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Tag: Under 25

  • Under 25 crosses 1m downloads, pays out six crore to students

    Under 25 crosses 1m downloads, pays out six crore to students

    MUMBAI : Under 25, the flagship youth platform from Collective Artists Network, has hit one million downloads, cementing its status as one of India’s fastest-growing student-first communities.

    With over 4 lakh monthly active users, the app has become a digital playground where students create, connect and cash in. In just 18 months, it has paid out more than Rs 6 crore to 1.5 lakh students, hosted 600+ events across 25 cities, and powered the creation of 2.5 million pieces of content.

    “This is the largest youth cohort India has ever seen — they are digitally native, culturally aware, and deeply expressive,” said Collective Artists Network founder & group Vijay Subramaniam.“Under 25 has done what few platforms have managed to do: bring this generation together in one place, on their terms. It’s not just an app, it’s a cultural engine built for the future of India.”

    “What excites me most is how quickly this has grown, not just in numbers, but in energy,” said Under 25 CEO Jeel Gandhi. “From students discovering new interests to finding their voice through content or showing up to events across the country, this isn’t just user growth, it’s real community. We’ve built something that belongs to them, and they’re building it with us.”

    Having collaborated with 350+ brands, the platform is now set to supercharge engagement with Season 2 of its in-app campaign, Joyride Through the Universe, offering Rs 10 lakh in rewards.

    For India’s Gen Z, it seems, Under 25 has become the ultimate extracurricular activity.

  • Collective minds as Collective Artists Network sets stage for media power play

    Collective minds as Collective Artists Network sets stage for media power play

    MUMBAI: When content meets culture and creators meet code, you get a media revolution in the making. Collective Artists Network, long known for its fingerprints across India’s pop-cultural pulse, has officially put a name to what it’s already been quietly building: a full-blown media network that spans platforms, talent, tech, and taste.

    But don’t call it a pivot. This is less a launch than a loud confirmation of Collective’s growing dominance across original storytelling, social influence, and digital-first innovation.

    From viral storytelling brands like Terribly Tiny Tales and campus connector Under 25, to creator engine Big Bang Social and AI-optimised visual platform Galleri5, the Collective universe is already humming. Add to that new launches like Rashmika & Ru (with TTT), Marathi Minded (with Neel Salekar), and Not Funny (a creator-led comedy brand with Funcho), and you’ve got a content slate that’s part Netflix, part Reddit, part desi dopamine machine.

    And speaking of machines, meet Kavya Mehra and Radhika Subramaniam, Collective’s two AI-powered creators. They don’t blink, but they do reflect. Kavya’s all about modern parenting and daily life dilemmas, while Radhika decodes digital youth culture. Far from novelty avatars, they’re a peek into the company’s ambitions in synthetic storytelling and culturally responsive AI.

    Adding another layer to its expanding digital dharma is the launch of Sanatani Dharma, a bold new channel that dives deep into Indic tradition, mythology, rituals, and spiritual modernity. It’s Collective’s play to own a space where very few digital-first brands have dared to venture where the Ramayana meets reels, and Vedic wisdom meets algorithmic discovery.

    As Collective scales, it has brought in seasoned content veteran Sudeep Lahiri as head of channels and distribution to steer the ship across creator and platform ecosystems. With Collective’s stronghold on distribution spanning owned platforms, newsletters, and creator networks the move marks a serious upgrade in operational firepower.

    Meanwhile, Galleri5, the group’s creative tech arm, is busy building tools that can sniff out trends, benchmark creative performance, and test drive synthetic content helping creators and marketers stay two scrolls ahead of the curve.

    “In today’s world, new media is about owning eyeballs and through our content, distribution, and influence, we intend to become the media network that defines attention. We have always understood the pulse of pop culture, reflecting it when needed, and influencing it when it matters most,” said Collective Artists Network founder and group CEO Vijay Subramaniam.

    With thousands of creators, millions of impressions a month, and a content strategy that swirls together storytelling, software, and spirituality, Collective Artists Network is sketching out a new blueprint for Indian media, one where every like, loop, and live session is just another piece of a much bigger cultural puzzle.

  • Jeel Gandhi takes the wheel at Under 25 to drive India’s youth revolution

    Jeel Gandhi takes the wheel at Under 25 to drive India’s youth revolution

    MUMBAI: In a move that’s equal parts strategic and symbolic, Under 25 — the largest youth-focused media and community network in India — just handed over the keys to Jeel Gandhi as its new CEO. The announcement came on 8 April 2025, with Collective Artists Network naming her the official boss of vibes, vision, and viral reach.

    And let’s be honest, she’s already been running the show. Since joining Under 25, Jeel has turned youthful buzz into real-world impact. Under her leadership, the platform has:

    1    Hosted 100 Summits at Campus (SACs)

    2    Expanded to 30+ cities

    3    Reached 1.5 lakh students offline

    4    Crossed 300 million digital views

    5    Clocked over 500,000 app downloads

    6    Created a Rs 3 crore impact on student wallets

    Not to mention, 40,000 students have paid for experiences via the app — a gen z-approved metric if there ever was one.

    “Under 25 has always been about creating opportunities and building a movement that empowers young minds… Our focus will remain on scaling our impact, amplifying student voices, and creating transformative experiences,” said Under 25’s new CEO, Gandhi.

    This isn’t just a corporate appointment. It’s a generational handover. With her finger firmly on the gen z pulse and a knack for turning memes into meaningful metrics, Jeel has built Under 25 into more than a youth network — it’s a launchpad.

    “Under 25 is a trailblazer in the youth space, and Jeel’s leadership has been instrumental… Her vision and drive will be key to unlocking new avenues of impact,” said Collective Artists Network founder & group CEO Vijay Subramaniam.

    Now with Gandhi officially in the hot seat, the mission is clear: Get India’s youth ready for life — whether they’re founding startups, finding passions, or figuring out how to change the world one swipe at a time.

    This new chapter isn’t just about scaling. It’s about skills, confidence, exposure, and building a community that thinks beyond the syllabus and into the stratosphere.

  • Under 25 platform muscles in as youth culture powerhouse with half-million strong tribe

    Under 25 platform muscles in as youth culture powerhouse with half-million strong tribe

    MUMBAI: A digital juggernaut aimed squarely at India’s youth tsunami has emerged as the hottest ticket in town for brands desperate to crack the elusive next-gen market.

    Under 25, boasting a whopping half-million active users, has morphed from mere app to full-blown cultural movement, offering India’s digital natives a veritable playground where they can flex their ambitions and collect real-world perks along the way. On offer is the ability to earn while they learn in their college. 

    “India has the world’s largest youth population and this segment will undoubtedly shape the future of this country,” declared Jeel Gandhi, the platform’s bullish CEO, who’s clearly not shy about Under 25’s lofty ambitions.

    The platform’s secret sauce lies in its multimodal approach that doesn’t just flog content at youngsters but creates a buzzing ecosystem where interaction reigns supreme. With features including “Spaces” for niche communities, mission-based challenges dangling tangible rewards, and a calendar of online and offline events, Under 25 has its tentacles in every aspect of youth experience. It began in 2013 by building a community of driven students, that would come together once a year. This community began to grow across the nation, both physically and digitally. By mid-February, Under 25 had completed  50 Summits at Campus (SACs) across 20 cities, 50 premier institutions, and 40,000+ students.
     

    Subramaniam Vijay and Jeel Gandhi

    “The youth in India today are motivated by real experiences that feel authentic,” explained Collective Artists Network group CEO and Founder Vijay Subramaniam. His company acquired the Under 25 universe in 2023 with its CEO & co-founder being Anto Philip then.
     

    The platform’s gamification strategy has proven particularly potent, with features like “Flip Cards & Collectibles” serving up surprise perks including the coveted “Super Rare Golden Cards” – digital treasures that have youngsters positively foaming at the mouth.

    For brands desperate to shed their dusty, corporate images, Under 25 offers the ultimate Trojan horse – becoming an active part of the user experience through engaging missions, interactive content and reward-based challenges that provide cold, hard benefits that Gen Z actually gives a toss about.

    Says Gandhi: “At Under 25, our vision is to empower and equip them for life. This platform’s diverse touchpoints, from digital spaces to real-world events, make it the go-to destination for anyone looking to connect with India’s youth.”

    “Every brand interaction is an opportunity to make a real impact,” said Gandhi. “We have built this platform to empower students and provide them with meaningful experiences. For brands, it’s about becoming a part of something larger, something that genuinely matters to the youth of India.”

    As India’s demographic dividend increasingly flexes its economic muscle, Under 25 has positioned itself as the gatekeeper to a generation that will shape everything from consumer trends to workplace culture in the coming decades – a fact not lost on marketers scrambling for relevance in a rapidly evolving landscape.

  • Collective Artists Network launches Not Funny brand solutions agency

    Collective Artists Network launches Not Funny brand solutions agency

    MUMBAI: Being funny can be big business. At least that’s the hope that Collective Artists Network founders  Sudeep Subhash and Dhruv Chitgopekar are nurturing. The new age agency has got into bed with comedy duo Funcho—comprising Dhruv Shah and Shyam Sharma— to launch a new creative brand solutions company, strangely called, Not Funny.  Dhruv and Shyam  have built a fanbase of 39.7 lakh YouTube subscribers and over 2.8 million Instagram followers.

    The company will specialise in content-first solutions, focusing on scripting, talent representation, and consultation for brands. Led by CEO Mihir Surana, Not Funny aims to tell brand stories through the lens of comedy, with a strong focus on both fictional and non-fictional content.

    “We have been razor sharp focused on blending technology, entertainment, and strategy seamlessly across all our various ventures, including recent acquisitions like Galleri5, Under 25, and Terribly Tiny Tales.  Funcho’s relatable humour and genuine connection with their audience make them the perfect partners to lead this venture. Not Funny represents our collective ambition to blend creativity, humour, and strategic brand solutions that speak directly to modern consumers,” said Subhash. “

    Big Bang Social, Collective Artists Network’s creator marketplace, played a pivotal role in facilitating this new venture. Through its platform, Not Funny will leverage the vast ecosystem of creators, brands, and storytellers that the former has curated over the years. 

    “We have always strived to be at the forefront of connecting creators and brands in innovative ways. With Not Funny, we’re pushing the envelope even further, creating a space where humour becomes a powerful tool for brand storytelling and audience engagement,” added  Dhruv. 

    Not Funny will cater to brands looking for innovative content strategies by leveraging Funcho’s expertise in real-life inspired comedy and applying it to brand storytelling. The company’s mission is to infuse humour into brand communications, creating highly engaging and relatable campaigns. From scripting to creative consultation and talent suggestions, Not Funny aims to redefine how comedy can be integrated into both digital and traditional media strategies.

    Added Funcho co-founders Dhruv Shah and Shyam Sharma: “Not Funny is dedicated to closing the gap between brands and their audiences. By creating captivating, humorous content, we make branded messaging enjoyable and relatable, ensuring meaningful connections.”

    Simply put, they are not joking!