Vokle

Vokle
Type Corporation
Founded June 2008
Headquarters Santa Monica, California, United States
Area served Worldwide
Slogan Unmute yourself
Website www.vokle.com
Registration Optional
Current status Active

Vokle is an embeddable Internet microsite application that allows speakers to broadcast live video to a virtual auditorium of viewers and take live video calls and text questions from the audience.[1][2]

Contents

History

VOKLE privately launched a prototype in March 2009, and PC Magazine noted that VOKLE was a "web-based platform for video conversations" that seemed to be "adding voice to social networking."[3] VOKLE refined its alpha version and launched its current version to the public on December 11, 2009.[4] The beta version of VOKLE allows for remote co-hosts, screening of video calls and live video editing, and is aimed "to help you take social to the next step by providing you with your own customized, branded video chat platform."[5] The application is web-based, can be embedded on external websites, and does not require plug-ins or downloads.

In July 2011, VOKLE launched a unique recording feature that automatically divides video and text questions into specific chapters, which can be browsed and selected before the viewer plays the recording. These chapters can be shared easily on Twitter or Facebook through buttons, and can also be embedded on external websites.[6]

Financing

After their initial seed round in 2008, VOKLE began raising Angel funds. In April 2010, Co-Founder Edward Dekeratry confirmed that VOKLE had secured a small round that allowed the company to pay for basic engineering.[7] In August 2010, Tech Coast Angels, Southern California's largest angel investment group, confirmed they had invested in Vokle.[8][9] Angel funding continued until April 2011, when VOKLE closed its angel round with an extra $767,000 from investors including Imogen Heap, Rafe Furst and Tech Coast Angels, "bringing Vokle’s total funding to $1.26 million."[10]

Broadcasters

Grammy-winning recording artist Imogen Heap is one of several notable musicians who have used VOKLE.[11][12][13] Other musicians on VOKLE include Ben Folds and Weird Al.[14] VOKLE has also been utilized by the political news site The Huffington Post[15] and its founder Arianna Huffington,.[16] The Huffington Post featured a VOKLE series on No Impact Man star Colin Beavan,[17] and the senior editor of the Huffington Post Willow Bay interviewed motivational speaker Tony Robbins [18] on VOKLE in the summer of 2010. On November 17, 2010, Time Warner Cable collaborated with Former Vice President Al Gore to broadcast across the world on VOKLE and discuss education with panelists such as Jamie and Adam of MythBusters.[19][20] On July 16, 2011, a Los Angeles Times reporter hosted a live show with mayor Antonio Villaraigosa about a temporary closure of the 405 freeway.[21]

References

  1. ^ John Federico, "Do we really need another live video platform? Vokle would like us all to discuss it.". http://www.techstartups.com/2009/12/11/do-we-really-need-another-live-video-platform-vokle-would-like-us-all-to-discuss-it/.  Tech Startups, December 11, 2009.
  2. ^ "Vokle Crunchbase Profile". http://www.crunchbase.com/company/vokle/.  CrunchBase, Last Revised April 19, 2011.
  3. ^ Michael J. Miller, "Demo 09: Doing More With Less". http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2342270,00.asp/.  PC Magazine, March 2, 2009.
  4. ^ Daniel Brusilovsky, "VOKLE Launches Live Video Broadcasting Platform". http://www.techgearx.com/vokle-launches-live-video-broadcasting-platform/.  TechCrunch (via TechGearx.com), December 11, 2009.
  5. ^ Brad McCarty, "Vokle wants to give everyone a custom video conference platform.". http://thenextweb.com/apps/2010/07/16/vokle-wants-to-give-everyone-a-custom-video-conference-platform//.  The Next Web, July 16, 2010.
  6. ^ Rip Empson, "Vokle Turns Its Video Conferencing Platform Up A Notch With Recording And Chapter-Style Playback". http://techcrunch.com/2011/07/18/vokle-turns-its-video-conferencing-platform-up-a-notch-with-recording-and-chapter-style-playback//.  TechCrunch, July 18, 2011.
  7. ^ Giang Biscan, "AsAble.com interview of Edward Dekeratry, Founder of Vokle". http://asable.com/2010/04/asable-com-interview-of-edward-dekeratry-founder-of-vokle/.  As Able, April 26, 2010.
  8. ^ "Tech Coast Angels Hail Exits, Disclose Q2 Investments Numbers". http://www.socaltech.com/tech_coast_angels_hail_exits__disclose_q2_investments_numbers/s-0030460.html.  SoCal Tech, August 16, 2010.
  9. ^ Kristen Schott, "Tech Coast Angels participates in 14 deals totaling $19 million". http://www.ocmetro.com/t-tca_second_quarter_investments_08162010.aspx/.  OC Metro, August 16, 2010.
  10. ^ Rip Empson, "Vokle Raises $767K For Its Live Video Conferencing Platform". http://techcrunch.com/2011/04/18/vokle-raises-767k-for-its-live-video-conferencing-platform/.  TechCrunch, April 18, 2011.
  11. ^ "Heap on Vokle, her new favorite way to jam with her fans.". http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=112440133&m=112452741/.  NPR, Sep 1, 2009.
  12. ^ Nell Elk, "Front and Center: Imogen Heap". http://www.interviewmagazine.com/blogs/music/2009-12-07/imogen-heap-//.  Interview, December 7, 2009.
  13. ^ "Imogen Heap Live Discussion". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaLfgV8wCXU&feature=channel_video_title.  Youtube, July 11, 2009.
  14. ^ "Lonely Interview with Ben Folds, Pomplamoose & Weird Al". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmkJe9ITMho&feature=channel_video_title.  September 23, 2010
  15. ^ "No Impact Week Webcasts With Vokle". http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/18/no-impact-week-webcasts_n_325176.html#campaign_16/.  The Huffington Post, July 2, 2010
  16. ^ Amy Hertz, "Arianna And Carl Honore Discuss 'In Praise Of Slowness'". http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/19/arianna-and-carl-honore-d_n_362798.html/.  The Huffington Post, March 23, 2010
  17. ^ "No Impact Man discussion on The Huffington Post". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_OByYFDuNk/.  Youtube, October 22, 2009
  18. ^ "Tony Robbins talks 'Breakthrough' with HuffPost's Willow Bay". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGdJxMg9MQY/.  Youtube, July 26, 2010
  19. ^ "Current TV Reports on Time Warner Cable's Global Online Town Hall". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEsKLfw7PRs&feature=youtu.be/.  Youtube, November 30, 2010
  20. ^ "Former Vice President Al Gore hosts Time Warner Cable’s Global Online Town Hall on Student Attitudes Toward Math and Science Education". http://www.timewarnercable.com/nynj/about/inthenewsdetails.ashx?PRID=3072&MarketID=50/.  Time Warner Cable, November 8, 2010.
  21. ^ "Carmageddon: Ask Mayor Villaraigosa about 405 closure". http://www.vokle.com/events/20412-carmageddon-ask-mayor-villaraigosa-about-405-closure/.  VOKLE, July 16, 2011

External links