Bertelsmann India Hosts 7th Badminton Championship in New Delhi

Bertelsmann India Investments (BII) hosted its seventh annual Bertelsmann Badminton Championship at the DDA - SBS, New Delhi, its first in the city. The tournament received an exceptional turnout with participation from 80+ venture capitalists from over 40 firms such as Accel, Infoedge, Innoven, Trifecta, Chiratae Ventures, Indigoedge and others, and founders such as Pranit Arora (Univest), Dhruv Gupta and Tarun Bhambra (Orange Health Labs), and Priyadarshi Mohapatra (CureBay). Beyond the competition, the event created a unique space for camaraderie and “zero-pitch” networking, bringing together India’s startup ecosystem in the spirit of sport and community.

This year’s theme, “Rally for Health,” spotlighted the often-overlooked well-being of founders and investors. In an industry where stress, burnout, and cardiac health issues are on the rise, the Bertelsmann Badminton Championship urged participants to pause, reflect, and prioritise health. The championship became a much-needed reminder that success is nothing without health, offering industry leaders a chance to connect in a relaxed setting away from packed calendars and boardroom pressure.

Pankaj Makkar, Managing Director, BII, said, “Since 2016, the Bertelsmann Badminton Championship has been our annual ritual where investors and founders meet, play, laugh and bond, with no shop talk. What began as a small gathering is now a tradition that puts health alongside strategy and growth - in fact, this is an event people look forward to every year.”

BII’s focus on health is also reflected in its portfolio, which includes Orange Health Labs and CureBay with further investments in the sector planned.

Talking about the championship, Rohit Sood, Partner, BII, added, “Over the years, the Bertelsmann Badminton Championship has evolved into a trusted, low-friction platform for India’s startup ecosystem. This year, we’re placing a special focus on health and well-being — both within and beyond the boardroom. Because ultimately, it’s enduring people who build enduring businesses and lasting relationships.”

Cdr Ramesh Kumar Sir, Secretary, DDA - SBS, said, “Hosting the Bertelsmann Badminton Championship aligns with our mission to make sport part of daily life. With purpose-built courts and supporting facilities at DDA-SBS, we hope guests take today as a cue to add a short, regular dose of movement, no matter their level.”

Amit Jhunjhunwala, CFO, Accel, added, “I’ve had an amazing experience at the Bertelsmann Badminton Championship. The theme, Rally for Health, is pretty much the mantra for me - I run, I workout, and I eat healthy, and I believe it’s what we need, with this much stress. This was my first time, and I wouldn’t want to miss it again.”

A key highlight this year at the Bertelsmann Badminton Championship was the ‘Message Board’, where founders and investors shared their personal health mantras, simple practices that grounded and resilient while building India’s future.

With over 40 teams participating, the 7th annual Bertelsmann Badminton Championship showcased the perfect synergy that sports and business have, with energetic matches and intriguing conversations. Jai Arora and Rajat Sharma from Univest emerged winners, while Shashvat Rai (Aavishkar Capital) and Peeyush Asati (Vecmocon Technologies) were runners-up. In the Knockouts, Dr Pinak Shrikhande and Nilay Shah (HealthKois) won, followed by Tejas Bode (Bertelsmann India Investments) and Manoj Satti (Penguin Random House), who were the runners-up.

Akshay Gulati, Co-Founder and CEO, Shiprocket, said, “Building a company is a marathon, not a sprint. I’m glad BII is putting wellbeing front and centre with ‘Rally for Health’. The conversations off court - about sleep, recovery and balance - are as valuable as the rallies on court.”

Priyadarshi Mohapatra, Founder and CEO, CureBay, said, “We’re delighted to be part of this year’s Bertelsmann Badminton Championship. At CureBay, our mission is quality healthcare for every community, and it’s heartening to see investors like BII place the wellbeing - of their teams and the wider startup ecosystem - front and centre.”

Dhruv Gupta and Tarun Bhambra, Founders, Orange Health Labs, added,“Health is at the core of what we, at Orange Health Labs, do. To have investors who believe in health as much as we do shows that we’re with the right people. To see so many industry leaders rally for health at the Bertelsmann Badminton Championship furthers the message of holistic wellness.”