Animoto
 | |
 Screenshot of online Animoto video editor | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Photo Slideshow Software |
| Founded | August 2006 |
| Founders | Jason Hsiao, Brad Jefferson, Stevie Clifton, Tom Clifton |
| Headquarters | New York City, U.S. |
| Website |
animoto |
Animoto is a cloud-based video creation service that produces video from photos, video clips, and music into video slideshows.[1] Animoto is based in New York City with an office in San Francisco.[2]
Company History
Animoto was founded in August 2006 by Jason Hsiao, Brad Jefferson, Steve Clifton and Tom Clifton because of the poor video quality found on the internet.[3] Animoto’s patented Cinematic Artificial Intelligence technology allows users to turn photos, video clips and music into video slideshows.[4] Animoto’s founders include former producers of ABC, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and the Documentary Group.[5]
Animoto launched a Facebook application during the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival. The application experienced viral growth in April 2008. According to The New York Times, by mid-April, Animoto's Facebook application had nearly 750,000 people sign up in three days. At the peak, almost 25,000 people tried Animoto in a single hour.[6] Animoto decided to use Amazon's cloud computing servers in order to meet the growing number of subscribers.[7]
In June 2009, the Animoto launched an iPhone app, allowing users to create video using pictures on their mobile phone.[8]
By January 2013, the company had reached 6 million users and received a patent for its Cinematic Artificial Intelligence technology.[2]
Educational Uses
Animoto can be used in education for countless projects and presentations. Students can use the tool to present a concept. A teacher could use the video as an introduction to a lesson. A teacher could also use the tool to teach a concept or the tool itself to other educators.
Investors
Investors of Animoto include Amazon.com, Soft Tech, Bruce Livingstone (founder of iStockphoto and Stocksy United), Madrona Venture Group, and Spectrum Equity Investors.[9][10] In 2009, Animoto received $4.4 million in series B funding from Madrona Venture Group, Amazon, SoftTech VC, Bruce Livingstone.[11] By 2011, the company raised $25 million in series C funding led by Spectrum Equity Investors, Madrona Venture Group and Amazon.[1]
Awards
- PC Magazine's "Top 100 Undiscovered Websites of 2008" [12]
- SXSW's Interactive Award in the "Best Film/Website" category[13]
- BBC's Click "Top Websites of 2008" [14]
- 2009 Webby Award winner - People's Voice Award in the "Best Services & Design" category[15]
- Nominated for a 2012 Webby Award in the category of "Best Services & Application" category[16]
- Winner of 2013's Hot One Award in the category of "Presentation/Slideshow"[17]
Animoto gained considerable attention from the press because of the company's acceptance speech at the Webby Awards. The Huffington Post ranked Animoto's acceptance speech in their "Best 5-Word Webby Speeches" of the Webby Awards Ceremony.[18] Animoto's CFO, Nathan Meagher, wore a wig and disrobed to leopard skin tights in front of the audience and Webby Awards host, Seth Meyers. Meagher than screamed, "Thank you, New York... WOOOOO," because of the 5 word maximum speech limit at the awards ceremony.
See also
References
- 1 2 Animoto raises $25M to invest in mobile video creation — Tech News and Analysis
- 1 2 Animoto celebrates its fifth birthday with 6 million users
- ↑ Animoto: The No-Infrastructure Startup | Fast Company | Business + Innovation
- ↑ Summers, Nick. "Reporter for The Next Web". The Next Web. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- ↑ Wilson, Sara. "The Animoto Revolution: How this band of hipsters is taking photo sharing into the 21st century". Entrepreneur.com. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- ↑ Fitzgerald, Michael (May 5, 2008). "Cloud Computing: So You Don’t Have to Stand Still". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- ↑ Animoto: When scalability becomes a matter of prosperity or death - The Next Web
- ↑ Chang, Alexandra. "Animoto's new mobile app promises easy video slideshow creation". MacWorld. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ↑ Geron, Tomio (May 29, 2011). "Online Video Creator Animoto Nabs $25 Million". Forbes Magazine. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ↑ Arrington, Michael (June 29, 2011). "Animoto In It To Win It, Takes $25 Million In Third Venture Round". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ↑ Animoto Raises $4.4M, Will Add Video Soon — Tech News and Analysis
- ↑ "The Top 100 Undiscovered Web Sites". Technology News. PC Magazine. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ↑ "Archive of Past SXSW Interactive Awards Winners". SXSW.com. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ↑ Rusell, Kate (December 30, 2008). "Webscape: Year's top picks". BBC News. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ↑ "Webby Award Winners 2009". Webbyawards.com. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ↑ Web Services & Applications | 2012 | The Webby Awards Gallery + Archive
- ↑ "Professional Photographer Magazine's Hot One Awards". Professional Photographer Magazine. Archived from the original on 31 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ↑ Hibbard, Laura (June 7, 2013). "The Best 5-Word Webby Speeches". Huffington Post. Retrieved 14 August 2013.