iWorld
Times Internet’s Gaana.com looks to raise $150 million
MUMBAI: After music streaming service Saavn raised over $100 million not so long ago, its competitor Times Internet’s Gaana.com is all set to make a similar move in order to expand its base and invade newer territories. If industry sources are to be believed, the venture is looking to raise over $150 million.
While Gaana.com business head Pawan Agarwal confirmed to Indiantelevision.com on the fund raising, he declined to disclose the amount as well as the parties that were looking at investing into the venture.
“India is a vast market and we have aspirations of expansion and to fuel that we plan to raise funds through venture capitals and other private investors,” said Agarwal.
It may be recalled that recently, Saavn announced its move to enter into delivering video content to its subscribers. When queried as to whether Gaana was also looking to take the same route, Agarwal replied, “At this point of time, we do not have such plans. There is enough room in the music streaming market and we are concentrating on that.”
So far, the Times Group has invested $25 million in Gaana.com, which has crossed 22 million downloads across Android and iOS as well as clocked 16 million monthly active users. On the other hand, Saavn, which was founded in 2007, has 14 million monthly active users, up from 11 million in the first quarter of 2015. What’s more, it expects to cross 20 million by the end of the year.
The music streaming players in India are planning thick and fast so as not to leave the market wide open for rivals.
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.
