• Wishround

  Led · Equity · Sep 2015

  Wishround is a Ukrainian social commerce startup that enables group payments via social networks, allowing users to post gift wishes and invite friends to contribute. Users can share wish links on Facebook and Twitter or select items from partner web-stores to be purchased through Wishround. If contributions fall short, the recipient can add additional funds to complete the purchase. The company became a resident of the British accelerator Wayra and will join a joint program with ASOS, receiving £34,000 via a convertible note plus an eight-month London office, mentoring, and access to investors. Wayra’s ASOS-linked program offers pilot access to ASOS infrastructure and aims to bring projects to operational breakeven and help close funding rounds of €1M or more by the program’s end. According to company data cited by AIN.UA, Wishround’s income in Ukraine is growing by about 20% month over month; the startup launched in Poland with less success. Wishround is an online tool that streamlines collecting money for gifts within companies and social networks. Users register, select a desired present from partner internet stores, post a wish link, and accept donations beginning five days before the recipient’s birthday. If a gift is chosen from a partner store, people can pay via a “pay with Wishround” button; recipients or the recipient can top up shortfalls and keep any extra funds. The service reports around 1,000 wishes posted, with typical wish prices in the $150–$200 range. Wishround has partnerships with over 20 internet stores (including Citrus.ua, LeBoutique.com, SuperDeal.ua, Repka.ua, Emozzi.com.ua, Pototskiy.com.ua) and charges partners up to 15% of the price of goods sold through the platform. The team grew from two founders to eight people (including two Polish business-development hires) and plans to launch the service in Germany while relying on viral, zero-marketing growth.

• VOX

  Led · Equity · Apr 2015

  Coppertino was founded in 2011 by Petro Bondarevskyi and Ivan Ablamskyi and keeps its R&D center in Ukraine while operating as a Los Angeles-based company. Its main product, VOX, is a minimalist, free music player for Mac capable of handling any audio format; VOX launched in 2013 and has become one of the most popular Mac music players. The company previously raised $500,000 about a year ago from AVentures, TA Venture and Torben Majgaard. The recent transaction with BeValue was reported as an undisclosed amount (sources told AIN.UA it amounted to up to $200,000). The article does not disclose revenue or user metrics. No specific future-product plans were detailed in the coverage. Coppertino was founded in 2011 by Petro Bondarevskyi and Ivan Ablamskyi and maintains its R&D center in Ukraine while operating from Los Angeles. Its core product, VOX, is a minimalist free music player for Mac capable of handling any audio format. Since its launch last year, VOX has amassed 500,000 downloads. To expand the service, the company announced integrations with SoundCloud, Deezer, Spotify, Rdio, Grooveshark, Jamendo and the personalized internet-radio service Aupeo. Coppertino has also negotiated potential partnerships with musicians including Deeb, London Elektricity, Moby and ATB. The company has raised a total of $900,000 to date after the latest $500,000 round and a prior $400,000 seed from AVentures.

No current team members are available.