Zefr Acquires Engodo, Plans To Develop Services Beyond YouTube

Zefr, one of the leaders in the YouTube channel and video management arena, has decided they can offer more marketing “oomph” to brands if they expand into other platforms. As part of this goal, the company acquired the social-marketing startup Engodo.

According to Variety, Zefr reportedly dropped over $886,000 worth of stock into the deal and may have thrown in some cash to go along with that figure. Engodo has a lot to add to Zefr’s predominantly YouTube-focused services, as the startup works to match brands with creators on Vine, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and other social sites.

Originally launched as the YouTube channel MovieClips

in 2009, Zefr has created tools which help marketers (primarily Hollywood studios and music labels) identify their biggest fans and influencers on YouTube so they can interact. Some of the biggest names around utilize Zefr’s tools, such as Universal Pictures, Lionsgate, Sony Music, and The Weinstein Co.

Now, with this acquisition, Zefr can expand its services to include the social sites Engodo is familiar with. Zefr co-founder Zach James told Variety that Engodo’s focus on social platforms is a “perfect complement” to what Zefr has been doing for years on YouTube. “We saw what they were doing on Instagram, Vine and Snapchat, and knew we had found the right technology team to increase our reach cross-platform to help brands truly identify their biggest influencers,” James stated.

As part of the deal, Engodo’s three founders (Trygve Jensen, Brock Luker, and Neal Williams) will join Zefr. Zefr will also add the startup’s Provo, Utah headquarters to its roster of offices, which are based out of Boston, New York, Chicago, and Venice, California.