Challenging the antiquated adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words," Wellesley-based mobile app maker Shuttersong has been making music out of photos. And on Wednesday, the startup announced those photos have helped it reel in an additional $500,000 in seed funding — bringing the team's total amount raised to $2.2 million — as well as attracted former Accenture partner Gil Anderson, who will join Shuttersong's board of directors.
With Shuttersong, iPhone users are able to embed music and sound into a playable JPEG image. That image can then be shared via Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, email or SMS and can be viewed natively or in a Web browser, meaning there's no download required to see a 15-second clip.
The newfound financing will be used to support Shuttersong's commercial expansion. The company is looking to bring its patent-pending technology to brands and digital marketing agencies who want to incorporate it into their campaigns, further increase fan engagement or boost user-generated content. The funding will also support the development of new e-commerce capabilities.
"This investment is an important step forward for Shuttersong as we continue to build out the app's capabilities and evolve our commercial partnerships," said William Agush, founder and CEO of Shuttersong, in a release, mysteriously adding, "We're excited about how brands are beginning to engage with our technology to enhance their content offerings and bolster e-commerce. Stay tuned for more news on this front soon."
The Red Sox have already latched on to the technology, along with more than 30,000 others since the app launched in September 2013. Anderson lauded Shuttersong's unique combination of image and sound, adding in a statement:
Image and video-sharing have skyrocketed in the last year. Shuttersong's streamlined technology gives marketers a totally novel way to create, promote and share their content. Its potential is tremendous and I am thrilled to be joining the team at this exciting time in the company.
And following SnapChat's New Year's Eve hack, selfie-loving individuals are bound to be looking for an alternative. These World Series winners go up to bat for it, so why not test it out?
