Homegrown live streaming platform Loco announced Firasat Durrani, the company’s vice president of operations, and Chetan Dhembre, the chief technological officer, have been promoted to co-founders. Durrani has been with the company since the launch of its live streaming platform and has led its content supply and operations functions. Meanwhile, Dhembre has been pivotal in leading the engineering team that designed and delivered a seamless and cutting-edge product for the users. Loco is home to some of the biggest streamers in South Asia and has gotten a lot of recognition in the esports and live streaming ecosystem.

Exciting change at Loco heading into the new year

Both Firasat Durrani and Chetan Dhembre have been integral to Loco’s growth over the years. Commenting on the appointments, Loco Founders Anirudh Pandita and Ashwin Suresh said, “We are delighted to welcome Firasat and Chetan as co-founders for Loco. With their wealth of knowledge, expertise, and extensive experience in their respective fields, 2023 will be an exciting time for the company.” They added that they are confident that they will be instrumental in taking Loco to the pinnacle of the esports and game streaming industry with their new roles. Additionally, they stated that these appointments demonstrated Loco's commitment to investing in and strengthening its leadership team.

Talking about the announcement, Durrani said in a press release that new beginnings are always exciting and that he is elated and honored to step into this new role as a co-founder. “Loco has come a long way in the last two years from humble beginnings to becoming the world’s leading independent esports and live streaming platform, today,” he said. Durrani added that he is confident that the team will continue to be pioneers as Loco moves forward, leading and pushing the boundaries of gaming entertainment. “With many exciting new developments in the pipeline, I look forward to what 2023 has in store for us,” Durrani said.

Chetan Dhembre also commented on his new role at Loco. “Having been part of Loco for over half a decade, I am honored to be named as the co-founder. I am proud of what we have achieved so far and am excited about the future,” Dhembre said. He also noted that Loco has grown exponentially from its humble beginnings to becoming one of the leading, most sought-after tech companies in the industry. Dhembre also revealed that Loco plans to introduce cutting-edge technology and many more features on the platform for users to enjoy. “With one of the most talented product and technology teams in the country, we are well-equipped to tackle any challenges that come our way,” he further stated.

Notably, at the debut edition of the Dubai Esports Festival (DEF) 2022 in November, Loco had the honor of being the only brand and platform representing India. Firasat Durrani represented the Indian gaming community at the Initiate Summit as a panelist. 

Loco is keen on raising the bar of esports and gaming entertainment in India. Recognition and accolades have been mounting for the platform, reflecting its hard work and efforts. Global product analytics company Amplitude published its list of global “Next Hottest Products” and Loco was included on the list as the only Indian gaming company. Likewise, in its new Esports Ecosystem Infographic for 2022, Newzoo gave its audience a glimpse into the world of its ecosystem and highlighted its major players. Loco was the only Indian streaming platform to be featured in the "Livestreaming Platforms" category. It also created a new record in the Indian esports industry as it saw 100 Million viewers during the BGMI Master Series 2022, reflecting the unprecedented response from the fans.