MAM
Xley sets $100 million ARR target by 2027, eyes influencer dominance in three continents
MUMBAI: With algorithms in one hand and ambition in the other, Xley has mapped out a plan to redefine influencer marketing globally. The AI- and ML-driven creator marketplace under Mad Group has announced its intent to hit a $100 million annual recurring revenue (ARR) mark by 2027, while building the largest influencer network across India, MENA, and Australia.
Xley is designed to be the backstage manager to a growing cast of 200 million creators across Youtube, Instagram, Tiktok, and more. Its creator-first model aims to streamline brand collaborations with small and medium businesses, putting them on par with Fortune 500 players through access to real-time data, automation, and emotional intelligence-driven campaign tools.
“What Tally is for accountants, we aspire to make Xley for marketers. Our mission is to empower small and medium businesses to market with the sophistication and reach of Fortune 500 companies. We are a creator-first company, and we always will be. With access to a network of over 200 million creators across platforms like Youtube, Instagram, and Tiktok, our platform levels the playing field. We’re also embedding Emotional Intelligence (EI) into our AI systems, enabling brands to craft campaigns that not only perform but genuinely connect with people,” said Xley founder & CEO Gautam Madhavan.
The platform features Advanced Audience Insights, Extensive Creator Discovery Tools, and end-to-end campaign management. Xley claims it can reduce manual operations by up to 80 per cent, supporting campaigns in more than 54 languages and 10,000 cities across 150 countries.
With its expansion blueprint laid out, Xley is now preparing for its next funding round to supercharge global growth and deepen its tech arsenal. Positioned alongside Mad Influence and Creators United under Mad Group, Xley is shaping up to be a powerhouse in the creator economy—one data-driven campaign at a time.
Digital
OpenAI’s Stargate lead Peter Hoeschele exits with two senior leaders
Trio behind compute push set to join new startup amid leadership reshuffle
SAN FRANCISCO: Peter Hoeschele, a key figure behind OpenAI’s early Stargate data centre initiative, has exited the company, according to a report by The Information.
The departure is part of a broader leadership shift, with two other senior executives, Shamez Hemani and Anuj Saharan, also set to leave in the coming days. All three are expected to join the same new startup, although details about the venture remain under wraps.
The trio played a central role in OpenAI’s Stargate effort, an initiative aimed at building large-scale data centre capacity in-house to reduce reliance on external infrastructure providers. Their exits mark a notable moment for the company’s compute strategy as it continues to scale rapidly.
OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to The Information, “We’re grateful for the contributions Peter, Shamez, and Anuj have made to OpenAI and wish them the very best in what comes next.” The company also pointed to the recent appointment of Sachin Katti to lead its industrial compute organisation, signalling continuity in its infrastructure roadmap.
OpenAI has indicated that it does not plan to directly replace Hoeschele’s role, suggesting a possible restructuring of responsibilities within the team.
As competition intensifies in the race to build next-generation AI systems, leadership changes in core infrastructure teams are likely to draw close attention. For now, the spotlight shifts to what this departing trio builds next, and how OpenAI adapts as it scales its ambitions.
