Category: Business

  • Mitsubishi Logisnext Asia Pacific Rebrands as Logisnext to Boost Logistics Leadership

  • Slice Appoints Ex-SBI GM Sreedevi Pillai to Board

    Mar 12: slice has appointed Sreedevi Pillai, former Chief General Manager – Risk Management at State Bank of India (SBI), as an Independent Director to its Bank Board.

    Slice Appoints Ex-SBI GM Sreedevi Pillai to Board

     Mrs. Pillai brings 36 years of banking leadership experience, most of it at SBI, where she oversaw Operational Risk Management, Fraud Prevention and Monitoring, and Enterprise & Group Risk Management across the bank and its group entities. During her tenure, she led the development of fraud detection frameworks that placed SBI among the first large commercial banks in India to deploy such sophisticated capabilities at scale.

     
    Her appointment comes as slice strengthens its institutional governance and risk foundations, befitting a bank with long-term growth ambitions.
     
    “We are glad to welcome Mrs. Pillai to the Board,” said Rajan Bajaj, MD & CEO, slice. “Building right from the very beginning and without compromise is what we’re trying to do with slice. And to be able to do that well for not a few, but everyone demands the kind of governance and risk expertise that only comes from leading institutions at scale. Mrs. Pillai has done exactly that. Her deep experience in operational risk, fraud oversight, and enterprise risk management at India’s largest bank makes her a tremendous addition to our Board. We are fortunate to have her with us as we build for a future where banking is delightful for every customer.”
    “I am honored to join the Board of slice at this important stage of its evolution,” said Sreedevi Pillai, Independent Director, slice. “The bank’s commitment to building a transparent, digitally driven, and inclusive banking platform aligns strongly with the evolving landscape of responsible finance in India. I look forward to working closely with Rajan, the leadership team, and the Board to contribute to robust governance, prudent risk management, and sustainable growth.”
    Mrs. Pillai holds an MSc in Mathematics from St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, and holds the FRM and SCR professional certifications from the Global Association of Risk Professionals, USA.
  • Nestlé Purina India Expands Cat Range with Felix Gravy Lover & Pro Plan

    Nestlé House,  Mar 12: Nestlé Purina, a global leader in pet nutrition, announced the launch of Felix Gravy Lover and Pro Plan Cat in India, strengthening its presence in the rapidly growing cat food segment.

    Nestlé Purina India strengthens its Cat Portfolio with launch of Felix Gravy Lover and Pro Plan Cat

    Designed to address the growing need for high quality nutrition and hydration, Felix Gravy Lover offers cats a tasty and nourishing wet food experience. The range delivers highest crude protein levels in the category. Felix Gravy is now available in four variants – Chicken, Salmon, Tuna and Mackerel across leading pet stores and major e commerce platforms at a price point of INR 55 per pouch.

    Commenting on the launch, Ms. Pallavi Anand, Head, Purina India, said,

    “The cat food segment in India is growing a rapid pace, driven by rising cat adoptions and pet parents seeking specialized, science-backed nutrition along with greater variety and taste for their cats. With Felix Gravy and Pro Plan Cat, we are combining great taste along with advanced nutrition and scientific expertise to meet evolving feline needs and power the next phase of category growth in India.”

    With the launch of Pro Plan Cat, Purina enters the advanced, science led nutrition segment for cats in India. This range includes Kitten and Adult variants as well as a specialized range including Urinary Care, Hairball control, Indoor and Sterilcat, addressing specific health and lifestyle needs for cats.

    The launch is being supported by a robust demand generation plan, including high impact communication built on the brand’s core proposition – So tasty, cats will do anything for Felix! This will be amplified through an influencer led digital campaign to drive awareness and consideration. In addition, the brand will have extensive visibility at the point of sale, ensuring strong in store presence and standout shelf impact.

  • Ajmer-Based Clean-Label Brand Everaw Nutrition Appears on Shark Tank India Season 5

    Everaw Founders
     
    Mar 12: Rajasthan, Everaw Nutrition, an Ajmer-based clean-label nutrition brand building in the children’s food industry, appeared on Shark Tank India Season 5, Episode 42, which aired on March 3, 2026, on Sony Entertainment Television and SonyLIV. Co-founded by Lucky Soni, Yash Soni, and Kanika Kishnani, the brand presented a simple proposition to the Sharks: food that children enjoy and parents can unconditionally trust.
     

    Everaw was built around a gap the founders saw clearly. India’s children’s snack and nutrition market is crowded with products that compromise on ingredients the moment convenience or taste is prioritized. The brand’s answer is an all-natural range that makes no such trade-off. At the core of every Everaw product is freeze-drying, one of the most effective preservation techniques available, which locks in nutrition without preservatives or artificial ingredients.

    “It’s simple – we wanted to build absolutely clean products that kids enjoy and parents trust,” said Lucky Soni, Co-founder, Everaw Nutrition.

    The brand’s product range spans India’s first fruit and superfood-infused nut spreads, single ingredient classic spreads made with activated nuts, and freeze-dried whole fruit snacks, each made with a handful of real ingredients and nothing more.

    “Growing up, our mothers would soak almonds overnight before giving them to us. There’s real science behind that simple practice, and that’s exactly what we do at Everaw – activated nuts, done right,”  said Yash Soni, Co-founder, Everaw Nutrition.

    Everaw’s appearance on Shark Tank India Season 5 (Sony Entertainment Television / SonyLIV) marks a significant milestone for a brand building out of a Tier-2 city. For the founders, Ajmer is not a limitation – it’s a strategic advantage. The region’s climate and agricultural proximity align naturally with the brand’s clean-label sourcing philosophy, and the team sees their small-city roots as proof that transformative ideas in nutrition need not originate from a metro.

    “This space is ripe for disruption and we’re proud to be building from a small city like Ajmer, making the most of home ground advantage, ” said Kanika Kishnani, Co-founder, Everaw Nutrition.

    The feature is part of a broader effort to build generational awareness around what honest children’s nutrition can look like, and to demonstrate that a brand built from Ajmer can compete on a national stage.

  • Startups Hit Growth Wall Without Strong People Systems

    Authoured Article

     By:-Founder Led to System Led: How the MSME India Network Helps Startups Build Strong Teams

    In the early days of a startup, speed feels like the only advantage that matters. Founders hire quickly, ship fast, solve problems in real time, and keep the culture “organic.” It works. Until it doesn’t.

    Somewhere between 15 and 30 employees, many startups hit an invisible wall. Execution slows down. Good people get confused. Roles overlap. Managers are promoted too early. Feedback becomes emotional. Hiring turns into a gamble. And the founder becomes the default problem solver again.

    That moment is not a strategy problem. It is a people systems problem.

    Shailesh Kantak, a leadership and people systems coach and the Founder of the MSME India Network (MINT), has spent years working closely with businesses at this exact stage. “Most founders don’t fail because they lack ambition,” he says. “They get stuck because the business is still running on personal control instead of repeatable people systems.”

    The real startup bottleneck is not funding, it is team design

    Startups are built on intensity. But intensity cannot replace clarity forever. When a team grows, informal coordination stops working. What the business needs next is simple structure, with human warmth intact.

    Strong people systems do not mean corporate HR. They mean clear roles, clear expectations, clear rhythms, and clear leadership habits. They help a founder move from firefighting to direction setting.

    A few people systems that decide whether a startup scales smoothly or stalls:

    • A hiring system that filters for skill and attitude, not just speed

    • Role clarity that removes confusion and prevents silent resentment

    • Performance rhythms like weekly check ins and monthly reviews that keep work visible

    • Feedback habits that are respectful, specific, and consistent

    • Culture practices that are designed, not left to chance

    “When these systems are missing, even a great team starts underperforming,” says Shailesh. “And the founder starts feeling like the only dependable person in the room.”

    Enter MSME India Network, a community built for founders who want a self running team

    The MSME India Network is a learning and implementation community designed for Indian startup founders and MSME business owners who want to build strong teams and scale without founder dependence.

    MINT is built around one core idea. The business should not wait for the founder.

    It helps members escape what the community calls the Founder’s Trap, where the founder is involved in every decision, every follow up, and every escalation. Over time, this trap limits growth and drains energy.

    MINT’s mission is to help founders build leadership capability and people systems that scale. Its long term goal is to enable a community of 25,000 plus MSME business owners by 2030, and help them build organisations that are stable, values driven, and execution strong.

    How the community works

    MINT is not a passive content library. It is structured around participation, reflection, and action.

    Here is what members typically experience inside the community:

    1) Clarity sessions that start with the founder
    Founders begin by building personal and leadership clarity. This creates better decision making and steadier leadership behaviour. “If the founder is unclear, the team will always feel unclear,” says Kantak.

    2) Practical frameworks for building people systems
    Members learn a simple people systems framework that covers the full journey of team building. Attracting the right talent, hiring with structure, nurturing culture, enabling learning and growth, and building engagement through ownership.

    3) Templates, playbooks, and implementation support
    This is where most founders feel relief. Instead of starting from scratch, they get tools they can apply immediately. Job description formats, interview scorecards, role clarity sheets, feedback frameworks, performance check in guides, and simple dashboards.

    4) Community learning formats that drive action
    MINT runs hackathons, bootcamps, and guided sprints where members work on one system at a time. The environment encourages sharing, accountability, and real progress.

    A member founder from a services startup recently described the shift in one line, “I stopped chasing my team for updates because the weekly rhythm did it for me.”

    Why this matters for startups right now

    Startup ecosystems celebrate product, growth, and capital. But people systems often get treated as a later stage concern. In reality, people systems are a growth lever from day one.

    Startups compete for talent, and retention is fragile. A strong engineer or a strong sales performer will not stay in a workplace that feels chaotic or unclear. Shailesh puts it plainly. “Good people don’t leave loudly. They leave slowly, in their effort first, and then with their resignation.”

    The earlier startups design their people systems, the faster they can grow without breaking culture, quality, or founder health.

    A founder profile that explains why this community is built differently

    Shailesh Kantak is not building MINT from theory. He is the Founder and CEO of Flexi Ventures Pvt. Ltd., an HR Consulting and Talent Acquisition firm founded in 2014. Over the years, he has worked closely with business owners and leadership teams across industries, helping them solve people challenges on the ground.

    That experience shaped MINT’s tone and design. Practical, founder friendly, and rooted in what actually works inside Indian startups.

    “Founders don’t need motivation,” says Shailesh. “They need a clear path. They need systems that reduce dependence. And they need a community that keeps them honest about implementation.”

    The bigger vision

    MINT is ultimately a movement to make Indian startups and MSMEs stronger from the inside. Not only through strategy and sales, but through leadership behaviour, team capability, and repeatable people systems.

    For founders who want to scale, this is the quiet work that changes everything. When people systems are strong, execution becomes predictable. Culture becomes intentional. Teams become dependable. And founders finally get space to think, build, and lead.

    As Shailesh says, “The goal is not to work less. The goal is to stop being the system.”

  • CERo Therapeutics Provides Shareholder Update

    SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 11, 2026 — CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: CERO) (“CERo” or the “Company”), an innovative cellular immunotherapy company pursuing new targets and novel phagocytic mechanism, provides an update through the letter to stockholders and stakeholders from CEO Chris Ehrlich:

    To our stockholders and stakeholders:

    Following our recent Form 8-K filing confirming receipt of convertible debt funding to support current operations, we believe it is an appropriate time to provide an update on CERo Therapeutics’ operational and scientific progress. Over the past six months, the Company has advanced its clinical development activities, engaged in strategic discussions, and continued to manage resources with fiscal discipline.

     

    During this period, we have progressed the development of our lead candidate, CER-1236, including observations consistent with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile to date, across multiple treated patients. We have also observed biologic activity consistent with the mechanism of the therapy, including approximately 20–70-fold cell expansion, peaking between days 7–14 and followed by continued persistence as measured in peripheral blood. These early observations contribute to our understanding of CER-1236 and support continued clinical evaluation of the program.

    Notably, in the second patient treated in our ongoing Phase I study, we observed an interval of apparent disease stability during which the patient’s disease progression and requirement for platelet transfusion support did not increase following multiple infusions of CER-1236. While this is an early observation from a single patient and Phase I studies are primarily designed to evaluate safety, we believe the clinical course of this patient is noteworthy.  This patient had previously been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a disorder of the bone marrow that can progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

     

    The emerging clinical observations provide an early signal that supports continued investigation of CER-1236. These data are helping guide the Company’s ongoing development strategy, including exploration of dosing approaches and patient selection in future cohorts.

    While CER-1236 demonstrated activity across multiple tumor models during preclinical development, the observations to date in the MDS setting highlight a potentially important area for further study. We believe these early findings may also support future discussions with potential strategic partners regarding the continued development of the program.

    Progress in Phase 1 Clinical Trial and Strategic Focus on MDS
    We recently announced data from our ongoing CERTAIN-T Phase 1 clinical trial that reflects the Company’s current development approach for our lead compound, CER-1236. Based in part on early clinical observations in a patient with MDS, a disorder of the bone marrow that can precede AML, the Company has refined its development strategy to increase focus on enrolling patients with MDS while maintaining optionality in AML.

    This strategic refinement was informed in part by observations from a patient who received four infusions of CER-1236 over approximately five months at the lowest dose level in the study.

    As previously announced, prior to receiving CER-1236 the patient required frequent platelet transfusions. During the period following treatment in the study, the patient experienced an interval of platelet transfusion independence lasting more than two months, exceeding the commonly referenced ≥56-day durability benchmark used in MDS studies.

    The Company is actively seeking to enroll additional patients with similar clinical characteristics to further evaluate this observation. If similar findings are observed in additional patients, these data may help inform future discussions with regulatory authorities and potential strategic partners regarding the continued development of CER-1236.

    To date, the Company has initiated the second cohort of the trial, and two additional patients have recently undergone apheresis, a procedure in which blood cells are collected to manufacture CER-1236 for each individual patient. The Company plans to initiate dosing for these patients during March and April.

    Pursuing a Strategy to List on a Major Exchange
    Re-establishing our listing on a major exchange remains one of our key priorities.  To that end, we have engaged with an investment bank to raise capital and pursue a strategy intended to support a potential relisting on the Nasdaq Capital Market.  We believe that our new partner’s institutional relationships and sector expertise align well with our goal of raising sufficient capital in a disciplined manner while attracting longer-term, knowledgeable investors who are familiar with the clinical development landscape and strategic direction. In addition, we are considering other potential paths for relisting on a national securities exchange, including potential business combinations with listed companies, which may include a reverse merger or a business combination with a special purpose acquisition company.

    Continued Funding Support
    As recently disclosed, as we pursue new financing opportunities and seek to relist on Nasdaq, our lead investor continues to support CERo’s operations through investments in convertible debt. Their commitment to CERo has enabled us  to sustain operations and advance our clinical programs. We believe our clinical development and focus on our financing efforts and strategy for relisting on Nasdaq will be beneficial to all CERo stockholders and are grateful for the continued confidence our loyal stockholder base.

    Strategic Discussions Regarding Early Data Readouts
    We continue to engage in ongoing discussions with potential strategic partners following the most recent data readouts, as is regularly seen in the biotech industry. While these  conversations are encouraging, they remain at an early stage and have not resulted in formal agreements. We believe the evolution of our strategy and growing dataset may catalyze future conversations. To the extent permitted under applicable law and contractual obligations, we expect to provide further updates to stockholders should any of these discussions advance in a manner that materially impacts the Company.

    Board Expansion – Appointment of Eric Francois
    Finally, we recently announced that Eric Francois joined our board of directors.  Eric brings decades of experience in life sciences finance, capital markets, and corporate development, including deep expertise in capital raising, M&A, and strategic partnerships.  His involvement with the Company is among multiple catalysts that, we believe, will positively impact CERo in the months to come.  Eric was instrumental in our discussions with our new investment bank and is already assisting with other potential funding opportunities, operational improvements, and external viewpoints on the Company’s next phase of growth.

    Dedicated, Engaged Professionals Working Together to Achieve Success
    It should never go without saying that CERo’s world class team – employees, partners, consultants, and advisors – all remain focused and excited about achieving the common goal of improved patient care and improving patients’ lives through innovative clinical development.  Despite challenges that might have derailed other companies several times over, the CERo team has continued to perform with enthusiasm toward the achievement of bringing CER-1236 to the next inflection point and beyond.

    Our take-home message is clear:  CERo is operational, continuing to advance our clinical programs, and generally building momentum. We are committed to transparent communication, and we look forward to sharing the outcomes of each of our ongoing activities in the future. We thank you for your continued support and confidence in our novel approach to treatment and our leadership.

    Sincerely,
    Chris Ehrlich
    CEO
    CERo Therapeutics

  • Fitell Announces Corporate Name and Ticker Changes and Rebranding to GMEX Robotics

    Company extends its consumer-first foundation beyond fitness equipment e-commerce into the design and deployment of AI-powered robotics and intelligent consumer technologies

    Sydney, Australia, March 11, 2026 — In a move that redefines its corporate identity and market trajectory, Fitell Corporation (NASDAQ: FTEL) (“Fitell”, “GMEX Robotics” or the “Company”) today announces its rebranding to GMEX Robotics. The rebrand reflects a deliberate strategic evolution of the Company’s mission, extending its consumer-first foundation beyond fitness equipment e-commerce into the design and deployment of AI-powered robotics and intelligent consumer technologies.

    “This rebrand is a revolution in our ambition, but an evolution of our expertise,” said Sam Lu, GMEX Robotics CEO. “As Fitell, we built a robust operation centered on consumer needs. As GMEX Robotics, we amplify that focus by applying advanced artificial intelligence and robotics to solve real human problems. Our fitness and health division remains a vital part of our operations; it is our testing ground and our inspiration. It ensures that as we build sophisticated robots, we never lose sight of the human they are designed to serve.”

    The Company filed its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association in accordance with the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended) and, effective March 2, 2026, completed its legal name change to “GMEX ROBOTICS CORPORATION ” pursuant to such filing (the “Name Change“). In connection with the Name Change, the Company will also change its ticker symbol on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Nasdaq”) from “FTEL” to “GMEX” (the “Ticker Change“).

    The Company’s Class A ordinary shares (“Ordinary Shares“) are expected to commence trading on the Nasdaq under the new corporate name and new ticker symbol as early as market open on March 12th, 2026. In connection with the name and ticker changes, the Company’s CUSIP number will remain unchanged. No action is required by existing shareholders, nor will any certificates representing Ordinary Shares need to be exchanged.

    The rebrand reflects the next phase of the company’s long-term vision. Effective immediately, GMEX Robotics will focus on designing, manufacturing, and commercializing AI-driven robotic solutions for the consumer market, building on its foundation of expertise in fitness and health products. This shift represents the Company’s commitment to leading the next technological wave, where intelligent machines become an integral part of daily life. Rather than a wholesale departure from its roots, GMEX Robotics will continue to operate its existing fitness and health-related product business, which remains the crucial operational foundation for future growth. This legacy vertical functions as a hands-on laboratory for understanding human movement, ergonomics, and daily routines. The deep understanding of consumer wellness garnered through years of serving the fitness market will directly inform the design and development of the Company’s next generation robotic products.

    GMEX Robotics will focus its efforts on three primary pillars:

    1. Consumer and Commercial Robotics: Developing intuitive and interactive robots designed to assist with daily tasks, provide smart home integration, and offer new levels of convenience and connectivity to boost productivity.
    2. AI-Driven Hardware: Embedding advanced artificial intelligence into physical products to create self-learning and adaptive user experiences.
    3. Innovation & Ecosystem: Building a robust ecosystem of robotic products that communicate and evolve, powered by proprietary AI algorithms.

    While the Company’s history in the fitness sector provides a strong foundation in logistics, supply chain management, and consumer engagement, GMEX Robotics is now engineered for a different market. The Company is actively assembling a new leadership team and technical workforce specializing in mechatronics, computer vision, and machine learning to drive this ambitious agenda.

    The transition from Fitell to GMEX Robotics signifies the close of one chapter and the exciting, bold beginning of another. The Company invites investors, innovators, and consumers to join them as they build the intelligent future.

  • Oil Remains Volatile as Supply Risks Persist Ahead of Potential Strategic Reserve Release

    Today’s markets analysis on behalf of Zaheer Anwari – Co-Founder and CEO at The Revacy Fund

    Oil prices remained volatile and moved higher today, although they continue to trade well below the peak reached earlier in the week. The market remains highly sensitive to developments in the Middle East, where elevated geopolitical tensions continue to expose energy infrastructure and shipping routes to significant risks.

    Supply conditions have already tightened, as production in parts of the region has been curtailed due to limited storage capacity and difficulties in exporting crude amid shipping constraints. While some volumes have been redirected through pipelines, these alternatives could remain insufficient to fully offset the loss of maritime transport, leaving export capacity below normal levels.

    At the same time, a coordinated release of strategic petroleum reserves by G7 countries could help ease immediate shortage concerns and stabilize prices. Additional measures, including insurance coverage for tankers and the use of military escorts, could support the resumption of shipments. If implemented effectively, these steps may limit further upside in oil and could lead to renewed downside pressure as supply fears begin to ease.

    From a technical perspective, the reversal this week has brought oil prices back into a consolidation range, close to the levels observed for much of the period since 2023. Given the current conditions, caution remains prevalent regarding oil, while a clearer directional trend would typically be required before increasing allocation.

  • Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 Uncovers Vulnerability in Google Chrome’s Gemini AI Panel

    Unit 42 has identified and responsibly disclosed a high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2026-0628) affecting “Gemini Live in Chrome,” Google Chrome’s AI-powered side panel.

    At a high level, the issue involved a privilege escalation or “privilege jump.” Chrome extensions typically operate within defined permission boundaries. However, Unit 42 found that a malicious extension could manipulate how the Gemini web app was loaded inside Chrome’s AI side panel — a browser environment that operates with higher privileges than a standard web tab.

    Because the Gemini panel is treated as a trusted browser surface, influencing what loads inside it could allow an extension-controlled payload to execute in a more powerful context than the extension itself was granted.

    How it worked: Privilege Escalation via AI Side Panels

    The vulnerability allowed a malicious browser extension — even one with basic host permissions — to interfere with the Gemini Live side panel. Researchers found the extension could leverage Chrome’s request-modification capabilities to intercept and alter resources associated with the Gemini web application. This issue applied only when Gemini was accessed through the side panel, not a regular browser tab.

    When loaded in the side panelGemini runs within a more privileged browser process, tightly integrated with browser features and granted enhanced capabilities that ordinary web pages do not have.

    Due to how requests and content embedding were implemented, an extension permitted to interact with the Gemini domain could intercept and modify JavaScript resources before they were rendered in the panel. In effect, attacker-controlled code could be injected into content executing inside the panel’s higher-trust environment.

    The extension itself did not gain new permissions. Instead, it manipulated the content pipeline feeding a privileged component. Because that component already had elevated capabilities, the injected code effectively “rode along” into a more powerful execution context — creating the privilege jump.

    A successful exploit of CVE-2026-0628 could have enabled an attacker to:

    • Access local files and directories
    • Capture screenshots of browsing sessions
    • Activate camera and microphone capabilities without appropriate awareness
    • Execute phishing attacks within the trusted Gemini interface

    The attack required no additional user interaction beyond installing a malicious extension and opening the Gemini panel.

    Remediation and Protection

    Palo Alto Networks notified Google on Oct. 23, 2025. Google confirmed the findings and released a fix in early January 2026.

    Anupam Upadhyaya, SVP, Product Management, Prisma SASE, Palo Alto Networks, said, “Today’s agentic browsers can act on your behalf — researching, reasoning and taking action without direct user input. While this can deliver meaningful productivity gains, in the absence of enterprise-grade controls these tools can take autonomous actions beyond IT oversight. By inheriting a user’s browser session and accessing screens, files, cameras and microphones, agentic browsers can expand the attack surface through prompt manipulation and weakened web isolation, creating security and accountability gaps enterprises haven’t faced before.

    The research highlights a broader architectural lesson: as AI becomes embedded into core browser components, strict isolation between extension-controlled content and privileged AI surfaces is essential to preserving the browser’s security model.

  • Pasco County’s Only World Class Color Guard Launches Community Fundraiser to Reach International Stage

    Pasco County’s Only World Class Color Guard Launches Community Fundraiser to Reach International Stage

    Land O’ Lakes, Fla. Mar 11th: As they prepare to compete among the best in their sport, the Sunlake World Guard is calling on the community for support through an online silent auction running March 13-21. Representing Sunlake High School in Land O’ Lakes, they are Pasco County’s only Scholastic World Class-ranked team, competing at the most elite level for high school students.

     
    The fundraiser comes at a pivotal point in the season as the team works to secure resources needed to travel to the Winter Guard International (WGI) World Championships in Dayton, Ohio, this April. Funds raised will support travel, lodging, and competition expenses for the 14-member team as they represent Pasco County on the international stage. Auction items and bidding details will be available at https://airauctioneer.com/sunlake-worldguard-auction-2026.
     
    “This opportunity is something our students have earned through months of hard work and commitment,” said Brandon Arehart, director of Sunlake World Guard.Community support helps ensure they can take their place in Dayton and represent Pasco County at the highest level.”
     
    In addition to the online auction, the community is invited to support the team by attending Sunlake High School’s Friends & Family Show at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 23, in Land O’ Lakes, where the Sunlake World Guard will take the floor. The event will also showcase performances by the Sunlake Juniors, the Sunlake A Guard, the Sunlake Indoor Percussion Ensemble, and other area teams. Donations will be accepted at the door.
     
    Currently ranked No. 4 in Florida and among the top 25 Scholastic World Class teams in the nation, Sunlake World Guard began their competitive winter season in January. This year’s performance, “The Blue Bird Cried,” is inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
     
    In the coming weeks, the team also will perform on March 14-15 at the WGI Regional competition in Stuart, Fla., and on April 3 at the Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit (FFCC) State Championships in Orlando, before traveling to Dayton.
     
    Winter guard is an indoor performance sport that combines dance, theater, and equipment work with flags, rifles, and sabres. Scholastic World Class teams are judged on their precision, artistry, and overall performance.