In 2013, Shally Interior Designer began its journey from a simple home-based setup. There was no large team, no external funding, and no aggressive marketing strategy. At a time when visibility was becoming central to the interior design business, the brand chose a quieter path focused on craft, commitment, and long-term credibility. Learning Through Small Projects The early phase was defined by modest assignments and high expectations. Each project demanded precision, reliability, and close client coordination. Without the cushion of a well-known name, every delivery mattered. These initial projects helped shape a strong foundation built on practical design, disciplined execution,…
Author: Aman Atulya
Why did India’s MBA model start feeling outdated?In India, management education has long followed a predictable path: classrooms, case studies, and credentials that signal readiness rather than real capability. As Indian startups became more global, execution-driven, and founder-led, a disconnect emerged. MBAs were training students to analyse businesses, not to build them in fast-moving, real-world markets. Who were the founders questioning this system?Before becoming founders, Sarvesh Tusnial and Siddharth Dangi were not part of the academic establishment. They had no institutional backing or experience in formal education. What they did have was global exposure, entrepreneurial curiosity, and firsthand frustration with…
Why This Deal Matters for India’s Shipbuilding Ambitions India’s shipbuilding sector has long struggled to break into complex, high-value commercial vessels dominated by East Asian and European yards. As policy support improves and private shipyards invest in capability upgrades, global shipowners are beginning to place confidence in Indian-built vessels. What Has Been Announced Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI), owner of the Pipavav Shipyard in Gujarat, has signed a newbuild contract to construct six chemical tankers for European shipowner Rederiet Stenersen AS. Valued at $227 million, the contract represents one of India’s largest single commercial shipbuilding orders and the first…
Why IT Services Firms Are Doubling Down on Financial Services As global banks and wealth managers modernise core systems, demand for specialised transformation partners is rising. Indian IT services majors are increasingly using targeted acquisitions to deepen domain expertise, especially in wealth management and core banking platforms where margins and long-term contracts remain attractive. What the Acquisition Involves IT services major HCLTech has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Singapore-based wealth consulting firm Finergic Solutions for S$19 million (around $14.7 million) in an all-cash deal. The transaction is expected to close by April 30, 2026. HCLTech said the acquisition aligns…
How a young founder from non-metro Maharashtra built a multi-sector tech and fintech group by prioritising execution, regulation, and cash-flow discipline over fast scale. What happens when early expectations don’t align with ambition? In small-town India, academic performance often becomes a proxy for future success. Growing up in Sinnar near Nashik, Rohit Ugale encountered this reality early. A Class 10 score of 78 percent, viewed as underwhelming at home, became a moment of quiet reckoning. Without access to elite institutions or exposure to startup ecosystems, the path forward was unclear, but the pressure to prove capability was unmistakable. How did…
Why AI Hardware Is the Next Frontier for Indian Startups As artificial intelligence matures beyond software applications, global focus is shifting toward hardware-native AI systems that operate continuously, contextually, and with minimal user friction. In India, this transition is still nascent, making intellectual property and deep engineering critical differentiators for early movers. What the Patent Covers Indian AI startup NeoSapien has secured a patent for its AI wearable Neo 1, marking a first for the country. The patent protects the company’s proprietary adaptive AI coaching system, which converts long-term goals into real-time, actionable micro-tasks. This positions NeoSapien among a small…
India’s Precision Manufacturing Is Moving Up the Aerospace Value Chain As global aircraft production ramps up and defence programmes diversify, OEMs are looking to de-risk supply chains by expanding sourcing beyond traditional geographies. India is increasingly emerging as a precision manufacturing hub, not just for components, but for complex aerostructures that demand scale, consistency, and deep process control. Facility Launch and Investment Details Global precision manufacturing firm Trusted Aerospace Engineering (TASE Global) has inaugurated a new state-of-the-art aerostructures manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur near Chennai. Built with an investment of ₹150 crore, the 40,000 sq ft facility marks the company’s formal…
Global Capital Is Doubling Down on Indian Snack Brands India’s packaged snacks market is entering a new phase, where scale, distribution depth, and professionalised operations matter as much as taste and pricing. As consumption expands beyond metros and organised retail grows, global investors are increasingly targeting profitable, founder-led food companies that already command mass trust and have room to institutionalise. Deal Snapshot Global private equity firm General Atlantic is set to acquire a minority stake of around 7 percent in Gujarat-based packaged snacks major Balaji Wafers for over ₹2,000 crore, valuing the company at approximately ₹35,000 crore.The two companies have…
Infrastructure Capital Is Turning Disciplined India’s infrastructure financing landscape is shifting from aggressive leverage to calibrated balance-sheet growth. With interest rates stabilising and long-term institutional capital looking for predictable yields, listed infrastructure investment trusts are increasingly relying on phased equity raises to fund expansion without stretching leverage limits. Fundraise Snapshot IndiGrid Infrastructure Trust has raised ₹1,500 crore through an Institutional Placement Issue (IPI) that was oversubscribed two times. The issue, launched on January 19, saw participation from 10 insurance companies and six mutual funds, with domestic institutional investors accounting for 78 percent of the allocation and foreign institutional investors contributing…
Why AI Is Reopening the Edtech Conversation After years of funding slowdown and waning confidence, India’s edtech sector is cautiously re-emerging around a new thesis: AI-driven, outcome-focused learning. As passive video-led models lose relevance, founders are experimenting with platforms that prioritise problem-solving, personalisation, and teacher visibility. What Has Been Launched Seasoned entrepreneur Mukesh Bansal, cofounder of Myntra and Cult.fit, has partnered with former Google executive Peeyush Ranjan to launch Fermi AI, a Singapore-based edtech startup focused on AI-first STEM learning for school students in India and the US. In India, Fermi will offer after-school coaching for students in classes 9–12,…