iWorld
HiPi unveils anthem for HiPi Star Hunt
KOLKATA: HiPi, India’s hottest short video platform for self-expression and recognition, has unveiled an anthem for its ongoing initiative, HiPi Star Hunt, India’s first ever digital auditions on a short-video platform. Created in association with Dharavi’s hottest multi-lingual hip-hop collective 7Bantai’Z, the anthem highlights HiPi Star Hunt’s core ethos of ‘Sabko Break Milega’, in other words, the need for democratization of talent. Announced in October 2020, HiPi Star Hunt is currently calling for entries from enthusiasts across India; the winners of the talent hunt will get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be casted in crucial roles in two of ZEE5’s upcoming big-ticket originals – Jamai 2.0 S2 and Sunflower.
The anthem ‘Sabko Break Milega’ by 7Bantai’Z is in their signature multilingual rap style, with a catchy tune, and lyrics by Yoku Big in Hindi, Mr Scam in Tamil and BonzNRibz in Marathi. 7Bantai’Z, a multi-hyphenate hip-hop collective born and based out of Dharavi, Mumbai, is a young talented group of rappers, beat-boxers, graffiti artists, and actors, who have made it big despite their humble backgrounds. HiPi Star Hunt aims to similarly extend an opportunity to India’s indigenous talent pool with limited opportunities, helping them realize their tinsel town aspirations.
ZEE5 India AVOD SVP and head Manish Kalra said, “7Bantai’Z is a group of young, multi-lingual artists with incredible potential and they have made it big despite the challenges thrown at them. Our collaboration with them to announce this upbeat, evocative soundtrack is aligned with our objective of giving a level playing field to India’s indigenous talent pool. ZEE is the oldest network of this country and our deep understanding of content and showbiz, in general, makes HiPi Star Hunt a golden opportunity for anybody harboring tinsel town dreams. As our anthem says, ‘Sabko Break Milega’, because now you don’t need to have ‘connections’ to find your way into the entertainment industry, your talent is the only thing you need in your armor to be the next face India cheers for.”
HiPi Star Hunt offers India’s youngsters an incredible opportunity to not only showcase their talent but also leverage the expertise of a panel of industry experts who have been handpicked by ZEE5 to mentor them on their journey to fame. HiPi Star Hunt redefines how content is created, and allows creators to express themselves in their own language providing them with a sizeable and interested audience who are connoisseurs of quality talent.
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.
