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Can 6,000 Cr PocketFM Be India’s First Global Consumer Platform?

InternetInternet · 8m ago
Can 6,000 Cr PocketFM Be India’s First Global Consumer Platform?
Medial

PocketFM, founded by IIT Kharagpur graduate Rohan Nayak in 2018, has evolved from an Indian audio entertainment platform into a global content powerhouse valued at $750M. Starting from Nayak's observation of uncatered demand for audio entertainment during his commutes, the platform now offers over 2,000 audio series across 400,000 episodes. PocketFM's innovative micro-transaction model allows users to unlock episodes for small fees, proving especially successful in the US market where it generates 70% of revenue from just 15% of users. The platform leverages AI for content creation and has expanded into written content with Pocket Novel in 2024. With 130 million listeners across ten countries and plans for European and Latin American expansion, PocketFM aims to generate ₹1,000 crore in 2024.

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JIIF investors invest in Rs 350 Cr consumer-focused fund by Atomic Capital

EntrackrEntrackr · 24d ago
JIIF investors invest in Rs 350 Cr consumer-focused fund by Atomic Capital
Medial

Investors from the early-stage angel network JIIF have invested in a Rs 350 crore fund by Atomic Capital, a newly launched consumer-focused venture capital firm. JIIF-affiliated angel investors alone contributed Rs 26.5 crore to the fund. According to JIIF, this is the largest collective bet by JIIF’s investors in the consumer VC space, underscoring rising conviction in India’s next wave of consumption, driven by digital-first brands, regional demand, and wellness-oriented products. Commenting on the investment, Jeenendra Bhandari, Chairman of JIIF, said, “It is a proud moment to see JIIF members backing Atomic Capital’s first fund. Their investment aligns with our broader thesis of supporting category-defining, purpose-led startups. India’s consumer opportunity is massive, and Atomic’s operating model is well positioned to unlock enduring brand value.” Atomic Capital operates with an “Operating VC” approach, offering not just capital but also hands-on support in brand building, growth marketing, supply chain optimization, and leadership hiring. In FY25, JIIF’s investor base deployed over Rs 60 crore across more than 20 startups spanning fintech, healthtech, AI, logistics, and consumer. The network now supports a portfolio of over 150 companies. Mumbai-based Atomic Capital, an early-stage VC firm founded in 2024 by Apoorv Gautam, combines strategic depth with on-ground execution.

Razorpay, CRED, Swiggy among 30 startups in Startup Policy Forum

EntrackrEntrackr · 7m ago
Razorpay, CRED, Swiggy among 30 startups in Startup Policy Forum
Medial

India’s startup ecosystem has gained a unified platform with the launch of the Startup Policy Forum (SPF), an industry alliance designed to promote collaboration between policymakers and leading ventures. SPF brings together 30 of India’s leading startups across varied sectors, including Razorpay, CRED, Pine Labs, Groww, OYO, Swiggy, Practo, Dream11, MPL, Cars24, CarDekho, Acko, Ixigo, Livspace and Jupiter. "Our startups are driving transformative change by democratizing business and converting job seekers into job creators. We are glad to see many founders joining the Startup Policy Forum (SPF), which should reinforce India’s global leadership in the new-age economy. The forum should play a pivotal role in India’s journey to become Viksit Bharat by 2047 under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi," said Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry. Founded by former Peak XV executive and public policy expert Shweta Rajpal Kohli, the Forum will do initiatives to promote India’s startup ecosystem on a global stage. The Forum will limit its members to 100 select startups in its initial phase. Over 30 rapidly growing startups have already signed up as members. These include companies like Razorpay, CRED, Pine Labs, Groww, Acko, OYO, Swiggy, Practo, Dream11 and MPL, Cars24 and Cardekho, CureFoods, Livspace, Ixigo, Ultrahuman, Digantara, Invideo, Jupiter, OneCard, Mobikwik, Yubi, platform Progcap, Bluestone among others. The Forum aims to foster constructive collaboration between founders, policymakers, and regulators. SPF will use the government’s initiatives to position Indian startups on a global platform. SPF has also established four specialized councils: the Fintech Policy Council (FPC), Consumer and Commerce Council (CACC), Emerging Tech & AI Council (ETAC), and New-Age Public Companies Council (NPCC). These councils will focus on critical areas within the startup ecosystem, collaborating closely with relevant regulators and stakeholders to address unique challenges and opportunities in each sector.

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