Bengaluru, July 23: Bertelsmann India Investments successfully hosted the eighth edition of the Bertelsmann Badminton Championship at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence, Bengaluru, bringing together over 150 founders, investors and startup leaders.
Participants included representatives from leading venture capital firms, including Accel, Blume Ventures, Innoven, Titan Capital, Aavishkaar Capital, Ascent Capital, Stellaris, Cactus Partners, alongside founders from Univest, Handpickd, Fairdeal, Inito, Curebay and more, creating a unique "zero-pitch" environment where conversations centred on community rather than capital.
Held under the continued theme of 'Rally for Health', the championship reinforced a simple yet increasingly relevant message for India's startup ecosystem: enduring businesses are built by healthy leaders. Over the past decade, BII has built the Bertelsmann Badminton Championship into a dedicated community platform for India’s VC & startup ecosystem. By bringing founders and investors together through sport, the championship creates space for meaningful relationships, healthier habits and a more sustainable approach to leadership—away from the pressures of day-to-day business building.
The eighth edition of the Bertelsmann Badminton Championship witnessed spirited competition, with 87 teams battling it out across multiple rounds in a display of skill, strategy and sportsmanship. After an exciting day of matches, Varun Agarwal and Sanatha kumar from Stride Ventures emerged as the championship winners, while Sameer Mansukhani from Innoven Capital finished as runner-up. In the Knockout category, Faizan Munshi from VC grid and Mahadev from Handpickd finished as runners-up. In the people’s choice award Smita Salgaonkar from Google won the most valuable player award and Varun Agarwal from Stride Ventures also emerged as player of the tournament.
Beyond the results, the championship reinforced the values of resilience, teamwork and perseverance that underpin both sport and entrepreneurship.
As part of this year’s ‘Rally for Health’ initiative, Bertelsmann India Investments introduced the inaugural BII Founder Wellness Survey to understand how founders, investors and other startup ecosystem participants manage their physical and mental well-being while building and supporting businesses. Conducted on-ground during the championship, the findings represent an event-based ecosystem pulse and should not be interpreted as a nationally representative study. The survey received 50 valid responses and found that 88% of respondents work at least 50 hours a week. In addition, 78% agreed or somewhat agreed that long working hours are necessary to build a successful company, indicating that the pressure is not only operational but also cultural, with endurance and extended availability often associated with entrepreneurial success.
The findings also point to growing pressure on recovery, with 41% of respondents reporting only five to six hours of sleep or less each night, while 71% said they experience burnout at least a few times a year. At the same time, 68% reported spending at least 30 minutes on physical activity every day, demonstrating a strong personal commitment to fitness. However, only 22% said physical fitness is formally built into their company culture, suggesting that wellness continues to be managed primarily at an individual level. The findings reinforce the central message of ‘Rally for Health’: while founders and investors are making personal efforts to remain active, sustainable leadership will require the ecosystem to move from individual discipline towards stronger organisational infrastructure for fitness, recovery and long-term well-being.
Pankaj Makkar, Managing Director, Bertelsmann India Investments, said,
“Building a company can often feel like a relentless race, and amid the pursuit of scale, unicorn status and IPOs, founders and their teams can unintentionally deprioritise their health. As Bertelsmann India Investments completes 15 years, Rally for Health reflects our commitment to bringing wellbeing back to the centre of the startup ecosystem and encouraging lifelong behavioural change. Whether participants are passionate players, fitness enthusiasts or simply experimenting with a healthier lifestyle, the objective is to create an accessible and joyful format that inspires people to take time for themselves. I would be delighted to see the ecosystem come together for a sporting event every month, because if we cannot take even one day away from work to invest in our health, we need to reconsider what sustainable success truly means,” said Pankaj Makkar, Managing Director, Bertelsmann India Investments.
“Winning the championship was a wonderful bonus, but what stood out most was the energy and camaraderie across the ecosystem. It was a great opportunity to step away from our usual routines, compete in the right spirit and connect with peers beyond everyday business conversations,” said Varun Agarwal, Partner, GCC, Stride Ventures.“The Bertelsmann Badminton Championship is a valuable reminder that building enduring companies also requires founders and investors to make time for their own health and well-being. The event created a rare space for the ecosystem to step away from everyday business pressures, connect through sport and strengthen relationships in an informal and energising environment. Initiatives such as ‘Rally for Health’ can play an important role in making wellness a more consistent part of the entrepreneurial journey,” said Abhishek Mittal, Partner, Aavishkaar Capital.
“The Bertelsmann Badminton Championship is a wonderful initiative. As founders, we rarely get the opportunity to step away from work for half a day, focus entirely on a sport and enjoy the experience without thinking about day-to-day business pressures. Taking that time out was genuinely refreshing, and the event was exceptionally well organised. Kudos to the Bertelsmann India Investments team for creating such a thoughtful and enjoyable experience.” said Pranit Arora, Founder, Univest.
BII's commitment to founder well-being reflects its long-term investment philosophy of backing founders through every stage of their journey. The championship embodies the firm's belief that enduring businesses are built through resilient founders, disciplined growth and meaningful relationships that extend well beyond boardrooms and funding rounds.