Chai Bisket, a digital content studio focused on South India, has raised $5 million in seed funding to launch Chai Shots, a mobile-first OTT platform that delivers fiction in bite-sized episodes.
The round was led by InfoEdge Ventures and General Catalyst, with participation from an impressive lineup of angels, including actor Rana Daggubati, Swiggy co-founders Sri Harsha Majety and Nandan Reddy, redBus founder Phanindra Sama, and PhysicsWallah’s Alakh Pandey, among others.
The platform will offer two-minute episodes designed for mobile viewing, blending high-quality fiction with the short-form convenience today’s audiences crave, the company stated. It’s targeted at Gen Zs and India’s fast-growing Tier II and III audiences, who are underserved by traditional, long-form OTTs.
Founded in 2015 by Sharath Chandra and Anurag Reddy, Chai Bisket content footprint spans YouTube videos, web series, and theatrical films like Major. It has over 2 billion lifetime views and 50 million monthly views, the company said in a statement. It has also been producing short dramas since 2021.
To power the next phase, Krishna Mohan Varma has joined the founding team as the technology co-founder, bringing product vision and engineering depth to Chai Shots.
“Microdramas are gaining serious traction, especially in southern regional languages where there’s high demand and a willingness to pay for original content. Chai Bisket brings unmatched storytelling experience to the table,” said Kitty Agarwal, Partner at InfoEdge Ventures.
“This isn’t just about short videos. It’s a cultural product built on emotion, speed, and local flavour,” added Rahul Garg, Partner at General Catalyst. “Chai Shots is not reacting to digital culture—it’s actively shaping it.”
Actor and investor Rana Daggubati echoed the sentiment: “The future of storytelling is fast, local, and emotionally charged. Chai Shots gets that.”
Chai Shots aims to release 100+ original series in the first six months post-launch. The content slate will eventually expand across languages, including Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
“We’ve built our brand on emotional truth and regional identity,” said co-founder Anurag Reddy. “With Chai Shots, we’re scaling that DNA into a mobile-first entertainment brand designed for the short-attention generation.”
“There’s huge demand for fiction in short form, but the space is dominated by user-generated content,” added Sharath Chandra. “We’re here to elevate the format with rich storytelling, full-stack production, and tech-powered scale.”
“Our mission is to build a seamless product experience that strengthens the relationship between screen, story, and viewer,” said Krishna Mohan Varma. “Chai Shots isn’t just a video app—it’s a culture platform.”
The company plans to roll out Chai Shots in early access soon.
Edited by Kanishk Singh
