Think9 acquires Whoppl, launches creator-focused unit Nova9

Think9 has acquired digital marketing company Whoppl and announced the launch of a new unit, Nova9.

The acquisition brings together Whoppl’s work in creator-led and digital marketing with Think9’s brand strategy capabilities. Nova9 will operate as a specialised unit focused on content, creators and digital platforms.

The move reflects a broader shift in marketing towards platform-native content and real-time engagement, where brands increasingly work with creators and communities across social platforms.

Think9, founded by Ashni Biyani and Avni Biyani along with Santosh Desai, has been building a portfolio of consumer ventures and marketing services.

Santosh Desai, co-founder, Think9 Consumer Technologies and CEO, Futurebrands India, said: “The launch of Nova9 marks a significant shift in how brands will approach digital marketing, moving beyond campaign-based communication toward culture-led narrative ecosystems that are native to platforms and communities.“

“Nova9 will expand its capabilities by hiring across multiple disciplines, including cultural strategists, creative storytellers, meme and community specialists, platform-native content strategists, and AI data analysts focused on real-time cultural signals. The goal is to build a multidisciplinary team capable of decoding culture and translating it into high-impact brand narratives.” he added.

Ramya Ramachandran, founder & CEO, Whoppl, said: “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a fundamental shift in how brands earn attention—moving from broadcasting messages to building stories that people want to engage with and co-create. At Whoppl, we built a creator-powered ecosystem designed for this new reality. Partnering with Think9 allows us to scale that vision exponentially. With Nova9, we are building a culture-first storytelling engine that enables brands to move at the speed of the internet—creating narratives that are not just seen, but shared, remixed, and lived.”

Whoppl, founded in 2019, works across content creation, influencer marketing and social commerce, and provides access to a network of creators.