- ReelSaga raised USD 2.1M to build a mobile-first platform for short, vertical, binge-worthy dramas tailored to Indian audiences.
- Backed by top investors, including Picus Capital and Nazara, the startup is tapping into the mobile entertainment boom.
- Inspired by China’s microdrama success, ReelSaga delivers quick-hit storytelling in 1–2 minute episodes built for phones, not TVs.
ReelSaga
So what happened? Indian mobile entertainment startup, ReelSaga, raised USD2.1 million in a seed funding round. The round was led by Picus Capital, ITI Growth Opportunities Fund, Nazara Technologies, 8i Ventures, and Waveform Ventures. In addition, to Warmup Ventures, Bombay54, Bharat Founders Fund, and several angel investors.
“ReelSaga is building where the market is going — mobile-first, story-rich, and culturally rooted.” added Mohit Gulati, Managing Partner at ITI Growth.
Mobile Drama
Who are they? Founded in 2024, Shubh Bansal, Shanu Vivek, and Ritesh Pandey, the startup aims to build a new category of ‘mobile-native story telling.
Translation: Mobile-native storytelling means shows made for your phone, short, vertical, and bingeable. It is not recycled TV content, but fresh stories built to match how we scroll, tap, and watch on mobile.
The startup’s app is live delivering vertical, short-form dramas told in 1–2 minute episodes.
“Vertical short dramas are a cultural revolution. More and more users are turning to short-form video for entertainment. It’s quick, emotionally resonant, and binge-worthy, drama doesn’t need to be 40 minutes long to move you,” said Shubh Bansal, Co-founder and CEO of ReelSaga.
What’s next? With the funding, the startup aims to enhance app development, and scale production of local short-form dramas. This is to specifically target audiences in India and Southeast Asia. In addition, it also aims to target audiences in the Middle East
This model is not new, it is inspired by China’s booming microdrama scene, which churns out 5,000+ titles a year. It also reportedly out-earns the traditional box office. ReelSaga wants to bring that playbook to India, with serialized, 50–100 episode stories tailored to local tastes.
If you see something out of place or would like to contribute to this story, check out our Ethics and Policy section.
