9.9 Media

What 9.9 Media does

9.9 Media (legal entity: 9.9 Group Pvt. Ltd.) is a specialty digital media company headquartered in Noida, India, operating a portfolio of vertical-specific publications, community platforms, and face-to-face events targeting Indian professional communities. The company's core media properties include Digit (technology reviews and buying advice with the in-house Digit Test Lab), CIO & Leader (fortnightly magazine for CIOs), IT NEXT (platform reaching 60,000+ IT managers across 15,000 companies), CSO Forum (corporate security leaders), EDU (higher education leadership), iGovernment (senior government officials), Devworx (developer community), and SKOAR! (gaming). Across these properties, 9.9 Media claims 10M+ unique monthly users, 21M+ page views per month, 2M+ video views per month, and 30,000+ hours of CXO face-to-face engagement annually, with content delivered in four languages (Hindi, English, Marathi, Telugu).

The company's technology infrastructure comprises owned-and-operated digital properties — websites, e-newsletters, webinars, mobile apps, and social networks — complemented by an offline events business delivering conferences, peer groups, and workshops. The platform supports community-led engagement models through Devworx (developer hackathons and meets with Microsoft, Google, Samsung, and Intel), CSO Forum (peer engagement for security leaders), and iGovernment (peer-to-peer learning for senior government officials). The technology is best characterized as a multi-vertical content distribution and community engagement stack rather than a software-as-a-service product.

9.9 Media operates a diversified B2B revenue model anchored in advertising (generating Rs 330 crore of business prospects for clients annually), professional services including custom publishing, turn-key conference and event execution, the 9.9 Speaker Bureau (in collaboration with The London Speaker Bureau, offering 2,000+ speakers), B2B marketing services through 9.9 Solutions (demand generation, BANT lead generation, account-based marketing, database marketing), and business intelligence advisory through 9.9 Insights (now partnered with Dentons Global Advisors and Albright Stonebridge Group). Customer segmentation spans technology decision makers, CSOs, CFOs, education leaders, government officials, and entrepreneurs, with enterprise sales executed via direct field sales across offices in Noida, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The company was founded in 2007 (with SKOAR! launching in 2003) and has raised institutional capital from Helion Venture Partners ($7.5M in 2008) and TVS Capital Funds (2014).

Name

9.9 Media

Legal name

9.9 Group Pvt. Ltd.

Website

http://www.9dot9.in/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

9.9 Media is an India-based specialty digital media company operating vertical-specific publications (Digit, CIO & Leader, IT NEXT), community platforms (CSO Forum, Devworx, iGovernment, EDU), and face-to-face events for technology decision makers, CSOs, CFOs, education leaders, and government officials across India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Digital Media

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Media Buying Agencies (541830)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Magazine & Newspaper Subscription Platforms (Paywalls, Membership) (MPAJAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community-Integrated Publishing Platforms (MPACAIAI)

Keywords

• Specialty digital media
• B2B marketing services
• Community platforms
• Custom publishing services
• Professional events media

Headquarters

HQ city

Noida

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Business prospects generation for clients: The company generates Rs 330 crore of business prospects for clients each year through its digital and in-person media platforms and marketing programs.
2. Custom publishing and event services: Editorial, design, production, and event execution teams deliver custom publishing (in-house publications, coffee table books) and turn-key conference/event services for enterprise clients.
3. Speaker Bureau services: 9.9 Speaker Bureau, established in collaboration with The London Speaker Bureau, provides access to over 2,000 speakers for corporate events and thought leadership engagements, generating revenue as a service offering.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

9.9 Media operates a portfolio of specialty digital media publications and community platforms targeting distinct professional verticals in India (CIOs, IT managers, CSOs, higher education leaders, government officials, developers, and technology consumers) through websites, e-newsletters, webinars, mobile apps, and social networks, complemented by face-to-face conferences and workshops. The company monetizes these audiences via advertising and lead generation for marketers, custom publishing, custom event execution, the 9.9 Speaker Bureau service, and B2B marketing services through 9.9 Solutions.

Product overview

9.9 Media is a specialty digital media company operating a multi-platform portfolio of publications and communities. The core offering consists of vertical-specific magazines and community platforms: technology publications (CIO & Leader, IT NEXT, Digit, Devworx), sector communities (CSO Forum for security leaders, EDU for education sector, iGovernment for public sector), and gaming (SKOAR!). These are complemented by business services including the 9.9 Speaker Bureau (in collaboration with The London Speaker Bureau) for event speaking engagements, custom publishing and event services, and 9.9 Solutions for B2B marketing services. The company reaches audiences through digital properties (websites, e-newsletters, webinars, mobile apps, social networks) in four languages (Hindi, English, Marathi, Telugu) and face-to-face events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CIO & Leader: India's leading fortnightly magazine for technology decision makers, promoting exchange of informed perspectives among CIOs and stakeholders.
• CSO Forum
• Devworx
• Digit
• EDU
• iGovernment
• IT NEXT
• SKOAR!
• 9.9 Speaker Bureau

Products and services

• CIO & Leader India's leading fortnightly magazine and media platform for technology decision makers, promoting exchange of informed perspectives on trends, management techniques, and IT business strategies among CIOs.
• CSO Forum A community-led and community-driven platform on corporate security issues, drawing on peer engagement and collective wisdom to promote best practices and benchmarks for corporate security leaders.
• Devworx A community resource for developers in India that brings together developers and platform owners through on-ground events, hackathons, and meets; operates as part of digit.in.
• Digit Magazine and digital platform catering to India's largest community of tech buyers, users, and technology enthusiasts; one of the country's most trusted names for technology reviews and buying advice, home to the Digit Test Lab.
• EDU Media platform targeting leaders of the Indian education sector, providing an impartial and reliable forum for educationists and visionaries on policy formulation, technology implementation, and best practices in institute administration.
• iGovernment Platform for peer-to-peer learning among key stakeholders in the Indian government and public sector, bringing together senior government officials to improve administration and public services through technology.
• IT NEXT The only media platform in India providing direct access to 60,000+ IT managers across 15,000 companies, including the top 1,000 organisations; creates a platform for vendors to engage with IT managers.
• SKOAR! India's premier gaming website and interactive magazine launched in 2003; part of digit.in, keeping users up to date with gaming content.
• 9.9 Speaker Bureau India's first Speaker Bureau, established in collaboration with The London Speaker Bureau, offering access to over 2,000 pre-eminent domestic and international speakers including leadership and motivational speakers, management thinkers, authors, economists, politicians, and corporate leaders.
• 9.9 Solutions A B2B marketing services provider specialising in executing multi-channel marketing campaigns combining digital and tele-calling to boost lead flow and increase revenue; offers B2B Data and Database Marketing, Demand Generation, BANT Lead Generation, and Account-Based Marketing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rs 330 crore of business prospects generated per year for clients
• +4 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dentons Global AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner9.9 Insights, the business intelligence division of 9.9 Media, has joined with Dentons Global Advisors and Albright Stonebridge Group, forming a significant strategic alliance in the business intelligence and advisory space.
• Albright Stonebridge GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner9.9 Insights, the business intelligence division of 9.9 Media, has joined with Albright Stonebridge Group and Dentons Global Advisors, creating a comprehensive advisory and intelligence offering.
• The London Speaker BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 9.9 Speaker Bureau was established in collaboration with The London Speaker Bureau. This is India's first Speaker Bureau offering access to over 2,000 pre-eminent domestic and international speakers including leadership speakers, management thinkers, authors, economists, politicians and corporate leaders.
• MicrosoftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDevworx has partnered with Microsoft and enabled Microsoft to engage with young aspiring application developers via events, competitions and content.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDevworx has partnered with Google and enabled Google to engage with young aspiring application developers via events, competitions and content.
• SamsungminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDevworx has partnered with Samsung and enabled Samsung to engage with young aspiring application developers via events, competitions and content.
• IntelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDevworx has partnered with Intel and enabled Intel to engage with young aspiring application developers via events, competitions and content.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TechTarget: Global B2B tech-media and purchase-intent data company serving CIOs, CISOs and IT decision-makers. Direct conceptual analog for monetising enterprise-tech audiences via content, events and demand-gen services.
• Storyboard18 (Network18): Network18's B2B brand and marketing vertical, with comparable enterprise-focused content and events. Relevant analog as a large-incumbent B2B content brand extending into community and events in India.
• UBM India (Informa Markets / Informa Tech India): Operates large B2B media and exhibitions portfolio in India spanning technology, security and lifestyle. Overlaps with 9.9 on events-led enterprise marketing and vertical-specific B2B communities.
• IDG India (IDG Media India): Indian arm of global tech media group IDG (publisher of CIO, Computerworld, PCWorld, Macworld). Comparable on IT decision-maker media and events across the India market, though part of a much larger global portfolio.
• Haymarket Media (India): Global B2B media group with Indian presence across verticals like marketing and healthcare. Comparable as an international specialty-media operator running vertical communities and events.

Emerging players

• Inc42 Media: India-focused digital media platform covering the startup/tech ecosystem with newsletters, events and reports. Comparable as a digital-first vertical media brand monetising through advertising, events and intelligence.
• YourStory: Indian digital media platform targeted at entrepreneurs and the startup ecosystem, with complementary events and newsletters. Overlaps with 9.9's entrepreneur segment and digital + events monetisation model.

Direct peers

• ETCIO (Economic Times CIO): Times Group's B2B tech-media property targeting Indian CIOs and enterprise IT leaders via digital, events and awards. Directly comparable to CIO & Leader / IT NEXT in audience and proposition.
• Cyber Media (Dataquest / CIO Review): Indian specialty B2B technology media group publishing Dataquest, CIO Review and PCQuest, with comparable vertical-tech communities and events. Closest direct analog to 9.9's CIO & Leader, IT NEXT and Digit portfolio.

Others

• The London Speaker Bureau (Asia operations): Co-partner with 9.9 in the 9.9 Speaker Bureau. Comparable as the global premium-speaker representation model from which 9.9's events-services extension was adapted for the Indian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 9.9 Media