Shazam today announced it has closed a $30 million investment valuing the company at over $1 billion. This valuation ranks Shazam amongst the top European start-ups also referred to as “unicorns”. DN Capital, a leading early stage British venture capital firm invested in the Company in 2004 and has played a crucial role in helping the firm expand – amongst which was supporting the Company’s US expansion and key introductions to Apple. The increased valuation represents a 1000x increase in value since DN’s first investment in 2004.
The funding will support Shazam’s continued evolution and rapid growth following a year of user milestones, increased service capabilities and expansion into new market sectors.
Andrew Fisher, Executive Chairman said “This funding reflects the substantial progress we have made in delivering a new paradigm for brands and content owners to increase engagement with their audiences whilst magically connecting people to the world around them. We are delighted to welcome our new investors as we further strengthen our balance sheet and continue to effectively execute on our corporate strategy.”
Shazam enters 2015 with tremendous momentum:
· Crossed 100 million monthly active mobile users, placing the company in an elite echelon of only a handful of mobile brands
· Music identification capability is faster and more accurate than ever
· Added extensive music content, integrated with the world’s leading streaming music providers with the ability to play music within the Shazam app via Spotify and Rdio.
· Integrated into Apple’s iOS8 and Siri
· Shazam enabling TV shows and commercials, cinemas, retail environments, radio content and ads and out of home advertising
· Announced new capabilities to Shazam using the camera for print ads, QR codes, packaged goods and barcodes
· Announced capabilities to recognise beacons
“We’re excited to continue to focus on user growth and engagement, building on our strength in music and innovating to increase the universe of what is Shazamable in order to realise the enormous potential of Shazam,” said Rich Riley, CEO, Shazam. “Our move into multiple new environments in 2014 has allowed our users to connect to more aspects of their world while enabling our partners and advertisers to reach our massive and engaged user base like never before.”
