Granite Asia, a multi-asset investment platform formerly known as GGV Capital, has led the US USD 85 million Series C funding round of Kuku, one of India’s leading mobile-first vernacular content platforms. The round also saw participation from Vertex Growth Fund, Krafton, IFC, Paramark, Tribe Capital India, and Bitkraft.
Founded in 2018, Kuku operates two flagship products-KukuTV and Kuku FM. While KukuTV delivers serialized long-form stories in a vertical microdrama format, Kuku FM offers audio-first entertainment and knowledge-based shows tailored for off-screen listening. Together, the platforms feature premium multilingual content spanning over eight Indian languages and have amassed a user base exceeding 10 million paid subscribers.
The company has built an in-house Generative AI (GenAI) studio to enhance its content creation process, reducing production timelines and costs. The AI tools are deployed across multiple functions, including scriptwriting, production, translation, and audience engagement, alongside ad creation and sentiment analysis.
Kuku aims to strengthen its position as India’s largest storytelling ecosystem by leveraging AI, creator partnerships, and regional reach. The company estimates that India’s short-form audio and video market will grow to nearly US USD 2 billion annually over the next five years, driven by smartphone penetration, affordable data, and seamless digital micropayments.
The proceeds from the Series C round will be utilized to expand Kuku’s AI and data infrastructure, enhance its technology capabilities, attract top creative and technical talent, and scale operations across India and international markets.
With this investment, Kuku plans to onboard leading film and television personalities and expand its slate of original shows, further solidifying its position in India’s rapidly growing digital entertainment landscape. |
