Zoove operates the StarStar platform and StarStarMe, which let brands and individuals use unique vanity mobile numbers to drive offline-to-online engagement. The company has secured relationships with all four major U.S. carriers and says StarStar drives millions of calls annually for customers including AT&T, CBS Radio, Dunkin' Donuts, Ford, Hyatt, the NFL and Viacom. Zoove offers solutions for enterprise marketers and consumers, including individual vanity numbers such as CHLOE or MOVIEGUY through major carriers. The company plans to expand the StarStar platform across product, business development and marketing channels, and to roll out enhancements to the StarStar Me mobile app and experience. Zoove serves clients across media, entertainment, retail, travel, financial services and non-profits from offices in Chicago, New York and San Francisco. The company recently secured a $15 million strategic investment to accelerate national growth and demand-generation initiatives. Zoove operates the National StarStar Registry and is the exclusive provider of StarStar numbers for the four largest U.S. mobile operators, reaching over 250 million consumers. Its service lets consumers dial a company using short, memorable codes (for example, FLOWERS) and typically triggers a follow-up text or voicemail prompting opt-in to view websites, download apps, or receive coupons. Participating brands pay Zoove an annual fee for their number, with pricing that varies by length and scarcity. StarStar numbers have been used in promotions from the NFL, X-Factor, and EA’s Madden game, demonstrating marketing integrations with major brands. The company says the new capital will be used to further accelerate its U.S. operations. Current financials include a total of $20 million in funding after the most recent investment. Zoove runs the StarStar Numbers registry, leasing memorable vanity phone numbers (e.g., WEATHER, SUZUKI) that route consumers to a brand’s mobile app, website, coupon, video or other content. The company exclusively provides StarStar Numbers for the largest U.S. wireless operators and powers the National StarStar Registry in cooperation with the four major mobile operators. Through those operator partnerships Zoove reaches more than 250 million people. Consumers are not charged extra to call a StarStar Number; after the initial call they typically receive a text message or voicemail prompting further engagement. Brands pay Zoove an annual fee to lease StarStar Numbers, with pricing that varies based on the length and “scarcity” of the number. The product is positioned as an alternative to QR codes and unbranded short codes by enabling name-based dialing (for example, dialing ESPN). Zoove is a Palo Alto, Calif.-based provider of an abbreviated dialing mobile direct response marketing service. The company offers a patented mobile direct response marketing platform that enables marketers to engage consumers in interactive campaigns via a mobile phone by dialing a ## or ** code. Zoove closed a $13 million Series C funding round. Investors in the round include Highland Capital Partners, Worldview Technology Partners and Cardinal Capital Partners. Co-founder and CEO Tim Jemison said the funds will be used to roll out the abbreviated dialing platform across the major US carriers. The company is focused on deploying its carrier-level interactive dialing technology. Zoove is a Palo Alto startup focused on connecting mobile phone users with advertisers. Its core product lets users dial "**" followed by a short keyword (for example, "CAR") when they see an advertisement. The system is designed to bypass the multiple steps required to text short codes, which the company's executives argue are too complex. Keywords are effectively exclusive to advertisers — for example, only one car company could use the word "CAR" — so available keywords will vary. The company was reported to have $6.8 million in funding. VentureWire covered the company and Zoove's website contains additional details about how the service works.

Total raised

$55M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Series E

Latest activity

May 2013