Podcast Guest Management and Booking Platform for India
The Opportunity
Top podcast hosts like Farah Khan, Deepa Dodla, and Rhea Chakraborty are individually sourcing high-profile guests (CEOs, ministers, celebrities, spiritual leaders) through informal networks. There's no centralized platform connecting podcast creators with vetted, bookable guests, forcing hosts to rely on personal contacts and creating friction for both sides.
Market Size
₹800 Cr–₹1,200 Cr by 2028. India has 3,000+ active podcasts (Spotify India data 2025), averaging 2–4 guests/month. At ₹5,000–₹25,000 per booking commission (8–15%), annual TAM is ₹600 Cr. Adjacent creator economy tools (Billo, Influee) valued at $10M+ globally.
Business Model
Two-sided SaaS marketplace. Creators post guest requirements; guest talent (actors, CEOs, authors, experts) list availability/rates. Platform handles scheduling, contract templates, payment splits, and analytics. Revenue via commission (10–15%) on bookings + premium creator subscriptions (₹2,000–₹10,000/month for featured listings).
Booking commissions (15% of ₹10,000 avg guest fee = ₹1,500/booking × 5,000 bookings/year = ₹7.5 Cr); Creator premium subscriptions (₹5,000/month × 500 creators = ₹3 Cr/year); Guest profile verification/branding add-ons (₹500–₹2,000/guest × 2,000 guests = ₹1.5 Cr/year).
Your 30-Day Action Plan
Survey 20 active podcast hosts (Farah Khan's network, Astitva Podcast, Ranveer Show equivalents) on guest-sourcing pain; identify 5 repeat guest types (CEOs, actors, wellness experts).
Interview 15 potential guests (LinkedIn outreach to mid-tier celebs, startup founders, authors) on willingness to be bookable; map availability patterns.
Design wireframes for creator dashboard (post requirement → match guests → book → pay) and guest profile (availability calendar, rate card, past appearances); validate UX with 3 creators.
Develop MVP: basic Figma prototype + Google Sheets backend for first 50 beta creators; launch closed beta with 2–3 podcasts (e.g., offer 10 free bookings).
Compliance & Regulatory Angle
Register as FZCO/Pvt Ltd; GST registration (18% on service commissions); Payment aggregator compliance (RBI guidelines); Creator contracts (IP rights, cancellation clauses); Data privacy (DPDP Act 2023). Media & Entertainment sector—no additional broadcasting licences needed.
Ready to Act on This Opportunity?
Generate a 7-step execution plan — validate the market, build the MVP, model the financials, map the risks, and ship in 30 days.