Regional OTT platform, STAGE, has secured $12.5 million in its Series B funding round, led by Goodwater Capital and Blume Ventures, with participation from Physis Capital and prominent angel investors. The platform said it has achieved Annual Recurring Revenue of ₹180 crore with 4.4 million paying households and 20 million+ app installs across play stores
“The past year alone saw a 289 per cent revenue surge and 286 per cent subscriber growth, driven by critically acclaimed originals like Videshi Bahu (Haryanvi), Kaand 2010 (Haryanvi), and Bhawani (Rajasthani) and national award winning Dada Lakhmi featuring Bollywood veterans like Yashpal Sharma,” the platform said in a statement. It added with the addition of Bhojpuri content , STAGE’s roadmap for 2025-26 will prioritize expansion into different cultures, while deepening its impact in existing ones.
In a post on X, Vinay Singhal, CEO & Co-Founder of STAGE, said, “This funding isn’t just about capital — it’s a resounding validation of India’s regional cultures. For too long, dialects like Haryanvi or Bhojpuri have been seen as a liability. We’re proving otherwise. When Gen-Z users rediscover their cultural identity through constructive storytelling on STAGE, it fosters pride, not stigma. This is the revolution we’re building silently.”
Shashank Vaishnav, CTO & Co-Founder added,“This capital enables us to scale India’s only multi-regional content movement —one that’s rooted in constructive storytelling, and cultural pride.”
“When we first met STAGE, we saw a mission to preserve local culture and language and create a sense of pride, identity and employment within those regions. It was a free Haryanvi app waiting to take the first step towards subscription. To see it bloom to 15 crore a month when skeptics said no one will pay or watch this as primary content, is very satisfying. Onto breaking more barriers, strengthening more cultures,” said Karthik Reddy, Partner at Blume.
