MAM
BBH India bags creative duties of DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund
MUMBAI: BBH India has been appointed as creative partner by DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund. The agency won the business after a multi-agency pitch process which included the likes of Ogilvy, JWT, McCann, TBWA, Publicis and Saints & Warriors.
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On choosing BBH India, DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund executive vice president and marketing head Aditi Kothari said, “We believe that marketing can no longer remain a support function in the financial services world. It can truly bring differentiation and deliver business impact in the new world, if done the right way. BlackRock had recognised this last year and hence, brought in a strong focus to build the brand globally. Our pitch process was tough, since we knew that our new creative agency will play an important role in laying down the foundation of a strong communication strategy. We are confident of achieving our objectives with our new partner BBH India.”
The agency will be in charge of developing the brand architecture and brand positioning for the company. It will also create engagement modules across traditional and new age platforms with focus on consumer as well as distributor.
Commenting on the win, BBH CEO and managing partner Subhash Kamath, said, “In today‘s economic situation, proper investment planning is becoming crucial for everyone and we are looking forward to partnering DSP BlackRock in meeting these challenges.”
DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund has investment products such as equity schemes, hybrid schemes, fixed income schemes, funds of funds schemes and fixed maturity plans for investors. BBH India manages a portfolio of diverse clients and brands that include Unilever, Marico, Diageo, Skoda, Red Bull, Acer, Movies Now and World Gold Council, among others.
BBH head planning Sanjay Sharma added, “Financial services communication is a sea of sameness. Despite a challenging regulatory framework, we feel there is a definite opportunity to introduce new ideas, new conversations that capture people’s imagination, and make them see the category differently. We are delighted to partner DSP BlackRock.”
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.
