Saturn Technologies
Venture Round in 2021
Saturn is a social network that operates on a temporal basis. Saturn organizes chaotic high school schedules and connects students with the people and information that are most important to them.
Beeper is a social media application that consolidates messaging across multiple platforms, including iMessage and WhatsApp, into a single interface. This innovative app allows users to search, snooze, or archive messages, ensuring that important communications are easily accessible and never overlooked. By providing a unified inbox, Beeper enhances the messaging experience, making it efficient for users to manage conversations from various networks in one place.
Talentdrop
Seed Round in 2020
Talentdrop is a recruiting software company that aims to improve the hiring process by enabling hiring managers and recruiters to tap into their personal networks for sourcing candidates. By facilitating the sharing of open roles across platforms like LinkedIn, Slack, and Twitter, Talentdrop enhances the recruitment experience through a more personalized approach. The platform allows users to create customized hiring pages and drop referrals into a private pipeline, thus incentivizing industry experts to assist in the recruitment process without incurring additional costs. Founded by experienced professionals from high-growth consumer tech companies, Talentdrop focuses on transforming traditional hiring methods by fostering a collaborative environment that prioritizes human connections and effective talent sourcing.
Spiketrap
Seed Round in 2020
Spiketrap Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that specializes in developing an artificial intelligence-driven platform designed to analyze customer behavior. Founded in 2016, Spiketrap provides businesses with tools to collect, store, and visualize user-generated content from across the internet. The platform enables organizations to monitor and assess audience conversations, facilitating data-driven decision-making in areas such as marketing, business intelligence, and content creation. By leveraging real-time data analytics, Spiketrap helps clients understand audience dynamics and improve their strategic initiatives, ultimately reducing risk and enhancing returns.
Jumbo Privacy
Series A in 2020
Jumbo Privacy is a technology company that specializes in a mobile application designed for managing online privacy and security. The app, available on iOS and Android platforms, empowers users to take control of their personal data across various social media platforms and internet services. By providing a universal interface, Jumbo Privacy enables individuals to easily handle privacy settings and protect their personal information from unwanted exposure. The company's mission is centered around the belief that data ownership rests with the user, making it essential for Jumbo to offer tools that reinforce user autonomy in maintaining their online privacy.
Aesthetic
Seed Round in 2020
Aesthetic's mission is to make the world more well designed by giving every business creative superpowers. To do this, we're automating all the production design work needed by companies, starting with social media graphics. Social media is an important marketing channel for businesses, but creating quality content is hard. Our product creates the social marketing posts your brand needs without doing any design work.
Cappuccino.fm
Seed Round in 2020
Cappuccino.fm is a company that specializes in developing a mobile audio group messaging application designed to facilitate connections among individuals. The application enables users to record voice memos and share them with customizable groups, thereby fostering deeper relationships and helping users create new connections. By focusing on audio communication, Cappuccino.fm aims to enhance social interactions in a more personal and engaging manner.
Open
Venture Round in 2019
Shared mindful experiences to help friends be present together, on and offline.
Recount Media
Seed Round in 2019
Recount Media, Inc. is a media company based in New York that focuses on delivering political news through high-quality journalism and short-form video content. Founded in 2018, Recount Media publishes The Daily Recount, a flagship show that summarizes significant political events and distills television news into concise, engaging narratives. The company's approach emphasizes clarity and accessibility, aiming to inform viewers in under five minutes without compromising on substance. In addition to The Daily Recount, Recount Media also features curated content such as interviews and Recap 2020, which creatively remixes political news stories. By leveraging mobile apps and web platforms, Recount Media seeks to transform the way audiences consume news, prioritizing straightforward, honest reporting.
Whatifi develops an interactive video-streaming platform that enables users to watch movies together on their phones, making decisions that shape the story's outcome. It combines elements of user-generated filmmaking with high-quality production values.
Drum is a gig economy platform that aims to enhance the lives of millions by facilitating the creation and management of sales forces for businesses. Launched in 2019, it allows companies to establish a sales presence more efficiently than traditional advertising methods. In addition to supporting businesses, Drum provides a comprehensive platform for creators, enabling them to engage with their followers and monetize their content. The platform offers in-app analytics that help creators sell both digital and physical products directly through their profiles, allowing them to focus on their creative endeavors while managing their sales effectively.
Pearl is an all-in-one platform for fan communities and monetization.
It leverages exclusive content, paid interactions, and audio chatrooms to build community and recurring revenue.
Jumbo Privacy
Pre Seed Round in 2019
Jumbo Privacy is a technology company that specializes in a mobile application designed for managing online privacy and security. The app, available on iOS and Android platforms, empowers users to take control of their personal data across various social media platforms and internet services. By providing a universal interface, Jumbo Privacy enables individuals to easily handle privacy settings and protect their personal information from unwanted exposure. The company's mission is centered around the belief that data ownership rests with the user, making it essential for Jumbo to offer tools that reinforce user autonomy in maintaining their online privacy.
Storr, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that has developed a mobile application designed for social media influencer retailing. Founded in 2014, Storr allows users to easily open their own online stores by selecting and promoting brand-name products. Unlike traditional retailers, users can earn money by selling these products directly to their networks. The platform aims to disrupt the conventional retail model, offering an alternative to major e-commerce giants. Storr collaborates with over 200 brands, including well-known names such as Chanel, Ray-Ban, and Adidas, thereby providing a wide range of offerings for its users. The company is backed by prominent figures in the retail and investment sectors, signifying its potential impact on the evolving landscape of the $3 trillion global retail market.
Powder is a startup that provides a video editing platform specifically designed for gamers and content creators. The platform leverages artificial intelligence to automatically identify and clip highlight moments from video streams, streamlining the editing process. By enabling users to share their favorite game clips and connect with others who share similar interests, Powder fosters a community for interaction and engagement. This innovative approach allows creators to save time on editing, thereby allowing them to concentrate more on content creation and enhancing their gaming experiences.
Girls' Night In
Pre Seed Round in 2019
Girls' Night In, LLC is an online editorial platform dedicated to fostering community among women through various content and services. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Washington D.C., the company offers a Friday newsletter that focuses on self-care and provides engaging articles and blogs tailored for its female audience. In addition to its written content, Girls' Night In organizes GNI Book Club meetings throughout the United States and Canada, creating opportunities for women to connect and share their experiences. With a commitment to supporting women's well-being and community engagement, Girls' Night In continues to be a valuable resource for its subscribers.
Lolly
Pre Seed Round in 2019
Lolly is a social dating platform that uses short-form content to allow users to express themselves.
Storr, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that has developed a mobile application designed for social media influencer retailing. Founded in 2014, Storr allows users to easily open their own online stores by selecting and promoting brand-name products. Unlike traditional retailers, users can earn money by selling these products directly to their networks. The platform aims to disrupt the conventional retail model, offering an alternative to major e-commerce giants. Storr collaborates with over 200 brands, including well-known names such as Chanel, Ray-Ban, and Adidas, thereby providing a wide range of offerings for its users. The company is backed by prominent figures in the retail and investment sectors, signifying its potential impact on the evolving landscape of the $3 trillion global retail market.
Community
Seed Round in 2019
Community is a messaging and engagement platform that enables two-way, direct communication between influencers, brands, public figures, creators, artists, and their audiences at scale. The platform connects businesses and organizations with consumers through a secure channel, including a unique 10-digit phone number, and aims to facilitate authentic interactions while addressing data privacy concerns and reducing the toxicity often associated with traditional social media.
Aesthetic
Seed Round in 2018
Aesthetic's mission is to make the world more well designed by giving every business creative superpowers. To do this, we're automating all the production design work needed by companies, starting with social media graphics. Social media is an important marketing channel for businesses, but creating quality content is hard. Our product creates the social marketing posts your brand needs without doing any design work.
POPARAZZI
Seed Round in 2018
Poparazzi is a photo-sharing application that enables users to create social profiles for their friends and share photos of them, fostering authentic connections and empathy among users. Currently available only on iOS, the app allows individuals to assume the role of the "paparazzi" for their friends, capturing and sharing moments that promote engagement and interaction within their social circles. Through its innovative design, Poparazzi aims to bring people closer together by offering a platform that emphasizes genuine connections and shared experiences.
JetFuel
Seed Round in 2018
JetFuel is an influencer driven app promotion service.
The Lobby
Pre Seed Round in 2018
The Lobby is a video shopping platform that connects top fashion brands with influencers, creating an engaging shopping experience reminiscent of QVC combined with TikTok. Tailored for young professionals, The Lobby simplifies the shopping process by introducing new and emerging brands weekly. Customers can request items to be delivered to their offices for a week-long trial period without any upfront fees, allowing them to experience products before making a purchase. This innovative try-before-you-buy model eliminates the risks associated with online shopping, making it a convenient and inspiring option for consumers.
Brud Inc. is a transmedia studio based in Los Angeles that specializes in the development of digital and robotic characters which are designed to engage audiences across various social platforms. Founded in 2014 and originally known as Miquela Media, the company focuses on creating virtual influencers and character-driven story worlds. Brud combines expertise in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to enhance media experiences, enabling the creation of innovative and popular digital personalities. The company is dedicated to leveraging technology in creative ways to redefine storytelling in the digital age.
Itsme
Pre Seed Round in 2017
Itsme creates high fidelity Avatars and Environments that enable the World to feel closer together. Millions of people use Itsme to explore the world, meet new people, and grow meaningful friendships without the constraints of physical space
SelfMade operates a technology platform that transforms and shares images on social media. It offers professional photo editing services and social media support to help members grow their online following. The company's app provides access to its follower growth technology, allowing users to determine their brand aesthetic, growth strategy, and posting schedule.
Brud Inc. is a transmedia studio based in Los Angeles that specializes in the development of digital and robotic characters which are designed to engage audiences across various social platforms. Founded in 2014 and originally known as Miquela Media, the company focuses on creating virtual influencers and character-driven story worlds. Brud combines expertise in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to enhance media experiences, enabling the creation of innovative and popular digital personalities. The company is dedicated to leveraging technology in creative ways to redefine storytelling in the digital age.
Cue puts you, your interests, and your friends at the heart of the experience. Cue works with other apps and services to help you find fun things to do, and gives you the tools to easily share ideas and create events with friends.
Vidme is a startup video lab that operates a video-sharing platform aimed at fostering a community for expressing and sharing ideas. The platform allows users to upload videos across various categories, including gaming, animation, movies, and entertainment. Users can share their content within relevant community sections, and notably, Vidme enables uploads without requiring users to create an account. This accessibility encourages broader participation and engagement within its community, making it a versatile space for video content creators.
Hooked is a pioneering entertainment platform that specializes in chat fiction, a novel storytelling format popular among teens and millennials. With over 50 million readers worldwide and top rankings in the App Store across multiple countries, Hooked is transforming digital entertainment. Backed by prominent investors from Silicon Valley and Hollywood, including Ashton Kutcher and Jamie Foxx, the company aims to become the next major player in media.
Clutch
Convertible Note in 2016
Share your personal gaming moments & find community
Revlo Inc. is a Toronto-based company that operates a fan engagement platform tailored for broadcasters, particularly on Twitch. Founded in 2015, Revlo provides a suite of tools that enable broadcasters to enhance viewer interactions and monetize their audiences. The platform incorporates a custom virtual currency that allows viewers to earn rewards for watching streams, which can be redeemed for various incentives such as merchandise discounts, exclusive content, and participation in viewer games. Additionally, viewers can compete on leaderboards, engage in mini-games like quizzes and betting, and interact with broadcasters through chat commands. Revlo aims to enhance the overall viewing experience by gamifying audience engagement and fostering a sense of community among fans.
Frisbee
Seed Round in 2016
Frisbee builds mobile video products that enable people to intimately and authentically communicate with one another through video. We want to help people feel close to one another even when apart in a way that builds deeper relationships.
We're looking for motivated engineers who can bring their skills and ideas to building mobile products that help people connect. We're a small scrappy team of former Facebookers and startup vets, and looking for A players to bring on!
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Previous products:
Alively (iOS) makes it easy to capture & share everyday moments privately with your friends through live or recorded video: https://alive.ly/ and App Store here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alively/id1143273512
Launchkit
Venture Round in 2016
Launch Kit is an online platform designed to empower creators by providing them with essential resources, technology, and community support. Focused on serving streamers, user-generated content creators, influencers, and other digital creators, Launch Kit aims to be the go-to destination for individuals seeking to establish and grow their online presence. In addition to its community-driven approach, the company develops mobile applications and offers a suite of developer tools that assist app creators in building, launching, and monitoring their applications effectively. Through its comprehensive offerings, Launch Kit seeks to facilitate sustainable online livelihoods for a diverse range of creators.
Caffeine Inc. operates a live social broadcasting and streaming platform that focuses on gaming and entertainment. Founded in 2016 and based in Redwood City, California, the company allows users to broadcast a variety of content, including esports, video gaming, and creative shows, while facilitating real-time interaction through chat and sharing features. Caffeine's platform is designed to enhance viewer engagement with a social-driven recommendation system, making it easier to navigate and discover new content. The company partners with notable entities like FOX Sports, ESPN, and Riot Games to provide a diverse range of interactive programming. Caffeine is committed to maintaining a safe environment, enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against bullying, hate speech, and racism.
Projector
Seed Round in 2016
Projector, established in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, specializes in developing collaborative visual storytelling tools for developers and product teams. Their platform enables professionals to create engaging content such as videos, GIFs, social media posts, and presentations outside the confines of their app, enhancing overall product experiences.
SelfMade
Seed Round in 2016
SelfMade operates a technology platform that transforms and shares images on social media. It offers professional photo editing services and social media support to help members grow their online following. The company's app provides access to its follower growth technology, allowing users to determine their brand aesthetic, growth strategy, and posting schedule.
Hooked
Pre Seed Round in 2015
Hooked is a pioneering entertainment platform that specializes in chat fiction, a novel storytelling format popular among teens and millennials. With over 50 million readers worldwide and top rankings in the App Store across multiple countries, Hooked is transforming digital entertainment. Backed by prominent investors from Silicon Valley and Hollywood, including Ashton Kutcher and Jamie Foxx, the company aims to become the next major player in media.
Hooked is a pioneering entertainment platform that specializes in chat fiction, a novel storytelling format popular among teens and millennials. With over 50 million readers worldwide and top rankings in the App Store across multiple countries, Hooked is transforming digital entertainment. Backed by prominent investors from Silicon Valley and Hollywood, including Ashton Kutcher and Jamie Foxx, the company aims to become the next major player in media.
Vidme is a startup video lab that operates a video-sharing platform aimed at fostering a community for expressing and sharing ideas. The platform allows users to upload videos across various categories, including gaming, animation, movies, and entertainment. Users can share their content within relevant community sections, and notably, Vidme enables uploads without requiring users to create an account. This accessibility encourages broader participation and engagement within its community, making it a versatile space for video content creators.
Gladly, established in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, specializes in cloud-based software for contact centers serving B2C brands. Its platform enables seamless, omnichannel customer communication across voice, email, messaging, chat, and social media, empowering agents and fostering customer loyalty through positive experiences.
Complex Polygon
Seed Round in 2014
Complex Polygon, Inc. is a product studio based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in designing, building, and launching mobile applications aimed at enhancing social connections among users. Established in 2013, the company focuses on innovation through experimentation with new products, while effectively utilizing its existing technology and insights into human behavior. This approach allows Complex Polygon to develop better user experiences and adapt quickly to emerging trends. Notable products include Tag and Swipe, which exemplify the company's commitment to creating tools that facilitate interpersonal interactions. As of 2017, Complex Polygon operates as a subsidiary of Uber Technologies, Inc.
Product Hunt
Series A in 2014
Product Hunt, established in 2014, is a San Francisco-based online platform that facilitates the discovery and discussion of innovative products. It allows users to submit, browse, vote, and comment on a daily array of mobile applications, websites, hardware projects, and tech creations, fostering a community of product enthusiasts.
Product Hunt
Seed Round in 2014
Product Hunt, established in 2014, is a San Francisco-based online platform that facilitates the discovery and discussion of innovative products. It allows users to submit, browse, vote, and comment on a daily array of mobile applications, websites, hardware projects, and tech creations, fostering a community of product enthusiasts.
Secret offers an online platform that enables users to share their personal secrets with other users anonymously. It owns and operates a mobile application that helps users to share and connect with friends.
The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Amino Apps
Seed Round in 2014
Amino Apps enables people to discover, develop, and express their interests and passions. Founded in 2011, Amino Apps offer a network of communities allowing its users explore and obsess over the things they're into.
Patreon operates a platform that connects content creators and artists with their patrons. It enables creators to fund their work through recurring payments from patrons, who gain access to exclusive content and benefits in return.
WUT, Inc. is a technology company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2014. It specializes in developing a social messaging application that allows users to send anonymous and ephemeral messages to their friends. The application is designed to facilitate spontaneous and free-spirited interactions, enabling users to capture and share moments of banter with their social circle directly on their mobile devices. By focusing on anonymity and the temporary nature of messages, WUT aims to enhance the social messaging experience, catering to users who seek a more playful and casual form of communication.
BabyWatch
Venture Round in 2014
BabyWatch Inc., headquartered in Berlin, Germany, specializes in innovative prenatal care solutions. The company develops a system that connects home ultrasound devices with smartphones, enabling pregnant women to hear, visualize, and share their unborn babies' heartbeats. Additionally, BabyWatch offers GlobalBeat, a social platform facilitating interaction among expectant mothers for exchanging experiences and information. The company also provides medical data visualizations and infographics based on analyzed pregnancy tracking data shared by its community.
Niche is a provider of a social media management platform aimed at engaging and monetizing social media accounts, particularly for the younger generation. The company operates a community of influential social media creators active on emerging platforms such as Vine, Instagram, and Tumblr. Niche offers both software and services that help these creators thrive and interact with their audiences effectively. By collaborating with leading brands, studios, start-ups, and agencies, Niche enhances their partners' social media presence, facilitating user acquisition, audience development, and engagement. Through its comprehensive approach, Niche supports creators in building strong online communities while providing valuable resources for brands looking to generate buzz and foster meaningful connections with their target audiences.
Kamcord is a social media platform based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in mobile game streaming. The company offers an online gaming platform that enables users to record and share video content of their gameplay. By utilizing a mobile gameplay software development kit, Kamcord facilitates interaction among users through video, allowing them to engage with and showcase their gaming experiences.
Secret offers an online platform that enables users to share their personal secrets with other users anonymously. It owns and operates a mobile application that helps users to share and connect with friends.
The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Storehouse
Seed Round in 2014
Storehouse is a developer of an online multimedia story-sharing platform that enables users to create and share their narratives through a combination of photos, videos, and text. The company's application provides a user-friendly interface for storytelling, allowing individuals to express their experiences visually and engage with a broader audience. Storehouse has received recognition for its innovative approach, winning the TechCrunch 2015 Crunchie for Best Mobile App and the 2014 Apple Design Award.
Mindie is an online entertainment platform based in San Francisco, California, that allows users to enhance their personal videos by integrating music. The service enables individuals to select their preferred music tracks and record videos simultaneously, creating engaging content that combines visual and auditory experiences. By providing a new way to share life moments, Mindie aims to elevate the quality of user-generated videos through the power of music.
Vertical Mass
Seed Round in 2014
Vertical Mass, Inc. is an online data management platform based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 2013. The company specializes in serving celebrities and businesses in the music, entertainment, and sports industries by enabling them to collect, manage, and store data on their fans across various digital channels, including social media, websites, mobile applications, ecommerce, and content streaming services. By leveraging this proprietary audience data, clients can gain insights into fan affinities, allowing for more effective advertising and content distribution. Vertical Mass empowers its users to enhance engagement with their audience, optimize marketing strategies, and ultimately drive revenue through data monetization options such as aggregation, sales, or licensing. The platform is tailored to meet the unique needs of a diverse clientele, from emerging influencers to established industry leaders.
Zeega is a cloud-based platform to create and share interactive videos. It curates music, pictures, GIFs, and more from a range of websites to help its users create their own interactive and engaging stories.
The platform allows its users to express themselves by combining personal moments with popular culture.
Zeega was launched in 2013 and is based in San Francisco, California.
Secret offers an online platform that enables users to share their personal secrets with other users anonymously. It owns and operates a mobile application that helps users to share and connect with friends.
The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Swipe Labs
Seed Round in 2013
Swipe Labs, founded in 2013 and based in San Francisco, California, specializes in developing mobile communication applications that enhance the intimacy and privacy of user interactions. Their primary product allows users to share private photos and videos with select groups of friends, providing a more personal and secure way to communicate compared to public social media platforms. The company focuses on experimenting with new social products to improve mobile communication experiences for its users.
Frontback
Seed Round in 2013
Frontback is a mobile application based in San Francisco that allows users to capture photos from both the front and back cameras of their smartphones simultaneously. This innovative app combines these dual perspectives into a single image, enabling users to share their experiences more vividly. Users can take a selfie while also showcasing their surroundings, creating a unique visual narrative. The app includes features such as advanced gestures for switching between cameras, options to add captions and locations, and easy sharing capabilities across various social media platforms. By connecting with friends through the app and other social networks, users can enhance their social interactions and storytelling through photography.
Memoir
Convertible Note in 2013
Memoir transforms your photos, the places you go, and your social media into memories that can be relived when they’re most interesting to you. As soon as you request them, the photos your friends choose to share with you become part of your Memoir seamlessly. You can find memories and photos by people, places, dates, context, and more - no tagging or organization required. Memoir discovers photos and memories wherever they were created - iPhone cameras, DSLR's, Instagram, Facebook, Foursquare - even on your computer. With Memoir, all of your photos and memories are backed up securely to the cloud.
Overlay Studio
Seed Round in 2013
Overlay Studio, Inc. is a mobile application development company based in Provo, Utah, established in 2013. The company specializes in creating innovative applications that enhance photography and design experiences. Its primary product, Studio, is a social design platform that enables users to browse and remix designs created by others. This application allows users to add layers to their photos, enhancing their visual appeal and facilitating creative expression. By combining features of design sharing and photo beautification, Overlay Studio aims to foster a community where creativity can be shared and enjoyed among friends and family.
AngelList
Series A in 2013
AngelList is a U.S.-based platform founded in 2010, connecting startups with angel investors and job-seekers. It facilitates fundraising, recruitment, and product launches, supporting millions of users worldwide. The company has backed over 20 unicorns and helped launch more than 100,000 products.
SnapGuide
Series A in 2013
SnapGuide is a platform that allows users to create, share, and discover step-by-step how-to guides across various topics, ranging from cooking and crafting to automotive repairs. Founded by Daniel Raffel and Steve Krulewitz, the company offers an iOS application and a web service designed to facilitate the sharing of instructional knowledge. Users can easily create their own guides and share them with friends on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, fostering a community of individuals who share similar interests and passions. The platform's emphasis on simplicity and aesthetics enhances the user experience, making it a popular choice for those looking to learn or teach new skills.
Patreon
Seed Round in 2013
Patreon operates a platform that connects content creators and artists with their patrons. It enables creators to fund their work through recurring payments from patrons, who gain access to exclusive content and benefits in return.
Tapstack
Seed Round in 2013
Tapstack, originally founded in 2014 as Taptalk, specializes in developing an innovative communication application that allows users to share personalized short videos and photos effortlessly. The app bridges the gap between traditional messaging and social media, enabling users to maintain a regular presence in the lives of their contacts. With a simple interface, users can send messages, location information, and multimedia content with a single tap on a profile picture from their contact grid. This functionality provides a unique way to share everyday moments that might otherwise go uncommunicated, fostering deeper connections among friends and family.
Snap Inc. is a United States technology and social media company best known for Snapchat, a multimedia messaging app that enables users to send ephemeral photos and videos, share Stories, and access augmented reality features. The company also offers Camera, Chat, Memories, Discover, and Snap Map to enhance communication and content discovery, and has produced Spectacles, a line of wearable camera hardware. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Snap Inc. was founded in 2010 and focuses on camera-based experiences that blend messaging, AR effects, and interactive media for a global audience.
Jelly HQ is a technology company that offers a human-powered discovery and search engine focused on image-based queries. Founded in April 2013 by Biz Stone and Ben Finkel, Jelly allows users to ask questions by uploading photos, leveraging social networks to facilitate responses. The platform is designed to connect individuals and utilize a loosely distributed network of people to provide answers, resembling the decentralized neural structure of a jellyfish, which serves as the company's emblem. Through this innovative approach, Jelly aims to enhance the way users seek information and interact with their social circles.
Jelly is an application that operates as a question and answer platform. Jelly relies on visual imagery to steer people to get better answers from within and outside their social networks. In particular, it encourages people to use photos to ask questions.
The company was founded in 2013 by Biz Stone, one of Twitter's co-founders. Jelly was acquired by Pinterest in 2017.
MessageMe
Series A in 2013
MessageMe is a mobile messaging application designed to enhance communication through personalized and emotionally engaging interactions. The platform focuses on creating a fun and lightweight user experience, encouraging users to send and respond to messages in a dynamic manner. By applying techniques from social gaming, MessageMe aims to enrich the emotional context of messaging, thereby increasing user engagement and excitement. The company has attracted interest from major players in the tech industry, including Snapchat and Truecaller. Ultimately, MessageMe was acquired by Yahoo for a sum estimated between $30 million and $40 million, reflecting its potential in the competitive messaging app landscape.
ClassDojo
Series A in 2013
ClassDojo, Inc. is an online school communication platform founded in 2011 and based in San Francisco, California. The platform connects teachers, students, and families, fostering close-knit communities that enhance the educational experience. It allows educators to share classroom activities, including photos and videos, and facilitates communication through features like Class Story and private messaging with parents. ClassDojo aims to engage students and their families by providing a space where learning can be shared and celebrated, ultimately enriching the educational environment and promoting collaboration both in and out of the classroom. The company, previously known as Class Twist, Inc., rebranded to ClassDojo, Inc. in December 2017.
Koala develops a photo-sharing application which can be integrated into smartphone messenger.
Koala was formerly known as Albumatic Inc. and changed its name to Koala in November 2013. It was founded in 2012 and is based in San Francisco, California.
MessageMe
Seed Round in 2013
MessageMe is a mobile messaging application designed to enhance communication through personalized and emotionally engaging interactions. The platform focuses on creating a fun and lightweight user experience, encouraging users to send and respond to messages in a dynamic manner. By applying techniques from social gaming, MessageMe aims to enrich the emotional context of messaging, thereby increasing user engagement and excitement. The company has attracted interest from major players in the tech industry, including Snapchat and Truecaller. Ultimately, MessageMe was acquired by Yahoo for a sum estimated between $30 million and $40 million, reflecting its potential in the competitive messaging app landscape.
Hangtime
Seed Round in 2013
Hangtime, Inc. is a mobile application developer based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2011. The company has created the Hangtime app, which allows users to view their friends' upcoming social plans, such as concerts and poetry readings. This innovative application aims to enhance social interactions by minimizing missed opportunities for gatherings. Available on platforms like iPhone and Facebook, Hangtime enables individuals to discover and join activities that interest them, fostering stronger connections among friends.
Toro, founded in March 2012 and based in San Francisco, California, is a company that specializes in providing marketing services for app developers. Established by former developers and product managers from popular social games, Toro focuses on equipping app companies with essential tools for mobile marketing. The company's mission is to democratize access to effective marketing strategies, thereby enabling developers to optimize their campaign setups. Toro's marketing plans are primarily executed through the Facebook advertising platform, ensuring that clients can leverage one of the largest social media networks to reach their target audience effectively.
Snap Inc. is a United States technology and social media company best known for Snapchat, a multimedia messaging app that enables users to send ephemeral photos and videos, share Stories, and access augmented reality features. The company also offers Camera, Chat, Memories, Discover, and Snap Map to enhance communication and content discovery, and has produced Spectacles, a line of wearable camera hardware. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Snap Inc. was founded in 2010 and focuses on camera-based experiences that blend messaging, AR effects, and interactive media for a global audience.
NewHive
Seed Round in 2013
NewHive is an online platform that serves as a do-it-yourself self-publishing tool, enabling users to express their creativity through customizable web pages. It fosters a social environment where individuals can create and share their unique content, encouraging artistic exploration and personal expression. By providing a user-friendly interface, NewHive empowers creators to develop and showcase their work, enhancing the interaction between users and their audiences.
Tubular Labs
Series A in 2012
Tubular Labs is a leading video measurement and analytics platform that serves broadcasters, publishers, and brands by providing insights into video consumption patterns. The platform tracks over 4 billion videos and 1 trillion views, analyzing a vast array of data that includes 10 million influencers and 90,000 brands. It offers a comprehensive view of the social video ecosystem, allowing businesses to create effective content and scale their audiences more rapidly. Tubular Labs delivers valuable ratings and context for digital video, helping companies refine their content strategies, enhance distribution, and optimize paid media campaigns. The platform is trusted by several top global media companies, who rely on its analytics to make informed strategic decisions in the dynamic landscape of video content.
Spindle
Venture Round in 2012
Spindle, Inc. is a payment-processing service provider based in Marco Island, Florida, catering primarily to small and medium-sized businesses. The company utilizes its Catalyst Gateway to facilitate transactions for merchants and also serves as an agent, independent contractor, or referral partner, connecting merchants to various merchant processors and earning ongoing fees based on their processing volume. Additionally, Spindle offers a geo-restricted mobile application that delivers information and updates on public events and locations shared on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Wedgies
Seed Round in 2012
Wedgies, Inc. is a company that specializes in providing interactive polling services on the web. Founded in April 2012 and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Wedgies enables publishers and clients to create and customize polls across various platforms, including social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr, as well as on web pages and blog posts. The company's platform is designed to facilitate real-time data aggregation and user interaction through survey questions, allowing for seamless participation via tablets, mobiles, and desktops. Additionally, Wedgies offers features such as CSS customization, API access, and analytics to enhance the polling experience.
Discourse
Seed Round in 2012
Discourse is an open-source discussion platform designed to enhance online communication in an evolving digital landscape. By integrating features of mailing lists, discussion forums, and long-form chat rooms, Discourse provides a comprehensive solution for hosting searchable discussions. The platform emphasizes community engagement through tools that support a trust system, notifications, and community moderation. This allows users to connect with one another effectively and fosters meaningful conversations among participants. Discourse aims to redefine online discourse by creating a modern, user-friendly environment that caters to the needs of users in a world dominated by social media and instant communication.
Perfect Audience
Seed Round in 2012
Perfect Audience is a retargeting platform that specializes in helping businesses reconnect with lost customers and boost sales through targeted advertising. The company provides a user-friendly software-as-a-service (SaaS) application that enables advertisers to effectively retarget audiences across various online channels, including websites, Facebook, and Twitter. In addition to retargeting capabilities, the platform measures the impact of ad views and clicks on conversions and revenue, allowing clients to assess the effectiveness of their advertising efforts. By integrating with popular applications such as Facebook and Shopify, Perfect Audience empowers businesses to enhance their marketing strategies and ultimately increase revenue.
NewHive
Seed Round in 2012
NewHive is an online platform that serves as a do-it-yourself self-publishing tool, enabling users to express their creativity through customizable web pages. It fosters a social environment where individuals can create and share their unique content, encouraging artistic exploration and personal expression. By providing a user-friendly interface, NewHive empowers creators to develop and showcase their work, enhancing the interaction between users and their audiences.
Booshaka
Seed Round in 2012
Booshaka Inc. is a marketing technology company based in Redwood City, California, that provides a word of mouth marketing platform tailored for the social web. Founded in 2010, the company offers a suite of tools designed to help marketers analyze customer interactions and optimize engagement through various data sources, including social media, email databases, and mobile applications. Booshaka's primary product enables Facebook marketers to gain insights into their audience, recognize engaged fans, and identify trending content and keywords. This functionality allows businesses to enhance their marketing campaigns and improve customer experiences. In 2015, Booshaka became a subsidiary of Sprinklr Inc., further expanding its capabilities in the marketing automation landscape.
Frontback
Seed Round in 2012
Frontback is a mobile application based in San Francisco that allows users to capture photos from both the front and back cameras of their smartphones simultaneously. This innovative app combines these dual perspectives into a single image, enabling users to share their experiences more vividly. Users can take a selfie while also showcasing their surroundings, creating a unique visual narrative. The app includes features such as advanced gestures for switching between cameras, options to add captions and locations, and easy sharing capabilities across various social media platforms. By connecting with friends through the app and other social networks, users can enhance their social interactions and storytelling through photography.
Grouper
Seed Round in 2012
Grouper is a social club that facilitates group outings by connecting two groups of friends, typically consisting of three individuals each from different genders or similar gender combinations. Founded in New York in 2011, Grouper utilizes data from Facebook profiles to match participants, enhancing their social experiences. The company has expanded its operations to major cities across the United States and has facilitated tens of thousands of drinks among its members. The founding team includes Michael Waxman, a Yale graduate with a background in language learning, and Tom Brown, an MIT engineer with experience at MoPub. Grouper was part of Y Combinator's Winter 2012 program, which provided initial funding and support for its growth.
Socialcam
Angel Round in 2012
Socialcam is a mobile application developer, creating platforms for iPhone and Android users to capture, edit, and share high-quality videos with friends and family. The company's service enables users to easily record and share life's moments, making video sharing convenient and fun.
Locu is a platform that assists local businesses in managing and publishing their listings and offerings online. By allowing businesses to input essential information such as street address, phone number, hours of operation, and service menus, Locu ensures that they are easily discoverable by over 200 million potential customers. The platform simplifies the process of updating business information, enabling users to make changes in one central location. These updates are then disseminated in real-time to various partner sites, including Yelp, Foursquare, OpenTable, YP, TripAdvisor, and Facebook. This streamlined approach helps businesses maintain accurate and consistent online presence without the need to individually manage multiple listings across different platforms.
Neighborland
Seed Round in 2012
Neighborland, Inc. is a public engagement platform that facilitates collaboration between local residents, government agencies, developers, and civic organizations. Established in 2011 and headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, the company allows neighborhood residents to share ideas, support one another, and connect based on shared interests. The platform enables planners and stakeholders to engage in a participatory and equitable manner, providing tools for hosting projects, publishing updates, conducting surveys, and gathering insights from various sources. With over 3 million participants, Neighborland has demonstrated significant social and economic impact through its partnerships, achieving more effective community engagement than traditional outreach methods. As of April 2020, Neighborland operates as a subsidiary of Nextdoor, Inc.
Wander is a platform that enables users to share and experience the world through curated visual content. Founded by Jeremy Fisher and Keenan Cummings, the company emerged from the TechStars NYC Summer 2012 program. Wander allows individuals to create and package a collection of photographs and GIFs, facilitating an engaging way to showcase experiences and memories. The platform focuses on enhancing the sharing experience, making it accessible and visually appealing for users.
Dojo helps Facebook fan page administrators to create sweepstakes, bonus coupons, welcome tabs, and more.
NationBuilder
Series A in 2012
NationBuilder is a software platform for leaders and organizations to power campaigns, movements, and communities. The platform unifies website content, email communications, live programming, social insights, and people management in one system, enabling real-time data-driven decision making and simpler operations. By consolidating several tools into a single scalable platform, it supports advocacy groups, nonprofits, and political campaigns in engaging supporters, coordinating volunteers, and tracking performance across channels. The company is headquartered in downtown Los Angeles and maintains offices in New York, Washington, DC, Vancouver, and London.
Findery is a social discovery platform that enhances the exploration of places through user-generated content. It allows individuals to share stories, histories, and unique insights about various locations, creating a rich tapestry of experiences that can be accessed via smartphone. The platform serves as a crowdsourced travel guide, enabling users to document their travels and memories while inviting others to contribute their own narratives. By fostering a community of travelers, adventure-seekers, and storytellers, Findery aims to make the world more engaging and informative, allowing users to discover both local and global destinations through the perspectives of others.
Backplane
Series A in 2012
Backplane is a platform designed to facilitate connections among individuals who share common interests. Its initial community, LittleMonsters.com, centered around Lady Gaga, has grown to nearly one million members. The company emphasizes the importance of meaningful interactions between consumers and brands, aiming to foster authentic communities. Backplane advocates for the development of niche social networks that serve specific purposes, rather than a singular, overarching network. By partnering with leading brands, Backplane seeks to create environments where members can engage more deeply and purposefully.
Highlight
Seed Round in 2012
Highlight is a mobile application designed to facilitate social connections among users in their vicinity. The app notifies users when they are in close proximity to others who share mutual friends or interests on Facebook, allowing for potential interactions. Users receive push notifications when they come within a few blocks of these individuals, enabling them to message each other. The app's homescreen features a reverse chronological list of people the user has encountered, enhancing the experience of discovering and engaging with nearby acquaintances. Highlight aims to foster a sense of community and connection in urban environments by leveraging social media networks.
Embly is a company that specializes in enhancing social interactions by helping users discover and celebrate significant moments in the lives of their Facebook friends. Through its online platform, Embly provides timely updates on friends' birthdays and other important milestones. The service allows users to send quick, fun messages, free gifts, and gift cards to acknowledge these occasions, fostering a sense of connection and celebration within social networks.
Graffiti Labs
Seed Round in 2011
Graffiti Labs, Inc., established in 2007 and headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts, specializes in developing browser-based games focused on creating virtual drawings. The company's offerings include a popular Facebook application that enables users to draw for one another, fostering a creative and interactive online community.
Trippy
Venture Round in 2011
Trippy, Inc. is a travel information platform based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2011. It serves as a community-driven resource where travelers can ask questions and share experiences about various destinations. The platform encourages users to seek advice on accommodations, attractions, and activities, fostering a supportive environment aimed at enhancing travel experiences. Trippy was founded by J.R. Johnson, who previously led the successful growth of VirtualTourist.com and OneTime.com before their acquisition by Expedia. The company aims to inspire users by promoting a sense of community and the joy of helping others through shared travel insights.
Kicksend
Seed Round in 2011
Kicksend is a provider of a real-time photo printing and sharing platform, offering a web, mobile, and desktop application that simplifies the process of printing and sending photographs. The platform includes various features such as social tools, multiple payment options, one-click purchasing, and a virtual currency system, enhancing the user experience. Kicksend has established partnerships with major retail chains, including Walmart, Walgreens, Target, CVS, and Duane Reade, which allow users to conveniently pick up their printed photos at local locations.
Fullscreen
Seed Round in 2011
Fullscreen Media is a media company based in Culver City, California, that specializes in social-first entertainment experiences. Founded in 2011, Fullscreen provides technology and services that facilitate the creation and sharing of video content, catering to a connected generation. Its offerings include marketing services designed to help companies engage and monetize their social audiences, as well as creative strategies that enhance brand awareness. Additionally, Fullscreen provides merchandise for men, women, and children, along with various accessories available online. The company operates as a subsidiary of Otter Media, focusing on empowering artists, creators, brands, and agencies to effectively connect with and entertain their audiences.
Genius
Convertible Note in 2011
Genius Media Group, Inc. operates an online platform that focuses on music intelligence, originally starting as a site for annotating rap lyrics. Founded in 2009 and based in Brooklyn, New York, Genius has evolved to serve a broader audience, providing insights into various music genres beyond hip-hop. The platform attracts over 100 million users monthly, enabling contributors, editors, and musicians to engage in discussions about songs and share their interpretations with a global fan base. In addition to lyrics, Genius features charts and videos, offering a comprehensive view of music and its cultural significance. Renowned artists, including Frank Ocean and Lin-Manuel Miranda, also participate in the platform, contributing their perspectives and enhancing the storytelling aspect of music.