Buzzd Gets Series A Funding To Bring Real Time Updates of City Happenings To Mobile Generation
 

NEW YORK, NY (April 24, 2008) – Buzzd, a location-based cityguide and social network on the mobile device, announced that it has completed its Series A funding round, led by Greycroft Partners and Monitor Ventures. The company will use the proceeds from the Series A funding for product development and distribution and Fern Mandelbaum of Monitor will join the firm’s Board of Directors with Buzzd Co-Founders Nihal Mehta and Deepen Shah.

"Monitor and Greycroft have successfully guided digital media start-ups from seed to success. We are excited to have partners who will roll up their sleeves and really work with entrepreneurs," said Buzzd CEO Nihal Mehta.

"Buzzd provides a necessary utility for users, helping them locate venues, interact with friends, and read reviews on the mobile device,” said Alan Patricof, Managing Director of Greycroft Partners.

Your city. Real time.
The New York based-startup answers the question, “What’s going on around me right now?” and delivers location-sensitive, premium editorial event and venue information, along with up-to-the-minute reviews and ratings from friends and other members of the Buzzd community.

Users can also browse and search continuously updated event feeds which include pricing, location, and event details as well as the firsthand ratings and reviews posted from the venue by other members. Events and venues are available nationally and aggregated through partnerships with CitySearch, Flavorpill, TimeOut Magazine, with plans to roll out more content partnerships in local markets. User-generated feedback (or ‘buzzes’) for 'real-time' activity about venues and events is aggregated at the top of event listings throughout the platform.

"Buzzd is the slick new way to find the best local events and venues for the mobile generation," said Anna Lee, Senior Manager of Content Services at Helio.

Getting a Tequila “Buzz”
Buzzd is also announcing that Hornitos Premium Tequila is joining on as an advertising partner. Through the partnership, Buzzd members can buy their friends Hornitos drinks and redeem the codes delivered via SMS at hundreds of bars in association with BuyYourFriendADrink.com. The partnership demonstrates a new way for brands to interact with consumers via mobile device.

Available only in limited beta since February 2008, the service has already won international recognition at the Mobile Monday Global Peer Awards and Nokia's Mobile Rules 2008.

For more information on buzzd visit http://www.buzzd.com. Users can register for the service immediately by texting join to 96321, or visiting http://buzzd.com/m from their web or mobile browser.

About Monitor Ventures
Monitor Ventures is a venture capital firm that partners with exceptional entrepreneurs to commercialize technology into world-class products and services. With offices in Palo Alto and Los Angeles, the Firm leverages the investment, operating and entrepreneurial experience of its partners with its privileged access to the resources of the Monitor Group to accelerate portfolio companies’ path to customers, capital and profitability.

About Greycroft Partners
Greycroft Partners is a venture capital partnership formed to invest in promising digital media companies, including both business and consumer-focused ventures. With offices in New York and Los Angeles, Greycroft leverages an extensive network of media and technology industry connections to help their portfolio companies gain visibility, build strategic relationships, and successfully bring their products to market.

About buzzd
buzzd (http://www.buzzd.com) is the premier mobile local search service, providing real-time information for bars, clubs and restaurants on your mobile device. “Your city, in real-time,” buzzd allows consumers to know what’s happening at any venue right now, rate events and connect with friends and people in the area. buzzd recently announced partnerships with recently made news with partnerships with CitySearch, Helio, Flavorpill and Time Out New York. buzzd is a private company founded by Nihal Mehta and Deepen Shah from ipsh!, one of the world’s first mobile marketing agencies acquired by Omnicom Group.