• Giphy

  Participated · Series B · Jan 2015

  Giphy is a New York-based search engine and platform for GIFs that aims to make GIFs more searchable and shareable. The platform includes products such as video-to-GIF conversion, a GIF keyboard called Giphy Keys, and enterprise tools for media companies. Giphy also maintains a team that helps broadcast networks turn live events like the Oscars and the Emmys into libraries of GIFs in real time. Around 80 percent of Giphy’s activity comes from GIFs of TV, movies, or celebrities. The company has not activated any form of monetization and currently offers its tools and resources to publishers and media companies for free. CEO Alex Chung has identified advertising—native formats in messaging and sponsored search results—as potential future revenue paths, but the company is prioritizing growth before flipping the monetization switch. Giphy is a searchable platform that lets users upload, tag, discover and share GIFs across the web and native mobile apps. Launched out of Betaworks in 2013, the company has expanded into tools that let media networks and publishers create live GIF content from events. Giphy maintains a team dedicated to transforming live events into libraries of searchable GIFs. It also integrates with chat platforms like Slack and Facebook Messenger, powering features such as Translate that surface GIFs in conversations. The company is not yet monetizing but has outlined potential revenue paths including search-based sponsored content and advertising within messaging. Giphy also operates Giphy Cam, which offers branded filters (partners include Star Wars, Zoolander and X-Files) as part of its user-generated-content strategy. Giphy is a search engine for GIFs that tags animations with categories and keywords to make them easily discoverable. It also ensures artists are credited and provides distribution tools, including a link shortener that embeds clickable GIFs into tweets. The company launched out of betaworks in April 2013 and grew from about six people to sixteen while operating from betaworks' New York office as it seeks new space. Giphy has a planned product roadmap for 2015 with features such as GIF-making tools and expanded API and distribution partnerships. The team has stated it currently has no plans to disclose revenue. Recent financing will be used to hire engineers, build out products, expand API and distribution partnerships, and grow the user base. Giphy operates a gif search engine and distribution platform, offering tools like a link shortener that enables inline GIF posting on social networks. The company launched out of betaworks in February 2013 after about $1 million in seed funding from betaworks. It has grown to a 12-person team working from the betaworks office in Lower Manhattan. Giphy generates revenue through licensing deals with content distributors, with agreements already in place with media properties such as the Huffington Post and BuzzFeed. The company plans future monetization via sponsored search results (example cited: HBO paying to promote specific GIFs). The recent funding will be used to build new features and refine the search engine. Betaworks remains the majority owner and an active backer.

• Playdots

  Participated · Series A · Dec 2014

  Playdots (Dots) is a NYC-based mobile games studio best known for the hits Dots: A Game About Connecting and TwoDots. The studio was launched in 2013 by Patrick Moberg and Paul Murphy at betaworks. Its games have an install base of over 45 million players worldwide and are available as free downloads on iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Playdots focuses on thoughtfully designed, art‑inspired puzzle games and aims to expand its franchise. The company finalized a Series A to accelerate advancement of the franchise and said it will release further information about upcoming plans and projects in 2015.

No current team members are available.