Brands
Jonty Rhodes dives into startup TV arena
MUMBAI: From diving for catches to diving into deals, Jonty Rhodes is set to make a different kind of pitch, this time, on Indian television. The legendary South African cricketer and global sports icon will appear on Ideabaaz, India’s first media-integrated startup reality show, airing November 8 at 6:30 pm and 11 pm on Zee TV and Zee5.
In a never-before-seen avatar, Rhodes joins UpUrFit co-founders Munish Vig and Vikram Gunjal to pitch their sports wellness brand to the Titans, Ideabaaz’s panel of investors. The show, conceptualised by Jeet Wagh and Sagoon Wagh, is designed to democratise startup funding by bringing entrepreneurs from across India, especially from tier II and III cities, face-to-face with investors, all within a high-energy television format.
UpUrFit, co-founded in 2023, is fast carving out its space in India’s USD 40 billion sports wellness market. With a focus on performance, recovery, and hygiene products made from clean, effective ingredients, the brand is backed by Rhodes himself. Currently, it is raising a USD 0.5 million funding round, already 50 per cent subscribed, with participation from the IIM Calcutta syndicate and other major investors. As of October, the brand boasts an ARR of Rs 40 million and a 50 per cent QoQ growth rate.
Sharing his excitement, Rhodes said, “Pitching on Ideabaaz was a whole new ballgame for me. Usually, I’m diving for catches, not catching investors’ attention. It was exciting to share UpUrFit’s vision on a platform that celebrates innovation and passion. As an athlete and entrepreneur, I’ve always believed in fitness that’s real and relatable, and that’s exactly what UpUrFit stands for.”
Of course, the ever-energetic Rhodes couldn’t resist adding a bit of his signature flair, showing off some fielding magic on set, much to the delight of the Titans and the audience. The episode promises a blend of business, banter, and boundless energy, as Jonty and the UpUrFit team bring the spirit of sport to the startup arena.
Brands
Coforge launches Voyager.AI & FlightFlex.AI to boost airline operations
New platforms target real-time personalisation and smoother disruption handling
GREATER NOIDA: Coforge has introduced two AI-native solutions, Voyager.AI and FlightFlex.AI, aimed at helping airlines worldwide enhance customer experience while improving operational efficiency.
The move comes as airlines accelerate investments in modern retailing and digital transformation, where the ability to act on real-time data is fast becoming a key differentiator. Coforge’s new platforms are designed to address both sides of the equation, customer engagement and operational resilience.
Voyager.AI focuses on delivering personalised passenger experiences. By combining booking data, loyalty insights and behavioural signals into a unified real-time traveller profile, the platform enables airlines to create tailored offers and interactions across the customer journey. Using AI-led decisioning and predictive modelling, it shifts airlines away from static segmentation towards dynamic, context-driven engagement.
FlightFlex.AI, meanwhile, targets disruption management, one of the industry’s most persistent challenges. Whether caused by weather, crew constraints or operational bottlenecks, disruptions can quickly escalate across airline networks. The platform brings together AI-driven decision support, automated rebooking and proactive passenger communication to streamline recovery and reduce delays.
Coforge chief officer, strategy and growth Erika Moore said, “With Voyager.AI and FlightFlex.AI we are enabling airlines to make decisions in real-time.” She added that the solutions are built on deep operational expertise and are designed to support airlines as they transition towards more customer-centric, “retail-like” experiences.
The company said both platforms integrate with existing airline systems and are built to scale across multi-hub, multi-fleet and multi-regulatory environments, making them suitable for global carriers.
As airlines look to balance rising passenger expectations with operational pressures, Coforge’s latest offering signals a growing shift towards AI-led decision-making, where every interaction, and every disruption, becomes an opportunity to improve the journey.
