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ProducerBazaar parent Fipchain raises pre-series A to scale IP trade
Backed by River Ventures, firm eyes global expansion in content rights market
CHENNAI: Fipchain, the parent of ProducerBazaar, has secured fresh capital in a pre-series A round led by River Ventures, as it sets its sights on building a global marketplace for intellectual property trading.
The round also saw participation from Venture Forge Labs, angel investor Chandu Nair, and a cross-border group of investors spanning India, the UAE and Germany. Panya Capital advised on the transaction.
The funding comes at a time when the global market for TV, film, video and AI-driven content IP is expanding rapidly. Estimated at $28 billion today, the segment is projected to touch $47 billion by 2029, with India emerging as one of the fastest-growing markets thanks to rising streaming demand and cross-border licensing.
Fipchain is betting on a gap that many in the industry quietly acknowledge. Despite India’s vast content output, IP trade remains fragmented and largely relationship-driven, with no dominant homegrown platform offering an end-to-end exchange for rights discovery, governance and transactions.
Its platform, ProducerBazaar, aims to change that by acting as a digital marketplace where creators, studios, OTT players and broadcasters can discover, license and monetise content across borders. The broader ambition goes further, building an integrated ecosystem covering the entire IP lifecycle, from rights intelligence to transaction execution.
The fresh capital will be used to strengthen the company’s technology backbone and expand internationally, particularly across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. A key focus will be enhancing AI-led discovery tools and scaling infrastructure to handle high-volume global deals.
“This fundraise marks a defining moment in our journey to build a transparent and scalable marketplace for intellectual property,” said Fipchain founder and chief executive officer G K Tirunavukarasu.
Fipchain co-founder and chief business officer Vijay D added that demand for premium IP is only accelerating globally, with the company focused on removing friction in cross-border transactions.
With the digital creative economy expected to surpass $7 trillion by 2030, Fipchain is positioning itself as a structured bridge between content creators and buyers worldwide. If it succeeds, the company could help turn a fragmented market into a far more fluid and investable one.
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NODWIN Gaming brings back Sidharth Kedia as chief strategy and investments officer ahead of IPO
Former CEO returns to drive fundraising, M&A and global expansion plans
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming has appointed Sidharth Kedia as chief strategy and investments officer, marking a high-profile return as the company gears up for its next growth phase and a potential public listing.
Kedia, who previously served as CEO between 2019 and 2023, steps back in at a pivotal time with a mandate spanning strategy, fundraising and mergers and acquisitions. His appointment comes amid ongoing pre-IPO fundraising efforts and a broader push to strengthen shareholder value.
During his earlier stint, Kedia helped transform NODWIN’s trajectory, driving a tenfold jump in revenue and raising over $50 million in capital. He also played a key role in expanding the company beyond esports into a diversified youth media and entertainment platform. Under his leadership, the company’s valuation grew sharply, from around Rs 140 crore following Nazara Technologies’ investment in 2018 to $350 million pre-money after a funding round led by Sony Group Corporation in 2023.
With over two decades of experience, Kedia brings a cross-sector perspective spanning fintech, private equity and media. His career includes stints at Reliance Industries, where he worked on strategic initiatives across the Network18 portfolio, and at Viacom18, where he led corporate strategy and M&A efforts.
In his new role, Kedia will focus on sharpening NODWIN’s long-term strategy, identifying inorganic growth opportunities and strengthening its global investment narrative as the company builds a scalable, IP-led business across gaming, content and live experiences.
NODWIN Gaming chief strategy and investments officer Sidharth Kedia said, “It feels great to be back at NODWIN at such an important point in its journey. Having seen the company grow over the years, it’s clear how strong the foundation is today and how much opportunity lies ahead. NODWIN is entering a phase where focused strategy, thoughtful capital allocation, and strong execution will unlock its true value potential.”
Welcoming him back, NODWIN Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee said, “Sidharth has played a pivotal role in shaping NODWIN’s journey, and his return comes at an important stage as we continue to scale the business globally and look at a potential listing. His leadership will be instrumental in driving long-term value creation.”
The appointment follows recent board strengthening, including the induction of Arnd Benninghoff, as the company builds institutional depth ahead of a possible IPO.
Backed by strong financial momentum, with revenues already surpassing last year’s full-year figures within the first nine months of FY26, NODWIN is doubling down on scale and strategy. With Kedia back in the mix, the company appears to be lining up its next big level up.
