Riffsy builds a custom iOS GIF keyboard that lets users search for and quickly add GIFs to a variety of messaging platforms. The keyboard has localized to more than 20 countries and the company reports it has passed four billion monthly GIF views, with over half of downloaders using the keyboard at least five days per week. Riffsy launched its keyboard last fall and has been gaining traction in European countries where iPhones are popular. The company faces competition in Asia from messaging apps and stickers (Line, WeChat, KakaoTalk) and rivals such as PopKey, though Riffsy continued to outrank PopKey in the App Store according to App Annie. Riffsy will use new capital to build an Android version of its GIF keyboard and to expand into international markets. Including its seed funding from November, the company has raised $13.5 million to date. Riffsy offers a custom iOS keyboard that makes it easy for users to search, discover and insert hundreds of thousands of animated GIFs and videos inline into text, iMessage, Twitter and email. The GIF library was seeded by a prior GIF creation app (released the year before) and a community that has added and categorized media assets. The keyboard launched roughly six weeks before the funding announcement and saw rapid adoption: more than one million downloads in its first three weeks. Installed users open the keyboard about nine times per day on average and share more than five GIFs every 24 hours, indicating high engagement. The company is exploring monetization through branded image partnerships and promotional campaigns (it ran a World Series promotion featuring San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals images). For now Riffsy is focused on driving additional installs and engagement while building distribution partnerships.

Total raised

$14M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Aug 2015