Wysh

Wysh operates as an online platform in the celebrity engagement market, facilitating personalized video messages from public figures to their fans. The company was founded in Hyderabad, India, in 2016 by Manan Maheshwari, Mahesh Gogineni, Subramanya Varun Medapuram, and Suguna Gogineni.

The core service allows users to request and purchase customized video greetings from a roster of television actors, movie stars, musicians, and influencers. These videos are designed for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or job promotions, offering a direct channel for fans to receive encouragement or celebratory messages. The business model is transactional, generating revenue by taking a commission on each video message sold through its application. The price of a video varies depending on the celebrity requested.

The platform functions as a two-way engagement tool, providing fans with a unique product while offering celebrities a structured way to connect with and monetize their audience base. Users select a celebrity from the available list, provide instructions for the message, and then receive a video that can be shared. Over its operational period, the company secured a total of $3.16 million in funding across four rounds, including a Series A round of $1.92 million on December 13, 2019. Key institutional investors included Kstart, Kalaari Capital, and Whiteboard Capital. According to PitchBook data, the company ceased operations in November 2021.

Keywords: celebrity engagement, personalized video messages, fan engagement, influencer marketing, video shoutouts, celebrity greetings, online entertainment platform, digital memorabilia, fan connection, celebrity marketplace, Hyderabad startup, Indian tech, Mahesh Gogineni, Manan Maheshwari, personalized gifts, entertainment app, celebrity tech, monetized fan interaction, direct-to-fan platform, video request service