SUMMARY
Only last month, Jio’s sister company Reliance Retail invested in robotics startup Adverbb Technologies and quick commerce startup Dunzo
Its latest bet, TWO is an AR company that enables real-time AI voice and video calls, digital humans, immersive spaces and lifelike gaming
In 2019, Reliance Industries had announced plans to provide access to mixed reality experiences for shopping, education and entertainment purposes
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio has invested $15 Mn in Two Platforms Inc (TWO), a Silicon Valley-based deeptech startup for a 25% equity stake.
The move comes shortly after Reliance Retail acquired a 25.8% stake in hyperlocal startup Dunzo with a $200 Mn investment and a 54% stake in robotics startup Addverb Technologies for $132 Mn in January 2022.
Founded in July 2021, by Pranav Mistry, a pioneer in the field of AR/VR, AI and Robotics, TWO is an AR startup that builds interactive and visually immersional AI experiences. The startup enables real-time AI voice and video calls, digital humans, immersive spaces and lifelike gaming.
Mistry, 40, has previously served as Corporate SVP for Samsung Electronics, President and CEO of Samsung Technology and Advanced Research. He had led R&D for and launched Galaxy Watch, Gear 360, Bixby AR and Project NEON. The MIT and IIT Bombay alum has also worked with Microsoft, Google, UNESCO, JST and NASA.
“It (TWO) plans to bring its interactive AI technologies first to consumer applications followed by entertainment and gaming, as well as enterprise solutions including retail, services, education, health and wellness,” the Indian telecom giant said in a statement.
Post the investment, TWO will work collaboratively with Jio to fast-track the adoption of new technologies. Jio will, too, bank on building disruptive technologies such as AI, metaverse, and mixed realities — especially in the areas of interactive AI, immersive gaming and metaverse, added the statement.
This is not the first time Jio has bet on the deeptech ecosystem.
In its 42nd AGM in 2019, Jio had announced plans to provide access to mixed reality (augmented reality mixed with virtual reality) experiences that can be used for shopping, education and entertainment purposes.
In its 43rd AGM, Jio Glass was introduced to offer mixed reality services, a personalised audio platform, support on 25+ applications, conduct 3D virtual meetings, create holographic content and turn a normal video conference more interactive. The telecom giant partnered with deeptech startup Tesseract for the AR-VR Jio Glass as well.
Mukesh Ambani-Led Reliance Industries On A Shopping Spree
The news comes at a time when Reliance’s retail arm seems to be pulling all strings to its services online via the Jio platform. Reliance Retail has also been actively investing in and acquiring startups catering to fast-growing segments. Its recent bets include:
- Acquired retail lingerie business under the ‘Amante’ from MAS Brands;
- Acquiring a significant control of Just Dial Limited
- Acquiring subscription-based daily micro-delivery service Milkbasket, epharmacy startup Netmeds, online furniture startup Urban Ladder and lingerie ecommerce marketplace Zivame among others
- Others investments include robotics startup Adverbb Technologies, quick commerce startup Dunzo, among others.
