# Pocket FM hits $500M as AI writes almost everything

> An Indian audio startup made content 80x cheaper, and its revenue run rate doubled in a year.
- Title: Pocket FM hits $500M as AI writes almost everything | Shortify
- Summary: An Indian audio startup made content 80x cheaper, and its revenue run rate doubled in a year. AI did not replace Pocket FM's storytellers, it replaced the…
- Keywords: india, startups, audio, media, technology, Pocket, hits, 500M, writes, almost, everything, TechCrunch
- Source: TechCrunch — https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/10/indias-pocket-fm-doubles-revenue-run-rate-to-500m-as-ai-powers-93-of-audio-content
- Author: Jagmeet Singh
- Published: 2026-09-10T17:45:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: ai, india, startups, audio, media, technology
## Half a billion, doubled
Pocket FM's annualized revenue run rate went from about $250 million a year ago to $430 million in April and $500 million now.
## AI makes 93% of it
AI now powers 93% of the whole catalog and 99% of everything new. The platform started in 2018 as a home for serialized audio stories.
## Humans still pitch
Creators supply the ideas and the storytelling. AI handles turning those concepts into finished audio at scale.

> We want to create great IPs that last 100 years, and that needs humans
## Their own models
AI head Vasu Sharma, previously at Meta and Tesla, trained in-house models for creative writing and text-to-speech on years of production data and listener engagement signals.
## 80x cheaper
CEO Rohan Nayak says 100 hours of content used to take about a year. Now it takes a day.
## From 100,000 hours to millions
More than 550,000 creators now produce roughly 2.5 million hours a year. Two years ago the entire catalog was about 100,000 hours.
## More stories, stickier listeners
Twelve-month revenue retention climbed to 76% from 44% two years ago. Nayak credits the bigger library matching more listener tastes.
## America pays the bills
250 million listeners across 20+ countries, but the U.S. is the biggest market at about 70% of the run rate. Unlocking episodes brings in $415M, ads $85M.
## Microdramas are next
Pocket Saga, three months old and U.S. only, is at a $15 million run rate. Its videos are fully AI-generated, often from hit Pocket FM audio stories.
## Raising, not rushing
Reports put the round at $100M to $120M near a $2 billion valuation. Nayak says there is no pressure, the company is cash positive, and no IPO for 24 months.
## Key takeaway

AI did not replace Pocket FM's storytellers, it replaced the expensive part of turning their ideas into finished audio.