Avinash Mudaliar is the Co-Founder and CEO of HT Labs, a digital innovation hub driving product development across content, tech, and consumer experiences. Since 2020, he has led HT Labs in launching platforms like OTTplay, Slurrp, HT School, Mint Genie, and Upublish, covering sectors from OTT and FoodTech to FinTech and digital publishing. OTTplay, India’s leading OTT aggregator, evolved from a content discovery engine into a subscription platform with 32+ partners. Under Avinash’s leadership, it has won multiple awards including at WAN-IFRA, INMA, and afaqs! Digies. Slurrp, a food and drinks platform, has also received recognition for its native advertising, newsletter, and digital engagement strategies. OTTplay was recognised as one of the Top 10 Entertainment Tech Startups of 2025 by Silicon India Magazine.
Previously, Avinash was Chief Product Officer at Network18, where he redefined Moneycontrol, launched CNBCTV18.com, and spearheaded initiatives with Jio. He also played a pivotal role at Saregama, inventing the iconic Carvaan — a landmark product that redefined the company’s D2C and digital journey. Earlier, as Co-Founder and Business Head of Gaana, he helped shape India’s music streaming ecosystem. His work spans roles at Times Internet, Radio Mirchi, In.com, and partnerships with Microsoft and BPL. Avinash continues to influence India’s digital media future with bold innovation, product vision, and market insight.

For his contributions to India’s media and technology landscape, he has been widely recognized and celebrated across the country’s most prestigious platforms. He has been featured among Forbes India’s Visionary Founders Shaping the Future of India, acknowledged among India’s Top CEOs by Outlook Business Magazine, profiled in Entrepreneur India, and honoured at The Economic Times Leadership Excellence Awards 2025 — an accolade that celebrates visionary entrepreneurs who are redefining innovation and leaving an indelible mark on the professional community. Most recently, Fortune India featured him alongside the doyens of modern India under the title “Leaders — Shaping the India of Tomorrow,” further cementing his stature as one of the nation’s most influential business leaders driving the next wave of growth and transformation.