MAM
Mastercard launches campaign with CRED to make high-value transactions
Mumbai: Mastercard and CRED on Monday launched a campaign that will enable Mastercard credit cardholders to make simple, secure tuition and rent payments for housing expenses using the CRED app.
Cardholders will enjoy the convenience of making high-value transactions such as rent payments or paying maintenance and school fees for any type of education, from primary school to university, from any mobile device while benefiting from additional liquidity and enjoying exclusive cashback and credit card rewards.
“By rewarding transactions and providing a seamless experience, we can enable more CRED members to use their cards for large value recurring transactions. Partnerships with ecosystem stakeholders like Mastercard encourage members to pay their monthly rent and education fee payments on their credit cards, enabling them to gain more credit card points and unlock greater liquidity. At CRED we are creating a system that strives to reward high trust and creditworthy individuals of India, inspiring others to be like them,” said Cred’s representative Akshay Aedula.
Mastercard’s Vice President- Digital Partnerships, South Asia, Aditya Murthy said, “Mastercard technology offers simplicity and safety to cardholders with every transaction. This partnership with CRED opens convenient, new payment possibilities on credit card spend for millions of mobile-first users and facilitates greater choice for Mastercard cardholders.”
“Enabling high value, recurring transactions such as tuition and rent to be paid on credit cards will make strides in accelerating India’s transition to a less cash economy. Through Mastercard’s longstanding relationship with CRED, cardholders will enjoy more secure, seamless checkout experiences,” he added.
MAM
Ad:tech honours 2026: Full list of winners announced
Expanded awards spotlight winners across 22 categories as industry doubles down on intelligent automation
NEW DELHI: Marketing’s tech elite took the spotlight as the ad:tech honours 2026 returned with a sharper focus on AI, data and immersive media, signalling how deeply technology now underpins brand strategy. Held at Yashobhoomi on March 17, the second edition drew industry leaders to celebrate innovation that is reshaping engagement and performance.
Presented with the International Advertising Association India chapter and new partner Huella, the awards expanded from 8 to 22 categories, tracking the rapid convergence of creativity, automation and analytics.
The winners’ list reads like a snapshot of marketing’s future. In affiliate and partner marketing, Lyxel & Flamingo – Boat and Paytm Ads – Giva took silver. Mobavenue Media Private Limited struck gold in AI-driven dynamic creative optimisation, alongside a silver for Laqshya Media Limited.
Creative AI collaboration saw Rediffusion Brand Solutions Private Limited win gold, with Saltinc Consulting Private Limited securing silver. Laqshya Media Limited continued its strong run, taking gold in AI conversation agents and adding multiple wins across categories, including silver in GenAI-led creative and both gold and silver in interactive DOOH campaigns for Tanishq and Tata Coffee.
Predictive AI honours went to Strong Metrics and Tyroo, both silver, while Orient Bell Limited picked up silver in immersive retail tech. In GenAI-led creative, Laqshya Media Limited, Salt – Kotak and Sumimoto each secured silver, reflecting the crowded race in generative creativity.
Publicis bagged silver in influencer management and gold in performance marketing, where it shared the stage with Arm Worldwide and The Trade Desk, both silver. Glad U Came Private Limited stood out with gold in influencer measurement and analytics.
Marketing automation saw CereOne Media Pvt. Ltd. and Globale Media win silver, while ADMOTT Private Limited claimed silver in OTT innovation.
Programmatic media categories highlighted the shift to advanced targeting and connected screens. Mobavenue Media Private Limited clinched gold in connected TV advertising, with Animmoov Digital Media Pvt Ltd – Asus and Lyxel and Flamingo taking silver. Cheggout Services Private Limited won silver in retail media advertising, while Paytm Ads – Versuni secured gold.
On social platforms, Vayner Media India took gold in community and UGC engagement, with Under 25 – Oppo winning silver. Segumento rounded off the list with silver in the innovation category.
Jaswant Singh, country managing director at ad:tech India, underscored the momentum, saying generative AI and data-driven decision-making are now central to marketing impact. Neena Dasgupta, IAA mancom member and chief executive and founder at The Salt Inc Consulting, added that the awards celebrate not just technology, but “the people, the creativity, and the relentless effort behind it.”
Backed by Comexposium Group, ad:tech New Delhi has long tracked digital disruption. Now, with the honours, it is rewarding those who are not just adapting to change but engineering it.
In an industry racing towards automation, the message from 2026 is unmistakable. The future of marketing will be written not just in ideas, but in algorithms.
