BLADE
About BLADE:
BLADE is an urban air mobility platform committed to reducing travel friction with a personalised flying experience and enabling time-efficient air transportation alternatives to some of the most congested and inaccessible ground routes in India.
With BLADE, you can book by the seat on scheduled flights in Maharashtra, between Mumbai-Pune-Shirdi- Hilton Shillim and Aamby Valley or charter anywhere across the country and abroad. Whether you’re travelling by helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft, BLADE mitigates travel pain points that have increasingly become a significant part of our daily lives.
From the moment you book, you’ll experience a level of precision, culture of sophistication and on-ground hospitality that is unmatched.
Amit Dutta, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Blade India
Started his journey as an entrepreneur in 2009 with ventures in lifestyle services, consulting and specialty tea. Made the transition to venture capital in mid-2018 by joining Hunch Ventures, a family fund.
Hunch Ventures portfolio include BLADE India, Mercantile Port & Logistics, The Circle, MyHealthcare, Comprehensive Healthcare Systems, USA, Cloud Raxak, USA, GoodTimes, Quintessentially Lifestyle, The Quorum, VMobo, Jamie’s & Wendy’s, Teamonk, SpotDraft, Roots Ventures.
Co-Founded BLADE India a JV between Hunch Ventures and BLADE US, pioneering the launch of by–the–seat short haul urban air mobility services in a market with the most congested cities globally. Currently incubating the business as MD. The vision is to combine an unmatched customer experience, technology platform and iconic brand towards leadership in short-distance aviation. BLADE India is chairing the recent setup task force for Urban Air Mobility by Confederation of Indian Industry (the leading Chamber of Commerce in India). The task force comprises senior representation from key stakeholders in the UAM ecosystem including Airbus, Bell, Mitsubishi Corporation. Amit was closely involved in setting up The Circle - a high performance shared office space with optimum & productive working environment, spread over 200,000 Sq. ft. at Gurgaon’s most vantage business location. Led the partnership with CII for establishing an “Accelerator for Startups” at The Circle.
Amit is a Board Member in Mercantile Ports and Logistics (MPL), UK, a listed company on London Stock Exchange. The company was established to develop, own and operate port and logistics facilities in India. He is actively involved in formulating a strategic vision for the business and leading business development with key corporates.
Amit serves on the Board of CHS, USA and is engaged in establishing the company as a key player offering a technology platform for healthcare services in US/ Canada.
Co-founded Teamonk Global along with a few Ex-Unilever colleagues in April 2016. Teamonk, a D2C brand offers 100% pure and natural speciality teas to consumers across international markets. The vision is building a global wellness brand through an existing habit of tea consumption.
Amit founded Luxury Hues Consulting and Quintessentially Lifestyle Services India in 2009. Quintessentially India is the exclusive franchise holder of Quintessentially UK, a private members club offering global concierge services with network in over 70 cities worldwide. The Quintessentially brand in India is today perceived as the “Gold Standard” in the lifestyle services industry. During his Luxury Hues tenure, Amit has consulted with prestigious clients, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Airtel, Reliance Jio, Wyndham Group, etc. Amit had earlier consulted with American Express Global Services Network, Asia Pacific Region as a Strategic Advisor for their network of 44 partner banks across Asia Pacific region.
Prior to his entrepreneurship journey, over 21 years’ experience in a corporate career with Unilever, Reliance Infocom, GM and American Express. Successful track record of having conceptualized and implemented product innovations and transforming brands into leading and profitable market players.
Prior to founding “Luxury Hues”, Amit was VP-Marketing for American Express (2006-2009). In this role, he was responsible for launching the Platinum Card portfolio and strategically positioning the business in the premium space.
As VP-Marketing, Sales and After Sales at General Motors, India (2003-2006), he was responsible for successfully launching brand Chevrolet in India. At the end of his India tenure, he was deputed to GM Japan as Business Head.
As Head-Marketing for Reliance Infocom (2002-2003) he was reporting to the Management Committee headed by Mr. Mukesh Ambani and was a core team member in launching mobile services in India.
While at Unilever (1991-2002), he has served as the Head of Marketing for the Tea and the Coffee business. He is an active participant in Industry Forums: • Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry (the leading Chamber of Commerce in India) National Task Force on Short Haul Air Mobility • Co-Chair- CII Task Force on Lifestyle Services • Member of Steering Committee of CII Future Business Group
Amit has an MBA from IIM-Lucknow and graduated in Civil Engineering (Hons.) from Jadavpur University. He enjoys teaching and is a guest faculty at some of the eminent Management Institutes in India. He is based out of Gurgaon and married with two children. His wife Kakali is an author.
