Event Coverage
Shiprocket launches Aarambh 2024 to empower women-led SMEs
Mumbai: Shiprocket, an e-commerce enablement platform, announced the fifth edition of ‘Aarambh,’ its flagship initiative dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs. Aligned with Shiprocket’s vision to redefine India’s e-commerce landscape, Aarambh 2024 seeks to empower aspiring women entrepreneurs by providing a platform to pitch their innovative business ideas to a distinguished panel of investors and venture capitalists.
Commencing on 26 February 2024, Aarambh 2024 extends a warm invitation to women entrepreneurs nationwide, encouraging them to register and nominate themselves for an opportunity to present their ideas before the esteemed jury. In India, women constitute just 14 per cent of entrepreneurs, overseeing 20 per cent of MSMEs among 58.5 million enterprises. In line with this year’s theme of “Invest in women: Accelerate progress”, Shiprocket’s primary focus is to create a platform for women-led SMEs in India to showcase their entrepreneurial brilliance, catalyzing the growth of dynamic enterprises.
Beyond the competitive aspect, Aarambh 2024 offers participants a unique chance to network with experienced professionals, investors, and potential business partners. In addition to coveted cash prizes, participants also have the opportunity to receive Shiprocket shipping credits, providing valuable support on their journey to business success.
Shiprocket MD & CEO Saahil Goel expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The Aarambh initiative has been a resounding success over the years, and it is heartening to witness the impactful contributions of women entrepreneurs to the growth of India’s commerce. Our nation’s women have extraordinary potential, and we are excited to see what new and disruptive ideas will be presented during Aarambh 2024.”
Entries for the Aarambh 2024 edition are now open, and Indian shepreneurs can apply for the shortlisting process on the Shiprocket website the link is down below. Shortlisted pitches will have the opportunity to present their business ideas to the jury panel in a virtual event. The best business idea will have the opportunity to earn up to 2 lakh Shiprocket credits from a total pool of 4 lakh Shiprocket credits for winners along with additional benefits from Shiprocket and other sister concern companies. With Aarambh 2024, participants will also get an opportunity to network with industry leaders, access capital for building their businesses (opportunity to get flexible capital up to INR 5 Crores through Shiprocket Capital), and garner visibility for their brands through the Shiprocket platform. The jury for this year consists of three seasoned business leaders- Trisha Vaidya, Angel Investor & Ex-COO Dr Vaidya, Malika Sadani, founder and CEO, of The Moms Co. and Divyanshi Chowdhary, Investment Professional, DeVC India.
Last year’s winners were: Rashi Bahel Mehra, founder & CEO, Alanna, Oshi Kumari, COO, Inside FPV (1st Runner up), and Nisha Ramasamy, Co-Founder, Ariro Toys (2nd Runner up)
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
