Kuku FM Onboards MS Dhoni As Investor, Brand Ambassador
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Audio OTT soonicorn Kuku FM has roped in former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as an investor as well as the brand ambassador for its microdrama app Kuku TV.
With the investment, Dhoni has joined the startup’s existing backers such as KRAFTON, Vertex Growth Fund, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Paramark Ventures, Tribe Capital India, and Bitkraft Ventures on the soonicorn’s cap table.
In December 2024, Kuku FM also appointed actor Dulquer Salmaan as its brand ambassador for South India to boost its regional presence.
Founded in 2018 by Lal Chand Bisu, Vinod Kumar Meena, and Vikas Goyal, Kuku FM is a homegrown audio content startup offering audiobooks, podcasts, and original shows across multiple languages.
The soonicorn runs a suite of storytelling apps, including Kuku TV for microdramas, Kuku FM for audio content, and Guru for edutainment. It entered the booming microdrama segment with the launch of Kuku TV last year.
Recently, Kuku FM 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.
Over the years, the startup has expanded its catalogue to include content across categories such as finance, well-being, and drama. With offerings in Hindi, English, Tamil, and Bengali, it claims to have built a community of over 1 Cr listeners and creators.
The soonicorn is also reportedly gearing up for a potential public listing. In late 2025, reports suggested that Kuku FM appointed Kotak Mahindra Capital, Axis Bank, and Morgan Stanley as bankers for a proposed $200 Mn IPO.
However, the startup is yet to complete the first key step for going public in India, which is converting into a public entity.
Kuku FM last raised $85 Mn in its Series C round in October last year, led by Granite Asia, with participation from Vertex Growth Fund, Krafton, IFC, Paramark Ventures, Tribe Capital India, and Bitkraft Ventures. Overall, it has raised more than $156 Mn to date.
On the financial front, Kuku FM’s revenue surged 175% to ₹241.5 Cr in FY25 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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