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People · Consumer Internet & Media

Pocket FM CFO and SVP step down

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Pocket FM logo
Date
Company
Pocket FM
What it does
Audio streaming platform for audio series
Kind
People
Founded
2018
Sector
Consumer Internet & Media

What they do

Pocket FM is an audio streaming platform offering multilingual audio series and entertainment content

What happened

CFO Anurag Sharma and SVP Mayank Sancheti have stepped down; Abhilash Padival is reportedly the new CFO

Why it matters

The company is seeking $100–120 Mn at a valuation of up to $2 Bn, and recently laid off ~100 employees

The details

  • Pocket FM's CFO Anurag Sharma has stepped down to explore entrepreneurial opportunities.
  • Sharma joined Pocket FM in 2021 as VP Finance and was elevated to CFO in July 2023.
  • He oversaw financial strategy, investor relations, compliance, fundraising, and strategic partnerships.
  • SVP Mayank Sancheti has also stepped down and is serving his notice period.
  • Sancheti handled product, monetisation, and growth; he previously worked at Grab and Uber.
  • Pocket FM is reportedly appointing Abhilash Padival as the new CFO.
  • Padival is Director India Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
  • The company also laid off ~100 employees as part of restructuring, though it denies company-wide layoffs.

The bigger picture

  • Pocket FM is seeking $100–120 Mn at a valuation of up to $2 Bn.
  • Its last valuation was $750 Mn during a $103 Mn Series D in 2024.
  • The Indian audio OTT market is projected to be a $3.2 Bn opportunity by 2030.
  • Competitor Kuku FM is gearing up for a $200 Mn IPO and appointed bankers in December 2025.

About the business

  • Pocket FM is an audio streaming platform offering multilingual audio series and entertainment content across genres.
  • It operates internationally in the US and Europe.
  • The company's tagline is 'The home of the world's best audio dramas'.
  • It features an AI story writing partner called 'Sherpa' on its website.
  • Pocket FM has raised $196 Mn to date.
  • Its ARR (annualised recurring revenue) was $430 Mn (₹4,000 Cr) in March 2026.
  • Revenue for FY25 was ₹1,768 Cr, up 68% from ₹1,052 Cr in FY24.
  • The company is free cash flow positive at nearly 5% EBITDA.

What happens next

  • Pocket FM is seeking $100–120 Mn at a valuation of up to $2 Bn.
  • The company is reportedly appointing Abhilash Padival as new CFO.

Investors

Founders

  • Rohan Nayak, Co-founder
  • Nishanth KS, Co-founder
  • Prateek Dixit, Co-founder

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