
Exoticamp secures investment from KIMS Hospitals founder
'This particular investment has been made in his independent capacity. And the funds would be deployed towards scaling its technology platform and accelerating brand-building initiatives,' said Swaminathan Subramanian, CEO and Co-founder of Exoticamp Adventures Pvt. Ltd.
Exoticamp currently receives between 100,000 to 120,000 online visitors each month, with conversion rates fluctuating on a monthly basis. The average age of its consumers ranges from 22 to 25 years. 'During last financial year, our bookings stood at 25,000. And for this financial year, we have already touched over 7,000 bookings,' Mr. Subramanian said.
He further said: 'People are bored with the regular way of holidaying and they are looking for nature-based experiences. Apart from families and Gen Z consumers, we are now receiving huge interest from schools, especially the International Baccalaureate (IB) schools. Our camps are helping them with outdoor learning experiences.' Citing examples, Mr. Subramanian said, 'We are organising aqua learning camps, astro experience and stargazing is another trend that is increasing. We have now created a separate vertical for schools and we already have five schools in our network.'
With over 300 offbeat camping locations across 13 states and more than 40,000 campers hosted, Exoticamp offers curated, beginner-friendly outdoor getaways, ranging from forest glamps and tea estate stays to guided treks, kayaking, stargazing, and nature walks. India's outdoor and experiential travel market is projected to grow at over 17% CAGR, driven by a growing preference for immersive, short-haul trips.
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Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
This Bezos-backed EV startup is betting you'll pay extra for a stereo in your petite pickup
When Will Haseltine saw images online of a small, boxy electric pickup from startup Slate Auto this past spring, he got on the waitlist right away. The sparse interior and crank windows reminded him of the no-frills pickups he grew up around in Memphis, Tennessee - but he was most enamored with the sub-$20,000 price tag. That price, though, factored in a $7,500 federal tax break, which is set to expire Sept. 30, a casualty of the budget package U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law earlier this month. Now Haseltine isn't sure the truck will fit his budget when it comes out, expected late next year. "The Slate was the first time that I looked at a car, wanted it, and could also really make it happen," said Haseltine, a 39-year-old musical instrument technician. Without the tax credit, he said: "That's just plain too much." Michigan-based Slate has raised $700 million from investors, including founder Jeff Bezos, and has racked up more than 100,000 reservations for its cars. But the company is launching into a tough U.S. market. A few years ago, the electric-vehicle space was awash in hopeful entrepreneurs looking to cash in on the global transition to electric cars. But U.S. EV sales growth has cooled as consumer interest has faded. The loss of federal tax breaks will further hurt demand, auto executives and analysts predict. Like other EV startups, Slate likely faces a long road to profitability. The EV business has proven to be a money loser for most industry players, partly because batteries remain relatively expensive. Even in China, where smaller, inexpensive EVs have proliferated and companies enjoy a cost advantage over Western automakers, most are unprofitable. Slate founders believe the company can overcome those obstacles by offering something that is in short supply in today's U.S. car market: affordability. The average new-vehicle selling price is above $45,000. "We are building the affordable vehicle that has long been promised but never delivered," Slate CEO Chris Barman said at a Detroit conference in July. The company has a chance to fill a void left by Tesla, which has backtracked on plans to introduce a mid-$20,000s electric vehicle. The startup has taken a bare-bones approach to its two-seat pickup, which is slightly smaller than a Honda Civic hatchback. How bare-bones? A stereo and power windows will cost extra. Slate hasn't disclosed the cost of such add-ons. 'It's a cool idea' Slate's creation started with an idea from Miles Arnone, the CEO of Re:Build Manufacturing, a Massachusetts-based startup that includes several former Amazon employees. Arnone believed workers needed better access to affordable vehicles. Arnone shared his idea with Jeff Wilke, the company's chairman and a former Amazon executive, and eventually, a small team was formed. The group hired Barman, who spent most of her career as an engineering executive at Fiat Chrysler, now part of Stellantis. Barman told Reuters recently that Slate will be able to absorb the loss of the $7,500 tax credit because the truck's price still will undercut competitors. The company plans to build the pickup at an old catalog factory in Warsaw, Indiana. Executives are taking steps to hold down costs, starting with a simplified design that uses about 500 parts in the truck's assembly, compared with a few thousand for a traditional truck. The plan to build all of its trucks in a basic package - what the company calls a "SKU of one" - allows customers to choose to add a stereo, center console, special lighting, and other features later. The pickup will be built with composite body panels in gray, with an option for a vinyl wrap. That will sidestep the need for a paint shop, which is one of the most expensive investments in a typical car factory. Slate's minimalist approach is a leap of faith that Americans will forgo creature comforts they have been increasingly willing to splurge on. Last year, U.S. buyers spent 33per cent above the base price on average, springing for higher-end trim packages and extra features, according to . That was up from 28per cent in 2014. But there is mounting evidence that new cars are becoming out of reach for many Americans. That could worsen under the effects of the Trump administration's tariffs, which threaten to increase prices on popular budget cars imported from Mexico, Korea and elsewhere. From that standpoint, Slate's price-conscious pickup might be hitting at the right time, said Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific. "There's a growing appetite, especially among younger drivers, for vehicles that are more honest, more modular and less over-engineered," he said. "Slate taps right into that." 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India.com
10 minutes ago
- India.com
7 Most Instagrammable Spots In Bengaluru For Stunning Photos, Not Just Church Street!
A photo isn't just a picture. It's a pause. And in a city like Bengaluru—buzzing with cafes, code, and clouds—pausing is what makes the frame beautiful. But here's the thing. Most people stop where everyone else does. Church Street. Cubbon Park. Lalbagh. Same selfies. Same captions. Same filters. What if we told you the most photogenic spots in Bengaluru aren't the ones with queues—but the ones that catch you by surprise? Let's step into a visual journey where color pops on old walls, light dances through temple courtyards, and every corner of the city is its own aesthetic. What makes Bengaluru so photogenic? It's not just the buildings. It's the balance. Between tech parks and temples. Between pastels and puddles. Between filter coffee and filtered light. The city holds on to its stories—in cracks of age-old structures, in murals hidden under flyovers, and in cafes that feel like film sets. It's a place where old-world charm and new-age cool live side by side—and that contrast? It's magic for your lens. While Delhi gives you monuments and Mumbai gives you the sea, Bengaluru gives you mood. Misty, moody, minimal, or maximal—every vibe has its corner here. Tired of the same photo ops? These spots are waiting to light up your feed 1. KR Flower Market – Chaos, Colour, and Chai This is not your average morning. Step in around 5 AM. The market explodes with marigolds, roses, jasmine—petals pouring out of baskets like confetti. Vendors shout. Fog rises off tea cups. Stray rays of sun break through the roof. It's not staged. It's alive. Best for: Street photography, early morning mood, floral close-upsPro tip: Go before sunrise for golden hour and fewer crowds 2. Dodda Alada Mara – Where Trees Become Temples One tree. Thousands of branches. This 400-year-old banyan tree near Kethohalli village looks like a forest but is really just one tree, sprawling across 3 acres. When you walk under it, light filters through its roots like a living cathedral. Best for: Wide-angle shots, silhouette portraits, nature-meets-mystic framesPro tip: Pair it with a vineyard visit nearby for a dreamy picnic reel 3. Graffiti Walls of Hennur – Art That Found a Wall Tired of beige buildings and dull walls? Hennur's graffiti stretch is a burst of rebellion and paint. Artists have turned blank walls into canvases that scream in color. From political murals to dreamy characters—every turn here has a new surprise. Best for: Edgy OOTDs, dramatic backdrops, Gen Z aestheticsPro tip: Early morning or golden hour gets you softer light and empty roads 4. Pyramid Valley – Peace in Pixels About 30 km from the city, this meditation center feels like stepping into another dimension. A massive pyramid structure surrounded by green hills, still lakes, and absolute silence. It's calm. It's clean. It's photogenic in every frame. Best for: Zen aesthetics, nature shots, symmetry loversPro tip: Dress light and muted to let the calm of the place shine in your frame 5. Russell Market – Retro Vibes and Vintage Textures This old bazaar in Shivaji Nagar holds decades of visual stories. Peeling paint. Narrow alleys. Wooden doors. Old signboards in faded fonts. And the people—fruit vendors, butchers, perfume sellers—all become characters in your lens. Best for: Vintage edits, storytelling series, monochrome photographyPro tip: Black-and-white mode makes everything more timeless here 6. Ulsoor Lake – Light Leaks and Lyrical Landscapes Golden reflections. Silent boats. Temples on islets. Ulsoor Lake isn't just for joggers. It's for the patient lens. Go during sunrise or just before a thunderstorm. The sky paints the water. And the water paints your photo. Best for: Reflection shots, minimalism, slow-mo reelsPro tip: Carry a drone if possible—top shots are stunning 7. Bangalore Palace – Gothic Meets Gram Not your everyday palace. This Tudor-style structure feels like it walked out of a Sherlock Holmes story. Think stained glass. Spiral staircases. Royal corridors. And outside? Lush lawns and vintage arches waiting to become your new grid goals. Best for: Period drama vibes, wedding shoots, slow pan reelsPro tip: The entry fee is worth it if you're shooting a full set But isn't Bengaluru too crowded for good photos? Not if you know where to look. Not if you go when the city's still sleeping. Or right after the rain, when puddles reflect neon signs and clouds blur the skyline. Here's the thing: Great shots don't need perfect places. They need presence. Timing. And heart. And Bengaluru gives you all of that, if you're willing to wander a little. How to Shoot Bengaluru Like a Local Chase the light, not the likesGolden hour is your best friend. Mornings are calmer. Skies are clearer. The city feels more honest. Talk to strangersA flower seller's smile. A chaiwallah's steam. These stories don't just happen. You ask. You connect. Go off-gridDitch the map. Take that left turn. The alley behind the cafe? Might just be the highlight of your feed. Carry the right gearPhone? DSLR? Doesn't matter. Just carry a lens cloth, a power bank, and a spare smile. The Hidden Economy of Aesthetic Travel Every time you shoot at a local market instead of a mall, you support real lives. Every time you drink chai at a roadside stall after a shoot, you keep micro economies alive. And when you share their stories—beyond just selfies—you turn your grid into something bigger than you. Photos are not just pixels. They're proof that you paused, noticed, and cared. So what's stopping you? A little traffic? A grey sky? Good. That's when the city looks its best. Let others wait for clear skies and perfect plans. You? You go now. With wet hair, messy shoes, and a phone full of imperfect, beautiful shots. Because Bengaluru is not a postcard. It's a painting in progress. Final Thought Don't just take pictures of Bengaluru. Let Bengaluru take a picture of you. Let its colors soak into your stories. Let its corners catch you off guard. Because the best frames aren't found. They're felt. And somewhere between a puddle and a paratha, a wall and a whisper, this city is waiting to be seen by you.


Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk's Tesla taps Samsung in $16.5B AI chip deal—A game-changer that could rewrite the future of driving; details here
Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has signed a $16.5 billion contract with Samsung Electronics to manufacture its next-generation AI6 chips, Elon Musk confirmed on July 28, 2025. The chips will be produced in Samsung's new Texas-based facility. The agreement spans nine years, from July 24, 2025, to December 31, 2034, and marks a significant milestone in Tesla's push to scale its Full Self-Driving capabilities and other AI-based products. AI6 chips to power Tesla's autonomous tech and robotics The AI6 chips will be developed to support Tesla's upcoming hardware platforms, including its next-gen Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems, the Optimus humanoid robot, and AI infrastructure like the Dojo supercomputer. Currently, Tesla uses the AI4 chip in its Hardware 4 vehicles. An intermediate AI5 chip, produced by Taiwan-based TSMC, is expected to bridge the gap before AI6 is fully rolled out. Elon Musk also noted that TSMC will begin producing AI5 chips in the United States at its Arizona facility, shifting some of the production away from Taiwan. Samsung's Texas fab to focus solely on Tesla chips According to Musk's posts on X, Samsung's Texas fab will be dedicated exclusively to manufacturing Tesla's AI6 chips. 'The strategic importance of this is hard to overstate,' Musk said, adding that Samsung agreed to Tesla playing an active role in maximizing manufacturing efficiency. Musk mentioned he would be directly involved, even 'walking the line personally' at the fab to accelerate progress. He also pointed out that the facility's proximity to his home makes close involvement more feasible. Samsung's foundry business gets a major boost Samsung had earlier announced a major contract for chip manufacturing with a global client without naming Tesla, citing business confidentiality. The deal, worth $16.5 billion, accounts for 7.6% of the company's 2024 revenue. The partnership comes at a crucial time for the South Korean company, which has been under pressure in the competitive AI chip space. Despite being the global leader in memory chips, Samsung's foundry division has struggled to retain major clients, many of whom prefer TSMC for advanced chip production. TSMC's client list includes key industry players like Apple, Nvidia, and Qualcomm. Musk expects output to exceed deal value Musk emphasized that the $16.5 billion figure is only a baseline. 'The $16.5B number is just the bare minimum. Actual output is likely to be several times higher,' he posted. This suggests Tesla expects demand for AI6-powered systems to grow significantly, which would require ramping up chip production well beyond the initial contract estimate. This partnership highlights Tesla's long-term strategy to localize chip manufacturing within the United States and reduce reliance on overseas production. It also strengthens Samsung's position in the U.S. semiconductor market, especially as it looks to compete with TSMC and SK Hynix in advanced chip technologies.