14 DAY TRIAL // Miso, a TV check-in service, has just raised $1.5 million from Google Ventures, the company's venture capital arm, and Hearst Interactive Media. Google Ventures also participated in its seed funding round. The funds will be used to scale the product and hire more engineers, Miso says.
Miso is a newer entry in the young TV check-ins market. Similar to location check-in services, Miso and competitors like GetGlue enable users to follow and 'check into' their favorite TV shows in return of points and badges.
"We are excited to announce that right at the end of 2010, we closed our Series A round, raising an additional $1.5M. The round was led by Google Ventures with Hearst Interactive Media also participating," Somrat Niyogi CEO of Miso, announced.
"With this money, we plan to hire more engineers which will allow us to continue to innovate, build Miso, and improve our second screen platform," he explained.
Miso also revealed some stats for its nine months old service. There are now 100,000 registered users, nothing to sneer at, but significantly less than its main competitors, notably GetGlue.
However, engagement is on the rise, Miso says and the market is still in its early days. There are also mobile apps for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices along with the regular web app.
A new partnership with OWN, the new Oprah Winfrey Network, could be a huge boost to both engagement and new registrations. An API is also now available enabling developers and other websites to integrate the check-in functionality. Miso plans to diversify the number of ways users interact with the shows in 2011 beyond the simple check-in.
"While the last year was focused on building a ‘check-in’ foundation, in 2011, we will create more ways for people to engage around the second screen, secure more partnerships, and lead innovation around the intersection of social, TV, and the second screen," Niyogi added.