An Atlanta social marketing startup has drawn the attention — and dollars — of media entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
Badgy provides a social search engine optimization (SEO) platform for digital marketers and consumer brands.
The startup’s software helps Facebook marketers, for example, get broader distribution of their posts and marketing campaigns. The increased visibility increase the odds of click-through sales, Badgy CEO Rob Kischuk said.
“More people see it, and see it from more of their friends, and so are more likely to click on [the posts],” Kischuk said.
Badgy raised $600,000 in a seed round led by Cuban, a billionaire who also owns Landmark Theatres, and Magnolia Pictures.
The mercurial Cuban is also one of the “sharks” on the entrepreneur-themed television show Shark Tank.
In fact, Kischuk ran into — and pitched — Cuban at a Shark Tank party at Shula’s Steak House in Indianapolis, a couple days before SuperBowl XLVI.
Badgy will invest the seed funding in product development, Kischuk said.
Cuban brings more than dollars to Badgy. The pre-revenue firm hopes to do deals with Cuban’s portfolio companies.
The other notable investor in Badgy is super angel, Sig Mosley, who recently came out of retirement with the launch of a $25 million venture fund.
Badgy was a graduate of Georgia Tech accelerator program, Flashpoint’s, inaugural class.
Flashpoint, backed by a $1 million fund, is a four-month program that invests up to $25,000 in each of the startups and helps them develop scalable businesses.
Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle
