In the bustling cityscapes of India, amidst the rapidly evolving tech landscape, two visionary minds, Himanshu Goel and George Tharian, embarked on a groundbreaking journey. Their mission: to create India’s first virtual human company, FUTR Studios. This is the remarkable story of their innovative creation, Kyra, and how they navigated the challenges and triumphs of building a digital empire.
Himanshu Goel, a software engineer and management graduate from MICA Ahmedabad, is an Indian author with five novels to his name. With over four years of experience in brand management, digital, and influencer marketing, Himanshu brought a unique blend of creativity and technical acumen to FUTR Studios. When not working, he enjoys playing football or blogging on his Instagram page, where he has garnered a following of 74,500 followers. George Tharian, the Co-Founder and CEO, complements Himanshu’s vision with his strategic leadership, steering the company towards innovative frontiers.
FUTR Studios made a significant mark in the tech world with the launch of Kyra in 2022. Crafted using advanced CGI and AI technology, Kyra quickly became India’s first virtual influencer. She gained immense popularity, amassing over 300,000 followers across social media platforms. Kyra’s digital presence attracted collaborations with renowned brands such as Titan, ITC, L’Oreal, American Tourister, and Amazon Prime Video. Her influence extended beyond social media, gracing the covers of various magazines and becoming a significant digital asset for virtual reality and gaming applications.
However, the journey was not without its challenges. During their appearance on the show Pitch Scan, the founders sought an investment of 1 crore in exchange for 2.5% equity in FUTR Studios. Despite demonstrating lifetime sales of 82 lakhs and achieving 46 lakhs in sales with a profit of 12 lakhs up until September FY23-24, the company faced concerns from potential investors. The sharks expressed apprehensions about the clarity of FUTR Studios’ vision and the need for constant innovation in the rapidly evolving tech space. Aman Gupta, one of the investors, emphasized the necessity of onboarding a co-founder with technical expertise to drive the company’s innovative capabilities. Despite the constructive feedback, FUTR Studios left the show without securing a deal.
Undeterred, FUTR Studios continued to innovate and expand their portfolio. They developed another virtual influencer, Sravya N (AI Human), who acts as Kyra’s manager and has garnered 5,000 followers on LinkedIn. The content production for these virtual influencers is outsourced, while designers work under exclusive contracts with FUTR Studios. The company’s future plans involve developing in-house virtual IPs and brand-owned IPs to enhance their market presence and offer diverse opportunities for brand collaborations and monetization.
With Kyra’s significant following and successful brand collaborations, FUTR Studios has demonstrated the potential of virtual influencers in modern marketing. As they continue to innovate and expand their portfolio, FUTR Studios is well-positioned to lead the virtual influencer market in India. Himanshu Goel and George Tharian’s vision and perseverance are paving the way for a new era of digital influencers, blending technology and creativity to shape the future of virtual human interaction.