Innovate Bengaluru AR embedded special edition is launched at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2018

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy releasing special edition of Innovate Bengaluru at the Bengaluru tech Summit 2018, with Ministers KJ George, RV Deshpande and Priyank Kharge, along with Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CMD, Biocon, Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder Infosys, Kate Jones, Queensland Minister for Innovation and Tourism, Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France, Riho Kruv, Ambassador of Estonia, and other dignitaries. Also present are Sandhya Mendonca and Aditya Mendonca of Raintree Media

Unveiling the future of print, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy released ‘Innovate Bengaluru’, an Augmented Reality embedded book at the inaugural session of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2018 on Nov 29, 2018. Aptly, this innovative media tech product published by Raintree Media and Global Village World is all about Bengaluru’s innovators and innovative ecosystem.

Mr. KJ George, Karnataka Minister for ITBT, Science & Technology, and Large & Medium Scale Industries, says in the book, “We are happy to see Bengaluru's startup and innovative ecosystem being promoted globally in the Augmented Reality Innovate Bengaluru. It is an excellent initiative. Bengaluru is the Startup Capital of India, and we want it to become the Startup Capital of the world.”

Heads of C-CAMP, Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre & ABLE  with the book and the Raintree Media team 

Sandhya Mendonca, Founder, MD & Chief Editor, Raintree Media says, “We are excited to bring the Innovate series of Augmented Reality embedded books to India. We are on a journey to connect innovators across the world and Bengaluru is the starting point in our journey in India. Being a homegrown company, we are thrilled to be at the Tech Summit, which is the ideal launch pad for our Media Tech product. We are now gearing up for the full-fledged edition that will be out in a few months and invite nominations of innovative companies to be featured in Innovate Bengaluru."

Dr.Kiran Mazumdar Shaw appreciating the book, with Sandhya Mendonca, Chief Editor

To experience the Innovate Bengaluru book, readers have to download the Global Village AR app to their smartphones, available free of charge on both IOS and Android app stores. They simply focus the phone on the pages which have the AR symbol and presto, the book starts playing a video.

Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, CEO & Director, C-CAMP

The special edition of ‘Innovate Bengaluru’ contains 30 stories of innovators in Deep Science, Manufacturing, AgriTech, BioTech, Space, Education, Social Impact, Ecommerce and Brick & Mortar, investors, incubators and enablers along with AR videos. It is also available as an ebook.

The stories are also on the web at innovationhubindia.com . The full-fledged book that will have a 100 stories, to be published in March. Innovative companies can nominate themselves to be featured in the Innovate series in Bengaluru and India, at innovationhubindia.com/form/

Launch of Resurgent Karnataka

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other dignitaries release RESURGENT KARNATAKA on Feb 4 at the Valedictory Session of Invest Karnataka, 2016

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah released Raintree Media's latest publication Resurgent Karnataka at the valedictory session of the ‘Invest Karnataka 2016’ global investors meet held by the Karnataka government on February 4 at the Palace Grounds in Bengaluru. A galaxy of ministers from the Union & State cabinets was present on the occasion along with corporate leaders and delegates from partner countries. The books were also given to delegates at the event on Feb 3 & 4.

Prof. MV Rajeev Gowda, MP &
Sandhya Mendonca, Editor-in-Chief, Raintree Media

Resurgent Karnataka is anchored by Prof. MV Rajeev Gowda, MP, and edited by Sandhya Mendonca, Founder, MD & Editor-in-Chief of Raintree Media. She says, “We have taken a hard, close look at 14 core sectors of Karnataka’s economy. We offer overviews of these sectors, we analyse the state’s performance and examine the sectoral industrial policies. This is not a static book though. We think of this book as a dialogue, as it has insights of over 60 business leaders and domain experts. Some of these are legendary entrepreneurs and iconic trendsetters who have built global businesses from this very state. Some of them are new players in the world of business, chasing their dreams in younger domains. They share their views, analyses and prescriptions about Karnataka as an investment destination for the world.”

Experts who have given their insights include: Dr. Devi Shetty, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Ashok Soota, GV Sanjay Reddy, startup guru Ravi Gururaj, Harish Hande, Mohandas Pai, V Ravichandar, Naresh Narasimhan, RK Mishra, Meena Ganesh and Harish Bijoor.

An all star line-up of experts: (L-R) V Raghunathan, Anantha Krishnan M, Saswati Chakravarty, Shoaib Ahmed, Madhura Chatrapathy, Ravi Gururaj, Sharmila Bhaktaram, Rajeev Gowda, Srikanth Chatrapathy, Dr. Sita Bhateja, Sandhya Mendonca, Indrajit Kembhavi, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Bharath Ram Lokkur, Uma Reddy, Nooraine Fazal, PK Mohankumar & Ajit Nambiar.

In addition to the Print edition, Resurgent Karnataka is available as a free Ebook on http://issuu.com/raintreemedia/docs/resurgent_karnataka

Marvels of Karnataka & more - In the News

Our latest book Marvels of Karnataka & more has been making waves in the media since its launch on January 21. 

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/427052/Indulge-Bangalore/30-JANUARY-2015#dual/2/1

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/422570/The-New-Indian-Express-Bangalore/22-JANUARY-2015#page/3/2

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/447379/The-New-Indian-Express-Bangalore/26-FEBRUARY-2015#page/23/1

http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/chronicles-of-the-carnatic/article6925563.ece

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/columns/you/reading-room/articleshow/46277568.cms

Q & A with Sandhya Mendonca, MD & Editor-in-Chief, Raintree Media

Sandhya Mendonca, MD and Editor-in-Chief, Raintree Media said, “There is no place like home. I also find the greatest satisfaction when we publish books that showcase our city and our state to the world.”

Q: What is this book about?

A: Marvels of Karnataka & more explores the state like never before. It covers each of the four regions of this beautiful state: North, Central, South & Coastal. Packed with information about where to go, why to go, when to go, how to go, what to eat and what to buy, Marvels of Karnataka & more is a complete guide to this state. It is a must have book for locals and visitors alike. It is a useful book to pick up before a trip and a great souvenir to take back home.

Q: What inspired you to do this book?

A: In September 2013, Raintree Media published Karnataka –A Cultural Odyssey, a coffee table book commissioned by the Governor of Karnataka. The book was released to mark the President of India’s visit to the state, and it was one of the proudest moments for our organisation, not only because His Excellency had earlier entrusted us with the responsibility of publishing a coffee table book on the history of the Raj Bhavan, but this time around we had curated a book on the culture of the entire state. It was but a natural progression after that to publish Marvels of Karnataka & more.

Q: Tell us about the Marvels series?

A: This is the second book in the innovative Marvels series of Destination photobooks, which blends the aesthetics of a coffee table book with the handiness of a paperback travel guide. The first book in the series Marvels of Mysore & more had sold out, and is now in its second print run.

Q: Packaging a whole state is a huge task. How big is the book?

A: Not to worry, it is a very light paperback in a compact and easy-to-read format. It has 160 pages, with over 120 stunning photographs from acclaimed photographers including Dinesh Shukla and Asha Thadani. India’s leading fashion guru, Prasad Bidapa, has said “This book the perfect companion on a road trip through Karnataka."

Marvels of Karnataka & more is available at your nearest bookstore and on SapnaOnline, Amazon & Flipkart . Ebook available at magzter.com and soon on Kindle

Marvels of Karnataka & more - Destination photobook on Karnataka launched

Starting of 2015 on a good note, we released the destination photobook Marvels of Karnataka & more, the second in the Marvels series of books. After successful book launches over the last few years in Johannesburg, Mumbai, Delhi, Goa, Chennai and other cities, our eighth book launch in our home town was very gratifying.

The Honourable Tourism Minister of Karnataka, Mr. RV Deshpande released the book at the ITC Windsor on January 21.

Mr. Deshpande said, “Books like Marvels of Karnataka & more will definitely help boost tourism in Karnataka and I congratulate editor Sandhya Mendonca on bringing out such an excellent book which comprehensively covers every region of the state."

The guest of honour iconic contemporary folk musician Raghu Dixit has said about the book: “Marvels of Karnataka & more has captured the essence of my beloved state Karnataka in all its glory and beauty, documenting its amazing history, culture, art and heritage. A brilliantly edited and beautifully packaged book that is concise, precise and full of spice!"

Vasanthi Hariprakash, radio and TV personality, took the audience on an enthralling tour of the state, as she read excerpts from the book against the backdrop of the fabulous photographs from the book.

Marvels of Karnataka & more is available at your nearest bookstore and on SapnaOnline, Amazon & Flipkart . Ebook available at magzter.com and soon on Kindle

Priority class for Karnataka tourism

The tourism sector in Karnataka is looking positive: about 300 places across the state have been identified for their tourist potential and are to be developed in gradual stages with private sector involvement. The sector is expected to generate four million jobs and Rs. 85,000 crore in revenue.

Tourism Minister RV Deshpande receiving the
book from Raintree Media Director Aditya Mendonca

Bangalore will also get a world class MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions) facility on a 435-acre plot near the airport. The plan is to make this a ‘Go To’ destination for events, with adventure, heritage and wine trails in the area around Nandi Hills and Devanahalli fort and wine tours for visitors. Read more in the BEST OF BANGALORE Innovation Edition. CLICK HERE to buy online.

Jungle goes dot com! Launch of the new JLR website

Elephants, Bisons and Leopards are some of the many residents of Karnataka's jungles.

Want to know about the leopards and the tigers, the elephants and the jackals, the sambhar and the drongos, the crested serpent eagles and the cuckoos that are sighted in the lush (as yet) forests of Karnataka? Click on to www.jlrexplore.com for the almost daily updates of sightings by guides and trackers.

Experienced naturalists also post photos and articles on the visually appealing blog started by the Jungle Lodges and Resorts Limited (JLR), the State-owned eco resort chain. JLR has also its revamped website www.junglelodges.com/.

Aptly enough, the launch was a showcase of wildlife documentaries. The first was about the Indian River Tern, a species of fresh water birds which breed in an island in the Bhadra River in Chikmagalur district.  Shot on the River Tern Lodge, a JLR property on the river bank, the film told the story of the terns from the time they come to nest on the island, till their departure during the monsoons, when the river floods their temporary homes. The second film was about the Indian Sloth Bear, a fascinating breed of nocturnal bears, native to the Daoroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Hampi. The film was shot in the Sloth Bear Resort, which borders the sanctuary.

Indian River Terns nest on an island in the River Bhadra.

Indian Sloth Bear. 

There were two more short films, one on the K Gudi Wilderness Camp in the Billigiri Ranganna hills, and the other on the Om Beach Resort in Gokarna.

Tourism Minister RV Desphande launched the new website and Arvind Jadhav, Additional Chief Secretary launched the blog on December 20 at the ITC Windsor Bengaluru. Amur Reddy, Managing Director, JLR, hopes that the new revamped website will help attract more guests to their various properties, given that tourists do extensive research online before booking hotel and holiday packages.This website is meant to act as a single touch point to visitors and impart much needed information to nature enthusiasts.

The setting sun as seen from the River Tern Lodge.

By Subhalakshmi Roy/Raintree Media Features

All images from www.jlrexplore.com and www.junglelodges.com/