A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – SOCIAL PLATFORMS
- Pinterest, the social bookmarking platform, raises $150M at a $12.3B valuation from its existing investors. Link
- Dajie, the professional networking platform, raises $14.5M in series D round led by Northern Light Venture Capital and Winshare PE. Link
- Shapr, an interest based professional networking platform, raises $9.5M in series B round from Franck Riboud and the Bouygues and Afflelou families. Link
- Audioburst, an audio content platform, raises $7M in series A round led by Advanced Media. Link
- MyHealthTeams, a networking platform for patients with chronic ailments, raises $7M in series C round led by Qiming U.S. Healthcare fund. Link
- Jodel, a social platform for students, raises $7M in series A round led by Adam D’Angelo and the Floodgate fund. Link
- Hosco, a professional networking platform for the hospitality industry, raises $4M in series A round. Link
- MeWe, a social networking platform, raises $3M in series A round. Link
- Xitu, a community platform for developers, raises $3M in series A round led by Prima venture capital, Shangdian capital and Ming potential discover fund. Link
- ClipApp, a social video sharing platform, raises $1M in seed funding from India Quotient and Shunwei Capital. Link
- VoxWeb, an Indian social networking platform, raises $1M seed round. Link
- Mugo, a social music app, raises $1M seed round. Link
- Zenly, a social mapping app was acquired by Snapchat, the photo messaging platform. Link
- Pulse, a social platform for students, was acquired by Hike, the mobile messaging platform. Link
- InterNations, an online network for expats was acquired by Xing, the European equivalent of Linkedin. Link
- Twitch, the social gaming platform, rolls out its premium membership in 200+ countries. Link
- Instagram, the photo sharing platform, launches a new feature enabling replies to Instagram stories by photos and videos. Link
- Facebook, the social networking platform, launches Ads for messengers globally. Link
- Wattpad, the storytelling platform, launches innovation lab to develop breakthroughs in storytelling. Link
- Meitu, the photo editing and facial recognition platform, launches AR feature on its MakeupPlus app. Link
- Twitter, the microblogging platform, partners with BBC for live video streaming service. Link
- Nextdoor, the social network for neighborhoods, launches real estate listing service on the platform. Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
Allihoopa (2016, Stockholm) – Community platform to connect musicians.
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, $360M) – Photo editing and sharing app. Backed by Sina, IDG Capital Partners, Ceyuan Investment Consulting and others.
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, $57.5M, 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, $1.47B) – 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) – 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) – 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
Myspace (2003,Beverly Hills, $43M, Acq.) – Online Community platform for music streaming and content sharing. Backed by Redpoint 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, $70M) – 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.
Communities – Generic – Forum – News
Baike (2005, Beijing, $141M) – Chinese social networking platform for news discussions. Backed by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, DCM Ventures, and others.
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 Collaboration Networks
Enterprise Collaboration Networks – For Organisations
Yammer (2008, SF, $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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