TIST Media Raises Seed Round at USD 5.9 Mn Post-Money Valuation
TIST Media, the Mumbai-headquartered creator economy company, has closed its seed round at a post-money valuation of approximately USD 5.9 million, with Sthira Partners leading the investment. The round marks one of the few instances of institutional capital flowing into a pure-play creator economy business in India, signalling a recalibration in how venture investors are beginning to view the sector globally.
While the company did not disclose the exact ticket size of the round, the valuation places TIST among a small cohort of Indian creator-economy startups to attract dedicated venture backing. The investment is expected to accelerate the company's product roadmap and geographic expansion at a moment when global brand spend on creator-led marketing is projected to surpass USD 480 billion by 2027.
A Mumbai company building infrastructure for the creator economy
Founded in 2019 and incorporated as TIST Media Private Limited on August 21, 2019, the company was built on the conviction that the creator economy, despite being one of the fastest-growing forces in global media, lacked dependable infrastructure, transparent systems, and a platform genuinely built for both creators and brands. The company's flagship offering, the TIST app, connects creators with brands across India and international markets through structured partnerships, seamless payments, and measurable collaborations.
The Mumbai-based company is led by Founder Tarun Nathani, alongside Co-Founder Santul Katahra. Independent director Karishma Nathani has been on the board since October 2020. Despite a lean operational footprint, TIST has scaled rapidly over the past three years, working with some of India's largest brands on creator-led campaigns.
The growth trajectory is reflected in the company's financials. TIST Media closed FY2024-25 with revenue of ₹13.2 crore (approximately USD 1.57 million), a 220 percent year-on-year jump from the ₹4.1 crore reported in FY2023-24. The company has clocked a three-year revenue CAGR of 134 percent and a five-year CAGR of 114 percent, scaling from just ₹17.5 lakh in FY2020-21. TIST closed FY2024-25 profitably, posting a net profit of ₹1.7 lakh, and recorded EBITDA of ₹12 lakh, up from ₹5 lakh the previous year. Employee expenses more than doubled to ₹1.6 crore in FY2024-25 as the team expanded to support a growing roster of brand and creator engagements.
Founder on building the foundation for a maturing industry
Tarun Nathani, Founder of TIST Media, framed the funding as an acceleration of an existing thesis rather than a pivot.
"The creator economy is not emerging. It has arrived. What has not arrived yet is the infrastructure, the trust, and the systems that creators and brands both deserve, everywhere in the world. That is what TIST exists to build, and we have known this since day one. This round does not change our vision. It accelerates it. I have never doubted that the creator economy will be one of the most powerful forces in how the world communicates, consumes, and connects. The only question was who would build the right foundation for it. We intend to be that foundation."
Nathani was equally emphatic about the role of the operating team in TIST's trajectory. "The TIST team is the real story here. Every number, every brand partnership, every creator relationship we have built is the work of some of the finest minds I have had the privilege of working alongside," he said, adding that the round "belongs to them as much as it belongs to me." He also extended gratitude to the brands and creators who he said had backed the company "before the world caught on."
Use of funds
According to the company, capital from the seed round will be deployed across three priorities — expanding the TIST team, deepening product infrastructure through the TIST app, and scaling brand and creator partnerships across India and international markets. The investment is expected to fund significant hiring across product, engineering, and partnership functions over the coming financial year, alongside upgrades to the platform's payment and measurement architecture.
Investor view
Commenting on the investment, Raj, Managing Partner at Sthira Partners, said the firm's conviction was rooted in the depth of operational understanding the founding team brings to the category.
"What gave us conviction in TIST was depth. Tarun and his team understand the creator economy from every side of the table — the brand, agency, and creator; earned through years of careful, attentive delivery. That understanding runs well beyond the founder; it sits in the team. We are glad to build alongside founders who treat the craft this seriously."
Nathani extended a personal note of acknowledgement to Mr. Kumar Vembu, Mr. Rajagopal Subramanian, and the broader Sthira team for "backing TIST at this stage of our journey."
About TIST Media
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Mumbai, TIST Media Private Limited is a creator economy company building infrastructure that connects creators and brands through structured partnerships, seamless payments, and measurable collaborations. Its flagship product, the TIST app, operates across India and international markets. The company reported revenue of ₹13.2 crore in FY2024-25, growing 220 percent year-on-year. TIST is led by Founder Tarun Nathani and Co-Founder Santul Katahra. More information is available at tistmedia.in.
