US-based predictive patterning company Blab has secured $8.8m in the first tranche of a planned $11.6m series B round co-led by brand management company Blue Focus Communications.
Venture capital firm Shoreline Ventures Management co-led the round, which also featured VC investor Operative Capital.
Blab raised $3.8m in a January 2013 series A round led by angel investor Barry Lynn, who has since become its chairman. The company has since raised about $3m in debt financing.
Blab has developed predictive algorithms which analyse social media to identify future trends, enabling brands to engage with customers at the most opportune moment. The series B funding will support product development and an increase in sales and marketing efforts.
Holly Zheng, president of Blue Focus International, said: “The world communication market is changing rapidly from analogue to digital. Blab gives us an edge through the ability to predict what happens tomorrow. We are very excited to be part of this deal and to propel the technology forward.”