Brands
Bobble AI partners with Xiaomi to develop ‘Mint Keyboard’ for Android smartphones
MUMBAI: Bobble AI, a Gurgaon-based tech company today announced that it has partnered with Xiaomi, India’s number one smartphone and smart TV brand to develop ‘Mint Keyboard’ for Android smartphones. Bobble AI is empowering the Next Billion by making their communication personalised, expressive, and smarter with its cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence around input methods. Taking a leap in terms of technology and innovation, Bobble AI has developed an Indian language keyboard called ‘Mint Keyboard’ which will be pre-loaded across Xiaomi devices in India and Indonesia. The new feature will be a part of Xiaomi’s latest MIUI 11 Operating System.
Mint keyboard is a ‘Made in India’ application which is specially designed keeping Indian users in mind, with their need for local languages and personalisation to enrich conversations. The AI engine is continuously learning user typing habits in real time to suggest absolutely personalised responses whether it is in a regional language, slang, shortcuts, or emoji preferences. With the availability of 25+ Indic languages on the Mint Keyboard, users can type in their preferred language. Not only this, but the users can also go to the extent of applying personalized themes on their keyboards using images from their gallery and using different fonts while typing.
Additionally, it has features like Swipe typing, speech-to-text, real-time emoji suggestions, different themes every week, cloud-sync and clipboard. With a rich database of stickers and GIFs to express every emotion or mood, users can share stickers directly from the keyboard to make conversations even more expressive and fun.
The keyboard is also available for non MIUI devices and can be downloaded from the Google Play store.
On IME and partnering with Xiaomi, Bobble AI CEO and founder Ankit Prasad said, “The Input Method Editor (IME) software industry, considering only keyboard and voice inputs, is growing at a CAGR of 17.2% and is expected to reach 40 Billion USD by 2025. Our main focus is to partner with leading smartphone players to co-create solutions for the Next Billion. Partnership with Xiaomi is a huge validation of our capabilities and shift in need of new-age technologies and business opportunities.”
Xiaomi India chief operations officer Muralikrishnan B said, “We have always provided the highest quality and customised solutions to our Mi fans in India and therefore for the first time anywhere in the world, we are launching Mint Keyboard. India provides one of the most diverse cultures with several thousands of languages and dialects being spoken. Mint Keyboard, supporting 25+ Indic languages and with the ability to transliterate across all of them is just the first step in Xiaomi truly developing services for India. ”
Bobble AI is backed by some of the most celebrated names in the Indian startup ecosystem. Apart from SAIF Partners and Xiaomi Inc. others include co-founders of Flipkart, founder of MakeMyTrip, Co-founder of SlideShare, Founders of 1mg, Co-creator of Cassandra, and 15 other individual investors.
Following the B2B2C model, Bobble has partnered with the homegrown operating system Indus and many more in the past.
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
