Layoffs · Consumer Internet & Media

Pocket FM cuts 10% of workforce in performance review

What they do

Pocket FM offers multilingual audio series and dramas across genres like thriller and romance

The company laid off about 100-130 employees, or 10% of its workforce, citing performance reviews

It also plans to move over 2,000 contractual workers to Quess Corp's payroll, with possible further cuts ahead

Pocket FM laid off approximately 10% of its workforce, affecting 100-130 employees across various teams.
The company described the layoffs as performance-related, part of regular performance reviews.
About 90-100 employees accepted severance and are on notice without active roles.
Another 30-40 employees were given time to improve their performance.
Internal systems access for affected employees is likely to be restricted by July 2026.
A possible further round of layoffs could impact up to 15% of the workforce by June-end.
The company denied company-wide layoffs, calling the information factually incorrect.
Pocket FM partnered with Quess Corp to move over 2,000 contractual employees to Quess payroll.

The layoffs come as Pocket FM targets $500 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR).
The company's ARR grew from $200 million to $450 million in 12 months, driven by AI-led content creation.
Pocket FM is reportedly targeting a valuation of $1.5-2 billion in a new funding round.
The move to Quess payroll is described as standard workforce practice, not restructuring.

Pocket FM is a platform for multilingual audio series and audio dramas.
It offers binge-worthy fiction, immersive audio, and nonstop entertainment.
Top shows include Super Yoddha with 1.4 billion plays and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha with 1.3 billion plays.
The platform features genres like thriller, fantasy, drama, romance, and horror.
It has expanded to markets including the US.
Pocket FM uses an AI story writing partner called Sherpa for content creation.

Pocket FM may announce further layoffs of up to 15% of its workforce by June-end.
The company may announce reaching $500 million in ARR soon.
Contractual employees will transition to Quess Corp's payroll.