SafetyWeb Announces $8 Million In Funding Led By Battery Ventures
SafetyWeb is a subscription-based service that enables parents to monitor their children's online social networking activity in real-timeDENVER, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- SafetyWeb (www.safetyweb.com), the leading
Internet safety, identity and reputation protection service for parents,
announced today that it has completed an $8 million round of funding led by
Battery Ventures with participation from First Round Capital.
Launched in May 2010, SafetyWeb is the first subscription-based service of its
kind that enables parents to monitor their children's online social networking
activity (e.g., Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Bebo, etc.) in real-time. SafetyWeb
identifies positive and negative activity and alerts parents to any action,
communication or relationship that could be harmful to the child (e.g.,
cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, a "friend" has been convicted of statutory rape,
etc.). Since launch, over 1,000 affiliates are distributing SafetyWeb.
The service protects the person instead of the device or hardware, empowering
parents to intervene if they suspect their kids' online safety or reputation is
at risk, regardless of how they access the Internet or where they go on the web.
SafetyWeb is also available as an iPhone application so parents on the go can
continue to access the information they need to protect their children.
"SafetyWeb is unlike any other web-based solution for child online activity
monitoring in the market today. It monitors the most diverse set of social
networks for unparalleled access to engagement and activity data," said Roger
Lee, general partner at Battery Ventures. "The market is ripe for a better
online child safety and reputation solution; SafetyWeb's vision coupled with the
quality of their management team positions the company for exceptional growth."
SafetyWeb's initial focus has been on activity taking place on social networks
such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Bebo, etc. The service is evolving to
incorporate data from cell phones, gaming consoles, criminal background checks
and geo-location services, providing parents with a comprehensive dashboard that
helps pinpoint concerning behavior. SafetyWeb will use this most recent
financing to expand its national footprint through marketing, partnerships, and
outreach.
"With the increase in cyber bullying and Internet addiction, plus the growing
impact of online reputation on employment and college admissions, it's more
important than ever for parents to get a handle on how their children's online
activity can have offline repercussions. SafetyWeb is the only service that
makes it easier to track public information about your children across all of
the social networking sites," said Geoffrey Arone, co-founder and co-CEO of
SafetyWeb.com.
Today, the average child aged eight to 18 is spending more than 7.5 hours a day
using a smart phone, computer, or other electronic device, making it nearly
impossible for parents to keep up with their kids' digital lives and the
constantly evolving Web. "We launched SafetyWeb to help parents identify and
respond to Internet threats, and we're excited to expand our mission to reach
even more parents nationwide," said Michael Clark, co-founder and co-CEO of
SafetyWeb.com.
SafetyWeb provides you with detailed reports on a weekly basis and 24-hour
access to website services for $10/month for the first child. To learn more or
get started visit SafetyWeb.com.
About SafetyWeb, Inc.
SafetyWeb is the leading service simplifying online safety by helping parents
guard their children's online safety, identity and reputation. The service
monitors the web to deliver reports and immediate alerts on irregularities and
dangers associated with kids' and teens' online activity. Because SafetyWeb acts
as an online guardian angel, the service arms parents with information to
determine acceptable and healthy online behavior. The company was founded in
2009 by Michael Clark and Geoffrey Arone, who have worked on web sites that
combined, serviced over 200 million register users. For more information on
helping parents be online parents, visit: www.SafetyWeb.com.
About Battery Ventures
Since 1983, Battery has been investing in technology and innovation worldwide.
The firm partners with entrepreneurs and management teams across technology
sectors, geographies, and stages of a company's life -- from start-up and
expansion financing to growth equity and buyouts.
Battery has supported many breakthrough companies around the world, including:
Airespace (acquired by Cisco), Akamai Technologies, BladeLogic (acquired by BMC
Software), Netezza, Omniture, and ProfitLogic (acquired by Oracle). Battery
currently manages more than $3B in committed capital and invests from offices in
Boston, Silicon Valley and Israel. For more information, visit: www.battery.com.
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