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Tag: ad agency

  • ting ropes in industry veteran Govind Shahi to supercharge global expansion

    ting ropes in industry veteran Govind Shahi to supercharge global expansion

    MUMBAI: ting, the India-based advertising agency known for its bold, data-driven marketing, is going global – and it’s bringing in the big guns. The agency has appointed industry veteran Govind Shahi as an advisor and consultant, a strategic move designed to turbocharge its international ambitions in the UK and UAE.

    Govind Shahi, a seasoned leader with a stellar record of scaling businesses worldwide, will steer ting’s global expansion, leveraging his expertise in cross-border growth and strategic alliances. 

    “I’m thrilled to join ting at this pivotal moment,” said Govind. “The agency’s strong foundation in creativity and performance-driven marketing presents an exciting opportunity to introduce its services to global brands. I look forward to working with the talented team at ting to craft expansion strategies that align with market needs and drive sustainable success.”

    Already known for its high-impact campaigns that blend creativity, technology, and data analytics, ting is set to build on its existing international footprint. Business heads Anirudh Ramanathan and Dhawal Shah will lead the UK and UAE markets, while Govind’s strategic guidance is expected to open new doors and deepen ting’s international influence.

    “Govind’s joining marks a bold step forward in our ambition to take ting global. His deep understanding of international markets paired with our creative and performance DNA sets the stage for meaningful global impact,” said ting partner Sudharshan Anandkumar.

    “We’re excited to partner with Govind Shahi to lead ting’s international business across the UK and UAE. With his depth of experience and proven track record, we’re confident he will add considerable value to our growing global ambitions,” added another ting partner Manan Vora.

    Third ting partner Aadil Mehta said, “This is a significant step forward for Ting as we continue to expand into global markets. Mr. Govind, a true veteran in our industry, brings invaluable experience and expertise to the table. We are both delighted and excited about this development, as it marks a new chapter in Ting’s growth and opportunities on the global stage.”

    As ting takes its signature blend of innovation and strategy to the world, brands can expect a bold new player on the global advertising stage.

  • Publicis powers ahead with a pitch-perfect Q1

    Publicis powers ahead with a pitch-perfect Q1

    MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe has come out swinging in 2025, delivering a knockout first quarter with organic growth clockin

    g in at a robust 4.9 per cent and net revenue up 9.4 per cent. Not too shabby in a jittery global economy.
    Despite storm clouds on the macro front, the Paris-based ad titan bagged a record haul of new business—about a dozen juicy wins—keeping the growth engine humming and the champagne flowing. 

    Publicis now confidently reaffirms full-year guidance of four to five  per cent organic growth and a tidy €1.9–€2.0bn in free cash flow (before working capital shifts).

    Since January, the group has splashed out €500m on M&A, snapping up assets in data, digital media and influencer marketing. That war chest spending cements its self-styled “Category of One” status, a blend of consultancy cool and creative chops.

    “We’ve never been in a stronger position to help our clients, in the good times, and even more importantly, in the challenging ones.,” said chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun, who’s clearly in campaign mode. “Thanks to our unrivalled identity graph and 25,000 engineers, we’re future-proofing clients in the AI era while helping them spend smarter and grow faster.”

    Publicis continues to punch above its weight, proudly touting an industry-high margin of 18 per cent last year, with more juice to come in 2025. Diversified revenues and a connected media ecosystem are helping it dodge economic wobbles while keeping competitors in the rear-view mirror.

    As consolidation looms in adland, Publicis is eyeing not just another year of outperformance—but long-term dominance. Watch this space.

     

  • Srinivasan Swamy & family increase promoters stake in RK Swamy

    Srinivasan Swamy & family increase promoters stake in RK Swamy

    MUMBAI: Things should be cooling off as the New Year approaches with folks winding down their assignments, getting ready to take some time off, right?

    But that was not the case with the promoters of  India’s only BSE and NSE-listed marketing services provider  R K Swamy.

    The promoters were busy consolidating their holding in the agency.  Through an off market transaction, they bought 3.56 per cent holding that US investment fund  Evanston Pioneer Fund LP   had invested in the group in 2018-19.  

    Srinivasan K Swamy and Narasimhan K Swamy concluded the transaction on 27 December 2024 at the market price of Rs 249.64 per share.  

    With this buy out, the promoter and promoter group hold 69.6 per cet of the equity paid up capital of the company. Following this, Evanston Pioneer Fund withdrew the nomination of  Pattabhi Kothandapani Raman  from the company’’s board in accordance with the shareholders agreement.

    The company informed the stock exchange about the buyout on 30 December 2024 and about the change in the board on 31 December. 

  • “We aim to deliver tangible value that transcends mere bill payments”: GoPromoto’s Anshul Gupta

    “We aim to deliver tangible value that transcends mere bill payments”: GoPromoto’s Anshul Gupta

    Mumbai: Behind the scenes of GoPromoto’s rise in the marketing realm is an entrepreneurial journey marked by resilience and vision. Founded by Anshul Gupta, the company thrives on a ‘Brand-First, Solution-Finding’ ethos, crafting a 360-degree marketing experience.

    Founded in 2018, GoPromoto has become a major player in the marketing and branding landscape, helping brands like Harley Davidson, Lenskart, and IndiGo connect with audiences through

    innovative and data-driven campaigns.

    Anshul Gupta’s journey, marked by personal challenges, has propelled GoPromoto beyond mere market share. From navigating personal obstacles to securing prestigious projects like London Fashion Week 2023, the story is a testament to both creativity and success in a fiercely competitive landscape.

    Indian Television caught up with GoPromoto founder and CEO Anshul Gupta to talk about GoPromoto’s establishment, his entrepreneurial journey, and more.

    Edited Excerpts:

    On the inspiration behind establishing GoPromoto and its vision differing from traditional marketing agencies

    The inspiration behind establishing GoPromoto stemmed from recognising the challenges within the traditional marketing agency model in India. We observed that there were numerous hurdles, such as intermediaries and complex processes, which made it difficult for new brands to access marketing services conveniently and affordably. This gap prompted us to envision a different approach. We aimed to create a space characterized by transparency, innovation, and efficiency, where we could bridge the divide between businesses and their target audience more effectively. Our vision revolves around implementing fresh, unconventional strategies that resonate with a broader audience, ultimately driving conversions and nurturing a thriving marketing ecosystem.

    On your entrepreneurial journey shaping GoPromoto’s culture and work ethic, and key achievements that stand out in overcoming such obstacles

    My entrepreneurial journey has been filled with personal and business challenges, which have profoundly influenced the culture and work ethic at GoPromoto.

    Starting from scratch without external assistance taught me invaluable lessons and shaped my character. I learned the importance of resilience, adaptability, and the willingness to learn from setbacks.

    Each obstacle became an opportunity for growth. I developed essential skills like time management, crisis management, and financial acumen. Embracing challenges early on allowed me to anticipate and navigate future hurdles more effectively.

    At GoPromoto, we’ve embedded these values into our work culture. We prioritize honesty, transparency, and intelligence, alongside hard work. We strive to impart these lessons to our team members, encouraging them to continually improve and evolve.

    Key achievements have arisen from our ability to overcome these obstacles. By embracing a culture of continuous learning and resilience, we’ve been able to navigate complexities and achieve milestones that have propelled our company forward.

    On on GoPromoto’s “Brand-First, Solution-Finding” philosophy and how it shapes your innovative approach to marketing

    At GoPromoto, our philosophy is rooted in “Brand-First, Solution-Finding.” This means that we prioritise our clients’ brands above all else, viewing them as sacred entities deserving of the utmost respect and authenticity.

    We begin by thoroughly understanding the fundamental needs and objectives of each brand, as well as their long-term goals. This allows us to tailor solutions that offer comprehensive growth within the allocated budget, whether in monetary terms or through barter arrangements.

    In influencer marketing, where issues like inflated numbers and fake reports abound, we remain steadfast in our commitment to integrity. Instead of chasing superficial metrics, we focus on aligning with influencers whose genuine engagement and relevance benefit the brand. Our approach is not merely transactional; we aim to deliver tangible value that transcends mere bill payments.

    By integrating both digital and offline strategies, we develop innovative solutions that are results-oriented and drive meaningful outcomes for our clients. This holistic approach ensures that our clients’ brands receive authentic, impactful representation across all channels.

    On GoPromoto achieving success without conventional promotion, in a landscape saturated with competition

    In a landscape saturated with competition, GoPromoto has achieved success without conventional promotion by adhering to a simple yet powerful principle: let our work speak for itself. We firmly believe that satisfied customers are the most effective advocates for our brand. By consistently exceeding expectations and maintaining honesty in all our dealings, we have earned the trust and loyalty of our clients.

    While the marketing industry may be crowded, we recognise the scarcity of truly exceptional and authentic work. This is where we stand out. GoPromoto has built its reputation on delivering consistently high-quality results to our clients, even in the face of challenges. We always have a contingency plan in place, ensuring that we can navigate any setbacks with ease.

    Remarkably, we have achieved this success without employing traditional sales tactics. Instead, the majority of our business comes through referrals and organic growth. This speaks volumes about the strength of the relationships we have cultivated with our clients over time. They have become our strongest advocates and brand custodians.

    On GoPromoto integrating technology and digital trends into its marketing strategies to stay relevant and innovative

    At GoPromoto, we prioritise the integration of technology and digital trends into our marketing strategies to remain relevant and innovative in a rapidly evolving landscape. Drawing from our technological background, we leverage inbuilt tools and advanced data analysis techniques to inform our approach.

    Our process begins with a deep dive into data, both from internal sources and provided by our clients. By conducting thorough audits and analysis, we gain insights into what works best for each brand. We then blend this data with current best practices and emerging trends to craft tailored, innovative solutions that meet our clients’ objectives effectively.

    This approach ensures that our strategies are not only informed by data but also incorporate the latest technological advancements and digital trends, keeping our clients ahead of the curve in their marketing efforts.

    On the strategies that GoPromoto employs to secure international projects

    Our strategy is straightforward: we take our work seriously and strive to deliver our best. We’ve received numerous inquiries from outside India via platforms like LinkedIn and our website, which has allowed us to gradually expand into the international market.

    Our initial forays were into markets like Nepal and Singapore, and recently, we had the opportunity to work on the London Fashion Week, specifically for the fashion show of Pepe Jeans.

    The most effective way to secure international projects is to consistently deliver value and meet deadlines. Ultimately, the quality of our work speaks for itself and word-of-mouth referrals play a significant role in our expansion.

    On your future expansion plans including team growth and strategic initiatives for global market penetration

    We currently have a team of 20 members, and we are continuously hiring to support our rapid expansion plans. We are seeking individuals who are passionate about making a difference in the marketing industry with their innovative ideas that resonate with the masses. By mid-year, we aim to establish offices in Mumbai and Bangalore to further strengthen our presence.

    Additionally, we are actively pursuing mandates this year and beyond, which will require us to recruit candidates for higher management roles. In terms of strategic initiatives, we are considering partnerships with global companies to facilitate effective market penetration, leveraging cross-functional abilities and skills. We’re excited to see what the future holds for us.

  • Aalap Desai launches ad agency – “TGTHR”

    Aalap Desai launches ad agency – “TGTHR”

    Mumbai: In a bold move to redefine the advertising industry landscape, Aalap Desai – former chief creative officer of Dentsu Creative West and Dentsu Creative Experience India – has announced the launch of TGTHR (Together) – India’s first future-focussed, full-funnel ad agency.

    This move comes after Aalap’s departure from Dentsu Creative, driven by a burning question: “If you were to leave today, which agency would you like to join?” Fueled by a vision to combine exceptional work with an unparalleled culture, Aalap Desai introduces TGTHR as a place where happiness meets creativity to produce extraordinary results.

    Speaking on the launch, Aalap Desai said, “The advertising industry is often filled with a sea of sameness. The saviours of this industry are the sparks of creativity that we see scattered here and there. It is challenging to find the right people for the job. The one who knows how to create a great TV ad might not know how to increase followers on a social handle. The one who has mastery over social media may have no idea about master branding. What if all these talents could come together to form a cohesive whole? If one great creative person is a force, imagine what could be achieved when they all combine as a force multiplier! This is especially true when you create an environment where they can thrive. That’s the idea behind TGTHR. Bring together expertise, talent, and passion to deliver clients unparalleled quality, connectedness, and effectiveness. All the while ensuring that we love where we work.”

    TGTHR is a powerhouse of creativity, encompassing expertise from every domain, including mainline (TVC, print, outdoor), digital, film production, design, content, and media. What makes this agency different from everyone else claiming the same thing? The talent. The agency boasts an impressive collective experience of 110+ years in advertising, 550 plus International and National awards, and a track record of delivering over 12,000 campaigns. Headquartered in Mumbai, TGTHR also has branches in Delhi and Bengaluru.

    Aalap Desai – a creative force to be reckoned with, held the role of chief creative officer at Dentsu Creative West and Dentsu Creative Experience India. His journey at Dentsu included being the National Creative Director at Dentsu McGarry Bowen India and co-heading the creative team at Dentsu Webchutney Mumbai. Aalap made waves with standout projects like Code Name: Uri, The 8-bit Journo for Vice, and The World’s Most Reported Trailer for Thappad. Throughout his career, Aalap has significantly contributed to agencies like Disney+ Hotstar, Leo Burnett, JWT, DDB Mudra, Ogilvy, and Ambience Publicis. He played a crucial role in shaping the stories of popular brands like McDonald’s, Complan, Huggies, Nerolac, Videocon d2h, as well as youth-focused ones like Early Salary and MTV India.

    Aalap’s creative prowess has garnered over 200 International and National awards, including 10 Cannes Lions and 42 shortlists. Noteworthy recognitions include being labelled India’s “Hottest Young Creatives” by Brand Equity in 2014 and making Impact Magazine’s “Hottest 30 under 30” Media Creatives list in 2015. His recent successes include winning several accolades at Cannes Lions 2023 for Mortein’s Suraksha ka Teeka and Vedantu’s The Everything Book campaigns.

    Beyond advertising, Aalap Desai has ventured into scriptwriting for feature films, web series, and TV shows like MTV Sound Trippin’. His discerning eye has also led him to serve on the jury for esteemed awards such as Kyoorious, Cannes Lions, and Spikes Asia. He has also directed ad films and short films that has won awards nationally and internationally.

  • dentsu X recognised as Indian agency with ‘highest quali-points growth over 3 years’: RECMA

    dentsu X recognised as Indian agency with ‘highest quali-points growth over 3 years’: RECMA

    Mumbai: RECMA, the independent research firm that evaluates media agencies, has recognised dentsu X, the media agency from the house of dentsu India, as the Indian agency with the highest quali-points growth over three years.

    The report, RECMA Debrief number 37, evaluates the media agencies from 47 countries across nineteen criteria. For the record, out of the total number of 700 agencies, 27 have shown spectacular growth over three years with at least ten qualitative points.

    “Dentsu has embraced the future by providing integrated idea-led, data-driven, tech-enabled solutions that offer our clients a competitive advantage in an ever-changing environment. Our body of work, our client partnerships is the bedrock for our trajectory and validates that we are on the right path,” dentsu Media South Asia chief executive officer Divya Karani said.

    Besides this, the agency has been declared ‘Agency-of-the-Year’ by three separate industry forums this year and has also been recognised among the ‘Top 100 Fastest-Growing Agencies’ globally by Adweek.

    Speaking on the achievement, dentsu X India CEO Roopam Garg added, “This is a huge affirmation of our ‘Experience beyond Exposure’ offer powered by data and analytics. This drives outcomes for brands v/s only output or media efficiencies. The fact that a growing number of marketers see the value dentsu X provides in this rapidly changing and challenging business, is a tremendous endorsement of our design.”

    RECMA publishes a wide range of media agency notation reports on a global scale with the aim to provide strategic intelligence reference tools to help global advertisers in their decision-making and agency sourcing.

  • Wellbeing Nutrition collaborates with TING for launch of new product

    Mumbai: TING, a fully integrated creative and digital advertising agency, has conceptualised and executed the end-to-end branding and packaging duties of Melts Oral Thin Strips, a newly launched product by Wellbeing Nutrition. The agency was responsible for the entire branding activity which included, visualization, packaging, branding, positioning, creatives, website designing to the social media launch.

    The branding and messaging of the newly launched Melts focus on how there’s a need in today’s day and age to rethink the intake of nutrition supplements.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Speaking on the launch, Wellbeing Nutrition’s founder Avnish Chhabria said, “To build a brand targeting the young audience of today, the digital-savvy youth, we wanted to work with someone who truly understands that generation. As a brand that offers nutrition solutions, with Melts® we wanted to go all out and reach out to as many people as possible. We are very happy with the way TING has handled and executed our entire brand identity. All our suggestions and our company vision were kept in mind while executing, and we look forward to escalating the brand presence to higher levels with them.”

    TING co-founder & creative director Shruti Dhadda said, “While we have been associated with Wellbeing Nutrition for a while, it gives us immense pleasure to work with the core team in building the entire brand for Melts®. Creativity and packaging play a very vital role in attracting customers and our team ensured the correct messaging was conveyed. As an agency, we always consider inputs and suggestions shared by clients and accordingly formulate the best results, with our potions of creativity and strategic planning. We are thankful that Wellbeing Nutrition believed in us and gave us this opportunity to work alongside.”

  • PM Modi to be tourism mascot; ad agency screening under way

    PM Modi to be tourism mascot; ad agency screening under way

    MUMBAI: The leader is the natural ambassador. Why would there be any need to create a brand or national identity from celebrities/socialites? The nationalist is India’s most well-known face.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to be the mascot of the Incredible India campaign with the Tourism Ministry deciding to finally drop plans to bring in any Bollywood stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, for the role which was vacant after ouster of Aamir Khan earlier this year.

    Earlier, names of leading stars Amitabh Bachchan and actress Priyanka Chopra were doing rounds for the campaign aimed at promoting India as a favourite tourist destination abroad.

    No Bollywood actor will now be engaged for the campaign targeted at attracting foreign travellers. Video footages of Modi during the last two-and-a-half years where he has talked about tourism in India and abroad will be utilised for the campaign, a senior ministry official told PTI.

    The ministry is planning to use — for audio and radio release — two types of communications of different durations where Modi had talked about the uniqueness and diversity of the various places in the country, the official said.

    The ministry is presently “working on selecting the footages”, the official said, adding that the campaign would be released in the next 40-45 days as the Indian tourism season starts by November-end due to favourable weather as also the Christmas holidays and New Year celebrations.

    The official said the process of selecting the agency, which will carry out the task of running the campaign, is also under the process.

    Earlier, the tourism minister Mahesh Sharma had endorsed Modi’s persona for the role, saying he is the “best face” to promote the Incredible India campaign. He had asserted that the country has witnessed a jump in the tourists inflow from the countries the prime minister had visited. He had said that the ministry need not have any Bollywood face for the campaign.

    Sharma said that the perception about India had changed significantly in the last two years with Prime Minister Modi visiting a host of countries during the period. So, who else could be the better face for Indian tourism than the Prime Minister, he added.

    A senior ministry official, supporting Sharma’s remarks, said the tourist inflow from countries such as the Australia, the UK, the US, Germany, Fiji, Brazil, Canada and Myanmar, among other, had witnessed a significant jump after the PM’s visit there.

    Though it was believed that Khan was eased out for his remarks on perceived intolerance, the ministry had maintained that he was not hired as the contract with the advertising agency had expired.

  • PM Modi to be tourism mascot; ad agency screening under way

    PM Modi to be tourism mascot; ad agency screening under way

    MUMBAI: The leader is the natural ambassador. Why would there be any need to create a brand or national identity from celebrities/socialites? The nationalist is India’s most well-known face.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to be the mascot of the Incredible India campaign with the Tourism Ministry deciding to finally drop plans to bring in any Bollywood stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, for the role which was vacant after ouster of Aamir Khan earlier this year.

    Earlier, names of leading stars Amitabh Bachchan and actress Priyanka Chopra were doing rounds for the campaign aimed at promoting India as a favourite tourist destination abroad.

    No Bollywood actor will now be engaged for the campaign targeted at attracting foreign travellers. Video footages of Modi during the last two-and-a-half years where he has talked about tourism in India and abroad will be utilised for the campaign, a senior ministry official told PTI.

    The ministry is planning to use — for audio and radio release — two types of communications of different durations where Modi had talked about the uniqueness and diversity of the various places in the country, the official said.

    The ministry is presently “working on selecting the footages”, the official said, adding that the campaign would be released in the next 40-45 days as the Indian tourism season starts by November-end due to favourable weather as also the Christmas holidays and New Year celebrations.

    The official said the process of selecting the agency, which will carry out the task of running the campaign, is also under the process.

    Earlier, the tourism minister Mahesh Sharma had endorsed Modi’s persona for the role, saying he is the “best face” to promote the Incredible India campaign. He had asserted that the country has witnessed a jump in the tourists inflow from the countries the prime minister had visited. He had said that the ministry need not have any Bollywood face for the campaign.

    Sharma said that the perception about India had changed significantly in the last two years with Prime Minister Modi visiting a host of countries during the period. So, who else could be the better face for Indian tourism than the Prime Minister, he added.

    A senior ministry official, supporting Sharma’s remarks, said the tourist inflow from countries such as the Australia, the UK, the US, Germany, Fiji, Brazil, Canada and Myanmar, among other, had witnessed a significant jump after the PM’s visit there.

    Though it was believed that Khan was eased out for his remarks on perceived intolerance, the ministry had maintained that he was not hired as the contract with the advertising agency had expired.

  • AIB launches ad wing with Truly Madly’s ‘Creep Qawwali;’ plans major expansion

    AIB launches ad wing with Truly Madly’s ‘Creep Qawwali;’ plans major expansion

    MUMBAI: The rather (in)famous comedy group All India Bakchod (AIB) has some ambitious expansion plans up their sleeves. The group has launched its advertising wing called Vigyapanti, which kick-started with their latest comic presentation – Creep Qawwali. A keen observer would notice that the video is in fact an advertisement for the start-up dating portal – Truly Madly.

     

    What’s more, brand AIB isn’t putting a stop to their expansion plan with just Vigyapanti as the group also has plans to foray into long-form content production as well as movie production. 

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com about the group’s plans for the next couple of years, AIB’s Tanmay Bhat says, “There is no precedent to what we do — from entertainment to working with brands and start-ups. We are soon getting into long form productions and hopefully into movie production by the end of next year.”

     

    Coming to Vigyapanti, while AIB has taken on embedded branding projects for various established brands, their latest output is a first from their newly conceived advertising wing.

     

    Bhat says, “One of our copy writers suggested the term. It sounded almost like ‘adgiri,’ which rings close to the way we approach a brand. The name Vigyapanti just fits with brand AIB.”

     

    Bhat is on a mission to establish a 15 members strong team of copywriters by the start of next year.

     

    One doesn’t need to look too far in history to notice AIB’s roots in advertising. Bhat has been associated with the advertising industry before. “I was supposed to become a copywriter before AIB and stand-up comedy happened,” says Bhat in his signature comical intonation. So why this call back to advertising? “Because our biggest source of income, even for the YouTube channel, is working brands,” comes his simple answer. “Brands is where the money is.”

     

    AIB’s ad wing idea didn’t pop out of nowhere. The four team members – Bhat, Gursimran Khamba, Rohan Joshi and Ashish Shakya – were toying with the idea of starting an agency for over eight months now. “We were dwelling on the thought without any copywriters on our team. After meeting a bunch of people for about six months, we were able to get some fine writers onboard with us,” says Bhat, referring to the new additions to the team namely Girish Narayandass, Devaiah Bopanna, Vignesh Raja and Mihir Lele.

     

    However, it wasn’t until AIB worked with Truly Madly that they locked the idea of using their strength to make start-ups massive. “Working with a start-up is a very refreshing experience. There’s no bureaucracy involved unlike the big brands. So we decided, maybe we should focus on start-ups, which are either getting funded or are looking to get funded,” shares Bhat, adding that the romantic idea of “using our popularity to good use” is part of the appeal.

     

    A pertinent question here is, how affordable Vigyapanti will be for such start-ups? If they go by their romantic ideologies and lessen the cost, how will this be a profitable business for the brand? To this, Bhat says, “We plan to go about this on a case by case basis. For those who can’t afford us, we might decide to do away with the creative cost and charge them only for the production cost. We are also seriously considering on picking up equities from them as opposed to monetary transactions.”

     

    This doesn’t however mean that AIB will cut all ties with the mega brands who seek their expertise. They will continue to do promotional videos for sponsors and other established brands through their YouTube channel.

     

    When quizzed about OML’s (AIB’s managing body) involvement with Vigyapanti, Bhat replies, “OML manages AIB and its business so they are with us on most of the things that we do. Now they have moved on from being just managers to consultants. I like having Vijay and Ajay Nair involved. In fact, the idea of pivoting to start-ups and picking up equities instead is an idea, which came from Vijay Nair. Given his experience, he is someone who can think long term in the ecosystem.”

     

    While Bhat declines to divulge the names of all the brands Vigyapanti has onboard, he does add that Hotstar is their next client. As was previously reported by Indiantelevision.com, AIB will be doing a news comedy series called On Air with AIB for Star India’s over-the-top (OTT) platform Hotstar. “Vigyapanti has also done promos for AIB’s upcoming show on Hotstar. We will take care of their digital and outdoor promotions as well,” says Bhat.

     

    Pertinent to note here is that the collaboration with AIB for the show made Hotstar an exception to Vigyapanti’s ‘start-up only’ rule.

     

    “We are already in talks with four or five start-ups regarding equity and stakes. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we can roll out our client list for the next five to six months,” says Bhat.