Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 12: Atul Hegde Mijar (53), a brilliant talent of the digital era, entrepreneur, and high achiever in the creative domain, passed away following a sudden heart attack at his residence in Mumbai on Tuesday, July 7.
Hailing originally from Kerdila in Mijar's Thodar in Dakshina Kannada, Atul Hegde moved to Mumbai, which became his primary sphere of work. Over the decades, he went on to carve a unique identity for himself in the global digital landscape. He was not just a successful entrepreneur but a visionary thinker who served as a guiding light for the younger generation of dreamers.
Cultural roots and family background
Atul came from a cultured family background. His father, Thodar Jeevandhar Hegde, served the nation for decades as an aeronautical engineer with Indian Airlines in Mumbai. His mother is Shakuntala Hegde. Atul was married to Shonima from Mumbai. Although the couple did not have children, Atul loved the employees of his company and his creative teams like a family. His personality was deeply rooted in the Jain principles of non-violence, truth, and hard work.
Srinagar Digambara Jain Math Moodbidri seer Swasthishree Charukeerthi Bhattarakha Pattacharya Pandithacharyavarya Mahaswami expressed deep condolences on his demise, praying to Lord Jinendra to grant peace to the departed soul and strength to his parents and wife to bear the immense loss.
Professional journey: A digital revolution
Atul Hegde began his professional career in the mid-1990s as a client services director at Havas, rapidly climbing the corporate ladder due to his sharpness. In 2003, he joined Vyas Giannetti Creative as its chief executive officer. In 2008, he took charge as the CEO of Ignite Digital Services, leading the early-stage digital marketing revolution in India. In 2015, he co-founded Rainmaker Ventures along with Sudhir Menon, introducing a new dimension to technology-driven investments.
Creating history with Yaap
Founded in 2016, 'Yaap' was the ultimate realization of Atul Hegde's far-reaching vision. His innovative concept of bringing design, content, and media distribution under a single roof turned into a massive success. Boasting corporate giants like Maruti Suzuki, ITC, Apple, Adani, Dubai Tourism, and SBI Cards as its clients, Yaap expanded its footprint across India, Singapore, and the UAE. In the financial year 2026, Yaap got listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), becoming India's first independent digital agency network to go public via an IPO. The acquisition of the Gozoop Group and strategic investments in artificial intelligence (AI) stood testimony to his forward-looking approach.
Personality and final message
Atul Hegde was not merely a corporate leader; he possessed a special passion for sneaker culture and contemporary art. He maintained a distinct personal style in the public eye that set him apart from others. Just two weeks before his demise, he had shared a poignant note on LinkedIn reflecting the depth of his professional journey: "In business, some years change numbers, but some years change your story altogether. Financial year 2026 was that kind of a turnaround year for us." His humility was evident in how he always respected Raj Nayak as his mentor.
Clarification on net worth
Reports circulating on social media regarding Atul Hegde's financial net worth being around Rs 6,000 crore are completely baseless and lack factual backing. According to market analysis and publicly available financial data, the total market capitalization of Yaap Digital stands at around Rs 400 crore. As Atul held a stake in the company, the value of his shareholding places his personal wealth in the range of a few crores based on equity value, and nowhere near the rumored Rs 6,000 crore mark.
His close associates stated that Atul Hegde was an achiever whose real worth cannot be quantified by money alone. His true wealth lay in the intellectual capital of the organization he built, his incredible vision, and the path he paved in the digital marketing industry. Though he has left the world, the foundations he built will ensure his name remains permanent in India's digital history.