Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 23 : Dutch firm Flytxt, which specialises in Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics and marketing automation, has announced expanding its R&D facility at the Technopark campus here by further investing Rs 250 crore.

Speaking to IANS, Flytxt Group CEO Vinod Vasudevan said that even though they are headquartered in Amsterdam, the nerve centre of the company is its Technopark campus.

"The entire R&D (Research and Development) activity takes place here... We are going to increase our staff strength from 300 to 500 shortly and it will touch 1,000 in the next five years," said Vasudevan, a PhD from IIT.

Flytxt was formed in 2008 after a group of European investors wanted to invest their money in some business and Vasudevan was roped in from Mumbai.

Their client list of Flytxt includes telecom operators such as Vodafone, Airtel, MTN Group, Viettel, America Movil, Zain.

"Today our software solutions are mostly from the telecom sector as 70 companies worldwide use our products. The fresh investments is being done to enter retail banking,airlines, hospitality industry and digital wallet segments, which too have a huge customer data," said Vasudevan.

Apart from engaging in their own work, Flytxt conducts regular workshops in AI, machine learning and data analytics across campuses in Kerala and outside.

"Kerala did miss the first bus when it delayed its entry into the IT industry due to opposition towards computers. Now here is the chance to see that they do not miss the bus in the automation segment. The need of the hour is to see that engineering curriculum should undergo an overhaul to meet the future demands," added Vasudevan, who operates from Flytxt's Dubai office.



Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Ranchi: Champai Soren, a prominent figure in Jharkhand’s statehood movement, is contesting the 2024 assembly elections from Seraikela, a seat he has consistently held since 1991.

However, there is a surprising shift in his political journey this year. Having resigned from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) earlier this year, Soren is now representing the BJP, a move that could significantly impact the electoral dynamics in the state.

Soren’s switiching is seen as a strategic benefit for the saffron party, which has been working to expand its appeal among Jharkhand’s tribal communities, a demographic traditionally aligned with the JMM. His departure from the JMM, led by Shibu Soren and his son Hemant Soren, was fueled by dissatisfaction with the state government’s policies, which he claimed had failed to address tribal concerns.

Also known as "Jharkhand’s Tiger" for his instrumental role in the statehood movement of the 1990s, Champai Soren has respect and influence among tribal voters. His decision to switch the party could be a turning point in the BJP’s efforts to gain a stronger hold in a state where tribal votes often decide the outcome.