Kuku FM Founder Story: How a Farmer’s Son Built a ₹1,484 Crore Audio and Microdrama Business
Lal Chand Bisu, CEO and co-founder of Kuku FM, built a successful audio and digital entertainment business from the ground up. What started as a podcast platform in 2018 has expanded into audio stories, short-form videos and learning content. The company reported ₹1,484.2 crore in operating revenue in FY26, marking significant growth.
A village in Sikar and a first-batch seat at IIT Jodhpur
Bisu grew up in Bathot village in Rajasthan's Sikar district, where he primarily spoke Shekhawati. After completing school locally, he moved to Sikar town and later joined the first batch of IIT Jodhpur in 2008, graduating in 2012. Coming from a farming family, he took an education loan and chose entrepreneurship over a conventional job. His grandmother's storytelling also influenced his appreciation for regional languages and stories.
EasyPrep, Toppr and the itch to start again
After graduation, Bisu founded EasyPrep, an education and test-preparation company that he built with Vinod Kumar Meena. The business initially grew but eventually struggled to expand. In 2015, Toppr made an acqui-hire offer, and Bisu worked there for around two and a half years before leaving to start another venture. In 2018, he teamed up again with Meena and Vikas Goyal, with clearly defined responsibilities for their next business.
A podcast app nobody wanted, then a quality bar
Kuku FM initially launched as a podcast platform in June 2018, but the founders soon realised that mainstream Hindi-speaking audiences were not interested in traditional podcasts. Their next attempt at user-generated audio also failed because of quality issues. The company then shifted towards professionally produced audio content, introducing strict quality checks. Direct conversations with users helped the team understand their content preferences and willingness to pay.
The 399 rupee bet on Bharat
In January 2021, Kuku FM introduced its first paid subscription at ₹399 per year, despite advice to build a larger free user base first. The company later moved to monthly and quarterly subscription plans, aligning prices with familiar telecom recharge patterns. Its paid subscriber base reportedly grew to more than 10 million across Kuku FM, Kuku TV and Guru by June 2026, while annual content spending increased to over ₹200 crore.
Who backed Kuku FM, and how much
Kuku FM received early investments from India Quotient and 3one4 Capital before attracting larger investors. Vertex Ventures led its $5.5 million Series A, followed by funding rounds involving Fundamentum, IFC and Granite Asia. In October 2025, the company raised $85 million at an estimated $500 million valuation, more than doubling its previous valuation.
Kuku TV, Dhoni and the move beyond audio
With improvements in AI technology, Kuku FM began exploring video content alongside audio. AI tools helped the company increase its advertising video production significantly without increasing costs. It launched Kuku TV, a short-form vertical video and microdrama platform, in 2025, which reportedly accounted for more than 60% of its total usage. The company also introduced Guru, a separate learning platform, expanding beyond its original audio business.
FY26: a profit with footnotes
Kuku Technologies reported a major financial improvement in FY26, recording ₹1,484.2 crore in operating revenue, compared with ₹241.6 crore in FY25. The company also reported a net profit of ₹182.7 crore, reversing a loss of ₹152.6 crore in the previous financial year. These results highlight its rapid expansion across audio, video and learning platforms.
Lal Chand Bisu, CEO and co-founder of Kuku FM, built a successful audio and digital entertainment business from the ground up. What started as a podcast platform in 2018 has expanded into audio stories, short-form videos and learning content. The company reported ₹1,484.2 crore in operating revenue in FY26, marking significant growth.
A village in Sikar and a first-batch seat at IIT Jodhpur
Bisu grew up in Bathot village in Rajasthan's Sikar district, where he primarily spoke Shekhawati. After completing school locally, he moved to Sikar town and later joined the first batch of IIT Jodhpur in 2008, graduating in 2012. Coming from a farming family, he took an education loan and chose entrepreneurship over a conventional job. His grandmother's storytelling also influenced his appreciation for regional languages and stories.
EasyPrep, Toppr and the itch to start again
After graduation, Bisu founded EasyPrep, an education and test-preparation company that he built with Vinod Kumar Meena. The business initially grew but eventually struggled to expand. In 2015, Toppr made an acqui-hire offer, and Bisu worked there for around two and a half years before leaving to start another venture. In 2018, he teamed up again with Meena and Vikas Goyal, with clearly defined responsibilities for their next business.
A podcast app nobody wanted, then a quality bar
Kuku FM initially launched as a podcast platform in June 2018, but the founders soon realised that mainstream Hindi-speaking audiences were not interested in traditional podcasts. Their next attempt at user-generated audio also failed because of quality issues. The company then shifted towards professionally produced audio content, introducing strict quality checks. Direct conversations with users helped the team understand their content preferences and willingness to pay.
The 399 rupee bet on Bharat
In January 2021, Kuku FM introduced its first paid subscription at ₹399 per year, despite advice to build a larger free user base first. The company later moved to monthly and quarterly subscription plans, aligning prices with familiar telecom recharge patterns. Its paid subscriber base reportedly grew to more than 10 million across Kuku FM, Kuku TV and Guru by June 2026, while annual content spending increased to over ₹200 crore.
Who backed Kuku FM, and how much
Kuku FM received early investments from India Quotient and 3one4 Capital before attracting larger investors. Vertex Ventures led its $5.5 million Series A, followed by funding rounds involving Fundamentum, IFC and Granite Asia. In October 2025, the company raised $85 million at an estimated $500 million valuation, more than doubling its previous valuation.
Kuku TV, Dhoni and the move beyond audio
With improvements in AI technology, Kuku FM began exploring video content alongside audio. AI tools helped the company increase its advertising video production significantly without increasing costs. It launched Kuku TV, a short-form vertical video and microdrama platform, in 2025, which reportedly accounted for more than 60% of its total usage. The company also introduced Guru, a separate learning platform, expanding beyond its original audio business.
FY26: a profit with footnotes
Kuku Technologies reported a major financial improvement in FY26, recording ₹1,484.2 crore in operating revenue, compared with ₹241.6 crore in FY25. The company also reported a net profit of ₹182.7 crore, reversing a loss of ₹152.6 crore in the previous financial year. These results highlight its rapid expansion across audio, video and learning platforms.
Bisu grew up in Bathot village in Rajasthan's Sikar district, where he primarily spoke Shekhawati. After completing school locally, he moved to Sikar town and later joined the first batch of IIT Jodhpur in 2008, graduating in 2012. Coming from a farming family, he took an education loan and chose entrepreneurship over a conventional job. His grandmother's storytelling also influenced his appreciation for regional languages and stories.
EasyPrep, Toppr and the itch to start again
After graduation, Bisu founded EasyPrep, an education and test-preparation company that he built with Vinod Kumar Meena. The business initially grew but eventually struggled to expand. In 2015, Toppr made an acqui-hire offer, and Bisu worked there for around two and a half years before leaving to start another venture. In 2018, he teamed up again with Meena and Vikas Goyal, with clearly defined responsibilities for their next business.
A podcast app nobody wanted, then a quality bar
Kuku FM initially launched as a podcast platform in June 2018, but the founders soon realised that mainstream Hindi-speaking audiences were not interested in traditional podcasts. Their next attempt at user-generated audio also failed because of quality issues. The company then shifted towards professionally produced audio content, introducing strict quality checks. Direct conversations with users helped the team understand their content preferences and willingness to pay.
The 399 rupee bet on Bharat
In January 2021, Kuku FM introduced its first paid subscription at ₹399 per year, despite advice to build a larger free user base first. The company later moved to monthly and quarterly subscription plans, aligning prices with familiar telecom recharge patterns. Its paid subscriber base reportedly grew to more than 10 million across Kuku FM, Kuku TV and Guru by June 2026, while annual content spending increased to over ₹200 crore.
Who backed Kuku FM, and how much
Kuku FM received early investments from India Quotient and 3one4 Capital before attracting larger investors. Vertex Ventures led its $5.5 million Series A, followed by funding rounds involving Fundamentum, IFC and Granite Asia. In October 2025, the company raised $85 million at an estimated $500 million valuation, more than doubling its previous valuation.
Kuku TV, Dhoni and the move beyond audio
With improvements in AI technology, Kuku FM began exploring video content alongside audio. AI tools helped the company increase its advertising video production significantly without increasing costs. It launched Kuku TV, a short-form vertical video and microdrama platform, in 2025, which reportedly accounted for more than 60% of its total usage. The company also introduced Guru, a separate learning platform, expanding beyond its original audio business.
FY26: a profit with footnotes
Kuku Technologies reported a major financial improvement in FY26, recording ₹1,484.2 crore in operating revenue, compared with ₹241.6 crore in FY25. The company also reported a net profit of ₹182.7 crore, reversing a loss of ₹152.6 crore in the previous financial year. These results highlight its rapid expansion across audio, video and learning platforms.
After graduation, Bisu founded EasyPrep, an education and test-preparation company that he built with Vinod Kumar Meena. The business initially grew but eventually struggled to expand. In 2015, Toppr made an acqui-hire offer, and Bisu worked there for around two and a half years before leaving to start another venture. In 2018, he teamed up again with Meena and Vikas Goyal, with clearly defined responsibilities for their next business.
A podcast app nobody wanted, then a quality bar
Kuku FM initially launched as a podcast platform in June 2018, but the founders soon realised that mainstream Hindi-speaking audiences were not interested in traditional podcasts. Their next attempt at user-generated audio also failed because of quality issues. The company then shifted towards professionally produced audio content, introducing strict quality checks. Direct conversations with users helped the team understand their content preferences and willingness to pay.
The 399 rupee bet on Bharat
In January 2021, Kuku FM introduced its first paid subscription at ₹399 per year, despite advice to build a larger free user base first. The company later moved to monthly and quarterly subscription plans, aligning prices with familiar telecom recharge patterns. Its paid subscriber base reportedly grew to more than 10 million across Kuku FM, Kuku TV and Guru by June 2026, while annual content spending increased to over ₹200 crore.
Who backed Kuku FM, and how much
Kuku FM received early investments from India Quotient and 3one4 Capital before attracting larger investors. Vertex Ventures led its $5.5 million Series A, followed by funding rounds involving Fundamentum, IFC and Granite Asia. In October 2025, the company raised $85 million at an estimated $500 million valuation, more than doubling its previous valuation.
Kuku TV, Dhoni and the move beyond audio
With improvements in AI technology, Kuku FM began exploring video content alongside audio. AI tools helped the company increase its advertising video production significantly without increasing costs. It launched Kuku TV, a short-form vertical video and microdrama platform, in 2025, which reportedly accounted for more than 60% of its total usage. The company also introduced Guru, a separate learning platform, expanding beyond its original audio business.
FY26: a profit with footnotes
Kuku Technologies reported a major financial improvement in FY26, recording ₹1,484.2 crore in operating revenue, compared with ₹241.6 crore in FY25. The company also reported a net profit of ₹182.7 crore, reversing a loss of ₹152.6 crore in the previous financial year. These results highlight its rapid expansion across audio, video and learning platforms.
Kuku FM initially launched as a podcast platform in June 2018, but the founders soon realised that mainstream Hindi-speaking audiences were not interested in traditional podcasts. Their next attempt at user-generated audio also failed because of quality issues. The company then shifted towards professionally produced audio content, introducing strict quality checks. Direct conversations with users helped the team understand their content preferences and willingness to pay.
The 399 rupee bet on Bharat
In January 2021, Kuku FM introduced its first paid subscription at ₹399 per year, despite advice to build a larger free user base first. The company later moved to monthly and quarterly subscription plans, aligning prices with familiar telecom recharge patterns. Its paid subscriber base reportedly grew to more than 10 million across Kuku FM, Kuku TV and Guru by June 2026, while annual content spending increased to over ₹200 crore.
Who backed Kuku FM, and how much
Kuku FM received early investments from India Quotient and 3one4 Capital before attracting larger investors. Vertex Ventures led its $5.5 million Series A, followed by funding rounds involving Fundamentum, IFC and Granite Asia. In October 2025, the company raised $85 million at an estimated $500 million valuation, more than doubling its previous valuation.
Kuku TV, Dhoni and the move beyond audio
With improvements in AI technology, Kuku FM began exploring video content alongside audio. AI tools helped the company increase its advertising video production significantly without increasing costs. It launched Kuku TV, a short-form vertical video and microdrama platform, in 2025, which reportedly accounted for more than 60% of its total usage. The company also introduced Guru, a separate learning platform, expanding beyond its original audio business.
FY26: a profit with footnotes
Kuku Technologies reported a major financial improvement in FY26, recording ₹1,484.2 crore in operating revenue, compared with ₹241.6 crore in FY25. The company also reported a net profit of ₹182.7 crore, reversing a loss of ₹152.6 crore in the previous financial year. These results highlight its rapid expansion across audio, video and learning platforms.
In January 2021, Kuku FM introduced its first paid subscription at ₹399 per year, despite advice to build a larger free user base first. The company later moved to monthly and quarterly subscription plans, aligning prices with familiar telecom recharge patterns. Its paid subscriber base reportedly grew to more than 10 million across Kuku FM, Kuku TV and Guru by June 2026, while annual content spending increased to over ₹200 crore.
Who backed Kuku FM, and how much
Kuku FM received early investments from India Quotient and 3one4 Capital before attracting larger investors. Vertex Ventures led its $5.5 million Series A, followed by funding rounds involving Fundamentum, IFC and Granite Asia. In October 2025, the company raised $85 million at an estimated $500 million valuation, more than doubling its previous valuation.
Kuku TV, Dhoni and the move beyond audio
With improvements in AI technology, Kuku FM began exploring video content alongside audio. AI tools helped the company increase its advertising video production significantly without increasing costs. It launched Kuku TV, a short-form vertical video and microdrama platform, in 2025, which reportedly accounted for more than 60% of its total usage. The company also introduced Guru, a separate learning platform, expanding beyond its original audio business.
FY26: a profit with footnotes
Kuku Technologies reported a major financial improvement in FY26, recording ₹1,484.2 crore in operating revenue, compared with ₹241.6 crore in FY25. The company also reported a net profit of ₹182.7 crore, reversing a loss of ₹152.6 crore in the previous financial year. These results highlight its rapid expansion across audio, video and learning platforms.
Kuku FM received early investments from India Quotient and 3one4 Capital before attracting larger investors. Vertex Ventures led its $5.5 million Series A, followed by funding rounds involving Fundamentum, IFC and Granite Asia. In October 2025, the company raised $85 million at an estimated $500 million valuation, more than doubling its previous valuation.
Kuku TV, Dhoni and the move beyond audio
With improvements in AI technology, Kuku FM began exploring video content alongside audio. AI tools helped the company increase its advertising video production significantly without increasing costs. It launched Kuku TV, a short-form vertical video and microdrama platform, in 2025, which reportedly accounted for more than 60% of its total usage. The company also introduced Guru, a separate learning platform, expanding beyond its original audio business.
FY26: a profit with footnotes
Kuku Technologies reported a major financial improvement in FY26, recording ₹1,484.2 crore in operating revenue, compared with ₹241.6 crore in FY25. The company also reported a net profit of ₹182.7 crore, reversing a loss of ₹152.6 crore in the previous financial year. These results highlight its rapid expansion across audio, video and learning platforms.
With improvements in AI technology, Kuku FM began exploring video content alongside audio. AI tools helped the company increase its advertising video production significantly without increasing costs. It launched Kuku TV, a short-form vertical video and microdrama platform, in 2025, which reportedly accounted for more than 60% of its total usage. The company also introduced Guru, a separate learning platform, expanding beyond its original audio business.
FY26: a profit with footnotes
Kuku Technologies reported a major financial improvement in FY26, recording ₹1,484.2 crore in operating revenue, compared with ₹241.6 crore in FY25. The company also reported a net profit of ₹182.7 crore, reversing a loss of ₹152.6 crore in the previous financial year. These results highlight its rapid expansion across audio, video and learning platforms.
Kuku Technologies reported a major financial improvement in FY26, recording ₹1,484.2 crore in operating revenue, compared with ₹241.6 crore in FY25. The company also reported a net profit of ₹182.7 crore, reversing a loss of ₹152.6 crore in the previous financial year. These results highlight its rapid expansion across audio, video and learning platforms.
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