Google has released its annual ranking of Play Store’s best apps, games, movies, books and audiobooks of 2019.

Best AppAblo, a chat service that lets you connect, discover, and have one-on-one conversations with friends from around the world, is Google Play’s Best App of 2019.

Other local app-nominees in the User’s Choice category were Meesho, OKCredit, Shilpa Shetty - Fitness/Yoga, Vedantu, Live Line, and Hike.

Best User’s Choice GameCall of Duty was declared the best gaming app by users in India and across the globe.

Best Users’ Choice MovieThere are hardly any surprises on this front! | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1576461610.2759407/Meet-Google-Play's-best-apps,-games,-and-movies-of-2019?ref=audio_experience

We developed StartUp Mindset to help entrepreneurs and anyone else who wants to succeed in business.

You’ll find information, tools, resources, motivation and a ton of other goodies to spark your Startup mindset.

Subscribe by email so you will be the first to get the latest updates on everything you need to grow your business! | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1576459812.1590738/5-Ways-Insurance-Companies-Can-Enhance-Customer-Experience?ref=audio_experience

However, instant personal loans are often proposed with high-interest rates or in other words, banks tend to exploit the urgent need of the borrower.

This type of loan does not come with high-interest rates, so other than a personal loan, it could be your first go-to option.

Loan Against SecurityOne more solution to your instant cash need is to avail of a loan by pledging against your shares or mutual funds or even insurance policies as collateral.

Loan Against Your VehicleAnother swift way to get you the desired funds is by applying for instant funds against your vehicle.

If you carry a good credit score, then you can apply for an instant personal loan. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1576458008.0735967/Things-to-Do-When-You-Urgently-Need-a-Loan?ref=audio_experience

Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation.

In the earlier 415 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery.

world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.

Spread across more than 15 venues, the fourth edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival (SAF) brings eight days of creativity to Panaji, Goa.

See our interview with Smriti Rajgarhia, Director, Serendipity Arts Foundation, as well as curator insights and our earlier photo essay from the festival launch. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1576456207.0596266/Local-technology,-ingredients-and-art:-Serendipity-Arts-Festival-2019-highlights-Indian-innovations-and-cultur?ref=audio_experience

Founded in January this year in Puducherry, Leap Club is an online marketplace for products that are environmentally friendly and ethically produced.

Their focus is to create an environment of mass appeal for their products, currently viewed as a “niche category”.

“We want to nudge consumer behaviour towards these products,” Shubham says.

Leap Club is also looking at partnering with a few retail stores where their products can be placed.

“We need to generate enough value for these brands,” Shubham says. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1576454409.2966826/These-IIT-Delhi-alumni-want-their-online-marketplace-to-create-mass-appeal-for-niche-eco-friendly-products?ref=audio_experience

Last month, Realme stepped into the “flagship” territory with the Realme X2 Pro.

The X2 Pro runs ColorOS 6.1 that is based on Android 9 Pie.

Best-in-class design and displayThe X2 Pro comes in two eye-catching colours - Lunar White and Neptune Blue.

But the Realme X2 Pro could rank an undisputed second.

Final verdictRealme has now officially joined the affordable flagship territory with the X2 Pro. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1576453900.331221/The-Realme-X2-Pro-ticks-most-boxes-in-the-‘affordable-flagship’-smartphone-segment?ref=audio_experience

We bring to you the latest edition of movers and shakers of the week in the Indian startup ecosystem.

Here’s a look at the other important movers and shakers of the weekMyGate Strengthens Leadership TeamBengaluru-based security management app for gated communities, MyGate, has appointed Diwesh Sahai, Praveen Boda, and Mansur Nazimuddin as head of technology, head of finance and compliance, and head of products respectively.

He would be responsible for driving the engineering efforts and will be working with cofounder and chief technology officer Shreyans Daga.

He brings over 25 years of experience in strategic sales, marketing plus product & business model innovation across medical devices, pharmaceutical, healthcare, among others.

Stay tuned for the next edition of Movers and Shakers of the week! | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1576452084.4695752/Movers-And-Shakers-Of-The-Week-[Dec-9-Dec-14]?ref=audio_experience

To help assist senior leaders with creating an AI strategy, five key components provide a blueprint for successful AI adoption: strategy, structure, systems, skills, and staff.

In addition to internal activities, AI strategy must also focus on developing ecosystems of external partners.

Without this critical building block for training AI solutions, the reliability, validity, and business value of any AI solution is likely to be limited.

Setting up a technical architecture that can act as a sandbox to pilot and calibrate AI solutions before you launch it into production is an essential component in a firm’s AI strategy.

Finally, having a defined plan to attract and nurture AI talent will allow an organization to retain people with the skill, intelligence, imagination, and understanding to create AI solutions that give it a competitive advantage. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1576449006.0575254/5-areas-of-focus-when-adopting-AI-in-your-organization?ref=audio_experience

But the Oyo brand, like most brands today, has also taken a bit of a battering in social spheres.

We are the Brand & Design team.

While a lot of organizations have created in-house creative structures, they become extensions to marketing teams.

And we work with various agencies as an extension of our creative team.

I can't think of another in-house team around the world that has the depth and width of capabilities and the responsibility that the Oyo Brand & Design team has. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1576448492.9674935/What's-inside-Oyo's-'Raho-Mast'-campaign??ref=audio_experience

Campaigns become relevant and necessary only when there is a specific message to convey to the larger audience.

It is that need to communicate which determines the timing of a brand campaign.

The largest and fastest-growing segment of the market is always the one where a new product or service can make it far more affordable than before.

On a lighter note, I don't think the "middle and upper layers of the market" are keen to waste their hard-earned money either!

( Aditya Ghosh, CEO, India & SA, Oyo Hotels and Homes has recently been elevated and will join Oyo's Board of Directors on 1st January 2020.) | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1576446667.502937/Low-cost-does-not-mean-low-quality:-Oyo's-Aditya-Ghosh?ref=audio_experience