February 2018

Ahmedabad to Mumbai – All you Wanted to Know (Rank Princess)

Mumbai

The city of dreams! The city that never sleeps! The city where hope never dies! Call it by any name, yet the city will remain the same – Mumbai! It is considered to the heart of the nation, as it is the most happening city regarding fashion and culture, while the same city is known to be flourishing multiple folds in no time.

Known as Bombay until 1995, it is the capital city of Maharashtra. It has over 18.4 million population and has well-connected modes of transport to all cities and countries across the globe. This city has been acclaimed as the Alpha world city and has a record of holding the highest GDP in the south, Central, and Western Asia.

Ahmedabad to Mumbai Flights

If one wanted to drive from Mumbai to Ahmedabad or vice versa, it is possible via the well-connected roads and highways within approximately 9 hours. However, both cities are well developed and have multiple flights to and fro.

Both these cities are just 532 km away, and thus the flight journeys are not too long. A direct flight from any of these cities will take about an hour to reach the destination. There are about 36 direct flights to these cities, and there are numerous domestic and international connecting flights from Mumbai to Ahmedabad and vice versa.

The flight charges may vary depending on season, availability and dates. However, you can get the flight tickets at quite a pocket-friendly price, starting from Rs. 1, 00 and going as high as possible.

Best time to visit Mumbai

Speaking in general, the city Mumbai has the 12 months divided into three seasons – the cool or winter season which begins in December and ends in February. Then the dry season starts in March and ends in June and again leading to the humid season from September through November. The monsoon season lies in the middle from Mid-June to August.

Multiple surveys and real-time feedback from tourists have proved that there is no right or wrong season to visit this beautiful place. All the seasons have experience high tourist footfalls – local or global. The season depends on your likings –

November to February is the best time for you if you love chilly mornings and windy evenings. These months are the most pleasant months in the city of Mumbai as the temperature in these days can go up to as low as 10 degrees. Majority of Christians love to be in this city at that time, keeping in mind the fantastic events during Christmas and New Year.
June to October – Well, well! Who doesn’t like the monsoon? A hot cup of coffee and some Indian snacks by the beach on a cool, breezy day, where it might look like it could rain later in the day. It is the perfect scene a Mumbai beach can get. This is considered to be the best time to plan your weekend getaways too – to cities like Pune and Lonavala, which are beautiful hill stations, not very far from Mumbai.

Hotels in Mumbai

This place has a mix of hotels. If you want some exotic stays, there are a lot of 5 stars and 7-star hotels like Taj and Oberoi that will give you the best experiences. The place also has some decent 3 and 4-star hotels for those who are looking for comfortable hotels, which are not very expensive. Some of the best hotels in Mumbai are –

The Leela – Located in the Sahar, this hotel is one of the best-reviewed places
Ibis Novotel – Located in two different locations of the city, this hotel will never disappoint you regarding view and services.
Hyatt Regency Hotels – Who doesn’t know about the world-class services of the Hyatt group? Located very near to the airport, this hotel is just perfect.
The Taj Group – When in Mumbai, how could you NOT go to one of the Taj hotels? They are known for their excellent services, rich heritage and emphasises on the Indian culture.

Restaurants in Mumbai

You just cannot afford to miss some amazing foods that you get in this city. From the local street food to some exquisite dine-ins, this place is known for its food. Here are some brilliant places, you shouldn’t miss –

Ziya – A restaurant within the Oberoi hotels is known for its innovation in the traditional Indian cuisines.
The Table – This place has been listed as one of the top restaurants in Asia. Need we say anything else? You are going to fall in love with the ambiance of this place and food is just exceptional!
Indigo – Love a romantic ambiance? Then this is one place you just cannot escape. It has an open terrace option too where you can enjoy the multiple cuisines served here.
Leopold Café – If you love art and old heritages of different countries, then you are simply going to love this place which is one of the oldest famous cafes and restaurants of the city.

Offbeat things to do in Mumbai

Explore and have a look at each Bollywood celebrity’s house from outside (you apparently won’t be allowed in). You may get lucky, to have a glimpse at the actor!
Visit the Asia’s largest slum – Dharavi. It is located right in the heart of the city
Art lovers? Have a look at the street art in Bandra
Experience traditional Indian wrestlers have their day of practice in the real ‘Akhara.’

FAQs

Connectivity from Mumbai Airport?

The city roads and metro lines are well developed, and hence you can choose to take a private transport of public transport from the airport to any place in the city

The first flight from Ahmedabad to Mumbai?

Operated by Air India, at 4:30 AM. Reaches the destination in about an hour

Last flight from Ahmedabad to Mumbai?

Operated by Go Air, at 11:50 PM. It reaches the destination in one hour, 20 minutes

What are the Major attractions in Mumbai?

Gateway of India, Essel World, Haji Ali Dargah, Siddhi Vinayak Temple, RBI Monetary Museum, Maratha Mandir

Ahmedabad to Mumbai Flights & Other Details (Rank Princess)

Ahmedabad and Mumbai, being amongst the popular cities in Western India are well-connected by air. The distance between both the cities is 523.9km, and they are connected by National Highway 48. The travel time by air is close to an hour. Air travel between both the cities has become easy in the last few years, thanks to the frequent flights and also the availability of discounted tickets throughout the year.

Best Time to Visit Mumbai

Mumbai, being a cosmopolitan city, is frequented by tourists throughout the year. It is a coastal city, and the climate is pleasant all year round. There are no harsh winters. Mumbai has three primary seasons in a year.

Winter: From November to February, the city experiences winter that is mild. Though the temperature can go as low as 10ºC, the days are considerably warmer and perfect for outdoor activities.

Summer: Summer starts by March and prolongs up to May. During this season, there is humidity in the air, and the temperature can rise to 40º C in May. Days in summer may not be perfect to step out, but evenings are pleasant for shopping or sight-seeing.

Monsoons: Mumbai’s most famous season begins by June and extends up to October. The rainfall is heavy especially during July and August. Public transport is available throughout the year, and taxis operate even during monsoons.

Any time of the year is good to visit Mumbai. However, if you consider rain as a hindrance, you can avoid the rainy season. Monsoons are an excellent time to visit the beautiful hill towns around Mumbai.

Hotels in Mumbai

Mumbai has a plethora of choices when it comes to accommodation that caters to the business class and budget traveller. There are several picturesque resorts in and around the city and lodges to suit the various kinds of travellers. A few are listed below.

The Ambassador Marine Drive: Situated in Church gate, this is a mid-range hotel with a pleasant ambiance. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and parking. It is safe for single travellers, especially women.
Mint International Airport Suites: Situated in Marol, Andheri East, it is a service apartment style hotel. They are 2 BHK flats converted into hotel rooms and is an apt place for a budget traveller. It is situated in a calm area and offers friendly service.
IBIS Navi Mumbai Hotel: Situated in Navi Mumbai, this 3-star hotel is among the most reputed hotels in the locality. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and parking with a good breakfast spread. The rooms are spacious and are non-smoking rooms.
Vivanta by Taj – President: Situated in Cuff Parade, this 5-star property offers the best of amenities like a fitness centre and a pool with a huge breakfast spread. The air-conditioned rooms are well-lit and spacious. The property houses restaurants along with a bar.

With several hotels in the city, you can pick the best based on your budget and locality.

Restaurants in Mumbai

Mumbai is a paradise for food lovers and adventurers. The diners in the city offer the perfect assortment of cuisines from across the world. Listed below are a few of them.

Le Pain Quotidien: Situated in Bandra East, this café offers Continental and French cuisine with a pleasant, ambiance. Alcohol is served here, and your order can also be delivered home.
Under the Banyan Tree: Situated in Peddar Road, South Mumbai, this casual dining resto café offers finger food and Italian food. The outlet is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has an outdoor seating area.
Delhi Darbar Fusion: This casual dining restaurant in Thane West, offers North Indian cuisine along with a range of international dishes like Mexican, Mughlai, Chinese, and Continental. This outlet also serves alcohol
Upper Crest: This multi-cuisine restaurant offers North Indian, Chinese, and Thai fares and is situated in Powai.

Be it local fare or fusion cuisine, Mumbai houses the best of both.

Offbeat Things To Do In Mumbai

This charming city has something for everyone. From beaches to wildlife parks, it offers varied flavours. Here are a few things you can do in Mumbai.

Take a walk along the Promenade: A relaxing stroll along the Marine Drive Promenade is a perfect way to unwind
Explore Wildlife: The Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali East has a fascinating array of flora and fauna
Cruise along the Arabian: Yacht rides near the Gateway of India take you to nearby islands like Elephanta islands and Khandheri islands
Visit the world famous Monument, The Gateway of India

Mumbai also has some famous hilly towns in the neighbourhood where you can plan a weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Domestic and International airlines on the Ahmedabad to Mumbai route?

The Domestic Operators in the Ahmedabad to Mumbai route include Jet Airways, Indigo, Go Air, Air India, SpiceJet,
The International airlines available along this route are Emirates, Kuwait Airways, Etihad-Jet Airways and Vistara

What is the Connectivity from Mumbai Airport

Taxis and Car rentals are the best options to move to the city centre from the airport. Local trains can take you to the city. The closest Train station to the Domestic Terminal is the Vile Parle. One has to hire a taxi or rickshaw or take a bus to get to the station. Bus services can connect you to other train stations. There are no direct buses to the city centre from the airport.

When is the earliest flight from Ahmedabad to Mumbai?

The first flight out of Ahmedabad is at 4.00 am

When is the Last flight from Ahmedabad to Mumbai?

The last flight from Ahmedabad leaves the city at 11.50 p.m

What airlines provide direct flights from Ahmedabad to Mumbai?

The airline operators that provide direct flights from Ahmedabad to Mumbai are Air India, SpiceJet, GoAir, Indigo and Jet Airways.

What are the hotels in the vicinity of Mumbai airport?

The hotels that are situated within a 2 km radius of the airport are:

The Orchid Mumbai at Vile Parle
Hotel Transit at Vile Parle East
Hyatt Regency at Andheri East
Sahar Garden Hotel at Andheri East
IBIS Mumbai Airport at Junction of Nehru Path
Hilton Mumbai International Airport at Andheri East

Shopping In Mumbai

Mumbai is famous for its fashion and street shopping. Indulge in retail therapy at Hill Road in Bandra, Lokhandwala Market, Mira Road in Shanthi Nagar, Chor Bazaar and Crawford Market. You can also visit the swanky malls like Inorbit Mall, Viviana Mall, High street Phoenix and R City Mall.

Major Attractions In Mumbai

Mumbai has several places of attractions apart from The Gateway of India. They include:

The Haji Ali Dargah- A tomb and mosque in Worli
ChattrapatiShivajiMaharajVastuSangrahalaya – a grand art and history museum with Indo-Saracenic architecture
Kanheri Caves- Rock-hewn ancient temples with Buddhist shrines and paintings
Siddhivinayak Temple- An opulent Hindu temple for Lord Ganesha

Ahmedabad Airport

The SardarVallabhai Patel International Airport caters to both the cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The airport is located 9km from central Ahmedabad in Hansol and has two terminals. The terminal 1 operates domestic flights, and Terminal 2, both domestic and International flights. Both the terminals have restaurants and duty-free shops.

Connectivity to Ahmedabad Airport

Taxis are available from the airport. The prepaid counters are available at the airport premises. Bus services connect the airport to the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the popular domestic routes from Ahmedabad?

Being the financial capital of Gujarat, Ahmedabad is connected by flight to major metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Kolkatta, New Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai. Flights are also available to other important cities like Goa, Guwahati, Siliguri, and Dibrugarh.

What are the popular airlines flying from Ahmedabad airport?

Jet Airways, Air India, Go Air, Indigo, SpiceJet and JetLite are some of the popular airlines operating here.

What are the prominent hotels near Ahmedabad Airport?

Some of the reputed hotels near the airport in Ahmedabad are The Holiday Inn Express, The Ummed, Airport Residency, and Comfort Inn Sunset

What are the Key attractions in Ahmedabad?

There are several interesting places to visit in Ahmedabad like Sabarmati Ashram, Sabarmati Riverfront, Kankaria Lake, SardarVallabhai Patel history museum and Dada Hari Ni Vav

Which is the Best time to visit Ahmedabad?

Winters, between November to February are the best time to visit Ahmedabad and enjoy the outdoors. The maximum winter temperature averages around 30°C and the minimum around 12 ºC.

Why We Love Dating TV Shows (and How We Know You Love Them, Too!) (Content Princess -SEO)

We’re not going to lie: we kind of love dating TV shows. And judging by the still-high ratings of ABC’s veteran dating show The Bachelor (21 seasons strong), it looks like we aren’t the only ones.

Ratings for the 21st season of The Bachelor increased 11{ed162fdde9fdc472551df9f31f04601345edf7e4eff6ea93114402690d8fa616} in the 18-49 demographic over the previous year. People are still into it. And we know why.

The truth of the human condition is that we all want love. No, we’re not saying that there aren’t a million other things in life that can fulfil you, but we all want to meet that special someone. And it makes us happy, hopeful, (and sometimes jealous) to see it happening for other people. That’s why we occasionally love a good rom-com, and why we get sucked into the love stories unfolding on shows like The Bachelor, or its spin-off, The Bachelorette.

It’s Not a New Phenomenon

Of course, dating TV shows, and our interest in them, are not new phenomena. ABC’s The Dating Game premiered in 1965 and is typically considered the first big dating show. On The Dating Game, a bachelorette questioned three bachelors who were hidden from view, and based on their answers, selected one to go on a date.

This approach to matchmaking – the idea that you can determine romantic compatibility by asking a series of questions to get to know someone – tapped into something that is still relevant today.

We are Always Connected

Times have changed since the 60s. Our approach to relationships has changed drastically since even the 90s. The unique thing about being alive today is that we are always connected. Social media keeps us connected to our friends and family, to international news, and even to complete strangers (it’s ok, we stalk celebrities on Instagram, too).

It’s a Small World

Technology has launched us into an age of globalization, and the world is super tiny. There is absolutely no reason to limit your friendship circle to your neighbourhood or your office anymore – in an instant; you can be video chatting with a friend on the other side of the city, or the other end of the world.

We Are Looking For More

And the same goes for love. We all want to find someone. But not just anyone; we want someone who is right for us. Thirty years ago, we were limited to looking for love within our social circles. People at work, in our neighbourhoods, friends of friends.

We might have tried our luck with being “set up” or spent a Saturday night in a local bar hoping to meet someone. A lot of times, these ventures were disappointing. Why? Reason being a good match requires more than just convenience. These days, we are looking for more.

Good News: We Have Options

The good news is that we don’t have to hold out hope of being selected to appear on one of the today’s top TV dating shows to start matchmaking. We have tonnes of options available at our fingertips.

At Twoo.com, we offer our users the chance to connect with people in their area who share their interests. It’s a great way to meet new people, discover new friends, and even find love. Sure, everyone wants to put a name to a face and see a picture of individuals they might connect with, but at Twoo, we know it’s about more than just looks.

That’s why offer users the chance to answer a series of questions when they build their profiles. Answering the questions honestly, ensures you will be matched with people with whom you’re compatible.

Jump-starting Connections

Dating TV shows are fun because they let us share in contestants’ journey to find love. Even though most of us probably won’t end up on one of those shows, we can still enjoy being along for the ride. Meanwhile, we can use our matchmaking tools to jumpstart our connections.

LSI Words: Dating, Dating TV shows, Matchmaking, Looking for love, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The Dating Game, Love Stories, Technology, Romantic compatibility, Twoo, Twoo.com

The Soaring Rise Of TV Dating Shows (Content Princess – SEO)

A Window Of Opportunity

With dating apps and platforms in today’s modern world rising and falling like some crazy rollercoaster I’d be way too much of a chicken to ride on it. There was absolutely no doubt in the mind of anyone with a functioning brain that the wonderful world of dating would inevitably make the leap over to television and entertain the masses through its quirky funniness and charming likeability.

An Opportunity Seized

In our current world, there are hundreds of TV shows out there covering the dating topic, spanning all sorts of specific categories and niches, each with the single hope of stirring up some drama, spawning anger and creating entertainment. And one thing is for sure, even in the real world, love is certainly full of those things!

With shows like Love Island, First Dates and The Undatables, sky-rocketing towards popularity, our experts over here at Twoo.com predict not only rises in TV shows to do with dating, but also in dating platforms themselves. When people see an opening in the market, they tend to seize it at the very first chance they get. And just like TV producers have done with these shows, we think website creators will follow suit.

But It’s Not As Simple As It May Sound

Sure, if some bozo could grab a camera and film a few couples having dinner, only to have that footage become one of the hottest TV shows in current times, we’d all be very wealthy, wouldn’t we? That is exactly why it’s just not that simple. I always try to think, with every successful TV show, there are at least a hundred – if not more – failed TV shows. So just imagine how many producers there are out there who are out of pocket trying to follow suit.

Why is it not that simple? Well, let me explain

You see, a lot of these shows aren’t just a mishmash of pairing people off and hoping entertainment comes of it. Far from it actually. Their approach to these types of things is very scientific, sort of like our approach here at Twoo.com. They pre-pick their candidates and match them up with another person who they may or may not click with, which in either circumstance is likely to provide bucket loads of entertainment.

Of course, us here at Twoo.com never aim to set people up to fail; we always use our science-based algorithms to pair people with others they are very compatible with, that way you are always guaranteed to match with someone similar. However, when entertainment is involved, these shows often don’t care as much as we do, and will sacrifice the likelihood of a match to catch some golden TV moments.

Be On The Watch

Try to keep all this in mind when the new TV dating shows continue to crop up now and then, and find entertainment in the show the way the producers are intending. But remember, if it’s entertainment you’re after, TV shows are right. But if it’s an actual match and a real shot at love, there’s only one place for you. Twoo.com.

LSI KEYWORDS:

Twoo.com
Love
Love Island
The Undatables
First Dates
Date
Match
Dating
Dating TV show
Entertainment
Algorithm

Stripe Hits A Strike With Third Acquisition- Indie Hackers (Content Princess – SEO)

US technology company Stripe has announced it has made its third acquisition in March 2017 with Indie Hackers, a knowledge-sharing community for independent start-ups.

Reason for the acquisition

In an attempt to build and grow relationships with the ever expanding independent start-up scene, US digital payments company Stripe has recently acquired Indie Hackers for an undisclosed sum.

Patrick Collison, co-founder of Stripe said about the acquisition in March 2017: “Our goal in the acquisition of Indie Hackers is to ensure that the site becomes as successful as possible.”

With Stripe’s revenue upwards of $111 million and the current valuation of around $9 billion, the acquisition seems to be a move towards increasing its customer base.

About Indie Hackers and its Founders

You may not have heard of them, and that’s because Indie Hackers was only founded less than a year ago, in July 2016.

Courtland Allen, the founder, set out to create a space where both entrepreneurs and successful business owners could come together in a community for advice and inspiration.

Allen is quoted as saying, on the company’s website, that he is “impressed by Stripe’s aspiring mission of making it simpler for entrepreneurs to establish and grow their businesses.”

With business increasing and recently bringing in a reported $6,000 per month, Allen found his attention was being diverted away from producing content and increasingly towards filling ad inventory.

Why Buy A Knowledge Sharing Community Company?

So what was the interest for a digital payment company in acquiring a company like Indie Hackers?

Stripe, based in San Francisco, already has a significant percentage of new companies choosing their product. Their aim in the acquisition of Indie Hackers, they say, is not to increase that fraction but to increase the overall number of sales.

Stripe hopes that their new acquisition will “strengthen the relationship with the start-up community and further increase the GDP of the internet.”

Stripe’s Fortunes

Stripe has received more than $355 million in funding, with names such as Elon Musk and Sequoia Capital contributing to that fund. The company provides payment processing services for mobile and online payments. It supports credit card payments in more than 135 countries.

In March 2013, Stripe acquired Kickoff. RunKit was purchased in September 2016. Both were bought for a similar reason to Indie Hackers- to benefit Stripe’s customers.

The online payments firm understands that if it supports and nurtures smaller, knowledge- sharing communities, it will have a knock-on effect. It will ultimately filter through to Stripes own potential customers.

What’s In It For Everyone?

Courtland Allen now goes by the official title of ‘Indie Hacker at Stripe’.

Now that Stripe has relieved him of a financial burden, Allen can continue with his first intentions for the entrepreneurial community. Soon, the team plans on developing the Indie Hacker community and working on more original content for the website.

Stripe has an aim to make it easy for entrepreneurs to establish and nurture their businesses. And this is where Indie Hackers will turn up. In turn, Stripe will also benefit as more customers will sign up for their product.

No doubt, this acquisition has created a win/win situation for both companies.

Keywords/LSI

technology company, online payments company, digital payment company, internet payments, payment processing service, online payment service, online payments firm, credit card payments, online payment firm

References

https://www.indiehackers.com/blog/acquired-by-stripe

https://www.owler.com/iaApp/100441/stripe-company-profile

https://www.wsj.com/articles/stripes-valuation-nearly-doubles-to-9-2-billion-1480075201

http://www.cbronline.com/news/verticals/fintech/stripe-buys-indie-hackers-push-entrepreneurs/

https://venturebeat.com/2017/04/11/stripe-acquires-indie-hacker-in-bid-to-strengthen-relationship-with-entrepreneurs/

Droom Is Vrooming Ahead With Plans for $60 Million Investment In 2017 (Content Princess – SEO)

India’s largest online automobile marketplace is driving forward with visions to globally expand the car buying and selling sector with a huge investment planned in 2017.

Massive Investment ForDroom

Indian company Droom is accelerating at an impressive speed as CEO Sandeep Aggarwal announced to PTI plans of a $60 million investment for 2017.

He stated the funds raised would be to fuel international expansion and assist the development of new products.

Aggarwal is keen to point out that these funds are not to plug losses in the company. Instead, this money will let Droom “dominate the market share in future with new products and enhanced market share”.

Droom’s Current Presence In The Automobile Market

Starting back in only April 2014, in less than two years, Droom became India’s largest hyperlocal automobile marketplace. Having a presence in 500 cities across the country, it is currently the fifth largest e-commerce company in India with a workforce of just over 200 employees.

Global Expansion

Speaking to PTI, CEO Sandeep Aggarwal declared his desire to raise $60 million this year.

This investment is meant to expand the car buying and selling platform out of India. Droom’s visions for 2017 are to set up operations first in Indonesia followed further by South East Asian countries shortly afterwards.

Where Will The Investment Come From?

Last year Droomraised Rs. 200 Cr from a mixture of Chinese and Japanese investors such as Beenext and Digital Garage. That was the fourth round of fundraising done by Droom. The current round will, therefore, be the fifth and their largest by far to date.

Aggarwal has made recent trips to Hong Kong and China. He is quoted as saying “there has been significant interest from China” and the company also did an “investor day in Hong Kong”.

It has not yet been confirmed where the money is coming from or who the investors might be. But with an estimated revenue of $52.7 million, it is clear to see that Droom is firmly in the driving seat, racing forward which will surely attract some lucrative investors both new and old.

How will this investment impact the revenue?

The massive investment will fuel Droom’s rapid expansion further East in Asia. These foreign enterprises hope to bring Droom 15-20{ed162fdde9fdc472551df9f31f04601345edf7e4eff6ea93114402690d8fa616} of their revenue by March 2019. Eventually, the percentage will go up to 30-40{ed162fdde9fdc472551df9f31f04601345edf7e4eff6ea93114402690d8fa616}.

Given the amazingly large potential customer base in India, Aggarwal states: “the local Indian market will continue to have the greater share of our revenues in the coming years”.

As well as operating in Indonesia, Droom is also considering a secondary base in the country.

Where Next For This Rapidly Growing Company?

Currently, the company is accelerating at a rate of 350{ed162fdde9fdc472551df9f31f04601345edf7e4eff6ea93114402690d8fa616} year on year. Compare this to India’s e-commerce growth of 20{ed162fdde9fdc472551df9f31f04601345edf7e4eff6ea93114402690d8fa616} year on year.

The goal is to achieve $1.2 billion in GMV (gross merchandise value) by the end of March 2018. GMV currently stands at $400 million.

2017 is set to be an exciting year for Droom’s online selling portal. The road ahead certainly looks clear for Droom. And With Sandeep Aggarwal at the wheel, they seem to be continuing this race in pole position.

Keywords/LSI

online automobile marketplace, car buying and selling, hyper-local automobile marketplace, automobile market, car buying and selling platform, online selling portal

References

http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/Business/20170323/3078955.html

http://droom.in/about

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/droom-to-raise-60-mn-for-global-expansion-product-development/article9642117.ece?utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=RSS_Feed

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/droom-raises-rs-200-crore-from-a-consortium-of-japanese-and-chinese-investors/articleshow/52543785.cms

Successful Growth of Online Car Portal Droom Knows No Bounds (Content Princess – SEO)

The successful growth of Droom has become one of India’s greatest start-up stories, and it has now officially been named as the biggest online car portal site in India, both regarding its income and the number of users and traffic visiting the platform itself.

On the way to achieving the Unicorn Status

The story doesn’t end there, however, as the CEO and founder of Droom – Sandeep Aggarwal has huge plans to take the company to unicorn status, which means a startup firm worth 1 billion dollars – at the end of this financial year. He is already well on the way to achieving his ambition.

Currently, Droom is reaching around $400 million per year and is already achieving a traffic level of 15 million per month to its website. This online car buying and selling platform is also home to well over 105,000 car dealers, and it is on track to grow rapidly. The company is set to end March 2018 at $1.2 billion.

To add to its business accolades, Droom is the fifth biggest E-commerce company in India, and while the general E-commerce market in India is growing around 20 percent each year, Droom’s growth is at a staggering 350 percent every year.

The Secret of its Success

So how did the company achieve such tremendous success so quickly? The company has always had a strong customer service ethic, regularly adding in numerous features and additions to the platform which have made it incredibly popular with all of its users and led to this extraordinary growth.

Droom has also kept up-to-date with all the latest technology to ensure its online car portal works super efficiently and meets all of the expectations for both buyers and sellers using it.

Customer Confidence is Key

The sellers are big fans of the unique pricing algorithm utilised by the site which ensures that all vehicles are priced appropriately and justly. The Orange Book Value (OBV) as they call it, is unique to Droom and provides a fair market value for all the vehicles listed.

This policy has led to a real sense of trust among the users of this online car site and this confidence, in turn, has created a reflected belief among investors, with the company already receiving $45 million in the past two years, and plans for $50 million more on the cards.

What’s New and on offer for customers at this online car portal?

More recently, the company added in another unique service which will no doubt please those looking to buy their vehicles from the online car trade site as it makes the whole purchase process seamless on the portal.

Droom Credit is their brand new credit platform, which enables buyers to secure loans for their vehicle purchase on the site. It was launched very recently and is the first service of its kind in India – offering an entirely automatic vehicle credit marketplace.

With a loyal following of both buyers and sellers, an active investment base and a very ambitious CEO, the future of online car portal Droom looks bright, with unicorn status firmly in sight. Not bad for a company which was only started three years ago and has just 167 employees.

LSI Keywords: online car portal, online car site, online car trade, online car buying and selling platform, E-commerce company, E-commerce market, vehicle purchase, car dealers, startup firm, unicorn status, buy their vehicles, credit platform, secure loans, vehicle credit marketplace

Chance to buy shares in Tech Company Stripe completely ruled out by CEO (Content Princess – SEO)

If you were hoping to buy and sell shares in tech company Stripe, then you will face disappointment today as CEO Patrick Collison has completely ruled out taking the firm public anytime soon.

Going Public might not be that great, says Collison

He is bucking the trend of other tech companies who have been rushing to go public recently, including MuleSoft and Snap. However, Collison was speaking at a conference and said he was concerned that many tech firms faced great difficulties when first going public.

Stripe has been running for around seven years and made its success by offering an online and mobile payment platform to businesses and individuals. It has been valued previously at over $9 billion.

But its founder believes that making an IPO at this time could cause problems for the company such as reducing opportunities to move forward at the present rate and to take the kind of risks he had in the past.

A new service from the Tech Company to help Start-ups

Apart from the payment platform, Stripe has also recently launched a new toolkit to help startup businesses get going. This reason is another one the CEO gave for not wanting to go public.

Stripe Atlas is the name of the new toolkit which aims to help new startups and entrepreneurs to get their online businesses up and running within days. It pulls together all of the legal, admin and other information in one place to help make life easier. Around 62 per cent of those using this system are not first-time starters of companies, which shows just how much the entrepreneurs welcome this service.

But supporting startups is another reason the CEO has given for not taking Stripe public at this stage. He explained that he feels Stripe is very early on down its business path, and now it has this extra service helping other startups. As the clients are starting their business paths, there is a real affinity between the companies.

Won’t follow Biggies like Amazon

He explained that going public would only be an option if the business reached a plateau in its growth trajectory. But that time has not been reached yet.

People have been comparing the success of Stripe, with that of Amazon, which became a public company after just three years. However, Collison always quotes that while it is hugely successful now, Amazon had to get through a few years of the struggle initially and he is not ready for that with Stripe.

Going strong since the start

He certainly has had no problem attracting investors to Stripe after raising around $150 million last year, with General Catalyst Partners and CapitalG, which altogether doubled the value of Stripe compared with 2015.

The online payment company is believed to have around 300 employees currently and is on track to grow further in 2018 with the successful launch of Atlas. But anyone wishing to jump on the bandwagon and make money with shares in this tech company could be in for a long wait. With Stripe, it’s a case of watching this space carefully over the next few years.

LSI Keywords: tech company, tech firms, mobile payment platform, online payment company, payment platform, public company, going public, startups, investors

KYB: KYC compliance for businesses, a vital new tool (Content Princess -SEO)

We’re all aware of why KYC is necessary. For companies concerned with their image, and for whom moral probity is an essential part of the corporate DNA, ensuring that you’re dealing with individuals who aren’t going to tarnish the brand is critical.

Effective KYC ensures that businesses who want to operate the right way, avoiding fines and building a strong and trustworthy brand can do so. Effective KYC is achieved by verifying that customers, vendors, agents and otherwise have the right stuff, aren’t susceptible to bribery and don’t leave the corporate body open, knowingly or not, to be being used for money-laundering, fraud, or any other damaging criminal activity.

KYC? KYB

If the criminal activity can affect a corporation as large as HSBC, it can affect anyone. In a varied and fast-moving corporate world, it is increasingly difficult to know with who you’re dealing. The internet offers a degree of anonymity unthinkable a generation ago. KYC compliance is essential.

But your organisation will be dealing with as many businesses as it is for individuals. It’s important to use the same levels of rigour and due diligence when dealing with an organisation as it is when dealing with an individual.

A complex global marketplace

Standard KYC protocols exist to prove that people are who they say they are. But the world market these days is so impossibly complex that it’s not always easy to establish that companies are who they say they are, let alone individuals.

The opacity of offshore dealings, the privacy laws of tax havens and complex webs of shell companies created for tax purposes can make it difficult to prove that you’re dealing with credible, genuine businesses. In particular, property and financial services are notoriously difficult to police offshore.

Domain names can be registered anywhere on earth and could be a front for anything. But it’s important for the credibility of your corporate brand that you know who you’re dealing.

Prevention’s better than cure

What’s necessary is a vigorous, root and branch approach to company identification which can take place in real-time. Your business needs to be positioned to validate the business you’re dealing with as fast as possible. Commercial imperatives dictate that you don’t want to be dragging your feet waiting to see if you can deal with them, but nor do you want to act too hastily, and find your brand associated with something unsavoury. Fraud and corruption take a long time to sort out, and it’s just plain bad business to be wasting time and resources resolving a problem which could have been prevented.

Learn and evolve

KYC services need to keep evolving to stay a step ahead of fraudulent businesses, as tech companies have to keep learning to stay ahead of hackers. Here at ThisIsMe, we think that KYB is the next battleground and one which only a speedy and dynamic process which, crucially, keeps learning can keep your business clean, compliant and hassle-free.

Keywords: why KYC is important, trustworthy brand, KYC compliance, due diligence, KYC protocols, global market, genuine businesses, corporate brand, commercial imperatives, fraudulent businesses, hassle-free.

Knowing your seller: the process of identity verification for business (Content Princess – SEO)

Know your customer (KYC) procedures

Financial institutions around the world, from New York to London, to Johannesburg, are required under the regulations of their country, to adhere to KYC procedures. In South Africa, the law is known as the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA). Such institutions include banks, foreign exchange dealers, stockbrokers, attorneys and real estate agents.

The procedures are in place to ensure due diligence on the part of such organisations, so that they are not inadvertently complicit in criminal activity, for example, money laundering, smuggling, poaching, and theft of precious metals, which could lead to substantial fines. By ensuring that they have rigorous procedures in place to be compliant with such laws, companies help to minimise the risk of being involved in such activities and coming under the scrutiny of authorities.

Customer Due Diligence (CDD) measures

CDD measures are often carried out by banks and other financial institutions to ensure that they are compliant with KYC laws; such measures usually include verifying identity using documents and data from a reliable and independent source, as well as gathering information on the nature and intent of the business relationship. Such procedures can be time-consuming and costly for the firm, especially if carried out on an individual-by-individual basis.

It can also involve repeated scanning or fax the documents. However, it is often part of standard bank policy; by minimising supplier risk, their costs are lowered in the long term. They also reduce the risk of adverse damage to their reputation and credibility if high profile clients were to be discovered to be involved in the illegal activity; such a revelation could result in negative media coverage, sanctions or blacklisting.

The release of the Panama Papers in 2015 mainly brought the concept of ‘dirty money’ into the public spotlight around the world, and a large number of companies and individuals suffered reputational harm as a result.

KYC for businesses

Whatever industry a company is involved with, it will invariably be associated with a vast network of vendors, suppliers and intermediaries, making it tricky to exactly know who one is doing business with at all times. As it is illegal in many jurisdictions to conduct significant transactions with an entity known to be involved in criminal activity, it is of the utmost importance for companies to engage in robust, due diligence procedures to ensure compliance with federal requirements. Also, many banks need to make sure that their clients are properly engaged with appropriate compliance programmes.

KYC regulations, such as South African FICA or the US PATRIOT Act, apply both to individuals and to corporate entities such as sole proprietorships, close corporations and listed companies. There are checklists which must be completed depending on the type of client one is dealing with, being compliant with regulations. The records usually involve providing reliable documented evidence of the registered business name, head office address, operating address, tax and VAT reference numbers, plus personal details of persons who are connected to the company, such as members, agents, shareholders, beneficial owners, etc.

LSI Keywords: KYC, supplier risk, identity verification, regulation, due diligence, procedure, checklist, bank policy, shareholder, compliance, requirements

Month: February 2018