Esports Media Startup TalkEsport Bags Funding To Expand Its Global Footprint

TalkEsport, an esports and video gaming media platform which covers news, entertainment and interviews, has raised Pre-Series A funding of  $1 Mn (INR 8.24 Cr) from Saswat Ventures, a family fund floated by the startup’s principal investor BL Sharma.

The Kolkata-based startup plans to use the fresh funding to scale up its core website, setting up a production studio in Mumbai and plans to launch a mobile application for its audience. 

Founded in 2011 by Deepak Ojha, TalkEsport covers news related to the gaming industry. Currently, it claims to serve 40 Mn gamers across the world.

“Proceeds of the $1 Mn will be utilised in creating a robust team of gaming enthusiasts and expanding our global reach. This investment not only propels TalkEsport’s growth initiatives but also fuels our mission to provide unparalleled experiences for esports enthusiasts worldwide,” said Ojha. 

Pranav Nalawade, editor-in-chief at TalkEsport, said, “As one of the oldest esports media platforms, we have built an audience that relies on us for our history of trustworthy and reliable news. Now, we want to double up on this audience, reforming the way content around esports is consumed in India and abroad through podcasts, media, short-form content, and analytical stories – both in the form of video and text.”

India currently is home to three gaming unicorns – Dream11, Games24x7 and Mobile Premier League (MPL) while Nazara is India’s largest and only listed gaming company. Lately, Games24x7 has partnered with the Karnataka Government to launch ‘GameTech Accelerate – The Future of Gaming’ an online gaming accelerator initiative.

The size of the gaming market in India continues to grow. There are more than 500 Mn gamers currently active in India. Gaming-focussed VC firm Lumikai projects gaming revenue for FY28 to $7.5 Bn.