MAM
Crackle Technologies raises $1.7 mn to revolutionise Adtech with AI solutions
Mumbai: Singapore-based Crackle Technologies has raised a $1.7M pre-seed round to build AI-based products to help publishers maximise their adtech earnings. The round was led by We Founder Circle & AC Ventures. Other investors that participated include founders of Impetus Technologies, Sunicon Ventures, Global DeVC and Misfits Capital. Importantly, founders of prominent publishers like Ludo King and others have bestowed their faith in the Crackle team and their product offering by joining as investors.
The funding will be deployed to build globally scalable products to transform programmatic advertising for publishers and developers across gaming, apps, news, and OTTs (by addressing key pain points including low fill rates, ad viewability and eCPMs). Crackle’s proprietary tech applies advanced data analytics and predictive modeling to optimise publisher’s ad revenue, automate workflows, and deliver exceptional user experiences.
Crackle is founded by three ex-Google executives, Harsh Mittal, Shashank Dudeja, and Jaivir Singh Nagi, who have a combined experience of 18 years in the publisher monetisation industry. In their professional experience, they managed billions of dollars in ad tech revenue and helped multiple publishers scale their ads monetisation 10x by introducing several industry-first innovations. Crackle’s mission is to enable publishers to maximise their earning potential and build sustainable businesses.
Commenting on the investment, WFC founder & CEO Neeraj Tyagi stated, “Publisher business models are challenged due to factors including ad blockers, privacy regulations, and the dominance of major tech platforms. Crackle’s proprietary tech addresses these challenges head-on, helping publishers scale monetisation and build sustainable business.”
One of the other investors, Apurva Chamaria added, “I’ve known the Crackle team for years and have been consistently impressed by their passion, vision, and ability to execute. Their adtech offerings have already started adding significant value to publishers and I’m thrilled to support their growth and expansion.”
Crackle co-founder Jaivir expressed his gratitude towards the investors for their trust and support, he added, “This funding will be instrumental in advancing our mission to maximise publisher revenue and fuel a thriving ecosystem of diverse content to keep the internet relevant and useful for all.”
Since its launch in 2023 Crackle has gained significant traction and its unique approach has already started to generate significant returns for publishers impacted by lower monetisation and the dominance of major tech platforms.
MAM
Time brings TIME100 Next franchise to India with Reliance
List to spotlight 100 emerging leaders, gala set for December 2026 in Mumbai.
MUMBAI: It’s about time India’s next wave got a global spotlight and now, it’s on the list. New York-headquartered Time is expanding its TIME100 Next franchise to India, partnering with Reliance Industries Limited to launch TIME100 Next India, its first international extension of the rising leaders platform. The announcement was made at the Time100 Gala in New York by Jessica Sibley and Nita Mukesh Ambani, signalling a strategic push to tap into India’s growing influence across sectors.
The India edition will recognise 100 emerging leaders from the country and the global Indian diaspora, spanning business, science, sports, arts and social impact. The list will be curated by Time’s editorial team and published online, continuing the franchise’s focus on identifying individuals shaping the future.
The initiative will culminate in a gala event scheduled for December 2026 at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, anchoring the platform within India’s cultural and business ecosystem.
TIME’s broader Time100 franchise has steadily expanded its global footprint since 2021 through events and impact-led initiatives. Executives noted that India’s growing pool of influential voices and innovators made it a natural next step for the platform’s international ambitions.
For Reliance, the partnership aligns with its broader push to support emerging talent and ideas on a global stage. For Time, it marks a timely bet on India not just as a market, but as a talent engine shaping the next chapter of global leadership.
