ITV

Tag: Omidyar Network India

  • SportVot raises Rs 9.4 Cr to Digitise Grassroots Sports

    SportVot raises Rs 9.4 Cr to Digitise Grassroots Sports

    Mumbai: SportVot, a sports broadcast, and talent discovery platform, today, announced that it has raised Rs 9.4 Crore in a pre-series round. Led by Omidyar Network India, with participation from Anicut Capital, StartupLynk, Ventana Ventures, as well as existing investors Capital A, Ankur Capital, SucSEED Indovation Fund, and Marwah Sports, the funding marks a significant milestone in SportVot’s mission to democratise sports through technology. This capital will help SportVot increase the creation of opportunities for emerging sports talent while enhancing sports participation at all levels across India.

    Sportvot is a platform that provides a full suite of online services to stream sports events and help discover sports talent from the grassroots of India. Founded in 2019, SportVot has successfully delivered and commercialised grassroots-level sports, helped bring investment to local sports associations, and innovated sports broadcasting by utilising cloud technology. The firm has partnerships with the likes of the Brahmaputra Volleyball League in Assam, the Maharashtra State Kabaddi Association, the Football Delhi Association and the Nashik District Cricket Association, proving that even remote regions can participate in the global sports dialogue.

    Highlighting the impact of this funding, SportVot’s co-founder Sidhhant Agarwal said, “We are thrilled to have the backing of such esteemed investors. With this substantial investment, we aim to expand our technology and product offerings, not just within India but also internationally. Our goal is to make sports and advanced sports technology accessible to the millions of athletes and sports organisations across India and beyond”

    Omidyar Network India director Rohan Vyavaharkar commented, “As an investment firm focused on the next half billion or NHB, we believe in the power of sport to create impact in this segment. SportVot is providing a platform for nurturing grassroots-level sports and democratising the process of talent discovery, especially those with limited opportunities such as the NHB.  Its cutting-edge technology that allows anyone to broadcast from anywhere using any internet-enabled device with a camera makes it uniquely placed to help create impact. We believe in Sidhhant, Shubhangi and Yash’s vision and that SportVot will play a pivotal role in helping transform significant aspects of the sports sector in India.”

    The funding will primarily be used to make LIVE Sports Content and data capturing more accessible at all tiers of sport in India as well as globally, promote the culture of playing – professionally as well as casually and commercialise sports at the domestic level. Over the past four years, SportVot has digitised over 95,000 games from more than 15 sports, providing visibility to over 350,000 athletes. “We’re ready to scale new heights, over the past four years, we have enabled digitisation for over 100,000 games from more than 15 sports, we look to take this number to over 500,000 in India and globally. Our aim continues to be to bring unprecedented opportunities to emerging talents,” added SportVot co-founder Sidhhant Agarwal.

     

     

  • IVM Podcasts launches ‘Smartphone Nation’

    IVM Podcasts launches ‘Smartphone Nation’

    Mumbai: IVM Podcasts, a leading podcast network, is launching its first-ever documentary-style podcast called, ‘Smartphone Nation’ in partnership with Omidyar Network India, an investment firm focused on impact. The 26-episode series dives deep into the heart of India’s digital revolution, shining a spotlight on the ‘Next Half Billion’ (NHB) – the 500 million first-time internet users who have come online via their smartphones between 2018 and 2022. Smartphone Nation’ premieres on 15 September 2023, on the IVM Podcast Network.

    Hosted by the dynamic duo of Utsav Mamoria, a market researcher and seasoned podcaster, and Niveditha Prakasam, a well-known comedian and writer, ‘Smartphone Nation’ features the voices of consumers, especially the NHB, entrepreneurs and investors. Available in English, Hindi and Tamil, Smartphone Nation paints a vivid picture of how pioneering startups are innovating for the Next Half Billion, and how this substantial population segment is reshaping India’s socio-economic landscape.

    From education and healthcare to insurance and transport, the podcast explores game-changing initiatives that cater to the specific needs of these new internet users, providing them with an opportunity for social and economic mobility and to improve their lives.

    IVM Podcasts- Pratilipi head Amit Doshi commented “’Smartphone Nation’ is not just about technology; it’s a celebration of human stories that are reshaping the contours of our nation. Through our partnership with Omidyar Network India, we’re giving voice to the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of entrepreneurs and first-time internet users, fostering a deeper understanding of India’s digital journey. It’s about bridging the gap between technology and human experiences, highlighting not just the digital revolution, but also the human spirit that propels it. As we delve into the narratives of the ‘next half billion’ and the startups driving this transformative wave, we hope to inspire, educate, and empower audiences across the country.”

    Omidyar Network India director, marketing & communications Rohan Vyavaharkar said, “The Next Half Billion represent the bottom 60 per cent of India’s income distribution, but they also represent the hustle and ambition of India. Smartphone Nation is an opportunity to underline just how their lives are undergoing transformation due to technology. The show also brings out how the NHB is helping entrepreneurs understand better use of tech to build solutions specifically for them. We hope the show helps listeners appreciate just how much change is afoot on ground while also encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity in innovating for the Next Half Billion.”

    From the bustling urban centers to the heart of rural India, Smartphone Nation invites audiences to tune into this chronicle of a nation that is in the midst of a digital transformation. The podcast will be available on IVM Podcasts’ YouTube channel and all leading audio streaming platforms.

  • Omidyar Network India, Monitor Deloitte launch report on Indian data privacy landscape

    Omidyar Network India, Monitor Deloitte launch report on Indian data privacy landscape

    MUMBAI: Omidyar Network India, an investment firm focused on social impact, today launched a new report titled “Unlocking the potential of India’s Data Economy: Practices, Privacy and Governance”, in partnership with Monitor Deloitte. The first of its kind study analyses data practices and governance by private enterprises that are shaping India’s data revolution.

    The report also has key recommendations for entrepreneurs, investors and regulators to turn data privacy into a core business and regulatory issue.

    “As tech-led investors focused on impact, we believe that technology can drive massive impact in ways that were not possible earlier and have invested in a unique portfolio of enterprises that accelerate the digital journey of India’s “Next Half Billion” to access aspirational services. Equally we now focus on “responsible tech”, recognising the increased vulnerability of individuals and society to harms. This is why we support research and other entrepreneurial efforts to help inform policies, practices and behaviours by policymakers, businesses and users in good data practices, especially in privacy,” said Omidyar Network India MD Roopa Kudva.

    The findings of this report encourage entrepreneurs, investors and regulators to take responsible measures that can lead India towards an ideal future of data privacy:

    ·         India is witnessing a personal data revolution: High growth in personal data collection is projected to continue, driven by strong consumer, enterprise and government initiatives.

    ·         Personal data is adding value, but also new risks: Loss of privacy, financial losses, discrimination while unethical use can negatively impact enterprises and investors.

    ·         Personal data proliferation means that behavioural data is used to create detailed personal profiles: Many may find this unsettling.

    ·         Lack of a strong framework in handling data: Private enterprises collect large volumes of data, largely unknown to the consumer as well as share the data with third parties

    ·         Data governance regulations and practices not lagging behind data evolution of big data and business models: Pace of development a framework  to ethically collect and process slower than progress of Big Data and AI

    ·         India is at a nascent stage of evolution on privacy issues: As Indian consumers do not yet fully recognize the need for privacy, and the Personal Data Protection bill is awaited, enterprises primarily adopt a “tick the box” compliance lens to data privacy and protection.

    ·         Foundational principles for an ideal future on privacy: Personal ownership of data, fair value in exchange for use of personal data, informed consent, accountability and transparency

    ·         Responsible approaches to big data can lead to innovation driven profitability and growth: The issue need not be one of a tug-of-war between business opportunity and social acceptability. Looking at ethical and societal aspects of data collection and usage can lead to sustainable success in the marketplace

    ·         Collective action towards data privacy and protection: All four stakeholders – enterprises, investors, regulators and civil society — must collectively join hands and work towards pursuing data privacy and protection

    ·         The roadmap for data privacy in India will evolve:  From “privacy as compliance”, businesses will focus on privacy to build trust with their customers; eventually new business models will emerge to help individuals assume greater control of their data and narratives.

     ‘’We recognise that tech is not a silver bullet – the role of non-tech solutions and government, civil society and media in driving social change is vital, and we seek to actively engage and collaborate with them by the way of this report. As next steps, we’ll be working with our own portfolio to develop a deeper understanding and practical implications of these findings and recommendations,” adds Kudva.

    The report also has recommended action plans for private enterprises, investors and regulators which will be released as handbooks later this month.