Everyone has experienced poorly developed chat-apps that tend to disappoint. You shouldn’t have to switch between a website and email just to communicate. Enter Mojo Messenger, a part of the Tapmesh suite, that is optimizing chat functions to be how they should.
Recently funded by former Google employees, this new chat program could actually make you more productive! Today, we sit down with Carl Ansley, cofounder and President to discuss Mojo, the company, the funding, and the future of mobile apps.
Who were your investors and how much did you raise?
We raised a $500k seed round from former Google employees and other seed investors.
Tell us about your product or service.
Mojo is a platform for message-oriented apps and services. Mojo Messenger is a new kind of messaging app that allows people to bring apps and services right into their chats so they have what they need, where and when they need it.
What inspired you to start the company?
We created Mojo because we felt that today chats are not well connected to the world of apps and services around them, and are a wasted opportunity for teamwork and getting things done. Chats are too far removed from the apps you need in the moment, and that current messaging platforms do not allow companies and brands to offer engaging experiences.
How is it different?
Mojo allow developers to make apps and services part of any chat. Our aim is to make chats a place for getting things done, working together and reaching brands and companies.
What market you are targeting and how big is it?
We are targeting anyone with a smartphone who uses messaging, and any brand or company who wants to provide a better user experience for their customers within chats.
What’s your business model?
We are targeting revenue from in-app purchases, brand services and payments processing.
What was the funding process like?
Very straight-forward, our team has had multiple exits, most recently to Google in 2012. Investors like teams with a proven track record.
What are the biggest challenges that you faced while raising capital?
Bringing a closer focus to the longer-term revenue picture.
What factors about your business led your investors to write the check?
Ultimately it came down to a team with a proven track record, developing something innovative in an active space.
What are the milestones you plan to achieve in the next six months?
We are about to launch a web version of Mojo Messenger to allow apps and services built on our platform to be used on the desktop, or any tablet or phone that doesn’t have our app installed. The following milestone will be opening up our APIs for third-party developers.
Where do you see the company going now over the near term?
There will be a lot of changes over the next six months. We’re about to raise our Series A, which will lead to rapid growth in both headcount and our product, so it’s going to be an exciting period.
Where is your favorite place to grab a drink in NYC on a nice summer night?
Shake Shack in Madison Square Park.
