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  • Mentorship and Support for Startups: What Are Venture Builders and How It Help in the Development of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

    Rapid technological progress lays the foundation for the development of the venture industry and stimulates the emergence of innovative products. It can be argued that startups are now becoming a key driver of the economy, and the ratio between the number of startups and the population of a country determines its potential and influences GDP.

    For example, the United States has the highest number of startups per 1,000 people — 219.27, while the country also has the highest Global Startup Ecosystem Index and the highest GDP of $20,544,343 million.

    This indicates that startups shape the entrepreneurial ecosystem and contribute to the country’s economic development. However, according to statistics, only 1 in 10 startups successfully navigate the so-called ‘valley of death’ and become profitable. On the path to success, startups lack financial, strategic, and mentoring resources. So, what should Ukrainian startups do to avoid a crisis, survive in a competitive environment, and improve the country’s economic indicators?

    In search of an answer to this question, the founder of CLUST, Ruslan Tymofieiev, as an investor, turned to the format of venture studios. Such collaboration helps increase a startup’s chances of survival from 5-10% to 40-50%.

    What Are Venture Builders, and How Do They Support Startups?
    Problems of Startups Solved by Venture Builder
    The Impact of Venture Builders on the Development of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

    What Are Venture Builders, and How Do They Support Startups?

    Ruslan Tymofieiev explains that a venture builder is a unique blend of a venture fund and a startup studio. In other words, it is a company that operates under a business model that allows it to create businesses from scratch and support them at all stages of development, leveraging internal financial and intellectual resources.

    To put it simply, these are companies that professionally launch and develop startups. However, unlike funds, they don’t just write a cheque; they share the founders’ vision, taking on the roles of mentors, investors, and facilitators, helping startups achieve success.

    In other words, venture builders:

    • Provide financial support: At pre-seed, seed, and round A stages, venture builders attract internal investments, meaning founders don’t have to seek investors and pitch their product idea dozens of times.
    • Help build a business model: Venture builders professionally launch startups and, therefore, know how to construct a business model and strategy for various products.
    • Share expertise: They share research and assist startups with legal, operational, and managerial issues.
    • Expand the network of contacts: They help establish connections and develop partnerships with market players.

    Venture builder model is based on receiving a percentage of the startup’s profits. This percentage varies depending on the level of involvement in operational processes.

    Problems of Startups Solved by Venture Builder

    Ruslan Tymofieiev mentions several noticeable red flags that signal a startup is at risk of not overcoming the «valley of death».

    The «valley of death» is a period when a startup spends its initial investments, and operates, but has not yet become profitable. Most startups cease their activities precisely at this point.

    Here are common mistakes that can ‘sink’ your startup:

    1. Poor Market Research = Overly Ambitious Plans

    Typically, a startup is founded by a small number of people — on average, 2–5 individuals. This team may lack a professional economist or strategist. To save costs, internal teams often handle research, unit economics calculations, and business plan development. This can lead to a significant disparity between projected and actual figures. Incorrect calculations at the start can be costly.

    What to do: Pay a lot of attention to research even before developing the MVP and write a business plan based on the analysis results, not assumptions.

    How a venture builder helps: provides resources for quality analysis. Often, venture builders start collaboration at the stage when there is only an idea. In their team or through outsourcing, they have experts capable of calculating unit economics, making realistic forecasts, and more.

    2. Weak Competitive Advantage

    Competitors exist in all markets. If your product doesn’t have them today, it doesn’t mean they won’t appear tomorrow. Therefore, you must have a clear value proposition, genuinely solve user problems, and build a strong emotional connection between them and your brand to retain the target audience even in the presence of competitors. Often, young entrepreneurs focus solely on solving a problem and forget that it’s important to communicate their value to the user.

    What to do: To overcome this problem, Ruslan Tymofieiev suggests to develop a strategy for engaging users with the product.

    How a venture builder helps: With their experience, venture builder employees know all potential points of contact with the audience and will assist with the promotion strategy.

    3. Hype

    The abnormal success of your startup and rapid user growth at the start does not guarantee that the product will remain successful and profitable. Often, after the first wave of customer influx, retention starts to decline at a rate of 60-70% per month.

    Does anyone still remember the Clubhouse app? Three years ago, it gained rapid popularity among iPhone users, and owners of Android smartphones eagerly awaited its version for their platform. However, by the time it happened, everyone was already indifferent to Clubhouse.

    What to do: think not only about how to attract users but also about how to retain them.

    How a venture builder helps: share developed methods of users’ retention.

    4. Ignoring Feedback

    Feedback is crucial on the path to a successful startup. It helps identify and fix product weaknesses, working with insights from users. When a startup ignores feedback, it risks becoming static and uninteresting.

    What to do: Be flexible.

    How a venture builder helps: Provides resources for hypothesis testing, allowing quick changes and adaptation.

    5. Very Small or Very Large Team

    5 people cannot develop a successful project. To grow and thrive, it is necessary to involve professionals in your team. However, having a team that is too large is also bad because it can lead to spending all the financial resources from investors before turning a profit.

    What to do: hire and fire wisely.

    How a venture builder helps: build a hiring strategy and assist in finding professionals who align with the startup in terms of hard skills and values.

    6. Lack of Funding

    The absence of a planned budget for development and product promotion can lead to a situation where a startup suddenly finds itself without funds and opportunities for further existence.

    What to do: plan at least one year ahead, seek investors, have a Plan B in case of unforeseen expenses.

    How a venture builder helps: contributes their own funds and, if necessary, assists in finding external investments.

    7. Founders’ Confusion

    When the old business model proves ineffective and the new one is not yet created, founders can get stuck and lose precious time.

    What to do: test new hypotheses, adapt the product to market needs quickly, and update the marketing strategy.

    How a venture builder helps: save time and change a product on the fly.

    The Impact of Venture Builders on the Development of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

    The startup life cycle is filled with challenges. In this context, venture builders become reliable partners for development, increase the chances of survival, and thus directly impact the number of successful products in the market.

    That’s why it can be argued that venture builders are an integral part of creating and supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. They play the role of mentors, investors, and facilitators, contributing to the success of startups.

    In addition, venture builders organize events, conferences, and webinars aimed at supporting and developing startups. These initiatives foster knowledge exchange, create a conducive environment for innovation, and promote collaboration among various players in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

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  • Top Practical Tips to Help Boost Your Brand Visibility

    Picture this: you have an amazing product or service, but for some reason, it’s not receiving the attention it deserves. It’s a tale as old as time, and something that hundreds of brands struggle with.

    In a world where competition is intensely fierce (especially in the online sphere), standing out of the crowd can be a pretty challenging task. So, what’s the secret to ensuring hard work and efforts don’t go to waste? Well, it’s got everything to do with brand visibility. Brand visibility is the art of making your brand not just seen, but remembered and chosen amidst a vast sea of options.

    Here are 6 practical tips to get you started on your brand visibility journey.

    Utilize Custom QR Codes On Packaging
    Optimize Your Website With SEO Keywords
    Leverage Social Media
    Partner With Like-Minded Influencers
    Master Your Email Marketing Strategy
    Run Contests & Giveaways

    Utilize Custom QR Codes On Packaging

    One of the easiest ways to boost your brand visibility is to make use of a custom QR code generator. In doing so, you’ll be able to generate unique codes that can be printed or stuck on, product packaging, promotional material, or business cards. In a world where Instagram gratification reigns supreme, custom QR codes enable your customers to quickly link to your website, giving them instant access to special promotions and other useful online content that will enhance their overall experience of your brand. It’s a simple, effective and cost-friendly strategy. What’s not to love?

    Optimize Your Website With SEO Keywords

    We’ll let you in on a little secret: optimizing your website with SEO keywords is THE best way to propel brand visibility to new heights. Okay, maybe it isn’t that big of a secret, but you’d be surprised at how many brands still lack on this front. Think of keywords as the tasty breadcrumbs that lead potential customers to your site. By using relevant keywords in your product descriptions, meta tags, and content, you can boost your search engine rankings and ensure your site reaches the widest audience possible.

    Oh, and the good news? There are dozens of keyword research tricks and software tools at your disposal. Keyword tools in particular are an investment you’ll be sure to enjoy a healthy return on for years to come. These nifty resources offer a database of search terms and volumes, allowing you to identify the most effective keywords to reach your intended audience.

    Leverage Social Media

    With billions of users scrolling through social media feeds every second of the day, it’s safe to say that social media offers unparalleled potential for brand awareness. And if your brand isn’t already on social media or using it to its full advantage, you’re seriously missing out. Whether it’s Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, leveraging various social media platforms is one of the most effective ways of reaching the widest audience possible.

    So, make it a point to post regularly, respond to comments, and craft engaging stories and reels that encourage your followers to like, comment, and share. The more engaging your content is, the wider your organic reach will be.

    Partner With Like-Minded Influencers

    In this day and age, people are much more inclined to trust a brand or product when it’s recommended by someone that they trust. So, If you’re looking to maximize your brand’s reach, partnering with like-minded influencers can be a total game-changer.

    Truth be told, finding your footing in the world of influencer marketing is also easier than you may expect it to be. Start by researching influencers who resonate with your brand values and target audience. Once you have a rough idea of who you’d like to partner with, reach out and be transparent about your expectations for collaboration. Not everyone you reach out to will be interested in partnering with you, and that is okay. At the end of the day you want to collaborate with influencers who genuinely love and want to promote your brand, so make it a point to prioritize quality over quantity.

    Master Your Email Marketing Strategy

    If you’re looking to boost brand awareness, few things are as effective as a killer email marketing strategy. Whether you’re using MailChimp, ActiveCampaign, or any other email marketing platform, the secret lies in crafting compelling, personalized content that provides value to your subscribers.

    Whether it’s new promotions, exclusive content, or limited-time offers, each email marketing campaign should be a valuable interaction. The truth is there is a lot to cover when it comes to mastering email marketing and we would need more than just a few lines to cover it all.

    Run Contests & Giveaways

    Have you ever participated in online giveaways and content? This effective strategy seems to be popping up everywhere, and for good reason too: it’s one of the best ways for brands to engage their audience and boost visibility. And the good news is that your brand can do the same.

    If there’s one thing we all have in common, it’s that we all love a freebie. So, by running contests and giveaways that require participants to follow your accounts, share posts, and tag friends, you can significantly amplify your reach. It’s a win-win situation that won’t cost you more than one or two products but will leave a lasting impact on your reach.

    And there you have it — 6 practical tips that will help you boost your brand visibility and take your business to new heights. At the end of the day, it’s not about spending thousands of dollars on complicated marketing campaigns. Rather, it’s about taking full advantage of strategic approaches that put your brand at the forefront. All the best!

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  • Unstop: Empowering Talent, Fostering Opportunities, and Redefining Success

    In an ever-evolving industry where talent meets opportunity, Unstop has emerged as a transformative force. The global talent management software market, projected to grow from 0.05 billion in 2023 to 0.59 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 12.5%, reflects the increasing significance of platforms like Unstop.

    Formerly Dare2Compete, the platform rebranded in 2022, becoming a well-known hub for talent discovery, community engagement, and hiring. Founded by Ankit Aggarwal, Unstop plays a significant role in reshaping the landscape.

    In this article, explore Unstop’s journey, its visionary founder, business and revenue model, product and service offerings, funding, and more.

    Unstop – Company Highlights

    Startup Name Unstop
    Headquarters New Delhi, India
    Sector HR Edu Tech
    Founder Ankit Aggarwal
    Founded 2017
    Website unstop.com

    Unstop – About
    Unstop – Industry
    Unstop – Founder and Team
    Unstop – Startup Story
    Unstop – Vision and Mission
    Unstop – Name, Tagline, and Logo
    Unstop – Products/Services
    Unstop – Business and Revenue Model
    Unstop – Launching Company Strategies
    Unstop – Customer Growth and Retention Strategies
    Unstop – Challenges Faced
    Unstop – Growth
    Unstop – Funding
    Unstop – Key Tools and Software
    Unstop – Awards and Achievements
    Unstop – Competitors
    Unstop – Future Plans

    Unstop – About

    Unstop, derived from the belief to #BeUnstoppable, is a Talent Discovery, Community Engagement, and Hiring Platform to learn, upskill, showcase your skills, gain CV points, and get hired while unlocking your true potential through your academic journey. With 6 million users and 47 million monthly page views, Unstop touches 3 million monthly active users at present. Founded by Ankit Aggarwal as Dare2Compete, the platform was re-branded in 2022, from a go-to place for competitions to a playground of opportunities of various kinds called, Unstop.

    With a vision to create the largest pool of employable talent, Unstop serves students pursuing graduation and post-graduation, as well as working professionals with 0-5 years of experience.

    Unstop’s clientele includes 800+ distinguished organizations from industry giants such as Flipkart, Amazon, Walmart, Tata, HUL, Loreal, Accenture, EY, Optum, KPMG, Uber Boat, ABG, Reliance Mahindra, Publicis Sapient, Infosys, Wipro, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, JPMC, Swiss Re, Bajaj Finserv, More Retail, J&J, Vedanta, Maruti Suzuki, Hero, and many others.

    Unstop has received the Best Workforce Enablement Startup award at the 2023 Startup Awards presented by Entrepreneur India. It has been recognized with the Startup 50 Trailblazer Award by Dun & Bradstreet. Unstop closed its Pre Series A round of funding by Mynavi Corporation, Japan’s leading job board and HR Tech firm, Coursera, which made its first investment in India through Unstop, Venture Catalysts, 9Unicorns, and Pankaj Bansal, who invested in the platform through his fund Caret Capital.

    Unstop – Industry

    As per the latest AISHE report, there are 95 lakh graduates in the pipeline and this just shows how huge the talent market is. There are around 1,25,000 companies listed and hiring on one of India’s largest job platforms. This shows there is a gap that needs to be filled for companies to find the right talent.

    Unstop – Founder and Team

    Ankit Aggarwal - Founder & CEO, Unstop
    Ankit Aggarwal – Founder & CEO, Unstop

    Ankit Aggarwal is the Founder & CEO of Unstop, a talent discovery, community engagement, and hiring platform for students and freshers, where talent meets opportunities. Ankit’s journey combines a background as a Consultant at top firms, including Sapient and Deloitte, with a passion for education, demonstrated through his involvement with Teach for India. Ankit’s dedication to Unstop has been duly recognized, earning Unstop the distinction of the Best Workforce Enablement Startup by Entrepreneur India and the prestigious Startup 50 Trailblazer Award by Dun & Bradstreet. His impactful ideas have reached global audiences through his engaging TEDx talks, and he was named among India’s 100 Great People Managers by Forbes in 2020.

    Beyond work, Ankit is an avid cricket player, adventurer, and philanthropist committed to Education, Diversity and inclusion, and Health and well-being. Ankit finds joy in spending quality time with his family and friends.

    Current company size: 100+

    Work Culture: Life at Unstop is full of excitement and energy. There is confidence and zeal to learn and experiment with new things.

    Hiring Funda: Unstop finds people who have an intent for the brand, who have interest and zeal, along with functional skills, and who are also a cultural fit.

    Unstop Team
    Unstop Team

    Unstop – Startup Story

    The inspiration to start the company came during the founder’s MBA days in IMT Ghaziabad when he realized how competitions in B-Schools weren’t reaching all students timely which led to late applications and fewer chances of participation. So he put together a blog called Dare2Compete that had all the details of the latest competitions happening. He knew it was picking up because it got popular among the B-School students.

    Other than this, when he got placed in Deloitte, he kept doing this on the side and received queries from brands like Reliance who wanted to collaborate with the company to do something big and engage and hire the right talent. That’s when he decided to go full-time with it.

    Unstop – Vision and Mission

    With a vision to create the largest pool of employable talent, Unstop serves students pursuing graduation and post-graduation, as well as working professionals with 0-5 years of experience. 

    Unstop’s mission is to help talent meet opportunities by giving them a platform to unlock their true potential.

    The name Unstop was changed in 2022 from Dare2Compete because it was realized that the platform was not just about competitions. The goal was to expand into Courses, Jobs and internships, Practice sections, and Mentorship for students & early talent.

    The tagline – Where Talent Meets Opportunities was decided after brainstorming and coming to a common point that on Unstop there are opportunities for everyone. Right from upskilling to finding a job, one can do it all. Hence, Unstop is the place where talent finds all the right opportunities throughout their academic and early career journey.

    Unstop - Tagline
    Unstop – Tagline

    Unstop – Products/Services

    Unstop is a community engagement platform for talented individuals to learn, upskill, showcase their skills, gain CV points, and get hired to unlock their true potential throughout their academic journey. This enables them to get hired by their dream employers and start their career journey.

    Backed by the philosophy of skills-based education, Unstop aims to ensure companies find the right talent through unique engagements that focus on testing students’ real-life skills. Unstop strives to democratize hiring by recruiting the right talent globally rather than from a select list of institutes.

    Unstop caters to both B2C and B2B users. Under B2C, the target audience is students and early talent (17-24 years). They have a playground of opportunities on Unstop:

    • Learn: Unstop has a subscription offering of Unstop Pro which allows students to get access to 50+ courses, exclusive entry to masterclasses by industry experts, interview preps, and 15% off on mentorship sessions along with coupons from brands like Bombay Shaving Company, Puma, and an OTT Play Subscription.
    • Practice: Gives students the opportunity to practice coding through a 100-day coding sprint along with mock interviews. It also helps students prepare for the interview and assessment round of companies.
    • Mentorship: Offers the users a chance to connect 1:1 with seasoned mentors from top brands like Google, BCG, Bain & Co., Amazon, Microsoft, and many more.
    • Compete: The OG section lists all corporate and college competitions for students to participate in and win rewards like PPOs and PPIs.
    • Jobs: Users can find organic job listings under this section from various companies across the country.
    • Blogs: With a plethora of blogs covering a vast range of topics, this section helps users read the experiences of winners, understand strategies to hack interviews, and much more.
    Unstop - Products and Services
    Unstop – Products and Services

    B2B Vertical

    • Brand: Unstop helps organizations amplify their employer brand through engagements, both internal and external. This helps users understand what kind of culture and work to expect from companies.
    • Source: Through engagements, the company helps create a talent pipeline for brands. For example, Flipkart GRiD got 4.6 Lakh+ registrations which helped them have a pipeline for the whole year.
    • Assess: Unstop offers a range of assessments, right from, coding, communication, and competency, to aptitude tests. And all of them are done on the platform itself.
    • Hire: Unstop help in hiring through engagements & direct hiring methods, like listing organic jobs on Unstop.

    Unstop – Business and Revenue Model

    Unstop earns its revenue through the following streams:

    • B2B clients contribute to Unstop’s business by conducting hiring engagements, employer branding initiatives, and other assessments to assist them in hiring the right talent.
    • B2C products such as courses and mentorships.
    • B2B channel sales, involving the bundled sales of B2C products to colleges.

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    Unstop – Launching Company Strategies

    Unstop ensured it solved its customers’ problems to the best of its abilities with the best product it could build. And the best service it could provide to them. Email marketing worked for the company. Word-of-mouth promotion through its first few customers helped. The company relied completely on organic promotions for growth.

    Unstop – Customer Growth and Retention Strategies

    By expanding Unstop’s technology offering, scaling up its marketing efforts, and investing in Product Development and the establishment of Teams, Unstop aims to drive customer growth and retention.

    Unstop – Challenges Faced

    Unstop stayed focused on giving value to the users. Earlier, the company focused more on competitions and then realized the value of creating a playground for students who need to practice, learn, and upskill while speaking to mentors from dream companies. Hence, more products were added that can help Unstop’s users in their career trajectory.

    Unstop – Growth

    Operating solely in India, Unstop has demonstrated substantial growth with an annual revenue generation of approximately INR 19 crores. The platform boasts a significant user base of 7 million and has established partnerships with over 800 clients, including notable names such as Amazon, Flipkart, Tata, and HUL.

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    Unstop – Funding

    Below is the funding detail for Unstop:

    Date Stage Amount Investors Name
    August 2, 2023 Pre-Series A $5 Million Mynavi Corporation, Coursera  Pankaj Bansal through his fund Caret Capital, Venture Catalysts, and 9Unicorns

    Unstop – Key Tools and Software

    Unstop is working with AWS (Amazon) and Google Cloud to ensure the ability to scale its tech solutions globally.

    Unstop – Awards and Achievements

    Here are the prominent awards and achievements of Unstop:

    • Best Workforce Enablement Startup by Entrepreneur India
    • Startup 50 Trailblazer Award by Dun & Bradstreet

    Unstop – Competitors

    Some of the top competitors of Unstop are:

    • LinkedIn
    • Naukri
    • Indeed

    Unstop – Future Plans

    Unstop’s plans include a strategic expansion in several key areas:

    • Users on the platform: The goal is to significantly increase the user base, aiming to move from 7 million users to 12-15 million users by March 2024.
    • Traffic through competitions: The focus will be on enhancing engagement by leveraging college and corporate competitions to drive increased traffic to the platform.
    • Number of B2B clients onboarded and revenue from them: Unstop plans to onboard a greater number of B2B clients, fostering partnerships and generating increased revenue from their collaborations.
    • Revenue from B2C products: There is a commitment to growing revenue from B2C products, as part of the overall revenue diversification strategy.

    FAQs

    What is Unstop?

    Unstop is a Talent Discovery, Community Engagement, and Hiring Platform to learn, upskill, showcase your skills, gain CV points, and get hired while unlocking your true potential through your academic journey.

    Who is the founder of Unstop?

    Ankit Aggarwal founded Unstop in the year 2017.

    What are the key tools and software used by Unstop?

    Unstop is working with AWS (Amazon) and Google Cloud to ensure the ability to scale its tech solutions globally.

  • Proptech Company YourOwnROOM Signs a $4 Million Partnership With Rushmore Estates for Their Rs. 200 Crore Residential Project in Sarjapur, Bangalore

    December 11, 2023: Rushmore Estates, Co-founded by Alok Kumar Singh (IIML, IIT-BHU), and YourOwnROOM, Co-founded by Prabhat Kumar Tiwary (Stanford GSB, BIT Mesra) have signed a $4 million partnership to build studio pads for single professionals in Bangalore and offer Proptech Rental and Property Management Services. The project will come up in the IT belt in and around the city, and the idea is to build a high-quality personal dwelling that is self-sufficient in all forms – be it easy access to the workplace or reasonable rentals.

    Rushmore sees this as an opportunity to cater to an audience of individual investors and homeowners, by offering a compelling financialized residential real estate product in the range of Rs. 20-35 lakh.

    In Bangalore’s 1.5 million strong IT Industry, around 45-50% professionals are in the age category of 21 to 27 years with less than 5 years of work experience and there’s a large demand for high quality, purpose-built mid-term stay studio apartments for them. – Alok Kumar Singh.

    Over the next 5 to 7 years, Alok and Prabhat shall explore the possibility of developing 8-10 projects around the core IT belts in Bangalore with an aggregate of 7,500-10,000 single dwelling units for this segment. Enabled by YourOwnROOM’s PropTech Rental and Property Management Solutions, the asset owners would benefit from higher rental yields and capital appreciation.

    The Illustrated Image of Sarjapur Project, Bangalore
    The Illustrated Image of Sarjapur Project, Bangalore

    The first project is 30 minutes from the Wipro Corporate Office in Sarjapur and close to RGA Tech Park, Prestige City, and Bellandur Junction. The Project, valued at around Rs. 200 Cr., is spread across 5 acres in Sarjapur. This comprises 630 units wherein 2 blocks are for studio apartments, 2 blocks for 1 BHK apartment, and 3 blocks for 2 BHK apartments. These Apartments will be ready for possession starting April 2025 in a phased manner.

    YourOwnROOM is the Exclusive Rental and Property Management partner for this Project and will offer professional multiyear rental & property management services resulting in continuous cash flow, superior rental yields, and capital appreciation for the homeowners. The total rental value of this deal across 5 years is estimated to be Rs. 34 Crores or $4 million for YourOwnROOM.

    Since the inception of YourOwnROOM, we’ve seen a huge gap between Demand for safe, secure, and convenient homes and supply in Bangalore especially for folks in their early career. We are super excited to partner with Alok Singh and Rushmore to identify and create high quality supply and offer our prop-tech rental and property management solution to the Retail HomeOwners at the Point of Sale. This is also setting the blueprint for our sustainable future profitable growth in 2024 and beyond, adds Prabhat Kumar Tiwary.

    About Prabhat Kumar Tiwary

    Prabhat Kumar Tiwary - Founder, CEO, and MD - YourOwnROOM
    Prabhat Kumar Tiwary – Founder, CEO, and MD – YourOwnROOM

    Prabhat is an alumnus of Stanford Business School and the Founder, CEO, and Managing Director of YourOwnROOM, a prop-tech residential real estate rental & property management company. YourOwnROOM’s Asset Under Management is 1 million square feet valued at over Rs. 400 crores ($50 M) spread across 400 properties in Bangalore and Pune. YourOwnROOM has raised $1.3 million in investments from investors in the US and India.

    Before this, he was Sr Vice President at Xchanging (DXC) and has worked in senior leadership and management positions in building and managing P&L and Delivery of up to $100 million at Hewlett-Packard, MphasiS, Zensar, Ness, ARI, and Wipro. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi.

    About Alok Kumar Singh

    Alok Kumar Singh - Co-founder, Rushmore Estates
    Alok Kumar Singh – Co-founder, Rushmore Estates

    Alok Kumar Sigh, an MBA from IIML & an Engineer from IIT-BHU, has earlier been the Co-founder of Azure Capital Private Equity & Azven Realty Ventures. Before getting into real estate, Alok held senior-level positions in Infosys, Infosys BPO, Microland, QVC Realty, and Tata Motors.

    Rushmore Estates, Co-founded by Alok Kumar Singh, is a Bangalore-based full-service real estate development firm and is currently developing/incubating multiple residential projects in Bangalore.

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  • How to Use the Power of Social Signals for SEO & Backlinks

    The power of social signals has transformed my profile on platforms like LinkedIn, and Instagram. Getting shares and likes not only helped my content gain visibility but also allowed me to expand my network.

    Forging meaningful connections through social media marketing was no joke. I used this personal experience to explore how social signals influence link-building and SEO.

    What exactly are social signals? A like, share, or comment on social media is a collective nod of approval in the world of digital marketing. These signals go beyond vanity metrics, influencing not only user engagement but also search engine ranking algorithms.

    There is more to social signals than popularity. They are some dynamic forces that shape the online narrative, indicating to search engines a brand’s relevance, credibility, and resonance.

    Understanding the Dynamics of Social Signals

    Impact of Social Signals on SEO & Backlinks

    How to Use Social Signals for SEO Success?

    Social Signals Evolution in SEO

    Understanding the Dynamics of Social Signals

    Indirect SEO Booster

    Likes, shares, and comments are just a few examples of the various interactions that make up social signals on social media platforms. Indirectly, social signals have a huge impact on SEO, even though Google says they don’t rank directly.

    Important components of the SEO environment, such as enhanced organic traffic and brand visibility, are frequently experienced by brands that actively participate in social media marketing.

    Raise Social & Brand Awareness

    Social media marketing is essential for raising brand awareness. Your brand’s reach increases with the number of times it is liked, shared, and discussed on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This enhanced visibility raises the likelihood of organic discovery, which leads to better SEO rankings.

    Increases Organic Traffic

    They help to draw organic traffic to high-quality content that is shared on social media. It creates a domino effect. And so, likes, shares, and comments from users who interact with your content drive traffic to your website. Search engines value this spike in organic traffic, and it will help improve your SEO rankings.

    The role that social signals play in link-building is one of the most important effects they have on SEO. Backlinks are created when users share your content, telling search engines that it is worthwhile to support and boost the site. Your URLs’ estimated worth and domain authority are both improved by having backlinks from trustworthy sources.

    Powers High-quality Content

    It is impossible to undervalue the significance of high-quality content in the SEO strategy. Social signals are frequently used to determine the quality of content. Search engine spiders receive powerful signals that your content is valuable and relevant when users interact positively, expressing their appreciation of likes, shares, and comments.

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    Social Profiles and Engagement Statistics

    Social media profiles play a vital role in search engine optimization and are more than just digital placeholders. Complete and active social media profiles demonstrate legitimacy and authenticity, which are factors that search engines take into account when ranking results. Metrics related to engagement, like the quantity of likes, shares, and comments, offer measurable information about the popularity of your content.

    The Trio Rule – LSC (Like, Share & Comment)

    The value of social signals is the volume of likes, shares, and comments. Each has specific roles within the SEO ecosystem. Likes communicate approval and interest. Shares increase your audience, and comments encourage engagement from the community. When these components are in perfect harmony, social signals have a greater influence on your attempts at SEO.

    Increases Domain Authority

    Social signals have a strong correlation with domain authority, which is an essential element of SEO. Higher domain authority is frequently associated with increased involvement in social media and tells the search engines that your website is reliable as a source of information. This element of promoting trust is extremely valuable in the cutthroat world of the internet.

    Tell Us the Value of URLs

    Traditional SEO factors do not determine the value of a URL primarily. One factor influencing a URL’s estimated worth is social signals. A URL’s visibility in search results may increase when it receives a lot of social media recommendations and shares. This gives the link more authority and credibility.

    Google’s Complex Algorithm

    Google did not officially acknowledge social signals as direct ranking factors, but there is mounting evidence that they have an impact on search results. The influence of social media on SEO is complex; for example, some searches show unique SERP elements that draw attention to content from social media platforms.

    How to Use Social Signals for SEO Success?

    Social Signals Increase Brand Value

    An essential component of effective SEO strategies is brand recognition. Using social media signals to promote your brand’s message and content creates a positive feedback chain. Users are more likely to search your content as they get to know it better through social media engagement.

    Better Social Engagement= High Website Ranking

    Website rankings and social media activity are not separate things. They are mutually dependent on one another in a mutually beneficial relationship. Creating content for social media platforms that appeal to users can boost engagement and improve the position of your website in search results.

    SEO success is still largely dependent on link-building, and social signals are essential in this regard. It is imperative to prioritize the gauge of backlinks obtained from significant social media exchanges over their quantity. A single, well-crafted backlink from an active social media post can be more powerful than several interchangeable links.

    Adapt to the Ever-Changing SEO System

    In the ever-changing world of SEO, flexibility is essential. It’s critical to stay up to date on algorithmic changes and new trends in social media marketing. Techniques that are effective now might require modifications tomorrow. Consistently evaluating and improving your strategy guarantees long-term success despite search engine algorithms that are always changing.

    Leveraging Social Media to Promote Local SEO

    Social signals are powerful tools for local SEO for businesses that target local audiences. Invite clients to check in, post reviews, and interact with your company on social media. Improved local search rankings are a result of localized social signals, which are important for businesses.

    Using Social Media & Social Signals To Rank Higher – Step By Step Guide For Each Platform

    Social Signals Evolution in SEO

    The use of social signals in SEO is a topic that will probably improve as digital media develops. Even though social signals aren’t a direct ranking factor, their indirect impact is probably going to become more significant. Long-term success depends mostly on staying ahead of the curve and modifying strategies as needed.

    It’s not just a fad! The use of social signals in comprehensive SEO strategies is a necessity. SEO is now a dynamic interplay of different digital marketing aspects rather than a separate discipline. Astute marketers are aware of the connections between social signals, the quality of the content, and the perception of the brand.

    Final Opinion!

    As a professional SEO blog writer, I can attest to the significance of a future-proof strategy on how social signals affect SEO and link building. Developing an adaptable strategy that takes into account user engagement, social media dynamics, and changing SEO trends will guarantee that your brand not only makes it through the competitive digital market but grows in it.

    FAQs

    What are social signals in SEO?

    Social signals in SEO are indications of a website’s popularity on social media, including likes, shares, and comments. While their direct impact on search rankings is debated, a strong social presence can indirectly benefit SEO by boosting visibility and traffic.

    What types of social signals are commonly considered in SEO?

    Common types of social signals considered in SEO include likes, shares, comments, followers/fans, social mentions, social linking, and engagement rate.

    Can social signals contribute to improving a website’s online reputation?

    Yes, positive social signals enhance online reputation, while negative signals can harm it.

  • Nirma’s Dance to Detergent Dominance and Its Unexpected Decline

    In the 1980s, an iconic TV ad featured the Nirma girl dancing to a catchy tune, marking the beginning of an unexpected business competition that eventually produced an unlikely Indian tycoon. Karsanbhai Patel, the son of a humble farmer and a science graduate, initially worked as a lab technician at New Cotton Mills in Ahmedabad, owned by the Lalbhai group. Following this, he served as a chemist for the Gujarat government’s Department of Mining and Geology in 1969.

    Utilizing his laboratory expertise, Patel endeavored to create a detergent using soda ash and other materials. Once he perfected the formula, he began manufacturing detergents in his modest 100-square-foot garden as a part-time venture. Pedaling through neighborhoods, Patel sold his detergent door-to-door for Rs. 3, significantly cheaper than Hindustan Unilever’s Surf priced at Rs. 13. During his 15-kilometer daily bicycle commute to work, he sold an average of 15-20 packets each day, contributing to the surge in demand for Nirma in his hometown of Ruppur, Gujarat.

    Recognizing the business potential, Karsanbhai Patel left his job after three years to focus on Nirma. He named the detergent in memory of his daughter Nirupama, affectionately known as Nirma, whose unfortunate demise was commemorated through the girl in the white dress featured on the packaging and in TV ads.

    Nirma quickly gained popularity among the middle and lower-middle class, thanks to its high quality and affordable price. Diverging from the conventional strategy of expanding from major cities outward, Nirma adopted a bottom-up approach, targeting second and third-tier cities and towns instead of affluent areas where rivals like Surf dominated.

    However, despite initial success in Ahmedabad, Nirma faced challenges finding retailers as shops hesitated to stock an unfamiliar detergent. In an attempt to boost sales, Karsanbhai extended credit to shopkeepers, but the delayed payments and excuses led to significant losses. This prompted him to instruct his team to retrieve all unsold Nirma packets from retail outlets, resulting in further financial setbacks for the company.

    Despite these setbacks, Karsanbhai Patel’s determination and innovative approach ultimately reshaped the business landscape, making Nirma a household name in India.

    Promotion played a crucial role in enhancing Nirma’s visibility, as Karsanbhai Patel devised a strategic initiative to address obstacles and enhance the brand’s awareness.

    Nirma’s advertisements successfully positioned the brand ahead of rivals like Surf. While competing brands depicted mundane laundry activities, Nirma’s ads presented the chore playfully and engagingly, resonating with consumers. The heightened demand for Nirma detergent in the 1980s, driven by these advertising efforts, led the manufacturer to withdraw a significant portion of its supply from shelves temporarily.

    In 1985, Nirma achieved a milestone by surpassing Surf to become India’s most popular detergent. By 1988, Nirma commanded a substantial 60% share of the country’s detergent market.

    Expanding beyond its core product, Nirma diversified its offerings to include bathing soaps and introduced new products such as soda ash, salt, and scouring items. The brand’s success prompted a response from FMCG giant Hindustan Lever Limited (now HUL), leading to the launch of Wheel washing powder in 1988 as part of Operation STING (Strategy to Inhibit Nirma’s Growth). Despite HUL’s efforts, Nirma maintained its dominance, holding around 60% market share and selling over 1.72 lakh tonnes.

    Nirma’s characteristic jingle, “Doodh si safedi Nirma se aaye, Rangeen kapda bhi khil khil jaye,” persisted in its advertising for over a decade. The brand’s Deepikaji character, competing with Surf’s Lalitaji, became a notable figure in the detergent market.

    Washing Powder Nirma – Historic ad

    While Nirma allocated a modest 3-4% of its revenue to marketing communications, significantly lower than competitors spending 6-8%, the brand remained consistent with its campaign over the years. Notably, Nirma collaborated with Bollywood actress Sonali Bendre to endorse its beauty soaps.

    Sonali Bendre - Face of Nirma Beauty Soap
    Sonali Bendre – Face of Nirma Beauty Soap

    Despite these successes, Nirma faced challenges in diversifying its product portfolio, and introducing toothpaste and hair care products, but struggled to differentiate and position itself effectively. As consumer preferences shifted towards aspirational purchases, Nirma’s low-cost strategy began to lose traction, and the brand encountered difficulties in retaining market share against unbranded competitors. Efforts to introduce products like ‘Nirma blue’ and ‘Nirma cake’ fell short in creating a distinctive identity.

    The Decline

    In contrast to other detergent brands that embraced viral and diverse advertising campaigns along with a range of product offerings, Nirma maintained a consistent approach and refrained from innovation. While competitors, both multinational and local, focused on visibility, viability, and affordability in their messaging, Nirma primarily emphasized affordability. Despite cost increases in key ingredients like Linear Alkyl Benzene (used in detergent manufacturing) and palm oil (used in soap manufacturing), Nirma has refrained from raising its prices for an extended period.

    According to analysts at a Mumbai-based brokerage firm, “While rivals have diversified products across various price points to counteract input cost effects, Nirma is solely positioned as a value-for-money option.” This singular focus has proven detrimental to the brand, resulting in a declining market share in its core business. The company’s stock price and profitability have witnessed a continuous decline since April 2006, with several key factors contributing to its downfall:

    1. Lack of Innovation – Nirma has displayed minimal improvement and innovation in its product lines, reflecting a sense of complacency stemming from its market leader position and a failure to adapt to evolving market dynamics.
    2. Consumer Perception – The low pricing strategy led consumers to perceive Nirma as an inferior brand. This perception was further exacerbated by the premiumization of the detergent segment by FMCG giants such as HUL and P&G.
    3. Lack of Focus – Beyond its initial years, Nirma struggled to identify its core competencies and comprehend its strengths. Ventures into other segments proved costly for the company, contributing to its overall decline.

    The case of Nirma serves as a compelling narrative of the business dynamics, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, innovation, and strategic focus in the competitive market. Despite facing setbacks in its later years, Nirma’s legacy remains intertwined with the dynamic shifts in consumer preferences and the evolving landscape of the FMCG sector in India.

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  • Powerful ECommerce Link Building: 20 Free & Paid Techniques

    Link building is a strategic way to acquire external links from other websites to your online store. Search engines view these backlinks as virtual approvals, notifying that your eCommerce website is a reputable and authoritative source.

    The primary goal of eCommerce link building is to improve the site’s visibility in search engine results, ultimately driving organic traffic and potential customers.

    When it comes to eCommerce, link building is all about connections with high-quality, relevant websites. A variety of sources can provide these connections, including product reviews, industry publications, blogs, and social media.

    But before that, you need to know what type of eCommerce links you need to work on.

    Different Types of Links in ECommerce?
    Powerful Link-building Techniques for ECommerce

    1. Identify Your Niche and Engage
    2. Use Multimedia Elements
    3. Interactive Product Demos
    4. BTS (Behind-the-Scenes)
    5. Interactive Buying Guides
    6. Virtual Events
    7. AI-Shopping Assistant
    8. Customizable Product Configurators
    9. Influencer Testimonials
    10. Social Media Contests

    Zero Investment Techniques

    1. User-Generated Content Galleries
    2. Local Community Engagement
    3. Resourceful Infographics
    4. Free Resource Libraries
    5. Blogger Collaboration Hub

    Investment-Worthy Techniques

    1. Influencer-Sponsored Blog Posts
    2. Affiliate Marketing Programs
    3. Premium Content Partnerships
    4. Featured Product Listings
    5. Paid Social Media Advertising

    Tips for ECommerce Link Building Strategy

    Different types of links in eCommerce help boost a website’s visibility and SEO. Understanding these link types is essential for developing a comprehensive eCommerce link-building strategy. Here are some key categories:

    • Product Page Links: Improving the links to your product pages can help more people find them in searches.
    • Category Page Links: Adding links to category pages on an eCommerce site can improve the user experience. These links often target long-form keywords related to product categories.
    • Internal Links: Internal links connect different pages within your eCommerce site. These internal link pages create web structures to enhance the page’s SEO performance. You can all call them link equity or distribution.
    • Backlinks from Product Reviews: Bloggers and influencers review your products and link to your site. This provides valuable backlinks and a positive image to your site. These positive reviews can enhance the credibility of your products and brand.
    • Social Media Links: Social media platforms play a crucial role in building links for eCommerce. Sharing product pages or blog content on social media can help you get more visitors to your site.
    • Manufacturer or Supplier Links: To boost the credibility of your online store, partner with manufacturers or suppliers. This will get you valuable links on your website from trusted sources.
    • Affiliate Links: If you have an affiliate marketing program, the links from partners who promote your products can greatly help your link profile. These links are performance-based, often resulting in a commission for the affiliate.
    • Informational Links: To make your eCommerce site credible, include links to informative content, like guides tutorials, and so on.

    These different types of links in eCommerce can positively affect your search grade. ECommerce link building is not just about quantity but also quality. It’s good to have many links, but try to get links within your industry.

    It’s crucial to collaborate, partner with influencers, and use content-focused strategies. By strategically implementing these techniques, eCommerce businesses can enhance their online presence, increase trustworthiness, and ultimately boost sales.

    Identify Your Niche and Engage

    Start by searching for blogs, news sites, and online publications that match your eCommerce niche. Connect with these potential patrons and aim for partnerships that benefit everyone involved. It’s more than just guest posts. It includes product reviews, joint ventures, and shared content initiatives.

    Use Multimedia Elements

    In 2024, take niche edits a step further by integrating multimedia elements. Instead of using regular text, work together on videos, podcasts, or interactive content. This will enhance your customer experience and boost your brand value.

    Interactive Product Demos

    Create engaging product demonstrations or virtual try-on experiences. Think about a furniture company that creates a 3D room planner. They receive backlinks from bloggers who show how amazing the shopping experience is.

    Bloggers who use this special tool can help their readers connect with your products and make natural backlinks.

    Interactive Product Demos
    Interactive Product Demos

    BTS (Behind-the-Scenes)

    Share behind-the-scenes of your eCommerce operations. A video of a photo shoot by a fashion retailer becomes popular with lifestyle bloggers. They share it and link to it.

    When creators see what goes on behind the scenes of your brand, they gain more trust and show interest in sharing it with their audience.

    Interactive Buying Guides

    Create interactive buying guides that pilot users to personalized product recommendations. For example, a fitness equipment website works with trainers to make a helpful guide for home workouts.

    By collaborating, they offer helpful content for the buyers. Additionally, it motivates fitness bloggers to share the guides as a helpful tool for their readers.

    Virtual Events

    Host virtual events, such as product launches or live Q&A sessions. Analogous to how an online store for home decor holds a virtual workshop on interior design, getting links from design bloggers.

    This event makes your brand look like an expert and offers content that bloggers want to share. The link from a blogger to your content improves your site’s SEO.

    AI-Shopping Assistant

    Install AI-driven shopping assistants on your website. The personalized clothing recommendation feature impresses fashion bloggers. It offers a tailored shopping experience.

    Fashion explorers naturally link to your site when they explore and showcase this personalized shopping tool. This helps build your backlink profile.

    Customizable Product Configurators

    Create product configurators, allowing users to customize their purchases. Most YouTube Tech reviewers find tech gadgets on eCommerce sites.

    If your site provides a customizable tool for their laptop, that is effective. They’ll surely link to it.

    Bloggers interested in technology and customizing their content find value in linking to this user-friendly tool.

    Influencer Testimonials

    Encourage influencers to share their user experiences with your products through testimonials. For instance, outdoor enthusiasts find reviews from adventure influencers on outdoor gear websites.

    Bloggers eagerly link to testimonials when influencers share positive experiences with your products.

    Social Media Contests

    Host contests on social media platforms like Instagram. Beauty bloggers invited to a makeup contest by a beauty brand become popular.

    Creating a fun and simple contest helps more people discover your brand. Bloggers who engage or promote the contest eventually share links to your website.

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    Zero Investment Techniques

    User-Generated Content Galleries

    Create a gallery on your site featuring user-generated content. An accessory brand with customers’ pictures becomes a resource for the eCommerce brand. Moreover, this gallery is visible to all.

    When you show how your products are used in real life, it builds trust and gives bloggers attractive content. This content is something they naturally link to when they write about accessories.

    Local Community Engagement

    Engage with the local public by sponsoring events or partnering with local businesses. The online store that sells food and drink sponsors a food festival that is close by.

    They also receive links from the websites of these events. By joining local events, you can benefit your community and gain attention from bloggers and businesses. They may also link to your site.

    Resourceful Infographics

    Create informative infographics in your niche. Health and lifestyle bloggers share a wellness eCommerce brand’s infographics on healthy living.

    When you make attractive and helpful infographics, bloggers can share them easily, which gets you backlinks. You can use Infogram or free tools like Canva to create such infographics.

    Free Resource Libraries

    Develop a library of free resources related to your products or industry. Tech bloggers often share product guides from the online store’s resource library for tech accessories.

    Bloggers who want detailed information about your products find value in linking to these guides. This helps boost your site’s authority.

    Blogger Collaboration Hub

    Create a hub on your site dedicated to collaborations with bloggers and creators. Bloggers can earn you backlinks by partnering with a niche eCommerce brand on their collaboration hub.

    Make it easier for bloggers to engage with your brand and naturally link to your site by providing a clear and accessible collaboration hub.

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    Investment-Worthy Techniques

    Influencer-Sponsored Blog Posts

    Invest in influencer-sponsored blog posts. A fashion eCommerce firm collaborates on paid posts with a fashion influencer, resulting in quality backlinks and enhanced brand visibility.

    By properly selecting influencers sharing similar target audiences, you not only get backlinks but also benefit from their audience’s trust and engagement.

    Affiliate Marketing Programs

    Launch a program for affiliate marketing. To clarify, affiliation helps to promote your product to the customer who needs your product and direct them to your store. How?

    You can predict this—An affiliate program of a tech gadget eCommerce site attracts tech enthusiasts and generates backlinks from affiliates promoting the latest products.

    By rewarding affiliates for promoting your products, you not only increase your reach but also gain valuable backlinks.

    Premium Content Partnerships

    Search for a Mega/Macro influencer or partner with a high-quality content creator. Think of how the collaboration of a renowned beauty care brand, and an eCommerce site with body care products, secures high-quality backlinks.

    Your brand image elevates and authoritative backlinks from influential sources get attracted by investing in leading content partnerships.

    Make your products stand out on influential eCommerce directories by paying for featured listings. An electronics eCommerce site gains traffic from the featured product listing at some tech marketplace. 

    So, by strategically placing your products in prominent directories, you not only increase visibility but also attract relevant backlinks from users interested in your product category.

    Invest in social media marketing efforts that are specific to your audience. Just how paid adverts on a fitness influencer’s social media profiles result in greater brand references and backlinks for a fitness equipment eCommerce site.

    By leveraging ad spending efficiently to reach your target audience, you not only increase your brand’s visibility but also inspire influencers to organically link to your site as they communicate with your product. 

    • Develop content relevant to your product niche to attract target referrals.
    • Encourage buyers to share their feedback. You can then turn them into useful testimonials and posts.
    • Write intriguing product descriptions that include relevant keywords for better search engine visibility.
    • Approach creators and niche influencers for potential collaborations and referrals.
    • Update your blog with consistent changes, giving other sites a reason to connect to your essential link assets.
    • Enroll in relevant forums and groups, where you may provide your experience as a value and subtly promote your eCommerce site.
    • Add schema markup to provide accurate details regarding your products to search engines, increasing rich snippets.
    • Identify broken links on other websites and give your content as an alternative, resulting in lucrative backlinks.
    • Make the layout seem inviting and easy for your product’s sharing and buying.
    • To obtain links from regional businesses and directories, optimize your online store for local searches.

    By following these tips, you may strengthen your link profile, improve search engine rankings, and position your eCommerce site as a leading authority in your sector. Maintain your progressive attitude, adapt to marketplace trends, and see your link-building activities lead you to be the top dog in your alcove.

    For more such insightful content, visit @startuptalky

    FAQs

    The different types of links in Ecommerce are Product Page Links, Category Page Links, Internal Links, Backlinks from Product Reviews, Social Media Links, Manufacturer or Supplier Links, Affiliate Links, and Informational Links.

    If you have an affiliate marketing program, the links from partners who promote your products can greatly help your link profile. These links are performance-based, often resulting in a commission for the affiliate.

    Yes, the free Ecommerce link-building techniques include User-Generated Content Galleries, Local Community Engagement, Resourceful Infographics, Free Resource Libraries, and a Blogger Collaboration Hub.

  • ZestMoney Bows Out as Regulatory Pressures Mount

    ZestMoney, the buy now pay later platform, is set to cease its operations by the end of December, according to an internal communication to its staff. The company, currently employing around 150 individuals, is compelled to take this step as it grapples with financial challenges, despite efforts to revitalize its operations. In a setback earlier this year, ZestMoney faced the departure of its three co-founders, Lizzie Chapman, Priya Sharma, and Ashish Anantharaman, following unsuccessful attempts to secure new funding and finalize an acquisition deal with PhonePe, a digital payment platform.

    In a statement released in May, ZestMoney outlined a strategic shift, emphasizing a focus on core digital EMI and personal loan products while discontinuing SaaS and insurance business operations. Over the past six months, the company’s digital EMI product has faced challenges, encountering resistance not only from consumers but also from crucial partners such as payment aggregators, eCommerce platforms, and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).

    Prosus, an investor with a significant 19.4% stake in ZestMoney, wrote off its $38 million investment as the company grappled with its financial downturn. Media reports indicate that ZestMoney terminated over 100 employees during a transitional phase. Despite raising approximately $5-7 million in seed funding in July, the company’s financial struggles persisted, culminating in the decision to shut down.

    ZestMoney, which has raised a total of $125 million, including debt financing, experienced a decline following the implementation of new guidelines for Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) companies by the Reserve Bank of India in June 2022. The regulatory measures prohibited non-bank prepaid instrument issuers from loading instruments with credit lines.

    As part of its wind-down strategy, ZestMoney intends to retain a minimal finance and legal team. This team will focus on selling the remaining assets of the business to a suitable buyer and overseeing the closure process. Although it is unlikely to attract interest from major fintech companies, there is speculation that a traditional NBFC might consider acquiring the technology in a potential firesale.

    Established in 2015, ZestMoney initially operated as a loan-sourcing platform, facilitating rapid credit disbursal at the point of sale, particularly for online merchants. Collaborations with prominent eCommerce players such as Flipkart, Amazon, Myntra, and Nykaa were key to offering pay-later services. Following the breakdown of acquisition talks with PhonePe, ZestMoney attempted a shift in its business model, offering its technology stack as a white-label solution to other fintech lenders and NBFCs.

    ZestMoney’s Loss Surges; Operating Revenue and Expenses Rise
    ZestMoney’s Loss Surges; Operating Revenue and Expenses Rise

    Fintechs Learn from ZestMoney’s Cautionary Tale

    Financial technology (fintech) experts suggest that stringent regulations have prompted non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and banks to reassess their associations with digital lending platforms. The rapid expansion of the personal loans sector through these platforms has raised concerns at the central bank for an extended period. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has consistently urged banks and NBFCs to exercise greater responsibility when engaging with digital platforms for lending. Additionally, pressure from civil rights groups has mounted, advocating for the elimination of predatory lending practices and addressing concerns related to recovery harassment.

    The recent adjustment in risk weightage by the RBI has further complicated these partnerships. While there were speculations about the potential impact on the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) business, particularly for platforms like Paytm, the fintech giant has refuted such claims. However, it is anticipated that fintech companies operating in the realms of small-ticket personal loans and BNPL may encounter significant challenges in the coming months.

    The closure of ZestMoney serves as a notable example of how heightened regulations can profoundly disrupt the operations of fintech startups. Numerous fintech ventures have expanded into digital lending in recent years, and the regulatory shifts pose a threat to their continued operations. In August of this year, two major consumer internet giants, Flipkart and Swiggy, announced their foray into lending. While Swiggy ventured into the co-branded credit card segment, Flipkart set its sights on the personal loan business.

    Google Pay has also intensified its collaborations for both personal and merchant loans. Another major player, CRED, entered the lending arena with a BNPL product in 2022 and is currently exploring opportunities to expand its lending product offerings. Despite the saturation of the market with various digital lending platforms, the RBI’s decision to elevate risk weights appears to be a preventive measure against potential long-term catastrophes.

    Fintech startups are recognizing that regulatory compliance is a fundamental aspect of their sector, and not merely an exception. In some ways, startups are acknowledging that merely activating digital lending channels may not suffice. In this context, the case of ZestMoney serves as a cautionary tale for the broader fintech ecosystem.

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  • Vadilal is Like Wine, Adding Value Through the Ages

    Since its modest inception as a street soda shop in 1907, Vadilal, the renowned ice cream brand, has evolved into a household name, embodying the quintessence of frozen delight. The trajectory of Vadilal’s triumph isn’t merely a chronicle of frozen confections; it’s a narrative of foresight, ingenuity, and generations of unwavering commitment. The challenge for the succeeding generation has been to strike a harmonious balance, adhering to core values while implementing crucial changes to enhance their business’s value.

    “The next generation’s role is that of renewal and being the voice of the new generation, addressing modern customers and competition. We trust they grasp the legacy as family members but can act as catalysts for change to ensure the continued success of family enterprises,” remarks Rajan Vasa, office managing partner, Gujarat, KPMG in India.

    Founding the Legacy
    Continuing Through Generations
    Passing the Baton
    Innovations and Achievements
    The Current Scenario

    Founding the Legacy

    In 1907, Vadilal Gandhi, a forward-thinking resident of Ahmedabad, initiated the foundation for this remarkable legacy. His humble enterprise began with the sale of soda, a refreshing beverage that resonated with the local community. Subsequently, Vadilal Gandhi introduced an additional delight – handcrafted ice cream, captivating crowds eager to relish his exquisite creations.

    Vadilal Soda Fountain, 1907
    Vadilal Soda Fountain, 1907

    Continuing Through Generations

    The stewardship of this thriving business passed to Vadilal Gandhi’s son, Ranchod Lal Gandhi, who assumed the responsibility of nurturing and expanding the legacy. In 1926, under Ranchod Lal Gandhi’s guidance, the inaugural retail outlet, aptly named Vadilal Soda Fountain, was unveiled in Ahmedabad. This marked a crucial moment as the focus shifted towards ice creams.

    Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to quality and innovation, Ranchod Lal Gandhi introduced an imported ice cream-making machine from Germany that same year. This strategic decision enhanced the taste and paved the way for expansion. By the time India gained independence, Vadilal had established four outlets across the city, laying a solid foundation for future growth.

    Passing the Baton

    As time progressed, the baton transitioned to the next generation – Ramchandra and Laxman Gandhi, the sons of Ranchod Lal Gandhi. Their entry into the business in the early ’70s marked a period of rapid expansion, consolidating Vadilal’s presence in Gujarat with a network of 10 outlets.

    With the advent of the 1990s, the fourth generation of the Gandhi family entered the scene, infusing new ideas and perspectives. Ramchandra Gandhi’s three sons – Virendra, Rajesh, and Shailesh – and Laxman Gandhi’s son Devanshu, embraced their heritage, propelling Vadilal towards greater horizons.

    Innovations and Achievements

    Noteworthy accomplishments have marked Vadilal’s path. In November 2001, the brand achieved recognition in the Limca Book of Records for crafting ‘The Largest Ice Cream Sundae.’ This monumental feat was the result of collaborative efforts from 180 individuals who assembled 4,950 liters of ice cream, 125 kg of dried fruits, 255 kg of fresh fruits, and 390 liters of assorted sauces within a record-setting 60 minutes.

    The Current Scenario

    Kalpit Gandhi, a fifth-generation member of the Vadilal family, presently serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the company. Vadilal has transcended international borders, emerging as the largest-selling Indian ice cream brand in the United States. “Working with the family business has always been my dream,” says Aakanksha Gandhi, the fourth generation to join the family business, holding the position of president-branding and parlors at Vadilal Enterprises.

    The new generation is actively introducing more innovation while steadfastly preserving the family’s core values. Vadilal operates through two distinct entities: Vadilal Industries, responsible for manufacturing, and Vadilal Enterprises, overseeing marketing and distribution. Aakanksha, daughter of Devanshu, joined the business in 2018, taking charge of nationwide marketing and branding efforts.

    “Since becoming part of the brand, my primary objective has been to ensure continuous relevance among the Gen Z and Gen Alpha demographics,” she asserts. At 26 years old, she has been at the forefront of initiatives to elevate Vadilal’s presence in the eCommerce domain, collaborating with influencers, all the while maintaining a delicate balance with the company’s core values.

    A year ago, Aakanksha took the lead in launching Vadilal Now For Ever, a dessert café strategically designed to connect with the younger generation and cultivate lasting loyalty. Even the standalone ice cream parlors, Vadilal Scoop Shops, have expanded to 30 locations across Gujarat and four locations in Delhi. Vadilal is preparing for an upcoming franchise-based, pan-India launch. In the fiscal year 2023, the manufacturing business reported a net revenue of Rs 896 crore, and the marketing and distribution business achieved a net revenue of Rs 930 crore.

    With a heightened focus on innovation in marketing and branding, Aakanksha is poised to transform Vadilal. However, she emphasizes maintaining the essence of the corporate culture established over the years. “We are encouraging a more democratic style of leadership, allowing more opportunities to engage with team members and value their insights,” she affirms.

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  • Gemini AI: How to Use Google’s Most Capable AI Tool

    Alphabet, the parent company of Google, recently launched—Gemini AI, the future of artificial intelligence. In a world where information is at our fingertips, Gemini emerges as a powerful tool designed to make our digital experiences more intuitive and engaging. It can understand intricate questions, create creative content, and even translate languages like a pro.

    Imagine an AI tool that not only understands your words but also comprehends images and processes data in a variety of formats. In this blog, we’ll take a thorough analysis of the capabilities of Gemini, exploring its multimodal nature, colossal brainpower, and how it stands out in this AI world.

    What is Gemini?
    What is Multimodal AI?
    Features of Gemini AI?
    How You Can Use Gemini?

    How to Get Gemini Pro in Bard?
    Test You Can Try to Understand Gemini AI
    In the Nutshell, The Future of Information sees AI Gemini on the TOP
    In the Nutshell, The Future of Information sees AI Gemini on the TOP

    What is Gemini?

    Gemini is Google’s advanced artificial intelligence system that goes above and beyond traditional models. Unlike its predecessors, Gemini is a multimodal AI, so it processes information, ‌including text, images, and voice commands. The versatility of Gemini allows it to understand and respond to users in a more human-like manner. It speaks multiple languages – the language of words, the language of images, and the language of voice.

    What is Multimodal AI?

    Let’s examine what is meant by “multimodal AI.” “Modal” refers to methods or ways of accomplishing things, and “multi” denotes many. Gemini is an artificial intelligence that can read and assimilate text, identify and interpret images, and understand spoken language‌.

    For instance, if you ask Gemini about a well-known site, you can give him a written description, a picture, or even a recording of its name, and it would accurately identify it.

    Gemini isn’t text-limited, like the majority of AI models. Because it is a multimodal AI prompting, it can figure out many things and processes:

    Text: Write and analyze scripts, code, poetry, and emails.
    Audio: Record audio, translate between languages, identify musical compositions, and even produce audio stuff.
    Images: Using your cues, identify objects and scenes and produce realistic images.
    Video: Produce video summaries, interpret video data, and even generate original videos.

    Hands-on with Gemini: Interacting with multimodal AI

    Features of Gemini AI?

    Complex Pattern Excel: When it comes to managing intricate reasoning problems, Gemini truly excels. It can easily comprehend and combine data from charts, infographics, scanned papers, and mixed patterns of various data kinds. It’s like a digital genius.

    Uses CoT Prompting Technique: One significant method that makes Gemini stand out is its “uncertainty-routed chain-of-thought” (CoT) prompting technique. This fancy term indicates that Gemini can think beyond the box when it comes to solving problems that need careful consideration and judgment.

    Outstanding Performance: The creators have been impressed by the performance of Gemini Ultra, a cool variation of Gemini 1.0. It has produced amazing outcomes, even surpassing human experts in certain tasks—now that’s impressive!

    Efficiency: Gemini 1.0 uses cutting-edge Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) to ensure efficiency and scalability, thanks to Google’s infrastructure team. AI hyper-computing reaches new heights with the release of TPU v5p by Google Cloud.

    Flexibility: Gemini’s capabilities and design go beyond limits. It finds use in innovative projects, education, and multilingual communication. Gem turns out to be an adaptable answer for a variety of problems. 

    How You Can Use Gemini?

    Using Gemini is a breeze, and understanding its structure and functionalities is key to unlocking its full potential. Gemini comes into three major categories: Gemini Pro, Gemini Ultra, and Gemini Nano.

    Gemini Pro

    Think of this as the powerhouse, capable of handling complex tasks and providing detailed information. It’s your go-to for in-depth research or when you need an expert’s opinion.

    Gemini Ultra

    This is your versatile, all-around companion. It’s great for everyday tasks, casual conversations, and general information. It strikes a balance between power and simplicity.

    Gemini Nano

    When you want quick, concise answers, Nano is your go-to. It’s like having a pocket assistant ready to provide instant information and support.

    Example: You could hire Gemini Pro to get in-depth insights if you’re working on a research project. However, Gemini Nano can promptly deliver traffic updates, appointment reminders, and weather assistant updates if you’re organizing your day.

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    How to Get Gemini Pro in Bard?

    I’m here to walk you through the simple process of using Gemini Pro within Bard, which is an effortless step-by-step process:

    Google Bard
    Google Bard

    Step 1. Open your Web Browser and Visit Bard’s Website

    Step 2. After visiting the Bard website, sign in with the details from your Google account. You can easily make a Google account if you don’t already have one.

    Step 3. You can use Bard to access new Gemini Pro features after logging in. As a result, your chat experiences will now be more sophisticated and dynamic, facilitating more seamless and customized conversations.

    You may now explore Gemini Pro’s additional features with Bard’s smooth integration!

    “Buy Google’s Pixel Phone to get the Pixel Extra!”

    You get extra benefits that improve your Gemini experience if you use a Pixel phone. Improved voice recognition, customized recommendations, and easy integration with Pixel’s special features are some that would make you drool. Your device and AI collaborate flawlessly, just like if you had a VIP pass to a private Gemini club.

    You can ask Gemini on your Pixel phone to show your recent photos with Pixel extras, and it will do so quickly.

    Test You Can Try to Understand Gemini AI

    Now, let’s follow some tests conducted by the experts that prove, “it’s exceptional”. Here is what you should start with:

    Test 1: Logic and Space perception

    TRY: Give Gemini some sticky notes with pictures of the Alphabet unorganized like C, B & A on them and ask it to arrange them in a rational order. Gemini precisely positioned the A, B, and C in the right order.

    Test 2: Graphic Patterns and Dialog

    TRY: Ask Gemini to guess the movie from a series of four frames from a charades game. By studying body language, Gemini recognizes the scene from “The Movie” with accuracy.

    Testing Gemini: Guess the movie

    Test 3: Magic Techniques

    TRY: Ask Gemini to describe a traditional magic trick in which a coin vanishes. Gemini effectively expands the methodical procedure while demonstrating its multimodal reasoning.

    Test 4: Cup Shuffling

    TRY: Set up a game of cup shuffling and ask Gemini to figure out the swaps and justify them. Gemini correctly recognizes the cup swaps and provides an overview of the match.

    Test 5: Leveraging Tools and Searching for Music

    TRY: Tell Gemini to convert a sketched scene of birds and mountains. Gemini skillfully blends modalities, offering a playful and targeted genre and personification of the song. This works smoothly!

    Test 6: Making Games and Foreseeing Location

    TRY: Ask Gemini to identify countries on a map and come up with clues for a geography guessing game. Gemini manages both right and wrong answers and recognizes countries with accuracy.

    Test 7: Coding Timer Countdown

    TRY: Coding a countdown timer with inspirational emojis in Task Gemini. Gemini not only writes the code, but it also injects some originality by offering a wide range of emoticons.

    Testing Gemini: Finding connections

    In the Nutshell, The Future of Information sees AI Gemini on the TOP

    In the future, Google sees Gemini as a key player in transforming several industries. Imagine a world in which AI helps students with individualized learning experiences. Imagine AI helping with patient care and diagnosis in the medical field. Imagine AI simplifying data analysis for well-informed decision-making in the business world. There is a great deal of potential for application, which could completely change the way we approach various facets of our lives.

    We must address ethical issues as we embrace the power of Gemini. Google is dedicated to developing AI responsibly, placing a foremost priority on data security, user privacy, and openness. This dedication guarantees that Gemini is a responsible tool, in addition to a potent one.

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    FAQs

    What is Gemini at Google?

    This large language model (LLM) will be expanded next year, according to the tech giant, which describes Gemini as the most capable and all-purpose AI it has developed to date.

    How does Gemini differ from other AI models?

    Gemini can process a wide range of formats, including text, images, and voice, thanks to its multimodal capabilities. Its ability to understand and react to various input kinds gives it versatility in interactions which no other AI has achieved up till now.

    What benefits does Gemini AI offer to Pixel 8 pro phone users?

    Users of Pixel benefit from improved voice recognition, tailored recommendations, and smooth integration with Pixel’s special features. For Pixel users, these benefits produce a more customized and engaging Gemini experience.

    Does Google still own DeepMind?

    An artificial intelligence research facility run by British and Americans, DeepMind Technologies Limited (doing business as Google DeepMind) is a Google subsidiary.

    Is Gemini AI free to use?

    You can use Bard Gemini for free. Google has updated Bard with Gemini Pro, which you can easily process on the Bard AI webpage.