Brands
Hoopr strikes a high note with new funding round
MUMBAI: Hoopr is turning up the volume on India’s creator economy, and investors are dancing to the beat. Music licensing platform Hoopr has raised Rupees 4 crore in the first tranche of its Pre-Series A round, led by Inflection Point Ventures with participation from family offices and existing investors. The round pegs Hoopr’s post-money valuation at Rupees 160 crore and lifts its total capital raised to Rupees 18 crore. Talks are under way with additional investors as interest in the fast-growing licensing space intensifies.
The fresh capital will turbocharge Hoopr Smash, the company’s automated self-serve licensing marketplace. It will also support the expansion of Hoopr’s Hindi cinema, regional and global catalogue, unlocking new monetisation opportunities for artists, composers and labels. The company plans to bolster product innovation, expand its team and accelerate international reach by aligning its offerings with global markets.
Hoopr is also doubling down on its AI-driven capabilities, from intelligent auto-tagging and copyright detection to creative content tools. These improvements sit atop a transparent, technology-first revenue model that protects brands while ensuring fair payouts to creators.
Backed by partnerships with Yash Raj Films Music, Universal Music, Saga Music, Merchant Records and Adobe, Hoopr has emerged as a trusted player in a sector ripe for structured standards. Its collaboration with the Indian Performing Rights Society is helping introduce real-time royalty distribution and greater accountability. Over the past three years, the company has worked with more than 300 independent artists across 21 regional labels, distributing over Rupees 4.5 crore in royalties.
IPV co-founder Mitesh Shah, said the timing for Hoopr’s offering could not be better. “India’s creator economy is exploding, and Hoopr has stepped in right where people need them by making copyright-safe music simple for anyone creating digital content. Their solution lands at the perfect moment.”
Co-founder and CEO Gaurav Dagaonkar, said the company aims to shape the future of India’s creator landscape. “With 4.4 times growth since inception and 300 per cent revenue growth this year, we are expanding globally and unlocking new monetisation models. Our aim is to build the world’s most trusted and intelligent music licensing platform,” he said.
Co-founder and CRO Meghna Mittal added that technology will define the next era of music licensing. “Our AI-led approach enhances efficiency, accountability and brand protection while empowering creators. By strengthening our tech infrastructure, we are preparing Hoopr to lead this transformation.”
At the intersection of creativity, compliance and cutting-edge tech, Hoopr is positioning itself as the blueprint for how music will be created, used and commercialised in the digital age.
Brands
Kotak Mahindra Prime names Suraj Rajappan as managing director and chief executive
The car-finance arm of Kotak Mahindra Bank lines up a new chief and raises its borrowing limit
MUMBAI: Suraj Rajappan is getting the keys. Kotak Mahindra Prime Limited (KMPL), India’s veteran car-finance outfit, has named him managing director and chief executive, effective June 1st, 2026—the same day his predecessor drives off into retirement.
The board approved the appointment at its meeting on March 18th. Rajappan, currently a whole-time director at the company, has spent his entire 24-year career at KMPL, working across functions before rising to the top job. The three-year term remains subject to shareholder approval, and the company confirmed he faces no bar from SEBI or any other authority from holding the post.
He takes over from Shahrukh Todiwala, who superannuates on May 31st after more than three decades with the Kotak Group. Ashok Vaswani, managing director and chief executive of parent Kotak Mahindra Bank, was generous in his send-off. Todiwala, he said, “leaves behind a legacy marked by prudent growth, strong risk discipline, and a focus on customer-centricity.” Of his successor, Vaswani was equally bullish: Rajappan’s “deep industry experience and execution capabilities position KMPL well for its next phase of growth.”
The board also loosened the purse strings, raising the company’s overall outstanding debt limit from Rs 43,000 crore to Rs 48,000 crore. The expanded ceiling covers bank loans, debentures, commercial paper, treasury operations, credit facilities and external commercial borrowings.
KMPL has operated as a car-finance company since 1996, branching into two-wheeler loans in 2018 and loans against property in 2021. With fresh leadership, a bigger borrowing arsenal and an ambitious lender for a parent, Rajappan’s first task is clear: step on the accelerator.
