Social daring platform Klash has announced its first round of funding and a major revamp of its iOS app. The round, in the low six-digit figures, has been led by mobile specialist VC Venista Ventures and also involves pre-seed fund Eierfabrik – both of which are based in Cologne, although the latter is opening a campus in Berlin in April. The update, meanwhile, include a better interface as well as enabling new content such as gifs.
The entire Klash team will celebrate their double success with a month-long trip to the US part-funded by the Pioneers Festival where they intend to target the college student market – while their chubby new intern has found himself in the middle of a campaign to get him fit for the summer through a series of bizarre Klashes.
The platform allows users to challenge and dare each other to do crazy things for laughs or for actual reward in the pursuit of the “funnification of life,” according to co-founder Alex Napetschnig, who spoke to Silicon Allee ahead of the launch.
Securing funding was a slow process, Alex said, but it was important to find the right investors: “They are very vision driven and product driven. That was important to us because we need to build this platform first of all, and we are very focused on the product.”
Venista COO Kai Schmude said: “Klash is a new project full of potential that merits engagement because they are putting a lot of focus on interacting with their users specifically through mobile channels.”
Up till now, the Klash team had been entirely bootstrapped, even after launching a first version of the product in September – and they believe the updated version has made it easier to create new content on the platform.
“We strongly believe that we are not born for boring and that the world deserves to have more fun,” said co-founder Alessandro Petrucciani. “Our application is a perfect tool to solve this problem.”
The updates were largely based on the feedback of the core group of regular users established since the launch, who said producing content with only still pictures was inefficient when it came to suggesting Klashes involving actions; hence the introduction of gifs following the success of platforms like Loopcam.
CEO Alex Napetschnig added: “What we are selling to the users is having more fun – not just in the application but in giving people the mindset or lifestyle that you don’t have to take yourself too seriously, you don’t have to necessarily run with everyone else. You can be different and you can be fun. I think that’s something that would benefit our society.”
And it’s something the team itself is taking to heart. You can now Klash them personally – and they definitely want you to take part in making August fit for June. August is their new Swedish intern who is taking on a fitness regime with a difference to lose a few pounds. He must complete Klashes suggested and voted on by users. They could include running through Berlin in pink tights, surfing in the River Spree or surviving three days in the woods with nothing but a knife and a mankini.
Alex said: “August really likes the Klash spirit and digs the whole product. So we’re Klashing him to get fit for June with a super interactive workout – we’re really looking forward to it.”
August will be joining the team in the US as they look for inspiration in Silicon Valley as well as physically connect with potential Klash communities.