Aman Gupta, the high-profile co-founder of lifestyle electronics brand boAt and a prominent judge on the reality show Shark Tank India, has finally revealed the strategic motivations behind his decision to step down as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of boAt, a role he held for over a decade.
Speaking in a detailed sit-down on the Humans of Bombay podcast, the Shark Tank India judge explained that his exit from the executive frontlines was a calculated move to professionalise the lifestyle electronics brand ahead of its upcoming IPO.
Gupta emphasised that for a company to scale at a global level, it must transition from being founder-led to being run by a professional management team.
The transition, which occurred a few months ago, saw Aman Gupta hand over the operational reins to CEO Gaurav Nayyar.
Gupta used a driving analogy to explain the shift, noting that while a founder must drive the car himself when there is no money, the arrival of success requires hiring a professional driver so the founder can move to the back seat and focus on the destination.
He admitted that being a strong founder often created a bottleneck where employees would bypass systems to get direct approvals from him, a habit he had to break to let the new leadership thrive.
Despite giving up his CMO title, Gupta clarified that he and co-founder Sameer Mehta still retain more than 40% of the company’s equity. He remains a prominent director on the board and continues to serve as a promoter, focusing on long-term vision rather than daily marketing campaigns.
This move is intended to build investor confidence as the company prepares for its public debut, signalling that the brand’s success is no longer tied solely to the daily involvement of its founders.
Gupta also used the platform to address “noise” regarding the company’s internal health, specifically responding to reports about a 34% attrition rate.
He defended the company culture by comparing boAt’s numbers to those of other Indian unicorns, pointing out that several high-growth startups in the fintech and ed-tech sectors have significantly higher turnover.
He argued that the modern content creator economy and the rise of Gen Z workers have changed the definition of loyalty, with many young professionals seeking “experiences” and growth rather than 20-year tenures.
The boAt co-founder, who became a household name following his debut on Shark Tank India, also discussed his evolving identity as a creator. He noted that while he is a “risk-taker” in business, he remains highly cautious regarding corporate governance.
He stated that, as an inspiration for aspiring Indian entrepreneurs, he feels a deep responsibility to follow “the books” and ensure the brand remains compliant with all legal and tax regulations.
Aman Gupta’s journey from a Chartered Accountant (CA) to a marketing icon has been defined by his culturally plugged-in approach to building a brand.
After early career stops at Citibank and KPMG, and a pivotal role at the global audio giant JBL, Gupta launched boAt in 2016. The company has since grown into a market leader in the wearable space, with a significant focus on domestic manufacturing.
Gupta concluded that his new role allows him to mentor the next generation of founders while ensuring boAt remains a sustainable, professionally-run pillar of the Indian startup ecosystem.
