The WOW Awards Asia, the largest business and recognition platform in Experiential Marketing, MICE, LIVE Entertainment, and the Wedding industry, is set to return for its 16th edition at the JIO World Convention Centre on June 20-21, 2025.
The awards are now open for entries across 106 categories, distributed among five distinct groups: Experiential Marketing Awards, Experiential Celebrations Awards, Experiential Tech Awards, Hotel & Venue Awards, and Live Quotient Awards.
With a meticulous two-phase judging process conducted by a distinguished panel of jury members and validated by EY, the ceremony promises to be a grand celebration of excellence. Each jury member is carefully chosen from diverse backgrounds with extensive industry experience, ensuring a fair and transparent evaluation to recognize the most deserving winners.
As the industry prepares to showcase its finest work in events and experiential marketing, the Experiential Tech Awards category, known as Group C, takes center stage. Experiential Tech awards celebrates efforts in production and event technicals by supplier partners. This category includes only service providers without the inclusion of agencies. Delivery of end-to-end production of an event while overcoming execution challenges and delivery of unique/ highly technical/ superior lighting design solutions at an event is also a part of this category and recognizes the efforts in lighting, trussing, tent solutions, SFX/pyrotechnic, projection mapping, design-construct/fabrication, hospitality/logistic, catering solutions and show running / stage management.
The esteemed Jury of Experiential Tech Group are:
Alaap Gosher, Co-Founder & Director, TM Ventures
Alaap Gosher is the Co-Founder & Director of TM Ventures, where he spearheads talent management and innovative entertainment ventures. A former musician himself, Alaap has been instrumental in shaping the careers of some of Bollywood’s top playback singers and live performers. With a sharp focus on artist development and music-driven innovation, he continues to redefine the live entertainment landscape in India.
Ali Safdhar, COO, Event Network Entertainment
Ali Safdar is a veteran in event production with over 25 years of experience, known for his leadership in large-scale concerts, festivals, and sporting events across India and the GCC. He co-founded Scoop Brand Holdings, India’s first production agency, and currently leads Event Network Ent Pvt. Ltd. His portfolio includes landmark events like the F1 After Party with Lady Gaga, Commonwealth Games ceremonies, and concerts for Ed Sheeran, AR Rahman, and AP Dhillon.
Dhruv Jagasia, CEO & Founder, Big Bad Wolf Entertainment
Dhruv Jagasia is the CEO & Founder of Big Bad Wolf Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., with over 20 years of experience across music, cinema, theatre, and live events. He has managed iconic artists like Indian Ocean and co-founded the acclaimed NH7 Weekender festival. His creative ventures include producing four feature films and the award-winning music series The Dewarists, which earned a Bronze at Cannes Lions 2012.
Gagan Takyar, Co-Founder, Thrive Live Events & Team Tandem Events
A pioneer in live events, Gagan has been instrumental in curating unforgettable cultural and musical experiences. As the driving force behind The Sufi Route, he has brought soulful music to iconic venues, while his international ventures with Team Tandem are redefining event execution in the Middle East. Thrive Live, a dedicated concert promotion company specializing in Southeast Asia, has successfully executed multi-country tours with artists like Satinder Sartaaj, Atif Aslam, and Sonu Nigam.
Nazeef Mohamad, CEO & Creative Director, BToS Productions
Nazeef Mohammed is an accomplished show director and founder of BToS Productions, with over 15 years in the live event production industry. Best known for his long-standing collaboration with A.R. Rahman, Nazeef has directed and curated major global concerts, including the Global Citizen Festival – India and Rahman’s North American Intimate Tour. He is a pioneer in integrating time-coded visuals and tech into live shows, currently working with artists like Shreya Ghoshal and Mohit Chauhan to shape the next era of performance experiences.
Rachna Panikker, COO, Kommune
With over 15 years of experience in culture marketing, this leader has played a key role in shaping storytelling and performance art in India through Kommune, a pioneering platform for creativity and community engagement. Under their direction, Kommune has executed impactful cultural and experiential campaigns that connect brands with audiences meaningfully. Their expertise lies in building immersive experiences that blend content, culture, and innovation.
Safdhar Adoor, Founder, VRO Hospitality
Safdhar Adoor is a dynamic force in India’s live entertainment scene, known for his passion for bringing people together through unforgettable experiences. From winning the Volvo Young Environmentalists Award at age 10 to co-founding Rices Obliquity and later SteppinOut, Safdhar has built a legacy of curating iconic nightlife and lifestyle events across India. With over 300+ experiences under his belt—from food festivals to concerts with global DJs—he continues to shape how India parties and connects offline.
Sonal Varma, Event Director, ComicCon India
Sonal Varma is a seasoned events and media professional with over 13 years of experience, best known for her leadership at Comic Con India. She has played a key role in brand partnerships, celebrity activations, and executing large-scale pop culture events across India. Notably, she led the successful launch of Comic Con Chennai and has collaborated with top brands like Marvel, Sony Pictures, and Crunchyroll. A pop culture enthusiast herself, Sonal continues to drive innovation and growth in the live event space.
Upneet Bhatia, Director-Operations, District By Zomato
Upneet Bhatia is a powerhouse in the Indian and global events industry, known for producing landmark shows like the IIFA Awards, Global Citizen with Coldplay, IPL Opening Ceremony, and the Ed Sheeran Mathematics Tour. As an Executive Producer and Show Director, she brings creativity, precision, and ambition to every project. With a career spanning over two decades, Upneet continues to set benchmarks in live entertainment with her sharp execution and deep industry expertise.
Vivek Singh, Joint Managing Director, Procam International
Vivek Singh is the Joint Managing Director of Procam International, India’s leading sports event company. With over three decades of experience, he has co-created iconic sporting IPs like the Tata Mumbai Marathon and Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, pioneering the road running movement in India. A visionary in sports management, Vivek has promoted underrepresented sports and global events, making Procam a trusted name in the industry.
