eNews
Times Internet acquires Viral Shots; eyes 1 billion screen views
MUMBAI: Times Internet, the digital arm of the Times of India Group has acquired Gurgaon based micro video app Viral Shots for an undisclosed amount.
Founded by Shalini Tewari and Kumar Apurva, this micro content app curates stories from over 300 social and web destinations and is clocking approx 100 million screen views per month. The content shots- each with a picture and less than 60 words – are presented in a number of enthralling formats that creates a unique reading experience.
Times Internet corporate developement VP Miten Sampat says, “This fits into our prime goal of providing our readers an innovative & informative content experience. We found the format and curated content of ViralShots very addictive and their engagement with users was amazing and feel confident that this can become the number one app in its category.”
“Viral Shots has massive engagement with its audience with users launching the app several times a day and giving over 100 screen views/DAU. It’s clear we are being able to deliver content that the consumer is enjoying and we are now very excited that we can leverage the deep understanding that the Times group has in the content and mobile space to grow even faster,” adds Tewari.
Viral Shots currently serves differentiated content in English, Hindi, Bengali and Telugu and will be available in all major Indian languages by mid 2016.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
