Simple blogging startup Posterous raises $725K
Posterous, a startup that simplifies the blogging process, has raised $725,000 of new angel funding.
The San Francisco company allows you to write and post blog entries any way you choose — through the web site, through email, or via SMS text message. You don’t have to create an account, or even post on the Posterous site itself. Instead, you can use it as a “middle man” for other blogging services like Blogger, WordPress, and TypePad…. Continue Reading
Dapper MashupAds makes display ads smarter
A startup called Dapper is rolling out a way to use its mashup technology to bring the advantages of search-based advertising into the world of display ads — namely, image- and media-based ads that are normally more eye-catching but less customizable and targeted.
This is a promising idea, and it may be even more so given the current economic environment. Yahoo and other companies are reporting declining interest in display ads, but if they can make… Continue Reading
Easy app maker Sprout raises $5M
Sprout, the startup behind an easy-to-use tool for creating Flash applications, has been having a very good year. It launched in January at DEMO (where it snagged a “DEMO god” award), made its app builder publicly available in March, then released a bunch of new features in April. Now it has raised $5 million in a second round of venture funding.
Through Sprout, you can use a “what you see is what you get” interface reminiscent… Continue Reading
Miro, a nonprofit Web TV player with big ideals, launches co-branding service
Web video may seem like a tough field for any company to enter, much less a nonprofit.
But the Participatory Culture Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, says its Miro video player can play RSS-enabled videos hosted anywhere — and offers advantages over most of the for-profit video companies on the market.
For starters, it offers open standards and open source, and is a standalone player.
The player took another step forward this week, by launching a co-branding service with… Continue Reading
Ebay acquires StumbleUpon for $75M
updated
Auction giant eBay has acquired StumbleUpon, an San Francisco company that helps people “stumble upon” and share new sites related to their interests, for about $75 million.
In a statement this afternoon, eBay said the acquisition will give it “exposure to a fast-growing community-based service” that has around 2.3 million users, and that StumbleUpon is attractive because it shares similarities with eBay’s concept of community.
The deal size is not large relative to other deals we’ve… Continue Reading