Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 12: 7Seas Entertainment Limited (BSE: 540874) today announced Formula Ride, an upcoming mobile racing game designed to place players at the centre of high-speed competition while introducing strategic decisions that can influence the outcome of every race. Formula Ride is currently available for pre-registration on Google Play and pre-order on the App Store, ahead of its proposed commercial launch on Android and iOS.

Developed in India for domestic and international audiences, Formula Ride is being built as a feature-rich racing experience in which raw speed is only part of the challenge. Planned gameplay elements include tyre management, pit-stop strategy, vehicle-damage response, braking dynamics and race-control decisions as conditions change on the track.

A racing experience built around choice and competition

Formula Ride is planned to include a range of modes intended for both quick-play users and players seeking longer-term progression:

  • Championship Mode: a structured racing season proposed to feature 10 teams and a 20-driver grid.
  • Career Mode: progression through racing tiers, with opportunities to unlock vehicles and upgrades and build a racing reputation.
  • Quick Race and Classic Modes: accessible racing sessions offering different ways to experience the game.
  • Real-time Multiplayer: proposed competitive gameplay with supporting features such as leaderboards, achievements and daily rewards.

The game is intended to combine accessible controls with deeper systems that reward timing, judgement and consistent improvement. This balance is expected to make the title accessible to new players while providing progression and competitive features intended to support continued player engagement.

Advancing original gaming intellectual property

Formula Ride reflects the Company’s continuing focus on original gaming intellectual property and mobile-first product development. Its proposed combination of competitive gameplay, progression systems and multiplayer features is intended to provide a foundation for future product enhancements and content updates, subject to user adoption, commercial viability, technical feasibility and platform requirements.

For 7Seas Entertainment, the title is also an opportunity to showcase Indian game-development capabilities to a wider audience. The project brings together the Company’s teams across concept development, gameplay design, software engineering, visual production, quality assurance and publishing.

Management commentary

“Formula Ride is being designed to deliver more than the excitement of racing. Our focus is on creating an engaging experience in which players can compete, make meaningful strategic choices and grow through the game over time.

The title reflects our ambition to build original games in India for players everywhere. Its combination of race strategy, career progression and real-time multiplayer gives us a strong creative foundation on which we can continue to develop the experience. We are encouraged by the progress made so far and look forward to the commercial launch of Formula Ride and bringing the game to players in India and international markets.”

— L. M. Shankar, Managing Director, 7Seas Entertainment Limited

Designed for a wider audience

Formula Ride is being developed for mobile players who enjoy fast, competitive sessions as well as those who prefer structured championships and long-term career progression. Following its commercial launch, the Company intends to refine and update the title based on player feedback, performance data, technical considerations and applicable platform policies.

Launch availability, platform details and further updates will be communicated through the Company’s official website and channels.

About 7Seas Entertainment Limited

7Seas Entertainment Limited is a developer and publisher of digital games and interactive content headquartered in Hyderabad, India. The Company develops original gaming intellectual property and digital experiences across mobile, PC and web platforms and works across game design, software development, animation, quality assurance, publishing and AI-assisted content production.

Media contact

7Seas Entertainment Limited

Website: www.7seasent.com

Email: info@7seasent.com

Telephone: +91 40 4953 3636

Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations. Actual outcomes may differ due to development timelines, player response, market conditions and platform requirements, and the proposed launch does not assure any immediate financial or commercial benefit.

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 12: Chennai-based aerospace company Space Zone India Private Limited has reported the successful demonstration of an in-flight rocket engine restart mechanism through its RRR-1 (RHUMI Restart Rocket), launched as part of Mission RHUMI TWIN 2026 from the Thiruvidanthai coastline near Chennai on October 10.

The experimental mission marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to develop indigenous restart-capable hybrid rocket propulsion systems, a technology with potential applications in reusable launch vehicles, satellite launch systems and advanced aerospace research.

Engine Restarted After Three-Second Shutdown

According to the mission team, RRR-1 successfully completed a programmed propulsion sequence involving two powered-flight phases separated by a controlled engine shutdown.

The rocket engine initially operated for approximately nine seconds, generating thrust during the first phase of flight. The propulsion system was then intentionally shut down for three seconds, during which the vehicle continued along its flight trajectory without engine thrust.

At the 12-second mark, the engine was reportedly reignited for another five seconds, completing the planned 17-second sequence.

The demonstration involved a total of 14 seconds of powered engine operation, separated by a three-second unpowered interval.

The company said the flight was supported by onboard instrumentation and tracking systems designed to monitor the rocket’s trajectory and propulsion performance.

Hybrid Propulsion Offers Greater Control Over Rocket Operations

RRR-1 uses hybrid rocket propulsion technology, which combines solid fuel with a separately supplied oxidiser.

Unlike conventional solid-propellant motors, hybrid rocket engines can be designed to allow controlled shutdown by interrupting oxidiser flow. Restart capability, however, requires additional engineering to ensure reliable reignition under changing flight conditions.

The successful demonstration of the planned sequence provides an experimental basis for further studies into engine restart reliability, ignition response, combustion stability and propulsion performance.

The technology could eventually support rockets requiring multiple engine burns during a single mission, allowing propulsion to be managed according to different phases of flight.

Potential to Improve Fuel Efficiency and Reduce Launch Costs

One of the principal advantages being investigated is the ability to operate rocket engines only during selected phases of a mission.

Rather than relying on a single continuous burn, restart-capable propulsion systems can potentially provide greater flexibility in trajectory planning and propellant utilisation.

Such systems may help optimise mission performance, particularly in applications requiring multiple propulsion events, orbital adjustments or controlled recovery manoeuvres.

The company is examining whether the technology could contribute to improved propellant efficiency, lower operating costs and more economical launch systems.

However, these benefits would require further validation through propulsion testing, vehicle-level analysis and repeated flight demonstrations.

Technology Could Support Future Reusable and Re-Entry Vehicles

Engine restart capability is an important feature in several reusable rocket architectures, particularly those requiring additional powered-flight phases for recovery and landing.

The technology demonstrated through RRR-1 could provide a foundation for investigating future reusable launch systems and certain powered re-entry vehicle concepts.

In such systems, controlled reignition may enable propulsion-assisted manoeuvres, trajectory corrections and deceleration during selected phases of flight.

Further research would be required to establish whether the hybrid propulsion system can meet the performance, reliability and control requirements of larger reusable vehicles.

Applications in Advanced Aerospace and Defence Research

The programme also has potential relevance to advanced aerospace and defence research, particularly in the study of controlled propulsion, programmable engine operation and multi-phase powered flight.

Restart-capable engines may allow researchers to investigate how propulsion can be managed at different stages of a vehicle’s trajectory.

In certain specialised aerospace applications, controlled reignition could potentially influence vehicle speed and terminal-phase flight conditions. Such applications remain conceptual for the RRR-1 programme and would require dedicated development, validation and applicable regulatory approvals.

Distinguished Dignitaries Witness the Mission

The rocket launch was witnessed by the Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Padma Shri Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai, Former Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, and Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, former Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Several scientists associated with ISRO and DRDO, senior government officials, administrators and thousands of students were also present.

The mission was led by Anand Megalingam, Founder and CEO of Space Zone India, who served as Mission Director.

The programme also provided students with exposure to rocket propulsion, satellite systems and experimental aerospace engineering.

Mission Supported by Indian and International Partners

Mission RHUMI TWIN 2026 received support from The Global Help International Inc., a private foundation based in the United States and The Martin Group.

Their contributions supported the mission and its associated educational initiatives, helping students gain practical exposure to space science and rocket technology.

Company to Approach Investors Following Successful Technology Demonstration

Following the successful launch, Space Zone India is now preparing to initiate discussions with potential investors and strategic industry partners to support the next stage of its technological development.

The company had not initiated a formal investment-raising process before the mission, choosing instead to focus its resources on developing, testing and demonstrating the restart-capable propulsion system.

With the flight demonstration completed, the organisation is now working towards preparing an investment and expansion plan based on the results of its experimental programme.

The proposed investment strategy will focus on strengthening propulsion research infrastructure, expanding engineering capabilities, conducting additional static-fire and flight tests, and developing larger restart-capable hybrid propulsion systems.

The company also intends to explore partnerships with aerospace manufacturers, research institutions and commercial space organisations.

The investment plan is expected to support the transition from experimental demonstrations towards more advanced technology development and eventual commercial applications, subject to further qualification and regulatory approvals.

Next Phase to Focus on Technology Validation and Scaling

The next stage of the RRR programme is expected to involve further technical validation, including repeated ignition testing, engine performance assessment, combustion stability studies and evaluation of restart reliability.

The company is also considering the engineering challenges involved in adapting restart-capable hybrid propulsion systems to larger vehicles.

While the October 10 demonstration established an important experimental milestone, additional testing will be necessary to evaluate operational reliability, performance consistency and commercial feasibility.

The successful RRR-1 demonstration positions Space Zone India to pursue a new phase of aerospace research, strategic investment and indigenous propulsion development, with the longer-term objective of contributing to India’s growing private space industry.

SahiJob – Fit Hai Toh Hit Hai brings academic intelligence, career strategy and employment intelligence together for a new generation of families, students and institutions navigating a rapidly changing world.

Mumbai, India — October 2026: Space of The Greats Group, led by entrepreneur Varun Ajay Joshi, has announced its Chapter 2 of Career Intelligence Dream of a private, premium advisory model designed for families and institutions seeking a more sophisticated approach to academic and career decision-making.

Built around the philosophy “Fit Hai Toh Hit Hai,” SahiJob is positioning Career Intelligence as a distinct category – one designed for an era in which the relationship between education, skills, technology, industries and employment is changing faster than traditional systems can adapt.

The new offering is intentionally designed as a qualification-access advisory experience, rather than a mass-market service. SahiJob has begun to work with a select number of institutional partners and responsible committed families who place their bets on quality, continuity, research personalisation and access to rare, exclusive & world class opportunities.

Education Is Changing. The Career Question Has Changed With It.

For generations, the conventional academic journey followed a relatively predictable sequence choose a stream, select a degree, graduate, and enter the workforce.

That sequence is becoming increasingly difficult to rely upon.

Artificial intelligence is transforming job functions. New professions are emerging across technology, finance, healthcare, sustainability, creative industries and business. Traditional roles are being redesigned. Employers are increasingly evaluating skills, evidence of capability and adaptability alongside formal qualifications.

At the same time, students are being asked to make important decisions at remarkably young ages.

A student in school may be expected to decide between academic streams without fully understanding how those choices influence university options, professional pathways or future employability. A college student may complete a respected degree only to discover that the skills demanded by employers have moved considerably beyond the curriculum.

For parents, the challenge is equally complex.

They are not merely asking:

“Which career should my child choose?”

Increasingly, they are asking:

“Will the choices we make today still make sense five years from now?”

“Is my child developing capabilities that the market will value?”

“How do we distinguish genuine opportunity from temporary trends?”

“How do we ensure that education translates into meaningful opportunity?”

Varun’s Private Advisory Office Has Been Built Around This

The company’s private advisory approach focuses on the intersection of academic intelligence, career intelligence and employment intelligence.

Academic Intelligence considers the evolving education landscape, academic pathways, emerging disciplines, university ecosystems, skills and the changing relationship between learning and opportunity.

Career Intelligence considers the individual, their interests, capabilities, aspirations, potential pathways and the environments in which they can create meaningful long-term advantage.

Employment Intelligence extends the conversation beyond education by connecting career decisions to the real economy: industries, organisations, roles, capabilities, geographical opportunities and the changing expectations of employers.

The objective is not to prescribe a single profession to a student. It is to provide a more sophisticated framework through which students and families can make better decisions as circumstances evolve.

This distinction is central to SahiJob’s philosophy.

A career is not a one-time choice. It is an evolving asset.

With models adopted in Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Mumbai through exclusive partnerships. Varun intends to introduce SahiJob’s 5 proprietary models exclusively through his Private Advisory Office.

A Private Advisory Model Built Around Rarity & Quality

Unlike conventional models that are often structured around individual sessions or standardised assessments, SahiJob’s new model is designed as a deeper and more continuous engagement.

The experience is deliberately positioned as private advisory.

Access will be limited through a carefully selected network of institutional partnerships just 200 across the India out of 17.5 lakh+ potential institutional touchpoints across India’s education and learning ecosystem and a very limited number of families. This approach allows SahiJob to focus on depth of engagement, quality of interaction and long-term relevance rather than maximising generic guidance.

The company believes this distinction is increasingly important for parents who are prepared to invest significantly in their children’s education but recognise that academic expenditure alone does not guarantee career readiness, right intelligence does.

The proposition is therefore not built around more information.

It is built around better context, better decision-making and sustained engagement.

Built for Committed Parents and Ambitious Students

SahiJob’s private advisory model is intended for families who see education as a long-term investment and want their children to develop the ability to navigate uncertainty rather than simply follow predetermined pathways.

The model is particularly relevant to parents who want greater visibility into the changing career landscape, students who want to understand opportunities beyond conventional career lists, and institutions that want to provide their students with an additional layer of strategic intelligence.

The company is deliberately avoiding a mass-market approach. Its ambition is not to become the largest career service by student count.

Instead, SahiJob aims to become one of the most trusted names in Private Career Intelligence.

That philosophy also extends to institutional partnerships.

Rather than opening the model indiscriminately to every educational institution, SahiJob plans to build a limited institutional partner network with organisations that share its emphasis on quality, student outcomes, innovation and forward-looking education.

For selected institutions, the partnership represents an opportunity to give students exposure to a broader understanding of careers, industries and future opportunities while differentiating the institution itself in an increasingly competitive education market along with access to in-house research labs, simulations lab and global research networks to improve academic and holistic performance.

Connecting Education to the World of Employment

One of the defining elements of SahiJob’s approach is the connection between education and employment. The company believes one of the biggest gaps in the current ecosystem is the distance between what students study and what organisations eventually need.

SahiJob’s broader Career Intelligence ecosystem therefore seeks to connect academic decision-making with employment realities.

This includes understanding emerging roles, industry requirements, changing skill expectations and international opportunities.

With Space of The Greats Group’s broader presence and relationships across markets, SahiJob is also developing an international orientation connecting students and professionals to opportunity ecosystems across India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The objective is not simply to encourage students to look overseas.

It is to help them understand that careers are increasingly global, while still requiring highly individualised preparation. This includes volunteering, skills exchange programs, exclusive industry visits, employment opportunities, projects and access to intelligence from more than 60+ industries.

Rarity as a Feature, Not a Marketing Device

The company describes the new model as intentionally rare by design.

Limited institutional partnerships, controlled engagement and a focus on committed families are intended to preserve the quality of the experience as the platform develops.

In an environment where education services increasingly compete on scale, SahiJob is taking the opposite approach: fewer relationships, deeper engagement and higher standards.

The philosophy reflects a broader shift in private advisory niche, where families increasingly seek trusted long-term partners rather than transactional providers.

Varun Ajay Joshi on the New Direction – Chapter 2 of Space of The Greats Group

Commenting on the development, Varun Ajay Joshi, Founder of Space of The Greats Group, said:

“The question is no longer simply what a student wants to become. The world they will graduate into may look fundamentally different from the world in which they are making that decision today. Education, technology, skills and employment are converging at an extraordinary pace. Families need more than information; they need perspective, adaptability and the confidence to make decisions in an environment of uncertainty. SahiJob was created to build that bridge between academic choices, career possibilities and the real world of employment.”

With SahiJob’s evolution into a private advisory model, Space of The Greats Group is seeking to establish Career Intelligence as a serious and enduring category within the future of education.

The company’s philosophy is summarised simply:

Education should open doors.
Intelligence should help determine which doors matter.
And preparation should ensure the student is ready when they open.

For the families, students and institutions that choose to participate, SahiJob’s ambition is to provide a level of engagement that goes beyond a single assessment, a single counselling session or a single academic decision.

It is designed for a world where certainty cannot always be promised but better preparation, stronger decision-making, right exclusive and rare intelligence and greater adaptability that drives certainty can be.

Space of The Greats Group is an intelligence-led group founded by Varun Ajay Joshi, building proprietary intelligence systems at the intersection of people, psychology, business, technology and decision-making. Its work spans People & Culture Intelligence, Real Estate Intelligence, Career Intelligence, Academic Intelligence and Employment Intelligence, with operations and partnerships across India and the UAE. In real estate, the Group works with developers and projects across Mumbai and Dubai, while through SahiJob it is building an intelligence ecosystem connecting students, institutions, professionals and employers. The ambition is simple: understand complex problems deeply, build the intelligence around them, and take those systems from India to the world.

Gurugram (Haryana) [India], October 8: Gurgaon’s residential real estate market has undergone a significant transformation over the last few years. The city has established itself as one of India’s strongest premium housing markets, with developers increasingly focusing on luxury and ultra-luxury residences. However, a new trend is now beginning to emerge. The rise of “affordable luxury,” particularly in the ₹2–5 crore price segment.

For the past few years, the primary focus of developers in Gurgaon has largely been on HNIs and ultra-HNIs looking for residences with high ticket sizes, premium addresses and exclusive lifestyle offerings. While this segment continues to remain important, the market is gradually becoming broader. Today, there is increasing attention towards buyers with a budget of ₹2–5 crore who are looking for a balanced combination of luxury, functionality, location and long-term value.

This shift is also influencing the way developers are approaching new projects. Buyers in this segment are no longer looking only for larger homes or premium specifications. They are increasingly evaluating the overall experience, from connectivity and location to thoughtful layouts, construction quality, amenities, green spaces and the long-term potential of the development.

“The Gurgaon buyer is becoming more discerning, and today, luxury is increasingly about finding the right balance between location, quality, lifestyle and value. The ₹2–5 crore segment is emerging as an important part of the market, and developers are beginning to design products around the evolving expectations of this audience.” Mr. Shailesh Singh, Director – Sales, Urban Plus Infrabuild Pvt. Ltd.

The growing demand for this segment also reflects the changing profile of Gurgaon’s homebuyers. Many professionals, entrepreneurs and business families are willing to invest in premium homes but are increasingly conscious about the value they receive for their investment. They want homes that offer an elevated lifestyle without necessarily moving into the ultra-luxury price bracket.

This is creating an opportunity for developers to rethink what luxury means. Rather than simply adding high-end features, the focus is increasingly shifting towards efficient space planning, quality amenities, wellness and recreational facilities, better community experiences and well-connected locations. The objective is to create homes that feel premium while remaining relevant to a wider pool of affluent buyers.

From a sales perspective, the market is also seeing a more informed and research-driven customer. Buyers are comparing developers, studying locations, evaluating project specifications and assessing both end-use potential and future value before making a decision.

Gurgaon’s next phase of residential growth may therefore be defined not only by the emergence of ultra-luxury developments, but also by the expansion of affordable luxury. As the city continues to evolve, the ₹2–5 crore segment could become an increasingly important part of its residential real estate story, offering buyers a combination of quality, comfort, lifestyle and value at a more accessible premium price point.

Website: www.urbanplus.co.in

Ema Datshi to a Negroni-inspired crème brûlée: Bengaluru’s newest menu takes comfort food on a world tour, and we’ll explore that journey today.

Indiranagar, Bengaluru, 8th October: Pack light, bring an appetite. Vanamo has launched its 2026 menu, a globe-trotting collection of bold flavours, seasonal ingredients and serious craft. Every dish is a little postcard from somewhere else, reimagined for Bangalore’s vibrant dining scene, and all of it is rooted in the joy of comfort food.

A menu with frequent-flyer miles

No visas required. Start in Bhutan with the iconic chilli-cheese Ema Datshi and a side of fluffy steamed Tingmo, or hop over to Mexico for Birria Tacos (jackfruit or lamb) with avocado crema and salsa macha. Asia gets plenty of stamps too: a zesty Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Goi Ga) with lemongrass-marinated chicken and green papaya slaw, and Korean Gochujang Chicken with kimchi rice. The Thai-inspired Krabi Coast brings marinated sea bass together with grilled pineapple and a coconut-galangal emulsion. Then it’s on to the Mediterranean for Sea Bass a la Bilbaina, Shakshuka with Pita Bread and a Turkish-style Rosti, Cilbir & Chilli Crisp.

Cuisines fall in love (and it gets a little dramatic)

The dishes everyone’s talking about are the ones where two worlds collide. Meet The Rogan Affair: a slow-braised lamb rogan josh dressed up as lasagna, with saffron béchamel, mint ricotta and fried onions.

Waffle & Fried Chicken brings crisp chicken, banana pepper, chilli caramel and ranch-dressed slaw. The Nori Roll wraps Asian-flavoured chicken mince in nori with Korean slaw and house-made dynamite sauce, and the Chilli Hoisin Lamb Chop shows up with vegetable noodles and avocado wasabi crema.

“We wanted every plate to feel like a postcard from somewhere, but taste like something you’d want to come back to. The idea was never to be complicated for the sake of it. It was to take the flavours we love from around the world and cook them with honesty, so they feel like comfort, even when they’re new to you.” Chef, Rohit Nayar

Comfort, but very interesting

Soups are cosy hugs in a bowl: the cheese-finished Caldo de Queso, a classic French Onion Soup crowned with brioche and gruyère, and a Prawn Bisque with beet gel and ghee dust. Café Classics give old favourites a glow-up: Japanese Shibuya Toast with peach ricotta mousse, Korean Garlic Bread stuffed with cream cheese, and a Rosti with Turkish-style poached eggs, dill yogurt and chilli crisp. Comfort Classics like Katsu Yakisoba and Stroganoff (wild mushroom or chicken) are there for the days you just need something warm and familiar.

Veggies get the main-character treatment

Vegetarians, you’re not an afterthought here. Variation of Brassica gives broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, cabbage and turnip their moment, with silky soubise and candied walnut. Miso Glazed Celeriac arrives with brown butter sweet potato purée and mushroom reduction. The Aubergine Steak with Herb Couscous comes with tahina and herb pistou, and Paccheri with Jackfruit Ragu wears an airy cacio e pepe foam. Smokey Romesco & BBQ Tempeh and Broccoli, Smoked Ricotta & Hot Honey round out a section that’s every bit as exciting as the rest.

For the carnivores and the sea-lovers

Small plates include Cajun Spiced Shrimp, Fried Skull Island Prawns, Salmon Tartare Crisp and a lamb Birria Taco. For the big appetites, there’s Confit Chicken, Five Spice Duck Breast, Beef Bourguignon with creamy corn grit, Surf & Turf, and Seared Salmon Fillet with carrot ginger purée and house-fermented sauerkraut. Prefer a bowl? The Souvlaki Bowl, Harissa Bowl and Mexican Fajita Burrito Bowl are hearty, balanced and come with your choice of protein.

“Bengaluru diners are curious, well-travelled and always looking for something new. With this menu, we wanted to give them a reason to explore without leaving the city, and to make Vanamo a place they return to, whether it’s for a quick café meal or a long, leisurely brunch.” Management, Aatira Kakroo

Save room. Seriously

The dessert list ends the trip with a wink. The Negroni Rosato Crème Brûlée turns your favourite cocktail into a spoonable treat, with grapefruit gel and candied orange. Also on the runway: Sticky Date Pudding with Coffee Butterscotch Sauce, Passion Fruit & Cashew Choux, Dulce de Leche Milk Cake with rose petals and pistachio, Baileys Tiramisu, and a burnt Basque Cheesecake with Maraschino cherries and vanilla gelato.

Photo: Negroni Rosata Crème Brûlée

By Desert

By desert, every dish at Vanamo is a stamp in the passport, and every visit adds a new one. With the 2026 menu now open, there is a whole world to explore at one table in Indiranagar.

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 7: Lokta today named Vamshi Krishna Putta as Head of Engineering and announced the general availability of its collateral management module, which he helped shape alongside the engineering team. His experience inside a lending business informed its focus on keeping collateral values useful after disbursal. Lender implementations are underway.

Vamshi’s prior work includes migrating nine million accounts with full reconciliation and implementing a regulatory moratorium across one million accounts. At Finflux, he helped build and later led development of its lending stack, built on Apache Fineract, and continued after M2P Fintech acquired it in 2022. He subsequently worked on technology inside a lending business whose collateral prices changed daily, seeing what it takes to keep those records current.

“Vamshi has worked with lending software from both sides of the table,” said Chandramouli C S, Co-founder and CEO of Lokta. “That changes the questions you ask. Where did this collateral value come from? How old is it? What happens when it changes? He brought those questions into the design of this module. That is the judgement we want leading engineering at Lokta.”

The module supports 10 collateral types: property, land and plots, vehicles, machinery, artwork, gold, mutual fund units, shares, deposits and a category for other collateral. Values are recorded from appraisals or computed using market prices, quantities or contract terms, according to collateral type.

Four capabilities support ongoing monitoring:

  • Dated price updates: Agents retrieve prices from sources the lender configures, within what local rules allow, for daily updates to gold, mutual fund units and shares. For gold, the default is the lower of the previous close and the 30-day average, the basis RBI’s gold and silver lending directions require for Indian lenders. Appraised assets follow their own valuation and review process.
  • Global currencies and local sources: The module supports multiple currencies and can integrate with country-specific pricing and valuation sources to track loan-to-value (LTV) ratios.
  • Traceable values and review alerts: Computed fields retain their expressions, so an auditor reads the arithmetic instead of trusting the number. The platform flags valuations that become stale based on age or configured events.
  • Controlled changes: Lenders can extend collateral forms while preserving fields used by valuation and exposure calculations. Publishing requires a second approver; existing records retain their original form version.

“Collateral that is captured at disbursal and then left to go dumb is paperwork, not risk management,” said Vamshi Krishna Putta, Head of Engineering at Lokta. “A system should tell the lender when a price has changed, when an appraisal has gone stale and what needs review.”

Collateral eligibility and LTV limits remain governed by lender policy. Lokta records appraisals and computes values from inputs the lender configures; valuation judgement and the appointment of valuers remain with the lender.

Vamshi will lead platform development, build the engineering team and oversee how product and policy changes reach a live loan book.

The module follows Lokta Next 100, opened on 3 September 2026, which offers eligible smaller Indian NBFCs no platform fee for up to two years, subject to programme terms.

For product information or a demonstration, visit Lokta’s platform or contact contact@lokta.ai.

About Lokta

Lokta is the agentic loan servicing platform: software that runs a loan book after approval, covering servicing, monitoring, collections and recovery. The AI proposes, the lender’s deterministic core decides, and every change is recorded. Lokta does not originate, underwrite or approve loans. Founded in Bengaluru in 2026 and self-funded. Its team includes a co-creator of Mifos X and Apache Fineract, the open-source lending engine built with the Mifos Initiative community. Lokta Fintech Pvt Ltd, CIN U62013KA2026PTC226046.

Media contact

Chandramouli C S, Co-founder and CEO

Lokta. +91 81234 99090.

contact@lokta.ai

Most companies preparing to list hire a banker. factori.com has hired a veteran CFO who spent close to three decades in the apparel and garment industry, two years before it intends to file for IPO.

BENGALURU, 7 October 2026: Companies preparing for a public listing usually reach for a banker or a career CFO. factori.com has reached for someone who has spent twenty-six years inside the industry it manufactures for.

The Bengaluru-based manufacturing and sourcing platform today announced the appointment of Devaprasad H S, Regional Chairman of the Southern Regional Committee of the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), as a Director on its board. He takes up the role with immediate effect and will lead the company’s preparation of its accounts, controls and compliance function ahead of a public listing the company has targeted for 2028.

Two things about the appointment are unusual. The first is the runway: factori.com is starting its listing preparation roughly two years before it intends to file, treating audit readiness as a multi-year build rather than a pre-IPO scramble. The second is the choice of person. Financial engineering is the conventional answer to a listing; industry credibility is not, and it is harder to buy.

“Nobody made us do this. We brought Mr Devaprasad onto the board because we would rather find out in 2026 what is wrong with our books than in 2028.”
– C S Sudheer, Founder, factori.com

A career inside branded consumer manufacturing

Devaprasad H S sits on CMAI’s national Managing Committee by virtue of his chairmanship of the association’s Southern region. CMAI is India’s oldest and largest apparel industry body, more than 20,000 member companies across manufacturing, exports, retail and ancillary industry, in existence for over five decades. It created the Apparel Export Promotion Council in 1978, has run the National Garment Fair since 1982, is authorised by the Government of India to issue Certificates of Origin, and represents India on the International Apparel Federation and the Asian Apparel Federation.

His executive career was spent in branded sportswear. He spent 26 years at Proline India, the Batra Group company that brought the Italian sportswear brand FILA to the Indian market in 2000, latterly as President and Chief Financial Officer. His time there spanned the arrival of international athletic brands in India, the shift from importing finished goods to manufacturing them domestically, and the licensing consolidation that ultimately moved the FILA India rights to Cravatex Brands and, in October 2022, into Metro Brands’ listed portfolio.

He is also a regular voice on compliance in Indian apparel. In November 2024 he spoke at the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry’s Bengaluru workshop on human rights due diligence and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, arguing that Indian suppliers should engage with the incoming European regimes proactively rather than wait to be audited into them.

“Mr Devaprasad has spent his career inside a branded consumer business that had to answer to an international licensor, Indian regulators and a bank, all at once. That is closer to what a listed company lives with than anything a first-time founder has experienced. He is not joining us to attend four meetings a year.”
– C S Sudheer, Founder, factori.com

The mandate

The role is specific rather than ceremonial. Mr Devaprasad will lead factori.com’s accounts and compliance teams through the work a listing requires and most companies leave too late: restating historical accounts to listing standards, building internal financial controls that will survive an auditor’s review, tightening related-party and revenue-recognition policy, and establishing the audit and risk committee structures a listed company must operate.

For a business with the shape factori.com has, that work is not trivial. The company manufactures across 64 product categories, a count rising by roughly two a week, works with over 600 manufacturing partners, ships to more than 130 countries, and simultaneously operates a consumer-facing retailing platform with over 1,23,000 registered sellers. Consolidating a manufacturing supply chain and a digital marketplace into accounts a public-market investor can read is a genuine piece of engineering.

“What interested me was that this is a manufacturer first. India has plenty of platforms sitting on top of somebody else’s supply. Very few of them own the factory relationships, the stock and the fulfilment.”
– Devaprasad H S, Director, factori.com

The company behind the announcement

factori.com is operated by Sushine Exports Private Limited and supplies bulk apparel, uniforms and corporate goods to organisations including the Indian Navy, ISRO, Samsung, Decathlon and Amazon. It operates a 1.5-acre fulfilment centre in Bengaluru.

In August 2026 it opened that infrastructure to individuals through retailing.factori.com, a service that lets a person launch an independent e-commerce store, their own domain, their own brand, an integrated payment gateway and access to more than 10,000 ready-to-ship products, without buying inventory. The company charges no commission on those sellers’ sales. It describes the model as “truecommerce”: commerce in which the seller, not the platform, holds the brand, the customer and the margin.

The 2028 listing ambition sits on top of both businesses, a B2B manufacturing operation with two decades of institutional customers, and a consumer platform whose registered seller base has passed 1,23,000.

“That is a harder business to build and a cleaner one to take public, provided the discipline is put in early. Two years is enough time to do this properly. Six months is not.”
– Devaprasad H S, Director, factori.com

Whether the consumer platform converts into consistently trading stores at scale remains the open question, and the company has said that sign-ups are not the metric that will matter. The appointment announced today signals that factori.com intends to be able to answer that question in public, with audited numbers, by 2028.

About factori.com

factori.com is a Bengaluru-based manufacturing and sourcing platform operated by Sushine Exports Private Limited. It manufactures across 64 product categories with more than 600 manufacturing partners, ships to over 130 countries, and operates a 1.5-acre fulfilment centre in Bengaluru. Its institutional customers include the Indian Navy, ISRO, Samsung, Decathlon and Amazon. Through retailing.factori.com, launched in August 2026, it allows individuals to run independent e-commerce stores on the same infrastructure with no inventory and no commission on their sales.

Media contact

contact@factori.com
+91 874 707 4444
factori.com Headquarters, Bannerughatta to Jigani Road, Begihalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560105
Corporate Identity Number: U47911KA2023PTC177002

NEW DELHI: In the rapidly evolving landscape of independent electronic music, a new wave of sound is breaking out from the capital, bridging the gap between traditional Indian classical roots and modern global beats. At the forefront of this sonic revolution is Maniic B, the stage name of Manan Bansal, a Delhi-born and raised record producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist who is quickly establishing himself as a formidable rising star in the international music production arena.

Equally comfortable behind an Ableton Push controller as he is holding a classical sitar, Maniic B represents a new generation of musicians who refuse to be confined by genre boundaries. Armed with a deep understanding of rhythm and melody cultivated through childhood training in the sitar, piano, and tabla, his unique background has allowed him to build a signature sound that seamlessly blends organic acoustic instrumentation with heavy, dark, and energetic electronic textures.

Maniic B has rolled out a diverse discography, ranging from the thunderous, high-octane drops of his bigroom anthem Horizon to the gritty, bass-heavy grooves of Buzz and the unrelenting, dark techno-phonk rhythms of Pendular.

What truly sets Maniic B apart in the saturated digital music market, however, is his commitment to live performance innovation. Rather than relying on static backing tracks, his viral live sessions showcase real-time looping and layering. In a recent widely praised performance, he completely flipped the script by live-looping classical guitar layers alongside an ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe and Ableton Push 3, constructing a What truly sets Maniic B apart in the saturated digital music market, however, is his commitment to live performance innovation. Rather than relying on static backing tracks, his viral live sessions showcase real-time looping and layering. In a recent widely praised performance, he completely flipped the script by live-looping classical guitar layers alongside an ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe and Ableton Push 3, constructing a complex electronic-classical hybrid version of the hit melody Saiyaara completely from scratch.

“This isn’t just about making music; it’s about making a statement,” notes an industry insider familiar with his work. “He is giving the club scene an authentic injection of cultural heritage without losing any of the raw, bass-driven energy that crowds demand today.”

As his tracks continue to rack up streams on platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud, Maniic B remains focused on pushing the envelope. With a steady stream of new releases on the horizon, including his highly anticipated Enthusiast Earthlings series, this Faridabad-based producer is proving that the future of electronic music might just be written with a sitar in hand.

From Covers to Original Anthems

Maniic B’s ascent to cultural relevance isn’t solely built on his prowess behind the decks. The producer has generated significant underground buzz for his eclectic studio releases. His catalog balances experimental acoustic re-imaginings, including sitar and tabla covers of global pop and dance hits like “Stay,” “Mi Gente,” and “In And Out Of Love”, with soaring original club records like “Arc” and “Desert Fire”.

This dual identity as both a traditional instrumentalist and a digital architect feeds directly into the identity of the radio show. According to updates shared via the official Tronic Psys Radio Instagram, the brand has officially elevated its identity with the launch of its formal sonic signature: the official radio anthem titled “Aether,” produced in tandem with Black Gridlines Studios. The track serves as a synthesis of everything the broadcast represents, hypnotic rhythms, pristine mixing, and an unmistakable late-night energy.

Giving Listeners a Look Behind the Curtain

Maniic B isn’t just focused on distributing polished final products; he wants his audience to understand the chaotic beauty of creation. He recently launched an intimate YouTube docu-series titled Made In The Moment, giving viewers a raw, unedited glimpse into his creative process. In the debut episode—which explores the acoustic composition of his track “Magic in the Skyway”, Bansal shows the false starts, the takes that failed, and the exact second a melody finally clicks.

Simultaneously, he has cultivated an underground community through his Enthusiast Earthlings project, a podcast and musical series (currently highlighting episodes like EE06 and EE08) crafted specifically for audiophiles who value raw, authentic instrumentation over manufactured streaming trends.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4VHHP24OP4BlsGHnOVdtcy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maniic_b

Founded by Chartered Accountant and entrepreneur Neha Modi, Kathaa brings heritage, contemporary design and artisan empowerment together through handcrafted décor inspired by Lippan art from Kutch

Mumbai, October 6, 2026: For Neha Modi, the courage to begin again became Kathaa, a design-led venture that brings traditional Indian craftsmanship into contemporary homes while creating meaningful opportunities for artisans.

Kathaa, as the name suggests, means a story. The brand creates handcrafted décor inspired by India’s cultural traditions, particularly Lippan art from Kutch, reimagining the craft for modern homes and personalised gifting.

The venture is the brainchild of Chartered Accountant Neha Modi, who returned to entrepreneurship after dedicating a significant phase of her life to family, with a focus on conscious choices, creativity and community.

Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2015 with Peekaboo Cloth Diapers, a sustainability-led venture that grew into a community of mothers and reinforced her belief that small, thoughtful choices can create lasting change.

That desire to combine purpose with creativity eventually led to Kathaa.

From Kutch’s walls to contemporary spaces

Kathaa grew from Neha’s connection with Lippan art, the distinctive mud-and-mirror craft associated with Kutch, and her belief that India’s craft traditions can remain relevant in contemporary life.

Kathaa adapts this traditional visual language into handcrafted contemporary pieces. Personalisation allows names and individual stories to become part of the craft, making each creation distinctive and memorable.

“Kathaa came from a very personal belief that our stories and our roots should never become disconnected from the way we live today. I wanted to take the heritage of Lippan art beyond its traditional setting and create pieces that feel contemporary and personal while still carrying the soul of the craft. Every piece has a story, and that is where the name Kathaa comes from,” says Neha Modi, Founder, Kathaa.

Kathaa pieces combine personal storytelling with a craft vocabulary inspired by traditional Indian decorative arts.

A platform for possibility and artisan livelihoods

At its core, Kathaa stands for possibility, beginning again, honouring one’s roots and using design as a bridge between heritage and modern living.

Equally important is Kathaa’s social purpose. The brand supports artisans across India, working to showcase their skills and create a wider audience for handmade Indian craftsmanship.

“Kathaa cannot simply be about creating beautiful décor; there has to be a larger purpose. India has immensely talented artisans whose work does not always receive the visibility it deserves. We want to celebrate their skills and create a sustainable platform through which their craftsmanship can reach more people,” adds Modi.

Each Kathaa creation is intended to carry more than aesthetic value, combining artistry, individual stories and the skills of the people who make it.

Kathaa’s personalised work has reached personalities from sport, cinema, entertainment and culture, showing how a traditional craft language can become a distinctive contemporary gift while retaining a recognisably Indian aesthetic.

About Kathaa

Kathaa is a handcrafted décor and gifting venture founded by Neha Modi. Inspired by Lippan art from Kutch, it combines heritage, contemporary design, personal storytelling and artisan empowerment.

About Neha Modi

Neha Modi is a Chartered Accountant and entrepreneur. She launched sustainability-led Peekaboo Cloth Diapers in 2015 and later founded Kathaa to celebrate Indian craft traditions, support artisans and create contemporary, story-led décor.

Andhra Pradesh, September 2026: The Andhra Pradesh Football Association (APFA) and India Khelo Football (IKF) are coming together for another season of Scout on Wheels – Andhra Pradesh 2026 in association with AP Tourism, taking the grassroots football initiative to an even larger footprint across the state.

Building on their previous collaboration, the 2026 edition will reach 20+ locations across Andhra Pradesh, bringing structured player assessment, coaching insights, football pathways and player-support interventions closer to grassroots communities.

This year, however, the programme will be about more than identifying football talent.

From talent scouting to 360° player support

Scout on Wheels 2026 will combine IKF’s nationwide scouting network with a broader IKF Pathway 360 approach, designed to support young players as individuals and not only as aspiring footballers.

Alongside structured football assessments, players and families will be introduced to areas including mental fitness, financial literacy, women’s well-being, education, career opportunities and pathways beyond professional football.

The objective is to ensure that even players who may not eventually pursue football professionally are not left without direction.

Through Pathway 360, IKF aims to connect players to the right ecosystem of partners, mentors, educational opportunities and career pathways, reinforcing the belief that the journey does not end at the football pitch.

APFA-certified coaches to bring development insights to the grassroots

One of the key additions to this year’s programme will be the participation of APFA-certified coaches.

Coaches will be part of the Scout on Wheels journey, engaging with players and providing insights into their development. Their involvement will add a strong technical and developmental layer to the programme, helping players understand areas such as technical ability, decision-making, game understanding, fitness and the process of long-term player development.

The collaboration brings together APFA’s coaching ecosystem and understanding of football development within the state by ensuring the players through out the year can be developed and trained under APFA coaches.

“For football to grow in Andhra Pradesh, we need to take development opportunities closer to the grassroots and all the schools. The involvement of APFA-certified coaches in Scout on Wheels will allow young players to receive meaningful technical inputs while also helping us understand the football potential emerging from different parts of the state. Our collaboration with IKF is an important step towards creating a stronger and more connected football ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh.”
— Mr Sridhar Kotagiri, President, Andhra Pradesh Football Association

“Scout on Wheels is evolving into much more than a talent identification initiative. Our objective is to take the football ecosystem to the player—whether that means identifying a player for a professional pathway, helping them understand how they can develop, or connecting them with opportunities beyond football. With 20+ locations this season, our collaboration with APFA allows us to take this 360° approach deeper into Andhra Pradesh.”
— Mr Phani Bhushan, Founder, India Khelo Football

A partnership built around access and opportunity

The continued partnership between APFA and IKF reflects a shared belief that grassroots football development requires a sustained ecosystem rather than one-time scouting events.

APFA brings its football network and certified coaching ecosystem, while IKF brings its experience in grassroots talent identification, scouting and player pathways across India.

The initiative is also supported by Tyger Capital, whose continued association with Scout on Wheels reflects the role that responsible corporate partnerships can play in expanding access to sport and creating opportunities for young people.

“The journey in Andhra Pradesh has shown what becomes possible when communities come together around a shared vision. Tyger Capital is proud to continue supporting India Khelo Football in creating sustainable opportunities for young athletes across the state.”
— Mr Gaurav Gupta, Founder, MD & CEO Tyger Capital

Taking the football ecosystem on the road

With 20+ locations planned across Andhra Pradesh, Scout on Wheels will travel deeper into the state’s football communities, creating opportunities for players who may otherwise have limited access to structured scouting, coaching expertise and information about football pathways.

At every location, the programme will bring together players, parents, coaches, grassroots partners and local football stakeholders.

The initiative will also strengthen the role of the local football ecosystem by creating connections between grassroots players and the wider network of coaches, scouts, clubs, academies, associations, NGOs and corporate partners.

The philosophy remains simple: talent can come from anywhere, but opportunity should not be limited by geography.

As APFA and IKF return for another season of Scout on Wheels, the programme is therefore not just searching for the next footballer.

It is looking to identify potential, provide development insights, create pathways and support the individual behind the player.

And this season, the road across Andhra Pradesh is set to be bigger than ever.