MAM
Sprect raises Rs 50 lakh in Angel funding from Siddarth Shetty
Mumbai: Sprect, a C2C consulting marketplace, announced that it has raised Rs
50 lakhs in Angel funding from seasoned industry veteran, Siddarth (Sid) Shetty, chief business development officer at ServiceChannel. With this funding, Sprect plans to accelerate product development, expand its team, drive marketing efforts, and boost sales.
Launched by Mohit Khadaria and Vishal Rupani in August 2023, Sprect (short for Super Connect) aims to bridge the gap between individuals and professionals across diverse fields, making them readily accessible to each other online. Sprect’s web platform directly connects users with the world’s leading PROs (Professionals) for one-on-one interactions. Sprect incentivizes PROs to take calls while maintaining their privacy through its comprehensive turnkey system, which streamlines brand building, scheduling, payment processing, and video calls.
With over 15 years of leadership experience spanning Operations, Business Intelligence, Global Services, Business Development, and Marketplace Strategy, Siddarth (Sid) Shetty brings a wealth of expertise to Sprect’s journey. His pivotal role at ServiceChannel, which contributed to its eventual acquisition by Fortive for $1.2
billion in 2021, underscores his exceptional ability to build high-functioning teams and foster innovation within tech-driven ventures. Siddarth is also the host of the industry podcast ‘Elevating Brick and Mortar’, where he interviews industry leaders and discusses how world-class brands deliver compelling customer experiences.
As a leader with strategic expertise in driving growth and building successful marketplaces, his role as an investor and advisor will be invaluable as Sprect charts its course towards revolutionizing digital connections between individuals and professionals.
“Sprect’s innovative approach to democratizing access to expertise deeply resonates with me,” said Siddarth Shetty. “I see significant untapped potential for consumer-to-consumer advisory services, and it’s great to see that Sprect has already built an impressive pool of professionals without spending a penny on advertising. I’m excited to support their vision of empowering people by enabling them to connect with professionals seamlessly while unlocking new monetization opportunities for PROs from all backgrounds and walks of life. I firmly believe Mohit and Vishal embody the passion and vision necessary to lead this transformative journey, and I am honoured for the opportunity to be part of it.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sid to our exciting journey,” expressed Sprect co-founder Mohit Khadaria. “His impressive track record in building exceptional teams, coupled with his pivotal role in contributing to the success of a company achieving unicorn status, is truly inspiring. What truly ignites our excitement is his unwavering passion for developing purpose-driven technology and a vision that seamlessly aligns with ours. We firmly believe Sprect has the potential to revolutionize how people connect and share knowledge, and we eagerly anticipate the transformative journey ahead.”
Sprect’s marketplace boasts a roster of PROs from renowned companies like Airtel, Google, Times Internet, and WarnerBros.Discovery; prestigious educational institutions like IIM, IIT, ISB, and UCLA; government officials including the Principal Income Tax Commissioner and Mumbai Police Commissioner; and even Indian Olympians. This diversity ensures you can connect with someone who has the exact experience you need to help you take that next step to achieving your own goals.
Sprect co-founder Vishal Rupani remarked, “Sid’s investment represents a significant validation of Sprect’s potential to revolutionize the digital connectivity landscape. His backing reinforces our dedication to reshaping interactions between individuals and professionals, cultivating a culture centered around knowledge sharing and guidance. We deeply appreciate Sid’s trust in our vision and are excited to embark on this journey together.”
Sprect believes every individual is an expert in the life they’ve lived. We invite everyone to sign up today and make their knowledge accessible to the masses. PROs can create a free profile to offer paid consultations, complimentary sessions, or even charity calls, catering to a wide range of needs. On the other hand, users can freely browse profiles and book calls without creating a profile.
MAM
Sameer Nair shares heartfelt note as he exits Applause Entertainment
After nine years building the streamer’s content engine, one of India’s best-known TV men is moving on
MUMBAI: Sameer Nair is out. The chief executive of Applause Entertainment, the content studio backed by Kumar Mangalam Birla’s media empire, has announced his departure after nearly nine years at the helm, closing the chapter on one of Indian entertainment’s more quietly consequential careers.
Nair, who built Applause from the ground up in its current avatar, oversaw a slate that spanned Indian originals and international adaptations, threading together a hub-and-spoke business model that partnered with streaming platforms, broadcasters and production houses alike. The results were uneven, as they always are in content, but the ambition was not.
In a post on LinkedIn, Nair was generous to his outgoing patron. He thanked Birla for being an “inspirational boss and a great patron of the arts,” and signed off with a cheerful “Au Revoir” and a promise to remain Applause’s biggest cheerleader. Whether that sentiment survives the next chapter remains to be seen.
No successor has been named. Applause Entertainment did not immediately comment.
Nair built the machine. Now someone else has to run it — and in a streaming market that is simultaneously consolidating and convulsing, that is no small ask.
