Sayan Ghosh, a former World Bank officer, has launched Ortella Global Capital (OG Capital), a new venture capital (VC) fund worth INR 300 crore (about $36 million), which would work with creators to co-build firms. The fund would distribute cheques of up to INR 15 crore ($2 million) apiece and intends to invest in over 20 early and growth stage firms in the consumer and “enterprise solutions” sectors.
OG Capital said in a statement that it has already invested in three firms. It lacked particular information about these startups, though. In addition to providing funding, OG Capital intends to support startups by adding them to its portfolio and assisting with business expansion.
Created Largest Early-Stage Investment Team in Indi
OG Capital asserts that it has put together the biggest team of early-stage investors in India, which includes seasoned founders and operators. Scaling startups, determining product-market fit, increasing profitability, developing go-to-market strategies, and facilitating high-value exits are just a few of the areas in which the team specialises.
The goal of OG Capital is to transform early-stage investing by doing more than just writing cheques. In order to assist creators in facing the major obstacles head-on and creating organisations that are meaningful, successful, and have rapid growth, Ghosh stated. He further elaborated that the company believes in getting its hands dirty by supporting startups right from the start. The venture capital business stated that it will promote projects that prioritise gender diversity, sustainability, and grassroots effect in an effort to generate 10X returns. The schedule for closing the fund and deploying it, however, was unclear.
India’s Startup Ecosystem
A spirit of entrepreneurship is in the air! With the number of tech companies in India reaching 122,000 to date, with a peak of over 16,000 new additions in 2020, the country has solidified its position as a major global centre for innovation and businesses. In the past ten years, India has seen an unprecedented surge in the creation and funding of startups.
The financial landscape has also changed significantly, with the largest levels of investment over the last 10 years occurring in 2020 and 2021. Despite the challenges in the funding landscape in 2023, venture capitalists, private equity firms, angel investors, and investment firms have shown a surprising level of faith in Indian entrepreneurs. The investment scenario—from both Indian and foreign investors—has been positive and demonstrates resilience in the face of market concerns, with total funding of $8.4 billion in India in 2023.
From 2014 to 2023, a number of factors, including government initiatives, digitisation, and rising internet usage, drove the expansion of India’s top-funded industries. According to the Tracxn research, these industries include Edtech, Retail, Enterprise Applications, Fintech, Transportation & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Auto, and Travel & Hospitality.
With a total funding of $6.73 billion throughout the years and $6.23 billion in just ten years, Indian investment in the Deep Tech (R&D orientated) industry has been growing consistently, demonstrating the nation’s dedication to science and technology and its continuous expansion. This pattern highlights how crucial technology-driven innovation is to determining India’s future.
The development of firmware and embedded systems still depends heavily on efficiency and dependability. Fast firmware testing and validation while upholding high-quality standards has become essential to the success of products. The traditional methods of firmware testing, which heavily rely on manual intervention, are proving inadequate for modern, fast-paced development cycles. Transforming firmware testing by integrating automation, continuous validation, and real-world simulations is essential for organizations striving for faster, more reliable releases.
Soujanya Annapareddy has contributed to firmware validation and automation, helping improve the efficiency and accuracy of testing processes for energy solutions. By working on Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, she has supported streamlining firmware testing and release processes, ensuring smoother integration and reducing the risk of issues during deployment.
Over the course of her career, Soujanya Annapareddy has worked with top tech companies, helping with firmware automation and validation projects for massive embedded and cloud-based systems. Her research and published papers in peer-reviewed journals focus on firmware automation, embedded systems, and test methodologies, further establishing her influence in this domain. Moreover, her experience in developing automation frameworks using Python, Go, and C++ has significantly improved test efficiency in firmware validation processes.
At her workplace, Annapareddy has played a crucial role in improving efficiency, reliability, and scalability within firmware testing. Her initiatives in automation have reduced manual intervention, enabling structured and continuous firmware validation. By integrating real-time test monitoring systems using GoogleSQL and automated dashboards, she has enhanced defect tracking, allowing for more data-driven decision-making. These optimizations have led to reduced costs, improved release cycle timelines, and a significant enhancement in firmware reliability.
One of her most important endeavors is the creation of a framework for automated firmware testing. She was able to decrease firmware validation time while increasing system reliability by utilizing real-time logging mechanisms, CI/CD integration, and Python-based automation. Additionally, her research on Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) for embedded firmware development has led to advancements in multi-threading and resource optimization, ensuring that firmware functions efficiently under real-time conditions.
Measurable outcomes have also been obtained from her efforts in firmware. By automating firmware validation processes, she increased test execution efficiency by 40% and reduced firmware release cycles by 30%. Furthermore, her implementation of stress and failure mode testing allowed for defect detection 35% earlier in the development cycle, preventing post-deployment failures and improving long-term firmware stability. By implementing automated debugging tools and real-time test monitoring dashboards, she reduced manual reporting efforts by 50% and enhanced test analysis efficiency.
Despite these achievements, Soujanya Annapareddy has encountered and successfully overcome significant challenges. One of the primary obstacles in firmware validation was the lack of standardized automated testing frameworks for embedded systems. Manual testing processes were slow and inconsistent, leading to delays and increased costs. By developing a custom automation framework incorporating Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulations, she improved real-world accuracy in firmware validation while reducing dependency on physical prototypes. Additionally, debugging firmware failures across complex system integrations proved challenging. Implementing automated logging and real-time monitoring tools provided deeper insights into defect trends, improving efficiency in debugging and troubleshooting.
Industry knowledge has greatly benefited from her published works, which include studies on practical uses of Python in firmware and software automation, as well as improvements in firmware testing and validation methods. These publications highlight the importance of automation and real-time monitoring in firmware validation, offering insights into best practices for organizations aiming to streamline their testing processes.
Regarding the future, Soujanya Annapareddy highlights how automation, AI-powered testing, and cloud-based validation are becoming more and more important in firmware testing. Traditional manual testing is becoming obsolete due to its inefficiency and scalability limitations. Instead, organizations are shifting toward AI-powered automation and predictive analytics, which can identify potential firmware failures before they occur. Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations and containerized testing environments are also gaining traction, allowing firmware to be validated in real-world conditions without requiring extensive physical hardware setups.
Security is another growing concern in firmware validation. With the rise of IoT devices and industrial automation, ensuring firmware security through secure boot mechanisms, anomaly detection, and penetration testing will become standard practices. Future firmware validation pipelines will need to incorporate security testing to mitigate cybersecurity threats and system vulnerabilities.
Prioritizing security testing, integrating CI/CD pipelines, and investing in automation frameworks will be essential for enterprises hoping to maintain their lead in firmware validation. Cloud-based testing solutions will further enhance scalability, allowing teams to conduct firmware validation remotely and with greater efficiency.
The transformation of firmware testing is well underway, with automation, predictive analytics, and real-time monitoring paving the way for faster, more reliable releases. As the demands of contemporary embedded systems continue to grow, experts like Soujanya Annapareddy are pushing the envelope of innovation to make sure firmware validation keeps up.
This article has been contributed bySaurabh Bothra, Founder & CEO, Habuild.
When we think about a successful workplace, what comes to mind?
Deadlines met, goals achieved, and thriving productivity, right? But there’s a hidden foundation that supports all of this – the emotional well-being of employees.
For men, this aspect often gets overlooked. Why? Because we’ve all grown up in a society that tells men to be “strong,” “tough,” and “unemotional.” They’re taught to suppress their feelings, to prioritise work over their well-being, and to never let the world see them struggle.
But here’s the hard truth – while this behavior is considered “normal,” normal doesn’t mean right. Men suppress their emotions, not because they want to, but because it’s what they’ve been conditioned to do. And this suppression? It doesn’t just disappear – it builds up. At work, it can manifest as stress, burnout, or even complete disengagement.
A workplace that prioritises emotional well-being isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for long-term success. When employees, especially men, feel safe to express their emotions and seek support, it creates an environment where trust and collaboration thrive. Such a culture fosters stronger relationships, reduces stress, and encourages creativity, which directly impacts productivity.
Breaking the Stigma Around Men’s Emotional Health
But why is it so hard for men to talk about their emotions, especially at work? The answer lies in deeply ingrained societal beliefs – men are often taught that vulnerability is a sign of weakness. They’re expected to “man up” and solve problems silently, leading to an unspoken rule that emotions should be kept out of the workplace.
Breaking this stigma starts with changing the narrative. Vulnerability isn’t a weakness – it’s a strength that builds connection and understanding. As leaders and colleagues, we have the power to normalise open conversations about emotional well-being. When we encourage men to share their challenges without fear of judgment, we create a space where authenticity thrives.
The Two-Stepped Solution to Support Men’s Emotional Well-Being –
Step 1 – Recognising the Signs of Emotional Struggles
Healthy workplaces prioritise the holistic well-being of their employees, addressing both visible and invisible struggles. Often, emotional struggles go unnoticed in workplaces because men are less likely to vocalise their challenges. This makes it critical to actively recognise subtle signs that indicate a male employee might be struggling.
Leaders can proactively identify signs of emotional distress through observable changes in behavior. For example –
Physical Health Decline: Chronic stress can lead to headaches, fatigue, or sleep disturbances.
Sudden Work Pattern Shifts: Uncharacteristic absenteeism, missed deadlines, or withdrawal from team activities could indicate struggles.
Changes in Mood: Irritability, frustration, or a noticeable drop in enthusiasm for work may signal deeper emotional issues.
To address these, organisations can adopt wellness-focused strategies –
Health Check-ins: Incorporate regular wellness check-ins that assess not only productivity but also mental and physical health.
Mindful Work Breaks: Encourage employees to take short breaks for breathing exercises or stretches. Practices like box breathing (inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, and pause for four) can reduce stress levels significantly.
Open Door Policies: A culture where employees feel safe to approach HR or managers about their emotional challenges fosters trust and prevents burnout.
Integrating wellness into the work environment starts with recognising the connection between physical health and emotional well-being. Employers can promote mind-body practices such as yoga and mindfulness exercises that help manage stress, enhance focus, and encourage relaxation.
For example, workplaces can –
Introduce Wellness Breaks: Dedicate 10–15 minutes during the workday for employees to practice deep breathing, guided meditations, or simple yoga stretches to ease the tension caused by long hours at the desk.
Host Yoga Classes: Offer weekly yoga sessions tailored for stress relief and energy renewal. Techniques such as Pranayama (breath control) can significantly reduce anxiety and improve mental clarity.
Create Wellness Zones: Designate spaces within the office where employees can engage in relaxation activities, from stretching to quiet reading, providing a mental reset during a busy day.
Encouraging these practices not only benefits individual health but also fosters a culture where well-being is viewed as essential, not optional.
2. Nutrition and Hydration for Wellness
Workplace nutrition plays a significant role in overall health and emotional balance. Stressful environments often push employees toward unhealthy habits, like excessive caffeine consumption or skipping meals, which can trigger anxiety and fatigue.
To support healthier choices –
Provide Nutritious Snacks: Stock pantries with items like nuts, fruits, and herbal teas that stabilise energy levels and reduce stress-induced cravings.
Promote Hydration: Ensure easy access to clean drinking water and encourage hydration through awareness campaigns or by providing reusable water bottles. Dehydration can significantly affect mood and cognitive function.
Host Lunch-and-Learn Sessions: Educate employees about the benefits of balanced diets in managing stress and improving energy. These sessions can be informal yet impactful, led by nutritionists or wellness coaches.
3. Promote Active Breaks
Encourage employees to take short, active breaks every hour, such as standing up, stretching, or walking around. Simple exercises like shoulder rolls or desk squats can refresh the body and mind.
4. Celebrate Small Wins
Many men are conditioned to measure success by large accomplishments, often overlooking the importance of daily achievements that contribute to their overall well-being and mental health. Recognising smaller victories not only boosts confidence but also reinforces the idea that their efforts, both big and small, are valuable and worth celebrating.
Role of Yoga in Supporting Emotional Well-Being at Work
In the workplace, men may experience immense pressure, high expectations, and often feel they need to compartmentalise emotions to fit into traditionally masculine roles. Yoga offers a solution by providing techniques that promote mental clarity, stress management, and emotional balance.
Stress reduction – Research shows that yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting a relaxation response that reduces cortisol (the stress hormone). For men, who often suppress emotional responses, yoga allows for a healthy outlet for managing stress.
Improved Focus and Cognitive Function – Yoga helps enhance focus and concentration – key aspects of emotional well-being that often get clouded by stress. With mindfulness at its core, yoga teaches the practice of being present, which improves mental clarity and cognitive performance.
Mind-Body Connection – By focusing on breath, movement, and mindfulness, yoga helps to improve mental clarity, emotional balance, and physical resilience, allowing men to manage stress more effectively and approach challenges with a refreshed, focused mindset.
Here are some effective yoga practices that men can integrate into their workday to reduce stress and enhance emotional well-being –
Anulom Vilom (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
It is a powerful pranayama (breathing technique) that calms the mind, balances emotions, and helps reduce stress. It promotes a sense of tranquility and clears the mental fog, making it an excellent practice for men who experience work-related anxiety or feel overwhelmed.
Box Breathing
It is a stress-relieving technique used by athletes, military personnel, and professionals alike to regain focus and calm the nervous system. It’s ideal for moments when men need quick stress relief at work, as it has been proven to lower cortisol levels and reduce anxiety.
Child’s Pose (Balasana)
It is a restorative yoga position that helps release tension in the back, neck, and shoulders, which are common areas where stress manifests. It promotes relaxation and stress relief, calming the nervous system. It also encourages introspection and emotional release, which can help men reconnect with their emotions.
Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana)
This pose stretches and strengthens the spine, which can release physical tension stored in the body. The gentle movement helps reduce stress, alleviate tension, and promote emotional release.
Mindful Meditation
A quick mindfulness meditation is one of the most effective ways for men to detach from work stress and reset their emotional state. Meditation helps men practice emotional awareness and regulate their responses to stress.
Seated Spinal Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)
This pose releases physical tension accumulated in the back, shoulders, and neck while enhancing mental clarity and reducing stress. It also stimulates the digestive system and helps alleviate lower back pain.
Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani)
This pose promotes deep relaxation and helps alleviate physical tension caused by long periods of sitting. It also lowers heart rate and calms the mind, making it an excellent practice for emotional recovery.
Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra is a deep relaxation technique that takes men into a state of conscious relaxation, helping reduce mental fatigue and emotional tension. It’s perfect for those who feel emotionally drained after a busy day or stressful meetings.
Conclusion
As we celebrate International Men’s Day and recognise the importance of men’s emotional well-being, we must create workplaces where men feel supported in expressing and managing their emotions.
As men embrace these practices, they’ll not only be better equipped to handle work challenges but also cultivate deeper self-awareness, emotional stability, and a sense of inner peace that translates into every aspect of their lives.
By making emotional health a priority, we are contributing to a future where men can thrive, both professionally and personally.
On this International Men’s Day, StartupTalky connects with Sajja Praveen Chowdary, Director of Policybazaar for Business. In this exclusive interaction, Chowdary sheds light on how technology is transforming business insurance, making it more accessible and affordable. He discusses the role of digital tools and data in changing the industry, while also offering insights into the future of insurance, including the shift towards preventive measures and tailored solutions. Chowdary also shares his perspectives on mental health and work-life balance, providing valuable advice for men in demanding roles.
StartupTalky: How has your experience in product and technology management influenced the development of business insurance solutions?
Mr. Chowdary: Coming from a tech-driven background, I’ve always approached problems with a solution-first mindset. I remember working on one of our earliest business insurance projects—it was eye-opening to see how fragmented the process was for business owners. It wasn’t about selling a product; it was about making their journey simpler. This experience reinforced the idea that technology isn’t just an enabler—it’s a bridge between businesses and the solutions they didn’t know they needed.
StartupTalky: How do digital tools and data analytics help you tailor products for businesses at Policybazaar for Business?
Mr. Chowdary: I’ll give you an example. A while back, we noticed a pattern: smaller firms were hesitant to buy employee health coverage because they assumed it was costly. Using data, we crafted scalable policies that addressed their affordability concerns while offering value. Digital tools help us listen to what our customers aren’t saying. They give us the power to fine-tune our offerings—making them practical, affordable, and relevant for each business type.
StartupTalky: What trends do you foresee in the Indian business insurance market over the next 5 years?
Mr. Chowdary: The next five years will see a fundamental shift from “reactive insurance” to “preventive insurance.” Businesses will lean on technology and insurance providers for predictive risk management. Cyber insurance, for example, will evolve from being optional to essential. Another key trend will be a rise in bundled offerings—tailored packages for specific industries like retail or logistics, where risk profiles vary significantly. Insurance will stop being a “purchase” and become a “partnership.”
StartupTalky: How does Policybazaar for Business simplify complex insurance products for business owners?
Mr. Chowdary: Simplification is about empathy. Imagine explaining a complex insurance term to someone who’s hearing it for the first time—that’s the challenge we solve every day. At Policybazaar for Business, we’ve built tools that make comparisons clear, language relatable, and the process frictionless. But the real differentiator is the human touch. I believe no technology can replace the comfort of talking to someone who genuinely wants to help you make the right decision.
StartupTalky: What sets Policybazaar for Business apart in providing a seamless insurance buying experience?
Mr. Chowdary: It’s the ecosystem we’ve built—a combination of cutting-edge technology and a team that understands the nuances of Indian businesses. From personalized consultations to real-time claim support, we’ve made it our mission to remove the usual headaches associated with insurance. Businesses trust us not just for what we offer, but for how we deliver it—with transparency, speed, and care.
StartupTalky: What are the most pressing risks that businesses face, and how do your products address them?
Mr. Chowdary: The risks businesses face are evolving faster than ever. Take cyber threats—just a decade ago, they were hardly a concern. Today, a single breach can paralyze an entire operation. Then there’s employee well-being, which directly impacts productivity and retention. At Policybazaar for Business, we constantly ask ourselves: “Are we building solutions that can keep up with these changes?” Our products, like Cyber Insurance and Group Health Insurance, are designed to provide security, so businesses can focus on their growth story.
StartupTalky: What marketing strategies have been most successful in reaching business clients with insurance solutions?
Mr. Chowdary: We’ve realized that education is the best marketing strategy. Businesses don’t wake up thinking, “I need insurance today.” What they do think about is protecting their people, their assets, and their reputation. Our campaigns focus on showing them how insurance solves real-life challenges—whether it’s through stories of claims we’ve processed or data-driven insights into their industries. The key is to build trust before trying to sell anything.
StartupTalky: On International Men’s Day, the focus is on mental health. How do you maintain work-life balance, and what advice would you give to men in demanding roles to protect their mental well-being?
Mr. Chowdary: At Policybazaar for Business, we often emphasize the importance of holistic well-being, and mental health is a crucial part of that equation. Balancing work and life in a leadership role can indeed feel like a tightrope walk. Personally, I try to prioritize non-negotiable family time every day and make room for short breaks to recharge—whether it’s a quick walk or stepping away from my screen.
To men in demanding roles, my advice would be: recognize that your mental health is as critical as any professional target you aim for. Just as you would strategize for business growth, plan for your mental well-being. Remember, you don’t always have to carry the ‘provider’ mantle; sometimes, simply being present for yourself is the greatest act of leadership.
Streamline Operations, Slash Costs by 60%, and Skyrocket Revenue with the World’s First Voice-Agent-Enabled SaaS ERP.
San Francisco, November 19: Bestsys, a leading innovator in artificial intelligence and enterprise resource planning (ERP), has unveiled its groundbreaking AI-powered SaaS ERP platform designed to redefine how businesses operate. Targeted at startups, SMEs, and e-commerce merchants on platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, Bestsys delivers a comprehensive solution to streamline operations, reduce costs, and maximize revenue growth.
This transformative platform introduces AI-powered voice agents that automate routine tasks, optimize processes, and provide actionable insights, enabling businesses to focus on growth. In an industry where research shows only 10% of resources are fully optimized, Bestsys identifies and automates the remaining 90%, unlocking operational efficiency like never before.
Transforming Business Operations, One Task at a Time
“We created Bestsys to eliminate inefficiency and complexity in business management,” said Subhodip Dutta, Founder and CEO of Bestsys. “Our AI voice agents act as a 24/7 operational manager, transforming tedious tasks into seamless automation. Whether you’re a startup or a growing enterprise, Bestsys provides tools that scale with you, making it easy to cut costs, boost productivity, and unlock new growth opportunities.”
How Bestsys Empowers Businesses
AI-Powered Voice Agent: Simplifies business management by automating accounting, bookkeeping, taxation, and marketing tasks while offering real-time strategic insights.
Tailored for E-Commerce and Startups: Seamlessly integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce, helping merchants reduce expenses and increase sales through actionable AI-driven insights.
Cost Reduction: Businesses report a 60% reduction in operational costs and a 25% boost in revenue thanks to automation and predictive analytics.
Scalable and Modular Design: With over 35 add-ons, businesses can customize their workflows, ensuring the platform adapts to their unique needs.
Revolutionizing ERP with Next-Gen AI
In a groundbreaking move, Bestsys is set to launch an AI RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) and agent-based ERP system, which will redefine how businesses interact with their data. This advanced version will provide a conversational AI interface for managing complex ERP functions, offering unparalleled speed and accuracy.
“Think of it as having an intelligent business partner who understands your goals and proactively helps you achieve them,” Dutta added. “This is the future of ERP, and we’re excited to bring it to the world.”
Proven Results with Bestsys
Early adopters have reported dramatic improvements:
60% reduction in operational costs
40% increase in employee productivity
35% accuracy boost in inventory management
25% revenue growth driven by AI-optimized campaigns
Key Features That Set Bestsys Apart
Natural Language Voice AI: Simplify management tasks with a conversational AI assistant.
Predictive Analytics: Anticipate inventory and demand trends.
Automated Financial Tools: Simplify accounting, bookkeeping, and taxation processes.
Real-Time Monitoring: Gain actionable insights into business performance.
Integrated Call Center Suite: AI agents run marketing campaigns and manage customer interactions efficiently.
About Bestsys
Bestsys is a San Francisco-based tech pioneer led by serial entrepreneur and software engineer Subhodip Dutta, known for his innovative work in tele-radiology AI and digital security. Bestsys aims to democratize enterprise-grade operational solutions, empowering businesses to scale effortlessly with AI-driven efficiency.
Join the Revolution Today
Bestsys is now available for startups, SMEs, and e-commerce merchants worldwide. Discover how AI-powered automation can transform your business. Visit bestsys.co to learn more or schedule a live demo.
Alice Louise Walton was born in Newport Arkansas on October 7th, 1949, and grew up in Bentonville where her father founded the Walmart empire. She is the youngest of four siblings including S.Robson Walton, Jim Walton, and John Walton, and is the only daughter of the retail giant.
With her economics degree in hand, she embarked on her journey, as an equity analyst and fund manager. She founded an investment bank where she held the positions of president, chairwoman, and CEO.
Alice Walton is recognized not for her expertise and business skills but also for her generous donations, towards supporting art programs as well as education and healthcare initiatives that aim to improve economic opportunities, for many.
Alice Walton is making waves in fields; leading an investment bank and contributing to groundbreaking advancements in medicine; reshaping the perception of billionaires incrementally, with every dollar she invests or donates.
Alice Louise Walton – Biography
Name
Alice Walton
Born
October 7, 1949
Nationality
American
Hometown
Newport, Arkansas
Education
Trinity University
Parents
Sam Walton (Father) and Helen Walton (Mother)
Siblings
Rob Walton, John Walton, Jim Walton
Net Worth
$94.2 Billion (as of November 2024)
Known for
Heiress to the Walmart fortune, World’s Wealthiest Woman (2024)
Born to Sam and Helen Walton, Alice was raised with her three brothers in Bentonville, Arkansas. She completed her high school education in 1966 from Bentonville High School and went on to get her BA in economics from Trinity University.
Alice Walton – Career
Alice started her career as an equity analyst and money manager for First Commerce Corporation. After which she went on to head the entire investment portfolio at Arvest Bank Group. She also had a brief stint as a broker for EF Hutton. Her actual career break came in 1988 when she founded the Llama Company, an investment bank. Sadly, the company folded in 1998 due to the bond market crash.
Alice’s personal life remains shrouded in mystery with information except, for what the tabloids have shared about her past marriage to a well-known investment banker, from Louisiana, which ended in divorce after just two and a half years.
Regrettably, Alice’s past includes a series of car crashes—one of them turned fatal back, in 1983 when she lost control of her Jeep and veered into a ravine, to Acapulco resulting in a leg that required airlifting out of Mexico and multiple surgeries since then she continues to endure persistent leg pain.
Again in April 1989, Alice struck and killed 50-year-old Oleta Hardin. But no charges were filed. In 2021, she was arrested for a DWI in Parker County, Texas. Unfortunately, the arresting officer was suspended and the DA let the statute of limitations for the charges to expire.
Alice Walton – Political Motivations
Alice Walton was one of the largest individual contributors in the 2004 elections where she donated $2.6 million to the Conservation Progress for America Group. In 2012, she contributed over $200,000 to the Restore Our Future campaign, associated with Mitt Romney. In 2016, she donated $353,400 to the Hillary Victory Fund to support Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Alice Walton – Association with Art
Alice Walton – Association with Art
Alice is an avid lover of Art, and as stories go, she purchased a print of Picasso’s Blue Nude at only 10 years of age. In 1980 she purchased her first-ever artwork, two Winslow Homer watercolours.
Following is the list of some pieces she purchased:
December 2004 – Collection of Daniel and Rita Fraad
2005 – Aher Brown Durand’s Kindred Spirits for $35 million
2009 – Norman Rockwell’s Rosie the Riveter for $4.9 million
Some other artists’ works she owns are:
Paintings by Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper
Portrait of George Washington by Charles Willson Peale
Smoker #9 by Tom Wesselmann
Georgia O’Keeffe
Mark Rothko
Kehinde Wiley
Titus Kaphar
Alice’s love for art led to the Walton Family Foundation building the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Built on 120 acres of Walton land, the museum opened its doors in 2011 and has had more than 13 million visitors as of 2024. Alice made sure that the museum was free for all, as she wanted to give people the opportunity to view art.
Alice Walton – Philanthropic Works
The Walton family is associated with multiple philanthropic institutions, one of the biggest being the Alice L. Walton Foundation. Founded in 2017, the foundation has expanded into art, education, health, and the economy as well. The foundation has supported the following:
2020 – The University of Central Arkansas $3 million received funding for its fine arts program
2020 – The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences received $1.28 million to provide healthy food for schools.
2022 – Northwest Arkansas Food Bank received $3.5 million: $3 million for the construction of a food distribution center, and $500,000 for purchase and distribution of food.
Another philanthropic association Alice formed was the Art Bridges Foundation. The foundation helps fund, collect, and transport exhibits, and create programs with different museums. The foundation also has a Fellows Program that helps people from underrepresented groups to work with their museum partners.
Alice Walton – Contribution to the Healthcare Sector
Alice Walton helped set up the Whole Health Institute in 2019. The main aim of the institution is to help the health system and communities gain access to holistic healthcare for all. In 2021, the institute promoted the building of a nonprofit medical school in Bentonville that would focus on allopathic medicine.
The Alice L. Walton Foundation in 2021 partnered with the Cleveland Clinic to evaluate the entire healthcare system in Northwest Arkansas. Post the evaluation, the foundation and the Washington Regional Medical System had plans to create a nonprofit medical system that helped train doctors in fields such as neurology, oncology, and cardiology.
Alice Walton Awards
2012 – Time magazine most influential people in the world
2013 – Smithsonian Institution Archives of American Art Medal
2018 – International Women’s Forum Hall of Fame inductee
2020 – John Paul Getty Medal
Alice Walton – Interesting Facts
Alice Walton is one of the richest women in the world as per Forbes list at $94.2 billion.
She is a supporter of the Republican party and has donated millions.
She is a licensed pilot and has flown a plane herself for years.
She is also a patron of the arts and has donated millions to museums.
FAQ
How many Waltons are billionaires?
The Walton billionaires are:
Rob Walton
Jim Walton
Alice Walton
Lukas Walton
Christy Walton
Ann Walton Kroenke
Nancy Walton Laurie
Who is the #1 richest family?
The Walton family is the #1 richest family.
How many times has Alice Walton been married?
Alice Walton has been marriedtwice, but both marriages ended in divorce.
On this International Men’s Day, StartupTalky connected with Davinder Bhasin, Founder of One Health Assist, a platform transforming health management through digital solutions. Bhasin explains how his personal challenges with the healthcare system led him to create One Health Assist. He talks about how technologies like AI and machine learning help offer personalised health insights and makes healthcare more accessible. Bhasin also shares advice on maintaining work-life balance and why men in leadership should prioritise their mental health. His journey shows how One Health Assist is shaping the future of healthcare.
StartupTalky: What inspired the creation of One Health Assist, and how did your experience across different industries shape this vision?
Mr. Bhasin: One Health Assist was born out of the challenges faced by us when dealing with the healthcare system. When my mother was diagnosed with a serious condition, I had to travel between cities for her treatment. Being mindful of every document was difficult amidst the rush. The constant worry is a heavy burden because misplacing a document can have consequences. One Health Assist’s journey began when Karan (co-founder of One Health Assist) and I discussed our ordeals. Given that he has also faced similar circumstances, realizing the commonality of this problem was quick.
We set out with a vision to build a holistic health and wellness care ecosystem. Our professional and personal experiences highlighted to us, not only how big the challenge was, but also how big the opportunity was. My diverse experience across industries highlighted a consistent gap: the need for integrated, user-centric solutions. In every sector, data serves as the backbone for informed decisions, but in healthcare, it’s even more critical – as my personal experience exhibited. Thus, keeping data central, we designed the interface with a vision that eventually the platform will evolve into the go-to support system for individuals to follow a wellness-oriented lifestyle.
StartupTalky: One Health Assist is aiming to become the largest health data repository. What key strategies are you using to scale and expand this platform?
Mr. Bhasin: To scale and expand One Health Assist, we’re focusing on strengthening our health repository. It is a free & user-friendly feature, that serves as the backbone of our ecosystem, that can be a transformative support system across the wellness journey. This platform is designed to digitize and centralize medical records, addressing the challenges of managing physical documents—especially for those traveling for treatment, whether within a city or internationally.
Handling physical health records can be cumbersome and time-consuming, and the risk of damage to the documents or outright misplacement is ever-present. By offering a digital solution such as storage, viewing and sharing all health records like angiography, X Ray etc. we eliminate these risks, ensuring critical information is secure, easily accessible, and protected from damage.
However, our health repository is more than just a digital storage solution—it’s about changing the way individuals engage with their healthcare. We are moving beyond basic record-keeping to include advanced features like health scoring and personalized treatment plans, which provide actionable insights tailored to individual needs. Our commitment is to make healthcare management not only more convenient but also genuinely transformative, empowering users with timely and accurate insights to improve their wellness journey.
StartupTalky: How does One Health Assist differentiate itself from other digital health platforms in terms of technology and user experience?
Mr. Bhasin: One Health Assist stands out by offering a comprehensive health-tech ecosystem, with our health repository serving as the platform’s dynamic core. We leverage advanced algorithms to transform stored data into personalized insights, including the One Health Score, which gives users a comprehensive view of their well-being. This score is a proactive tool, that helps individuals manage health risks with expert-driven recommendations.
Privacy and data security are our top priorities. Our platform is HIPAA-compliant, featuring end-to-end encryption to safeguard user information. Partnerships with AWS and TTML further enhance our data security, ensuring a reliable and private environment for accessing health records and diagnostics.
Additionally, we are one of the few platforms to integrate pet care, offering telemedicine services that connect users to licensed veterinarians. This holistic approach makes healthcare not only accessible but also secure, personalized, and family-inclusive.
StartupTalky: What role do emerging technologies like AI and machine learning play in the development of One Health Assist’s services?
Mr. Bhasin: Emerging technologies like AI and machine learning are the cornerstone of our vision at One Health Assist. These technologies allow us to offer a seamless and personalized wellness journey by analyzing vast amounts of data to generate predictive insights.
For example, AI helps us provide tailored lifestyle recommendations based on individual health records, enabling proactive management of chronic conditions. Machine learning also drives our predictive models, which can anticipate potential health risks, providing users and their healthcare providers with critical early warnings.
This is why AI is embedded across our ecosystem to ensure that health insights are not only accurate but also easy to understand and act upon. By harnessing these technologies, we aim to enhance the accessibility and quality of care, transforming health management into a continuous, data-driven experience.
StartupTalky: How does One Health Assist simplify health management and make critical health data more accessible for users?
Mr. Bhasin: One Health Assist simplifies health management by offering a single, centralized platform for all medical information. By digitizing health records, we address the common issues associated with physical documents—storage space, degradation over time, and accessibility during travel. Our platform ensures that vital information is always within reach, whether you’re consulting a local doctor or seeking specialized treatment abroad.
Additionally, our technology includes features like personalized health scoring and tailored recommendations, which transform static data into actionable insights, guiding users toward better health outcomes.
These digital storage solutions is free for everyone and we hope that we are able to serve the masses and hopefully ease the pain.
StartupTalky: What corporate wellness solutions does One Health Assist offer to enhance employee health and productivity?
Mr. Bhasin: At One Health Assist, we believe that healthy employees are the foundation of a thriving business.
Our corporate wellness packages are crafted to prioritize proactive employee well-being, going beyond traditional mediclaim policies.
Our Preventive Health Care Package focuses on sustaining good health rather than merely addressing illness.
Through comprehensive health screenings, lifestyle assessments, mental health support, fitness programs, and personalized wellness workshops, we empower employees to lead healthier, happier, and more productive lives.
By investing in prevention, an organization can reduce absenteeism, enhance employee engagement, and cultivate a culture of wellness.
StartupTalky: On International Men’s Day, how do you manage work-life balance and what advice would you give to men in leadership roles to protect their mental health?
Mr. Bhasin: People are often subjected to some unique challenges, especially in leadership roles, where societal expectations often place undue pressure on their mental and physical health. The perception that men should be stoic and unaffected by stress can lead to a reluctance in seeking help, contributing to higher rates of mental health issues like anxiety and depression, which are often underreported.
This is why balancing work and personal life is a continuous effort, and it requires conscious prioritization. For me, managing work-life balance involves setting boundaries, making time for family, and dedicating moments to recharge. My advice to men in leadership roles is to make mental health a priority—just as we prioritize strategic decisions in business, we should also plan for self-care and mindfulness. It’s important to normalize conversations around mental well-being and seek professional guidance if needed.
Effective leaders understand that taking care of their mental health not only improves their decision-making but also sets a positive example for their teams. Encourage open dialogue, be transparent about the challenges, and ensure you’re taking steps to stay well-rounded and resilient in every aspect of life.
This article has been contributed by Sreyashi Das, Senior Data Engineer, Netflix.
Have you ever witnessed failed attempts at democratizing analytics? There is a relatively universal pattern where data visualization experts and data analysts must manually transform, apply filter clauses, and connect data across business domains before it is ready for charts and sophisticated visualizations. Data stewardship is entirely manual, starting with data lineage, governance, documentation, and maintaining operations. Although we have seen investments in ensuring data sources are timely and accurate, and on the other end, we have good frameworks and visualization tools like Tableau and web applications to connect to the data layer, the method of accessing data in a clean and consistent manner still impacts the time to insights and leads to inconsistencies in metric definitions.
Self-service analytics frees up the IT team to tailor data for business users, allowing data engineers to focus more on their strengths, which is building foundational datasets. However, self-service analytics forces business users to become SQL savvy, database experts, and modeling experts, leading to less trust in data and creating duplicate work. A semantic layer can be a key technology enabler for delivering a shared understanding of domain-specific entities, improving trust and data security, and accelerating time to insights, empowering business-friendly self-service analytics but with governance and control.
One of the trends driving the analytics market is the changing enterprise landscape, where there is a profound shift in data management and analytics. Cloud infrastructure is the default for deployment. The data warehouse has become more powerful by leveraging solutions like Snowflake but also challenging to understand and manage as a data consumer. Data is becoming more decentralized, and organizations are moving towards the Data Mesh paradigm to shift from centralized control to empowered domain engineering teams. A robust semantic layer in a Data Mesh or a hub-and-spoke style architecture can maintain coherence and quality, providing a single source of truth despite departmental and geographical distribution of data, keeping data aligned with organizational standards.
Role of Data Engineering
It is not about making data available for data experts; it is about making data available for everyone. Data engineers build the foundations of the data pipelines. The semantics, in the form of metadata, can be ingrained in the raw tables for data scientists to use in the later stages of the pipelines. The semantic layer is a shared responsibility of data engineers and analytic engineers and can be achieved by having flexibility, collaboration across partner teams, and sharing best practices to enable cross-domain analytics.
Looker is empowering the data community with an enterprise-ready off-the-shelf solution that you can use today, featuring SOX compliance, Google Sheet Integration, and, most importantly, version control. For a semantic layer to be truly ubiquitous, data must be accessed from the same underlying data structure. Using LookML, Looker’s modeling language, semantic layer developers can participate in a shared analytics environment that brings context and clarity to the logical data model, relationships, and metric definitions.
Step-by-Step Guide
Here are some best practices to organize and build the data model using LookML:
Core dimensions like product hierarchy must adhere to organizational standards and be a single source of truth. This is also known as conforming a dimension.
Connect Looker to a data source, for example, the Snowflake data warehouse.
Create a LookML project.
Using LookML, create views. Views are named after physical table names.
Then create explores. Explore files include view files and determine how data in views can be queried and explored. Explores are built for user discovery.
Model files include explore files. Model files act as entry points in LookML projects, defining which explores are available for querying. By including explores in models, all the explores are made available for reporting and analysis.
Using the hub-and-spoke model ensures cross-domain connectivity and accelerates the speed of generating insights from data and promotes a shared understanding of key business metrics and definitions.
Test and validate your data model. Looker generates SQL queries. Validate the results.
Iterate and refine your model with evolving business definitions.
Documentation using LookML comments is key for the long-term impact of your data model.
Looker’s version-controlled semantic layer centralizes your business logic, ensuring everyone uses the same definition of key metrics regardless of technical background. It separates business logic from physical data, allowing you to reliably apply consistent definitions across KPIs. Metrics defined in a Looker model can also be consumed in other places like Google Sheets, Tableau, and other business intelligence tools. A universal semantic layer not only helps to democratize data and empower teams to make better decisions but also serves as the foundation for GenAI initiatives both now and in the future.
High-quality physical data models are the foundation for more accurate and trustworthy predictive models. If there exists a question-answering system powered by a large language model, the knowledge graph representation of the SQL database, such as Snowflake, will lead to more accurate answers. If there is one thing organizations should invest in, it is semantics. In today’s era, where GenAI adoption continues to grow year over year, context, metadata, and documentation together will elevate the semantics of datasets and enable data-informed decision-making.
London Business School (2010), Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (2018)
Company
Herculis Group
Company Location
Switzerland, Liechtenstein
Biography
Nikolay Karpenko, a financier and founder of Herculis Group, exemplifies excellence in wealth management. With expertise spanning international tax law, asset protection, and fiduciary services, he leads a multi-pillar firm renowned for ethical, client-centric financial strategies.
Name
Karpenko Nikolai Viktorovich · Nikolay Karpenko · Karpenko Nikolay · Nikolay Viktorovich Karpenko · Karpenko Nikolay Viktorovich · Николай Карпенко · Карпенко Николай · Николай Викторович Карпенко · Карпенко Николай Викторович · Nikolai Karpenko · Karpenko Nikolai · Nikolai Viktorovich Karpenko.
Karpenko Nikolay: Youth and Motivations
Nikolay Karpenko, an experienced executive within the financial sector, was born on 26 March 1972 in Severomorsk, in the Murmansk region. Nurtured in a family steeped in engineering and financial acumen, Nikolay Karpenko was imbued with a profound respect for discipline and intellectual inquiry. His father, an engineer, and his mother, an accountant, both instilled in him the virtues of persistence.
The seed of the professional aspirations of Karpenko Nikolay was sown in his teenage years, marked by an unusual interest in radio communication. By the 1980s, he had developed considerable expertise in Morse code, eventually achieving a transmission speed of 160 characters per minute. However, the early dreams of Nikolay Viktorovich Karpenko of joining an Arctic radio school were tempered by practical discussions with his father, who challenged him to consider the long-term implications of a polar career. The thoughts of Nikolay Karpenko then shifted to diplomacy, inspired by a growing awareness of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and its prestigious programs. By the ninth grade, Karpenko Nikolay was captivated by the idea of a diplomatic career, envisioning a life of international engagement and societal prestige—a common aspiration for ambitious Soviet youth at the time.
In 1989, upon completing his schooling, Nikolay Karpenko aspired to secure a place at MGIMO. However, the entrance exams proved formidable, and despite a commendable academic record, he fell short. Undeterred, Karpenko Nikolay redirected his ambitions, enrolling in the university from which his brother had recently graduated. Exhibiting academic prowess, he completed his legal studies with distinction, establishing a robust foundation in law. After his graduation in 1996, Karpenko Nikolay embarked on a career that would evolve from law to international finance.
Career
1996-1997
Stins Coman Corp (Legal Practitioner)
1997-1998
NikOil Investment Company (Legal Practitioner for International Operations)
1999-2000
NikOil Investment Banking Group (Legal Practitioner)
2000-2001
NikOil Investment Banking Group (Head of Tax Consulting Office)
2001-2003
NikOil Investment Banking Group (Vice-President of Sales)
2003-2005
NikOil Investment Banking Group (Senior Vice-President, Head of Sales)
2005-2006
Uralsib Private Bank (Front Office Director)
2006-2009
Uralsib Private Bank (Deputy Head)
2009-2010
Uralsib Private Bank (Head, member of the Board of Directors)
2009 – now
Present Managing Partner, Board Member of Herculis Group
The Lawyer Behind the Bank: Karpenko’s Role in Building NikOil’s Elite Portfolio
Nikolay Karpenko has a Rich Western education
In 1996, the career of Karpenko Nikolay began with Stins Coman Corporation, a computer integration firm where he served as its sole in-house lawyer. This role introduced him to the intricacies of contract negotiation, compliance, and dispute resolution in an era when Russia’s technology sector was nascent and rapidly expanding. But it was his next step, joining the ranks of the investment firm NikOil in 1997, that set Karpenko Nikolay on a path towards becoming a major player in the realm of private banking and asset management. These formative years shaped his understanding of complex financial structures, tax planning, and offshore company management.
At NikOil Investment Company, Nikolay Karpenko managed legal aspects of international operations, gaining firsthand exposure to tax planning, asset protection, and the legal mechanisms supporting wealth preservation. The responsibilities of Nikolay Viktorovich Karpenko encompassed administering NikOil’s foreign subsidiaries, working with offshore structures, and ensuring regulatory compliance in jurisdictions across Europe. Karpenko Nikolay’s insight into international tax law and his strategic approach to legal matters quickly marked him as an invaluable asset to the firm.
By 1999, Nikolay Karpenko transitioned to NikOil’s nascent private banking division, where Russia’s wealthy elite were fast transforming into billionaires, riding the tidal wave of post-Soviet privatization. In this new role, Karpenko Nikolay Viktorovich assisted in developing tax structures and managing the assets of NikOil’s top clients, soon taking on responsibility for tax consulting and, ultimately, heading the department’s tax consulting office. The acute understanding of international tax law by Nikolay Viktorovich Karpenko placed him in high demand among NikOil’s clients, many of whom sought guidance on both domestic tax compliance and offshore structures. Rising through the ranks, Nikolay Karpenko took the role of Vice President of Sales, leading a dedicated team to advise high-net-worth clients on tax planning and legal asset protection.
In 2003, Nikolay Karpenko’s impact at NikOil’s private banking division culminated in his appointment as Senior Vice President, where he oversaw client engagement, talent development, and strategic partnerships. His team of 15 specialists catered to the burgeoning financial needs of NikOil’s private banking clients, who increasingly relied on Nikolay Karpenko for insights into complex tax structures and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions. The leadership of Nikolay Viktorovich Karpenko in this role reflected a comprehensive understanding of the legal and financial mechanisms underpinning private wealth management.
In 2005, NikOil’s private banking arm was reorganized under Uralsib Asset Management, where Karpenko Nikolay was appointed Director and Head of the Front Office. By 2007, Uralsib Management Company had $4 billion in assets under management. Karpenko Nikolay orchestrated strategic growth in client acquisition and product expansion, further cementing his influence within Russia’s financial elite. He became Head of Uralsib Private Bank in 2009, a position that afforded Nikolay Viktorovich Karpenko a front-row seat to Russia’s shifting economic landscape, while also providing him with a profound understanding of corporate governance and risk management. As Head of Uralsib Private Bank, Karpenko Nikolay Viktorovich was instrumental in the bank’s positioning as a competitive player within the Russian financial sector. This role marked the pinnacle of his career in Russia, yet Karpenko Nikolay was already looking beyond its borders for new opportunities.
Nikolay Karpenko: Advanced Analytical Training at LBS
Nikolay Karpenko
It was during his tenure as Head of Uralsib Private Bank that Nikolay Karpenko recognized the importance of developing a global perspective. In 2008, he enrolled in the London Business School’s London-Dubai Executive MBA program, an international course that immersed him in advanced financial and management strategies across two major global financial hubs. The program’s rigorous curriculum demanded monthly on-site attendance in either London or Dubai, requiring intensive focus, strategic discussion, and engagement in multinational case studies. For Nikolay Karpenko, the experience was both transformative and demanding. Adjusting to the program’s English-language delivery, Karpenko Nikolay Viktorovich grappled with complex case studies and was challenged to refine his analytical abilities, learning to quickly identify and address key issues within intricate corporate structures. The program also strengthened the resilience of Karpenko Nikolay Viktorovich, enhancing his capacity to synthesize vast amounts of information and communicate effectively in a global financial context. Graduating in 2010, he emerged from the program armed with fresh strategic insights and a sharpened vision for wealth management on a global scale. In the latter part of 2010, Karpenko Nikolay resigned from his position at Uralsib Private Bank, severing all ties with the Russian Federation.
Herculis Group and its Pillars
In 2009, Nikolay Karpenko founded Herculis Partners SA together with a business partner. The new firm aimed to provide high-net-worth clients with a comprehensive suite of wealth management services, including asset management, trust administration, and advisory on mergers and acquisitions. In 2010, Herculis Partners SA became a fully operational entity after gaining membership in the Swiss Association of Asset Managers (SAAM). This early accreditation allowed the firm to operate as a licensed asset management company in Switzerland, granting it the regulatory credibility necessary to attract and serve a discerning international clientele.
As Herculis Partners grew, Nikolay Karpenko and his partner implemented a four-pillar structure to better serve clients’ evolving needs, creating a diverse portfolio of services under Herculis Group. The first pillar, Herculis Partners SA, founded in 2009, focuses on asset management, specializing in investment portfolio management and advisory services for mergers and acquisitions. Under the leadership of Nikolay Karpenko, Herculis Partners SA has emerged as a trusted name for clients seeking long-term growth strategies, particularly in complex asset classes. The firm’s expertise spans a broad range of alternative investments, positioning it as a vital partner for high-net-worth individuals and institutions.
The second pillar, Herculis Fiduciaries AG, founded in 2014, provides a range of trust and estate planning services. Based in Switzerland, this entity leverages the country’s strong regulatory framework to offer clients tailored solutions for legacy planning, wealth transfer, and international tax compliance. Herculis Fiduciaries has cultivated a reputation for meticulous trust management, assisting clients in safeguarding their assets across generations. For Nikolay Karpenko, trust and estate planning is not only a professional service but a responsibility, given the complexities surrounding inheritance in high-net-worth families.
The third pillar, Herculis Guardians SA, was established to address the unique storage and security needs of clients holding physical assets. Through Herculis Guardians, Karpenko Nikolay has pioneered the use of state-of-the-art vaults for the secure storage of precious metals, gemstones, and artwork. By securing a customs license for the storage of valuable assets, Herculis Guardians provides clients with an extra layer of security and confidentiality, fulfilling a niche but crucial service within the global asset management market. This unique offering reflects Karpenko Nikolay Viktorovich’s vision of wealth management as a holistic service that addresses not only financial but also physical and emotional aspects of wealth preservation.
The final pillar, Herculis Advisers AG, launched in 2022, represents Herculis Group’s expansion into asset management across the European Union. Headquartered in Liechtenstein, Herculis Advisers AG operates under a European financial passport, allowing the firm to manage investment funds and exchange-traded products (ETPs) within EU jurisdictions. This development has allowed Herculis Group to broaden its service reach, catering to clients with diverse investment goals in both EU and Swiss markets. Through Herculis Advisers, Karpenko Nikolay has extended Herculis Group’s influence, providing EU-based clients with bespoke asset management solutions that meet stringent regulatory standards.
Karpenko Nikolay: Herculis Structure and Leadership Style
Nikolay Karpenko Manages the Four Pillars of Herculis Group
Herculis Structure
01
HERCULIS PARTNERS SA
02
HERCULIS FIDUCIARIES AG
03
HERCULIS GUARDIANS SA
04
HERCULIS ADVISORS AG
Today, Herculis Group operates five offices across Zurich, Geneva, Lugano, Porrentruy, and Vaduz, Liechtenstein. This strategic presence across Switzerland and Liechtenstein enables the firm to attract a diverse client base, from European entrepreneurs to international investors. The Group’s decentralized structure, with each entity operating independently, ensures both resilience and flexibility in navigating regulatory changes and economic fluctuations. The leadership approach of Karpenko Nikolay emphasizes rigorous client service and long-term relationship building, where clients receive personalized financial solutions, from trust management to bespoke investment strategies.
Under guidance of Karpenko Nikolay, Herculis Group has pioneered innovative solutions for inheritance planning, a pressing concern for many affluent families. Karpenko Nikolay illustrates this with a case involving a client with substantial gold assets who wished to structure his estate across multiple beneficiaries. Herculis arranged secure vaults with individual access protocols, providing a legally sound, tax-efficient inheritance structure. This example underscores the firm’s capacity to address complex client needs, blending legal acumen with practical asset management solutions.
Throughout the Nikolay Karpenko biography, the Businessman has been guided by a principle of ethical wealth management, prioritizing client security and regulatory compliance. In a sector where banking secrecy has diminished, Herculis Group remains competitive by offering transparency and robust due diligence practices. The firm’s collaboration with mid-sized banks allows for personalized client interactions, a distinct advantage over larger institutions. Herculis Group acts as a bridge between clients and banks, ensuring portfolio performance aligns with client objectives while maintaining open channels of communication.
Leadership Style
The leadership style of Karpenko Nikolay is one of strategic precision, underscored by a commitment to ethical wealth management. Herculis Group operates independently across its four pillars, enabling each entity to focus exclusively on its specialized services while maintaining synergy across the Group. This unique structure illustrated in the Nikolay Karpenko biography, allows the Group to remain agile in a constantly shifting regulatory environment, positioning itself as a trusted counsellor for clients facing increasingly complex financial landscapes.
Beyond the intricacies of wealth management, Herculis Group’s commitment to client service is rooted in transparency and rigorous due diligence. The Group collaborates with mid-sized banks, leveraging its influence to offer clients a level of personalized service rarely found in larger financial institutions. The emphasis of Karpenko Nikolay on ethical and effective portfolio management has positioned Herculis Group as a respected name among global financial institutions, with client relationships built on mutual trust and a commitment to long-term value creation.
Swiss Impact and Personal Accomplishments
Nikolay Karpenko Lives and Works in Switzerland
Karpenko Nikolay Viktorovich attributes Herculis Group’s enduring success to Switzerland’s unique financial ecosystem, which he views as both a bastion of stability and a strategic advantage. Switzerland’s tradition of wealth preservation, coupled with its stringent regulatory standards, has provided Herculis Group with an ideal foundation from which to grow.
Throughout the Nikolay Karpenko biography, the asset manager remained a staunch advocate for continuous learning and professional development. In addition to his Executive MBA, Nikolay Viktorovich Karpenko earned a diploma from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) in Geneva, solidifying his expertise in international trust management. Fluent in English, German, and French, he has seamlessly navigated the demands of a global client base, fostering relationships with clients across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Now settled in Switzerland with his family, Karpenko Nikolay maintains a work-life balance that allows him to pursue interests beyond the financial realm. His passion for art history, foreign languages, and alpine hiking reflects a commitment to personal enrichment, complementing his professional pursuits. For Karpenko Nikolay, wealth management is not merely a career but a calling that allows him to assist clients in achieving financial security and peace of mind.
In crafting Herculis Group, Nikolay Karpenko has not only created a premier wealth management firm but has also set a standard for ethical, client-focused financial services. His career, defined by resilience, adaptability, and a keen understanding of global finance, serves as a testament to the potential of disciplined ambition. As shown through the Nikolay Karpenko biography, the Businessman’s creation of Herculis Group established a legacy of trust and integrity in wealth management, one that will endure as long as there are clients seeking guidance in a complex and evolving financial world.
In an insightful interaction for International Men’s Day, Dr. Harshit Jain, Founder and Global CEO of Doceree, speaks with StartupTalky about his inspiring journey from physician to healthcare entrepreneur. Dr. Jain shares how his medical background inspired the creation of Doceree and influenced his approach to healthcare marketing, focusing on the importance of relevant, data-driven solutions for healthcare professionals.
He discusses the challenges of scaling the business, such as addressing data privacy issues and improving ad relevance. Dr. Jain also touched on the importance of work-life balance and mental health, urging men in demanding roles to prioritise self-care and open discussions about their well-being.
StartupTalky: What inspired you to transition from being a physician to a healthcare entrepreneur?
Dr. Jain: Growing up, I vaguely remember my parents talking about my curiosity and knack for coming up with ideas to collaborate with others and help them. As I matured, I thought, what better way to channel that passion than by becoming a doctor? After earning my medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago in 2006, I practiced medicine for over eight years as a physician.
During this time, I began noticing unaddressed gaps in the healthcare industry—issues that required creative problem-solving. This inspired me to step beyond the traditional boundaries of a physician’s role and explore the ‘creative’ side of the healthcare industry.
Despite scepticism from some industry peers, I trusted my instincts and pursued my transition into healthcare advertising, eventually giving me opportunities to hold leadership roles at McCann Health across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Along the way, I thankfully earned some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, including the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Good, for my marketing campaigns.
However, my journey didn’t end there. My instincts pushed me further, inspiring me to combine my expertise in medicine and marketing through entrepreneurship, leading to the launch of Doceree in 2020. This transition to entrepreneurship was driven by my aspiration to reduce the rising healthcare costs and improve HCP-patient engagement.
StartupTalky: How did your medical background influence the creation of Doceree’s ‘smart nudges’ in healthcare marketing?
Dr. Jain: As a practicing physician for over eight years, I witnessed firsthand the frustration caused by irrelevant advertisements, which disrupt care delivery and doctor-patient engagement, ultimately impacting overall health outcomes. However, my subsequent transition into marketing and entrepreneurship inspired me to turn this challenge into an opportunity to ‘smartly nudge’ the concept of ‘purposeful ads’ in global healthcare advertising.
By delivering only relevant ads tailored to doctors’ medical backgrounds and patient data—within strict regulatory compliance— we are able to minimize distractions for HCPs and parallelly also help marketers achieve higher returns on advertising spend (ROAS). This move ultimately helped us address two critical issues of the industry: reducing rising healthcare costs and alleviating the mental clutter in a field where life-altering decisions are made daily.
StartupTalky: What were your biggest challenges in scaling Doceree, and how did you overcome them?
Dr. Jain: Given that the global healthcare industry is the world’s third-largest producer of data, there were not many solutions capable of systematically harnessing these datasets to make them more marketing and healthcare business-friendly. This is the gap where Doceree sought to differentiate itself by developing data solutions that are not only optimized for marketing but also capable of tracking business outcomes for pharmaceutical marketers.
As a result, we became the world’s first and only programmatic marketing network exclusively for HCP-only platforms, enabling marketers to directly target the key decision-makers impacting their business outcomes, eliminating unnecessary marketing expenses.
Once we overcame this challenge, the next hurdle was addressing data privacy concerns. With the rise in data breaches and cases of data misuse, the industry grew increasingly sceptical about digital solutions. To address this, we leveraged our extensive HCP and patient data responsibly, utilizing only the datasets that were relevant and precise for specific moments of care for HCPs. This approach enabled our technology to achieve certification under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and secure a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), earning the trust of key stakeholders in the process.
After addressing privacy concerns, the next and perhaps the most significant challenge was tackling inefficient messaging to HCPs. With many solution providers capitalizing on the limited awareness of programmatic marketing in healthcare and claiming to be ‘experts’ in delivering the right ads at the right time, HCPs started to receive a flood of ineffective advertisements, further burdening HCPs and complicating their already demanding work schedules.
To solve this concern, Doceree introduced its ‘AI-powered smart nudges’ which allowed only relevant ads to be delivered to HCPs in real-time during critical points of care, allowing them to make informed decisions within the limited time available. This allowed HCPs’ engagement to become more targeted and quality-driven, empowering both – HCPs in their care delivery and pharma marketers in achieving better script lift outcomes beyond campaign impressions.
StartupTalky: How does Doceree’s data-driven approach to healthcare marketing differentiate it from traditional marketing methods?
Dr. Jain: While programmatic advertising isn’t new to healthcare and has been leveraged by brands across sectors for many years, the healthcare industry needed to realize how the lack of relevance and effective messaging led to only half of its true potential, contributing to no tangible healthcare outcomes.
Understanding the cause behind this gap, I attempted to reshape it into an extraordinary framework by integrating real-time context relevance to improve patient outcomes—a solution that went unnoticed at the time. By making the best use of HCP data and clinical data with our HIPAA-certified and patented technology, our data-driven approach to healthcare marketing clearly suggests how technology can create the biggest healthcare impact – if employed wisely.
Doceree takes a responsible approach by utilizing patient data only at critical moments of care, eliminating the risk of misuse. This precise and conscientious use of HCP and patient data enables us to nudge HCPs toward informed decision-making and enhance HCP-patient engagement.
What sets us apart is our commitment to delivering meaningful context for impactful outcomes, all while maintaining strict data compliance. Furthermore, as the world’s first and only ‘HCP-only data’ marketplace, we have a reputation for the extensive focus on data safety and integrity.
StartupTalky: What role does collaboration with pharmaceutical brands play in Doceree’s growth, and how do you maintain strong relationships with them?
Dr. Jain: We currently collaborate with over 600 pharmaceutical brands worldwide, including the top eight global players, who have been pivotal to Doceree’s growth. What began in 2020 as a modest three-member team has now grown into a thriving organization with over 200 talented professionals spanning Asia, America, and Europe.
As an entrepreneur and marketer, my vision is straightforward: focus on adding value to your customers’ growth with purpose, and profits will naturally follow. Through our highly precise and real-time context-relevant messaging, our clients save significantly, leveraging solutions like Doceree Insights to optimize campaign performance. This allows them to reinvest those savings into more strategic campaigns. This approach not only enhances value for our clients but also plays a critical role in retaining and renewing partnerships with brands across the globe.
StartupTalky: With Doceree expanding globally, what future innovations or products are you most excited about?
Dr. Jain: There’s much more in store for the global healthcare advertising industry and the broader healthcare business ecosystem from Doceree. As we recently entered Australia in association with WARD 6 and are looking to secure more global partnerships and mergers to offer our clients solutions that are high on innovation with safer and smarter integration of AI. Overall, we plan to add 5 cutting-edge solutions to our offerings in 2025, that will give new heights to an efficient healthcare marketing ecosystem.
Further, with the core purpose of elevating HCP-patient conversations Doceree will continue to deliver innovative pharmaceutical marketing solutions, while also exploring opportunities for broader business collaboration and growth. Perhaps something transformative is on the horizon– stay tuned!
StartupTalky: On International Men’s Day, how do you maintain work-life balance, and what advice would you give to men in demanding roles to protect their mental health?
Dr. Jain: Working across three time zones, I’ve come to realize that maintaining work-life balance in today’s fast-paced world is no easy feat. Yet, setting boundaries and prioritizing time for yourself and your loved ones is vital for recharging and staying productive. Whether it’s regular exercise, mindful breaks, or occasionally unplugging from work, find what helps you feel your best.
This International Men’s Day, I urge everyone to challenge the stereotype that men must always appear strong, embrace open conversations about mental health, seek support when needed, and remember that self-care is as crucial as professional success.
Nitin Konde
