Anews, an international global news-reading service with a built-in behavioral advertising network, has received $2.7 million from TMT Investments, Run Capital, 101 Startup and several individual investors. As reported by Rusbase, TMT Investments and Run Capital each invested $1 million, in exchange for minority stakes in the company.
“With its strong team, with a wealth of relevant experience, and working in an exciting sector, Anews has every chance of becoming the undisputed industry leader,” Rusbase quoted Run Capital CEO Andrey Romanenko as saying.
Incorporated in Delaware, the company has developed a technological platform allowing news media companies to expand their reach, acquire new users for free and increase digital ad revenues. The technology provides each reader with a consolidated, personalized view of news content from news agencies, newspapers, magazines, blogs and social networks.
With more than two million downloads since launch in October 2013, the startup claims to be among the top three news apps on Google Play and App Store in 12 countries. The latest capital injection will fuel further international development.
Anews was originally backed by 101 Startup, a fund owned by TMT’s senior managers German Kaplun, Alexander Morgulchik and Artyom Inyutin.
In August 2014, the startup completed a $3 million round, including $1 million brought in by TMT and $2 million from other unnamed investors.
Founded by the executive management team previously behind RBC, a major Russian financial information holding, and traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, TMT has raised $30million since its inception in 2010. With its of more than 35 Internet-based companies worldwide, the fund stands as one of the most active Russian-backed funds operating internationally.
Run Capital is a 1 billion-ruble fund (approximately $15 million at the current exchange rate) launched last year by executives from Qiwi, a major Russian payment company. In November, the fund injected $6 millon in Californian mobile marketing startup AppInTop.
