Brands
Generali sponsors Italy’s debut at men’s T20 World Cup 2026
HONG KONG: Generali has stepped onto the cricket pitch, throwing its weight behind Italy’s national team as it prepares for its first-ever appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be held across India and Sri Lanka.
The Asian arm of the Italian insurance giant has signed on as sponsor for Italy’s historic debut at the tournament, which runs from 7 February to 8 March and features 20 international teams competing every two years.
The partnership marks a milestone moment for Italian cricket, which has steadily built its global presence before finally breaking into one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Generali asia regional officer Rob Leonardi, said the sponsorship reflected both the growing profile of the Italian team and the prominence of cricket across the region.
“With cricket playing such an important role in this dynamic part of the world, Generali is proud to support Italy’s debut in the T20 World Cup,” he said, adding that the national side had made “great strides” in establishing its international reputation.
Italian Cricket Federation president Maria Lorena Haz Paz, described the collaboration as both symbolic and strategic.
“Strengthening our partnership with Generali, an Italian brand of outstanding international stature, is a source of pride for the entire Italian cricket movement,” she said. “It supports our team at a historic moment and reflects a shared vision of growth and long-term development.”
Italy will compete in Group C, alongside Scotland, England, Nepal and West Indies, with matches split between two of India’s most iconic venues: Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Their group fixtures include:
9 February 2026 – Italy vs Scotland, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
12 February 2026 – Italy vs Nepal, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
16 February 2026 – Italy vs England, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
19 February 2026 – Italy vs West Indies, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The tournament will offer Italy a global stage at grounds synonymous with cricket history, adding to the significance of their maiden World Cup campaign.
Generali’s association with Italian cricket is not new. The group was among the federation’s earliest partners, backing the sport during its formative years in Italy. The latest sponsorship signals a continuation of that relationship, now playing out on the world’s biggest cricketing platform.
Founded in 1831, the Generali Group is one of the world’s largest integrated insurance and asset management players, operating in more than 50 countries. In 2024, it reported premium income of €95.2 billion and assets under management of €863 billion, serving 71 million customers globally.
The Italian Cricket Federation, established in 1980 and affiliated with the International Cricket Council, oversees the sport’s development across Italy. Its qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup marks the most significant achievement in the country’s cricketing history, following years of grassroots expansion and competitive restructuring.
Brands
Aman Gupta’s OFF/BEAT secures Rs 100 crore seed funding round
Bessemer backs new venture betting on AI and India’s digital shift
MUMBAI: Aman Gupta has raised Rs 100 crore in seed funding for his new venture OFF/BEAT, with Bessemer Venture Partners leading the round as it bets on a new wave of AI-led, consumer-first businesses in India.
The funding marks an early but significant push for OFF/BEAT, which is positioned to tap into a rapidly evolving market shaped by a digitally native generation and advances in artificial intelligence. The venture aims to build at the intersection of culture and technology, where brand identity and innovation increasingly go hand in hand.
Gupta, best known for co-founding boAt and scaling it into a Rs 3,000 crore-plus business, is now looking to apply those learnings to a new playbook. His focus this time is not just on building a consumer brand, but on leveraging AI and global networks to accelerate growth.
OFF/BEAT founder Aman Gupta said, “Having built from scratch before, I know what capital can do and what it cannot. This time, I was looking for partners with a global perspective who can help me leverage technology and AI, because that is where the future lies. Bessemer’s track record with companies like Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn says it all.”
The choice of investor reflects that ambition. Bessemer Venture Partners has backed global technology players such as Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn, bringing not just capital but strategic support and global reach.
Bessemer Venture Partners partner Anant Vidur Puri said, “We back founders who see around corners. Aman saw how a new India would come to think about aspiration, identity and quality, and built boAt as proof. He is now applying that same instinct to a market being reshaped by AI and by a generation with entirely new expectations.”
The investment comes at a time when India’s startup ecosystem is being reshaped by both consumer behaviour and technological disruption. Founders are increasingly expected to understand not just products, but the cultural shifts that drive adoption.
For OFF/BEAT, the journey is just beginning, but the signal is clear. In a market where attention is fleeting and expectations are rising, building something truly distinctive may be the only way to stay on beat.
