iWorld
Short video app Likee educating people on corona, busting myths
MUMBAI: The world has resorted to ‘social distancing’ in a bid to come out safe of the fierce battle against deadly Covid-19 or Coronavirus. India on its part has upped the ante against the pandemic, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing a 21-day nationwide lockdown. This has left the common man with no choice but to remain confined inside their homes. While a few of us are sulking over the practical house arrest, there are many who are using it in a constructive manner. These creative minds have been using the various social media platforms and short video apps such as Likee to spread awareness and information about the pandemic.
Likee, which is a pioneering short video platform, has come up with several corona-related hashtags, as part of which users are sharing the Dos and Don’ts, and even busting several myths doing rounds on the Internet since the corona outbreak.
One of the hashtags trending on the short video app is #FightCorona, which has already clocked more than 55 million views. Under this hashtag, creators have suggested the various precautions that we need to take in the battle against Covid-19. A total of three steps have been highlighted by most of the creators:
1. Washing hands frequently using soap, handwash or sanitizer
2. Covering face with mask or elbow, but do not use your hand
3. If cold and cough stays longer, please go see a doctor
Another similar hashtag trending on the app is #CoronaFactAndRumours, which is themed around busting myths related to the pandemic. As part of the measure, Likee officially roped in three medical professionals – Dr Neha Rajpal – MBBS from MGM Medical College in Navi Mumbai, Dr Om Patil – Consultant Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon in Mumbai, and Dr Mrinmayee Mukund Ganoje – a Consultant Dermatologist and Cosmetology expert, who predominantly works with the Bollywood fraternity for beauty and facial enhancement. These doctors conducted live sessions on the app on March 24, 25 and 26 wherein they answered the queries of Likeers. Besides, videos posted by Likeers dispel myths such as cow urine acting as a medicine for the disease.
Apart from these, the app has also introduced a live tracker, which provides the latest updates related to the corona crisis. Details such as total infected people, number of new cases, number of corona-related deaths and patients recovered can be obtained through this section. In the dedication section, latest news reports concerning the pandemic are also available.
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.
