Which are the startups that are on the path to becoming the next big thing?

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TAM India has released its latest report on commercial advertising during IPL 2024. It details statistics from the first 48 matches of IPL 2024. According to it, during IPL 17 (2024), the count of categories and advertisers increased by 40% and 33% compared to IPL 16 (2023). The top five categories present in IPL 17 together covered 35% share of ad volumes with Ecom-Gaming leading the list. Also, throughout all the 48 matches of IPL 17, Ecom-Gaming dominated the category list. The report further

Amazon has announced the expansion of its enterprise-focused AI assistant, Amazon Q. Launched in November 2023, this AI chatbot was crafted to provide both generative and analytical support based on the company's proprietary data. Initially, it was accessible to a limited group of users, but Amazon has now opened it to a wider audience and introduced new functionalities. Notably, businesses can now access two distinct chatbotsAmazon Q Developer and Amazon Q Businesseach tailored for different pu

WebEngage has launched its ' State of Careers in Retention Marketing' Report , a comprehensive study on the evolving landscape of careers in retention marketing. In a continuously evolving market, where uncertainty is the only certainty, businesses are preoccupied with maintaining a sustainable growth trajectory. Where customer acquisition has been touted to effectuate growth and provide to the top line, it is becoming increasingly evident that customer retention is critical to pad the bottom li

LLV Launchpad will provide startups with insights into the local market and connect them to investment opportunities.

The Indonesia-based coffee chain said the new business - called Satu Kenangan - will be open to franchising deals.

UnFoldMart has announced its strategic collaboration for digital marketing mandate with DocTrePat. With an understanding of consumer behaviour and market dynamics, UnFoldMart aims to propel DocTrePat's digital transformation and amplify its global presence in the competitive medical tourism landscape. We are excited to partner with UnFoldMart as we embark on this transformative journey towards digital excellence in healthcare, stated Gaurav KR Sharma, Co-Founder of DocTrePat . UnFoldMart's digit

The 2024 general elections are already underway with multiple voting phases being carried out across the country. While the results of the biggest democratic elections in the world will be announced in a months time, the political campaigning and marketing strategies of political parties are at their zenith. The nation is witnessing political rallies every day with star campaigners from all parties giving passionate speeches. As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) eyes a record third term in the pa

China accounts for 18% of Apple's total net sales, Bloomberg reported.

StreamO operates within India's gaming market, linking brands to its network of over 20,000 streamers and 300 million Gen Z subscribers.

On April 1st, 2013, amidst the playful spirit of All Fools Day, Infectious Advertising emerged from humble beginnings on top of a garage. For Nisha Singhania , CEO & Managing Partner of Infectious Advertising, and Ramanuj Shastry , Co-Founder and Director at Infectious Advertising, it was more than just launching another ad firm; it was about birthing an 'ideas company' that would tackle clients' deepest concerns while creating campaigns that were truly 'infectious' engaging, shareable, and sw

Cautious VCs, vigilant LPs, and concerns of potential down rounds among startups have dampened investor sentiment in Indias flourishing market.

Which startups are on the path to becoming the next big thing?

In todays world, as differentiation in products and services reduces, customer experience has emerged as the primary differentiator. Thus, brands are investing significantly in how they engage with their customers, across the entire life cycle, with a strong focus on building up brand loyalty. And the more personalised and contextual the engagement, brand loyalty could be potentially higher. Earlier, it used to take significant effort to understand the customer better, with interaction and proof

FCB Ulka announces Hemant Shringy as its new Chief Creative Officer, marking a significant step in the agency's ongoing creative evolution. As chief creative officer, Hemant will be partnering closely with FCB Ulka CEO Kulvinder Ahluwalia to lead the FCB Ulka offices across the country. He will also be a key member of FCB Group Indias creative leadership, collaborating with leaders across agencies to continue to elevate the work across the network. With more than two decades of experience, Heman

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Amazon's advertising revenue increased by 24% in the first quarter, reaching $11.8 billion compared to $9.5 billion last year. This growth exceeded analysts' expectations, who predicted $11.7 billion. Net sales increased 13% to $143.3 billion in the first quarter, compared with $127.4 billion in the first quarter of 2023. Although online retail and cloud computing are still Amazon's main sources of revenue, the company sees advertising as a key area for further growth and profit, especially as o

Snapchat has revealed its new suite of augmented reality (AR) and machine learning (ML) tools aimed at helping brands and advertisers engage users on the platform through interactive experiences. The company stated that it has been investing in ML and automation to streamline the creation of AR try-on assets for brands. Over the past few years, Snapchat has partnered with companies like Amazon and Tiffany & Co. to enable users to virtually try on various products within the app. Snapchat noted t

Marking its 100th anniversary, LUX has announced Suhana Khan as the brand's newest ambassador for its body wash range. She represents the spirit of a new generation bold, unapologetic, and empowered. Commenting on her association with LUX, Suhana Khan says, I am truly honoured to be a part of LUX's centenary celebration and to represent a brand that has epitomized beauty and elegance for generations. LUX has not only adorned the self-care rituals of women worldwide but has also been a beacon of

Adobe has announced an expansion of its bug bounty program, aimed at incentivizing security researchers to discover and responsibly disclose bugs specific to their implementations of Content Credentials and Adobe Firefly, promoting safe AI usage. With an open dialogue, we aim to encourage fresh ideas and perspectives while providing transparency and building trust, stated Adobe in a recent blog post. Content Credentials, based on the C2PA open standard, serve as tamper-evident metadata attached

Fano Labs offers an AI transcriber, a chatbot, and a voicebot that can handle conversations in multiple languages.

Priya Barve has joined WPP as Indias Client Lead for Hindustan Unilever Limited. Priya brings over two decades of experience in advertising and marketing and has held leadership roles with Google, Mondelez, and Leo Burnett across Asia-Pacific. She brings a rich and diverse perspective on communications and media, having worked on both - the agency and client side, as well as with tech platforms. She also encompasses a rich knowledge of the fast-changing consumer and digital landscape in emerging

He wasnt just the best option. He was the only option that made sense. This is what Noises CEO & Co-Founder Gaurav Khatri had recently said about onboarding Virat Kohli as their brand ambassador. With a brand valuation of 176 million U.S. dollars, Indias favourite skipper hasnt just won millions of cricket fans hearts but is also very well known for his brand deals, making a prominent mark in the brandverse. In 2022, Virat was the second most-valued celebrity in the country. Starting from choco

Sociowash has secured the creative digital mandate for inDrive India. The strategic partnership aims to boost brand visibility and growth in the Indian market by leveraging digital platforms. The mandate was awarded following a multi-agency pitch and will be overseen from Sociowashs Delhi office. Sociowash will utilize its creative prowess and strategic innovation to enhance inDrives visibility in the Indian market to unprecedented levels. The focus will be on amplifying the values of fairness a

The pledge comes a few days after CEO Satya Nadella announced a similar US$1.7 billion commitment for Indonesia amid a whirlwind Southeast Asia tour.

In The Checkout this week, we look at Shopees bet on short video and examine the implications of TikToks potential US ban in Southeast Asia.

Which startups are on the path to becoming the next big thing?

Mark Zuckerberg has announced new features for WhatsApp Communities, allowing groups within a community to create events, simplifying the process of coming together both online and in person. He also announced that community members can now reply to admin announcements in Community Announcement Groups, enabling admins to receive feedback while keeping the groups as a convenient hub to catch up on community updates. Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement via his WhatsApp Channel , saying ' If you'

Most of us have often at least once in our life heard the people around us use words like, 'Oh, I'm feeling depressed', and 'Oh, this gives me OCD' without really understanding the meaning, depth and pain these words cause to the individuals that experience them. When someone has depression, it's more than just a bad day. It can mean feeling hopeless, tired all the time, and like nothing is worth doing. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, on the other hand, can make someone feel like they have to do

This extends Anywheel's lead as Singapore's largest bike-sharing company in terms of fleet size.

Who are the new active investors on the block? Which funding rounds look like outliers? This visual story answers all this and more.

Shopee is offering deep discounts on its short videos channel to draw in younger users, creators, and new sellers. It's already seeing some results.

Called Discovery Feed, the feature comes mere days after the US greenlit a likely ban for the ByteDance-owned short-video app.

Part of the growth came courtesy of Tiket.com, its online travel agent business, which benefited from a surge during the Ramadan period.

Which startups are on the path to becoming the next big thing?

Fundraising is hard. To make things slightly easier, we've compiled this list of fundraising startups for our subscribers.

TAM Sports, a division of TAM Media Research has released its latest report on celebrity endorsement during IPL 2024. It details statistics from the first 37 matches of IPL 2024. According to it, during IPL 17 (2024), there was a 23% decline in the volume share of ads endorsed by celebrities compared to IPL 16 (2023). The report further added that sports personalities claimed the larger portion of brand endorsements, representing 50% of ad volumes, with celebrities from the film industry followi

Today, the dating app Bumble unveiled a refreshed visual identity and a new global campaign. The campaign coincides with the dating app expanding upon its signature 'Make The First Move' functionality with the launch of Opening Moves . Along with a refreshed look, Bumble is also stepping into a new era by launching a feature that gives women more choices in how they make romantic connections. Opening Moves gives women the option to set a question that their matches can respond to, adding more wa

#ShareTheLoad is a long-running movement by Ariel that highlights the unequal distribution of household chores at home. This year, their campaign HomeTeams #ShareTheLoad is urging men to step up on their home duties to reduce the mental burden of household on women when they are not at home. Furthermore, men frequently phone their wives inquiring about the whereabouts of household items. Queries like, 'Where are the socks?' or 'Where's the salt stored?', contribute to the mental burden shouldere

Packaging design is a multifaceted tool beyond aesthetics and functionality; it communicates, shapes perceptions, and connects with consumers. In today's interconnected world, inclusive packaging is essential, resonating with diverse demographics and embracing differences in abilities, cultural backgrounds, and identities. Embracing diversity isn't just a moral imperative but also a strategic business move, enhancing brand loyalty and reputation as consumers seek alignment with their values. Rep

ETML, a Growth Advertising and Analytics Company has bagged the digital mandate for Manipal Hospitals International Business Unit with an aim at promoting medical tourism. This strategic partnership positions ETML to play a pivotal role in Manipal Hospitals' ambitious international expansion by providing high-end performance marketing services and data-driven strategies. Commenting on the win, Raghav Kansal, Founder & CEO of ETML, said, We are excited about this strategic partnership with Manipa

Sports brand PUMA India has announced Ibrahim Ali Khan Pataudi, as its newest ambassador. Under this association, he will front the brands sports-inspired limited-edition footwear and apparel products. In doing so, PUMA will further connect with its young consumers and drive the brand's sports heritage story forward with Ibrahims innate style and passion for sports. Commenting on the association, actor and PUMA ambassador Ibrahim Ali Khan Pataudi said, Given my love for sports such as football,

Google recently laid off several employees, focusing on its Python section, where the entire team was let go as part of Google's strategy to cut costs by hiring less expensive labour outside the United States. The company plans to set up a new team in Munich, Germany, which is reportedly 'cheaper' labour. The US-based Python team at Google, reportedly consisting of fewer than ten members, was responsible for maintaining the majority of Google's Python ecosystem, ensuring its stability, updating

Infinity Advertising Services, an integrated advertising and communication organisation, has appointed Satyendra Mallik as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mallik is an industry veteran, with over two decades of experience and a track record of driving organizational growth and transformation across various sectors. Mallik's appointment heralds a new chapter for the agency, determined to expand its global reach by fostering strategic international partnerships. His vision is set to propel Infini

To boost engagement, Meta is running a limited-time bonus program for Threads. Recently, many accounts have talked about the program, with Meta confirming that invited creators have unique requirements for bonuses. While it's currently limited to U.S. creators, there's a chance it could expand to other regions depending on its success. Meta's support page details the criteria for creators invited to the Threads bonus program. To be eligible, they must have a public Threads profile and follow Ins

OpenAI introduced a new feature called Memory in February, enabling ChatGPT to retain queries, prompts, and customisations for users. Initially accessible to a limited audience, Memory is now open to ChatGPT Plus subscribers worldwide, excluding Europe and Korea. Memory enhances ChatGPT's responses through two mechanisms: allowing users to instruct ChatGPT to remember specific details and learning from conversations akin to other algorithms in applications. By remembering preferences, ChatGPT ca

According to data released by SCORE, an ad effectiveness measurement solution offered by Synchronize India and Unomer, Tata, Angel One, and Amul have secured top 3 their positions as the Top 3 most v isible and recalled brands of IPL 2024. SCORE's comprehensive analysis, which included sampling across Metros, Tier 1,2,3 towns, and tracking of over 200 brands throughout the IPL season, revealed that an average of 15 brands were being recalled by viewers across all properties. The brands' success

French philosopher and cultural critic Jean Baudrillard in his book Simulacra and Simulation examined how contemporary politics is influenced by mass media and consumerism. He argued that politicians have become increasingly enmeshed in a world of spectacle and simulation, where image and symbolism often outweigh substance and reality. Baudrillard suggested that politicians are now more concerned with managing perceptions and manipulating symbols than with addressing substantive issues of govern

Jajabor Brand Consultancy and Evolved Group have partnered to launch a joint venture called AD VITAM . Evolved Group which has worked with some brands across the globe including Google, YouTube, Unilever, and Under Armour will make its foray into the Indian market with tailor-made offerings with this collaboration. This announcement comes at a time when the India-to-global story is in full swing. This venture aims to further supercharge the India-to-global story by empowering Indian brands with