OpenSky.com operates an online destination where members build an ideal shopping site by selecting from a roster of expert curators who provide daily merchandise recommendations. The site offers access to roughly 75 food, style, health and design experts who drive personalized product discovery. Since launching on April 5, 2011, the platform has attracted over 600,000 members. The company is focused on expanding its network of expert curators within existing categories and into new categories. John Caplan leads the company as founder and CEO. In conjunction with its recent financing, a representative from the lead investor will join OpenSky’s board. OpenSky operates a blogger-focused e-commerce platform that hand-picks publishers to create storefronts and pairs them with manufacturers and distributors who agree to drop-ship sold items. Unlike a simple affiliate network, OpenSky directs readers to its own stores where it can track sales and follow up with personalized messages, and it splits net profits roughly 50/50 with bloggers. The company emerged from a private beta with about 250 bloggers and reports that seller conversion rates have grown and repeat shoppers buy more frequently since launch. OpenSky recently completed a public launch and added $6 million in Series B financing. Future plans disclosed by CEO John Caplan include hiring more staff, releasing a distributed cart for onsite shopping, opening OpenSky’s APIs, improving product-publisher relevance matching, and enhancing direct marketing support for sellers. Caplan was previously CEO of Ford Models and president of About.com, per the article.

Total raised

$36M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Oct 2011