Bengaluru-based fashion startup Universal Sportsbiz Pvt Ltd (USPL) is raising INR 19.3 Cr ($2.6 Mn) funding from Team India captain Virat Kohli. Sports talent management firm Cornerstone Sport LLP, which represents Kohli, also participated in the round.
Universal Sportsbiz was founded in 2012 by Anjana Reddy. It works on creating multiple partnerships with famous sports and movie personalities to co-create apparel brands. The Bengaluru based startup’s portfolio also includes Shraddha Kapoor for Imara, actor Kriti Sanon.
Universal Sportsbiz had also raised $13.5 Mn in a Series E funding round at a post-money valuation of $163 Mn from American venture capital firm Accel Partners back in 2017. The company also counts Sachin Tendulkar as an investor.
Virat Kohli has invested in the London-based social media startup Sport Convo, an app that was launched to bridge the gap between sports stars and fans. Besides this, he had invested INR 2.5 Cr ($340K) in insurtech startup Digit Insurance back in February, along with his wife and actor Anushka Sharma and Cornerstone Sport LLP.
Universal Sportsbiz plans to utilize the funds to spread its offline retail network across key markets in the country and expand its portfolio of brands while investing in technology.
The company added 30 exclusive business outlets this year and is in the process of adding 30 more stores.