XAPPmedia announced its acquisition of a $3-million round of venture funding, led by Frank Raines, a co-founder and current Executive Chairman. The money will be invested in developing and distributing the company’s flagship product, XAPP Ads.
XAPP Media was founded in 2013. XAPP Ads was introduced on March 31 of this year. (See RAIN coverage here, with an example XAPP Ad.) The product is a voice-activated advertising technology which delivers a follow-up to the listener when the listener requests it by voice. An example listener command would be, “Send me email.” The system is optimized for mobile use, and XAPPmedia markets the concept of an “ultramobile” user who is in constant possession of a smartphone and requires an interactive, hands-free, eyes-free experience.
“Publishers need technology that enables consumers to interact with audio advertisements using only their voice,” said Frank Raines in a company-posted press release. “XAPPmedia can play a central role in the Internet audio revolution in progress today.”
CEO Pat Higbie said the money would be used to develop the company’s patent portfolio, and “provide our customers, Internet radio publishers and advertisers, with a more effective way serve advertising content to Ultramobile consumers.”