Author: Kashmeera Sambamurthy

Machine-made biryani is here! How startup food brands are adding robotics to menus

In the next few years, these kinds of machines would possibly be seen in households as well. For instance, Up, stylised as Up⤴, a consumer hardware startup founded by Mahek Mody and Mohit Sharma, has piloted a machine that can help prepare food with minimal fuss and in double-quick time. The device, called delishUp and comes with an app, and it can chop, stir and generally prepare food faster.(Representative image via Unsplash)

Restaurants, cloud kitchens and corporate offices are increasingly relying on machines to prepare food so that it’s faster, cheaper and removes human dependency, among other benefits. A few Indian startups like Mukunda Foods, Xook and On2Cook are trying to build the so-called food-as-a-service (FaaS) business by adding robotics to the kitchen menu. These machines guarantee to prepare food faster with consistency without or minimal human labour.

YouTube unveils 2022 list of India’s top creators, breakout creators and women breakout creators

Shorts Break, a YouTube channel that offers short comedy videos, topped the list, with about 16.8 million subscribers. This was followed by creators Akshay Nagwadiya (14.7 million) and Gulshan Kalra (17.9 million subscribers). YouTube has not disclosed specific numbers on the subscriber growth these creators have witnessed during this year. (Representative image via Unsplash)

About half of the top 20 creators have made only short videos in the past year, a Moneycontrol analysis of the list provided by YouTube shows. Several other creators have been prolific with minute-long videos while also making a few long-form videos in the past year. Only a single creator in the list solely focused on long-form content.

Gaming studios focus on Indian characters in games as brands eye growth through collaborations

The backdrops to the game’s environment are drawn in the Pahari art style and combine hand-painted textures rendered in 3D.Some are keeping it more realistic. Inspired by films like Satya, Gangs of Wasseypur and KGF, Bengaluru-based gaming studio Hypernova Interactive is coming up with a game called Mayanagari. (Image source: Hypernova Interactive)

Both national and international gaming studios are adding Indian themes and characters to their games to tap the country’s huge gaming population in the country.

Spotify India is a premium Gen Z urban platform: Arjun Ravi Kolady

As per Arjun Ravi Kolady, Spotify’s audience is highly attuned to streaming services. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, who are in the streaming business have done some fantastic work too. Such brands have three objectives. Either they want to show the breadth of their library or they want to help people find more of what they love. The other objective is around the launches of new shows. (Stills from ads)

Arjun Ravi Kolady, head of sales, Spotify India speaks on audio advertising, programmatic ads, creativity and more.

Biz Moves: Big Trunk Communications, Storyboats, Social Beat

Digital integrated marketing firm Big Trunk Communications has won the digital mandate for Yovan Longevity & Health Resorts New York where the agency will manage social media, search engine optimisation (SEO) and media campaigns for the brand.(Representational Image: History Of Soccer via Unsplash)

Keep up with all the key business wins and account movements.

Throwback: The Spice route to MDH’s Rise

Dharampalji’s entry into the advertising of his own brand gave it a fillip. It all started when an actor portraying the father of the bride in a MDH TV commercial didn’t show up for work. Dharampalji took up the role. Since then, he was a constant fixture in all MDH advertisements, becoming the face of the brand he had created. This was an unconventional approach to creating brand awareness. (Stills from ads)

Apart from the memorable jingle, the presence of Mahashay Dharampalji Gulati, founder of MDH in the ads became notable too. He became the “Dadaji” figure in the commercials, dressed in traditional wear and adorned with a string of pearls.

Bookstrapping: The Architect of the New BJP — How Narendra Modi Transformed the Party by Ajay Singh

In this detail oriented book, the author talks about how Narendra Modi would insist on computerisation, regimentation, documentation, and discipline, long before he becomes the Prime Minister of India. So much so, that whenever senior BJP party leaders in the 1980s and 1990s had an insurmountable problem, they would depend on him to manage the situation. (Image: Amazon)

This book is a credible attempt to analyse the work of Narendra Modi before he became Prime Minister, says our reviewer. Bookstrapping Rating: 3.5 stars.

Aditya Birla Capital promotes Darshana Shah as head – marketing and CX

Shah has over 26 years of work experience. She started her career at Boston Software & Technologies as a marketing manager, business manager - Cyberkids. Then, she joined NIIT as the product manager for the sales and marketing department. Shah also held senior level marketing roles at Future Group, Reliance Retail and HyperCITY Retail

Prior to this, Darshana Shah was the executive vice president – digital, marketing and customer experience at Aditya Birla Capital.