Audio OTT platform Kuku FM has onboarded former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as an investor and brand ambassador for its microdrama app, Kuku TV. The financial details of the investment remain undisclosed.
Dhoni joins Kuku FM’s existing backers, including KRAFTON, Vertex Growth Fund, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Paramark Ventures, Tribe Capital India, and Bitkraft Ventures.
Founded in 2018 by Lal Chand Bisu, Vinod Kumar Meena, and Vikas Goyal, Kuku FM offers audiobooks, podcasts, and original shows across multiple languages. The company operates storytelling apps like Kuku TV for microdramas, Kuku FM for audio content, and Guru for edutainment. Kuku FM entered the microdrama segment with Kuku TV last year.
In December 2024, Kuku FM appointed actor Dulquer Salmaan as its brand ambassador for South India to boost its regional presence.
Kuku FM has also forayed into theatrical releases and has scaled to over 35 Cr installs across its platforms. Its content library spans more than 20,000 titles across seven languages and multiple genres, with several shows crossing 10 Cr views. The platform’s catalogue includes content across categories such as finance, well-being, and drama, with a community of over 1 Cr listeners and creators.
The company is reportedly gearing up for a potential public listing and appointed Kotak Mahindra Capital, Axis Bank, and Morgan Stanley as bankers for a proposed $200 Mn IPO in late 2025. However, Kuku FM is yet to convert into a public entity, a key step for going public in India.
Kuku FM last raised $85 Mn in its Series C round in October last year, led by Granite Asia, with participation from existing investors. Overall, it has raised more than $156 Mn to date.
In FY25, Kuku FM’s revenue surged 175% to ₹241.5 Cr from ₹87.9 Cr in FY24. Its net loss widened 59% to ₹152.6 Cr from ₹95.7 Cr a year earlier, primarily due to higher advertising spends.
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