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Philips India launches the Philips Avent Hands-Free Electric Breast Pump
MUMBAI: Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), announced the launch of their biggest innovation – the Philips Avent Hands-free Breast Pump, in India. It was unveiled at an exclusive event in the presence of Masaba Gupta – renowned fashion designer, entrepreneur, actor, and a new mother herself, who is the face of this campaign. With the #GiftOfFreedom campaign, the launch event highlighted the importance of supporting mothers in their breastfeeding journey with more freedom and flexibility, a key highlight during World Breastfeeding Week.
New mothers get so overwhelmed with the responsibilities of parenting and their constant focus to do the best for their baby, that they end up sacrificing their own care. Infact, research shows that 2 in 3 new mothers get less than one hour to themselves each day. The Philips Avent Hands-free Breast Pump is designed to give mothers that time back, offering a hands-free, comfortable, and discreet pumping experience, freeing them up to multitask and care for themselves without compromising on their baby’s needs. With features like Natural Motion Technology, hospital strength motor & SkinSense breast shields, it has been designed around the needs of a new mother to make her breastfeeding journey smoother.
Commenting on the launch, Vidyut Kaul – head of Personal Health, Philips growth region (JAPAC, ISC, META & LATAM), said, “At Philips, our mission is to create meaningful innovations that address real-life challenges faced by today’s consumers. Within our Personal Health portfolio, Philips Avent has long been a trusted companion for parents around the world, supporting every stage of the parenting journey, from feeding and soothing to monitoring and care. The launch of the Philips Avent Hands-free Breast Pump marks another step in our commitment to empowering new-age parents. More than just a product, it reflects our belief that self-care is an integral part of motherhood. With this innovation, we aim to bring greater comfort, freedom, and confidence to mothers, making a lasting impact with care.”
Speaking about her own experience, Masaba Gupta – founder, Entrepreneur & Actor, shared, “Becoming a mother changed everything including how I think about time, rest, and showing up for myself. I have realized that carving out space for yourself is not luxury, it’s essential. That’s why I am happy to be part of this campaign. As an Avent mom, I’ve personally used and trusted Philips Avent products, and this new hands-free breast pump is truly a game-changer. It gives you the freedom to step out for a meeting, a workout, or just a moment of fun, without second-guessing if your baby is okay. It’s not just tech; it’s a quiet form of support for moms who do it all”.
The event, hosted by Simone Khambatta, one of India’s top mommy bloggers, featured a heartfelt video by Masaba Gupta, followed by a candid conversation between Masaba & her mother Neena Gupta on how parenting has evolved across generations. A powerful ramp- walk with new mums, with Masaba as the showstopper, revealed that all mothers were using the Philips Avent Hands-free breast pump live on stage, showcasing the true freedom it offers to new mothers, setting a new benchmark & empowering mothers to embrace self-care while supporting to always provide the best for their baby.
In their constant endeavor towards supporting new mothers in their parenting and breastfeeding journey, the event concluded with the announcement of a landmark strategic partnership between Philips Avent and Apollo Cradle & Children’s Hospital, who are coming together to drive awareness and education regarding the challenges of breastfeeding for new mothers, and towards achieving and ensuring that mothers can get all their doubts clarified, they are joining hands to soon provide complementary lactation consultation sessions to all mothers who buy a Philips Avent Electric Breast Pump.
Sriram Iyer – CEO, Apollo Health and Lifestyle Ltd. said, “At Apollo Cradle & Children’s Hospital, we believe that informed care is empowering care – especially for new mothers navigating the uncertainties and challenges of breastfeeding. This partnership with Philips Avent is a reflection of our shared commitment for supporting mothers with the right knowledge, guidance, and tools they need during this beautiful yet demanding journey.”
He added further, “Philips Avent’s commitment to empowering new mothers in the motherhood journey through their innovative products, perfectly complements our dedication to expert maternal care and nutrition for newborns. Together, we aim to make momhood a little easier and a lot more empowering- helping mothers live with greater freedom, confidence, and peace of mind.”
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SatLeo Labs raises $5.5m seed funding led by Unicorn India Ventures
Fresh capital to power thermal satellite mission and AI data platform
MUMBAI: SatLeo Labs has raised $2.2 million in a fresh seed round led by Unicorn India Ventures, taking its total funding to $5.5 million as it steps up efforts to scale its space-based thermal intelligence platform.
The funding round also saw participation from existing backers including Merak Ventures, Java Capital, IIMA-CIIE and deep-tech investor Manish Gandhi.
The capital will be used to accelerate SatLeo’s flagship thermal satellite mission and further develop its AI-powered platform designed to deliver high-resolution thermal and visible data from low Earth orbit. The company aims to turn this data into actionable insights for sectors ranging from climate monitoring to urban planning.
Over the past year, SatLeo has scaled rapidly, growing its team from 8 to 30 specialists across satellite engineering, thermal sensing and AI-led geospatial analytics. It has also achieved a key milestone with the development of its first experimental payload, TAPAS-1, which reached near flight-ready status within six months and is now positioned for launch.
On the ground, the startup has begun translating its technology into real-world use cases. Pilot projects in cities such as Ahmedabad and Tumakuru have focused on monitoring urban heat islands and air pollution, impacting over 400,000 citizens. At the same time, its commercial pipeline has expanded sharply, with letters of intent rising from around $15 million to over $42 million within a year.
SatLeo Labs co-founder and CEO Shravan Bhati said, “Sustainability has become imperative amid accelerating climate change and rapid urbanisation. This fundraise represents a critical milestone as we move into the execution phase of our next mission.”
He added that the company is focused on scaling its satellite constellation and enhancing payload performance to deliver thermal intelligence at a global level.
Backing the startup, Unicorn India Ventures managing partner Bhaskar Majumdar said, “Space is an arena where the next wave of technological innovation will emerge. SatLeo’s ability to combine thermal and visible satellite data into real-time insights positions it strongly for long-term growth.”
Looking ahead, SatLeo plans to focus on launch readiness, expanding commercial deployments and scaling its technology stack over the next 12 months.
As demand for climate and environmental intelligence grows, SatLeo’s latest fundraise signals rising investor confidence in space-tech solutions that bring data from orbit down to everyday decision-making.
