iWorld
Esports pioneer FanClash surprises the gaming world by unveiling new avatar
Mumbai: Esports fantasy platform FanClash has unveiled its new identity through a marketing campaign. The brand strategically wiped out its social media pages. This, it said, sparked conversations amongst fans and top influencers, including key opinion leaders (KOL) in the industry like Animesh ‘Thug’ Agarwal, Manoj Kashyap and Shiva Nandy, through which snippets of information were revealed to the fans. This culminated in a live event with the launch of FanClash’s new logo, new cyber-punk inspired mascot Ne.0N and a refreshed UI/website. The unveiling event received great traction and was moderated by popular casters, where the brand also introduced the FanClan, an army of influencers that FanClash has partnered with to create exciting content and fan engagement opportunities for the community.
With operations across India and the Philippines, the company has been making strides across the esports fantasy industry within just two years of its operations. FanClash said that its new identity reflects the company’s DNA as being futuristic innovators committed to building a world-class product for the global esports audience. The company’s mascot, Ne.0N, embodies an aesthetic inspired by Cyberpunk, a well-known sci-fi genre that is a mainstay in video games, thus reflecting his role in assisting other gamers.
FanClash co-founder Rishabh Bhansali said, “The journey of building alliances with the biggest names in the industry and securing our position of leadership as one of the top esports companies in the gaming world has been fantastic. The rebranding marks the beginning of yet another journey towards providing immersive interactive experiences for the fans.”
FanClash head of marketing Archana Sangaran said, “We have forged successful partnerships with top organisations such as Orangutan Esports, Team Velocity, Team Hyderabad Hydras, and Team M42. We are now proud to welcome aboard our FanClan, creator squad and partners in the company’s mission to deliver unique content IPs and fan experiences. Gaming aficionados can look out for many more exciting associations soon.”
FanClash’s partner athletes and creators aka the FanClan comprises of Roxx ‘The Falcon’, top BGMI athlete and winner of the International PUBG World Pro League South Asia; Rakazone ‘The Sniper’ Streamer Of The Year 2018, versatile streamer known for GTA V roleplay videos and valorant streams; Venom ‘The Alpha’, IGL M42 and India’s most popular Counter-Strike-turned-Valorant gaming professional and Xyaa ‘The Firestorm’, top female valorant content creator in India.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
