Darshan M
“I build worlds where ideas fight, roar, and dance, sometimes all at once.”
About
Buttoned up, I advise brands, build ventures, write ideas into action, and architect the future.
Dressed down, I chase spice trails, dig soil, cuddle dogs, and lose myself in winding roads.
Dressed down, I chase spice trails, dig soil, cuddle dogs, and lose myself in winding roads.
From the misty hills of Ooty to the heart of India’s creative, cultural, and entrepreneurial landscape, Darshan M’s journey has been anything but conventional.
A college dropout turned CEO by 32, Darshan has spent the last three decades building powerful, purpose-driven ventures across media, sports, wellness, and entertainment.
He is credited with multiple industry firsts: launching the world’s first midnight marathon(Bangalore Midnight Marathon), founding India’s first community television channel(Channel Coorg), and conceptualising the i1 Super Series, India’s motorsport answer to the IPL. He has also served as CEO of the Deccan Chargers IPL team, managed top-tier athletes, acted in bollywood and regional films, and co-produced the Saina Nehwal biopic.
His entrepreneurial work spans a vibrant range of intellectual properties:
Darshan is the founder of Cherapunjee, an idea-first studio that builds original creative IPs across board games, festivals, docu-series, collectible art, and sports entertainment. With a rare ability to connect culture with commerce, and mythology with modernity, he continues to build bridges between imagination and impact.
Recognised as a thought leader and provocateur in the Indian creative economy, Darshan is frequently invited to speak, consult, and collaborate on bold initiatives that challenge convention and shape new narratives.
A college dropout turned CEO by 32, Darshan has spent the last three decades building powerful, purpose-driven ventures across media, sports, wellness, and entertainment.
He is credited with multiple industry firsts: launching the world’s first midnight marathon(Bangalore Midnight Marathon), founding India’s first community television channel(Channel Coorg), and conceptualising the i1 Super Series, India’s motorsport answer to the IPL. He has also served as CEO of the Deccan Chargers IPL team, managed top-tier athletes, acted in bollywood and regional films, and co-produced the Saina Nehwal biopic.
His entrepreneurial work spans a vibrant range of intellectual properties:
- Deivee, a yoga lifestyle brand co-founded with Milind Soman, promoting sustainable wellness for women.
- Mighty Mumbai, a board game capturing the chaos and charm of India’s iconic city.
- Love All, a para-inclusive festival and movement celebrating the talents and rights of people with disabilities.
- Sonic Tigress, the world’s first all-women music festival — where every performer, audience member, and crew member is female.
Darshan is the founder of Cherapunjee, an idea-first studio that builds original creative IPs across board games, festivals, docu-series, collectible art, and sports entertainment. With a rare ability to connect culture with commerce, and mythology with modernity, he continues to build bridges between imagination and impact.
Recognised as a thought leader and provocateur in the Indian creative economy, Darshan is frequently invited to speak, consult, and collaborate on bold initiatives that challenge convention and shape new narratives.
Darshan has been selected as one of the top 20 future business leaders of India, by the prestigious business magazine BUSINESS TODAY.
What can I do for you?
Life is too short to make the mistakes yourself, so learn from mine, and others before you.
Innovation
I work with individuals and organisations to transform their business by helping them break through the limits of their own thinking. By using tools like design thinking, I will help you reset your vision and direction.
Influence Mangement
Having spent many years working with brands, celebrities and media, I have deep insights that can help you identify, build and manage your identity, brand, and influence.
ESP
Entertainment Sports Partnerships is one of my core specialisations. I help brands leverage the power of celebrity partnerships, sponsorships, and brand extensions.
"The world is too big to stay in one place, and life is too short to do just one thing."
Some of my entrepreneurial ventures.
- Deivee is India's leading organic, Fairtrade and sustainable yoga lifestyle brand.
- Sportytrip is one of India's leading sports experience company.
- Haute Dawg is India's first brand of vegan, gluten-free and sustainable doggie chews brand.
- PLAY is a leading Sports Media & Entertainment management company.
- FrontFoot Pictures is movie production company that specialised in telling stories from the world of sports.
- Coorg Angels is an initiative to support start-ups, and founders from coorg with capital, expertise, and mentoring.
- Cherapunjee is an idea-first, media-agnostic creative studio that builds original, culturally resonant IPs across entertainment, sport, design, and experience. We don’t follow trends — we create new weather systems.
- LOVE ALL is a movement to celebrate the achievements of people with disabilities. The movement promotes inclusivity and hopes to inspire a generation to create sustainable change.
It’s been a wild ride. One that continues to evolve, with stories to tell, worlds to build, and boundaries to break.
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