POCKET ENTERTAINMENT
From streaming to software, microdrama startups rewrite their growth pitch
Peak XV Partners-backed Dashverse has discontinued its consumer platform DashReels and is looking to raise $30-40 million, largely for Frameo AI, its video production software for businesses. Eloelo, which raised $80 million this week led by Hornbill Capital and NBCUniversal, is investing in Dolphin AI, its new production suite, alongside content creation and international expansion.
ShareChat’s FY26 revenue jumps 40% to Rs 1,016 crore on microdrama push; net loss widens
However, its loss before tax widened to Rs 1,978 crore in FY26 from Rs 1,105 crore in the previous year, largely due to higher accounting expenses related to its convertible debt instruments, forex losses and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), cofounder and CFO Manohar Singh Charan told ET.
How Pocket FM is using AI to take Indian stories global
Pocket FM is using AI to help writers bring their stories to life and reach listeners across the world. With Sherpa, its AI-powered writing partner, the company is making it easier to manage long storylines and develop characters while keeping the creative decisions in the hands of writers.
Retirement planning: Why the US retirement model may not work for Indian retirees
The Indian institutional framework poses unexpected risks. Not only is insurance costly for seniors, it’s not available as a standardised social welfare benefit. Unexpected spikes in health cost can throw off a retiree’s spending patterns well out of balance. Reliance on children and privatisation of senior health care poses a serious risk.
Unacademy founders plan AI fund; Flipkart’s premium push
Happy Monday! Unacademy’s founders are raising a fund focused on AI and deeptech. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Eloelo in talks to raise $50-60 million at $400 million valuation
The potential funding follows a sharp expansion of Eloelo's micro-drama business, Story TV, which has helped lift annualised collections more than tenfold to around $250 million over the past year. The Bengaluru-based company has used aggressive performance marketing to scale up Story TV, which offers short, vertically filmed fiction across genres such as romance and thrillers, the people said.
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ET Interview: India’s aspirational middle class gives it demographic edge, says Verlinvest CEO Roberto Italia
Verlinvest is planning to invest €1 billion in India over the next five years, reflecting the country's economic dynamism. The firm identifies opportunities in various sectors, including health, fitness, and digital content. India's growing middle class has shown an increasing willingness to spend on consumer products and services. The digital revolution in India is transforming consumption patterns and driving new economic activities.
The 113,613-acre Montana landscape where Ted Turner’s wild conservation legacy lives on
Ted Turner purchased the Flying D Ranch in 1989, transforming it into a conservation-oriented property. The ranch is home to diverse wildlife, including bison, elk, and wolves, which thrive in various habitats. Rivers and streams on the property also support healthy fish populations while providing ecosystems for birds. Conservation easements established by Turner ensure protection against development for future generations.
Code red! NSE breadth breaks down as 350 out of 500 stocks crash up to 60% in two month selloff
In recent weeks, the NSE 500 index has faced significant setbacks, with declines in numerous stocks due to mounting economic pressures and foreign selling activities. Stock losses have ranged between 18% to 64% over the past two months. Contributing factors, such as surging crude oil prices and higher US bond yields, have turned market sentiment sour.
Pocket Entertainment’s Rohan Nayak says its AI tool helped writers create IP worth $100 million
Nayak described Sherpa as a long-form, serialised fiction writing harness. It combines a planner that maps arcs and scenes, a structured memory that tracks what each character knows, and a prose engine that drafts scenes while critic models check for continuity and quality.
Small Habit That Changed Their Finances: Before Rs 1200 crore net worth, Vivek Oberoi's father taught him money management lessons as a kid
Vivek Oberoi was introduced to a money lesson at an age when most children were still learning how to spend their pocket money. His father made him handle real-world finances, make mistakes and understand what money was worth. Years later, those early lessons shaped the actor-turned-entrepreneur’s approach to business, assets and wealth; a journey that has reportedly taken his net worth to around ₹1,200 crore.
In 2014, Nas invested in smart-doorbell startup Ring; 4 years later, Amazon bought the company for $1.1 billion and the American rapper pocketed at least $25 million
Nas and Ring story is about the changing boundaries between entertainment, technology and entrepreneurship. Nas entered the investment world through QueensBridge Venture Partners and became an early backer of companies whose products addressed emerging consumer trends. Ring’s eventual acquisition by Amazon gave the rapper one of his most visible investment wins, with Forbes reporting that he personally pocketed at least $25 million.
Pocket FM launches AI fiction-writing platform to help creators build long-form stories
Pocket FM has launched Sherpa, an AI-powered fiction platform designed to help writers build and manage long-running stories across hundreds of episodes. The platform uses specialised AI agents and long-term narrative memory to maintain characters, relationships and storylines, as Pocket FM seeks to scale content production and help creators develop intellectual property across formats and markets.
AI could disrupt traditional entertainment studio model as production costs fall
Artificial intelligence is revolutionising the landscape of entertainment production, offering creators remarkable cost savings. Smaller production companies can now bring projects to life while maintaining their intellectual property rights. With generative AI at the forefront, content creation in areas like audio and microdramas is already gaining momentum. This shift is predicted to ripple across film and high-quality scripted series, leading to significant growth in innovation and content output.
Coforge row deepens; MDR on UPI coming soon
Coforge’s boardroom brouhaha has taken a new turn days after chairman Om Prakash Bhatt’s resignation. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Pocket FM parent crosses $500 million ARR driven by AI content, overseas expansion
The Bengaluru-based company added $250 million in net ARR in the past 12 months and is Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) positive, the founder claimed. In April itself it had touched an ARR of $450 million.
Pocket Entertainment crosses $500 million revenue run rate, says AI is reshaping content creation
Pocket Entertainment has achieved a $500 million revenue run rate, showing significant growth. Pocket FM, its audio drama platform, drives this expansion and improved retention. The company utilizes AI extensively for content creation and market launches. Over 550,000 creators contribute to Pocket FM's vast library. This growth enables stories to reach listeners across many countries and languages.
Kuku to hire 1,000 people for AI content unit ahead of IPO
Kuku Technologies is on the verge of launching an expansive artificial intelligence production facility, aimed at bolstering its flourishing microdrama business and paving the way for an initial public offering. This strategic move is crucial as the competition in the microdrama sector heats up with new players entering the market. Analysts anticipate considerable growth in India's microdrama landscape in the foreseeable future.
Powerful Sunday Motivation Quote: 'Be humble, be hungry, and always be the hardest...' - Dwayne Johnson’s secret to success
Dwayne Johnson champions a philosophy grounded in humility, unyielding drive, and tireless work ethic as the keys to true success. This mindset strips away excuses, turning mundane efforts into remarkable outcomes. In our fast-paced lives, his message holds significant weight for personal development. While talent opens pathways, unwavering discipline guarantees ongoing success and focus, providing a proven roadmap for reaching one's lofty aspirations.
Flipkart launches microdrama on main app to drive platform engagement
The vertical is placed within Flipkart's main ecommerce app under 'Play' – which has a content-led shopping discovery platform ‘Explore’ and microdrama vertical ‘Drama’. The move is intended to attract users to the platform and boost engagement ahead of the upcoming festive season.
Ryan Seacrest sells sprawling 40-acre Napa Valley estate for $18.5 million after $22 million listing. American Idol host’s lavish retreat featured an infinity pool, olive grove and 10,750-square-foot home
Ryan Seacrest has sold his sprawling 40-acre Napa Valley estate in St. Helena for $18.5 million after initially listing it for $22 million. The American Idol host bought the estate for $14 million and later transformed it through a major renovation. The 10,750-square-foot retreat features five bedrooms, six bathrooms, seven fireplaces, an expanded primary suite, chef’s kitchen, infinity-edge pool, spa, bocce court and a private grove of 220 Italian olive trees.
India’s microdramas could soon play the consolidation script as retention trumps acquisition
The landscape of India's microdrama industry is evolving, shifting from an emphasis on acquiring users to nurturing and monetizing them. Currently, active paying users represent a small fraction of the total users. Analysts predict that the market will converge around a few dominant firms as they navigate global competition and find ways to lower production expenses. To thrive, platforms must prioritize user engagement and sustainable revenue streams.
Pocket FM shuts Pocket TV as rivals get aggressive on microdrama
Audio entertainment firm Pocket FM is shutting down its microdrama vertical, Pocket TV, to concentrate on its core audio dramas and international expansion. This strategic shift precedes a potential public listing, as the company prioritizes profitability. While short video dramas are booming in India, Pocket FM is returning to its strengths in audio, where it has established content and monetization.
Pocket FM says 1 in 5 monetised creators earn over ₹1 lakh a month: Here’s how they make money
Pocket FM is seeing significant creator success. Over 1% of its creators now earn more than ₹1 lakh monthly. Total creator payouts have surpassed ₹300 crore, with a target of ₹1,000 crore by 2026. This growth is fueled by AI tools and expansion into Indian languages. The platform's freemium model, combining paid unlocks and subscriptions, drives creator income.
Pocket FM launches AI creator studio, slashes audio series production time to a day
The technology uses trained AI voices to read genre-specific stories, ensuring good quality output without manual narration or editing. This is a significant tool for Hindi language authors. The audio series platform is preparing to roll out the AI Creator Suite in various Indian languages and plans to add 200,000 new AI audio series in the next year.
Audio entertainment gains ground as daily listening surges: Survey
A recent survey by Pocket FM reveals audio series are gaining significant traction in India, particularly among young adults. Nearly half of listeners consume over 10 episodes daily, dedicating substantial time to genres like drama and romance. The preference for episodic audio dramas over other audio formats is high, with Hindi leading in language consumption, followed by regional languages.
Pocket Entertainment elevates Umesh Bude to CTO
Pocket Entertainment has promoted Umesh Bude to Chief Technology Officer, recognizing his pivotal role in shaping the company's technological vision. Bude will spearhead AI-driven storytelling and enhance user engagement across platforms like Pocket FM and Pocket Toons. His focus includes advancing generative AI capabilities and ensuring cutting-edge tech solutions, solidifying Pocket Entertainment's position in AI-powered entertainment.
Pocket FM logs 68% revenue growth in FY25
Audio series platform Pocket FM reported Rs 1,768 crore in FY25 revenue, up 68%, driven by growth in India, the US, and Europe. With ARR nearing Rs 2,000 crore, the company leverages AI to cut costs and expand content. It now eyes Latin America expansion, despite prior layoffs and ongoing investor discussions.
Pocket Entertainment launches AI-led comics platform, earmarks $15 million investment
Pocket Entertainment's new AI-supported platform, Pocket Toons, enhances comic creation, enabling the release of three episodes daily. The platform has gained strong user engagement since its beta launch. By integrating AI, Pocket Toons aims to reach $100 million in ARR by 2026, making high-quality comics more accessible.
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