The Mainstream
The Mainstream is a Mumbai-headquartered digital media and B2B events company (formerly CIO News) that publishes technology, cybersecurity, and business news and runs summits such as GCCConverge and CX Summit for enterprise technology decision makers and vendor sponsors across India, the Middle East, the USA, and other global markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersMumbai, India
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Mainstream does
The Mainstream (legal entity Mercadeo Multiventures Pvt Ltd.) is a Mumbai-headquartered digital media and B2B events company that publishes technology, cybersecurity, and business news across regional editions covering India, the Middle East, the USA, the UK, Australia, ASEAN, and Africa. The platform originated as CIO News in 2020 and was rebranded in 2022 to broaden its positioning across enterprise technology verticals. Its core product surface comprises a WordPress-based news portal (themainstream.co.in) organized into World Tech News, World Cyber News, and World Business News sections; a podcast/video network called The Mainstream Awaaz with Voice of CIO, CISO, CMO, and CHRO series; and a portfolio of B2B summits including GCCConverge (Bengaluru and Mumbai), CX Summit, and the CIONEWS Premier League experiential event. Content is distributed through owned website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, WhatsApp, YouTube), and newsletter subscriptions, with the site also carrying syndicated feed content and external event banners from partners such as ITU, GISEC, Tech Week, ASEAN ShopExpo, and AI Expo Korea.
The company operates a hybrid B2B media-and-events business model with three monetizable streams: event sponsorship and attendance revenue from curated summits and conferences, recurring newsletter subscriptions, and sponsored or advertorial content on the owned portal. Primary customer segments are enterprise technology decision makers (CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, CMOs, CHROs) consuming news and attending events, and B2B technology vendors and consulting firms that sponsor events and content to reach those executives; a secondary segment includes industry professionals in BFSI, manufacturing, and consulting seeking sector-specific technology coverage. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and appears quote-based for sponsorships, consistent with industry norms. Strategic positioning is reinforced by a 2026 co-developed research partnership with NTT DATA on India's Global Capability Centre ecosystem, positioning the company as a content and convening layer over India's GCC market rather than as a technology product company.
The Mainstream firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Mainstream
- Legal name
- Mercadeo Multiventures Pvt Ltd.
- Website
- https://themainstream.co.in
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Mainstream is a Mumbai-headquartered digital media and B2B events company (formerly CIO News) that publishes technology, cybersecurity, and business news and runs summits such as GCCConverge and CX Summit for enterprise technology decision makers and vendor sponsors across India, the Middle East, the USA, and other global markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Mainstream industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Media & B2B Events
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Newsletters & Email-Based News Publishers (B2B/B2C) (MPAJADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK), Enterprise Audio Publishing & Private Podcast Platforms (MPAIADAI), Digital Newsroom/CMS Platforms for Publishers (MPACAIAH)
Keywords
Where The Mainstream is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mumbai
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Mainstream business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Digital Media Content: The company operates a digital media platform delivering news and insights across technology, business, and cyber domains. The platform generates content-based engagement and newsletter subscriptions.
- B2B Events and Conferences: The company curates and hosts summits and conferences (GCCConverge, CX Summit, etc.) that bring together technology and business decision makers. These events serve as revenue-generating platforms through sponsorships, attendance fees, and partnerships.
- Newsletter Subscriptions: The company offers newsletter subscriptions with a subscribe option on their website, indicating recurring revenue from digital media subscriptions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Newsletter Subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Mainstream product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Mainstream operates a digital news media platform that publishes technology, cybersecurity, and business news across regional editions (India, Middle East, USA, Others), alongside B2B events and summits such as GCCConverge and the CX Summit that convene enterprise technology and business decision makers. The company also produces original podcast content through its Mainstream Awaaz series featuring CIO, CISO, CMO, and CHRO leadership dialogues.
Product overview
The Mainstream is a digital media, business news and B2B events company headquartered in Mumbai, India (formerly known as CIO News). The company operates a unified platform comprising a digital news media portal delivering technology, cyber security, and business news across global editions; B2B events and summits including GCCConverge Summit that convene technology and business decision makers; The Mainstream Awaaz podcast series featuring executive interviews across Voice of CIO, CISO, CMO, and CHRO series; and a blog content division producing thought leadership on emerging technologies. The portfolio is designed to serve technology and business leaders navigating digital transformation across India, Middle East, USA, and other markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Mainstream Awaaz: Video/Podcast series featuring leadership dialogues and interviews with industry leaders including CIOs, CISOs, CMOs, and CHROs.
Products and services
- The Mainstream Digital News Platform
Companies that use The Mainstream
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Mainstream technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Mainstream partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- NTT DATAcoreThe Mainstream partnered with NTT DATA to produce research reports on India's Global Capability Centre (GCC) ecosystem. The 2026 report found that 40% of India's GCC ecosystem has transformed into innovation hubs, evolving from their original role as cost optimization centers. The report also revealed that 42% of GCCs cite scarcity of specialized deep tech skills as a limiting factor, while over 45% are actively deploying AI in their core processes and 70% are working to address the talent gap through structured development programs.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Mainstream competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- CISO Series: Media brand producing podcasts, videos, and written content specifically for CISOs and security leaders. Comparable on the niche 'Voice of CISO' content franchise and podcast-led distribution approach for security decision-makers.
- CIO Review: Niche print-and-digital publication and awards platform targeted at enterprise technology decision-makers. Overlaps with The Mainstream in audience (CIO/CISO community) and B2B advertising/sponsored-content revenue model, though materially smaller footprint.
Direct peers
- Inc42 Media: India-focused tech and startup media platform with proprietary events, newsletters, and research reports. Directly comparable on geography, audience (B2B tech buyers), and the content-plus-events monetization approach.
- CIO.com (IDG Communications): Long-running B2B media brand dedicated to CIOs and enterprise IT leaders. Closely comparable to The Mainstream in target audience (enterprise technology decision-makers), editorial pillars (tech, cyber, business), and recurring digital content + events revenue model.
- VentureBeat: Independent B2B tech media outlet covering AI, enterprise technology, and digital transformation with proprietary events (Transform, VB Transform) and a newsletter-led business model. Comparable in editorial remit, event monetization, and newsletter subscription revenue mix.
- YourStory: India-headquartered digital media platform focused on the technology, startup, and SME ecosystem with conferences and newsletters. Comparable across geography, target decision-maker audience, and the digital-media-plus-events playbook.
- ETCIO (The Economic Times): India's flagship enterprise technology publication serving CIOs and CISOs with news, opinion, and the ETCIO summits. Same geography (India HQ), same buyer (enterprise tech leadership), same mix of digital content and proprietary CxO events.
Regional players
- TechCircle (by Mint): India-focused technology and startup media brand from the HT Media group covering enterprise tech, funding, and digital transformation. Regional overlap with The Mainstream's India editions; comparable B2B tech editorial remit within the same geography.
Broad incumbents
- TechCrunch: Global B2B technology media brand covering enterprise tech, startups, and digital transformation. Comparable in editorial pillars, but operates as a much broader incumbent with venture-backed scale, larger audience and recurring flagship conferences.
- InformationWeek: Established B2B media brand serving IT and business leadership with news, analysis, and virtual/in-person events. Comparable audience (enterprise IT decision-makers) and cross-format portfolio, though larger legacy scale as an industry incumbent.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Mainstream social profiles
Digital presenceThe Mainstream financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Mainstream leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Mainstream funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Mainstream 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 The Mainstream
What does The Mainstream do?
The Mainstream operates a digital news media platform that publishes technology, cybersecurity, and business news across regional editions (India, Middle East, USA, Others), alongside B2B events and summits such as GCCConverge and the CX Summit that convene enterprise technology and business decision makers. The company also produces original podcast content through its Mainstream Awaaz series featuring CIO, CISO, CMO, and CHRO leadership dialogues.
Is The Mainstream a public or private company?
The Mainstream is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Mainstream founded?
The Mainstream was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Mainstream based?
The Mainstream is headquartered in Mumbai, India, in the Asia region.
How does The Mainstream make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Digital Media Content is the primary driver. The others are B2B Events and Conferences and newsletter Subscriptions.
Who are The Mainstream's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are CISO Series and CIO Review. Direct peers are Inc42 Media, CIO.com (IDG Communications), VentureBeat, YourStory and ETCIO (The Economic Times). TechCircle (by Mint) is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are TechCrunch and InformationWeek.
Does The Mainstream have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Mainstream.
What industry is The Mainstream in?
The Mainstream's product category is Digital Media & B2B Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAJ, Newsletters & Email-Based News Publishers (B2B/B2C), with a secondary code of MPAGAGAK, Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums. Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2741.