Kuku FM, an emerging audio OTT platform, has announced that former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will serve as both an investor and brand ambassador for its microdrama app, Kuku TV.
With Dhoni's investment, he joins a roster of existing investors, which includes KRAFTON, Vertex Growth Fund, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Paramark Ventures, Tribe Capital India, and Bitkraft Ventures.
In December 2024, Kuku FM also appointed actor Dulquer Salmaan as its brand ambassador for South India to enhance its regional outreach.
Founded in 2018 by Lal Chand Bisu, Vinod Kumar Meena, and Vikas Goyal, Kuku FM specializes in audio content, offering a variety of audiobooks, podcasts, and original shows in multiple languages.
The platform features several storytelling apps, including:
- Kuku TV for microdramas
- Kuku FM for audio content
- Guru for edutainment
Kuku FM made its entry into the microdrama market with the launch of Kuku TV last year.
Recently, the company expanded into theatrical releases and has achieved over 35 million installs across its platforms. Its content library boasts more than 20,000 titles in seven languages, with several shows amassing over 10 million views.
Over time, Kuku FM has diversified its offerings to include categories such as finance, well-being, and drama, and claims to have built a community of over 10 million listeners and creators.
The company is reportedly preparing for a potential public listing, having appointed Kotak Mahindra Capital, Axis Bank, and Morgan Stanley as bankers for a proposed $200 million IPO.
However, Kuku FM still needs to complete the initial step of becoming a public entity in India.
In its last funding round, Kuku FM raised $85 million in October, led by Granite Asia, bringing its total funding to over $156 million.
Financially, Kuku FM reported a 175% increase in revenue, reaching ₹241.5 crore for FY25, up from ₹87.9 crore in FY24. However, its net loss widened to ₹152.6 crore from ₹95.7 crore the previous year, largely due to increased advertising expenditures.
