Brands
Wamiqa Gabbi joins Softline as brand ambassador for new campaign
Mumbai: ‘Match It by Softline’, a dynamic collection by Rupa & Company, proudly launches its new campaign, ‘Aren’t We All Girls?’ to honor the strength, resilience, and vibrant lives of modern Indian women. With this launch, Softline announces actress Wamiqa Gabbi as the campaign’s brand ambassador, embodying the values of authenticity, versatility, and empowerment.
The upbeat campaign showcases women confidently dancing to an empowering anthem, reinforcing the campaign’s unifying message, “Aren’t we all girls?”—a bold tribute to shared womanhood and camaraderie.
Designed to cater to the active, diverse lifestyles of Indian women, the ‘Match It by Softline’ collection brings versatile outerwear in rich colors, prints, and patterns. With pants, leggings, palazzos, and tees, each item allows for endless mix-and-match styling, providing a seamless blend of style and comfort.
Commenting on the campaign, Rupa & Company director, Vikash Agarwal stated, “India’s rise on the global stage is powered by its youth, and our young women are leading the way in every sphere of life. ‘Match It by Softline’ reflects the essence of this ‘Girl Power.’ We are delighted to collaborate with Wamiqa Gabbi, our new brand ambassador, whose style and energy perfectly complement the values of our brand. With our range of pants, leggings, palazzos, and tees, we’re confident that women will love the versatility and flair of our collection.”
Expressing her enthusiasm, Wamiqa Gabbi said, “I’m thrilled to be part of this journey. Softline’s focus on comfort, style, and adaptability resonates with my own approach to fashion. It’s empowering to represent a brand that designs for the diverse needs of today’s women, offering both elegance and ease.”
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.
