Brands
Dentsu Webchutney, Chakra Tea redefine tea-breaks with Chai-Fi
MUMBAI: Currently, India is the second most populated country of workers in the world wherein people toil for 16-17 hours a day to make ends meet. Away from their families, friends and social circle, these workers lead a hard life with no joy or happiness. Consequently, the tiring nature of their work barely leaves them with any time to enjoy anything else in their lives.
Chakra Tea, a popular brand from central India has addressed the issue and brings up an initiative called Chai-Fi, by adding ‘wi-fi’ to their lives.
As part of the initiative, Chakra Tea along with Dentsu Webchutney, has conseptualised an innovative tea-kettle that is now being distributed at tea stalls popular with the workers. As the kettle is heated to make tea, it also generates wi-fi that is then made available to workers for free. They use the free wi-fi to connect to their favourite videos, music, movies, sports, news shows and even family members.
Dentsu Webchutney co-founder and chief creative officer Sudesh Samaria said, “Tea is such an integral part of our lives that it is difficult to think of it in a new light. Our team identified an opportunity in the tea-breaks and made these breaks even more refreshing by creating a tea-kettle that generates wi-fi when heated. We call it Chai-Fi.”
Chakra Tea MD Priyank Khandelwal,“The category is dominated by big names. For brands like us to stand out, innovation is critical. Chai-Fi is one such innovation. It brings joy in people’s lives while opening up a world of possibilities.”
Dentsu Webchutney chief creative technologist Gurbaksh Singh said,“Right technology can solve all our problems, big or small. Chai-Fi is a simple yet innovative idea that combines the trend of free wi-fi with human desire of information and entertainment.”
Chai-Fi holds the promise of bringing more people to the internet while serving as a model for more such innovations.
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.
