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Zuddl raises USD 13.35 Mn in Series A led by Alpha Wave Incubation and Qualcomm Ventures

– The fundraise will help Zuddl accelerate product development and scale globally

BOSTON and BENGALURU, India, Jan. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Zuddl, the all-in-one platform for virtual and hybrid events, today announced it has closed $13.35 mn in Series A funding, led by Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI), which is backed by DisruptAD, ADQ’s venture platform, and managed by Falcon Edge Capital, and Qualcomm Ventures LLC. The round also saw participation from existing investors GrowX and Waveform Ventures. The fund raised will be used to accelerate product development and scale globally, with a particular focus on the US market.

Zuddl’s virtual events platform is built for enterprise grade scalability and reliability.

Born in the pandemic, Zuddl was founded by Bharath Varma and Vedha Sayyaparaju in May 2020. The current round of funding will be used for geographical expansion, deepen its tech team, and further build on its offering. Zuddl grew by over 30x since its inception and today has an enviable list of clients that include Fortune 100 and other fast-growing enterprises such as Kellogg’s, Microsoft, Dicks Sporting Goods,, BYJU’S, Grant Thornton, and NASSCOM amongst others.

“Zuddl’s growth can be attributed to enterprises’ need for greater customizability and control for their virtual and hybrid events. Most of our customers are global companies with remote teams, who have complex use cases that we help solve easily, all the while being on-brand,” said Bharath Varma, CEO and Co-founder of Zuddl. “Attendee engagement is a critical pillar of any event – in-person or virtual. With Zuddl, we are leveraging our experience of running in-person events and using technology to solve engagement and event ROI. While the world slowly returns to normalcy, Zuddl helps enterprises abstract the complexity from virtual and hybrid events and focus on their core.”

The virtual events market space is expected to grow at about 24% CAGR over the next few years according to research firm, Grand View Research. As per LinkedIn’s research, event marketers anticipate that over 65% of the events in the near future, would be either virtual or hybrid.

Zuddl’s differentiation stems from its ability to deliver a high level of event customization, and powerful attendee engagement. Event organizers are enabled to customize every detail of their event quickly, and by themselves. Zuddl solves for attendee engagement by using technology to power interest-driven networking and implement gamification based on user actions.

“After being forced to go the virtual events route during the pandemic, enterprises are now discovering the advantages of hybrid events. Zuddl, through its hybrid-first model is tackling a unique set of problem for enterprise events – that of bringing customizability, control and engagement to virtual and hybrid events, without making it complicated for the event organizers. What works to Zuddl’s advantage is the fact that they are from the events industry and understand the ground realities too well,” said Anirudh Singh, Managing Director, Alpha Wave Incubation.

“Zuddl’s platform for hybrid events helps enterprises easily customize and manage events with greater engagement,” said Varsha Tagare, Sr. Director, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Managing Director at Qualcomm Ventures. “We look forward to supporting their journey to enable new applications and immersive experiences for the events sector using XR, AI and 5G.”

“We were excited by the vision, strong expertise and speed of execution of Zuddl’s founding team. Bharath and Vedha make a well balanced and exceptionally talented founding team. Their deep understanding of the needs of event organizers, speakers, sponsor and above all the attendees coupled with their product first thinking has made Zuddl offering standout in a highly crowded space”, added Manu Rikhye, Partner, GrowX Venture.

About Zuddl:

Zuddl is an all-inclusive virtual and hybrid events platform, which helps enterprises design immersive branded experiences. Large organizations across the globe such as Google, Dicks Sporting Goods, Microsoft, Kellogg’s and Grant Thornton trust Zuddl to host their virtual events. For more information, please visit www.zuddl.com

About Alpha Wave Incubation

Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI) is a $300 million venture fund, backed by DisruptAD, ADQ’s venture platform and managed by Falcon Edge Capital. AWI has a dedicated team across London, Bangalore and Abu Dhabi. The fund invests in early-stage tech-enabled, disruptive start-ups in India and Southeast Asia. In addition to providing outstanding founders with early-stage capital, AWI offers access to an unrivaled set of support mechanisms for business-building, while also helping companies expand globally and open up new markets in the GCC/MENA region and beyond. 

About DisruptAD

DisruptAD, ADQ’s venture platform, was launched to accelerate the future of innovation. The platform offers productive incubation, investment and commercial scaling opportunities for tech start-ups in a state-of-the-art infrastructure for a digital led age. DisruptAD aims to advance R&D and unleash the potential of the UAE’s innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem through highly skilled tech talent.

DisruptAD is attracting and creating a thriving community of founders, fund managers, incubators, and accelerators to globally build, support and scale disruptive technologies from Abu Dhabi.

About Falcon Edge Capital

Falcon Edge Capital is a diversified global alternative asset manager co-founded in 2012 by Rick Gerson, Navroz D. Udwadia and Ryan Khoury. Falcon Edge manages approximately $4bn in assets across public and private markets. Falcon Edge has offices in New York, London and Bangalore. The firm offers a variety of investment products and strategies that cover a number of asset classes, themes and geographies.

About Qualcomm Ventures

Qualcomm Ventures, acting through Qualcomm Ventures LLC or its affiliated entities, has been making strategic investments in technology companies that have the potential to dramatically transform our world since 2000. As a global investor, we look to help entrepreneurs build revolutionary businesses that reshape the world around us. For more information please visit: www.qualcommventures.com.

Media Contact:

Verbly Integrated Communications

Hitheshitha Mahesh

hitu@verblyinc.com

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SPJIMR hosts Faculty Development Workshop to integrate ‘Indian Knowledge Systems in Business Education’

Two-day event explored embedding Indian wisdom in management curricula in line with NEP 2020

MUMBAI, India, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) successfully hosted a two-day Faculty Development Workshop (FDP) on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) for Business Education on April 10–11, 2025. The workshop brought together over 40 faculty members from across the country, providing a unique platform for dialogue, reflection, and curriculum development centred on the integration of Indian thought into management education.

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The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 underscores the importance of integrating IKS into higher education to foster holistic, multidisciplinary learning rooted in India’s rich intellectual traditions. SPJIMR, with its long standing focus on Indian wisdom in management, is well placed to advance this through meaningful academic engagement.

Commenting on the initiative, Prof. Varun Nagaraj, Dean, SPJIMR said, “As we look to infuse IKS principles in the management education curriculum, it is important that we are specific about what is new and additive to existing approaches that have been built on the liberal arts, ethics, and systems thinking. I thank our conference attendees for engaging in an intellectually rigorous discussion around this question.”

The workshop began with a session by Prof. (Retd.) B. Mahadevan (IIM Bangalore), who offered a clear overview of IKS. He highlighted their interdisciplinary nature, drawing on examples from Aryabhatta to Kalidasa, and emphasised the importance of Sanskrit for accessing original sources without distortion. Prof. Jitesh Mohnot (IIT Jodhpur) followed with an exploration of Marwari and indigenous business practices. He described India’s economic landscape as shaped by ‘vernacular capitalism’, rooted in family firms and informal trust networks, and noted the publishing challenges IKS scholars face without aligning their work to global academic frameworks.

Prof. Ashish Pandey (IIT Bombay) explored leadership through Indian psychology, drawing on the Bhagavad Gita and Rājayoga to connect concepts like karma yoga and mind management with modern leadership. Prof. Varadraj Bapat (IIT Bombay) discussed indigenous financial systems, linking instruments like hundis and insights from the Arthashastra to current economic models and classroom teaching.

The workshop concluded with a synthesis session and curriculum development framework presented by Prof. Surya Tahora, Executive Director of the Centre for Wisdom in Leadership (CWIL), SPJIMR. “This workshop is part of a larger inquiry,” he remarked. “It reflects a growing recognition that our academic institutions can be spaces of intellectual decolonisation, but also creative renewal. Not by rejecting modernity, but by deepening it with the wisdom and subtlety of our indigenous traditions.”

The two-day workshop culminated in a spirited panel discussion and certificate distribution ceremony, marking a meaningful step in SPJIMR’s ongoing efforts to develop contextually rooted yet globally relevant business education.

About SPJIMR

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) is a leading postgraduate management institute, recognised by the Financial Times MiM Global Rankings as India’s #1 business school, by Business Today as one of the country’s top five business schools, and by the Positive Impact Rating as one of the top five business schools worldwide for societal impact. Known for its innovative and socially conscious approach to management education, research, and community engagement, SPJIMR aims to influence managerial practice and promote the value-based growth of its students, alumni, organisations and their leaders, and society. SPJIMR holds the international ‘triple crown’ of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA.

Visit SPJIMR.org for more information.

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Agoda and Atlys Unveil Co-Branded Advertising Campaign to Inspire Confidence in International Travel for Indian Travellers

NEW DELHI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda and visa processing platform Atlys have launched a co-branded marketing and advertising campaign in India, focusing on simplifying international travel. Featuring a new advertisement, the campaign highlights the stress often associated with traveling abroad—from fears of overpaying for flights and accommodation to concerns over visa approvals—and positions the partnership as a solution for anxiety-free travel.

Play the advertisement at https://youtu.be/-jJZqhurikk

Drawing on the insight that international trips can feel overwhelming for Indian travellers, the campaign acknowledges how uncertainties around securing the best value for bookings and fears of visa rejection often overshadow the joy of planning a journey.  The newly launched advertisement portrays these pre-travel anxieties: from anxious searches for flight deals to the tense wait for visa approvals and how we address them. Through their collaborative approach, Agoda and Atlys demonstrate how these unavoidable aspects of international travel can be simplified, allowing the excitement of discovery to take center stage.

Matteo Frigerio, Chief Marketing Officer at Agoda, stated, “At Agoda, we believe travel should feel exciting, not overwhelming. Teaming up with Atlys lets us clear two of the biggest hurdles: cost and visa complexity. Together, we’re making global travel from India more accessible, more affordable, and much less stressful – so travellers can explore the world with ease and peace of mind.”

Atlys echoed this sentiment. Mohak Nahta, Founder and CEO of Atlys remarked: “At Atlys, we’ve built our company on a singular mission: eliminating the visa headaches that prevent millions from experiencing the world freely. For many Indian travellers, venturing abroad brings unique challenges, from finding affordable travel options to dealing with visa uncertainties. Our association with Agoda tackles these hurdles head-on by marrying our expertise in visa facilitation with Agoda’s strong digital travel platform. Together, we create a stress-free, holistic experience for the travellers.”

The strength of this partnership lies in how perfectly the two platforms complement each other. Agoda’s extensive network of five million properties worldwide and its integrated flight and activity options provide travellers with tools to build customized itineraries that match both dreams and budgets. Meanwhile, Atlys transforms the often-intimidating visa application process into a transparent, user-friendly experience that ensures paperwork never stands in the way of adventure.

This collaboration acknowledges a fundamental truth about modern travel—that the journey begins long before departure. By addressing both practical and emotional barriers to international travel, Agoda and Atlys are empowering Indians to approach global exploration with newfound confidence, allowing the excitement of discovery to finally take center stage.

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ZapUp Launches Powerful WhatsApp Marketing Automation Platform, Joins Microsoft for Startups

NEW DELHI, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ZapUp, a pioneering SaaS platform, a product of Perky.ai transforming how brands engage with customers on WhatsApp, has announced the launch of its next-gen marketing automation suite tailored for SMBs. The platform, now accepted into the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, is positioned to revolutionize WhatsApp as a mainstream, cost-efficient marketing channel across industries.

Leading the Way in WhatsApp Marketing Innovation

As businesses continue to seek authentic and high-conversion communication channels, WhatsApp has emerged as a powerful platform to connect with customers directly. ZapUp’s WhatsApp Automation Marketing Suite introduces a robust set of tools for broadcasting, lead capture, chatbot flows, campaign performance tracking, and e-commerce integration—all via WhatsApp.

Designed for simplicity and scalability, ZapUp empowers startups, D2C brands, agencies, and regional businesses to automate engagement, personalize messaging at scale, and reduce time-to-lead conversion dramatically.

“WhatsApp is where your customer already is. ZapUp ensures you’re there too—with the right message, at the right time, at the right scale,” said Vaibhav Asthana, Founder of ZapUp. “We are proud to join the Microsoft for Startups program, which validates our mission to bring world-class automation technology within the reach of SMBs globally.”

Built for Scale, Designed for Everyone

ZapUp’s onboarding is frictionless—businesses can start sending campaigns within minutes with embedded WhatsApp Business API setup, intuitive template management, and chatbot designers.

What sets ZapUp apart is its cross-industry flexibility. Whether it’s an online clothing brand, a local clinic, or a real estate firm, ZapUp has pre-built workflows tailored to multiple verticals—helping brands deliver contextual, automated conversations that drive actions.

Key Features:

  • Bulk broadcasting and targeted campaigns
  • Advanced chatbot flow designer (drag-and-drop)
  • E-commerce product catalog integration
  • Dynamic lead forms and funnel automation
  • Real-time analytics with conversion tracking
  • GDPR-ready consent mechanisms

Empowering SMBs With Cutting-Edge, Affordable Tech

With rising costs of digital marketing and privacy-led disruptions in traditional ad platforms, ZapUp provides an alternative that’s not only effective but also budget-friendly. Its vision aligns with Microsoft’s startup accelerator ethos—equipping emerging companies with the tools needed to scale responsibly and sustainably.

“By making WhatsApp automation accessible, we are leveling the digital playing field for SMBs,” said Asthana. “ZapUp is not just a product; it’s a movement to democratize modern marketing.”

About ZapUp

ZapUp is a WhatsApp-first marketing automation platform focused on helping businesses of all sizes create personalized, automated customer engagement journeys. Built with scalability and affordability at its core, ZapUp is designed to serve SMBs and enterprises across sectors looking to unlock the full potential of WhatsApp.

For more information, visit https://zapup.marketing

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