Twitter commerce start-up Chirpify has raised $1.3 million in a series a funding round and launched a platform that lets musicians use the microblogging site to sell digital content.
Portland-based Chirpify, which rebranded from Simp.ly earlier this year, links users' Twitter and PayPal accounts, letting businesses, shoppers and donors send money with a tweet.
The new 'Twitter Commerce for Musicians' platform provides artists with a Chirpify dashboard that they can upload music to and then tweet a link to. Customers can then acquire the content simply by replying to the tweet with the word "buy".
The money is taken from their PayPal account and they are sent either a direct message or e-mail with a download link.
Chris Teso, founder and CEO, Chirpify, says: "Chirpify now makes it possible to sell digital content in-stream on Twitter, enabling musicians and artists to sell direct to their fans and control their own distribution. People already use Twitter to follow the brands, musicians and others they care about, so why can't they get the latest product or hot new song right through Twitter?"
Meanwhile, the company has secured $1.3 million in series a financing from Voyager Capital, angel investor Geoff Entress, BuddyTV CEO Andy Liu, former Facebook executive Rudy Gadre, HootSuite CEO Ryan Holmes, and TiE Oregon Angels.
Ryan Holmes, CEO, Hootsuite, says: "Twitter is a tremendous platform for brands, retailers, politicians, musicians and others to engage fans, yet with more than 140 million users there's still no way to directly exchange goods and currency. Chirpify provides a unique approach to fill this void by processing transactions without ever having to leave Twitter."
Earlier this year Belgian start-up Paycento unveiled its own platform that lets companies accept payments for digital goods and services through Twitter and Facebook.