Google ventures, the corporate venturing unit of search engine Google, has participated in a $1m round of financing for interactive home workout company FitStar. There was also involvement from venture firm Advancit Capital, launched by Viacom and CBS Corporation vice chairman Shari Redstone, and early-stage business and technology investment firm Floodgate fund, founded by Mike Maples. The company is also backed by Founder Collective, MESA+, Neil Young and Bob Stevenson’s LLL Capital, Ronnie Lott and Ed Zander.
FitStar has yet to release a product but the new funds will be used to help support their video-based iPad app to be released in early 2013.
FitStar was founded by chief executive Mike Maser. Prior to FitStar, Maser held executive leadership positions at AOL, Electronic Arts and Digg.
Maser said: “We are passionate about improving the health of millions of people by creating a new technology platform to power health and fitness apps that are engaging, entertaining, and which adapt to each user’s capabilities, we’re extremely proud that our mission for the company is endorsed by some of today’s most influential and visionary business leaders who want to help us make a difference in people’s lives.”