In the rapidly evolving landscape of Indian entrepreneurship and sports, few individuals have managed to create a lasting impact across multiple arenas like Vivek Bhargava.
From founding one of India’s earliest digital marketing agencies to co-owning the Goa Challengers franchise in Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), and from mentoring startups to playing a nerve-wracking chess match against Viswanathan Anand, Bhargava’s journey is anything but conventional.
His story is one of growth-driven passion, strategic foresight, and relentless optimism. At the heart of it lies a core belief: if you chase what energizes you, success in its truest form will follow.
Vivek Bhargava began his entrepreneurial journey by founding Communicate 2, one of India’s pioneering digital marketing agencies. The venture was later acquired by Dentsu, after which he took on leadership roles at iProspect India and subsequently the DAN Performance Group. His work at the helm of these organizations helped shape India’s digital marketing ecosystem, enabling top brands to embrace performance-driven strategies.
But just when most would have chosen to plateau, Bhargava did the unthinkable he stepped away.
“I felt I was punching below my weight,” he says. “I needed to do something from scratch again something that could be bigger and more impactful.”
This calling led to the birth of consumr.ai (formerly ProfitWheel), a B2B SaaS startup co-founded with Gautam Mehra and Aman Khanna. The platform decodes consumer behavior through data intelligence, enabling brands to personalize their outreach meaningfully.
Bhargava’s drive wasn’t about valuation but about value. “Even if someone gave me a billion dollars and said I wouldn’t keep a rupee after making it ten billion, I’d still do it for the joy of growth,” he shares.
As co-owner of the Goa Challengers in Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), Bhargava has helped build one of the most successful franchises in the league. The team has already won two titles.
But beyond the trophies, Bhargava’s vision is larger: to mainstream table tennis in India. “We’re at a tipping point,” he says. “Just like badminton exploded post-Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, TT needs one or two breakout stars on the global stage.”
He draws parallels with India’s cricket evolution. “The 1983 World Cup win changed everything. If Indian TT players win Olympic medals or break into the top three globally, it will drive mass participation.”
UTT, he believes, has fast-tracked India’s rise. “Young players like Sreeja Akula, Manush Shah, and Diya Chitale are getting exposed to international competition early. That’s invaluable.”
Bhargava’s love for sport isn’t limited to ownership. He’s a former national-level table tennis player himself. “The discipline, strategy, and resilience I learned on the TT table shaped how I approach business and life.”
Apart from building his own ventures, Bhargava is a passionate angel investor, supporting early-stage companies across domains like health tech, edtech, electric mobility, deep tech, and consumer SaaS. His motivation isn’t just financial returns it’s intellectual stimulation.
“When I invest in a startup, I get access to a whole new world of insights,” he explains. “It’s the fastest way to learn about new domains.”
Some notable ventures in his portfolio include:
- Celebrity School: A masterclass platform featuring icons like Asha Bhosale and Milind Soman, designed to capture and disseminate generational wisdom.
- EV Battery and MRI Imaging Startups: Deep-tech ventures solving pressing real-world challenges.
What’s the common thread he looks for?
“The founder,” he answers simply. “Their hunger, their ability to learn, and whether I can help them scale. I don’t just write a cheque I want to help build.”
Bhargava once played a simultaneous chess match against five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand and walked away undefeated.
“I didn’t beat him,” he laughs. “But I survived for 90 minutes. That’s a win in my books.”
For Bhargava, chess isn’t just a game. It’s a metaphor. “Life and business are about strategy, foresight, and positioning. Chess sharpens those skills. Every decision has long-term implications.”
This mindset spills over into his entrepreneurial endeavors. “You may not always be the strongest piece on the board, but with the right moves, even a pawn can become a queen.”
One of the most transformative ideas Bhargava champions is rooted in a bold vision: India in the top five of the Olympic medal tally by 2036.
To get there, he believes we must borrow from our strongest institution the Indian Armed Forces.
His proposal is straightforward yet revolutionary: Let the Army, Navy, and Air Force adopt 12-15-year-old athletes from every district. Train them professionally while guaranteeing a secure future in the armed forces, regardless of sports outcomes.
“The biggest barrier to sports participation in India is uncertainty,” he explains. “Parents don’t want to gamble their child’s future. But if you assure them of a secure career even if the child doesn’t make it as a professional athlete—that changes the equation.”
He estimates the cost to be just 0.1% of India’s defence budget around ₹1,000 crore annually. That would fund talent scouting, infrastructure, nutrition, education, and training.
“This is not charity,” he asserts. “It’s nation-building. Excellence in sport builds global soft power. Look at how China or the U.S. use Olympic success to enhance their influence.”
Whether mentoring founders, investing in cutting-edge tech, strategizing with sports teams, or proposing policy interventions, Bhargava is powered by a singular philosophy growth is the highest form of reward.
“Once your needs are met, money doesn’t drive happiness. Learning and growth do. Watching someone evolve because of your inputs—that’s magic,” he says.
This is why he continues to hustle even after multiple successes. “If someone gave me ₹1,000 crore and said I’d lose all of it but had to grow it to ₹10,000 crore I’d still take it. The joy is in the building.”
Vivek Bhargava is not just an entrepreneur or investor he’s an ecosystem builder. Someone who sees interconnected value in startups, sports, data, and strategy.
He’s helping India win titles on TT tables, transform education systems, enhance healthcare diagnostics, and reimagine its Olympic future. His impact spans boardrooms, classrooms, training grounds, and even chess boards.
His legacy won’t be defined by exits or balance sheets, but by the ecosystems he nurtured and the people he empowered.
And perhaps that’s the most powerful takeaway from his journey success is not a destination. It’s a compounding of small, meaningful actions taken with vision and integrity. A direction, not a finish line.
With leaders like Vivek Bhargava guiding the way, India’s tryst with greatness be it in startups, sports, or soft power is no longer a dream. It’s an unfolding reality.