MAM
Generative AI SaaS startup Onetab expands India operations
Mumbai: Onetab, the generative AI SaaS startup kick-started by Saket Dandotia and Alok Patil has appointed three new senior members to strengthen its India operations. Harish Chouhan joins as Sr team lead, Pratish Gopinath comes on board as VP – corporate development and Ankita Phanse joins as head HR – strategy & planning of Onetab starting this financial year.
This team expansion comes as a step towards Onetab’s long-term growth strategy across India and global markets.
Harish Chouhan comes with over 17 plus years of industry expertise which spans across multiple domains. He holds strong leadership acumen that motivates cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality results leveraging his familiarity with agile tools like Jira and Trello. Prior to Onetab, he was with Panamax Infotech, Linkites Pvt Ltd, and InfoBeans Systems India Pvt Ltd. At Onetab he will be collaborating closely with the leadership team where he will contribute to strategic planning and execution along with fostering innovation, promoting excellence, and staying abreast of market trends and customer needs. He will play a key part in propelling Onetab toward its growth objectives and solidifying its position as an industry leader.
Pratish Gopinath will be based out of Bangalore where he will be spearheading the Bangalore office opening and hiring process. He will also look into identifying and executing strategic partnerships, investor and VC relations and hosting Onetab’s latest initiative One Bharat across multiple cities across India.
Ankita Phanse comes with over seven years of comprehensive experience in and around the scope of HR operations and generalist HR affairs. She holds an MBA with dual specialization in HR and finance, and her key role at Onetab is to leverage her expertise to develop and implement HR policies/processes and programs fostering a positive work culture at OneTab.
Speaking on the new appointments, Onetab founder Saket Dandotia said, “I am excited for Onetab as we welcome Harish, Pratish and Ankita onboard. At Onetab we are currently on a growing spree, and we need a strong team with matches our long-term vision. With our new property, OneBharat, now activated and other activities in the pipeline, this step of hiring senior team members comes in sync with our future goals.”
Onetab aims to provide seamless communication and collaboration with its proprietary custom LLM model, designed to revolutionize the way teams interact and work together. This feature of the start-up sets it apart from the current competition in the market.
MAM
India’s experience economy grows as live events market hits Rs 17,000 crore
EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow report finds 78 per cent Indians prefer experiences over products
MUMBAI: India’s live entertainment scene is no longer just about music, comedy or festivals. It is increasingly becoming a powerful stage for brands seeking deeper connections with consumers.
A new report titled Beyond Attention, Into Immersion by EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow suggests that India’s experience economy is entering a strong growth phase, driven by consumers who are choosing memorable moments over material purchases.
According to the study, the country’s live events ecosystem, which includes concerts, comedy tours, festivals and immersive exhibitions, is estimated to reach around Rs 17,000 crore in 2025. The growth reflects a broader cultural shift in how Indians spend their time and money.
The report finds that 78 per cent of Indian consumers now prefer spending on experiences rather than physical products. From attending concerts and festivals to participating in interactive brand installations, audiences are increasingly seeking engagement, community and shareable moments.
This change in consumer behaviour is particularly evident among younger audiences who want to participate rather than simply watch. Instead of passively consuming entertainment, many now look for experiences that allow them to interact, express themselves and connect with like minded communities.
For marketers, this shift has turned experiential marketing into a strategic priority rather than a promotional add on. Brands are moving away from interruption driven advertising and towards immersive formats that allow consumers to discover, test and emotionally connect with products.
The report suggests that experiential marketing now plays a role across the entire consumer journey. It can spark brand discovery, strengthen storytelling, encourage product trials and ultimately influence purchase decisions and loyalty.
The impact is already visible. Post event surveys conducted among 7,450 attendees at major events including Lollapalooza India and concerts by Ed Sheeran and Guns N’ Roses highlight the effectiveness of these experiences.
Around 59 per cent of attendees recalled brands they interacted with during the events, while 55 per cent said those interactions increased their likelihood of purchasing from the brand. A further 63 per cent reported that brand activations actually enhanced their event experience rather than distracting from it. Nearly 29 per cent also said the interaction improved their perception of the brand.
Brands are also changing the way they approach events. Instead of simply putting logos on stages or banners, companies are building experiences into the fabric of the event itself.
Financial services brands, for example, are offering early ticket access, exclusive lounges and curated event experiences for cardholders. Fashion and beauty companies are using festivals to showcase products through pop ups, interactive installations and social media friendly spaces that encourage visitors to share their experiences online.
The scope of experiential marketing now stretches far beyond live entertainment. Retailers are designing experiential stores where customers can explore products in lifelike environments. Entertainment platforms are extending popular intellectual properties into immersive exhibitions and fan events. Technology is also playing a growing role through augmented reality and virtual try on tools that blend digital discovery with physical interaction.
Cultural festivals remain one of the most powerful platforms for such engagement in India. Celebrations such as Navratri and Holi bring together large communities, emotional participation and heightened consumer spending. For brands, these moments offer an opportunity to become part of the celebration rather than simply advertise around it.
Despite the momentum, the report notes that some companies still hesitate to adopt experiential marketing at scale. Budget constraints, limited expertise and uncertainty around measuring return on investment remain common concerns.
However, the growing body of data around consumer engagement and brand impact is gradually addressing these challenges. More marketers are expected to allocate a larger share of their budgets to experiential formats over the coming years.
Taken together, the findings point to a clear trend. As consumers seek meaning, memories and moments worth sharing, live experiences are emerging as one of the most powerful ways for brands to stay relevant in a crowded media landscape.
