Better Nutrition, India’s first Biofortified food brand, has successfully raised INR 10 crore in its latest funding round. The investment brings together a strategic alliance of family offices, high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), and angel investors, all united by a shared vision: making nutrient-rich food affordable and accessible to every Indian household. This round saw strong reaffirmation from early investors, with nearly 30% of the total funding coming from existing backers – demonstrating deep confidence in Better Nutrition’s mission and execution capabilities.
This fundraising round wasn’t just about securing capital – it was about forging a coalition of strategic partners across industries to propel the brand’s next phase of growth.
Namita Thapar, Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals and a Shark Tank India investor, emphasized the significance of the brand’s mission,“Better Nutrition is addressing one of the most pressing yet often overlooked issues – hidden hunger. Their approach is innovative, their mission is transformative, and they are committed to making an impact. This is the kind of business that aligns both health and financial viability, making a tangible difference in people’s lives.”
Shantanu Deshpande, Founder & CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, who invested through his fund The BarberShop, which also facilitated participation from a network of seasoned angels, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists, said: “Better Nutrition is that rare combination of a purpose-driven mission with founder-level clarity and execution. Their sharp focus on scaling biofortification and reimagining everyday nutrition makes them not just an investable business—but a movement you want to be a part of and help shape.”
Better Nutrition’s feature on Shark Tank India catapulted biofortified foods into national awareness. Since then, the brand has witnessed remarkable growth, achieving a 5X increase in revenue, a 10X surge in website traffic, fulfilling over 25,000 orders, and expanding across major quick commerce platforms, including Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket.
Prateek Rastogi, Co-founder of Better Nutrition, underscored the power of this funding round saying,“This wasn’t a round we raised – it was a round we constructed. Every name on this cap table represents a very specific lever we’ll need in the coming phase – whether it’s last-mile logistics, content-led commerce, international trade, corporate governance, or institutional capital access. In today’s environment, capital is available—but building the right capital+capability stack is what separates momentum from real scale. That’s what this round was about.”
Aishwarya Bhatnagar, Co-founder of Better Nutrition, shared an ambitious outlook saying, “We are on track to build a ₹1000 crore brand by the end of the decade. We’ve taken our proprietary tech beyond staples and are now scaling it across pulses, oilseeds, and other foundational crops. What excites us most is the next line of products – foods made from our own crops, where we retain their nutrient density, low-GI profile, and pesticide-free integrity. We’ve focused not just on one trait, but stacked multiple benefits—higher iron, zinc, protein, better digestibility – and brought them together in formats that are ready for everyday India.”
The newly raised funds will be deployed to expand product offerings in biofortified food categories, strengthen distribution across quick commerce, offline retail, and direct-to-consumer (D2C) channels, scale farmer training programs and sustainable sourcing initiatives, and invest in R&D and nationwide awareness campaigns to educate consumers on biofortified foods.
The funding round also saw participation from Aclr8.vc, the fund co-led by Apurva Chamaria (Global Head – Venture Capital & Startups, Google), Karan Jindal (India Lead – Content Marketing, Meta), and Arjun Vaidya (V3 Ventures), Akshay Ghulati (Shiprocket) Greenday, the parent company of Better Nutrition, had raised INR 3.1 crore in 2022 in a round led by IIM Ahmedabad Ventures. Since then, the company has witnessed a 3X growth in both revenue and valuation, reflecting strong traction in its mission-driven business model.
About Better Nutrition
Better Nutrition is committed to addressing the nation’s nutritional challenges by offering biofortified grains that are naturally enriched with essential nutrients such as zinc, iron, protein, and calcium. By collaborating with over 15,000 farmers and fostering a growing network of rural micro-entrepreneurs, Better Nutrition strives to make nutrient-rich grains accessible to every Indian household, thereby enhancing energy, immunity, and overall health without necessitating significant dietary changes. The company has garnered recognition for its innovative approach, including securing investments from prominent figures like PV Sindhu and Masterchef Pankaj Bhadouria and featuring on platforms such as Shark Tank India Season 4. Headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Better Nutrition continues to lead the way in promoting health and wellness through its range of biofortified products.
Dezime, a tech-enabled interior solutions company revolutionising the design and build space with proprietary deep tech and AI, has successfully raised INR 2.5 crore pre-seed funding and secured strategic partnerships. The round includes investments from Rishi Kajaria, from the renowned Kajaria Tiles family, and Rishi Gulati of Chalo Holdings. This strategic backing strengthens Dezime’s mission to integrate technology across every stage of the interior design journey, delivering highly personalised experiences with a sharp focus on expanding in Delhi NCR.
The newly raised capital will be used to enhance Dezime’s technology stack, improve customer experience, and accelerate market expansion across Delhi NCR. The company plans to scale operations, offering homeowners a seamless, efficient, and personalised design experience powered by real-time 3D visualisation and AI-driven solutions.
Founded by industry veterans Shubham Jangir, Rahul Jangir, and Sarthak Rohilla, Dezime aims to redefine the design and building process. Their platform offers instant cost estimates and real-time 3D visualisation, significantly reducing the design turnaround time. By making design instantaneous, Dezime empowers customers with faster decision-making and better material selection, ultimately enabling more time for superior execution and finish quality.
Beyond key investors, Dezime has forged partnerships with multiple industry leaders, including top material suppliers, premium furniture brands, and home automation companies. These collaborations enable Dezime to deliver high-quality, end-to-end interior solutions, blending aesthetics with functionality to create bespoke living spaces.
With this fresh round of funding and strategic partnerships, Dezime is set to lead the proptech-driven transformation of the interior design industry, making home design faster, smarter, and more customer-centric.
About Dezime
Dezime is a tech-driven interior solutions company based in Gurugram, Haryana, India. Founded in 2023, it uses AI and deep tech to make home design faster and easier. Dezime offers instant cost estimates and real-time 3D visualisation, helping homeowners make quick and informed decisions.
The company partners with top material suppliers, furniture brands, and home automation firms to deliver seamless, end-to-end solutions. With a strong focus on Delhi NCR, Dezime aims to blend technology with creativity, making interior design more efficient and personalised.
Beams Fintech Fund, a leading growth-stage private equity fund focused on Fintech and Financial Services, has announced its sixth investment in Infinity Fincorp Solutions (“Infinity Fincorp”). Beams has participated as part of their Series A extension of a $40 million funding round. Infinity Fincorp, backed by True North LLP Private Equity Fund, has, in the near past, secured equity investments from renowned investors, including Jungle Ventures and Archerman Capital.
Led by Shrikant Ravalkar, Founder, MD & CEO, Infinity Fincorp Solutions, which operates in the micro-LAP (Loan Against Property) financing space, providing INR 3-5 lakh loans for underserved micro-entrepreneurs like tea shop owners, vegetable vendors, small machine enterprises, restaurants, provision stores and many more businesses that are key to India’s economy. Infinity Fincorp is focused on Tier 3 towns across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The Company has a robust presence in southern India’s Micro LAP market along with a proven track record of delivering high growth and high ROA/ROE. Infinity will use the capital to expand the loan book & establish a deeper presence across the six states.
The overall Micro LAP segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15-20% over the next 5-10 years, driven by the formalisation of the economy, a rise in income levels and improving credit penetration in the country. The segment will further benefit the most from the digitization of land records, further adoption of account aggregators and improvement in underwriting with the adoption of AI.
Headquartered in Mumbai, India and having a pan-India presence in 127 branches across 8 states, Infinity Fincorp has a loan book of INR 1100+ crores as of January 2025 and is projected to close FY2025 at INR 1250 crores, marking a growth of 67% in one year. Owing to its significant size (INR 1000 cr+), Infinity Fincorp is classified as Middle Layer NBFC as against Base Layer earlier.
Sagar Agarwal, Founder & Partner at Beams Fintech Fund, commented: “The MSME credit gap in India remains a significant untapped opportunity, estimated at ~INR 25.8 trillion. Micro LAP is one of the fastest growing spaces within the NBFC segment given the credit demand from 6 crores+ MSMEs towards growing their businesses. With the micro-LAP segment expected to grow at a CAGR of 15-20% over the next 5-10 years, we believe Infinity Fincorp has the potential be a category leader in the Micro-LAP segment. Under Shrikant’s leadership, the company has grown 3x since FY 2022 while maintaining strong asset quality and risk management. This investment diversifies our financial services portfolio without competing with our other NBFC investments”
Shrikant Ravalkar, Founder, MD & CEO of Infinity Fincorp Solutions, added: “We are extremely grateful to all our investors who are supporting us in our mission to serve the vastly underserved MSME sector supported by technology-led efficiencies. We also would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Beams Fintech Fund, who believed in our potential and has agreed to support our mission.
This fund raise significantly bolsters our capital position with Infinity’s net worth now above INR 600 crores and capital adequacy is 50%, much above the regulatory requirement of 15%.
Aided by the capital raise, our loan AUM crossed the INR 1,000 crore milestone. This also means that now we are classified as NBFC Middle Layer by RBI a huge testament to our teams’ humongous efforts in the past years.
I express my heartfelt gratitude to all our stakeholders who have been a key cog in our growth story.
We remain committed to serving the vast untapped MSME landscape of India which has a potential credit gap of INR 78 lakh crore; with our in-house capabilities to serve the Indian MSMEs and access to growth capital from our marquee investors, we will deepen our footprint and accelerate our mission of extending credit to MSMEs across the country.”
About Beams Fintech Fund
Beams Fintech Fund is a mid-market private equity fund managing an AUM of INR 900 crores focused on investing in category-leading Fintech, Financial Services, and B2B SaaS companies. With a diversified portfolio of high-growth businesses, Beams partners with visionary founders to drive scale, profitability, and long-term value creation.
The amount collected from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in March 2025 has increased to INR 1.96 lakh crore, marking a noteworthy milestone. This represents a remarkable 9.9% growth from the previous year. Hence, this growth highlights the nation’s growing economic activity. The increase in collections indicates a strong consumer and business consumption pattern and is a good sign of the state of the economy. This amount is much more than the INR 1.62 trillion collected the previous month, which already showed an 8.1% year-over-year increase. Breaking down the components of the GST, the central GST collections amounted to INR 38,100 crore, while the state GST collections stood at INR 49,900 crore.
The integrated GST, which includes taxes on the inter-state supply of goods and services, reached INR 95,900 crore. Additionally, the GST cess, which is levied on the supply of certain goods and services to compensate for revenue loss to states, came in at INR 12,300 crore. These figures showcase the widespread participation in the GST system by both consumers and enterprises, reflecting the system’s maturity and its role as a stable revenue source for the government.
Gujarat Leads the Race
In comparison to the 9.1% growth observed during the April to December period, the cumulative rise in GST collections from April 2024 to March 2025 was 9.4% year over year, indicating a modest increase. Several states and union territories have shown notable growth rates throughout this time. In FY 2024-25, for example, Gujarat’s GST earnings increased by 14% over the previous fiscal year to INR 73,281 crore. This growth is significantly higher than the growth rate for the country as a whole. This performance demonstrates how Gujarat’s effective tax-collecting systems contribute significantly to the national GDP. The double-digit surge in GST collections in a number of states and union territories illustrates the regional diversity of economic activity. Significant year-over-year growth was observed in Tripura, Bihar, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with respective growth rates of 32%, 30%, 30%, 26%, and 60%.
Various numbers demonstrate the increasing investments and economic activity in various sectors, which enhances overall GST collection. However, there were reductions in areas like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu. This downfall clearly suggests difficulties that might have been brought on by regional economic circumstances or administrative obstacles.
Growth of Domestic Refunds
Improvements in the tax administration system are demonstrated by the 2.8% increase in domestic refunds. This was followed by a significant 41.2% increase in total refunds, which included an astounding 201.9% year-over-year boost from imports. Refund processing efficiency may promote greater adherence to and involvement in the GST structure. The government is making constant efforts to simplify tax administration and enable more seamless commercial transactions. This vision was clearly reflected in the overall refund rise from April to March in FY25, which was 16.4% year over year and totalled INR 2.52 trillion. These changes point to a consistent course for improving India’s tax system’s effectiveness, which will benefit both the government and taxpayers.
Project Clay Secures Funding from Namita Thapar of INR 15 lakh for 10% equity
HiveSchool received transformative advice from Aman Gupta and took sales education offline
Masters’ Union, the Gurugram-based new-age institution renowned for its industry-driven and practitioner-led approach to management and engineering education, has achieved a remarkable milestone—five student-founded startups from its community have been featured on Shark Tank India this season. This accomplishment underscores the institution’s commitment to fostering real-world entrepreneurship through its innovative, hands-on learning model.
Project Clay, a mentorship platform connecting high school students with young professionals, secured funding of INR 15 lakh for a 10% equity stake from Namita Thapar. This investment highlights the platform’s potential to revolutionise career guidance for students. Another standout venture, HiveSchool, specialising in sales training, received strategic advice from Aman Gupta to take their program offline. Demonstrating agility, HiveSchool launched India’s first dedicated offline business school for sales education even before their episode aired, reflecting their commitment to addressing industry needs promptly.
The five Masters’ Union startups featured on Shark Tank India represent a diverse array of industries, showcasing the breadth of innovation within the community:
Project Clay – A mentorship platform connecting high school students with young professionals to provide real-world career guidance.
HiveSchool – A sales school equipping students with practical training and industry exposure.
MemoTag – A healthtech solution offering real-time insights and alerts for dementia patients.
Nexera Health – A technology-driven platform providing end-to-end healthcare solutions for corporates in India and Southeast Asia.
Bullspree – A stock market gaming app, making investing accessible and engaging through gamification.
Three of these startups were founded by Masters’ Union graduates, while the remaining two, Project Clay and Nexera Health, are a part of the institution’s startup community. Over the past five years, Masters’ Union has incubated numerous startups, many of which have successfully scaled their operations. This success is driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture supported by world-class infrastructure, including AI labs in partnership with PwC, startup incubation hubs, mentorship from industry leaders, and investments in cutting-edge resources to help students build their ventures.
What sets Masters’ Union apart is its hands-on learning model. Instead of traditional exams, students are assessed based on real business outcomes—whether it’s building an e-commerce business in their first term, launching a YouTube channel in the second, developing a blockchain protocol in the third, running a cloud kitchen in the fourth, or creating a hardware product in the fifth. Unlike traditional exams, assessments of students are based on key business metrics like ROI, profitability, and NPS, ensuring that graduates leave with practical and industry-ready skills.
Pratham Mittal, founder of Masters’ Union, emphasised, “Seeing five startups from our community pitch on Shark Tank India is a proud moment. It reaffirms our belief that when education is deeply connected to industry, innovation naturally follows. At Masters’ Union, we don’t just prepare students for jobs—we prepare them to lead and build. Our programs are designed to instill an entrepreneurial mindset that gives students the confidence and capability to start their own ventures, whether immediately or later in their careers. Last year alone, around 26 startups were launched by our graduates, and we aim to see this number grow. By challenging students with real-world business problems, we ensure they develop the resilience, problem-solving skills, and execution mindset needed to succeed in any business environment.”
About Masters’ Union
Masters’ Union is a premium tech & business school based in the corporate district of Gurgaon. It was founded in 2020 with the philosophy of hands-on learning, where students learn by doing. The leadership behind Masters’ Union consists of graduates from Stanford, Wharton, and IITs and IIMs. Unlike traditional colleges, the faculty at Masters’ Union comprises MDs, CXOs and AI Experts from companies such as Amazon, Apple, IBM, McKinsey, PwC, and KPMG. Additionally, the Institute also brings in faculty from the world’s top-ranked universities such as Oxford & Harvard.
This is a great time to be alive – a great time to learn and then, earn! So, in this piece – we shall talk about the free ones. The surge in AI tools like ChatGPT has sparked a growing interest in AI education, and luckily, there are plenty of free AI certification courses available. These top-notch programmes offer a fantastic opportunity to learn about generative AI, machine learning, and other cutting-edge technologies that are shaping our future. Let’s talk about some of the best AI courses for beginners and seasoned professionals alike.
Google’s AI for Everyone course offers a comprehensive introduction to artificial intelligence, cutting through the hype to deliver practical knowledge. These free AI certification programs are designed for individuals without a background in computer science or mathematics, making it accessible to anyone curious about AI and machine learning.
Key Topics Covered
The course delves into fundamental AI concepts, including neural networks, types of machine learning (supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement), and real-world applications like recommender systems and computer vision. Participants gain hands-on experience with data, learning how to teach computers to recognise images and sounds.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, learners will have a solid understanding of AI terminology, ethics, and fairness in AI applications. They’ll also gain insight into AI programming and its practical applications. This knowledge equips participants to engage in informed discussions about AI and machine learning in both personal and professional settings, providing a strong foundation for further exploration of these emerging technologies.
IBM AI Foundations for Everyone
IBM – Best Free AI Course with Certificate
This specialisation consists of three self-paced courses, each designed to be completed in about four weeks with 2-4 hours of study per week. The entire programme can be finished in 2-3 months at a relaxed pace or in just one month with more intensive study. The courses cover a range of topics, from AI basics to generative AI and chatbot creation, providing a comprehensive introduction to AI without requiring any coding skills.
Skills Gained
Participants will gain a solid understanding of AI fundamentals, including machine learning and neural networks. They’ll learn about generative AI, its real-world applications, and prompt engineering techniques. The course also teaches how to create AI-powered chatbots without programming, using IBM Watson’s Natural Language Processing capabilities. These skills are highly relevant in today’s job market, where AI literacy is becoming increasingly important across all industries.
Certification Details
Upon completing the specialisation, learners receive a verified digital credential from IBM, which can be shared on LinkedIn or added to a CV. This certification demonstrates expertise in AI fundamentals, generative AI applications, and chatbot development, providing a valuable asset for career advancement in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
AWS Skill Builder offers a robust range of AI courses, catering to various skill levels and interests. From introductory courses on generative AI to advanced topics like building language models, there’s something for everyone. The platform provides free and low-cost options, making it accessible to learners worldwide.
Learning Resources
Learners can access a wealth of resources, including interactive labs, video tutorials, and hands-on experiences. These tools are designed to help individuals build practical skills in AI and machine learning. The courses cover topics such as prompt engineering, low-code machine learning, and using AI-powered tools like Amazon CodeWhisperer.
Industry Recognition
AWS certifications are highly regarded in the tech industry. The platform offers exam preparation materials for AI-related certifications, including the AWS Certified AI Practitioner and AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate. These credentials demonstrate expertise in AI fundamentals and applications, providing a valuable asset for career advancement in the rapidly evolving corridors of AI as we call it.
DeepLearning.AI’s AI Specialisations
DeepLearning.AI – Best Free AI Course with Certificate
DeepLearning.AI offers a range of top AI courses for beginners and professionals alike. Their Deep Learning Specialisation, led by AI pioneer Andrew Ng, has attracted over 1 million learners. This comprehensive programme covers neural networks, machine learning, and practical AI applications. The Machine Learning Specialisation provides a foundational understanding of AI concepts through an intuitive visual approach.
Instructor Expertise
The courses are taught by industry experts, including Andrew Ng, who co-founded Google Brain and Coursera. Their instructors bring real-world experience and cutting-edge knowledge to the programmes, ensuring learners gain practical skills in AI tools and generative AI.
Practical Applications
DeepLearning.AI’s courses focus on hands-on learning, allowing students to build and train neural networks, implement machine learning algorithms, and develop AI applications. Learners gain experience with popular frameworks like TensorFlow and explore areas such as computer vision and natural language processing.
Harvard’s Introduction to AI with Python
Harvard – Best Free AI Certification Courses
This course builds on CS50’s foundation, requiring basic programming knowledge. Familiarity with Python is beneficial, as is a grasp of statistics and probability concepts. The course is designed to accommodate learners with varying levels of experience in AI and machine learning.
Curriculum Highlights
The curriculum delves into core AI concepts, including graph search algorithms, classification, optimisation, and reinforcement learning. Students explore cutting-edge topics like game-playing engines, handwriting recognition, and machine translation. The course emphasises practical applications, enabling learners to incorporate AI principles into their own Python programmes.
Project-Based Learning
Hands-on projects form a crucial part of the learning experience. Students gain practical skills by working with machine learning libraries and designing intelligent systems. This approach allows learners to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems, preparing them for careers in AI and data science.
This beginner-friendly programme offers a thorough exploration of Python AI programming. Learners gain hands-on experience with essential tools like NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and PyTorch. The curriculum covers Python fundamentals, data structures, and object-oriented programming, providing a solid foundation for AI development.
Nanodegree Programme
The Nanodegree programme spans several months, offering in-depth learning through practical projects. Students apply their skills to real-world scenarios, such as creating image classifiers and working with neural networks. This approach ensures learners gain practical experience with AI tools and concepts, preparing them for careers in the field.
Career Support
Udacity provides robust career services to help students transition into AI careers. These include personalised project reviews, access to industry experts, and guidance on building a professional portfolio. The programme also offers insights into the latest AI trends, helping learners stay current in this ever-growing field.
Coursera’s AI for Everyone by Andrew Ng
Coursera – Best Free AI Certification Courses
This course aims to demystify AI for non-technical professionals, making it accessible to everyone. It provides a 360-degree overview of AI technologies, applications, and societal impact. Learners gain insights into AI’s potential and limitations, helping them identify opportunities within their own organisations.
Module Breakdown
The course covers AI fundamentals, machine learning concepts, and real-world applications. It explores topics such as data science workflows, AI project management, and the roles within AI teams. Learners also examine ethical considerations and potential pitfalls in AI implementation.
Real-World Examples
The course showcases practical Artificial Intelligence applications across various industries, including virtual assistants, self-driving cars, and healthcare. These examples illustrate how AI is transforming businesses and society, providing learners with a realistic view of AI’s capabilities and limitations.
Microsoft’s AI Fundamentals
Microsoft – Best Free AI Certification Courses
Microsoft‘s AI Fundamentals course offers a special introduction to artificial intelligence concepts and Azure AI services. The programme is designed for both technical and non-technical learners, making it one of the best AI courses for beginners. It combines instructor-led training with online materials on the Microsoft Learn platform, providing a blended learning experience.
Azure AI Services
The course covers a range of Azure AI services, including Azure AI Vision, Azure AI Face detection, and Azure AI Language. Learners gain hands-on experience with these tools, exploring their capabilities in computer vision, natural language processing, and generative AI. This practical approach helps students understand how AI tools can be applied to real-world scenarios.
Certification Exam
Upon completing the course, learners can take the AI-900 Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals exam. This certification verifies knowledge of AI concepts and Azure services, covering topics such as machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. The exam consists of 40-60 questions and has a passing score of 700 out of 1000, making it an achievable goal for those new to AI.
Intel Edge AI Certification – Best Free AI Certification Courses
Intel offers a range of AI courses, including Network Transformation and AI Fundamentals. These programmes cover topics such as SDN, NFV, and network acceleration technologies. The AI Essentials course provides a foundation for AI discovery conversations, making it one of the best AI courses for beginners.
Industry Applications
Intel’s courses explore AI applications across various sectors, including healthcare, transportation, and retail. Learners gain insights into how AI tools and generative AI are transforming industries. The courses also cover Intel’s network technology solutions for cloud, network, and edge applications.
Hands-on Labs
Practical experience is a key component of Intel’s AI courses. Students work with tools like the Intel Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit, learning to deploy computer vision capabilities in edge applications. The courses also include exercises on using Windows Machine Learning and optimising deep learning inference on edge devices.
Stanford University
Stanford University – Best Free AI Certification Courses
The Stanford AI Graduate Certificate Program offers a structured learning experience with core and elective courses. Students start with a core course—either Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques or Machine Learning—covering AI foundations, deep learning, and optimization. They can then choose electives like NLP with Deep Learning for chatbot and language models, Robotics for autonomous systems, Computer Vision for image recognition, and Deep Reinforcement Learning for AI-driven decision-making.
Real-World Examples
These courses have real-world applications in Google Translate, ChatGPT, Tesla’s self-driving cars, Boston Dynamics robots, facial recognition, medical imaging, and financial trading models. The program provides hands-on learning to apply AI in healthcare, finance, automation, and beyond.
End Note
The world of artificial intelligence is changing significantly, offering exciting opportunities for learning and growth. These free AI certification courses provide a solid foundation to understand and harness the power of AI technologies. So, there’s something for everyone looking to expand their knowledge in this field. These programmes not only equip learners with valuable skills but also have an influence on their career prospects in an increasingly AI-driven job market.
As you get onto your AI learning journey, remember that continuous learning is key in this field. To stay updated with the latest AI trends and insights, don’t forget to check out other AI-related articles at StartupTalky and follow the Instagram for quality content shared by the team. Finally, no matter who you are – a beginner or a seasoned professional, these courses offer a stepping stone to explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence, helping you to stay ahead in an era where AI is causing a revolution in nearly every industry.
FAQ
How to get AI certified for free?
You can get AI certified for free by enrolling in online courses from platforms like :
IBM
AWS
DeepLearning.AI
Harvard
Udacity
Coursera
Microsoft
Intel’s
Stanford
Is a certificate in AI worth it?
Yes, a certificate in AI can be worth it as it validates your skills, enhances your resume, and opens up opportunities in AI-driven fields. It can also increase your credibility and competitiveness in the job market.
Can I learn AI in 3 months?
Yes, you can complete AI certification courses in 3 months, as many programs are designed for short-term learning. However, achieving proficiency in AI may require ongoing practice beyond the course duration.
What are free AI courses with certificate?
Here are some free AI courses with certificates:
AI For Everyone – Coursera (DeepLearning.AI)
Machine Learning Crash Course – Google
AI Fundamentals – IBM SkillsBuild
AI For Beginners – Microsoft
Generative AI Learning Path – Google Cloud
These courses cover AI basics, ML, NLP, and deep learning.
When a parent’s instincts to safeguard and nurture their child come into play, they can achieve remarkable things. This is precisely how Ghazal Alagh’s incredible journey began. Her deep desire to provide the finest products for her own children inspired her to create toxin-free and eco-friendly baby care items. Little did she know that this simple idea would eventually evolve into a colossal business worth INR 9,800 crores.
This article talks about Ghazal Alagh’s story which teaches us that the love and determination of a parent can spark extraordinary success. We will also explore Ghazal Alagh’s success story, including her early life, history, net worth, story, childhood, personal life, education, achievements, and more.
Ghazal was born on 02 September 1988 in Gurgaon, Haryana. She was brought up in a middle-class setup.
She finished her early education in Haryana and went on to pursue BCA in Information Technology from Punjab University. Later, she also did the Summer intensive course in Modern Art, Design, and Applied Arts from the School of Visual Arts and the Intensive Course in Figurative Art in Modern Art in 2013 from the New York Academy of Art.
It is evident that she stood as an example to many of those young entrepreneurs who couldn’t get the opportunity to pursue their higher education in top B-schools and still have the confidence to become successful entrepreneurs.
Mamaearth Founder Story
Ghazal Alagh – Career
Ghazal’s career began with NIIT as a Corporate Trainer, where she trained managers and engineers in coding languages and software from various IT companies. She started her career with a mere ₹1,200 per day. Here is what she said about this in her social media post,
My first income was modest, earning Rs 1,200/day as a weekend corporate trainer. I recall the joy of taking my mom shopping and sharing a memorable dinner.
She later ventured into a few other endeavors like founding Dietexpert & being an artist at Being Artsy.
But her biggest jump came in the next part of her career which was started when she and her husband, Varun Alagh were searching for some toxin-free baby products for their child and realized most of the baby products in the Indian market were full of toxins and harmful ingredients.
This sparked the idea of creating their own toxin-free, eco-friendly baby products and that led to the founding of Mamaearth under Honasa Consumer Pvt Ltd. in 2016.
Mamaearth debuted with seven goods with an initial investment of ₹25 lakhs, under the parent organization Honasa Consumer Ltd., focusing mainly on baby care products.
Later on, the brand expanded into skincare and cosmetics brands. The company houses brands like Ayuga, The Derma Co., and Aqualogica, including its investments in the salon firm BBLUNT, Momspresso, and the beauty brand Dr. Sheth’s.
The D2C company, Mamaearth takes pride in being the first Asian brand with a “MADE SAFE” certification. The company is known to deliver completely toxin-free products. The company initially focused on the online marketplace, later expanding to its offline stores. The IPO of Honasa Consumer Ltd, the parent company of Mamaearth, was launched on October 31, 2023. During the subscription window, from October 31 to November 2, the shares were made available for purchase. The prices per share ranged from INR 308 to INR 324.
Mamaearth’s parent company, Honasa Consumer, has lost 50% of its market value in just two months. In September 2024, its stock was priced at INR 541 per share, and the company was worth around INR 15,000 crore. But by November, the stock price dropped to INR 227 per share, and its market value fell to INR 7,300 crore, losing INR 7,500 crore in just two months. As a result, Mamaearth is now valued at less than $1 billion and is no longer considered a unicorn.
The Derma Co. is all about real skincare and hair care that actually works. They offer a range of products designed to tackle common skin issues like acne, dark spots and signs of aging—without the fluff. The Derma Co. is all about helping millennials feel confident in their skin and hair—because real beauty starts with taking care of yourself.
Ghazal co-founded Honasa Consumer Pvt. Ltd. alongside her husband, Varun Alagh, bringing a fresh, digital-first approach to the Indian beauty industry. A mom-preneur turned industry leader, she played a crucial role in shaping brands like Mamaearth, The Derma Co., Aqualogica and Ayuga, catering to modern consumers through D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) strategies.
Ghazal Alagh was born in Haryana in a middle-class family. She is married to Varun Alagh who is the co-founder of Mamaearth. The couple has two sons, Agasthya and Ayaan Alagh.
After the birth of their first son, the couple searched for toxin-free baby care products and realized that the Indian market lacked such products. This led to the founding of Mamaearth which produces completely toxin-free baby care products.
She did not leave her responsibility at just founding the company but also she personally did the trials of her own products.
In one of her LinkedIn posts, she wrote, I still personally try every single product before it opens up for sale to our consumers. When Varun Alagh and I started our first brand Mamaearth, it was for our child and all the babies of India. We would never launch something we won’t use on our baby. And that paranoia has stayed with us as our core value.
Ghazal Alagh shared insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance. She emphasizes empowering teams, learning from mistakes, and maintaining sustainable productivity. Advocating the “85% Rule,” she encouraged consistent effort over perfection to avoid burnout. She also highlighted the importance of work-life balance in managing motherhood and business. Below is her LinkedIn post:
Ghazal Alagh – Investments
Ghazal Alagh has invested in UnderNeat in March 2025, a shapewear brand launched by influencer-turned-actor Kusha Kapila. The seed funding round, which also saw participation from Fireside Ventures, is estimated to be between INR 8-10 crore, though exact figures have not been disclosed.
Ghazal Alagh Investments
Ghazal has made some significant investments as below:
Announced Date
Organization Name
Funding Round
Money Raised
October 16, 2023
P-TAL
Seed Round
₹4.33 crore
June 21, 2023
Crib
Seed Round
₹15 crore
December 1, 2022
Leap.club
Seed Round
₹9 crore
October 11, 2022
Wishlink
Seed Round
₹30 lakhs
September 28, 2022
unScript.ai
Seed Round
₹10 crore
September 22, 2022
FS Life
Series B
₹50 crore
May 18, 2022
Bliss Club
Series A
₹1.5 crore
January 31, 2022
Humpy Farms
Angel Round
₹1 crore
July 19, 2021
Uvi Health
Pre Seed Round
₹2.47 crore
Ghazal Alagh & Shark Tank
Ghazal Alagh – Shark Tank India, Judge
Ghazal Alagh has the pride of being one of the Sharks on the business reality show Shark Tank India Season 1.
While talking about her experience in the show she says, I enjoyed talking to people and a pitch would last anywhere between 45 minutes to one hour and 15 minutes. You need to make an instant decision and it was both exciting and fun.
Ghazal was awarded the Business World 40 under 40 Awards in association with Businessworld for being a change-maker and corporate leader.
She was one of the women achievers who were honored at the 19th edition of Business Today’s ‘Most Powerful Women in Business’ event by Union Minister Smriti Irani.
She was among the 20 women enlisted on the Forbes 2022 Asia’s Power Businesswomen.
Alagh was named Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 by Entrepreneur India.
In a social media post, Ghazal talks about progress and success in entrepreneurship,
Progress is an everyday effort. I have seen budding entrepreneurs getting very frustrated, heartbroken, and confused when the results of their hard work sometimes don’t align with their expectations. But remember… progress is never linear. Even the tiniest of improvements, when applied consistently, realize their moment of breakthrough. So don’t give up. It takes vision to stay consistent till you achieve your desired result…
Ghazal Alagh is the Co-founder or owner and Chief Innovation Office at Mamaearth.
Which is the parent company of Mamaearth?
Honasa Consumer Limited is the parent organization of Mamaearth.
Who is Mamaearth CEO?
Varun Alagh is the CEO of Mamaearth.
How did Ghazal Alagh start Mamaearth?
Ghazal Alagh co-founded Mamaearth in 2016 to provide safe, toxin-free baby care products after struggling to find suitable options for her child.
What is Ghazal Alagh age?
Ghazal Alagh was born on 2nd September 1988. She is 36 years old.
What is Ghazal Alagh education?
Ghazal Alagh finished her early education in Haryana and went on to pursue BCA in Information Technology from Punjab University. Later, she also did the Summer intensive course in Modern Art, Design, and Applied Arts from the School of Visual Arts and the Intensive Course in Figurative Art in Modern Art in 2013 from the New York Academy of Art.
Who are Ghazal Alagh children?
Ghazal Alagh and her husband Varun have two sons, Agastya and Ayaan.
When was the IPO of Honasa Consumer Limited launched?
The IPO of Honasa Consumer Ltd, the parent company of Mamaearth, was launched on October 31, 2023.
On Tuesday, Vodafone Idea (Vi) saw its stock price jump 20% following the Indian government’s decision to convert INR 36,950 crore of the telecom company’s spectrum dues into equity. This is supposed to provide Vi with the cash flow relief it so desperately needed to the tune of INR 40,000 crore, which, in turn, was supposed to ease some of the financial strain that was pushing Vi down toward the bankruptcy option.
Impact of the Government’s Decision
Spectrum dues being converted into equity may reduce the immediate financial burden on Vodafone Idea Limited, but it is still facing severe challenges. According to Nomura Research, Vi needs to find 40,000 crore rupees ($4.8 billion) in 2026 and 27 through debt to cover capital expenditures and pay back dues to the government that are due starting next month. The deferred payment is part of a National Company Law Tribunal order that permits Vi to pay in installments through FY27.
To maintain operations and restore its competitive position, Vi aims to invest INR 50,000-55,000 crore over the next three years. This funding will serve two main purposes: to expand 4G services in important markets and to initiate 5G rollout in major urban centers. So far, the company has managed to sock away INR 26,000 crore through equity. Its other primary funding source, banks, has held back due to uncertainty surrounding Vi’s past and projected future revenues.
Potential Government Interventions and Industry Impact
Given Vi’s present levels of debt and cash flow issues, analysts expect that further interventions by the government, including the conversion of additional statutory dues into equity, may be required to keep the telco viable. If all the dues were converted into equity, the government’s stake in Vi could rise to 81%, effectively making it a state-run company.
On the industry front, telecom infrastructure provider Indus Towers is expected to benefit from Vi’s now improved financial state. Ambit Capital projects that Indus will receive 70% of Vi’s new increments from rollout, effective FY25, if not sooner, going through FY28. The upticks are expected to happen because, as Ambit notes, Vi’s spectrum bands are now closely aligned with those of Bharti Airtel, leading to what should be a significant uptick in network tenancy for Indus Towers at Vi in the next four years.
Vi’s Future
Vi is the result of the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular in 2018. It has been struggling, however, due to the fierce competition from Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Its inability to invest in pan-India 5G services has not helped, and it has lost subscribers and market share. The government’s move to provide it assistance is a short-term relief. But the telco has a long, long way ahead to traverse before it can come back to financial health. It will require a massive infusion of cash, some hike in tariffs, and likely some more assistance from the government back in the telecom sector to come even close to stability.
Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Ltd. (SWREL) has declared a momentous amplification to its project portfolio, obtaining three new green energy projects to the tune of INR 1,470 crore. This intensification includes the company’s first wind-solar hybrid engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) project—an entry into the wind energy segment and, fingers crossed, a harbinger of future expansion into this fast-growing sector.
Expansion into Wind Energy
The company received a mandate for a wind-solar hybrid project in Rajasthan that has capacities of 69.3 MW (wind) and 75 MW (solar). It is the lowest bidder for a 260 MW turnkey solar project in Gujarat. The third project is a photovoltaic (PV) plant in Rajasthan. All three renewable energy projects reinforce the company’s strong presence in India’s renewable energy market.
SWREL’s hybrid project in Rajasthan signals its initiation into wind EPC. The project comprises Balance of Plant (BoP) services for 127 MW AC of solar and wind energy working in unison. The breakdown is as follows: 1) BoP for 69.3 MW wind energy, 2) 58 MW AC (75 MW DC) solar plant BoS, and 3) a 132 kV/33 kV pooling substation. With this project, the company begins integrating wind energy solutions into its existing solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) lineup and effectively provides an EPC portfolio in which wind, solar, and storage work harmoniously. It is a step toward offering more comprehensive energy solutions.
Market Response and Financial Performance
After the announcement, the stock price of SWREL on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) shot up by 6.33%, coming to rest at a close of INR 266.20 per share. Given that the broader Nifty index was down 1.5% on the same day, this uptick in SWREL’s stock was quite counter-trend. But, even with this uptick, it’s worth noting that this stock has really struggled over the past year, showing a 50.70% decline.
Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy returned to profitability in the October-December quarter, posting a net profit of 14.8 crore rupees ($1.8 million) compared with a loss of 63.7 crore rupees a year ago. The company reported nearly three times the revenue, at 1,837 crore rupees, from 583 crore rupees a year ago. EBITDA rose to 70.5 crore rupees in the latest quarter from 16 crore rupees. The company also managed to improve its EBITDA margin slightly, though it remains low, at 3.8 percent.
Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy’s expansion into wind EPC corresponds with India’s overall shift to toward renewable energy. The country is hewing toward an international electricity market it can use to fulfill ambitious energy sustainability target laws like the Electricity Amendment Bill. SWREL’s success in securing large project contracts indicates strong market confidence in the outfit’s overall competence.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a massive event in cricket, known for its exciting matches and the money, sponsorships, and media rights it brings in. Profitable transactions, controversy, and tremendous brand value growth have all flourished in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its start in 2008.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is not just a cricketing extravaganza; it’s a multibillion-dollar enterprise where controversies can significantly impact sponsors, broadcasters, and franchise valuations. While on-field action captivates fans, off-field incidents often have profound business repercussions. Here are some of the most notable IPL controversies with serious business consequences, updated as of 2025:
The Harbhajan Singh Commentary Critique (2025) – Balancing Feedback and Brand Image
What Happened?
In March 2025, former Indian cricketer and current commentator Harbhajan Singh responded to a fan’s criticism regarding the quality of Hindi commentary during the IPL.
The fan expressed concerns about the deteriorating standard, noting that earlier commentators provided more informative insights, whereas current commentary leaned towards sarcastic one-liners. Harbhajan took the feedback positively, acknowledging the need for improvement.
Business Impact:
Broadcast Credibility: Acknowledgment of commentary quality concerns by a prominent figure like Harbhajan Singh highlighted the need for broadcasters to ensure high standards, directly impacting viewer satisfaction and retention.
Sponsor Confidence: Constructive engagement with audience feedback can bolster sponsor confidence, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement and audience engagement.
Social Media Meltdown: The spat dominated trending charts, with millions of tweets flooding the platforms, drawing brands into the battle unwillingly.
Lesson for IPL:
Maintaining high broadcasting standards is crucial. Open acknowledgment and responsiveness to feedback can enhance the league’s reputation and ensure sustained viewer and sponsor interest.
The 2024 Betting Scandal – A $50 Million Sponsorship Crisis
What Happened?
In 2024, a franchise official was implicated in illegal betting activities, leading to arrests and a media frenzy. Investigations uncovered a network of bookies operating within the IPL ecosystem, severely undermining the trust of corporate investors.
In response, the league’s governing body introduced stricter regulations, enhanced background checks for franchise officials, and ramped up monitoring to detect suspicious betting patterns.
Business Fallout:
Major Sponsors Withdrew: A fintech giant and a fantasy sports app terminated their sponsorships mid-season, resulting in losses exceeding $50 million.
Advertising Revenue Decline: Streaming platforms experienced a dip in ad spending as brands hesitated to associate with a league mired in controversy.
Legal Repercussions: IPL had to implement stricter compliance measures to regain credibility among investors and regulatory authorities.
IPL’s Response:
The league implemented stricter compliance measures, including comprehensive background checks for franchise officials, to restore credibility among investors and regulatory authorities.
Why does it Matter?
Betting scandals don’t just tarnish reputations, but they also directly hit revenue. Sponsors and broadcasters demand zero-tolerance policies to protect their investments.
The “Fake Social Media Engagement” Scandal (2023) – Inflated Metrics Undermine Trust
What Happened?
An investigation in 2023 revealed that multiple IPL teams had purchased fake followers and bots to artificially boost player and franchise popularity on social media platforms.
In response, platforms like Twitter (now X), Instagram, and Facebook were urged to crack down on fraudulent engagement practices, while the IPL governing body considered imposing stricter regulations on teams’ digital strategies. The scandal also ignited broader discussions about ethical marketing in sports and the fine line between strategic promotion and outright deception.
Why It Hurts Business:
Deceptive Metrics: Sponsorship deals negotiated based on inflated engagement figures led to brands feeling misled.
Platform Crackdowns: Social media companies took action by removing fake accounts, causing a noticeable drop in engagement metrics for teams.
Erosion of Trust: Sponsors now demand audited social media reports before signing endorsement deals.
Result:
To prevent future manipulations, the IPL mandated third-party audits of all team social media metrics, ensuring transparency and authenticity for sponsors.
Why does it Matter?
The IPL learned this lesson the hard way when its social media deception came to light, proving that in the long run, authenticity isn’t just preferable – it’s the only sustainable business strategy.
The “Dubai Relocation” Rumors (2025) – Speculation Over IPL’s Venue Sparks Uncertainty
The Buzz:
In 2025, reports emerged suggesting that the IPL might relocate part of its season to Dubai due to increasing taxes and political scrutiny in India. Given that the UAE had previously hosted IPL matches in 2020 and 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, these speculations gained traction.
Corporate Chaos:
Sponsor Apprehension: Indian brands expressed concerns, emphasizing that their primary audience was domestic, and a move could diminish their marketing impact.
Broadcast Rights Uncertainty: Broadcasters faced potential renegotiations, questioning the value of rights for a league possibly shifting away from its core Indian viewership.
Logistical Nightmare: Moving operations would mean renegotiating contracts, which could hurt teams financially.
IPL’s Damage Control:
League officials promptly denied the relocation rumors but hinted at the possibility of additional international matches to expand the IPL’s global footprint while retaining its Indian base.
Why does it Matter?
The IPL’s financial ecosystem depends on Indian viewership and sponsors. Any move abroad risks alienating its core market.
The Great “Player Salary Leak” (2024) – Transparency in Question
What Happened?
In 2024, a cyberattack exposed confidential salary information, revealing that certain star players were receiving up to 40% more than the officially declared amounts.
This disclosure led to allegations of financial discrepancies and favoritism. This scandal was a wake-up call, pushing league administrators to tighten cybersecurity measures and reinforce financial oversight mechanisms.
Fallout:
Fairness Debates: The revelations sparked discussions about the integrity of the salary cap system, with smaller franchises feeling disadvantaged.
Sponsor Reluctance: Brands reconsidered their investments, concerned about the financial stability and transparency of the teams they were endorsing.
Legal Backlash: The leak raised concerns over contractual transparency, forcing IPL to address potential loopholes.
IPL’s Fix:
In response, the league introduced blockchain-based contracts in 2025 to ensure complete transparency in player salaries and financial dealings, aiming to restore trust among stakeholders.
The Lesson:
Financial opacity breeds distrust. The league must ensure fair play both on and off the field.
Television Rating of IPL From 2018 to 2024
The Clash on Sponsorship
Deals like PepsiCo‘s 2015 withdrawal, which came to an abrupt end, showed how unstable these alliances can be. This was further demonstrated by Vivo’s entrance and later exit from the IPL as a result of geopolitical tensions and commercial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The extension of the Tata Group‘s contract as the title sponsor of the Indian Premier League for 5 years (2024–28) at a cost of ₹2,500 crore (US$310 million) is a landmark event in this context, as it represents the highest sponsorship amount in the league’s history. The IPL’s title sponsorship rights for 2022 and 2023 were originally held by the Tata Group.
Just like its financial success, the IPL’s brand worth has skyrocketed. The value of the event skyrocketed from $4.16 billion in 2016 to an incredible $6.13 billion in 2018, and recently, a media report stated that the current value of this league has touched an iconic figure of $10.7 billion. Profitable TV arrangements and creative approaches to engaging fans from all walks of life are two of the many reasons for this meteoric rise. The league was able to increase its viewership and revenue by branching out into regional stations that offered bilingual commentary.
There has been no downside to the IPL’s broadcasting experience. The league’s ten-year association with Sony Pictures Networks set the stage for groundbreaking accords, the most recent of which was Star India’s acquisition of worldwide media rights in 2017. A new era of accessibility began with the subsequent growth of digital streaming sites like Hotstar, which allowed millions of people worldwide to effortlessly tune into live matches.
Star Sports will once again be the official television broadcaster of the Indian Premier League this season, bringing the excitement of the games to fans throughout the country. Jio Cinema, in the meantime, is operating as a digital broadcaster, making sure that viewers can watch on their own digital devices.
IPL Title Sponsorship Over the Years
Difficulties and Disagreements
Since the beginning of the Indian Premier League (IPL), one of its defining characteristics has been the presence of controversies, which frequently overshadow the league’s outstanding performance on the pitch. Scandals involving match-fixing and ownership issues have tarnished the league’s generally impeccable image.
The Indian Premier League has a checkered past due to spot-fixing allegations in which players were accused of intentionally manipulating certain points in a match for financial benefit. One notable example is the 2012 Indian Premier League spot-fixing case, which resulted in the suspension and lifelong bans for specific players. A comparable incident surfaced in 2013, leading to bans, arrests, and broad censure from cricket fans and officials.
Several IPL franchises have been embroiled in ownership conflicts, which have resulted in contentious legal fights. The Rajasthan Royals ownership issue is a well-known example of a situation where claims of irregularities in shareholding and ownership structures surfaced. The participation of prominent figures, such as Bollywood stars, intensified the scandal and prompted inquiries over the openness and leadership of IPL clubs.
Team owners’ participation in cricket administration is one area where the IPL has come under fire for potential conflicts of interest. Case in point: N. Srinivasan’s ownership of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and his prominent roles inside the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) prompted questions regarding the objectivity and fairness of team management and league administration.
Many people, including players, commentators, and fans, were skeptical and critical of the decision to use strategic time-outs in IPL matches. Although they were meant to give teams a chance to plan their strategies during games, many fans saw these timeouts as nothing more than a marketing ploy to boost ad revenue at the expense of the actual game. Stakeholders’ frustrations were already high due to slow over rates, which meant that matches frequently went beyond their allotted time.
As a result of escalating geopolitical tensions, Pakistani players have been informally barred from participating in the IPL. Pakistani players have encountered difficulties in obtaining contracts and competing in the league as a result of political sensitivities, even if they were chosen in previous seasons. Cricketing circles and fans have voiced their disapproval at this omission, which has brought attention to the way sports and geopolitics intertwine in the IPL.
These incidents underscore the complex interplay between the IPL’s on-field excitement and its off-field business dynamics, highlighting the importance of robust governance to sustain corporate partnerships and financial growth.
The IPL transcends cricket; it’s a commercial juggernaut where controversies can erode millions in value. Sponsors, broadcasters, and franchises operate in a high-stakes environment where reputation management is paramount.
The IPL extends far beyond the boundaries of the cricket field; it is a global sports and entertainment powerhouse. Every controversy, whether related to player conduct, team ownership, or administrative decisions, has the potential to disrupt investor confidence, impact sponsorship deals, and diminish broadcasting revenues.
In an era where public perception plays a critical role in shaping the value of sports leagues, mismanagement or ethical lapses can translate into significant financial losses, affecting everyone from franchise owners to advertisers and media partners.
2025’s Big Lesson?
Striking a balance between high-octane entertainment and ethical governance has never been more critical. As the IPL continues its rapid expansion on the global stage, transparency, accountability, and integrity will be fundamental to ensuring its long-term sustainability.
Without these pillars, even the most successful sporting leagues can face setbacks, proving that financial growth must go hand in hand with responsible management.
These disputes highlight the intricate dynamics within the IPL, where business concerns, problems with administration, and geopolitical tensions converge with the essence of cricket. Even while the league is still a huge deal throughout the world, it needs to deal with these scandals if it wants to keep its credibility and legitimacy intact.
FAQs
Who is the title sponsor of IPL?
Tata Group’s contract as the title sponsor of the Indian Premier League is extended for 5 years (2024–28) at a cost of ₹2,500 crore (US$310 million), and it represents the highest sponsorship amount in the league’s history.
Who is the official television broadcaster of IPL for this season?
Star Sports is the official television broadcaster of the Indian Premier League this season.
What is IPL’s brand worth?
The value of the event skyrocketed from $4.16 billion in 2016 to an incredible $6.13 billion in 2018 and recently, a media report stated that the current value of this league has touched an iconic figure of $10.7 billion.
Damini Bhandary
