Pocket Entertainment, the parent company behind Pocket FM, Pocket Toons, and Pocket Novel, has promoted Umesh Bude to the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Previously serving as SVP of Engineering, Bude will now oversee the entire technology function, driving system scalability, product evolution, and integration of generative AI across all consumer-facing platforms.
Commenting on his new role, Umesh Bude said, “It’s a privilege to take on this responsibility at a time when technology and creativity are deeply intertwined at Pocket Entertainment. I look forward to driving the next wave of innovation, where technology and AI are not just enablers, but storytellers in their own right.”
Bude will continue to report directly to co-founder Prateek Dixit as the company strengthens its positioning at the convergence of media, technology, and artificial intelligence.
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The announcement comes on the heels of Pocket Entertainment’s recent tech-driven initiatives, including the launch of Pocket Toons—an AI-first comics platform that reimagines how digital stories are created and consumed.
Earlier this year, the company raised $103 million in Series D funding led by Lightspeed and Stepstone Group, bringing its total funding to $196.5 million and placing its valuation at $750 million.
Financially, Pocket Entertainment has shown impressive growth. The company’s revenue soared to ₹1,051.97 crore in FY24, up from ₹176.36 crore in FY23, while also reducing losses to ₹165 crore—a 21% improvement year-over-year.