Website animoto.com Type of business Private | Founded 2006 | |
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Industry Photo Slideshow Software Headquarters New York City, New York, United States CEO Brad Jefferson (Sep 2006–) Founders Brad Jefferson, Jason Hsiao Profiles | ||
Animoto is a cloud-based video creation service that produces video from photos, video clips, and music into video slideshows. Animoto is based in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
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Company History
Animoto was founded in 2006 by Jason Hsiao, Brad Jefferson, Steve Clifton and Tom Clifton because of the poor video quality found on the internet. Animoto’s patented Cinematic Artificial Intelligence technology allows users to turn photos, video clips and music into video slideshows. Animoto’s founders include former producers of ABC, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and the Documentary Group.
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. Animoto decided to use Amazon's cloud computing servers in order to meet the growing number of subscribers.
In June 2009, the Animoto launched an iPhone app, allowing users to create video using pictures on their mobile phone.
By January 2013, the company had reached 6 million users and received a patent for its Cinematic Artificial Intelligence technology.
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. In 2009, Animoto received $4.4 million in series B funding from Madrona Venture Group, Amazon, SoftTech VC, Bruce Livingstone. By 2011, the company raised $25 million in series C funding led by Spectrum Equity Investors, Madrona Venture Group and Amazon.
Awards
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. 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.