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Savi Soin: Driving Innovation and Empowering Startups Through Qualcomm Design in India Challenge

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Qualcomm, a global technology leader, has been actively fostering innovation and supporting India’s growing technology ecosystem through its annual program, the Qualcomm Design in India Challenge (QDIC). The program, initiated in 2016, encourages deeptech hardware start-ups to leverage Qualcomm’s advanced technologies in areas such as healthtech, robotics, drones, automotive, and more. As the eighth edition of QDIC opens its applications, it’s a fitting time to acknowledge the impact and success of the previous edition, showcasing remarkable start-ups and the visionary leadership behind the initiative.

Under the guidance of Qualcomm, the QDIC has evolved into a platform that not only nurtures startups but also contributes significantly to India’s hardware ecosystem. The challenge, inspired by the potential of smart devices and products around smart infrastructures, agriculture technology, industrial automation, robotics and drones, medical technology, and rural IoT, has become a catalyst for innovation.

In the recently concluded seventh edition, Qualcomm announced TechEagle as the winner, with React Labs and IROV Technologies securing the runner-up positions. These startups received prizes of Rs 65 lakh, Rs 50 lakh, and Rs 35 lakh, respectively. The success stories of these startups exemplify the transformative power of Qualcomm’s support in driving technological advancements.

TechEagle: Revolutionizing Last-Mile Delivery with Drones

TechEagle, based in Gurgaon, emerged as the winner of QDIC 2022 with its groundbreaking approach to on-demand drone delivery. The startup focuses on delivering last-mile goods, including healthcare products, food, and parcels, through drones. TechEagle’s drones boast the capability to carry a substantial payload of over 3 kg over a distance of more than 100 km at a speed of around 120 kmph. Ensuring safety and security, the drones are equipped with sensors, dual redundancy in propulsion, and independent parachute systems.

The mission of TechEagle is to establish a fully autonomous and safe drone delivery network, making it more cost-effective than traditional transportation methods. This aligns with the broader vision of leveraging technology for positive societal impact.

React Labs, the first runner-up, focuses on redefining cooking experiences through its AI-enabled smart cooking appliance. The innovative product offers precise temperature control, automated stirring, mixing, tossing, and other features that simplify cooking processes. By incorporating cloud-based AI, React Labs ensures a delightful culinary experience, allowing users to prepare a variety of dishes effortlessly. The start-up’s dedication to redefining traditional cooking methods showcases the potential for technology to enhance everyday activities. React Labs envisions making cooking more accessible and enjoyable through cutting-edge advancements in kitchen appliances.

IROV Technologies, the second runner-up, is a Kerala-based startup making waves in the marine robotics sector. The company specializes in providing underwater drones and remotely operated vehicles, along with inspection services for dams, bridges, oil and gas companies, ports, and shipping businesses. In addition to offering products for murky water conditions, IROV Technologies provides an advanced reporting and data analytics platform powered by AI and ML. The start-up’s contributions extend to diverse industries, including defence, showcasing the versatility of robotics in addressing critical challenges. IROV Technologies exemplifies how technology can revolutionize traditional sectors, bringing efficiency and innovation.

Savi Soin: Driving Innovation and Mentorship

At the forefront of Qualcomm’s initiatives is Savi Soin, a leader dedicated to driving innovation and supporting startups. The Qualcomm Design in India Challenge not only provides incubation grants and patent filing incentives but also offers in-depth mentorship workshops, opportunities to connect with government bodies, and access to the Innovation Commercialisation Fund (ICF) of Rs 60 lakh.

As Qualcomm continues to accept applications for the eighth edition of the challenge, Savi Soin’s leadership underscores the company’s commitment to empowering deeptech startups in India. The legacy of QDIC, coupled with initiatives like Qualcomm Women Entrepreneurship India Network (QWEIN) and Qualcomm Semiconductor Mentorship Programme (Qualcomm SMP), solidifies Qualcomm’s role as a key player in shaping India’s technology landscape.

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How IDigitalAKKI Media Is Shaping Crisis Communication for Gurgaon-Based Institutions

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IDigitalAKKi Media Crisis Communication in Gurgaon

Gurgaon’s rapid growth as an educational, corporate, and healthcare hub has brought new opportunities—and new reputational challenges. Institutions operating in the city today face constant digital scrutiny, where public perception can shift quickly due to misinformation, incomplete narratives, or heightened media attention.

In this evolving environment, crisis communication has emerged as a critical function rather than a reactive afterthought. Gurgaon-based digital branding and crisis communication agency IDigitalAKKI Media has been working closely with institutions to address this shift through structured and responsible communication strategies.

The Rising Importance of Crisis Communication in Gurgaon

With the city hosting multinational offices, universities, schools, hospitals, and fast-scaling organizations, even localized incidents can attract widespread attention. Social platforms and search engines often amplify issues faster than official responses can keep pace.

This has created a growing need for agencies that understand not just communication mechanics, but also institutional accountability. Crisis communication today is less about visibility and more about clarity, consistency, and credibility.

A Structured and Disciplined Communication Model

IDigitalAKKI Media approaches crisis management through structured frameworks that prioritize accuracy and long-term reputation over short-term messaging. Rather than relying on reactive publicity, the agency focuses on aligning internal communication with external narratives to reduce confusion and prevent escalation.

This approach helps institutions maintain stability during sensitive periods while ensuring that public communication remains responsible and measured.

Working with Educational and Institutional Stakeholders

Educational institutions in Gurgaon face unique reputational pressures involving students, parents, faculty, and regulatory bodies. Even minor concerns, when miscommunicated, can affect public trust. IDigitalAKKI Media has supported educational and institutional stakeholders by guiding communication during such situations with discretion and strategic oversight.

The agency’s work emphasizes transparency where required, restraint where necessary, and continuity beyond the immediate crisis phase.

Beyond Immediate Crisis Response

Modern crisis communication does not end once attention subsides. Institutions must assess the long-term impact of public narratives and ensure that post-crisis communication reinforces credibility. IDigitalAKKI Media integrates monitoring and advisory support into its crisis strategies, helping organizations regain equilibrium after periods of heightened attention.

This longer-term perspective reflects a maturing understanding of reputation management within Gurgaon’s institutional landscape.

A Gurgaon-Based Agency with Broader Perspective

Operating from Gurgaon, IDigitalAKKI Media is positioned within one of India’s most diverse institutional ecosystems. Its local presence allows the agency to understand regional dynamics, while its broader experience enables it to address communication challenges that extend beyond geographic boundaries.

As searches for crisis communication and reputation management services in Gurgaon continue to rise, agencies with both local insight and structured methodology are becoming increasingly relevant.

A Shift Toward Responsible Reputation Management

The conversation around crisis management in Gurgaon is evolving. Institutions are gradually moving away from reactive damage control toward preparedness, accountability, and long-term trust-building. Crisis communication is now being viewed as part of institutional governance rather than an emergency function.

In this context, agencies like IDigitalAKKI Media reflect a broader shift toward disciplined and ethical communication practices that prioritize credibility over noise.

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Kapil Banwari: Empowering the Next Generation through Financial Literacy with Fyp

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In the dynamic landscape of finance and technology, Kapil Banwari, a certified Cost and Management Accountant from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India, stands out as a visionary entrepreneur. With a robust background in finance, including seven years at ITC in various financial roles, Kapil recognized the significant gap in financial literacy, particularly among children. In 2021, he took a bold step by founding Fyp, a fintech startup dedicated to empowering children with financial knowledge from an early age.

Kapil’s journey in the corporate world, honing his financial expertise, laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial venture. While at ITC, he observed a notable lack of financial literacy across various age groups. Colleagues from diverse departments sought his advice on personal finance, tax filing, and investment management. This experience illuminated the need for financial education, especially among children.

Transitioning from corporate finance to entrepreneurship, Kapil identified the potential to create a platform that could teach children about finance in an engaging and accessible manner. Leveraging his belief that teaching children is more straightforward than teaching adults, he set out to establish Fyp as a fintech solution tailored for children.

In a crowded space occupied by neobanks like Junio, FamPay, and Walrus, Fyp distinguishes itself by prioritizing financial literacy. Fyp’s core objective goes beyond facilitating payments; it aims to educate children about financial concepts through gamification and bite-sized video content. Understanding the immense growth potential in the global neobank market, Fyp is strategically positioned to cater to India’s young population, where more than half is under the age of 18.

Fyp’s uniqueness lies in its acquisition of Edunify, an edtech startup, earlier this year. This strategic move enhances Fyp’s capability to expand its user base through collaborations with schools nationwide. By integrating financial literacy into its offerings, Fyp envisions becoming a trusted banking partner for pre-teens and teenagers, offering convenience in banking services.

Fyp operates as a neobank, partnering with YES Bank for wallet services and Visa for its online and physical cards. Its revenue model primarily relies on interchange fees levied by banks on merchants for payment processing. The startup also issues physical cards linked to Fyp accounts, catering to users interested in both virtual and physical transactions. Additionally, Fyp explores revenue streams by associating with children-centric brands, providing a platform for marketing on its app.

Since launching its Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in September 2021 and the main product in December, Fyp has witnessed remarkable traction. With over eight lakh downloads across Android and iOS, the startup boasts daily active users ranging from 40,000 to 45,000. Having processed more than 2.5 lakh transactions, Fyp has positioned itself as a significant player in the teen-focused neobanking space.

Kapil’s leadership at Fyp reflects his commitment to bridging the financial literacy gap for the next generation. The startup’s target audience, aged between 11 and 21 years, resonates with the broader trend in teen-focused neobanking. Impressively, 70 to 75 percent of user acquisition for Fyp has occurred organically, underlining the relevance and appeal of its offerings.

In early 2022, Fyp successfully secured a seed round of $2 million, signaling investor confidence in its vision and potential. Currently in the process of raising its next investment round, Fyp continues its mission to empower children with financial knowledge and redefine their banking experiences.

As Kapil Banwari leads Fyp into the future, the startup stands as a beacon for financial inclusion and education. By fostering a generation of financially literate individuals, Fyp contributes to building a more empowered and economically savvy society.

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Revolutionizing Fleet Management: The Visionaries Behind LocoNav

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In the vast expanse of developing countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, a significant challenge plagues the on-road commercial vehicle industry. With more than 250 million vehicles navigating these regions, the lack of access to modern technology hinders operational efficiency for fleet owners. Recognizing this gap, LocoNav, a full-stack fleet management start-up, emerges as a game-changer, employing IoT innovations to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

Shridhar Gupta and Vidit Jain, the co-founders of LocoNav, embarked on this journey in 2016 with a mission to empower fleet owners in price-sensitive markets. They aimed to deliver B2B fleet management solutions that cater to diverse technological landscapes, ensuring accessibility and affordability for all stakeholders.

Shridhar Gupta, with a background in leading sales and partnerships at ClearTax, brought a wealth of experience to LocoNav. His earlier roles in companies like Fitho and DNG Enterprises showcased his commitment to building scalable solutions. Shridhar’s visionary leadership is integral to LocoNav’s success, driving innovation and strategic growth. Vidit Jain, a founding engineer at Bizzy, played a crucial role in shaping the backend framework for the omnichannel marketing engine. His experience at ClearTax and expertise in technology positioned him as a key force behind LocoNav’s technical prowess. Vidit’s commitment to creating accessible and global solutions aligns seamlessly with the startup’s goals.

LocoNav, headquartered in San Francisco and Gurugram, specializes in providing comprehensive fleet management solutions since its inception. The start-up addresses the needs of various on-road vehicles, including cars, bikes, buses, trucks, ambulances, and construction vehicles. By integrating IoT sensors into vehicles, LocoNav collects and transfers data to secure cloud servers, leveraging advanced AI and ML for actionable insights.

The key features of LocoNav’s fleet management solution focus on tracking, measuring, and optimizing the entire fleet. These features include vehicle tracking, trip management, fuel monitoring, safety measures, compliance solutions, and more. LocoNav stands out by offering real-time alerts, rich analytics, and customized reports in an interface accessible in over 14 languages.

Vidit emphasizes LocoNav’s distinction as the largest fleet tech company in India, catering to the specific needs of developing and emerging markets. The start-up’s platform is designed with a customer-centric approach, solving industry challenges instead of imposing generic solutions. The user-friendly interface, available in multiple languages, ensures accessibility for diverse fleet owners, making LocoNav the go-to choice in the industry.

LocoNav’s success is further underscored by its global presence, extending to over 50 countries. With a track record of serving more than five million vehicles and boasting over 90,000 customers worldwide, LocoNav’s impact on the fleet tech industry is substantial. Despite challenges, LocoNav has witnessed a robust growth trajectory and achieved EBITDA positivity even during the pandemic. The start-up’s commitment to innovation and addressing industry concerns has resonated with investors. In a Series B funding round in June 2021, LocoNav secured $37 million from notable investors, including Quiet Capital, Anthemis Group, Sequoia Capital India, and others.

As a SaaS startup, LocoNav’s monetization strategy revolves around subscription-based solutions, combining software with connected devices. The platform’s reach is amplified through strategic partnerships that contribute to the growth of the LocoNav ecosystem.

Shridhar Gupta and Vidit Jain envision LocoNav as a catalyst for transforming fleet management globally. Their commitment to providing accessible, scalable, and innovative solutions remains unwavering. LocoNav’s journey, marked by continuous innovation and strategic expansion, exemplifies the impact visionary leaders can have on an industry.

In conclusion, Shridhar Gupta and Vidit Jain’s leadership at LocoNav reflects a paradigm shift in how fleet management solutions are conceived and implemented. Their visionary approach and dedication to creating a global impact through technology-driven solutions position LocoNav as a frontrunner in the ever-evolving fleet tech landscape.

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