Atul Hegde’s last rites to be held today at Oshiwara Crematorium in Mumbai

Mumbai: The last rites of Atul Hegde, Founder and Chairman of YAAP, will be held today, July 7, 2026, at 6:00 pm at Oshiwara Hindu Samshan Bhoomi in Oshiwara, Mumbai. Hegde passed away earlier today after suffering a heart attack. The funeral procession will begin at 5:00 PM from his home located in Andheri West, followed by the last rites at Oshiwara Hindu Samshan Bhoomi (South Gate) at 6:00 PM. Family and friends are requested to join in paying their final respects. Over a career spanning nearly three decades, he played a significant role in shaping India's digital advertising ecosystem and was widely regarded as an early believer in technology-led marketing. He founded YAAP in 2016 with the vision of building a marketing company that combined creativity, technology, data and content. Under his leadership, the company expanded across digital marketing, influencer marketing, content solutions, AI-powered marketing and technology platforms, establishing a presence in multiple international markets. Before launching YAAP, Hegde held leadership roles across the media and digital ecosystem. He was among the founding members of the digital media company Networkplay, which later became part of Bertelsmann India Investments. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of Ignitee Digital Solutions and was associated with several ventures that helped accelerate the growth of digital advertising in India during its formative years. Beyond entrepreneurship, Hegde was known as a mentor to founders and young professionals. Following news of his demise, tributes poured in from across the advertising, media, marketing and startup communities. Industry leaders remembered Hegde not only for his entrepreneurial vision but also for his generosity with time, ideas and mentorship.