Latest news with #StellarisVenturePartners
Mint
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Micro-drama startups are vying with Reels and Shorts for screen time
Manisha, a 37-year-old domestic worker, boards a local train every morning from Sion to Dadar in Mumbai—her short 10-minute ride serving as a sanctuary removed from the humdrum and chaos of the day. Like many urban Indians, her wait time is also her watch time. On her smartphone screen, between jostling elbows and station stops, she watches short-form videos—sometimes a quick reel, sometimes a bite-sized soap opera on YouTube. While Reels and Shorts dominate screen time during commutes and idle moments, the human pull towards compelling stories remains strong. 'These few minutes are mine, I don't have time for full shows," said Manisha. This behaviour—short bursts of downtime spent snacking content—is precisely what a new wave of Indian startups is trying to tap into. Micro-dramas, 2 to 3-minute serialized episodes packed with plot twists and emotional payoffs, are vying for eyeballs that would otherwise be doomscrolling through Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts. 'We want to borrow time from Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts," says Kushal Singhal, founder of Flick TV, which recently raised $2.3 million in a funding round led by Stellaris Venture Partners. 'Storytelling was missing in snackable time. Everyone was consuming reels and shorts, but they weren't remembering them." A Flick TV series packs 50–60 micro-episodes, each 2–3-minute long—designed to fit into commute windows, tea breaks, or lunch lulls. Inspired by China's 3-7-21 content formula—scene changes every 3 seconds, hook every 7, and emotion shifts every 21—these bite-sized sagas aim to turn passive scrolling into active engagement. Also read | Instagram's 'Blend' lets friends share Reels; influencers see audience surge While 70% of India's video consumption now happens on mobile, attention spans have plunged. 'We're adapting storytelling to fit the new attention window," says Singhal. 'The audience hasn't disappeared—they've just changed formats." Unlike traditional user-generated content (UGC), these platforms focus on Professionally Generated Content (PGC) across genres like love, crime, heartbreak, and fantasy. The audience is largely commuters, shopkeepers, and housewives—people with 'wait time," not 'spare time." Another entrant, Bullet, co-founded by Azim Lalani and backed by Zee Entertainment, is going even deeper beyond metros to tier-2 and tier-3 towns. Bullet is preparing to launch in seven regional languages across India. 'This is the same audience that used to watch 30-minute soap operas—now they want that in two minutes," says Lalani. Each Bullet story spans 60–100 minutes, with serialised episodes running between 60 and 120 seconds. Moreover, Lalani emphasised their focus on culturally-resonant content. 'We don't want to show a lot of things which are not acceptable as Indian culture," he said. Read this | Shorts and reels make Netflix to Amazon Prime sweat Gamified mechanics let users unlock episodes via daily check-ins, referrals, and earned tokens. 'It's not just content—it's entertainment layered with game design, affordability, and personalization," Lalani explains. Monetisation remains a challenge Despite the promise that short videos hold, monetization remains the single biggest challenge for micro-drama platforms. 'Advertising is constrained by India's low cost per mille (CPMs), and subscriptions rarely work for short-form content. Micro-payments may hold promise—but they remain unproven at scale," says Ashish Pherwani, partner, media and entertainment at EY India. Advertising revenues alone may not be enough to sustain high-quality micro-drama production, he added. Bullet and Flick TV both plan to experiment with micro-payment models—users can unlock episodes individually or opt into flexible subscription packs. Brand integrations and narrative-based product placements are also being explored as alternative revenue streams. 'There's a belief that good content is platform-agnostic," says Pherwani. 'But short-form alone doesn't guarantee stickiness. You need compelling stories, not just format." Also read | Long-format content consumption growing on YouTube in India as connected TV penetration deepens Newer entrants are building with a tech-first and data-backed approach. 'The real moat is on the supply side: content velocity and hit rate," says Mayank Jain, principal at Stellaris Venture Partners, adding that this category won't be built on branded talent or stars—it'll be built on compelling storylines and high-volume original content. Bullet is already building a Customer Data Platform (CDP) from day one to track viewer behaviour, content preferences, and monetisation trends. 'Once you have this data, it will lead to better personalization and pricing strategies," says Lalani. Format is the wrapper, story is the core According to Tracxn data and Mint research, short-form video platforms in India are surging in 2025. Reel Saga, founded in 2024, has more than 50,000 downloads and raised $2.1M from Picus Capital. Flick TV crossed 50,00,000 downloads, while Reelies has downloads in excess of 500,000, more than 3,000 monthly content hours from 450,000 users, and viral hits like Contract Marriage with 3.5 million views. Kuku TV, launched by Kuku FM in 2025, crossed 5 million beta downloads, offering 2-min vertical dramas powered by its 45,00,000 million paying audio user base. However, industry veterans caution against chasing format fads. 'Micro-dramas are not new—we're just calling them something else," says Pherwani. 'What matters is the story. A strong IP should be adaptable to any format—film, audio, series, or short," he added. And read | Content studios turn to YouTube to launch new originals despite surge in premium streaming platforms But even as platforms fight for seconds of screen time, the goal remains simple: deliver emotional payoff in the least amount of time possible. As Lalani puts it, 'It's not spare time—it's wait time. And that's now becoming entertainment time."
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Secured lending NBFC Techfino secures Rs 65 crore funding
Bengaluru-based non-banking finance company Techfino has raised Rs 65 crore in an equity funding round led by Stellaris Venture Partners and Saison Capital, which is the venture arm of Japanese consumer finance major Credit Saison. Founded in 2019, Techfino had raised around Rs 18 crore till now from DCB Bank and others. Techfino was started by three senior bankers, Rajesh Panda, Ratikanta Satpathy and Jayaprakash Patra, who worked with the likes of Standard Chartered Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Bajaj Finance. Techfino started with funding fees for coaching classes and school fees, higher education and upskilling courses. The company has recently started offering loans against property to small business establishments as its second line of product. The plan is to scale up this second line of business in the coming months, tapping into the growing demand for small business company has a book of Rs 225 crore, which it wants to scale up to Rs 350 crore, with Rs 200 crore AUM being built in the LAP portfolio. For the secured loan business, Techfino leverages a branch-led model in states across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It has 30 branches currently, which the company wants to double by FY26.'We will offer loans in the range of Rs 8 to 12 lakh, typically looking for self-occupied property, catering to the needs of small shopkeepers, traders,' said Ratikanta Satpathy, cofounder, Techfino. From the current base of around 400 employees, Techfino wants to scale up its branch presence and also increase its headcount to around 600 by the end of this year. The firm closed FY25 with a total revenue of Rs 34 crore and a profit before tax of Rs 1.5 crore.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Secured lending NBFC Techfino secures Rs 65 crore funding
Bengaluru-based non-banking finance company Techfino has raised Rs 65 crore in an equity funding round led by Stellaris Venture Partners and Saison Capital , which is the venture arm of Japanese consumer finance major Credit Saison. Founded in 2019, Techfino had raised around Rs 18 crore till now from DCB Bank and others. Techfino was started by three senior bankers, Rajesh Panda, Ratikanta Satpathy and Jayaprakash Patra, who worked with the likes of Standard Chartered Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Bajaj Finance. Techfino started with funding fees for coaching classes and school fees, higher education and upskilling courses. The company has recently started offering loans against property to small business establishments as its second line of product. The plan is to scale up this second line of business in the coming months, tapping into the growing demand for small business loans. The company has a book of Rs 225 crore, which it wants to scale up to Rs 350 crore, with Rs 200 crore AUM being built in the LAP portfolio. For the secured loan business, Techfino leverages a branch-led model in states across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It has 30 branches currently, which the company wants to double by FY26. 'We will offer loans in the range of Rs 8 to 12 lakh, typically looking for self-occupied property, catering to the needs of small shopkeepers, traders,' said Ratikanta Satpathy, cofounder, Techfino. From the current base of around 400 employees, Techfino wants to scale up its branch presence and also increase its headcount to around 600 by the end of this year. The firm closed FY25 with a total revenue of Rs 34 crore and a profit before tax of Rs 1.5 crore. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Zouk eyes Rs 1000 crore revenue in 4-5 years, doubles down on premium play and offline retail
New Delhi: Homegrown vegan lifestyle brand Zouk is gearing up for its next phase of growth with a target of reaching Rs 1,000 crore in revenue in the next 4-5 years and eventually hit the bourses, a company's official said. As of March 31, 2024, the company had reported an annual turnover of Rs 78.2 crore. However, it did not share the previous year's revenue figures. Having established a strong digital-first presence , Zouk is now turning its focus to exclusive brand outlets (EBOs), premium product launches, and a strategic global foray, co-founder and COO Pradeep Krishnakumar said in an interview with ETRetail. 'We've built a strong digital foundation, but we've always believed Zouk is a brand consumers want to touch and feel,' he said. 'That's where offline retail becomes critical.' The company currently operates over 10 EBOs and plans to expand to reach 20 stores by the end of this year. The brand's offline footprint has primarily focused on cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and tier 2 regions such as Indore, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad. 'Our expansion strategy includes entering more high-street locations and malls in non-metro cities, which are showing promising traction,' he shared. Talking about the brand's hero product, Krishnakumar said, "Our office bags continue to be the hero product. It's that sweet spot where style meets utility, and Indian women relate to it deeply." He added that laptop sleeves and slings have also gained traction, while backpacks, introduced recently, are being tested for scale. 'We don't expand categories for the sake of it — we evaluate data, market gaps, and customer demand,' he said. Premiumisation with purpose When asked about its premium offerings, he said, 'Premium in India can't just mean gold zips and a higher price tag. Our customers are value-conscious — they expect better materials, smarter compartments, and more thoughtful design.' The Rhea Kapoor x Zouk collection , launched earlier this year, represents this premium shift. The range has helped Zouk move into the higher price bracket while maintaining its vegan, cruelty-free promise. Zouk had raised $14.8 million in funding from investors like Stellaris Venture Partners, Titan Capital and Aavishkaar Capital. While the company isn't profitable yet, Krishnakumar said it's running a capital-efficient model. 'We are close to profitability but this is a build phase for us. We're investing in brand, retail, and team — profitability will follow,' he said. Offline retail is a big part of that build. 'We're not rushing into hundreds of stores. It's a phased rollout with a clear view on unit economics and brand visibility,' he added. Zouk is also looking beyond India. The company is exploring select global markets, starting with the US, Europe, and the Middle East. 'We've had early conversations internationally and we plan to start some work this fiscal. But for now, India remains our primary focus,' Krishnakumar said.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bengaluru tweet brawl: Zoho's Sridhar Vembu sparks debate on migration and city's future; tech investor pushes back hard - 'Can't disagree more'
After Bengaluru's floods, Zoho's Sridhar Vembu criticized rural joblessness and migration for straining the city's infrastructure. Investor Ritesh Banglani strongly disagreed, emphasizing that urbanization is vital for economic growth and dismissing 'overcrowding' as a coded blame on outsiders. Their public disagreement exposes a deeper debate over responsibility, development, and inclusivity in Bengaluru's evolving urban landscape. Bengaluru's infrastructure woes sparked a fierce debate between Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu and investor Ritesh Banglani. Vembu blamed rural migration and cash-transfer politics for the city's challenges, while Banglani rejected the 'overcrowding' claim, calling it a harmful nativist narrative. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 'A Dangerous Gandhian Fantasy' — The Strong Rebuttal Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Fight Over Narratives A City at Crossroads: Who Gets to Shape Bengaluru's Future? What started as a commentary on Bengaluru's rain-battered infrastructure quickly escalated into a heated ideological face-off. Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu's recent remarks about Bengaluru's urban chaos and his suggestion that the city is buckling under the weight of unchecked rural migration have triggered sharp criticism — and Bengaluru's tech community isn't taking it parts of India's IT capital went underwater this week, Vembu took to X (formerly Twitter) to lament that the city 'aspires to join the first world,' but struggles with the 'harsh reality of a vast population in poverty' whose votes are influenced by cash transfer schemes. He further argued that rural joblessness is driving waves of migration into the city, overwhelming its already creaking infrastructure. In a particularly contentious line, Vembu suggested that Bengaluru's quality of life hinges on 'how many people we succeed in not sending to Bengaluru from rural India.'Ritesh Banglani, Bengaluru-based investor and co-founder of Stellaris Venture Partners, didn't mince words in his rebuttal. 'Can't disagree more,' he fired back in his own Twitter post, taking aim at both the logic and tone of Vembu's countered that Bengaluru is far from being 'overcrowded,' pointing out that it doesn't even rank among the top 20 cities in Asia in terms of population or density. The city, he argued, has no geographical barriers preventing sustainable expansion — its crisis lies also called Vembu's vision of restricting rural-to-urban migration a 'dangerous Gandhian fantasy,' warning that economic growth and urbanization are inseparable in any modern economy. 'If we have to grow, we need to wean our people off the land and into cities,' he debate took a more pointed turn when Banglani accused Vembu's language of carrying a hidden message. 'Anyone who understands the politics of Bangalore knows 'overcrowded' is a dog-whistle for 'overcrowded with outsiders,'' he wrote, suggesting that such framing unfairly blames migrant populations — often minorities with little political representation — instead of holding city governance he added, feeds into a 'nativist narrative' that tech leaders should be actively pushing back against, not the heart of the debate is a larger question: Who is responsible for Bengaluru's faltering infrastructure — the migrants chasing opportunity, or the policymakers failing to prepare for inevitable urban expansion?Sridhar Vembu, whose own ventures are deeply rooted in rural development and decentralization, appears to frame urban woes as a symptom of policy failure at the grassroots level. But critics argue that framing migrants as the problem not only diverts attention from governance failures but risks entrenching divisions in a city known for its cosmopolitan Bengaluru continues to grapple with flooding, traffic snarls, and civic discontent, this very public disagreement among India's tech elite offers more than just soundbites. It reveals the ideological crossroads at which the country stands — one between embracing urbanization as a force for progress, and retreating into protectionist the millions who call Bengaluru home, the resolution of this debate isn't just academic. It could shape the city's next chapter.
