Cyber Shikhar

The chartered accountant-turned-model-turned-actor-turned-director now has a new passion. He’s now a talent-spotter on the web. After stunning Bollywood and, of course, Hollywood with his creative genius, Shekhar Kapur has now decided to rule cyberspace. The celebrity filmmaker is launching a £20- million hi-tech fund - Softtechnet - to finance promising newcomers in India and Silicon Valley. The venture is backed by Kapur and UK food baron Ghulam Noon, while America On Line Europe veep David Fischer is one of its nine executive directors. Softtechnet will go public this month and list on London’s Alternative Investment Market for mid-sized companies. The fund, which had originally planned to raise £20 million, will probably net much more now. Softtechnet claims it will invest about 50 per cent of its money in the subcontinent. The first investments will begin after the company’s March 14 stockmarket debut in London. Company officials say Softtechnet will take advantage of opportunities available in India, the UK and the US in technology, software and Net industries. Going by the looks of it, Kapur has found his true calling, virtually.