Manoj Badale

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Manoj Badale OBE^[1] (born 31 December 1967) is an Indian businessman and venture capitalist. He is the co-founder and managing partner of venture capital firm Blenheim Chalcot,^[2][3] owner of Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals,^[4] and the chairman of the British Asian Trust.

Badale was born in Dhule Maharashtra, and was educated at the University of Cambridge, where he studied economics.^[5]

Badale was formerly a partner at Monitor Company, and went on to co-found the with Charles Mindenhall. Amongst others, they co-founded Fluency (sold to venture capitalists in 2003), Eviivo, and Steeltrace (sold to Compuware in 2004).

In media, they co-founded the Rights Company (sold to Warner Music in 2005), Contentive (digital intelligence platform), Instrumental (social music platform) and Fospha.

In financial services, they co-founded TDX Group (sold to Equifax in 2013), Clear Start (sold to Fairpoint PLC), Grove Capital (specialist consumer debt fund sold to Encore), Corporate Pay (sold to Wright Express) and BMS Finance (small business venture funding). More recent investments include Oakbrook Finance (consumer finance), Liberis (merchant business cash advance), ClearScore (credit reporting), OpenWrks (Open Banking platform), Salary Finance (consumer lending platform for employee benefits) and Modulr Finance (flexible payments platform).  

In education, they have developed AVADO, an online learning provider, as well as Arch, a digital apprenticeships provider. They also co-founded collaborative learning app Hive Learning.

In June 2018, Badale was appointed an OBE for services to the economy and charity.^[1]

IPL Investment and Controversy[]

In 2008, he along with a consortium of investors, Lachlan Murdoch, Illyria Pty Ltd; and Suresh Chellaram, an independent C.G. investor acquired the Jaipur IPL team 'Rajasthan Royals'. Badale, along with Ranjit Barthakur, soon became the source of controversy when inappropriate and fictitious bids were made, violating BCCI norms.^[6] Ranjit Barthakur and Fraser Castellino were the only two shareholders of the , completely unknown to the BCCI at the time.^[7][8] An out of court settlement between the two later ensued.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life[]

He is married to Katie Yirrell.

References[]