Google International has invested approximately ₹10 crore in Bengaluru-based creator economy startup Rigi, marking the technology giant’s entry into the company’s shareholder base. The investment comes as Rigi expands beyond creator monetisation tools and builds its digital entertainment business through Rigi TV, a platform focused on short-form shows and microdramas.
According to regulatory filings reviewed by Entrackr, Rigi approved the allotment of 1,543 preference shares to Google International at ₹61,796 per share. The transaction works out to approximately ₹9.54 crore, commonly reported as ₹10 crore, and gives Google a 1.43% stake in the startup. The deal values Rigi at around ₹670 crore on a post-money basis.
Google Acquires 1.43% Stake in Rigi
The investment was made through an allotment of preference shares, according to the regulatory documents. The transaction introduces Google International as a shareholder while providing Rigi with additional capital to develop its entertainment business.
The reported investment amount is approximately ₹10 crore. Based on the disclosed share count and price, the exact amount works out to about ₹9.54 crore.
| Deal detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Investor | Google International |
| Company | Rigi |
| Shares allotted | 1,543 preference shares |
| Price per share | ₹61,796 |
| Investment amount | Approximately ₹9.54 crore |
| Google’s stake | 1.43% |
| Post-money valuation | Approximately ₹670 crore |
The investment is relatively small compared with Google’s overall financial resources, but it represents a notable development for Rigi as it competes in India’s growing creator economy and short-form entertainment market.
Neither company has publicly disclosed a detailed commercial partnership connected to the transaction. The investment should therefore be viewed as a financial stake rather than confirmation of a broader product or distribution agreement between the two companies.
Rigi Moves From Creator Monetisation to Microdramas
Founded in 2021 by Swapnil Saurav and Ananya Singhal, Rigi initially focused on helping creators, influencers and public personalities earn money directly from their followers.
Its original platform provided tools that allowed creators to build paid communities on WhatsApp and Telegram, manage subscriptions and sell digital products. These products included online courses, webinars, workshops and one-to-one mentorship sessions.
The business model allowed creators to monetise their audiences without relying entirely on advertising or brand sponsorships. Rigi generated revenue through transaction fees on services facilitated by its platform.
The company has since expanded into digital entertainment through Rigi TV. The platform offers short-form video content, including original shows and microdramas designed primarily for mobile consumption.
This expansion represents a change in Rigi’s business strategy. Instead of concentrating only on tools that help other creators earn from their audiences, the company is now investing in content and attempting to build an entertainment audience of its own.
Rigi TV Bets on Free-to-Watch Microdramas
Rigi TV follows an advertising-supported model that allows users to watch microdramas without purchasing a conventional subscription.
Microdramas are short, episodic video stories designed for viewers who prefer brief entertainment sessions on mobile devices. Episodes typically use compact storytelling formats, with cliffhangers and recurring characters encouraging viewers to continue watching subsequent instalments.
The format has attracted interest from digital entertainment companies because it offers an alternative to longer television programmes and conventional streaming content.
Rigi’s model combines free viewing with advertising and in-app purchases. This approach could help the company reach audiences who are reluctant to pay for another streaming subscription, while giving advertisers access to viewers consuming short-form entertainment.
The company’s strategy also places it in a competitive market. Other digital platforms are experimenting with short episodic content, vertical video and mobile-first entertainment formats. Rigi will need to build a compelling content catalogue and encourage repeat viewing to establish a sustainable audience.
The investment from Google comes at a time when Rigi is trying to expand this business and strengthen its position in the Indian digital entertainment market.
Rigi’s Previous Funding and Investor Base
Google’s investment follows Rigi’s earlier fundraising activity. The startup raised approximately ₹100 crore in January 2023 in a funding round led by Elevation Capital.
Other investors participating in the company’s funding history include Accel, Stellaris Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital, now known as Peak XV Partners.
The latest investment adds Google International to Rigi’s existing investor base. It also comes after a gap of nearly four years since the company’s previous major reported funding round.
The company’s transition into microdramas provides a new direction for its growth strategy. Its earlier business focused on monetisation infrastructure for creators, while Rigi TV requires investment in content production, distribution, audience acquisition and advertising relationships.
The success of this transition will depend on whether the company can build a sufficiently large and engaged viewer base to support its entertainment operations.
Rigi’s Financial Performance: Revenue and Loss
Rigi’s latest publicly reported financial information indicates that the company has faced profitability challenges while developing its business.
For the financial year ended March 2025, Rigi reported revenue of ₹19.92 crore and a net loss of ₹20.5 crore. In FY24, the company had reported revenue of ₹21.92 crore and a net loss of ₹29.3 crore.
| Financial metric | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | ₹21.92 Cr | ₹19.92 Cr |
| Net loss | ₹29.3 Cr | ₹20.5 Cr |
The figures show that revenue declined between FY24 and FY25, while the company’s net loss narrowed by approximately 30%.
Rigi has not yet filed its FY26 financial results, based on the latest reports available at the time of the investment coverage. Consequently, the financial impact of its expansion into microdramas cannot yet be assessed using a complete set of FY26 figures.
The latest Google investment provides additional capital, but it does not establish that Rigi has reached profitability or that its new entertainment business is already generating sustainable returns.
Why Google’s Investment Matters for India’s Creator Economy
Google’s investment highlights the growing interest in companies operating at the intersection of digital content, creator monetisation and entertainment.
India’s creator economy has expanded as social media platforms, messaging services and digital payment systems have made it easier for individuals to build audiences and sell products or services directly to followers.
Companies such as Rigi initially addressed the infrastructure requirements of this market by providing subscription management, community tools and digital product sales capabilities.
Microdramas represent another opportunity within the same broader ecosystem. Instead of helping individual creators monetise existing communities, platforms can develop original content and generate revenue through advertising and in-app purchases.
For Rigi, the challenge is to combine its experience in creator monetisation with the economics of operating an entertainment platform. That requires consistent content production, audience retention and a business model capable of covering acquisition and production costs.
The Bigger Picture
Google’s investment in Rigi is notable not simply because of the amount involved, but because of the company’s changing business direction. Rigi began as a platform helping creators turn their followers into paying communities. It is now attempting to establish itself as a mobile-first entertainment company through Rigi TV and its microdrama catalogue.
The deal also reflects investor interest in short-form entertainment as companies explore alternatives to traditional streaming subscriptions. However, a large potential audience does not automatically translate into a profitable business. Advertising revenue, content costs, repeat engagement and competition will determine whether the microdrama model can scale sustainably.
Looking Ahead
Rigi will need to use its fresh capital to strengthen its entertainment offering, expand its content catalogue and attract regular viewers. Google’s entry into its shareholder base could increase the startup’s visibility, but the investment alone does not guarantee access to Google’s distribution platforms, technology or advertising infrastructure.
The next important indicators will be Rigi’s FY26 financial performance, audience growth on Rigi TV and its ability to convert viewership into advertising and in-app purchase revenue. For now, the investment gives Rigi additional financial backing as it attempts to turn its creator-economy business into a broader digital entertainment platform.
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