Virat Kohli Invests ₹40 Crore in Agilitas; Flipkart Enhances Seller Support

In a significant development for the Indian sports and retail sectors, cricket icon Virat Kohli has made a personal investment of INR 40 crore in Bengaluru-based Agilitas, a company founded by former Puma MD Abhishek Ganguly.

This strategic investment marks the first tranche of Kohli’s involvement, with plans to integrate his popular brand ‘One8’ and take on a more strategic role within the company.

Agilitas aims to build a fully integrated sports retail and manufacturing platform, and this partnership with one of India’s most influential athletes is set to provide a substantial boost.

This exciting news comes alongside other key developments in the Indian startup ecosystem. Quick fashion delivery startup ZILO also made headlines, raising $4.5 million in seed funding.

This round was led by Info Edge Ventures and Chiratae Ventures, with ZILO planning to expand beyond Mumbai, enhance its hybrid supply chain, and significantly increase its catalogue to nearly 100,000 styles.

Their promise of 60-minute delivery and partnerships with over 250 fashion brands truly highlights the rapid innovation happening in the e-commerce space.

Meanwhile, e-commerce giant Flipkart has rolled out its “New Seller Success Programme,” a welcome initiative for budding entrepreneurs.

This program offers first-time sellers 60 days of complimentary onboarding support, covering crucial aspects like cataloguing, order fulfilment, and pricing tools.

This move is designed to empower small and regional merchants, making it easier for them to navigate and grow their businesses on Flipkart’s vast platform. It’s a testament to the ongoing efforts to democratize e-commerce and foster entrepreneurship across India.

Lastly, in the direct-to-consumer (D2C) space, furniture and mattress brand Wakefit has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) for an Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company aims to raise INR 468.2 crore through a combination of fresh issue and offer-for-sale.

This development follows a period of impressive financial performance, as Wakefit significantly narrowed its losses to INR 15 crore in FY24, down from INR 145.7 crore, while revenue grew a healthy 21.9% to INR 986.4 crore.

These diverse movements underscore the vibrant and evolving nature of India’s startup ecosystem, with investments flowing into various sectors and established players continually innovating.

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