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Tarun Jami: Pioneering Sustainable Construction with Hempcrete and Advocating for Legalization

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In the realm of sustainable innovation, Tarun Jami, along with his brother Varun Jami, is making waves through their start up GreenJams. Established in 2017, GreenJams is on a mission to revolutionize the construction industry by addressing climate change concerns with eco-friendly alternatives. The duo’s focus on hemp-based products, particularly hempcrete, showcases their commitment to sustainable practices and environmental consciousness.

Tarun and Varun Jami founded GreenJams with a vision to tackle emissions from the construction industry, a major contributor to environmental pollution. Their innovative solutions include hempcrete, also known as hemp concrete or lime hemp concrete, and agrocrete, crafted from crop residues. Hempcrete, a carbon-negative material, stands out for its ability to absorb emissions, making it a promising eco-friendly alternative for construction.

While hempcrete offers significant environmental benefits, the cost factor remains a challenge. Tarun Jami acknowledges the cost implications, stating, “Cost is a really important factor. And the only thing that drives up the cost of hempcrete is the cost of hemp shivs.” The manual extraction process in the hills of Uttarakhand, where tribal and self-help groups are involved in hemp fiber extraction for various products, contributes to the higher cost of hemp hurds. Transportation, labor, and other associated expenses elevate the cost to almost Rs 70-80 per kg.

Despite its eco-friendly properties, the commercial potential of hempcrete is hindered by its cost, approximately six times higher than cement-based concrete. GreenJams utilizes around 2 kg of hemp hurds in a hempcrete block, resulting in a price of Rs. 180-200 per block. In comparison, a concrete block of similar size costs around Rs. 30-35. The challenge lies in justifying the higher cost for a product intended for large-scale use in construction.

To address this challenge, Tarun Jami emphasizes the need to make hemp cultivation more accessible and relax the THC content restrictions. Simplifying the cultivation process and regulatory frameworks would enable farmers to scale up hemp cultivation, ultimately reducing the cost of hemp-based products like hempcrete.

Tarun Jami’s vision extends beyond sustainable construction solutions; he advocates for the legalization of hemp to unlock its full potential in India. Recognizing the therapeutic and economic benefits of hemp, he sees a crucial role for the plant in India’s natural remedies landscape. The call for legalization aligns with the experiences of individuals like Vaidya, a cancer survivor, who views hemp as a remarkable and healing resource comparable to other revered natural elements in India. Tarun Jami’s advocacy underscores the potential of hemp not only in sustainable construction but also in contributing to India’s rich tapestry of natural remedies.

As Tarun Jami pioneers sustainable construction with GreenJams, his dual focus on environmental impact and regulatory advocacy positions him as a trailblazer in India’s hemp industry. The challenges faced by GreenJams in commercializing hempcrete serve as a call to action for policymakers to create an enabling environment for hemp cultivation, processing, and usage.

Tarun Jami’s journey reflects the intersection of entrepreneurship, environmental consciousness, and advocacy for policy reform. As India explores the untapped potential of hemp, visionaries like Tarun are instrumental in shaping a future where sustainable practices and economic growth coexist harmoniously.

BUSINESS

Empowering Women in Dubai’s Real Estate Market: The Vision and Journey of Leedwells Real Estate and Boon Stay

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In the dynamic and competitive real estate market of Dubai, where male dominance has traditionally been the norm, a new wave of female empowerment is making significant strides. Among the frontrunners of this movement is Leedwells Real Estate, a company established in 2021 with a mission to revolutionize the property market. Recently, in 2024, they expanded their vision with the launch of Boon Stay, a company dedicated to the holiday home concept. Together, these sister companies are committed to fostering a more inclusive and diverse industry.

Leedwells Real Estate: A Clear Vision for Real Estate

Founded in 2021, Leedwells Real Estate has consistently demonstrated excellence in the property market, leveraging over 12 years of industry experience. Led by CEO Aman Kaur and Managing Director Arshe Noor, Leedwells Real Estate has solidified its reputation as a reliable and innovative real estate agency in Dubai. Their dedication to client satisfaction and market expertise ensures that clients receive personalized services tailored to their unique needs.

Championing Women Empowerment

In an industry largely dominated by male professionals, Leedwells Real Estate stands out for its commitment to empowering women. Aman Kaur and Arshe Noor recognize the success and contributions of numerous female professionals in the real estate sector. By promoting diversity and inclusion, they aim to pave the way for more women to achieve remarkable milestones in their careers.

Expanding Horizons: Boon Stay

Building on the success of Leedwells Real Estate, Aman Kaur and Arshe Noor launched Boon Stay in 2024 to address the growing demand for holiday homes in Dubai. Recognizing the city as a global travel hub, Boon Stay offers a comprehensive platform where travelers can find luxurious accommodations and curated experiences. The company’s approach mirrors popular services like Airbnb, but with a distinctive focus on luxury and personalized service.

Boon Stay’s unique business model not only caters to holidaymakers but also serves investors looking to capitalize on Dubai’s lucrative real estate market. The company offers comprehensive investment opportunities, enabling clients to generate substantial revenue through strategic property investments. This dual approach of catering to both travelers and investors sets Boon Stay apart in the competitive landscape.

A Holistic Experience

For visitors to Dubai, Boon Stay promises a seamless and luxurious experience. From arranging premium accommodations to organizing bespoke luxury trips, the company ensures that every aspect of the client’s stay is meticulously handled. This all-encompassing service guarantees a memorable and stress-free holiday, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the vibrant culture and opulence of Dubai.

Future Prospects

As Leedwells Real Estate and Boon Stay continue to expand, their vision remains clear: to create a more diverse, inclusive, and successful real estate market in Dubai. By empowering women and providing unparalleled services to both travelers and investors, these companies are set to redefine industry standards and contribute to Dubai’s reputation as a premier destination for real estate and luxury living.

In conclusion, Leedwells Real Estate and Boon Stay exemplify the transformative power of diversity and innovation in Dubai’s real estate market. Through the unwavering commitment of Aman Kaur and Arshe Noor to excellence and empowerment, they are not only achieving remarkable growth but also inspiring a new generation of female leaders in the industry.

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Entrepreneurs

The WittyFeed Triumph: Vinay Singhal, Parveen Singhal, and Shashank Vaishnav’s Journey to Content Dominance

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Vinay Singhal, Parveen Singhal, and Shashank Vaishnav have created a stunning success story with WittyFeed in the digital world, where content is king. Rising from the ashes of failed businesses, these computer experts changed course and built the second-largest content platform globally, only surpassed by BuzzFeed. This piece explores the story of these visionary founders and how WittyFeed rose to prominence in the content industry.

In 2013, faced with the setbacks of two unsuccessful ventures, Vinay, Parveen, and Shashank decided to stay the course. Ditching Evrystry.com and FollowMe247, they envisioned a content platform that catered to the needs of content creators, distributors, and consumers. This vision materialized in September 2014 with the launch of WittyFeed—a platform that rapidly ascended the ranks to become the third-most visited website in the Indian entertainment category.

For Vinay Singhal, WittyFeed is not just a content platform; it’s a technology play. Leveraging robust technology and analytics, WittyFeed ensures its content goes viral by intricately guiding content selection, creation, distribution, and monetization. Real-time data analysis and insights into user behavior empower thousands of influencers to disseminate content, making WittyFeed a formidable player in the global content arena.

WittyFeed’s strategic foresight extends to its strong network of influencers, positioning the platform years ahead of its competitors. Recognizing influencers as the distributors in the digital world, WittyFeed created Viral9.com—an influencer platform with around 15,000 influencers. These influencers, with millions of followers, redirect traffic to WittyFeed, creating a symbiotic relationship that propels the platform’s reach.

WittyFeed’s impact transcends borders, with a presence in Spain, the US, and the UK, while rapidly gaining traction in India. The platform boasts over 100 million sessions and 60 million unique visitors monthly, generating revenues of ₹30 crore in FY17. Programmatic advertising forms a significant revenue stream, complemented by sponsored content collaborations with around 70 brands, including Uber, Coca-Cola, and Zee Studios. By endearing itself to brands, WittyFeed aims to derive 40 percent of its revenues from brand partnerships.

While WittyFeed has thrived, the platform remains vigilant about potential challenges, especially as Facebook’s algorithms evolve. Vinay emphasizes the importance of steering clear of click-bait and focusing on quality content to maintain a symbiotic relationship with Facebook. Future strategies include the integration of video content, fostering collaborations with mobile apps, and seeking a series A funding round for expansion.

The success of WittyFeed lies in the synergy of its founders—Parveen Singhal, Vinay Singhal, and Shashank Vaishnav. Parveen, the Chief Content Officer, envisions video content as the next growth frontier. Vinay, with a knack for building solutions, steers the technology-driven aspects, while Shashank, the Chief Technology Officer, brings real-time data analytics to the forefront.

As WittyFeed charts a course toward greater heights, its founders remain attuned to the evolving nature of digital consumption. Vinay Singhal encapsulates the essence of their journey, emphasizing the imperative of staying at the forefront of change. The triumvirate’s journey from the brink of failure to commanding one of the world’s largest content platforms is not just a success story; it’s a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of strategic vision. In an ever-evolving digital landscape, WittyFeed and its founders stand poised for continued impact and influence.

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Entrepreneurs

Rahul Narang and Saurabh Arora: Architects of Healthcare Transformation at Lybrate

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Rahul Narang and Saurabh Arora‘s combined genius is evident in the rapidly changing field of healthcare innovation as they lead Lybrate, a ground-breaking online platform for medical consultations. The story takes place against the backdrop of Saurabh Arora, who attended Columbia Business School and IIT Delhi before purposefully changing his course. 2014 saw Arora leave his position as a data scientist at Facebook in Silicon Valley in order to pursue his homegrown business goals. This crucial choice launched Lybrate in 2015, a platform that has the potential to completely transform patient-doctor relations.

Arora’s vision for Lybrate germinated during a visit to India, where he keenly observed the challenges posed by self-medication in rural areas and the inconveniences faced by urban denizens. Fueled by a determination to bridge these gaps, Arora enlisted the expertise of his former colleague and friend, Rahul Narang, who assumed the role of co-founder and chief technology officer at Lybrate.

The platform, operating as an online out-patient department (OPD), strategically deploys technology to enhance the accessibility of quality healthcare across India. Arora’s mission was to seamlessly connect patients and doctors, transcending geographical constraints. In less than three years, Lybrate has garnered over 1 lakh registered doctors, facilitating upwards of 6 million interactions monthly. These interactions span doctor searches, health queries, and appointments for consultations and lab tests.

The triumph of Lybrate can be attributed to its innovative approach and meticulous planning. Arora underscores the critical importance of aligning the product with the workflow of doctors, fostering positive word-of-mouth recommendations. The nascent stages involved securing funding, with Gokul Rajaram, a luminary in developing Google’s AdSense network, playing a pivotal role. Lybrate secured a seed round of $1.23 million from Nexus Venture Partners, Rajaram, and independent investor Vispi Daver in August 2014. A subsequent funding round in July 2015 saw a commitment of $10.2 million from Tiger Global, Nexus Venture Partners, and Ratan Tata, propelling Lybrate’s mission to new heights.

The healthcare landscape in India presents a formidable challenge, marked by a concerning doctor-patient ratio of 1:1,700, as highlighted by a joint report from KPMG and Ficci. What sets Lybrate apart is its unwavering focus on alleviating the doctor shortage. The platform’s workflow begins with anonymous health-related queries from patients, evolving into online or offline consultations as comfort levels with the doctors on the platform grow.

Lybrate’s distinctive patient engagement model places the patient at the center, offering access to a comprehensive spectrum of healthcare services. This strategic differentiator positions Lybrate favorably against Practo, its major competitor, which primarily functions as a doctor discovery platform. While Practo concentrates on appointment scheduling, Lybrate is committed to transforming the patient-doctor interaction and propelling it into the digital realm.

Despite the myriad challenges, Lybrate has achieved a commendable turnover of over ₹22.45 crore in FY15-16, with aspirations to reach ₹25 crore in the current fiscal year. The platform boasts various revenue streams, including ‘Lybrate Consult,’ allowing users to consult preferred doctors for a fee. ‘Lybrate Lab+’ and ‘Lybrate Cube’ contribute significantly to the company’s revenue by facilitating lab tests and providing tools for doctors to enhance their online presence.

As the health tech industry witnesses an influx of competitors, Lybrate’s early entry into the fray positions it as a frontrunner. However, challenges persist, and success in this dynamic landscape hinges on delivering a substantial value proposition for both patients and doctors. The journey of Rahul Narang and Saurabh Arora with Lybrate symbolizes a commitment to quality and innovation, marking the advent of a new era in online healthcare solutions.

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