Haystack TV provides a free, aggregated OTT news stream that personalizes content using big data to tailor news to each user's interests. Launched in 2015 by CEO Daniel Barreto and based in Redwood City, CA, the service aggregates local, national, and international news. Its personalization and big data technology powers experiences across web, iOS, Android, Roku, Android TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Vizio TVs. Haystack currently delivers local news coverage to over 80% of the U.S. through partnerships with content providers including CBS Local, Cox Media Group, Gray, Hearst, Meredith, Scripps and weather specialist Praedictix. The company intends to use the new funds to accelerate partnerships and customer growth in the U.S. and Europe. The article reports a $2M funding round from strategic backers. Haystack TV provides a personalized, aggregated video news service that curates 3–5 minute clips into a continuous, lean-back stream for cord cutters and viewers who want more depth than micro-news. It pulls content from over 150 news organizations that publish to YouTube and uses personalization technology that analyzes millions of data points, including social signals, to classify and surface trending and interest-based stories. The app launched on Android tablets and expanded to iPad, iPhone, Android phones and Android TV, supports Apple TV via AirPlay and Chromecast, and plans support for Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The company is pursuing partnerships with publishers and local stations, piloting local news in San Francisco, Boston, New York and Los Angeles, and is testing advertising options such as pre-roll or native ads. Haystack plans to use new funding to double its team from four to eight and to continue improving its personalization technology. It does not disclose user count but reports users have watched millions of videos, with average engagement of 15 minutes per session and 80 minutes per week.

Total raised

$4M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Sep 2018