Cover Story

How next-gen entrepreneurs are increasingly turning angel investors for start-ups
Ratan Tata, Sachin Bansal, Kunal Bahl and dozens of other successful businessmen and entrepreneurs are writing cheques for start ups. They are reshaping the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

2015-04-12

Connect with social networks while browsing retail stores

At retail stores in North America, the offline and online worlds are colliding as storekeepers install screens that let shoppers connect with social networks as they browse the store.

Tips to turn your flat screen into a smart TV

We tell you a few smart fixes to bring the World Wide Web to your living room. But before you start, ensure you have a high-speed Wi-Fi connection.

Book

Master the art of self-branding with 'The Reputation Economy'

Your reputation online is fast becoming a major component of your identity. The book talks about how to transform yourself into a star of search engines.

Book review: How to help an elephant make a U-turn by GK Jayaraman

How to Help An Elephant Make a U-turn, by GK Jayaraman, talks about personal transformation as a key to change and leadership.

Event

How to deal with age, gender diversity at workplace

Leading HR executives from Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore discuss ways to deal with age and gender diversity at workplace, and also how to handle a mobile workforce.

Executives tee off in style at BT's golf event at Bangalore

Nearly 90 executives took to the course recently at the Bangalore edition of BT's golf event.

Features

Fund infusion is helping 5 social enterprises develop for-profit business models

Business Today zeroes in on five social enterprises to see how large-scale fund infusion is helping such enterprises build for-profit sustainable business models.

Buffalo meat exports are thriving under Modi govt, but worries remain

Given its Hindutva leanings, the BJP's distaste for meat was no secret. However, meat exports witnessed a modest 10-per cent growth for the April to June period.

How organizations are digitally transforming themselves

As the pace of change accelerates, companies are trying to digitally transform themselves. Their playbooks may differ but the core rules are the same, finds out  BT's Chitra Narayanan.

You need a banking law to create a bank for the poor, says Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank, is dismissive about some recent innovations in the microfinance sector in this exclusive interview with Business Today.

Retail lending sees recovery as banks change strategy

Retail lending, which shrank following the downturn since late 2008, is growing again as a number of banks are once again actively seeking borrowers in untapped areas.

Start-up works to create tech backbone for GST

Behind the dense fog of political and bureaucratic obfuscation is a start-up working to create the tech backbone for GST. The challenge is to meet the April 2016 deadline.

Corporate

Tolexo banks on industrial products for bigger market share

With its focus on industrial products, online marketplace Tolexo is tapping into an opportunity few have noticed so far.

How Vistara is chasing a small market with big ambitions

Vistara's journey will be fraught with challenges on both operational and cost sides, and cracking the full-service model will not be easy in a market like India.

CEIBS Case Study

China's OCT Mami requires to balance online and offline sales

O.C.T. Mami, China's leading maternity wear brand, has to balance online and offline sales, so that they complement each other rather than compete.

Focus

How coal block auctions are a catch-22 for the power sector

"To understand the impact of the coal auctions... We need to understand what kind of spin-off effect it will have on the power sector," writes Hemant Kanoria.

FDI limit hike to boost valuations of insurance firms

The much-awaited foreign direct investment cap hike in insurance, from 26 to 49 per cent, has set the stage for Indian promoters to unlock value by reducing their equity stakes.

Land bill: Govt has to fight Opposition politically

The question is whether the new-found unity among the Opposition is really an attempt to protect the interests of farmers or a desperate effort at extracting political mileage out of the burning issue.

Cheapest to live in, but India still has products that are costliest in the world

India is the cheapest country to live in globally, mainly due to a weak currency, shows The Cost of Living Index for 2014 by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Spectrum bidding to add to debt burden of telcos; tariffs may rise

The bidding was expected to be aggressive. After all, telcos are in the fray to primarily retain the spectrum they already use in different circles.

Editors note

Business Today brings you important news from the past fortnight, which you may have missed -

Leadership Spotlight

There is no point going after a price war, says Urban Ladder co-founder

Rajiv Srivatsa, co-founder of online furniture retailer Urban Ladder, speaks with Ajita Shashidhar about the difficulties the company faced and its expansion plans and more.

Letters