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Creating Online Empires: Two Distinct Approaches

The article discusses the evolution of Zomato, a food delivery company, and its rebranding to Eternal. The company’s founder, Deepinder Goyal, has stated that the rebranding is a symbolic move, indicating that Eternal is no longer just a food delivery company, but a multi-vertical conglomerate. The article argues that this move is a strategic shift, allowing Zomato to diversify its business and address its dependance on food delivery.

The article also compares Zomato’s approach to that of its parent company, Info Edge (Naukri), which has a similar business model, but has not diversified as much. The article suggests that Zomato’s rebranding and diversification could be a defining moment for the Indian internet business, potentially rewriting the playbook for how Indian internet companies operate.

The article also discusses the challenges of building a sustainable business in India, citing an investor’s comment that Indian internet businesses tend to struggle. The article notes that Goyal has a track record of building successful businesses, but acknowledges that building an internet conglomerate is a complex task.

The article concludes by suggesting that the key to success for Eternal will be finding the right balance between growth and profitability, and ensuring that the company keeps a focus on its core business, while also expanding into new areas. It notes that management bandwidth will be a key factor in determining success, and that Goyal’s team will need to navigate the challenges of building a new business while maintaining focus on the core.

Satish Meena, CMO of Edge’s Group, shares his insights on maintaining relevance in a world where FOMO (fear of missing out) is constantly driving consumer behavior.

Info Edge India, the parent company of brands such as Naukri.com, Jeevansathi.com, and 99acres.com, has been leveraging content-driven marketing to create engaging campaigns. The company has been successful in capturing audience attention across its portfolio of brands by integrating humor, cultural trends, and relatable themes.

The company’s approach to content marketing is shaped by the unique vertical and target audience of each brand. For instance, Naukri.com, a job search platform, used popular culture references like the Coldplay concert to create a humorous campaign, while Jeevansathi.com, a matrimony platform, has taken an unconventional approach to matchmaking promotions.

Sumeet Singh, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Info Edge India, emphasizes that humor has been a core component of the company’s DNA since its early days of advertising. She notes that humor makes the message more engaging and memorable, making it effective for the company’s brands.

To maintain a consistent brand voice, each brand has its own distinct messaging and strategy, while ensuring consistency within each brand. The company adapts to evolving media consumption habits, leveraging a flexible yet cohesive approach to marketing.

Singh highlights the importance of being agile and responsive to market trends and consumer behavior. The company relies on consumer insights and secondary data analysis to develop data-driven strategies. It is also exploring emerging technologies to refine its performance marketing strategy, such as shorter video formats, influencer-driven campaigns, and new tools to improve performance marketing.

In the future, Info Edge India is focusing on video-driven performance marketing to engage younger audiences, particularly with the growing popularity of short-form video content. The company is experimenting with even more concise formats, such as 20-30 second videos, to enhance engagement across its brands. By leveraging data-driven strategies, emerging technologies, and a strong content marketing approach, Info Edge India is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and continue to expand its reach across its portfolio of brands.

Here is a rewritten version of the line without additional response:Swiggy, Info Edge, Cummins India, Reliance Power, and Zydus Life are set to announce their earnings on February 5.

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As the earnings season comes to a close, several Indian companies will release their third-quarter results for the financial year 2024-25 on February 5, 2025. The list of companies includes employment website Naukri.com operator Info Edge, food aggregator Swiggy, pharmaceutical major Zydus Life, paint manufacturer Kansai Nerolac, electric power generation and distribution company Reliance Power, and others.

Some of the notable companies that will release their Q3 results on February 5 include Abbott India, Redington, Gujarat Gas, Page Industries, Sagility India, Welspun Corp, Cremica biscuits maker Mrs Bectors Food, and electronics and home appliances company Symphony.

In related news, Titan, a leading jewellery and watchmaker, has posted a marginal fall in its consolidated net profit to ₹1,047 crore in the latest December quarter, compared to ₹1,053 crore in the year-ago period. However, the company’s sales climbed 25.68% to ₹17,550 crore in the reporting quarter, driven by higher gold prices, wedding-related purchases, and healthy same-store sales growth.

The company’s festive quarter saw impressive growth in secondary sales, with a 28% increase, while wedding-related purchases grew by 29%. Same-store sales growth was also healthy, with a 22% increase compared to Q3FY24. Titan’s earnings statement noted that the festive quarter brought consumer cheer, with higher gold prices and wedding-related purchases contributing to the growth.

The release of Q3 results for these companies will provide insights into their financial performance and help investors make informed decisions. The results will also give a glimpse into the overall health of the Indian economy and the performance of various industries.

Hitesh Oberoi, Co-Founder, Managing Director, and CEO of Info Edge, spoke at IDS2025.

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Immuneel Therapeutics, a leading cell and gene therapy start-up, has unveiled Qartemi, India’s first global CAR T-cell therapy for adult B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL). This milestone marks a significant step forward in India’s cancer treatment landscape, offering personalized therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory B-NHL.

Qartemi is a locally manufactured therapy in Immuneel’s state-of-the-art facility in Bangalore, ensuring global standards of safety and efficacy. The therapy is designed to harness a patient’s immune cells to target and eliminate cancer, offering new hope to those battling aggressive blood cancers.

Immuneel has partnered with top hospitals, including Narayana Health, Apollo Hospitals, CMC Vellore, and others, to provide Qartemi to their patients. The company’s goal is to offer advanced treatments and cutting-edge therapies at an affordable cost, making them accessible to a wider population.

The IMAGINE trial, conducted across several hospitals, showed that Qartemi’s efficacy and safety are similar to CAR T-cell therapies approved by the USFDA, with an 83.3% ORR at Day+90. This milestone has set a new benchmark for CAR-T therapy in India.

Immuneel’s co-founders, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Siddhartha Mukherjee, emphasized the company’s mission to offer affordable and innovative, lifesaving therapies for cancer. They believe that Qartemi’s launch marks a pivotal moment in India’s fight against cancer and redefines what is possible in precision medicine.

The launch of Qartemi is a significant step forward in immuno-oncology, offering a new era of personalized precision therapy. With Qartemi, Indian patients can now access advanced treatment options for relapsed or refractory B-NHL, transforming the therapeutic landscape for blood cancers in India.

India’s Future Hinges on Startups: Info Edge Founder

Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani emphasized the significance of startups in India’s growth journey, stating that many giant companies of the future will emerge from today’s startups. He credited this shift to enabling policies, having access to talented individuals, and availability of capital, as well as the appeal of India’s large market. Bikhchandani, the founder of Info Edge (India) Ltd, which owns job portal naukri.com and matrimonial website jeevansathi.com among others, made these comments on the occasion of National Startup Day, marking nine years of the Startup India program.

Bikhchandani noted that entrepreneurship has become a mainstream career aspiration, and that startups are no longer seen as a niche or unusual path. He believes that many future giant companies will originate from today’s startups, building on the momentum created by the current startup ecosystem. He attributes this change to the favorable business environment, characterized by enabling policies, access to talented individuals, and capital availability, as well as the vast market potential in India.

Bikhchandani’s remarks underscore the importance of startups in driving innovation, job creation, and economic growth in India. As the country’s startup ecosystem continues to evolve, it is likely to play an increasingly significant role in shaping the country’s future. The comments by Bikhchandani serve as a reminder of the vital role that startups can play in driving growth and development in India.

Naukri.com’s parent company, Info Edge, files a fraud complaint against Rahul Yadav, the founder of its portfolio company, MSN.

Info Edge, the parent company of Naukri.com, has filed a fraud complaint against Rahul Yadav, the founder of its portfolio company, MSN. The complaint alleges that Yadav misused his position and committed fraud by misappropriating funds and assets of MSN. According to the complaint, Yadav used the company’s funds to invest in his personal ventures and also misused the company’s assets for his personal gain. The complaint also alleges that Yadav made false statements to the company and its investors, and that he has failed to repay the company’s loans and investments.

The complaint was filed with the Delhi Police and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police. The police have registered a case against Yadav and are investigating the matter. Info Edge has also sought a restraining order against Yadav to prevent him from transferring or disposing of any assets that belong to MSN.

The dispute between Info Edge and Yadav is reportedly over the ownership and control of MSN, which was founded by Yadav in 2014. Info Edge had invested in MSN and had a significant stake in the company. However, the relationship between the two parties soured, and Info Edge has now filed the fraud complaint against Yadav.

Indian online search firm Info Edge records a 75% jump in Q1 profit, reporting Rs 259 crore in earnings.

Info Edge (India), a leading provider of online classifieds and job search platforms, has reported a significant surge in its quarterly profit. The company’s net profit for the first quarter (Q1) of the current financial year (FY22) has jumped 75% year-on-year (YoY) to ₹259 crore. This growth is attributed to a strong revenue performance, which increased 17% YoY to ₹744 crore. The company’s operating profit also rose 51% YoY to ₹351 crore.

The strong performance is driven by a significant increase in revenue from its flagship brand, Naukri.com, a popular job search platform in India. The company’s subscription-based business model has shown resilience, and the firm has been successful in expanding its customer base across various industries. Additionally, Info Edge has also made strategic investments in emerging business segments, such as ed-tech and classifieds, to diversify its revenue streams. The company’s financial performance has been driven by consistent execution, cost management, and a strong talent pool. Overall, the Q1 results indicate a promising start to the year 2022 for Info Edge (India).

India’s economic growth is undergoing a structural shift, as indicated by the faster non-IT hiring growth, according to Info Edge’s CFO.

Info Edge’s Executive Director and Group Chief Financial Officer, Chintan Thakkar, suggests that the faster growth in non-IT hiring segments, particularly in white-collar and English-speaking jobs, indicates a structural shift in India’s economy. According to Naukri.com’s JobSpeak Index for November 2024, white-collar hiring activity grew 2% year-on-year, with non-IT sectors like Oil & Gas, FMCG, and GCCs showing significant growth. Thakkar notes that traditionally, IT jobs have grown at a pace similar to or faster than economic growth, but this trend has changed over the past two years. He attributes this shift to the growing importance of non-IT sectors, which are now growing at a faster rate than the IT sector. This change is a sign of a structural shift in India’s economy, away from relying solely on the IT sector for growth.

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