MAM
Masters’ Union collaborates with PepsiCo
Mumbai: Masters’ Union, the new-age business school, and PepsiCo, the global f&b corporation, recently organised a Winter Week Bootcamp from 18 to 22 December focusing on nurturing high school students’ talents. The five-day event aimed to equip young minds with practical skills, mentorship, and real-world insights.
The Bootcamp provided a platform for students to explore diverse disciplines such as design principles, content creation, and stock market trading through hands-on activities, workshops, and discussions led by industry experts. Key workshops were led by professionals including Geetha Radhakrishnan, Franchise Commercial Director – India Beverages, PepsiCo, Susheel Lakhera, Associate Director – Franchise, PepsiCo, Neha Verma, Senior Marketing Manager, Vaango, and Rahul Puri, vice president of Information Technology, Vaango, covering innovation, marketing strategies, and the role of technology in shaping industries.
Masters’ Union founder Pratham Mittal said, “Collaborating with PepsiCo for the Winter Week Bootcamp was an incredible opportunity to drive practical learning beyond traditional education boundaries. The event aimed to empower students with hands-on skills and insights, preparing them for the dynamic demands of the industry. Education extends far beyond textbooks, and this collaboration aligns perfectly with our vision to equip students with practical expertise that transcends theoretical knowledge.”
PepsiCo hub lead, e-commerce DTX, data science and analytics Sourabh Agarwal said, “Partnering with the Masters’ Union for the Winter Week Bootcamp was a rewarding experience. Engaging with young minds and further fueling their enthusiasm for learning reaffirms PepsiCo India’s commitment to help foster innovation and skill development in the youth. We are glad that we could be part of this Bootcamp and engage with such young and great talent.”
Students engaged with real-world case studies, working on tasks like crafting advertising campaigns for PepsiCo, trading stocks on platforms like StockGro, and developing apps for Vaango, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical application. The bootcamp culminated in students showcasing their growth and expertise through final projects, offering insights into their comprehensive learning experiences. The event attracted students from schools like Manthan International School, Sanskaar Valley, CS Academy, Sarvottam International, and KC High. It left a lasting impression, setting the stage for future educational collaborations.
MAM
Microdrama Specialist COL Group International Builds Out With Narativ, Rock Networks & BlingWood Deals
MUMBAI: Microdrama powerhouse COL Group International is building out its distribution network, with its CEO saying vertical video is about to enter its “next competitive chapter.”
The microdrama arm of publicly-listed Chinese company COL Group appointed Narativ Media as its official distributor in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and CIS regions and Africa, and a struck new content deal with a new Dubai-based microdrama platform.
The deals were unveiled this morning at MIP London, and also included Rock Networks as its exclusive Southeast Asia telco distribution partner for its app, FlareFlow. MIP London is now into its second day at the Savoy Hotel and adjoining IET London complex.
The deals come soon after COL appointed Harbour Rights to represent its titles in Europe and Latin America, as we reported yesterday in our extended feature on microdrama distribution.
COL’s Singapore-based microdrama unit says its “coordinated global distribution architecture and significantly expanded international content slate” would help to scale its catalogue to more than 1,700 microdrama titles worldwide. These hail from South Korea, Japan, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the UK and roll out across Sereal+, FlareFlow and 17K.
A deal with Dubai-based BlingWood, which recently launched as an OTT platform, will expand COL’s access to Middle Eastern and Indian microdramas, and includes a broader pipeline of Indian series from storytelling platform Pratilipi, Korean titles from BeLive Studios and British reality-led formats from Tattle TV — the UK’s first dedicated microdrama app, including titles such as Dog Dates.
“Microdrama is entering its next competitive chapter, where quality, retention and monetization standards are increasingly shaped by data and operational discipline,” said Timothy Oh, General Manager of COL Group International.
“As pioneers in both China and the U.S., scaling some of the world’s leading platforms in this space, we understand what it truly takes to win sustainably. Our role is not simply to offer catalogue volume, but to help partners select, position and scale the right content for their platform and audience. By bringing together a broad, constantly refreshed slate from across regions, we enable smarter curation, clearer differentiation and long-term growth for serious industry players.”
Narativ deal
COL and UAE-based Narativ described their deal as a “strategic expansion of premium vertical content distribution across high-growth emerging markets,” and comes as the microdrama continues to boom financially. The growth of the medium will be among the key topics of conversation today at MIP London, where COL chief Oh will be speaking.
The pact extends beyond content representation and is being billed as part of a more “structured micro-drama distribution infrastructure.”
Narativ will spearhead market development, platform alliances, broadcaster relationships and digital monetization frameworks across the MENA and CIS regions and Africa, where they have identified “rapid mobile-first consumption growth and strong demand for short-form, high-engagement storytelling formats.”
“Micro-dramas are reshaping global viewing habits, particularly across mobile-first markets like MENA, Africa and CIS,” said Manjyot Sandhu, CEO and co-founder of Narativ. “Our appointment as official distributor for COL Group in these territories reflects Narativ’s strategy to build sustainable distribution architecture.
“A key pillar of the collaboration includes integration with FlareFlow, enabling strategic telco partnerships, bundled carrier offerings, and alternative monetization pathways designed to accelerate scale across mobile ecosystems and OTT platforms.”
Oh added: “We are building more than a content slate – we are building the global infrastructure for microdrama. With hundreds of new titles launching every quarter, scale and regional strength are critical. Narativ with its deep foothold in MENA, Africa CIS and other key markets makes them a natural strategic partner as we expand FlareFlow and bring microdrama to new platforms, telcos and audiences.
Narativ, which is joint venture Sandhu operates with Copyright Capital, manages around 7,000 hours of content and has a digital network spanning 150 million subscribers across 21 language.
COL Group has emerged as one of the biggest microdrama platforms, running platforms such as FlareFow. It is also a part-owner of ReelShort.
