• Loom

  Participated · Seed · Oct 2013

  Loom offers an iOS application and Mac desktop client that back up a user’s photos to the cloud, giving every new user 5 GB of free storage and paid subscriptions for additional capacity. The service stores full-resolution originals on its servers and delivers smaller, optimized versions to mobile devices, allowing users to clear their Camera Rolls without losing access to images. Conversion to paid plans is currently above 3 percent, although the company has not disclosed total user or active-user figures. Having exited beta with an iOS 7-optimized release, Loom now supports more than 130 RAW formats and positions itself as a fuller, easier alternative to Apple’s iCloud. The roadmap includes video streaming, richer sharing features (e.g., direct album posts to Facebook), broader import options from services like Aperture, Flickr, and Instagram, and higher-tier premium plans; Android support is planned for a later phase. Longer-term, Loom intends to expose its storage and sync capabilities to third-party developers as an iCloud substitute. The eight-person team will use new capital to recruit additional engineers, targeting a headcount of 10–11 by year-end. Competition comes from well-funded incumbents such as Facebook, Google+, Yahoo’s Flickr, Amazon Cloud Drive, and Dropbox.

• JibJab Bros Studios

  Participated · Series C · Jan 2009

  JibJab is a Los Angeles-based provider of social expression content offering branded satires, eCards, and personalized messages. Its products enable millions of people to create and share personalized videos via the web and mobile apps. According to CEO Paul Hanges, the company has pursued its mission since 1999. JibJab has evolved to become a go-to source for personalized expression as digital sharing and messaging platforms grow. The company says its new partnership with St. Cloud Capital will help accelerate and execute that vision and reach more users. St. Cloud stated it will work with Catapult Capital and the JibJab team to maximize value and expand the company’s global brand. JibJab is best known for its political parodies and viral ElfYourself videos, and has expanded into parody sketches and personalized e-greetings. The site draws very large traffic and counts itself among the Top 100 most popular U.S. sites per Quantcast, currently ranking #73. Over a recent holiday season JibJab recorded 60 million visits and users created 35 million personalized eCards. The company monetizes through premium eCards and content via a subscription service, plus digital downloads and personalized gifts such as mugs and mousepads. It has a history of outside financing, having previously raised around $9.4 million. JibJab produces humorous, Flash-powered animated videos and eCards that gained early attention for showcasing Adobe Flash. The site is known for short, witty animated shorts featuring caricatured characters. The company has plans to expand its eCard offerings and is building a social network for user-generated content. The article notes the business will likely continue producing its signature funny videos while adding more user-submitted content. No operating metrics were disclosed in the article.

No current team members are available.