Passenger gets $8M for market research on private social networks

Although Passenger calls itself an “on-demand customer collaboration” company, it’s probably simpler and more accurate to call it what it is: A market research firm operating through private, white-label social networks.

Putting consumers in a controlled online environment, where they can nevertheless interact with each other, gives marketers and product analysts from companies like Coca-Cola and Disney, both Passenger clients, insight into what people think of their products.

Using online social networking tools is gaining credibility as… Continue Reading

Passenger: Social network software for companies to get customer feedback

Passenger: Social network software for companies to get customer feedback

Passenger, a Los Angeles company that provides social networking software to companies so that they can privately solicit customer input on products and ideas, has raised another $8.3 million in financing.

Walt Disney-backed Steamboat Ventures has joined Shelter Capital Partners and StarVest Partners in the financing. Passenger has previously raised $5.2 million.

The company launched in February, and joins a bunch of other companies offering software allowing people to consult in groups.

Passenger includes a message board, a… Continue Reading

Veoh, the high-quality video sharing site, raises $26M

Veoh, the high-quality video sharing site, raises $26M

(Updated with Comscore and Hitwise stats, which show Veoh’s numbers lower than the company states; also updated with a fuller list of investors)

Veoh, the San Diego video-sharing site backed by former Disney exec Michael Eisner, has raised another $26 million in funding, giving it a massive war-chest exceeding $41 million.

PE Hub has the news.

The video sharing site came out of testing mode in February, and is different from most sites because it uses peer-to-peer technology… Continue Reading