MAM
Bharat Matrimony bets on AI to align stars
MUMBAI: When tradition meets technology, even the stars take note. Bharat Matrimony has partnered with AI startup Ask My Guru (AMG), investing 500,000 dollars to bring centuries-old Vedic astrology into the digital matchmaking era. The move follows AMG’s 1.2 million dollar seed round, taking total funding to 1.72 million dollars, aimed at accelerating AI-driven astrological compatibility for modern users.
Astrology continues to shape over 80 per cent of Indian marriages, and this partnership bridges cultural wisdom with AI precision. Ask My Guru’s platform makes horoscopes instantly accessible while adding deeper, nuanced insights to compatibility analysis, blending faith, tradition, and technology seamlessly.
“Marriage is not only about bringing two people together but ensuring harmony between them. Astrology has always played a vital role in this process. With Ask My Guru’s AI-powered astrology, we combine tradition with cutting-edge technology for the benefit of millions,” said Matrimony.com Group founder & CEO Murugavel Janakiraman.
AMG’s founders, Krishna Mohan Vedula and Vivek Sadamate, bring over a decade of experience in scaling consumer platforms. “Bharat Matrimony’s trust in our vision will elevate AI-driven astrology from a niche tool into a mainstream, culturally anchored solution,” Vedula said. “Users will now enjoy real-time compatibility assessments, personalised astrological guidance, and multi-dimensional life insights, making AI astrology a transformative part of matchmaking.”
Launched in June 2025, Ask My Guru has already recorded 5 million chats and 400,000 registered users. With Bharat Matrimony’s backing, AI astrology will now be integrated into the matchmaking experience, expanding language support and predictive precision, and positioning AMG as a leader in AI-enabled Vedic guidance.
This strategic partnership underscores Matrimony.com’s vision to future-proof India’s most cherished tradition, ensuring that even in a digital age, the stars continue to guide the journey to “happily ever after.”
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
