Tout.com, the 15-second video capture platform where Zennie62 is the top Touter (Over 2,300 touts and counting!), has just announced that it received $13.4 million in financing and is now partnered with WWE. Here’s the details from the press release:
Tout.com, a technology spin out from SRI (StanfordResearch Institute), announced the completion of its $13.4 million series B financing. Tout, a smartphone and Web application that enables real-time video status updates, secured blue-chip investors including WWE® (NYSE: WWE), 819 Capital, well-known institutional investor Gordon Crawford, and Stan Shuman & Jack Schneider from Allen & Co. They join previous
investors including Stanford Research Institute (SRI), Horizons Ventures, and Seavest Ventures. The capital will be used to support the rapid growth of the company and further invest in new product development and international expansion.
Since it’s founding, Tout has attracted over 23 million visitors and stars like Shaq, Kelly Rippa, and Wendy Williams use it religiously. Still, none of them have as many Touts as I do, and no one will catch me.
That’s a challenge.
Maybe someone with the WWE will be the one who does. That’s because Tout.com’s also partnered with the WWE in an exciting project that starts July 23rd. Take a look:
WWE (NYSE:WWE) announced today an investment in and strategic partnership with Tout Industries, Inc. that will leverage WWE’s vast array of assets, including television, live events, digital, print and more than 100 million social media followers to market and expand Tout’s platform for real-time video status updates, creating a new dynamic social experience for WWE fans.
Beginning July 23 during the historic 1,000th episode of Monday Night Raw, WWE fans will have the chance to be seen and heard via Tout as real-time video updates will be featured during WWE television programming, on WWE.com, throughout WWE’s social media presence and on in-arena video displays. WWE Superstars will also interact with fans via Tout question and answer sessions leading up to the event. Additionally, WWE will launch “Tout Tuesdays” giving fans the opportunity to discuss what happened the previous night on Monday Night Raw. Tout’s new platform will enable WWE to aggregate all of this unique content on WWE.com.
“WWE is in a class by itself as a media giant who has innovatively grown their business through
social media,” said Michael Downing, CEO of Tout. “We could not envision a better partner to
show how the Tout platform powers high-impact, real-time engagement across broadcast TV,
digital and live events.”“WWE looks forward to partnering with Tout to grow this innovative social media platform,” said
Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman and CEO. “Tout’s real-time video technology will become a critical component of fan interactivity in our weekly television programming and will be utilized to connect WWE directly with our fans in new ways.”
Wow. Vince McMahon is going to Tout! I can’t wait to see that!
Bill Carroll