New tech on the block: Crypto, blockchain, project management software, AI, cars, metaverse, health tech, fintech, gaming, cybersecurity

The Tech Panda takes a look at recent tech launches.

Crypto: A feature offering a versatile trading experience for selected users

CoinSwitch, Indian crypto trading platform, announced crypto futures trading on its PRO platform. This new feature offers a versatile trading experience for selected users, allowing them to maximize their trading potential with leverage up to 25x. With CoinSwitch futures, users can trade in over 350 contracts including BTC, ETH, SOL, MATIC, XRP, and more.

“The launch of CoinSwitch Futures aligns with our mission to provide a comprehensive suite of crypto investment and trading options to our users. By offering leveraged futures contracts, we aim to cater to the needs of sophisticated traders seeking to capitalize on price movements in the dynamic crypto market,” said Balaji Srihari, Business Head, CoinSwitch.

Features

• Enables users to take long (buy) or short (sell) positions on perpetual futures contracts and can also hedge their spot holdings.
  Competitive commission rates, ensuring users benefit with the lowest fees in the market.
• New users can avail 100% commission rebate for the first 15 days.
• Users can seamlessly access futures trading through both mobile and desktop; to start they have to sign up or log in to their existing CoinSwitch PRO accounts.

Blockchain: Hybrid blockchain to simplify global payments for businesses

WadzChain Network, a blockchain technology platform, launched a hybrid blockchain intending to transform global payments for businesses.

Anish Jain, Founder, WadzChain Network, said, “At WadzChain Network, we are leveraging our experience in the global payment industry to create a secure and user-friendly payments platform for global enterprises. Our vision is to become the central switch for all payments globally, providing interoperability across all digital currencies, including CBDCs. As the payment ecosystem evolves, WadzChain will serve as the backbone, offering unparalleled scalability, security, and flexibility. We are committed to building a global, future-proof solution that addresses the complexities of modern payment systems.”

The Why

The blockchain is perfect for diverse businesses and use cases, from small startups to large enterprises. In response to the evolving needs of its business, WadzChain Network has strategically shifted its focus to solidify its long-term growth. This renewed emphasis is on building the core of the business with purpose-built technology, ensuring its foundation is robust and aligned with future opportunities. As part of this strategy, the company is making key investments across several critical areas, including the Testnet and Mainnet developments, as well as increasing marketing and community engagement, plus expanding its listings on prominent platforms. While these advancements may involve internal restructuring to optimise operations, the approach is being managed carefully to ensure the organisation remains agile and fully committed to serving its community and all critical stakeholders.

Features

• It’s designed to cater to all types of payments needs including micropayments, high-volume payments, disbursements, benefits and many more.
• Backed by collective industry expertise of over 250 years, the platform meets the needs of government, corporations, merchants and consumers while being highly scalable, with the capacity for up to 10,000 TPS.
• Its hybrid architecture (Layer 1 public, Layer 2 private) uses Proof of Stake (PoS) for public consensus, and Proof of Authority (PoA) for private consensus, ensuring fast, secure transactions.
• Interoperable and compliant with global regulations, WadzChain supports multiple digital assets and payment gateways, offering smart wallet integration, comprehensive payment features, and flexibility for businesses to operate in both public and private environments.

Project management software: Rovo, an AI tool to enable teams to unlock organizational knowledge at scale

Atlassian, a provider of team collaboration and productivity software, announced the general availability of Rovo, an AI-powered tool that enables teams to unlock organizational knowledge at scale, less than six months after its introduction.

Mike Cannon-Brookes, CEO and co-founder, Atlassian said, “Rovo is one of the most ambitious and important products we’ve ever built. I’m thrilled we can get it into our customers’ hands just five months after we first announced it in Las Vegas. Whether you’re a dev team building the next big thing, a marketing team creating your next big campaign, or a service agent helping your customers solve a really big problem, AI is going to transform the way your work gets done. It’s a huge opportunity for us, and most importantly, for our customers.”

Features

• Powered by generative AI and the teamwork graph, Rovo seamlessly integrates into the Atlassian platform, and helps speed up work by making it easier to access the information teams need. Teams are already saving 1-2 hours of time per week on average, with 75% of beta users saying Rovo helps them get work done faster and 80% say Rovo helps them find the right information at the right time.
• With the newly announced Rovo Search Connectors, Rovo Data Center Connectors, and the Rovo Browser Extension, these teamwork graphs become even richer as they get access to more sources. The search connectors also provide more knowledge to Rovo Chat, helping teams get the answers they need without switching tabs. Teams globally are pulling Rovo Agents into workflows to get better outcomes, while simultaneously saving hours or even days.
• The new AI capabilities automatically break down work items, generate tickets, and streamline project management.
• In Jira Service Management, the AI-powered agents now assist with incident management, resource allocation, and post-incident reviews.
• AI assists developers with code generation, analysis, and pull request reviews, boosting velocity and code quality.

AI: AI inference service with embedded NVIDIA NIM microservices to accelerate GenAI development & deployment

Cloudera, a hybrid platform for data, analytics, and AI, launched Cloudera AI Inference powered by NVIDIA NIM microservices, part of the NVIDIA AI Enterprise platform. As one of the industry’s first AI inference services to provide embedded NIM microservice capability, Cloudera AI Inference uniquely streamlines the deployment and management of large-scale AI models, allowing enterprises to harness their data’s true potential to advance GenAI from pilot phases to full production.

“As enterprises rapidly scale their AI capabilities, the need for trusted data and seamless integration becomes more critical than ever. With GenAI advancing rapidly in India, businesses are increasingly focused on balancing innovation with strong governance and compliance to fully harness its potential. Our partnerships with NVIDIA and integration with Snowflake exemplify Cloudera’s commitment to empowering organizations to innovate at scale in a secure manner,” says Mayank Baid, Regional Vice President, India & South Asia, Cloudera.

The Why

Recent data from Deloitte reveals the biggest barriers to GenAI adoption for enterprises are compliance risks and governance concerns, yet adoption of GenAI is progressing at a rapid pace, with over two-thirds of organizations increasing their GenAI budgets in Q3 this year. To mitigate these concerns, businesses must turn to running AI models and applications privately – whether on premises or in public clouds. This shift requires secure and scalable solutions that avoid complex, do-it-yourself approaches.

Cloudera AI Inference protects sensitive data from leaking to non-private, vendor-hosted  AI model services  by providing secure development and deployment within enterprise control. Powered by NVIDIA technology, the service helps to build trusted data for trusted AI with high-performance speeds, enabling the efficient development of AI-driven chatbots, virtual assistants, and agentic applications impacting both productivity and new business growth.

Features

• Developers can build, customize, and deploy enterprise-grade LLMs with up to 36x faster performance using NVIDIA Tensor Core GPUs and nearly 4x throughput compared with CPUs.
• The seamless user experience integrates UI and APIs directly with NVIDIA NIM microservice containers, eliminating the need for command-line interfaces (CLI) and separate monitoring systems.
• The service integration with Cloudera’s AI Model Registry also enhances security and governance by managing access controls for both model endpoints and operations.
• Advanced AI Capabilities: Utilize NVIDIA  NIM microservices to optimize open-source LLMs, including LLama and Mistral, for cutting-edge advancements in natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, and other AI domains.
• Hybrid Cloud & Privacy: Run workloads on prem or in the cloud, with VPC deployments for enhanced security and regulatory compliance.
• Scalability & Monitoring: Rely on auto-scaling, high availability (HA), and real-time performance tracking to detect and correct issues, and deliver efficient resource management.
• Open APIs & CI/CD Integration: Access standards-compliant APIs for model deployment, management, and monitoring for seamless integration with  CI/CD pipelines and MLOps workflows.
• Enterprise Security: Enforce model access with Service Accounts, Access Control, Lineage, and Auditing features.
• Risk-Managed Deployment: Conduct A/B testing and canary rollouts for controlled model updates.

Cars: An AI-powered platform promising to transform the future of vehicle ownership

Droom, India automobile marketplace, marked its 10-year anniversary by launching MyDroom, an AI-powered platform promising to transform the future of vehicle ownership.

Naveen Jindal, Chairman, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. affirmed, “Our country’s growing pool of educated and skilled men and women driving the social and economic change. The majority of our population comprises youth who are aspiring for opportunities. And for us to provide these opportunities, we need to grow and for growth, we need to cooperate, collaborate and co-exist with our neighbours. He praised every Entrepreneur for their hard work and contribution to make India what it is. In continuation he said with the right efforts Haryana will be a developed state in next 10 years and Gurugram will be the developed city of the state in next 5 years.

Features

From predictive maintenance and real-time tracking to personalized recommendations, MyDroom is a game-changer for vehicle owners. It not only helps users stay ahead of maintenance schedules but also integrates various services like repairs, roadside assistance, and even car washes into a single platform—making vehicle ownership smarter and more efficient than ever before.

Health tech: Skincare Metaverse

In a revolutionary move set to transform the INR24,000 crore Indian skincare market, Mumbai-based health-tech platform Skin Beyond Borders (SkinBB) launched its pioneering Skincare Metaverse skinbb.com. This innovative digital ecosystem seamlessly integrates cutting-edge AI technology with clinical knowledge, creating a unique synergy between consumers, clinicians, and industry partners.

Ajit Marathe, Founder & Chief Innovation Officer of Skin Beyond Borders, says, “By offering science-based education free of charge, we hope to contribute to the democratization of skincare knowledge using technology. Our aim is to enhance how skincare information is shared and utilized across the entire ecosystem; the Skincare Metaverse that uniquely bridges the information gap between consumers, clinicians, and industry professionals worldwide.”

The Why

At the heart of SkinBB’s Skincare Metaverse lies a commitment to transparency, education, and inclusivity.

Features

• The platform introduces LabelLooker 1.0, an AI-powered ingredient scanning tool that represents a significant leap in skincare technology.
• It’s powered by Ingredipedia, a proprietary personal care ingredient database that stands as a testament to successful Industry-Academia collaboration.
• Developed in partnership with VES College of Pharmacy (VESCOP), Mumbai, Ingredipedia currently lists over 1,000 ingredients and is continuously expanding.
• The SkinBB Community serves as a vibrant hub where consumers can directly engage with dermatologists. While the platform aims to onboard 100+ dermatologists across, it is actively growing this network to provide expert insights and personalized guidance to users.
• For industry partners, SkinBB offers an unprecedented opportunity to list products for free, gain real-time market insights, and engage directly with informed consumers. This symbiotic relationship not only empowers companies to make data-driven decisions but also enables them to develop products that truly meet consumer needs.

AI: An advanced suite of predictive, generative, & conversational AI solutions for the Indian market

Hoonartek, a data, digital, and AI solutions company, launched RealizeAISM, an advanced suite of predictive, generative, and conversational AI solutions for the Indian market, particularly the BFSI, telecom, media, retail, healthcare, and life sciences industries. This innovative portfolio is designed to help these businesses, and many more, to quickly Realize the value of their AI investments in mission-critical functions and help them compete more effectively, both locally and globally.

“We are delighted to launch RealizeAI, a new portfolio that showcases our dedication to driving AI-powered innovation in the Indian market,” said Peeyoosh Pandey, CEO of Hoonartek. “As India’s economy continues to grow, AI offers immense potential to enhance productivity, improve customer experiences, and create new business models. RealizeAI provides tailored solutions that address the unique challenges and opportunities facing Indian industries, from manufacturing and agriculture to healthcare and finance.”

The Why

Many organizations see the potential of AI but struggle to turn experiments into real business results. Hoonartek’s RealizeAI addresses these challenges by providing tailored AI solutions that seamlessly fit into existing systems.

Features

• RealizeAI incorporates cutting-edge AI technologies to enable businesses to identify patterns, predict future trends, and make smarter decisions.
• The portfolio utilizes leading machine learning (ML) models and built-in natural language processing (NLP) capabilities to generate insights in text, visuals, and synthetic data formats, empowering businesses to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency.

Fintech: Club for zero deposit rentals

CirclePe, a renting platform with a unique fintech approach, founded by IIT and IIM graduates, is set to transform the rental housing market with its innovative approach, eliminating the need for traditional security deposits.

Co-founder Navan Jaiswal commented, “At CirclePe, we aim to remove the financial stress for reliable tenants, giving them the freedom to move into their desired homes without hefty security deposits. Landlords also benefit by receiving the entire rental amount upfront and a guarantee for potential damages. Our platform creates trust between landlords and tenants while offering property management support through our partners if needed.”

The Why

Many online listing marketplaces help tenants find properties, but CirclePe is different from them because it specifically helps tenants move in at zero security deposit into a property of their choice for the first time. CirclePe achieves this by paying the entire lease amount upfront to the landlord and providing a company-backed guarantee for any potential damages. This removes the need for landlords to request a deposit, allowing tenants to move in with ease while continuing to pay rent monthly.

Features

• The CirclePe Club is exclusively available to tenants who pass a trustworthiness check, creating an elite community of renters who will never have to worry about security deposits again.
• Offers landlords peace of mind and ensures only verified, reliable tenants benefit from the service.

Gaming: The first AAA shooter game of India

Rage Effect: Mobile, the first AAA shooter game of India, developed by Goldon Studios, has officially been launched on both Android and iOS platforms. The adrenaline-pumping shooter, which crossed 120,000 pre-registrations in open beta, promises to bring a unique blend of high-octane gameplay, Indian-inspired content, and cutting-edge technology.

Developed by a world-class team of gaming veterans with experience from Assassin’s Creed, Sims, Anno, Google Play, and Activision, and known for publishing top 100 iOS games globally, Rage Effect: Mobile stands out with its innovative features.

Karn Saxena, Founder and CEO of Goldon Studios said, “We are delighted to unveil India’s very first AAA shooter game. At Goldon Studios, our passion lies in delivering unforgettable experiences. In the next two years, we envision that Rage Effect will become a household name and the go-to game for all platforms in India, whether it’s mobile, PC, or console. With over 600 million gamers and more than a billion internet users, the market is primed for culturally relevant content. As India’s only studio developing premium games for both PC and mobile, we are committed to reinvesting our revenue into development and marketing to keep raising the bar.”

The Why

According to the ‘India Games Market Report 2023’ by Niko Partners, India is predominantly a mobile-first market, with 96.8% of gamers using smartphones or tablets. The total number of gamers across all platforms is projected to reach 641.2 million by 2027.

Features

• Players can not only customise weapons and maps, but also create their own communities through Rage Guilds.
• With seamless cross-play across Android, iOS, and PC, user-generated maps, and community-driven development that incorporates player feedback, Rage Effect encourages creativity and engagement in every aspect of gameplay.
• The game features Indian-inspired maps based on iconic locations, providing a unique twist to traditional shooter gameplay.
• It boasts culturally-relevant, India-based content, with character skins, weapon designs, in-game events, and Easter eggs that celebrate India’s rich heritage, diversity, and festivals.

Cybersecurity: New features such as Identity protection & ESET Folder Guard

ESET, a cybersecurity solution, launched its upgraded consumer offering ESET HOME Security, introducing new features such as Identity protection and ESET Folder Guard, together with an overall improvement of its capabilities.

“With the launch of our upgraded ESET HOME Security, we are reaffirming our commitment to protecting consumers in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Our new features, including Dark Web Monitoring, empower individuals to safeguard their personal information and enjoy a peace of mind while navigating online. ESET remains dedicated to staying one step ahead of cyber threats, ensuring that our users are well-protected against identity theft, ransomware, and more,” said Parvinder Walia, ESET President for Asia Pacific and Japan.

The Why

These enhancements to ESET HOME Security, as an all-in-one solution for consumers, correspond to the increasing number of advanced, automated, and AI-driven threats targeting individuals and address growing concerns about data privacy, ransomware attacks, phishing, and scams.

Features

• Dark Web Monitoring — ESET Identity Protection* scours websites on the dark web, black market chat rooms, blogs, and other data sources to detect the illegal trading and selling of users’ personal information. ESET technology sends prompt alerts so users can take immediate action.
• ESET Folder Guard — This technology helps protect Windows users’ valuable data from malicious apps and threats, such as ransomware, worms, and wipers (malware that can damage users’ data). Users can create a list of protected folders — files in these folders can’t be modified or deleted by untrusted applications.
• New: Multithread Scanning — Improves scanning performance for multi-core processor devices using Windows by distributing scanning requests among available CPU cores. There can be as many scanning threads as the machine has processor cores.
• New: Link Scanner — This feature improves ESET Mobile Security Anti-Phishing that, in general, blocks potential phishing attacks coming from websites or domains listed in the ESET malware database. The Link Scanner is an additional layer of protection for Android smartphone users that allows ESET Mobile Security to check every link a user tries to open, not only those coming from supported websites and social network apps.
• Improved: Gamer Mode — This feature is for users who demand uninterrupted usage of their software without pop-up windows and want to minimize CPU usage. The improved version allows users to create a list of apps automatically starting gamer mode. For cautious players, there is also a new option to display interactive alerts while gamer mode is running.
• Improved: Password Manager — ESET Password Manager now includes an option to remotely log out of Password Manager when it is logged in on other devices. Users can check their password against the password breach list and view a security report that informs users if they use any weak or duplicate passwords for their stored accounts. Password Manager has an integrated option to use third-party programs as an optional two-factor authentication (2FA).
• Improved: Cyber Security for Mac users — ESET HOME Security tiers for Mac users now have a new unified Firewall with both basic and advanced setup options in the main Graphical User Interface (GUI). This means the solution is tailored to the needs of users from basic to more advanced, without unnecessary settings.