Rounds is a start-up operating in the increasingly crowded space between video chats and social media. The company's platform allows two users to have a video chat, play social games together, and jointly conduct other activity. The company is one of 40 Israeli start-ups participated in this year's SXSW conference in Austin, Texas.
Rounds is currently in the midst of its second financing round. Current investors include Daniel Recanati's Rhodium Ventures Verizon Ventures, Tim Draper, Zeevi Bregman, Uri Shenar, and other private investors.
"Our goal is a synchronized experience," Rounds VP business development Oren Levy told "Globes". "This includes effects, emotions, and most of all, fun."
What prevents Facebook from developing a similar product, rendering your's superfluous?
Levy: "We're not limited to Facebook or Google. We want to be on every platform. At the moment, we're working on opening Rounds' code to games developers, and for chat to enable multi-person, and not just one-on-one, conversations."
Visitors to Rounds' pavilion at SXSW included Lady Gaga's manager and the owners of the Boston Celtics. Time will soon tell whether this is only a sprinkling of stardust or the start of a beautiful friendship.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 15, 2012
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