Kohli’s Startup Play, Karnataka Bike Taxi Ban, and Telangana Govt,’s TGDeX

Virat Kohli is famous for his ability to chase down targets in ODIs, and he's proving to be equally good at chasing business success. His recent ₹40 crore investment in Agilitas Sports is an example of his moving from endorsing brands to owning them.

Agilitas began operations with a ₹430 crore ($52 million) raise, one of the largest seed rounds in Indian startup history. Led by ex-Puma India chief Abhishek Ganguly, who was instrumental in signing Kohli to Puma back in 2017, it aims to be a full-stack sports company, from manufacturing to sales and distribution. The company recently acquired Mochiko Shoes, which already supplies to big global brands like Adidas and Puma. With this move, Agilitas has control over manufacturing, branding, and retail. It has also secured licensing rights for the Italian brand Lotto in India, Australia, and South Africa. In the startup world, that’s like walking out to bat with a half-century already on the board.

Kohli’s involvement in Agilitas goes beyond money. He is a co-creator, working on design, marketing, and growth plans, especially around his lifestyle brand One8. The goal is to make One8 a global brand. Kohli declined a ₹300 crore renewal offer from Puma earlier this year and decided to take One8 independent. One8 had already generated ₹250 crore in business under Puma, and contributed 10% to Puma India’s revenue in 2019.

The Indian sportswear and athleisure market is expected to reach ₹6,000 crore in the next few years, growing at nearly 15% annually. Despite this fast growth, India still doesn’t have a homegrown sportswear brand that competes head-on with Nike, Adidas, or Puma. Agilitas is aiming to be that brand.

This isn’t Kohli’s first startup bet. He has invested in over 10 startups across fitness, fashion, gaming, food, and tech. These include Rage Coffee, Blue Tribe (a plant-based meat brand), Chisel Fitness, and Digit Insurance. Many of his investments reflect personal values - fitness, sustainability, and Indian brands that aim big. With Agilitas, he seems to be building it from the ground up and taking on more control.

This model has been used before globally. Roger Federer did it with On, a Swiss running shoe company. He shaped the product and the story behind it. Kohli seems to be following that path. But there’s a key difference. Federer had the advantage of launching from a country known for high-end products. Kohli is trying to build a global brand from India, where the sportswear ecosystem is still young and dominated by global players.

Agilitas has raised ₹600 crore till date, from investors like Convergent Finance, Nexus Venture Partners, and Spring Marketing Capital. Sources suggest Kohli might increase his stake (which is 1.94% currently) as One8 expands.

Global competition is intense. Nike, Adidas, and Puma have years of brand recall, distribution, and scale. Brand loyalty in sportswear runs deep, and breaking into premium categories won’t be easy. There’s also pressure to keep prices competitive without compromising quality.

Agilitas is starting from scratch. And while Kohli’s fan base is huge, it may not be enough to compete globally unless backed by strong execution.

Let’s go through what else is happening in Indian startup world - Grab your simmering cup of StartupChai.in and unwind with our hand-brewed memes.

“Nahi Chalegi, Tanashahi Nahi Chalegi”: Karnataka Bike Taxi Ban, Impacted Drivers On Hunger Protest

Bike taxi drivers across Karnataka have hit the streets and skipped meals in protest against the state’s ban on bike taxis.

From Bengaluru to Mysuru, they’re demanding a policy that doesn’t sideline their livelihoods. With an indefinite hunger strike looming, their message to CM Siddaramaiah is loud and clear: mobility shouldn't mean exclusion.

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“Waah Kya Scene Hai”: Indian Railways launches RailOne, a super app for all consumers' needs

Say goodbye to juggling railway apps, Indian Railways has rolled out RailOne, a super app that does it all.

From booking any kind of ticket to checking PNRs, coach positions, and even filing complaints, it’s now one tap away. Finally, train travel gets a one-stop digital makeover.

Read more here

“Aaiye Aapka Intezaar Tha”: Telangana Govt To Launch Digital Public Infra For AI

Telangana is gearing up to launch its own Digital Public Infrastructure for AI, called TGDeX, on July 2. Built by IISc Bengaluru, the platform will open access to datasets and tools for AI developers across domains.

Think of it as a collaborative AI lab where the government, startups, and researchers co-create smarter solutions for the public good.

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1. Agritech startup Eeki has raised $7 million in a round led by Sixth Sense Ventures to scale its IoT-powered farming tech. The funds will boost its R&D, expand farm operations, and strengthen its agri-innovation stack.
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2. Eight Roads has offloaded stakes in MoEngage, Shadowfax, and Whatfix in a $50 million secondary deal. TR Capital stepped in as the buyer, signaling deeper collaboration with top-tier VC partners.
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3. Zango AI has secured $4.8 million from Nexus Venture Partners to scale its AI-native compliance tools. With regulation-specific LLMs, the 2024-founded regtech startup is streamlining compliance for clients like Monzo and Novobanco.
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4. AppsForBharat, the maker of devotional app Sri Mandir, has raised ₹175 crore in a Series C round led by Susquehanna Asia. Existing backers like Fundamentum, Elevation, and Peak XV also joined to fuel its spiritual-tech journey.
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5. FincFriends has raised ₹98.5 crore in debt from peer NBFCs and NCDs to scale RupeeRedee and strengthen its fintech play. The fundraise comes as fintechs recalibrate amid regulatory heat and a cooling unsecured credit market.
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