iWorld
Amazon MX Player backs Super Founders with big bet
MUMBAI: India’s startup dreams are getting a primetime power boost. Amazon MX Player has pulled the curtain on Bharat Ke Super Founders, a reality series that puts real money, real mentors and real pressure on budding entrepreneurs as they chase the biggest funding pool ever showcased on Indian entertainment.
Set to stream for free, the show brings action, ambition and a touch of boardroom drama as host and mentor Suniel Shetty guides founders pitching to a heavyweight panel of business leaders. Together with Recur Club, the tycoons have committed a landmark Rs 100 crore, making the series a genuine launchpad rather than just a television spectacle.
The format stands out for its insistence on authenticity, verified pitches and transparent investment conversations. Every founder steps in with real data and real intent, reflecting the show’s mission to spotlight Bharat’s diversity, grit and ingenuity. It celebrates the Super Founders, the everyday innovator whose conviction could spark meaningful change.
A power-packed panel fuels this mission. A. Velumani of Thyrocare, Nitish Mittersain of Nazara Technologies, Aarti Gupta of Anikarth Ventures, Shanti Mohan of LVX, Aditya Singh of All In Capital and Ankur Mittal of Physis Capital and Inflection Point Ventures form the core group. A rotating lineup of industry leaders joins through the season, adding fresh perspectives and varied investment philosophies. Recur Club’s Eklavya Gupta plays a key role in the Rs 100 crore commitment, bringing the company’s AI-driven debt infrastructure to the table.
Amazon MX Player director and head of content Amogh Dusad, said the series breaks new ground by presenting real deals and verified business fundamentals. He explained that the platform aims to democratise access to opportunity for founders across the country.
Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani, added that the show champions founders who embody India’s ambition and diversity, describing the investment pledge as a catalyst for scalable, high-impact businesses.
Suniel Shetty shared his excitement about hosting, noting that entrepreneurship is the beating heart of New India. He said that every participant brings a story worth hearing and a determination worth backing.
Investor and tycoon A. Velumani, said the show offers focused and frugal founders the opportunity they have long needed, emphasising that Bharat requires millions of successful entrepreneurs to power its future.
With big ideas, bigger inspiration and the biggest investment pool in Indian reality programming, Bharat Ke Super Founders promises high stakes, heartfelt stories and a front-row seat to the next wave of game-changing ventures. The series will stream free across Amazon MX Player, the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV and Airtel Xstream.
Gaming
Iqoo S8ul wins Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup
MOBA Legends squad bags Rs 12.5 lakh after 4-3 final thriller over Godlike from 1,024-team field.
MUMBAI: Iqoo S8ul just farmed the ultimate prize clutching a heart-stopping 4-3 grand final win over Godlike Esports to lift the Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup crown in Kolkata on 18 February. The month-long MOBA Legends 5v5 showdown drew a massive 1,024 teams through open qualifiers in single-elimination Bo1 format, with just 16 powering into the main brackets. S8ul Esports’ powerhouse roster IGL Mohammad Saad (Apex), Abhijeet Katkar (Abhi), Mehta Jay (J), Chirag Singh (Radium), Debasish Sana (Anti), and Joseph Nehhunjang (Kakarot) sliced through Group A like a well-timed ultimate, 2-0 Bo3 quarterfinal rout of Megatron Esports, 3-1 Bo5 semifinal domination of PEAK, and a flawless 4-0 Bo7 sweep of Elusivity to storm the decider.
There, composure trumped chaos in a Bo7 nail-biter, netting the squad Rs 12.5 lakh and cementing S8UL’s stranglehold on India’s MOBA scene.
S8ul co-founder Animesh Agarwal beamed, “This victory is a testament to the structure and long-term vision we are building at S8ul. The Indian MOBA ecosystem is entering a new phase of growth… Wins like this validate our investment in building elite lineups.”
IGL Apex, fresh off MLBB Mid Season Cup 2024 at the Esports World Cup ($3 million pool), added, “Coming into this tournament with so many teams, we knew the margin for error would be extremely small… That grand final was one of the most intense series we’ve played as a team and this title belongs to everyone who believed in us.”
For esports newbies, it’s like watching chess on steroids strategy, split-second calls, and crowd-roaring comebacks. S8ul’s run? Pure legend fuel, priming them for bigger global scraps.
