Brands
BlackZone Mobiles ropes in Mouni Roy as brand ambassador for feature phones and smartwatches
Mumbai: BlackZone Mobiles, India’s leading mobile and wearables manufacturer has announced its strategic alliance with the popular Indian Bollywood actress, Mouni Roy, who will represent –Blackzone’s feature phones and smartwatches categories as its distinguished brand ambassador. This partnership aims to enhance BlackZone’s market presence, celebrated for its innovative designs, cutting-edge technology, and strategic pricing.
Mouni Roy will play a pivotal role in BlackZone’s advertising campaigns, branding endeavours, and social media activities over the coming year.
BlackZone Mobiles chairman Karan Thukral stated, “It is with great pride that we announce our collaboration with Bollywood Icon Mouni Roy, an actor par excellence of today’s times. Ms. Roy’s vibrant personality and influential social media footprint are perfectly aligned with our mission to forge a deeper connection with audiences across India. Her grace and sophistication perfectly encapsulate our brand ethos.”
A proud participant in the “Make in India” initiative, BlackZone is dedicated to expanding its reach beyond urban centers, making inroads into smaller cities and towns across the country.
BlackZone Mobiles managing director Kannav Thukral remarked, “Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our sleek designs and the advanced features of our products. Each BlackZone product stands out for its uniqueness. As a ‘Make in India’ advocate, we are focused on creating exceptional mobile devices that combine superior quality with affordability, ranging from our budget-friendly 4G feature phones to our stylish and practical smartwatches, all of which showcase the pinnacle of Indian manufacturing prowess.”
Situated in Sonipat, Haryana, BlackZone’s expansive manufacturing facility highlights its dedication to promoting local employment and propelling technological innovation within the region. The domestic production of feature phones and smartwatches is a reflection of BlackZone’s ambition to spearhead India’s tech revolution.
“BlackZone is more than just a brand to me; it epitomizes style itself. Each mobile offers an array of vibrant colours, features distinctive characteristics,” shared Roy.
The partnership between Mouni Roy and BlackZone signifies a pivotal moment in the brand’s evolution, emphasizing the critical role of nurturing indigenous talent and innovation in shaping the future.
Brands
UK’s OnlyFans seeks US investor at $3bn valuation after owner’s death
The adult video platform is seeking stability after the death of its billionaire owner
LONDON: OnlyFans is looking for a new partner. The London-based adult video platform is in advanced talks to sell a minority stake of less than 20 per cent to Architect Capital, a San Francisco-based investment firm, in a deal that would value the business at more than $3bn (£2.2bn).
The move is driven by an urgent need for stability. Leonid Radvinsky, the Ukrainian-American billionaire who owned OnlyFans, died of cancer last month at the age of 43, leaving the future of one of Britain’s most profitable privately held businesses suddenly uncertain.
The choice of Architect Capital is not arbitrary. The firm has deep expertise in financial services, which aligns neatly with OnlyFans’ ambitions to offer banking products to its creators, many of whom have long struggled to access basic financial services because of the nature of their work.
The numbers behind OnlyFans are, by any measure, staggering. The platform posted revenues of $1.4bn in the year to 30th November 2024, with a pre-tax profit of $684m, up four per cent on the prior year. Payments to creators totalled $7.2bn over the same period, a rise of nearly ten per cent. Radvinsky personally collected $701m in dividends from the business in 2024 alone, on top of more than $1bn in such payments he had already received. The platform, run through its parent company Felix International, hosts 4.6m creator accounts, with performers keeping 80 per cent of subscription proceeds and the platform pocketing the remaining 20 per cent. It has 377m fan accounts in total.
The current minority stake talks represent a notable scaling back of ambitions. In January, OnlyFans was reported to be in discussions with Architect about selling a majority stake of 60 per cent. Before that, the company had explored a sale to a consortium led by Forest Road Company, a Los Angeles-based investment firm. Neither deal materialised.
OnlyFans has built an enormously lucrative business on content that mainstream finance has long refused to touch. Now, with its owner gone and a $3bn valuation on the table, it is looking for the kind of respectable institutional backing that might finally persuade the banks to take its calls.
