The global search and tech giant Google has selected 11 startups for their Google Developers’ Launchpad Build mentorship program. These women led startups will be trained under their Launchpad Accelerator Program to achieve rapid progress in a short time. The Developers Launchpad Build event was hosted in Bengaluru and explored the challenges of being a startup leader.
The digital world today is seeing a lot of women stepping out to pursue their dreams and ambitions. This program gives the selected women entrepreneurs a chance to build successful startups through focused, one on one mentorship from Google and other industry experts.
According to the Google Launchpad website, this edition plans to support women entrepreneurs from startups across various stages. Different expert areas including Product Strategy, UX/UI, Marketing with a special focus in Technology covering Android/Firebase, Web and Cloud were taken into consideration for this program.
This program will include leadership workshops driven by Google and was organized in collaboration with Google’s Women Techmakers Initiative and Google’s Women@program.
Here are the 11 entrepreneurs that will receive training from Google and industry experts.
1. Mishipay: A new retail payments startup founded in 2015, Mishipay uses new technology that eliminates queuing from the point of sale. Their technology allows shoppers to pick up a product they wish to buy, scan the bar code with their phone, pay through their phone and simply walk out. The goal of this startup, cofounded by Mustafa Khanwala and Tanvi Bhardwaj is to reduce queue times and facilitate faster checkouts.
2. Guvi Geek Network: Guvi Geek Network was initially started as a YouTube Channel with more than 400 technical videos in vernacular languages. It was incorporated as a startup in 2014, as an online tech skill accelerator in vernacular languages. This startup, incubated in Madras, seeks to help users acquire new skills in vernacular languages, sticking to their motto ‘Learn in your native language.’
3. Evibe Technologies Evibe is an online platform for hassle free party planning service. They offer services ranging from private farm birthdays to themed wedding cakes and even offer drone proposals and chauffeured Audis. This Bengaluru based startup was founded in 2014 by B. Anjaneyulu Reddy and Swathi Bavanaka who aspire to touch millions of lives with their skill and expertise.
4. LetsEndorse This Bengaluru based startup builds holistic ecosystems and acts as a digital market network dedicated to social development. Cofounded by Monika Shukla and Varun Kashyap, this venture enables intelligent knowledge harnessing of practicable social models and builds collaborations for co-creating and scaling up of solutions. The startup, backed by Social Alpha and incubated as part of NASSCOM 10 k Startups, brings together social change makers and mobilizes funds and resources through a mix of crowd funding.
5. Fundamentor Fundamentor is a Bengaluru based edutech startup that uses methods which children enjoy to ensure effective cognitive aptitude development. Founded in 2014 by Bhargavi A.R., it is an innovative product that improves logical reasoning, Maths, English and creative thinking aptitude in children aged 8 to 15. The platform helps develop life skills to bridge the gap between academics and professional success. They claim to have more than 5000 subscribers and 16,000 parents and user community.
6. Talking Street This startup, founded by Maheima Kapur is a ‘local foodie helpline’ which helps travelers and foodies experience and discover the most popular eateries that are frequented by the locals. Their content is created with the help of foodies in the city and so far have a presence in 24 cities.
7. Clinikk Healthcare Founded by Bahvjot Kaur, Clinikk is a personalized health concierge for blue collar workers and their families. The startup provides a centralized, convenient, trustworthy and top notch quality healthcare experience ensured by an internal medical monitoring platform. This health assistant is the single point of contact for an entire subscribed family for any medical need.
8. CampusTime: CampusTime helps universities and colleges set up private social networks that enable students to connect with everyone on the campus. This Bengaluru based startup founded by Amrutha Desai, helps students connect and get access to part time jobs and internships.
9. Omnify: A new age scheduling and ecommerce platform for small businesses, Omnify was founded by Kabandi Saikia and Manik Mehta in 2016. It is a global Saas platform centered around helping businesses manage their schedules, sell omnichannel and improve engagement with their customers.
10. PlexusMD: Online professional network exclusively for medical professionals and healthcare organizations, PlexusMD was founded by IIM alumni Rohan Desai and Binal Doshi along with Kinnar Shah. The startup helps doctors create their professional identity in the web, stay updated on the latest news and developments in their specialty, find and connect with other medical professionals. They claim to be India’s fastest growing online community of healthcare professionals with 75,000 doctors across 25 states and over 300 hospitals across 120 cities.
11. PregBuddy: Week by week pregnancy tracker, PregBuddy is a comprehensive health monitoring and concierge platform for women around the world. Founded by Subhadeep Modal and Sivareena Sarika in 2016, it provides personalized care via health experts and doctors during the years of pre-conceiving to early years of motherhood.
Sunita Williams, the celebrated Indian-American astronaut, recently returned to Earth after an extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially scheduled for just eight days, her mission was prolonged due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which rendered it unsafe for their return.
On March 19, 2025, Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore safely splashed down off the Florida coast.
Their homecoming was celebrated in Jhulasan village, Gujarat, where special prayers and rituals were held to honor her safe return. Family members expressed their joy and gratitude, emphasizing her strong ties to her ancestral home.
Upon her return, Williams received accolades from Indian officials, including a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed pride in her achievements and resilience. He highlighted the inspiration she provides to future generations of scientists.
While her return marks a moment of celebration, it also signals the start of new challenges. After spending 286 days in space, Williams will undergo a 45-day rehabilitation period to readjust to life on Earth and regain physical strength.
Sunita Williams’ journey serves as an inspiration not only for India but for aspiring scientists worldwide, showcasing the significant contributions of Indian-origin individuals in global space exploration.
Unilever has launched a new innovation in personal care with the introduction of a color-changing “smart label” for its Dove Shower Sensor Deep Moisture Body Wash. This limited-edition product, available exclusively in Canada, integrates advanced packaging technology to promote healthier skin habits.
How It Works
The smart label activates when exposed to water temperatures above 41°C, displaying a “VERY HOT” warning. This feature encourages users to lower their shower temperature, helping to preserve the skin’s natural moisture—especially crucial during Canada’s cold winter months1.
A Step Towards Smarter Personal Care
This innovation reflects Unilever’s dedication to combining technology with personal care. Divya Singh, head of personal care at Unilever Canada, highlighted the product’s role in fostering better skin health through intuitive reminders. Singh stated that the sensor supports hydration and empowers consumers to maintain healthier habits confidently1.
Broader Implications
The smart label is part of a larger trend in packaging innovation, offering functionality beyond traditional use. Such advancements not only enhance user experience but also align with Unilever’s commitment to sustainability and digital transformation13.
This launch underscores Unilever’s focus on enhancing everyday products with technology while promoting skin health and environmental consciousness.
Unilever’s CEO, Fernando Fernandez, is optimistic about quick commerce’s growth in India, predicting it will significantly boost Hindustan Unilever Ltd’s (HUL) revenue. Currently, quick commerce accounts for about 2% of HUL’s revenue, but Fernandez expects this to rise to 10-15% within the next three to four years.
Why Quick Commerce?
India’s unique demographic, with affluent and economically active households living in close proximity, makes quick commerce a logical and profitable channel. The margin mix in quick commerce is also favorable for improving profitability12.
Market Trends
Quick commerce is rapidly expanding in India, with its contribution to ecommerce sales doubling annually. Major players like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto are driving this growth, driven by consumer preference for convenience over discounts13.
Future Outlook
Fernandez’s strategy aligns with Unilever’s goal to transform its business and meet evolving consumer preferences. Leveraging quick commerce will be key to enhancing HUL’s revenue in India, a crucial market for Unilever