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Pocket FM raises $103 Mn in Series D round

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Pocket FM raises $103 Mn in Series D round
Medial

Audio series platform Pocket FM has scooped up $103 million in its Series D round led by Lightspeed, and with participation from Stepstone Group. The new funding will strengthen Pocket FM’s push into the US market and also support global expansion as the company plans to expand into Europe and LATAM markets this year, the firm said in a press release. Pocket FM facilitates long-form audio content including audio shows, stories, and novels. The company will keep creating exclusive content libraries by providing a platform to the writer community. This latest round brings Pocket FM’s total funding to date to $196.5 million. Entrackr had exclusively reported about Pocket FM’s new fundraise in October last year. The Bengaluru-based company claims to have over 100,000 hours of content, including more than 2,000 exclusive audio series and more than 400,000 episodes across genres and languages. The company also said that it has surpassed $150 million (Rs 1,250 crore) ARR, and is growing at 57% QoQ. In 2023, it clocked over 20 million transactions and claimed that its US revenue crossed $100 million in average revenue run rate (ARR) during the last calendar year. “US audiences are the most engaged on the platform globally, spending over 135 minutes daily. The platform has approximately 10 million registered users in the US,” the firm added in the press release. The Indian entity of Pocket’s FM reported an 8.7X surge in its revenue to Rs 148.7 crore in FY23 from Rs 17 crore in FY22, according to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible. The firm also managed to contract its losses by 73.5% to Rs 45.47 crore in FY23 from Rs 171.6 crore in FY22. Its direct competitor Kuku FM raised $25 million in its Series C round in September last year. The company’s revenue from operations rose to Rs 41.2 crore during FY23 from Rs 4.4 crore in FY22.

Pocket Entertainment elevates Umesh Bude to CTO

EntrackrEntrackr · 29d ago
Pocket Entertainment elevates Umesh Bude to CTO
Medial

Pocket Entertainment elevates Umesh Bude to CTO Pocket Entertainment, the parent company of Pocket FM, Pocket Toons, and Pocket Novel, has elevated Umesh Bude to Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Previously Senior Vice President of Engineering, Umesh will now lead the company’s technology strategy, focusing on developing the future of AI-powered storytelling across its platforms. As CTO, Umesh will oversee the end-to-end tech stack at Pocket Entertainment and spearhead innovations to scale its products globally. His responsibilities will include designing scalable systems, advancing generative AI capabilities, and delivering technology-led innovations to empower both creators and consumers. “It’s a privilege to take on this role at a time when technology and creativity are deeply intertwined at Pocket Entertainment. I look forward to driving the next wave of innovation, where technology and AI are not just enablers, but storytellers in their own right,” said Bude on his promotion. Umesh will continue to report to Prateek Dixit as the company aims to consolidate its position at the intersection of entertainment and technology. Earlier this year, Pocket Entertainment launched Pocket Toons, an AI-first comics (webcomics) platform that uses AI to transform storytelling and content creation. In March 2024, Pocket FM secured $103 million in its Series D funding round, led by Lightspeed and joined by Stepstone Group. The company has raised $196.5 million in total funding and was valued at $750 million in its last equity round. Pocket FM’s global revenue spiked to Rs 1,051.97 crore in FY24 from Rs 176.36 crore in FY23. The Bengaluru-based company also improved its economics as its losses narrowed by 21% to Rs 165 crore in FY24.

Pocket FM completes its first ESOP buyback worth $8.3 Mn

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Pocket FM completes its first ESOP buyback worth $8.3 Mn
Medial

Audio series platform Pocket FM announced that the company has completed its first ESOP buyback worth $8.3 million. The buyback of stock comes soon after $103 million Series D funding announced by the Bengaluru-based company. Former and existing employees, holding vested stocks in the company, participated in this process, the company said in a press release. The company was valued at $750 million during the latest fundraise and has been growing at a high speed. According to PocketFM, it surpassed $150 million (Rs 1,250 crore) ARR, and is growing at 57% QoQ. In 2023, it processed over 20 million transactions and claimed that its US revenue crossed $100 million in average revenue run rate (ARR) during the last calendar year. The buyback has come at a time when Pocket FM is reportedly in late-stage conversation to raise a new round which would catapult it to the unicorn club. Pocket FM is the fourth growth stage company that has announced stock buyback in 2024. Recently, e-commerce company Meesho rolled out its largest ESOP buyback worth $25 million for 1,700 employees (past and current). Community management app MyGate and edtech company Classplus also announced their employee stock buyback program earlier this year. As per data compiled by TheKredible, the total EOSP buyback/payout/liquidity stood at nearly $802 million in 2023. In 2021 and 2022, the buyback amount was recorded at $440 and $200 million respectively. Pocket FM claims 2,000 exclusive audio series and more than 400,000 episodes across genres and languages. While the company’s real financial picture could be decoded when it discloses full-fledged FY24 results, Pocket FM’s revenue zoomed 8X to Rs 148.7 crore in the fiscal year ending March 2023. The firm also improved unit economics and reduced its losses by about three-fourths in the last fiscal year.

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