London-based mobile messaging startup Emoticast announced today a $5 million funding round from a flurry of bold-faced investors, including Napster co-founder Sean Parker, musician and entrepreneur will.i.am, famed DJ David Guetta, and former Maker Studios CEO Ynon Kreiz. Founded in 2014, the company previously raised a $1.2 million seed round back in November 2015, according to Crunchbase.
Emoticast is the company behind TuneMoji, an app that enables users to share GIFs from music videos with sound via messaging services or across social media. TuneMoji is compatible with iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Kik, and more. The company also operates extensive global licensing agreements with Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and others. In addition to developing original content alongside top artists like Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran, Emoticast is now looking to add GIFs derived from feature films and TV series to its roster.
Check out the TuneMoji app in action right here:
Emoticast’s first exclusive collaboration launches next month with Snoop Dogg, where users will be able to share custom Snoop music GIFs on Kik.
Emoticast was founded by music and social media entrepreneur James Fabricant, who formerly served as the head of MySpace Europe. Other investors that participated in the company’s latest round include Rhapsody board member Jason Epstein, Montilla International’s Nicole Junkermann, and Rheo founder Alan Cannistraro. New funds will be allocated to tapping new music and entertainment partners and to expanding Emoticast’s messaging partner network.
“Emoticast is primed to become the micro-YouTube for messaging built on a foundation of premium licensed content,” Fabricant said in a statement. “The backing of such high-profile individuals from the worlds of music, technology and entertainment is validation of the company’s success in catalyzing partnerships across the entertainment and messaging industries.”
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