e-commerce
Game, set, match: Sports stars serve up Rs 410 crore fund
MUMBAI: Nothing like putting your money where your medals are. Centre Court Capital has closed its maiden fund at Rs 410 crore, comfortably acing its initial target of Rs 350 crore. The firm’s roster of backers reads like a roll call at the Olympic Village: cricketing sensation Rishabh Pant, badminton champion PV Sindhu, batting star Jemimah Rodrigues and javelin king Neeraj Chopra have all signed up.
They’re joined by heavyweight institutional players including the Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi), Premji Invest, SanRaj Family Ventures and GMR Sports, anchored by Parth Jindal. The entrepreneurial brigade—Binny Bansal, Mithun Sacheti and Ankit N—rounds out the team sheet.
With this war chest, Centre Court Capital plans to back 15 to 18 startups across sports, fitness, wellness, esports and gaming. Typical cheques will range between Rs 8 crore and Rs 24 crore per company. The firm has already deployed capital in six ventures, including Quidich Innovation Labs, Michezo Sports and Stupa Sports.
Founder Mustafa Ghouse reckons there’s enormous scope for technology to transform Indian sports—from analytics and player development to sports science and fan engagement. He’s not wrong. India’s sports market, valued at $52 billion in FY24, is sprinting towards $130 billion by FY30. That’s the kind of growth curve that makes venture capitalists break into a sweat.
The pitch is clear: invest in the picks and shovels of India’s sporting gold rush. With athletes who understand the game from the inside and investors who know how to keep score, Centre Court Capital is betting that India’s sports-tech revolution is just warming up. Advantage, India.
e-commerce
Flipkart rolls out 105 per cent bonus for 20,000 employees
Strong FY25 performance drives payouts even as layoffs and shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: In a year where belts were tightened and rewards loosened, Flipkart seems to be playing both offence and defence trimming roles on one hand while handing out a generous 105 per cent bonus on the other. The Walmart owned e commerce major has rolled out a 105 per cent bonus payout for 2025, covering nearly 20,000 employees, signalling a year of steady operational momentum even as the company navigates restructuring pressures. The payout, communicated internally by chief human resources officer Seema Nair, is tied to performance across key metrics including growth, operational efficiency, financial outcomes and people indicators, a combination that suggests the company is inching closer to its long stated goal of sustainable profitability.
Employees at SD level and below are set to receive their bonuses in March, while payouts for senior leadership, including vice presidents and senior vice presidents, will follow after the close of the performance cycle. The elevated 105 per cent multiplier stands out in a sector where cautious payouts have increasingly become the norm, pointing to what appears to be a relatively strong internal scorecard for FY25.
Yet, the announcement arrives with a noticeable contrast. Earlier this year, Flipkart reduced its workforce by around 300 roles as part of its annual performance review process. While officially framed as performance driven, the juxtaposition of layoffs alongside above target bonuses reflects a more nuanced balancing act, one that prioritises cost discipline while continuing to reward and retain high performing talent.
This dual approach is becoming increasingly common across the technology and e commerce landscape, where companies are navigating an uneven hiring environment while under pressure to deliver profitability. Rewarding top contributors, even amid selective workforce reductions, allows firms to maintain morale and retain critical talent without losing sight of financial prudence.
At the same time, Flipkart is also undergoing leadership shifts that hint at a broader strategic recalibration. Nishant Verman has been appointed senior vice president for corporate development and partnerships, while group chief financial officer Sriram Venkataraman is set to step down. Ravi Iyer will take on expanded responsibilities within the finance function, marking a reshuffle at the top as the company gears up for its next phase.
These changes come amid reports that Flipkart is planning to shift its holding structure back to India, a move widely interpreted as groundwork for a potential public listing. While timelines remain fluid, the combination of stronger financial discipline, leadership restructuring and employee incentivisation suggests a company preparing itself for greater scrutiny and scale.
For employees, the 105 per cent payout offers a welcome boost in what has otherwise been a period of adjustment. For Flipkart, it is a signal that even as it cuts where necessary, it is willing to spend where it counts. In the high stakes game of growth versus profitability, the company appears to be hedging its bets carefully, rewarding performance while reshaping itself for what could be its most defining chapter yet.
