India’s most recognisable startup founder just made his next big move — and the whole ecosystem is watching.
The Funding: ₹100 Crore in Seed Round
OffBeat Studios, the new venture by boAt co-founder Aman Gupta, has raised ₹100 crore in seed funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners — at a valuation of ₹450 crore — just one month after its launch.
Let that sink in. ₹450 crore valuation. Before a single product is live.
That’s not just investor confidence. That’s a bet on the founder himself.
Why This Raise Is Different From Most
Most founders raise money because they need it. Aman Gupta didn’t.
Gupta shared that the decision to raise funds was driven by the need for strategic partners rather than capital alone, stating he was looking for partners with a global perspective who can help him leverage technology and AI.
In a candid LinkedIn post, he revealed something even more personal about the timing:
Gupta announced the funding on his wedding anniversary, comparing taking on an investor to choosing a life partner — one who must understand both the highs and the lows.
That’s not your typical funding announcement.
Who Is Bessemer Venture Partners?
This isn’t just any investor writing a cheque.
Bessemer Venture Partners is one of the oldest venture capital operations in the world, managing over $18 billion in assets, with a global portfolio that has included Shopify, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twilio and DocuSign — with more than 145 IPOs and 300 portfolio companies across enterprise, consumer and healthcare sectors.
Anant Vidur Puri, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, said the firm backs founders who see around corners — and that Aman saw how a new India would think about aspiration, identity and quality when he built boAt, and is now applying that same instinct to a market being reshaped by AI and a generation with entirely new expectations.
Translation: Bessemer isn’t just funding a startup. They’re funding a thesis — and Aman Gupta is the proof of concept.
What Exactly Is OffBeat Studios?
Honest answer? The full picture hasn’t been revealed yet.
OffBeat is a content and creator-led venture expected to focus on leveraging technology and AI to build its platform, although detailed business specifics remain undisclosed.
The “OFF/BEAT” logo shared in Gupta’s announcement did not explain what the company will actually do, and it remains unclear whether OffBeat Studios will work closely with boAt or operate as a fully independent venture.
What we do know is the direction:
- AI-first — technology and AI are central to the build
- Creator economy — content and creators are at the core
- New India — built for a digitally native, aspirational generation
- Global scale — Bessemer’s network spans India, US, Israel, UK and Hong Kong
OffBeat Studios is expected to reveal its first suite of products or platform features by mid-2026, with many expecting the startup to integrate sophisticated AI tools for creators.
The boAt Chapter — A Legacy Worth Knowing
To understand why ₹450 Cr valuation on day one makes sense, you need to understand what Aman Gupta built before.
OffBeat represents Gupta’s second entrepreneurial stint after boAt, which crossed the ₹3,000 crore revenue mark while achieving profitability.
He didn’t just build a brand — he built a movement. boAt made affordable, stylish audio products aspirational for millions of young Indians. It became the country’s go-to for earphones, speakers and wearables.
And now he’s applying that exact same cultural instinct to whatever comes next.
What’s Happening at boAt?
The timing of OffBeat’s launch is no coincidence.
Gupta launched OffBeat Studios on March 3, 2026, stepping back to a non-executive role at boAt, with Sameer Mehta taking over as executive director and Gaurav Nayyar becoming CEO.
And boAt itself is at a critical inflection point:
boAt’s parent company, Imagine Marketing, has received SEBI approval for its IPO — the company had confidentially filed in April and is reportedly targeting a valuation of around ₹13,000 crore in its second attempt to go public, after an earlier IPO plan collapsed in 2022.
In short: Aman is setting boAt up for its public market debut — while simultaneously launching his next chapter.
The Shark Tank Effect
None of this happens in a vacuum. Aman Gupta’s massive public visibility plays a huge role.
Apart from being an entrepreneur, Gupta has backed over 100 startups through his journey on Shark Tank India and his personal investments, and his move into the content space reflects a growing trend of founders building personal brand-led ventures beyond their core businesses.
He is quite possibly India’s most bankable founder-personality right now — and OffBeat Studios seems designed to leverage exactly that.
Key Takeaways
| Detail | Info |
| Startup | OffBeat Studios (OFF/BEAT) |
| Founder | Aman Gupta (boAt Co-Founder) |
| Round | Seed Funding |
| Amount Raised | ₹100 Crore |
| Lead Investor | Bessemer Venture Partners |
| Valuation | ₹450 Crore |
| Launch Date | March 3, 2026 |
| Focus | Creator Economy + AI + Content |
| Previous Venture | boAt (₹3,000 Cr+ revenue) |
Bottom Line
India is undergoing a structural shift — a digitally native, aspirational generation is rewriting what companies must stand for, how they communicate, and how they earn loyalty. At the same time, AI is fundamentally reshaping how businesses are built and scaled. OffBeat Studios is built for exactly this moment.
Aman Gupta has done it once. He’s now betting he can do it again — and Bessemer is betting right alongside him.
Watch this space. OffBeat is just getting started.
