Regional OTT platform Stage Monday announced Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra’s onboarding as an investor.
Neither the quantum of stakeholding that India’s javelin ace had picked up, nor the enterprise valuation at which the transaction was made were disclosed.
Stage made a public announcement about the development in Chopra’s ancestral village in Panipat, Haryana.
Per an official release, “Neeraj’s investment represents a shared commitment to safeguarding and amplifying Bharat’s diverse and rich cultural heritage inherent in regional dialects, ushering in a new era of cultural resurgence through the Stage platform”.
Vinay Singhal, CEO and co-founder of Stage, said: “We believe in the compelling force of storytelling and the unifying potential of regional content. Neeraj Chopra’s involvement adds an impactful and relevant dimension to our mission, and we are elated to welcome him aboard.”
Neeraj opined: “Cultural preservation and pride in where we come from are woven into the fabric of our identity.
“My investment in Stage represents more than just a desire to rekindle the flames of our diverse regional dialects. We will embark on a journey together to reawaken dormant languages and empower every voice, ensuring that our cultural heritage thrives in its true form through this platform.”
Talking about the association, Divyanshu Singh, COO of JSW Sports, which commercially represents Neeraj, added, “Neeraj is a global icon who remains very local and connected to his roots. He has done immensely well for our country at the international level, but he has stayed true to his personality, and from that perspective, we feel that this is a very strategic partnership. His coming on board as an investor with Stage, which is a very dialect-centric OTT platform is very relevant to him and the brand. It’s a long-term association, and one we at JSW Sports are very delighted to have facilitated for him.”
Stage lays claim to having over 6 million installs and a dedicated community of 550,000+ paying subscribers. This statistic not only attests to the platform’s popularity but also heralds the significant impact that Neeraj’s investment is expected to have.
