The Playbook Behind Agilitas’ Global Sportswear Ambition

Having raised ₹225 Cr in fresh funding, three-year-old sportswear startup Agilitas is looking to bolster its presence in the sportswear market by building an ecosystem spanning manufacturing, brands and distribution. 

In a chinwag with the CEO of Shadowfax CEO, Abhishek Bansal, at the seventh edition of Inc42’s The D2C & Retail Summit 2026, Agilitas CEO Abhishek Ganguly said the company’s strategy is built around creating “leverage” that competitors would find difficult, expensive or time-consuming to replicate in a global market dominated by legacy players like Nike and Adidas. 

“I stepped out with my dreams to set up an Indian company in a category where India has no pride of place,” said Ganguly, who has also helmed Puma as its India managing director for about a decade. 

Agilitas is looking to build scale by combining its sportswear manufacturing capabilities, consumer brand portfolio and expanding retail footprint.

The Rainmatter-backed startup has Mochiko Shoes and Virat  Kohli’s lifestyle brand One8 under its belt. It has also secured an exclusive 40-year licence for Lotto Sport Italia. Mochiko Shoes has been making sportswear for global brands, including Adidas, Puma, New Balance and ASICS. 

Without disclosing the name, Ganguly mentioned that the startup is adding another US-based major sportswear brand to its portfolio. 

The CEO is trying to fix what India has struggled to do for a long time. According to him, Indian consumer brands have historically lacked the combination of differentiated products, supply-chain control and multi-channel distribution required to compete globally. 

For Ganguly, the broader ambition is to build an Indian sportswear company that can compete globally. 

Agilitas’s Virat Kohli Connection

As part of One8’s amalgamation deal, the cricketer invested around ₹40 Cr in the startup and entered into an exclusive partnership with Agilitas as both investor and cofounder.

As per him, Kohli has been involved in developing and testing products, including a cricket shoe for which the company rejected 17 prototypes. The former Puma executive pointed to a decade-long relationship with Kohli, including their earlier association with Puma, as a key factor behind the partnership.

One8 was originally launched by Kohli in collaboration with Puma before becoming an independent brand. Agilitas subsequently acquired the brand, with Kohli investing in the group following the transaction.

The arrangement is notable as Indian consumer startups increasingly turn to celebrities not merely as endorsers but as investors, founders and strategic partners. Agilitas, however, is betting that Kohli’s role can extend beyond marketing and help build a globally relevant sportswear brand.

The underlying ambition is to create an Indian sportswear brand from India for the world. As of now, Agilitas remains confident in its vision. But the real test will come when One8 has to win consumers beyond the pull of Kohli’s name.

Edited by Shishir Parasher

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