BeerBiceps’ Sprout Media deal signals the start of India’s global creator expansion

India’s creator economy is entering a new phase, and the clearest sign of that shift is emerging in the UAE. Sprout Media, a Dubai-based marketing agency, has formed a strategic partnership with BeerBiceps – one of India’s most successful creator-led media companies – in a move that reflects growing demand for Indian creator talent across the region.

Under the deal, the companies will co-produce content from Dubai, work together on brand partnerships with UAE-based and global companies, and collaborate on live events, workshops and podcasts. It marks BeerBiceps’ first international expansion outside India – and, according to those close to the partnership, the beginning of a broader international push by India’s top creator-led businesses.

Sprout Media founder Aparnaa Sharma told The Daily Influence the move reflects a structural global shift: creators are crossing borders in the same way music, cinema and tech talent did before them. “Creators are no longer defined by geography, and audiences increasingly follow value, not borders,” she said.

“India’s creator economy has scaled rapidly, and the influence of top Indian creators now extends far beyond the domestic market – especially in regions like the UAE, where there is already a large, engaged South Asian audience.”

Sharma added that the UAE is becoming a regional hub for creators, with better infrastructure, stronger brand appetite, high-value audiences, and government support for the digital economy.

“Indian creators, especially those with global ambitions, see Dubai as a bridge market: it’s international, yet culturally familiar. There is a huge opportunity here for content diversification, cross-border brand partnerships, and regional expansion.”

That view is echoed by Shamim Kassibawi, founder of Spread Communications, who works closely with influencers in the UAE.

“Indian creators hold massive global influence, and for UAE brands, partnering with them is a strategic move –  especially given the Indian community is the largest population here,” she said.

“Demand is high. Our partnerships include content, reels, appearances, shoots and even music-led campaigns. Dubai has become a hub for creator growth, helping brands scale faster and reach multicultural audiences.”

Founded by Ranveer Allahbadia, a popular Indian content creator with more than 11 million subscribers on Youtube, the BeerBiceps Group spans content, podcasting, digital learning and personal branding services. Its flagship, The Ranveer Show, is one of Asia’s leading business and self-improvement podcasts, with guests ranging from CEOs to athletes.

Alongside its media channels, BeerBiceps operates two education ventures – BigBrainCo. and SkillHouse – which offer courses in communication, leadership, and digital brand building. The Dubai partnership brings this combined media-and-education model outside India for the first time.

Meanwhile, the tie-up comes after India announced a $1bn fund to support the creator economy earlier this year, signalling its desire to turn its fast-growing digital talent into a global export industry. The fund, unveiled by information minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, is intended to help creators improve production quality, expand internationally and build more formalised commercial models.

Industry estimates reflect the scale of the opportunity India is trying to unlock. Creator-led consumption in the country is projected to reach more than $1tn by 2030, with direct creator revenue expected to grow several times over the next five years. India is home to as many as 2-2.5 million active digital creators, yet only a small share currently monetise their audiences, leaving significant room for growth as the market matures.

Within that context, BeerBiceps’ partnership with Sprout Media represents one of the first major international steps taken by a leading Indian creator enterprise, at a moment when both policy and market forces are pushing India’s creator economy beyond its domestic base.