Toch, is an Indian start-up, an AI based platform providing content owners a large platform to showcase their properties. It categorizes videos and create searchable metadata around their video content by auto detecting people, objects, scenes, emotions, and other activities in any video.
Toch is built on proprietary artificial intelligence and block chain technologies which are directed to fully unleash the potential of videos in online communication and e-commerce. The Content Owners and platforms use Toch to identify logical points in the content (natural ad breaks, scene changes, mid roll points, credits, key moments), categorize videos and create searchable metadata around their video content libraries. Toch is used vastly by leading OTT Players, Content Producers, Ad-agencies, video start-ups and leading e-commerce website. It has been focusing on making streaming videos, such as those in YouTube and Baidu, easily shoppable by tagging in-video tagging in-video products to major e-commerce sites or partner e-shops.
Vinayak Shrivastav, CEO, TOCH speaks about the platform and the vision of Toch
Toch has been around since 2016, what has been the growth in the past 4 years?
Toch was established in the month of May 2016 and since then it has grown exponentially. We witnessed a 400% growth between 2019 &2020, and we are looking at almost 600% growth this year in our revenues.
We have also expanded our presence, earlier this year and are now present in SEA, Japan and US markets. I would say we have come a long way already with such great responses from the consumers, investors, and well-wishers.
What is the USP of Toch? Can you explain the platform in detail?
Toch is a video AI platform with key focus on key-moments/auto highlights in live sporting events and non-intrusive embedded ads within video content. Platform auto analyses meta data inside video content which detects objects, emotions, characters, location, scenes and activities leading to auto NSFW and various business use cases for media companies which according to me makes it different and adds on to the USP.
You have received funding from some marquee players. How do you plan to invest and expand the company now?
We are grateful to have received strong support from some of the largest VCs in the country and globally. Our key focus areas in the next 12 months is to invest in technology enhancements while targeting key markets in the US and Asia. We have already expanded in SEA and Japan.
How big is the Indian AI market and what do you think is the growth prospect for it in the current market scenario?
As per global industry reports, Artificial Intelligence (AI) spend in India have increased by 109.6% during 2018 to reach US$ 665 million. Over the forecast period (2019-2025), spend on AI is expected to record a CAGR of 39%, increasing from US$ 1,176.6 million in 2019 to reach US$ 11,781.9 million by 2025.
Can Indian Businesses change the start-up game, in the post Covid19 era with the usage of Machine Learning, block chain, AR/VR and video meta-tagging?
Absolutely, engagement and automation are going to be the key for every business out there. ML modules will play a key part in video space and meta-tagging will enable monetization at scale.
Will the current Indo-China sentiments help tech start-ups to scale easily and quickly?
This is what all Indian tech companies have been waiting for a while. This opens up opportunities for Indian companies to scale rapidly. With the entire Indo-China situation going on and the Government coming to support ‘Made in India ‘businesses and entrepreneurship, the markets sentiments are all in favour of positive growth. The success of Indian tech start-ups highly depends on the timing (the right time to launch), target strategy and the right promotional elements to increase engagement, which includes using digital marketing and PR effectively.
How can brands benefit from Toch?
Toch is enabled in video ads for all brands making it non-intrusive and increasing lifetime value of advertising multifolds. We are already working with over 100+ brands for in video embedded ads. With the current situation, maintaining brand value is the most important aspect to companies right now and Toch is one such app that helps you increase brand value in the long run. This without a doubt is the benefit every brand has been looking for and we are all set to serve it to them.
Brands also get a new platform to reach out to users across India, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. Toch is most widely used by broadcasters and streaming platforms and this makes it a go to solution for every platform out there with videos as the primary focus area.
