Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌫️ Today’s weather: High: 29 ℃ | Low: 15 ℃ | Fog/mist in the morning and mainly clear sky later.
🧐 Did you know? Bengaluru currently has 223 million sq ft of office space.
🚺 Inclusive industries
Bengaluru’s industries have been recognised as the most inclusive towards women in 2024.
What’s it about? The city achieved an Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS) of 81.33, the highest in the country, significantly outperforming Mumbai (62.96) and Chennai (61.40), which secured the second and third positions, respectively.
- The IIS measures how inclusive industries within a city are towards women, considering factors such as inclusive organisations, industries, and career enablers.
- Bengaluru also emerged as the overall top city for women, followed by Chennai and Mumbai in second and third positions.
Regional trends: South India led in inclusivity with an average IIS of 10.11, reflecting its progressive stance on gender equity in workplaces. West India followed closely with an average IIS of 9.99.
🖥️ Rubrik expands
Leading cybersecurity firm Rubrik has announced its expansion plans in India with a new office in Bengaluru, set to open by mid-2025.
What’s it about? The new facility will consolidate the operations of its two existing offices in the city, integrating product development, product management, customer support, and global recovery operations under one roof.
- The company intends to hire more Indian talent as part of the expansion.
- India is already one of Rubrik’s largest locations outside the US, with over 1,000 of its 3,000 global employees based in the country.
Company history: Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Palo Alto, Rubrik began its Indian operations in 2017. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in April 2024 and reported $1 billion in subscription annual recurring revenue (ARR) by the end of the year.
🏢 H&M HQ shift
Swedish fast-fashion giant H&M is relocating its Indian headquarters from Delhi-NCR’s Saket office to a new location in North Bengaluru.
What’s it about? This strategic move aligns with the city’s reputation as a hub for e-commerce, technology, and fashion innovation, positioning H&M to leverage Bengaluru’s growing ecosystem.
- With over 100 employees, the company’s shift to Bengaluru follows significant leadership changes at H&M India.
- Bengaluru has emerged as a centre for fashion and e-commerce, hosting major platforms such as Myntra, Ajio, Flipkart, and Meesho, alongside brands like Rare Rabbit, Mensa Brands, and Arvind Fashion.
Keeping rivals close: The relocation also positions H&M in closer proximity to competitors in the fast-fashion sector. Bengaluru has seen increased activity from players like Reliance Retail, Aditya Birla Group, and international brands such as Zara, Uniqlo, and Shein, which is making a comeback in India via a partnership with Reliance.
💰 BrainSightAI raises Pre-series A
Bengaluru-based deep-tech neuroscience startup BrainSightAI has raised $5 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by IAN Alpha Fund with participation from IvyCap Ventures, Silver Needle, and existing investors.
What’s it about? Currently collaborating with over 40 leading hospitals in India, the startup specialises in neurosurgery and radiology, focusing on brain tumour cases. BrainSightAI is now broadening its scope to address neurological and psychiatric disorders, aiming to provide a holistic approach to brain care.
- The funding will enable BrainSightAI to enhance its neuroinformatics platform, VoxelBox, which is revolutionising the diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders.
- The fresh capital will support expansion across tier 1 and tier 2 cities in India, FDA certification for entry into the US and allied markets, and exploration of opportunities in Africa and Southeast Asia.
About BrainSightAI: Founded in 2019 by Laina Emmanuel (CEO) and Rimjhim Agrawal (CTO), BrainSightAI aims to democratise advanced brain care. Emmanuel, with two decades of experience in healthcare and technology, and Agrawal, a NIMHANS PhD specialising in machine learning for neurological disorders, envision the startup as a leader in personalised brain care.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever used a gender-neutral washroom?
- I have used a gender-neutral washroom.
- I have not used a gender-neutral washroom.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
What parameters do you check for when purchasing anti-virus software?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Six Naxals surrendered in the city to CM Sidarammiah demanding speedy trial, bail, legal assistance and financial aid.
- All-day dining resto-bar Lumara has officially opened its doors at MG Road.
- Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout residents have raised complaints regarding medical waste being dumped in empty sites near them.
- WeWork has rented more than 90,000 sq ft of office space at Hebbal from Embassy Office Parks REIT.
- Comic Con India’s 12th edition will be in the city on January 18 and 19.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I believe the BBMP to be more corrupt than the ED: 80.0% 🏆
- I believe the ED to be more corrupt than the BBMP: 20.0%
That’s it for today. Have a great day!