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Viacom18 partners with Anthill Ventures for AR, VR
MUMBAI: Anthill Ventures, an investment and scaling platform for early-stage startups, has partnered with Viacom18 for an accelerator program called Anthill Studio.
With this partnership, the studio will provide additional market access opportunities to the startups of Anthill Ventures.
The program will scout for startups building products for the media and entertainment industry using technologies such as AI/ML, AR/VR, IoT, Big Data, Blockchain and others. The areas of focus include filmed entertainment, TV, gaming and digital media industries.
Anthill Ventures founder and CEO Prasad Vanga said, “Viacom18 has emerged as a prominent entertainment network and is a key enabler of sustained innovation and thought leadership.”
For Anthill Studio, Viacom18 will act as a catalyst to create the desired ecosystem for startups by providing easy access to the media and entertainment market.
In order to nurture Indian startups, the Mukesh Ambani-led media network Viacom18 launched its startup engagement program VsTEP last year.
With VsTEP, Viacom18 aims to provide startups with business and technology mentorship along with an opportunity to scale up by collaborating with them on contract basis or via other commercial opportunities.
Positive about the partnership with Anthill, VStEP head and Viacom18 Digital Ventures senior VP Achint Setia aims to bring disruptive innovations to media businesses. “We are looking at tech innovations especially in the areas of AI, ML, automation for our TV, films and digital business,” he said.
Located at Hyderabad, the studio division of Anthill Ventures is already in partnership with film production and distribution company Suresh Production to accelerate programmes towards helping the technology startups in building solutions for the M&E sector.
Anthill Ventures is present in nine global hubs across the world, with offices in Singapore, USA and India.
VStEP is a startup engagement programme that creates an opportunity for start-ups to pilot technology-based solutions to business problems.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
