Meet the First Lady Surgeon of Dombivli: Dr Vandana Dhaktode

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In present times, we are witnessing a significant increase in the number of women doctors, especially surgeons, in India. However, things were not the same in the early ’90s. Most women struggled to have their careers in a patriarchal system. Among the few who made it possible was Dr Vandana Dhaktode. Popularly recognised as the first lady surgeon of Dombivli, Dr Vandana Dhaktode has been an excellent Gastroenterologist surgeon providing services in Mumbai suburbs since 1995.

With a career spanning more than two decades, Dr Vandana has handled and cured cases related to – piles / fissure/ fistula, breast, hernia, and gastrointestinal diseases. She has worked as an assistant surgeon, lecturer, and consultant surgeon. She also happens to be a successful entrepreneur, social worker, and a great surgeon by example.

After completing her Mastery of Surgery (M.S.) from K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai, the Lady Surgeon started practising in Dombivli as a medical officer in a government hospital. Realising the plight of poor patients and the lack of proper infrastructure in hospitals in the area, she worked on a vision and mission to provide affordable, accessible health care to all strata of society.

In 2000, along with her surgeon husband, Dr Sharad Dhaktode, she laid the foundation of OM Hospital. The husband-and-wife duo worked tirelessly to develop the single speciality clinic into a Multi Super Speciality Hospital in no time. Today, the organisation has turned into a group of hospitals, including the ISO and NABH accredited OM Hospital, Sai Shraddha Hospital, OM polyclinics and OASIS (OM Advanced Surgical & Intensive Services) hospital.

These hospitals in Dombivli are rated high among the topmost healthcare facility as they are the first ones to receive international certification in the vicinity. OM hospital is one of the first hospital to be adjudicated with the award during the 6th edition of India Health and Wellness Awards 2020 by Integrated Health & Wellness Council for its outstanding performance in the Health Access Brand category.

At Dr Dhaktode’s OM hospital, the team is committed to providing comprehensive medical care & satisfy the patients by maintaining quality in every sphere of activity. The 24 bedded, well-equipped hospital has all the necessary facilities such as 2-D echo, E.C.G, I.C.U, x-ray, ultra-sonography, pathology, medical shop, and ambulance. Through continuous improvements and upgrades, the centres have tried to maintain the no-time loss in attending patients and zero per cent breakdowns of diagnostics & curative devices. The hospital did excellent service during the pandemic while adhering to all protocols. Dr Dhaktode and their team conducted fever O.P.D.s, arranged medicines, provided online home isolation treatments, built a covid ward during the second wave and are now giving vaccinations. The hospital also runs cashless Mediclaim facilities to shelve the economic burden on the patients.

The inspiring woman doctor in India is playing significant roles and contributing to the welfare of society. Dr Vandana Dhaktode works as a dedicated Gastroenterologist and has also devoted her entire life to the service of women’s welfare, especially taking care of their health. Her dedication to this cause motivated her to start health and wellness programs for women of all ages, such as prevention and detection and treatment of cancers, antenatal and postnatal care, fitness with diet and exercise, and mental health of women. Moreover, giving preference in employment to women in her hospitals speaks a lot about her zeal to uplift the very basis of women’s empowerment. Dr Vandana is also actively working with many charitable institutions.

Dr Vandana has won many accolades and awards during her successful journey. She had received many appreciation awards for her classic work in Covid 19. Among all the most prominent ones are the awards bestowed by Dr Vijay Suryawanshi, Hon. Commissioner, KDMC, and then by MLA Shri Ravindra Chavanji. Dr Vandana was also felicitated by various districts clubs of Rotary for her relentless medical help during the pandemic. The doctor cum social worker also won the Women Achiever Healthcare at the Women Who Lead National Award in 2021.Website – www.omhospital.com

Meet the woman whose charity Knitted Knockers uplifts cancer patients

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Jayashree Ratan, founder of Saaisha India Foundation, uplifts cancer patients in the most unique way. She brought together a community of women under the brand name Knitted Knockers to crochet prostheses for women who have undergone mastectomies.

A mastectomy (removal of the breast) can be quite devastating for a woman. Societal influences on a woman’s appearance have always been a source of worry.

At a time when women spend thousands of dollars on breast augmentation surgery, having to endure a treatment to remove a breast may be devastating.

While women in urban India continue to have access to silicone prosthesis, women in rural India frequently stuff handkerchiefs and cotton balls in their bras to create the illusion of a full breast — none of which is easy on the skin that has already been surgically repaired and may result in rashes, infections, or skin abrasions. Consider the type of pressure that drives a woman to endure such agony and anguish in order to appear a certain way.

Kartika Rajagopal, a 33-year-old Ayurvedic Ophthalmologist, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and recommended to have a mastectomy. She was diagnosed with breast cancer again in 2020 and had yet another mastectomy.

Kartika tried everything from silicone-based prosthesis to cotton ones before discovering Saaisha India’s prostheses.

“It altered my life,” she says of the prosthesis created by the group.

The nonprofit organization Saaisha India Foundation was founded in 2018 by Mumbai-based Jayashree Ratan, who saw the urgent need to provide a solution for the many women in India who endure mastectomy. It was here that they began manufacturing ‘Knitted Knockers,’ which are crocheted or knitted prosthesis.

In the previous four years, this non-profit organization has donated over 5,700 free prostheses thanks to a network of over 270 volunteers from India, the UAE, and the United States.

Around this time, one of my cousins in India had also undergone a mastectomy.

She was the one who suggested I do this for many others in India who had simple access to such prosthesis.

Knitted knockers were introduced in India in this manner. “Jayashree and two other friends went on to develop a network all throughout India with women who crochet these prosthesis in their spare time over the following four years, beginning in March 2018.

“We had no idea we’d affect so many lives — it’s been such an eye-opener,” she says.

While the organization initially relied only on word of mouth, they were given the opportunity to establish a social media presence during the COVID-19 shutdown.

According to Srividya Gopinath, a volunteer with knitted knockers, “Being on multiple social media platforms got us a lot of exposure.

That helped spread the word and brought us numerous knitters from all across the country.

We have collaborations with other hospitals, including Tata Memorial and Chennai Breast Centre. “Some of the breast cancer survivors who have utilized the prosthesis are now knitters and community participants.”

Srividya explains, “The pattern is given with the knitters, who then produce it in their own time with their own material that has been pre-approved.”

Because it is entirely volunteer, some members knit up to 20 prosthesis every month, while others manage 10 to 12.

The prosthesis are provided in pairs and may be cleaned and reused several times.

Srividya adds, “Depending on use, one can utilize these prosthesis for close to two years.”

“We perform online training sessions to guarantee that little subtleties like the size and tension of the stitches, etc.” explains Srividya. We have three levels: beginning, intermediate, and senior.

Each program is tailored to the requirements of the various groups.

The few that need to be corrected are shared with the members who created them.

Saaisha India is home to numerous women, ranging from an active 16-year-old novice in the UAE to an 82-year-old skilled crocheter from India.

While the group’s primary goal is to offer prostheses to women, they have also manufactured chemo hats and beanies for children impacted by cancer in the previous year.

The prosthesis and caps may all be hand washed and used for up to two years.

They are constructed of 100% mercerized cotton yarn, which is pleasant on the skin and does not cause allergies.

They come in a variety of cup sizes and fit well in a mastectomy bra.

“We recommend hand washing and drying it on a level area to avoid disfiguring the prosthetic,” Jayashree advises. “Just a few hours spent by our volunteers manufacturing these ‘knockers’ have altered the lives of so many women in such a profound way,” Jayashree concludes.

Tiska pageant winners association with DTFW to become designers showstopper

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Tiska Pageant was formed by 2 of its founders Mr Prashant Chaudhary and Ms Swati Dixit. 

Tiska Pageant has two of its Nationally acclaimed Beauty Pageants which provide opportunities to unmarried and married women to showcase their talents and empower them by proving their existence to the world. We are the first-ever beauty pageant in India where we offer many opportunities to our crowned winners and support them in their journey of representing India Internationally.

While in today’s world, beauty pageants globally are just portraying women in an idealised manner on a competitive stage and crowning the Winners with prestigious Titles. On the contrary, we aim to bring their real life-based experiences in front of the world to represent other societal issues and bring change to the next generation.

Moreover, the Title Tiska Miss and Mrs India and Mrs India One in a Million are not  just not focused on Beauty and fame but enables every woman by providing opportunities to grow and enhance their potential by making it advance to achieve their goals in future while acting as a role model in their community.

Mr Prashant Chaudhary & Ms Swati Dixit both the founders of Tiska Miss & Mrs India Pageant were spotted along with their recent Title winners (Sriti Shaw, Anuja Deshmukh and Chandni Devgan) at #DTFW2022. They said After two long years, the capital city of India became the witness of such kinds of fashion weeks, however, it was great in every way. 

This season DTFW witnessed over 17 designers who participated in the event which indicated only one thing: more bride options for all to-be brides and grooms. Furthermore, today we have shortlisted our favorite bridal outfits for both bride and groom as well. Besides this, we also selected the outfits for groomsmen, bridesmaids and even the mother of the bride and groom. Our Title Winners showcased Gowns and Lehenga designed by the designers while gracefully walking on the ramp. 

Designer Ms Khushi Chauhan showstopper Actress Sriti Shaw Title winner (Tiska Miss India 2021) showcased her beautiful designer Lehenga’s with Bespoke hand work embroidery, a combination of beauty, colour and diversity through every bit in many senses, its new age, nature-based fabrics-decided that the time was always right to motivate its users which directly influences the fashion choices on the planet and also highlights being thoughtful is in fashion. Her new collection reflects the shadow of comfort that encompasses sustainability in a wide range which is a refreshing burst of Indian pastels and botanicals and resembles a hopeful and more mindful future.  

A new collection which was showcased by Tiska Mrs India 2021 (1st R’up) Anuja Deshmukh was inspired by the serenity and calmness that the very renowned Designer Maanay’s mother has brought to his life. The soothing and calming nature of colours in this collection is driven by persuasion yet consists of a gentle tone that expresses compassion and a sense of composure. 

Like a serene sunset, flushed cheek, or budding flower, serenity reminds us about the surroundings and makes busy but light-hearted moments of life more beautiful.

Ashok Maanay is slaying in the fashion world because of his true love for art and creativity. He has had a pure bond with colors and paints since childhood. After coming to the fashion world, he got more insights into fabrics, embellishments, embroidery, etc., and play with them beautifully. Another inspiration in his life is his parents and grandparents who have a collection of royal weddings and that instigates him a lot. During the event, he showed nature in its pure form and attracted everyone to the design. 

There is much more fun and creativity interlinked with the Indian fashion designer Kingshuk Bhaduri while he is styling the clothes. According to him, globalisation has supported and opened up many avenues for talented and dynamic women and men, and also brought several options for men and women designers. He is an incredible designer with a positive outlook on the world and is very thoughtful toward newcomers in the field of fashion. 

To be in sync with the demand for comfortable, yet stylish outfits, designers are trying out all possibilities of being creative. Kingshuk emphasises the silhouette and is willing to take risks. In his new collection, he showcased another unique look by mixing Indian and fusion with his Indian outfits and that was carried by show stopper who is Brand Ambassador of Brand Interactive Trade Solutions Chandni Devgan & Title winner of Mrs India (One in a million,2 R’up). She has created many memories on the event with her presence and showed beautiful looks on the head Ramp too. 

Delhi Times Fashion Week was organised by the Delhi Times from 20th to 22nd May 2022 at Roseate House Aerocity and where on day 2 opening 2 slot showstopper was Chandni Devgan who was the Brand Ambassador of Interactive Trade Solutions and winner (MRs India One in a Million 2021)for Designer Kingshuk Bhaduri and in evening  prime time our showstoppers were Ms Sriti Shaw (Tiska Miss India 2021) Designer Ms Khushi Chauhan,and  Ms Anuja Deshmukh (Tiska Mrs India First Runner up2021) for designer Mr Ashok Maanay. The Slots Show Director was renowned Fashion Director Kapil Gauhri,MUA and Hair done by Internationally Known Makeup and Hair Academy RVMUA and slots were lensed by F- Stroke.  Website – www.mrsindiamillion.com

Website – http://www.tiskapageants.com

Know how IAS officer Tejasvi Rana cracked UPSC even after failed attempt

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Tejasvi Rana, an IAS officer, failed the UPSC CSE the first time around. She gives suggestions on how she changed her plan to pass it on her second try.

Tejasvi Rana, who graduated from IIT Kanpur with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, opted to take the UPSC CSE in her last year of college.

She took the test for the first time in 2015, and while she passed the prelims, she did not pass the mains.She explains, “It would not be correct to state that I made significant adjustments to my tactics between the first and second attempts. My attitude and knowledge of the examination, as well as my presentation abilities, did alter.”

Tejasvi received an All India Rank (AIR) of 12 on her second try in 2016. She explains the modifications she made to make this happen.

1. Begin with the fundamentals:

“NCERT textbooks should be your go-to resource book.” Begin with Class 9 books and go to Class 12. “While utilizing these books, put the syllabus in front of you and keep crossing off the sections you finish,” she advises. Before beginning their preparation path, aspirants must properly review the curriculum.

2. Don’t be scared to fail:

Tejasvi was a beginner when she took the test for the first time in 2015. “Use the attempt to grasp what is required of you,” she adds of her first try’s lessons. However, it is critical to give it your all. Do not see the exam just as a means of determining your skills and limitations.”

3. Recognize the static and dynamic components:

“In General Studies, Paper 1 comprises of static themes such as history and geography.” The resources required to prepare for these are likewise easily available and standard. Tejasvi, on the other hand, claims that Paper 2 has dynamic aspects for which one needs consult the newspaper and stay current on the latest events. Furthermore, for applicants with non-economics backgrounds, clearing their fundamentals would be advantageous before beginning their training.

4. Make your presentation one-of-a-kind:

Tejasvi says that if you want to ensure that your answer sheet stands out you should work on your presenting abilities.

Aspirants can write their solutions using diverse diagrams, innovative structures, and even flow charts. This will undoubtedly improve the quality of your responses. Tejasvi advises you to supplement your replies with examples and case studies, whenever it feels right.

5. Perfect practice makes perfect:

The art of writing good responses must be practiced on a regular basis.Tejasvi claims, “This can only happen with practice and if candidates understand what their answer content would be.

To develop successful replies, candidates must practice responding questions on a regular basis prior to the test.”

5. Choose your options wisely:

Tejasvi advises you to pick up a subject in which you have a basic working understanding and an interest. Tejasvi further claims she chose Economics because she already had a degree in the subject.

When selecting optional papers, aspirants should not consider trends or grades.

Tejasvi says what works for some other candidate may not work for you.

She adds that it is not just the interest in the subject that is important, but also the ability to work hard on it.

6. Think of time as money:

Tejasvi advises you to manage your time carefully if you are an applicant.

Given the breadth of the course, one must be extremely adept at time management in order to cover it all and do it right.

Tejasvi advises you to set reasonable goals and divide the material into manageable chunks.

While splitting your time for preparation, make sure you take appropriate pauses to rest and refuel.

7. Watch topper discusses:

“It also helped to hear from other batch toppers about their preparation tactics and recommendations. While the technique chosen must be the most beneficial to the particular aspirant, these videos and discussions assist in discovering fresh ways to prepare. Find seniors from various batches to talk about themes and bounce ideas off of,” she says.

According to Tejasvi, the experience that you gain by taking the exam trumps the benefit you will gain by preparing for a longer length of time. “Go ahead and try the paper,” she advises.

Meet the friends who quit their jobs to invent solar-powered farming devices

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Minushri and Amrita, childhood friends, founded Think Raw Solutions Pvt. Ltd to create revolutionary solar-powered goods with Krishi Dhanu, Dhivara Mitra, and Matsya Bandhu, promising to assist farmers raise output by 30%.

Amrita Jagatdeo and Minushri Madhumita are childhood friends from Kalahandi, a western part of Odisha. Minushri did postgraduate studies in Chemistry and a diploma in Management after graduating high school, while Amrita became an electrical engineer with a postgraduate management degree in Finance.

After finishing their studies, they pursued various professional routes and worked in the IT sector in Delhi. She felt compelled to work for a good cause.

“I wanted to contribute to the advancement of society,” she explains.

As a result, in 2008, she founded the NGO Bihang to promote computer literacy in Odisha’s government schools.

However, she had no idea that her desire to help children would lead her to co-found a solar-powered technology firm with a childhood buddy, putting their combined abilities to use.

Minushri notes that in the late 2000s, the government began a program to establish computer laboratories in schools in order to make computer literacy a required course in the school curriculum.

“Computer education was ignored in government schools due to intermittent power supply in distant areas, which prevented youngsters from using computer laboratories.

Minushri then launched ‘Project Rainbow,’ a solar-powered computer lab in collaboration with Asian Paints.”

The project would ensure that the computer laboratories had continuous power supplies.

The plan was to build the required infrastructure and support the school instructors and administration for a year.

The firm from which we purchased the solar panels defrauded us by offering low-quality gadgets and supplies.

Rather than continue to look for excellent providers, they chose to develop their own gadgets in the future.

She resigned her work in 2015 and, like Minuhri, opted to devote her full time and attention to the cause.

Thus, in 2016, the duo founded Think Raw Pvt Ltd to incorporate solar power technology into the rural populace of their native Odisha. The firm was incubated at Bhubaneswar’s Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and guided by Sri Sri University.

“We wanted to go beyond only aiding children and help the rural farmers and fisherman,” she explains.

Farmers, particularly in Kalahandi, experience extreme hardship, according to Amrita.

“We observed inadequacies at several levels, such as technology utilization, a lack of current, effective processes, and even water availability.”

Despite having access to sufficient water, some fishermen and farmers lack the resources to alleviate their miseries, limiting their capacity to improve crop quality and productivity,” she adds.

“We learnt about these shortcomings while working directly with farmer producer firms to provide them with solar-based agriculture solutions,” Amrita says. “To fill these gaps, three women, Krishi Dhanu, Dhivara Mitra, and Matsya Bandhu, devised three ideas to assist farmers at various phases of farming.”

The first, Krishi Dhanu, is a solar-powered fertiliser and pesticide distribution apparatus.

In India, women make up the majority of the agricultural labor force.

During the procedure, they frequently come into touch with hazardous substances.

“The irritation and unpleasant effect such chemicals create on the skins is readily disregarded,” she continues.

Many women suffer allergies or even long-term skin problems.

Furthermore, the hand dispensing method is not consistent, resulting in excess and unequal distribution across crops. “Amrita claims that their firm built an IoT (Internet of Things) gadget that can be carried as a backpack and utilizes a solar-powered rechargeable battery to spray chemical fertilisers to address the issue.

Unlike other machines on the market, which can only be used with liquid fertilizers, the Krishi Dhanu can also be used with solid fertilizers.

“It can also be used by pregnant ladies.

Farmers are already using the product in the field “She continues.

The Dhivara Mitra, created in collaboration with the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, is Minushri’s second creation (CIFA).

“Fishermen face new costs and hurdles as a result of fish farming technologies.

The lack of a continuous power source necessitates the use of diesel for aeration and maintaining dissolved oxygen levels. The usage of fossil fuel raises the prices, and if the water parameters do not remain at optimal levels, it leads to poor productivity and fish illnesses,” she explains.

The business has created a floating gadget equipped with sensors that analyzes water quality and activates the aeration process as needed.

“A 1.5 kW solar panel mounted on the floating contraption powers it.”

“It is designed to move about the water body and maintain the settings that are most suited for fish,” she explains, adding that the product’s prototype is ready and undergoing market feasibility validation.

By March 2022, the product will be available for purchase. Matsya Bandhu, a seed and fish feed distribution device, is Minushri’s third addition, also a solar-powered IoT invention.

“It might be considered an expansion of Dhivara Mitra.

The traditional approach is filling a gunny bag with seeds or feed and tying it with a bamboo stick.

The gadget can hold 30 kilograms of feed and floats around the body of water, dispersing it evenly “she claims

She claims that the IoT-enabled gadget also checks the pH levels of water.

“The gadget activates the basic and acidic salts put on it and releases them as needed to neutralize the pH value,” Minushri says. According to Minushri, the gadgets are self-automated and do not require the assistance of a laborer to manage or monitor their functions.

“Using it on a commercial scale can help decrease losses while increasing production by 30%,” she adds.

According to the entrepreneur, the prototypes of the aforementioned goods are ready for commercialization.

Meta erased 180K Australian content bits for having harmful health material

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Meta erased 180,000 bits of Australian content last year as they contained ‘harmful health material.’ Meta also stated that the information deleted from other countries helped Australians as well, with a total of 11 million individuals affected internationally.

Last year, more than 180,000 pieces of material were banned from Australian Facebook and Instagram Pages and accounts for breaking Meta’s Community Standards for containing harmful health misinformation. It should be noted that the number of 180,000 is an increase from 110,000 in 2020.

Meta stated that the information deleted from other countries helped Australians as well, with a total of 11 million individuals affected internationally.

The information was published in a Meta transparency report focused on Australia, which was provided by the Digital Industry Group (DIGI) as part of its monitoring of the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation. In the fourth quarter of 2021, Meta recorded over 3.5 million visits from Australian visitors to a knowledge center dedicated to Covid-19 on its platforms.

It has banned nearly 3,000 accounts, pages, and organizations from the start of the epidemic until June 2021 for breaking its policies against distributing Covid-19 and vaccination disinformation.

It further said that some observers are concerned that social media distributes disinformation while also encouraging echo chambers and polarization.

According to the paper, academic research on the role of algorithms in political and social polarization has produced contradictory results, with many studies showing that social media is not the major source of polarization. “However, Meta aspires to provide people more transparency and control over how algorithms rank and distribute material.” To that end, we’ve added an extra responsibility to give transparency about the work we perform here,” Meta said.

It is worth noting that in February 2021, Google, Microsoft, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and Redbubble (an online marketplace for print-on-demand items) signed DIGI’s voluntary code of conduct to combat the spread of disinformation in Australia. However, the code has attracted two additional signatories since its inception: Apple, and Adobe.

Signatories to the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation have agreed to efforts to combat online falsity, such as establishing and implementing policies on their approach. They will also allow users to report content that may violate those policies.

The vow of the code includes the posting of transparency reports on each company’s operations on their respective platforms.

DIGI added, “If we can deepen awareness of these complex difficulties over time, industry, government, civic society, and academia can all constantly improve their policies and practices.”

According to Sunita Bose, managing director of DIGI, the code supports greater openness and public accountability in tech initiatives to prevent harmful disinformation, and DIGI looks forward to working with the next government and others to maximize its impact.

She said, “The 2021 transparency reports provide updated statistics on misinformation in Australia, as well as a number of initiatives to delete and flag fraudulent claims and accounts, enhance trustworthy content, and engage with academics.”

Silicon Valley investors give survival tips for startups as funding falls

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Due to a recent slowdown in funding, some Indian start-ups have laid off staff as the focus shifts to profitability and capital conservation in order to improve runway. Silicon Valley investors have hence provided key survival tips for startups to help them thrive again.

After amassing a record $35 billion in 2021, Indian start-ups are faced with decreasing valuations and the slowdown in fundraising as investor mood turns sour after more than a decade of bull-run that saw India produce a 100 unicorns.  Silicon Valley investors have hence provided key survival tips for startups  to help them thrive again.

 Portfolio businesses have been advised by venture capital firms to prepare for the long haul, as you must endure, before you prosper.

 After years of pouring money into startups’ lofty goals, Silicon Valley’s investors are now engaged in the dismal routine of providing survival counsel to their portfolio businesses.

Lightspeed Venture Partners, Craft Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Y Combinator, among others, have told entrepreneurs in recent online PowerPoint presentations, blog postings, and social-media threads that they must take immediate measures for what might be the sharpest reversal in more than a decade.

 Their recommendations include lowering costs, keeping capital, and abandoning hopes that hedge funds or other investors will come in with huge cheques.

The investors’ warnings are a break from the current growth-at-all-costs ethos for companies, and they come as the venture market shows symptoms of stalling.

According to analytics company CB Insights, funding for global startups is on track to dip by around one-fifth in the second quarter, with approximately $58 billion in pledges midway through the quarter. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index is down around 25% from its all-time high in November, while SoftBank Group Corp., which has invested more than $100 billion, recorded a $26.2 billion loss in the first quarter as values in its portfolio of internet businesses collapsed. The Fed’s actions are increasing the cost of financing and increasing the pressure on businesses to save cash.

“I would intend to ride this thing out for at least 18 months or more,” Fred Wilson, co-founder of Union Square Ventures and an early supporter of Twitter Inc. and banking company Stripe, wrote in a blog post titled “How This Ends” last weekend.

In a March 2020 message, Sequoia, one of Silicon Valley’s most iconic firms, cautioned founders and CEOs about the risks to businesses posed by the approaching global health catastrophe, including supply-chain concerns and canceled trips. Sequoia Capital, famed for early investments in Apple Inc. and Airbnb Inc., among others, said in a 52-page PowerPoint presentation for around 250 entrepreneurs about two weeks ago that today’s environment is more analogous to the 2008 financial crisis or the dot-com market crash in 2000.

“We do not expect this will be another severe correction followed by a similarly quick V-shaped rebound, as we witnessed at the start of the epidemic,” Sequoia stated in the presentation, which was first published by tech news site The Information.

 The “Adapting to Endure” PowerPoint presentation referred to this as a “Crucible Moment” and recommended businesses to cut spending fast and save cash, stressing that “it will be a lengthy recovery.” “The latest presentation echoes the message of a 50-slide presentation Sequoia sent to founders in October 2008, in which it stated that a housing-led recession and overleveraged financials—illustrated with a butchered carcass and a gravestone—meant that companies needed to control spending, focus on quality, and lower risk.

 The cost of money has changed significantly, and if you believe things are still the same as they were, you will fall over a cliff like Thelma and Louise “This month, he stated.

“Before you thrive, you must survive,” Michael Seibel, a managing director at Y Combinator, said in a video for entrepreneurs released this month on YouTube. The Silicon Valley accelerator, which has invested in over 3,000 firms, including Airbnb, is advising creators to slash employees, reduce ad expenditure, and boost pricing.

Venture capitalists are also attempting to encourage the entrepreneurs they have supported. They noted that some of today’s most well-known companies in technology, such as Uber Technologies Inc. and Airbnb, were formed during periods of economic downturn in the United States.

According to the venture capitalists, the fight for talent may lessen as employment cuts extend throughout the tech sector. Startups that aren’t sustainable but are still producing competition—a term popularized by Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham as “default dead”—will likewise likely fail if they don’t have access to cheap capital, they say.

Lightspeed’s most recent Medium article was titled “The Upside of a Downturn.” While underlining the need of businesses slowing recruiting and cutting non-essential activity, among other steps, it also advised founders to remain positive.

Touchwood records 164% growth in revenue for the FY 22

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Touchwood Entertainment Ltd. (NSE: TOUCHWOOD), the leading event management company, is delighted to announce its results for the quarter & year ended March 31, 2022.

FY22 Performance Highlights:

Touchwood delivered a solid all-round performance in FY 2021-22 despite disruptions in 1st Quarter. Total revenue for FY22 was INR 2678.09 lakhs, registering a growth of 164% compared to INR 1011.57 lakhs in the FY21. The Company recorded a profit of INR 296.12 lakhs (PBT) for the fiscal year in comparison to INR 142.48 lakhs in FY21, a growth of 107%.

EBITDA of INR 348.58 lakhs (excluding prior period items).

PAT of INR 215.73 lakhs indicating profit margin of 8%.

Q4 FY22 ended with a satisfactory performance despite partial lockdowns, Govt. imposed restrictions and uncertainty in a fragile geo-political situation. Total revenue for the quarter was INR 963.86 lakhs, a growth of 36% compared to INR 708.53 lakhs in Q4 FY21. Company reported a profit of INR 137.25 lakhs (PBT) as compared to INR 175.29 lakhs in the same quarter of previous year.

FY22 Operational Highlights:

Launched its new platform – ‘MakeMeUp App’ that connects consumers to top notch beauty professionals, products and provides access to beauty experiences.

Released a Music Video sung by Navraj Hans & Ashish Chhabra. The video has more than 1 million views on YouTube within 3 months of the release. Music video features top names of Beauty & Social Media industry.

The MakeMeUp Web Series: A digital reality show based on makeup produced by Touchwood Entertainment Ltd. is airing on Hotstar, Hungama Play & other OTT platforms.

MakeMeUp- School of Makeup is operational at Vasant Kunj & Noida. 1st batch of MakeMeUp- School of Makeup at Vasant Kunj branch is expected to be completed soon.

Launched ‘WedAdvisor App’ on Play Store – a one stop platform to find all wedding vendors with genuine & verified ratings. 

Touchwood Wedding School- Successfully completed 3 batches. 4th batch of Touchwood Wedding School is expected to be completed soon.

Revived wedding business post COVID-19. New projects were taken and completed successfully and company is growing rapidly.

Commenting on the performance, Mr. Manjit Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, said: 

Despite frequent disruptions in the quarter owing to Covid wave 3 and other geo-political factors, the quarter has been satisfactory in terms of growth and profitability. The Company is well prepared and looking forward to an exciting year ahead with all its tech driven initiatives. We are gearing up to touch new horizons in FY23.

Touchwood at a Glance:

Headquartered in Delhi, Touchwood Entertainment Limited, established in 1997, specializes in a variety of event facilities, ranging from event planning & marketing to production services for the events. 

Touchwood is known for its larger than life, awe-inspiring setups and formats and completely personalized service to clients. It provides end-to-end solutions for all kinds of events – be it corporate, social or political. Touchwood team is comprised of 42 professionals with a fully developed and functional in-house production facility. It has a panel of skilled craftsmen and band of highly qualified designers add the extra edge to its deliverables.

Safe Harbour:

This release contains statements that are “forward looking statements” including, but without limitation, statements relating to the implementation of strategic initiatives, and other statements relating to Touchwood’ future business developments and economic performance. While these forward-looking statements indicate our assessment and future expectations concerning the development of our business, a number of risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors could cause actual developments and results to differ materially from our expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to, general market, macro-economic, governmental and regulatory trends, movements in currency exchange and interest rates, competitive pressures, technological developments, changes in the financial conditions of third parties dealing with us, legislative developments, and other key factors that could affect our business and financial performance. Touchwood undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future / likely events or circumstances.  
For more information, please contact: E: dinesh@touchwood.in

Bloom to become top provider of revenue-based lending with £300M funding

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Bloom Group S.A. has secured £300 million in a round of funding.  The growth capital funding startup will use the money to expand across Europe and become a major provider of revenue-based lending for digital startups.

Bloom Group S.A., a growth capital finance firm, secured £300 million to expand its operations across Europe and become a top supplier of revenue-based loans for digital entrepreneurs.

Bloom CEO James Hickson says, “We are not your typical revenue-based lender. Based on current pricing, we estimate that eCommerce retailers have suffered £125-£200 million in extra costs. That’s money that could have gone toward greater inventory, increased advertising, or consumer incentives. Rather of merely following the herd, we recognized a chance to innovate. As a result, we did.”

Credo Capital Partners led the fundraising round, with funds handled by Fortress Investment Group LLC.

According to the statement, the increased capital makes Bloom the best-funded revenue-based lending company in Europe. Bloom, founded in 2020 amid the pandemic lockdowns by former CEO of Morgan Stanley’s Fintech Enterprise James Hickson, promises to give funding to mostly digital growth enterprises.

Bloom, a next-generation revenue-based lender, attempts to separate itself from existing models with its a la carte pricing strategy and diverse product features.

The flexible pricing and deployment methodology of the startup is designed to combine revolving credit features with cost predictability and transparency.

Credo Capital Partners’ Christopher Dailey said, “Demand for eCommerce loans in Europe has increased. We wanted to invest in a platform that was taking the product ahead and integrated all of the amazing technology and analytics you’d expect with a genuinely distinctive product and approach.”

Bloom provides funding to entrepreneurs to utilize as they see appropriate and is not intended for any particular purpose.

“Bloom thinks that growing-company owners should be allowed to spend funds in the way that best suits them — no one knows their firm better than the founders themselves.”

As part of the fundraising round, Credo co-managing partner Christopher Dailey will join Bloom’s board and play an active role in the company’s growth.

Global Alliance of Numerologists (GLAON) celebrated birthday of eminent numerologist Pandit Sethuraman

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Global Alliance of Numerologists (GLAON) organized a special webinar on the birth anniversary of Legendary Numerologist Pandit Sethuraman.
2022 marks the 97th birth anniversary of Pandit Sethuraman Ji. The webinar was hosted on May 31, 2022, at 7 PM and was attended by many numerologists from across globe.
Arvind Rathan, Sidhharrth S Kumaar, Sumeet Kr Tyagi, Tasniem J and Abhishaik Chitraans shared expert insights from their experience and also talked about their learning and inspiration from the life of Pandit Sethuraman.
“It is great to gather together and celebrate the birth anniversary of a legendary numerologist by GLAON for consecutive second year” said Sidhharrth S Kumaar

About GLAON
GLAON is an umbrella platform of all the Numerologists of the World for qualitative knowledge sharing, research in the interest of humanity
Global Alliance of Numerologists (GLAON) aims to promote research in all sub types of numerology and help public at large to benefit from mystic science of Numerology
GLAON has been founded by eminent numerologists from across globe
Ankit Batra, Arvind Rathan, Kapil Sailley, Lee Rol Meng, Sidhharrth S Kumaar and Sumeet Kr Tyagi.

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