Gaming
Zoreko launches their latest brand anthem
Mumbai: When newest gaming centre Zoreko stumbled upon up-and-coming rap star Shubham Tripathi, little did they know that their vibes would be a perfect match and the ensuing authenticity would lead to Shubham being signed on to create and launch their latest brand anthem. Interestingly, Shubham is a real-life ‘Gully Boy’ and was a delivery executive at a national food delivery app. Tripathi and Zoreko’s match is worthy of all the internet praise it is getting.
“This collaboration with real-life Gully Boy Shubham Tripathi is a stroke of luck for Zoreko – collaborating with someone who understands the energy and brings the right mood and aesthetic is rare, and our brand anthem strikes the right chord for us and our audiences. Zoreko is a premier gaming arena that aims to provide an unparalleled experience for all. This anthem is a testament to that fact.” said Zoreko consulting CMO Avanish Agarwal.
From making videos online to collaborating with Zoreko on this brand anthem, Tripathi is living his dream – rapping, recognition, and rizz. His arc and astronomical rise are testaments to how he has made a margarita from the lemons life has thrown at him.
Shubham Tripathi expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, “My journey from delivering food to becoming a part of the Zoreko family has been nothing short of a dream come true. This opportunity allows me to showcase my passion for music and inspire others who may be chasing their dreams.”
Recently, Zoreko unveiled its flagship centre in Elan Town centre in Gurugram. With this new space and brand new anthem, Zoreko looks forward to revolutionising the gaming scene with its unparalleled array of games for all. It is the ultimate gaming destination for enthusiasts of all ages, accommodating diverse interests and preferences.
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.
