Mumbai-based digital entertainment startup Rusk Media raised ₹100 crore (about $10.6 million) in a pre-series C funding round led by existing investor Nazara Technologies, the company announced. The round also saw participation from InfoEdge Ventures, IvyCap Ventures, and a consortium led by Audacity VC. The fresh capital will support growth of its sports audio content platform Alright! TV and development of proprietary AI tools to reduce production costs and increase content velocity, according to inc42.com.
Founded in 2019 by Yadav, Shananu Singh, and Karanvir Sofat, Rusk Media creates digital content targeting Gen Z audiences across fiction and non-fiction categories. The startup operates brands such as Alright! (fictional channel), Playground (gaming entertainment), and LIT (food, fashion, and travel). It also serves OTT platforms including Amazon MX Player and JioHotstar. Representatives from Nazara Technologies and Audacity VC will join Rusk Media's board following the funding round.
The funding will also be used to scale intellectual properties like the talent reality franchise I-Popstar and the unscripted dating show Engaged into new languages and international markets. Rusk Media plans to launch new sports and audio-first content formats aimed at Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers. Prior to this round, the startup raised ₹103 crore in its Series B round, which included both primary and secondary transactions.
Rusk Media’s pre-series C round marks a continuation of its growth trajectory in digital entertainment, with a focus on sports audio and AI-driven content production. The company’s next steps include expanding its flagship shows and launching new formats to capture younger audiences across multiple languages and regions.