SONATA'S MELODY FOR SUCCESS

SONATA SOFTWARE, WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 30 YEARS, IS PLANNING FOR THE NEXT LEVEL OF GROWTH IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, POWERED BY ITS ‘PLATFORMATION’ STRATEGY.

A SEA OF OPPORTUNITY

IN A COUNTRY THAT FEASTS ON POULTRY, ALLURI INDRA KUMAR HAS DOGGEDLY FOCUSSED ON SHRIMP FARMING AND PRODUCTION. NOW HIS FIRM AVANTI FEEDS, A FORTUNE INDIA 500 COMPANY, IS SET TO REAP THE BENEFITS FROM THE GOVERNMENT’S FOCUS ON THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY.

The Negotiator You Hope You'll Never Need

An alarming surge in ransomware attacks has spawned a mini-industry of specialists who handle the dirty work of bargaining with hackers on behalf of corporate clients.

The Conversation RITESH AGARWAL

SoftBank-backed hotels aggregator OYO, currently valued at over $9 billion, was hit hard by the pandemic last year. Since then, it has managed to focus on improvements in technology and user experience and get back on the road to recovery. Founder and group CEO Ritesh Agarwal, 27, at the forefront of reimagining OYO for a post-pandemic future, explains how he has been crafting this strategy.

TRUST AND CONSEQUENCES TECH: Facebook's Complicated Cleanup

The company’s promise that artificial intelligence would effectively police its social network is still far from fulfilled.

40 Under 40 2021

Fortune India’s 40 under 40 list is an annual listing highlighting the inspirational work done by some of the country’s best and sharpest young entrepreneurs, fund managers, and corporate executives. But choosing a handful from hundreds of names is a tough ask, and we sought the inputs of an expert panel who helped us in the process of selecting the final 40. Let’s hear it for the unflinching spirit of our young achievers in these difficult times.

INDIA'S LARGEST VERTICALLY INTEGRATED TEXTILE MANUFACTURER

Ms Suchita Oswal Jain, the Vice-Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Vardhman Textiles is a third-generation entrepreneur and an able custodian of the family business.

That Dark Summer Again

After a stellar earnings season in Q4 of FY21, India’s growth engine seems to have lost its steam in the June quarter because of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

FOCUSED DIGITAL-SAVVY MOVES

In an exclusive interview, Arjun Jain, Business Head, Varroc Electricals & Electronics, shares his views on the influences of the pandemic and changing trends on the automotive component industry and the role of SAP as a digital enabler in his businesses

The Shopkeeper's Best Friend

BharatPe has the shopkeeper at the centre of its fintech universe. This has paid rich dividends, with more than 6 million merchant partners and loans worth ₹1,600 crore in less than three years. All thanks to QR codes.

Meesho Must Go On

Meesho pioneered the social commerce trend in India six years ago, providing a source of income for millions of homemakers. Its future is riddled with competition from fellow startups and e-commerce behemoths. The good news is the market is vast.

The Conversation RONNIE SCREWVALA

Ronnie Screwvala, 64, serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author, has commissioned a telling new report titled ‘Non-linear Thinking’, 1 which he puts forward as an alternative line of thought to propel India to its true potential. Non-linear thinking assumes a higher level of risk than normal, where past experiences do not define future ones. Screwvala, who co-founded upGrad, South Asia’s largest higher edtech company, explains the report’s thesis in detail.

Fashion Forward

FabAlley was quick to adapt to the ‘keyboard up’ dressing trends last year as work-from-home became the norm. It is now doubling down on its online presence and partnerships with major online retailers abroad, setting it up to be the go-to destination for millennial women everywhere.

McFamily Feud

FORMER McDONALD’S CEO STEVE EASTERBROOK SUPERSIZED THE COMPANY’S PERFORMANCE—UNTIL HE WAS FIRED AMID A SCANDAL. NOW HIS SUCCESSOR, CHRIS KEMPCZINSKI, MUST PERSUADE THE COMPANY’S MANY STAKEHOLDERS TO REUNITE.

Asset Light, People Right

Healthcare startup Pristyn Care’s OYO-like business model and impeccable service have attracted both investors and patients alike. But the model and the promise will be tested as the number of surgeries increase.

Big Hospitals Vs. Big Pharma

As talk of healthcare reform grows, the two titans are gearing up for an epic clash over wh ’s most to blame for soaring costs. Will it lead to truly radical change?

Cool Outfits For A Hot Summer

While fashion took a back seat in 2020, with the world slowly opening up, fashion is back. We look at five trends for the summer.

COMMUNITY, CONTENT, AND COMMERCE

FACEBOOK EARNED ITS CHOPS BY CONNECTING PEOPLE, SOMETHING THAT ONCE AGAIN CAME TO THE FORE DURING THE PANDEMIC. ITS NEXT BIG BETS ARE ON CONTENT CREATORS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. AIDING IT IN THIS MISSION ARE INSTAGRAM AND WHATSAPP.

ARADHANA GALGOTIA

The Galgotias Charming Scion

Exiting the Terminal

The Airports Authority of India’s planned exit from four metro airports and its privatisation drive has raised concerns about ‘private monopoly’. But the government is clear: monetise operating public infrastructure assets to finance new ones.

The Art of Building a Sports Car Portfolio

Angel Broking founder Dinesh Thakkar explains why track record matters when buying exotics.

The Conversation - AKSHAY NAHETA

U.A.E.-based Akshay Naheta, 39, is the youngest executive 1 to report directly to SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son (“Masa”). As CEO of SB Management and senior vice president, investments, SoftBank, he leads the conglomerate’s investments into publicly traded stocks and other securities. Naheta, an equestrian buff, 2 decodes his stint at the investment giant.

THE DOCTOR COMES CALLING

WITH MANIPAL HOSPITALS WRAPPING UP A DEAL TO BUY COLUMBIA ASIA HOSPITALS, RANJAN PAI HAS CHALKED OFF A MAJOR ITEM ON HIS BUCKET LIST: BUILDING A PAN-INDIA HOSPITAL CHAIN. BUT THE SAVVY ENTREPRENEUR IS FAR FROM DONE AND IS GUNNING FOR THE NO.1 POSITION.

THE SOUND OF STREAMING

Two years after its entry into the Indian market, streaming giant Spotify is already among the top three players in the growing audio OTT industry. Key to its success has been its localisation and diversified offer strategy.

VACCINE WARRIORS

BHARAT BIOTECH HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF MAKING VACCINES FOR SWINE FLU, POLIO, AND OTHER VIRAL DISEASES FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY. YET IT TOOK A GLOBAL PANDEMIC FOR THE SPOTLIGHT TO SHINE ON THE COMPANY CO-FOUNDED BY KRISHNA M. ELLA AND HIS WIFE SUCHITRA M. ELLA.

To Tweet, Or To Koo? That Is The Question

Home-grown microblogging platform Koo—which provides non English speakers a platform to express themselves—is the flavour of the season. But will it prove to be a viable alternative to Big Tech and other domestic platforms?

Check Into The New Normal

One year after the pandemic hit the hospitality industry like a tsunami, the experience of going to a hotel has radically changed. From extensive usage of technology to ensure a zero-touch policy to completely overhauling old business strategies and making them anew, hotels have imbibed new learnings and are forging ahead.

Luxury Hotels To Call Home This Summer

A luxury hill resort can be the perfect summer getaway. Here we bring you a list of some hotels to make your vacation memorable.

The Most Prepared Woman in Washington

TRAILBLAZING TREASURY SECRETARY JANETYE YELLEN IS RENOWNED AMONG PEERS FOR HER ME TICULOUS RESE ARCH AND RELENTLESS FOCUS. AS THE B IDEN ADMINISTR ATION ’S ECONOMIC POINT PERSON, THE FORMER FEDER AL RESERVE CHAIR IS NOW CHARGED WITH STABIL IS ING AND STIMUL ATING AN ECONOMY R AVAGED BY THE PANDEMIC. AND THAT’S JUST THE BEGINNING OF HER AMBITIOUS AGENDA .

The Conversation AJAY BIJLI

Covid-19 impacted many businesses, with one of the hardest hit being movie halls. This included PVR, India’s largest multiplex chain. However, it was able to raise funds during the pandemic, says chairman Ajay Bijli. The 54-year-old says his company is now in its revival phase and he isn’t overly worried about movies directly releasing on OTT platforms. He also talks about what keeps him going.