With the new funding, I Am Pop hopes to help indie and up-and-coming artists break into the mainstream through direct messaging tools.
I Am Pop has confirmed a major milestone.
The Dutch direct messaging startup has raised €2 million ($2.3 million) in funding.
The company currently employs around 15 people. Recent and established app adopters include artists, labels, publishers, and music festivals, such as BMG, MAMA Festivals, Mad Decent, The Orchard, Elrow, Ministry of Sound, Sony Music, Warner Music Group, AWAL, and [PIAS].
Speaking about the funding, the company confirmed it will use the money to integrate its chat editor into other messaging apps beyond Facebook Messenger. I Am Pop will also boost its own workforce.
Stating that society has entered into “an era of post-social,” Tim Heineke, founder of the Dutch startup, explained the company’s goal to help emerging artists in the music industry.
“Private messaging is the new social network. Users are increasingly flocking to DM, private chat, groups, and stories, fueled by privacy concerns. Meanwhile, messaging apps are turning into full platforms.
“With 2 billion users and 100 billion messages shared daily, messaging services are the most popular apps in the world. Many artists, however, don’t yet have a presence.
“Our goal is to provide a simple platform that anyone can use and this funding will enable us to continue developing it.”
According to the company’s data, social media newsfeeds now deliver engagement rates as low as 2%.
Following the fundraising round, I Am Pop has confirmed its new first key hire. Max van den Ingh will now serve as Head of Growth. He previously worked at MisterGreen, a Dutch leasing company.
At the startup, Van den Ingh will oversee the app’s ‘software-as-a-service-offering’ commercial growth. He’ll also build the marketing and business development teams across the company’s offices in London and Amsterdam.
Promoting the company’s product, Van den Ingh claims I Am Pop has championed the shift from newsfeeds to direct messaging in the music industry.
“I’m looking forward to utilizing my experience in the tech industry to streamline growth efforts within the company.”