StartUps

VAMA: A one-stop shop for all your religious and spiritual needs

Rashmi Gopal Rao in conversation with Himanshu Semwal, cofounder of VAMA, a one-stop shop for all your religious and spiritual needs

For many of us, visiting temples is synonymous with long queues, large crowds and feeling rushed when you get a chance to view God. It is not uncommon for one to have returned from a temple visit without obtaining the darshan of the deity. While this is certainly disappointing, it is key to note that this has become quite a norm due to a plethora of reasons including the exponential rise in the number of devotees and restrictions due to the recent coronavirus pandemic. That said, physically travelling to visit temples situated in far-off places may always not be feasible. Well, Himanshu Semwal, cofounder of VAMA has the answer to all such problems. Simply put VAMA (Virtual Astrology and Mandir App) is a one-stop virtual platform that offers a wide range of religious and spiritual services.

VAMA offers a number of services like astrology, e-puja and e-darshan services to its users

Marrying Technology and Faith

Established by Himanshu Semwal, Manu Jain and Acharya Dev in late 2020, VAMA was conceived with a vision to bridge the gaps between the hectic, technology-dominated lifestyles of Gen Z and their unmet religious needs. While Himanshu Semwal has over 14 years of experience in Telecom Marketing, Business Strategy, Product Innovation and Sales, Aacharya Dev is a third-generation astrologer who has spent the last decade delivering and managing astrology services for Indian telecom providers. Himanshu Semwal is a seasoned professional with more than a decade of experience in the telecom sector and other industries. He has been closely involved in building and executing content strategies for leading corporates and start-ups.

VAMA is a comprehensive online platform that allows devotees to perform e-pujas and mandir darshans from the comfort of their homes. With an array of religious verticals in place, VAMA is marrying faith with technology in order to mitigate the logistic obstacles faced by youngsters who cannot visit temples physically. “We realised there was a need to organise the faith-tech segment and deliver 360-degree virtual spiritual solutions to devotees on a single platform. Prior to VAMA, devotees would receive e-puja services via WhatsApp video calls that were not well-organized or followed a strict set of rules and regulations. With VAMA, one can perform any puja of their choice in any of the registered temples with complete transparency and proper guidelines. With the number of physical visits in temples slowly declining over the recent threats and more devotees shifting to the online medium, VAMA aims to capitalise on this growth potential of virtual footfalls over the next few years,” says co-founder Himanshu Semwal.

The app has so far enabled over 50,000 online consultations and is growing at a rate of 100% on a month-on-month basis.

Services galore

VAMA offers a number of services like astrology, e-puja and e-darshan services to its users. Any end-user can download VAMA’s app or visit its website to avail of the desired virtual spiritual services they are looking for. VAMA has partnered with over 30 temples which include some of the most popular temples such as Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi, Shree Mangalnath in Ujjain, and Vindhyachal Devi Mandir, Naimisharanya Lalita Devi Mandir, Shiv Mandir all in Prayagraj and Hanuman Mandir in Ayodhya.

Devotees can avail the e-puja and e-darshan facility in these temples wherein they are allotted a time window during which the priest in the temple performs the ritual as per the booking for the specific puja or ritual. Devotees can attend this remotely through video call via the VAMA app or through the website. VAMA users have access to a number of virtual puja remedies and other services through the live-streaming feature on their app.

Users can also avail the services of astrologers and Vaastu experts through VAMA. The platform has over 300 experienced astrologers and other spiritual experts who offer genuine and customized consultations as well as best-in-class remedies to the users of the platform.

The journey so far and the future

The consumer app of VAMA was launched in August 2021 and since then it has witnessed an unprecedented increase in the monthly active users which is currently 1.5 lakh users per month. VAMA’s app is currently available on Android devices and has witnessed over 500K downloads on the Google play store. VAMA will also be available on iOS devices by the end of June 2022. The app has so far enabled over 50,000 online consultations and is growing at a rate of 100% on a month-on-month basis. The team plans to introduce live-streaming of darshan and aartis as well as the option for users to make online donations towards temples. They also plan to broaden the scope of their services this year by collaborating with over 200 temples and venturing into international markets such as the Middle East, USA, and Canada.

June 18, 2022

The Fresh Faces of India’s Clean Eating Revolution

Eat Right Clean eating is no longer a fad but a necessity in the times we live in, and several startups are making sure this is a choice that is easy to make. As people take charge of their health and well-being, eating clean is one of the most important priorities. BINDU GOPAL RAO features seven startups that are helping make this change, one plate at a time. Nutreat Hyderabad-based Nutreat was born in 2014 out of a personal need to provide clean, wholesome food for the founder’s son. Over time, this evolved into a deeper mission: to craft handmade, customised nutrition rooted in ancestral Indian food wisdom. “We handcraft each product using our signature four-step process sprouting, sun-drying, slow roasting, and stone grinding and tailor it to the individual’s age, health condition, and dietary needs. Nutreat promotes clean eating not just by avoiding processed ingredients, but by ensuring every spoonful is mindfully made and consciously consumed. In 2023, when our business was at its peak with franchise opportunities, foreign collaborations, and incubation offers we made a bold decision. We stepped back. We refused to bulk produce because it was creating false demand, pressuring both our team and consumers to buy more than they needed. That turning point reaffirmed our belief in nooverbuying and consciousconsumerism. Clean eating, we believe, must also be mindful free of waste, hype, or excess. While the wellness industry grows, we often see food wastage even in the name of healthy eating. Our model of customisation ensures that we make only what’s needed, drastically reducing waste while offering personalised nutrition,” says Jyothi Sri Pappu, Founder & CEO, Nutreat. Moving forward, their goal is to scale impact, not volume, by nurturing conscious consumers, supporting women artisans, and creating a food culture rooted in purpose. The Kenko Life

StartUps

House of Creativity: Sinha Brothers Redefine India’s Art Scene with a Legacy-Fuelled Vision

In a world where creativity often competes with commerce, LUV and KUSSH SINHA are merging both purpose and passion. Drawing from their rich cinematic heritage and a lifelong connection to the arts, the Sinha twins have launched The House of Creativity (HOC) a platform dedicated to showcasing and supporting contemporary Indian artists. Their goal is to democratize access to visual art, giving emerging talents a space to thrive while also expanding the reach of Indian artistry on a global stage. In conversation with SINDURI VUPPALA, the duo shares how their entrepreneurial journey is not just about art, but about creating a movement that celebrates originality, honours legacy, and nurtures the future of India’s creative community. 1. Can you take us back to when your relationship with visual art truly began? Luv: My relationship with visual art began at a very young age. I was deeply influenced by Hindi cinema the films my father acted in, those of Mr. Bachchan, and other legends. As I grew older, Japanese animation, video games, and comic books also left a huge impression on me. Each artist, every inker, has their own style those differences fascinated me. Film too, being a moving image, played a huge role. Pause it, and it becomes a photograph. That connection influenced me tremendously. 2. What led to the birth of the House of Creativity? Was there a defining moment or conversation? Luv: It started with conversations at home during the lockdown. I kept thinking about the number of immensely talented artists who just don’t have a platform. Art can be an exclusive world, but coming from the film industry, I felt we could help expand its reach. The idea of starting digital-first made sense due to restrictions, but our long-term vision is definitely to open physical galleries and make

StartUps

Why Piyush Goyal’s Note Strikes a Chord with Many

In a fast-paced economy where entrepreneurship is often glamorized and unicorn status is considered the ultimate goal, Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent cautionary note to start-ups has sparked conversation across boardrooms, social media feeds, and co-working spaces alike. At a time when headlines celebrate billion-dollar valuations and multi-million funding rounds, Goyal’s reminder to prioritize sustainability over vanity metrics comes as both a wake-up call and a much-needed dose of realism. What Did Piyush Goyal Say? While addressing a forum of young entrepreneurs and start-up founders, the Commerce and Industry Minister highlighted the growing trend of start-ups focusing more on valuation than value creation. He advised founders to stay grounded, reminding them that real impact lies in solving problems, building sustainable models, and creating employment — not just in raising capital or reaching the next funding milestone. Why It Resonates 1. The Valuation Bubble India has witnessed a boom in the start-up ecosystem over the last decade, becoming the third-largest start-up hub in the world. However, this rapid rise has also led to the emergence of overvalued unicorns, many of which struggle to generate profits or even break even. Goyal’s words hit home because several start-ups that once shone brightly have now either shut down or drastically downsized. 2. Funding Winter & Layoffs In the past year, a noticeable funding winter has taken a toll on many start-ups. With VC purse strings tightening, companies have been forced to lay off thousands of employees, scale back operations, and rethink their business models. Goyal’s comment serves as a timely reminder that blind growth can be dangerous without a stable foundation. 3. Founders Facing Burnout The hustle culture in start-up circles often glorifies 20-hour workdays and constant “grind” mentality. However, a growing number of founders are speaking out about mental health challenges, anxiety, and burnout. Goyal’s emphasis on sustainable growth also indirectly supports a healthier entrepreneurial mindset — one that doesn’t chase

StartUps

Water Warriors

The harsh summer of 2024 is a stark reminder that there is an urgent need to conserve the elixir of life: water. So, what is causing the water crisis, and how does one mitigate its impact? Climate change, high contamination of water, over-exploitation of groundwater, deforestation, reduced rainfall, and increased agricultural demand are some of the main reasons for water shortage. However, while the water situation seems stark, there is a silver lining on the cloud as many water-saving ventures seek to make a difference. Bindu Gopal Rao highlights several of these impactful initiatives. Water Warriors Bala Vikasa, Telangana Bala Vikasa is an NGO pioneering community-driven sustainable development activities in seven states, impacting about eight million people. A significant initiative they have is to provide access to safe drinking water at an affordable price of Rs 3-5 per 20 litres to rural communities suffering from high fluoride content in the available groundwater. Most small and marginal farmers rely heavily on natural freshwater resources for irrigation. However, groundwater depletion and low rainfall in urban and suburban areas have led to severe water scarcity, pushing farmers into a vicious cycle of debt due to reduced crop quality and yield. “In response to the struggles of farmers in rural Telangana, Bala Vikasa, founded by André Gingras (90) and Bala T. Singareddy (83), launched a pioneering farm pond construction program in 2015. This initiative, supported by CSR partners, aims to help farmers conserve rainwater, meet their irrigation needs, and replenish groundwater,” says Shoury Reddy Singareddy, Executive Director, Bala Vikasa. The program began in Ontimamidipally village, Warangal District, in 2015. In 2019, Bala Vikasa extended support to farmers in the suburbs of Hyderabad, following requests from the farmers of Upplingapur village, Medchal. This expansion underscores the program’s success and vital role in promoting sustainable agricultural