Ajinkya Rahane joins Chupps as investor and advisor

Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has been announced as a strategic advisor and equity investor in Indian footwear brand Chupps.

Rahane came on board as part of Chupps’ pre-Series B funding round. Going forward, the former Team India Test vice captain and current Kolkata Knight Riders captain will support the brand by shaping future product innovations, including enhancements to the brand’s ERGO-Charge technology alongside new products.

As an athlete, Rahane will also provide insights on performance and recovery to help the brand’s vision of comfort-led design.

On joining Chupps, Ajinkya Rahane commented:

“What drew me to Chupps wasn’t the pitch. It was the product. You can tell when something is built with intention and when it isn’t. This one is.”

Yashesh Mukhi, Co-founder, Chupps Footwear, added:

“We’re at a point where the brand has moved beyond early validation and is now scaling with clear intent. This phase is about building depth, across product, distribution, and brand. Ajinkya’s involvement comes at the right time for us, as we start building for a more evolved consumer need. It’s a partnership that strengthens how we build, not just how we grow.”