Gaming
Pearl Academy’s gaming extravaganza powered by Dell and Alienware
Mumbai: As part of its Techathon, Pearl Academy is hosting the much-awaited Dell Technologies and Alienware gaming event, across all its campuses. The Alienware Arena at Pearl Academy promises an immersive and unparalleled experience for gaming and tech enthusiasts at its Delhi campus on January 8, followed by Jaipur, Mumbai, and Bengaluru on January 12, 15, and 18, respectively. The one-day offline celebration will feature EA FC 24 and Mortal Kombat esports tournaments.
Dell and Alienware offer the best gaming experience to gamers and consumers in India. The Alienware and G-series range of powerful gaming devices reflect the companies’ core principles of bold innovation, high performance, iconic design, and premium quality.
Creating an adrenaline-pumping environment, the competition will offer thrilling showdowns with top-of-the-line Dell and Alienware gaming peripherals, including headsets, keyboards, and mice, up for grabs. Furthermore, every participant at the arena will receive exclusive Dell and Alienware merchandise, including t-shirts, caps, and wristbands as a token of appreciation.
The event will not only allow participants to showcase their skills but will also provide them an opportunity to interact and engage with gaming influencers like Aaditya D Sawant (Dynamo Gaming), Sahil Rana (AS Gaming), Anurag Singh (Game Flame), Mann Jain (TSG Mann) and Shashidhar M R (SMR Gaming).
Commenting on the partnership, Dell Technologies director of product marketing, consumer and small business India Pujan Chadha, “Dell Technologies and Alienware have always been at the forefront of redefining the gaming experience, and the Alienware Arena on the campuses of Pearl Academy is evidence of our efforts to grow our relationship with students and future gamers while providing top-notch experiences for everyone. The Alienware Arena further strengthens our engagement with the Indian gaming community and enthusiasts cementing our innovation and leadership in the industry.”
“As we set the stage for a thrilling experience during Techathon, we invite all the tech and gaming enthusiasts to join us in celebrating the shared love and passion for the world of gaming and technology. The Alienware Arena is a platform to not only showcase your skills but also a chance to forge connections and witness the boundless possibilities that the world of gaming and technology holds. Being a part of this event reaffirms our commitment to foster creativity, and technological excellence and inspire the next generation of gamers and tech leaders,” said Pearl Academy president Aditi Srivastava.
Gaming
MTG gaming chief Benninghoff joins NODWIN board as esports firm primes for IPO
The Gurugram-based esports firm is pursuing a public listing, has returned to profitability and is growing revenues by 42 per cent
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming is moving fast. The Gurugram-based gaming and esports company has launched a pre-IPO fundraising round, appointed UBS as lead adviser for both the round and a subsequent public listing, and landed a heavyweight board director, all in one go.
The new board member is Arnd Benninghoff, executive vice president of gaming at Stockholm-listed Modern Times Group (MTG), who has overseen the group’s strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014. He is no stranger to building things: Benninghoff has founded and built fifteen companies, served as chief digital officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, managing director of SevenVentures, and chief executive of Holtzbrinck eLAB. He began his career as a journalist at Deutsche Presse Agentur and various TV networks, holds a Diplom-Kaufmann in business and administration from the University of Münster, and previously sat on the board of Edgeware AB.
The numbers back the ambition
NODWIN is not pitching a story without substance. The company has returned to EBITDA profitability and posted a 42 per cent year-on-year revenue surge, reaching $58.5m in the first nine months of FY2026. The pre-IPO round will combine a primary issuance to fund global expansion through organic growth and acquisitions, alongside a secondary sale to give existing shareholders some liquidity.
Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said Benninghoff understands “the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios.”
Benninghoff, for his part, said the company “sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today.”
A portfolio built for the global south
Founded in 2014 by Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has quietly assembled one of the more compelling esports portfolios outside the Western hemisphere. Its properties include DreamHack India and Comic Con India, and it recently acquired StarLadder, the Ukraine-based tournament organiser behind premier events in CS:GO and Dota 2. The company also serves as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the world’s most prominent fighting game tournament, helping push it into new geographies.
Its geographic focus spans South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Backers include Nazara Technologies, KRAFTON, Sony Group Corporation, JetSynthesys, and the founders’ investment vehicle Good Game Investments.
What comes next
With UBS running the books, a board freshly reinforced with European media and gaming expertise, and revenue heading in the right direction, NODWIN is laying the groundwork deliberately. The esports industry has burned investors before with big promises and thin margins. NODWIN’s return to profitability, combined with a real portfolio of owned intellectual properties across gaming, music and youth culture, gives it a more credible runway than most. The IPO clock is now ticking.
