News Broadcasting
Where dreams take flight: ABP Live’s Future Forward Startup Conclave 2024
MUMBAI: In a land brimming with ideas and untamed ambition, startups are the modern-day dreamers charting a bold path through challenges and uncertainties. Their journey is fueled by an insatiable hunger for recognition—the kind that cements their place in the nation’s story. And what could be more exhilarating than earning a spotlight on a national platform?
This 17 December, ABP Live raises the curtain on Future Forward Startup Conclave 2024 in the heart of New Delhi. A celebration of grit, innovation, and the audacious spirit of Indian entrepreneurship, this premier gathering promises to be a melting pot of ideas and possibilities. It’s not just an event; it’s where visionaries meet their moment, where leaders, innovators, and changemakers converge to script the next chapter of India’s startup saga.
Anticipation runs high. The stakes are real. The spotlight is waiting. Are you ready to be part of the revolution?
The event will begin with a keynote address by Union minister of state for Commerce, Industry, and Electronics & IT, Jitin Prasada. This will be followed by engaging discussions led by some of the country’s most innovative leaders, including:
1 Daalchini co-founder & CEO, Prerna Kalra
2 The Cinnamon Kitchen founder, Priyasha Saluja
3 Flyrobe CEO, Aanchal Saini
4 Classplus co-founder & CEO, Mukul Rustagi
5 Clovia co-founder, Neha Kant
6 AppMySite founder, Vikas Nangia
7 Zostel co-founder & CEO, Dharamveer Singh Chouhan
8 JiViSa founder & CEO, Sarika Pancchi
9 Farmley co-founder, Abhishek Agarwal
10 Vertex Venture executive director, Nikhil Marwaha
11 Bluetea founder, Nitesh Singh
12 Blackhat Syncidus chairman & MD, Sachin Salunkhe
13 IvyCap Ventures founder & MD, Vikram Gupta
14 Acclaimed author, Harsh Pamnani
As of May 2024, India has solidified its position as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, boasting a valuation of $349.67 billion. With over 1.25 lakh startups and 110 unicorns, the country has emerged as a global leader in innovation, particularly in sectors such as fintech, healthcare, and technology.
According to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Indian startups are projected to contribute an additional $1 trillion to the nation’s economy by 2029-30. The CII further anticipates the emergence of 300 new unicorns between 2024 and 2035, underscoring the sector’s significant potential for growth and its role in shaping India’s economic future.
Initiatives like Startup India and Atmanirbhar Bharat have played a pivotal role in propelling India to the forefront of global innovation, creating jobs, driving economic growth, and earning international recognition.
Audiences can witness the event live on www.abpLive.com on 17 December from 11 AM.
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
