Considering roughly 145 billion emails are sent daily, it's no surprise we all feel bogged down just glancing at our inbox. Video messaging startup Vsnap, however, has found a way to cut through the clutter and help deliver messages people value. The company itself is so valued, in fact, that Vsnap announced Friday it has raised an additional $1 million in angel funding.
The 2011 MassChallenge finalist creates Web-based software that provides sales reps with a way to create 60-second-or-less video messages for their customers. The one-on-one videos can be delivered via email or social media, and have been met with success. Vsnap reports it has seen conversion rates 50 percent higher than that of email.
This latest round of funding brings the team's total amount raised to $2.25 million. With that, the startup has grown to 12 people, up from four in January, and moved to a new office in Downtown Crossing on Bromfield Street.
Among the key hires the team has made is Chris Swenor, Vsnap's new VP of product and technology. Swenor previously served as director of new product development at Zmags. Joining him is VP of Sales Bill Harris, formerly director of sales at NetProspex. As Vsnap moves farther into the latter half of the year, they will be focused on continuing to flesh out their team, primarily in the areas of sales and product development.
Along with the funding, Vsnap also announced its built a Customization API, which allows premium users to create highly-focused initiatives and send one-to-one video messages to drive clear, measurable outcomes. Partner companies are now able to customize the branding and the calls to action presented with their Vsnaps, and then use any analytics platform or CRM to track the impact of their video messaging.
“This is a game-changer, because each Vsnap you send can now be an ultra-personal brand experience for any customer that you really want to engage and move to take action,” said Co-founder and CEO Dave McLaughlin in a statement. “And what we’ve become awesome at is helping companies apply video messaging to drive and measure sales velocity."
Nineteenth Amendment, a marketplace for USA-made, independent designer fashion, has already been using Vsnap's Customization API. CEO Amanda Curtis lauded the new feature, explaining in a release:
Designers are so excited when I Vsnap them that they share that Vsnap across their social media platforms. It makes them feel that they are a part of the Nineteenth Amendment community, which is key to growing a successful company.
To see what Curtis is talking about, click here.
What's more, as Vsnap continues to grow out its team, McLaughlin is also reemphasizing his "Five Percent Founder's Promise," first made public in November 2013. As described on the Vsnap blog:
I will put five percent of whatever money I make when we exit this company into a fund to make seed investments in companies started by people who have worked for Vsnap. I’ll hold those dollars for this purpose for five years or until they’re fully deployed, whichever comes first.
I’m calling this the 5% Founder’s Promise.
My thinking here is simple. I believe that business is a team sport, and I see it as my job to bring on amazing people, then to empower and support them in attacking huge goals. With this open promise, I am committing myself to extend that even beyond the life of the company.
The life of the company, however, right now, certainly looks promising.
