Wrapp Launches Social Gifting Service in the U.S.
Cheronne Thurab
April 30, 2012
Swedish social gifting app Wrapp announced today that they are launching in the U.S. with some big retail partners including The Gap, H+M and Sephora. The company, which allows Facebook users to give free and paid gift cards to their Facebook friends, launched in Sweden in November 2011, and has acquired over 180,000 users since then. Wrapp COO Carl Fritjofsson said the U.S. was always a top priority for the company, and they have been preparing for this launch for a long time. Read more
Utilimon Launches Energy Management Tool for Businesses Internationally
Cheronne Thurab
April 30, 2012
As consumers and businesses try to reduce their negative environmental impact, it’s becoming increasingly important to monitor and improve energy efficiency. One European startup has taken on the task of helping businesses understand their energy bills with their new energy management platform. Estonia-based Utilimon aims to help companies track their usage and reduce their annual utility bills, and CEO Rando Pikner said in an interview that they’re cutting costs for clients by up to 25 percent. Read more
Shelby.tv Adds Features to Compete in Social Video Curation
Darrell Etherington
April 30, 2012
Growing viewership for online video may not be a new trend, but it is getting closer and closer to reaching a tipping point, when it’ll overtake traditional channels like broadcast television. Startups like Shelby.tv hope to be at the forefront of those changing media consumption practices, and the service just introduced new tools to try to better appeal to an engaged online video audience, even as its competition also ramps up efforts to draw crowds. Read more
Opara Tracks Perishable Goods From Source to Dinner Plate
Cheronne Thurab
April 27, 2012
With the popularity of organic food and the growing local food movement, consumers are increasingly concerned about the source and freshness of their perishable goods, from produce to meat. Brazilian startup Opara follows food from source to dinner plate or store shelves with their web-based service that tracks perishable goods across the supply chain, from growers and exporters, to importers and distributors, to the consumers who will buy the items. Read more
Stylmee Launches 3D Social Shopping Game on the Web
Erin Bury
April 27, 2012
Today 3D social shopping game Stylmee launched an HTML5 web version of its virtual shopping game, which until now was only available as a free iPad app. The game, which allows shoppers to browse and buy items at boutiques created by brands and fellow players, launched in private beta in September 2011, and opened up its iPad app to the public in December, though it’s currently being updated to reflect the web app’s functionality. Read more
LayerVault Goes 2.0 Amid DropBox, Google Announcements
Darrell Etherington
April 27, 2012
Cloud-based design collaboration tool LayerVault introduced version two of its online tool this week, amid major announcements from big players in online document storage and collaboration including Dropbox and Google. LayerVault founder Kelly Sutton thinks his company’s additions secure LayerVault’s place in a category all its own, however, thanks to an approach he likens to “building Formula 1 cars for Formula 1 drivers.” What Sutton means is that while Google Drive and Dropbox may be building tools that are making Read more
HotelTonight’s Same-Day Booking App Goes International
Erin Bury
April 26, 2012
Same-day hotel booking app HotelTonight is announcing its first international expansion today, adding Canadian cities Toronto and Vancouver to its list of 30 featured locations. The free app allows guests to book same-day hotels at a deep discount – hotel deals are listed at noon for that evening, and guests can book either one night or multiple nights based on availability. Read more
On Track for $100M in Sales, JustFab Adds Features and Launches in Germany
Erin Bury
April 26, 2012
Today online shopping platform JustFab is expanding its feature set and international reach, announcing the platform’s launch in Germany and debuting an online community and a new pay-as-you-go payment option. The company, which was started by Adam Goldenberg and Don Ressler and counts Kimora Lee Simmons among the celebrity stylists, has over six million members and has been growing at a rate of 500,000 members per month. Read more
Spotify Competitor Deezer Expands to Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Cheronne Thurab
April 25, 2012
Music streaming service Deezer is continuing its international expansion. The Paris-based company announced today that after seeing much success in the European market since their 2007 launch, they are expanding their service to Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Business Strategy Manager Sophia Hmich told BetaKit in an interview that the Deezer team is excited about the expansion, which was originally announced in December. “[Deezer] is set to quickly become a top spot for all music fans,” Hmich said. Read more
Data Compression Startup Onavo Expands Device Support
Darrell Etherington
April 24, 2012
Israeli company Onavo, the data compression startup that’s helping wireless customers shave down their data usage and stay within the data caps enforced by many mobile network providers, today announced that its Onavo Extend iOS app will now work with LTE iPads and the iPhone 4S on CDMA networks. It’s a natural extension of the company’s core philosophy, which is to keep consumers from getting dinged with mobile network overage charges. Read more