Poptent Lands $3 Million for Crowdsourced Video

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Los Angeles – Poptent, a social network focused on
crowdsourcing video, has raised $3 million in its first round of financing, led
by MK Capital.

Founded in 2007, Poptent connects brand advertisers and agencies
with 20,000 independent video creators in the U.S. and over 80 countries.

The
company also announced that it has hired former KidZui president Andy Jedynak
as its new CEO.

Poptent will use the new funds to hire additional sales and
engineering talent, improve its infrastructure and expand its network of video
creators.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/27qqrje

http://www.poptent.net

Intel Capital Backs OpenFeint Mobile Social Gaming Platform

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Burlingame, Calif. – Aurora Feint, developer of the
OpenFeint mobile social gaming network, announced on Thursday that it has
closed a new round of funding led by Intel Capital.

Burlingame, Calif.-based
Aurora Feint says that its platform has added 3,400 games and over 45 million
mobile gamers in just over a year.

"OpenFeint’s momentum and established
user base have positioned OpenFeint as the mobile social gaming platform
preferred by developers and publishers," said Mike Buckley, managing
director of Intel Capital.

"With this investment, Intel Capital is
investing in a robust ecosystem of gaming content that we hope to help Aurora
Feint scale globally."

The company will use the funds to expand its
platform for multi-platform mobile gaming for smartphones and tablets.

 

Related Links:
http://www.openfeint.com

Leisure Activity Search Site Goby Raises $2.5 Million

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Boston – Goby.com, a Boston-based search engine focused on
leisure activities, announced on Thursday that it has raised an additional $2.5
million in its first round of venture capital.

The funds came from investors
including Flybridge Capital Partners and Kepha Partners, and bring the total
raised in the round to $7.5 million.

Launched in 2009, goby focuses on Web
searches about leisure activities.

The company said it has grown its audience
in 2010 from 50,000 visitors in January to more than 500,000 in July, a tenfold
increase in six months.

 

Related Links:
http://www.goby.com

ShopSocially Gets $1.1 Million for Social Retail Service

By
Mark Hefflinger
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0

Mountain View, Calif. – ShopSocially, a site that allows
friends to exchange shopping recommendations, has raised a new $1.1 million
funding round led by Valhalla Partners.

Angel investors Raman Khanna, Ashish
Gupta and Dharmesh Thakker also participated in the company’s first round.

Launched
earlier this year, Mountain View, Calif.-based ShopSocially currently boasts
more than 10,000 product recommendations.

"While online buying is very
easy now, online shopping remains a frustrating experience," said
co-founder and CEO Jai Rawat.

"ShopSocially allows you to participate in a
shopping conversation with your friends making it easy, fun and of course,
trusted."

Kiran Hebbar, a partner at Valhalla, said the company operates "at
the confluence of e-commerce and social marketing, both being multi-billion
dollar markets."

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/29p3fbo

http://shopsocial.ly

Googlers Create Video for "It Gets Better" Anti-Bullying Project

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Mountain View, Calif. – A group of LGBT employees at Google (NASD: GOOG)
have created a video to contribute to journalist Dan Savage’s "It Gets
Better" project, which is soliciting videos where people relate their own
struggles in youth with coming out and anti-gay bullying, and send a message
that life "gets better." The project was created in response to the
recent rash of suicides among young people who were bullied because of their
real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

 

Related Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYLs4NCgvNU

http://www.itgetsbetterproject.com

Rhapsody Programming VP Tim Quirk Takes Job at Google

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Los Angeles – Tim Quirk, the vice president of music
programming at Rhapsody, has left to take a job at Google (NASD: GOOG), Billboard reports.
The move prompted some to ponder whether Quirk would spearhead Google’s
forthcoming music service, but sources told Billboard he will take on "a
mid-level programming role similar to what he did at Rhapsody, not heading up
the service."

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/395cx2q
(Billboard)

USA Today Launches Daily Deals Club

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

McLean, Va. – Gannett’s (NYSE: GCI) USA Today said on Wednesday it has
launched the USA Today Insider Club, which gives members access to nationwide
savings on dining, shopping, travel, attractions and movies. The club, which
currently features more than 500,000 discounts at 200,000 locations, costs
$7.95 a month, or $3.95 a month for USA Today e-edition subscribers.

 

Related Links:
http://www.usatodayinsiderclub.com

Boxee Box Set-top to Begin Shipping on Nov. 10

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Fountain Valley, Calif. – Boxee, a developer of software
that brings Web-based video to the television, and manufacturing partner D-Link
said on Wednesday that the Boxee Box by D-Link set-top will begin shipping on
Nov. 10. Pre-orders will begin fulfillment that day, while the $200 device will
become available at select retailers from Nov. 17.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2f2taal

http://www.boxee.tv

BBC, Partners to Launch U.K. Streaming Radio Player

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

London – The BBC said on Wednesday that it plans in December
to launch Radioplayer, an online radio player that aims to offer streams from
every licensed U.K. radio station, Billboard reports. At launch, the player
will feature around 50 stations, including streams of BBC Radio, Absolute and
Global Radio stations. The service hopes to expand to at least 200 stations
next year.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/29pwvnv
(Billboard)

http://tinyurl.com/yg8md5b

Facebook, MTV, LGBT Orgs Form Anti-Bullying Support Network

By
Mark Hefflinger
-
0

Palo Alto, Calif. – Facebook has partnered with MTV, the Gay
and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and others to form a
"Network of Support," which will address issues faced by the LGBT
community, and anti-gay bullying experienced on the social network.

The group
has published a list of six tips for LGBT teens "and everyone who wants to
keep the Internet a safe place."

It includes details on how to
"block" bullies on Facebook; how to report harassment; pleas to
"stick up for others" and "think twice before posting"
hurtful comments; and links to LGBT organizations like the Trevor Project,
which operates a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ teens.

 

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/25rxnlb
(Facebook blog)

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