eNews
Giftxoxo acqui-hires hobbies and interests marketplace BookMyInterest
MUMBAI: Indian experiential rewards and recognition company Giftxoxo has expanded team through acqui-hiring BookMyInterest, a marketplace for hobbies and leisure activities. With this move, Giftxoxo aims to leverage the customer base of BookMyInterest as well as its partner network to enhance its current offering. The combined entity will also be better poised to further drive the demand in the curated activities and experiences space in India.
Since the launch of its Beta Web version in February this year, BookMyInterest has emerged as one of the leading search facilitators of verified and rated service providers catering to various interests and hobbies. It has a vast database of activities and experiences, from cooking classes to fitness programmes, hikes and expeditions to dance classes.
Giftxoxo co founder Manoj Aggarwal stated, “Curated experiences and activities make up a large market in India. On meeting Naveen and his team, we realised that they share the same passion as us, to make this sector more vibrant and enhance consumer choice. We are certain that the two brands are a perfect synergistic match and that together we can strengthen our position in the market and serve our customers better.”
One of the co-founders of BookMyInterest Naveen M said, “We are in sync with the promoters of Giftxoxo and their approach towards understanding this market segment. Riding on their strong domain knowledge, we look forward to helping our customers choose the best activities and experiences. We believe that jointly we can improve the quality of offerings, the ability to grow and bring better efficiency to this unorganised market 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.
