Josh

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

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

• Short video platform
• Regional language content
• Creator monetization
• In-app virtual currency
• Social video app

Headquarters

HQ city

Bengaluru

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core 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)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/josh-app

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Josh