iWorld
Q India Launches Mobile App Targeting 300M+ Smartphone Audience in India
MUMBAI: QYOU Media (TSXV:QYOU; OTCQB: QYOUF), announced today its launch of the Q India mobile app on the Google Play store. Featuring content from top local creators and talent, the direct-to-consumer app significantly expands Q India’s footprint within India, and to the additional tens of millions of expatriate fans of Indian-created content globally.
The mobile app market has exploded worldwide, with India surpassing the US in mobile app downloads, and now second only to China. The Q India app, available globally through the Google Play Store, will allow users access to the channel’s 24/7 linear stream of premium digital-first content from India’s top creators, along with individual video on-demand offerings of all episodes.
Curt Marvis, CEO and Co-Founder of QYOU Media, commented: “India is one of the fastest growing mobile markets in the world and provides the perfect opportunity for us to launch a new, youth-oriented mobile app that taps into this. We know from working with leading digital creators in India – like Culture Machine, Pocket Aces, The Comic Wallah and others – that there is a real appetite from young Indians for content that reflects local themes and culture. Q India is fast becoming recognized as having the best of this content all in one place, and now with the app we are also enabling audiences that have grown-up watching online video on a daily basis to access their favorite curated content on their favored devices.”
The launch follows on from the appointment earlier this year of former president of Sony Pictures Worldwide Networks, Andy Kaplan, as Non-Executive Chairman of Board of Directors of QYOU India Pvt (QYOU India). It also adds to the 230 million+ consumers on mobile and TV that are already engaging with QYOU’s curated content through partnerships with leading TV and mobile providers in the region.
iWorld
MS Dhoni invests in Kuku, joins Kuku TV as brand ambassador
Cricket icon backs AI storytelling platform, fronts Kuku TV campaign
MUMBAI: MS Dhoni has invested in Kuku and joined its short-form drama app Kuku TV as brand ambassador, signalling a high-profile bet on India’s fast-growing AI-led content space.
Kuku, a mobile-first storytelling platform, operates across formats with apps such as Kuku TV for micro-dramas, Kuku FM for audio content and Guru for learning-led entertainment. Founded in 2018, the company has scaled rapidly, crossing 350 million installs and building a catalogue of over 20,000 titles across multiple Indian languages.
Dhoni said his decision to invest and partner with the platform was driven by its distinct approach to storytelling and its strong growth trajectory. MS Dhoni said, “I chose to invest in Kuku, and also come on board as the ambassador for Kuku TV, because the platform really stood out to me. It has built a differentiated entertainment experience for audiences across India, spanning multiple languages and formats. The growth has been impressive, and I connect strongly with the founders, who come from small towns like mine and have built something of this scale. I believe in their vision of building an AI-driven storytelling platform from Bharat, for Bharat, and for the world.”
Founded by Lal Chand Bisu, Vinod Kumar Meena and Vikas Goyal, the platform positions itself at the intersection of technology and storytelling, using AI to create and distribute bite-sized content tailored to mobile audiences.
Sharing his perspective, Kuku co-founder and CEO Lal Chand Bisu said, “MS Dhoni is known for backing bold decisions that others might hesitate to take. At Kuku, we are also taking bold bets. That spirit of unconventional thinking resonates deeply with us.”
Adding to this, Kuku co-founder and COO Vinod Kumar Meena said, “Our beloved Thala is one of the rare personalities with truly nationwide appeal. As we build Kuku for all of India, that connection makes him a natural fit for us.”
Further, Kuku co-founder and CTO Vikas Goyal said, “MSD has a unique understanding of people. As we build for both creators and consumers, that perspective will be incredibly valuable, especially as we continue strengthening our AI-driven storytelling stack.”
Backing the momentum, Panthera Peak Capital managing director Nikhil Bhandarkar said, “Kuku’s vision, execution, and clarity of thought are exceptional, qualities that closely mirror MS Dhoni’s approach. We are excited to partner with the team as they build Kuku into a global entertainment platform.”
To mark the association, Kuku TV has rolled out the campaign Dhoni Watches Kuku TV, anchored by a brand film that plays on Dhoni’s instinctive decision-making. Built around short, engaging stories delivered in minutes, the campaign highlights the platform’s promise of quick, compelling entertainment.
With Dhoni stepping in as both investor and face of the brand, Kuku appears to be doubling down on its ambition to take AI-driven storytelling from India to a global audience, one short story at a time.
