Ivanka Trump started the second day of the summit with a plenary session on the issue ‘Innovations in Workforce Development and Skills Training.’ The daughter of US President Donald Trump and his chief advisor Ms. Trump, was one of the panelists along with the MD and CEO of ICICI Bank Chanda Kochhar and British barrister and lecturer Cherie Blair. The panel was moderated by Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Dell Karen Quintos.
Hyderabad’s Hon. IT Minister Mr. K.T. Rama Rao introduced the panelists for the plenary session which was aimed at boosting female participation in innovation and improving their access to skills, training, education and career counseling. Speaking about the need for women in entrepreneurship roles, Ms. Trump said, “Women make up half of the world’s population. We need to think of these issues not as women’s issues but as human issues. Having equal gender representation is a financial positive to businesses today besides being a social responsibility.”
According to Chanda Kochhar, there is no other country in the world other than India where 40% of the banking sector is headed by women, however, not even 25% of graduate women participate in the workforce. The panel discussion was centered around creating awareness and encouraging women to take up the tremendous opportunities that technology offers entrepreneurs. “It’s the desire, support and ecosystem of the organization where women work that will help them break the glass ceiling. Recognition of work keeps us going,” Ms. Kochchar added.
Stressing on the need for men to be a part of the discussion, Dell’s CCO Karen Quintos said, “The biases that exist in society have to be addressed and men need to be a part of that conversation. Business outcomes are great when you have diverse thinking.”
Founder of the Cherie Blaire Foundation, Cherie Blaire, speaking about working women said, “We have to find solutions so women can do better at what they do without giving up on their enterprises. Capacity, confidence, capital – the three things women entrepreneurs need to flourish.”
Along with the captivating panel discussion regarding gender gap in entrepreneurship, GES 2017 also hosted a panel discussion on the value of mentors, sponsors and networks in maximizing entrepreneurs’ potential and driving entrepreneurship in sports. Harsha Bhogle moderated the panel discussion regarding entrepreneurship in sports with Sania Mirza, Pullela Gopichand, Mithali Raj and Chatri Sityodtong as the panelist.
The recently crowned Ms. World Manushi Chhillar also attended the summit and spoke about the importance of women entrepreneurs and the need for both men and women to be treated equally.
Despite the focus on women entrepreneur and women empowerment, a 13 year old Australian entrepreneur stole the show at the summit with his five apps. This talented app developer Hamish Finlayson is an autistic child which is a serious development disorder impairing the ability to communicate or interact. Despite the disability, this class & student from Queensland has developed an app for helping people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and four more environmental apps. Hamish has strong values and hopes his apps can someday change the world for the better. But he strongly believes education comes first and saving the world later.
Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) has introduced Meta AI, an AI assistant, powered by Llama 3 language model, designed to be your one-stop shop for information, chat, and creativity. This means you can get real-time information on Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram without ever leaving the app!
Meta AI’s search strategy is an intriguing twist. While it may appear to be a competitor to Google and Bing, it contends that Meta AI is not a competitor, but rather a collaborator. Here’s why:
By relying on established search engines as sources, Meta AI positions itself as a user-friendly tool that combines the best of Google and Bing. Imagine getting results from both Google and Bing in the same search. As you are exposed to different points of view, you may gain a more comprehensive understanding of the subject. They’re calling it the “most intelligent AI assistant that you can freely use,” so it will be interesting to see how it compares to other assistants on the market.
How does Meta AI help you?
Search Powerhouse: Meta AI combines Google Search and Microsoft Bing results to provide you with a more comprehensive view of your queries.
Chatty companions: Need answers or simply want to talk? Type “@MetaAI” into Facebook Messenger, Instagram, or WhatsApp and let the conversation begin.
Creative Spark: Feeling artistic? Meta AI allows you to create custom stickers and photos based on your text descriptions.
Where to Find Your Meta-AI Buddy:
Look for Meta AI in the search bars on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.
To respond to posts, interact with Meta AI directly in Facebook’s main feed.
Explore the new meta.ai website for extended conversations.
Type “Imagine” into your WhatsApp chat to generate real-time images.
The future may even include access via Meta’s VR headsets and Ray-Ban smart glasses.
The Future of AI Assistants
Only time will tell how Meta AI integrates into our lives, but it certainly offers a glimpse into an interactive future where AI assistants cater to our search, chat, and creative needs. Whether Meta AI becomes a true partner to search giants or forges its own path remains to be seen.
Meta AI promises a brand new way to search and interact with information. Do you think this AI assistant will change the way we use social media? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Farming has been an integral part of India’s history and culture for ages. It’s been the foundation of the Indian economy, supporting millions of people with food and jobs. Crops and agriculture hold immense importance in Indian society, not just in terms of money, but also in terms of culture, community, and spirituality.
Farming is a way of life for many people in India, but it can be a difficult and unpredictable business and farmers face a number of challenges, from erratic weather patterns to low market prices for their crops. Kheyti is a social enterprise founded in 2015 by Saumya, Kaushik Kappagantula, and Sathya Raghu. The organisation provides sustainable solutions to small farmers in India, helping them overcome challenges and improve their lives.
Kheyti’s flagship product is the “Greenhouse-in-a-Box,” a low-cost modular greenhouse that allows farmers to grow high-value crops year-round, even in unfavourable weather conditions. operates on a subscription-based model, where farmers can purchase a “Greenhouse-in-a-Box” kit or sign up for crop advisory services on a monthly or annual basis. Kheyti.com also earns revenue by connecting farmers with markets and buyers, taking a small commission on sales. They work to keep the costs low by partnering with local manufacturers to produce their products and leveraging tech to provide personalised crop advisory services at scale.
They also provide crop advisory services to farmers, offering personalised advice on crop selection, planting, and management. In total, The company has helped over 6,000 small farmers increase their incomes by an average of 300%. You call them small farmers, Kheyti calls them Smart farmers!
While there are other companies in India that offer similar solutions to small farmers, Kheyti stands out for its focus on sustainability, innovation, and community involvement. It works closely with farmers to develop tailored solutions that meet their needs while focusing on sustainable farming practices. Through its efforts, Kheyti has improved soil health, reduced water usage, and increased yields of various crops.
Looking ahead, Kheyti plans to expand its reach to more farmers in India and beyond and aims to continue developing new products and services that can help small farmers overcome the challenges they face. With its commitment to sustainability and innovation, The visionaries at Kheyti claim it has the potential to transform the agricultural sector and contribute to a more equitable future for all.
Imagine the joy and hope Kheyti brings to struggling farmers in India. With Kheyti’s help, over 6,000 small farmers have transformed their lives, becoming Smart farmers who handle challenges and succeed. With sustainable solutions, Kheyti is not only revolutionising agriculture but also spreading hope for a brighter future.
Clubhouse is a new type of social networking platform which is an audio only platform. This means every conversation takes place through audio where users speak to let their thoughts known. Users can create and host rooms where speakers will talk about a particular topic. Originating in the Silicon Valley, Clubhouse attracted some major names onto its platform like Elon Musk, Evan Williams, Reddit co founder Alexis Ohanian, former Y Combinator President Sam Altman, AngelList co founder Naval Ravikant, Ashton Kuthcer, Oprah Winfrey, Drake, Kevin Hart and many others are some of the influential personalities who are on Clubhouse. There is however a catch as Clubhouse is currently limited to iOS.
Leher is an Indian made alternative to Clubhouse and is a similar audio sharing and listening startup. Leher also has video support unlike Clubhouse and is also available for both Android and iOS. However, Leher does not have the biggest names in the world on its platform but it does have significant micro influencers and is growing at a rapid pace. Within 180 days of its beta version launch, the company claimed to have its users spend about 44 minutes every day and 250,000 minutes per month for live video sessions.
We at Startup Stories are curious to see which among Leher or Clubhouse would our readers choose to take part in a virtual discussion. Please let us know your answer in the poll below.
