Aman Gupta Raises Rs 100 Crore for OFF/BEAT Startup

boAt co-founder Aman Gupta has raised Rs 100 crore in seed funding for his new venture, OFF/BEAT, in a round led by Bessemer Venture Partners. The announcement, made on April 7, 2026, marks Gupta’s first major entrepreneurial move since stepping back from active operations at boAt, the Indian consumer electronics brand he co-founded with Sameer Mehta.

What Is OFF/BEAT and Why It Is Significant for India’s Creator Economy

OFF/BEAT is positioned as a content and creator-led platform with a sharp focus on artificial intelligence and technology. While detailed business specifics have not been disclosed, the venture reflects a clear shift toward AI-powered platforms in India’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

According to industry sources, OFF/BEAT is valued at approximately Rs 450 crore in this seed round — a strong entry valuation for a pre-product stage company, underscoring confidence in Gupta’s founder credentials.

Bessemer Venture Partners Backs OFF/BEAT in Rs 100 Crore Seed Round

The funding round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners, a global venture capital firm whose portfolio includes Anthropic, Shopify, Canva, and LinkedIn. Gupta said his decision to raise capital was guided by the strategic value of investors rather than financial necessity.

“I didn’t raise capital because I needed the cheque. I raised it because Anant, Vishal, and Bessemer’s partners across the world bring speed, credibility, network, and strategic support that money alone cannot buy,” Gupta said.

Anant Vidur Puri, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, highlighted why the firm backed Gupta’s new venture. “We back founders who see around corners. Aman saw how a new India would come to think about aspiration, identity, and quality, and built boAt as proof. He is now applying that same instinct to a market being reshaped by AI and by a generation with entirely new expectations. That is exactly the intersection Bessemer exists to back,” Puri said.

Aman Gupta on AI-First Strategy and Global Partnerships for OFF/BEAT

Gupta made his AI-first intent explicit. “Having built from scratch before, I know what capital can do and what it cannot. This time, I was looking for partners with a global perspective who can help me leverage technology and AI, because that’s where the future lies,” he said.

The funding round was completed within a month of OFF/BEAT’s launch, reflecting strong investor confidence in Gupta’s ability to build and scale consumer-facing brands in India.

Aman Gupta’s Transition From boAt to OFF/BEAT

The launch of OFF/BEAT follows Gupta’s gradual exit from day-to-day operations at boAt. He transitioned to a non-executive director role in September 2025, with boAt simultaneously appointing Gaurav Nayyar as Chief Executive Officer. Co-founder Sameer Mehta moved into an executive director role focused on strategy.

Gupta described the decision as part of a deliberate, long-term plan. “We believed it is high time that professionally run management takes over. The company can now be run much better by professionals than by me,” he said. Gupta and Mehta together retain more than 40 percent ownership of boAt, and Gupta continues as a board member.

boAt’s IPO Pause Adds Context to Gupta’s New Venture

boAt revived its IPO plans in 2025, filing confidential papers and submitting a draft red herring prospectus for a Rs 1,500 crore issue — a scaled-down version of its shelved Rs 2,000 crore offering from 2022. However, recent reports indicate boAt has once again paused its listing plans to reassess market conditions and internal readiness.

The IPO delay and leadership restructuring at boAt appear to have accelerated Gupta’s focus on OFF/BEAT, which he officially unveiled in March 2026.

What OFF/BEAT’s Rs 100 Crore Raise Means for India’s Startup Ecosystem

OFF/BEAT’s seed round at a Rs 450 crore valuation signals continued investor appetite for founder-led ventures in India’s creator economy and AI space. Bessemer’s involvement also reinforces global venture capital interest in the Indian market at a time when several large funding rounds have been concentrated in deep-tech and AI sectors.

Gupta has invested in over 100 startups through his association with Shark Tank India and his personal portfolio, giving him both the network and insight to navigate the content and creator space. His move into this segment adds a significant name to India’s growing list of second-time founders building AI-native consumer businesses.

Author

Sachin

Sachin Sidharth is a Digital Marketing professional with a master’s degree in Digital Marketing from Coventry University, UK. He has 10+ years of blogging and online marketing experience. He currently heads Digital Acquisition for a leading London-based Fintech firm. At KnowStartup.com He focuses on writing Digital Marketing guides and manages...