Rohan Nayak
Rohan Nayak is an Indian entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Pocket FM, an audio entertainment platform known for its original audio series and vernacular storytelling formats. Through Pocket FM, Nayak has redefined how millions of listeners consume digital entertainment, focusing on serialized storytelling across multiple Indian languages and global markets.[1]
| Rohan Nayak | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | India |
| Education | IIT Kharagpur (Engineering) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Co-founder & CEO of Pocket FM |
| Known for | Founding Pocket FM, Audio Storytelling Innovation |
Early Life and Education
Rohan Nayak completed his schooling at Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, and pursued Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. His academic journey played a crucial role in shaping his analytical mindset and entrepreneurial ambitions.[2]
Career and Founding of Pocket FM
Rohan Nayak began his career in the financial sector as a Delta One Analyst at Credit Suisse. He later transitioned to Cube26 as a Product Manager, where he gained valuable experience in product development, user engagement, and digital platform scaling.
Inspired by the lack of accessible, high-quality audio content for Indian commuters, Nayak co-founded Pocket FM in 2018 along with Nishanth KS and Prateek Dixit. The platform was created to bridge the gap between traditional storytelling and modern audio consumption, offering serialized audio series across genres like romance, thriller, horror, and motivation.[3]
Growth of Pocket FM
Under Nayak's leadership, Pocket FM has emerged as one of India’s leading audio entertainment startups. The platform supports multiple Indian languages and has built a loyal user base across tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Pocket FM’s innovative freemium model, allowing free access to a few episodes and charging for subsequent content, has been key to its monetization strategy.
Pocket FM has also expanded internationally, particularly in the United States, and has grown its community of content creators and listeners. The platform has raised significant funding from venture capital firms and is actively investing in original content and technology-driven personalization.[4]
Vision and Future Aspirations
Rohan Nayak envisions Pocket FM as a global leader in audio storytelling, focusing on AI-based content creation, international expansion, and launching adjacent platforms like Pocket Novel for online reading. His belief in the portability, accessibility, and emotional engagement of audio storytelling continues to guide the company’s growth strategies.[5]
Leadership Style
Known for his consumer-first approach, Nayak emphasizes product innovation, user-centric design, and sustainable monetization over short-term gains. His leadership style is defined by deep market understanding, agility, and a focus on execution excellence.
References
- ↑ https://www.fortuneindia.com/people/rohan-nayak-prateek-dixit-nishant-ks
- ↑ https://www.exchange4media.com/industry-briefing-news/pocket-fms-rohan-nayak-to-deliver-keynote-at-web-summit-lisbon-2024-138475.html
- ↑ https://www.indiantelevision.com/iworld/enews/rohan-nayak%27s-pocket-fm-makes-audio-series-a-mainstream-hit-in-2024-241219
- ↑ https://www.medianews4u.com/pocket-entertainment-unveils-pocket-toons-with-15m-investment-targets-100m-arr-by-2026/
- ↑ https://www.cnbctv18.com/business/startup/pocket-fm-earnings-losses-narow-revenue-grows-6x-19515867.htm