Pune Gas has opened its 10th Experience Centre in Mangaluru, expanding its presence in Karnataka and bringing its commercial and industrial gas solutions closer to businesses across Dakshina Kannada and coastal Karnataka. The new facility is the company's second centre in the state, following its Bengaluru location.

The Pune Gas Mangaluru Experience Centre was inaugurated by D. Vedavyasa Kamath, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Mangaluru City South, and S. Mukund Kamath, CMD, Ideal Ice Cream Pvt. Ltd.

The inauguration was attended by representatives from the oil and gas industry, including Sandeep Kumar Raina, LPG Territory Manager, BPCL, Mangaluru; Darshit Malviya, Manager – Sales, BPCL, Mangaluru; and Lakshmi M, CRM, HPCL. The centre will be locally managed by franchise partners Vindya Pai and Nithyanand Pai, with technical and leadership support from Pune Gas.

Mangaluru's Commercial and Industrial Energy Demand

Mangaluru and the wider Dakshina Kannada region have a diverse business base spanning hospitality, restaurants, seafood and marine products, cashew and food processing, chemicals, petrochemicals, fertilisers and manufacturing.

Industrial areas such as Baikampady, Yeyyadi, Ganjimutt and Karnad contribute to the region's commercial and manufacturing activity. Businesses across these sectors depend on reliable energy systems for commercial kitchens, process heating and other operational requirements.

The region's seafood and cashew industries also have export potential. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has identified these products under Dakshina Kannada's District Export Hub designation, while Karnataka Tourism highlights the Mangaluru–Udupi region's coastal cuisine and seafood traditions.

For businesses operating in these sectors, efficient LPG systems can help improve fuel utilisation, reduce wastage and manage operating expenses.

Pune Gas Highlights Its Energy Efficiency Solutions

Speaking at the launch, Jesal Sampat, Executive Director and CEO, Pune Gas, said, “Improving energy efficiency is essential to helping businesses manage operating costs and enhance operational performance. Mangaluru and coastal Karnataka present an important opportunity for us to bring our engineering expertise closer to Dakshina Kannada's diverse and growing business community.”

He added that Pune Gas solutions were helping businesses save nearly ₹1,400 crore annually, according to the company's estimates, by addressing fuel inefficiencies. The new centre, he said, would make its technologies and technical expertise more accessible to businesses across the region.

Nithyanand Pai, Pune Gas Mangaluru Franchise Partner, highlighted the scale of commercial LPG consumption in Karnataka, estimating daily demand at approximately 850 metric tonnes, equivalent to around 44,000 commercial LPG cylinders. He said the franchise would focus on helping regional businesses optimise LPG consumption and reduce fuel wastage.

Inside the Mangaluru Experience Centre

The new centre offers businesses an opportunity to explore Pune Gas's commercial and industrial gas systems through product demonstrations and technical guidance. Its portfolio includes:

• Dry-Type LPG Vaporizer: The company's patented, Made-in-India technology converts liquid LPG into gas for commercial and industrial applications. System sizing is tailored to individual operational requirements.

• LPGenius Smart LPG Systems: An integrated LPG solution designed to improve fuel utilisation and maintain consistent operations. It addresses issues such as cylinder freezing and sweating and works with LOT (Liquid Off-Take) 47.5 kg cylinders. Pune Gas states that the system can deliver 20–30% savings on LPG costs, depending on operating conditions.

• FuelFusion: A dual-fuel system that enables compatible diesel generator sets to operate using diesel and LPG. According to the company, it can reduce diesel consumption by up to 70%, depending on system compatibility and operating conditions, while supporting lower-emission operations.

• LeakCheck and Handheld Sniffer: Gas leak detection solutions designed to help identify potential leaks and support timely corrective action.

• GasTrain Pressure Regulation Systems: Precision-engineered systems that regulate gas pressure according to equipment and process requirements, supporting controlled gas delivery.

• Gas Parts and Consumables: Components for commercial and industrial LPG and natural gas infrastructure, supported by technical guidance.

Pune Gas Experience Centre, Mangaluru

Address: Vindhya Appliances, Shop No. FF 10, Lotus Atharva, Ashok Nagar, near Urwa Marigudi, Mangaluru – 575006.

About Pune Gas

With a history spanning more than 40 years, Pune Gas designs, develops and implements gas-based energy systems for commercial and industrial applications. The company operates across India and 20 international markets, serving sectors including manufacturing, healthcare and hospitality.

Its portfolio includes LPG and natural gas systems aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing operational costs and supporting the adoption of cleaner energy solutions.

For more information, visit Pune Gas.

French fashion house Lacoste has introduced its festive campaign, 'Step Into The Light', celebrating Indian festive traditions through a collection of gifting options and contemporary occasion wear. Blending the brand's signature French elegance with modern style, the campaign focuses on meaningful gatherings, thoughtful gifting and moments of celebration.

Built around the idea that style is a form of self-expression, the campaign encourages people to celebrate their individuality and create lasting memories with loved ones. Its festive collection brings together versatility, sophistication and effortless style for different occasions.

As gifting takes centre stage during the festive season, Lacoste presents a curated selection of pieces, including its iconic polos, elevated essentials, accessories and occasion-ready styles. Each offering reflects the brand's focus on quality, craftsmanship and contemporary elegance, with options designed to make festive gifting more personal and memorable.

The collection also introduces contemporary interpretations of occasion wear, combining relaxed sophistication with modern versatility. Timeless silhouettes, premium fabrics and understated details create styles suited to both intimate gatherings and larger celebrations, while retaining the brand's distinctive identity.

Through 'Step Into The Light', Lacoste celebrates individuality, confidence and the joy of coming together. The campaign brings the brand's approach to festive fashion and gifting to a new generation, encouraging everyone to express their personal style during the season.

Twenty-five years after graduating from IIT Kanpur, Rajnish Kumar, Co-founder & Group Co-CEO of ixigo and author of Made in Fire, has launched the ₹1 crore Made in Fire Fund to support students from his alma mater as they begin their entrepreneurial journeys.

The initiative was announced following Kumar's return to IIT Kanpur, where he addressed the graduating Class of 2026 as Guest of Honour. Built on the belief that every great company begins with one believer, the fund aims to support young founders who have the confidence to build new businesses and solve meaningful problems.

Starting with the Class of 2026, the fund will support 10 technology-led startups from each graduating batch. Every selected startup will receive INR 10 lakh in non-dilutive prototype funding, allowing founders to develop and test their ideas without giving up equity in return for the funding.

Beyond financial support, selected founders will receive mentorship from Rajnish Kumar, ixigo's leadership team and the ixigo Mafia, a network of entrepreneurs and companies founded by former ixigo team members. The support will include product reviews, guidance on reaching customers, hiring assistance and investor introductions where appropriate.

The initiative will also give founders an opportunity to present their progress at a Demo Day held after 6 to 12 months, helping them showcase their work and the progress made since receiving support.

Unlike programmes that place greater emphasis on pitch decks, the Made in Fire Fund will follow a founder-first approach. The selection process will focus on the founders' conviction, understanding of customer needs, originality of ideas, ability to execute, long-term thinking and willingness to learn.

The fund is open to graduating IIT Kanpur students applying individually or as founding teams. It will focus on technology-led businesses working across areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), SaaS, Consumer Internet, Deep Tech, Climate, Mobility, HealthTech, Enterprise Software and other emerging technology domains.

Announcing the initiative, Rajnish Kumar, Co-founder & Group Co-CEO, ixigo, said, "Every great company begins with one believer. Twenty-five years ago, IIT Kanpur gave me the confidence to build before I knew where that journey would lead. The Made in Fire Fund is my way of paying that belief forward. We want to back builders early, not because they have the perfect pitch deck, but because they have conviction, understand a real problem deeply and have the ability to build. My hope is that some of these founders will return years from now and become the first believers in the generation after them.”

Sharing his views on the initiative, Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, stated, “Entrepreneurship fuels national development by creating jobs, driving innovation, and generating economic growth. While our students possess technical capabilities, the journey from idea to impact depends on early encouragement, mentorship, and access to experienced entrepreneurs. The launch of the Made in Fire Fund by our distinguished alumnus, Rajnish Kumar, demonstrates how giving back can support and sustain an entrepreneurial mindset among our students. I hope this motivates more graduating students to pursue entrepreneurship with confidence and creates a cycle where each generation of founders helps the next build new ventures."

Applications for the Made in Fire Fund are now open to graduating students from the IIT Kanpur Class of 2026. Interested students can find more details and apply through the official fund website.

Application link: https://madeinfire.co/fund/apply/

Rajnish Kumar is the Co-founder and Group Co-CEO of ixigo (Le Travenues Technology Ltd., listed on NSE & BSE). An IIT Kanpur alumnus in Computer Science, he began his career as a software engineer at Amadeus before co-founding ixigo in 2007.

He has led the company's product, technology, growth and AI strategy as it grew from a bootstrapped travel search engine into India's leading OTA for the 'next billion users', serving over 540 million annual active users in FY25. Kumar received the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT Kanpur and was recognised in the 'Comeback Kid' category at the Economic Times Startup Awards 2021.

An active mentor and investor in India's startup ecosystem, Kumar is also the author of Made in Fire, a book that explores entrepreneurship, resilience and the journey of building enduring companies.