Giphy
![]() | |
Founded | 2013 |
---|---|
Founders | Jace Cooke & Alex Chung |
Products | GIF Platform |
Services | How you search, share, and discover the world's best GIFs |
Website | www.giphy.com |
GIPHY is an online database and search engine that allows users to search for and share animated GIF files.
Beginnings and early history
![](../I/m/Alex_Chung%2C_Giphy_%40_SXSW_2016.jpg)
GIPHY was founded by Alex Chung and Jace Cooke in February 2013.[1][2][3] The idea for the business came when the pair was having breakfast, musing on the rising trend of purely visual communication.[1]
When Chung and Cooke first launched GIPHY, the website functioned solely as a search engine for GIFs.
Growth
In August 2013, GIPHY expanded beyond a search engine to allow users to post, embed and share GIFs on Facebook.[4][5][6]
GIPHY was then recognized as a Top 100 Website of 2013, according to PC Magazine.[7]
Three months later GIPHY integrated with Twitter to enable users to share GIFs by simply sharing a GIFs URL.[8]
In May 2014, GIPHY raised $2.4 million in a Series A funding round from investors, including Quire, CAA Ventures, RRE Ventures, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, and Betaworks.[9][10]
In January 2015, GIPHY received another $17 million in a Series B funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from General Catalyst and former investors.[10] In addition, GIPHY raised a large portion of the Series B round via Alphaworks’s equity crowdfunding platform.[11]
In March 2015 GIPHY acquired Nutmeg, a GIF messaging service, as one of the company’s first major steps towards the mobile industry.[12] This coincided with the launch of Facebook Messenger’s own development platform, in which GIPHY joined a few exclusive apps in its debut.[12]
In August 2015, GIPHY launched its second mobile app, GIPHY Cam, which allows users to create and share gifs on a social network.[13]
In February 2016 GIPHY raised $55 million in funding at a $300 million valuation.[14]
Partnerships
GIPHY partners with brands to host GIFs that can be shared as marketing promotions via social media channels.[15] The company also created artist profiles on the website, which allow GIFs to be attributed to the artist(s) who created them.[16]
In September 2014, GIPHY partnered with Line to host the inaugural sticker design competition. LINE and GIPHY enlisted a team of digital partners, including Tumblr, Fox ADHD, Frederator, Cut & Paste, New Museum, Eyebeam, Rhizome, The Webby Awards, Pratt, The Huffington Post and Dribbble to support the event.[17]
In August 2015, Universal Studios partnered with GIPHY to release six gifs promoting the new NWA-based movie, Straight Outta Compton.[18][19]
GIPHY has partnered with over 200 companies and brands to host all their existing content on their own branded channel. GIPHY’s partners include Disney, Calvin Klein, GE, and Pepsi.[20][21][22]
Present day
Today GIPHY’s team consists of 27 people. The company’s corporate headquarters are located in New York City, NY.
References
- 1 2 Alfonso III, Fernando. Meet GIPHY, a GIF lovers new best friend. Daily Dot. Feb 5, 2013.
- ↑ Franzen, Carl. New GIF Search Engine 'Giphy' Sees 30K Visitors In First Weekend. Talking Points Memo. Feb 4, 2013.
- ↑ Webbys x Grey Goose: Alex Chung of Giphy-Final. Vimeo May 2105.
- ↑ Gordon, Whitson. GIPHY embeds gifs on facebook, is mankind’s greatest achievement. Life Hacker. August 29, 2014.
- ↑ Kastrenakes, Jacob. Giphy brings animated GIFs to facebook. The Verge. August 29, 2013.
- ↑ Dreyfuss, Emily.. Alert! GIF’s now “work” on facebook thanks to Giphy. C Net. August 29, 2013.
- ↑ "Undiscovered: Apps - The Top 100 Websites of 2013 - PCMag.com". PCMAG. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ↑ Yeung, Ken. This could get messy: giphy brings animated gifs to your twitter timeline.. The Next Web. November 14, 2013.
- ↑ Crook, Jordan. http://techcrunch.com/2014/05/15/GIPHY-the-betaworks-backed-gif-search-engine-raising-2-5-million-series-a/ [GIPHY, The Betaworks-backed GIF search engine, is raising $2.5 Million in Series A]. Tech Crunch. May 15, 2014.
- 1 2 Giphy. CrunchBase August 25, 2105.
- ↑ Crook, Jordan. After an approach from Facebook, GIPHY raises $17M at an $80M valuation. Tech Crunch Jan 29, 2015.
- 1 2 Crook, Jordan. Giphy + Messenger, Giphys first mobile app, brings GIF search to facebook messenger. Tech Crunch March 25, 2015.
- ↑ Crook, Jordan. Giphy cam lets you create and share homemade GIFs. Tech Crunch August 20, 2105.
- ↑ UTC, Seth Fiegerman2016-02-16 21:41:26. "While other startups struggle, Giphy lands $55 million in a week". Mashable. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
- ↑ "Gap and Other Brands Are Already Using Facebook GIFs". AdWeek. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ↑ "GIPHY Gif Search Engine Rolls Out Private Artist Profiles To Help Organize, Monetize The Gif Community". TechCrunch. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ↑ LINE & GIPHY fuel creativity to build a true global language. PR Newswire. Sep 25, 2014.
- ↑ Holmes, Mannie. Universal teams with Giphy on “Straight Outta Compton”. Variety August 13, 2105.
- ↑ Dove, Jackie. Giphy and LINE jointly launch a new sticker pack for more animated madness. The Next Web April 2.
- ↑ Heine, Christopher. Subway unleashes 73 GIFs for #januANY campaign. Ad Week Jan 14, 2104.
- ↑ Johnson, Lauren. Here’s why GIF’s are back in style and bigger than ever for Brands. Ad Week June 24, 2104.
- ↑ Angio, Joe et al. Digital Maverick 2015. Details May 7, 2105.