Best Internet First Media Companies in India
The 1420 best Internet First Media companies in India in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: VerSe.
Among the directories tracking Internet First Media companies in India, this one cuts straight to the funding signal, ranking 1,420 companies by disclosed equity raised and recent momentum. Total disclosed funding across the set: $3.0B, anchored by VerSe's $2.0B raise and Nazara's $128M, with a combined revenue pool of $2.7B across 446 filers.
The curve is bending fast in places. Play Store installs across media and online apps are up ~12% YoY, and if you look at where the profits pool, it's startling. Bennett Coleman and Company Limited books $186M in net income, roughly 18,742 times the sector median of $9,917. Times Internet Limited follows at $29M net. Median revenue growth is slightly negative at -3%, so the sector isn't uniformly surging, but the top tier is pulling hard. As 2015 research on mobile-first content distribution showed, OTT and on-demand formats reshape where ad revenue concentrates over time. I'd watch the audio-first themes here too: audio editors, playback engines, mindfulness apps are all gaining coverage traction. The ~2.3% CAGR looks modest, but the prize inside it, for the right mobile-native play, is already enormous.
Ranked: Best Internet First Media companies in India
| # | Company | App-install YoY | Disclosed funding | Revenue | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | Market signals (1y) | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lokal Online news portal for freelancer journalist to publish regional news | +500% | $32M | $3M FY2023 | 243 | Jani Pasha Co-Founder & CEO | SentryBootstrapReact+21 | 3 signals Announcements · Funding | — |
| 2 | CricHeroes Provider of cricket scoring and management platform | +42% | $1M | $1M FY2025 | 73 | Meet Shah Co-Founder | Node.jsExpressSlick+5 | — | — |
| 3 | Brandscale Innovations Manufacturer of gaming accessories | +21% | $1M | $221 FY2016 | 87 | Chee Kwan Founder | WordPressMySQLRedis+33 | — | — |
| 4 | Way2News Provider of short-form news across multiple categories and various languages | +17% | $31M | $8M FY2025 | 358 | Raju Vanapala Founder & CEO | TypeScriptNode.jsBootstrap+25 | — | — |
| 5 | Inshorts Provider of summarized news articles across various categories and sources | +13% | $125M | — | 339 | Gaurav Bhatnagar Co-Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+13 | — | — |
| 6 | JetSynthesys Provider of digital entertainment experiences across gaming, esports, music, and sports 60Moat top 25%Funding top 27%Product top 29%Customers top 29% All 13 signals ▾Moattop 25% Fundingtop 27% Producttop 29% Customerstop 29% Techtop 32% Markettop 36% Fin. healthtop 41% Talenttop 46% Growthtop 48% Newstop 48% Innovationbottom 37% Globalbottom 37% Patentsbottom 28% Moat: Top 2% by revenue among 206 tracked Mobile Gaming companies · Editorial + unicorn rating 8/10 Funding: Raised $84.7M across 11 rounds · 11 rounds over 14 yrs (0.8/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 60/100 | +8% | $85M | $45M FY2025 | 181 181 → 262 (+45%) · sector median +77% | Rajan Navani Co-Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+24 | 5 signals ▼29% Leadership · M&A · Earnings | 1 award |
| 7 | Magzter Online digital newsstand for magazines and newspapers | +5% | $13M | $2M FY2025 | 72 72 → 111 (+54%) · sector median +77% | Gautam Ramdas Founder | Node.jsApple Sign-inNext.js+16 | — | 1 partnership |
| 8 | The Quint App-based platform offering multi-category news | +3% | $6M | $607K FY2023 | 232 232 → 173 (-25%) · sector median +77% | Ritu Kapur Co-Founder and Managing Director | Cart FunctionalityQuintypeNode.js+38 | — | 1 expansion |
| 9 | Nazara Provider of diversified gaming and sports media platform 69Funding top 22%Moat top 22%Global top 25%Fin. health top 33% All 11 signals ▾Fundingtop 22% Moattop 22% Globaltop 25% Fin. healthtop 33% Markettop 34% Customerstop 37% Producttop 39% Newstop 42% Techtop 43% Growthtop 50% Talentbottom 40% Funding: Raised $128M across 14 rounds · 14 rounds over 21 yrs (0.7/yr) Moat: Top 1% by revenue among 206 tracked Mobile Gaming companies · Editorial + unicorn rating 6/10 rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 69/100 | +2% | $128M | $203M FY2025 | 74 | Nitish Mittersain Founder & CEO | Webflowcore-jsAOS+14 | 67 signals ▼64% Earnings · M&A · Funding | — |
| 10 | VerSe 🦄 Developer of a short-video platform and technology infrastructure | — | $2.0B | $245M FY2025 | 808 808 → 700 (-13%) · sector median +77% | Umang Bedi Co-Founder | PHPBootstrapGoogle Cloud+15 | 16 signals ▲60% Leadership · Earnings · IPO | 1 award |
| 11 | Sportsdunia Developer of comprehensive platform for sports news, scores, and analysis | — | $1M | — | — | Abhinav Agarwal Founder | Node.jsNextAuth.jsTailwind CSS+15 | — | 2 partnerships |
| 12 | Inc42 Online platform offering startup news | — | $4M | — | 41 | — | Cart FunctionalityWooCommerceWordPress+46 | — | — |
| 13 | Medial Online platform offering professional social networking and startup news | — | $210K | $8K FY2025 | — | Harsh Dwivedi Co-Founder | Node.jsTailwind CSSVue.js+15 | — | — |
| 14 | Knocksense Provider of multi category news portal | — | $9M | $327K FY2025 | 18 18 → 32 (+78%) · sector median +77% | Vibhore Mayank Co-Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+22 | — | 1 job opening · 1 internship |
| 15 | DharmikVibes Operator of digital platform for booking spiritual tours and rituals | — | $81K | $7K FY2025 | — | Ritu Chaudhary Co-Founder & Director | WordPress Block EditorCart FunctionalityWooCommerce+32 | — | — |
| 16 | IncNut Digital Online platform offering content related to beauty and wellness | — | $11M | $21M FY2025 | 120 120 → 265 (+121%) · sector median +77% | Sangram Simha Founder & CMO | BootstrapAmazon Web ServicesGoogle Font API+7 | — | — |
| 17 | Baby Destination Provider of a community platform with content and support for mothers | — | $14M | $4M FY2025 | 10 | — | — | — | — |
| 18 | Dailyhunt Provider of personalized news content aggregated in multiple Indian languages | — | $129M | $51M FY2025 | 268 268 → 347 (+29%) · sector median +77% | Umang Bedi Co-Founder | Node.jsFirebasestyled-components+30 | — | 1 partnership |
| 19 | Arré Digital media content platform providing online stories, videos, podcasts, and web series | — | $10M | $561K FY2025 | 20 | Niyati Merchant Co-Founder and COO | TypeScriptGraphQLNode.js+13 | — | — |
| 20 | Hungama Digital Media Streaming platforms providing music, video, news, and gaming content | — | $86M | $30M FY2024 | 238 | Hiren Haresh Ved Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 21 | ThePrint Provider of news and opinion on Indian and global affairs | — | $20M | $2M FY2025 | 111 111 → 195 (+76%) · sector median +77% | Shekhar Gupta Founder | WordPressMySQLPHP+41 | — | — |
| 22 | AiThority Online platform offering technology news | — | $2M | — | — | Roshan Mahale author | WordPressMySQLPHP+29 | — | 2 launchs |
| 23 | Finshots Provider of financial news and insights | — | $4M | $11M FY2025 | 606 | Pawan Rai Co-Founder | Node.jsUbuntuAmazon Web Services+17 | — | — |
| 24 | Toffee Online platform for health and property and casualty insurances | — | $17M | — | 49 | Nishant Jain Chief Products Officer/Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 25 | The Ken Online platform offering business news | — | $2M | $1M FY2025 | 49 49 → 103 (+110%) · sector median +77% | Seema Singh Co-Founder | WordPressMySQLZoho+16 | — | — |
| 26 | Newslaundry Provider of subscription-based independent news and analysis | — | $882K | $891K FY2025 | 24 24 → 54 (+125%) · sector median +77% | Abhinandan Sekhri Co-Founder & CEO | QuintypeSentryNode.js+22 | — | 1 job opening |
| 27 | Exchange4Media Digital publishing of news related to Indian marketing, media and advertising industry | — | $479K | $4M FY2025 | 135 135 → 275 (+104%) · sector median +77% | Amit Agnihotri Co-Founder | ZohoUbuntuApache HTTP Server+5 | — | 1 partnership |
| 28 | Asiaville Provider of a vernacular-based multimedia platform | — | $3M | $419K FY2023 | 41 | Tuhin Menon Co-Founder & CEO | BootstrapAmazon Web ServicesCloudflare+8 | — | — |
| 29 | Peepul Tree Online platform offering handcrafted products from local artisans | — | $6M | $950K FY2025 | 30 | Valsa Williams Co-Founder & Director | ShopifyCart FunctionalitySanity+30 | — | — |
| 30 | PepperTap Online source providing articles related to health, fitness, food, and diet | — | $51M | $3M FY2025 | 1,556 | — | — | — | — |
| 31 | The Arc Provider of news and analysis focused on high-growth private companies | — | $1M | $67K FY2025 | — | Madhav Chanchani Co-Founder | Node.jsNextAuth.jsTailwind CSS+13 | — | — |
| 32 | TheNewsMinute Online platform offering multi category news | — | $2M | $538K FY2025 | 45 | Chitra Subramaniam Co-Founder | QuintypeNode.jsGoogle Sign-in+17 | — | — |
| 33 | NewsDog Provider of personalized news and entertainment content aggregation app | — | $50M | — | 1 | Yi Ma Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 34 | Momspresso Information portal for parents | — | $6M | $676K FY2024 | 86 | — | — | — | — |
| 35 | YourStory Provider of news, stories, and resources for startups and entrepreneurs | — | $12M | $4M FY2024 | 11 | Shradha Sharma Founder & CEO | WebflowAmazon Web ServicesTypekit+19 | — | 1 launch |
| 36 | Cinestaan Entertainment-focused digital media platform | — | $10M | $91K FY2025 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 37 | ThugStart Online platform publishing content focusing on startups | — | $37M | — | — | Abhishek Shah Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 38 | MissMalini Online platform publishing content focusing on lifestyle and entertainment | — | $4M | $730K FY2022 | 14 | Mike Melli Co-Founder | Cart FunctionalityNode.jsTailwind CSS+22 | — | — |
| 39 | sportscafe.in Online platform providing sports news | — | $2M | $747K FY2025 | 12 | — | Cart FunctionalityNode.jsFirebase+17 | — | — |
| 40 | POPxo Provides content platform for lifestyle/fashion, beauty, and health topics | — | $12M | $34K FY2017 | 160 | Priyanka Gill Founder & CEO | Cart FunctionalityNode.jsFacebook Login+28 | — | — |
| 41 | Glamrs Online platform providing news on women lifestyle | — | $3M | $47K FY2025 | 36 | Naveen Sadarangani Co-Founder | WordPress Site EditorWordPressMySQL+9 | — | — |
| 42 | Zongaroo It is an online magzine publishing content focusing on technology, business, entertainment and lifestyle | — | $4M | — | — | Amit Srivastava Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 43 | Hoopy Services Online marketplace for automobile service providers | — | $2M | $318K FY2021 | 45 | — | — | — | — |
| 44 | ScoopWhoop Curated entertainment content specific to Indian stories | — | $8M | $80M FY2023 | 38 | Sattvik Mishra Co-Founder | Node.jsUbuntuGoogle Sign-in+34 | — | — |
| 45 | Editorji On-demand news streaming platform | — | $6M | $190K FY2025 | 134 | Vikramaditya Chandra Founder | Node.jsVideoJSReact+24 | — | — |
| 46 | Khabri App-based news aggregator providing curated audio news | — | $2M | — | 30 | — | — | — | — |
| 47 | Molitics Mobile app that delivers political news | — | $2M | $5K FY2025 | 25 25 → 57 (+128%) · sector median +77% | Anudeep Jaglan Founder & Director at Molitics Infomedia Private Limited | Node.jsPHPFirebase+15 | — | — |
| 48 | Public Next Provider of Kannada-language online news and information | — | $457K | $92K FY2025 | 23 | Vishal Sheth Co-Founder | Node.jsTailwind CSSReact+8 | — | — |
| 49 | E-Reasoning Online news portal focused on gambling | — | $873K | $44K FY2023 | 1 | Nitin Padmawar Co-Founder & CTO | — | — | — |
| 50 | Circle Internet Local news portal with a focus on Uttar Pradesh | — | $5M | $36K FY2024 | 6 | Gaurav Agrawal Co-Founder | — | 12 signals ▲140% Earnings · IPO · Leadership | — |
Top 12 Internet First Media companies in India
#1
Series B · Pune, Maharashtra · founded 2010 · 181 employees$84.7Mraised▾
Provider of digital entertainment experiences across gaming, esports, music, and sports. The business delivers content and engagement opportunities for young audiences. It operates interconnected ecosystems focused on gaming, esports, entertainment, and sports. The business model includes digital platforms, products, and services.
- Mar 2025Series B$1.9M
- Mar 2024Series B$3M
- May 2023Series B$3M
- Aug 2022Series B$11.3M
#2
Public · Mumbai, Maharashtra · founded 1999 · 74 employees$127.9Mraised▾
Provider of diversified gaming and sports media platform. It develops learning apps for preschoolers, online playgrounds for kids, and mobile sports games. It operates a sports news website and an esports company that organizes tournaments. It also runs a games marketing agency connecting brands and publishers with gamers.
- Jan 2025Post IPO$60M
- Nov 2024Post IPO$100M
- Sep 2023Post IPO$12.1M
- Jul 2023Post IPO$90.7M
#3
VerSe 🦄Series J · Bengaluru, Karnataka · founded 2007 · 808 employees$2Braised▾
Developer of a short-video platform and technology infrastructure. It leverages AI and machine learning to deliver content in multiple Indian languages aiming to bridge the digital divide and empower creators and consumers alike. The platform supports content consumption in local languages and provides a creator program to foster content creation. The technology powers a large user base and offers tools for influencers to build their presence. The company also develops and supports associated applications and services.
- Feb 2024Conventional Debt$6M
- Apr 2022Series J$805M
- Jan 2022Series I$243.5M
- May 2021Series I$363.7M
#4
Seed · Gurugram, Haryana · founded 2023$1Mraised▾
Developer of comprehensive platform for sports news, scores, and analysis. It offers live football match scores, predictions, fixtures, and results across various leagues. It also features news, analysis, and player ratings for football, along with coverage of other sports like cricket, basketball (NBA and WNBA), and esports. The platform includes features such as player profiles, team histories, and in-depth game analysis. It also provides predictions and insights for various sporting events.
- Oct 2025Seed$1M
#5
Seed · Delhi, Delhi · founded 2015 · 41 employees$4.1Mraised▾
Online platform offering startup news. It is an online platform that provides news related to startups, startup activity news, entrepreneurial statistics, technology, and updates. It also plans to develop a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to interact and form a community. It monetizes through membership.
- Mar 2025Seed$313.8K
- Aug 2024Seed$1.5M
- Nov 2023Seed$1.3M
- Aug 2020Seed$117.1K
#6
Series B · Hyderabad, Telangana · founded 2014 · 358 employees$30.8Mraised▾
Provider of short-form news across multiple categories and various languages. It delivers real-time news through personalized feeds based on reading preferences. Features include news sharing, digital magazines, category-based news, and night mode. Users can participate in polls and bookmark articles.
- Sep 2024Series B$14M
- Jun 2022Series A$16.8M
- Feb 2022Angel$21.5K
#7
Seed · Bengaluru, Karnataka · founded 2023$210.5Kraised▾
Online platform offering multi-category news . It publishes news articles and information focusing on topics such as ecommerce, business, EVs, technology, finance, startups, and more, catering to a wider audience.
- 2025Angel$57.4K
- Aug 2024Seed$500K
- Aug 2023Seed$120K
#8
Series B · Ahmedabad, Gujarat · founded 2016 · 73 employees$1.5Mraised▾
Provider of cricket scoring and management platform. It allows users to view the scoring and live streaming of amateur cricket matches,tournaments and associations. It offer live scores,professional scorecards,tournament management,AI generated highlights and more.
- Jun 2024Series B$1M
- Aug 2021Seed$1M
- Feb 2021Angel$219.3K
- Feb 2018Seed$154.8K
#9
Seed · Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh · founded 2016 · 18 employees$9.3Mraised▾
Provider of multi category news portal. It offers visual articles, photos, videos, and editorials on multiple topics such as social issues, health, environment, travel, food, technology, shopping, humor, short films, entertainment, and more. The platform enables users to share visual content and also showcase talent and ideas.
- Feb 2024Seed$1M
- Apr 2023Seed$1M
- Feb 2023Seed$60.5K
- Sep 2022Seed—
#10
Seed · Gurugram, Haryana · founded 2024$81.3Kraised▾
Operator of digital platform for booking spiritual tours and rituals. The service connects users with spiritual guides, astrologers, and pandits for both online and in-person ceremonies, travel experiences, and ritual services. It provides scheduling, booking, and live temple information through mobile and web applications. Users can arrange pilgrimage packages, customized temple visits, and community-driven religious events. The platform also includes devotional content access, astrological guidance, and support for domestic spiritual travel coordination.
- Apr 2025Angel$81.3K
#11
Acquired · Hyderabad, Telangana · founded 2011 · 120 employees$10.5Mraised▾
Online platform offering content related to beauty and wellness. It also offers many other contents in columns such as style craze, mom junction, bridal box, skin craft, vedix, and much more.
- Jul 2023Venture Debt—
- Jan 2022Series A$6.4M
- Mar 2020Series A$4M
- Sep 2013Seed$73.7K
#12
Series C · Noida, Uttar Pradesh · founded 2013 · 339 employees$124.6Mraised▾
Provider of summarized news articles across various categories and sources. It delivers concise news stories, presenting information in a streamlined format. The platform aggregates articles from multiple sources, offering users a centralized location for staying informed. Users can explore different news categories and share opinions through integrated polls.
- Sep 2020Series C$35.3M
- Jul 2014Seed$332.9K
- Sep 2013Seed$18K
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Internet First Media coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
Common questions
Sweetie watches where the money and the users are piling in. She covers sector wealth and momentum — the install curves and revenue pools that show which corners of the market are quietly on fire.