RR captain Riyan Parag (left) and the pink bus being prepared for the Rajasthan Royals team ahead of the Indian Premier League at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. A consortium led by American businessman Kal Somani has won the bid to own the Rajasthan Royals franchise. Somani has led businesses in ed-tech, data privacy, AI governance and sports technology. Somani is the founder of global giants such as IntraEdge, Truyo, Truyo.AI and Academian.Somani is backed by American businessman Rob Walton of the Walmart family and the Hamp family, which also owns a majority stake in the NFL’s Detroit Lions. Sheila Ford Hamp is also part of the Ford family, which has a significant stake in the Ford Motor Company. The consortium was found to have submitted a bid of $1.63bn (£1.2bn).“We see huge potential in this investment and are excited about the future of the IPL,” Somani said in 2021 when he invested in Rajasthan Royals.Somani is associated with the sport as co-owner of Motor City Golf Club and was an early investor in TMRW Sports and TGL Golf League. The current owners of the Royals have been in talks for the past six months to sell the team 100%.
Who is Kal Somani?
Kal Somani is best known as a serial entrepreneur with a deep footprint in the American tech ecosystem. He is the founder and CEO of several global giants, including IntraEdge (a leading technology services and solutions company), Truyo & Truyo.AI (pioneers in data protection automation and AI governance), and Academian (a major player in ed-tech and digital content).Its transition into sports began with a focus on sports technology, but quickly evolved into team ownership. Apart from the IPL, Somani co-owns the Motor City Golf Club and was an early investor in TMRW Sports (a tech-focused sports business founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy) and the TGL Golf League.
