This week on Startup Street, a host of sports and entertainment celebrities made the headlines. Flamboyant cricketer Chris Gayle became an investor in a Bengaluru-based startup for a second time. Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio backed an emotional-reality startup. Sachin Tendulkar and PV Sindhu pulled back funding. And a legendary movie maker joined an all-star cast.
Chris Gayle Bats For FlippAR
FlippAR, a Bengaluru-based augmented reality startup, bagged the West Indies cricketer as its new investor and brand ambassador.
"He (Gayle) would play an important role in helping realise our vision of how people experience reality, by blending the virtual and physical," the company said in its announcement on Facebook.
FlippAR is thrilled to announce our association with the legendary @henrygayle
Welcome to the team #UniverseBoss#augmentedreality pic.twitter.com/swaWBOawBsGayle's investment comes just two months after he made his debut in India's startup space by investing in virtual reality startup IONA Entertainment. The quantum of funding has not been disclosed. FlipAr refused to disclose the deal amount in an emailed response to BloombergQuint's queries.
A unit of Movingup Products Pvt. Ltd., FlippAR works with businesses to improve customer experiences using augmented reality. It also has an social network application where users can share and see 'memories' of other users. The app can also unlock stories about buildings and monuments at popular tourist spots in Bengaluru.
Wolf of Silicon Valley?
Leonardo DiCaprio continued to expand his investment portfolio as he backed a Switzerland-based computing startup whose work revolves around mixing virtual reality with neuroscience.
MindMaze announced that DiCaprio had come aboard as an investor and adviser on microblogging site Twitter. The investment will be part of the startup's new funding round, however, the amount has not been disclosed.
We're excited to announce @leodicaprio has joined the MindMaze team as an investor and advisor! #VR #MindMazeTech https://t.co/2tkaKTwj75 pic.twitter.com/zevB19MtY7
The Titanic star and vocal climate change activist, is already invested in a number of ventures. His portfolio includes garbage recyclying startup Rubicon Global, data analytics company Qloo, mattress maker Casper, Diamond Foundry, and food startup LoveTheWild, according to Crunchbase.
Another marquee backer of Mindmaze is India's Hinduja Group, which had led a $100 million funding round in February last year.
One of Mindmaze's product is the MASK headset, which uses neurotics to enhance the emotional experience of virtual reality. It also makes MindMotion Pro, a virtual environment therapy for rehabilitation, which has been approved by the U.S.FDA.
Sachin, Sindhu Call Off Healthcare Startup Funding
Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar and world no.2 shuttler PV Sindhu have called off their proposed investments in Hyderabad-based healthcare startup CallHealth, according to newswire PTI.
People close to Tendulkar told PTI that the discussion with CallHealth did not go beyond the preliminary stage. In a regulatory filing earlier this month, the startup had said it would ask shareholders' approval for proposed investments worth Rs 12 crore from Tendulkar and Rs 4 crore from Sindhu.
Tendulkar and Sindhu have not made any investments after the filing of the extraordinary general meeting notice, Satish Kottakota, chief financial officer of CallHealth, said.
CallHealth is backed by Sandhya Raju, the daughter-in-law of Satyam Computers founder Ramalinga Raju. Sandhya also is the daughter of Ramco group chairman Venketrama Raja.
The startup offers doctor consultations, diagnostic services and delivery of medicines. Last year, it had attracted investments from regional movie stars Nagarjuna Akkineni, Chiranjeevi Konidela and Allu Arjun.
Martin Scorsese Joins All-Star Panel At Masterclass
Want to learn the secrets of filmmaking from the director of classics like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull? All you need is $90.
Masterclass, a startup which offers online courses from celebrities and industry leaders, has signed up Martin Scorsese as its newest instructor.
Scorsese's filmmaking course, which starts early 2018, will have over 20 video lessons, according to Masterclass' website. This is the first ever online course that Scorsese will conduct, it added.
Introducing our newest class, Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking. Learn more at https://t.co/9Vjhf5wj7M pic.twitter.com/EXhr5YAoVZ
Numerous filmmakers including Werner Herzog, Aaron Sorkin, Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman have taken classes on the startup's platform. Other celebrity instructors include chef Gordon Ramsey, composer Hans Zimmer, tennis star Serena Williams, chess great Garry Kasparov, author James Patterson and anthropologist Jane Goodall.
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