Hood (Entertainment Software)

Hoodlive Internet Pvt. Ltd., operating as Hood, is a social media company based in Gurugram, India, that has developed a pseudonymous social networking platform. Founded in 2021 by Jasveer Singh, Abhishek Asthana, and Deepak Kumar, the company initially launched as Zorro before rebranding to Hood. The founding team brings a diverse range of experience to the venture. Jasveer Singh, the CEO, has a background as a multi-time founder with successful exits and was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia. Abhishek Asthana is a well-known social media personality with over a million followers on Twitter (@GabbbarSingh) and previous experience as a brand manager and founder.

The company's core offering is a mobile application that allows users to share content, confess, and discuss various topics without revealing their real identities. This focus on pseudonymity aims to provide a space for free expression without the fear of judgment or the social repercussions often associated with mainstream social media platforms. Key features include the ability to create and join public or private groups based on interests, companies, or colleges to share ideas and experiences. The platform uses a smart algorithm to sort a user's timeline based on their selected interests and connections from their phone's contacts, who also remain anonymous on the platform. To encourage quality contributions, Hood has a creator badge system that rewards users with Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond badges based on a score calculated from their content quality and engagement levels.

Hood operates on a B2C business model, targeting users aged 18 to 45 across various income levels, initially focusing on India with plans for global expansion, including the U.S. market. The company secured significant initial funding, raising $3.2 million in a seed round from a notable group of investors. This round was co-led by 3one4 Capital and 9Unicorns (now 100Unicorns) and included participation from Roots Ventures and over 20 prominent angel investors such as the founders of Paytm, CRED, Lenskart, and boAt. The firm gained additional visibility and funding after appearing on Shark Tank India Season 2, where it secured an investment of ₹1.2 crore. In a strategic pivot reported in March 2025, the company has launched an AI-powered matchmaking platform called KnotDating, targeting professionals seeking serious relationships, indicating a new direction for the business.

Keywords: pseudonymous social network, anonymous communication, social media platform, Jasveer Singh, Abhishek Asthana, Deepak Kumar, Zorro app, 3one4 Capital, 9Unicorn Ventures, Shark Tank India, content sharing, online community, user privacy, free expression, KnotDating, matchmaking app, Indian startup, mobile application, social networking