Author: Indrani Bose

Quick commerce remained a hot sector of investment during Q4 of 2024: KPMG

AI will likely remain the biggest ticket for VC investors, although defensetech, healthcare and biotech, and cybersecurity will likely also continue to attract attention.(Representative Image: Marten Newhall via Unsplash)

VC investment in the Asia-Pacific region dropped to $12.8 billion across 1,977 deals in Q4’24—the lowest across both total investment and deal value that the region has seen in over ten years.

InMobi’s Vasuta Agarwal on data privacy, omnichannel marketing and quick commerce

Data privacy will continue to be a focal point as stricter regulations unfold. As cookies and traditional identifiers fade into obsolescence, brands will be forced to adopt privacy-first advertising strategies, adjusting to a rapidly changing ecosystem, says Vasuta Agarwal.

Verticals such as quick commerce have experienced significant growth, which has translated into increased advertising and marketing spends on our platform, says Vasuta Agarwal, Chief Business Officer, Consumer and Performance Advertising, InMobi.

Nazara raises Rs 495 crores from existing investor Axana Estates LLP

The investment will be directed toward accelerating organic growth, strategic acquisitions, and expansion into new markets.

The Nazara board today approved the acquisition of the intellectual property rights of two popular mobile gaming titles, ‘CATS: Crash Arena’ and ‘King of Thieves’ from Barcelona-based game developer and publisher ZeptoLab for a total consideration of USD 7.7 million (~INR 67 cr).

The shrinking middle: What a spate of agency consolidations means for the ad industry

The mergers of today may be a prelude to even larger changes in the years to come, as agencies are forced to navigate a rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive landscape.

The mergers of today may be a prelude to even larger changes in the years to come, as agencies are forced to navigate a rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive landscape.

WAVES CEO: M&E compelling businesses to think differently about creativity and data

The creator’s economy is being recognized as the new oil, and it must remain connected seamlessly across the globe. If our economy is to grow and support this sector, there needs to be a collective movement built on a synergistic model. This cannot just be an India-only story; it must be global, Malhotra says. (Representative Image: Desi Mendozavia via Unsplash)

“Our global equity in the media and entertainment space is about 2%, which means we are only in the know in bits and pieces. However, when we aggregate everything together, it creates the momentum needed for a global summit,” says NFDC’s Achal Malhotra, who is CEO of WAVES.

M&E industry contributes nearly Rs 3 lakh crore to Indian economy; gaming witnessing 20 percent growth, says Sanjay Jaju, MIB

Under his leadership, there have been initiatives such as the launch of Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform, advocacy for digital radio, and the production of high-quality, globally relevant content.

“While there are immense opportunities, we are also mindful of the challenges. These include concerns around misinformation, algorithmic biases in AI-driven recommendations, copyright issues, and the need to protect vulnerable audiences from harmful content,” says Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

How AI and fractional CMOs are reshaping the industry

This session will lead the discussion on the impact of AI-powered algorithms on news consumption and platform prioritization; the influence of AI on revenue models, personalized ad targeting and content recommendation systems.

As artificial intelligence automates tasks and fractional executives reshape leadership, marketing roles are evolving — not disappearing — ushering in a more strategic and creative era, say experts.

Focused on combining heart of storytelling with science of data-driven advertising: Kiran Mani, JioStar

"Digital viewership has undoubtedly exploded. For those of us who’ve been around in the old TV or network industry, it’s traditionally been a 100-150 million household penetration market. TV still holds relevance, and we’re proud of our portfolio of channels that cater to this audience. However, the key aspect of digital is its addictive nature. Last year, the IPL alone saw 600 million viewers on the platform," Mani says.

India’s advertising market will grow because the middle-class consumer base is expanding. However, the current market still operates with archaic practices, like one-size-fits-all models, believes Kiran Mani, CEO, Digital, JioStar.

The startup leadership dilemma: Who truly bears responsibility for a brand’s stumbles?

The most common reinvention actions taken by four in ten India CEOs over the last five years are developing innovative products and services and targeting new routes to markets – for example, selling directly to consumers rather than through intermediaries. Further, 38% of India's CEOs, as against 32% globally, have aimed at acquiring a new customer base. (Image Source: Unsplash)

From celebrity status to scapegoat? Is the the cost of leadership multifaced and nuanced?