Mythik: Jason Kothari’s Ambitious Quest to Build the ‘Disney of the East’ with a Power-Packed $15 Million Seed Boost

Bengaluru, India – In a significant stride poised to reshape the global entertainment landscape, seasoned entrepreneur and turnaround specialist Jason Kothari has launched Mythik, a tech-first global entertainment company, securing a substantial $15 million in seed funding. This marks one of India’s largest seed rounds in the media-tech sector, signaling strong investor confidence in Mythik’s grand vision: to bring the rich tapestry of Eastern mythology, history, and folktales to a worldwide audience.

Mythik aims to become the “Disney from the East,” leveraging cutting-edge technology, including AI, to reimagine ancient narratives for modern audiences. The company plans to create immersive and engaging content, with initial examples like “Ram vs Ravan: The Final Duel,” “Shakuni’s Story,” and “The Women of Ramanyan” already gaining traction on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, boasting over 160,000 subscribers and 25,000 followers.

The impressive seed round saw participation from a diverse and strategic group of investors, including Sakal Media Group (a pre-independence Marathi Newspaper Agency turned Media group), BITKRAFT Ventures (early-stage investment platform for gaming, Web3, and immersive technology.), VC Grid, Visceral Capital, and notably, the family office of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan – a truly star-studded Shahrukh Khan investment in a startup!

Other prominent individual investors include the Patni family office, Saif Saeed Ghobash (Secretary General of Abu Dhabi Executive Council), Polygon co-founder Jaynti Kanani, Deepen Parikh of Courtside Ventures, Tridiagonal AI’s Pravin Jain, and Samir Vora of Enam Asset Management. Jason Kothari himself also invested in the round, showing his deep personal commitment.

A Powerhouse Team and a Visionary Leader

Mythik’s ambition is underpinned by a robust founding team comprising former senior executives from global entertainment giants such as Disney, Netflix, Amazon Studios, Jio, and Tencent. This collective experience in content creation and distribution positions Mythik to effectively navigate the complexities of global entertainment – they truly know their craft!

At the helm, Jason Kothari brings a distinguished track record of transforming businesses. Known for his “turnaround expert” moniker, Kothari famously acquired the bankrupt Valiant Entertainment at the age of 24 (that’s obviously too young), revitalizing it before selling it for $100 million. His entertainment ventures also include serving as an executive producer for “Bloodshot,” a Hollywood film based on a Valiant character starring Vin Diesel.

Beyond entertainment, Kothari has held pivotal leadership roles in the Indian tech ecosystem, including CEO of Housing.com (where he led its turnaround and merger with PropTiger), CEO of FreeCharge (orchestrating its strategic sale to Axis Bank), and Chief Strategy & Investment Officer at Snapdeal (leading its path to profitability). His diverse experience, from assisting Jackie Chan at 15 to authoring a national bestseller, “Irrationally Passionate,” underscores his multifaceted expertise and passion for storytelling. He’s certainly someone who can make big things happen!

The Untapped Potential of Eastern Narratives

Mythik’s core premise taps into a massive, yet often underrepresented, global audience. With an estimated built-in audience of 3.5 billion people across Asia and beyond, Eastern mythology, history, and folktales represent a treasure trove of narratives that have largely been overshadowed by Western storytelling in global entertainment. Imagine the potential!

Jason Kothari articulates this vision clearly: “Global entertainment has been dominated by Hollywood and Western stories. It’s time to share Eastern stories – our history, culture, values, and greatest legends – with the world, leveraging cutting-edge technology across all aspects of the business to create a new tech-first entertainment company.” It’s a mission we can all get behind.

Interesting Insight & Vitt’s Take:

Interesting Insight: The success of Mythik hinges not just on the universal appeal of ancient stories, but critically on its ability to leverage “cutting-edge technology” and “AI” to deliver these narratives in a modern, immersive, and highly consumable format (e.g., 10-12 minute videos). This technological backbone is key to bridging the gap between traditional tales and a global digital-native audience, differentiating Mythik from previous attempts to globalize Eastern content.

The blend of deep cultural roots with advanced tech could truly create a new paradigm in entertainment, especially given the growing global interest in diverse cultural content. The initial traction on YouTube and Instagram suggests a strong appetite for this type of content when presented in an accessible format. It’s truly a smart approach to storytelling for the 21st century.

vitt’s take..

_{(vitt – Where India Reads is a space for making Business and finance stories digestible and relevant to India’s digital generation.)}

This isn’t just another entertainment startup; it’s a strategic play on a global scale. Kothari’s track record as a turnaround specialist, coupled with a dream team of industry veterans and substantial backing from a diverse investor base (including the influential Shah Rukh Khan’s family office – that’s a big deal!), provides a strong foundation.

The vision to be the “Disney from the East” is audacious but grounded in a significant, underserved market – 3.5 billion people and a rich cultural heritage that’s just waiting to be explored by the world. The emphasis on technology, particularly AI, to revitalize these ancient stories for the digital age is a brilliant move. If Mythik can consistently deliver high-quality, engaging content that resonates across cultures, it could truly redefine global entertainment, bringing a fresh wave of narratives that inspire and captivate audiences worldwide. This isn’t just about entertainment; it’s about cultural exchange and the power of storytelling to connect a vast global audience. We’re certainly rooting for Mythik to make our stories famous globally!