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MS Dhoni invests in fitness startup Tagda Raho

Former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has invested in Bangalore-based fitness startup Tagda Raho, which looks to expand its footprint across India. 

The brand, which has training dugouts in Bangalore, will launch similar ones in Maharashtra in December. It is also looking to expand operations to four to five other states in the near future, it said in a release.

Tagda Raho is a specially-designed fitness program that combines traditional Indian equipment such as Indian clubs gada, mugdar, vajra and sumtola, with modern training applications. 

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Tagda Raho Founder Rishabh Malhotra with former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni

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On the investment, Dhoni said, “When I came across Tagda Raho, the concept really appealed to me. Intrinsically Indian, the equipment used in the workout has been a part of traditional strength training and Tagda Raho has expertly innovated and adapted both the equipment and the movements in a modern avatar.” 

“I believe in investing in startups and homegrown brands that I can help grow from a grassroot level. Tagda Raho for me is very interesting because of the innovation involved in bringing a perhaps forgotten workout to the forefront once again,” he added.

The brands claims its equipment and training program have been used by professional teams and institutions like the Lucknow Super Giants, Haryana Steelers & the National Cricket Academy (NCA). 

Rishabh Malhotra, Founder of Tagda Raho said, “Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been a role model for the country, he defines physical fitness and longevity in sport and we are extremely happy to have him back the Tagda Raho team and vision. Our aim is to expand Tagda Raho’s training dugouts across India and enter international markets, with a belief in the potential of Indian fitness practices to make a global impact.”

Ultimate Kho Kho secures Series A funding from UK-based BNP Group

Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK), a domestic professional Kho-Kho league, has secured a Series A funding from UK-based BNP Group. 

With this, the league claims to be among the first sports league in India to secure private equity investment. 

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Players in action during a Ultimate Kho Kho event (File photo)

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Promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, Ultimate Kho Kho has state and corporate entities, including Odisha Sports Development and Promotion Company, GMR Sports, Adani Sportsline, Capri Global, Punit Balan Group, and KLO Sports, who have invested as franchise owners in the league.

Its inaugural session garnered a viewership of 164 million across platforms and 225 million video views on social media, of which 41% came from females.

“Keeping in mind the global ascendancy of indigenous sports, this partnership is a massive milestone for Ultimate Kho Kho and our plans to grow the league as a bigger commercial entity. Together, we are poised to unlock newer opportunities and redefine the future of sporting ecosystem of India and contributing towards developing a multi-sport playing nation,” said Burman. 

Other news

5paisa ropes in former Uber and Paytm executive Ameya Agnihotri as CTO

Fairfax-backed discount brokerage platform 5paisa Capital has hired former Uber and Paytm executive Ameya Agnihotri as Chief Technology Officer (CTO).  

Prior to joining 5paisa, Agnihotri led technology at Paytm’s travel division. He was instrumental in building digital platforms for various industries across continents in the last seventeen years. The CTO has also worked with Berlin-headquartered Zeotap, besides stints at Uber, Pub Matic, and Veritas. 

“Ameya’s stellar background in building teams, large scale digital products and deep understanding of the evolving tech ecosystem will help us attract top talent and greatly accelerate our digitisation efforts. He will be based in Bangalore and lead our engineering center,” said Narayan Gangadhar, MD & CEO, 5paisa Capital. 

Commenting on the appointment, Agnihotri said, “5paisa has already built a fantastic platform and has been among leaders in the digital discount broking space. I am really excited to be a part of this innovative company and offer my experience in building some of the greatest products and platforms in investing space.”

SanchiConnect launches next phase of deeptech startups Roadshow

Sanchiconnect, a deeptech community, announced continuation of its roadshow to unearth disruptive startups across cities, in collaboration with HSBC India, Arctic Invent, and Startup Movers, and facilitate investment opportunity. 

Starting December 9, the roadshow will journey through Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, and Kochi. Focused on patent, trademark, design, and copyright registration, Arctic Invent aims to help businesses drive innovation and create lasting business value.

“By connecting startups with investors and providing a platform for collaboration, we aim to catalyse innovation and drive sustainable growth. Together, we look forward to creating a transformative experience for startups, investors, and the entire deep tech community.” said Sunil Shekhawat, CEO at SanchiConnect.