Kuku, the Indian storytelling startup backed by Google, has raised $85 million in Series C funding to expand its audio and video content offerings. The round, led by Granite Asia, values the company at $500 million, doubling its previous valuation.
The investment also includes secondary transactions, with early investors like Google exiting completely. Other participants include Vertex Growth Fund, Krafton, IFC, Tribe Capital India, and Bitkraft.
Founded in 2018, Kuku runs two flagship platforms, Kuku FM for audio stories and Kuku TV for short-form video dramas, available in over eight Indian languages. The company now has 10 million paid subscribers, up from 2 million last year, with most users coming from non-metro cities.
Kuku has built a generative AI studio to assist creators with translation, ad production, and content development, though final production remains manual. CEO Lal Chand Bisu said the funding will be used to enhance AI infrastructure, attract celebrity collaborations, and expand globally, with U.S. launch plans set for 2026.
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Kuku faces competition from Pocket FM, which has filed multiple copyright lawsuits against it. Despite the rivalry, Kuku saw over 229 million app downloads and a 533% growth in 2025, cementing its place as a leader in India’s booming digital storytelling market.
