Cameo Names Former Uber, YouTube Exec Nundu Janakiram Its First VP Of Product

Cameo has tapped former Uber and YouTube executive Nundu Janakiram to serve as its first-ever VP of product.

In this role, Janakiram will be charged with bringing Cameo’s post-funding vision to life, including improving core user experience, launching new fan interactions, and investing in B2B opportunities. Janakiram announced the news in a Twitter thread.

Janakiram most recently served as director of product at Uber, where he spent six years leading a variety of consumer experience teams. Before that, he led the consumer viewing experience at YouTube and search user experience at parent company Google. He holds a B.S. in symbolic systems and an M.A. in communications from Stanford, with a specialization in human computer interaction (HCI).

Cameo raised a $100 million Series C funding round in March, catapulting it to unicorn status. At the time, the platform said funds would be allocated to improving user experience, introducing new products, reaching new customers, and entering new markets.

“I witnessed the power of the creator economy during my time at YouTube, where passionate, talented people create communities of fans and superfans by delivering content directly to them,” Janakiram said in a statement. “And at Uber, I saw firsthand how an efficient marketplace can provide incredible earnings opportunities for drivers by matching them with riders who seek speed and convenience. Cameo represents a great combination of my past experiences.”

Cameo enables fans to purchase video shoutouts, live Zoom calls, and DMs from their favorite celebrities. The company saw usage explode during the pandemic, and says it paid out $75 million to creators in 2020. The platform has also integrated several new features in recent months, including gift cards, a rush option to get Cameos turned around in 24 hours, and digital wallets to give creators more insight into their revenues.