A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – SOCIAL PLATFORMS
- PatientsLikeMe, a health-based community platform, has closed a funding of $100M+ from iCarbonX. Link
- Zhihu, also known as China’s Quora, has closed a $100M Series D round of funding from Tencent, Sogou,and Qiming Venture Partners. Link
- Kitty Live, an entertainment video live streaming platform operating in Southeast Asia has closed its Series A funding round of $21M from a group of investors led by NewBornTown. Link
- Supernova Inc., a social mobile creation, discovery, and sharing company, has closed its Series B funding round of $12M from Battery Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Khosla Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Inc.Link
- Lamabang, mom’s e-commerce and social platform, has closed its series D funding round for an undisclosed amount, from a group of investors led by Suning Commerce Group Link
- Bigo Live, Singapore-based social video streaming app, has closed its series C funding round for an undisclosed amount, from a group of investors led by Ping An Overseas Holdings. Link
- MeetMe, a fellow social discovery network formerly known as myYearbook, acquires Tagged & Hi5, platforms that enabled users to connect with new people, for $60M Link
- Wix acquires DevianArt, an online art community for $36M Link
- Pinterest, a visual social bookmarking service, acquires Twitter Co-Founder’s start-up Jelly, an app that let people ask questions and get crowdsourced replies from their friends and friends of friends, for an undisclosed amount Link
- OneParish, an app for the catholic community, acquires Everygive, a platform for mission-driven communities, for an undisclosed amount in December 2016.Link
- Toutiao, a news reading application, acquires Flipagram, a photo & video stories creation and sharing application for an undisclosed amount Link
- Dating application Tinder acquires Wheel, a social video sharing platform, for an undisclosed amount.Link
- ABC Cooking, a Japan-based firm that operates cooking schools across Asia, acquires Kitchenbowl, a social recipe sharing application, for an undisclosed amount.Link
- Answer Corp, owner of Answers.com and Multiply, files for Bankruptcy to cut $471 milion in debt Link
- Social Networking platform Facebook signs soccer live-streaming deal with MLS, Univision Link
- Microblogging platform Twitter partners with ESL and Dreamhack to stream live e-sports Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
Collide (2016, Orlando) – Video live-streaming platform to connect with celebrities and influencers, founded by Andrew Mains, an alumni of UC Berkeley whose previous venture, Mobile Roadie, was acquired by Intellectsoft in 2015.
LEADER BOARD – SOCIAL PLATFORMS
Networks
Networks – Personal – Horizontal – Universal
Facebook (2004, Menlo Park, IPO) – Online social networking platform to connect with friends & family. Backed by Accel Partners, Greylock Partners, Microsoft and others. Went public in 2012.
Renren (2005, Beijing, IPO) – Online social networking platform that offers an interactive communication platform for Chinese users. Backed by Accel Partners, General Atlantic, Softbank and others. Went public in 2011.
Networks – Multimedia – Photos
PhotoAmigo (2008, Santa Barbara, IPO) – Online photo sharing platform. Went Public in 2012.
Meitu (2008, Xiamen, IPO) – Photo editing and sharing app. Backed by Sina, IDG Capital Partners, Ceyuan Investment Consulting and others. Went public in 2016.
Networks – Multimedia – Videos
Mobli (2010, Tel Aviv, $86M) – Mobile/web video-sharing app. Backed by America Movil and Singulariteam.
Networks – Multimedia – Videos – Livestreaming
YY (2005, Guangzhou, IPO) – Online live video sharing platform in China. Backed by GGV Capital, Steamboat Ventures, and Morningside Ventures. Went public in 2012.
Periscope (2014, SF, Acq) – Live video streaming and broadcasting platform. Backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, Founder Collective, GV and others. Acquired by Twitter in 2015.
Networks – Multimedia – Photos & Videos
Flipagram (2013, LA, $70M, Acq) – Photo-video stories creation and sharing app. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Index Ventures, KPCB and Mind Fund. Acquired by Toutiao 2017.
Instagram (2010, SF, $57.50M, Acq) – Social photo and video sharing application. Backed by Greylock Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital and other investors. Acquired by Facebook in 2012.
Networks – Multimedia – Audio
Bubbly (2002, Panchkula, $50M, Acq) – Audio-based social network. Backed by Sequoia Capital, JAFCO Asia, Singtel and others. Acquired by Altruist Technologies in 2014.
Networks – Microblogging
Weibo (2009, Beijing, IPO) – China-based microblogging platforms. Backed by Alibaba Group, China Growth Capital and Hwazing Capital. Went public in 2014.
Twitter (2006, SF, IPO) – Microblogging platform for real-time self-expression where users can follow other users based on their interests. Backed by Insight Venture Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Morgan Stanley and others. Went public in 2013.
Networks – Professional – Horizontal – Networking
Xing (2003, Hamburg, IPO) – Professional social network to connect with other professionals on the platform. Backed by Wellington Partners, Lakestar, b-to-v Partners, and Tiburon. Went public in 2006.
Viadeo (2004, Paris, IPO) – Professional social network to connect with other professionals on the platform. Backed by Ventech, FSI, A Capital and Indivest Partners. Went public in 2014.
LinkedIn (2003, Sunnyvale, $217M, Acq) – Professional networking platform. Backed by Greylock Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Goldman Sachs and others. Acquired by Microsoft in 2016.
Networks – Professional – Healthcare
Doximity (2011, San Mateo, $82M) – Professional networking platform for healthcare professionals. Backed by Morgan Stanley, Morgenthaler, Emergence Capital and others.
Communities
Communities – Interest Based – Hobbies – Bookmarking
Pinterest (2009, SF, $1.3B) – Visual social bookmarking service that enables users to create various boards based on their interests and bookmark (pin) photos, articles, products, recipes, life hacks etc. Backed by First Round Capital, Fidelity Investments, Andreessen Horowitz and others.
Communities – Interest Based – Fashion & Beauty
Mogujie (2011, Hangzhou, $420M) – Social shopping platform focusing on female-fashion. Backed by IDG Capital Partners, Hillhouse Capital, Tiantu Capital and others.
Fancy (2009, NYC, $96M) – A crowd-curated marketplace where the products bubble up depending on the number of likes it receives from people.Backed by American Express, General Catalyst Partners, Allen & Company and others.
Communities – Interest Based – Health & Wellness
Meet You (2013, Xiamen, $200M) – Healthcare based social network for women. Backed by SIG China, Matrix Partners China, The Cathay Funds and K2VC.
PatientsLikeMe (2004, Cambridge, $132M) – Healthcare social network for patients. Backed by Omidyar Network, iCarbonX, Collaborative Seed and others.
Communities – Interest Based – Places – Discovery
Foursquare (2009, NYC, $214M) – A local search and discovery service mobile app that lets the user search for restaurants, nightlife spots, shops and other places of interest in their surrounding area. Backed by Microsoft, Andreessen Horowitz, Morgan Stanley and others.
Communities – Interest Based – Entertainment
Whipclip (2014, Tel Aviv, $60M) – Mobile app to share video clips of television shows and music videos. Backed by Metamorphic Ventures, Greycott Partners, Institutional Venture Partners and others.
Communities – Interest Based – Neighborhood
Nextdoor (2010, SF, $210M) – Private social network for neighborhoods. Backed by Greylock Partners, Insight Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures and others.
Communities – Interest Based – Family
Life360 (2008, SF, $76M) – Mobile app that connects family members and close friends. Backed by Google, Facebook, Accel Partners and others.
Communities – Interest Based – Music
SpinMedia (2005, LA, $66M) – Online Community platform for music and celebrity fans. Backed by Redpoint Ventures, NEA, Focus Ventures and others.
Communities – Interest Based – Parenting
Lamabang (2012, Beijing, $130M) – Online parenting community and e-commerce platform for mothers. Backed by Morningside Group, Greenwoods Asset Management, Matrix Partners China and Huoban.
Communities – Interest Based – Photography
Visual Supply Co (2012, Oakland, $130M) – Online community platform for photographers. Backed by Accel Partners, and Glynn Capital.
Communities – Generic – Q&A Platforms
Answers (1999, St. Loius, $388M, Acq) – Social Q&A portal. Backed by Redpoint Ventures, Summit Partners, Highland Capital Partners and others. Acquired by Apax Partners in 2014.
Zhihu (2011, Beijing, $172M) – China-based online Q&A platform. Backed by SAIF Partners, Sinovation Ventures, Capital Today Group and others.
Communities – Generic – Forum – Generic
Migme (2006, Singapore, IPO) – Online community platform to connect with like-minded people. Backed by Accel Partners, Redpoint Ventures, DCM Ventures and others. Went public in 2014.
Yik Yak (2013, Atlanta, $72M) – Social platform for anonymous discussions. Backed by Sequoia Capital, DCM Ventures, Azure Capital Partners and others.
Communities – Generic – Forum – News
Baike (2005, Beijing, IPO) – Chinese social networking platform for news discussions. Backed by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, DCM Ventures, and others. Went Public in 2013.
Reddit (2005, SF, $50M, Acq) – Social news platform. Backed by Y Combinator, Sequoia Capital, Collaborative Fund and Y Ventures. Acquired by Conde Nast in 2006.
Communities – Generic – Blogging
Tumblr (2007, NYC, $125M, Acq) – Blogging platform for sharing rich content. Backed by Greylock Partners, Insight Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital and others. Acquired by Yahoo in 2013.
Medium (2012, SF, $132M) – Web blog-publishing platform. Backed by Greylock Partners, Andreessen Horowits, Spark Capital and others.
Communities – Generic – Fan-Engagement Platforms – Celebrities
Victorious (2013, Santa Monica, $50M) – Online platform for celebrities to connect their fans. Backed by Redpoint Ventures, KPCB, Marker and others.
Communities – Generic – Professional – IT
GitHub (2008, SF, $350M) – Online community for collaborative coding. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital and others.
Enablers
Enablers – White Label – Communities
Digital Town (2004, Burnsville, IPO) – Online community management platform. Went public in 2005.
Spark Networks (1997, LA, IPO) – Social communities enabler that lets brands to connect with their customers. Went Public in 2006.
Yappn (2013, NYC, IPO) – SaaS based platform to create online communities. Went public in 2013.
Ning (2004, Brisbane, $119M, Acq) – SaaS based platform to create online communities. Backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, SV Angel, Allen & Company and others. Acquired by Mode Media in 2011.
Enterprise Colaboration Networks
Enterprise Collaboration Networks – For Organisations
Yammer (2008, San Francisco, $142M, Acq) – Social network for enterprises to foster team collaboration. Backed by Tech Crunch, SV Angel, Khosla Ventures and others. Acquired by Microsoft in 2012.
Enterprise Collaboration Networks – For School
Edmodo (2008, San Mateo, $87.5M) – Social platform for schools to connect and collaborate teachers,students and parents. Backed by Greylock Partners, NEA, Index Ventures and others.
Leader board includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.
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