Mobile commerce and promotions company builds momentum, offering consumers alternative to toll-free numbers and the Internet
Connecticut Innovations (CI), the state’s quasi-public authority responsible for technology investing and innovation development, today announced that it has made a follow-on investment in ShopText Inc. (ShopText), a mobile commerce and promotions company, through its Eli Whitney Fund. This was CI’s second investment in ShopText.
Governor M. Jodi Rell said, “I am delighted that ShopText is making great strides in building its business here in Connecticut. The company is a wonderful addition to our state’s technology community, and with Connecticut Innovations’ funding and guidance, ShopText will be well-positioned to succeed and create new, high-paying jobs for our citizens.”
Based in Norwalk, Connecticut, ShopText provides a mobile channel through which advertisers can interact directly with consumers by using short message service (SMS), or text messaging. ShopText’s innovative, direct-to-consumer commerce and promotions platform makes any medium interactive and enables ShopText to offer advertisers a host of “text to” services: text to purchase, text to save, text to win, text to sample, text to donate, and text for free information. ShopText’s technology also offers advertisers the ability to directly track the success of each campaign minute-by-minute.
“With Connecticut Innovations’ help, ShopText has extended its market leadership over the last year,” said Steve Roberts, chief executive officer of ShopText. “We continue to help leading brands and retailers engage consumers and capture valuable data at the moment a consumer is most likely to respond. As we roll out new services and establish strategic partnerships, Connecticut Innovations has proven to be a great partner.” The ShopText SMS platform is an attractive alternative to using toll-free numbers and the Internet for transaction processing. And it offers consumers a fun and easy way to interact with advertisers. Consumers simply enter into their mobile device the text message keyword that appears in a magazine, newspaper, television, jumbotron or other offline advertisement and follow simple steps to conclude a transaction. Several market leaders in consumer products, entertainment and media are among ShopText’s customers, including Procter & Gamble, General Mills, Johnson & Johnson, Dillard’s, Hearst and Meredith.
“CI recognizes ShopText’s ability to execute upon its business plan and expand its reach in the growing SMS commercial marketplace,” said Peter Longo, president and executive director of CI. Longo added, “With over 2.7 billion mobile device users across the globe, the mobile channel represents a tremendous market opportunity for ShopText.”
In addition to providing risk capital to ShopText through this investment, CI will continue to provide ShopText with business guidance and support through its participation on the company’s board of directors. Pauline Murphy, managing director of investments for CI, serves on ShopText’s board.
About ShopText Inc. ShopText is a mobile commerce and promotions company. ShopText is the new, fun and easy way to try or buy simply by texting the keyword in any magazine, newspaper, television, poster, jumbotron or other ShopText enabled advertisement. Our software platform transforms any advertisement into a point of engagement or sale. ShopText technology creates a secure, direct-to-consumer marketplace where consumers can shop, sample and save on the spot with a text message. ShopText is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut. For more information, please visit www.shoptext.com.
For more information on CI, please visit www.ctinnovations.com.
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