How Chandigarh is fast emerging as north India’s hub for high-tech
For Taranjeet Singh Bhamra, an alumnus of IIT-Kharagpur and IIM-Calcutta, the choice was either tech capital Bengaluru or political capital Delhi. After stints in Europe, the Middle East and Africa as a consulting and data analytics professional for little under a decade, Bhamra decided to come back to India in 2015 to turn entrepreneur. Destiny, though, had scripted a different story for the Kharagpur-born lad.
Bhamra chanced upon Chandigarh, also known as ‘The City Beautiful’, in the same year on a trip with his wife. A few things he saw there made him ditch the idea of starting up in Bengaluru and Delhi: A near-perfect work-life balance, an abundance of high-quality research and academic bodies churning out skilled talent, a nascent startup culture and a voracious appetite for growth.
In September 2016, Bhamra cofounded AgNext, an agri-analytics startup, with Mrigank Sharad and Deepak Jaiswal. Backed by investors such as Omnivore Capital and Kalaari, AgNext provides solutions to improve productivity and profitability of growers and food processors. From a headcount of 20 in the first year, AgNext swelled four times by May this year, and has provided services to over 4 lakh farmers.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Home-Cooked Meal Is Now Greatly Valued
The pandemic has also brought with it an improved focus on hygiene, use of technology in dining, rise of cloud kitchens and resurgence in popularity of Indian ingredients
Paytm 3.0 - Reaching Near Breakeven In Two Years
As of 2020, Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s super app for financial services had run up losses in thousands of crores. Now, as digital payments gets yet another boost courtesy Covid-19, he’s hopeful of reaching near breakeven in two years
THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED WOMEN GREATER LABOUR PAIN
Covid-19 has shown that women are more likely to face the brunt of job losses than men, and find fewer opportunities when they want to resume. That apart, several have to deal with increased hours of unpaid work at home and even domestic abuse
LEADERSHIP WILL BE ABOUT SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE
Leaders must not only guard their teams first during a crisis, but also deal with stakeholders with respect and dignity. And apart from pursuing business goals, they should remain committed to our planet and the environment
PHILANTHROPY SHOULD BE HUMBLE, BUT NOT MODEST
Apart from building a flexible and resilient framework for the future, philanthropists, civil society and the government must work in tandem so that every rupee is absorbed on the ground
INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE, TECH WILL DISRUPT SECTOR
While clinical research will get a boost, having a skilled workforce and public spending on health care will be challenges in the near term
DIGITALISATION WILL HELP IN VALUE CREATION
As the pandemic brings technology and innovation to the core of business and daily life, the next decade will see about 150 million digital-first families in India
Industry 4.0: Climate Revolution?
Augmenting sustainability alongside digital capabilities is an economic, competitive and global opportunity for India’s businesses, but regulations need to reflect intent
EV Dream Still Miles Away
Electric vehicles have remained a buzzword in India for years. But not much has moved on ground due to high upfront costs, range anxiety and charging infrastructure
Living Waters
A virus has caused us to scramble for oxygen but our chokehold on the environment is slowly strangling the very waters that breathe life into us. The virus is a timely reminder: We are merely consumers, not producers of life’s breath on this planet