Connect with us

News

Singapore based eCommerce solution provider Graas accelerates regional growth with key senior hires

Published

on

Singapore based eCommerce solution provider Graas accelerates regional growth with key senior hires
  • Key hires include a Chief Growth Officer, Chief People Officer, VP & Head of Business, Indonesia, EVP Marketing and EVP Product Marketing
  • Hires comes off recent US$40M fundraise

New AI-powered eCommerce solution provider, Graas, today announced the appointment of five senior key hires in the region as part of Graas’ strategy of accelerated growth in Southeast Asia and India. Combined, the appointment of these senior industry veterans brings decades of regional experience into Graas. This comes closely after the first close of Graas’ Series A, raising over US$40M to launch the category- defining technology solution “Growth-as-a-Service”.

With eCommerce growing at an exponential rate in the region, Graas has appointed veterans in this space to helm its growth, including Nathalie Pellegrini, Chief Growth Officer – who will be primarily responsible for developing new relationships with brands and agency partners, optimising business models and processes. Her previous role was Chief Performance Officer at Mindshare Asia Pacific, and has had stints at iFlix and Blis Global before that.

Other key hires include Ujjwal Sarao as Chief People Officer. In this role, Sarao will oversee Global People Strategy and key talent management solutions; Graas currently has over 350 employees across 7 countries. Her past HR leadership roles include companies like Aegis Media, Dentsu and Publicis.

Trisnia Anchali Kardia has joined as VP, Head of Business for Graas in Indonesia. She was previously the Chief Commercial Officer of LINE Indonesia, and prior to that had stints at Zomato Indonesia, and Telkomsel Digital Advertising. With her extensive experience in the media and the digital industry in Indonesia, Kardia will focus on growing the business in one of Graas’ key markets.

Rika Ninomiya, who was Chief Business Officer at SELLinALL (now acquired by Graas) has been appointed as EVP Product Marketing. Ninomiya will be responsible for product-market fit for Graas’ predictive engine and continue to deal with key strategic initiatives across Asia.

Lastly, Sathya Ramaganapathy has been appointed as EVP Marketing. She was previously VP Marketing at Shoptimize (now acquired by Graas). A veteran in B2B Product Marketing and SaaS Product Management, Ramaganapathy will spearhead Graas’ brand as well as global marketing and communications strategy.

“eCommerce as a percentage of overall retail continues to grow and India and SE Asia lead the way globally. Graas stands for Growth-as-Service, and we act as in-house data scientists, something previously inaccessible to most. With the addition of experienced veterans to our team, we are doubling down on our commitment to brands both big and small across the region” said Prem Bhatia, Co-Founder & CEO of Graas.

Following closely after Graas’ fundraise and acquisitions, Graas continues to accelerate its growth through a fast go-to-market strategy in the region.

###

About Graas

Founded in 2022, Graas is a “Growth-as-a-Service” technology solution provider using predictive AI to turbo-charge growth for eCommerce businesses. Graas integrates traditional data silos and applies a machine-learning AI engine, acting as an in-house data scientist to predict trends and give real-time insights and actionable recommendations for brands.

The platform can also turn insights into action by seamlessly executing these recommendations across marketplace store fronts, brand.coms, social and conversational commerce, performance marketing, inventory management, warehousing and last mile logistics – all of which impacts a brand’s bottom line profitability.

Graas is co-founded by serial entrepreneurs and martech veterans, Ashwin Puri and Prem Bhatia. Graas is backed by several high profile investors, including Galaxy (Kejora-led SPV), Performa (multi- billion European Asset Manager-led SPV), Integra Partners, Yuj Ventures (Xander Group), AJ Capital and angel investors from across SEA and India. Graas operates under the holding company Solv Pte Ltd and was established following the full acquisition of Southeast Asia’s marketplace specialist, SELLinALL and India’s D2C and data specialist, Shoptimize Inc in 2022. For more information please visit: www.graas.ai

Media contact

Mediarelations@graas.ai

###

Appendix – Bios

From left to right, Nathalie Pellegrini, Ujjwal Sarao, Trisnia Anchali Kardia, Rika Ninomiya, Sathya Ramaganapathy

Nathalie Pellegrini, Chief Growth Officer

Nathalie is a performance marketing professional with over 16 years of experience in the ad and martech industries. Her previous role was Chief Performance Officer at Mindshare Asia Pacific, where she oversaw all digital, performance marketing, e-commerce and data driven audience strategies. In addition to this, she was responsible for leading a number of top strategic regional clients. Prior to Mindshare, she led iflix’s global digital efforts to maximise new customer acquisitions and go to market strategies across 30 countries.

Ujjwal Sarao, Chief People Officer

With over 20 years of experience in people management, Ujjwal brings a strategic focus on being an in-house strategic business partner working with leadership roles across Asia Pacific focussing on team & organisational effectiveness, executing and scaling strategy, service delivery and measurement. Her experience has largely focused on building capability to support & deliver a transformation agenda. Her past HR leadership roles have covered companies such as Aegis Media, Dentsu and Publicis.

Trisnia Anchali Kardia, VP, Head of Business Indonesia

As the Head of Business Indonesia, Anchali will be looking to leverage her 16 years of experience within both the media and the digital industry to help accelerate Graas’ growth in Indonesia. Her experience has largely been focused on sales, marketing, business development, and strategy. Prior to her current role, she was the Chief Commercial Officer of LINE Indonesia, where she headed business, product, marketing, operation, and monetization for B2B and B2C. Her other stints include head of sales at Zomato Indonesia, part of the pioneer team in Telkomsel Digital Advertising, and head of sales at Living Social.

Rika Ninomiya, EVP Product Marketing

Rika has over 10 years of experience in the eCommerce tech space, ranging from roles in advertising, digital marketing, client management, partnerships and acquisitions. Prior to her role at Graas, Rika was Chief of Business at SELLinALL (now a Graas company), scaling the eCommerce enabler from USD 100 to USD 100,000 GMV a day. Outside of her corporate role, Rika also founded a Lifestyle Discovery Platform that includes a Loyalty Programme in Australia.

Sathya Ramaganapathy, EVP Marketing

Sathya brings over 20 years of experience in marketing, with leadership roles in the B2B Product Marketing, Sales and Account Management, SaaS Product Management, and Delivery. Her previous role was VP Marketing at Shoptimize (now a Graas company), and prior to that she was VP and Head of Corporate Business at Jigsaw Academy (a Manipal Group company). In addition to her corporate role, she is a published author and blogger.

###

SOURCE Graas

News

Mappable launches Neurogeocoder API to revolutionize mapping solutions for UAE businesses

Published

on

Mappable

Mappable, a global company that brings powerful and highly customizable mapping solutions to the local markets, announces the launch of its new product — the Neurogeocoder API, which is now available to all clients in the UAE.

The Neurogeocoder API, powered by machine learning and AI, is a game-changer in geospatial solutions, particularly in light of the projected 14.2% CAGR growth of the global digital map market by 2030. Unlike standard geocoders with fixed algorithms set by the development team, Neurogeocoder’s adaptive nature ensures precise results, even with unstructured location queries containing errors or typos. This advanced tool allows for the seamless display of user-entered addresses on maps and facilitates the transformation of map points into detailed street addresses, ensuring precise and reliable location results. By recognizing local expressions for districts, towers, and roads, the Neurogeocoder effectively links them to specific addresses or points, a feat beyond the capabilities of standard geocoders.

The Neurogeocoder API is a powerful tool for various industries, including e-commerce, real estate, food-tech, ride-tech, and logistics. It helps quickly translate large address volumes into coordinates and vice versa, as well as process intricate or locally specific location queries for different business scenarios. For e-commerce, the Neurogeocoder can enhance customer service by displaying pickup points on maps, allowing users to choose the most convenient location when placing orders. For real estate companies, the tool can accurately showcase property locations, helping potential buyers visualize the surroundings to make informed decisions when considering a purchase. For logistics services, the API optimizes operations by providing accurate addresses to managers for better cost estimation of deliveries, leading to increased operational efficiency and cost savings for the business.

In addition to the Neurogeocoder API, Mappable offers a comprehensive suite of solutions tailored to multiple business needs:

  • Performative, customizable, and data-rich maps for clients’ websites, apps, or CRM.
  • Automatic geo verification and easy search by address, coordinates, and other parameters.
  • Navigation and route planning tools that take into account traffic and weather forecasts as well as other parameters, to help drivers, couriers, and other professionals efficiently move around the country.

“The UAE is rapidly progressing in the fields of technology, e-commerce, and smart mobility and we’re excited to support businesses on this journey. Mappable solutions allow companies to optimize logistics and enhance customer service quality by automating processes and reducing workloads on internal personnel, call centers and order-processing specialists. We know what local businesses need and are constantly updating our products, using machine learning and AI to give our clients the best possible mapping solutions. The newly launched Neurogeocoder is a great example of this. It understands our address-inputting habits and adapts to them”, explained Sabina Mirza-Akhmedova, Chief Executive Officer at Mappable.

Sabina Mirza-Akhmedova, Chief Executive Officer at Mappable

All Mappable solutions provide extensive customization opportunities, and a wide range of licensing choices. The company has also launched an online self-service desk, which gives easy and fast access to its APIs — for trial or license purchase. More information can be found at mappable.world.

About Mappable:

Mappable is a global mapping and geospatial solutions provider based in the UAE, offering powerful and customizable business solutions to local markets. With a focus on innovation and precision, Mappable provides cutting-edge mapping, geospatial, and navigation technologies to meet the diverse business needs of e-commerce platforms, retail chains, logistics and delivery firms, manufacturing enterprises, ride-tech and food-tech companies, telecommunications corporations, banks, as well as the public sector.

Continue Reading

News

Yango showcases latest innovations to transform urban transport at Mobility Live ME

Published

on

yango

Abu Dhabi, UAE, Yango, an international tech company, made a significant impact as the Silver Sponsor at Mobility Live ME, the region’s most crucial event focusing on disruptive technology in mobility. Being committed to leveraging the power of technology to improve its users’ lives, Yango showcased its latest products and innovations and presented insights tailored to the MENA region’s evolving demands.

Building on its reputation for unique service offerings, the company recently launched Yango Drive, a comprehensive car rental marketplace integrated within the Yango SuperApp that is gaining substantial traction in Dubai. It features a digital booking system that offers an array of 3,500 cars, providing a seamless, high-quality rental experience from booking to return. This service reflects Yango’s commitment to comfort, convenience, and sustainability, supporting the shift towards shared mobility and aligning with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 and Dubai Urban Plan 2040 initiatives.

Furthermore, in alignment with its dedication to enriching local communities, the ‘Prayer Mode’ for Muslim drivers was recently launched during the holy month of Ramadan. This feature facilitates drivers’ adherence to prayer schedules and includes innovative mapping and smart routing technologies to locate the nearest mosques. The app also mutes notifications during prayer times and provides directions to the Qibla, ensuring drivers can seamlessly balance their professional responsibilities with their religious practices.

Islam Abdul Karim, General Manager, Yango GCC, said: “We have seen great demand for our services since our entry into the market and are dedicated to developing a safe and comfortable urban transport system to keep up with this demand. With technology at the heart of our mission, we are not just responding to the current status but are actively shaping the future of mobility with innovative solutions and features. We will continue to set new standards in the industry, contributing to creating smart, sustainable cities.”

Islam spoke in a panel discussion at Mobility Live: “Movers and Shapers: Shining a Spotlight on the Game-Changers in Modern Transport Systems.” Shashi Shekhar Singh, Director of New Markets at Yango, delivered a keynote speech on the “Future of Mobility,” delving into how the company redefines urban mobility.

The company’s commitment to innovation is reflected in its diverse range of services, including Yango Maps, Yango ride-hailing service, Yango Play, Yango Tech, the advanced Arabic human-like AI voice assistant Yasmina, and many more, all of which are designed to enhance the everyday lives of local communities. As one of the leading apps in the region, the company is committed to supporting local transport providers, creating jobs, and fostering long-term partnerships with local communities and governments.

Continue Reading

News

Trident IoT Launches Taurus Z-Wave Series Silicon

Published

on

Chip series and SDK support next-generation Z-Wave capabilities for the global market.

Trident IoT, an RF technology and engineering company focused on decreasing time-to-market for connected device manufacturers, today announced the release of the new Taurus Z-Wave Series of silicon solutions.

The Trident IoT Taurus Z-Wave Series will encompass system-on-chip (SoC) solutions and modules that support the latest advancements in Z-Wave technology, including Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) for the U.S. and the implementation of the ZWLR European specification. The Taurus Z-Wave Series will ship with an SDK based on Open Z-Wave Specification Release 2024A.

“The Taurus Series gives global manufacturers access to cutting-edge Z-Wave capabilities,” said Trident IoT co-founder Bill Scheffler. “This silicon series and SDK will be the first to implement the ZWLR European specification, accelerating IoT product development worldwide.”

Taurus Series Silicon Specifications
The Taurus Series is based on an ultra-low power, high performance Z-Wave SoC. The Taurus SoC solution is designed to enable Z-Wave solutions with class-leading battery life, range, and memory.

Taurus Series chips feature an ARM® Cortex®-M33 microprocessor, 1MB of flash program memory, and 288KB of SRAM data memory for exceptional processing and response time. The powerful sub-GHz radios transmit at +20dBm and +14 dBm, enabling communication over distances up to 1+ miles.

Taurus chips support Z-Wave Plus, Z-Wave Plus v2 and ZWLR, enabling the development of highly secure, reliable, scalable, and backwards-compatible solutions for smart home, hospitality, multi-dwelling units and more. Using the ZWLR 12-bit addressing space, the Taurus Series supports networks of up to 4000 nodes; Taurus chips also leverage ZWLR dynamic power control, enabling end point battery life of up to ten years from a single coin-cell battery.

“ZWLR is a revolutionary technology, with the power to expand the reach, scale and utility of IoT applications while preserving full backward compatibility with currently deployed Z-Wave devices,” said Avi Rosenthal, Z-Wave Alliance Chairman of the Board. “This new Z-Wave silicon offering, paired with the Trident IoT SDK and design services, will enable more Z-Wave Alliance members to take advantage of ZWLR capabilities, bringing exciting new products to market faster around the globe.”

End-to-End Product Development Support
In line with the company’s mission to decrease time-to-market for IoT devices, Trident IoT will offer end-to-end engineering consultation for new products integrating Taurus Series silicon. In addition to the Taurus Series SDK, Trident IoT customers will also have access to an exclusive library of both Z-Wave and ZWLR device and sensor reference designs, created to accelerate the development of innovative new edge-of-property applications.

Trident IoT also offers in-depth consulting from some of the industry’s foremost experts on wireless connectivity, including Z-Wave technology. “Trident IoT was launched in response to a gap in the availability of IoT product design services,” says Mariusz Malkowski, Trident IoT CTO and founder. “The demand for consultation has been extraordinary: in just six months we’ve had to double our engineering resources.”

To support the development of market-ready products, the Trident IoT lab is fully equipped and available for Z-Wave, Z-Wave Plus v2, and ZWLR end product compliance and testing.

By providing silicon, design services, and in-house compliance testing, Trident IoT can help device manufacturers decrease time-to-market for new Z-Wave products by more than 60%. According to Kevin Kraus, VP of Technology Alliances and IoT Business Development, Yale – Fortune Brands Innovation, “In-depth consulting services from the Trident IoT team will be an invaluable accelerator for Fortune Brands, helping us to bring new Z-Wave-certified products to market in the near future. With the launch of this new single-die silicon solution, we look forward to collaborating on new devices with next-generation capabilities, including long-range and potentially even multi-protocol devices.”

Taurus Series Previews for Product Developers
Taurus Series silicon will begin shipping at scale in Q4 2024. In the meantime, Trident IoT will issue Taurus Series samples to select partners for initial testing and product development.

About Trident IoT:
Trident IoT is a technology and engineering company focused on simplifying RF development, increasing product success rates, and decreasing time-to-market for connected device manufacturers. Founded by a team of IoT veterans with over a century of industry knowledge, Trident IoT is aimed at making connected devices work as intended. With an initial focus on companies manufacturing Z-Wave devices, Trident IoT seeks to expand and build new relationships through a human connection at every level, including certification and market knowledge. 

Continue Reading

Trending

Subscribe to our Free Newsletter

Get Business and Marketing Insights from Experts, only onTimes of Startups!

Your Information will never be shared with any third party