Brands
Nikhil Kant to ride with FlixBus India as marketing & sales team lead
MUMBAI: Veteran marketing professional and angel investor Nikhil Kant has donned the mantle of team lead for marketing & sales at FlixBus India. This announcement coincided with the company’s first anniversary of operations in the country.
Expressing his excitement, Kant remarked, “Ever since I took my first FlixBus, I’ve admired their transformative impact on the global mobility landscape. I am thrilled to be part of this mission to revolutionise inter-city travel in India, especially under the leadership of my former colleague and friend, Surya Khurana.”
Marking this milestone, FlixBus India launched its first electric buses in partnership with ETO Motors on 7 February. These quiet, emission-free vehicles will operate on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada route, offering passengers a safer and environmentally friendly travel option.
Kant brings a wealth of experience spanning over a decade across top-tier organisations, including Uber, BAT, Interactive Avenues, and Even. His expertise encompasses brand strategy, media planning, social media management, and public relations.
At Even, Kant served as head of brand marketing, PR, and social media, where he led brand building, communication strategies, and creative development. He played a pivotal role in establishing the company’s visual identity and tone of voice.
During his tenure at Uber, Kant held multiple leadership roles, including global social media lead and head of APAC social media and India media planning. He was instrumental in devising strategies for digital engagement, brand reputation management, and crisis handling.
Previously, at Interactive Avenues, Kant managed major accounts such as Coca-Cola, Sony, and Reckitt Benckiser, leading initiatives that integrated digital strategies with offline media.
Brands
HP launches Smart Champs learning game show with JioStar for students
Sanya Malhotra hosts quiz series blending fun, learning and prizes
NEW DELHI: HP India has teamed up with JioStar to launch HP Smart Champs, a new learning-based game show designed to make education engaging for school students across the country.
Hosted by Sanya Malhotra, the 10-episode series brings together students from Grades 5 to 9, who compete in teams through quiz and puzzle-based challenges that test knowledge, logic and teamwork. The show will begin streaming on JioHotstar from April 11 and will premiere on Nick on April 18, with weekend episodes airing at 7 PM.
Powered by HP Smart Tank printers, the format integrates print-based learning into the gameplay, using worksheets, clues and visual problem-solving tools to encourage hands-on participation. The idea is to move students beyond rote memorisation and towards more applied, curiosity-led learning.
The competition promises high stakes, with winners set to receive a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, while runners-up will take home Rs 5 lakh. Additional rewards include HP AI laptops, Smart Tank printers and accessories, while the winning school will be awarded an HP Smart Tech Lab.
Speaking about the initiative, HP India managing director Ipsita Dasgupta said, “At HP, we believe nurturing India’s youth is key to the country’s progress, and technology plays a foundational role in enabling this. With HP Smart Champs, we wanted to create something beyond traditional learning, a fun-filled platform where curiosity, creativity and critical thinking take centre stage.”
On the show’s reach, JioStar head entertainment sales Mahesh Shetty said, “HP Smart Champs reflects how children today learn through exploration and experience. With Nick and JioHotstar, we are creating a multi-screen approach that is both engaging and meaningful.”
Highlighting the role of print, HP India senior director print Satish Kumar said, “The show brings print-based learning to life in an engaging format, helping students develop deeper understanding through hands-on experiences.”
The journey to the finale began with participation from over 1,000 schools across 26 cities, narrowing down to 34 finalists who will compete in a studio showdown in Mumbai.
With its blend of entertainment, education and technology, HP Smart Champs is positioning itself as more than just a quiz show. It is a nationwide push to make learning interactive, accessible and, above all, a lot more fun.
