Social video platform Grabyo has secured fresh funding of $2m (€1.6m) to aid its future growth, with a “significant majority” of this investment coming from top athletes.
London-based Grabyo said English Premier League football stars Cesc Fabregas (pictured) and Robin van Persie, along with Thierry Henry of Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls and Tony Parker – a point guard for NBA basketball franchise San Antonio Spurs – have signed as investors and global ambassadors for the firm.
Since launching just over a year ago, Grabyo is already working with over 30 major broadcasters and rights holders – bringing consumers real-time highlights from sports events including football’s Fifa World Cup, Uefa Champions League and Spanish Liga; tennis events Wimbledon and the ATP World Tour; golf’s Ryder Cup and mixed martial arts series the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Grabyo said in a statement: “Our rapid growth is being driven by accelerating customer demand and ongoing momentum in social video and mobile video advertising – with Facebook and Twitter partnerships providing access to a digital audience running into the billions.
“Star talent involvement will further drive our growth across Europe and North America as well as enable our partners to capitalise on the changing dynamics within the global media industry. From global sports stars and musicians, to Hollywood actors and supermodels, the number of famous faces with millions of highly engaged fans on social media is staggering. As more people are able to enjoy video across social platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, the involvement of star talent will open up new distribution opportunities for broadcasters, rights holders and brands.”