Latest news with #NitinGupta
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Personal Branding Is The New Business Branding
Nitin Gupta, founder of QRCodeChimp. He's a technology leader with over two decades of technology development and management experience. getty I met a young Punjabi entrepreneur at a networking event in San Francisco a few years ago. Let's say his name was Manjit. As startup founders, we bonded quickly. Manjit was looking for investments for his tech firm. He met every angel investor possible to hand over his visiting cards and deliver a well-rehearsed elevator pitch about his product. He was confident that his energetic pitch would land him the opportunity he sought. He ended the event with high hopes. The following year, I met Manjit again at the same event. He revealed that he was still looking for an investor. But this year, he approached them with a different plan. Instead of a pitch, Manjit had a story to tell—the problem he identified as an expat living in a foreign land, how his product would address it and how millions of expats would benefit from it, promising great ROI. Manjit's story worked—he secured seed funding, and I learned a valuable lesson: Personal branding is no longer optional; it has become the foundation of business branding. The modern customer craves authenticity. Many people want to know the stories and faces behind a company. According to Edelman's 2023 Trust Barometer, 63% of people trust their neighbors, while 48% trust CEOs. Often customers want to know what an individual says about a brand more than what the brand says about itself. Some entrepreneurs have even become household names because of their voice and presence, making them more relatable to the common person than their companies. Traditional branding, such as logos, colors and taglines, still matters. However, I've noticed that what attracts customers and builds trust with them is the human behind the brand. The short answer is: Emotion wins over noise. Most people don't want to hear sales pitches. However, people are constantly bombarded by social media ads, marketing emails and website pop-ups, almost exasperating them. Here, personal branding works like a fresh breath of air. When someone speaks, shares a personal anecdote, tells a story or admits to a mistake, people listen, relate and often connect emotionally. Personal branding allows people to see the human behind the brand. • The power of word-of-mouth marketing: Back in 2012, a Nielsen study found that 92% of consumers trusted earned media, including individual recommendations, over brand messaging. Fast-forward to today, and much of that trust has shifted to social media influencers and vocal business leaders who shape opinions and drive purchasing decisions. • Relatability: The efficacy of a human connection is undeniable. When someone hears an entrepreneur talk about dreams, aspirations or failures, they can often instantly relate to the situations—a feat an inanimate object like a corporate brand can't achieve easily. • Engagement: Personal stories on LinkedIn and other social media platforms often see higher engagement than brand posts. Why? They feel real and build trust, encouraging people to buy from you, recommend you and invest in you. • Relevance: Personal branding keeps you visible. When you consistently express your opinion on various trending topics in addition to your business, you stay relevant (so does your brand). • Legacy: Your personal brand stays with you. Unlike businesses, which can grow, evolve or fail, your words, reputation and presence remain. I think Elon Musk is a good example of personal branding. Many people associate his personality, unfiltered views and futuristic vision directly with his companies like Tesla and SpaceX. Meanwhile Richard Branson's adventurous, bold personality makes Virgin come across as approachable and daring to many people. In India, I think Anand Mahindra's personal brand as someone who's thoughtful, witty and socially conscious has enhanced Mahindra Group's global corporate image. And Ankur Warikoo built a massive audience by sharing personal stories, career lessons and failures. First things first, you don't need an avant-garde media team or to spend tons of money to build your personal brand. Here's how to do it instead: • Pick a platform: Identify your customer demographics and where they spend most of their time. It could be LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X or YouTube—or all of these. Start with one platform, be consistent, and scale as your audience grows. • Share your story: Talk about your journey—why did you start your business, and how are you addressing an issue? Talk about the challenges and the solutions. Trust me, people are more interested in listening to a story than reading product features. • Offer value: Teach and inspire people. Share lessons, mistakes, wins and insights. • Be real: Dare to be imperfect. Don't overthink. People typically connect more to real human personas rather than the sanitized versions. • Engage: Build a community. Start conversations and respond often. Reply to comments, and show support to people and causes. You might be wondering: "Is all this effort worth it?" Absolutely. It can shorten sales cycles because people already trust you. It can attract talent because people want to work "with" you, not just your company. It can open doors to speaking gigs, media coverage and partnerships. And it can make your business more resilient because your presence keeps your brand alive. Personal branding is not about ego. It's about connection. People want to know who you are, not just what you sell. As an entrepreneur, showing up as yourself can be your biggest differentiator. The world doesn't just need more products—it needs more people who are real, relatable and driven by purpose. So the next time you think of investing in your business brand, ask yourself—what am I doing to build my brand? Your face, your voice, your story—it's the brand people trust. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Attero to invest ₹100 crore to scale rare earth recycling capacity
E-waste recycling company Attero plans to invest Rs 100 crore to scale up its rare earth recycling capacity to 30,000 tonnes from 300 tonnes over the next 12 to 24 months, a top official of the firm said on Thursday. China in April imposed restrictions on exports of rare earth, a critical mineral used in manufacturing of electronic, automobile and other technology products. Attero CEO and Co-Founder Nitin Gupta told PTI that the investment is in line with demand in the market for rare earth magnets, for which industries in India and across the world like electronics, automobile etc are entirely dependent on supplies from China. "With our existing capability and technology leadership, we are ready to scale our REE recycling capacity from 1 to 100 tonnes per day to reach a total of 30,000 tonnes annually and explore further expansion as demand accelerates. We plan to invest Rs 100 crore towards this expansion," he said. The company will focus on extraction of rare earth minerals such as Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr), and Dysprosium (Dy) with over 98 per cent efficiency and 99.9 per cent purity. These are essential to key sectors including electric vehicles, wind energy, and consumer electronics. "Attero has consistently advocated for India's self-reliance in critical minerals to reduce dependence on imports and counter China's dominance in rare earth supply chains. "We are proud to be the only Indian company with proven deep-tech and globally patented processes to refine black mass and recover rare earth elements. The current global environment only reinforces the urgency of building domestic infrastructure," Gupta said. The government has launched the National Critical Mineral Mission in January to build a strong foundation for self-reliance in the critical mineral sector. The initiative recognises recycling as a key strategy to secure domestic supply chains and reduce dependence on imports. Gupta said that his company's expansion directly supports the government's National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) aimed at reducing import dependence and promote self-reliance in critical mineral supply chains. According to industry estimates shared by Attero in a note, the global REE market is projected to reach USD 10.9 billion by 2029 at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 12.6 per cent, and REE magnets expected to exceed USD 30.3 billion by 2033. Gupta said that Attero holds over 46 global patents, including recent grants in the rare earth space across India and key international markets including Oman , Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE , Bahrain, China and Taiwan. "Attero's patented technology enables the extraction of REEs from e-waste and end-of-life electronics such as hard disk drives, laptops, neckbands, and earphones; components that contain high concentrations of Nd, Pr, Ce, Gd, and Dy. The process is energy-efficient, cost-effective, and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional mining," Gupta said. In the financial year 2025, Attero claims to have processed over 1.5 lakh tonnes of e-waste and 15,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries annually and targeting a Y-o-Y growth of 100 per cent. Attero also has plans to expand its footprint in Europe and the US. The company aims to ramp up its annual e-waste processing to 4,15,000 tonnes and battery recycling to 50,000 tonnes, expanding its global capacity and furthering India's leadership in critical mineral recycling.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Attero to invest ₹100 cr to expand rare earth recycling capacity to 30,000 tonnes
Attero , India's largest e-waste recycling company, has announced plans to scale up its rare earth element (REE) recycling capacity from 300 tonnes to 30,000 tonnes annually over the next 12 to 24 months. The expansion will involve an investment of ₹100 crore and supports the Union government's recently launched National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which aims to reduce import dependence and strengthen domestic supply chains. The announcement assumes significance in the face of curbs imposed by China on exports of rare earth magnets. Rare earth elements such as Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr), and Dysprosium (Dy) are vital for sectors including electric mobility, wind energy, and electronics. With the global REE market expected to reach $10.9 billion by 2029 and REE magnets forecasted to exceed $30.3 billion by 2033, India has identified recycling and extraction of these materials as a key strategic priority. Technology-led expansion 'Attero has consistently advocated for India's self-reliance in critical minerals to reduce dependence on imports and counter China's dominance in rare earth supply chains,' said Nitin Gupta, CEO and Co-founder of Attero. 'We are proud to be the only Indian company with proven deep-tech and globally patented processes to refine black mass and recover rare earth elements with over 98 per cent efficiency and 99.9 pe purity. With our existing capability and technology leadership, we are ready to scale our REE recycling capacity from 1 to 100 tonnes per day to reach a total of 30,000 tonnes annually. We plan to invest ₹100 crore towards this expansion,' he added. Attero uses a proprietary process to extract REEs from e-waste and end-of-life electronics such as hard disk drives, laptops, neckbands, and earphones, which contain high concentrations of Nd, Pr, Ce, Gd, and Dy. The company states that the method is more energy-efficient and produces lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional mining processes. In FY25, Attero processed over 150,000 tonnes of e-waste and 15,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries . It targets 100 per cent year-on-year growth and aims to increase e-waste processing capacity to 415,000 tonnes and battery recycling to 50,000 tonnes annually. International patents and global expansion plans Attero holds over 46 patents globally, including recent grants related to rare earth recovery in India, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, China, and Taiwan. These patents support the company's international expansion strategy, with future operations planned in Europe and the United States. The National Critical Mineral Mission recognises recycling as a central strategy to secure critical mineral supply chains. Attero's expanded capabilities align with this policy framework, offering a domestic pathway to reduce reliance on imports and enhance India's position in global critical mineral recovery.
Entrepreneur
05-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Handpickd Raises INR 21.7 Cr Funding Led by Genesia Ventures, Nitin Gupta
The startup has already received INR 10.16 crore, with the rest expected shortly. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Fresh farm produce startup Handpickd (formerly Sorted) has secured INR 21.7 crore (approximately USD 2.5 million) in an extended seed round led by Genesia Ventures and Nitin Gupta, alongside participation from BEENEXT, Stargazer Ventures, Eximius Ventures, and Sunrise Sunset Family Trust, among others. As per regulatory filings accessed in March 2025 from the Registrar of Companies, Handpickd's board approved the issuance of 10,547 Series Seed B CCPS at a price of INR 20,566 per share. Nitin Gupta, via GG Enterprises, invested INR 6.48 crore, with Genesia Ventures adding INR 6 crore. BEENEXT followed with INR 2.16 crore, and the Sunrise Sunset Family Office pledged INR 2 crore. Other contributors include Infinyte Club Angel Fund, Stargazer Ventures, Eximius Ventures, and Ankit Agarwal. The startup has already received INR 10.16 crore, with the rest expected shortly. According to estimates by Entrackr, the Blume Ventures-backed Handpickd is now valued at around INR 300 crore (USD 35 million). Founded by Anant Goel, Nitin Gupta, and Sahil Madan, Handpickd operates on a B2B2C model, sourcing fresh fruits and vegetables directly from farmers and local vendors. The startup utilises a tech-enabled supply chain and a network of micro-entrepreneurs to streamline last-mile delivery. According to data from TheKredible, Handpickd has raised around USD 9 million to date, with investors including Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal. The company saw a 2.3X growth in operating revenue, reaching INR 17.5 crore in FY24 from INR 7.4 crore in FY23, while keeping its losses steady at INR 2.1 crore. Handpickd competes with other agri-tech startups like Otipy, Fraazo, Deep Rooted, and celebrity-backed Pluckk.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
HT City Delhi Junction: Catch It Live on 4 June 2025
What: Biodegradable & Compostable Expo 2025 Where: India Expo Centre & Mart, Plot No. 23/25, 27/29, Knowledge Park II, Greater Noida When: June 4 to 6 Timing: 10am to 6pm Entry: Free (Registration at the venue) Nearest Metro Station: Knowledge Park II (Aqua Line) What: Yamunotsav 2025 – Ek Shaam Yamuna Ke Naam | Santoor recital ft Pt Abhay Rustum Sopori A post shared by Abhay Rustum Sopori (@abhaysopori) Where: Kamani Auditorium, 1 Copernicus Marg, Mandi House When: May 4 Timing: 5.30pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Mandi House (Blue & Violet Lines) What: Mahakumbh (A Struggling Journey) – Photography exhibition by Nitin Gupta Where: Convention Centre Foyer, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road A post shared by Nitin Gupta (@guptanitinn) When: May 31 to June 4 Timing: 11am to 8pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: JLN Stadium (Violet Line) What: Double Dose Comedy Show ft Himanshu Bhardwaj & Mohit Morani Where: Upper Deck Comedy Club, Commercial Complex, Amarpali Silicon City, Sector 76, Noida When: June 4 Timing: 9pm Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Noida Sector 76 (Aqua Line)
