Tomfoolery is a technology company.
Tomfoolery has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at Tomfoolery.
Tomfoolery has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Key people at Tomfoolery.
Tomfoolery has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Tomfoolery's investors include Benchmark, Bloomberg Beta, BoxGroup, Craft Ventures, Felicis Ventures, Jonathan Golden, Sutter Hill Ventures, Vertex Ventures, Andy Bechtolsheim, Bob Pasker, Georges Harik, Greg Kidd.
Tomfoolery is a mobile app lab focused on building enterprise applications that incorporate the lightweight, real-time features of consumer apps.[1][2] Founded by former Yahoo and AOL executives, it launched its first product, Anchor, in 2013—a real-time conversation platform designed as a central hub for work discussions, initially available on iOS and web, with plans for Android and wearables.[1] The company secured $1.7 million in seed funding from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, David Tisch, and AME Cloud Ventures.[1] It targets enterprise users seeking better alternatives to tools like Yammer or Convo, emphasizing real-time updates and mobile reliability to enhance colleague communication.[1]
Later descriptions position Tomfoolery as providing a platform integrating task management, project dashboards, and cross-workspace communication, though primary sources confirm its early emphasis on conversational tools.[2][3]
Tomfoolery emerged in early 2013, founded by ex-Yahoo and AOL executives, including CEO and cofounder Kakul Srivastava, previously of Flickr.[1] The idea stemmed from frustration with existing enterprise conversation apps like Yammer (lacking real-time updates) and Convo (buggy mobile apps), prompting the team to infuse consumer-style lightness into enterprise software.[1] In January 2013, it announced a $1.7 million seed round backed by prominent investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, David Tisch, Jerry Yang's AME Cloud Ventures, Brad Garlinghouse, and others from Yahoo/AOL networks.[1] Anchor debuted in June 2013 as the flagship product, marking early traction in real-time work conversations with forward-looking plans for wearables like Google Glass.[1]
Tomfoolery rode the early 2010s wave of enterprise social tools, bridging consumer app dynamics (e.g., instant messaging) into clunky corporate software amid the rise of mobile and real-time collaboration.[1] Timing aligned with post-Yammer acquisitions and the push for Slack-like experiences before Slack's dominance, capitalizing on mobile proliferation and wearable hype like Google Glass.[1] Market forces favoring it included demand for seamless work communication as remote/hybrid setups loomed, plus investor appetite for enterprise SaaS from tech veterans.[1] It influenced the ecosystem by pioneering consumer-grade enterprise apps, paving the way for modern platforms blending chat, tasks, and dashboards.[2][3]
Tomfoolery's early momentum with Anchor and seed funding positioned it well for scaling enterprise comms, but limited post-2013 visibility suggests it may have pivoted or consolidated amid fierce competition from Slack and Microsoft Teams.[1][3] Next steps could involve evolving its platform toward integrated workspaces, as hinted in later profiles, capitalizing on AI-driven collaboration trends.[3] Rising demand for cross-workspace tools and wearables will shape its path, potentially amplifying influence if it resurfaces—echoing its original mission to lighten enterprise drudgery with consumer flair.[1]
Tomfoolery has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Seed in January 2013.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2013 | $2.0M Seed | Benchmark, Bloomberg Beta, BoxGroup, Craft Ventures, Felicis Ventures, Jonathan Golden, Sutter Hill Ventures, Vertex Ventures, Andy Bechtolsheim, Bob Pasker, Georges Harik, Greg Kidd, Joi Ito |
