Singer Shaan backs online startup Happydemic

Singer Shaan—along with his wife Radhika Mukherji and Amar Pandit, founder and chief executive of My Financial Advisor, a private wealth management firm—has rolled out an online startup called Happydemic. Operated by Happy Gaana Entertainment Pvt Ltd, the site brings performance artists and consumers under one roof.

"We list artists under different genres and categories. They can be contacted by users who would like them to perform for a special occasion or during an event," said Mukherji, co-founder and chief executive of Happydemic.

Currently, the site—which will be officially launched on April 17—has 120 artists listed.

According to Mukherji, after an artist uploads his or her credentials on the platform, it takes 24 hours to list his or her profile, which is first verified by a team at the back-end.

The company has so far raised Rs 5.5 crore as seed funding, mainly from family and friends. It will use the money to get more artists on the platform besides inking corporate deals for various events.

Pandit, who is co-founder and CFO of Happydemic, said users have to pay an average fee of Rs 25,000 for booking an artist for a gig through the platform.

The company earns revenues by charging a 10-20 per cent commission. For example, if a user books an artist to perform, he or she needs to pay Rs 27,000-30,000. Of this, while the artist will take Rs 25,000 as his pay, the rest will go to the platform.

In December 2012, film director Shekhar Kapur along with music composer AR Rahman launched, Qyuki, a digital media venture.

The startup, which also had the backing of networking major Cisco, allows users to display their talent across different media such as audio, video and images.

20 per cent commission. For example, if a user books an artist to perform, he or she needs to pay Rs 27,000-30,000. Of this, while the artist will take Rs 25,000 as his pay, the rest will go to the platform.

In December 2012, film director Shekhar Kapur along with music composer AR Rahman launched, Qyuki, a digital media venture.

The startup, which also had the backing of networking major Cisco, allows users to display their talent across different media such as audio, video and images.