Warriors G Stephen Curry's recent deal with S.F.-based media company PressPlay to create and distribute a Curry e-commerce channel in China "could elevate" his endorsed product sales in the country "far above the rim," according to Ron Leuty of the S.F. BUSINESS TIMES. PressPlay for much of the past year has been "gathering behind-the-scenes footage of Curry, which it will roll out on a direct-to-consumer mobile and web media channel that launches in China on Oct. 21." Content will "include a diary, Q&As sessions, personalized video messages, image captures from Curry's phone and live-streaming events." Curry's channel, hoping to "tap into China's 620 million smartphone users, is year-old PressPlay's debut project." PressPlay is "working with Hong Kong-based media company Sing Tao News." PressPlay Founder & CEO Samuel Pearton said that the Curry venture "could include a direct-to-consumer shopping channel." That could be "lucrative for the brands with which Curry has signed deals," including Under Armour, audio electronics company JBL and Brita. Leuty noted Curry has an "undisclosed equity stake in PressPlay," which signed him to a "three-year deal for all of his communication into China" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/13).
SLYCE & DICE: In S.F., Connor Letourneau notes Curry yesterday during the second day of the three-day TechCrunch Disrupt on Pier 48 in S.F. discussed Slyce, the Palo startup he helped found that "assists pro athletes in managing their social-media presences." Slyce is "used by everyone from Muscle Milk to NFL and NHL teams," and Curry sits on the BOD. Letourneau notes Slyce is "only one segment of Curry's tech endeavors." He is part-Owner of Boston-based CoachUp, a venture-funded tech firm and app "designed to help parents find private coaches for their kids." There also is "StephMoji," an app that "allows users to access hundreds of emojis Curry personally curated" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/14).
