Google back toonsutra to grow your WebToons platform in India

It is not news that India is a huge market for entertainment, but what is often not mentioned is that people like to see content in their own languages. According to Recent study Through Non -Profit Internet and Mobile Association of India, more than 870 million Indians sought videos, music and other Indian content in 2024, and from these, 57% preferred content in local languages.

Toonsutra, a webtoons platform in India, is trying to use an increase in the use of Internet in the country and this preference for localized content. The company essentially licensing different comics from different angles of the world, arranges them into episodes and translates them into Indian. It currently offers comics in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu through its Android and iOS applications.

“We looked at the problem with India, which did not have access to the best Webtoon titles in snacks and different languages, and we thought there was a great opportunity here. We want to grow the comics culture in India and create fandoms around it, “co -founder and CEO Vishal Anand told TechCrunch.

Toonsutra Monetizes by purchases in the application: several episodes in each title are free and users need to unlock the rest by spending “coins” that they can either buy straight or earn by reading more comics. The company is also experimenting with episode subscription plans and purchases.

Anand said the platform has more than half a million active users per month and is growing steadily. It is a decent grip for a startup that has existed for less than two years, and investors seem to like the opportunity it presents to enter this relatively undervalued market: Toonsutra has raised $ 5.9 million so far in many rounds of Sony likes Innovation, Holtzbrinck Ventures, Google and Maira Capital, as well as Funimation Gen Fukunaga founder, co -founder of Crunchyroll Kun Gao, partner of Lightspeed Jeremy Lew, Twitch co -founder Kevin Lynn and Rotten Tomatoes co -founder Patrick Lee.

Although it is a big name you need to have on your cap table, Google is not new to this space. The technical giant supported several startups in India aimed at regional content, including Social Network Sharechat., Lock Screen App GlanceA poem innovation (operating Short video platform Josh and News App Dailyhunt), and Hook FM audio platformS

Filmon Zerai, co-executive director of the Holtzbrink Publishing Group, which runs Nature, said the company has decided to invest in Toonsutra to diversify regional and formatting the ISSS strategy. “Investment in Toonsutra gives us visibility on the Indian market, which is a dynamic and growing content market. Plus, launch is an innovative endeavor with new revenue techniques for the market, “Zera told TechCrunch.

Anand, the former Dailyhunt CPO, founded Toonsutra in 2023 with Sharad Devarajan, CEO of Animation Company Graphic India and Digital Entertainment Liquid Comics.

Toonsutra has a rival in the matrix partners supported by India who uses AI Creation Suite to generate content; PocketFM, which is embarking on the creation of webTons; and supported by Krafton Preslipi, which has Indian comic book platformS

But Anand pointed out that Tonesutra was not trying to create a platform for writers to adapt their stories to comics. Instead, the company wants to rely on the courage and use AI to adapt the titles in different languages. “Our intention is to be Netflix, not YouTube. Because if people associate you with three or four mediocre titles, it is difficult to build a brand. We are trying to get exclusive titles on our high quality and high confidence platform, “Anand said.

The company’s partnership with Google also helps him access the search giant models with which he wants to translate and adapt comic books into Indian languages, he added.

Analysts predict anime and Webtoons It will see healthy growth in India. For example, Anime Streaming Service Crunchyroll has invested seriously in India – it Subscription plans here are in line with Indian price levelsand his catalog even has Anime called some local languagesS