Buzzd, a location-based mobile city guide and social network, has completed its Series A funding round, led by Greycroft Partners and Monitor Ventures. The company will use the funds raised for product development and distribution. Monitor Ventures Fern Mandelbaum will join Buzzd Co-founders Nihal Mehta and Deepen Shah on the firms Board of Directors.
Monitor and Greycroft have successfully guided digital media start-ups from seed to success, says Mehta. We are excited to have partners who will roll up their sleeves and really work with entrepreneurs.
The New York based-startup answers the question, Whats going on around me right now? delivering location-sensitive, premium editorial event and venue information, along with up-to-the-minute reviews and ratings from friends and other members of the Buzzd community.
Users can also browse and search continuously-updated event feeds, which include pricing, location, and event details, as well as first-hand ratings and reviews posted from the venue by other members. Events and venues are available nationally and aggregated through partnerships with CitySearch, Flavorpill and TimeOut Magazine, with plans to roll out more content partnerships in local markets. User-generated feedback (aka buzzes) for real-time activity about venues and events is aggregated at the top of event listings throughout the platform.
Buzzd has also revealed that it has signed up Hornitos Premium Tequila as an advertising partner. Through the partnership, Buzzd members can buy their friends Hornitos drinks and redeem the codes delivered via SMS at hundreds of bars, in association with BuyYourFriendADrink.com. Buzzd says the partnership demonstrates a new way for brands to interact with consumers via the mobile device. Available only in limited beta since February 2008, the service has already won international recognition at the Mobile Monday Global Peer Awards and Nokias Mobile Rules 2008.
Users can register for Buzzd by texting JOIN to 96321, or visiting http://buzzd.com/m from their web or mobile browser.
To see a demo of the Buzzd service, click here.