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Zee Business and WION to host Global Unicorn Summit 2024 on 24 August
Mumbai: Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL), in collaboration with Bluechip Encore Pvt Ltd, is thrilled to announce the Global Unicorn Summit 2024, scheduled for August 24, 2024, in Bengaluru. The summit in partnership with Zee Business, a business news destination and WION, and the only international news channel will bring together over 500 industry leaders to ignite transformative discussions within India’s dynamic startup ecosystem. With WION as the media partner, the summit strives to offer essential insights, extending its reach and impact to a global audience.
The Global Unicorn Summit aims to bridge the gap between established unicorns and burgeoning startups, fostering mentorship and sustainable growth. Among the stellar speakers are Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital, a digital marketing expert who has helped many brands achieve success; Sundar Srinivasan, VP-AI & Search at Microsoft; Madhurima Agarwal, MD of Microsoft for Startups; Apurva Chamaria, head of startups & venture capital at Google India; Steve Hoffman, CEO & chairman of Founders Space; Pratik Gauri, founder & CEO of 5ire; Pawan Kumar Dasaraju, founding member of Mensa Brands; Sagar Kochhar, co-founder of Rebel Foods; Ashish Singhal, co-founder & Group CEO of PeepalCo; Naman Lahoty, Principal at Stellaris Venture Partners; Ritesh Banglani, Tech VC at Stellaris Venture Partners; and Nitin Jain, co-founder & CBO of OfBusiness.
The summit will include a series of in-depth discussions on topics such as Disrupting Marketplaces & D2C, the Fintech Revolution, and the Transformative Potential of Web3, Blockchain, and Crypto Innovations. Simultaneously, there will be sessions focusing on AI and the Rise of Unicorn Founders, as well as Sustainable Food Systems. These discussions promise invaluable insights for both seasoned entrepreneurs and emerging startups alike.
Zee Business managing editor Anil Singhvi highlighted the summit’s importance, stating: “The Global Unicorn Summit looks forward to bringing together visionaries and leaders from the startup ecosystem. We at Zee Business aim to empower startups and actively engage in driving the conversations that will shape the future of entrepreneurship. This summit is a unique opportunity to foster collaboration, mentorship, and sustainable growth, paving the way for the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
Zee Business and WION business head Pankaj Rai further highlighted, “By participating in the Global Unicorn Summit, we at Zee Business and WION transcend our role as media observers to become active contributors in the entrepreneurial dialogue. This summit is a catalyst for innovation and growth within the startup ecosystem. We are committed to fostering and driving the critical conversations necessary to build a vibrant and innovative business landscape, both in India and globally.”
Jai Chechani, managing director of Bluechip Encore & Avoke Foods, and Curator of the Global Unicorn Summit emphasized the summit’s mission: “The Global Unicorn Summit is designed to be a transformative platform where established unicorns and promising startups can come together to share knowledge, forge strategic partnerships, and ignite innovation. Our goal is to create an environment that nurtures mentorship and sustainable growth, fostering a culture of collaboration that extends beyond borders. By bringing together industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs, we aim to catalyze the next wave of groundbreaking ventures that will shape the future of the global startup ecosystem.”
In addition to the summit, an insightful pre-buzz episode will be aired on Zee Business and WION by the end of June 2024, featuring prominent figures such as Nitin Agarwal, Co-Founder & CEO of GlobalBees, Dr Rashmi Saluja, Executive Chairperson at Religare and Jai Chechani, MD – Bluechip Encore & Avoke Foods and Curator- Global Unicorn Summit. This prelude aims to ignite dialogue around the latest developments in the startup ecosystem, setting the stage for dynamic discussions at the Global Unicorn Summit.
The Global Unicorn Summit 2024 promises to be a milestone event, showcasing India’s startup prowess and uniting visionaries and trailblazers to shape the future of entrepreneurship both in India and around the world.
To register and to know the event agenda, visit globalunicornsummit.com. Tune in to Zee Business and WION for the latest updates.
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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.
