Brands
Monopoly levels up with India’s App Banking launch
MUMBAI: Looks like Monopoly just took a chance card for the future, and it paid off handsomely. As the iconic board game marks 90 years of global fame, Hasbro India has unveiled the Monopoly App Banking Edition, bringing a cashless, tech-savvy upgrade to a classic loved across generations.
The new edition blends nostalgia with digital ease to suit India’s fast-growing app-first players. Born in an era of paper notes and pocket bankers, Monopoly has evolved with each generation, and now steps confidently into the cashless age.
In this version, paper currency takes a bow as a free mobile app steps in as the Banker. Players tap their bank cards to buy properties, pay rent and track balances, turning every move into a seamless digital transaction. The gameplay remains familiar, only faster, smarter and better suited to how India plays and pays today.
Designed for two to six players aged eight and up, the set features scannable property cards, new tokens, bank cards and a foldable board. Digital animations, mini-games and snappier playtime keep the excitement high while preserving the charm of the original.
Hasbro India head of India and southeast Asia Nilay Verma said that Monopoly has long been a shared ritual in Indian homes and continues to inspire connection and creativity. He added that the 90-year milestone offered the perfect moment to reimagine the game for a new era, blending fond memories with modern play.
To extend the celebration beyond the board, Hasbro is hosting immersive experiences at Hamleys stores, where families can enjoy live play zones and interactive challenges. The brand is also joining hands with Sunday Bricks to bring Monopoly-inspired workshops to classrooms across India, highlighting how play can nurture skills such as negotiation, teamwork and resilience.
As Monopoly enters its tenth decade, the App Banking Edition invites India’s digital generation to roll the dice on a refreshed classic, proving once again that the joy of play never goes out of style.
Brands
Hocco crosses Rs 530cr revenue in two years
Sauce.vc-led Rs 100cr raise values ice cream brand at Rs 2,500cr pre-money as quick commerce hits 20 per cent of sales.
MUMBAI: Hocco has just scooped a seriously sweet milestone crossing the Rs 530 crore revenue mark in just two full years of operations. The fast-growing Indian ice cream and indulgence brand announced it has raised Rs 100 crore in fresh capital led by Sauce.vc. The round values the company at Rs 2,500 crore pre-money and underscores investor confidence in its rapid scale and distinctive India-first approach.
Founder Ankit Chona said the brand’s success stems from solving real Indian challenges extreme summer heat, fragmented cold chains and culturally rooted tastes. “In India, product development doesn’t end in the lab. It only ends when it survives the street,” he noted. This philosophy has produced viral hits such as Aamchi mango ice cream, BIX cake-sponge sandwiches, the Oh cone and culturally relevant collaborations like Haldiram’s Barfi and festive Modak specials.
Hocco currently operates manufacturing facilities in Ahmedabad and Panipat with a production capacity of approximately 3 lakh litres per day, running near full capacity in peak season. The fresh capital will help expand this to around 4.5 lakh litres per day.
Quick commerce has emerged as a major growth engine, now contributing ~20 per cent of overall business and growing nearly 2x year-on-year. The channel has boosted product discovery, increased consumption frequency and helped extend ice cream beyond its traditional seasonal limits.
Sauce.vc founder Manu Chandra said, “At Sauce, we believe that when you chance upon an outlier business, you double down with stronger conviction. We see Hocco as just that.”
With a strong innovation pipeline, deeper distribution and continued focus on cultural relevance, Hocco is entering its third year aiming to capture even more mind space and market share. In a category long dominated by legacy players, this young brand is proving that the coolest way to win is to build for India’s realities, one scoop, one street and one satisfied craving at a time.
