What exactly is the deal with all of these group text messaging apps? In the Founder Stories video above, GroupMe founders Jared Hecht and Steve Martocci tell host Chris Dixon why they think group texting coud be the thin edge of the wedge to something bigger. Call it private social networks. Small groups can do and say things that larger groups can’t.
When Martocci first heard the idea for GroupMe, he wasn’t that into it, but he quickly saw where it could lead to. He thinks it is about helping people make plans and decisions. “We want to be a pocket companion,” he says.
In the interview, the two also recall how they approached the Hackathon at TechCrunch Disrupt last year, where the product was conceived and the first prototype was built. The plan was to claw their way onto the main stage, blow away the judges, and get funded on the spot. It didn’t happen quite that way, but almost. The company raised $850,000 later that summer from Ron Conway, betaworks, First Round, and Lerer Ventures, and then $10.6 million earlier this year.
Speaking of Ron Conway, everyone gushes over how great he is to have as investor in the video below. He doesn’t get in the way, he just makes things happen. In terms of investors, Martocci advises other New York City startups to “make sure you get someone from the West Coast.” Dixon concurs: “It shouldn’t be New York Versus California. It should be New York [startups] versus Wall Street.” (Disclosure: Dixon is an investor in GroupMe through the Founder Collective).
Be sure to watch Part I of this GroupMe interview. You can also check out other previous episodes of Founder Stories or subscribe in iTunes.
Jared is the Co-Founder of GroupMe, a group messaging service that lets you stay in touch with groups of people via mobile phones and the web. In August 2011, GroupMe was acquired by Skype, which was subsequently acquired by Microsoft in October 2011. Previously, Jared led Business Development at Tumblr where he focused on international expansion and strategic partnerships. Before Tumblr, Jared received his BA in Political Science from Columbia University in 2009 where he served...
Steve is the Co-Founder of GroupMe, a group messaging service that lets you stay in touch with groups of people via mobile phones and the web. In August 2011, GroupMe was acquired by Skype, which was subsequently acquired by Microsoft in October 2011. Previously, Steve was a Lead Software Engineer at Gilt Groupe. Before joining Gilt, Steve founded Sympact Technologies, a startup focused on developing dynamic images for real-time email marketing, and Bandwith.us, a friends and family ticketing platform...
GroupMe is a group messaging service that lets you stay in touch with groups of people via mobile phones and the web. The service allows you to effortlessly group text with the people in your life that are important to you. It’s totally free and works on every phone. GroupMe is based in New York and was founded in May 2010 at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon. In August 2011, GroupMe was acquired by Skype, which was subsequently acquired by Microsoft...
Sponsored Ads
Sponsored Ads
Sponsored Ads
San Francisco, CA
