The Founder Poker Series brought together some of India’s most dynamic startup founders and business leaders for an unforgettable night of high-stakes gameplay, strategic brilliance, and entrepreneurial camaraderie.
The exclusive event featured more than 120 founders, CTOs, and CXOs from across industries, coffee, fintech, healthcare, legal-tech, co-working, AI, sports-tech, and more, united not by pitch decks or boardrooms, but by Poker chips and shared grit. 18 business leaders who came on top and played the finale were Matt Chitharanjan (Blue Tokai), Ashish Shah (Pepperfry), Ankit Maheshwari (Innovaccer), Aakarsh Nayyar (Aliste), Revant Bhate (Mosaic Wellness), Pranav Ahuja (Xeno), Saurav Suman (Proho), Rohan Desai (Medflix), Shivam Singla (Leegality), Sudeep Singh (Feather & Spun), Vaibhav Jain (Hubilo), Varun Ganjoo (Baazi Games) Utsav Somani (Offline), Vinit Kore (BigHit Sportz), Anirudh Bhardwaj (Recur Club), Sumit Lakhani (Awfis), Ravi Mittal (Socioboxx), and Karn Nagpal (Rosmerta Technologies & My Raasta).
Ultimately, it was Matt Chitharanjan, Co-founder and CEO of Blue Tokai, who walked away with the trophy, cementing his place not just as a pioneer of India’s specialty coffee movement but now also as a Poker champion.
“Founders are always making calculated steps on people, on ideas, on timing,” said Matt Chitharanjan. “Poker felt like a natural extension of that world. It’s about reading situations, managing risks, and trusting your instincts. That’s not just a game, that’s a Tuesday at a startup.”
Co-Hosted by PokerBaazi, India’s biggest Poker platform, and Offline, a private, invite-only network for scaled-up founders across India and the UAE — the Founder Poker Series wasn't just a celebration of Poker, but a bold statement that this globally recognised mind sport deserves a seat at India’s intellectual table.
The series was more than a contest, it was a community moment. The founders bonded over flops and folds, discussed exits and equity between hands, and revealed the person behind the pitch. In a world often obsessed with hustle, the poker table offered a rare pause, where calculated risk and mental sharpness reigned supreme.
As the chips settled, one thing became clear: whether in startups or on the felt, India’s founders are playing a long game, one that rewards courage, clarity, and conviction.
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