Atul Hegde's cremation to be held in Mumbai today

The last rites will be conducted at 6:00 pm at Oshiwara Hindu Smashan Bhoomi

by e4m Staff
Published: Jul 7, 2026 2:19 PM | 2 min read

Atul Hegde's cremation to be held in Mumbai today

Atul Hegde, Founder and Chairman of YAAP Digital, passed away at around 8 am due to a heart attack, leaving a significant impact on India's advertising and digital marketing sectors.
His cremation will take place on Tuesday evening in Mumbai, with the funeral procession starting at 5:00 pm from his residence and last rites at 6:00 pm at Oshiwara Hindu Smashan Bhoomi.
Hegde was known for his two-decade career in digital marketing, where he established YAAP as a leading integrated digital marketing and technology company with a focus on content and emerging consumer behavior.
He was also involved in early-stage ventures through Rainmaker Ventures, mentoring startups and contributing to the growth of India's digital economy.

The cremation of Atul Hegde will take place in Mumbai on Tuesday evening.

According to a statement issued by his family, the funeral procession will begin at 5:00 pm from his residence at Oberoi Springs in Andheri West. The last rites will be conducted at 6:00 pm at Oshiwara Hindu Smashan Bhoomi (South Gate).

Atul Hegde, Founder and Chairman of YAAP Digital and a veteran of India’s advertising and digital marketing industry, passed away on this morning following a heart attack. He breathed his last at around 8am. He was in his early fifties.

Hegde’s sudden passing leaves a significant void in India’s advertising, marketing and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he built a reputation as a digital-first business leader, entrepreneur and investor, combining experience in advertising with a sharp focus on technology, content and emerging consumer behaviour.

He was best known for founding YAAP, which he built into an integrated digital marketing and technology company with operations across India and international markets. Under his leadership, the company expanded across content, influencer marketing, digital media, data and technology-led marketing solutions.

Hegde’s entrepreneurial journey extended beyond YAAP. He was also associated with early-stage ventures and investments, and remained closely engaged with the evolution of India’s startup and digital economy. Through Rainmaker Ventures, which he co-founded, he backed and mentored emerging businesses, reflecting his wider interest in entrepreneurship and innovation.

His career had deep roots in the advertising industry. Before building YAAP, Hegde spent years working across branding, communication and digital marketing, experience that later shaped his ambition to create an independent, technology-enabled agency network.

In recent years, Hegde had been steering YAAP through an important phase of growth. The company reported strong financial performance in FY26, with profit after tax nearly doubling year-on-year, while Hegde articulated a larger ambition of building a homegrown, full-stack and technology-powered agency network.