Brands
Canva appoints MangoAI co-founder Nirmal Govind as chief algorithms officer
Acquires MangoAI to power performance driven AI at scale
MUMBAI: Design platform Canva has appointed Nirmal Govind as its first chief algorithms officer following the acquisition of AI powered creative optimisation start up MangoAI. The move signals a sharper focus on performance driven artificial intelligence across Canva’s global ecosystem.
Govind, who co founded MangoAI in 2025, built the company around reinforcement learning for generative video advertising. In simple terms, it helped brands not just create ads, but continually refine them using data driven feedback loops. With the acquisition now complete, that experimentation mindset is set to scale inside Canva’s rapidly expanding AI stack.
Before launching MangoAI, Govind served as vice president of data science and engineering at Netflix, where he spent eight years leading teams across content, studio, creative production and streaming. He was part of Netflix’s executive staff, working closely with senior leadership on creative algorithms, localisation and production innovation.
His earlier career reflects a strong operations research pedigree. He held senior technology roles at Lightning Bolt Solutions and worked in engineering and optimisation at Intel Corporation and IBM. Academically, he holds a PhD in industrial engineering and operations research from Penn State University and a master’s degree from University of California, Berkeley.
For Canva, the appointment is more than a new title. It reflects the growing importance of algorithms in shaping not only how designs look, but how they perform. As brands demand measurable outcomes from creative work, the line between art and optimisation is blurring. Canva appears keen to sit right at that intersection.
With Govind now steering its algorithms strategy, Canva is betting that the future of design will not just be beautiful, but intelligently tuned for impact.
Brands
Dream Sports to enter stock broking with launch of new platform Dream Street
Fantasy gaming giant pivots to wealth management to tackle recent market hurdles
MUMBAI: Dream Sports, the parent company of the prominent sports platform Dream11, is officially entering the stock broking industry. The Mumbai-based firm is launching a new platform called Dream Street, marking a significant diversification as it prepares to compete with established fintech players such as Groww and Zerodha.
The strategic move follows a challenging period for the group. Following a ban on real-money gaming in August 2025, the company has been under pressure to establish fresh revenue streams. Dream Sports began laying the groundwork for a financial services portfolio last year with the launch of Dream Money, and this latest venture signals a deeper commitment to the wealth management sector.
This expansion is part of a broader restructuring. Dream Sports co-founder Harsh Jain confirmed to Moneycontrol that the company has secured all necessary licences. The platform is currently undergoing internal testing, with a public launch expected to take place shortly.
The leadership team for Dream Street consists of experienced internal executives. Dream Sports chief product officer Rahul Mirchandani will lead the brokerage as ceo. He is joined by co-founders Karan Bansal and Nikhil Lalvani. Within the new structure, Dream Street chief business officer Karan Bansal will oversee operations, while Dream Street chief product officer Nikhil Lalvani will manage the technical development.
Financial reports indicate that this shift in strategy follows a period of contraction. For the 2025 financial year, Dream11 reported a 15 percent decline in revenue to Rs 6,759 crore. The company also moved from a profit of Rs 1,295 crore in 2024 to a loss of Rs 479 crore in 2025. While one-time tax expenses and director benefits contributed to the loss, the regulatory changes to its core gaming business have necessitated a search for more stable growth.
By leveraging its massive existing user base, Dream Street aims to convert sports fans into retail investors. The company is betting that its experience in high-traffic digital platforms will allow it to capture a significant share of the retail broking market as it builds out its broader financial services ecosystem.
