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Venture Capital News: Yapert Grabs $1.2M Seed Round

2013-07-18
SAN DIEGO, CA, Interactive mobile magazine announces it secured a $1.2 million seed investment. Tech Coast Angels led this round of funding.
Yapert, an interactive mobile magazine bringing fans the best video and image-based trending content from the visual web based on today's most popular interests, announces it secured a $1.2 million seed investment. Tech Coast Angels, the largest angel investor group in the United States, led this round of funding with additional investment from Desert Angels, Pasadena Angels, and other independent angel investors. Yapert raised $500,000 during its initial Founders Round in 2012, bringing the funding total to $1.7 million.

Yapert will use the investment for continued platform expansion and sales & marketing efforts. The idea behind the company comes from CEO and founder Phil Kelly, former Motorola VP and President of the Dell Computer Corporation Asia-Pacific. Kelly's co-founders include Rick Cooper and Michael Young, both tech veterans and experienced entrepreneurs.

'Yapert enhances the fan experience with real-time social media updates from every major platform and access to exclusive content via our mobile platform,' explains Yapert CEO, Phil Kelly. 'We are very grateful to TCA, Desert and Pasadena Angels, and all our investors for their support.'

'As investors, we are impressed by the Yapert team and their vision,' said Gary Phillips, President of Tech Coast Angels San Diego. 'We are confident that this team can execute and look forward seeing their product in the hands of users worldwide.'

Yapert aggregates visual content from social media networks into streams based on commonly searched interests such as entertainment, fashion, health & fitness, lifestyle, music, and more. It allows fans to customize the app through the Favorites option and receive notifications when there is new content or a direct message from the interests they care about the most.

Focused on creating a rewarding experience for dedicated fans, Yapert pegged experienced entertainment and technology executive Karina Paje as Vice President of Business Development, whose background includes overseeing the digital strategies and marketing of some of the most popular music artists at Warner and Nettwerk Music Group, among others. Paje and the team partner with media companies, consumer brands, and entertainers to offer users once in a lifetime experiences through contests, along with exclusive, behind the scenes content through Yapert's 'Inside Pass' subscriptions.

Yapert is currently available on iOS. To download the App or sign up for Android Beta, visit Yapert.com.

About Yapert
Yapert is an interactive mobile magazine bringing fans the best video and image-based trending content from the visual web, all in one place based on the most popular interests of today. Yapert simplifies the social experience to deliver real-time streams of what's trending in music, entertainment, sports, fashion, fitness and lifestyle. By personalizing the app through the Favorites option, fans will be notified when there is new content or a direct message from the interests they care about the most. By directly working with content creators such as media companies, brands, entertainers, and musicians, Yapert offers exclusive, behind the scenes content through 'Inside Pass' subscriptions.

About Tech Coast Angels
Tech Coast Angels is the largest angel investor group in the United States. Its members provide funding and guidance to more early-stage, high-growth companies in Southern California than any other investment group. TCA members invest in companies in a wide range of industries, including the life sciences, biotech, IT, services, retail, Internet, financial, software, media, consumer products and tech startups. TCA members give companies more than just capital; they also provide counsel, mentoring and access to an extensive network of potential investors, customers, strategic partners and management talent. TCA has more than 250 members, including its venture capital affiliates, in five networks in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Central Coast and the Inland Empire. More information on investment with Tech Coast Angels can be found at www.techcoastangels.com , www.facebook.com/techcoastangels or www.twitter.com/techcoastangels .
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