Audio and video content platform Kuku FM has secured $85 million in a Series D funding round led by Granite Asia (formerly GGV Capital). The round includes both primary capital and secondary share sales, with participation from existing investors Vertex Growth Fund, Krafton, IFC, Paramark, Tribe Capital India, and Bitkraft.
Funding Snapshot:
With this round, Kuku FM’s total funding has reached $156 million. Its last funding was a $25 million Series C led by IFC and Fundamentum Partnership in October 2023. The startup was valued at around $185 million post that round.
Growth and Focus:
Founded in 2018 by Lal Chand Bisu, Vikas Goyal, and Vinod Kumar Meena, Kuku FM plans to use the latest capital to scale content creation, expand its creator ecosystem, and strengthen its technology stack. The platform aims to reach a wider audience across Bharat’s Tier-II and Tier-III cities, tapping into the growing appetite for vernacular digital audio content.
Kuku FM offers paywalled audiobooks and courses across genres including business, self-help, personal finance, religion, and entertainment. The content is available in multiple Indian languages, appealing to both individual and enterprise users.
Financial Snapshot:
According to data from TheKredible, Kuku FM’s revenue surged 2.1x year-on-year to Rs 88 crore in FY24, up from Rs 41 crore in FY23. Losses narrowed by 18% to Rs 96 crore in FY24 as the company worked toward profitability.
Market Context:
Kuku FM competes with Pocket FM, Awaz, Headfone, and Pratilipi, while newer entrants like WinZO and Zupee are exploring the micro-drama content space. As Bharat’s digital content consumption deepens, platforms like Kuku FM are positioning themselves at the intersection of audio innovation and vernacular storytelling.
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