To boost the expansion of early- and growth-stage companies throughout the state, the Karnataka government unveiled two programmes: ELEVATE 2024 and the Karnataka Accelerator Network (KAN).
The initiatives, which were presented by Minister Priyank Kharge on October 28, 2024, demonstrate Karnataka’s dedication to developing a systematic startup support system and build on the state’s goal of being the startup hub of India.
Sharing his views on the development, Vishal Saurav, XBOOM Utilities said, “In India, forming a startup may just take 5 days but 5 years down the line 90% of them are either closed or struggling to survive. These staggering statistics show that there is an underlying problem which needs to be addressed immediately. Two major challenges that most of the startup’s face are proper guidance to make a plan and liquid funds to execute those plans. If we take technology industry for instance, the main problem that most of the startups face is the initial funding to start their journey which is much more visible if there is a physical product involved. Take an example of a Drone startup, the main challenges they face are initial liquidity which ranges from min 10 lakh to 1 Crore and lack of proper infrastructural support. “
“The Karnataka government’s ELIVATE 2024 and KAN initiative might just be the medicine that required as they are addressing those exact issues which were stated earlier. With more than 15000 registered startups to look out for, these initiatives have all the ingredients to become a big success story,” he added.
Sharing similar opinion, Abdul Jaleel, Co-founder of Aspirar Sphere Pvt Ltd said, “It is exciting to learn of the two new initiatives introduced by the government of Karnataka to aid the start-ups. This is an important development for the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our state. Karnataka has been famously known as a center of innovation and entrepreneurship, and with these on board, it further highlights its dedication towards enabling a thriving startup sphere. With the state government providing increased assistance and backing, not only are new ventures being encouraged to take shape but also a culture of creativity is being nurtured.”
ELEVATE 2024
The state’s premier seed fund programme, ELEVATE 2024, provides awards of up to INR 50 lakh for each firm. It seeks to foster innovation in cutting-edge fields like robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and space technology. The Karnataka Startup Policy 2022-2027 also offers financial support for patenting, quality certifications, and incubation spaces at sector-specific Centres of Excellence throughout the state, all of which are advantageous to businesses. Applications are being accepted on the government’s startup site through November 29.
Sahil Chopra, VP, Growth & Marketing, Inflection Point Ventures stated, “ELEVATE 2024 will prove to be quite helpful for startups, offering critical support that will enable them to scale their operations effectively. Recognising innovation as the cornerstone of economic development, and with Karnataka emerging as a nexus for entrepreneurial activity, this financial backing represents not merely an investment in individual ventures but a broader commitment to advancing technology across the state. Complementing ELEVATE 2024, the Karnataka Startup Policy 2022-27 enhances the landscape by providing essential financial assistance for securing patents, obtaining quality certifications, and accessing incubation spaces. These initiatives significantly lower the barriers to entry for startups, granting them the freedom to concentrate on developing innovative solutions while refining their research, growth, and overall development processes.”
KAN
By connecting regional accelerators with those in Bengaluru, KAN, the Karnataka Accelerator Network, aims to support growth-stage entrepreneurs outside of the state capital. Over a three-year period, it facilitates resource access and knowledge exchange among six cohorts.
Through organised mentorship, networking opportunities, and funding paths, KAN aims to empower 302 businesses in collaboration with incubators in locations like Mysuru and Dharwad and accelerators like DERBI and Jain Launchpad in Bengaluru. The Department of Electronics, IT, BT, and Science & Technology, along with the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), work together to run the programme.
Minister Kharge emphasised the state’s aspirations by pointing out that Karnataka has become a global centre for startups, with 45 of India’s 112 unicorns based in Bengaluru alone. “We want to make sure Karnataka is one of the top three startup ecosystems in the world,” Kharge said. KAN and ELEVATE both provide organised assistance to help businesses grow, get capital, and bolster Karnataka’s position as a leader in innovation.
Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 Event App
The government also introduced the official Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 event app in conjunction with these initiatives, improving accessibility for speakers, exhibitors, and delegates. The app, which is accessible on both iOS and Android, highlights Karnataka’s emphasis on digital inclusion and accessibility for guests from around the world while promising a flawless experience during the event. ELEVATE has committed approximately INR 224.6 crore in investment to nearly 983 businesses since 2016.
Expanding Beyond Bengaluru
In order to support the establishment of start-ups around the state, the Karnataka government is actively promoting its “Beyond Bangalore” project. There are currently about 402 start-ups in the Mysuru cluster, 432 in the Bengaluru cluster, and 463 in the Hubli-Dharwad-Madagavi region. With 32 start-ups originating from Tier II and III cities and women leading 24% of state-funded start-ups, the government’s dedication to diversity is evident.
According to Kharge, initiatives like Innovate Karnataka, Ktech, and Startup Karnataka—especially the Elevate programme—have been instrumental in this expansion. Karnataka’s entrepreneurial environment has been further cemented with the state government’s funding of over 983 start-ups so far.
After the company’s worldwide ad sales team was fired by the new management led by Elon Musk, Twitter Communications India, now a part of X Corp. (previously Twitter), had a steep decline in net profit and revenue in the most recent fiscal year. This decline was mostly caused by a fall in ad revenues.
The company’s net profit fell 90% to INR 3 crore from INR 30 crore the year before, according to its regulatory filings. Additionally, revenue dropped 90% from INR 208 crore to INR 21 crore. With an estimated 25 million users, Twitter’s revenue in India is primarily derived from advertising.
Cutting Down on Expanses and Workforce
As it laid off almost all of its Indian personnel, which had previously consisted of more than 200 workers, the company reduced employee benefit costs by 95%, from INR 130 crore to INR 6 crore. The overall expenses then dropped from INR 168 crore to INR 19 crore, an 89% decrease.
In October 2022, Musk successfully paid $44 billion to acquire Twitter, which he later rebranded as X. Musk enacted significant changes around the world after the takeover, including widespread layoffs that had a significant effect on the ad sales teams, particularly in India.
A steep drop in revenue was caused by the combination of firing the ad sales teams and international businesses abandoning the platform, partly as a result of disagreements with Musk. Without an active sales force to keep up with clients and draw in new business, Twitter’s ad income in India plummeted, resulting in sharp drops in profitability and earnings, according to a digital advertising specialist. This illustrates the wider difficulties X Corp has had around the world as it attempts to manage the consequences of internal reorganisation while putting new plans into action under Musk’s direction.
Adding More Pain to the Agony
To make matters worse for the company, X has even sued multinational advertisers like Unilever and Mars for disregarding the platform under Musk. A net 26% of marketers stated that they intended to cut back on their X ad spending in 2025, the largest pullout from any significant worldwide ad platform to date, according to Kantar research.
The ongoing disputes with Musk caused several international businesses to halt their advertising in India, according to experts. Even in India, many brands are refraining from advertising on X because of the platform’s contentious character and worries about brand protection. When it comes to social media advertising, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram are usually given preference over X by advertisers, noted a digital market expert.
According to Governor Shaktikanta Das, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) anticipates that the number of daily Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions will surpass one billion in the coming months from the current 500 million transactions per day.
Das stated during a panel discussion at the Group of Thirty’s Annual International Banking Seminar in Washington, DC, on October 26, 2024, that the RBI will not make a hasty announcement about a nationwide rollout of the central bank of digital currency (CBDC) because it wants to carry out extensive testing and be completely certain about its design, robustness, and security before thinking about a wider rollout.
The payments system is now much more efficient thanks to UPI. Approximately 500 million transactions are made over UPI every day. “We are trying to step it up further and the idea is to reach a billion transactions, may be in the next few months,” Das stated.
What National Payments Corporation of India’s Data Reveals?
According to data from the National Payments Corporation of India, the average number of transactions per day increased from 483 million in August to above 500 million in September. UPI handled 15.04 billion transactions in September 2024, totalling INR 20.64 lakh crore.
The RBI is working to integrate UPI with more nations’ payment systems. In fact, UPI has a lot of potential for international payments. According to Das, the RBI has also taken the initiative to connect India’s UPI with other nations’ quick payment systems.
Seven Countries Using UPI For Transactions
Seven nations presently provide UPI: France, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Nepal.
Regarding the e-rupee, the governor stated that the RBI will implement the CBDC nationwide in a phased manner. Cross-border payments represent the CBDC’s greatest potential. Through the removal of numerous middlemen, CBDC can enable quick, easy, and inexpensive cross-border money transactions.
On November 1, 2022, the RBI began the first CBDC trial phase for wholesale transactions of government securities. A month later, on December 1, the RBI began the pilot for retail transactions.
Current Performance of UPI in India
PhonePe is the most popular UPI app in terms of volume and value contribution, followed by Google Pay and Paytm. However, according to a report by payment technology service provider Worldline, the average ticket size (ATS) of UPI transactions decreased by 8%. According to the report, the average ticket size (ATS) for all UPI transactions was INR 1,603 in the first half of 2023 and fell to INR 1,478 in the first half of 2024.
P2P (person-to-person) and P2M (person-to-merchant) transactions make up ATS. In P2P transactions, ATS saw an almost constant increase from INR 2,812 to INR 2,836 year over year. The amount of ATS for P2M transactions decreased by 4%, from INR 667 to INR 643.
Black Friday is a highly anticipated event for both brick-and-mortar and online stores. It presents a tremendous opportunity for businesses to attract new customers and boost sales. One of the most effective ways to capitalize on this shopping frenzy is by creating compelling Black Friday landing pages. In this article, we shall talk about 13 successful strategies for designing high-converting Black Friday landing pages that will help you stand out from the competition.
Before we delve into the strategies, let’s take a moment to understand the importance of having a dedicated landing page for your Black Friday promotions. A landing page serves as a focused hub for your marketing campaign, directing visitors to take specific actions, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter. By creating a well-designed and persuasive landing page, you can maximize conversions and drive revenue during the holiday season. Below are some of the key strategies for creating high-converting Black Friday landing pages:
Strategies for Creating High-Converting Black Friday Landing Pages
Use Bold Headlines
The headline is the first thing visitors see when they land on your Black Friday landing page, so it needs to grab their attention immediately. Make sure your headline is bold, clear, and concise, conveying the value proposition of your offer. Use powerful words and phrases that resonate with your target audience and create a sense of urgency.
For example, Tony Robbins, a renowned life coach, uses an inspirational and motivational tone in his Black Friday landing page. His headline celebrates the beginning of the holiday season and encourages visitors to explore his solutions for mastering every area of their lives.
“Master Every Area of Your Life: Unleash Your Potential this Holiday Season”
Craft Compelling Copy
Once you have captured the attention of your visitors with a strong headline, it’s crucial to maintain their interest with compelling copy. Your copy should clearly communicate the benefits of your offer and address any potential objections or concerns. Use persuasive language, storytelling techniques, and social proof to build trust and credibility.
Passion for Savings, a website that features coupons and online deals, effectively uses informative copy to direct visitors to their best Black Friday deals and alerts. They provide clear headlines and subheadings that guide visitors to the most relevant sections of their landing page.
“Best Black Friday Deals: Save Big on the Hottest Products this Holiday Season”
Create Strong Call-to-Action (CTA) Buttons
A strong call-to-action (CTA) is essential for driving conversions on your Black Friday landing page. Use action-oriented language and design visually appealing buttons that stand out from the rest of the page. Make sure your CTA clearly communicates the next step visitors should take to avail of your offer.
EngageBay, an email marketing software company, effectively uses playful language in its CTA buttons to entice visitors to sign up for their holiday SaaS deals. They use phrases like “Notify Me” and “Get Exclusive Access” to create a sense of anticipation and exclusivity.
Black Friday is all about quick shopping, with customers rushing to grab the best deals before they’re gone. To keep up, your Black Friday landing page must load quickly to keep shoppers interested. To improve your Black Friday landing page’s load speed, you can start by compressing and resizing images to reduce their size without losing quality. Limiting the number of elements, like images, scripts, and styles, can also help speed up loading times. Enabling browser caching will allow returning visitors to avoid reloading the entire page. Finally, removing unnecessary code and spaces will streamline your site’s performance. Implementing these strategies can keep shoppers engaged and enhance their experience.
Leverage Social Proof and Testimonials
Social proof is a powerful tool for building trust and credibility. Incorporate customer testimonials, reviews, and success stories on your Black Friday landing page to demonstrate the value of your offer. Use compelling visuals and quotes that highlight the positive experiences of your satisfied customers.
RafflePress, a WordPress plugin for building contests and giveaways, effectively showcases testimonials from happy customers who have benefited from their Black Friday deal. By featuring real people and their positive experiences, they instill confidence in potential customers and increase conversion rates.
Create a Sense of Urgency with Countdown Timers
Black Friday Landing Page Example
Urgency is a powerful psychological trigger that can drive visitors to take immediate action. Incorporate countdown timers on your Black Friday landing page to create a sense of scarcity and encourage visitors to purchase before time runs out. Highlight the limited availability of your offer and emphasize that the deal will expire soon.
The School of Calisthenics, an online fitness coaching platform, effectively uses a countdown timer to create a sense of urgency for their Black Friday sale. By reminding visitors of the limited time remaining, they encourage them to take advantage of the exclusive offer before it’s too late.
Example: “Don’t Miss Out: Only [X] Hours Left to Save 50% on Our Online Fitness Courses”
Black Friday is all about offering irresistible deals and discounts. Create special offers and bundles specifically for this shopping event to entice visitors and increase the perceived value of your offer. Highlight the savings and benefits customers will receive by availing of your Black Friday deal.
HandleTheHeat, a baking business specializing in desserts and cookie making, effectively promotes a discounted bundle of their baking courses for the holiday season. By presenting a comprehensive package that includes a handbook, a baking class, and an ebook, they provide customers with a compelling reason to make a purchase.
Example: “Black Friday Exclusive: Save Over 50% on Our Baking Course Bundle.”
Eye-Catchy Banners
Black Friday brings many excited shoppers looking for the best deals, and with so many offers, it’s easy to miss some. That’s why having bright banners to show your giveaways and promotions is important.
These banners don’t just grab attention; they help turn curious visitors into loyal customers. In a sea of discounts, a standout banner can make a big difference, helping you increase sales and make a lasting impression on shoppers.
Optimize for Mobile Devices
In today’s mobile-first world, it’s crucial to ensure that your Black Friday landing page is fully optimized for mobile devices. A significant portion of your target audience will be accessing your page from smartphones and tablets, so make sure the design, layout, and functionality are seamless on mobile screens.
The New York Times, a leading news publication, creates a mobile-friendly Black Friday landing page that provides a seamless user experience across different devices. Their page is responsive and adapts to different screen sizes, ensuring that visitors can easily navigate and engage with their Black Friday offers.
Implement Clear Navigation
While a focused and streamlined landing page is essential, it’s also important to provide clear navigation options for visitors who want to explore more of your website. Incorporate a simple and intuitive navigation menu that allows visitors to easily access other sections of your website or explore additional products and services.
Sage, a company that sells accounting software, effectively implements clear navigation on their Black Friday landing page. They provide a basic Unbounce landing page template with minor modifications, allowing visitors to navigate to different sections of their website and explore various promotions.
Optimize Loading Speed
Loading speed is a critical factor in determining the success of your Black Friday landing page. Visitors expect fast and responsive websites and a slow-loading page can lead to high bounce rates and lost conversions. Optimize your page by compressing images, minimizing code, and leveraging caching techniques to ensure a smooth and speedy user experience.
Vimeo, a video hosting platform, ensures fast loading speeds on its Cyber Monday landing page. By enhancing its page for quick loading times, the platform provides a seamless browsing experience for visitors, increasing the chances of engagement and conversions.
Implement A/B Testing
A/B testing is a powerful technique that allows you to experiment with different elements of your Black Friday landing page to determine which version performs better. Test different headlines, copy variations, CTA button designs, and overall layouts to optimize your page for maximum conversions. One can analyze the results and make data-driven decisions to improve the effectiveness of your landing page.
The School of Calisthenics effectively utilizes A/B testing to refine its Black Friday landing page. By testing different variations of their headline, copy, and CTA buttons, they identify the elements that resonate most with their target audience, leading to higher conversion rates.
Monitor and Optimize Performance
Once your Black Friday landing page is live, it’s crucial to monitor its performance and make necessary optimizations to maximize conversions. Use analytics tools to track key metrics such as bounce rate, conversion rate, and average session duration. Identify areas of improvement and make iterative changes to optimize your page for optimal results.
Canine Principles, an online school for dog training, continuously monitors and optimizes their Black Friday landing page performance. By analyzing user behavior, they identify potential bottlenecks and make iterative improvements to increase conversions and drive revenue.
Conclusion
Creating high-converting Black Friday landing pages requires careful planning, strategic design, and persuasive messaging. By implementing the strategies outlined in this article, you can effectively capture the attention of your target audience, build trust and credibility, create a sense of urgency, and drive conversions. Remember to continuously monitor and optimize your landing page to maximize its performance and ensure a successful Black Friday campaign. Happy converting!
FAQs
How do I create a high-converting landing page?
Craft a compelling headline and concise, persuasive copy. Use clear CTAs and compelling visuals to guide visitors toward conversion.
How do you attract customers on Black Friday?
Offer irresistible discounts and promotions. Implement targeted marketing campaigns across channels to create buzz and drive customer engagement.
What sells the most on Black Friday?
Electronics, especially popular gadgets and devices, sell the most on Black Friday. Additionally, clothing, home goods, and heavily discounted doorbusters attract significant sales.
Fintech company BharatPe, which specialises in payments and lending, announced the debut of its new investment platform, Invest BharatPe, on 28 October 2024. The first product available on the app is digital gold. In collaboration with Safegold, the Delhi-based fintech introduced digital gold, allowing users to buy and sell gold online.
12% Club, a fintech loan platform, will also be included in the app. Months after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) tightened regulations pertaining to peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, the 12% Club paused customer onboarding.
“The ongoing festive season is the ideal moment to launch Invest BharatPe and provide digital gold to our customers,” said Nalin Negi, CEO of BharatPe, during the launch ceremony. “We think this is the best time for people to take control of their financial lives since it represents fresh starts. Our goal at BharatPe is to enable people to realise their financial aspirations. The goal of this software is to make investing easy, safe, and available to everyone, regardless of financial literacy or budget. The investing platform aligns with our goal of promoting financial inclusion for the nation’s underprivileged. The holiday season is the ideal time to launch this new product because so many people plan and invest in gold during this time,” he opined.
“In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be expanding our selection of investment options on the Invest BharatPe platform. Our goal is to provide customers with a variety of investing options based on their personal interests. As we work to become a one-stop shop for customers wishing to safeguard their financial future, we are dedicated to providing a range of reliable and strictly regulated financial products on the Invest BharatPe platform,” he continued.
BharatPe is Expanding its Portfolio
In collaboration with lenders including OTO Capital and Volt Money, the company introduced secured credit solutions for its merchants in August, including loans against mutual funds (LAMF) and two-wheeler loans.
In 2022, the business partnered with non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to join the gold loan market for its merchants. In exchange for a gold pledge, the firm had stated that it would provide loans up to INR 20 lakh.
BharatPe Financial Report Card
In the fiscal year 2024 (FY24), BharatPe‘s consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) decreased from INR 826 crore in FY23 to INR 209 crore. The business also stated that, year over year (Y-o-Y), its cash burn was down by 85%. Compared to the prior year, the average merchant lending portfolio from loans made via BharatPe’s platform increased by 40%.
According to an update with the markets regulator on October 28, 2024, Sebi has given the go-ahead for NTPC Green Energy, the company’s renewable energy division, and Avanse Financial Services Ltd, an NBFC with an emphasis on education, to raise money through initial public offerings (IPOs).
Through first share offerings, NTPC Green Energy and Avanse Financial Services hope to raise INR 10,000 crore and INR 3,500 crore, respectively. According to a media report, the two businesses who submitted their initial public offerings (IPO) documents to Sebi between July and September received their observations on October 22 and 23. In Sebi’s terminology, obtaining observations signifies that the public issue is now to be floated. According to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP), NTPC Green Energy’s first share offering is a complete new issuance of equity shares without an offer-for-sale (OFS) component.
How Companies Are Planning to Utilise the Amount?
In addition to using a portion for general corporate purposes, INR 7,500 crore of the total revenues will be utilised to repay or retire all or a portion of the existing loans owed by its subsidiary NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd. (NREL). Spread throughout more than six states, NTPC Green Energy is a central public sector organisation known as “Maharatna” that specialises in renewable energy, including wind and solar generating assets.
According to the DRHP, the proposed IPO by Avanse Financial Services includes a new offering of equity shares up to INR 1,000 crore and OFS up to INR 2,500 crore by the selling stockholders. The business, which is supported by Olive Vine Investment Ltd., a division of Warburg Pincus, a prominent private equity firm, plans to use the money to expand its capital base in order to meet future demands.
Olive Vine Investment, Kedaara Capital Growth Fund III LLP, and International Finance Corporation (IFC) would all sell shares valued at INR 1,758 crore, INR 400 crore, and INR 342 crore, respectively, as part of the OFS. However, on October 23, VMS TMT withdrew its draft IPO documents. Early in October, the regulator got the company’s draft IPO paperwork.
Avanse Financial Services
The non-banking financial enterprise Avanse Financial Services, which focuses on education, intends to raise INR 3,500 crore to increase its capital base in order to fulfil its future capital needs. The second-biggest NBFC in India with an emphasis on education is Avanse Financial Services. Among Indian NBFCs with an emphasis on education, it also had the second-highest payouts in FY23 and the second-highest earnings in FY24.
With products ranging from student education loans to expansion capital for educational institutions through education infrastructure loans, the organisation provides a full-stack education offering. For Indian professionals and students selected to study abroad or at domestic universities, it offers loans and other value-added services. Additionally, it offers private educational institutes in India finances backed by collateral.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’s Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) has taken a strong stance against cybercrime by warning about illicit payment gateways set up by transnational organised cybercriminals. Money laundering as a service is allegedly being facilitated by these gateways, which were made utilising mule bank accounts.
These actions indicate a number of payment gateways, including RPPay, PoccoPay, RTX Pay, and PeacePay. According to reports, these platforms are run by foreigners and are a component of a bigger network that provides services for money laundering.
Frequent Raids Are Being Conducted Nationwide
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced in a news release that a network of illicit digital payment gateways connected to numerous cybercrimes was discovered during nationwide operations by the Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh Police.
The Ministry claims that these operations, which were mostly discovered via social media sites like Facebook and Telegram, took use of rented bank accounts from people and shell corporations. Social media platforms are used to research current and savings accounts. According to government officials, these accounts are owned by shell corporations, businesses, or private citizens.
What I4C’s Investigations Further Revealed?
These mule accounts are frequently remotely managed from overseas, according to the I4C’s investigation. Once set up, these gateways made it possible for criminal syndicates to handle deposits for illegal operations such as offshore betting, phoney stock trading platforms, and fraudulent investment schemes.
Because dealing in illegal funds might result in severe legal consequences, including arrest, the I4C advised citizens against selling or renting their bank accounts or any company registration documents. According to I4C, banks may utilise checks to find instances of bank account misuse that result in the establishment of illicit payment gateways.
Who is Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre?
Cyberspace transcends national borders and manages Coordination between many stakeholders in various jurisdictions at all levels is necessary to combat cybercrime. One of the types of transnational crime that is expanding the fastest is cybercrime. There has been an exponential rise in cybercrime worldwide due to the surge in internet usage and rapidly evolving technologies.
In order to put a firm scanner on the cyber activities, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, launched the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C). This move was initiated to address cybercrime throughout the nation in a comprehensive and coordinated way.
I4C aims to address every aspect of cybercrime for the benefit of the public, including enhancing cooperation between different law enforcement organisations and interested parties, promoting improvements in India’s overall capacity to combat cybercrime, and raising citizen satisfaction levels.
On October 5, 2018, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre plan was authorised. Since its inception, it has sought to improve the country’s overall capacity to combat cybercrimes and foster efficient cooperation between law enforcement agencies. The Home Minister dedicated the I4C to the nation on January 10, 2020.
This article is contributed by Pranjal Agarwal, India Market Head, Mudrex.
Diwali is one of the few festivals that is commonly celebrated across India. During this time of the year, people tend to buy new clothes, ornaments, cars/bikes, gadgets, gifts and many more including making new investments, signifying a prosperous year ahead. To capitalise on these age-old traditions, brands from across industries and segments come up with various campaigns targeting their audience to improve their brand image and value, thereby increasing sales. Let’s understand how various brands can use consumer insights to design the perfect campaigns for their target audience.
Website and App Analytics
Website or App Analytics is key. These analytics help brands in analysing user behaviour, revealing how users interact with their app/website. Key metrics such as demography, and engagement time and behaviour tell you so much about the user like what interests them, what they connect to, their cultural ideology and many more. A/B testing allows you to experiment with different versions of your website or app to determine which performs better in terms of user engagement and conversion. Using these metrics, brands can help create tailored campaigns and enhance their user experience making sure any campaigns for Diwali and any other occasion have the highest engagement rate.
Taking Advantage of Key Diwali trends
Based on the sector your brand is in, you can use specific Diwali trends to drive traffic, sales or volumes. For example, making new investments is one of the biggest traditions in India. If you are a stock broker or any other exchange, waving off the transaction fees during the famous “Muhurat Trading” would be a well-fitted campaign for all your audience. Shopping is another major part of Diwali. To capitalise on this, e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart announce sales in the name of “Amazon Great Indian Festival” and “Flipkart Big Billion Days” benefitting both users and brands equally. It is important to find that specific Diwali trend that your brand can capitalise on to improve sales, volumes or traffic.
Capturing the Emotional Aspect of Diwali
Apart from increasing sales or driving volume, brands also create campaigns to build their brand value in the minds of their audience. Given that Diwali has a strong emotional aspect to it —- bringing families together. No amount of discounts, offers or cashbacks can come close to this feeling. Hence, brands building on Cultural insight with localised themes have an edge over others.
The Best Use of Customer Insights
Listening to your customers is one of the best ways to connect and get more such customers. With feedback on what’s good about your product/service, what’s not good, and what more they want, the brand can understand the pulse of the consumers. Not just their feedback but their queries also give a sense of what they are looking for. These insights from your customers help you style your communications and talk to them in their language (be it millennials, GenZ or Boomers) to connect with them better.
Concluding Thoughts
While there are 1000s of brands targeting millions of audiences in many creative ways, the key things that make a Diwali campaign successful is if our brand brought happiness to our consumers in some way or another. Making sure our customers get the best product/service they deserve should be the priority. It would be interesting to see what kind of campaigns we get for this Diwali. Given the increasing use of AI and other tech by brands, this Diwali will surely be a delightful one for both brands and customers. Wish you all a happy and safe Diwali.
AI agents are the new black for the years to come. They’re crazy, magically good in so many ways and one simply can be spoilt by the convenience that these agents bring to the table. We’re about to explore the cream of the crop in 2025, showcasing the most impressive and capable artificial intelligence that are changing the game. We’ll compare flagship AI agents, examine open-source options, and highlight specialised AIs that excel in specific fields. We’ll also peek into the B2B arena to see how AI agents are transforming business operations. Finally, we’ll gaze into our crystal ball to predict what’s on the horizon for these digital helpers. Ready? Fasten up your seat belts. Here we go!
GPT-4o vs Project Astra: Flagship AI Agents Compared
GPT-4o and Project Astra – Best AI Agents
We’re about to dive into an exciting comparison of two cutting-edge AI agents that are making waves in the tech world: OpenAI‘s GPT-4o and Google’s Project Astra. These flagship AI models are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in artificial intelligence, offering capabilities that go far beyond traditional chatbots or voice assistants.
GPT-4o and Project Astra Overview
GPT-4o, the latest iteration from OpenAI, is a multimodal powerhouse. It’s designed to process and generate text, images, and even code, making it a versatile tool for various applications.On the other hand, Google’s Project Astra aims to create a universal AI agent that seamlessly integrates with Google’s ecosystem, including Android, Google Pixel, and smart glasses.
Both these AI agents have one thing in common: they can process the real world through audio and visual inputs, providing intelligent responses and assistance in real-time. This marks a significant shift from conventional language models to more interactive and context-aware AI systems.
Key Features Comparison
When it comes to features, GPT-4o shines with its ability to generate creative content, answer complex questions, and assist with tasks like coding and data analysis. Its multimodal nature allows it to handle various types of inputs and outputs, making it suitable for diverse use cases.
Project Astra, powered by advanced versions of Gemini Ultra, boasts unmatched multimodal capabilities. It can process audio, images, video, and text inputs for a comprehensive user experience. One of its standout features is itsability to harness smartphone cameras to gain insights into users’ environments, enhancing its context understanding and response relevance.
Use Cases and Applications
Both AI agents are set to revolutionise various industries. GPT-4o excels in generating human-like text, understanding complex queries, and providing real-time responses. It’s particularly valuable in fields ranging from customer service to education.
Project Astra, with its integration into Google‘s ecosystem, aims to enhance daily tasks by providing real-time assistance. Whether through smart glasses or mobile devices, it can identify objects, answer queries, and even remember past visuals no longer within the camera’s view.
In education and training, these AI agents can act as personal tutors, customising themselves based on a student’s learning style. In healthcare, they could assist medical professionals by providing real-time analysis and diagnostic support.
Open-Source AI Agents: Auto-GPT, Superagent, and AgentGPT
Auto-GPT, Superagent and AgentGPT – Best AI Agents
Open-source projects will always be making waves, democratising access to powerful AI tools. We’re about to dive into three standout players: Auto-GPT, Superagent, and AgentGPT. These innovative platforms are changing the game, allowing developers and enthusiasts alike to create and deploy sophisticated AI agents without breaking the bank.
Open-Source AI Agents Overview
Auto-GPT has taken the AI community by storm, becoming one of the most popular open-source projects ever created. It’s designed to be an autonomous assistant capable of tackling complex tasks. What sets it apart? Well, after you input a text prompt, Auto-GPT uses GPT-4o and GPT-4 to analyse your goal and break it down into manageable subtasks. It’s like having a digital project manager at your fingertips!
Superagent, on the other hand, is all about empowering developers to create, host, and manage AI agents without getting bogged down in complex coding. It’s a platform that simplifies the process of building autonomous agents for various applications, from web research to sales and marketing.
AgentGPT is another exciting player in this space. It allows users to create and deploy autonomous AI agents directly in a web environment. Unlike traditional chatbots, these agents are designed to handle broad, goal-oriented tasks with impressive efficiency.
Capabilities and Features
When it comes to capabilities, each of these platforms brings something unique to the table. Auto-GPT shines in areas like social media content creation, text translation, and web design. It’s like having a multi-talented virtual assistant at your beck and call.
Superagent’s strength lies in its customisation capabilities and robust integrations. We love how it allows users to tailor AI agents using simple markup, making it accessible even to those who aren’t AI experts. It seamlessly connects with tools like Airtable, Salesforce, and various APIs, enhancing its versatility.
AgentGPT stands out with its user-friendly interface and powerful features. It offers user authentication, agent-run saving and sharing, dynamic translations, and AI model customisation. What’s more, its web browsing capabilities expand the agents’ knowledge base, while vector databases enable long-term memory retention. This combination allows for more contextually aware and capable AI assistants.
Community and Development
The open-source nature of these projects has ignited vibrant communities and rapid development. Auto-GPT and AgentGPT, in particular, have captured the imagination of developers worldwide. The idea of agents has truly struck a chord, with people scrambling to create tools and companies around the concept.
Superagent recently raised a significant pre-seed funding round from Y Combinator, highlighting the growing interest in this space. Meanwhile, AgentGPT, developed by Reworkd, has already amassed over 400,000 users since its beta launch. As we look to the future, it’s clear that these open-source AI agents are just the beginning. They’re paving the way for more sophisticated, autonomous AI assistants that could revolutionise how we interact with technology and solve complex problems.
Agent
Plan Name
Price
Auto-GPT
Just try’n it out
€5.99
Power User
€23.99/Month
Business
€59.99/Month
Superagent
AI Assistant Lite
$9/Month
AI Assistant Pro
$59/Month
Team Member
Custom
AgentGPT
Free Trial
$0/Month
PRO
$40/Month
Enterprise
Custom
Specialised AI Agents: Devin AI, ChemCrow, and Tusk
Devin AI, ChemCrow and Tusk – Best AI Agents
Let’s take a closer look at Devin AI, ChemCrow, and Tusk – three AI agents that are changing the way we think about automation in general. Devin AI, developed by Cognition Labs, is an autonomous software engineering powerhouse. ChemCrow, on the other hand, is revolutionising the field of chemistry, while Tusk is streamlining the process of bug fixing and code generation.
Unique Capabilities
Devin AI is not your average coding assistant. This clever AI can understand high-level human instructions, break them down into manageable steps, and even write code to achieve the given objective. It’s like having a tireless software engineer at your fingertips, ready to tackle complex projects autonomously.
ChemCrow is a game-changer in the world of chemistry. By integrating 18 expert-designed tools, this AI agent can perform tasks across organic synthesis, drug discovery, and materials design. It’s not just about number crunching – ChemCrow can plan and execute chemical syntheses, making it an invaluable asset in the lab.
Tusk, the newest kid on the block, is all about making life easier for software engineers. This AI coding agent can generate new code to solve product quality tickets and bugs. What’s more, it integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Linear, Jira, and GitHub, allowing engineers to turn tickets into pull requests with just a click.
Industry Impact
We’re seeing these specialised AI agents make significant waves across various industries. Devin AI is transforming the software development landscape, allowing human experts to focus on more complex and creative challenges. ChemCrow is bridging the gap between experimental and computational chemistry, lowering barriers for non-experts and fostering scientific advancement.
Tusk, with its recent pre-seed funding from Y Combinator, is set to revolutionise how software teams handle bug fixes and code quality issues. These AI agents are not just tools; they’re becoming integral companions in the journey towards innovation and excellence. One thing we know about these tools is that they’re reshaping industries, enhancing productivity, and opening up new possibilities in their respective fields. The question is, what groundbreaking developments will we see next?
Aomni and Cognosys are at the forefront of AI-powered business solutions. Aomni is reshaping sales strategies with its AI-driven platform, while Cognosys is streamlining task management and workflow automation. Both agents are designed to enhance productivity and decision-making in the B2B sector.
Sales and Task Automation
Aomni is a powerhouse for sales teams. It generates laser-focused value propositions and crafts hyper-relevant sales materials tailored to each stakeholder’s needs. Imagine creating personalised decks, emails, and battlecards in minutes! This AI agent doesn’t just automate tasks; it amplifies human potential, allowing sales teams to focus on building relationships and driving revenue growth.
Cognosys, on the other hand, takes task automation to a new level. It’s capable of breaking down complex objectives, creating tasks for itself, and accomplishing them autonomously. Whether you need an in-depth market analysis or research on industry trends, Cognosys has got you covered.
Integration and Benefits
Both Aomni and Cognosys seamlessly integrate with existing business tools, acting as central hubs for your work. Aomni syncs with your current systems, while Cognosys communicates between your favourite apps, providing actionable insights.
The benefits are substantial. Aomni accelerates onboarding, getting new reps up to speed on accounts in days, not weeks. It aligns sales, marketing, and customer success teams, scaling ABM efforts without sacrificing quality. Cognosys keeps your AI assistant working 24/7 with automated workflows, connecting with platforms like Notion and Gmail to accomplish even more.
Agent
Plan Name
Price
Aomni
Starter
$0/Month
Pro subscription
$150/Month
Enterprise
Custom
Cognosys
Free
$0/Month
Pro
$15/Month
Ultimate
$59/Month
Enterprise
Custom
The Future of AI Agents: Trends and Predictions
As we peer into the crystal ball of AI technology, we’re witnessing a seismic shift in how we interact with machines. The future of AI agents is not just exciting; it’s transformative. Let’s dive into what’s on the horizon for these digital helpers.
Current AI Agent Scenario
We’re seeing AI agents evolve from simple task executors to autonomous entities capable of complex decision-making. They’re no longer confined to text-based interactions; they can now process voice commands, understand visuals, and even navigate 3D environments. It’s like having a digital doppelgänger that can perceive, reason, and act on our behalf.
The market for AI agents is booming, with projections suggesting a compound annual growth rate of over 40% by 2028. By 2025, we expect 80% of customer interactions to be handled by AI agents. That’s a staggering figure that highlights their growing importance in customer service and support.
Potential Advancements
Looking ahead, we anticipate AI agents to become highly personalized virtual assistants. Things like having a health-focused AI that monitors your daily activity, provides tailored advice, and even predicts potential health issues – will be a reality. These agents will have advanced adaptive learning capabilities, continuously improving their performance and refining their decision-making processes. We’re also excited about the integration of AI agents with technologies like IoT, blockchain, and edge computing. This convergence will enable them to collect and analyse vast amounts of data from various sources, making them even more powerful and versatile.
Conclusion
Overall, the impact of these AI agents would be profound and things are just getting started. The future is breathing down our neck and it is about time, that we accept it. Lastly, it is about making things work and this is where one needs a bit of expertise. If you are someone looking to make the most out of this AI wave as a founder, marketer or a personal brand – we may have good news for you! Through our partner agencies, we have been helping people get better with their operations and branding – all backed by AI automation. We are sure, you don’t want to miss out!
FAQ
Which are the best AI agents?
Here are some of the best AI agents:
Flagship AI Agents:
GPT-4o
Project Astra
Open-Source AI Agents:
Auto-GPT
Superagent
AgentGPT
Specialised AI Agents:
Devin AI
ChemCrow
Tusk
B2B Focused AI Agents:
Aomni
Cognosys
What are the 5 types of agents in AI?
The five types of agents in AI are:
Simple Reflex Agents – Act on current perceptions.
Model-Based Reflex Agents – Use memory of past states.
Goal-Based Agents – Make decisions based on goal achievement.
Utility-Based Agents – Optimize actions for maximum satisfaction.
Learning Agents – Improve performance through learning experiences.
What is more desirable for an AI agent?
For an AI agent, it is most desirable to maximize efficiency and accuracy while achieving goals effectively and adapting to new information.
This article has been contributed byAnkit Aneja, Vice President, Herbal Chakra Pvt. Ltd.
As Diwali is around the corner, D2C brands have a prime opportunity to use social media to engage consumers, sell more, and create lasting relationships. Digital platforms become an integral part of modern marketing, making it important to develop Diwali-specific campaigns so that one can stand out in a busy marketplace. Here are some key strategies that can help D2C brands optimize their social media presence and maximize impact this holiday season:
Diwali-Specific Discounts and Promotions
Discount and promotion sales will continue to be one of the most attractive ways for Indian consumers, especially with Diwali when it is all about spending money in gifting and personal purchases. A Diwali special or a festive promotion will create some sort of urgency for a limited period and move into quick sales. Sales should be hosted, coupons be offered, and packaged products flaunted: Social media, especially Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp-what better way to promote something? Tools such as countdown timers on Instagram Stories or discounts on Facebook ads will ensure that brands get maximum traffic during the holiday season since impulses will drive it.
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Wellness Trends During Diwali
The demand for healthy lifestyles, Diwali is not merely about sales. It also represents an excellent opportunity to nudge consumers toward new habits as wellness trends become mainstream for D2C brands in their way of propagating healthier and mindful lifestyles. For example, Herbal Chakra could focus on Ayurvedic rituals for health and wellness, encouraging customers to “start your health journey this Diwali.” Whether it is fitness, mindfulness, or skincare routines, holiday events provide emotional touchpoints that inspire people to make long-term lifestyle changes. Brands can create compelling content like tutorials, educational posts, or influencer collaborations that resonate with a growing health-conscious audience.
The Power of Substitution: Healthier Alternatives
Spotlighting Healthier Alternatives during Diwali is a very effective approach. When the season is known for overindulgence and lavish living, brands can seize this moment as an opportunity to shift consumers towards healthier and eco-friendly alternatives. An example would be pushing jaggery as an alternative to refined sugar in most of the sweets that make up the festive treats. Making content about sustainable conscious choices such as sustainable packaging or organic ingredients can ensure that the brand reaches the masses without going out of relevance during the festival.
The Key is Content: Performance Marketing Meets Organic Engagement
In marketing strategy terms, a strategy for instant returns during the festival; however, a brand cannot undermine the long-term strength that content marketing possesses. Creating valuable content regularly allows brand awareness to build in the long run and deepen customers’ relationships with you.
Organic content, that is, a product guide, user-generated stories, and even behind-the-scenes content could give a loyal community. Ideas of the values that the brand stands for or activities of initiatives such as eco-friendly campaigns or charity events around Diwali are going to appeal emotionally and increase brand affinity. A great example is working with influencers and customer reviews to encourage D2C beauty brands to create makeup tutorials around the holiday season and encourage their followers to achieve the same look with a brand’s products.
Foster Brand Loyalty: Re-target and Lifetime Value Focus for the Long Haul
To have a sustainable future, D2C brands will have to build customer loyalty that lasts beyond the holiday season. Retargeting campaigns will help brands reach out to their former customers with personalized offers or reminders about Diwali sales. These can be very effective when retargeting segments that have already shown interest in your brand but haven’t bought yet.
Finally, a D2C business is only sustainable if it is customer lifetime value-focused. Brands should create loyal customers by offering subscription models, exclusive offers, or loyalty programs. It has been observed that brands often contact their existing customers asking them to buy during the festival of Diwali and continue using the same throughout the year. Email marketing can do wonders for customer retention if it is accompanied by tailored discount codes and exclusive, timed pre-sale access. This means that the value that contributed to the long-term success cycle can be substantially increased for customers.
Expand Your Footprint:
For new D2C brands, Diwali is an excellent time to get more visibility through aggregator platforms like Amazon, Flipkart or Nykaa. Although the margins may not be too high at this stage, it is a never-before opportunity to reach out to an enormous and very diverse consumer base. By aggregating new brands with well-known markets, aggregators add to the trust customers are bound to have in and seek out the products coming from these new brands. It can then be driven, during the high-spending season, by placing their D2C presence there, which can convert those sales into direct-to-self, through their website.
First, it has to be about getting your brand in front of as many people as possible and then reaching out to the brand’s platform, which has higher margins.
Leverage Your Existing Customer Base:
One of the most valuable assets for any D2C brand is its existing customer base. Diwali presents a great opportunity to reconnect with loyal customers through personalized messages, exclusive offers, and festive greetings. Send premium customers early access codes or, offer extra discounts on referrers during the period. Create some holiday-related product bundles so that purchasing is more exciting. And that will generate more sales in addition to a loyal base of customers. Take this moment to actively gather feedback for enhancing further and refine based on resonance with the brand’s audiences.
“Diwali offers D2C brands a chance to connect meaningfully with audiences, integrating festival tradition with the potential of digital engagement. Through social media, we are reaching consumers directly; they get emotional about festivals; we are offering customized offers and establishing long-term relations. Brands can have high-impact, value-based campaigns by focusing on authentic storytelling, wellness habits, and environmental alternatives for products.” – Ankit Aneja, Vice President, Herbal Chakra Pvt. Ltd.
This will ensure that D2C brands have repeat sales and brand advocacy even after the holiday season. It is an excellent opportunity for D2C brands to reach new customers, retain existing ones, and increase overall brand awareness during Diwali, provided they make the right use of social media. Adding monetary incentives, encouraging new habits, offering healthier alternatives, and focusing on a long-term content strategy, D2C brands can make the most of their social media presence for a successful Diwali campaign.
Nitin Konde
