The company has previously partnered with Arka Media Works, enabling fans to rewrite alternate storylines from the Baahubali universe

Bengaluru / San Francisco, 31 March 2026: Fanon, a platform built exclusively for fandom storytelling and discussion, has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding in a round co-led by Kalaari Capital and Gruhas. The round marks Fanon’s first institutional fundraise as the company looks to scale its presence globally.

Founded by lifelong fans, Fanon was built around a simple idea: fandom today is fragmented across too many platforms. Fans move between Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Reddit, Discord, Webtoons, DeviantArt, and YouTube to consume theories, fanfiction, art, discussion and memes. Fanon brings these behaviours together into a single platform where fans can explore alternate storylines  through stories, comics, and videos and engage with others who share the same obsession.

Fandom and fanfiction-related content now drives over 500 billion views annually across major social platforms, signalling a shift from niche subculture to mainstream behaviour. Fanon has leaned into this shift by building dedicated spaces for fan-driven formats such as “Fix-Its,” where fans reimagine endings or rewrite story arcs from popular franchises.

The platform currently hosts fan works across more than 250 fandoms, including Harry Potter, Hazbin Hotel, My Hero Academia, Marvel, The Lion King and Undertale. 

The capital will be used to grow Fanon’s user base to over one million users across its apps and website, build monetization pathways for fan creators, and expand its team across product, marketing, and technology. The company is also investing in discovery and storytelling tools designed specifically for fandom-driven content.

Commenting on the fundraise, Jatin Nayak, Nesar Rao, and Arvindmani Satyanarayan, co-founders at Fanon said “Fandom is one of the most creative and underserved communities on the internet. Fans spend countless hours writing stories, drawing comics, and building alternate universes, yet they’ve never had a platform designed specifically for how they create and consume content. We’re building Fanon as the place we always wished existed where fandom is taken seriously, creativity is respected, and fans can finally find their people.”

Speaking on the investment, Vamshi Reddy, Partner, Kalaari Capital commented “Fanon is tapping into a cultural behaviour that already exists at massive scale. The team has shown strong product intuition by focusing on fandom-first storytelling and fan expression. With the explosion of creative tools and technology, fan creators will be able to make their own feature length films soon. We believe Fanon has the potential to become the default destination for fan-driven narratives globally.”

Abhijeet Pai, Co-Founder, Gruhas commented “Fanon is redefining what fandom can be — immersive, inclusive, and driven by the people who love it most. At a time when long-form storytelling is resurging and fans are seeking spaces that are safe, engaging, and supportive, Fanon brings communities together while empowering creators to tell the stories that matter. We’re thrilled to back a platform that builds a sustainable, global ecosystem for fan-driven content.”

Shobu Yarlagadda, CEO & Co-Founder, Arka Media Works added “Deepening the connection between fans and the Baahubali universe has always been a priority for us at Arka. Through our collaboration with Fanon, we’re empowering audiences to reimagine the saga and stay meaningfully engaged with the characters they know and love.”

Fanon’s user base today is largely Gen Z, with a strong female audience between the ages of 15 and 25. The platform has grown to over 125,000 users, with a large percentage of users based in the United States, Canada, the UK and Europe . The top ten stories on the platform have collectively crossed 1.5 million views, with users spending an average of 20 minutes daily on Fanon.

In the past, Fanon has also partnered with Arka Media Works, the studio behind the Baahubali franchise. The collaboration allowed fans to officially create and monetize alternate storylines using Baahubali characters, giving them the opportunity to rewrite the saga and participate in the franchise’s extended universe.

As Fanon scales, the company aims to deepen its relationship with both fans and IP holders, while staying focused on its long-term vision: enabling every fan –  no matter how niche their obsession –  to find their fandom.

About Fanon:

Founded in 2024 by Jatin Nayak, Nesar Rao, Arvindmani Satyanarayan, Fanon is a fandom-first storytelling and discussion platform built to help fans explore, create, and share alternate storylines from their favourite movies, TV shows, anime, games and books. The platform brings together fanfiction, comics, videos, and discussion in one dedicated space designed specifically for fandom discovery and storytelling.

Fanon hosts fan works across more than 250 fandoms, including Harry Potter, Marvel, Hazbin Hotel, My Hero Academia, The Lion King and Undertale, and has grown to over 150,000 users globally. Its audience is largely Gen Z, with a strong female user base, and a majority of users based in the United States, Canada, the UK, and Europe.

The company has previously partnered with Arka Media Works, the studio behind the Baahubali franchise, enabling fans to officially create and monetize alternate storylines within the Baahubali universe. Fanon’s long-term vision is to build the internet’s home for fandom,  a platform where fan creativity is respected, discovered, and rewarded.

Website : https://www.fanon.co/home

iOS App : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fanon-comics-comic-dubs/id6752292339

Android App : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.fanon&hl=en