MAM
IMG takes up Muhammad Ali’s consumer products licensing
MUMBAI: Muhammad Ali Enterprises LLC (MAE), which controls all licensing rights for the legendary boxer, has selected IMG Licensing, a division of global sports, fashion and media company, IMG Worldwide, for consumer products licensing.
The 1960 Olympic Gold Medallist and three-time world champion boxer dominated the sport over two decades and had instantly classic bouts such as “Thrilla in Manila” and “Rumble in the Jungle.”
Retired from boxing for decades, Ali has transcended sports and has become an iconic humanitarian figure. His international goodwill missions and fundraising have delivered food and medical supplies to tens of millions of people — especially children — making him one of the most recognised and respected persons around the world.
Under the multi-year agreement, IMG Licensing will act exclusively as representation for the brand in Europe and Asia. This new agreement will see IMG combine its extensive knowledge of the boxer‘s life with its global capabilities in product licensing, providing opportunities to extend the brand to new consumer touch points.
IMG Licensing will seek opportunities in both traditional sports licensing categories including memorabilia and apparel, as well as new business areas that capture and leverage the showman and essence of Muhammad Ali.
Muhammad Ali Enterprises VP of worldwide licensing Kelly C. Hill said, “IMG is clearly the leader in sports licensing of all kinds, but what attracted us most is their proven track record in developing new and innovative licensing concepts that leverage the characteristics of brands and iconic personalities outside of the natural core competency.”
IMG Licensing executive VP, global MD Bruno Maglione said, “Ali is simply the greatest boxer ever and IMG Licensing is honoured to be entering into this partnership with Muhammad Ali Enterprises. Ali‘s inspiring personal journey, his achievements both in and out of the ring and his devotion to humanitarian efforts are all material for branded concepts and product ideas that can generate interest from Ali fans old and new.”
Brands
Beep App launches Gen-Z career platform, clocks 30,000 plus placements
Pune startup turns scrolling into career action with learn-explore-earn model
PUNE: Beep App has rolled out its newly positioned career-focused app aimed at Gen-Z users, as it looks to bridge what it calls a growing gap between exposure and employability among young Indians.
Formerly known as EventBeep, the platform is built around a simple but timely idea: turning everyday scrolling into meaningful career action. The app targets students and early professionals, offering a unified space to explore career options, learn relevant skills and access internships and job opportunities.
At a time when short-form content dominates screen time, Beep is attempting to flip the script by embedding structured, career-oriented insights within a familiar scroll-based interface. The idea is not to disrupt user behaviour, but to redirect it.
The platform spans a wide range of fields, including artificial intelligence, product management, design and data analytics. It provides users with insights into role expectations, required skills and step-by-step career pathways, supported by inputs from industry practitioners.
At the heart of the offering is a “learn, explore, earn” model that integrates discovery, skill-building and hiring into one ecosystem. The company says this closed-loop approach is already gaining traction, with over 30,000 placements facilitated so far.
“Gen-Z does not lack ambition; what they often lack is structured direction,” said Beep App founder and CEO Saurabh Mangrulkar. “The Beep App is designed to organise that exposure into actionable pathways so users can move from intent to execution with greater confidence.”
The launch comes amid a broader shift in India’s job market towards skills-first hiring, where practical experience and demonstrable capabilities are increasingly valued alongside academic qualifications.
Founded in 2021, Beep App has grown steadily within the student ecosystem, connecting over 6.5 million users with opportunities across more than 1,500 colleges and 7,800 hiring companies.
Looking ahead, the company plans to deepen its content across emerging sectors, expand its hiring network and build more personalised career pathways tailored to user behaviour.
As Gen-Z continues to navigate a complex and fast-evolving job market, platforms that can turn curiosity into clarity may well shape the next wave of career discovery.
