Mobile entertainment startup ReelSaga raises $2.1 million in a seed funding round

Mobile entertainment startup ReelSaga has raised $2.1 million in a seed funding round led by Picus Capital, with participation from ITI Growth Opportunities Fund, Nazara Technologies, 8i Ventures, Waveform Ventures, Warmup Ventures, Bombay54, Bharat Founders Fund, and several angel investors.

The funding will be used to enhance app development and scale up production of hyper-localised, high-quality short-form dramas for mobile audiences in India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

What does ReelSaga do?

Founded in 2024 by serial entrepreneurs Shubh Bansal, Shanu Vivek, and Ritesh Pandey—who previously co-founded auto platform Truebil, later acquired by Spinny—ReelSaga is building what it calls a new category of "mobile-native storytelling." 

The startup's app, now live, delivers vertical, short-form dramas told in 1–2 minute episodes, optimised for smartphone consumption and designed for rapid bingeing.

"Vertical short dramas are a cultural revolution. More and more users are turning to short-form video for entertainment. It’s quick, emotionally resonant, and binge-worthy — drama doesn’t need to be 40 minutes long to move you," said Shubh Bansal, Co-founder and CEO of ReelSaga.

"We're using data science and product innovations to push the boundaries of short-form video, delivering hyper-personalised, mobile-first storytelling that resonates deeply with our audience," added Shanu Vivek, Co-founder & Head of Product and Data.

ReelSaga's model is inspired by China's booming microdrama industry, which produces over 5,000 titles annually and has reportedly surpassed the country's traditional box office in revenue. The startup aims to replicate this success with content tailored to Indian and regional sensibilities, deploying serialised narratives across 50–100 episode arcs.

“We're excited to back ReelSaga as they pioneer an entirely new category of storytelling in India," said Abhijay Thacker, Senior Vice President at Picus Capital.

"The team brings a rare combination of hustle, clarity, and creative ambition. Microdramas are not just a passing trend — they're poised to become the default format for an entire generation of mobile viewers. We believe ReelSaga can lead that shift."

"ReelSaga is building where the market is going — mobile-first, story-rich, and culturally rooted. The format is fresh, the vision is bold, and the team knows how to execute. We see them defining a whole new category for Indian entertainment," added Mohit Gulati, Managing Partner at ITI Growth.