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ALIMCO shifts gears as new identity and EV aids drive inclusive mobility
MUMBAI: A new logo, a new charge, and a whole new chapter ALIMCO rolled into its 53rd year with more power, more purpose, and a little extra spark. The Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), the Miniratna PSU under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, marked its 53rd Foundation Day with a full-fledged brand reboot and the launch of two mobility innovations that signal a tech-driven future for assistive solutions in India.
At a ceremony graced by union minister for social justice & empowerment Virendra Kumar, minister of state B. L. Verma, additional secretary Manmeet Kaur Nanda, and ALIMCO CMD Praveen Kumar, the organisation unveiled its new identity, a modern purple logo designed by NID Ahmedabad alongside two headline-making devices, a 3-Wheeler EV Scooter and a Clip-On Motorised Wheelchair Device.
The EV scooter promises safe, rugged mobility tailored for Indian roads, while the clip-on device transforms a regular manual wheelchair into a motorised one within seconds, an affordable leap towards independence.
Dr Virendra Kumar, reflecting on ALIMCO’s 53-year journey, noted how the PSU has evolved from a manufacturing unit into a national institution synonymous with “innovation with empathy”. He highlighted that under the leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi, over 32 lakh Divyang beneficiaries have been supported through various government schemes with ALIMCO acting as a key delivery arm in ensuring these devices reach the grassroots.
For Shri B. L. Verma, the day was “a celebration of compassion and collective purpose”, emphasising that the new devices are not just engineering feats but “enablers of dignity, mobility and independence”.
But it was Smt Manmeet Kaur Nanda’s stirring address that became the emotional anchor of the event. Calling ALIMCO a “living institution”, she said its impact is defined not by machines but by lives transformed. She referred to the moving stories shown in a film at the event including that of Sarita Trivedi, a triple amputee and celebrated artist, and a BSF officer who defied medical odds to defeat the world’s No.1 para-badminton player. Sharing his powerful words, she reminded the audience, “Limbs are optional, but courage is compulsory.”
She outlined ALIMCO’s future roadmap partnerships with 80 plus start-ups, deep technology collaborations, AI-assisted devices, smart digital aids, and faster delivery mechanisms, all aimed at making assistive technology more advanced, more affordable, and more accessible.
CMD Shri Praveen Kumar added that the new purple identity symbolises dignity and engineering excellence, representing ALIMCO’s sharper focus on next-gen prosthetics, EV mobility solutions, and rapid response to emerging needs.
The celebrations concluded with a showcase of the PSU’s modernisation initiatives and a captivating performance by internationally acclaimed autistic artist Devansh, embodying the spirit of Sashakt Bharat.
In its 53rd year, ALIMCO isn’t just turning a page, it’s re-engineering the narrative of inclusive mobility in India, one innovation at a time.
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UK’s OnlyFans seeks US investor at $3bn valuation after owner’s death
The adult video platform is seeking stability after the death of its billionaire owner
LONDON: OnlyFans is looking for a new partner. The London-based adult video platform is in advanced talks to sell a minority stake of less than 20 per cent to Architect Capital, a San Francisco-based investment firm, in a deal that would value the business at more than $3bn (£2.2bn).
The move is driven by an urgent need for stability. Leonid Radvinsky, the Ukrainian-American billionaire who owned OnlyFans, died of cancer last month at the age of 43, leaving the future of one of Britain’s most profitable privately held businesses suddenly uncertain.
The choice of Architect Capital is not arbitrary. The firm has deep expertise in financial services, which aligns neatly with OnlyFans’ ambitions to offer banking products to its creators, many of whom have long struggled to access basic financial services because of the nature of their work.
The numbers behind OnlyFans are, by any measure, staggering. The platform posted revenues of $1.4bn in the year to 30th November 2024, with a pre-tax profit of $684m, up four per cent on the prior year. Payments to creators totalled $7.2bn over the same period, a rise of nearly ten per cent. Radvinsky personally collected $701m in dividends from the business in 2024 alone, on top of more than $1bn in such payments he had already received. The platform, run through its parent company Felix International, hosts 4.6m creator accounts, with performers keeping 80 per cent of subscription proceeds and the platform pocketing the remaining 20 per cent. It has 377m fan accounts in total.
The current minority stake talks represent a notable scaling back of ambitions. In January, OnlyFans was reported to be in discussions with Architect about selling a majority stake of 60 per cent. Before that, the company had explored a sale to a consortium led by Forest Road Company, a Los Angeles-based investment firm. Neither deal materialised.
OnlyFans has built an enormously lucrative business on content that mainstream finance has long refused to touch. Now, with its owner gone and a $3bn valuation on the table, it is looking for the kind of respectable institutional backing that might finally persuade the banks to take its calls.
