21 February 2026 | BW BUSINESSWORLD | 101space, and are excited to see their vision come to life. Looking ahead, they plan to open their second club within the next three years, and they expect to be close to a Rs 100 crore valuation in the next three to four years. Of course, their expansion plans include India and the global market. Currently, the membership at the club is available in a daily and a yearly format. The yearly membership is Rs 3,60,000 per year, and a day pass at Rs 7,000 gives you unlimited access to group classes, the gym, steam, red light therapy, and the sauna. [email protected] them unique. The concept, he says, has been received well with close to 200 women already on their wait list. Talking about investment, he says that they have raised a seed round of Rs 4.3 crore (US$ 500,000) at a valuation of Rs 30 crore (US$ 3.8 million) from investors and brand owners within Delhi who support the vision and ethos of the brand. Sarita Handa and Suparna Handa are marquee investors, along with the Dhan Mill promoters and Amith Chabra from Studio LCD. He says they have put in a year and a half in developing the idea and of the space, says he often gets asked why only women, and wouldn’t this be cutting out half their potential market? He believes women are the primary consumers of wellness when one thinks of yoga, Pilates, spa, and salons. And therefore, a space designed for women and catering to their needs makes perfect sense. They aim to build a strong community of women and a space where they can recharge, feel heard, supported and safe. When asked what sets this space apart from everything else, he says their focus on women and building a womenfirst wellness club itself is what
LIGHTWEIGHT FLAGSHIP, HEAVYWEIGHT PERFORMANCEDisplay: 165Hz Refresh RateThe 165Hz refresh rate is a standout specification, surpassing even Samsung and Oppo flagships. While gaming, the difference compared to a 120Hz AMOLED display was not dramatic, but daily use felt smoother and faster. The display is crisp, responsive, and enhanced by extremely thin bezels. With a screenTHEMOTOROLASignature smartphone series is a potential disruptor. Starting at Rs 59,999, the device is eyeing a significant share of the ultra-premium smartphone market.I tested the phone extensively to understand whether it makes for a good choice for those wishing to upgrade to a top-shelf device. What’s in the Box?l Motorola Signature bodyl SIM tray tooll Paperworkl 90-watt travel adapterl USB Type-C to Type-C cableBuild QualityFlagships are often hefty, but the Motorola Signature challenges this notion. It is lightweight, slim, and feels like it belongs in an art GADGET REVIEW / Motorola Signature Smartphoneto-body ratio of over 90 per cent, the aesthetic impact is immediate. Interestingly, Motorola does not include a screen protector, unlike rivals like OnePlus, Vivo, and Oppo. Disclaimer: The 165Hz only kicks in during gaming. Customisation OptionsThe Signature offers a range of customisation options, from font styles and lockscreen clocks to themes and wallpapers. However, widget support is limited. Only two widgets can be With the Signature series, Motorola is offering a fresh alternative. The phone’s lightweight design, stacked hardware, and unique textures differentiate it from competitors. At 184 grams and 6.7 millimetres thickness, it is lighter than some midrange flagships, says Deep Majumdar102 | B W BUSINESSWORLD | 21 February 2026gallery rather than a factory floor. The first thought upon unboxing was simply, “Why is this thing so light?” Despite its slim form factor, the phone feels solid and well built. Initially, the thinness may make you cautious, but this feeling quickly fades. At half the thickness of many flagships, the Signature stands out.The back panel is another highlight. Available in two colourways, Olive Martini and Carbon, the phone offers unique textures. Olive Martini has a twill-like finish, while Carbon has a linen-like texture. This design choice is rare among flagships and adds a sense of sophistication. For those who appreciate aesthetics, it is a bonus, while those focused on specifications, may find the design choice vane. Undeniably, though, it is impressive.
21 February 2026 | BW BUSINESSWORLD | 103VerdictMotorola is challenging perceptions by entering a segment dominated by Apple, Samsung, and Google. With the Signature series, Motorola positions itself as an underdog, offering a fresh alternative. The phone’s lightweight design, stacked hardware, and unique textures differentiate it from competitors. At 184 grams and 6.7 millimetres thick, it is lighter than some midrange flagships, such as the Poco F7 and OnePlus Nord 5. The processor powering the phone, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is an extremely powerful one. The camera unit is capable. It is as reliable as mobile cameras can be. Photography chop of the Signature smartphone are truly off the charts for the price. Night time video, though, is something that still needs work. Day time videos, on the other hand, are vivid, colourful, and detailed. When you club together the durability attributes, display brilliance, battery life, and the cleanliness of the user interface, at Rs 59,999, this is one of the best launches that the Indian smartphone market has seen in years. [email protected],039l Storage read speed: 4,281MBpsl Storage write speed: 4,393MBpsDuring AnTuTu testing, temperatures rose by 11 degrees, reaching 46 degrees Celsius. Despite this, the chip handled demanding games such as Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves, and Zenless Zone Zero flawlessly. Video rendering was also fast and efficient.Battery: 5,200mAh The 5,200mAh battery may seem modest compared to the current trend of 7,000mAh packs, but it performed surprisingly well. The phone lasted a full day and into the next, only requiring a recharge before sundown. Charging from zero to 100 per cent took under 50 minutes. Heating was noted during benchmark testing, but overall battery performance was commendable.added to the lockscreen, and the available options are not particularly useful, except perhaps the ‘Do Not Disturb’ widget. Compared to competitors, this feels restrictive.Cameras: PhotographyThe Motorola Signature features a triple camera system, with primary and telephoto sensors from Sony’s Lytia series. These sensors are known for their elite performance. Photos taken were vibrant, with reds and greens standing out, while other colours appeared natural. Some may prefer subtler tones, but the Signature’s output captures emotion and essence effectively. Portraits and landscapes alike convey mood and detail, fulfilling the idea that a good camera should tell a story.The telephoto lens impressed with detailed shots at 3x zoom, while the ultrawide camera, with its 122-degree field of view, captured expansive landscapes beautifully. Together, the three cameras provide a versatile system suitable for content creators and casual users alike. Cameras: VideographyVideo performance deserves its own mention. All three 50MP sensors support 4K 60FPS recording, while the primary camera can capture 8K 30FPS video. Footage from the ultrawide camera was particularly impressive, with optical image stabilisation delivering smooth results even while walking at a normal pace. This feature could appeal strongly to vloggers and travel content creators. Colour science further enhances video quality, making the Signature a capable tool for videography. Night time video, however, leaves you wanting a few things. Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Performance benchmarks demonstrate the strength of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset.l AnTuTu score: 30,07,257l Geekbench 6 single-core: 2,917l Geekbench 6 multi-core: The Signature offers a range of customisation options, from font styles and lockscreen clocks to themes and wallpapers. However, widget support is limited
104 | BW BUSINESSWORLD | 21 February 2026BOOKMARK REVIEWSRise to the 1% by personal finance educator Sharan Hegde serves as a solid foundational text for Indians beginning their wealth-building journey, offering culturally relevant advice often missing from West-oriented books on finance that dominate bestseller lists. The book’s comprehensive scope means it can function as a reference guide that readers return to through their lives, says OJASVITA TRIVEDIA Personal Finance Playbook for an Indian AudienceThe author’s lucid writing style described as “equal parts expert and friend” aims to demystify complex financial concepts for general readers. Hegde incorporates real-world examples drawn from Indian economic contexts, making abstract principles come alive for his target audience. This localisation proves particularly valuable in sections that address India-specific instruments such as tax-saving options, regulatory frameworks and investment vehicles commonly available to Indian investors. A significant portion of the book focuses on dismantling what Hegde terms “toxic money beliefs” and “money myths” that he argues Indians commonly inherit. These include cultural attitudes toward debt, risk aversion in investing, and misplaced priorities in spending decisions. This ise that wealth accumulation stems from mindset, planning and execution rather than luck or inheritance. The contention forms the framework of Hegde’s book and the financial instructions he offers in it. The book makes a rather tall promise of helping readers achieve early retirement and join the top one per cent of wealth holders. Hegde structures the book as a “full rewire” of financial thinking, moving beyond basic budgeting advice to address major life decisions including health planning, insurance strategies, loan management, credit card optimisation, vehicle purchases, tax efficiency and philanthropy. This holistic approach distinguishes the work from narrower investment-focused guides that dominate the personal finance genre. HARAN HEGDE’S BOOK, Rise to the 1%: The Smart Indian’s Playbook for Wealth and Early Retirement delivers a comprehensive personal finance guide, tailored specifically for the Indian market. Among India’s prominent personal finance educators, Hegde challenges readers to rethink their relationship with money through systematic planning rather than wishful thinking. Priced at Rs 329, the book presents itself as an accessible entry point for Indians seeking financial literacy even if they do not immediately possess funds for an upfront investment. The pricing strategy aligns with Hegde’s broader message that wealth-building tools should be democratically available rather than reserved for the affluent few. The book is written from the premThe book covers essential personal financepillars: investing fundamentals, tax-savingstrategies and wealth creation techniques, along with early retirement planning
21 February 2026 | BW BUSINESSWORLD | 105TITLE: Rise to the 1%: The Smart Indian’s Playbook for Wealth and Early RetirementAUTHOR: Sharan HegdePUBLISHER: Penguin Random House India (Imprint: Ebury Press)PAGES: 280PRICE: Rs 329 (Paperback)card management similarly provides practical guidance on maximising rewards while avoiding debt traps, a particularly relevant topic as credit card penetration increases across India’s growing middle class. The tax-saving section addresses the complexities of India’s tax code, offering strategies that extend beyond the typical Section 80C investments that dominate popular discourse. Hegde explores tax-efficient investing, the implications of different account types and long-term wealth preservation strategies that consider tax impact across decades rather than single financial years. The book’s treatment of major purchases, particularly automobiles, reflects a practical understanding of decisions that significantly impact Indian household finances. Hegde’s guidance on evaluating whether such purchases align with long-term wealth goals addresses common financial pitfalls where emotional decisions undermine sound planning. Rise to the 1% serves as a solid foundational text for Indians beginning their wealth-building journey, offering culturally relevant advice often missing from West-oriented books on finance that dominate bestseller lists. The book can prove a reference guide that readers return to as they encounter different financial decisions through their lives. Whether it delivers on its transformative promise will depend largely on readers’ willingness to implement Hegde’s systematic approach over time. The book provides the roadmap, but the journey requires discipline, patience and consistent execution, qualities Hegde emphasises on through the book. For Indian readers ready to take control of their financial futures, this 280-page playbook offers a credible starting point grounded in local realities rather than imported theories. ning chapters. The book covers essential personal finance pillars: investing fundamentals, tax-saving strategies and wealth creation techniques. Hegde’s treatment of early retirement planning addresses a growing interest among younger Indian professionals seeking financial independence, a concept gaining traction as traditional career paths evolve and lifestyle priorities shift. The author provides frameworks for calculating retirement corpus requirements, strategies for building passive income streams, and guidance on sustainable withdrawal rates. Hegde’s discussion of insurance; both life and health coverage, fills a critical gap in financial education for many Indian readers who either over-insure through costly traditional policies or remain dangerously underinsured. His approach to credit psychological dimension adds depth to the technical financial instruction, addressing the behavioural barriers that often prevent people from implementing sound financial strategies. However, readers seeking purely tactical advice may find these sections less immediately actionable than the concrete investment and tax-plan-
106 | B W BUSINESSWORLD | 21 February 2026PHOTO ESSAY - BW DISRUPT SOCIAL IMPACT SUMMIT & AWARDS 2025Reimagining Social Change In The AI EraPhotographs by Naval Kishor
21 February 2026 | BW BUSINESSWORLD | 107The fourth edition of BW Disrupt Social Impact Summit & Awards 2025 brought together India’s most impactful changemakers, businesses, nonprofit organisations, AI innovators, social entrepreneurs, policymakers, CSR leaders and impact investors to explore how innovation is transforming the way we drive social progress By Team BW Winnersofthe Social Impact Leaders ofthe YearAwards
108 | B W BUSINESSWORLD | 21 February 2026Welcome Address for Awards Ceremony by Annurag Batra, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld & Founder, exchange4mediaPHOTO ESSAY - BW DISRUPT SOCIAL IMPACT SUMMIT & AWARDS 2025 Opening Keynote Address: Kiran Karnik, Author & Former President, NASSCOM on Building an Inclusive India: Policy, Purpose, and ProgressKeynote Address 1: Padma Jaiswal, IAS – Secretary to Government of UT/State Union Territory of Puducherry, India on Last-Mile Innovation: Turning Policy into Protection and Progress Fireside Chat 1: Tech with a Soul: Why the Future of Innovation Must Be Led by Compassion. L-R: Harleen Minocha (Session Chair), Manager, Global Partnerships, MASH Project Foundation & MASH Impact; Asmita Satyarthi, Chief Executive Officer, Satyarthi Movement for Global CompassionPanel Discussion 1: AI for Good: Redefining Scale, Access & Inclusion. The spotlight was on how can AI and data-driven tools empower communities, bridge accessibility gaps, and make social programmes more efficient and human-centred. L-R: Erica Arya (Session Chair), Chief Executive Officer, Project Tech4Dev; Akhila Sivadas, Executive Director, Centre for Advocacy & Research (CFAR); Priti Karandikar, Global Marketing and Communications Head, Magic Bus India Foundation; Aishwarya Rohtagi, Senior Programme Officer, PATH; Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman, 5F World, GTT Solutions & Honeywell Automation India joined virtuallyKeynote Address 2: Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, Journalist, Documentary Filmmaker & Social Activist on Reclaiming the Forgotten Half: How Data, Technology & Dialogue Can Drive Justice for Men. The spotlight was on bringing visibility, empathy and balance to a narrative long left one-sided Fireside Chat 2: Beyond the Algorithm: How Young Minds Are Leading with Purpose. L-R: Sanjana Sanghi, Actor and UNDP Youth Champion; Annurag Batra (Session Chair), Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld & Founder, exchange4media
21 February 2026 | BW BUSINESSWORLD | 109Trialogue 1: Changemaker Spotlight. The spotlight was on short, inspiring stories of on-ground innovators and NGOs using technology for real social transformation. L-R: Mamta Saikia (Session Chair), Development Consultant & Educationist and Former CEO, Bharti Airtel Foundation; Navneet Anand, Director, Raj Kumari Foundation; Geeta Malhotra, Chief Executive Officer, Rural Education & Development (READ) India; Pratima Harite, Head, Asia Pacific Corporate Citizenship, Corporate Marketing Group, LenovoPanel Discussion 3: Beyond CSR: The Rise of Purpose-Led Business in the AI Era. The spotlight was on how organisations are embedding social impact into their business strategy using technology. L-R: Madan Padaki, Co-founder & Managing Trustee, Head Held High Foundation; Shreya Krishnan, Managing Director – India, AnitaB.Org; Bhaskar Chatterjee (Session Chair), Former Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Government of India; Rahul Bansal, Head of Partnerships, UNICEF; Ratna Viswanathan, Chief Executive Officer, Reach to Teach Foundation Dialogue 1: The Soul of Impact: Keeping Humanity at the Core of Progress. The spotlight was on ethics, empathy, and equity in a fast-tech world — what does “tech with a soul” truly mean in action. L-R: Vishesh Gupta, Chairperson, Bharat Soka Gakkai; Vasudhara Srivastava (Session Chair), Chief People Officer, AVPN; Meera Khanna, Trustee & President, The Guild of ServiceTrialogue 2: The Future of Social Capital: Funding Impact in the AI Age. The spotlight was on how Impact investors, CSR funds, and philanthropists foresee technology shaping the new funding landscape. L-R: Madan Padaki (Session Chair), Co-founder & Managing Trustee, Head Held High Foundation; Pritha Dutt, Chairperson, Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusive Leadership (CGEIL) & Founder, Merabiznet; Mansi Chandorikar Kalra, Head – Resource Mobilisation and Donor Partnerships, Digital Green; Y. Suresh Reddy, Director, SRF FoundationFireside Chat 3: Accessibility isn’t Charity, it is India’s USD 1 trillion GDP booster. The spotlight was on enabling inclusive infrastructure, workforce participation, barrier-free innovation, and how India unlocks massive gains in productivity, consumer expansion, and national competitiveness. L-R: Sminu Jindal, Managing Director, Jindal SAW & Founder-Chairperson, Svayam; Annurag Batra (Session Chair), Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld & Founder, exchange4mediaSanjana Sanghi, Actor and UNDP Youth Champion won the Youth Impact Icon of the Year awardDeepika Narayan Bhardwaj, Indian Journalist, Documentary Filmmaker & Social Activist won the Gender Justice Impact Leader of the Year awardVed Shukla, Advisor, BW Retail World, speaking on the theme of the event – Celebrating the Power of Innovation, Inclusion and Human Spirit
110 | BW BUSINESSWORLD | 21 February 2026You’ve been in this role for about a year now. How do you see India and the broader APAC market evolving, particularly around cloud and AI?APAC continues to be one of SAP’s fastest-growing regions globally, largely driven by customers modernising their technology stacks and moving to the cloud. Across the region, a consistent theme is how organisations are thinking about unlocking better business outcomes using AI.India, in particular, was our fastest-growing market in Asia Pacific last year. That growth is underpinned by a strong macroeconomic environment and a clear ambition among Indian companies to compete globally. What’s notable is how proactively Indian organisations are embracing AI. Our research shows 93 per cent of Indian firms expect positive ROI from AI investments, compared with 78 per cent across the rest of APAC.How much of this momentum is linked to global supply chain shifts and international companies expanding their India footprint?We’re seeing both sides of that equation. On one hand, global companies are activating SAP cloud licences for their Indian subsidiaries, ensuring they have the right platforms and capabilities. On the other, Indian enterprises are modernising to serve a growing domestic market while also preparing to access new international opportunities.Trade developments like the India-EU agreement are particularly encouraging. Anything that lowers barriers to global commerce creates opportunity, and digital platforms become critical in helping organisations understand and manage increasingly complex supply chains.Beyond large enterprises, where is SAP seeing growth in India?Large enterprises in India are already well represented in our customer base and are now moving to the cloud to take advantage of AI. The mid-market is another strong growth area. India is one of our most highly adopted public cloud markets globally, especially among companies looking for rapid deployment of AI-enabled business suites.A third area is the public sector and regulated industries. Since launching our sovereign cloud capability in India in September, we’ve seen strong interest from government bodies and regulated sectors that want modern enterprise applications while ensuring data sovereignty and regulatory compliance. We’re continuing to invest heavily in R&D, sovereign cloud capabilities, and domain specialisation across functions like finance, procurement, HR, and customer experience. India plays a critical role in supporting SAP’s global operations, and we’re hiring aggressively across sales, engineering, customer support, and back-office functions. We remain very bullish on India’s role in our growth story.What does “sovereign cloud” really mean in practice?It goes beyond just data residency. Sovereign cloud also includes who operates the environment, where resources are located, and how applications are managed and secured. It’s about delivering cloud services in a way that protects national interests while meeting regulatory requirements. We’re seeing strong pipelines across energy, public sector, and even earlystage discussions in defence and intelligence. Simon Davies, Regional LAST WORD President, SAP APACSIMON DAVIES explains to Rohit Chintapali why India has become SAP’s fastest-growing market in APAC and how AI is central to that momentum‘India is Outpacing APAC on AI Optimism’Large enterprises in India are already well represented in our customer base and are now moving to the cloud to take advantage of AI