4INFO, a leading mobile media company and pioneer of SMS advertising and publishing services, announced today that it has raised $20 million in equity and debt funding from all its existing investors and one new investor. Existing investors Peacock Equity -- the joint venture between GE Capital's Media, Communications & Entertainment finance business and NBC Universal -- and Gannett, Inc. (NYSE: GCI) led the funding, in addition to US Venture Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and Sand Hill Capital. Joining these existing investment partners is new investor Selby Ventures. 4INFO will use this funding to continue expansion into traditional media partnerships for integrated mobile campaigns, as well as accelerated development of 4INFO mobile marketing services and rich media technology.
"Our visionary investment partners have allowed 4INFO to take the right risks and invest in building a mobile media platform that can consistently outperform and out-innovate the competition," said CEO of 4INFO, Zaw Thet. "As the only mobile company offering integrated mobile and traditional media advertising campaigns, we are very excited that strategic distribution partners like GE/NBC's Peacock Equity Fund and Gannett, Inc. see the massive opportunity in connecting brands and services with mobile audiences."
"As a market leader in the rapidly-growing SMS category and broader mobile media space 4INFO continues to deliver at an impressive pace," said Tom Byrne, managing director and group head, Peacock Equity. "We are very pleased to deepen our strategic investment as we see value in the short term and in 4INFO's ability to engage additional progressive media partners for content delivery over the long term."
"A great asset to our overall portfolio, 4INFO has helped mobilize the majority of our publishing properties and has expanded our reach and ability to engage with our audiences," said Chris Saridakis, senior vice president and chief digital officer of Gannett, Inc. "We're proud to continue our partnership with a mobile media company that brings value to our consumers, high quality advertising inventory, and mobile marketing solutions to our sales team."
4INFO delivers over 80 million real-time, user-requested answers and alerts via text message per month. The 4INFO ad network exceeds 16 million users. All 4INFO content is ad-supported, with 4INFO customizing targeted, interactive SMS, WAP and mobile video campaigns on behalf of its advertising partners and publishers.
About 4INFO
4INFO is a mobile media company that connects brands, agencies, and publishers with mobile audiences. With high quality SMS content, targeted mobile advertising, and integrated campaigns across all types of media, 4INFO provides agencies and brands with the means to reach and engage a growing network of mobile consumers. 4INFO pioneered the development of ad-supported text message services and is the largest provider of SMS content and services in North America. As experts in mobile advertising, the company uses SMS as an entry point to drive rich media experiences on mobile phones. 4INFO's consumer services provide real-time SMS information and entertainment messages on subjects ranging from sports and weather to celebrity gossip and stock market news. Headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., with additional offices in Chicago and New York, 4INFO is backed by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Gannett Company, Inc., The Peacock Equity Fund: the joint venture between GE Capital's Media, Communications & Entertainment finance business and NBC Universal, Sand Hill Capital, Selby Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank and U.S. Venture Partners. Learn more at: http://advertising.4info.net or text "advertise" to 44636.