iWorld
Namita Thapar takes pioneering partial exit from Rare Planet investment at 3.5x return
Mumbai: In 2021, Shark Tank debuted in the Indian market, providing a valuable platform for a diverse range of entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses. One remarkable success story from the show is Rare Planet, now recognised as India’s largest airport retailer. Rare Planet’s outstanding performance in the last two years after securing a deal on the show has now created a landmark achievement marking the way for the first-ever exit for a Shark with a 3.5x return on their investment. Started as a venture in the first year of BTech by Ranodeep Saha and later joined by Vijaya Kumar TR as co-founder, the success of this company stands as a testament to the opportunities and recognition that Shark Tank India has brought to aspiring entrepreneurs in the country.
Ranodeep Saha’s exceptional pitch with co-founder Vijaya Kumar TR in Season 1 of Shark Tank India left a lasting impression on the sharks, particularly Namita Thapar. The pitch seamlessly integrated the company’s commitment to social responsibility, prompting Thapar to make an independent investment in the company. Within just two years of securing funding for the show, Rare Planet has achieved remarkable growth, witnessing a five times revenue increase and double-digit PAT profit.
Namita Thapar was impressed by Rare Planet’s remarkable revenue achievements and commendable impact on the lives of over 10,000 artisans. Since the initial investment by Namita and their appearance on Shark Tank India 1, Rare Planet’s footprint has expanded significantly by 12 times growth in stores across India. Starting from a presence in five airports, the company now operates in over 37 airports with 50 stores nationwide. The company has diversified its offerings, introducing Rare Planet Luxe, a luxury format, situated across multiple airports. This format will be extended further in new airports in the pipeline. Also, the new format SITARA for Indian Fashion Accessories brand across nine airports, and brand 2M minimart for convenience retail format across Tier 2 airports.
Rare Planet’s airport retail stores boast an extensive inventory of over 10,000 unique handcrafted items, and décor, ranging from mugs, copper bottles, cups, and plates, to Kulhads, along with stationery, jewellery, and accessories all created by more than 10,000 local artisans who are associated with the company. Notably, most of these artisans are women, pouring passion, hard work, love, and care into beautiful products every day. Beyond fostering artistic endeavors, Rare Planet is actively involved in making a positive impact on the lives of its artisans. The company contributes to education funds for the children of these artisans, thereby enabling them to dream big. This noble cause has resulted in over 8,000 artisans experiencing a substantial 180 per cent increase in their income, facilitating the education of over 1,000 children.
Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd executive director Namita Thapar: Rano stands out as a founder who personifies humility, determination, and an unwavering passion for supporting artisans. Meeting his parents in Kolkata left a lasting impression on me—the pride in their eyes while recounting his entrepreneurial journey truly touched my heart. This is one story to watch out for, “picture abhi baaki hai”.
Rare Planet co-founder Vijaya Kumar TR: Namita Ma’am has been a guiding force for us, meeting with us on multiple occasions to provide invaluable insights into our overall strategy. Her expertise, particularly in pricing and marketing, has played a pivotal role in our exponential growth.
Gaming
MTG gaming chief Benninghoff joins NODWIN board as esports firm primes for IPO
The Gurugram-based esports firm is pursuing a public listing, has returned to profitability and is growing revenues by 42 per cent
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming is moving fast. The Gurugram-based gaming and esports company has launched a pre-IPO fundraising round, appointed UBS as lead adviser for both the round and a subsequent public listing, and landed a heavyweight board director, all in one go.
The new board member is Arnd Benninghoff, executive vice president of gaming at Stockholm-listed Modern Times Group (MTG), who has overseen the group’s strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014. He is no stranger to building things: Benninghoff has founded and built fifteen companies, served as chief digital officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, managing director of SevenVentures, and chief executive of Holtzbrinck eLAB. He began his career as a journalist at Deutsche Presse Agentur and various TV networks, holds a Diplom-Kaufmann in business and administration from the University of Münster, and previously sat on the board of Edgeware AB.
The numbers back the ambition
NODWIN is not pitching a story without substance. The company has returned to EBITDA profitability and posted a 42 per cent year-on-year revenue surge, reaching $58.5m in the first nine months of FY2026. The pre-IPO round will combine a primary issuance to fund global expansion through organic growth and acquisitions, alongside a secondary sale to give existing shareholders some liquidity.
Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said Benninghoff understands “the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios.”
Benninghoff, for his part, said the company “sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today.”
A portfolio built for the global south
Founded in 2014 by Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has quietly assembled one of the more compelling esports portfolios outside the Western hemisphere. Its properties include DreamHack India and Comic Con India, and it recently acquired StarLadder, the Ukraine-based tournament organiser behind premier events in CS:GO and Dota 2. The company also serves as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the world’s most prominent fighting game tournament, helping push it into new geographies.
Its geographic focus spans South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Backers include Nazara Technologies, KRAFTON, Sony Group Corporation, JetSynthesys, and the founders’ investment vehicle Good Game Investments.
What comes next
With UBS running the books, a board freshly reinforced with European media and gaming expertise, and revenue heading in the right direction, NODWIN is laying the groundwork deliberately. The esports industry has burned investors before with big promises and thin margins. NODWIN’s return to profitability, combined with a real portfolio of owned intellectual properties across gaming, music and youth culture, gives it a more credible runway than most. The IPO clock is now ticking.
