Josh
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBengaluru, India
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
Josh firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Josh
- Legal name
- VerSe Innovation Private Limited
- Website
- https://myjosh.in
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Josh industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Short Video Social Platform
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Software/SaaS Subscriptions (Consumer & Prosumer) (CRAFAIAB)
Keywords
Where Josh is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bengaluru
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Josh business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- In-app Virtual Currency (Jems): Users purchase Jems (in-app virtual currency) to access premium features including DreamCall audio/video calls, private chat with hosts, live rooms, and virtual gifting. Jems are sold in packs ranging from ₹12 (30 Jems) to ₹2,650 (7,150 Jems). Revenue is generated through consumptive purchases as users spend Jems on interactions.
- Digital Advertising: Josh generates revenue through advertising displayed on the platform. The Terms of Service explicitly state that VerSe may generate revenues through sale of advertising, sponsorships, and promotions. The platform uses third-party ad networks including Google Ads, Mobvista, Appnext, Facebook Audience Network, and Baidu.
- Brand Campaigns and Sponsorships: Josh facilitates brand campaigns and challenges for brands to reach the platform's user base. The platform hosts sponsored challenges and promotional partnerships. Users can participate in brand campaigns by emailing [email protected]. The Transparency Report mentions campaigns like #VoteFest with government partnerships.
- DramaStories Premium Content: Premium episodes in DramaStories can be unlocked using 30 Jems per episode, providing an additional consumption-based revenue stream for premium content access.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level Jems pack - 30 Jems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Small Jems pack - 50 Jems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Popular Jems pack - 100 Jems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Value Jems pack - 250 Jems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Jems pack - 480 Jems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-tier Jems pack - 1,080 Jems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Jems pack - 1,500 Jems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Large Jems pack - 2,860 Jems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Value Plus Jems pack - 3,580 Jems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Maximum Value Jems pack - 7,150 Jems |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Josh product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Josh is a mobile and desktop short video application that allows users to view, create, and share audio-video content across 13 Indian regional languages, targeting "creators of Bharat." The platform monetizes via a virtual currency (Jems) used for premium interactions such as DreamCall audio calls, private chat, virtual gifting, and unlocking premium DramaStories episodes, supplemented by in-app advertising and brand campaigns.
Product overview
Josh is a short video platform operated by VerSe Innovation Private Limited. The core product is the Josh short video app, described as India's #1 short video platform 'Made in India' for creators of Bharat, available in multiple Indian languages. The platform includes a suite of social and monetization features: DreamCall enables interactive audio communication with hosts through calls, chats, and live rooms; Private Calling and Private Chat provide one-on-one conversations with creators; Live Rooms offer real-time group interactions; and Virtual Gifts allow users to send digital tokens to hosts. The platform uses a dual virtual currency system with Josh Jems (purchased by users for in-app spending) and Josh Diamonds (earned by hosts for monetization). Additional premium content is available through DramaStories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DreamCall: Interactive audio communication feature enabling hosts to engage with users through real-time audio calls, chat, and live audio streaming sessions.
Products and services
- Josh Short Video App A mobile and desktop application that allows users to view, create, and share audio-video content in 13 Indian regional languages. Free to download and use, with in-app purchases for premium features.
- DramaStories Premium episodic content available within the Josh app, with individual episodes unlockable for 30 Jems each.
Quantifiable outcome
- 163 million users (as of 2022)
Companies that use Josh
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Josh technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability5 records
Feature5 records
Josh partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Josh competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- YouTube Shorts (Google): YouTube Shorts is Google's short-video offering and Josh's primary established competitor in India, leveraging YouTube's existing creator ecosystem, ad tech stack, and search-derived distribution.
- TikTok (ByteDance): TikTok is the global short-video leader (currently banned in India) that created and dominated the market Josh competes in. It remains the reference competitor for short-video product design and creator economy mechanics.
- Instagram Reels (Meta): Instagram Reels is Meta's dominant short-video product globally and in India, competing for the same creator and user base as Josh but with the resources of a global social media platform.
Emerging players
- Likee: Likee is a global short-video platform with presence in India and South Asia. While broader in geographic focus, it competes with Josh for similar creator and audience segments in similar price-sensitive markets.
- Triller: Triller is a short-video platform with a music and creator-economy focus. While it targets a different core use case, it overlaps with Josh on short-video product mechanics, creator monetization via virtual gifts, and social video engagement.
- Snack Video (Kuaishou): Snack Video is Kuaishou's short-video app targeting Indian users, particularly in Tier 2/3 cities. It overlaps with Josh on regional-language content and emerging-market monetization strategies.
Direct peers
- Chingari: Chingari is an Indian short-video platform that, like Josh, targets Bharat users with regional-language content and creator monetization. Both platforms emerged in the post-TikTok-ban Indian short-video landscape.
- Roposo (Glance): Roposo, now part of Glance/InMobi, is an Indian short-video platform with a comparable regional-language content focus and direct overlap with Josh's targeting of Tier 2/3 India users.
- MX TakaTak (merged with Moj): MX TakaTak was a direct short-video competitor to Josh in India before merging with Moj/ShareChat. Both platforms competed for the same regional-language creator and user base across Tier 2/3 India.
- ShareChat/Moj (Mohalla Tech): Mohalla Tech's ShareChat/Moj is Josh's closest direct competitor - an Indian short-video platform with a comparable focus on regional-language content, similar Bharat user base, and overlapping creator monetization features.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Josh social profiles
Digital presenceJosh financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Josh leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Josh funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Josh 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 Josh
What does Josh do?
Josh is a mobile and desktop short video application that allows users to view, create, and share audio-video content across 13 Indian regional languages, targeting "creators of Bharat." The platform monetizes via a virtual currency (Jems) used for premium interactions such as DreamCall audio calls, private chat, virtual gifting, and unlocking premium DramaStories episodes, supplemented by in-app advertising and brand campaigns.
Is Josh a public or private company?
Josh is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Josh founded?
Josh was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Josh based?
Josh is headquartered in Bengaluru, India, in the Asia region.
How does Josh make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. In-app Virtual Currency (Jems) is the primary driver. The others are digital Advertising, brand Campaigns and Sponsorships and dramaStories Premium Content.
Who are Josh's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are YouTube Shorts (Google), TikTok (ByteDance) and Instagram Reels (Meta). Emerging players are Likee, Triller and Snack Video (Kuaishou). Direct peers are Chingari, Roposo (Glance), MX TakaTak (merged with Moj) and ShareChat/Moj (Mohalla Tech).
Does Josh have an API?
No public API is recorded for Josh.
What industry is Josh in?
Josh's product category is Short Video Social Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAIAB, Software/SaaS Subscriptions (Consumer & Prosumer). Its NAICS code is 516210 and its SIC code is 7372.