Jun 25, 2021

25 Jun '21 The Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF) has acquired 1.35% of the virtual avatar developer Malivar. The founder of the company Valery Sharipov confirmed this information. According to Sharipov, the fund paid 5 million rubles for a stake in Malivar. During the previous investment round in 2020, the company was estimated at 124 million rubles, and now its estimate has grown to 370 million rubles. The fund decided to support the startup, since it created a demanded and convenient product, thereby significantly reducing the cost of the technology, explained Vadim Kazinets, investment manager of the IIDF. He added that the funds will help the company strengthen its programming team and bring the product to the American market. Malivar, which was founded in 2018, creates virtual avatars and integrates them into videos. The service operates on a subscription model. One video with a virtual model lasting 10-30 minutes costs from 3690 to 9990 rubles. per month. There is also an extended package for large businesses from 37 thousand rubles. per month. The company has collaborated with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia, AliExpress, RBC and Gazprombank. In addition, Malivar created a virtual performer Alena. She can be seen in the music video “Step to Happiness!” with Luo Tianyi, a Chinese virtual singer. Malivar believes that virtual models can be in demand in the entertainment industry, marketing and e-commerce as virtual assistants. Experts interviewed by Vedomosti believe that the capabilities of synthetic faces are still underestimated, while the potential of the product is high. According to Andrey Koval, deputy general director of Isobar Moscow, a digital face can cost 2-3 times less than a regular model, and also allows you to create an image that fully suits the brand in the frame. In 2020, Sber's subsidiary Digital Technologies invested 10 million rubles in Malivar. and now owns 7.96% of the company. According to Sharipov, the investment has made it possible to automate the production of synthetic faces. Now, to get a virtual image, it is enough to set the gender and age. COMMENT ON THIS STORY