KickApps gets $14M in Series C funding

KickApps, the New York City-based social media online video provider, announced the closing of $14 million in Series C funding. The funding round, coming amidst turbulent economic conditions, is a sign of faith in the company's busines mode.  North Atlantic Capital lead the round, with previous investors Softbank, Spark Capital and Prism Ventures chipping.

KickApps stands out in the online video space because of its integration with social media capabilities, and the ease of uptake for customers with little to no background with producing and managing online video content. The company offers a range of different display options and development assistance packages to suit anyone from a start-up, to a major media player or sports franchise.

"KickApps is aggressively extending the scope of services we provide online publishers in a number of important ways," said Alex Blum, KickApps CEO, in a prepared statement. "With the introduction of App Studio and a growing set of data services (including Social Graph Engine and a plug-in architecture), KickApps will help web publishers achieve unprecedented engagement, optimization and personalization throughout their editorial and social media experiences."

KickApps launched its Platform 3.0 in January, and has since seen it adopted by more than 48,000 websites. The company provides white-label social media and video player functionality in a range of different configurations, depending on the needs of the individual client. National Geographic, Guinness World Records, and several professional sports franchises have adopted the KickApps platform.

I got a look at the KickApps widgets at the Web 2.0 show in NYC in September, and I was very impressed at the ease of use and functionality evident in the online video placements on various websites. The additional funding should allow the company to expand its sales force and development team to more aggressively market the product and produce new ones. 

For more:
- see the KickApps press release here 

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