iWorld
Amazon MX Player backs Super Founders with big bet
MUMBAI: India’s startup dreams are getting a primetime power boost. Amazon MX Player has pulled the curtain on Bharat Ke Super Founders, a reality series that puts real money, real mentors and real pressure on budding entrepreneurs as they chase the biggest funding pool ever showcased on Indian entertainment.
Set to stream for free, the show brings action, ambition and a touch of boardroom drama as host and mentor Suniel Shetty guides founders pitching to a heavyweight panel of business leaders. Together with Recur Club, the tycoons have committed a landmark Rs 100 crore, making the series a genuine launchpad rather than just a television spectacle.
The format stands out for its insistence on authenticity, verified pitches and transparent investment conversations. Every founder steps in with real data and real intent, reflecting the show’s mission to spotlight Bharat’s diversity, grit and ingenuity. It celebrates the Super Founders, the everyday innovator whose conviction could spark meaningful change.
A power-packed panel fuels this mission. A. Velumani of Thyrocare, Nitish Mittersain of Nazara Technologies, Aarti Gupta of Anikarth Ventures, Shanti Mohan of LVX, Aditya Singh of All In Capital and Ankur Mittal of Physis Capital and Inflection Point Ventures form the core group. A rotating lineup of industry leaders joins through the season, adding fresh perspectives and varied investment philosophies. Recur Club’s Eklavya Gupta plays a key role in the Rs 100 crore commitment, bringing the company’s AI-driven debt infrastructure to the table.
Amazon MX Player director and head of content Amogh Dusad, said the series breaks new ground by presenting real deals and verified business fundamentals. He explained that the platform aims to democratise access to opportunity for founders across the country.
Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani, added that the show champions founders who embody India’s ambition and diversity, describing the investment pledge as a catalyst for scalable, high-impact businesses.
Suniel Shetty shared his excitement about hosting, noting that entrepreneurship is the beating heart of New India. He said that every participant brings a story worth hearing and a determination worth backing.
Investor and tycoon A. Velumani, said the show offers focused and frugal founders the opportunity they have long needed, emphasising that Bharat requires millions of successful entrepreneurs to power its future.
With big ideas, bigger inspiration and the biggest investment pool in Indian reality programming, Bharat Ke Super Founders promises high stakes, heartfelt stories and a front-row seat to the next wave of game-changing ventures. The series will stream free across Amazon MX Player, the Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV and Airtel Xstream.
iWorld
Netflix cuts jobs in product division amid restructuring
Layoffs hit creative studio unit as leadership and strategy shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: The streaming wars may be fought on screen, but the latest plot twist is unfolding behind the scenes. Netflix has reportedly begun laying off several dozen employees from its product division as part of an internal reorganisation, according to a report by Variety. The cuts are believed to have primarily affected the company’s creative studio unit, which works on marketing assets such as in app trailers, promotional visuals and live experience content for the streaming platform.
The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted.
According to the report, the layoffs were not tied to employee performance. Instead, the restructuring eliminated certain roles while other employees were reassigned to different teams within the organisation.
The roles affected are understood to include designers, producers and creative specialists responsible for marketing and brand experience initiatives.
The job cuts come as Netflix adjusts its leadership structure and reshapes its product and creative teams. Last month, Elizabeth Stone was promoted from chief technology officer to chief product and technology officer, giving her oversight of product, engineering and data operations across the company.
Earlier, in December 2025, Netflix also appointed Martin Rose as head of creative for global brand and partnerships, a move seen as part of a broader restructuring of the company’s brand and product functions.
Despite the layoffs, Netflix remains one of the largest employers in the streaming sector. The company is estimated to employ around 16,000 people globally, with roughly 70 percent of its workforce based in the United States and Canada. In 2023, the company reported approximately 13,000 employees, indicating that its headcount had grown significantly before the latest restructuring.
The workforce changes arrive at a time when Netflix is navigating a shifting financial and strategic landscape in the global entertainment industry.
The streaming giant recently secured $2.8 billion in additional cash after receiving a breakup fee from Paramount Skydance following its withdrawal from a deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Netflix co chief executive Ted Sarandos explained that the company had evaluated multiple scenarios during the negotiations but chose not to match the competing offer once it learned that a higher bid had been submitted.
Netflix had capped its offer at $27.75 per share and ultimately stepped back rather than pursue Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition deal, which included a personal guarantee.
Sarandos also cautioned that the financing structure behind the Paramount Skydance transaction could have ripple effects across the entertainment industry.
According to him, the debt heavy deal could trigger significant cost cutting, with David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, expected to eliminate about $16 billion in costs and potentially cut thousands of jobs as part of the integration process.
For Netflix, the current restructuring appears to be part of a broader attempt to streamline operations while continuing to invest in product, technology and global content even as the streaming industry enters a new phase of consolidation and financial discipline.
