Neel AcharyJan 9: Bengaluru-based MiniPix, a mobile-first entertainment platform focused on short-form regional micro-dramas for Bharat audiences, has raised INR 2.4 crore in its maiden pre-seed funding round led by startup accelerator PedalStart. The round also witnessed participation from Venture Catalysts and renowned investors, including Sandip Gupta and Rajdip Gupta through SanRaj Family Ventures Pvt. Ltd.
The capital raised through this round will be deployed to strengthen MiniPix’s product-market fit, scale high-quality regional content creation, and build a strong execution-focused team. The company aims to sharpen its platform capabilities while remaining deeply aligned with mobile-first consumption patterns and culturally rooted storytelling.
Founded in June 2025, MiniPix is building a premium entertainment platform centred on short, vertical micro-dramas designed specifically for audiences in Tier-2 and Tier-3 India. Investors backing the company were drawn to the founders’ experience and a shared belief that micro-dramas represent the next evolution of digital entertainment, particularly for regional audiences whose viewing behaviour differs significantly from traditional OTT consumers.
This belief is increasingly reflected in broader industry trends. According to recent market study by Redseer Strategy Consultants, India’s interactive and short-form digital entertainment market is expected to witness rapid growth over the next few years, with micro-drama formats projected to grow at an estimated 50–70 per cent CAGR, driven by rising smartphone penetration, low data costs, and increasing preference for regional language content.
Despite operating in a highly competitive streaming ecosystem, MiniPix has demonstrated strong early traction. Within 6 months of product launch, the platform has crossed 100,000 app downloads, built a base of over 20,000 paying subscribers, and recorded more than 3 million episode views, translating into upwards of 35,000 hours of content streamed. This momentum has helped MiniPix reach an annual recurring revenue of INR 3 crore, offering early validation of its content-led business model.
Brijesh Kashyap Om Prakash Singh and Sushil N. of MiniPix, said,
“Raising this round marks an important milestone in MiniPix’s journey. We’ve seen strong engagement from Bharat audiences when content speaks their language and reflects their lived context. This capital allows us to move beyond validation and start building scale in a measured way by investing in content quality, strengthening our platform, and assembling a team that can execute consistently. Our focus is on building a long-term premium entertainment brand that feels native to mobile consumption in India”.
Beyond capital, PedalStart, the lead investor, played an active role in supporting MiniPix throughout the fundraise. The accelerator worked closely with the founders on pitch refinement, narrative clarity, and investor discussions, while continuing to mentor the team on a regular basis.
Commenting on the investment, Manas Pal and Aditya Darolia, Co-Founders, PedalStart, said,
“MiniPix stands out for its clarity of vision and early revenue traction in an emerging and moving category of digital entertainment. The founders understand regional audiences deeply and are building with intent rather than imitation. Their focus on micro-dramas, combined with disciplined execution, positions them well to create a differentiated entertainment platform. We are pleased to back MiniPix at this early stage and support the team as they scale”.
In the near future, MiniPix plans to introduce greater automation and data-led processes across its content and platform operations. The company is also selectively exploring the use of AI-led tools to identify areas where efficiency can be improved and content production optimised at scale, without compromising creative quality. These efforts are aimed at building a sustainable and cost-effective content pipeline as the platform expands across languages and regions.
MiniPix’s core audience today comprises young, mobile-first users aged 22–45, primarily from Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns. The platform is currently focused on Bhojpuri micro-dramas, reflecting strong demand for culturally rooted narratives, and plans to expand into five additional regional languages over the next two years.
Looking ahead, MiniPix has outlined a structured growth roadmap, targeting INR 6 crore in ARR by March 2026, with plans to scale to INR 35 crore in Year 1, INR 134 crore in Year 2, and INR 308 crore in Year 3, driven by deeper regional penetration, content expansion, and improved monetisation.
