Contently

Contently is a New York City-based company that helps connect freelance writers with publishers, generally brands, that would like to feature content on their websites. In early 2014, it was revealed that the company was expanding to also provide workflow tools to its client brands that would help them select and feature the best content.[1]

History

Contently was founded in December 2010 by Shane Snow, a journalist and infographic artist, along with Joe Coleman and David Goldberg. Its initial product was a project management system that facilitated communication between media publications, that wanted content for their websites, and freelance writers, who wanted to write in exchange for money.[2]

In July 2011, Contently announced that it had raised $335,000 in debt from the Founder Collective. This was shortly after TechStars had chosen Contently as one of 12 startups in its summer program in New York City.[3]

In January 2012, Contently closed a $2 million Series A round from Lightbank, the main investor in Groupon. It was also reported that Contently had shifted focus somewhat: whereas the publishers it had initially concentrated on were traditional media outlets, it was now concentrating more on brands.[4][5][6]

In January 2014, it was announced that Contently had raised a $9 million round, from Sigma Prime, Sigma West, Lightbank, Contour Ventures, and David Lerner. It also announced that its focus had expanded from their original goal of matching content creators with brands to developing software tools that would help brands manage their workflow so that they could select and feature better content.[1][7][8]

Reception

The New York Times published a detailed profile of Contently in November 2013, noting that the company's co-founder Shane Snow believed that Contently was helping create a sustainable model for freelance journalism, while also noting that the space that Contently was operating in was quickly getting crowded with new entrants.[9]

When covering Contently's S$9 million funding round in January 2014, TechCrunch wrote: "New York City-based Contently finds itself well-positioned to take advantage of the new era of brand publishing."[7]

In July 2012, Mashable published a video interview of Shane Snow, Contently co-founder, where he described his vision for the company.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fiegerman, Seth (January 15, 2014). "Contently Raises $9 Million to Double Down on Content Marketing". Mashable. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Drell, Lauren (July 13, 2012). "Can This Startup Revolutionize Content Creation?". Mashable. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  3. ↑ Empson, Rip (July 18, 2011). "Contently Raises Seed Capital To Give Writers And Publishers An Alternative To Content Farms". TechCrunch. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  4. ↑ Jason Del Rey (January 6, 2012). "Contently Raises $2 Million to Play Matchmaker for Journalists and Brands Series A Led by Groupon Founders' Investment Firm". Ad Age. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ Popper, Ben (January 6, 2012). "TechStars Contently Raises $2 M. From Groupon Investor Lightbank". BetaBeat. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  6. ↑ "The Daily Start-Up: Lightbank Backs Contently To Help Freelancers". Wall Street Journal. January 9, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Empson, Rip (January 15, 2014). "With A Fresh $9M, Contently Looks To Position Itself At The Front Of The New Content Marketing Movement". TechCrunch. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  8. ↑ Kolodny, Lora (January 15, 2014). "Contently Raises $9M to Put Journalists to Work — In Marketing". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  9. ↑ Carr, David (November 10, 2013). "Marrying Companies and Content". New York Times. Retrieved September 28, 2014.

External links

Official website