Dream11 Unicorn

Users apply real sports knowledge to draft virtual teams of real players and score points based on actual match performance, turning spectators into active participants in the games they follow.

After India's 2025 real-money gaming ban, Dream11 shifted to a free-to-play model layering fan engagement and content, funded by advertising and sponsorships instead of entry fees.

70% of Dream11's user base is aged 18-35; the platform reported 250 million registered users and 10 million daily active users as of September 2025.

Dream11's highest-transacting audience skews 20-35-year-old sports enthusiasts capable of independent, skill-based team-selection decisions.

Early ambassadors included commentator Harsha Bhogle and cricketer MS Dhoni (2018); later additions included actors Kartik Aaryan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu (2022), plus cricketers Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya.

CEO Harsh Jain said 'talent will be the last to go,' redirecting staff toward content, AI and fan-engagement work after suspending paid contests in 2025.

Available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, plus dream11.com; hosts fantasy cricket, football and kabaddi contests.

Presence on X (@Dream11), Facebook, Instagram and YouTube used for user engagement and marketing.

Won IPL 2020 title sponsorship rights for around Rs 222 crore for a one-year contract after Vivo withdrew, serving as a major acquisition channel.

Lead jersey sponsor of the Indian national cricket team from July 2023, reportedly for Rs 358 crore, replacing Byju's as a brand-visibility channel.

Daily fantasy sports contest creation and management across cricket, football, kabaddi and other sports, with scoring tied to live match data.

Acquired Delhi-based fantasy-cricket-stocks platform Sixer (announced Oct 2023) amid GST-driven industry pressure on smaller operators.

Post-ban, redirected staff across content, AI and fan-engagement initiatives to build the new free-to-play platform experience.

As part of the 'Dream11 3.0' roadmap, Dream11 leverages sibling Dream Sports properties — FanCode (live sports content), DreamSetGo (sports travel), DreamCricket (mobile gaming) and DreamMoney (micro-investing) — for diversified engagement and revenue.

Lead jersey sponsor of the Indian national cricket team from July 2023 for a reported Rs 358 crore, replacing Byju's.

Won IPL 2020 title sponsorship rights for around Rs 222 crore after Vivo withdrew, per an August 2020 report.

Backed across funding rounds by global investors including Tiger Global, TCV, D1 Capital Partners, Falcon Edge Capital, DST Global, RedBird Capital, TPG, Tencent, Kalaari Capital and Steadview Capital.

Exited its ~Rs 358 crore BCCI Team India jersey sponsorship in 2025 due to regulatory constraints following the real-money gaming ban.

Entry-fee-based paid contests, from which Dream11 took a platform/commission fee, accounted for roughly 95% of revenue and 100% of profit before being suspended nationwide in 2025 under India's Online Gaming Act.

Following the ban on paid contests, Dream11 moved to a free-to-play model monetized via advertising and sponsorships.

Revenue from operations reached Rs 6,384 crore in FY23, up 66% from Rs 3,841 crore in FY22, with Rs 188 crore profit after tax, per regulatory filings reported by Entrackr.

Employee benefit expenses jumped 2.3x to Rs 1,154 crore in FY23 as the company scaled headcount and compensation.

Dream11 retained roughly 15% of contest entry fees as its platform fee, paying out the remainder to contest winners as prize money — historically its largest variable, revenue-linked cost.

Paid a reported Rs 358 crore for lead jersey sponsorship rights on the Indian cricket team from July 2023 (exited in 2025).

Paid around Rs 222 crore for IPL 2020 title sponsorship rights.