Muzy, a US-based microblogging app service focused on mobile content, has raised $4.4m in funding from investors including WPP Ventures, the corporate venture arm of UK-based communications company WPP, Docomo Capital, the corporate venture arm of Japan-based mobile communication company NTT Docomo, and Recruit Strategic Partners, the corporate venture capital arm of Japan-based internet company Recruit Holdings. Other investors include Chinese internet entrepreneurs Xuyang Ren, formerly of Baidu, and Jianfeng Lu, formerly of Qihoo 360.
Muzy will use the new investment to further scale the engineering team and build out the suite of creative publishing tools for the Muzy platform.
Muzy was launched in 2011 by its cofounders, Andrew Chen and Matt Rubens.
Andrew Chen, chief executive officer, said: “This investment allows us to build stronger distribution in Asia, with our new partners in Japan and China. We also look forward to partnering with WPP and its significant clients to develop our advertising model.”
Tom Bedecarré, WPP Ventures president, said: “WPP clients are looking for access to the next new social platform. I can’t wait to introduce Muzy to our clients and experiment with using their content publishing tools to create brand engagement.”