• Cwist

  Participated · Equity · Feb 2016

  Cwist provides content and a customizable online platform that brings maker-inspired activities to students, schools and consumers. Its learning platform turns partner content into custom interactive learning challenges that reward users, driving engagement and extending a partner’s education community. The company’s original installation, CWIST.com, is a free maker-education website offering projects that let students make things while supporting parent and teacher goals. Led by founder Chris Sleat and based in Baltimore, MD, Cwist raised $1.25m in funding as part of a planned $1.5m round. The company will use the funds to hire new people to strengthen and expand services for its current partners and to grow its customer base.

• SocialToaster, Inc.

  Participated · Equity · Apr 2015

  SocialToaster provides a platform used by enterprises to recruit and engage superfans and manage social-driven loyalty and promotion programs. The company recently closed a $1.9M bridge financing and plans to use the capital to expand into Los Angeles, New York and potentially London. It has acquired LA-based FLG Psyche, a marketing firm with a strong footprint in the electronic music scene whose software relies on influencers; the firms had collaborated for about 18 months. The acquisition adds five employees, bringing SocialToaster’s total headcount to 31. SocialToaster is also building a self-serve version of its platform to let smaller organizations and individuals connect with superfans without the legal and overhead costs of enterprise sweepstakes; that product is expected to be available in June. The company remains focused on its enterprise superfan management core while pursuing geographic expansion and a lower‑cost product for smaller customers. SocialToaster is a web startup and software platform that converts businesses’ and professional sports teams’ social media followers into "brand ambassadors" to drive website traffic. The company is based in Woodberry. The article reports SocialToaster was approved for a $200,000 investment from the state-run InvestMaryland fund late last month and is taking an additional $200,000 from the Propel Baltimore fund. Those commitments amount to $400,000 in funding referenced in the article. The report does not include operating metrics, valuation, or specific use of funds. As a Propel Baltimore recipient, SocialToaster would be expected to be located in or willing to relocate to Baltimore city and to have matching funds from other investors prior to receiving the Propel Baltimore money. SocialToaster is a Baltimore, Maryland–based provider of brand advocacy programs for media and entertainment brands, sports teams and other major brands. Its platform mobilizes loyal “Super Fans” by emailing them when a brand has blog posts, events, articles or promotions and prompting them to share that content across their selected social networks. The company is led by CEO Brian Razzaque. SocialToaster recently closed a $1.975M Series A following a $530K seed round last year. It intends to use the funding to hire salespeople, account managers and technical staff to enhance its product. The company also plans to expand its marketing efforts.

No current team members are available.