MAM
udChalo announces General Manoj Mukund Naravane as newest advisory board member
Mumbai: udChalo, a leading consumer tech firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Gen (Dr) Manoj Mukund Naravane, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd) 28th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) (Former Chief of the Army Staff), to its advisory board. As part of the advisory team, General Naravane will guide the company, playing a pivotal role in making strategic decisions that aligns seamlessly with the needs and preferences of its customer base and beyond. udChalo is the only Online Travel Agency (OTA) to be winning the ‘National Start-Up Award’ by the government of India. The company has recently expanded its platform to be accessed by broader spectrum of users beyond armed forces, after realizing that over 70 per cent of the travel market in India is controlled by Chinese Investors.
General Naravane, served as the 28th COAS and is a highly decorated officer with over four decades of experience in the Indian Army. Leading from front, he has also held several other prestigious positions, including Vice Chief of Army Staff, and Eastern Army Commander. He is known for his strategic thinking, leadership skills, and commitment to the welfare of the armed forces personnel.
“We are honoured to welcome General Naravane to the udChalo team,” said udChalo CEO Ravi Kumar. “His extensive experience and profound expertise will prove invaluable as we persist in our journey to expand and enhance our services for the benefit of the armed forces community and now beyond that, serving entire nation. We are confident that General Naravane’s unmatched leadership will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission of delivering seamless and cost-effective travel experiences to the armed forces and beyond.”
General Naravane said, “I stand resolute in aligning forces with udChalo, a 100% Indian company in the travel industry that has dedicated its services exclusive for the armed forces. Through a range of products and services, udChalo is steadfastly making life easier for our armed forces community, extending its support not only at the national borders but also beyond, ensuring assistance wherever they may be. With over 35 lakh fauji families placing their trust in udChalo, it is poised to become the epitome of ‘Desh Ka Bharosa’ by extending its platform to other users as well”
He further added, “udChalo’s vision aligns well with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, demonstrating its capacity to revolutionize the online travel technology industry through local innovation and entrepreneurship. Having dedicated my life to defending our borders, I now aspire to contribute to the progress and prosperity of our nation by supporting start-ups like udChalo. Recently, India emerged as the fourth nation globally for tech venture capital investments, reaffirming its start-up ecosystem. I encourage everyone to avail themselves of udChalo’s services, as indirectly, you will be supporting our veterans who find employment opportunities with udChalo. Together, we all can forge a brighter future for our fauji families and our entire nation.”
udChalo is committed to providing its customers with the best possible travel experience. The company’s team of experienced travel experts, formed primarily by veterans and veer naris, is always available to help customers plan their trips and get the most out of their travels.
MAM
Give Me Five mental fitness platform launches in India
Global tool for early stress detection debuts in Hyderabad with live demos.
MUMBAI: Give Me Five just gave mental fitness a high-five because when your mind needs a quick check-up, even the app shows up faster than your inner critic. Give Me Five, a global mental fitness platform focused on early detection and proactive wellbeing, was officially launched in India at a special event at The Park Hotel, Somajiguda, Hyderabad. Founded by Brendan Fahey (30 years years building community solutions in human services), Dr Lisa Fahey OAM (35+ years as a trauma-recovery psychologist) and Phil Dymock (technology lead for expansion across the US, Canada, Australia and now India), the platform encourages small, consistent check-ins to spot early signs of stress, anxiety or burnout before they escalate.
The launch featured a live demonstration of core features, quick mental fitness assessments, data-driven personal insights, wellbeing dashboards, and tools tailored for individuals, workplaces, schools and communities. By making early awareness simple and accessible, Give Me Five aims to foster supportive environments where people feel equipped to act sooner rather than later.
Give Me Five co-founder Brendan Fahey said, “Give Me Five was created with a simple idea that small, consistent check-ins can make a meaningful difference in how we understand and support mental fitness. By making early detection accessible through technology, we hope to empower individuals, organisations, and communities to recognise challenges sooner and build stronger systems of care and support.”
The platform arrives as mental health conversations in India gain urgency, with rising awareness of workplace stress, student burnout and everyday emotional load. Give Me Five positions itself as a preventive companion less about crisis response and more about daily maintenance for the mind.
In a world that tracks every step and heartbeat, Give Me Five quietly reminds us the most important metric is still how we feel—and sometimes all it takes is five minutes and a honest pause to keep the balance from tipping.
