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The Economic Times Concludes ET AI Conclave & Awards 2025: India’s AI Leaders Call for ‘Hard Differentiation’ and Sovereign Safeguards

BENGALURU, India, March 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The inaugural ET AI Conclave & Awards, convened under the banner ‘2025’ to mark India’s AI inflection year, concluded today in Bengaluru, marking a definitive shift in India’s technology landscape from speculative interest to large-scale execution. The event brought together over 250 of the nation’s most influential CXOs, founders, and policymakers to address the critical pillars of Trust, Sovereignty, and Scale.

The conclave featured substantive discussions on India’s role as an AI architect rather than just a consumer. Vivek Raghavan, Co-founder of Sarvam AI – one of India’s leading indigenous language model ventures – delivered a warning against ‘digital colonialism,’ urging India to build auditable, sovereign models to ensure data security and long-term strategic independence.PhonePe CTO, Rahul Chari cautioned against rushing AI deployments to production without the ‘right scaffolding,’ advocating for AI-first engineering that prioritises architecture over hype. In the ‘Build, Borrow, or Burn’ session, Paras Chopra, founder of LossFunk (a probabilistic forecasting and decision intelligence firm), and Peeyush Ranjan, CEO of Fermi.ai (an enterprise AI reasoning platform), argued that as software development becomes commoditised, true competitive differentiation will only emerge from solving ‘extremely hard’ problems that resist easy replication. A grand jury of industry leaders – including Naveen Tewari (Founder & CEO, InMobi), Srikanth Velamakanni (Co-founder & Group CEO, Fractal Analytics), and Sharad Sanghi (CEO, Neysa) – tackled the bubble debate head-on. The panel reached a clear consensus: AI is not a bubble, but an existential reset that Indian enterprises can no longer defer.”The ET AI Conclave has proven that India is no longer a passive recipient in the global AI race,” said Puneet Kukreja, VP – Business Head, Economictimes.com. “By focusing on functional excellence and sovereign capability-building, our winners and speakers have laid a replicable blueprint for an AI-first India – one positioned to serve not just its own 1.4 billion people, but the broader emerging world that has long been underserved by Western AI models.”In a finding that runs counter to prevailing mainstream narratives, the jury concluded that AI’s transformative potential in India is still significantly underhyped. However, the panel flagged an urgent ‘compute crisis’: India’s current GPU capacity (approximately 50,000–60,000 units) lags significantly behind global peers, necessitating a massive ramp-up in infrastructure investment and risk capital to remain competitive.The evening culminated in the recognition of organizations that have moved decisively past experimentation to deliver measurable business impact. Winners were announced across three tracks – Enterprise, SME, and Startups, with the evaluation emphasising real-world deployment at scale over pilot-stage proof of concepts.AI for India Leader:Vivek Raghavan, Co-founder, Sarvam AIAI Entrepreneur of the Year:Naveen Tewari, Founder and CEO, InMobi and GlanceAI Team of the Year Clinical AI team at Qure.aiAI Technologist of the Year Pratyush Kumar, Co-founder, Sarvam AIAI Woman Leader of the Year:Irina Ghose, Managing Director, India, AnthropicAI Young Leader of the Year (Under 30)(a) Anirudh Sharma, Founder and CEO, Digantara,(b) Rahul Rawat, Co-founder and COO, Digantara(c) Tanveer Ahmed, Co-founder and CTO, DigantaraAI Business Leader of the Year, Srikanth Velamakanni, Whole-time Director and Group Chief Executive and Executive Vice-Chairman, FractalAnd many more.Innovation and Impact AwardsAI Startup of the Year (E-commerce and Quick Commerce): ZeptoAI Startup of the Year (Defence and Public Services): DigantaraAI-Native Large Enterprise: Jio Platforms Ltd.And many more.Special AwardsBest Use of AI in Customer Service: ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd. Best AI-Powered Platform: Jio Platforms Ltd. Best AI-Powered Platform: UniphoreAnd many more.Functional Excellence AwardsAI in Marketing and Product Innovation: Hindustan Unilever Limited.AI-Driven Cybersecurity: Jio Platforms Ltd.AI-Powered Automation and Robotics: NewSpace Research & Technologies Private Limited.Best Use of AI in Business Operations: Blue Machines AIAnd many more.The ET AI Conclave & Awards 2025 was made possible by the support of its partners: BYD (driving partner), L&T Finance (NBFC partner), Snowflake (AI Data Cloud partner), EY (evaluation partner), T-Hub (Ecosystem partner), Zoho (Technology partner) and Indri (Celebration Partner). Moreover, the gifting partners of the event include Vahdam India, Vaaree, Natch, and Andamen. Their collective involvement reflects the growing convergence of capital, infrastructure, and professional services around India’s AI ambitions.For the full list of winners and session highlights, visit: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/et-ai-awards-2025Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2929047/ET_AI_Conclave_Awards_2025.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2827233/5823073/The_Economic_Times_Logo.jpg 

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HOP Events, helmed by Kalpesh Kinariwala, bridges Indian talent and global prestige at the Shows of India 2026 Conclave

The anchor sponsorship of the Shows of India 2026 Conclave marks HOP Events’ official pathway into the Indian subcontinent; the UAE-based premium live entertainment company aims to source and showcase extraordinary Indian talent in the markets it operates in.This move will bridge the gap between iconic Indian artists — rooted in Indian and South Asian culture — and world-class international venues and global audiences.In addition to headlining the conclave as its anchor sponsor, HOP Events also made its presence felt in crucial conversations and networking hubs, with Founder and Chairman Kalpesh Kinariwala gracing the conclave as a speaker.NEW DELHI, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HOP Events, a UAE-based premium live entertainment company, made landfall on Indian shores through the eagerly awaited Shows of India 2026 Conclave. The sixth edition of the event, which drew to a close on May 2, brought together high-profile industry veterans, change-makers, and disruptors who are shaping the future of India’s live entertainment economy.

Led by industry trailblazer Kalpesh Kinariwala, HOP Events not only participated as the anchor sponsor for the conclave but also broke new ground by offering Indian talent and agencies unprecedented inroads into global markets and prestigious productions.Held at Delhi’s upscale The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, the two-day Shows of India 2026 Conclave is India’s most anticipated flagship gathering focused on the live entertainment, events, and experiential segments. It brings together key players from across the industry’s value chain, including event professionals, artist managers, promoters, brands, and creators, and facilitates industry-shaping conversations and collaborations.HOP Events’ rationale for backing the Shows of India 2026 Conclave was simple but powerful – as a hub for some of the greatest artistic talent in the world, India stands to benefit immensely from HOP Events’ proven expertise in the premium live entertainment industry. With the conclave sitting at the intersection of India’s creative excellence and its commercial ambition, it is the perfect avenue for HOP Events to seek the artists, managers, collaborators, and cultural voices they want to elevate and present to the world. This anchor sponsorship is thus a declaration of HOP Events’ intent to champion Indian talent and carry it far beyond India’s borders.Elaborating further on the sponsorship, Kalpesh Kinariwala, Founder and Chairman of HOP Events, who also spoke at the conclave, shared:”India is producing some of the most streamed, most loved, and most culturally significant artists on the planet. Arijit Singh ranks ninth among Spotify’s top artists globally. A.R. Rahman has 75 million followers and ranks ahead of global superstars. Rishab Sharma is the number one followed sitar player in the world. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Aditya Gadhvi, Anuv Jain — these are artists with massive, passionate global fanbases.Yet their presence on international stages, particularly in the Gulf and beyond, remains far below what their stature deserves. That is the opportunity HOP Events is seizing. The UAE is home to a millions-strong South Asian diaspora — professionals, families, and communities who are hungry for these artists and have both the means and the desire to attend premium live experiences. The Shows of India 2026 Conclave gives us the needed platform to engage with this talent ecosystem at exactly the moment when appetite for Indian talent on the global stage has never been higher.”The conclave’s growing eminence as a premium, high-production-value platform was further underscored by its association with HOP Events, an industry leader in creating large-scale experiential events. Through the years, the Shows of India Conclave has differentiated itself through its trailblazing properties and a star-studded artist line-up. By essaying the role of anchor sponsor for India’s premier business and entertainment conclave, HOP Events is throwing the doors open for partnerships with Indian artist managers, talent agencies, record labels, and creative professionals.As the force behind the sold-out Etihad Arena concert with Arijit Singh, A.R. Rahman, and Rishab Sharma, HOP Events knows what it takes to market Indian artists to global audiences, fill premium venues, and create experiences that do justice to the cultural magnitude these artists carry.In the mid-to-long term, HOP Events aims to become the defining bridge between Indian artistic talent and the global stage. The company is actively scaling across the GCC and extending further into South Asian diaspora hubs globally, with the goal of bringing world-class talent backed by high-end productions and marketing sophistication to deep, passionate, and underserved audiences for Indian and South Asian cultural experiences.About HOP EventsFounded by industry veteran Kalpesh Kinariwala, HOP Events is one of the UAE’s most prestigious names in premium live entertainment. It is hailed for curating global live experiences across the UAE and beyond. The company brings together eminent international artists, creativity, and immaculate organization on one stage, delivering world-class live concerts and entertainment experiences that make a lasting impression on the cultural fabric of the region. HOP Events’ expertise spans from close-up intimate performances to sold-out iconic arenas and includes notable names such as Arijit Singh, A.R. Rahman, and Rishab Sharma. The company differentiates itself through the three pillars of innovation, excellence, and a strong community focus. In doing so, it creates experiences that anchor communities, build connection, and foster a stronger sense of belonging, while delighting audiences with seamless execution, elevated experiences, and disruptive thinking.https://hopevents.ae/Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2972758/Kalpesh_Kinariwala.jpg 

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Every Colgate Smile Has A Story: Celebrating Real People, Real Stories, and Real Impact

A tribute to the unwavering faith of Indian mothers, the series kicks off with the authentic story of a legendary 125-year-old sweet-making family from Dehradun.Watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQajpQ224EAMUMBAI, India, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — For nearly 90 Years, the indispensable Colgate tube has occupied a sacred, quiet corner of Indian homes serving as a Suraksha Chakra. It isn’t just a product; for generations of mothers, Colgate has earned a place as a ‘trusted member’ of the family, providing a foundation of care for their loved ones. 

Today, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited celebrates this enduring bond with the launch of the new platform, ‘Every Colgate Smile Has A Story’. This new series moves beyond traditional advertising to document the Real People, Real Stories, and Real Impact behind the brand’s 90-year legacy in India. The Heart of the Shield: A Mother’s Peace of MindAt the core of the campaign is the universal truth, a mother’s desire to protect her family, ensuring their health and well-being through every stage of life. This series explores what happens when this instinct meets a partner she can trust.To prove the strength of this shield, the series puts Colgate’s protection through the ultimate litmus test – a household with a 125-year-old legacy of making sweets.The first film, ‘Raised by Sweets,’ takes us to Dehradun into the home of Vertica Khandelwal, whose family has been crafting legendary sweets for over a century. Surrounded by a world of sugary temptations, Vertica balances her desire to let her children celebrate their heritage with the natural maternal anxiety regarding the impact such a sweet-rich environment could have on their teeth. Her peace of mind comes from a simple, powerful reassurance: ‘Colgate Sambhal Lega’ (Colgate will handle it). Science Rooted in LegacyWhile the stories are told through the lens of emotion, the foundation for Colgate is rigorous science. Colgate Strong Teeth reinforces this 90-year trust with its advanced Arginine + Calcium Boost Technology, providing 24-hour cavity protection. It is this quiet, scientific strength that gives mothers the confidence to let their children explore and grow, knowing the shield is always active.Gunjit Jain, Executive Vice President – Marketing, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, said: “For 90 years, mothers across India have trusted Colgate as their family’s ‘Suraksha Chakra.’ With ‘Every Colgate Smile Has A Story,’ we are stepping beyond traditional advertising to honour that profound trust. Vertica’s story in Dehradun perfectly captures what we stand for: allowing mothers to let their children fully experience life’s sweet moments, knowing our protection is always there.”The ‘Every Colgate Smile Has A Story’ series will be amplified nationwide across television, digital, and social media.About Colgate-Palmolive (India) LimitedColgate-Palmolive is a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, and the planet. Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited is the market leader in Oral Care in the country, committed to delivering sustainable, profitable growth for its shareholders, while fostering an inclusive workplace for its people. With a primary focus on science-led innovations in Oral Care & Personal Care in the Indian market, the company is recognized for its leadership and innovative efforts in advancing sustainability and community well-being. Among its recent accomplishments, the company has made significant strides in reducing plastic waste and promoting recyclability, conserving water and energy at its manufacturing facilities, empowering women with financial and digital literacy and enhancing children’s oral health through its flagship, Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® program. For more information about Colgate’s global business and how it is building a future to smile about, visit: www.colgatepalmolive.co.inPhoto: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2972719/Colgate_Story.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2396024/Colgate_Palmolive_India_Logo.jpg 

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MSEED and SCOPE Global Skills University Sign Strategic Partnership to Shape the Future of Experiential Marketing Education

MUMBAI, India and BHOPAL, India, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Premium education institute MSEED (The Management School of Events and Experience Design) today partnered with SCOPE Global Skills University, Bhopal, to introduce a two-year MBA in Event Management and Experiential Marketing.

Besides boosting students academically, this association intends to equip them with the evolving demands of events and the experiential marketing ecosystem. Furthermore, the collaboration will be fueled by industry expertise and academic structure, helping students build a career in the fast-growing fields of events, entertainment, and experiential marketing.At a time when experiential marketing is ‘evolving from a tactical activation to a strategic growth engine for brands’, this collaboration serves right.Speaking on this exclusive partnership between MSEED and SCOPE, Joshua Newman, Vice-President – Marketing & Partnerships, MSEED, said, “Our focus has always been on outcomes, not just education. This partnership allows us to extend that vision by working with SCOPE Global Skills University to create a program that prepares students for real careers. From curriculum to classroom delivery and industry exposure, every aspect is designed to ensure that students graduate with confidence, clarity, and practical experience.”The MBA program is designed to:Provide a recognized postgraduate qualification with a specialized focusBuild practical skills through real-world projects and case studiesOffering industry interaction, mentorship, and exposureSupport students with internship and placement opportunitiesDr. Vijay Singh, Vice Chancellor of SGSU, hailed the launch as a landmark moment for the city. “This is a remarkable event not just for our university, but for the city of Bhopal. We are witnessing a paradigm shift in how specialized education is delivered in Madhya Pradesh. By launching this MBA in Event Management, we are providing our youth with a platform to master the art of execution, creativity, and management right here in their home state,” he said.The partnership was formally cemented through the signing of an agreement between the two institutions in the esteemed presence of Mangubhai C. Patel, the current and 19th Governor of Madhya Pradesh, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of industry-integrated education in India.For more information on events and experiential marketing, please visit our website.Media Contacts:For media inquiries, please contactTasneem Limbdiwalatasneem@mseededucation.com About MSEEDMSEED, a part of EVA Group, India’s one of the largest live event companies, and backed by 200 odd industry veterans, the institute brings with it deep-rooted industry expertise and real-world insights. It is a creative business institute designed for the next generation of storytellers, strategists, producers, and brand builders. The mission is not just to prepare students for jobs, but to lead industries. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2971835/MSEED_SCOPE_Agreement.jpg 

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