Latest news with #EntrepreneuroftheYear
Arabian Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Swiss-Belhotel Brisbane Marks Six-Month Milestone
Strategically located next to The Gabba, the 110-room property affirms Swiss-Belhotel International's growing footprint in Australia BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 July 2025 – Swiss-Belhotel Brisbane has successfully reached its six-month milestone, affirming its position as a key player in the city's upscale hotel segment. Since opening in December 2024, the property has demonstrated robust performance and consistent guest satisfaction, reflecting Brisbane's strong market fundamentals and the group's strategic positioning in Australia. Located in the vibrant inner-city suburb of Woolloongabba, adjacent to the iconic Gabba Stadium, Swiss-Belhotel Brisbane features 110 contemporary rooms and suites designed for both short and extended stays. Each room includes a kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave. The hotel also offers pet-friendly accommodation, catering to a growing trend. ADVERTISEMENT Swiss-Kitchen™ Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, located on Level 12, provides panoramic views of the Brisbane skyline and Gabba Stadium. The rooftop venue serves a variety of breakfast, daytime, and evening options, while leisure facilities include an open-air plunge pool and fitness centre. Strategically situated near South Bank and the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, the hotel is well-positioned to cater to both leisure and corporate travellers. 'Reaching this six-month milestone is an important achievement for Swiss-Belhotel Brisbane. Brisbane is a growing hub for business, events, and tourism, and we are proud to contribute to the city's evolving hospitality landscape with a product that offers quality, flexibility, and value.' said Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International. Brisbane continues to see a surge in travel demand. The city welcomed 8.8 million overnight visitors, spending AU$10.7 billion in the year ending June 2024. Brisbane Airport recorded 22.6 million passengers, reaching 95 percent of pre-pandemic levels, highlighting its recovery and popularity. Swiss-Belhotel Brisbane is part of Swiss-Belhotel International's portfolio in Australia and New Zealand. With a global presence spanning 20 countries and more than 150 hotels and projects, Swiss-Belhotel International remains committed to delivering internationally branded hospitality solutions. This commitment to excellence and innovation has earned the group notable industry recognition. In 2024, Swiss-Belhotel International received the Legacy Family Business Award Asia Pacific at the Family Business Association Excellence Awards, and the EY Entrepreneur of the Year – New Zealand Family Business Award, presented to Chairman and President Gavin M. Faull, honouring his visionary leadership and the brand's global success. Hashtag: #SwissBelhotelBrisbane #SwissBelhotelInternational #SwissBelhotel #SBEC #SBECBenefits #BrisbaneHotel #TheGabba #BrisbaneStay #BusinessAndLeisure #TravelQueensland The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Hans India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
From Jabalpur to Global: The Real Story of Satish Sanpal
In a small area called Adarsh Nagar near the Gorakhpur police station in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, a young boy named Satish Sanpal started his life. He didn't come from a rich family. But even as a child, he had big dreams. He worked hard, stayed focused, and believed in himself. Today, Satish Sanpal is a well-known businessman based in Dubai, and his story is truly inspiring. Early Life in Jabalpur Satish was born and brought up in Jabalpur. Life was not easy in his early days, but he always stayed positive. His family taught him to be honest, hardworking, and kind. These values became the base of his future success. Growing up, he saw how people ran small businesses. This helped him learn the basics of how business works. Even today, Satish says that his hometown taught him many life lessons. He often shares how Jabalpur gave him strength, motivation, and discipline. Big Achievements Abroad Satish moved to Dubai and started his business journey there. With time, he became one of the top names in the nightlife and hospitality industry. In 2022, he was honoured with the 'Entrepreneur of the Year – Nightlife' award at the Emirates Business Conclave. This award is given to people who have done something great in business. The event was held to celebrate 75 years of India's independence and 50 years of the UAE's formation. It was attended by many well-known people from India, UAE, America, Russia, South Africa, and other countries. He received the award from Ahmed Elmetwally, a respected figure in the UAE. After getting the award, Satish said, 'This award is a big moment for me. It gives me more power to keep working hard and growing my business.' Building ANAX Holding Satish Sanpal is the man behind ANAX Holding, a group that includes two major businesses—ANAX Developments and ANAX Hospitality. These companies focus on real estate, nightlife, and hospitality in Dubai. Through these ventures, he has changed how people see business in this sector. Whether it is building beautiful hotels or creating luxury entertainment spots, Satish's work always stands out. He follows strong plans, keeps quality high, and never settles for less. Smart Thinking and Business Skills One of the main reasons for Satish's success is his sharp thinking. He knows how markets change, what customers want, and how to take risks smartly. He is not afraid of change. Instead, he uses it to grow. He also follows global trends. For example, when the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) between India and the UAE was announced in 2022, he quickly understood how it could help his business. CEPA made it easier for companies in both countries to work together and save money through tax benefits. Respected by Business Leaders At the Emirates Business Conclave, Satish was joined by many famous guests, such as Chandrashekhar Bhatia, Shri Vivek Tankha, and His Excellency Bruce Ellsworth. These guests came to celebrate the rise of Indian entrepreneurs like Satish in the global market. There was also a speech by Dr. Sahitya Chaturvedi, a Chartered Accountant, who talked about how CEPA is useful for business people in both countries. It was clear that leaders like Satish Sanpal are now playing a big role in connecting India with the world. Staying Grounded and Humble Even with all this fame and success, Satish has not forgotten his roots. He often talks about his simple beginnings in Jabalpur. He believes that no matter how far you go in life, you should always remember where you came from. Satish supports young entrepreneurs and tries to guide them whenever possible. He says that anyone can succeed if they stay honest, work hard, and never give up on their dreams. Helping Others Grow Satish is not just focused on profits. He also believes in giving back to society. Though he doesn't talk much about it, he has quietly supported several causes, especially those that help youth and create job opportunities. His story is an example that business can be done with heart. He believes that success should help not just one person but many people around. A Message to the Youth If there's one thing young people can learn from Satish's journey, it's this—you don't need to be born rich to become successful. What matters more is your attitude, your work ethic, and your will to keep going even when things are tough. Satish always says: 'Believe in your dreams, no matter how small they seem at first. If you work for them every day, one day they will come true.' Conclusion: A Journey Worth Sharing Satish Sanpal's journey from a quiet corner of Jabalpur to the glamorous streets of Dubai shows us the power of vision and hard work. Today, he stands as a global businessman, but his heart still beats for his roots. He is not just a businessman—he is a role model. Through his success, Satish has shown that dreams have no limits and backgrounds don't decide your future—your choices do.
Int'l Business Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
The "Wow Effect" Is No Longer Enough: How Businesses Can Stay Successful in the Age of Rational Consumption
Innovator Olga Osokina on how AI has changed the relationship between consumers and brands, why emotional reactions matter, and what makes the Labubu case worth studying. In recent years, the global trend toward conscious consumption has gained momentum. In 2025, its popularity surged—tens of thousands of people joined the No Buy 2025 initiative, aiming to go a year without impulsive or irrational purchases. And while this trend has a positive impact on the environment and mental health, it poses a challenge for businesses: traditional sales tools are losing effectiveness, and the cost of customer acquisition is rising rapidly. Olga Osokina, CEO of UME Tech, has developed a fundamentally new approach to working with consumer behavior. She explores the intersections of artificial and biological intelligence, integrating neurobehavioral analytics and cognitive architecture into marketing, sales, and product development. Olga is the winner of Innovator of the Year (International Business Award), Entrepreneur of the Year (Stevie Awards), and Innovation Leader of the Year (Global Innovation Online Awards, 2025). She also served as a judge at the Consumer Electronics Show alongside representatives from Meta, Amazon, and Netflix. Previously, Olga founded Mirri—a sensory learning platform for children with autism spectrum disorders. The results of its use were presented at several scientific-practical conferences, including those on inclusive education. This experience became the starting point for developing the biointelligence model in the business environment. From Emotions to Decision-Making Neuropatterns Olga Osokina notes that for a long time, marketing relied on the "wow effect" —the drive to trigger a strong emotional response. But today, that's no longer enough: "The modern consumer's brain has become 'immune' to one-sided stimuli. To achieve engagement, we need to understand how the brain processes emotions, visual signals, and price anchors. What works best is an emotional sine wave, a sequence of shifting states where peaks of interest alternate with relaxation and doubt. This dynamic is what activates conscious decisions, not impulses." Under Olga's leadership, the UME Tech team conducted a series of behavioral tests involving 214 users in an e-commerce setting. During the experiment, the following were tracked: glucose levels via CGM (continuous glucose monitoring), neural activation through wearable sensors, behavioral data: clicks, scroll depth, response speed, and CTA choices. The study was carried out in 2024 in partnership with experts in behavioral economics and neurophysiology. The pilot was not a clinical trial and was not intended for medical diagnosis; the goal was to validate hypotheses about how emotional scenarios influence behavioral engagement and motivation to act. All data was anonymized and collected in accordance with internal ethical standards of UX analytics. "We found that when an emotional scenario is built on contrast—for example, an anxious audio background at the start followed by a visually warm scene—engagement increases by 23–26%. And not due to impulse, but due to internal confirmation of choice," Olga emphasizes. AI as a Barrier: How the Brain Resists Algorithms Olga stresses that AI technologies, intended to enhance communication, are increasingly triggering subconscious resistance among consumers: "People intuitively sense when content is generated by an algorithm rather than a human. The sales funnel stops working, even if the communication appears personalized." Osokina's team developed neuro-oriented engagement scenarios based on cognitive rhythm—not aggressive swings, but a deliberate activation of trust. This creates the sense of "I made this decision myself," instead of "I was manipulated." Digital Avatars and Neuro-Negotiation in B2B In 2024, UME Tech introduced AI-avatar technology—digital brand ambassadors adapted to the audience's psychotype and cultural context. At launch, they helped companies nearly eliminate costs for paid audience acquisition. "Later we scaled this approach to the B2B sector. By applying speech dynamics patterns, visual trust markers, and negotiation tempo, we helped clients increase average contract value by 15–20%," Olga shares. The Labubu Case: Not a Product, but a Symptom of the Environment This case is presented not as a pop culture reference but as an example of how a product can resonate with the audience on a cultural and neural level. Labubu demonstrates how a brand can become an interface of cultural tension. As Olga Osokina notes, its image is built on the principle of semantic incompleteness: it's both cute and strange, fluffy and toothy. This activates a projection mechanism—the consumer fills in the meaning themselves, triggering the effect of an unfinished gestalt. Combined with a scarcity model (limited releases, exclusive collaborations), this creates predictive coding of desire. The toy tapped into already-heated themes—mental health, the inner child, and kidult culture—and became a neurosymbol of returning to oneself. Even the packaging became part of the engagement: an ASMR effect when opening, minimalist visual encoding, tactile material—all of which activate the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain associated with intuitive confidence. "Labubu is not hype—it's an environmental marker. It's not sold—it resonates. This is a new type of product power," concludes Osokina. The Future Belongs to Cognitive Interfaces According to Osokina, the cost of customer acquisition in 2025 has irreversibly increased and will continue to rise. The winners will be the brands that learn to activate not surface-level interest, but deep intention. "The future lies in cognitive extrapolation. When a person lives their ordinary life, but the system has already 'heard' their desire. This is not manipulation, but a return to oneself through an interface," Osokina summarizes. UME Tech's model is based on a multidisciplinary practice: behavioral economics, cognitive architecture, marketing, and AI analytics. It's at the intersection of these fields that solutions are born—not only adapting to the market, but anticipating its evolution. Olga Osokina emphasizes: "It's important to note that I consciously use terminology from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and artificial intelligence within the framework of applied humanistic analysis. These terms do not replace clinical or academic definitions—I respect the boundaries of each discipline. My goal is to integrate knowledge from adjacent fields to find practical solutions for business and society."
India Today
12-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
IIIT Bangalore student bags record package of Rs 1.45 crore in silver jubilee year
At its silver jubilee convocation, the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) announced that one of its iMTech students secured a record annual package of Rs 1.45 crore -- the highest in the institute's history. The placement, finalised ahead of the convocation, made waves as the institute celebrated its 25th on July 8, the convocation saw 372 students graduate across programmes including Integrated MTech, MTech, MSc in Digital Society, MSc by Research, and PhD. The event was attended by notable guests like Prof. Govindan Rangarajan (IISc Director), Dr. Venkat Padmanabhan (Microsoft Research India MD), and IIIT-B Chairman Kris the top offer, 14 students received packages over Rs 60 lakh, 67 students landed jobs offering more than Rs 40 lakh, and 180+ students bagged packages above Rs 20 lakh per year—an impressive placement run for the Class of RESEARCH, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP HONOURED Top academic achievers were recognised with gold medals: Valipireddy Pranathi, Monjoy Narayan Choudhury, and Sookthi Bhat Entrepreneur of the Year medal was awarded to Ananda Prakash Professor Debabrata Das highlighted the students' achievements in areas like AI/ML, NLP, wireless tech, and advanced software systems. 'Several students have secured patents,' he said, adding that the cohort stood out for its diversity, innovation, and in 1998, IIIT-Bangalore has grown into one of India's top tech institutes, known for its industry-ready talent and consistent placement performance. The record-breaking placement and silver jubilee milestone underline its impact.- Ends
Business Standard
03-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
From a Village without Electricity to Powering India's Green Revolution: The Inspiring Journey of Gautam Das
The story Oorjan and the founder is a compelling testament to how resilience, vision, and purpose can transform a life—and an entire sector. Founder, Gautam born to daily wage earners in a remote, flood-prone village with no electricity, began his education in a modest Zilla Parishad school. Despite immense odds, he pursued excellence—earning a degree in Chemical Engineering from IIT Bombay and a management degree from the Indian School of Business (ISB), later rising to become Director at a leading Indo-American bank. Yet, even after a successful banking career—where Gautam led multi-million-dollar treasury and lending businesses—Gautam found himself questioning the deeper meaning of his work. A title and income weren't enough. What he sought was impact. And with that clarity, he made a bold move. He met co-founder Manjesh while working at the bank. A Chartered Accountant turned banker, Manjesh always dreamed of building something meaningful in the sustainability space. The two decided to take the plunge—quitting their jobs to start from scratch and pursue their shared vision. Oorjan Cleantech ( is a tech-enabled, finance-integrated renewable energy platform on a mission to solarize India from the ground up. Under his leadership, Oorjan has grown from a startup dream to a national force—serving over 5,000 customers across 22 states and union territories, enabling more than 250 megawatts of solar capacity, and deploying ₹1,200+ crore in green capital. That translates to the equivalent of planting 12 million trees and reducing over 350,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. Oorjan follows a smart, asset-light model—collaborating with trusted last-mile solar installers, banks, and premium solar brands. It offers innovative financing models including Capex, Loans, PPAs, and PAYG, designed for residential, commercial, and industrial segments. Its proprietary IoT-based remote monitoring platform empowers users with real-time insights and predictive maintenance, ensuring efficiency and ease. Oorjan has earned numerous recognitions such as Best Solar Startup in India by World CSR, New Energy Leader in Asia by the Asian Development Bank, and REI Collaboration of the Year. Gautam himself was nominated as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Perhaps most impressively, Oorjan has delivered six consecutive years of profitability—a rare feat in the startup world—while staying focused on impact over scale for its own sake. Outside his professional life, Gautam is an ultramarathoner, open-water swimmer, and Ironman-format triathlete. He has completed over 25 marathons, including the iconic 87 km Comrades Marathon in South Africa (twice), and a demanding 113 km triathlon. He is also a member of the Tata Mumbai Marathon Legend Club. Gautam and Manjesh share a deep passion for fitness. To them, the spirit of entrepreneurship is much like endurance sport—it demands grit, discipline, and the resilience to go the distance. At Oorjan, this mindset is woven into the company's culture. 'Health is wealth' isn't just a saying—it's a daily practice. Team members are encouraged to prioritize both physical and mental well-being, knowing that true excellence begins with a healthy body and mind. As Oorjan continues to light up homes, industries, and institutions with clean solar energy, it's also inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs. The journey—from a powerless village to powering India's green revolution—proves that it's possible to begin with almost nothing, and build something that truly matters.
