ResearchMatters
Research Matters is a science communication initiative of Gubbi Labs publishing accessible research-based stories on Indian science across nine languages, serving general readers, science enthusiasts, and academic researchers via a multilingual website, podcasts, newsletters, and educational games.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersGubbi, India
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What ResearchMatters does
Research Matters is a science communication initiative operated by Gubbi Labs, based in Gubbi, Karnataka, India, with a hybrid content team in Bengaluru. Founded in 2014 as the Science Media Center at IISc (Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru), the platform has evolved into a multilingual research-news portal publishing accessible stories on Indian science, engineering, technology, and humanities. Core products include the Research Matters Portal (researchmatters.in) with 2,500+ freely accessible stories, the Research Bytes podcast series distributed on Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, and Substack, the SciQs quiz format, the Scidle science Wordle game, the India STEAM Quiz, and a Weekly Digest newsletter. The platform publishes in nine Indian languages — English, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Assamese, Bengali, and Malayalam — and serves a general audience of science enthusiasts, researchers, and academic institutes. Underlying technology is a Drupal-based content platform augmented with third-party generative AI tools (OpenAI, Gemini) for editorial assistance, governed by a formal Generative AI Policy.
The business model is non-transactional: core content is free to all readers. Revenue is generated through two named streams — content sponsorship of site and newsletter inventory, and content licensing/republishing rights, with over 400 stories picked up by external print and internet media outlets resulting in more than 1,000 unique appearances. A 9-person team led by Managing Editor Dennis C J (10+ years at Gubbi Labs, formerly Communications and IT Lead at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India) operates alongside a network of named science writers and contributors. The 2026 Journalism AI Innovation Challenge grant from PolisLSE (London School of Economics) with Google News Initiative support represents the most significant external validation and capital inflow, funding newsroom modernization rather than commercial expansion. No equity funding rounds, enterprise customers, or subscription pricing are in evidence.
ResearchMatters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ResearchMatters
- Legal name
- Gubbi Labs
- Website
- https://researchmatters.in
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Research Matters is a science communication initiative of Gubbi Labs publishing accessible research-based stories on Indian science across nine languages, serving general readers, science enthusiasts, and academic researchers via a multilingual website, podcasts, newsletters, and educational games.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ResearchMatters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Science News and Communication
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Popular Science, Technology & Nature Trade Publishing (MPAJAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Scholarly & Academic Multimedia (Research Videos, Interactive Figures) (EDAGALAJ)
Keywords
Where ResearchMatters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gubbi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
ResearchMatters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Content Sponsorship: Sponsorship of site and newsletter content
- Content Licensing: Over 400 stories have been picked up by different print and internet media outlets, generating licensing opportunities
- Republishing Rights: Interest expressed in republishing content by external parties
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
ResearchMatters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Research Matters publishes research-based science news stories, features, and multimedia content covering science, engineering, technology, and humanities from Indian research institutions. Content is delivered in English and six Indian regional languages (Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Assamese) through the main website, podcasts, educational quizzes, and a weekly newsletter. The platform also offers sub-products including the Scidle science wordle game and the India STEAM Quiz.
Product overview
Research Matters is a science communication initiative of Gubbi Labs operating as a multi-platform science news portal focused on Indian research. The core offering is the Research Matters Portal delivering research-based science news in English and six Indian regional languages (Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Assamese). Supporting products include the Research Bytes Podcast series distributed via Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube; SciQs educational quizzes; the Scidle science wordle game; and the India STEAM Quiz. Content is amplified through a Weekly Digest Newsletter on Substack, with supplementary formats including Deep-dive articles, Op-ed pieces, and Catching Up interview series.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Scidle: A science wordle game
- India STEAM Quiz
- Weekly Digest
- Research Bytes Podcasts
Products and services
- Research Matters Portal Primary science news website providing research-based stories and highlights in science, engineering, technology, and humanities in India, with content available in multiple Indian languages.
- Research Bytes Podcasts Audio podcast series covering science news and research stories, distributed through Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, and Substack platforms.
- SciQs Interactive science quiz content featuring '7 Amazing Facts' articles about scientific topics like dark matter, Mars, and the Milky Way, designed to educate and engage readers.
- Scidle Science wordle game available at scidle.researchmatters.in, offering daily science-themed word puzzles for educational entertainment.
- India STEAM Quiz Weekly science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics quiz program with new questions published weekly.
- Weekly Digest Newsletter Weekly newsletter subscription available via Substack, featuring research articles, science and technology news, events, fun science facts, toons, infographics, puzzles, and games.
Companies that use ResearchMatters
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ResearchMatters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability2 records
Feature2 records
ResearchMatters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- PolisLSE / London School of EconomicscorePartnered through the Journalism AI Innovation Challenge by PolisLSE (London School of Economics), with support from Google News Initiative, to optimize the science news cycle and modernize the science communication newsroom with Generative AI tools.
- Google News InitiativecoreProvided support as part of the Journalism AI Innovation Challenge grant to help modernize the science newsroom with AI tools and solutions.
- Gubbi LabscoreGubbi Labs is the parent organization and science communication initiative that operates Research Matters. Dennis C J serves as Managing Editor overseeing daily operations and overall growth of Research Matters.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ResearchMatters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Nature India: The India edition of Nature, providing science news and analysis from an Indian perspective. Comparable broad incumbent in India-focused science journalism, though anchored in a global STM publishing brand rather than a standalone mission-driven portal.
- ScienceDaily: A long-standing popular science news aggregator that summarizes peer-reviewed research. Comparable as a research-to-public translation outlet, but US/global in coverage rather than regionally focused.
- Phys.org: A large global science and technology news aggregator covering research across disciplines. Comparable as a high-volume popular science publishing platform, but global in scope rather than India-specific.
- LiveMint (Science section): A major Indian business and general news outlet with a recurring science/technology section. Comparable as a media outlet publishing accessible science stories to Indian readers, but as a slice of a much broader business/newsroom.
Direct peers
- The Conversation India: Indian edition of a global academic-authored science and explainer journalism platform. Comparable in publishing research-based explainers written by academics and aimed at general Indian audiences.
- IndiaBioscience: An India-based science communication and community platform for life sciences researchers. Direct peer in Indian life-sciences science communication with similar mission of bridging researchers and general/semi-technical audiences.
- Mongabay India: An India-focused environmental and science news platform translating research into accessible stories. Highly comparable as a niche science/environment vertical publishing free, research-based journalism aimed at Indian readers.
- The Wire Science: An Indian digital news outlet running a dedicated science section that publishes accessible, research-driven science journalism. Direct peer to ResearchMatters in India-focused science communication for a general literate audience.
- Scroll.in (Science section): An Indian digital news outlet that publishes accessible science, environment, and research explainers. Comparable as an India-focused free-access journalism platform covering science for the general reader.
Emerging players
- Eos (American Geophysical Union): A science journalism outlet run by a learned society covering Earth and space sciences. Comparable as a society-affiliated popular science publisher translating research, though focused on geosciences rather than full-spectrum Indian science.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ResearchMatters social profiles
Digital presenceResearchMatters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ResearchMatters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ResearchMatters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ResearchMatters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ResearchMatters
What does ResearchMatters do?
Research Matters publishes research-based science news stories, features, and multimedia content covering science, engineering, technology, and humanities from Indian research institutions. Content is delivered in English and six Indian regional languages (Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Assamese) through the main website, podcasts, educational quizzes, and a weekly newsletter. The platform also offers sub-products including the Scidle science wordle game and the India STEAM Quiz.
Is ResearchMatters a public or private company?
ResearchMatters is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ResearchMatters founded?
ResearchMatters was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ResearchMatters based?
ResearchMatters is headquartered in Gubbi, India, in the Asia region.
How does ResearchMatters make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Content Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are content Licensing and republishing Rights.
Who are ResearchMatters's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Nature India, ScienceDaily, Phys.org and LiveMint (Science section). Direct peers are The Conversation India, IndiaBioscience, Mongabay India, The Wire Science and Scroll.in (Science section). Eos (American Geophysical Union) is listed as an emerging player.
Does ResearchMatters have an API?
No public API is recorded for ResearchMatters.
What industry is ResearchMatters in?
ResearchMatters's product category is Science News and Communication. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAJ, Popular Science, Technology & Nature Trade Publishing, with a secondary code of EDAGALAJ, Scholarly & Academic Multimedia (Research Videos, Interactive Figures). Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.