London – Thursday, June 12, 2025 – Sports marketing pioneer and entrepreneur Ravi Krishnan has announced the launch of Abler Sports & Entertainment (ASE). The company, pronounced ‘ACE’, aims to support ambitious rightsholders, brands, and celebrities who are not fully served by current industry players.
Krishnan, former Managing Director of IMG India/South Asia and former Vice Chairman of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, spoke about the focus of his latest venture, stating “We are launching ASE to capitalize on several ‘rising tides’ including the recognition of IP in creating enterprise value, the growing relevance of India and emerging markets for rightsholders, brands and celebrities with global ambitions, the significance of women’s sport and the rise of sportainment, and the ‘festivalisation’ of sport through its convergence with other forms of popular culture including music, fashion, and food.”
ASE is backed by a distinguished investor group and advisory board with over 300 years of combined experience across media, tech, sports, and private equity. Some notable names include Mike Dolan, Former Chairman of IMG and former CEO of Bacardi, and Jim Glover, former Deputy Chairman of CSM and CEO of EMEA at ARENA Group. Other key members include Prapti Anand, former APAC Leader at Fondation Chanel, and Ashutosh Srivastava, former CEO APAC at GroupM.
Peter Hutton, media veteran and former CEO of Eurosport and Fox Sports Asia, who previously worked with Krishnan at IMG, also endorsed the company, stating “I’m very happy to see the scale of their ambition and their original take on doing business in an evolving ecosystem. I believe ASE is building something very unique in helping bring the world to India and taking India to the world.”
ASE’s Engage Division is powered by Krishnan’s Stepathlon, a fan engagement and data platform that leverages the natural synergies between wellness and sports. Trusted by global brands like Manchester City, Gujarat Titans, and the upcoming 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, it has redefined fan engagement by focusing on awareness to action, data-backed engagement, and converting ‘profitless volume’ into meaningful, measurable, actively engaged communities.
Krishnan’s three-decade-long journey has seen him build enduring IPs and businesses that have left a lasting impact. He says, “There is no truly global organization that can create, compete, and collaborate across both developed and emerging markets, be a bridge between the analog and digital, and deliver value to all stakeholders in an industry that is undergoing seismic shifts in consumption, commerce, and creativity, increasingly impacted by data and AI.”
With the UK, India, US, and Australia as key global nodes, ASE works across six verticals – ASE Engage powered by Stepathlon (Fan Engagement and Data Platform), ASE Alive (Events & Experiential), ASE Advisory (Market Entry, Brand, Revenue, and Raise) , ASE Partnerships (for Brands, Rights Holders, Celebrities), ASE Media (Non-Live Content & Platform-Native Storytelling), and ASE Consumer (Licensing & Merchandising).
Even before its official launch, ASE has closed five deals with international partners across three divisions and has a strong and growing blue-chip pipeline of clients.
One of ASE’s first clients is Destination Sport Group (DSG), a world leader in sports travel working with 100+ sports organizations, including elite teams, federations, governing bodies, and major events, is establishing its India business. James Robinson, Global Business Development Director at DSG, explains why they chose Krishnan and his team, stating “Partnering with ASE has been the right decision. As a truly global organization with an extensive and impressive network of contacts, ASE brings a unique depth and breadth of expertise to the table. Their professionalism, diligence, and attention to detail have been exceptional, and they have proven to be a trusted and invaluable ally.”
Investor Josh Liberman, Co-founder and Chairman of CVS Lane Capital Partners and Founding Partner at Lumir Ventures, also expressed his support for ASE, stating “ASE’s emphasis on data-driven strategies and IP development is both distinctive and forward-looking. Ravi stands out as a compassionate and visionary leader who I have had the privilege of knowing personally and professionally. ASE’s understanding of India and the wider region is a key differentiator, which marries well with their global ambition and capabilities.”
Veeru Murugappan, from one of South India’s most respected families, the Murugappa Family (Murugappa Group), and Founder of Coromandel Productions, also voiced his support for the new venture, stating “I have known Ravi for close to two decades now and have been an admirer of his work. He understands storytelling and crafting narratives as well as anyone in this industry.”
About ASE:
Abler Sports & Entertainment (ASE) is an IP and data
