VerSe Innovation names Prakashan Manikoth as Group CFO

VerSe Innovation, the AI-driven local language tech company behind apps like Dailyhunt and Josh, has appointed Prakashan Manikoth as its new Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Based in Bengaluru, Manikoth’s appointment comes at a key time as VerSe Innovation pushes toward profitability and prepares for a potential IPO.

He will lead the company’s global finance operations, focusing on strategic financial planning, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and capital allocation.

A major part of his role will be guiding VerSe’s IPO readiness, which includes strengthening corporate governance, improving risk and compliance systems, and ensuring financial transparency and discipline.

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Umang Bedi, Co-Founder, VerSe Innovation, said, "His deep domain expertise and proven experience across global technology enterprises make him the perfect partner to guide our financial strategy as we accelerate toward becoming India’s first global AI-led technology powerhouse. His leadership will be critical as we scale responsibly, deepen our governance standards, and gear up for our IPO journey."

Prakashan Manikoth said, "VerSe is redefining how Bharat engages with content, creators, and commerce—powered by cutting-edge AI and bold ambition. I look forward to partnering with the founders and leadership team to amplify impact, driving sustainable enterprise value creation for all stakeholders, and help shape the company’s global financial trajectory."

Prakashan Manikoth brings over 25 years of financial leadership experience from some of India’s top companies.

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He spent nearly 20 years with the TATA Group (TCS & Tata Teleservices) and Wipro, holding senior finance roles such as Head of Finance for TCS’s Emerging Markets business and TCS BaNCS, as well as Finance Head for Wipro’s Global Operations.

Most recently, he was the CFO of SaaS unicorn LeadSquared, where he helped scale global operations and drive steady growth.

A Chartered Accountant and an alumnus of IIM Calcutta, Manikoth combines strong strategic insight with deep financial expertise.

Manikoth’s appointment comes as VerSe Innovation reports a strong financial recovery. In FY25, the company’s revenue grew 88% to ₹2,071 crore, while it reduced its cash burn by 20%.

With this momentum, VerSe is on track to breakeven and achieve group-level profitability in the second half of the fiscal year, powered by its AI-first product suite — Dailyhunt Premium, Josh, and NexVerse.ai.

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