Team StartupCity

• Kuku FM secures $85 million Series D funding led by Granite Asia.
• Funds to expand content creation, creator base, and platform technology.
• The company has raised $156 million to date and serves multiple Indian languages.

Kuku FM, a popular audio and video content platform, has raised $85 million in a Series D funding round led by Granite Asia (formerly GGV Capital). Existing investors like Vertex Growth Fund, Krafton, IFC, Paramark, Tribe Capital India, and Bitkraft also joined the round, which included primary capital and secondary share sales.

Since its founding in 2018 by Lal Chand Bisu, Vikas Goyal, and Vinod Kumar Meena, Kuku FM has grown steadily by offering a diverse range of audio content, including audiobooks, stories, courses, and podcasts in multiple Indian languages. Its genres cover business, self-help, personal finance, history, religion, entertainment, and fitness.

The fresh funds will help Kuku FM scale its content creation efforts, grow its creator community, upgrade platform technology, and reach more listeners across India and beyond.

Also Read: FireAI Raises Rs 4 Crore to Boost AI Business Intelligence

So far, Kuku FM has raised $156 million and was last valued at around $185 million. The company earns revenue mainly through paid subscriptions for individual and business users. In FY24, Kuku FM’s revenue more than doubled to Rs 88 crore, while losses fell by 18% to Rs 96 crore.

The platform faces competition from Pocket FM, Awaz, Headfone, and Pratilipi. The micro-drama segment, however, is heating up with new players entering, including real-money gaming companies like WinZO and Zupee planning to explore this space.