Coull Launches Interactive Online Video Publishing Platforms with VC Funding

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- Coull, a provider of interactive online video publishing platforms, today announces that it has closed on a series B financing from Finance South West Growth Fund (managed by YFM Group), Creative Ventures Group, and private investors. 

With this investment, Coull today launches two products available to brands and content owners to create and manage interactive online video:

•    Coull Engage is an online video advertising format, enabling unprecedented levels of interactivity and consumer engagement. Brand marketers and digital marketing agencies can easily create interactive video adverts, with Coull's robust reporting tools allowing real-time campaign tracking, measurement and monitoring.

•    Coull Activate is a web application that allows content owners to make any video content interactive - activating objects to link to other sites or additional product information. Content owners can use Coull Activate to monetise product placement; increase consumer dwell time; and control and monitor distribution across the web.

"Coull's technology allows any video to be made interactive - activating objects to link to another site, product or service," says Irfon Watkins, Coull CEO. "This offers brands and content owners increased creative scope to incorporate advertising into online video content, in a way that directly engages consumer audiences. Maximising the opportunity presented by the continued surge in consumer use of online video."

"The financial investment will be used to accelerate further development of these products and to augment Coull's sales and marketing programme"

Gillian Kent, former MSN UK managing director and CEO of Propertyfinder.com, has been appointed to the Board of Directors at Coull. Gillian will aid establishing Coull as a premium online video advertising format within the digital marketing and publishing sectors. Creative Ventures Group founder Spyro Korsanos also joins the Board at Coull.

"These new appointments bring extensive experience to the Board as we embark upon rapid expansion" states Bernard Holcroft, Coull Chairman and Director of Rupert Hambro & Partners Ltd, Coull's major share holder.

"2008 is the year for online video," adds Gillian Kent. "Coull's easy-to-use products, combined with their long held expertise in online video, positions them extremely well for success."

Coull is a leading provider of web-based tools for enhancing and managing interactive videos.  The Coull platform enables video owners to identify and tag objects within online videos, and customize user experiences around interacting with those objects.   Coull-enhanced videos are driving deeper consumer engagement with brands as well as innovation in product placement. 

About Rupert Hambro & Partners

Rupert Hambro & Partners Limited invests in a mix of early stage ventures backing management in sectors where brands or IP can be developed to create value.  It first invested in Coull in late 2005 and became the majority shareholder in June 2006.

About Finance South West

The Finance South West funds are managed by: YFM Venture Finance Limited (Growth Fund), and Finance Cornwall Fund Managers Limited (Business Loan Fund), both of whom are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Finance South West also provides services, including Gateway to Finance and Gateway to Success, which are not subject to FSA regulation. Finance South West is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
 
About Creative Ventures Group

Creative Ventures GroupTM seeks to invest in, procure co-investors and assist in the corporate management of media and technology ventures. It was founded to invest in the growing opportunities at the micro segment of the market, focusing on ventures with capital investment requirements of below £2 million.
 

###