MessageMe is a company.
MessageMe has raised $12.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at MessageMe.
MessageMe was founded by Arjun Sethi (Co-Founder and CEO).
MessageMe has raised $12.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
MessageMe was a mobile messaging app for iOS and Android that enabled users to send text, videos, photos, stickers, voice messages, doodles, and location shares, shifting communication from basic SMS to richer, multimodal experiences.[1][5] Targeted at individual and group users seeking fast, expressive interactions, it solved the limitations of traditional texting by mimicking real-life, emotive communication with features like photo broadcasting and sticker packs.[1][3] Launched in March 2013, it achieved explosive growth to 1 million users in 10 days and 5 million in 75 days, raised $1.9 million in seed funding and $10 million in Series A, but shut down in November 2014 after acquisition by Yahoo to integrate into their mobile products.[1][2]
Founded in 2012 in San Francisco by Arjun Sethi, Alexander Chee, Justin Rosenthal, and Vivek Tatineni, MessageMe emerged during the early mobile messaging boom, inspired by global apps like WeChat, Line, and KakaoTalk.[1] The idea stemmed from a vision of "expressive and fun online communication," leading to a quick seed round of $1.9 million from top investors including First Round Capital, Google Ventures, SV Angel, and Andreessen Horowitz.[1] Pivotal early traction came post-launch in March 2013, hitting 1 million users in days; by May, a $10 million Series A from Greylock Partners brought John Lilly to the board, fueling growth to 5 million users amid a 17-person team.[1][3] Ali Rosenthal, ex-Facebook mobile lead, joined as COO in July 2013 to scale operations.[3]
MessageMe rode the 2013 mobile messaging revolution, accelerating the U.S. shift from SMS to rich apps amid rising smartphone adoption and data plans, paralleling global leaders like WeChat in China and Line in Japan.[1] Its timing capitalized on post-iPhone demand for "fun, multimodal" alternatives to carrier texting, influencing the sticker economy and group features now standard in WhatsApp, Snapchat, and iMessage.[1][3] By pioneering expressive elements, it pressured incumbents and shaped ecosystem norms, though its Yahoo acquisition in 2014 highlighted consolidation risks as giants like Facebook Messenger dominated.[1][2]
MessageMe's story exemplifies startup velocity in messaging—blazing growth, investor hype, and swift acquisition—but underscores the cutthroat consolidation that claimed many 2010s players.[1][2] Post-shutdown, its tech and team likely bolstered Yahoo's (now Verizon Media/Alibaba) products, with founders like Arjun Sethi advancing to ventures such as Mysten Labs in Web3.[1] Looking ahead, MessageMe's legacy endures in today's multimodal apps amid AI-driven communication trends like voice AI and AR stickers; its alumni could resurface in next-gen platforms, reminding investors that early movers often fuel rather than own the wave. This rapid arc from 5 million users to erasure captures the high-stakes thrill of mobile tech innovation.[1][2][3]
MessageMe was founded by Arjun Sethi (Co-Founder and CEO).
MessageMe has raised $12.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
MessageMe's investors include 2xN, Accel, Benchmark, Bling Capital, Cota Capital, DFJ, Greylock, Index Ventures, IVP, NEO, Pear VC, Sequoia Capital.
Key people at MessageMe.
MessageMe has raised $12.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Series A in May 2013.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2013 | $10.0M Series A | 2xN, Accel, Benchmark, Bling Capital, Cota Capital, DFJ, Greylock, Index Ventures, IVP, NEO, Pear VC, Sequoia Capital, Signia Venture Partners, Upside Partnership, Hadi Partovi, Matt Mazzeo, Rashaun Williams, Tim Ferriss | |
| Mar 1, 2013 | $2.0M Seed | 2xN, Accel, Benchmark, Bling Capital, Cota Capital, DFJ, Gradient Ventures, Greylock, Index Ventures, IVP, NEO, Pear VC, Sequoia Capital, Signia Venture Partners, Upside Partnership, Hadi Partovi, Matt Mazzeo, Rashaun Williams, Tim Ferriss |
