Latest news with #KunalNayyar
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
MLC 2025: San Francisco Unicorns unveil star-studded investors ahead of third season
Logo of the San Francisco Unicorns, who play in USA's Major League Cricket (MLC). The San Francisco Unicorns are stepping into the 2025 season of Major League Cricket (MLC) with a major boost. The franchise have announced a marquee list of new investors, including some of the biggest names from Silicon Valley and Hollywood, underscoring the growing momentum behind cricket's rise in the United States. Among the prominent figures joining the Unicorns' investor group are Shantanu Narayen (Chairman and CEO, Adobe), Neal Mohan (CEO, YouTube), Divesh Makan (Founder and CEO, ICONIQ Capital), and actor Kunal Nayyar of The Big Bang Theory fame. The group also includes influential tech leaders such as Aditya Agarwal (former CTO, Dropbox), Neeraj Arora (former Chief Business Officer, WhatsApp), and Amit Singhal (former SVP of Search at Google), alongside institutional investors like UC Investments (University of California). Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The Unicorns' principal owners and managing partners, Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan , have deep roots in the Bay Area tech ecosystem. With prior entrepreneurial success at Junglee (acquired by Amazon) and Kosmix (acquired by Walmart), the duo are leveraging their network to build a franchise that merges the global passion for cricket with the innovation-centric culture of Silicon Valley. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Obtén audífonos premium sin pagar absolutamente nada Top Audifonos Undo MLC: Venky Harinarayan on growing cricket in the USA, AI-driven teams and the Olympic boost 'This world-class group of investors brings deep strategic expertise and a shared vision for growing the game of cricket in the Bay Area and across the United States,' said Rajaraman. 'With their support, we're building a team that reflects the global spirit of the sport and the innovation-driven culture of the Bay Area.' Kunal Nayyar, who joins as a passionate lifelong cricket fan, echoed the sentiment: 'Growing up in New Delhi, cricket has always been close to my heart. It's a game that unites people across cultures and continents. I'm proud to support the San Francisco Unicorns as they help bring world-class cricket to the US and inspire a new generation of fans.' Fixtures of the San Francisco Unicorns in MLC 2025. The Unicorns, who reached the MLC final last season, play their home matches at the historic Oakland Coliseum. The team will open their 2025 campaign on June 12, aiming to build on its early success with an exciting mix of international stars and homegrown talent. Coached by former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson , the Unicorns' squad features a mix of seasoned global players and rising prospects. Key names include Australian trio Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Cooper Connolly; New Zealand's Finn Allen; England's Liam Plunkett; USA's Corey Anderson; West Indies' Romario Shepherd; and local Bay Area cricketer Sanjay Krishnamurthi.
Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Silicon Valley And Hollywood Identities Invest In San Francisco Unicorns Cricket Franchise
Shantanu Narayen has invested in San Francisco Unicorns (Photo by Abhijit Bhatlekar/Mint via Getty ... More Images) On the back of key player signings ahead of the upcoming Major League Cricket season, San Francisco Unicorns have made a splash off-field after announcing a slew of investors, including Adobe chief executive Shantanu Narayen, YouTube boss Neal Mohan and actor Kunal Nayyar. Embracing its Silicon Valley identity, the Unicorns' investor group also includes WhatsApp chief business officer Neeraj Arora, Iconiq Capital chief executive Divesh Makan and Dropbox chief technology officer Aditya Agarwal among others. The Unicorns are the latest partnership between co-owners Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan. They were founding partners of early ecommerce company Junglee, which was acquired by Amazon in 1998 for $250 million. They also later founded Kosmix, which was acquired by Walmart and were early investors in Facebook. Venky Harinarayan, left, and Anand Rajaraman, are co-owners of the Unicorns (Photographer: David ... More Paul Morris/Bloomberg) 'This world-class group of investors brings deep strategic expertise and a shared vision for growing the game of cricket in the Bay Area and across the United States,' Rajaraman said. 'With their support, we're building a team that reflects the global spirit of the sport and the innovation-driven culture of the Bay Area.' They've also tapped into Hollywood with British-born Indian actor and producer Kunal Nayyar, who became world famous for his role as Raj Koothrappali on The Big Bang Theory, is also part of the Unicorns' investor group. Kunal Nayyar is an investor in the Unicorns (Photo by) 'Growing up in New Delhi, cricket has always been close to my heart. It's a game that unites people across cultures and continents,' Nayyar said. 'I'm proud to support the San Francisco Unicorns as they help bring world-class cricket to the U.S. and inspire a new generation of fans.' It's been a heady period for Unicorns, who finished runners-up in last year's second edition, as they prepare for the season launch against defending champions Washington Freedom on June 12 at the iconic Oakland Coliseum. There will be nine matches played in Oakland from June 12-18 before the 34-game, monthlong tournament shifts to Dallas, with its former baseball stadium in Grand Prairie becoming the hub of American cricket, and then Broward County in Florida. Currently a one-season arrangement, the games in the East Bay looms as a trial run for the Coliseum with the ballpark recently purchased by African American Sports and Entertainment Group, an Oakland-based group of developers and investors. The Unicorns also recently announced Qualys, a leading provider of cloud-based IT, security, and compliance solutions, as its major partner. Qualys will have its logo take prime position on the front of the Unicorns' match and training jerseys. It is the Unicorns' most significant commercial partnership to date. Unicorns' bid for a first-ever MLC title was boosted by the signings of rising Australian international cricketers Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett, who will both make their debuts in the well-heeled American T20 competition.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Big Bang Theory' star Kunal Nayyar gets candid on if he'd be open to a reboot
We'd love to put this plan into motion. After starring as astrophysicist Raj in 'The Big Bang Theory' for 12 seasons from 2007 to 2019, Kunal Nayyar would love to get the gang back together. But, it might be too soon to be shouting 'Bazinga!' just yet. 12 Kunal Nayyar attends the 'South Asians at the Oscars' Pre-Oscars Party. Getty Images for A-Game Public Relations 'First of all, I would be game because I'd love to spend more time with people who are my family,' Nayyar, 44. 'But look, we only ended in 2019. I'm not sure you're legally allowed to have a reunion. What? Six years after the show ends!' 'I think that would obviously have to mature a little bit,' the 'A.J. Fikry' alum continued. 'Even though the show ended in 2019, it's still on every single day, so it feels like even though the show is over, it's still on. So I think some time would have to pass, and hopefully, if I'm not too old to wear a t-shirt or a sweater vest, yes, I would love to come back on.' The CBS sitcom followed a group of best friends and roommates and also starred Kaley Cuoco as Penny, Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter, Simon Helberg as Howard Wolowitz, and Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler. 12 Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg on 'The Big Bang Theory.' ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection When the show went off air, fans weren't completely out of the 'Big Bang' universe, as the spinoff 'Young Sheldon' started in 2017, which followed Sheldon Cooper growing up in East Texas. 'There is an entire generation of people who are watching 'Young Sheldon' for the first time, and then they realize there is an entire 12 years of a show after 'Young Sheldon,' so it's the greatest gift,' Nayyar gushed, 'and it was one of the greatest periods of our life, and we are all so lucky to have lived it.' If the network were to get the cast back together for one more hoorah, the actor knows exactly what the close-knit friend group would be up to. 12 Beth Behrs, Kunal Nayyar on 'Big Bang Theory.' ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection 'I think we would just be sitting on the couch eating Chinese food like we always have. That's the family, and the family always stays together,' the actor told The Post. Looking back at his time on set, the comedian admitted that it was hard to stay in character while dealing with a room full of hilarious stars. And one funny man, in particular, is to blame. 'You know, Simon Helberg, who played Wolowitz, is still the funniest human to have ever lived,' Nayyar stated. 'Any time I'm in a scene with him, he would just do something that would set me off. I'm not sure I was pissing them off, but we show up in front of a live audience. You have to get it right. You can't mess around. I was quite embarrassed because I would always break, and I would wait for the camera to turn to the other actor, and then I would break and come back.' 12 Nathan Fillion, Johnny Galecki, Kunal Nayyar on the CBS sitcom. ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection 'But I was terrible so I'm apologizing to everyone,' he added. 'We were very lucky to have a really loving and happy set for 12 years.' These days, the 'Criminal: UK' star is still in touch with 'everyone,' explaining that their bond is one for the books. 'You can't go through a run like that without being [close],' confessed Nayyar. 'I spent more time with them than I did with my actual family. So I'm in touch with everyone. We are all still very close.' 12 'The Big Bang Theory.' ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection Although, don't expect this cast to have a text chain. 'It's individual text,' Nayyar teased, 'I have like 70 family group chats, so no more group chats!' Over the years, the tech creator has taken on a variety of roles but has one genre in mind that he'd be open to exploring next. 'I would love to do true crime detective, badass kind of work,' revealed Nayyar. 'Just to explore that world, obviously, because I played one specific character on television for so long. I did a TV show on Netflix called 'Criminal: UK.' I got nominated for a BAFTA for that. I did a show for Apple called 'Suspicion.' I did a movie called 'A.J. Fikry.' Predominantly, mostly dramatic work, but it's something different and nice to explore.' 12 Laura Spencer, Kunal Nayyar in 'The Big Bang Theory.' ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection Nayyar also shared who his dream co-star would be, although he couldn't pick just one. 'If Philip Seymour Hoffman were alive, he'd be my greatest guest star of all time,' Nayyar detailed. 'I love Jeffrey Wright, Tom Hanks, all the classic actors who I really, really look up to. I would love to work opposite of.' Along with being a seasoned actor, Nayyar is proving he's more like his on-screen character than some may think, having created the new app IQ121 (pronounced IQ One-Two-One). 'I think all of us actors will admit that we bring aspects of our personality to all the characters we play,' Nayyar said about playing Raj. 'If that means a part of me is nerdy, I am happy to accept it.' 12 Kunal Nayyar's new app designed to help individuals, families and professionals organize, manage and safely store essential life documents and digital assets. 12 Kunal Nayyer in season 2 of 'Criminal: UK.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 12 Kunal Nayyar in 'Criminal: UK.' ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection 'Biggest similarities, there are quite a few, obviously,' he expanded. 'Obviously, we are very different in real life. I have no issues talking to women. I've been married a long time now, but there are a lot of similarities. I am obsessed with 'Star Wars,' I am a big comic book nerd; there are many ways in which we are similar, and of course, there are many ways in which we are different.' When it comes to putting his all into this work, as long as their is a creative outlet involved that he's passionate about – Nayyar is all in. 'I don't really differentiate between creating an app or acting – for me, it's all a creative process,' he shared. 'I love the idea of creating this app, and I love the idea of being on set and shooting a movie or shooting a TV series, so I don't think there is one or another. I feel, in my heart, I am going to do it with the purest energy I can.' 12 Kunal Nayyar in 'The Storied Life of AJ Fikry.' Vertical Entertainment 12 Kunal Nayyar. Vertical Entertainment Nayyar's new app, meanwhile, was created while he was on a flight from London to Los Angeles, thinking of all the info he needed to get his parents before he booked their trip. 'IQ121 was actually born because I live between Los Angeles, London and New Delhi, and I have family scattered all over the world,' he explained. 'And every time I needed to book a flight for my parents to come visit me, it's like, 'Can you please scan your passport? Can I get your license? I've got to fill this out. So, I was like, why don't we have one place, a digital storehouse for the family, where we can create a place that is safe and encrypted for us to share sensitive documents.' In this day and age of technology, it's more important than ever to have a safe and easy space to access and share documents, as well as pictures and personal information. 12 Kunal Nayyar attends the Royal Film Performance and Global Premiere of 'Gladiator II.' Getty Images for Paramount Pictures 'That is sort of how this came together,' he added. 'For me, it was more out of a necessity. I was like we need to create something so families scattered all over the world [can access it]. This is exactly why I created this and why it's very important for our times.' Nayyar hopes users will use IQ121 for years to come for a multitude of reasons. 'It's not just a digital storehouse for sensitive, familial documents; it's also a place [where] you can upload photographs and memories. I hope ultimately it becomes a digital file you can then hand down to generations in the family.'
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
IQ121 Launches Advanced Legacy Building App, Digitally Safeguarding Vital Documents and Preserving Cherished Memories
LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A loved one's passing brings both emotional pain and the heavy weight of complex legal and administrative tasks, leaving families with more to manage than just grief during their time of loss. Today, IQ121 announces the launch of its new legacy building platform, allowing users to safely organize, store and share their most important digital assets. This helps family members and business partners easily navigate paperwork, access important records and feel connected to their loved ones through the memory, photo and video-sharing capability. IQ121 stores essential items, including: The idea for IQ121 was generated by Hollywood actor Kunal Nayyar, best known for his role in 'The Big Bang Theory,' during the COVID-19 pandemic. While organizing his parents' trip from India to the U.S., struggling to gather flight numbers, passport details and hotel confirmations, the frustration led him to question: 'Why isn't there an easier way to share this information?' With the pandemic causing many family members to experience sudden, unprecedented loss, the idea progressed into addressing other vital records people accumulate throughout life. Motivated by both a personal loss and a desire to ease others' suffering, Nayyar created IQ121 to help people prepare for life's hardest moments. 'Navigating grief is already unbearable; the last thing families need is to feel confused or unprepared. IQ121 brings comfort, structure and lasting peace of mind during times of unimaginable difficulty,' Nayyar said. 'We wanted to create a way to guide anyone facing loss through those times, with humanity and dignity, so they could focus on what truly matters most: honouring loved ones and coping with grief. IQ121 empowers people to take control of their legacy, because everyone's story deserves to be honoured, shared and remembered.' IQ121 is not just for seniors; people of all ages can become members to store and protect their digital records accumulated over time. Plans will automatically pass down through trusted successors, ensuring a family's legacy lives on. 'IQ121 goes beyond file storage. It is a place to preserve what makes a person's life meaningful,' said Tim Ashley Sparks, spokesperson at IQ121. 'Members can create video messages for future birthdays or tell a story to a grandchild. The app is designed not just for estate planning, but for fostering connection and ensuring memories live on.' Backed by military-grade AES-256 encryption — the same technology trusted by banks and governments — IQ121 is a secure end-of-life planning app. It also offers a flexible subscription model to fit every member's particular goals, allowing for added storage as needed. Available on iOS and Android, IQ121 is the only end-of-life planning app that supports six major languages (English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian), making it globally accessible for multilingual users. A media kit of photos, videos, logos and headshots is available here. To learn more, visit About IQ121 IQ121 (pronounced IQ One-Two-One) is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive digital platform designed to help individuals, families and professionals organize, manage and safely store essential life documents and digital assets. With the growing need for secure and easily accessible digital solutions, IQ121 offers an encryption-backed, all-in-one platform that simplifies estate planning, digital asset management and legacy preservation. Media Contact Julia Cappiello Uproar by Moburst for IQ121 [email protected]
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
IQ121 Launches Advanced Legacy Building App, Digitally Safeguarding Vital Documents and Preserving Cherished Memories
Keep important documents such as wills, family trusts, insurance policies and asset ownership records in one simple-to-use platform LONDON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A loved one's passing brings both emotional pain and the heavy weight of complex legal and administrative tasks, leaving families with more to manage than just grief during their time of loss. Today, IQ121 announces the launch of its new legacy building platform, allowing users to safely organize, store and share their most important digital assets. This helps family members and business partners easily navigate paperwork, access important records and feel connected to their loved ones through the memory, photo and video-sharing capability. IQ121 stores essential items, including: Legal documents (powers of attorney, trusts, vehicle documentation) Finances (bank account details, investments, pension documentation) Insurance policies covering life, property, high-value items Property deeds of title, jewelry collections, any other high-value items Health records Passwords, security Q&As and account recovery steps Wills and medical directives Videos and photos Memories and personal documents (family birth certificates, marriage certificates) The idea for IQ121 was generated by Hollywood actor Kunal Nayyar, best known for his role in 'The Big Bang Theory,' during the COVID-19 pandemic. While organizing his parents' trip from India to the U.S., struggling to gather flight numbers, passport details and hotel confirmations, the frustration led him to question: 'Why isn't there an easier way to share this information?' With the pandemic causing many family members to experience sudden, unprecedented loss, the idea progressed into addressing other vital records people accumulate throughout life. Motivated by both a personal loss and a desire to ease others' suffering, Nayyar created IQ121 to help people prepare for life's hardest moments. "Navigating grief is already unbearable; the last thing families need is to feel confused or unprepared. IQ121 brings comfort, structure and lasting peace of mind during times of unimaginable difficulty,' Nayyar said. 'We wanted to create a way to guide anyone facing loss through those times, with humanity and dignity, so they could focus on what truly matters most: honouring loved ones and coping with grief. IQ121 empowers people to take control of their legacy, because everyone's story deserves to be honoured, shared and remembered.' IQ121 is not just for seniors; people of all ages can become members to store and protect their digital records accumulated over time. Plans will automatically pass down through trusted successors, ensuring a family's legacy lives on. 'IQ121 goes beyond file storage. It is a place to preserve what makes a person's life meaningful,' said Tim Ashley Sparks, spokesperson at IQ121. 'Members can create video messages for future birthdays or tell a story to a grandchild. The app is designed not just for estate planning, but for fostering connection and ensuring memories live on.' Backed by military-grade AES-256 encryption — the same technology trusted by banks and governments — IQ121 is a secure end-of-life planning app. It also offers a flexible subscription model to fit every member's particular goals, allowing for added storage as needed. Available on iOS and Android, IQ121 is the only end-of-life planning app that supports six major languages (English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian), making it globally accessible for multilingual users. A media kit of photos, videos, logos and headshots is available here. To learn more, visit About IQ121IQ121 (pronounced IQ One-Two-One) is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive digital platform designed to help individuals, families and professionals organize, manage and safely store essential life documents and digital assets. With the growing need for secure and easily accessible digital solutions, IQ121 offers an encryption-backed, all-in-one platform that simplifies estate planning, digital asset management and legacy preservation. Media ContactJulia CappielloUproar by Moburst for
