Minute Media Acquires Binny Bansal-Backed VideoVerse

Binny Bansal-backed SaaS startup VideoVerse has been acquired by US-based digital media publisher Minute Media for an undisclosed amount. While the size of the acquisition wasn’t revealed, the cofounder and CEO Vinayak Shrivastav told Inc42 that the deal was “one of the largest SaaS acquisitions in the Indian startup ecosystem”.

Structured as a cash and stock transaction, the deal marks a complete exit for VideoVerse’s investors, including Flipkart cofounder Bansal, A91 Partners, and Bluestone Equity Partners. Meanwhile, Audacity Venture Capital will exit at $50 Mn gains.

According to Shrivastav, angel investors saw 10–20X returns, while institutional backers clocked a 60–70% IRR from the deal.

Founded in 2016 by Shrivastav, Saket Dandotia, and Alok Patil, VideoVerse offers AI-powered video editing platform Magnifi to enable advanced editing, real-time transformation, and content publishing. The startup had raised about $105 Mn since inception. It last raised $45 Mn from Bluestone Equity Partners in 2023. 

The platform lets rights holders such as the IPL, WPL, FIFA+, and major tennis tournaments generate real-time clips, add branding and effects, and distribute them across OTT apps, social media, or email. The company operates on a SaaS model, charging clients based on hours of footage processed.

Important to mention that VideoVerse will continue to operate as an independent entity and its company structure will remain intact moving forward. Besides, the CEO claims that the startup’s workforce will be granted stock options in the media company.

Besides, the startup will get access to Minute Media’s 200 Mn monthly users and its network of 500 publishing partners. “Our clients will now get end-to-end solutions, from highlight generation to publishing and monetisation, under one roof,” VideoVerse’s CSO Prateek Sharma told Inc42.

Via the acquisition, Minute Media plans to deploy a fully integrated creation, distribution, and monetisation solution, furthering its strategic partnerships with top teams, leagues, and federations around the world. 

For context, Minute Media owns and operates brands like Sports Illustrated, The Players’ Tribune, FanSided, and 90min, along with providing video, publishing and adtech solutions to sport leagues, rights-holders and content creators worldwide.