Aman Gupta launches new venture ‘OffBeat Studios’

Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt and Shark Tank India judge, has unveiled a new venture, OffBeat Studios, marking his first entrepreneurial move since transitioning to a non-executive role at the IPO-bound wearables brand.

Aman Gupta, co-founder of leading audio and wearables brand boAt, has announced the launch of a new company, OffBeat Studios, signalling his return to active entrepreneurship after stepping back from day-to-day operations at the company.

In a post on X dated March 3, Gupta wrote: “With every birthday, some grow older, I grow bolder. I am still hungry, still impatient and still driven. Aman 2.0 begins soon. Introducing my new venture. @Offbeatstudios1.”

The announcement marks Gupta’s first major business move since transitioning into a non-executive board role at boAt, whose parent entity, Imagine Marketing, is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO).

Details remain under wraps

As of now, specifics about OffBeat Studios remain undisclosed. Gupta has not shared information regarding the company’s business model, industry focus, funding structure, leadership team, or launch timeline.

The branding accompanying his social media post featured a stylised “OFF/BEAT” logo, but offered little clarity about the nature of the venture. It is also unclear whether OffBeat Studios will operate independently or maintain any strategic relationship with boAt.

Gupta has been widely credited with shaping boAt’s brand identity and marketing strategy since its inception. Under his leadership, the company built a strong youth-centric brand presence in India’s fast-growing consumer electronics market.

Beyond his entrepreneurial journey, Gupta gained nationwide recognition as a judge on Shark Tank India, where he became known for backing consumer-focused startups and engaging directly with early-stage founders.

Leadership reshuffle at boAt

Gupta’s announcement follows a broader leadership transition at boAt. In September last year, the company appointed Gaurav Nayyar as chief executive officer, while co-founder Sameer Mehta assumed the role of executive director focusing on strategy.

The changes reflected boAt’s shift toward a more professional management structure as it prepared for public markets.

IPO plans move ahead

The development comes at a pivotal time for the company. Imagine Marketing has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to proceed with its IPO. Backed by private equity firm Warburg Pincus, the company reportedly confidentially filed its draft papers in April and is said to be targeting a valuation of approximately ₹13,000 crore.

This marks boAt’s second attempt to go public. In January 2022, it filed draft papers for a ₹2,000 crore IPO, comprising a fresh issue of ₹900 crore and an offer for sale of up to ₹1,100 crore. However, the company withdrew those papers amid volatile market conditions.

At present, boAt has not commented on whether Gupta’s new venture will have any bearing on its upcoming public issue.

With OffBeat Studios, Gupta appears poised to begin a new chapter in his entrepreneurial journey — one that could once again leverage his brand-building expertise and strong connection with India’s startup ecosystem.