Sarva, a yoga-based wellness startup, has received an undisclosed amount from Indian star cricketer Shikhar Dhawan. Sarva is currently focusing on ramping up its digital presence, while also offering services in brick-and-mortar studios.
The Mumbai-based startup was founded by Sarvesh Shashi in 2013. It has raised over $8 million till date from investors including David Giampaolo, a noted entrepreneur in the global health and fitness sector, Mark Mastrov, an entrepreneur in the fitness space, American actress Jennifer Lopez, former American baseball player Alex Rodriguez, Zumba Fitness, Fireside Ventures and Mantra Capital.
Bollywood stars including Malaika Arora, Shahid Kapoor and his wife Mira have also backed the venture in the past.
“SARVA is doing great work towards empowering people with tools to lead better lives, and I am thrilled to join their mission of connecting seven billion breaths. My personal journey with fitness and wellness began when I entered the world of cricket. I have first-hand benefitted from yoga, be it while recovering from an injury, getting back into shape, building stamina or staying focussed before a game,” said Dhawan.
Dhawan’s investment into the venture aligns with his belief that yoga can help achieve emotional, spiritual and physical fitness.
“For me, yoga is a holistic workout that helps me achieve a perfect blend of physical fitness, mental strength, agility, and peace of mind. This is why when I met Sarvesh, I connected to his vision for SARVA instantly,” added Dhawan.
Talking about cricket, the 2013 Champions Trophy winner was last seen during India vs Australia ODI series earlier this year. He sustained a shoulder injury in the third and last match of the series and was ruled out of the whole New Zealand tour. Nevertheless, he was set to make a comeback during the home series against South Africa, but that Proteas tour got cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
