Visiware has raised 5 million Euros from Crédit Agricole Private Equity and Entrepreneur Venture to strengthen its position as the leader in the PlayAlongTM market and to develop its Social TV offering.
Based in Sèvres, Visiware has for the past 10 years been the world leader in digital television gaming with its Playin’TV™ channel. It recently launched PlayAlong™, a solution that has already become a reference for the market. This solution allows millions of viewers to participate simultaneously in televised shows from home using their laptop, tablet, or Smartphone.
To date, Visiware has produced 400 shows using it’s PlayAlongTM platform resulting in 12 million games played in nine different countries (Brazil, United States, France, Malaysia, Netherlands, etc.) on channels such as Antena3, Fox, SBT, SBS6, TF1, ZDF…
Studies show that 60% of television viewers regularly use their tablets, Smartphones, or PC while watching TV (source: Nielsen Jan 2011). , With audience participation rates increasing from 20-28% thanks to its PlayAlong (source: Mediamétrie Sept 2011), the innovative Cloud platform launched by Visiware provides a very reliable and economical way to keep these viewers interacting with television programs, by playing, voting, debating, learning, etc.
Laurant Weill, Chairman and founder of Visiware, states: “We are delighted to welcome Crédit Agricole Private Equity and Entrepreneur Venture, two quality investors, into our capital. Their longterm support will enable us to achieve our ambitious objectives. Visiware’s Social TV products in conjunction with the PlayAlong platform, has very strong potential. They enable us to offer viewers a different TV experience that is adapted to new user behaviors. This offer enables stations and operators a chance to interact with their audience and develop new forms of monetization. We thank Privateq Advisors AG for the invaluable help they have given us in organizing this round.”
Bertrand Folliet, a partner in Entrepreneur Venture adds: “We were impressed by the quality and reliability of Visiware’s PlayAlongTM technology, which offers unprecedented and rich interactivity for players of Endemol’s Money Drop. The robustness of the PlayinStar™ platform also allows for playing 24/7, creating an additional level of monetization for media partners.”
Renaud Poulard, a partner in Crédit Agricole Private Equity and administrator with Visiware, stresses: “The convergence of TV and the Web, social TV, are basic trends. Visiware management very early seized these opportunities and today Visiware is a leader in the sector. Visiware has one of the best platforms on the TV-Web audience monetization market.”
About Visiware
Visiware is an interactive studio based in France and The USA, whose 80 experts provide gaming and technology solutions in the following areas:
PlayAlong™ – This new and unique platform allows TV producers and channels to launch next gen social games and interactions based on and synchronized with major TV game-shows. Millions of TV viewers can simultaneously participate during a TV show; via the web, their iPhone, iPad or even through Facebook.
PlayinStar™ – Visiware’s turnkey social games platform on the web. Leading portals generate new revenue streams with this white label multiplayer game service.
Playin’TV™ – Experts in casual gaming, Visiware also operates the internationally leading interactive pay-TV game channel Playin’TV™.
LeStudio™ – Create, design, and develop custom User Interfaces, as well as TV applications, for TV operators, technology providers for satellite, cable, IPTV, OTT, connected TV, etc.
More info on www.visiware.com & www.playinstar.com
Visiware +33 1 46 29 39 00
Laurant Weill Chairman and founder lw@visiware.com
Colas Overkott Directeur Général coverkott@visiware.com
About Entrepreneur Venture
Entrepreneur Venture was created in 2000 by entrepreneurs who understood every possible stage in the life of a company. Specialists in non-quoted companies, this management company, recognized by the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority), invests in Small and Medium sized Companies. To do this, it uses funds entrusted it by large French and foreign institutional investors, as well as family offices. Today the company is based in Paris and Hong Kong, and has invested in over 60 non-quoted companies.
Entrepreneur Venture + 33 1 58 18 61 80
Bertrand Folliet, folliet@entrepreneurventure.com
Eric In, in@entrepreneurventure.com
Agence Cap&Cime +33 1 55 35 07 72
Annabelle Ledoux, aledoux@capetcime.fr
About CREDIT AGRICOLE PRIVATE EQUITY
Crédit Agricole Private Equity is a major player in capital investment, specializing in SME financing. With €3.7 billion under management, Crédit Agricole Private Equity provides companies with the capital required to develop, through their expertise: LBO & Development, Risk Capital, Mezzanine Capital, Co-Investment, Renewable Energy, PPP infrastructures.
Crédit Agricole Private Equity is a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment of the United Nations (PRI).
Crédit Agricole Private Equity +33 1 43 23 90 88
Martine Sessin-Caracci, martine.sessincaracci@ca-privateequity.fr
Shan +33 1 44 50 58 72
Caroline Babouillard, caroline.babouillard@shan.fr
About Privateq Advisors AG
Privateq Advisors AG is a consulting company specializing in accompanying technology and
biotechnology companies when raising capital or when seeking partnerships.
Contact: Paul S. Larue +41 79 354 33 92, pslarue@bluewin.ch