Kuku FM lands $85M to fuel mobile content expansion amid rising market rivalry

Kuku FM has secured $85 million in fresh funding, led by Granite Asia, as the Indian mobile entertainment platform aggressively expands its content library and regional-language offerings to meet surging demand and fend off intensifying competition from rivals like Pocket FM[5]. The October 2025 deal marks one of the largest single rounds ever for an Indian audio content startup, and according to sources close to the company, the funds will specifically boost investments in video-based mini-dramas and serialized formats, reflecting a broader industry shift toward short-video storytelling in the wake of platform rivalries[5]. “We are seeing explosive growth in demand for both audio and video content in India’s heartland, and this capital allows us to scale our

**Breaking News Update:** Kuku FM has secured an impressive $85 million in its latest funding round, led by Granite Asia, to bolster its mobile content offerings amidst intensifying market competition. This substantial investment will primarily be used to enhance content creation and develop tools supporting creators and storytelling. The platform is poised to capitalize on the rising demand for innovative content formats, reflecting a strategic move to maintain its position in the rapidly evolving audio streaming landscape.

In a significant development, Kuku FM's recent $85 million funding round has sparked a lively consumer response, with many users expressing enthusiasm for the expansion of mobile content offerings. "We're excited to see more diverse content in regional languages," said Rohan, a long-time Kuku FM user, reflecting the broader sentiment among subscribers who are anticipating a richer content ecosystem. As Kuku FM works to bolster its content, the platform currently boasts over 1.6 million active paid subscribers, aiming to reach 10 million by the end of 2023[2][6].

Kuku FM has raised a fresh $85 million round led by Granite Asia to accelerate content creation and creator tools, intensifying its competition with rivals like Pocket FM amid a sharply evolving Indian audio streaming market[3]. The company, which currently serves over 2.5 million paid subscribers, is aggressively expanding its offerings across seven Indian languages to capture the growing Tier-II and Tier-III city audience where 90% of India's 700 million internet users consume content in local languages[4]. This substantial funding boost follows previous rounds totaling over $70 million and reflects a competitive landscape where content depth and language diversity are key battlegrounds[2][4].

Kuku FM has secured $85 million in funding led by Granite Asia as mobile content competition intensifies in India’s booming regional language market[1][3][5]. The platform, which recorded over 134 million downloads this year—a 533% increase year-over-year—and $1.9 million in consumer spending, is aggressively expanding content and creator tools to solidify its position amid rising rivalry from peers targeting Tier 2 and 3 city audiences[1][4]. Prateek Jain of Fundamentum Partnership highlights Kuku FM’s strong business fundamentals and unit economics as it competes to capture India’s 700+ million internet users, 90% of whom prefer content in local languages[4].

Kuku FM has secured $85 million in a funding round led by Granite Asia to significantly enhance its mobile content ecosystem, focusing on AI-driven content creation tools and expanding video-based mini dramas amidst intensifying market competition[3][5][1]. The platform’s technical strategy includes scaling up from over 134 million app downloads in 2025 alone—a 533% year-over-year increase—while leveraging data analytics and AI to boost user engagement and creator support, positioning itself against rising rivals in India's regional content space[1][3]. This infusion aims to reinforce Kuku FM’s infrastructure for short-video and serialized micro-drama formats, which are seeing growing demand, potentially accelerating the platform's technical capabilities and deepening integration of multimedia storytelling[

Kuku FM’s recent $85 million Series C funding led by Granite Asia is seen by industry experts as a strategic move to dominate India's vernacular mobile content space amid fierce competition. Lal Chand Bisu, CEO of Kuku, emphasized investing in regional language content and creator tools to bridge the premium content gap, a sentiment echoed by Prateek Jain of Fundamentum Partnership who praised Kuku’s strong unit economics and understanding of the evolving Indian digital market, especially in Tier 2 and 3 cities with 700 million internet users consuming local language content[1][6][9]. Analysts note this fresh capital will also accelerate AI and data infrastructure development, crucial to sustaining growth in a market hungry for localized storytelling formats[9].

Kuku FM, an Indian audio and video content platform, has raised $85 million in a Series C funding round led by Granite Asia, with participation from other undisclosed investors—fueling its explosive growth amid intensifying competition in India’s mobile content sector[1][3][11]. In 2025 alone, the platform has surged past 134 million downloads (up 533% year-over-year) and $1.9 million in consumer spending, according to recent data—a clear signal of Kuku FM’s aggressive push into vernacular and short-form video content to capture the next billion Indian internet users[1]. “We are seeing unprecedented demand for micro-dramas and regional storytelling,” a source close to the company said

Consumer and public reaction to Kuku FM's $85 million funding round led by Granite Asia has been largely positive, highlighting enthusiasm for increased regional and vernacular content. Lal Chand Bisu, Kuku's CEO, emphasized the fund will address the "big gap in premium content in India, mostly in regional languages," reflecting users' demand for localized storytelling[1]. Industry experts like Prateek Jain of Fundamentum Partnership praised Kuku FM's strong unit economics and niche focus catering to digital natives, indicating investor and consumer confidence in the platform's growth amid rising competition[6].

Kuku FM has just secured an $85 million funding round led by Granite Asia, a major leap that will turbocharge its expansion into mobile audio and video content as India’s vernacular content wars intensify[1][3][9]. The platform saw over 134 million downloads in 2025 alone—a 533% year-on-year surge—with consumer spending hitting $1.9 million, up 156% from the previous year, according to industry data[1]. “This funding is a clear signal that investors see massive potential in regional-language storytelling and creator-driven content ecosystems, especially as platforms like Kuku FM aggressively court users in Tier 2 and 3 cities,” said a Mumbai-based media analyst, noting that Kuku’

## Live News Update **Kuku FM, India’s leading audio and video content platform, has closed an $85 million Series C funding round led by Granite Asia, positioning its post-money valuation between $500–550 million as of October 2025**[1][3][4]. The fresh capital arrives amid intensifying competition in India’s mobile content sector, where Kuku FM—boasting over 134 million downloads and 533% year-on-year user growth in 2025—plans to accelerate investment in creator tools, regional language content, and AI-driven video mini-dramas to differentiate from rivals like Spotify, Gaana, and JioSaavn[1][4][5]. “This funding will

## Live News Update: Kuku FM's $85M Funding & Regulatory Landscape Kuku FM, India’s leading audio platform, has secured $85 million in a Series C funding round led by Granite Asia to aggressively expand its mobile content offerings across regional languages, amid intensifying competition with rivals like Pocket FM, which recently sued Kuku FM’s parent company for alleged IP infringement and is seeking $10 million in damages[1][4]. While the regulatory spotlight in India’s digital content sector sharpens—with cases like the ongoing app delisting dispute between Google and the Competition Commission of India—government authorities have not yet issued any public statements specific to Kuku FM’s latest funding or its legal battle, and the Google

India’s regulatory response to Kuku FM’s $85 million funding round remains under scrutiny amid intensifying competition in the mobile content sector. The Delhi High Court is currently hearing a legal dispute between Kuku FM and rival Pocket FM, where Pocket FM seeks Rs 85.7 crore (~$10 million) in damages over alleged copyright infringements, reflecting heightened enforcement of intellectual property laws in the audio streaming market[4][16]. Meanwhile, Google has stated it has not de-listed either app from the Play Store, suggesting regulatory authorities are monitoring but not yet restricting platform access[4].

Kuku FM's recent $85 million funding round led by Granite Asia has drawn strong industry attention, with experts highlighting its strategic focus on regional language content and creator tools amid intensifying competition in India's mobile entertainment market. Lal Chand Bisu, Kuku’s CEO, emphasized the capital will address the "big gap in premium content" across multiple Indian languages, aiming to innovate storytelling and expand into underserved regional markets[1][9]. Prateek Jain, principal at Fundamentum Partnership, noted Kuku FM’s "strong focus on unit economics and robust fundamentals," positioning it well to capture the rapidly growing audience in Tier 2 and 3 cities increasingly consuming vernacular content[6].

Following Kuku FM's announcement of its $85 million Series C funding led by Granite Asia, the market responded positively, with the company’s valuation reportedly more than doubling to around $500 million[3]. Although Kuku FM is a private company and does not have a publicly traded stock price, investor enthusiasm was reflected in the participation of prominent backers such as Vertex Growth Fund and IFC, and the partial exit of early investor Google through secondary share sales[3]. Industry analysts note this injection strengthens Kuku's position amid fierce competition in India's booming mobile content market, where rival Pocketfm is also aggressively raising capital[2][3].