There are many skincare brands in the market targeting infants and children. However, dermatologists and skincare experts have been sounding the alarm about potential health risks, including skin allergies, rashes, and other adverse reactions. Most products contain dyes as well as chemicals, which have been associated with numerous health problems. 

With so many products in the market, it can also be overwhelming for parents to navigate what works best for their little ones. 

Addressing this problem head-on is Yellow Naturals, a skincare brand specialising in natural and organic products for children aged 4-12. The Gurugram-based startup is focused on safe and gentle skincare and hair care solutions for kids. 

Founded by Pooja Dugar and Alok Nagpal in 2023, the idea to start up originated from Dugar’s now seven-year-old daughter. 

“When my daughter turned 4, we were still using the same brand for her shampoo and body wash. As she started going outdoors, we noticed that the baby shampoo, while gentle, wasn’t sufficient anymore and left her hair dry. We tried to find brands and googled every corner of the internet to find nothing,” Dugar tells YourStory. 

As parents, Dugar and Nagpal searched for safe and reliable products, and they encountered a dearth of options in India and even in the broader global market. 

The founders surveyed 50 parents of similar-aged children and found that many were using baby products due to uncertainty, while some had switched to adult products or resorted to importing alternatives. 

“Further research with dermatologists brought the need for hydrating children’s skincare, adding conditioning to shampoos, and using allergen-free fragrances, which many existing products lacked. That’s when we took the lead to create products for our own little one,” she adds. 

Before founding Yellow Naturals, Dugar spent over 13 years in brand and lifestyle marketing. She co-founded Rock Castle Entertainment Un-Ltd, a marketing agency, along with Nagpal, where she oversaw marketing campaigns worth over Rs 175 crore for various brands.

Nagpal previously co-founded Noise, a wearable tech brand, and has 16 years of experience in marketing and operations. 

Products infused with natural ingredients 

According to the founders, the startup steers clear of harsh chemicals and toxins, prioritising the safety of children’s delicate skin. 

With the help of a formulation expert, the nine-member team took nine months to create three products, which are currently manufactured in Himachal Pradesh. 

Some of its products include daily cleanse shampoo + conditioner, body wash, and nail paints ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. The products are focused on babies (0-3 years) to pre-teens (15 years onwards). 

Yellow Naturals also offers a makeup kit for kids, which is made from ingredients such as natural oils and butter, avoiding toxins, talc, and other chemicals. The kit consists of a box with a mirror, eyeshadow, blush, lip tints, balm, and nail paints. 

The products are dermatologically tested and all fragrances are International Fragrance Association (IFRA) certified, Dugar says.

While there are brands like Johnson’s, Mamaearth, Mothercare, and Chicco in the market, Dugar says she observed the absence of a dedicated category for children’s personal care products in India, sandwiched between baby care and adult offerings. 

“Despite many brands catering to babies, there was no single standout brand synonymous with safety,” Dugar explains. 

“This gap in the market leaves parents searching for suitable products for their children in this age group,” she adds. 

As young children are exposed to outdoor activities, the founder believes their skincare needs to evolve, and requires products that offer hydration, protection, and care.

“Unfortunately, this specific category of products catering to children aged three and above was sorely lacking in the market. However, parents still face the challenge of sorting through these options to find the ones that genuinely cater their changing needs,” she explains. 

“To make this happen, we’ve made sure our products are sulphate-free and paraben-free, yet they still create a bubbly lather for an enjoyable bath time. Also, we've added scents that kids love, like chocolate or strawberry,” adds the founder. 

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Towards sustainability

The company uses 50% PCR bottles and aims to have 100% recyclable and compostable packaging by 2026. 

“Many big brands market their products by highlighting trendy ingredients like oats or turmeric without explaining why these ingredients are necessary. They focus on the ‘superhero’ aspect of these ingredients rather than their actual benefits. This can be misleading, as these brands often prioritise marketing over safety,” Dugar explains. 

Instead of just replicating formulas, the team spent over a year perfecting their products before they were launched in the market. 

Surprisingly, the founder performed the first testing on her daughter. “Once we were confident about effectiveness and safety, we shared them with other children. During the development process, our daughter often gave us feedback, and we also tested the products ourselves,” she says. 

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Future plans

The startup is currently bootstrapped, with approximately 60% of its orders coming from South India. The brand officially launched online in November last year and is also available in retail stores like Gift Palace, Khan Market; Giggles and Glory, Gurugram, Toy Factory Ambience Mall and Maya Toys, Gurugram, and Leo Toys, DT Mega Mall. 

According to Transparency Market Research, the global kids' personal care market is expected to reach $171.7 billion by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2022 to 2031. 

Yellow Naturals aims to target parents, especially mothers, for the sale of its personal care products. However, the repeat orders depend on kids liking the products, which influences parents to buy again.

Yellow Naturals contributes 1% of its profit to Samarpan Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged children in India.

“We believe in giving back to those in need, which is why a portion of our profits is allocated to the Samarpan Foundation that focuses on children’s health, education, and well-being. Whether it’s providing essentials to underprivileged families or supporting medical research and treatment for paediatric illnesses, we want to make a difference in the lives of children everywhere,” Dugar explains. 

The startup competes with the likes of Baby Dove, Cetaphil Baby, Mustela, and Aveeno Baby, which are well-known for their gentle skincare products for children.

The company has onboarded 3,000 customers to date. However, some challenges in the market, Dugar says, include a lack of awareness about children’s skincare and the high cost of retail establishments in India. 

“Our plan is to focus on educating consumers about the benefits of using quality skincare products, affordable pricing and expanding availability through various distribution channels,” she says. 

The brand’s flagship makeup kit has been selling offline in prominent gifting stores in Delhi NCR and Mumbai, with plans to expand to other cities and tie-ups with major distributors like Toys R Us.

“Our accelerated journey has just begun, but we are growing at 20% month-on-month. We plan to expand into the Middle East and European markets in the next 12-18 months. We also have new products coming soon in the personal care and natural makeup categories. Our main focus is to grow our presence in India through online platforms like FirstCry, Nykaa, Blinkit, and Myntra,” says Dugar.

Google parent Alphabet reported a surge in profit in the first quarter of 2024, driven by growth in search and cloud businesses.

The California-based company’s net profit in Q1 rose 57.2% to $23.6 billion (or $1.89 per share) from $15 billion ($1.17 per share) in the year-ago period. Its revenue in the quarter surged by 15.4% to $80.5 billion from $69.8 billion in the same period last year.

The internet giant also declared its first-ever cash dividend of $0.20 per share and a $70-billion stock repurchase authorisation, leading to its stocks surging about 16% in after-hours trading.

Alphabet’s inaugural dividend payout follows Meta's plans, which announced its first dividend in February. Among the Big Tech giants, Amazon is the only company not offering a dividend.

“It was a great quarter led by strong performance from Search, YouTube, and Cloud,” Sundar Pichai, Chief Executive Officer of Alphabet and Google, said during the first quarter earnings call.

“Our leadership in AI research and infrastructure, and our global product footprint, position us well for the next wave of AI innovation,” he noted.

The majority of Alphabet’s revenue is derived from Google ads. Its advertising revenue, including Google Search, YouTube ads, and Google Network, was up 13% to $61.6 billion in the first quarter compared to $54.5 billion in the same period last year.

“We are encouraged that we are seeing an increase in search usage among people who use the new AI overviews as well as increased user satisfaction with the results,” Pichai remarked.

The company said that revenue from its largest business, Google’s search, rose 14.4% to $46.2 billion in Q1 led by growth in retail. Meanwhile, YouTube’s ad sales in Q1 increased by 21% to $8.1 billion “driven by both direct response and brand advertising”.

Its cloud computing unit, Google Cloud Platform, which competes with Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services, saw its revenue rise 28% to $9.6 billion in Q1 compared to $7.5 billion in the previous year.

Operating income in Google’s cloud division surged to $900 million, more than quadrupling the previous year.

“The growth we are seeing across Cloud is underpinned by the benefits AI provides for our customers,” said Ruth Porat, Chief Financial Officer of Alphabet and Google, during the first quarter earnings call.

Pichai noted that the firm is committed to making the investments required to keep it at the leading edge in technical infrastructure to “fuel growth in Cloud, help the company push the frontiers of AI models, enabling innovation across its services, especially in Search.”

Google introduced its largest and most capable AI model—Gemini—in December, and a few months later, it rolled out Gemini 1.5 Pro.

Earlier this month, the company said it is consolidating teams that focus on building AI models across Google Research and Google DeepMind to further accelerate its progress in artificial intelligence.

Pichai noted that the company remains focused on long-term efforts to durably reengineer its cost base. “We continue to manage our headcount growth and align teams with our highest priority areas. This speeds up decision-making, reduces layers, and enables us to invest in the right areas,” he added.

As of March 31, 2024, Alphabet’s employee count was 180,895, down from 190,711 in the same period last year.

The quarter-on-quarter decline in headcount in Q1 reflects Alphabet's actions over the past few months and a much slower pace of hiring, Porat said, adding that the company continues to invest in top engineering and technical talent, particularly in Cloud, Google DeepMind, and technical infrastructure.

Porat highlighted that the reported capital expenditure in Q1 was $12 billion, overwhelmingly driven by investment in its technical infrastructure, largely for servers followed by data centres.

“The significant year-on-year growth in capex in recent quarters reflects our confidence in the opportunities offered by AI across our business,” she said.

Lyskraft, the Gurugram-headquartered omnichannel fashion and lifestyle platform, raised $26 million in a seed funding round led by Peak XV Partners, and Prosus, Sofina, and Partners of DST Global also participated.

Deep Kalra (former CEO and Founder of MakeMyTrip), Rajesh Magow (CEO of MakeMyTrip), and Deepinder Goyal (CEO and Co-founder of Zomato) also invested in the company.

Having built in stealth mode over the last few months by Zomato Co-founder Mohit Gupta and Myntra Founder Mukesh Bansal, Lyskraft offers a curated selection of over 15 women’s fashion brands and designers, with new designers added every week.

The startup recently launched a premium pop-up store at Ambience Mall in Gurugram and will also retail its collection online, it said in a statement.

“The future of retail is omnichannel, especially for categories like premium fashion, where touch, feel. and experience of the actual product are key to consumer choice in the category,” said Gupta in the statement.

He added, “India’s deep roots in fabrics, craft, creative heritage, and manufacturing strength also puts us in a unique position to play a large role on the global stage.”

While Gupta will lead the startup as co-founder and CEO, Bansal will be a strategic advisor to the business besides being the co-founder.

Lead investor Peak XV has previously backed Chennai-based Go Fashion, making 16X returns in 2023 after selling its remaining stakes in the publicly listed women’s apparel maker.

“At its core, venture investing is about partnering with India’s best entrepreneurs to build generational companies. We are excited to work with Mohit, who has seen two ideas to IPO journeys – MakeMyTrip and Zomato, on the vision to build Lyskraft as a category-defining fashion and lifestyle company,” said Mohit Bhatnagar, Managing Director at Peak XV, in a statement.

FirstCry, an omnichannel retailer of baby and mother care products, will reportedly withdraw papers it filed for an initial public offering (IPO) of an estimated size of $500 million as the market regulator raised questions on some of its business metrics.

As per a Reuters report, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) told the company that it had not complied with the regulations that mandate an IPO-bound company must share all key business metrics in its papers that it has shared with prospective investors in the last three years.

The report noted that FirstCry will now withdraw its IPO papers, update them with the latest Key Performance Indicators and refile them soon. As per a MoneyControl report, the company may refile the papers as early as next week.

YourStory has reached out to FirstCry for a comment.

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Brainbees Solutions, the parent company of FirstCry, had filed for an IPO with SEBI in December 2023. The proposed issue comprised a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 1,816 crore and an Offer For Sale (OFS) of up to 5.44 crore equity shares by existing shareholders.

Founded in 2010, FirstCry is backed by leading investors including SoftBank, TPG, Premji Invest, and Mahindra and Mahindra.

This development comes after SEBI introduced a rule in 2022 to increase the scrutiny of companies looking to tap into public markets amid criticism of lax oversight of large loss-making companies commanding very high valuations.

The company's consolidated net loss widened to Rs 486.05 crore in FY23 from Rs 78.68 crore in the preceding financial year. However, its consolidated revenue was up over twofold to Rs 5,632.53 crore for the financial year which ended on March 31, 2023 against Rs 2,401.28 crore a year ago.

Every journey has hiccups, even the one to take a company public.

Ecommerce platform FirstCry will reportedly withdraw its papers for an up to $500 million IPO after the SEBI raised questions over key metrics it disclosed to investors. However, the company is looking to refile the IPO papers as early as next week

Speaking of IPOs, food delivery platform Swiggy has received shareholder approval for its proposed $1.2 billion public issue, a filing with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs showed.

Elsewhere, Tech Mahindra reported a 40.9% year-on-year decline in net profit for the fourth quarter of FY24 as the leading IT services company navigates a business slowdown.

Also, all is not well at Kotak Mahindra Bank as its shares fell by nearly 11% on Thursday, a day after the RBI barred the lender from taking on new digital clients and issuing credit cards.

ICYMI: Human brains might be getting bigger.

Lastly, a life hack. New research suggests that memorable images appear to dilate time.

So, if every day appears like a blur, try seeking out new and interesting experiences. 

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• Panasonic’s game plan for startups
• Norwest Venture Partners closes fund
• A fisherman’s study of the seas

Here’s your trivia for today: Which is the only mammal with four knees?

Enterprise

Panasonic’s game plan for startups

Panasonic’s philosophy of co-creating and co-prospering has led the Japan-headquartered global tech firm to embark on a journey to build strong linkages with the startup ecosystem in India. 

Its corporate VC arm, established in 2022 with a total fund size of 8 billion yen ($55 million), has already invested around 40% of the corpus in startups across Japan, the US, and Europe. The remaining 60% is an opportunity for Indian startups.

Long term:

• Globally, Panasonic is focused on food infrastructure, commercial infrastructure, lifestyle, wellness, and sustainability.
• The company’s first startup accelerator programme in India is centred around energy management, and it has partnered with Mumbai-based early-stage venture capital firm 100X.VC for this programme.
• The India Innovation Centre of Panasonic in Bengaluru works on various technologies such as IoT, mobility, and artificial intelligence to create products and business lines for both the consumer and industrial sectors.

<Funding Alert>

Startup: FlashAid

Amount: $2.5M

Round: Pre-Series A

Startup: MatchLog Solutions

Amount: $1.5M

Round: Pre-Series A

Startup: Clueso

Amount: $1.4M

Round: Seed

Investors

Norwest Venture Partners closes fund

Norwest Venture Partners, the California-headquartered global venture capital and growth equity investment firm, announced the close of its $3 billion Norwest XVII, LP fund (NVP 17). 

The new fund—which will be deployed across India, the US, and Israel—follows the VC’s $3 billion NVP 16 fund it raised in December 2021, taking the total capital under management to $15.5 billion.

Investment:

• The VC will back early- to mid-stage companies with a proven business model and initial revenue traction with a ticket size of $10 million to $30 million. 
• Its NVP 17 fund will also back growth companies in sectors including financial services and technology, consumer technology, products and services, B2B tech, industrial and manufacturing companies, SaaS and enterprise software, etc.
• In India, Niren Shah will continue to lead the firm’s investments as Managing Director and Head of Norwest India.

Environment

A fisherman’s study of the seas

S Palayam of Chennai has studied the ocean—its winds and currents—for seven years. His first-hand experience and observations culminated in a study titled ‘Sea Changed; Seasons Changed: A Fisher Science View of Climate Change’. 

“For us, the ocean is our mother, and the wind, our father,” says Palayam. At 60, he is a treasure trove of stories about the sea. 

Knowledge transfer:

• Researcher and environmentalist Nityanand Jayaraman and Palayam spent early hours observing the winds and currents, noting their shifts with the changing climate, and its impact on fish movement and migration patterns over the years.
• Jayaraman says it is equally vital to understand that the traditional knowledge of the fisherfolk isn’t fossilised or ‘mystic’. It is rather a methodical language gained by ‘doing’. 
• Having retired from fishing to study the sea full time, Palayam says the fisherfolk’s knowledge of the marine ecosystem must be preserved, along with their local language used to describe it.

News & updates

• Compromised: ICICI Bank said its digital channels “erroneously mapped” about 17,000 credit cards issued in the past few days to “wrong” users. Some customers raised concerns on social media about the bank’s iMobile Pay app exposing unknown customers’ credit card details, including their number and CVV.
• Long bets: IndiGo placed its first-ever order for 30 Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft as the low-cost carrier intensifies its efforts to take a bigger slice of the international travel business from dominant Gulf airlines. It expects deliveries to begin in 2027.
• Chip wars: A group of Chinese chip companies led by Huawei Technologies and backed by the country's government aims to produce high-bandwidth memory (HBM) semiconductors, a key component in AI chips by 2026, The Information reported. 

Which is the only mammal with four knees?

Answer: Elephant.

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YLanes, created by Deepti Punjabi and Rajesh Ivaturi, is a platform aimed at facilitating deeper human connections. Both founders, who met through a dating app, shared a vision influenced by their own experiences. Deepti Punjabi, an IIM Calcutta alumnus with a background in finance and a passion for travel and yoga, teamed up with Rajesh Ivaturi, whose expertise lies in engineering and management consulting, to establish YLanes.

Key Features of YLanes

YLanes distinguishes itself with several key features designed to enhance user interaction:

• Curated Connections: YLanes offers a multi-layered curation process, with over 25 filters, including age, gender, and interests. This system aims to connect users who share similar views and preferences, facilitating a judgment-free communication environment.
• Authentic Conversations: The platform hosts conversations on more than 100 topics, ranging from personal development to philosophical discussions. This variety ensures that users have the opportunity to engage in meaningful exchanges.
• Safety and Privacy: YLanes emphasises user safety and privacy. It offers features like anonymity and the ability to alert, report, and block profiles, which helps maintain a secure and comfortable community for its members.
• Incentivised Quality Interactions: Users can earn 'ycoins' for quality participation and can rate each other’s contributions, which encourages meaningful interaction and rewards active participants.

Reach and Impact

Since its inception, YLanes has attracted users from over 15 countries. Although specific user numbers are not disclosed, the platform's international reach suggests a growing interest in alternatives to traditional social media focused on more substantial connections.

The Context for YLanes

The platform emerges in a context where loneliness, especially among younger generations like Gen Z, is increasingly prevalent despite technological advancements in communication. This situation has led to a demand for platforms that prioritise deeper connections.

Future Prospects

YLanes has secured an initial investment of Rs.1.2 Cr in their seed round. Looking forward, the founders aim to expand their service globally, hoping to provide a space where individuals can freely express themselves and establish significant relationships.

YLanes offers a platform for users seeking more meaningful social interactions, contrasting with the often superficial nature of existing digital communications. By nurturing a community of users who value authenticity, the platform not only addresses the epidemic of loneliness but also transforms the way we connect and communicate in the digital age.

Norwest Venture Partners, the Menlo Park, California-headquartered global venture capital and growth equity investment firm, announced the close of its $3 billion Norwest XVII, LP fund (NVP 17).

The new fund—which will be deployed across India, the US, and Israel—follows Norwest Venture Partners' $3 billion NVP 16 fund it raised in December 2021, taking the total capital under management to $15.5 billion.

According to a statement, Norwest has invested in 69 new companies globally since raising NVP 16, clocking 36 liquidity events ranging from IPOs of Five Star Finance to other acquisitions. 

The VC will back early to mid-stage companies with a proven business model and initial revenue traction with a ticket size of $10 million to $30 million. It has backed the likes of Amagi Labs, Swiggy, Xpressbees Logistics, Duroflex, and Ofbusiness, among others in India.

Norwest’s growth equity investments include larger cheque sizes ranging from $20 million to $100 million, backing fast-growing companies across public and private companies. 

In India, the VC firm has made a total of 43 investments with 27 active companies in its portfolio. Its NVP 17 fund will continue to back growth companies in financial services and technology, consumer technology, products and services, B2B tech, industrial and manufacturing companies, SaaS and enterprise software, business and IT services, healthcare, and other technology providers. 

“Our diversified investment strategy, long-term commitment, and collaborative approach allow us to adapt to a wide range of market conditions and support founders and CEOs at every stage of their journey,” said Jeff Crowe, Senior Managing Partner at Norwest. 

In India, Niren Shah will continue to lead the firm’s investments as Managing Director and Head of Norwest India. 

The firm, which has 20 partners, also announced its succession plans with Promod Haque transitioning from the role of managing partner to the role of general partner. Jeff Crowe and Jon Kossow will lead the firm as managing general partners. 

Other significant hires announced by the firm include the appointment of Zack Scott as managing director and general partner for healthcare investments, Philip Fleischman as vice president, Mary Miller as head of business development for growth equity, and Renée Cohen as marketing operating executive, vice president.

It also promoted Matthew De Dominicis to CFO and administrative partner, while Krish Kapadia and Jordan Leites were elevated to the position of vice president.

Global South specialist venture capital firm Capria Ventures clocked Rs 153 crore (around $19 million) in the final close of its India Opportunity Fund.

The fund had announced the first close at Rs 75 crore in February 2023 as Unitus Ventures, following which Capria Ventures and Unitus Ventures merged to form a single brand.

The fund had deployed the capital from the first close across its breakout portfolio companies from Capria India Fund I and Capria India Fund II, including work-as-a-service platform Awign, workforce solutions provider BetterPlace, edtech platform for K12 students Cuemath, education loan provider Eduvanz, and technology upskilling platform Masai School.

The India Opportunity Fund will deploy capital across eight companies out of its portfolio of 39 companies from funds I and II, Capria told YourStory.

It also announced a full-cash exit from Awign, recently acquired by Japanese conglomerate Mynavi Corporation, where it had led the startup's first seed round in 2018.

“Mynavi’s acquisition of Awign not only opens untapped markets and opportunities for the company but is also a great exit for our India Fund II, where we will return more than 50% of the invested capital through this one exit. The multiple on invested capital for Awign for our India Fund II is more than 7X,” said Surya Mantha, Managing Partner at Capria, in a statement.

He added, “Additionally, our now closed India Opportunity Fund, which also invested in Awign in February 2023, will return more than 20% of the invested capital to its LPs (Limited Partners).”

Capria backs early-stage startups across the Global South, including India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Its key focus sectors include fintech, jobtech, edtech, agritech, climate technology and SaaS companies. It manages assets worth over $207 million globally.

(The copy was updated to reflect additional information.)

The Indian workforce is divided into two distinct categories. On the one hand, we have white-collar workers who make up only 4% of the Indian workforce. On the other hand, we also have frontline workers who make up the remaining 96%. The former get the majority of the benefits while the latter are left out, and forced to live a volatile life.

White-collar workers have access to health and life insurance and, provident funds, and have credit histories that help them get affordable loans, most of which are accrued to them directly from the employer. Frontline workers, however, do not have access to these basic benefits, only 1% (as per BetterPlace NHRD whitepaper) of them have access to credit and less than 3% are formally skilled, limiting the opportunities they have in the job market. This has created a conundrum where a small portion of the workforce is getting more benefits by the day while the larger cohort remains underserved.

This has created a series of problems for the Indian economy, in general, especially for the workforce. For one, Indian labour productivity is one of the lowest in the world at $8 per person per hour, compared with $26 in Malaysia and $14 in Indonesia. India is also suffering from slow growth in the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR). Between April-June 2021 and October-December 2023, India’s LFPR has grown from 46.8% to 49.9%. Coupled with all of this, enterprises are facing high levels of attrition with the average monthly attrition rate being close to 15% in FY23 (as per BetterPlace Frontline Index Report), especially at a time when they are facing an average labour shortage of 20%, as per the whitepaper.

However, the solution to this problem exists in the data collected by the government. What needs to be done is to ‘platformise’ it. As of August 2023, more than 28.99 crore people have registered in the government’s E-Shram portal, which was created to formalise the unorganised workforce.

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While this is a robust database, it can be built on to make it actionable and the Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS) can be a starting point. The PLFS survey captures the unemployment rate, and labour force participation rate across categories of waged, casual, and self-employed. This data needs to be integrated with the E-Shram portal and parameters like access to insurance, credit, upskilling courses etc can be added to this database. The next step would be to make a digital platform which has the E-Shram data set and make it accessible to the private sector. This can be the starting point of every enterprise’s hiring journey to get the initial pool of workers who can be included in the formal sector.

This can then be followed by leveraging the available data trails to hire effectively and affordably. Smartphones which have penetrated the hinterlands of India can be a powerful medium. Over 69% of frontline workers use a smartphone; enterprises can leverage this to hire through digital means, screening candidates virtually for the first few stages of the recruitment process, as per the BetterPlace report. This will not only make the process seamless but also transparent for the frontline workers.

The final step would be to create pathways for sustainable livelihood for these workers. One of the major reasons for attrition is the stagnation of a person’s career. The incomes of frontline workers have been decreasing. Between FY22 and FY23, their average salary decreased by 4.5%, the report found. Hence, these employees are moving horizontally across different companies for marginal hikes in their salaries.

However, what is needed is for us to think of their professional journeys from a growth trajectory perspective. We need to equip them with skills that can exponentially increase their earning and professional potential. Although a majority of these workers have access to smartphones, the report highlighted that 38% still face barriers to upskilling in the form of high fees, odd class timings, and language barriers. There is a critical need to democratise skilling. Enterprises can invest in creating skilling modules which can be accessed by all. Another sustainable way to build the skills would be to leverage digital public infrastructure like ONEST to help these workers access a large set of courses that suit their needs.

This three-step approach can unlock the true potential of our workforce, but we need to act fast. India has the population advantage of the decade which will start fizzling out in the next thirty years or so. The sooner we can help our population grow professionally, the sooner we will be able to reap the benefits of it for our economy, to become the third-largest economy in the world.

(Anish Philip is Chief People Officer at Movate and Hon. President of National Human Resource Development organisation's Bengaluru chapter. Pravin Agarwala is the Co-founder and Group CEO of BetterPlace.)

Microsoft reported strong top and bottom line numbers for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) integrated into its cloud. The company’s stock surged about 5% during after-hours trading.

The Windows maker’s net profit in Q3 FY24 surged 19.8% to $21.9 billion from $18.3 billion in the corresponding quarter last year. Its revenue increased 17% to $61.8 billion in the quarter from $52.8 billion in the year-ago period.

“It was a record third quarter, powered by the continued strength of the Microsoft Cloud,” said Satya Nadella, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, during the earnings call.

In Q3, Microsoft Cloud revenue reached $35.1 billion, up 23% year-over-year, “driven by strong execution by its sales teams and partners.”

Microsoft is a key player in the cloud computing industry, competing with Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud. During Q3 FY24, it clocked a 31% year-on-year revenue growth in Azure and other cloud services.

“The number of Azure AI customers continues to grow—and average spend continues to increase,” Nadella remarked.

He said the number of $100 million-plus Azure deals increased over 80% year-over-year, while the number of $10 million-plus deals more than doubled. 

Microsoft strengthened its competitive positioning among the largest cloud providers, increasing its worldwide market share by almost two percentage points in Q4 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching 24%, according to data from Synergy Research Group.

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Business segments

The Redmond-headquartered firm broadly categorises its revenue under three segments—productivity and business processes, intelligent cloud, and more personal computing. 

Microsoft's productivity and business processes clocked in $19.6 billion in revenue in the quarter, up 11.7% year-over-year. Revenue for intelligent cloud, which includes the Azure cloud computing platform, rose 21% to $26.7 billion in the March-ended quarter.

Revenue for more personal computing—which includes revenue from Windows OEM, devices, Xbox content and services, search and news advertising, and Windows Commercial products and cloud services—was up 17.5% at $15.6 billion in the quarter.

Speaking about gaming, Nadella said the firm set records for game streaming hours, console usage, and monthly active devices in Q3. It is expanding its games to new platforms, bringing four of its fan-favourite titles to Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation for the first time.

In gaming, revenue increased 51%, with 55 points of net impact from the Activision acquisition, said Amy Hood, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Microsoft, during the earnings call. She added that results were ahead of expectations primarily driven by the Call of Duty game. 

On October 13, 2023, Microsoft completed the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the developer of Call of Duty, marking its largest-ever and the gaming industry’s biggest deal. Xbox content and services revenue increased 62%, with 61 points of net impact from the Activision acquisition, she noted.

Microsoft has been rapidly infusing AI across every layer of the tech stack and every role and business process. In the third quarter, its AI-driven capital expenditures approached $1 billion.

In LinkedIn, the firm’s business and employment-oriented online service, new AI features are helping accelerate LinkedIn Premium growth, with revenue up 29% year-over-year.

“Features like LinkedIn AI-assisted messages are seeing a 40% higher acceptance rate and are accepted over 10% faster by job seekers, saving hirers time and making it easier to connect them to candidates,” he added. 

Speaking about the outlook, Hood noted that the company expects capital expenditures to increase materially on a sequential basis driven by cloud and AI infrastructure investments.

“We are leading the AI platform wave and are committed to bringing that value to our global customers as we enter the final quarter of our fiscal year,” she said.

One of Japan’s largest human resources (HR) firms Mynavi Corporation has acquired a majority stake in the work-as-a-service platform Awign in an all-cash deal.

The terms of the current transaction, including the deal size, were not disclosed. However, Annanya Sarthak, Co-founder and CEO of Awign, told YourStory that it is the largest deal in the HR space in the last 20 years in India.

As a result of this deal, Awign’s early backers, including Capria, Lumis Partners, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Amicus Capital, and Pankaj Bansal, took “a handsome exit”. 

“We have known Mynavi for about four years and we have ensured that our objectives align...This majority stake acquisition provides us with a comfortable backing because it brings patient capital to support the company over the next 10 years and help us reach over a billion dollars of revenue by 2030,” Sarthak explained.

Patient capital in the context of a majority stake acquisition reflects a commitment to long-term value creation, strategic alignment, and sustained investment in the growth and success of the acquired company.

The Tokyo-headquartered firm, which made a minority investment in Awign in 2022, brings market exposure and access to a diverse demographic, according to the latter. The $15 million Series B round was co-led by Bertelsmann India Investments and Amicus Capital Partners.

“Our alliance with Awign is not just strategic but also a reflection of our shared commitment to making a significant social impact. The synergy between our visions, empowers us to tackle the challenges in the HR sector more effectively,” said Hidekazu Ito, Managing Director of Mynavi Solutions India, a subsidiary of Mynavi Corporation.

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Business boost

This partnership will aid Awign in developing three core areas: talent acquisition, brand visibility both in India and internationally, and technology investment for digital expansion and platform enhancement.

It will fuel the Bengaluru-based work fulfilment platform’s ambitions in onboarding and serving more global enterprise customers.

“With Mynavi coming in, we hope to acquire Japanese companies with a large operating presence in India. Our goal is to establish ourselves as an India-first company, with our workforce remaining in India for at least the next five years,” Sarthak remarked.

He believes that another improvement resulting from this transaction is governance. Awign has been operating like a Series B/Series C startup. However, with Mynavi’s involvement, the enterprise will benefit from increased governance and maturity.

Gurpreet S Khurana, Co-founder and Chief Business Officer, said the company has grown 10X over the last 3-4 years. It is hoping to achieve net profitability across the next few quarters.

It was launched by IIT alumni Sarthak, Khurana and Praveen Kumar Sah in 2016.

Awign boasts a network of more than 1.5 million gig partners and collaborates with over 175 leading enterprises. It specialises in streamlining work processes for large organisations and collaborates with them across sectors such as retail, FMCG, automotive, education, manufacturing, construction, and pharmaceuticals.

India play

Established in 1973, Mynavi has offices in Japan, the US, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Poland, and India

“Mynavi primarily operates in Japan but has expanded to Indonesia and Vietnam through acquisitions and investments. It has realised that to become the number one HR company in Asia, it needs to look beyond these markets and focus on India,” Sarthak said, adding that the country is Mynavi’s primary focus for the next ten years.

Last year, Mynavi invested in Flive Consulting (Unstop), an Indian HR startup operating a competitive recruiting and matching platform for university students and young professionals.

“At Mynavi, we are currently investing in companies that contribute to solving social issues facing India, mainly in the areas of human resources and education,” the Japanese firm had said during its initial investment in Awign.

US-India Business Council (USIBC) on Thursday held the first meeting of its AI Task Force, whose objective is to align and drive American and Indian leadership in the AI ecosystem and promote common AI concepts.

Adding new members to the task force, USIBC also announced Meta as the Co-chair of the USIBC AI Task Force.

Meta’s extensive industry knowledge and resources will play a key role in guiding initiatives that promote responsible and inclusive AI solutions for critical societal challenges, a media release said.

USIBC’s Task Force objective is to align and drive US and Indian leadership in the AI ecosystem, promote common AI concepts/principles within national and multi-stakeholder processes, and ensure the competitiveness of our industries to develop, leverage, and commercialise AI technologies for the benefit of each country’s democratic citizenries, the release said.

The event brought together industry leaders from advanced technology sectors such as logistics, semiconductor design and manufacturing, commercial electronics, biotechnology, telecommunications, space, defence, information technology, and financial services.

Furthermore, the event offered a platform for exploring cooperation and synergy in key areas critical to global growth, economic competitiveness, and national security, it said.

"Our AI Task Force marks a bold stride toward a future where AI not only revolutionises industries and lives but also reinforces free societies,” USIBC president Atul Keshap said.

“With unwavering commitment, USIBC spearheads this transformative journey alongside leading USIBC Board and Corporate members. As we navigate the newfound terrain of AI advancement, these collaborations underscore our resolve to ensure the great democracies can utilize technology in ways that strengthen the ties between our nations and support citizen-led prosperity,” he said.

The new members added to the AI Task Force are Bala Subramanian (Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Technology Officer at UPS), Akash Shah (Chief Growth Officer and Global Head of Growth Ventures at BNY Mellon), and Inderpreet Sawhney (Group General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Infosys Limited).

Subramanian said this is an important group that creates strong partnerships between businesses and the governments of India and the United States. UPS has been a technology company for more than a century, and we're excited to share learnings from our AI journey, he said.

“As we advance our AI Task Force, we are thrilled to welcome these exceptional individuals to our esteemed AI Board Advisory Committee alongside Meta as the Co-chair of our AI Task Force. Their leadership and expertise will play a crucial role in shaping our strategic approach to AI, enabling us to navigate the challenges and opportunities across various sectors such as business, biotechnology, healthcare, logistics, and technology,” Keshap said.

US-based investment management company Capital Group has reportedly acquired an additional 6.24% stake in PB Fintech, the holding company of Policybazaar and Paisabazaar, for around Rs 2,270 crore.

The New World Fund Inc, which initially held a 1.67% stake in PB Fintech, has increased its ownership by 4.22% (equivalent to 1,90,13,242 shares) for approximately Rs 1,872.16 crore, as per a report by Moneycontrol.

This acquisition has elevated New World Fund Inc’s stake to 5.89% from the previous 1.67%.

Additionally, the Small Cap World Fund Inc, a venture capital firm under Capital Group, acquired 91,22,194 shares, accounting for almost 2.02% stake for Rs 898.23 crore.

Separately, another financial services company, 360 One Asset Private Equity, formerly IIFL Wealth exited its investment in PB Fintech (Policybazaar), realising 2.4X gains on invested capital, IIFL Securities said in a statement.

Initially investing Rs 191 crore across various funds, 360 One PE ultimately received Rs 451 crore from its investment as part of its tech strategy.

Last month, Singapore's Temasek Holdings sold its entire 5.42% stake in PB Fintech. Temasek's unit, Claymore Investments (Mauritius) Pte Ltd, offloaded 2.44 crore shares for Rs 2,425 crore in two tranches on February 1.

Despite this exit, the overall share of Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) in PB Fintech increased to 48.97% from 46.01% in the previous quarter, the report by Moneycontrol said.

Days before Temasek sold holdings, PB fintech reported its first-ever quarterly after-tax profit of Rs 37 crore in the third quarter of the financial year 2024, from a Rs 87 crore loss in the corresponding period last year.

Its operating revenue rose 42.6% to Rs 870 crore between October and December 2023, up from Rs 610 crore in Q3 FY23, while expenses rose 20% to Rs 925 crore in the quarter.

Founded in 2008 by Yashish Dahiya and Alok Bansal, PB Fintech operates an online platform for insurance and lending products in India and internationally. It provides access to insurance, lending products, and support services through its online financial services platform.

Social media platform Koo has halted salary payments to its employees, starting from April, as it struggles to find buyers or investors. The company is experiencing cash constraints, and future salaries can only be disbursed once Koo secures an investor or a buyer, Mayank Bidawatka, Co-founder of Koo, wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Bidawatka mentioned that all discussions regarding investment or acquisition are on hold due to the funding winter. Nonetheless, he said Koo will continue to operate.

"We have done everything to extend our runway so that employees and vendors could get paid. We've also resorted to salary cuts. It’s painful to cut salaries of people who've helped build the company," Bidawatka said.

"We had the option of either letting a good part of the workforce go or do a haircut for everyone. We did the latter. This way everyone could sustain without having to look for a job at a time when hiring across startups is at its all-time low," he added.

Bidawatka alluded in a previous post that Koo was considering a strategic partnership among other routes to grow its user base. "With the current reality of a slow investor market, the best way forward is to partner with someone who has the distribution strength to give Koo a massive user impetus and help it grow."

As per media reports, news aggregator Dailyhunt was the forerunner to acquire the social media platform. As of FY22, Dailyhunt claimed to have over 350 million monthly active users.

Founded in 2020 by Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka, Koo is a microblogging platform focused on Indian languages. It is funded by Tiger Global, Accel Partners, Kalaari Capital, 3one4 Capital, and others.

Chennai-based education firm Veranda Learning has agreed to acquire Kerala-based Logic Management Training Institutes Pvt. Ltd.

This acquisition, facilitated by its subsidiary Veranda XL Learning Solutions Pvt Ltd, will allow Veranda to extend its reach and offer students a broader selection of educational programmes.

The terms of the current transaction, including the deal size, were not disclosed.

Logic, as a crucial component of Veranda’s commerce education initiative, will collaborate with JK Shah Classes.

Founded in 2005, Logic Management Training Institute, known for its diverse range of commerce professional courses, operates in eight branches throughout Kerala

“Logic seamlessly integrates into what we proudly call the Veranda ecosystem. I am confident that this will help us in our mission of touching the lives of over one million students in FY25,” Suresh Kalpathi, Executive Director and Chairman of Veranda Learning, said.

This development comes a month after Veranda Learning raised Rs 425 crore in debt funding through non-convertible debentures from BPEA Investment Managers Private Limited.

The move aims to fuel the company’s growth by financing acquisitions, refinancing existing loans, and bolstering working capital requirements. The acquisitions, aimed at filling the gaps in the Veranda ecosystem, are expected to be completed by the first half of the financial year 2024-25, it noted.

Veranda’s entire growth strategy almost completely relies on acquisitions—it has spent over Rs 1,000 crore to buy over a dozen companies so far.

Founded in 2018 by the Kalpathi AGS Group, Veranda Learning Solutions is a publicly listed education company that offers a bouquet of training programmes for competitive exam preparation, as well as a slew of professional skilling and upskilling programmes.

In our quest for fulfilment, groundbreaking insights from visionary thinkers can illuminate new paths and redefine our understanding of happiness. From tech pioneers to social activists, these innovative quotes challenge conventional wisdom and inspire us to embrace bold perspectives.

In this article, we'll explore 10 thought-provoking quotes by contemporary thought leaders and uncover the transformative meanings behind each one, offering fresh insights into leading a fulfilling life in the digital age.

"Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the presence of purposeful solutions." - Elon Musk

Musk reframes happiness as an active pursuit characterised by problem-solving and purpose-driven action. Rather than seeking an escape from challenges, true fulfilment arises from tackling them with intention and creativity.

"The key to happiness is not in finding the perfect balance, but in mastering the art of dynamic equilibrium." - Sheryl Sandberg

Sandberg advocates for embracing the fluidity of life and adapting to its ever-changing rhythms. Rather than striving for static balance, happiness lies in navigating the ebb and flow of experiences with resilience and grace.

"Happiness is the radical acceptance of imperfection and the celebration of authenticity." - Brené Brown

Brown challenges the pursuit of perfection and highlights the liberating power of self-acceptance. True happiness emerges when we embrace our flaws, vulnerabilities, and unique quirks, allowing our authentic selves to shine.

"The currency of happiness is not wealth or fame but the richness of meaningful connections and genuine experiences." - Arianna Huffington

Huffington emphasises the intangible wealth derived from deep human connections and meaningful moments. In a world obsessed with material possessions, true happiness is found in the richness of shared experiences and heartfelt connections.

"Happiness is not a destination; it's a dynamic journey of growth, evolution, and self-discovery." - Simon Sinek

Sinek challenges the notion of happiness as a fixed endpoint and underscores its continuous nature. True fulfilment arises from embracing the journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and evolving into our best selves.

"The pursuit of happiness is not a solo endeavor but a collective journey of lifting each other up and creating shared joy." - Melinda Gates

Gates highlights the interconnectedness of happiness and the importance of community and empathy. True fulfilment is found in supporting and uplifting others, fostering a culture of kindness and compassion.

"Happiness is not about having it all but appreciating the beauty of having enough." - Tony Hsieh

Hsieh challenges the culture of consumerism and excess, advocating for a mindset of sufficiency and contentment. True happiness arises from appreciating what we have and finding joy in simplicity and gratitude.

"The essence of happiness lies in the freedom to be authentically oneself without fear of judgment or conformity." - Malala Yousafzai

Yousafzai celebrates the power of authenticity and self-expression in fostering happiness. True fulfilment emerges when we embrace our unique identities and speak our truth, regardless of societal expectations.

"Happiness is not a fixed state but a dynamic equilibrium of resilience, gratitude, and inner peace." - Deepak Chopra

Chopra emphasises the holistic nature of happiness, which encompasses emotional resilience, gratitude for life's blessings, and inner tranquillity. True fulfilment arises from cultivating balance and harmony within ourselves.

"The pursuit of happiness begins with the radical act of self-love and the unwavering belief in one's inherent worthiness." - Lizzo

Lizzo champions the transformative power of self-love and self-acceptance in the journey towards happiness. True fulfilment emerges when we recognise our own worthiness and prioritise our well-being without apology.

Incorporating the innovative wisdom of these ten quotes into our lives can revolutionise our approach to happiness and fulfilment. By embracing purposeful action, dynamic equilibrium, and authentic self-expression, we can navigate life's complexities with resilience, grace, and joy. As we embark on our quests for happiness, may these visionary insights from contemporary thought leaders inspire us to create lives filled with meaning, purpose, and boundless possibility.

No savvy entrepreneur embarks on their startup journey envisioning the end. Yet, in the dynamic landscape of business ownership, crafting a formidable exit strategy isn't just a luxury—it's a survival essential. While the notion may seem daunting, understanding the pivotal role of an exit strategy is paramount for navigating the unpredictable terrain of entrepreneurship.

According to the Harvard Business Review, it is a taboo topic in the startup community and this is why founders may refrain from making it in the first place. But in reality, it does more harm than good.

In this article, we will cover why business owners need an exit strategy before things get out of hand.

What is an exit strategy?

Before jumping onto the reasons, let's understand what it means. In simple words, it's a plan that outlines how a business owner intends to exit their business in the future. This could involve selling the business, passing it on to a family member, merging with another company, or shutting down operations altogether. Having an exit strategy is important for any business plan, especially for entrepreneurs starting their own businesses.

4 Reasons why having an exit strategy is crucial

1. Get the right investors on board

Investors carefully evaluate a startup’s business model and profitability before funding it. Investors are more likely to support a startup with a well-defined exit strategy, as it demonstrates that the business owner is serious about their long-term goals and has a clear plan for achieving them. This can help entrepreneurs secure the funding and resources they need to grow their business and ultimately achieve a successful exit.

2. Set goals

One of the main reasons for having an exit strategy is to provide a clear roadmap for the future of the business. By establishing an exit strategy early on, business owners can set goals and milestones that they need to achieve to exit the business on their terms successfully. This can help them stay focused and motivated as they work towards building a successful and sustainable business.

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3. Grab the best offer

While an acquisition might be an unavoidable milestone for a successful startup, many of them do not prepare for this big sale until desperation. This causes a company to make a hasty sale that may not be so fruitful for stakeholders and business owners. Lack of planning of an exit strategy can force a company to sell their business below the market value.

4. Mitigate risks

Risk management is a fundamental practice for entrepreneurs to curtail financial losses or factors that can affect their operations and sales. This is why business owners need to mitigate any risks and uncertainties that arise while running their business.

With a plan, entrepreneurs can anticipate potential challenges and develop strategies to address them before they become major roadblocks to their exit plans. This proactive approach can help business owners lower losses and maximise returns when it comes time to exit the business.

The bottom line

An exit strategy is crucial for entrepreneurs as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of business ownership. By developing a solid exit strategy, startups can set themselves up for long-term success and ensure that they have a clear plan for the future of their business.

When it comes to habit formation, James Clear's Two-Minute Rule stands as a beacon of simplicity and effectiveness. As we navigate the complexities of life in 2024, this timeless principle continues to offer profound insights into how we can create lasting change with minimal effort.

In this article, we'll delve into the essence of the Two-Minute Rule, explore its applications in various aspects of life, and uncover practical strategies for harnessing its power to cultivate habits that stick.

Understanding the Two-Minute Rule

At its core, the Two-Minute Rule is deceptively simple: When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do. This straightforward guideline serves as a powerful tool for overcoming inertia and building momentum. By breaking down daunting tasks into bite-sized actions that can be completed in two minutes or less, the Two-Minute Rule removes barriers to entry and makes habit formation more manageable.

The psychology behind the rule

The brilliance of the Two-Minute Rule lies in its alignment with human psychology. Psychologically, starting a new habit can be intimidating, often triggering procrastination or avoidance. However, the Two-Minute Rule circumvents this psychological barrier by reducing the activation energy required to begin. It capitalises on the concept of small wins, leveraging the satisfaction of completing a quick task to propel individuals forward in their habit-building journey.

Applications of the Two-Minute Rule

The versatility of the Two-Minute Rule makes it applicable to virtually any habit or behaviour change. Whether you're aiming to exercise regularly, read more books, or practice mindfulness, the Two-Minute Rule can serve as a catalyst for success. For example, instead of committing to an hour-long workout session, start by lacing up your shoes and stepping outside for a two-minute walk. Over time, these small actions can snowball into significant progress.

Implementing the Two-Minute Rule

To effectively implement the Two-Minute Rule, it's essential to identify specific behaviours or habits you want to cultivate. Break down each desired habit into its smallest component parts and determine how you can perform these actions in two minutes or less. Additionally, create a designated trigger or cue that prompts you to engage in the habit consistently. Whether it's setting a reminder on your phone or linking the habit to an existing routine, find a method that works for you.

Examples of the Two-Minute Rule in action

Consider the following examples of how the Two-Minute Rule can be applied in different areas of life:

1. Reading: Instead of committing to finishing an entire book in one sitting, aim to read for two minutes each day. Over time, you'll build the habit of reading consistently, leading to increased knowledge and personal growth.
2. Meditation: Begin your mindfulness practice by meditating for just two minutes each morning. As you become more comfortable with the practice, you can gradually extend the duration of your sessions.
3. Writing: If you aspire to become a writer, start by writing for two minutes every day. Whether it's journaling, brainstorming ideas, or drafting paragraphs, the key is to establish a regular writing habit.
4. Exercise: Kickstart your fitness journey by engaging in two minutes of physical activity each day. Whether stretching, doing bodyweight exercises or going for a short jog, every movement counts towards building a healthier lifestyle.

The long-term impact

While the Two-Minute Rule may seem trivial in the moment, its long-term impact is profound. By consistently engaging in small, manageable actions, individuals gradually reinforce positive habits and rewire their brains for success. Over time, these micro-habits compound, leading to significant improvements in productivity, well-being, and overall quality of life.

As we navigate the complexities of life in 2024, James Clear's Two-Minute Rule serves as a timeless guide for habit formation. By embracing the power of small actions and minimising resistance to change, individuals can cultivate lasting habits that propel them towards their goals. Whether it's improving health, increasing productivity, or fostering personal growth, the Two-Minute Rule offers a simple yet powerful framework for building habits that stand the test of time.

In today's digital world, having an impactful and memorable logo is crucial for any startup to establish a powerful brand presence and digital identity. With the advancements in technology, it has become easier than ever to create stunning logos with the help of AI tools. Elevate your brand logo with these innovative AI-powered solutions, ensuring a memorable and impactful presence in the market.

In this article, we will share five AI tools that can revolutionise your logo branding and take your startup to the next level.

Top 5 free AI tools for logo branding

uBrand

uBrand is an AI-powered logo design tool that allows you to create professional-looking logos in a matter of minutes. With uBrand, you can pick from a wide range of templates and customise them to suit your brand's identity. The tool even offers features such as colour palettes, font libraries, and design elements to help you create a logo design that truly represents your startup.

Whether you're looking for a sleek and modern design or something more traditional, uBrand has everything you need to make your logo stand out. One of the best things about this tool is that it offers both a free version and a premium plan starting at $29 per month.

Hatchful Logo Maker by Shopify

The Hatchful Logo Maker, developed by Shopify, is an excellent AI-powered tool for creating unique logos that will help your business stand out from the competition. This tool is ideal for startups that have a tight budget, as it is a free logo designer.

With Hatchful Logo Maker, you can select from over 100 pre-designed templates, and personalise them to match your brand's style. Additionally, the tool provides branding guidelines and social media assets to help you maintain a consistent brand image across all platforms. Also, it offers paid versions as well.

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Namify

Namify is a versatile AI tool that not only helps you create stunning logos but also assists you in coming up with a catchy name for your business. With Namify, you can input keywords related to your company and let the tool generate unique name ideas for you.

Once you've settled on a name, Namify offers logo design options that align with your brand's identity. This tool is perfect for startups that are just starting and need help with both naming and branding. Moreover, it can even check if the name you have decided is already taken on various social media channels.

Wix Logo Maker

Wix Logo Maker is another famous AI tool that lets you create a professional logo without the need for any design skills for free. You can choose from a vast library of icons, fonts, and colours to construct a logo that resonates with your target audience.

With advanced customisation options, such as layering and opacity adjustments it ensures that your brand logo looks modern and professional. Whether you're a solopreneur or a small startup, Wix Logo Maker can help you create a logo that reflects your brand's values and mission.

Looka

Looka is a user-friendly AI-powered logo design tool that can help you create a custom logo that is tailor-made for your startup. The tool allows you to experiment with different design elements and layouts until you find the perfect logo for your brand. Looka even provides branding guidelines and logo files in multiple formats for easy use across all marketing channels.

The bottom line

Utilising AI tools for logo branding can revolutionise the way startups approach design and branding. These five tools are free to use which makes them ideal for new startups on a fixed budget. By leveraging AI tools into your logo branding strategy, you can set your startup apart from the competition and establish a strong brand presence in the market. So why wait? Start exploring these AI tools today and take your startup branding to the next level.

Unlocking the path to startup success depends on a relentless pursuit of learning, particularly in the dynamic realm of product management. As entrepreneurs navigate the tumultuous waters of innovation and market demands, acquiring knowledge becomes not just a strategy but a necessity. In the quest for mastery, understanding the intricacies of product management emerges as a cornerstone. Here, we delve into a curated selection of the top 7 books for 2024, each offering invaluable insights and strategies to propel your journey towards product perfection and entrepreneurial triumph.

7 Books for learning product management

1. The Four Steps to the Epiphany: Successful Strategies for Products That Win

First up on the list is a book authored by American entrepreneur Steve Blank. It is one of the most influential books that provides practical steps for new ventures and startups. It addresses key setbacks that startups face while drafting a business plan and product.

It even shares a four-step approach to customer development. Moreover, this comprehensive book contains various examples that will help you understand aspects of marketing, product management, sales, etc. Overall, it's a must-read for businesses in their beginner phase.

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2. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Entrepreneur Eric Ries's The Lean Startup is the third one on the list. It is another beginner-friendly guide that helps startups build customer-centric products by testing their hypotheses and learning to improve.

Moreover, for MVP (Minimum Viable Product) in product management, Eric shares a simple and effective method for startups to build products that customers will love. From validated learning processes to shortening product development cycles without relying on metrics, this guide is packed with practical techniques.

3. Escaping the Build Trap by Melissa Perri

Most companies focus on outputs that make them get stuck in the "Build Trap". Melissa Peri addresses this core issue and lays out key product management principles for startups. Altogether, this guide helps businesses avoid product development pitfalls by relying on outputs rather than customer needs thereby failing the product-market fit.

4. Product Roadmaps Relaunched by Lombardo, McCarthy, and Ryan

Product roadmaps are one of the most influential documents for a new business. This next book recommendation will help you make an effective product roadmap by aligning stakeholders, prioritising ideas, and communicating benefits. Suitable for product managers, owners, business analysts, and entrepreneurs, it teaches how to articulate an inspiring vision, boost loyalty, and work with sales teams. Apart from that, it emphasises user and buyer-centric planning.

5. Product Leadership by Banfield, Eriksson, and Walkingshaw

Authored by Banfield, Eriksson, and Walkingshaw "Product Leadership" is a book that features interviews with almost 100 product managers from around the world. The book delves into their approaches, styles, insights, and techniques to gain a better understanding of how they achieved success. Additionally, this guide explores common themes and patterns of successful teams, best practices for guiding product teams, etc. Overall, this book is a great resource for anyone looking to understand the motivations of successful product leaders.

6. Sprint by Knapp, Zeratsky, and Kowitz

Sprint is a transformative formula for experimenting with ideas and saving time and money for entrepreneurs. It involves a quick five-day process from idea to prototype to decision, proven at over a hundred companies. The strategy, created by Jake Knapp at Google, has been employed on various platforms and has been completed by Braden Kowitz and John Zeratsky at Google Ventures. In short, the Sprint technique is suitable for teams of any size, from small startups to Fortune 100s, and anyone with a big opportunity or problem.

7. The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

This is a detailed book that claims product design failures occur because designers often ignore user needs and cognitive psychology principles. To articulate better designs, this guide shares how it can be achieved. It provides a helpful introduction to how some products satisfy customers while others frustrate them.

In conclusion, the journey towards entrepreneurial success is paved with continuous learning and adaptation, particularly in the realm of product management. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned product manager, the wisdom contained within these pages offers invaluable strategies, frameworks, and inspiration to propel your ventures forward.