Good morning, Bengaluru!
☁️ Today’s weather: High: 29 ℃ | Low: 21 ℃ | A generally cloudy day.
🧐 Did you know? The State Central Library began life as a public hall. It was converted into a library in 1915.
🀤 Celebrating bamboo
The CGBMT organised a two-day festival to celebrate the versatility and sustainability of bamboo.
What’s it about? The festival at The Centre for Green Building Materials and Technology (CGBMT) campus showcased bamboo’s potential for sustainable development through workshops, music, fashion shows, and interactions with experts. Attendees explored how bamboo can be used in modern architecture and help mitigate global warming.
- Among those in attendance were school kids, scientists, and government officials. The Centre has adopted a government school and farmers of Kamenahalli near Devanahalli.
- The event came a few days before World Bamboo Day to highlight India’s role in bamboo production and its environmental advantages.
Projects showcased: The Bamboo City Project showcased the C40 Cities Women4Climate programme and the BBMP’s Climate Action Plan to tackle air and water pollution through nature-based solutions.
👨💻 Streamline sales professional tasks
A city-based startup’s AI agent assists sales teams by streamlining repetitive tasks.
What’s it about? Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) and Business Development Representatives (BDRs) are important to any B2C organisation. AI has transformed the work of these professionals. Revrag.ai, founded by childhood friends Ashutosh Singh, Neeraj Gupta, and Pankaj Gupta, helps companies streamline repetitive tasks for sales teams, allowing them to focus on high-value activities.
- The trio developed and launched Emma, an AI agent designed to automate the sales process and outreach efforts. The company claims AI can achieve 10 times more demo meetings at 96% less cost. The company’s target audience is mid-market companies.
- Emma writes bespoke hyper-personalised e-mails to book meetings. It has two modes. The autopilot mode is fully automated, and the copilot mode for users to review and approve content. It searches multiple sources like LinkedIn and ContactOut, to find information.
Next steps: The company will soon shift base to Delaware, US. The sales team will operate from the US, and the technology team will remain in Bengaluru. It will also begin another round of funding next month.
🛬 Giving a Kannada welcome
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The Kannada Sahitya Parishat wants the international airport to make announcements first in Kannada.
What’s it about? Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Mahesh Joshi plans to write to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to ensure all announcements at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) are first made in Kannada. The Parishat is holding its 87th Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana from December 20 to 22 and wants delegates to be given a traditional welcome.
- Joshi met with Hari Marar, the MD & CEO of the Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) and asked that the practice commence on Kananada Rajotsava Day on November 1.
- Joshi wants the first announcements on board to be in Kannada, followed by other languages. He said British Airways and Singapore Airlines have already implemented this.
Support for the event: The BIAL will work with the Parishat and install photo booths and reception desks to welcome delegates. The airport will also use digital media to display event details and engage with passengers to promote Kannada.
🚇 QR ticketing popular
Metro passengers are increasingly using QR codes over traditional ticketing.
What’s it about? In just a year since its introduction, the number of passengers using QR codes for ticketing has surpassed 25 lakh. While the initial numbers were relatively low, with only 2.13 lakh, it grew to 5 lakh in January 2023 and increased to 25.9 lakh by December 2023.
- The increase has been attributed to the commencement of full operations of the Purple Line in October 2023 and the high number of passengers on this route. More passengers are also using smart cards.
- QR code has become a preferred choice due to its convenience and efficiency. Being able to buy tickets on mobile devices means a seamless entry and exit experience for passengers.
Ticketing preferences: With an average daily ridership of over 8 lakh, 52% prefer smart cards and 20.7% use QR codes. The use of tokens has decreased from 32% to 27%.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Would you consider cycling to work?
- I would consider cycling to work.
- I wouldn’t consider cycling to work.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What souvenir best represents the city?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- A new study showed a shift in the dengue serotype distribution in Bengaluru.
- Despite rejuvenation attempts by the BBMP, the Talaghattapura Lake continues to deteriorate.
- Bharat Electronics Officers’ Club organised a cyclothon to promote cycling as a healthy commuting option.
- The Climate Pledge announced its new initiative JOULE to build EV charging stations.
- Following the 15-day deadline, the BBMP’s task to make the city pothole-free has a long way to go.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I have invested in the stock market: 75.0% 🏆
- I haven’t invested in the stock market: 25.0%
That’s it for today. Have a great day!