Anime Devta, started with US$8.15, sells to Bolt91 founder eyeing US push
What's the deal? Anime Devta, a Sanatan-inspired merchandise brand founded by Dev Taneja, has been acquired by Anil Chhikara, founder of Bolt91, for an undisclosed sum. The deal closed on October 2, 2026. Chhikara plans to expand the brand into the United States, with Kashi (Varanasi) as its base.
The backstory: Taneja launched Anime Devta in 2022 with roughly US$8.15, selling stickers in college cafes and his mess hall. The name is a play on his own: "Devta" is short for Dev Taneja.
What's the endgame? In 2023, Taneja pivoted from Japanese anime merchandise to original figures drawn from Indian history and culture, betting that India could build globally recognised characters the way Japan did with anime. The brand grew into a mid-premium label built on limited drops, at one point leaving customers waiting 60 to 80 days for orders.
It went on to serve more than 30,000 customers, launch over 1,000 products, and ship to more than 12 countries. Headstart named it among its Top 70 Emerging Indian Startups in 2023.
Why now? Taneja has moved on to technology. He now leads Unjob, a platform where businesses book editors, designers, and AI experts on demand, which raised a pre-seed round in 2025. He aims to scale it to the size of Blinkit within three years.
The expansion: Chhikara intends to grow the brand's original characters out of Kashi and into the US market. "From Kashi, we will take these characters to the United States," he said.
Taneja had earlier turned down a US$950.6K offer from a gaming company while in college. "We knew the brand would become much bigger, and we did not want a buyer who would take over the brand or rebuild the entire concept," he said.
The signal: The deal reflects growing commercial interest in intellectual property rooted in Indian history and culture — and in founders who exit early-stage ventures to chase bigger technology bets.
Read more: topicsarena.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
