Sticky, the global online eye-tracking analytics SaaS platform that helps content publishers, advertisers and agencies make more money by knowing what their consumers see and don't see, today announced that it has raised $5 million in Series A funding. The investment is to further accelerate the company's build out of its sales and technology teams, and to strengthen its product offerings for the digital content and advertising marketplace. The funding was led by Dawn Capital, a London based early stage venture capital firm investing in high-growth startups with global ambitions focusing on world-leading technology and innovation. Northzone and Conor, previous investors in Sticky, also participated.
'This raise will enable Sticky to drive our products into the digital advertising marketplace that is demanding better ways to get more real people to pay attention. We want to be the human engagement tool of choice that brands and publishers use to optimize for what's actually seen,' said Hans Lee, CEO at Sticky.
Sticky is an online, biometric-based analytics company that is leading a fundamental change in the way content and advertising companies engage with consumers online. Because Sticky's platform is highly scalable and incredibly cost-effective, Sticky's eye-tracking technology is poised to become a ubiquitous tool that content companies use to optimize the audience experience for engagement, resulting in more real people paying attention.
The company's platform can be used by a broad assortment of marketers, agencies, publishers and content partners, who all require a reliable way to more accurately value their advertising. Furthermore, Sticky's eye-tracking capabilities enable online and mobile publishers to optimize every exposure for increased consumer engagement. 'Biometric online eye-tracking helps both sides of the transaction get more real human eyes on the content and advertising,' notes Jeff Bander, Sticky's CRO. Sticky plans to use the funding to enhance their SaaS content optimization platform, and to provide the market with more advanced human engagement metrics to better value content and advertising relative to what's actually seen.
With Sticky's platform, high-profile companies including AOL, TripleLift and Sublime Skinz have all experienced the benefits of the platform that tells them how long consumers actually see every digital ad. As a result, these publishers are able to demonstrate the human engagement value of the ads they run, which helps marketers optimize their campaign spend and generate greater ROI.
'We have gained significant benefits as close partners of Sticky. This funding will help them increase what is already a unique value proposition for anyone in digital advertising,' said Jean-Marc Pericone, Founder and President at Sublime Skinz, a leading native ads-based digital advertising network. 'By allowing us to validate our improved results, Sticky's platform helped us drive on average a 300% increase in campaign effectiveness. I look forward to expanding our relationship with Sticky further as they grow.'
'Sticky's content optimization and ad valuation platform represents the next generation of technology that is deepening brands' understanding of consumers' online behavior. We're adding validation to marketers' increasing digital ad spend and enhancing the ability for publishers to demonstrate value beyond viewability,' said Teddie Wardi, Senior Associate at Dawn Capital. 'Sticky is leading the charge, and we're excited to help the company accelerate as the rest of the industry embraces their mission.'
'Sticky is creating an entirely new currency to demonstrate how real humans engage with online ads,' said Haakon Overli, General Partner at Dawn Capital. 'Sticky creates a more valuable, transparent marketplace for all players across the marketplace -- brand marketers, digital media publishers and technology partners.'
To celebrate their new financing, Sticky is offering the marketplace a free, two-week trial of their self-serve SaaS eye-tracking solution. To sign up for the free trial, please visit www.sticky.ad.
About Sticky
Sticky is an online, biometric eye-tracking analytics company that helps publishers, advertisers and agencies make more money from real people paying attention. Sticky has taken eye-tracking out of the lab by creating a cost-effective, highly-scalable webcam solution that goes beyond viewability to what's actually SEEN™. Sticky's disruptive technology gives publishers what they need to optimize for consumer engagement, and marketers what they need to get better value for their advertising spend. Sticky is how to get more real humans engaged and paying attention. www.sticky.ad
About Dawn Capital
Dawn Capital is an early stage VC firm based in London investing in startups across Europe. We support SaaS and Fintech companies that develop world leading technology to improve business value chains and productivity. We firmly believe that Europe will continue to produce strong global competitors in the technology field.
Dawn typically invests in companies that are starting to scale internationally and are looking for operational support and capital.
Dawn portfolio companies include among others: Gelato Group, iControl, Mimecast, Neo Technology, Showpad, iZettle and Wonga.