When VideoEgg mocked YouTube over a not-so-new ad format, it raised a lot of eyebrows. It also, it seems, raised a lot of interest – less than a month has passed, and VideoEgg just collected $15 million in funding.
Of course, this Series D round may have been in the pipeline for quite some time, but it’s fun to speculate about a cause-and-effect relationship. One thing that probably wasn’t a cause, however, is the company’s other recent stint in the spotlight; NewTeeVee’s Liz Gannes explained, “We also picked up on a report last week that VideoEgg was juxtaposing consumer electronic ads onto footage of, for example, an Iraqi who appeared to be blowing himself up.”
That video’s description reads, “An Iraqi insurgent’s mortar blows up while in the launching tube.” Make of the situation what you will; personally, I don’t feel a need to create picket signs. VideoEgg’s advertising partners apparently weren’t upset, either, as a press release relating to the $15 million was able to list Universal Pictures, Discovery Networks, Nike, Nestlé, Electronic Arts, Unilever, and Ford among the company’s current friends.
Steven Bird, a general partner at Focus Ventures, could also be considered a pal – it was his company that led the round of funding. “It’s all about the right mix to win in this market, which requires insight into the needs of marketers with innovative technology and a focus on rich media,” stated Bird. “VideoEgg has made significant traction selling advertising solutions and is truly seen as an innovator in the ad world.”
As opposed to, say, YouTube? The shots are getting more subtle, but it looks like VideoEgg is still having all sorts of fun over its competitor’s announcement.
