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Aakash Kumar (CEO) and Kshitiz Sudhakar (COO)
KathaVersse Media Network, a content IP studio specializing in creating enduring universe and franchise-driven content, has raised $400,000 in a seed funding round led by Roshan Abbas, the founder of Encompass & Kommune, and included contributions from several marquee angel investors such as Gaurav Kapur, Samit Garg, Dhawal Gusain, and others.
Who are the founders?
Founded by Aakash Kumar and Kshitiz Sudhakar, The founders, with over 7 years of experience in digital-first filmmaking, have previously created hit IPs that have amassed over 1.5 billion views on social platforms and have been featured on prominent platforms like Sony Liv, Jio Cinema, Disney+Hotstar, Zee5, and YouTube.
KathaVersse is on a mission to become India’s premier universe and franchise-driven entertainment IP company, focusing on creating IPs with a minimum shelf life of 7 years, primarily for tier 2 and tier 3 audiences.
What does KathaVersse do?
KathaVersse wants to redefine content creation with its content-first approach, aiming to build AVOD and SVOD verticals for both fiction and nonfiction content.
The company aims to establish an IP-driven MCN on social platforms, supported by an advertiser-supported model, in response to the booming Indian video OTT market, which is projected to reach $3.5 billion by 2027, according to a report by PwC.
The company has said that its USP is a dedicated core team of IP creators, including writers, directors, and creative producers, who are committed to the company's universe-driven storytelling approach.
What are its future plans?
KathaVersse is planning to release a series of original long-form content under their fiction brand, Antenaaa Studios, and is also launching a YouTube channel by March 2024 to expand its social distribution network with premium fiction web shows.
In addition to fiction, KathaVersse is also focusing on non-fiction content under their existing brand, Digital Commentary, which already has a subscriber base of 106K.
The brand aims to be a one-stop companion for audiences, offering a variety of infotainment content, including premium chat shows, podcasts, reality shows, and game show IPs centred around films and web shows.
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