The Playbook Behind Agilitas’ Global Sportswear Ambition

Three-year-old Agilitas, a sportswear startup, aims to expand globally by creating a manufacturing, brand, and distribution ecosystem. CEO Abhishek Ganguly spoke at the Inc42’s The D2C & Retail Summit 2026 about the startup’s strategy, which focuses on creating leverage that competitors would find hard to copy. Ganguly, who previously led Puma India for a decade, stated that he ventured into setting up an Indian company in a category where India currently has no significant presence.

Agilitas is working on building scale by amalgamating manufacturing capabilities, consumer brand portfolios, and expanding retail footprints. The company has a stake in Mochiko Shoes and Virat Kohli’s lifestyle brand One8, and has secured an exclusive 40-year license for Lotto Sport Italia. Mochiko Shoes has experience in manufacturing sportswear for global brands such as Adidas, Puma, New Balance, and ASICS.

Ganguly hinted that the startup is also set to add another US-based major sportswear brand to its portfolio without disclosing its name.

Ganguly emphasized that Indian consumer brands have historically struggled to compete globally due to a lack of differentiated products, supply-chain control, and multi-channel distribution. One8’s affiliation with cricketer Virat Kohli is an integral part of Agilitas’ strategy. Kohli invested around ₹40 Cr in the startup and entered into an exclusive partnership as both an investor and co-founder.

As part of the One8's amalgamation deal, Kohli invested and became a cofounder, playing a significant role in product development and testing, including a cricket shoe that required the rejection of 17 prototypes.

The partnership with Kohli is seen as a valuable addition to Agilitas, as Indian consumer startups increasingly engage celebrities not only as endorsers but also as investors, founders, and strategic partners. However, the true test for Agilitas will come when One8 needs to win over consumers beyond Kohli's name. Agilitas remains confident in its vision to create an Indian sportswear brand for the world.