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Award · Consumer Internet & Media

Indian social media leaders named most influential

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Pocket FM logo
Date
Company
Pocket FM
What it does
Audio storytelling platform
Kind
Award
Sector
Consumer Internet & Media

What they do

Pocket FM is an audio storytelling platform that has scaled globally, including in the US and India

What happened

A list published on 18 March 2026 named 12 Indian founders and CEOs as the most influential leaders in social media tech

Why it matters

The honorees lead platforms spanning regional content, social commerce, short video, and professional networking

The details

  • A list titled India's 20 Most Influential Leaders in Social Media Tech was published on 18 March 2026.
  • The list names 12 Indian startup founders and CEOs who lead social media and content platforms.
  • Rohan Nayak is co-founder and CEO of Pocket FM, an audio storytelling platform with global reach.
  • Virendra Gupta is founder and CEO of Dailyhunt, a regional content platform with over 250 million monthly users in 14 Indian languages.
  • Vidit Aatrey is co-founder and CEO of Meesho, a social commerce platform for tier 2+ entrepreneurs.
  • Ranjeet Pratap Singh is co-founder and CEO of Pratilipi, a vernacular storytelling platform.
  • Jitin Bhatia is founder and CEO of Explurger, a travel and lifestyle social platform with over 20 million users in 75+ countries.
  • Sumit Ghosh is co-founder and CEO of Chingari, a short-video platform launched after the TikTok ban.
  • Jani Pasha is co-founder of Lokal, a digital services platform for tier 2 and 3 cities, backed by Y Combinator and 3one4 Capital.
  • Vinod Kumar Meena is founder of Kuku FM, an audio content platform for storytelling, learning, and infotainment.
  • Prashant Sachan is founder of AppsForBharat, a spiritual tech company behind the product Sri Mandir.
  • Pulkit Agrawal is co-founder and CEO of Trell, an influencer-led social commerce platform.
  • Nirmit Parikh is founder and CEO of Apna, a professional networking platform for blue and grey-collar workers.
  • Saurabh Pandey is founder of Eloelo, a live social entertainment platform described as 'new age TV for Bharat'.

The bigger picture

  • The list highlights the growing influence of Indian founders in social media and content technology.
  • Many honorees built platforms serving non-English speaking users, reflecting a shift toward vernacular and regional internet adoption.
  • Several companies, like Chingari and Eloelo, emerged or grew after the TikTok ban in India, showing a local short-video boom.
  • The inclusion of platforms like Meesho and Trell underscores the rise of social commerce in India.

About the business

  • Pocket FM operates an audio storytelling platform with a global presence, including in the US and India.
  • Dailyhunt is a regional content platform with over 250 million monthly users across 14 Indian languages.
  • Meesho enables social commerce, helping tier 2+ entrepreneurs sell products through social networks.
  • Pratilipi offers vernacular storytelling in multiple Indian languages.
  • Explurger is a travel and lifestyle social platform with over 20 million users in 75+ countries.
  • Chingari is a short-video platform founded by ex-Globusoft employees after the TikTok ban.
  • Lokal provides digital services for tier 2 and 3 cities, including jobs, matrimony, agri, and local content.
  • Kuku FM offers audio content for storytelling, learning, and infotainment.
  • AppsForBharat builds spiritual tech products, including the Sri Mandir app.
  • Trell is an influencer-led social commerce platform.
  • Apna is a professional networking platform for blue and grey-collar workers.
  • Eloelo is a live social entertainment platform founded by an ex-Flipkart employee.

Founders

  • Rohan Nayak, Co-founder and CEO of Pocket FM
  • Virendra Gupta, Founder and CEO of Dailyhunt
  • Vidit Aatrey, Co-founder and CEO of Meesho
  • Ranjeet Pratap Singh, Co-founder and CEO of Pratilipi
  • Jitin Bhatia, Founder and CEO of Explurger
  • Sumit Ghosh, Co-founder and CEO of Chingari
  • Jani Pasha, Co-founder of Lokal
  • Vinod Kumar Meena, Founder of Kuku FM
  • Prashant Sachan, Founder of AppsForBharat
  • Pulkit Agrawal, Co-founder and CEO of Trell
  • Nirmit Parikh, Founder and CEO of Apna
  • Saurabh Pandey, Founder of Eloelo

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