iWorld
Stage gets Clear on PFT’s AI-powered content management solution
MUMBAI: Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), the muscle behind indigenous tech Clear and a global maven in AI-led media solutions, has inked a long-term pact with Stage —the homegrown OTT star championing regional India. The goal? To supercharge Stage’s content operations and serve up smart entertainment with a tech twist.
With this tie-up, Stage will plug into PFT’s Clear media asset management (Mam) and Clear AI suite. Expect an overhaul of workflows, from AI-assisted post-production to intelligent tagging, slick compliance, natural language search, and turbo-charged team collaboration. In short: more brains, less brawn.
“As our content library continues to grow, adopting a forward-looking Mam platform became crucial,” said Stage co-founder Shashank Vaishnav. “With Clear and its integrated AI features, we gain the scalability and intelligence to enhance operational efficiency, improve metadata quality, and ensure quick access to the right content. We’re looking forward to the innovation and impact this partnership will bring.”
PFT SVP & head of APAC Anupam Sharma added: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Stage on this transformative journey/This agreement underscores the increasing demand for intelligent Mam systems that go beyond asset management—unlocking insights, accelerating workflows, and driving monetization through AI.”
This alliance marks another feather in PFT’s APAC cap and underscores its growing grip on the media-tech landscape across borders.
(Featured in the picture above Stage co-founder Shashank Vaishnav)
iWorld
Airtel bets big on digital lending with Rs 20,000 Cr NBFC push
Telecom giant aims to transform India’s credit scene with a high-scale NBFC plan
NEW DELHI: Bharati Airtel is taking a bold step into the financial world. The telecom giant has announced plans to supercharge its Non-Banking Financial Company, Airtel Money Limited, with a whopping Rs 20,000 crore over the coming years.
Airtel will fund 70 per cent of the capital, with the remaining 30 per cent coming from the promoter group via Bharti Enterprises Limited. The move is designed to narrow India’s credit gap and bring simple, secure digital lending to more consumers.
The company is not starting from scratch. Its existing digital lending platform has already disbursed over Rs 9,000 crore, backed by smart underwriting, disciplined portfolio management, and real-time risk monitoring. With 500 plus data scientists and robust analytics, Airtel claims it has built one of the country’s most trusted lending service provider models.
Bharti Airtel executive vice chairman Gopal Vittal said, “Our success over the past two years shows how technology, data, and customer trust can create impact at a national scale. With this NBFC expansion, we aim to build a future-ready digital lending business that stands for trust, innovation, and inclusion.”
Airtel Money received its NBFC licence from the Reserve Bank of India on 13 February 2026. The expansion taps into India’s fast-growing financial sector, where formal credit accounts for just 53 per cent of GDP, highlighting huge room for growth.
The NBFC’s operations will integrate seamlessly with Airtel’s existing lending platform, keeping processes clear for customers while delivering a smooth experience. By leveraging its vast telecom customer base, Airtel aims to set a new benchmark in digital financial services and make lending accessible, simple, and reliable.
The Reserve Bank of India has noted that while Airtel Money has a valid registration certificate, it does not guarantee the company’s financial soundness or the repayment of liabilities.
