ICouchApp

iCouchApp, founded in 2010 by Rabi Gupta and Ashish Kumar, began its journey as iDubba, a television guide application for Indian programming. The initial concept centered on a mobile app where viewers could browse TV schedules, set alerts for their favorite shows, and engage with content through social features like chats, polls, and quizzes. Early on, the company secured approximately 1 crore in angel funding from notable investors including Rajan Anandan and Srikant Sastri. Over its lifespan, iCouchApp raised a total of $200K through two funding rounds, attracting investments from firms such as Stern Fisher, Astir Ventures, and Hyderabad Angels.

The business evolved into a platform designed to add an interactive layer over mobile streaming applications and video content. It primarily served media companies, enabling them to create and manage their own over-the-top (OTT) applications. The platform's features allowed television viewers to connect with other fans, share memes, and participate in voice or text chats while watching a program. This B2B model positioned iCouchApp as a technology provider for major entertainment broadcasters like Zee TV, &TV, and History TV18, helping them build and enhance their mobile presence.

In February 2016, iCouchApp was acquired by Vidooly Media Tech, marking a significant milestone in its corporate history. The acquisition was characterized as an 'acqui-hire,' integrating the iCouchApp team and technology into Vidooly's operations. This strategic move allowed Vidooly to expand its analytics capabilities into the social television space. The company was headquartered in New Delhi, India. Keywords: video content engagement, video discovery platform, TV guide app, second screen application, OTT platform development, social TV, fan engagement, mobile streaming, media technology, interactive video, Rabi Gupta, Ashish Kumar, Vidooly Media Tech, Zee TV app, &TV app, History TV18 app, Indian television apps, mobile application developer