Think9 acquires Whoppl, launches Nova9

Think9, founded by Ashni and Avni Biyani, daughters of renowned entrepreneur Kishore Biyani along with Brand Evangelist Santosh Desai, has acquired Whoppl, a creator and digital-first marketing company. The acquisition marks the launch of Nova9, a specialized unit designed to power high-velocity, culture-driven storytelling systems for the attention economy, stated a press release.

“With this acquisition, Think9 brings together Whoppl’s creator-first DNA with its own strategic and brand-building capabilities to create Nova9—a next-generation cultural intelligence and storytelling engine. The acquisition further strengthens Think9’s growing ecosystem of consumer-first ventures and marketing solutions, positioning the group at the forefront of India’s rapidly evolving, fragmented, and culture-driven digital landscape. Think9 owns brands like Superyou, Foodstories, Broadway, Goodbug, just to name a few,” stated the release.

Nova9 will combine creative direction, strategic planning, meme fluency, cinematic storytelling, platform-native expertise, and real-time data analytics to help brands operate as modern media companies. It will focus on building narrative systems that respond dynamically to culture, communities, and conversations, enabling brands to participate meaningfully in the digital zeitgeist.

Santosh Desai, Co-Founder, Think9 Consumer Technologies and CEO, Futurebrands India, commented:“ “The launch of Nova9 marks a significant shift in how brands will approach digital marketing, moving beyond campaign-based communication toward culture-led narrative ecosystems that are native to platforms and communities.“

“Nova9 will expand its capabilities by hiring across multiple disciplines, including cultural strategists, creative storytellers, meme and community specialists, platform-native content strategists, and AI data analysts focused on real-time cultural signals. The goal is to build a multidisciplinary team capable of decoding culture and translating it into high-impact brand narratives.”Mr. Desai added.

Ramya Ramachandran, Founder & CEO, Whoppl, said: “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a fundamental shift in how brands earn attention—moving from broadcasting messages to building stories that people want to engage with and co-create. At Whoppl, we built a creator-powered ecosystem designed for this new reality. Partnering with Think9 allows us to scale that vision exponentially. With Nova9, we are building a culture-first storytelling engine that enables brands to move at the speed of the internet—creating narratives that are not just seen, but shared, remixed, and lived.”

Nova9 will also work closely with The Foundery, Think9’s entrepreneurial platform, which brings together a network of founders, operators, and investors to build and scale new-age consumer brands. The platform draws on the broader experience and perspectives of leading entrepreneurs, creating a unique bridge between traditional brand-building and emerging internet-led business models. Ramya will play a central leadership role in shaping Nova9’s vision and growth.