Startup Street: Indian Musical Startup Looks To Strum Along With Harman
Mumbai based True School of Music wants to take its services online as well.
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International collaborations, institutional tie ups, a startup shutting shop after selling its software division and even arrests, its been a busy week on startup street.
Music Startup Ties Up With Harman
One of India's first musical startups, True School of Music has tied up with global lifestyle audio company, Harman.
Our students will get to use the best of Harman’s equipment and train on them itself. So they’ll grow in an environment that is similar to the industry’s. Also, the company will offer placements and jobs once the students have completed their training.Ashutosh Phatak, Founder, True School
Mumbai based True School of Music offers a range of training services, which covers vocals to musical instruments, musical performances and production. While the startup currently operates only out of its institute in Lower Parel, they plan to expand into other geographies and cover an even wider spectrum in terms of training and guidance.
The startup is currently working on a software that will allow the school to expand its online presence and train students over the internet, in an interactive way, said founder and music composer Ashutosh Phatak in a telephonic interview with BloombergQuint.
It will not be just an online video. We will have vocal training where the students can learn, practice and receive real time feedback and response from the faculty.Ashutosh Phatak, Founder, True School
The company plans to roll out its online school in another two to three months. While the internet platform will initially be restricted to just vocal training, the plan is to slowly include musical instruments and other performing arts as well, Phatak added.
When asked whether the startup would ever look to represent their students once they go professional, Phatak said it was the only natural way of progression for the startup.
Apart from these immediate plans, True School also has several collaborations with international performing art institutes in the pipeline, the founder added.
Amazon’s Launchpad For Indian Startups
Amazon has brought its global ‘Amazon Launchpad’ programme to India, in a bid to boost the government's Startup India initiative.
Indian startups will be able to showcase and sell their products across global markets through the launchpad. The online store features over 400 products ranging from wearable technology, healthcare products, food and beverage, educational toys among other items, the company said in in a media statement. 25 startups, including Leaf Wearables, Witworks and Seventh sense Technologies, have already registered with the programme.
Amazon Launchpad is an exceptional opportunity for Indian Startups to get access to big consumer markets nationally and internationally. Through this program small entrepreneurs and innovators can go leverage the Amazon platform to increase the scale of their businesses and even get easy access to global markets. With Launchpad, we hope to augment the innovation culture in the Indian youth and help build the India story.Jason Feldman, Director - Global Innovations, Amazon
Amazon has also tied up with Nasscom 10,000 Startups, Indian Angels Network and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion's Startup India. Startups have the option of registering through these institutes, or directly on the Amazon Launchpad website, the company added.
Nasscom is very excited to support and partner with the Amazon Launchpad program in India – the timing couldn’t have been better- the nascent but promising Indian hardware/IoT product ecosystem can now fully leverage the firepower of Amazon’s distribution and marketing capabilities.R Chandrashekhar, President, Nasscom
Fitbit Acquires Pebble’s Assets, Startup Shuts Shop
Fitness band maker Fitbit Inc. has bought smartwatch maker Pebble’s software division, as it looks to take on Apple Inc.
While the purchase excludes Pebble's hardware, it includes "key personnel and intellectual property related to software and firmware development", Fitbit said in a media statement. The deal will boost development applications and customised solutions for Fitbit, it added.
Pebble, in turn, has shut shop in the wake of “various factors”. An email to the company’s public relations portal induced an automated response aimed at clearing doubts regarding product service after the company’s closure.
The addition of Pebble’s unique assets will help accelerate and add efficiency to our development process as Fitbit continues to execute on its vision. That said, we are confident in Fitbit’s market position and continued leadership (23 percent market share as of third quarter, according to IDC). Our nine-year history and performance is a strong indicator of our ability to lead and differentiate in the category, increase our global social network, and continue to innovate despite the competitive landscape.Fitbit spokesperson in an emailed response to BloombergQuint
The exact deal size has still not been revealed though. Two people close to the deal, who spoke to Bloomberg, pegged it at just less than $40 million.
Startup CEO Caught ‘Magenta Handed’ In Fake Currency Case
Chandigarh based Embryo S’ chief executive officer, Abhinav Verma was caught counterfeiting Rs 2,000 notes by the Mohali Police.
The police found Rs 42 lakh in fake currency notes and arrested Verma, his cousin Vishaka Verma and a property dealer, Suman Nagpal. According to the police, Verma had a note printing machine at his office, that produced exact replicas of the new Rs 2,000 notes.
According to media reports, five people were involved in this racket, where old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes would be exchanged for these counterfeit Rs 2,000 notes. The other two people are currently on the run. This however, could not be independently confirmed.
Embryo S, based in Chandigarh, is a technology startup that builds smart gadgets for visually impaired people, improving visibility and the quality of life for many.