Fantasy sports have become a big craze among young sports fans in India. Instead of just watching their favorite teams play, fans now enjoy picking real players and creating their own virtual teams. Apps like Dream11 have made this experience fun and rewarding.
Founded in 2008, Dream11 changed how sports lovers connect with games. Behind this successful company are two passionate founders – Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth. With a love for sports and a strong business mindset, they started a journey that made Dream11 India’s first fantasy gaming unicorn.
In this article, we’ll explore the inspiring story of Dream11’s founders, how the company grew, its business model, and why it became a top fantasy sports platform. If you’re curious about Dream11’s success and its leaders, keep reading.
Who are the Founders of Dream11?
Dream11 was started by two childhood friends — Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth. Both of them grew up as big sports fans.
They always enjoyed watching and talking about sports, especially cricket. But they didn’t just stop there — they turned their passion into a successful business.
Education and Early Career
Harsh Jain studied engineering at the University of Pennsylvania in the USA. Later, he completed his MBA from Columbia Business School. Before Dream11, he also started a digital agency called Red Digital, which was later bought by another company.
Bhavit Sheth is also well-educated. He studied engineering and did an MBA from Bentley University in Boston. He even did a course in e-commerce from Harvard University. Before Dream11, he worked in a few companies as an intern and later joined Harsh to start their big dream.
Shared Interest in Sports and Technology
Both Harsh and Bhavit loved sports and were also good with technology and business. This mix helped them create Dream11 — an app where people could use their sports knowledge to win rewards. Their shared goal was to change how fans enjoy sports in India.
The Dream11 Startup Story
In 2008, fantasy sports were still very new in India. Harsh, who had seen such games in the US, wanted to bring the same experience to India. He believed Indian sports fans would love it. He teamed up with Bhavit, and together, they started Dream11.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) played a big role in Dream11’s growth. The fast and exciting matches gave users a great chance to try fantasy gaming. People could pick real players from IPL teams, create their own team, and win based on their team’s performance.
In the beginning, it was not easy. Most people didn’t understand fantasy gaming. Some even thought it was gambling. Harsh and Bhavit had to work hard to explain how it worked and why it was legal. Many investors didn’t believe in the idea at first, but the founders kept going.
Dream11 Company Growth
When Dream11 started in 2008, it was very basic. But in 2012, they introduced a freemium model. That means people could play for free or pay to enter contests with real prizes. This model made the app more popular and brought in more users.
In 2019, Dream11 became the first Indian gaming company to join the unicorn club. A unicorn is a startup valued at over $1 billion. This was a big moment for Harsh, Bhavit, and the Indian fantasy gaming industry.
Dream11 has raised around $1.6 billion from investors in 8 funding rounds. Even big global companies like Tencent (from China) have invested in it. These funds helped Dream11 grow, improve its app, and reach more users.
Business and Revenue Model of Dream11
Dream11 earns money in different ways. The main income comes from entry fees that users pay to join contests. They also earn from ads, sponsorships, and other services.
Users can join both free and paid contests. If a user joins a paid contest, they pay a small amount. Dream11 keeps a part of this fee as their profit and gives the rest to the winners.
Dream11 also earns money through ads shown in the app and partnerships with sports leagues. For example, they have partnered with IPL teams and other sports events, which helps promote their brand and bring in more money.
Dream11’s Vision and Mission
Dream11’s mission is simple — they want to become the biggest and most loved fantasy sports platform in the world. They want users to enjoy the game and feel a part of it.
Their vision is to make fantasy sports a daily habit for fans. Just like watching a match or checking scores, they want fantasy gaming to be something fans look forward to.
Dream11 Founders’ Journey and Achievements
Harsh comes from a strong business family. His father, Anand Jain, is a successful businessman and a close associate of the Reliance Group. This background gave Harsh good knowledge about how business works. But Harsh built Dream11 on his own skills and ideas.
Bhavit focused on making the app smooth, easy, and fun to use. His goal was to keep users happy and engaged. As the COO (Chief Operating Officer), he makes sure everything works well in the company.
Their Role in the Indian Gaming Industry
Together, Harsh and Bhavit helped grow the fantasy gaming industry in India. They also support other startups through their parent company, Dream Sports, which owns Dream11 and other sports tech brands.
Competitors and Market Position
There are many fantasy sports platforms in India, like MPL, FanMojo, Ballebaaz, and HalaPlay. All of them offer similar features, but Dream11 is the biggest.
What Makes Dream11 Different
Dream11 became popular because it was easy to use, trustworthy, and offered a great experience. They were also the first to start, which gave them an early advantage.
Why Users Trust and Prefer Dream11
Users trust Dream11 because of its clear rules, quick payments, and good customer support. Also, Dream11 is legal in India, which makes people feel safe while using it.
Dream11 Stats in A Nutshell
Dream11 has a large team with 500 to 1,000 employees, as per LinkedIn. The team includes engineers, designers, marketers, and more — all working to make the app better every day.
Today, Dream11 has more than 15 crore (150 million) users. That means millions of people in India use the app to play fantasy sports.
Dream11 is legal and safe. Many courts in India have confirmed that fantasy sports are games of skill, not gambling. So it’s completely legal to play and win money on Dream11.
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Conclusion: Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth Are the Founders of Dream 11
Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth showed that passion and vision can build something amazing. With Dream11, they gave Indian sports fans a fun and interactive way to enjoy their favorite games.
From small beginnings in 2008 to becoming a unicorn in 2019, Dream11’s journey has inspired many startups. The app is now used by millions and continues to grow every year.
Whether you’re a cricket lover or a business enthusiast, Dream11’s story shows how big ideas and strong teamwork can change an industry. And this is just the beginning.
FAQs
Dream11 was started in 2008 by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth, two friends who loved sports and tech.
Dream11 earns mainly through contest entry fees. They also make money from ads and brand deals.
Dream11 is legal and safe. Many people across India play on it daily.
Dream11 has over 15 crore (150 million) users across India.
Dream11 became popular because it was fun, easy to use, and gave users a chance to win rewards using their sports knowledge.
