When Facebook unexpectedly pulled the plug on WittyFeed, one of India’s fastest-growing viral content platforms, most would’ve seen it as the end of the road. But for founders Vinay Singhal, Shashank Vaishnav, and Sudhanshu Tripathi, it became the beginning of something far more rooted, ambitious, and uniquely Indian.
In 2019, from Rohtak, Haryana—not exactly the heart of India’s tech scene—the trio launched STAGE, an OTT platform unlike any other. Their big idea? An entertainment service not in English or Hindi, but in India’s true mother tongues—the dialects spoken in homes, villages, and small towns across the country.
A Dialect-First Dream
The inspiration for STAGE came soon after WittyFeed’s sudden takedown. During a visit to his village, Vinay noticed something striking: the stories people connected with weren’t in Hindi or English they were in Haryanvi, their local dialect. That sparked a thought: why wasn’t anyone creating premium content in these native dialects? Why not build a “Netflix for Bharat”?
And that’s exactly what they set out to do. With personal savings and a lot of jugaad, they launched STAGE with comedy specials, folk performances, and short-format content—all in Haryanvi. The idea was simple but powerful: entertainment in the language of the people.
Scaling With Substance
From Haryanvi, STAGE soon expanded to Rajasthani and Bhojpuri, catering to deeply rooted cultural audiences that had long been ignored by mainstream platforms. Today, STAGE offers not just folk shows and short videos but full-blown web series that reflect real, local stories—told in a voice audiences instantly connect with.
Their goal is as ambitious as it is meaningful: to expand into over 20 Indian dialects by 2027, giving each community a digital stage of its own.
From Shark Tank to Series B
Despite its grassroots approach, funding wasn’t easy. Many investors were hesitant to back a dialect-first platform. That changed when STAGE appeared on Shark Tank India Season 2. Their passionate pitch and clear vision won over the sharks, giving the startup both credibility and momentum.
Then came the big leap. In March 2025, STAGE raised over ₹100 crore in Series B funding, led by Goodwater Capital and Blume Ventures. It marked a significant validation—not just of the business model, but of the idea that Bharat wants its own stories in its own voice.
Streaming the Real India
Today, STAGE boasts over 2 crore app downloads and 4.5 lakh paying subscribers. These numbers aren’t just vanity metrics, they’re proof that millions across India are ready to pay for content that reflects their world, their dialect, and their culture.
STAGE isn’t trying to replace Netflix or Prime. It’s building something entirely different: a platform where real India sees itself on screen, not as a stereotype, but as the star.
And in doing so, it's not just changing entertainment, it's redefining who gets to be heard.
