Brands
EMotorad successfully rolls out India’s first E-Cyclothon in Pune
Mumbai: EMotorad—the market leader in the electric cycle segment— successfully organised India’s first-ever E-cyclothon in Pune today. The event was held at Mayfield Ivy Garden, Baner, and commenced at 6:30 am, bringing together e-cycling enthusiasts to celebrate World Bicycle Day and World Environment Day with an eco-friendly twist. 200 plus cyclists participated in the event.
The event saw a remarkable turnout, with participants eagerly joining the 20-km ride starting from Baner, crossing the scenic routes of Pashan Hill, NDA, and Aundh, and returning to base. The event was guided by professionals, keeping safety and regulations at the forefront. We saw participants ranging in age from 9 to late 60s, all enthusiastically geared and prepped for the ride.
The day began with a lively Zumba warm-up session, energising the participants for the ride ahead. Post-ride, participants were treated to a hearty and healthy breakfast and eco-friendly goodie bags consisting of plants, whey protein, coffee hampers, stationary, and much more. There was a fun e-cycle stunt session conducted by @freestyler.shevi, aka Shivam Naruka from the EM team leaving the audience in awe. The event concluded with an award ceremony, where participants were honoured with medals, merchandise, and gifts, capturing memorable moments of this landmark event.
EMotorad’s CMO Aditya Oza, expressed delight at the event’s success, stating, “With EM offices in Bangalore, Spain, UAE, and Japan—Pune is and will always remain our backyard. Our first customer came from the city, and many of our team, including founders, were educated here, thus, India’s first e-cyclothon in Pune holds a special place for us. We really hope this inspired more people to adopt e-cycles. Maharashtra has been a leading state in all domains and now it’s time we lead the torch of sustainability! This ride for change is a shout-out from all Puneris and now it’s time to bring the change—now it’s time to e-cycle!”
Participants and spectators alike left with a sense of fulfillment, contributing to a greener planet while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the E-cyclothon. EMotorad’s initiative has set a new benchmark for sustainable events in India, inspiring many to adopt eco-friendly practices.
Brands
Nodwin Gaming appoints Sonal Varma as global director of live events
Former Comic Con India VP to scale global gaming and pop culture experiences
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has appointed Sonal Varma as global director of live events, bringing on board a seasoned architect of fan communities as the company accelerates its global push in gaming, esports and youth culture.
Varma steps into the role with more than 15 years of experience creating large-scale fan experiences and cultural platforms. She is best known for her long stint at Comic Con India, where she most recently served as vice president and helped transform the convention into one of the country’s most recognisable pop culture gatherings.
At Nodwin Gaming, Varma will lead the strategy, design and execution of the company’s global live event initiatives. Her mandate includes expanding flagship intellectual properties and developing new formats that bring gaming communities together across emerging markets.
Over the years, Varma has been closely associated with building and scaling community-led events such as Comic Con India, Geekly and the Indian Cosplay Championship. Her work has focused on turning niche fandoms into thriving cultural ecosystems by blending entertainment, creator culture and brand partnerships.
Her appointment comes at a time when Nodwin Gaming is expanding its international events footprint through properties such as DreamHack India, NH7 Weekender, Comic Con India and the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series. The company has also been growing its presence across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa through esports tournaments, gaming festivals and fan conventions.
Nodwin Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee, said Varma’s experience in building fan-centric platforms would play a key role in the company’s next phase of growth.
“Sonal brings a deep understanding of how live experiences can bring communities together around gaming and pop culture. As we expand our global live events footprint, her experience will help us create experiences that feel authentic and meaningful for audiences across markets,” he said.
Varma said the scale of opportunity at Nodwin Gaming made the move particularly exciting.
“Joining Nodwin Gaming at this moment feels incredibly exciting because the canvas is so large. There are new audiences, new markets and new formats waiting to be explored. I’m looking forward to working with teams across the network to create live experiences that celebrate gaming culture while staying rooted in the communities that power it,” she said.
Over the past few years, Nodwin Gaming has built an ecosystem that stretches across competitive gaming, creator communities, music festivals and youth culture platforms. With Varma now leading global live events, the company is looking to further expand its flagship properties while experimenting with new formats that blend gaming, entertainment and fandom for audiences around the world.
