusted, innovative, and profitable. This IPO is a chance to bring investors along on our journey, helping us expand our operations, invest in advanced manufacturing, and accelerate the adoption of electric mobility across India. We are proud of what we have achieved, and this milestone motivates us to push boundaries, deliver even better products, and set new benchmarks for the EV industry.”
The IPO, valued at ₹78 crore, consists of 57,60,000 equity shares of ₹10 each, including a Fresh Issue of 46,20,000 shares and an Offer for Sale of 11,40,000 shares. Priced in the range of ₹129–₹136 per share with a lot size of 2000 shares, the minimum application value is ₹2,58,000–₹2,72,000. The issue will remain open until 3rd October 2025, with anchor allocation completed on 29th September 2025.
Hem Securities Ltd. has been appointed as the Book Running Lead Manager to the issue, while Maashitla Securities Pvt Ltd will serve as the Registrar. The company’s promoters are Niraj Arya, Kunal Arya, and Deepak Arya. Proceeds from the IPO are planned to be deployed towards repayment and pre-payment of borrowings, capital expenditure for establishing a new manufacturing facility, meeting working capital needs, and general corporate purposes.
Foxhog Ventures today announces the first round of institutional investment in Assessli, a deep-tech startup building the world’s first Large Behavioral Models (LBMs). The investment of ₹44.37 crore will make it one of India’s highest-valued seed-stage AI ventures and underscoring Foxhog’s commitment to shaping the future of next-generation artificial intelligence. Assessli will utilize the investment to spread their reach in the US & US markets and further augment the technology for the product commercialization and hire tech talent to bolster the team.
Assessli, was founded in 2022 by Suraj Biswas, Sourabh Gupta, and Aruna Deyredefining AI well beyond Large Language Models (LLMs). The company’s proprietary LBMs leverage data from genomics, psychology, and digital life to build extremely accurate Digital Twins of individuals. The company has claimed to have 99% personalization accuracy compared to other existing systems which have accuracy around 60%. Assessli is setting a new standard for human-centered AI.
The company has filed patents in India and begun training its models on more than 20 million data points of proprietary data. Their transformative technology can be applied in education, healthcare, HR, finance, and robotics with expansion into other industries already underway in the UK and US with the global AI market growing to be more than $10 trillion value.
Speaking on the new investment, Suraj Biswas, Co-founder of Assessli, said,“Our vision for India is bold and transformative. We are creating the first-of-its-kind services designed for mankind and public use, disrupting AI from the inside out. At the core of our efforts is building the infrastructure of identity. The trust and confidence of Foxhog Ventures in our business model have given us the wings to scale higher, and we are excited about the journey ahead.”
Tarun Poddar, CEO of Foxhog Ventures, said; “Artificial intelligence stands on the precipice of an inflection point. The next decade will be driven by technologies that go beyond processing language to real comprehension of human behavior. Assessli is leading the way with Large Behavioral Models; a blue ocean opportunity that can potentially disrupt every industry from healthcare to finance. With a global AI market worth $10 trillion on the horizon, we feel Assessli has the vision and capability to become a global leader, and Foxhog is excited to partner with them on this journey.”
He further added “This investment supports Foxhog Ventures’ mission to facilitate path-breaking technologies that balance innovation and real-world impact to harness India’s position as a rising nexus within the global landscape of AI.”
In our eighth story, we’re talking about Mahagauri, who’s an important figure in Hinduism. She’s known for her special ability to make her followers’ wishes come true, and she represents calmness and happiness.
Just like Mahagauri’s peaceful nature, we’ve had the chance to connect with some amazing women entrepreneurs. These women have created workplaces that are both calm and full of new ideas.
We asked these inspiring women about how they maintain a peaceful and innovative work environment and what suggestions they would like to offer to fellow women entrepreneurs to achieve the same.
Let’s learn from these leaders who have found inspiration in Mahagauri’s calm and serene spirit.
Akanksha Hazari, CEO & Founder of LoveLocal
Inspired by Mahagauri’s serenity, I’ve focused on creating a calm, collaborative, and innovative work environment at LoveLocal. This means encouraging open communication, providing space for creative thinking, and supporting teams through challenges without unnecessary pressure.
My advice to fellow female founders is to lead with patience and empathy, prioritise mental well-being, and create a culture where ideas can flourish. A peaceful environment is often the breeding ground for the most innovative solutions.
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Key takeaway: Empathy and patience in leadership promote innovation through psychological safety.
Dishi Somani, Founder of DishiS Designer Jewellery
From the very beginning, while creating DishiS, we prioritised a peaceful work environment by nurturing ideas, respecting work-life balance, and giving the team the freedom to be creative. It’s about empowering creativity when everything feels peaceful and comforting.
To all other businesswomen, I recommend maintaining balance, avoiding micromanaging, and trusting your co-workers and yourself. A peaceful working culture promotes productivity while ensuring new ideas that drive the company forward.
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Key takeaway: Trust and freedom spark creativity and help innovation thrive.
At Yellow Fertility, we operate in an environment where emotions are intense, and patients come to us during vulnerable times. For me, calmness isn’t merely a leadership trait; it’s a necessity. We’ve created a space where compassion is balanced with innovation — nurturing for patients and collaborative for our teams.
I promote open communication, respect boundaries, and encourage team members to share openly without fear of failure. My advice to women founders is to take care of emotional balance along with business growth. A calm workplace is not slow, it is steady. When your people feel nurtured and safe, they deliver their best solutions and help the business grow healthily.
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Key takeaway: Compassionate leadership nurtures both innovation and resilience.
Tejasvi Madan, Founder & CEO, Beyond Bound
In the hustle of entrepreneurship, calmness often feels like a luxury. But Mahagauri’s serenity reminds me that innovation needs space for ideas to breathe and creativity to unfold without fear. I try to bring that balance into Beyond Bound by moving with focus yet not rushing, striving for growth yet holding on to clarity. It’s this blend of peace and purpose that keeps our designs fresh and empowering.
My advice to fellow founders is to slow down when needed. Peace of mind is often where your best ideas emerge.
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Key takeaway: Peace and purpose together fuel authentic creativity.
Samiha Jha, Founder & Director of Sammyukk
Mahagauri personifies serene strength, and that’s the vibration I aim to infuse in Sammyukk. In a high-strung world, having a peaceful workspace has been instrumental in keeping creativity and collaboration alive. We emphasise mindfulness, open dialogue, and emotional safety because innovation thrives where individuals feel respected and heard.
To fellow female founders: prioritise mental wellness, build with empathy, and lead with grace. A peaceful atmosphere isn’t complacent; it’s strong, it gives your team the clarity and confidence to succeed, even in mayhem.
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Key takeaway: Mindful, empathetic leadership builds strength and creativity under pressure.
Mahagauri’s calmness has inspired me to design a workspace where peace and creativity intersect. We emphasise mindful practices, flexible schedules, clear communication, and celebrate small cultural moments sustainably. This balance reduces stress and fuels innovation.
To other women founders, I urge you not to merely pursue productivity but to construct peace into your culture. An environment that values serenity as much as innovation nourishes both people and ideas for long-term growth.
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Key takeaway: Building peace into company culture ensures sustainable growth and innovation.
You cannot “build” a peaceful environment, peace is cultivated through balance. At MyDesignation, we’ve built a culture where teammates can speak freely, be themselves, and seek support without barriers. Every person’s experience is unique, so we encourage open communication across all levels.
We don’t see work-life balance as a checkbox; we believe in loving what you do. If someone feels misaligned or exhausted, we help them find what brings them peace and purpose. My advice to women founders is to build spaces where people feel free to express themselves, as peace follows when authenticity is valued.
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Key takeaway: Authentic communication and emotional safety leads to innovation.
Vijeta Soni, Co-Founder & CEO, Sciative Solutions
We’ve built a culture where clarity of goals and respect for individuals create calm. Our teams know their work is impactful, which reduces anxiety and strengthens creativity. We encourage open dialogue, give space for ideation, and recognise contributions regularly.
My advice to female founders: a peaceful environment isn’t about avoiding conflict but resolving it with respect and transparency. Innovation thrives in that balance.
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Key takeaway: Clear goals and respectful communication create lasting innovation.
I believe peace and innovation should always go hand in hand. At Shryoan, we encourage open ideas, respect work-life balance, and maintain transparency in decision-making. This creates a serene environment where creativity flourishes.
My advice to women founders is to lead with empathy and flexibility — when teams feel supported, they become more innovative and committed. A calm, respectful atmosphere not only boosts productivity but also retains talent and keeps your business evolving with new ideas.
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Key takeaway: Empathy and flexibility help build creative, loyal teams.
Priyanka Jain, Co-Founder & Director of Marketing, Snow World Entertainment
Innovation has always been at the heart of what we do. At our workplace, we prioritise collaboration across teams, craft campaigns creatively, and maintain a peaceful environment that fuels productivity.
My advice to fellow founders is to stick to simple beliefs, stay consistent, and move forward with clarity. Success follows steady effort guided by the right intent.
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Key takeaway: Consistency and clarity sustain innovation over time.
India’s startup ecosystem continues to see strong investor interest as funding rounds, corporate developments, and product launches shape the market. Today’s roundup covers major funding announcements from Petpooja, Hocco, Kapiva, and Plazza, along with emerging AI and mobility startups. Additionally, YouTube has launched its Premium Lite plan in India, while Tata Motors appoints Shailesh Chandra as its new MD & CEO, steering the company amid key operational challenges.
Company
Amount
Round
Lead Investor(s)
Sector
Petpooja
$15.5 Mn
Series C
Dharana Capital; Ashish Gupta; Urban Company
SaaS / Restaurant Tech
Hocco
INR 115 Cr
Series B
Sauce.vc
Premium Ice Cream
Kapiva
$60 Mn
Series D
360 ONE Asset; Vertex Growth
Ayurveda Wellness
RUGR Fintech
$5 Mn
Pre-Series A
Vikasa India EIF I Fund
Rural Fintech
iGoWise Mobility
INR 8.2 Cr
Pre-Seed
ISB Angels; 888VC; Guptaji VC
Electric Mobility
Plazza
$1.4 Mn
Seed
All In Capital; Better Capital; others
Quick Medicine Delivery
Vaani AI
$400K
Pre-Seed
Venture Catalysts
AI Research
Daily Indian Funding Roundup – 29th September 2025
Petpooja raises $15.5 Mn to expand restaurant tech solutions
Restaurant SaaS startup Petpooja has raised $15.5 million in Series C funding. The capital will be used to enhance its restaurant management platform, expand AI-driven automation tools, and accelerate growth across India and other markets. The move strengthens Petpooja’s position as a leading cloud-based restaurant technology provider.
Hocco secures INR 115 Cr to grow premium ice cream business
Premium ice cream brand Hocco has raised INR 115 crore in a Series B round at a ₹2,000 crore valuation. The funding will support manufacturing expansion, cold-chain improvements, and new product innovations to capture a larger share of India’s gourmet ice cream market.
Kapiva raises $60 Mn to boost Ayurveda wellness offerings
D2C Ayurveda brand Kapiva has raised $60 million in Series D funding. The funds will be deployed for R&D, brand building, and scaling operations, helping Kapiva strengthen its health and wellness product portfolio. Fireside Ventures has exited during this round.
RUGR Fintech raises $5 Mn in Pre-Series A round
RUGR Fintech, a rural-focused fintech platform, has raised $5 million in a Pre-Series A round led by Vikasa India EIF I Fund. The investment will help the startup expand its technology infrastructure and increase financial access for rural communities.
iGoWise Mobility raises INR 8.2 Cr in Pre-Seed funding
Electric mobility startup iGoWise Mobility has secured INR 8.2 crore in a pre-seed funding round. The capital will be used to reduce production costs, expand customer experience initiatives, and scale operations to meet growing demand.
Plazza raises $1.4 Mn to expand quick medicine delivery
Quick medicine delivery startup Plazza has raised $14 million in a funding round led by All In Capital. The funds will help expand the product range, increase store footprint, and improve last-mile delivery services in key cities.
Vaani AI secures $400K Pre-Seed funding
AI research startup Vaani AI has raised $400K in a pre-seed round led by Venture Catalysts. The funding will be used to advance AI research initiatives and build innovative solutions for enterprise and consumer applications.
Key Business News for 29th September 2025
YouTube Launches Premium Lite in India
YouTube has introduced its Premium Lite subscription plan in India at INR 89 per month. This budget-friendly option offers an ad-free viewing experience on most videos, excluding music content, Shorts, and some search results. Unlike the full Premium plan, Premium Lite does not include features like offline downloads, background play, or access to YouTube Music. This move aims to provide a more affordable option for users seeking an ad-free experience without additional features.
Shailesh Chandra Appointed CEO of Tata Motors Amid JLR Challenges
Tata Motors has appointed Shailesh Chandra as its new Managing Director and CEO, effective October 1, 2025. Chandra, who has been with the company since 2016, currently leads the Passenger Electric Mobility and Corporate Strategy divisions. His appointment comes at a critical time as Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), a subsidiary of Tata Motors, is recovering from a significant cyberattack that disrupted its manufacturing operations. Chandra will continue to oversee the electric mobility segment while steering Tata Motors through these challenges.
Apple has officially become a major player in India’s manufacturing sector. The news has come to light after all the new iPhones (iPhone 17 series + iPhone Air) were made in India. Such a significant move has created over 350,000 jobs, which is another notable development, given the ongoing trade war between India and the U.S. About 1,20,000 are direct jobs, and the rest are indirect. Here’s the catch: the number doesn’t include the five Apple iPhone factories set up in India, so the number is much bigger. So, how did Apple escape Trump’s tariff? How did this benefit India? Learn more.
How Did Apple Get Started in India?
The goal was simple for Apple: it wanted to reduce its dependency on China. So, India became Apple’s new manufacturing destination.
The partnership with India began in 2017 with the introduction of the iPhone SE. However, the big push came in after 2020, with the Indian government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
The scheme that encouraged foreign investments and companies to make smartphones in India.
Who’s Making Iphones in India?
Apple apparently works with over 45 suppliers in India, including:
Tata Electronics
Aequs
Jabil
Microplastics
ATL
Approximately 20+ Indian MSMEs (small & medium companies) are part of Apple’s supply chain, which is how they manage their business in India.
The Revenue Angle
During the periods of 2021–22 and 2024–25, Apple made iPhones worth $45 billion in India.
Of this $45 billion, about $34 billion (say, 76%) was exported to the international market.
Following this significant transition, India has become a hub for smartphones, with the country’s #1 export product. This same stat was #167th in exports in the year 2014–15.
Where Is Manufacturing Happening in India?
Most of Apple’s factories are located in parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The component makers of Apple are spread across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Haryana.
Scale of Apple’s India Shift
Here’s the real kicker: Every 1 in 5 iPhones globally is made in India, and the workforce behind them is entirely Indian.
The U.S. Trade Factor
The real question still looms: how did Apple skip the trade war between India and the U.S.?
Earlier, that was the case, but the Trump administration exempted all smartphones from these tariffs.
The exemption allowed the company to export Made-in-India iPhones to the U.S. and other countries without incurring additional costs. So, that’s a plus for both Apple and India.
Based on robust growth in the June quarter and the implementation of GST reforms, EY increased India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) forecast for the fiscal year 2025–2026 (FY26) from 6.5% to 6.7%.
EY stated in its ‘Economy Watch’ report for September 2025 that, despite global headwinds affecting India’s export prospects for both goods and services, and with 1QFY26 real GDP growth of 7.8% and demand stimulation through GST reforms on the one hand, we expect India to still show an annual real GDP growth of 6.7% in FY26.
GDP Growth Outperformed RBI’s Expectations
The June quarter’s GDP growth of 7.8% exceeded the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) forecast of 6.5% growth during the monetary policy meeting in August. EY claims that the continuous supply chain interruptions and tariff-related concerns give India a chance to re-evaluate the structure and makeup of its global commerce, particularly with the US and China.
India has a “narrow” base of import sources and export destinations, the research continued. India is heavily reliant on the United States and, to a lesser degree, on China, according to DK Srivastava, chief policy advisor at EY India. Diversifying its import and export markets should help India find additional chances among the BRICS nations and lessen its dependency on China and the US.
How new GST 2.0 Roll Out Further Boosted GDP Growth
With the introduction of GST 2.0 earlier this month, rates were rationalised to be 5% and 18%, with a special rate of 40%. Automobiles, health, and textiles are just a few of the industries that stand to gain from this. According to Srivastava, some product categories will see considerable fee reductions under the new tariff system.
Textiles, consumer electronics, vehicles, health, and the majority of food items are among the major beneficiary sectors. Lower prices may have wide-ranging benefits in these employment-intensive industries. He went on to say that fertilisers, agricultural equipment, and renewable energy are other industries that could gain from the production side.
Farmers may profit from reduced input costs in several industries. First, a short-term impact on revenue is anticipated. EY anticipates that demand will rise in response to a significant drop in post-tax pricing, perhaps making up the revenue losses in the long run.
Quick
Shots
•EY raises India’s FY26 GDP growth
forecast to 6.7%, up from 6.5%, driven by strong Q1 performance and GST
reforms.
•India’s GDP grew 7.8% in the June quarter,
surpassing the RBI’s 6.5% projection.
•Supply chain disruptions and tariffs
prompt calls to diversify export and import markets beyond the US and China.
•EY suggests exploring BRICS nations
and emerging economies to reduce trade dependency.
•New GST structure with 5%, 18%, and
40% slabs expected to lower prices and stimulate demand.
•Textiles, automobiles, healthcare,
consumer electronics, food, fertilisers, and renewable energy among key
beneficiaries.
This article has been contributed byPuneet Gulati, Founder & Promoter at Tecsox
In today’s fast-moving digital world, leadership persuasion is no longer done only in boardrooms, with annual reports, and slick keynote speeches. The science behind how leaders relate to people has changed and has found one of its most powerful tools to be the podcast as a way to transmit ideas, build trust, and resonate with audiences on a deeper level.
For those who are at the forefront of fast-moving innovation-intensive businesses with changing customer expectations around the clock, podcasts offer something rare: first-hand, raw access to interested active listeners who are very often themselves decision-makers. Unlike mainstream communications wherein announcements can ring starchy or overly rehearsed tones, podcasts are all about honesty and frankness and open discussion. That’s exactly what audiences want nowadays.
Why Podcasts Matter for Leaders
Podcasts are not another communications vehicle. They are a platform for thought leadership, influence, and connection. They are unique in these following ways:
Authenticity Instead of Perfection: Podcasting liberates leaders to speak out of their true voice. Instead of being compelled to stick with scripts or press statements, leaders are able to speak stories, ideas, and teachings authentically. The nonscripted style engenders credibility and makes people feel personally involved.
Reach and Accessibility: Podcasts transcend boundaries with complete convenience. Whomever is hearing it from New York, Singapore, or Mumbai is hearing exactly what you are saying. That is why podcasts are an affordable and scalable alternative to disseminate ideas and acquire global recognition.
Deep Engagement: Active listeners are engaged with podcasts. Unlike fleeting social media attention, podcasts are listened to with complete attention. It is consumed during commutes, runs, or heavy downtime situations when one is ready to digest big ideas, heavy topics and fresh angles.
Power of Storytelling: The greatest leaders are accustomed to the power of storytelling, and podcasts are the perfect soapbox. Sharing challenges, things learned, and behind-the-scenes stories makes leaders appear at once credible and relatable.
Lessons From Leadership
One thing we see time and time again with leadership is therefore: direct connection is crucial. While I haven’t yet begun my own podcasting show, leadership efforts whether building teams, driving innovation, or introducing new products have ingrained some governing principles leaders would do well to remember when embarking upon podcasting:
Know who you are talking to: Specify whether you’d like to address industry colleagues, future entrepreneurs, or end-users who care about technology. Everything is about relevance.
Start with value: never with promotion of oneself. Customers are looking for insight, inspiration, or applicability. Create something about education and effect, never about promotion.
Be reliable: Influence is built up over time. A continuous stream of shows creates recognition and confidence.
Keep it conversational: Invite hosts, guest hosts, experts, or colleagues. Conversation makes podcasts interesting, collaborative, and engaging to listen to.
In rapidly changing sectors whether technology, financial services, or consumer goods podcasts are especially effective. They provide leaders with a platform to:
Make hard topics simple: From innovation and strategy to technical concepts, podcasts make them accessible and straightforward.
Communicate vision and strategy: For fast-growing companies, podcasts are a low-key yet high-impact vehicle for communicating culture, values, and long-term vision.
Tap into talent: The next generation is a large user of podcasts. Leaders who show up in this space recruit new talent and energize and inspire their teams.
Practical Tips for Leaders Starting a Podcast
Podcast Creation and Improvement Cycle
Start with whatever is most comfortable to you: Play in areas you are strongest at where your expertise and experience can add unique value. Audiences connect most when they think they are learning from experience first-hand.
Plan but don’t over-script: Having a framework makes shows tight and to the point but reading verbatim kills spontaneity. The best podcasts are like natural conversations and not scripted speeches.
Include diverse voices: Request help from colleagues, experts, or even customers to add to the discussion. Varied opinions add depth, create new ideas, and make it all fascinating.
Pay attention to engagement: Note feedback from listeners, downloads, and social chatter. These are indicators you can decipher to determine what is working and how to refine and improve with time. Pay attention to engagement. Note feedback from listeners, downloads, and social chatter. These are indicators you can decipher to determine what is working and how to refine and improve with time.
Promote with purpose: Publish episodes on LinkedIn, industry groups, and communities where you can bring value with your voice. Just do not make it sound like you are pitching a podcast.
Beyond Influence: Creating a Leadership Legacy
Podcasting is no longer simply about building influence today but about leaving behind a document of evidence to reflect upon tomorrow as well. By sharing your vision, lessons learned, and potentially mistakes, you create a digital footprint you can enlist to inspire peers, employees, and later leaders.
At a moment when attention is short and authenticity is rare, podcasts are uncommon. They present a simple, uncomplicated, and lasting vehicle through which leaders can shape conversations, gain credibility, and spread knowledge. From transitioning outside the boardroom to being inside listeners’ headphones is no longer an option but a savvy means to access a digital-first world.
Conclusion
Podcasting is transforming how leaders communicate. By being present genuinely, value-driven, and regular, leaders can spread their influence far beyond their organizations, connect with a global community, and create a body of work with a lasting legacy beyond the episode itself.
For present-day leaders, transitioning from boardrooms to earbuds is less about being heard and is increasingly about being understood and trusted and remembered.
This article has been contributed by Heniel Rupaarelia, Founder, Managing Director at ETrav Tech Ltd
India is awakening to an unprecedented surge in tourism. Once viewed as a minor contributor to GDP, it has now taken a centrestage, and is expected to double its economic impact from INR 14 trillion to INR 34 trillion, in the coming years. Revenues are predicted to surpass $59 billion by 2028, indicating a structural change that might revolutionise the way the economy operates.
The revised GST slab effective Sept 22 reduces GST rate on meals at restaurants and hotels priced under INR 7,500 per night to 5%, while maintaining the 5% rate for economy class flight tickets and increasing it to 18% for premium cabins. This change encourages families, young tourists and consumers in tier-II and tier-III cities to spend more on experiences and stays by making mid-range travel and dining reasonable. This surge will transform travel, create jobs and strengthen domestic and international tourism ecosystem.
Tourism Revenues
Improved infrastructure, increased disposable incomes and shift in travel attitude among Indians are factors driving the growth of the nation’s tourism sector, and domestic travel is the major contributor. Apart from exploring popular towns and hill stations, tourists these days are more keen on exploring uncharted territories. This shift in travel preference is boosting small businesses, hotels, transportation and dining facilities, hence, creating a network of economic activity that benefits offbeat tourist destinations. There is also a notable increase in the number of foreigners visiting the country. This in turn, helps increase foreign exchange and raises awareness globally. Domestic and international travel are acting as twin levers, driving the sector and the economy to new heights.
The Multiplier Effect: Tourism’s Broader Impact
A single trip can generate multiple revenues through hotels, restaurants, local transport, retail and even for the local artisans. Example- pilgrimage sites like Varanasi, Tirupati and Amritsar experience a great deal of economic activity outside of the temple walls, which benefits whole networks of small enterprises and service providers.
Rural and semi-urban areas are also impacted by this multiplier effect, which transforms isolated locations into hubs of the economy. Growth beyond the hospitality industry is propelling entrepreneurship and local jobs in places like Ladakh, the Andaman Islands and Arunachal Pradesh. Digital reservations, effective inventory management and insights that boost reach and income help regional operators capitalise on this expansion.
A slight increase in the frequency of domestic travel generates a tidal wave of demand specially amongst the middle-income group. Long weekends and affordable airfares turn destinations like Jaipur, Udaipur Rishikesh and Goa into year-round hotspots as hotels report record occupancy. Moreover, newer segments are also flourishing, be it the youth opting for treks in the Himalayas or the Western Ghats, families going for coastal getaways and professionals blending work and leisure in India’s emerging wellness hubs
What makes this moment different is how technology is bridging the gap between curiosity and convenience. Digital platforms are equipping travel agents with tools to personalise itineraries, automate bookings and connect even the smallest operators to a wider pool of travellers. This not only enhances the consumer experience but also stimulates genuine economic growth in local communities by channelling real growth into local economies. A homestay in the Northeast, a rafting operator in Rishikesh, or a boutique café in Goa can now reach audiences they never had access to earlier.
Policy Focus: Enabling Sustainable Growth
The government’s push is central to tourism’s leap from a INR 14 trillion sector today to a projected INR 34 trillion by 2034. With INR 2,541 crore earmarked in Budget 2025-26 for tourism, schemes like Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASAD are strengthening cultural circuits and pilgrimage hubs, while major connectivity upgrades such as the INR 3,169-crore railway line expansion in Bihar and INR 5,600-crore ropeway projects in Himachal are opening new regions for travellers. By increasing capacity and dispersing tourist flows outside of crowded areas, these investments provide the industry more space to grow responsibly. But infrastructure alone won’t deliver the full potential. Small operators, homestays and local guides must also be digitally equipped to benefit from this growth, ensuring that government spending translates into shared prosperity across India’s tourism value chain.
Accessibility, effectiveness and high-quality service must be balanced with the rapidly increasing demand for travel. Today, technology is not just a facilitator but the force behind India’s tourism industry, allowing for more intelligent and sustainable expansion.
India looks at tourism not just as a revenue generator but as an opportunity to redefine how we travel, connect and grow as a nation. With supportive policies, wider adoption of technology and a strong focus on domestic travellers, the sector has the power to create livelihoods, strengthen local economies and showcase India’s cultural richness to the world.
The increase from INR 14 trillion to INR 34 trillion is about inclusivity, empowerment and long-term effects. This journey will shape the future of tourism and the narrative of India’s growth story.
This article has been contributed by Ankur Mehta, Chief of Staff, Stylework
For decades, India’s Global Capability Centers have been known as cost-effective back offices, handling processes, running operations, and delivering efficiency to global multinationals. But that picture is rapidly changing. Today, India’s GCCs have transformed into strategic hubs of innovation, influencing not just how companies operate but also how they compete in the global market.
The scale of this transformation is staggering. India is now home to over 1,800 GCCs, employing 2.16 million professionals and contributing $68 billion in direct value addition to the economy. What was once a peripheral support system has become a central pillar of India’s technology and business ecosystem.
A New Era of GCC Evolution
The story of GCCs in India is no longer about cost arbitrage. More than 70% of these centers are actively driving digital transformation initiatives for their parent organizations far beyond their original mandate of efficiency and support.
This evolution has been enabled by India’s unmatched talent base. With 1.5 million engineers graduating every year and 16% of the world’s AI talent pool residing here, India has become a global magnet for cutting-edge work.
The results are visible in hard numbers. In FY24, 24 GCCs crossed the $1 billion revenue mark, doubling from just 12 five years ago. The sector’s growth trajectory is even more ambitious: projections suggest GCCs could generate $105–110 billion in revenue by 2030, employing between 2.8 and 4.5 million people. For an industry that began as a cost-saving exercise, this is nothing short of a reinvention.
Technology as the Core Driver
What truly sets this new wave of GCCs is their deep focus on technology and innovation. Roughly 75–80% of new centers in India are being set up with mandates around emerging technologies such as GenAI, AI/ML, blockchain, AR/VR, data analytics, big data, RPA, and cloud computing.
This pivot has created an impressive 185 AI/ML centers of excellence, fuelling innovation across industries as diverse as healthcare, financial services, automotive, and retail. Equally striking is the shift in research and development (R&D). Close to half of all GCCs in India now run R&D, analytics, and product innovation functions, activities once jealously guarded at global headquarters.
The ripple effect on intellectual property is profound. India granted nearly 100,000 patents in FY24, a massive leap from fewer than 25,000 in FY20. Much of this surge can be traced back to GCC-led research efforts, firmly placing India on the global innovation map.
The changing face of GCCs is also reflected in their workforce. In FY24–25 alone, GCCs created over 100,000 new jobs, outpacing traditional IT services firms for the second consecutive year. Unlike before, the hiring strategy is now laser-focused on mid-level professionals with specialized skills in areas like cloud, cybersecurity, AI, and data science.
Diversity is another area of progress. Women currently make up 40% of the GCC workforce, and with concerted investments in diversity and inclusion programs, that number is set to rise. This not only strengthens corporate culture but also deepens the innovation pipeline.
Geography, too, is shifting. While Bengaluru continues to dominate with 42% of GCC office space, cities like Hyderabad and Chennai are becoming strong contenders. Beyond the metros, Tier-2 cities are emerging as the next big frontier, thanks to 40–60% lower operating costs and 30–40% lower attrition rates compared to major hubs. This makes them attractive options for global enterprises looking to balance cost with innovation.
The Workspace Revolution: Stylework’s Strategic Role
As GCCs scale, one challenge keeps coming up: infrastructure. Traditional leasing models no longer fit the dynamic, fast-scaling needs of global enterprises. Flexible workspace solutions are filling this gap and reshaping the future of how GCCs operate. By 2026, GCCs are expected to occupy 42% of India’s rental workspace, compared to around 32% today. Already, in the first half of 2025, GCCs accounted for 39% of total office space demand, making them the largest occupier segment in India.
This surge in demand has created opportunities for new-age platforms. With 4,000+ workspaces across 120+ cities and partnerships with 500+ workspace brands, Stylework offers agility and scale that traditional leasing simply cannot. Its technology-driven platform is particularly valuable for GCCs. A single enterprise-grade dashboard enables companies to track real-time workspace usage, manage multiple sites, and adopt Core+Flex strategies that combine stable headquarters with flexible, distributed workspaces.
For GCCs expanding into Tier-2 cities, this agility becomes a game-changer. With Stylework’s established presence in these markets, companies can scale quickly while keeping costs in check, exactly what’s needed to power India’s distributed workforce model.
A Global Impact
India’s GCC transformation is not just a domestic story. It has significant global implications. More than 130 UK companies now run GCCs in India, employing over 200,000 professionals. This makes the UK the second-largest GCC cohort after the US.
These centers are not mere support arms. They are building technologies, products, and services that directly impact global competitiveness. A recent analysis shows that companies leveraging Indian GCCs for digital transformation are 2.5 times more likely to achieve above-average revenue growth. In other words, India’s GCCs are not just helping multinationals save money; they are helping them win in the marketplace.
Strategic Imperatives for Leaders
GCC Strategy
So, what does this mean for business leaders and decision-makers? The transformation of GCCs offers lessons and opportunities, but only if approached with the right strategy. Here are four imperatives:
Invest in High-Value Capabilities: Focus on building centers of excellence in AI, analytics, and emerging technologies rather than limiting GCCs to transactional functions.
Embrace Flexible Infrastructure: Partner with platforms to ensure workspaces remain agile and scalable, especially in a distributed, multi-city setup.
Build Local Innovation Ecosystems: Collaborate with India’s startups, universities, and research institutions to accelerate innovation and shorten product development cycles.
Prioritize Talent Development: Make continuous upskilling and reskilling a non-negotiable part of GCC’s strategy to stay ahead in fast-evolving technologies.
Looking Ahead
The journey of GCCs in India reflects a broader truth: global business models are shifting from efficiency-led strategies to innovation-led growth. What began as an experiment in cost savings has matured into one of the most powerful engines of global transformation.
For India, this is a defining opportunity. GCCs are not just strengthening their role in the global economy; they are reshaping how global corporations think about strategy, agility, and innovation. For the world, they represent a new way of building competitive advantage: by leveraging India’s talent, technology, and infrastructure to drive next-generation solutions.
The future, then, does not belong to organizations that view GCCs as cost centers. It belongs to those who see them for what they are becoming: strategic assets, capable of leading innovation at a global scale. With enablers like Stylework powering flexibility and growth, India’s GCCs are poised to play an even bigger role in defining the business landscape of the 21st century.
This article has been contributed by Keshav Maheshwari, Managing Director of ALLEN Career Institute Overseas
There was a time when leadership communication happened strictly behind closed doors. Boardrooms, annual town halls, maybe a keynote at a business conference and these were often the only platforms or opportunities where leaders addressed teams and customers or other stakeholders, however only a select few listened.
Cut to post COVID, the dynamics of influence have changed. Today, leaders don’t need bright lights or a podium. They just need a mic and the willingness to speak honestly.
Podcasts are now one of the most powerful, personal, and accessible forms of communication. Unlike formal memos or LinkedIn posts(not that anything is wrong with them and I still use these means too), a podcast allows people to hear not just what you say, but how you say it – your pauses, your passion, your stories, and your stumbles. That kind of intimacy that can builds trust, exists with no other medium.
Why Leaders Should Consider Podcasts Today?
Should Leaders Consider Podcasts today?
We live in a time when authenticity isn’t optional. People want to know more than what a leader does. They want to know what a leader believes. What keeps them up at night. What they’ve failed at. What they’re learning. Quite frankly this is why I felt compelled to get on the podcast medium myself with The Keshav Konnect.
Podcasts can offer leaders a format that isn’t about posturing. It’s about being human. And in doing that, they serve three key purposes:
Humanizing Leadership: Too often, leaders are seen as names on an org chart. Podcasts let them share the messy, meaningful, behind-the-scenes moments. They let people say, “Oh, they’ve been through that too.”
Scaling Mentorship: Not everyone can get one-on-one time with a leader. But a podcast comes close. When a leader shares their thinking on growth, mistakes, or navigating tough decisions, it’s mentorship—on demand, in someone’s pocket.
Shaping Thought Leadership: Podcasts give you space to go deeper than a quote in a press release. You can unpack trends, ask tough questions, and shape the narrative in your industry, not just react to it.
From Conference Table to Commute
Once upon a time, a CEO’s vision was heard by a few dozen people in a meeting room. Today, it can be heard by someone walking their dog in Bilaspur, cooking dinner in Indore, or commuting in Chennai.
That’s the reach to the views and vision that podcasts offer. They sometimes travel across borders and time zones. And because they’re opt-in, they connect with people who actually want to listen. Influence is no longer limited to who’s in the room. It’s about who’s tuned in.
So, How Can Leaders Build Influence Through Podcasts?
Starting a podcast is easy. Building influence through it? Well that takes consistency, clarity, and courage. Here’s what I’ve learned from my experiences so far:
Listeners don’t want a rehearsed speech. They want real stories. Real struggles. Let them hear the version of you that hasn’t been media-trained to perfection.
Your perspective is shaped by your experiences.Share what only you can share – whether it’s about entrepreneurship, education, leadership, or legacy. And more than the successes which eventually everyone learns about, it’s the challenges and extreme situations one experiences in life that audiences connect with the most.
You don’t need to post daily. But you do need to show up regularly enough. Trust builds when people know they can rely on you even through a pair of headphones.
Bring in guests and differentiated viewpoints (which is what am planning in the next phase). Have honest dialogues. It shows you value listening as much as speaking. And sometimes, the most powerful thing a leader can say is: “Tell me more.”
Inspiration is great. But insight is better. Give people something that’s worth their while – an idea, a mindset shift, a simple reminder.
As someone who comes from a legacy business, I see podcasts as a bridge. A way to honour where we come from, while speaking in the language of today. For many second-gen entrepreneurs, this format allows us to step into leadership in our own voice, not just inherit someone else’s.
At the same time, for young or first-time leaders, podcasts remove the gatekeepers. You don’t need media coverage or a speaking slot. You just need a point of view and the discipline to keep showing up.
As workforces become younger and more digitally native, the way we lead must evolve too. Leadership isn’t just about boardroom strategy anymore. It’s about emotional resonance. It’s about storytelling. It’s about accessibility. And podcasts deliver on all three.
So this World Podcast Day, my message to all those considering this format is that if you’re a leader with a story to tell, maybe skip the memo. Just press record. Someone out there needs to hear what you have to say and the format will ensure it reaches them sooner than later.
