Gaming
Global Kartel partners with Ampverse DMI for College Rivals season two
Mumbai: Global Kartel, a marketing and advertising agency, has joined forces with Ampverse DMI for the second season of their innovative IP College Rivals, an Indian esports and entertainment college talent hunt.
Positioned as India’s largest esports talent hunt, College Rivals seamlessly blends music, pop culture, and comedy to create a unique experience. With Global Kartel and its youth marketing arm, BoomPanda on board, the IP will benefit from comprehensive marketing expertise and innovative strategies tailored to engage the youth demographic.
Moreover, Global Kartel has a rich background of collaborating with over 100 plus clients on more than 1000 projects, including prominent brands like Paytm Insider, Zomato, Nodwin Gaming, Groww, EatClub, ZEE Entertainment, Rapido, Amazon Pay, and Colors Infinity. Their contributions to the success of major events such Dreamhack, NH7 Bacardi Weekender, Zomaland and Sunburn featuring Martin Martin Garrix India tour showcase their ability to drive large-scale initiatives and pioneering the student ticket category in the Indian entertainment industry.
By leveraging the expertise of Global Kartel, Ampverse DMI looks to ensure maximum participation, enhance audience engagement, and boost brand visibility for College Rivals season two.
Commenting on their partnership, Global Kartel CBO & co-founder Adesh Kolhe stated, “We are excited to join hands with Ampverse DMI for the second season of College Rivals. At Global Kartel, we have always believed in the power of innovative and immersive experiences, and College Rivals is a shining example of this. With our extensive experience in brand, commerce, content, and creativity, we aim to bring an unparalleled level of excitement and engagement to the IP. The synergy of gaming, pop culture, and entertainment in College Rivals offers a unique format that we are excited to amplify through our strategic marketing efforts. We look forward to enhancing this landmark event and contributing to the discovery of the next generation of esports talent in India.”
Since its inception, College Rivals has connected college students’ passion for gaming with their aspiration to become professional players. Its first season garnered over 100 million views and attracted 92,000 plus participants across five cities and 25 colleges.
Season two promises to be even more spectacular, with Global Kartel designing and executing on-ground activations and youth marketing campaigns across 50 plus colleges in 20 cities to ensure high levels of participation and excitement. Players will compete in popular games such as BGMI, Valorant, and EAFC 24, vying for a total prize pool of Rs 50 lakhs.
“College Rivals Season 2 is poised to ignite and empower collegiate rivalries, and our partnership with Global Kartel’s youth marketing arm BoomPanda is pivotal in aiming to unite and enhance impact through shared passion and purpose. Together, we are pioneering new avenues of collaboration across campuses in India, catalyzing innovation and cultivating camaraderie that transcends traditional competition, while innovating in-ground activations,” said Ampverse DMI country head Ashwin Haryani.
With College Rivals season two already underway, the partnership between Global Kartel and Ampverse DMI promises to set new standards in collegiate esports and entertainment.
Gaming
Bluestone FY26 revenue rises to Rs 2,436 crore, turns profitable
Q4 profit at Rs 31 crore, full-year profit at Rs 13 crore vs loss last year.
MUMBAI: From sparkle to numbers, Bluestone seems to be polishing more than just jewellery this year. Bluestone Jewellery and Lifestyle Limited reported a sharp turnaround in FY26, with revenue from operations rising to Rs 2,436 crore (Rs 24,364 million), up from Rs 1,770 crore (Rs 17,700 million) in FY25. The company posted a full-year profit of Rs 13 crore (Rs 131.79 million), a significant recovery from a loss of Rs 222 crore (Rs 2,218 million) a year ago.
Total income for the year stood at Rs 2,486 crore (Rs 24,860 million), compared to Rs 1,830 crore (Rs 18,300 million) in the previous year, reflecting both topline growth and improved operational momentum.
The March quarter, however, told a more nuanced story. Revenue from operations came in at Rs 681 crore (Rs 6,814 million), down from Rs 748 crore (Rs 7,486 million) in the year-ago period, though higher than Rs 461 crore (Rs 4,613 million) in the preceding December quarter. Net profit for Q4 stood at Rs 31 crore (Rs 311.81 million), compared to Rs 68 crore (Rs 688 million) a year earlier, but a clear reversal from a loss of Rs 51 crore (Rs 512 million) in Q3.
Margins were shaped by higher input costs, with raw material consumption rising to Rs 2,204 crore (Rs 22,043 million) for the full year, alongside employee benefit expenses of Rs 282 crore (Rs 2,824 million) and finance costs of Rs 210 crore (Rs 2,104 million). Other expenses came in at Rs 371 crore (Rs 3,715 million), slightly lower than Rs 393 crore (Rs 3,938 million) in FY25.
On the balance sheet front, total assets expanded to Rs 4,961 crore (Rs 49,610 million) as of March 31, 2026, from Rs 3,532 crore (Rs 35,322 million) a year earlier, driven largely by a surge in inventories to Rs 2,672 crore (Rs 26,718 million). Equity also strengthened to Rs 1,803 crore (Rs 18,030 million), nearly doubling from Rs 911 crore (Rs 9,107 million).
Cash flows reflected the cost of growth. Net cash used in operating activities stood at Rs 199 crore (Rs 1,990 million), while investing activities saw an outflow of Rs 239 crore (Rs 2,392 million). Financing activities, however, generated Rs 497 crore (Rs 4,971 million), helping the company end the year with cash and cash equivalents of Rs 108 crore (Rs 1,075 million), up from Rs 49 crore (Rs 487 million).
Earnings per share for FY26 came in at Rs 1.10, a sharp improvement from a negative Rs 79.74 in FY25, underlining the shift from losses to profitability.
With revenue scaling up, costs still glittering on the higher side, and profitability finally back in the black, BlueStone’s FY26 performance suggests a business mid-transition less about shine alone, and more about sustaining it.
