Just a month after announcing his new venture, Aman Gupta — co-founder of consumer electronics brand boAt — has confirmed that OffBeat Studios has closed a ₹100 crore seed funding round. The round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners, the American VC firm behind companies like Shopify, LinkedIn, Canva, and Anthropic.
Gupta made the announcement on LinkedIn, and in a characteristically candid post, he made clear that this was not a raise born of necessity.
“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. Bessemer’s track record with companies like Anthropic, Shopify, Canva, and LinkedIn says it all.” — Aman Gupta, Founder, OffBeat Studios
He also explained his timing — announcing the raise on his wedding anniversary — through an analogy that is likely to resonate with every first-time founder who has had to pick an investor:
“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. Announcing this on my wedding anniversary because taking on an investor is like choosing a life partner. You need to get it right. You will live with them through the highs and the lows. You need someone who understands both.” — Aman Gupta, Founder, OffBeat Studios
On the Bessemer side, the deal was led by partners Anant Vidur Puri and Vishal. Puri explained what drew the firm to Gupta and the still-largely-undisclosed 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.” — Anant Vidur Puri, Partner, Bessemer Venture Partners
What is OffBeat Studios?
Gupta first introduced OffBeat Studios on 3 March 2025, as he transitioned from an executive to a non-executive role on boAt’s board. Beyond a stylised “OFF/BEAT” logo and a broad signal that the venture is oriented around AI and consumer behaviour, very little has been shared publicly. The business model, sector focus, team size, and launch timeline remain undisclosed.
It is also unclear whether OffBeat Studios will have any formal or strategic tie-up with boAt, or whether it is a fully independent, founder-led initiative.
Who is Bessemer Venture Partners?
Bessemer Venture Partners is a San Francisco-headquartered VC firm with offices in India, Israel, Hong Kong, and the UK. Its origins go back to 1911, making it one of the oldest venture capital operations in the world. The firm manages over $18 billion in assets, has backed more than 300 portfolio companies, and has seen over 145 IPOs from its portfolio. Its investments in AI companies — through a dedicated arm led by Grace Ma — have crossed $400 million, with Anthropic being among the most prominent names.
In 2024, Venture Capital Journal ranked Bessemer the third-largest VC firm globally by total fundraising over the preceding five-year period.
What’s happening at boAt
While Gupta moves on to his next chapter, the leadership structure at boAt has been reshaped. Co-founder Sameer Mehta has shifted to an executive director role, and former COO Gaurav Nayyar has stepped in as CEO.
On the IPO front, boAt’s parent company, Imagine Marketing has received SEBI approval for a public listing. The Warburg Pincus-backed company is reportedly targeting a valuation of around ₹13,000 crore — its second attempt at going public after its initial 2022 filing lapsed.
