Bengaluru-based messaging app startup Lookup has raised $382,000 or about Rs 2.4 crore in seed round of funding from two Japanese investors - DeNA Co and Teruhide Sato. The startup has developed a mobile app to allow users to chat with local businesses and shops.
Lookup had earlier raised $260,000 (about Rs 1.6 crore) from precious metals and financial services company MKS Switzerland and Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan. In December, MKS Switzerland said that it will invest $100,000 in Lookup. Gopalakrishnan has invested $166,000 in the company.
Lookup, dubbed as a 'WhatsApp for businesses' is a free messaging app which helps consumers to chat with local businesses. With Lookup you can get things done by just sending a message such as - Make a reservation with a restaurant, Book an appointment at a spa or salon or enquire prices of products or services at local shop nearby.
Founded by Deepak Ravindran in 2013, Lookup is currently available in Bangalore only and the app has crossed over 5,000 downloads on Android. Ravindran shut his earlier start-up Innoz, which provided an SMS-based search service for feature phone users, last year and started up again.
Lookup already have an Indian competitor in its niche such Mumbai-based Haptik, for instance, is a similar app that helps users chat with experts or company representatives using instant messaging.
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