India’s first AI-native discovery and ticketing platform, thumpN, has raised more than €3.3 million (approximately ₹35.7 crore) in funding as it seeks to transform how users discover and book live entertainment experiences across the country. The investment will enable the startup to strengthen its AI-powered platform and expand its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing live entertainment markets.
The company officially launched its platform on July 6 and plans to use the fresh capital to enhance its AI-driven discovery engine while scaling operations across India. Through its technology, thumpN aims to offer highly personalized recommendations for concerts, comedy shows, festivals, sports events, and other live entertainment experiences.
A team of former Paytm Insider executives has built thumpN after helping establish one of India’s leading ticketing businesses. In September 2024, Zomato acquired Paytm Insider in a deal valued at approximately €220 million, leading to the creation of District by Zomato, which now competes with platforms such as BookMyShow and Skillbox.
Varun Khare, former Chief Operating Officer of Paytm Insider, leads thumpN as Chief Executive Officer. Meanwhile, Shreyas Srinivasan, former Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Paytm Insider, serves as a Director and Strategic Advisor to the startup. Additionally, Meghana Bhogle, formerly the Head of IPs and Touring at Paytm Insider, now heads Brands and Marketing at thumpN.
The startup has also attracted backing from prominent investors. Its investor base includes executives associated with Paytm, including Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s family office, VSS Investco, and Paytm Chief Financial Officer Madhur Deora. Furthermore, celebrated Indian singers Arijit Singh, Sunidhi Chauhan, and Badshah have invested in the company, according to sources.
At the core of the platform is Shadow, an AI-powered conversational agent that allows users to discover live events through natural language interactions. Rather than relying solely on traditional search methods, Shadow continuously learns individual preferences and combines insights from artists, event promoters, venue operators, and tastemakers to deliver increasingly personalized event recommendations.
Varun Khare, Chief Executive Officer, thumpN, said, “Discovery today is fragmented across social feeds, algorithms, WhatsApp groups, and word of mouth. The explosion of India’s live entertainment market, combined with the shift toward conversational and AI-native consumer behaviour, has created an opportunity to rethink discovery from the ground up.”
Unlike several established ticketing platforms that also promote their own events, including BookMyShow, District by Zomato, and Skillbox, thumpN plans to prioritize unbiased event discovery. The platform intends to recommend events regardless of where they are listed, focusing on building long-term user trust instead of limiting recommendations to a single ticketing ecosystem.
Beyond event discovery, thumpN is also developing software solutions for event organizers. These tools will provide actionable insights into audience preferences, event demand, genre trends, and consumer behavior, helping organizers make more informed business decisions and improve event planning.
The platform is currently in beta testing and already features events across Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Goa, Mumbai, and Pune.
With more than ₹35.7 crore in fresh funding and an experienced leadership team from Paytm Insider, thumpN is positioning itself to reshape India’s live entertainment ecosystem through artificial intelligence. By combining personalized event discovery, conversational AI, and advanced analytics for organizers, the startup aims to create a more connected and data-driven entertainment marketplace while capitalizing on India’s rapidly expanding live events industry.
