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Wootzwork is scaling a new manufacturing model that gives global OEMs a single, accountable partner for complex industrial programs across India and Southeast Asia. 

Houston, Dallas – Feb 25; As global manufacturing shifts across regions, supply chains, and regulatory environments, execution risk has quietly become one of the biggest constraints on industrial growth. For many OEMs, the challenge is no longer access to factories, but the complexity of coordinating dozens of suppliers, quality systems, timelines, and interfaces across borders. Wootzwork was built to solve that problem. Today, the company announced a $6.6 million Series A round to scale a new model of manufacturing execution built around single-point accountability. 

 The round was led by Z47, with continued participation from Nexus Venture Partners and AdvantEdge Founders, and the addition of Stride Ventures. The capital will be used to expand Wootzwork’s global engineering and program teams, support larger and more complex OEM programs, and scale its manufacturing control systems across regions.

 As industrial supply chains globalise, execution has become increasingly fragmented. Programs now span multiple countries, dozens of suppliers, and different quality frameworks, creating coordination gaps that lead to delays, rework, and cost overruns. It is estimated that 15 to 30 percent of anticipated offshore savings are typically lost through these breakdowns. What should be a strategic advantage often turns into an operational burden that absorbs time, talent, and leadership attention.

 Wootzwork was built as an alternative to that model. The company operates as a single, accountable manufacturing partner to global OEM’s for complex industrial programs across India and Southeast Asia, with on-shore manufacturing where required in customer markets. This allows OEMs to execute at scale without managing factories, interfaces, or execution risk internally. Wootzwork operates with engineering and program teams across India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, enabling close coordination with enterprise customers while retaining deep on-ground manufacturing control.

 “Most companies treat manufacturing complexity as a risk to be minimised,” said Karan Anand, co-founder and CEO of Wootzwork. “We treat it as a competitive advantage. When the system is engineered properly, complexity becomes leverage – not chaos.” 

 No factory in the world is fully efficient for any complex product. Modern OEM programs involve high-mix parts, specialised processes, and sequencing that rarely exist under one roof and often shouldn’t, for economic reasons. Even when capacity exists, the right machine, process maturity, or quality discipline is usually fragmented across suppliers. By mapping, qualifying, and governing manufacturing capacity across regions, Wootzwork orchestrates the journey of a product from concept to factory-level output in weeks rather than years. For global enterprises, this translates into faster time to production, fewer internal teams tied up in supplier coordination, and full visibility and control from raw materials through final delivery which allows them to stay focused on product, engineering, and customers instead of execution complexity.

 Over the past year, Wootzwork has executed highly complex, cross-border manufacturing programs for more than 22 global enterprises across 12 international trade lanes spanning North America, Europe, and APAC. These include the US, UK, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand. 

 The company has activated a network of more than 300 suppliers, executing over 30 million parts and assemblies across precision components, heavy and structural fabrication, industrial fasteners and hardware, custom industrial machines, process equipment and skids, and multi-part assemblies. Programs span industries including food processing, packaging, renewable energy, data centres, automotive engineering, material handling, warehousing, and industrial hardware. Across these programs, Wootzwork has maintained greater than 98 percent on-time delivery and quality compliance under stringent international quality frameworks.

 “Even as a relatively new partner, Wootzwork moved very quickly to support us across a broad range of work, including programs tied to demanding end customers,” said Felix Franke, managing director at Saxonia-Franke GmbH & Co. KG. “Their ability to ramp up fast while maintaining quality gave us confidence early on.”

 “Working with Wootzwork has been a seamless experience,” added Curtis Bishop, director of sales at AFC Industries. “The team stands out for its responsiveness and ability to stay flexible as our requirements evolve. Their quoting process is extremely thorough, and they remain highly adaptable to our needs. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Wootzwork in 2026 and beyond.”

 Under the hood, Wootzwork overlays its proprietary engineering, governance, and execution systems on top of existing factory infrastructure, enabling manufacturing partners to operate at global standards without being replaced or rebuilt. “Scale usually breaks quality because systems don’t scale with it,” explains Himanshu Uniyal, co-founder and COO of Wootzwork. “We built the system so quality scales with execution, not against it.”

 “Wootzwork represents the kind of founder-led global ambition in advanced manufacturing that we want to back from India,” said Sudipto Sannigrahi, Managing Partner and Investor at Z47. “Karan and Himanshu have built deep execution capability in a space where trust is earned over years, not quarters. We are happy to see the AI driven manufacturing engine that Wootzwork has built and the quality of global customers they are adding value to. We’re proud to support them with patient capital, conviction, and partnership as they build a globally relevant manufacturing company.” 

 The Series A will enable Wootzwork to expand its engineering footprint, deepen its manufacturing control capabilities, and take on larger, more mission-critical OEM programs. As global supply chains continue to rebalance, the company believes the next phase of industrial manufacturing will be defined less by geography and more by who owns execution.

Texas-based firm reflects on nearly two decades of helping authors find visibility in a fast-changing media market

HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 25 — From the rise of self-publishing to growing concerns over AI-driven scams, authors today face a complex path to visibility. Ascot Media Group, now celebrating 18 years in operation, continues to work with writers across genres to help their stories reach journalists, producers and readers in an increasingly crowded media environment.

“For nearly two decades, our mission has been to help authors share their voices with the world,” said Trish Stevens, founder of Ascot Media Group. “Every story has the power to touch someone’s life. We just make sure it reaches the people who need to hear it.”

The Story Behind the Stories

Founded 18 years ago in Friendswood, Texas, Ascot Media Group has become a trusted bridge between authors and the media. From debut writers to NY Times bestselling authors and public figures, politicians, judges and celebrities, the company has helped clients across every genre find their audiences — and, in some cases, even movie deals.

“Every day, our inbox fills with fascinating people and powerful stories waiting to be told,” Stevens said. “Whatever the topic, whatever the genre, chances are we’ve worked with an author who has brought one of those stories to life.”

A Reputation Built on Access and Approachability

Behind Ascot’s success is Stevens’ belief that every author deserves a fair shot at being heard — not just those with big budgets or big names. Known for her compassion toward “struggling authors,” she offers a range of affordable publicity plans designed to meet writers where they are.

“I never want cost to be the barrier between an author and their readers,” Stevens said. “Some of our most inspiring clients started with nothing more than a manuscript and a dream of making it big.”

That approach has earned Ascot both loyalty and respect. Many authors return with every new book, and other PR firms even turn to Ascot behind the scenes to execute their campaigns — a testament to the firm’s results and professionalism.

Expanding Services for a Changing Market

In 2026, Ascot Media Group plans to expand its services to include additional support across the publishing process, such as editorial assistance, back-cover copy development, publishing guidance and audiobook production. The expansion reflects broader industry shifts as authors increasingly seek integrated support beyond traditional publicity.

Transparency in an AI Era

As AI-driven scams flood the publishing world, it’s become more important than ever for authors to do their due diligence when it comes to doing business with agents, publishers and marketing firms. Ascot Media Group stands apart because it operates with full transparency, credible testimonials (www.ascotmedia.com/testimonials) and a long track record of real results.

A Partner to the Media

With countless media relationships built over the years, Ascot remains a go-to resource for journalists and producers worldwide in search of credible guests and compelling story ideas.

“If you need stories, we have them — all of them,” Stevens said. “Because stories are what connect us, and helping share them is what drives us.”

First Dedicated Industrial-Scale Halal Baby Food Purée Facility in the GCC to be Developed within KEZAD Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Feb 25: Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group, one of the largest operators of integrated and purpose-built economic zones in the region, and Barakat Group, the UAE’s leading fresh food and juice producer, today announced the commencement of construction of a dedicated baby food manufacturing facility through Barakat Group’s joint venture with Pure Baby Food Industries, in KEZAD.

 The project marks the development of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s first industrial-scale facility dedicated exclusively to the production of baby food purées. Representing a total investment of approximately AED 150 million by the company, the facility will strengthen local food manufacturing capacity and support growing regional demand for locally produced infant nutrition.

 Once fully operational, the 10,000 sqm facility is expected to achieve an annual production capacity of 90 million units of baby food products, covering fruit and vegetable purées as well as protein-rich meat and fish baby foods. Products will be manufactured using fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish, and supplied in both pouch and glass jar formats. Selected ambient juice products will also be produced as part of the integrated operation.

 The facility is projected to create approximately 200 direct jobs, spanning manufacturing, quality assurance, food safety, logistics, and operational support roles. Additional indirect employment is expected across local supply chains, logistics, and agricultural sourcing.

 The facility is being designed as a fully halal-certified baby food manufacturing plant, applying end-to-end halal certification across the full baby food category, including protein-based meat and fish purées. This addresses a clear gap in the GCC market, where locally produced, halal-compliant protein baby foods remain limited.

 Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO of Economic Cities & Free Zones Cluster – AD Ports Group, said, “This investment reflects the scale and sophistication of food manufacturing projects now choosing KEZAD. The projected production capacity and employment impact underline how specialised manufacturing can deliver both economic value and strategic resilience within the food sector.”

 Kenneth D Costa – Managing Director, Barakat Group, said, “By expanding our production footprint into premium infant nutrition, this facility reinforces Barakat Group’s mission to nourish the ambitions of the nation. Establishing dedicated capacity within KEZAD allows us to meet regional demand efficiently while creating skilled employment and maintaining the highest standards of quality and halal compliance.”

 Designed to meet the highest international standards for food safety, quality, and traceability, the facility will prioritise nutrition, freshness, and clean-label production. It is expected to reduce reliance on imported baby food products while contributing to the development of a domestic, halal baby food manufacturing ecosystem.

 The project supports national objectives related to food security, local manufacturing, and value-added food production, and represents a significant milestone in the continued expansion of Abu Dhabi’s food processing sector within KEZAD.

Mumbai, Feb 25: Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company, and its group company, SOTC Travel, have released the inaugural edition of their Business Travel Report 2026, offering insights into­­ the evolving priorities, patterns and pressures shaping business travel across India.

The survey conducted over a two-month period, is based on responses received from 25+ leading enterprises across sectors including BFSI, manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, conglomerates and professional services, along with insights from internal booking and transactional data. The report highlights a strong revival in business travel demand, alongside a heightened focus on cost optimization, policy discipline, traveller experience and compliance.

Business Travel Trend Report 2026 key observations:

·        Business travel demand remains resilient: Nearly 65% of corporates expect their business travel volumes to increase over the next 12 months, while 30% expect it to remain stable. Only 5% anticipate a decline. This translates to 95% of respondents projecting stable-to-growth spend, underlining travel’s continued role in driving growth, client engagement and business continuity. Client meetings, sales-related travel and internal business-critical movement continue to dominate business travel demand.

·        Technology and data-led decision-making on the rise: More than 70% of corporates are increasing their reliance on digital tools for booking, approvals, expense management and MIS reporting, enabling improved visibility, policy compliance and data-backed decision-making across business travel programs.

·        Shift towards value-driven travel management: While cost optimization remains critical, over 62% of respondents highlighted a move towards value-led travel decisions — balancing cost efficiency with safety, reliability, compliance and traveller well-being. This has elevated the role of managed travel programs and strategic travel partners.

·        Traveller experience, flexibility and duty of care gain prominence: Alongside business objectives, over 56% of respondents acknowledged the growing importance of traveller experience, flexibility and duty of care — particularly for frequent flyers and senior leadership. The findings point to a clear trade-off between traveller convenience and policy compliance, underscoring the need for smarter, more flexible travel policies supported by technology and data-led controls to reduce friction while maintaining governance.

·        Policy tightening and supplier renegotiations gain momentum: Close to 60% of corporates indicated that they have tightened or are in the process of revisiting their travel policies. Renegotiation of airline and hotel contracts, rationalization of preferred suppliers and stricter approval workflows have emerged as key levers to offset rising costs and tax-related pressures.

·        B-Leisure travel on the rise: 68% of corporates report that employees are increasingly extending business trips to include personal leisure time — blending work and downtime. This growing shift is prompting organizations to reassess travel policies, clarify cost‑sharing norms and offer greater flexibility to support work‑plus‑leisure travel.

·        Domestic hubs dominate, with growth in international business travel: 72% of corporate travel continues to be domestic, led by key business hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune. These cities remain critical for client meetings, internal reviews and project-based travel. On the international front, Singapore, Thailand, Hong-Kong, Maldives, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, UK, Italy, Netherlands, USA, South Africa and Australia remain preferred destinations for leadership meetings, supplier engagements and strategic business expansion —with China and Japan emerging strongly on the radar.

·        ­­Rising airfares and costs driving sharper controls: A sharp 80% of respondents reported an increase in Average Ticket Prices (ATP) over the past year — with over 36% witnessing a significant rise of more than 15%, and 45% reporting a moderate increase of 5–15%, highlighting tighter controls, advance booking mandates and closer monitoring of travel spends.

·        GST and input tax credit challenges add pressure to travel budgets: GST-related complexities continue to weigh on business travel programs. Over 55% of respondents highlighted challenges around GST applicability, compliance and input tax credit (ITC) optimization — particularly for air travel and hotel stays. This has led corporates to increasingly seek structured invoicing, compliant supplier ecosystems and expert support to minimize leakage and improve tax efficiency.

Indiver Rastogi, President & Group Head, Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel, said,

 “We are pleased to launch the Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel Business Travel Report 2026, which presents a comprehensive view of how leading Indian corporates are recalibrating travel strategies in an increasingly dynamic environment. The findings highlight a clear shift towards value-driven programs, accelerated technology adoption and tighter governance. At Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel, our sustained engagement with customers and deep market understanding have enabled us to anticipate shifts early and introduce innovations such as Dhruv.ai, our voice-enabled AI advisor, and TravelOne, our integrated booking and management platform — helping create smarter, policy-aligned and technology-enabled travel ecosystems. As business travel continues to evolve amid economic, regulatory and technological changes, we aim to publish this report regularly to equip industry stakeholders with actionable insights that support informed, future-ready decision-making.”

Head of Business Development at RAKEZ, Holly Garforth (L), during the panel at BCCD’s London event

Ras Al Khaimah, Feb 25: A high-level delegation from Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) visited the United Kingdom, engaging British investors and reinforcing its position as a strategic gateway to the UAE and wider regional markets. The economic zone’s representatives met with investors, industry leaders, and business stakeholders across London and Manchester.

In London, RAKEZ sponsored the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai’s (BCCD) business briefing titled ‘Doing Business in Dubai and Northern Emirates’, which brought together British investors exploring opportunities in the Middle East. During the session, Holly Garforth, Head of Business Development at RAKEZ, joined a panel discussion to provide practical insights on setting up and relocating businesses within Ras Al Khaimah’s plug-and-play ecosystem.

The roadshow continued in Manchester, where the RAKEZ delegation took part in discussions on Making the Right Business Setup Choice in the UAE.

Across both cities, the team conducted targeted B2B meetings with stakeholders from the advanced manufacturing, supply chain, and professional services sectors.

Commenting on the roadshow, RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “The UK continues to be a priority market for RAKEZ, with strong interest from British companies seeking scalable, cost-effective bases for regional and global expansion. Our presence in London and Manchester allowed us to engage directly with decision-makers, understand their ambitions, and demonstrate how Ras Al Khaimah offers the infrastructure, regulatory clarity, and connectivity needed to grow with confidence.”

RAKEZ is home to more than 3,600 British investors operating across SME and industrial sectors. Established British companies at RAKEZ include Ahmad Tea, A2C, Spatial Composite, Polar Manufacturing, Green Rock Manufacturing Group, and Waste to Wonder, operating across sectors such as tea production, aircraft cabin crew training simulators, carbon fibre manufacturing, sustainable packaging, circular economy-led remanufacturing, and social enterprise initiatives. Their continued growth highlights Ras Al Khaimah’s appeal as a reliable base for scale, export-oriented operations, and long-term investment.

The UK roadshow forms part of RAKEZ’s ongoing international outreach efforts to deepen commercial ties, attract quality investment, and further strengthen the economic bridge between Ras Al Khaimah and the United Kingdom.

Guwahati, Feb 25: Royaloak Furniture, India’s No. 1 furniture brand, has expanded its retail presence with the launch of its second flagship store in Dharapur, Guwahati, Assam. The new store showcases the brand’s premium international furniture collections and reinforces its commitment to delivering high-quality home furnishing solutions in Northeast India.

The store was inaugurated in the presence of distinguished guests including Nishita Goswami, Actress; Vijai Subramaniam, Chairman, Royaloak Incorporation Pvt. Ltd.; and Mathan Subramaniam, Managing Director.

Spread across 18,500 square feet, the store offers a comprehensive range of furniture for living rooms, bedrooms, dining spaces, study and office areas, outdoor settings, home décor, and mattresses. The expansion is expected to generate employment opportunities and strengthen partnerships with local vendors and stakeholders.

Speaking at the launch, Chairman Vijai Subramaniam said the company remains committed to expanding its footprint and delivering international-quality furniture at affordable prices while enhancing customer experience in emerging markets.

Royaloak Furniture is India’s No. 1 furniture brand, offering modern and luxurious furnishings for every home. Founded in 2010, the company operates over 200 stores across India and the UAE and provides more than 10,000 products sourced from 12 countries. Known for its innovative, multi-functional, and ergonomic designs, Royaloak delivers international-quality furniture using durable and sustainable materials such as Sheesham and engineered wood.