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Tag: Lumikai

  • Swipe right on India’s next digital revolution

    Swipe right on India’s next digital revolution

    MUMBAI: Forget just astrology, bollywood and cricket, India’s digital appetite now runs from A to G. According to the Swipe Before Type report unveiled at Lumikai Insignia 2025, Indians are now paying for astrology, bollywood, cricket, dating, education, fandom, and gaming, reflecting a seismic shift from the old offline A-B-C of entertainment to a mobile-first, monetised mosaic.

    Launched by Lumikai, India’s first gaming and interactive media VC fund, the report unpacks how a generation raised on touchscreens is swiping, streaming, and spending its way into new digital frontiers. The insights, drawn from nearly 3,000 mobile users, reveal a nation that’s not just watching but participating.

    Women now make up 46 per cent of India’s interactive media audience, two-thirds hail from non-metro regions, and a whopping 80 per cent use UPI for payments. Half of them subscribe to multiple apps, and one in two downloads a new app every week, proof that India’s entertainment economy is no longer passive, it’s passionately participatory.

    Gaming, once a niche, now commands the biggest share of digital wallets, with players willing to pay for upgrades, skins, and ad-free experiences. Video streaming remains king, with 54 per cent of users paying for premium plans across Netflix, Prime Video, and JioHotstar. Social platforms, meanwhile, are transforming into mini marketplaces where virtual gifting, in-app purchases, and even astrology consultations drive recurring revenue.

    New content trends are also taking hold. Microdramas and short-form storytelling are capturing bite-sized attention spans, while anime has gone mainstream, led by hits like One Piece and Naruto. AI adoption is accelerating too, metro users are 2.5 times more likely to integrate AI into their daily routines than their non-metro counterparts.

    “India has moved from paying for A-B-C offline to A-B-C-D-E-F-G online,” said Lumikai founder and managing partner Salone Sehgal. “Cultural shifts and tech habits are creating entirely new monetisation frontiers.”

    As Sehgal puts it, India isn’t just watching the digital future unfold, it’s swiping it into existence.
     

  • Waves 2025 Brings Big Deals and Bold Dreams to India’s Media Sector

    Waves 2025 Brings Big Deals and Bold Dreams to India’s Media Sector

    MUMBAI: If the Indian media sector were a movie, Waves 2025 would be the montage sequence fast cuts of big money, bold ideas and breakout talent all coming together for a dramatic makeover. Held in Mumbai, the Waves Summit 2025 saw the Government of Maharashtra sign MoUs worth nearly Rs 8,000 crore, giving the media and entertainment sector a starring role in the state’s growth narrative. Among the headliners:

    . Rs 3,000 crore from Prime Focus to build a 200-acre Film City

    .  Rs 2,000 crore from Godrej for a film, TV and media campus in Panvel

    .  Rs 1,500 crore each from the University of York and the University of Western Australia to set up their first Indian campuses in Mumbai

    And just like that, education and entertainment are sharing billing on the marquee.

    Waves 2025 also introduced the Nifty Waves Index, listing 43 media and entertainment companies finally giving the sector its own Sensex-style snapshot. Meanwhile, the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) inked partnerships with industry giants including Google, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Adobe, Nvidia, and Toon Boom, rolling out opportunities for scholarships, internships, rendering parks, game design courses and creative entrepreneurship.

    Waves Bazaar cemented its role as the sector’s B2B-B2G power corridor. Launched in January 2025, the digital-first marketplace has already hosted 2,450 projects, with 6,442 buyers and 6,106 sellers participating across film, animation, XR, gaming and advertising verticals. It’s India’s global swipe-right moment for creative deals.

    Elsewhere, WaveX turned into a high-stakes pitch fest where creative dreams met venture capital muscle. From 1,504 applicants, 30 high-potential M&E startups in gaming, storytelling, immersive tech and the creator economy pitched live to 29 marquee investors including Lumikai, Jio, and Warmup Ventures. With 127 startups securing connections or partnerships, and applications vetted by IAMAI and KPMG, this wasn’t just razzle, it was rigor with returns.  

    Enter the Create in India Challenge, a flagship talent hunt that hosted 34 creative contests across animation, AR/VR, gaming, music and films. Finalists competed in the buzzing Creatosphere, a zone dedicated to next-gen creators. Eight expert masterclasses helped sharpen their edge, while the finals turned the stage into a launchpad.

    Not to be left out, Waves Culturals gave attendees a feel of India’s artistic pulse through performances blending traditional and global forms. The event’s heart, however, was the Bharat Pavilion, inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi on 1 May 2025. Designed as an immersive tribute to India’s storytelling roots, it showcased four thematic zones Shruti (oral traditions), Kriti (written heritage), Drishti (visual storytelling), and Creator’s Leap (future tech).

    Over in the FM lane, the 8th National Community Radio Conference saw 12 CR stations receive national awards for innovation and inclusivity. With 531 CR stations and over 400 representatives attending, it was a mic-drop moment for grassroots broadcasters.

    Add to that the launch of the first Indian Film Festival in New Zealand and fresh Indo-UK film collaborations and you’ve got an M&E summit that doesn’t just talk global, it screens it.

    From classroom tie-ups to cultural showcases, and from startup pitches to mega MoUs, Waves 2025 didn’t just imagine India as a global creative powerhouse it laid down the blueprint, cast the crew and started shooting.

    And with Maharashtra calling action on infrastructure, investment and innovation India’s media industry is no longer just watching the story unfold. It’s writing the script.
     

  • Swipe right on Bharat Lumikai unlocks the new face of digital play

    Swipe right on Bharat Lumikai unlocks the new face of digital play

    MUMBAI: India’s gaming and interactive media scene just got a reality check and it’s not coming from the usual suspects in metros. In a swipe-worthy new consumer report titled “From Swipes to Stories”, Lumikai, the country’s first interactive media VC, has laid bare the habits, preferences, and quirks of India’s 12.5 billion dollars new media economy and it’s more Bharat than hindi flims.

    Unveiled at WAVES 2025, the report dives deep into how mobile-first, non-metro audiences are rewriting the digital playbook. A few standout facts? 44 per cent of gamers in India are now women, up from 41 per cent last year, and a whopping 66 per cent of all players come from non-metros. The rise of this culturally rooted, tier-2+ gaming community marks a seismic shift in India’s entertainment map.

    South India emerges as the undisputed champion of screen time, with users spending 1.6x more on interactive platforms than the national average. And while Instagram and OTTs top the leaderboard everywhere, dating apps sneak into the North’s top three, proving Delhi really does love its drama with a dash of romance.

    Gaming itself now gulps 13 hours a week up 30 per cent from FY23 and smartphones are the arena of choice for 99 per cent of players. Consoles and PCs remain niche, and players cite data costs, ads, and hardware limitations as the top killjoys.

    The motivations behind the joystick? Relaxation (75 per cent), social connection (51 per cent), and self-expression (45 per cent) making gaming India’s emotional escape hatch, right alongside music and movies. While only 32 per cent splurge on in-game goodies immediately, 56 per cent convert to paid users within a week, lured by perks like ad-free play and performance upgrades.

    Commenting on the report launch Lumikai founder and managing partner Salone Sehgal said, “One of the report’s most defining conclusions is the evolution of the Indian user from player to creator. Interactivity has emerged as the core currency of engagement, and platforms that enable connection, competition, and expression will lead this next chapter. It is deeply meaningful to have presented the report at WAVES 2025, a global stage that reflects our shared vision for India as a global powerhouse in new media and gaming. It is evident how India is building its own interactive entertainment paradigm where UPI-powered microtransactions meet mobile-first storytelling. With improved access and infrastructure, India’s interactive media market touched 12.5 Bn dollars in FY24, driven by vernacular content, microtransactions, and social gaming experiences that resonate with Bharat’s cultural fabric.”

    Doubling down on interactivity as the way forward Lumikai vice president Aditya Deshpande said, “The report delineates how the opportunity to build lasting value in India’s interactive media ecosystem lies in building sustainable, culturally resonant models. These are ecosystems where monetization aligns with user psychology, discovery is inherently social, and localization drives depth of engagement. For developers, this means designing experiences that optimize for low-data usage and micro-transactional access. For investors, it means backing models that prioritize long-term retention over viral spikes. And for policymakers, the signal is clear: gaming is no longer peripheral. Interactivity is the language, and systems of play are the engines driving this economy forward.”

    Based on insights from nearly 3,000 mobile users, this isn’t just a data dump, it’s a pulse check on a nation clicking, tapping, and swiping its way into a homegrown media future. From small-town streamers to microtransaction mavens, India’s new media user is lean-forward, socially wired, and anything but passive.

  • “Indian stories told well, can move the world:” SS Rajamouli at Lumikai Insignia

    “Indian stories told well, can move the world:” SS Rajamouli at Lumikai Insignia

    Mumbai: Academy Award-winning filmmaker SS Rajamouli participated in a keynote session at Lumikai Insignia, India’s top interactive media and gaming summit. He shared the stage with global tech leaders, including Cevat Yerli, Raja Koduri, and Abdullah Alorainy of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

    Reflecting on his journey from Magadheera to Baahubali and RRR, Rajamouli discussed his focus on high-quality storytelling, blending technology and talent to realize his vision. He stated, “Belief finds believers. With faith that it can be done, we find people who help us achieve it.” Through films like Magadheera and Eega, he pioneered the use of VFX and graphics to enhance storytelling in Indian cinema.

    The success of Baahubali and RRR set new quality standards, bringing Indian cinema to global audiences and achieving both critical and commercial success.

    Rajamouli highlighted the importance of cultural authenticity and quality in his work, explaining, “When we created Baahubali or RRR, every bit was made for Indian viewers with an Indian psyche embedded within. And once audiences taste quality, they demand it. With access to incredible content on their mobile devices, they are expecting even better. Quality in entertainment is non-negotiable.”

    The panel also discussed the growth opportunities in India’s interactive media sector, driven by the country’s young, digitally native audience. They explored the expanding role of AI in entertainment, noting its rapid development.

    Commenting on the evolving audience palate for immersive entertainment, Lumikai founding general partner Salone Sehgal said, “With a young, increasingly affluent audience and a consumer base exposed to global best, the need for entertainment that is high quality and culturally resonant has never been higher. Visionaries like SS Rajamouli have paved the way for fusing storytelling with technology successfully taking Indian films global. It was our privilege to learn from him at Lumikai Insignia. His unique insights fuelled founders in interactive media gaming who have similar aspirations.”

    Capitalising on this one-of-a-kind congregation of industry leaders, Lumikai, an Indian interactive media and gaming VC fund, unveiled its highly anticipated ‘The Lumikai State of India Interactive Media and Gaming Report’ for 2024. This seminal research series has established itself as the authoritative resource for understanding India’s gaming landscape. It has been consistently referenced by government bodies guiding policy decisions and industry planning.

  • Rajeev Chandrasekhar to deliver keynote at India’s largest online gaming convention on 5 Dec

    Rajeev Chandrasekhar to deliver keynote at India’s largest online gaming convention on 5 Dec

    Mumbai: The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) and the E-Gaming Federation (EGF) is all set to organise the first edition of the nation’s largest gaming conference, the Indian Gaming Convention (IGC), on December 5, 2023, at the Taj Palace, New Delhi. Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, will deliver the keynote address at the valedictory session.

    Leading policymakers, regulators, gaming industry captains, marketers, game developers and service providers will converge on one platform to address the IGC, which is expected to draw more than 700 delegates, including senior professionals of the online gaming ecosystem of the country.

    Among stalwarts of the gaming landscape who will share their insights at the IGC will be Dr. Trivikraman Thampy, Co-founder, Games24x7; Dilsher Singh Malhi, Founder & CEO, Zupee; Salone Sehgal, General Partner, Lumikai; Ishita Grover, Director (Marketing), Oneplus; Deepak Jacob, General Counsel, DreamSports, and Anuraag Saxena, CEO, EGF.

    International speakers, addressing the IGC will include Jean Major, a former Canadian regulator currently on the Board of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission, and Sarah Ramansaukas, a player safety expert from the UK, who co-founded The Game Safety Institute.

    Elaborating on the context of the convention IAMAI chairman and Dream Sports CEO and co-founder Harsh Jain said, “2023 has been a defining year for India’s Online Gaming industry, marked by multiple positive developments like MeitY’s appointment as our nodal ministry, notification of the IT regulations and clarity on taxation. These developments will facilitate the industry’s sustainable and responsible growth over the long term. I look forward to insightful discussions at IGC, where the focus will be on exploring collaborative strategies between industry, Government, and the ecosystem to enable a safe, trusted, and accountable Indian online gaming industry that can emerge as the global hub for gaming.”

    IAMAI Online Gaming Committee chairman and Games24X7 Co-founder & Co-CEO Bhavin Pandya said, “The Indian online gaming industry is going through a tectonic shift, with 2023 being a landmark year in its evolution. Key tax and policy frameworks have laid a robust foundation for the online gaming sector, but there is a long way to go from here. This underscores the need for platforms like the Indian Gaming Convention (IGC) where open and honest dialogues between industry and government, stakeholders and partners, and visionaries and innovators are earnestly facilitated. Such platforms are crucial for our industry to seize opportunities and face challenges collectively. I’m confident that the IGC will evolve into a central platform which will play an instrumental role in shaping the future of the online gaming industry in India.”

    More than 35 of subject-experts will deliberate upon the opportunities and challenges before India’s online gaming industry 360 degrees in 10 of sessions, including keynotes, fireside chats, and panel discussions. Some of the key sessions of the IGC will be on “Future of Gaming: Fuelling Innovation to Make India a Global Gaming Hub”, “Empowering the Digital Landscape: Online Gaming’s Role in Fueling Digital India”, ”Building a Robust National Regulatory Framework for Online Gaming”, “Investor Insights: How Can the Industry Build Through Regulatory Shifts”, “Gaming’s Role in Promoting Culture, Education, and sports”, and “Voices of the game: Online gaming in India, a user-speaks experience”.

    Value Leaf is the Platinum Partner of the IGC, and it is being supported by the Government of Telangana.

  • Lumikai & Loco partner to host Game Night on 26 Nov

    Lumikai & Loco partner to host Game Night on 26 Nov

    New Delhi: Gaming has emerged as one of the extremely promising categories of the future and is entering into the mainstream. Starting from equipment manufacturers to game creators and gamers, the industry is expanding rapidly with every passing day. Youth is now beginning to opt for gaming as a full-time career and agencies are now working very closely with brands and game developers to create a synergy.

    The category has created a lot of excitement in the marketing community. Multiple brands across categories are now utilizing games as a medium to connect with their audiences as they understand that people, especially youth, are spending their time gaming. The category is slowly catching up pace in the media mix of a brand.

    In the last few years, India has emerged as one of the top five gaming countries and most of the players prefer mobile over a personal computer. Interestingly, India is a mobile-first gaming market. Today, gamers include both males and females. Several experts have also suggested that the average age of a gamer in India is less than 20 years. There is a lot of younger audience and it is the freemium model that is leading to the growth in India.

    With an idea to expand the gaming ecosystem, Lumikai and Loco have organized a Game Night on 25 Nov for gamers, start-up founders, indie studios, and creators for a chat about gaming, entrepreneurship, building content and India’s growing games ecosystem  

    The night is hosted by BeYouNick (YouTuber) along with Justin Keeling and Salone Sehgal (Lumikai), Anirudh Pandita (Loco), Ashish Aggarwal (Google India), Sameer Pitalwala (Epic Games), Anurag Khurana (PayTm First Games), Poornima.S (Zynga), and Oliver Jones (Bombay Play). 

    Tune in live on Loco on 26 November at 5 pm.