Indian video apps see usage surge, peak investor interest

BENGALURU: Homegrown video apps such as Trell, Bolo Indya and Roposo have seen users increase as well as spend more time on their platforms on the back of a host of favourable factors, including higher venture capital interest, a surge in video consumption during the lockdown and growing anti-China sentiment.

Live shopping app Bulbul has also doubled down on non-shopping content to drive user engagement on its platform as shopping was stalled during the lockdown, posing a risk factor for user drop-offs.

To be sure, investors had started betting on Indian social video apps much before the lockdown and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to use local products.