Welcome to my story! - Link to my TEDx talk

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I believe "sport has the power to transform communities, economies, and nations."

 

My mission is to make India a SPORTING NATION, by playing sports, by building a sports ecosystem, or by living a lifestyle that is based on the fundamentals of sports. I work with sporting properties for development and commercialization, education institutes for training the next generation of sports managers, and corporates on their leadership training using "Sports-as-a-Lifestyle" method. I work with organizations, federations, brands, and investors to unlock new revenue streams and long-term sustainability through Sports Advisory, Commercial Strategy, and Digital Transformation. All in all, I Play, Lead and Live by and for sport!

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With over 2 decades of global experience in Sports and Technology Management consultancy, I have founded  Arimaya Ventures. (www.arimayaventures.com), Rising Pune FC (www.risingpunefc.com) and Sportsy World (www.sportsy.world)

Founded Arimaya Ventures in 2014 to offer a unique blend of management consulting services, including CxO-as-a-Service, for Technology Startups covering People and Business Operations, Brand Marketing, and Sales Operations.

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Towards my mission to make India a sporting nation, in 2019, I founded Rising Pune FC, the most sought-after youth football club in Pune, where over 500 kids train daily. Rising Pune FC has become the most successful and impactful grassroots football club across Western Maharashtra for boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 18. I am working on making Rising Pune FC, India's 1st financially sustainable, community football club, to set an example for Indian Football.

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I founded SPORTSY.World, a Sports Marketing and Management agency where talent meets brands. In addition to talent management, SPORTSY World is catering to sporting IPs and Sports Consulting.  The SPORTSY brand also focuses on corporate development and leadership training using the fundamentals of "Sports-as-a-Lifestyle" which enables leaders to Play, Lead & Live. This Inspirational Leadership Development Program enables Early Managers, Mid Managers, and Senior Managers to build their journey with an AIM (Aspirational, Inspirational, and Motivational). 

Lets Play... Lead... Live with SPORTSY

 

​​Over the past two and a half decades, before my sports industry career, my dynamic career journey has covered various roles globally at notable consulting companies such as Axis Bank Ltd., Persistent Systems Ltd., Tech Mahindra Ltd., GlobalLogic Inc., and Mindtree Ltd, having had the privilege of working closely with industry leaders, contributing to my continuous learning journey. Beyond a decade in IT Consulting, I feel humbled and grateful to have had the opportunity to work with sports organizations like Grant Thornton Bharat, JeySynthesys, BrandActif, Fanisko, Genius Sports, Khel Now, Rhiti Sports, and Built.io, to name a few. Over the years, I have had an opportunity to handle the commercial interests of various sporting properties such as IPL, ISL, PKL, UKK, PBL, UTT, PVL, in India. To name a few leadership roles in the recent past, I have headed the Sports and Esports Advisory for Grant Thornton Bharat and Revenue and Strategic relations for e-cricket gaming and esports at JetSynthesys (www.jetsynthesys.com) to plan and execute the world’s 1st and biggest franchise-based esports cricket league, GEPL (Global e-Cricket Premier League – www.gepl.live).​

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In addition to handling the commercial and strategic interests of leagues, I have worked closely and exclusively to manage the brand MS DHONI for a long time. I have worked on implementing the world’s 1st Smart Connected Arena Solution @ NBA with Sacramento Kings for enhanced FAN ENGAGEMENT. I have also had an opportunity to collaborate with municipal corporations and government officials to promote sports development and sustainability. 

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As an educator, my contribution towards Sports Education is by being a Curator, Mentor, and Faculty of the MBA Sports Management program at Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences (SSSS) while being a guest speaker and masterclass speaker across sports management institutes across India and globally. 

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It has been my honor to hold esteemed positions of Sports Tech Mentor & India Ambassador for Qatar SportsTech (QST) and Global Sports Innovation Centre (GSIC), along with being a committee member at SPORTSCOM, a CII initiative.

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My passion for sports is evident in my talk show, SportSidd – #LetsTalkSports (https://www.youtube.com/@sportsidd), where I host prominent athletes, coaches, administrators, and business leaders to discuss various aspects of sports.

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From being a competitive athlete, I am an avid movie buff, country and jazz music enthusiast and adventure sports enthusiast, particularly fond of scuba diving.

 

My educational background includes a Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) degree, an MBA-IT from Pune University, a PGD-HR from SIBM (Symbiosis Institute of Business Management), PGD-Sports Management from COEM, a Diploma in Strategic Planning and Business Policies from IIT Bombay, and an ongoing PhD from Chitkara University in "Sports Commercialisation and its impact on development in India for football."

Expertise: Sports Commerce | Sports Development | Sports Education | Sports Technology | Sports Media | Sports CSR | Fan Engagement | Brand Amplification | Sustainability of & through Sports

In the world of sports, the best part of the game is the opportunity to play!

More I play... More I learn!