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Experiences In College Motivated Me To Co-Found Khiladi Adda – Co-founder Satyam Rastogi

Khiladi Adda is an Indian gaming app that was launched in 2019 and has a user base of 60 Lakh players. The app offers both free and paid game opportunities and has some unique aspects to it, including 100% refunds on GST and TDS deductions on winning amounts.

The company is now aiming for expansion and is committed to exploring some interesting gaming markets. We had an exclusive tete-a-tete with the Founder and CEO, Satyam Rastogi. Here is a transcript of that conversation.

1. What interested you in getting into the Indian e-gaming industry?

My interest in entering the Indian e-gaming industry was driven by my passion for gaming and the gaps I observed in the existing platforms. As a gamer, I participated in several inter-college esports tournaments and online gaming events but encountered issues with the lack of a trustworthy, secure, and dedicated platform. This inspired me to co-found Khiladi Adda in 2019 with a vision to create an engaging ecosystem where gamers could compete and earn based on their skills.

Khiladi Adda is your ultimate gaming hub, offering everything from casual games to cards and fantasy sports—all in one app. We’re proud to feature live Valorant Leagues, a unique offering that sets us apart from competitors. With 24/7 chat support and lifetime referral deposits, players experience seamless gameplay and continuous engagement. There is no need to juggle multiple apps—enjoy all your favourite games in one place.

Seeing the growth of our community and the increasing number of users has been immensely rewarding. Our vision is to scale Khiladi Adda further, promoting gaming talent and expanding globally. The support of my co-founders and the dedication of our 150+-strong team have been pivotal in getting us this far, and I am excited about what lies ahead in shaping India’s esports and real-money gaming landscape.

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2. Can you tell us something about your background?

I hail from Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, and currently reside in Noida. My journey into the gaming world began as a student at Delhi University, where I developed a deep passion for gaming. I participated in several inter-college esports tournaments and online events, but I often found the existing platforms unreliable and insecure. This experience motivated me to co-found Khiladi Adda in 2019.

As the CEO, I saw the need for a dedicated platform that could provide gamers with a safe space to compete and earn based on their skills. Our platform focuses on skill-based tournaments, both free and paid, offering users the opportunity to win prizes while promoting a competitive yet inclusive gaming ecosystem. With a team of 150+ members, I am proud of the progress we’ve made, and I’m focused on scaling Khiladi Adda further, expanding our reach globally, and fostering a thriving esports community.

3. When did you start Khiladi Adda? How was that journey?

Khiladi Adda was founded in 2019, during my second year of college at Delhi University. As a passionate gamer, I noticed a significant gap in the gaming industry: there was no dedicated, secure platform for esports tournaments as well as casual games. My own experiences in inter-college competitions and online events highlighted the risks of unreliable platforms. This motivated me to co-found Khiladi Adda, along with my talented team, to create a platform where gamers could compete, showcase their skills, and earn through both free and paid tournaments.

4. What is your company’s unique selling point (USP) that differentiates it from other gaming platforms in the Indian market?

Khiladi Adda is revolutionizing the Indian gaming market with its unique all-in-one platform that caters to every type of gamer. The main USP of Khiladi Adda that differentiates us from other gaming platforms in the real-money Gaming Industry is our policy of lifetime 100% GST-TDS refund to our users. Unlike other platforms, we proudly host Valorant Leagues live, providing players with an immersive and exclusive esports experience that sets us apart. Whether you’re into casual games, fantasy sports, or competitive esports, we offer it all in a single app “Khiladi Adda” eliminating the need to download multiple apps.

Our Fantasy Cricket stands out with the innovative FanBattle Fantasy feature. This feature allows players to easily choose from expert-curated player combinations, streamlining the typically complex team-building process. This system also allows players to multiply their winnings up to 30 times, adding a thrilling element of strategy and rewards.

In addition to cricket, players can also create combos for Kabaddi and Football, benefiting from expert advice, high payouts, and year-round tournaments. With 24/7 customer support and a lifetime referral deposit system, Khiladi Adda ensures a seamless, rewarding experience for all players. With our diverse offerings and user-centric features, we are truly redefining the gaming landscape in India.

5. Which esports titles or genres are currently featured on your platform, and what influenced the decision to include them?

Khiladi Adda currently features a wide range of esports titles and genres to cater to diverse gaming preferences. Our platform includes casual games like Ludo, Quiz, WordSearch, and Droido, as well as popular card games such as Rummy Adda and Court Piece. In the esports category, we offer games like FreeFire Max, Valorant leagues, and Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), with plans to introduce Valorant soon. Additionally, we feature Cricket Fantasy games like FanBattle and ClashX.

The decision to include these games was driven by our goal to offer something for every type of gamer. We wanted to ensure that our platform appeals to both casual players and more competitive esports enthusiasts. Games like FreeFire Max and BGMI were chosen due to their immense popularity and active player base in India. Our focus on variety ensures that we can provide engaging and rewarding experiences for gamers across different skill levels and interests, fostering a thriving gaming community.

6. What strategies or steps is your company implementing to establish a strong foothold in the highly competitive Indian gaming market?

Khiladi Adda is implementing several strategic steps to establish a strong foothold in the highly competitive Indian gaming market. First, we focus on providing a unique value proposition through features like the 100% GST refund on deposits, 100% TDS refund on winnings, and the lowest platform fees (9-15%) in the market. These benefits ensure financial transparency, enhance user trust, and differentiate us from competitors.

We are also expanding our game offerings to cater to a wide variety of interests, from casual games like Ludo and Quiz to popular esports titles like FreeFire Max, Valorant, and BGMI. By offering both free and paid tournaments, we provide opportunities for gamers of all levels, making the platform accessible to a broader audience.

At Khiladi Adda, we prioritize user experience with features like instant withdrawals, 24/7 live support, lifetime referral earnings, and an AI-powered chatbot for efficient assistance. With over 60 lakh registered users across India, we’re building a strong, connected community where gamers feel valued. Unlike competitors, we assure users there are no bots on our platform, ensuring a genuine and personalized experience.

Looking ahead, we plan to expand into LAN tournaments and explore global markets to strengthen our position further. These steps are key to making Khiladi Adda a dominant force in India’s esports and real-money gaming space.

7. How does your platform enhance player experience and encourage long-term engagement in real-time gaming?

Khiladi Adda enhances player experience and encourages long-term engagement by offering a player-centric platform with features designed for convenience and rewards. One key element is the variety of tournament options—free and paid—catering to gamers of all skill levels. Free tournaments, supported by brand sponsorships, allow players to compete without any financial risk, while paid tournaments offer lucrative rewards with a transparent, low platform fee (9-15%).

Our platform also offers 100% GST refunds on deposits and 100% TDS refunds on winnings, ensuring financial fairness and building trust with users. Instant withdrawals and lifetime referral earnings further enhance a seamless and rewarding gaming experience.

Additionally, Khiladi Adda offers a broad portfolio of games, from casual games like Ludo to popular esports titles like BGMI, Valorant, and FreeFire Max, keeping the gaming experience fresh and exciting.

To foster community engagement, we offer 24/7 live chat support, creating a sense of belonging for our 60 lakh+ registered users. To keep players engaged, Khiladi Adda hosts exciting rummy contests, giveaways, and monthly leaderboard challenges with prizes worth Rs 30-60 lakhs. Top winners can win prizes like Mahindra Thar, Royal Enfield, and Kawasaki Ninja, ensuring long-term player retention and active participation.

8. What innovative technologies or features has your platform introduced to improve real-time gaming experiences?

Khiladi Adda has a variety of new technologies and features for its users that significantly improve the real-time gaming experience. One such special merit of the site is its rich and player-friendly tournament structure that comprises both free and paid competitions. It also facilitates instant withdrawal of winnings for real-time engagement, thereby allowing the player to enjoy his winnings seamlessly. It is further supported for twenty-four hours, all days a week, with live chat support to amplify user interaction and resolve inquiries satisfactorily. Competition under Khiladi Adda offers the lowest platform fees in the market today.

This platform goes a step further by incorporating aspects such as lifetime referral earnings and over INR 10 lakhs in monthly rank prizes to further intensify the competition and make players stay involved. It promises competitive and sustained money receipts through the introduction of 100% GST and TDS refunds on deposits and winnings, along with a completely transparent and assured atmosphere that gives Khiladi Adda an edge over its opposite contenders. These platforms turn out to be fully secure, rewarding, and seamless across India for gamers. Its plans for expanding into LAN tournaments show a promising promise to take this innovative approach further.

9. Do you have plans to expand into other gaming markets or introduce new esports titles in the future?

Yes, Khiladi Adda has ambitious plans to expand both within and outside the Indian gaming market. We are continually focused on broadening our esports offerings to cater to a wider audience and enhance player experience. This will further diversify our platform and attract gamers with different preferences and skill levels.

We plan to expand our game portfolio and reach global markets. As the esports industry continues to grow worldwide, we see a significant opportunity to introduce Khiladi Adda’s unique value proposition to international players. Our commitment to affordability, transparency, and rewarding players’ skills will be central to our expansion efforts.

Moreover, we are also exploring the possibility of organizing LAN (Local Area Network) tournaments, which would add a new dimension to the player experience by offering offline competitive events. These steps are crucial for positioning Khiladi Adda as a global leader in esports and real-money gaming and fostering a thriving community across borders.

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10. How do you envision the future of real-time gaming and esports in India, and what role do you see your company playing in shaping that future?

The future of real-time gaming and esports in India is auspicious, with the industry expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. As mobile internet penetration continues to rise and gaming becomes more accessible, we expect more players to shift their focus from casual games to competitive ones. With India’s large, tech-savvy youth population and growing interest in competitive gaming, the country is poised to become a global hub for esports.

At Khiladi Adda, we aim to play a pivotal role in shaping this future by providing a secure, inclusive, and player-friendly platform for gamers of all levels. Our focus on free and paid skill-based tournaments ensures that players are rewarded based on their abilities, fostering a competitive environment. Additionally, with over 60 lakh registered users and plans to introduce more esports titles, we are working towards expanding our community and reaching new audiences.

We plan to further enhance its already developed platform by adding innovative features in new marketplaces. We will organize both online and offline tournaments as the industry grows. Khiladi Adda has committed to becoming a partner in the evolution of the Indian esports and real-money gaming platform.

It is always interesting to speak with new business stakeholders, and the CEO definitely has some exciting plans for the app’s future. We wish him all the best.

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