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Name: Ankit H Joshipura   Business Name: Metamorphosis Institute of Transformation LLP Establishment (Year): 2012 Location: Ahmedabad, India Award Category / Industry:  𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠  Sub - Category: Business Advisor / Consultant Website: mitllp.com Social Media: LinkedIn Company Detail: They provide transformative growth consulting by building, designing, and implementing various proven systems and methods to enhance, enable, and excel in the areas of Priority, People, Process, Productivity, and Profitability. They not only transform the culture and operating style of the organization but they also equip leaders and key stakeholders to sustain it as well. Their services are provided PAN India to businesses with 50 to 500 Cr+ organizations from various fields. Unique Selling Proposition / Competitive Advantage: The biggest UVP (Unique Value Proposition) is that they diagnose the ecosystem, align owners with employees, create systems and strategy in alignment with newfound vision and mission, and ensure implementation across the organization with specific time limits. Achievements and Milestones of the Company: Expanded from Ahmedabad to Gujarat to PAN India within the first 3 years of establishment. Awarded as "The Most Versatile Entrepreneur" by the World Leadership Federation. Listed in the India Book of Records for impacting the highest number of salespeople in one day (7000+) of MMFSL. Awarded as the Most Innovative Trainer of the Year by the Indian Society of Training and Development. They have a track record of achieving an average growth of 100% - 171% in turnover YoY with all their clients from various industries. A customer’s review: Most innovative products/services Community / Society Service: Helping people have clarity, and right goal setting, making them feel more enabled and empowered. Upgrading their standard and social status. So, more happy and contented people, happier society.

Name: DIVYA N M PALAT Business Name : BALANCING ACT Establishment (Year ): 2003 Location: Mumbai, India Award Category / Industry:  𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠   Sub – Category:  Brand Agency creating content and handling influencers and celebrities for Brands Website:  http://www.bapl.com Social Media: LinkedIn Company Detail: Balancing Act crafts high-impact content that resonates with audiences. BA also strategically leverages the reach of celebrities and influencers to amplify Brand messages and Brand content. Unique Selling Proposition / Competitive Advantage: Balancing Act works for brands and understands the pain points/push points for brands, then creates content to amplify the message. They also work with celebrities/influencers that can best fit the brand's purpose/messaging. Achievements and Milestones of the Company: Balancing Act has been in the industry for 20+ years, growing from theatre to television to branded content and now using celebrities for brands. They have won many awards. The more notable among them have been: 2 Cannes Nomination for Use of Influencer and Content Creation The Most Promising and Innovative Digital Content Company of the Year - Business Awards and Summit Enterprising Woman of the Year - for Divya Palat The Brand Equity Award for Influencer Marketing Agency of the Year The Woman Entrepreneur of the Year from the GISR Foundation for Divya Palat The International Woman Entrepreneur of the Year for Divya Palat A customer’s review: Most innovative products/services Community / Society Service: Balancing Act has a Trust that supports NGOs on a monthly basis, allowing the team to choose an NGO they want to support and teaching them to give back.

Name: Sudarshan Ramakrishna Chetlur Business Name: SCDS Global Branding Private Limited Establishment (Year): 2002 Location: Gurgaon, India Award Category / Industry: Advertising & Marketing Sub - Category: Brand Building through Branding-Marketing-Creative-Communication Strategies and Design in Print, Digital, Film media Social Media: Linkedin Company Detail: SCDS Global Branding Private Limited is an advertising agency specializing in generating positioning strategies, achieving success for a roster of clients. Their specialty lies in providing brand-building strategies that offer a 360-degree view, including internal branding, corporate branding, CSR branding, product branding, employee branding, and external customer branding. This is demonstrated through defining branding guidelines, copywriting & content strategy, visual strategy, brand stories, graphic design, films, digital presence, product design, brand identities, and event designs. Unique Selling Proposition / Competitive Advantage: The team at SCDS Global Branding Private Limited brainstorms extensively with clients, coaching them and their teams on brand building. They focus on embedding the 'WHY' behind the business in the hearts and souls of all stakeholders, fostering passion, enthusiasm, and innovation while always listening to the customer's voice. Three things set them apart: Their expertise in developing ' WINNING POSITIONING STRATEGIES ' that define the 'WHY' behind a business through FUNCTION AND MOTIVATION. Their ability and experience in TRANSLATING COMPLEX OFFERINGS INTO EASILY UNDERSTOOD CUSTOMER BENEFITS. Their honesty, humility, and truthfulness in practicing ' WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE BRAND ,' believing that 'A BRAND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO LIVE LONGER THAN ANY OF US CAN.' Achievements and Milestones of the Company: AWARDS AND MILESTONES: Implementing brand strategies for erstwhile Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited and driving growth from $14Mn to $100+Mn in Africa from 2004-2011. Achieving mega brand status with several Mn$ turnover for Revital, Volini, Ranferon, Gestid, Chericof, etc., in Africa. Global positioning strategy resulting in acquisitions, JVs, and M&As for Ranbaxy. Creating a 100-page Brand Packaging Manual adhering to corporate-medico-legal guidelines for seamless implementation, guiding teams across European countries for Amneal Pharmaceuticals (USA). AIOCC Gold Industry Award: Q-SERA (hair serum), breaking industry record for Palsons Derma. Launch of Medgenome labs by establishing 'Positioning' and achieving market leadership, resulting in a current evaluation of over 2,000+cr. Cementing brand guidelines and ethos of KOOLCHAAS (QSR) and successfully developing investor/franchisee decks for scale-up and funding. Sponsorship strategy/marcom to generate funding for London Paralympics 2012 for the PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE OF INDIA. Featured among India's Top Writers in 2024 by leading digital dailies. Featured among 10 Rising Personalities of 2024 by Taare Zameen Par Magazine. Selected among TOP 50 EMERGING LEADERS OF 2024 by Republic News India. Hosted LEADERS TODAY, a leadership branding-based business program for 4 seasons, bringing to light the stories of top business leaders of India. The program has been categorized as A+ rating, watched by 1.5mn screens, and reached the No.3 spot as the most-watched program on ZeeCAFE'HD, internationally. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS: MENTOR, Founder Institute (USA)(India Region): Mentor to startup founders for achieving goals, funding, business drivers, planning, and brand marketing. BNI (USA)(India, DC Region): Regional Leadership Team Launch Catalyst, Orientation Specialist, Processes & Operations Advisor to members of the Delhi Central Region. BANC (Business & Networking Club, India): Keynote Speaker & Influencer, India’s 1st profit-sharing business networking platform present in the USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Oman. CAPITAL1 TV: Executive Producer and Host for a roster of TV shows broadcast on various channels like ZeeCAFE’HD, TOTAL TV, DISHA TV, HAR KHABAR, and OTT Media. Consultant Executive Creative Director with Taurus INC, a full-fledged advertising agency servicing a roster of clients. Director of Branding with WHITESPACE CONSULTING AND CAPABILITY BUILDING, which ranks among India's top 10 healthcare management consulting companies. Head of Brand and Marketing with DEALSFLOW FRANCHISING, among India's top franchise collaboration companies working with many brands. WRITER & COLUMNIST with Taare Zameen Par Magazine (Brandimus Maximus and Brand It To Grand It), a top entrepreneur magazine featuring brands, personalities, and companies in India. Personal branding on stage and COMMUNICATION SKILLS COACH with Gleamdiva Pageant Training Academy, among India's topmost pageant training companies that owns 4 national and global beauty pageant titles. Current President of BNI Stellars - one of the largest chapters of North India in the Delhi Central Region, having 110+ dynamic business owners from different business categories as members. A customer’s review: Best value for the cost, Reliable products/services, Best Service, Understands needs, Most innovative products/services. SCDS thinks ten steps ahead. When time is crucial, go to SCDS. Sudarshan is known for brilliant listening skills, making the company dependable, energetic, and possessing a rare creative streak in branding. Community / Society Service: SCDS Global Branding Private Limited teaches clients how to network, coaches them on branding, counsels young minds, and guides them to make better decisions. They help entrepreneurs and young aspirants alike by guiding them to the right source and channel. Their flagship program, THE GREAT INDIAN BRANDS SHOW WITH SUDARSHAN R CHETLUR, is a YouTube show that did very well in the pilot launch in December 2023. This program aims to connect Indian Entrepreneurs to India, promoting the idea of preferring Indian brands and emphasizing the notion that India is not just a country with a 1.4bn population but a 1.4bn support system. They are set to shoot the second season in June 2024, inspiring entrepreneurs with the message - AB JEETO BHARAT KA DIL!

Name: Arjun Shah Business Name: Scratch Establishment (Year): 2021 Location: Ahmedabad, India Award Category / Industry:  Advertising & Marketing Sub - Category: Branding, PR and Advertising, Sales, Lead Generation Website: thescratch.co.in Social Media: Linkedin Company Detail: Scratch is a full-service digital media and creative agency. Scratch started off in Feb 2021 - during the second wave of the pandemic with a clear focus on providing high-quality services along with a strong focus on a solid team foundation. The derivation of the name comes from the founder, Arjun, coming back from Australia to start things from Scratch - quite literally and also with an idea to build brands from Scratch. The logo is also inspired by the founder's tattoo. The key services that Scratch provides are: Digital Media Advertising - Running high-budget ads on Meta & Google Networks Branding - Creating unique brand identities along with logo and brand guidelines and brand positioning Web Design and Development Unique Selling Proposition / Competitive Advantage: International Exposure : With the founder working at an ad agency in Brisbane for 3 years - the global exposure and neo school of thoughts have helped Scratch tremendously. Moreover, with a more dynamic approach trickling down to the team and building teams with a strong value of quality before quantity has been a key part of Scratch's success. Team Mentality : Scratch focuses on the team. With the global exposure on how to build close-knit teams over having a larger team has been a key driving force in not only giving Scratch an advantage but also retaining clients for longer periods. Transparency : Scratch has maintained utmost transparency - with realistic goal setting. Scratch does not mind not closing a deal, but without providing all information beforehand (which at times the clients may not be aware of) Scratch does not proceed. Quality: With the work speaking for itself - Scratch has always valued quality over quantity. Scratch may not possess 100+ clients but the clients that are with Scratch have been there since Day 1. Achievements and Milestones of the Company: Designing Tyler Cooney - Modern Ideal CD Artwork Designing Kodiak Empire - The Great Acceleration Vinyl Nila Spaces Limited (a client of Scratch) - Won the best digital marketing campaign of the year - Proptech Realty Awards Awfficacy (a client of Scratch) - won a gold award in web design: Can be viewed here: https://digitalexcellenceawards.com/entries/awfficacy A customer’s review: Best Service, Understands my needs, Most innovative products/services Community / Society Service: As an organisation fuelled by creativity and music, Scratch routinely offers services pro bono to up-and-coming musicians. Some of the artists that have been provided services are AKOG, The Lucid Wake, Nemophilis, Rohit Vasudevan Diaries, and Kill the King. Scratch believes art and music should be heard and the artists should focus on creating art rather than survival.

Name:  Lori A. Jones Business Name:  Black•ology Coffee Company LLC Location:  Raleigh, North Carolina , USA Establishment (Year):  2021 Category: Food & Beverage Profession/ Specialty:  Coffee Website: www.blackology.coffee Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-jones-blackology/ Social media platforms @blackologycoffeecompany Company Detail: Black•ology Coffee Company, their mission is to enrich the coffee experience by celebrating the depth and diversity of black coffee, fostering a community of enthusiasts and learners. Black•ology Coffee Company is dedicated to cultivating a love of coffee through engaging educational initiatives, promoting the appreciation of its rich flavors, origins, and brewing techniques. The vision extends beyond the cup; the company is committed to empowering local communities and nurturing relationships with nonprofit organizations. By developing exclusive coffee blends, Black•ology Coffee Company pledges to support these partners, dedicating a portion of proceeds to advance their causes. Through this symbiotic relationship, the company aims not only to elevate coffee culture but also to contribute meaningfully to social change and community development. Black•ology Coffee Company stands as a beacon of innovation, quality, and social responsibility, aspiring to create a legacy of positive impact and shared prosperity. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: Black•ology Coffee Company: Where Every Sip Supports a Cause. Discover the unmatched taste of their high-quality black coffee, indulge in their purpose-driven custom blends, and join in making a tangible impact on local communities. With Black•ology, the coffee routine transforms into an act of community support, blending the joy of coffee with the power of positive change. This USP sets Black•ology Coffee Company apart, attracting discerning coffee drinkers who not only seek exceptional taste but also value the opportunity to contribute to meaningful causes through their everyday choices. The brand promises an unparalleled coffee experience that satisfies the palate and the heart, making every cup a step towards a better world. Challenges Faced During the Journey: I have overcome a national pandemic, SA and DV recovery, theft, loss, and fluctuation in stability. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Women entrepreneurs should strengthen their confidence and solidify their foundation first, which is “YOU”.

Name:  Barbara van Druten & Niki Koutouras Business Name:  ARTvertisements Location:  Leiden , Netherlands Establishment (Year):  2012 Category: Advertising & Marketing Profession/ Specialty:  Visual Communication & Storytelling Website/Social Media: ARTvertisements.com Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-van-druten-92a0108/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/niki-koutouras-%E2%9C%A8-8a991717/ Company Detail: ARTvertisements helps clients to market locations and optimize workplace environments with their innovative concept that synthesizes art with data and content, leading to the creation of beautiful storytelling digital collages. These are used in property windows, construction site hoardings, interiors of hotels and offices, shops, school playgrounds, as well as hospitals and public transport infrastructure e.g. cycle tunnels. Their collages synthesize a myriad of individual images. Each image is carefully selected and edited. And subject to the requirements of the brief, integrate well-known sites, historical and educational data, buildings and landmarks, scannable QR codes and other relevant content. Their work can be commissioned through a variety of channels: the landlord, the developer, the local council or in partnership with local retailers, public attractions, or Tourist Information/City Marketing functions. However it comes into fruition, the end result is a unique and successful form of advertising. ARTvertisements is run by creative duo Barbara van Druten and Niki Koutouras. Barbara graduated from the Art Academy of Maastricht and the VSUP; the Artacademy of Arts, Architecture & Design in Prague in the 90's and has since developed a deep expertise in illustration and graphic design, along with her renowned design aesthetic. Within ARTvertisements, founded in 2012 by Barbara; she is the artist of the digital collages, but there is also a lot of preliminary work done by both Barbara and Niki. Archives need to be accessed, trajectories of communication and participation need to take place, images need to be preprocessed, sources need to be researched, etc. So, within the company, there are many varied tasks that they dedicate a lot of time, love, and attention to. Niki immerses herself in the technical/architectural drawings. She determines the look & feel of an interior and creates the color concepts and 3D artist impressions, where she excels. Niki has an international background in the fashion industry and has developed a deep expertise through her work as a retail designer for companies such as Scotch and Soda, Mc Gregor Group and Supertrash. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: One can buy artwork for decorating their space but that doesn’t differentiate them from the next brand or organization. Choosing the right visuals helps tell unique stories to the audience, whether they are customers, visitors, passengers, or employees. ARTvertisments can help extend one's fingerprint to create a palpable feeling of what makes them different, in their space. Whether in conjunction with broader interior design refurbishments or in isolation. Their collages synthesize a myriad of individual images. Each image is carefully selected and edited. And subject to the requirements of the brief, integrate historical and educational visuals and data, buildings and landmarks, scannable QR codes and other relevant content. Challenges Faced During the Journey: Their concept/product is very unique, but therefore people often don't know it Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: One of it would be that in a co-operation, to be completely transparent and always express thoughts, no matter how difficult. Also, start small (Barbara started the business while being a single mum), don't invest what one doesn't have. Take risks but well judged.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Meghna Joshi : The collective experience of working in both the corporate and social sectors, along with managing operations at various skill development centers, has given me a profound understanding of the challenges faced by communities from economically weaker backgrounds. This journey has also provided me with valuable insights into the issues prevalent in the unorganized sector. In an effort to address these issues systematically, I developed a passion for skill development, which ultimately led to the creation of SWAN (Skilled Workforce Advancing Nation) Livelihood. For myself, my co-founder, and our staff, the primary inspiration comes from witnessing the smiles of the community members we support. Every day, we strive to enhance the quality of the workforce through innovative training programs and workshop sessions. Since our inception, and even during lockdowns, we have not only maintained but expanded our operations to include online training workshops. This adaptation has allowed us to continue empowering communities and providing sustainable livelihood opportunities. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by SWAN (Skilled Workforce Advancing Nation) Livelihood? Meghna Joshi: We specialize in providing the following services: i.) Community Development Programs: We implement community development programs aimed at empowering individuals and providing sustainable livelihood opportunities. ii.) Capacity Building: We curate programs that offer hand-holding support for program implementation to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and grassroots organizations. iii.) Specialized Workshops: Our experiential training workshops and upskilling programs help individuals realize their full potential by enhancing their cognitive capacities and improving their skill sets. In addition to these core services, we actively partner with various college societies to run programs focused on social entrepreneurship and sustainability, encouraging youth to become future changemakers. Great Companies: What makes SWAN (Skilled Workforce Advancing Nation) Livelihood different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Meghna Joshi : We believe in creating a greater impact at the community level, which is why all our programs are customized based on the specific needs of our target audience, geography, and socio-cultural context. Before launching any program, we conduct a thorough needs assessment to ensure that our training programs and workshop sessions are tailored to the prevailing conditions. This approach allows us to avoid directly replicating or digitizing content, whether in offline or online modes, and ensures maximum impact and relevance for the communities we serve. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Meghna Joshi : Setting up the venture proved to be a challenging task. Putting together a team, reaching out, convincing, and branding the act all appeared to be easier on paper. Natural occurrences over which we had no control began shortly after the first month of getting our act together. When we began in January 2020, the extreme cold, incessant rains, and widespread protests in the city were enough to test our patience. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the complete lock down exacerbated the situation. These difficult times also taught us the importance of patience and staying focused on our goals. Sustained and dedicated efforts, as well as the support of family, mentors, and peers, made the journey to our goals a breeze. We were able to carve out a niche in the minds of the surrounding communities and were repeatedly reminded of the real and significant lack of avenues and mentorship support in communities, as well as the challenges associated with the technical divide that still exists in an urban – rural setup. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for SWAN (Skilled Workforce Advancing Nation) Livelihood? Meghna Joshi : Since our inception, we’ve expanded to include both classroom and virtual training sessions. Looking ahead, we intend to expand into e-learning to reach a larger number of people with skill-based learning, as well as begin our in-class, community development sessions in the areas of skill development, education, and women empowerment. Future projections appear brighter as skill development gains traction, as evidenced by the SDGs-2030 (Sustainable Development Goals), which advocate for technical, vocational education and training (TVET), decent work opportunities and assistance to young adults. Making our programmes tech inclusive to reach out to a wider audience is in the goal list. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Meghna Joshi : Believing in your abilities and in yourself will get you a long way.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Mohammad Fayaz Sheikh: As a Techni personal from the college days I always tried new technological experiments, that made me inclined towards technology and coding, I decided to became a entrepreneur in this Field Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Shravtech Solutions ? Mohammad Fayaz Sheikh: We Provide Website Development, Android App Development, Digital Marketing WhatsApp Marketing Etc Great Companies: What makes Shravtech Solutions  different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Mohammad Fayaz Sheikh: We Have On Time delivery record of projects with high expertise, the pricing are very affordable to other companies Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Mohammad Fayaz Sheikh: Faced Many Commerical Challenges but overcome by trying New Solutions for them, trying to make ourselves best. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Shravtech Solutions ? Mohammad Fayaz Sheikh: In Upcoming Years we are trying to make the shravtech Solutions , no.1 IT Company in Nagpur. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Mohammad Fayaz Sheikh: Stay Confident and Have Patience for Success

Name: Sonia Business Name: Figueredo Jovani Location: Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic Establishment (Year): 2019 Category: Travel Profession/ Specialty: Travel Website: www.tourimpactgroup.com Company Detail: Tourimpact is a sustainable tourism agency that connects locals all over the country with travelers willing to discover Dominican Republic hidden treasures in a different way. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: Tailor-made service to escape from mass tourism and groups of people traveling together that need support on coordinating properly their trip with unique activities in the Dominican Republic. Challenges Faced During the Journey: Problems with partners, being a foreigner in the country she is developing the business, feeling alone in the process. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Listen to the community, learn from mentors, and remain connected.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Yashu Kapila: The idea for BugRaptors came from recognizing a critical need in the software industry for reliable and comprehensive quality assurance and testing services. As software became more integral to businesses globally, ensuring its quality and reliability became essential. We saw an opportunity to fill this gap by providing specialized QA testing services that not only identify bugs but also improve overall software quality and user experience. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by BugRaptors? Yashu Kapila: At BugRaptors, our journey began with a simple yet ambitious idea: to revolutionize software quality assurance. Drawing from our team's collective expertise across various industries and technologies, we crafted a range of tailored QA testing services. From Functional Testing, ensuring every software function meets exacting specifications, to Regression Testing, safeguarding against unintended impacts of code updates, each service tells a story of meticulous care and dedication. Our Performance Testing evaluates software under diverse conditions, while Security Testing fortifies against digital threats, ensuring clients' peace of mind. Automation Testing accelerates time-to-market, and Mobile App Testing guarantees flawless user experiences across devices. Additionally, our AI/ML Testing services leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance testing accuracy and efficiency. These services not only reflect our commitment to excellence but also narrate our ongoing journey towards setting new standards in QA testing Great Companies: What makes BugRaptors different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Yashu Kapila: At BugRaptors, our strength lies in our team of highly skilled professionals with extensive industry and technological expertise, supported by our advanced suite of proprietary tools. Our tech-savvy team keeps us ahead of the curve, continually innovating and adapting our methodologies to integrate emerging technologies and deliver cutting-edge solutions. We differentiate ourselves through customized testing solutions that precisely address each client's unique challenges, ensuring effective and relevant outcomes. With a client-centric approach, we align our testing strategies with our clients' business goals to drive their success. Our experienced and certified project managers ensure seamless execution and delivery of high-quality results. We are committed to maintaining rigorous quality standards and best practices, consistently exceeding expectations in software quality and reliability. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Yashu Kapila: Like any growing business, BugRaptors encountered numerous challenges on its path to success. We navigated intense market competition by emphasizing our distinct value proposition and consistently delivering superior service. Scaling operations posed another hurdle, which we managed by strategically expanding our team, investing in training, and optimizing processes to maintain high service standards. Staying ahead of rapid technological advancements required continuous learning and the adoption of innovative tools and methodologies. Through a culture of innovation, ongoing team development initiatives, and a flexible approach, we successfully overcame these challenges, positioning BugRaptors as a leader in the competitive landscape of QA testing services. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for BugRaptors? Yashu Kapila: Over the next five years, BugRaptors aims to consolidate its position as a leading provider of QA testing services by expanding its service offerings to include specialized testing for emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and blockchain. We plan to establish a stronger international presence to cater to a wider client base across diverse geographical regions. Technology integration will be a key focus, with advanced automation and AI-driven testing solutions aimed at improving efficiency and precision. Moreover, leveraging our own set of proprietary automated tools will further enhance our capabilities in delivering high-quality testing services. Additionally, forming strategic partnerships with technology providers and industry experts will drive innovation and enhance our role as a trusted partner in ensuring global software quality and reliability. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Yashu Kapila: My advice would be to focus primarily on understanding your customers' pain points and delivering exceptional value. Build a strong team that shares your vision and values, and never stop innovating and improving. Success in our industry determined on staying agile, adaptable, and always striving for excellence in everything you do. These insights reflect BugRaptors' journey, commitment to excellence, and vision for the future of quality assurance in software development.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Connie Lindsay : Liberty Manor for Veterans originated as a result of a merger between two individuals on opposite ends of the judicial system but united in a mission to assist homeless veterans resulting in the implementation of the first and most successful veteran’s homeless programs in the Tampa Bay area. Connie Lindsay served as Jeff Luddeke’s legal mitigator while employed by the State of Florida Judicial Circuit 13. It appeared that Connie was the only one who truly understood the extent of difficulty that he was experiencing while attempting to transition back into a civilian lifestyle - post military. A component of Lindsay’s mitigation proposed to the court recommended that Jeff be mandated to a rehabilitation program. While at the program, Jeff demonstrated expert managerial skills thus he became a member of their staff! Recognizing Jeff’s personal attributes coupled with his newly acquired expertise in residential management, lead to the inspiration of Liberty Manor pioneering the first program in Tampa that promoted the developmental and social needs of veterans who served our country, fought for our independence, but fell victim to homeless. The infrastructure of the initiative was intended to create strategic partnerships that efficiently share united resources, addressing gaps, eliminating obstacles, and increasing accountability by facilitating a residential program that contributes to the restoration of self-sufficiency. Connie’s tenaciously increased community involvement and investment in services which addressed the problematic areas that were targeted. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by LIBERTY MANOR FOR VETERANS, INC. ? Connie Lindsay : Liberty Manor provides an array of services that includes housing and future housing case management, transportation, legal, athletic activities, clothing, food, we facilitate career placement and Social Services. The scope of our services includes procuring fulltime gainful employment for veterans that are healthy and disabilities for Veterans that are disabled – all for the purpose of leading them to secure permanent housing. Great Companies : What makes LIBERTY MANOR FOR VETERANS, INC.  different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Connie Lindsay : Liberty Manor is rather unique from any other program in America because we provide housing to veterans that do not suffer from drug or alcohol addictions nor do they suffer from any mental health diagnosis...these are the veterans that played it straight all their life and traditionally, no services were provided to them! Liberty Manor for Veterans serves honorably discharged male Veterans that are homeless due to falling victim to unemployment or perhaps they suffered a sudden disability which now prevents the Veteran from gaining fulltime gainful employment. Liberty Manor "fills the void in services" by providing the veterans with some of the basic resources until we can attain a deserving disability pension or if they are otherwise healthy - we procure a career opportunity for them. Liberty Manor provides an array of services that includes housing, transportation, clothing and food. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Connie Lindsay : Our biggest challenge is funding because we do not derive any funding from the Veterans Administration, though the VA has determined Liberty Manor to be the most successful program in the country. I conclude, there is no money to be made in the homeless veteran industry.  We are totally dependent upon community stakeholders as well as my family and friends to contribute to the homeless veteran crisis in the tri-county area. That’s primarily the reason we need to reach out for support for our Veterans.  Most of our Veterans are needing help for the first time. Let’s make the military’s motto true by not leaving any man behind. I cannot fathom a more deserving sector of our community than our American veterans.  Because we work earnestly to procure a disability for our veterans, we have very little time to work on fundraising and depend on public support, I cannot fathom a more meritorious initiative than Liberty Manor for Veterans! Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for LIBERTY MANOR FOR VETERANS, INC. ? Connie Lindsay : We have future plans of implementing an assisted living facility for veterans in Hillsborough County.  This would be a unique plan as most Veteran Assisted Living programs to date are government based.  Because our Veterans have a distrust of government entities (valid or not), they unanimously agree they would prefer to be placed in an independently owned Assisted Living Facility. There are no openings for veterans who served their country but didn’t retire with the military. By pioneering an initiative of the modality that I propose, it would offer many veterans with an alternative. There are many preliminary requirements and city/county mandates when implementing an initiative of this type which is the premise for procuring a grant: Such as zoning, permitting, contractors plans, etc. We believe by implementing an assisted living facility (ALF) for our Veterans this would contribute to a greater quality of life. Veterans from our Liberty Manor (independent program) might be more receptive to moving into an ALF that has the same affiliation as Veterans are also very reluctant to change. If provided the opportunity to implement a program of this magnitude, I believe it would benefit our community and our Veterans greatly.

Introduction The Software-as-a-Service sector is a competitive battleground. Each firm is engaged in a relentless struggle for the spotlight of consumers. What strategies can you employ to stand out from the noise and become a reputable brand? Enter public relations (PR) – your secret weapon for forging a path to success. Influencers: Amplify Your Brand Voice Imagine a tech titan with a dedicated following on LinkedIn singing your praises. Influencer marketing lets you leverage established audiences, connecting with potential customers who might have been oblivious to your existence. The key lies in credibility. When a respected voice vouches for your product, it elevates your brand reputation and fosters trust. These influencers become brand champions, spreading the word about your offerings to a highly relevant market. Remember, target strategically! Partner with influencers whose audience perfectly aligns with your ideal customer profile to maximize conversions and return on investment (ROI). Social Media: Your Brand Advocacy Platform Social media is no longer an optional add-on for PR in today's digital age. It's a powerful tool for building brand awareness and establishing yourself as an industry leader. Through engaging social media profiles, you can easily showcase your product's value proposition. Informative content, product demos, and insightful tutorials are all valuable tools for educating potential customers about your offerings. This not only builds trust but also increases the likelihood of conversions. You can easily learn to make a QR code for free and use it on various platforms or accounts. The key lies in fostering a community around your brand. Actively respond to comments, ask questions, and participate in relevant conversations. This two-way communication drives traffic to your website and encourages people to learn more about your business. Personalization: The Customer Experience Advantage Personalized email marketing packs a powerful punch. Imagine receiving an email that feels like it was written specifically for you. By tailoring email campaigns to user activity and preferences, you demonstrate that you understand your customers on a deeper level. This fosters stronger relationships and builds trust. Additionally, personalized email campaigns are data treasure troves. You can monitor customer interactions and extract important knowledge about their actions and likes. This customer understanding gives you the power to improve your marketing strategies and deliver a more enjoyable experience for customers. Captivate Your Audience with Video Storytelling The explosive popularity of video marketing is no mystery – it's engaging, impactful, and highly shareable. Eye-catching video content, tutorials, and product demos can keep visitors glued to your website, leading to increased traffic, lead generation, and higher engagement. The beauty of video lies in its virality. Social media platforms make it effortless to distribute videos to a wider audience. By creating informative and engaging video content, SaaS companies can expand their reach and expose themselves to a whole new pool of potential customers, all thanks to the power of sharing. The Final Word: Continuous Evolution is Key The SaaS market is a dynamic beast, and keeping pace with trends is paramount for success. By implementing these strategies, you can ensure your SaaS company stands out from the crowd. These PR tactics will help you build a strong brand image, connect with your target audience, and ultimately drive growth through increased brand awareness, customer loyalty, and revenue. Remember, PR is a continuous journey. By continuously refining your strategies and adapting to evolving trends, you can ensure your SaaS company remains a dominant force in the ever-changing tech landscape.