Webdweller, a rising star of Web 2.0 gets funding through Anges Québec
Webdweller, a rising star of Web 2.0 gets funding through Anges Quebec
Montreal, October 7, 2010 - Anges Quebec is pleased to announce the funding of Webdweller by a group of private investors (angels) from Quebec and the U.S. Several headliners of the high technology industry are part of this group, including Lester and Lynn Wunderman, both renowned in the world of marketing and online advertising in the United States. In addition, discussions are underway to expand this group of strategic investors.
Webdweller, led by Line Tousignant, has developed a viral marketing solution embeddable into social networks such as Facebook and MySpace. Social media saw explosive growth over the last year and now reaches Internet users of all ages; as a result brand owners now consider it essential to jump into the conversation. Webdweller allows brands to capitalize on the excitement they cause among their fans.
Webdweller’s rewards program encourages fans to promote products and brands they like with their friends, allowing them to receive rewards and exclusive offers from their favorite brands.
With its distinctive approach, Webdweller offers brands an unprecedented way to finally capitalize on word of mouth and fan loyalty; with Webdweller, the consumer is the media. In control of the dialogue, the consumer can decide to associate himself with brands and products of his choice, while being rewarded for doing so. Based on peers’ recommendations, Webdweller’s “pull” model is not intrusive for the consumer, but still offers a more efficient targeting method to online advertisers; a win-win situation.
Webdweller will use the new funding for the launch of its application in the U.S. market this fall, notably on Facebook. The website, webdweller.com, and the Facebook application are already available for a preview and the company is in discussion with partners and brands that want to be among the first to use the new platform.
Line Tousignant, founder and CEO, says: “Since the beginning, we’ve always believed in the fantastic potential of Webdweller. Today, at a time of scarce financing resources, the support of experienced investors from Anges Quebec makes an important difference as it gives us access to the necessary funding for a launch in the very competitive US market.”
Daniel Robichaud, member of Anges Quebec and one of the first believers and investors in Webdweller adds: “I am very proud of Webdweller’s success, which I see as one of the next rising star of the Web. In today’s competitive markets, launching a new company requires access to a strong network within both the business and high tech industries. Anges Quebec can offer this unique type of network and therefore play a key role in Quebec for business creation and innovation.”
According to Mr. Francois Gilbert, President of Anges Quebec, the funding of Webdweller is a model for the future: "Business angels play a key role in the initiation and success of innovative startups. In North America, they represent the main source of seed capital after friends and family. I am convinced that Anges Quebec will play a major role in the success of the next generation of entrepreneurs and investors, of which Webdweller is a superb example“.
Anges Quebec is Quebec's largest network of private investors dedicated to innovation, and it exists thanks to financial support from the ministère du Développement économique, de l’innovation et de l’exportation du Québec (MDEIE) and its partners the law firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, RBC - Royal Bank of Canada, RCGT - Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton and the associate members ID Capital, Propulsion Ventures, iNovia Capital and Desjardins Venture Capital.
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About Anges Quebec - Invest and self invest – www.angesquebec.com
Anges Québec is a network of private investors (angels) who identify, fund and support high potential companies in Quebec. The members of Anges Quebec value promising company projects at early stage or beginning of commercialization by investing capital and expertise. To this end, Anges Quebec collaborates with several headlight organizations interested in technological innovations.
About Webdweller – www.webdweller.com
Adaptable to any social network or blogs, Webdweller combines social media and rewards program. Webdweller offers internet users a fun and rewarding way to express their preferences and voluntarily take part of their favorite brand’s promotional efforts, by putting their “stamp of approval” on brands, ads and products they see as worthy their recommendations. Webdweller opens the door to an innovative approach of online marketing that recognizes and rewards consumers’ word of mouth.
Source :
Martin Duchaîne
514-699-7177