Latest news with #Ramya
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Startups rework to stop waste from ending up in landfills
Bengaluru: Little over a year ago, when Steer World unveiled a technology to create sustainable alternative to wood at KPLEX 2024, a polymer exhibition held in Bengaluru, it was not exactly perfect. This man-made'wood' made by compacting granules that were obtained by shredding plastic waste — those pesky hard-to-recycle plastic wrappers that litter every corner of India— was coarse to touch, not particularly appealing to the eye. In less than a year, startup unWOOD has ticked off the aesthetics box too, by fine tuning their proprietary Macro Molecular Fiber Matrix process that mimics the strength, look, and feel of hardwood. You need to really get close now to the improved version of unWOOD to tell it apart from wood. Babu Padmanaban, Founder of Steer World, said every one kg of unWOOD prevents 1.5 kg of CO2 emissions polluting our air and recycles 500gm of plastic waste. 'Of course, there is that fully grown tree that need not sacrifice itself to become your chair or bed,' Vishal Mehta, Co-founder and CEO of unWOOD told PTI. The sustainable brand hit another milestone 10 days ago when it became one of the eight transformative startups that won the newly launched Circular Economy Catalytic Grant of Climate KIC, a European climate innovation agency that is looking at the circular economy in India through the lens of entrepreneurship. 'Early-stage ventures often struggle to access capital, limiting their ability to scale. The grant aims to change that. Alongside funding, we help to connect these ventures with local industry and ecosystem,' Bjarke Kovshøj, Strategic Programmes Manager, Climate KIC, told PTI. Launched in March 2025, the programme will support eight ventures with up to18,000 US Dollar each in equity-free, milestone-based funding, added Kovshøj. 'One of the things that Climate KIC paid attention to while choosing these startups is upstream innovation, which aims at eliminating waste at source,' said Kovshøj. Bengaluru-based bootstrapped venture Green Goobe is a case in point. Ramya B S, Founder, admits as ideas go, hers is not probably much different from other environmentally safe cleaning products. Where she differs from the rest -- and possibly why her company could have won the award -- is in how she packages and markets the product. The avid bird watcher and environmental activist has walked the talk by choosing to stay sustainable all the way through. Her products come packaged in reused medicine bottles, gin bottles, plastic jerry cans and even the environmental nightmare, pet bottles. Just by salvaging pet bottles and mineral water cans, Ramya said her company must have saved around 1,000kg of plastic from hitting landfills since they launched in November 2023. 'So, in effect, we are helping to divert the waste away from the landfills by using what is already there,' said Ramya to PTI. Ramya has also taken 'upstream innovation' quite seriously. Her proprietary formula is so safe that people can reuse laundry discharge, for instance, to wash the car or even water the plants. 'This is something that we promote very aggressively. The cleaners are lab tested safe and discharge can be used for multiple purposes, conserving water,' said Ramya. Climate KIC grant, said Ramya, who runs the company single handedly, came as a huge validation, because her friends and acquaintances often wrote her off by saying she will not be able sustain such a business model. 'Even more than the money, it's the fact that they believed in the transformative power of an idea like this that matters,' added Ramya. For IIT Madras graduate Nikhil Kumar Panchal, Co-founder & CEO of Green Aadhaar — a software ecosystem for the waste management sector — Climate KIC's network events for the winners are a win-win. 'We cater to everyone — from collection, transportation to processing and I met a lot of people in these network events who could basically be our customers,' said Panchal. In a world that discards clothes faster than one can blink, textile waste is another nightmare for waste management. To tackle this, Vijaya Krishnappa has come up with a device that could help cloth be converted again into cloth. Kosha AI's optical device can instantly tell the composition of a yarn — whether it's a cotton or polyester or rayon — right to the exact percentage, making segregating an easy task. Krishnappa, Co-founder of Kosha AI said the grant money will go a long way in scaling his deep tech product, developed at the labs of Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. 'We still have to do a lot of pilot studies, to help us identify gaps and make it market fit. The award came at the right time, for it will tide us over till the market and the technology mature. Climate KIC also promised to help us with identifying how the technology is impacting the industry,' said Krishnappa. The other four winning ventures are: Angirus, which provides sustainable alternatives to bricks; Ecorenowa, which improves solar panel recycling with onsite delamination; E-waste Social, which offers a traceable digital platform for e-waste; and Reverse, end-to-end system for reuse of glass and rigid plastic packaging containers. Only by working together and nurturing, it is possible to create systemic solutions that prevent waste at its source and heal the world, said Kovshøj 'Circularity isn't just about reducing waste -- it's about redesigning the system itself,' he added.
Deccan Herald
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
Tamannaah Bhatia as KSDL's new brand ambassador: Right or wrong?
Critics, including Mysuru royal scion Yaduveer Wadiyar and actor-politician Ramya (Divya Spandana), condemned the decision, arguing that it sidelines regional ties and even reinforces outdated beauty standards.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Ramya questions ‘non-Kannadiga' Tamannaah Bhatia's appointment as Mysore Sandal Soap ambassador: ‘So out of touch'
The appointment of Tamannaah Bhatia as the brand ambassador for the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL)-backed Mysore Sandal Soap has not gone down well. Actor Ramya, aka Divya Spandana, questioned the timing of making a 'non-Kannadiga' brand ambassador at a time when Karnataka was fighting for 'Kannada pride'. (Also Read: Tamannaah Bhatia's ₹6.2 crore deal as brand ambassador of Mysore Sandal Soap gets backlash; Karnataka minister defends) Ramya shared her opinion about Tamannah getting appointed the brand ambassador on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, writing, 'Appreciate the intent to revive KSDL but the execution seems like an eyewash. Even from a business point of view especially when the company is dwindling imho Mysore sandal soap is iconic and carries huge legacy it doesn't need a brand ambassador (Amul, Apple, Dove, Amazon).' Ramya also pointed out the obsession with fair skin after Tamannaah's appointment, 'Women have fought for centuries from voting rights to unrealistic beauty standards on runways to skincare to equal pay - and here we're still being told fair skin is aspirational. Mysore sandal soap's strength lies in its relatability - Clearly the ones involved are so out of touch.' A post shared by Ramya|Divya Spandana (@divyaspandana) She also posted a screengrab of an opinion piece she wrote for TOI, in which she highlighted, 'The outrage isn't against Tamannaah – she's merely a celebrity doing her job. It's about us. It's about a state-owned enterprise ignoring the profound, organic connection it already has with its people.' News broke last week that Tamannaah secured a ₹6.2 crore contract with the Karnataka government to serve as the brand ambassador for Mysore Sandal Soap for two years. The move was met with massive backlash, with many questioning why a Kannada star wasn't roped in for the role. MB Patil, Minister for Commerce & Industries, Infrastructure GoK, defended the decision and stated that the decision to rope her in was taken to penetrate the markets beyond Karnataka.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
Beautician alleges cop car driver robbed her of cash, gold in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: A 23-year-old beautician has filed a complaint against a driver of a police vehicle. She has accused him of robbing her of Rs 2.5 lakh in cash and a gold chain worth Rs 1.5 lakh near Nelamangala police station during the early hours of May 13. Based on the name tab on the driver's khaki uniform, the victim has identified him as Girijesh — a detail that has been corroborated by a senior police officer who confirmed that there indeed is a Jeep driver by that name, attached with Nelamangala rural police station. The accused will be summoned soon for questioning, police said. A criminal case has been registered against Girijesh under multiple sections of BNS, including assault to outrage a woman's modesty. CCTV footage of the places as mentioned in the complaint are also being checked. The complainant, Ramya (name changed), originally from Shivamogga, stays at a paying guest accommodation in MS Palya in Bengaluru. She claimed in her complaint that her mother had given her Rs 2.5 lakh in cash and a gold chain as initial investments to help her start a beauty parlour. Ramya had put the items in a vanity bag and taken a bus from Shivamogga to Bengaluru. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Put Tin Foil On Your Door Knob When Alone, Here's Why Life Hacks 101 Undo She got off near 8th Mile on Tumakuru Road to catch a cab to her PG accommodation around 1.30 am on May 13. "However, my mobile phone had run out of power. As I was walking down to a nearby hospital to get the phone recharged, a police vehicle stopped by me, and the driver, who was in a khaki uniform with a name tab that read 'Girijesh', offered to give me a lift," Ramya said. "When I refused to take the offer, he threatened me and forced me to board the vehicle. Upon reaching near Nelamangala police station, he suddenly snatched my bag, and took out the cash and the gold chain. He attacked me when I started screaming," Ramya's complaint stated. It further said: "Opening the door, I jumped out. Once I managed to reach the highway, I flagged down a motorist, who dropped me back to 8th Mile, before I finally reached my PG accommodation." Seeking legal action against Girijesh and the valuables returned to her, Ramya told TOI: "I will recognise the accused if I see him again."
Hans India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Ramya Pasupuleti sets beach ablaze with stunning look
Telugu actress and social media influencer Ramya Pasupuleti is turning heads with her latest beach photoshoot from Koh Samui, Thailand. Dressed in a red-and-white checkered bralette set layered with a white shirt and pants, Ramya exudes effortless charm and confidence. A white flower tucked into her hair completes the look, giving off major beach song vibes. Known for her bold fashion choices, Ramya's seaside style strikes the perfect balance between hot and elegant. Her poses, poise, and glam presence prove she's more than just a digital star—she's a visual treat no matter the backdrop. While her recent film Maruthi Nagar Subramanyam didn't perform well at the box office, Ramya isn't slowing down. She's set to appear in a small role in Megastar Chiranjeevi's much-anticipated fantasy film Vishwambhara. With her growing influence on social media and her flair for fashion, Ramya Pasupuleti continues to carve a niche for herself in Telugu cinema.
