Flypaper Studio, a startup that allows users to create flash-based web presentations without any programming experience, has closed a $3.5 million round of funding. The round was led by Sierra Ventures and SCF Arizona, and brings the company’s total funding to around $6.5 million.
Flypaper behaves like a mix between Microsoft’s PowerPoint and Adobe Flash. Using a simple drag-and-drop interface, users can create interactive Flash-based presentations that are typically more engaging than standard PowerPoint slides. The company also offers a paid version that allows companies to monitor which users are watching the presentations and how they are interacting with them. The company plans to use the funding to expand on these professional offerings and to enhance its marketing campaign.
Given the ubiquity of Flash, it’s no surprise that startups are trying to offer an alternative to the sluggishness and annoying compatibility issues associated with PowerPoint presentations. There are a number of other companies trying to bring presentations to Flash, including Empressr and SlideRocket.
Nice concept, well executed. Thats still a lot of money though – I can see where some of it goes. Their demo video on the site is pretty snazzy. Anyway, focusing on enterprise is probably the way to go as your average Joe is probably content is powerpoint, even if it is so web 1.0.
BTW Jason – do you never sleep either?
another spamplication. stand alone entity? never. competition- thousands of spamplication developers around the world. why reinvent the wheel. Change there name to MyPresentation or MyStory and maybe this thing could sprout a wing.
Would be nice if there was a Mac version. Odd that you have to download an editor (in these days of SAAS).
What’s SAAS?
Software As A Service – hosted applications, many of them used through web browsers.
Powerpoint is sluggish? What, compared to a web-based app? What are you smoking?
can user download the presentation.
If the user can download the presentation then it must be excellent.
Idea is good. But not sure if this is going to click. Because people are familiar with powerpoint. Let’s see how many people switch.
If you are looking for a career change in IT, look at the site http://www.leapways.com. It is offering free service.
Rob
Nice post, But I like that did not yet understand about flash and powerpoint, maybe, moreday.. D
Half of money will leave on advertising
I find it very odd that it doesn’t run on Vista, as its obviously a .net app (required in the download). Especially since they have had $3 million in funding so far.
They just closed the round, which doesn’t retroactively change past decisions.
They did an A round before this. However, Vista isn’t used by many in business at this point. It’s like supporting Mac. Why bother?
Anyway, you have to send PPTs, and cannot interpret how sales prospects are interacting with your slide deck as you can with flypaper.
I’m the Director of Product Management for Flypaper. Flypaper does work with Vista, there are just a few tricks to get around the permissions. We are working on this issue and should have a solution out soon. But right now if right-click the exe file and Run As Administrator, all is well.
I would add that to your site, at the moment you have
“Flypaper will not install on 64-bit editions of Windows XP or Vista at this time.”
I was going to give it a try, but since I am on Vista didnt, where as if you had of said will run on Vista, but requires some configuration and explained what that config was as right click run as Administrator – wouldn’t scare too many people away (and they couldn’t use it anyway as they had Vista)
Thanks Stephen,
We updated the text. It does run on Vista — it does not run on 64-bit editions of Vista nor on 64 bit editions of XP.
Thanks
i like emag
Nice idea but would be nice to have the editor online? …
bit like formatpixel [http://www.formatpixel.com] which also allows you to save projects off line …
Will be hard to crack the PowerPoint market but best of luck to them
Flypaper is a rather repulsive name for a business. I suspect that the guys who came up with it had never actually seen a strip of it with a thousand dead flies stuck to it.
A flash version of their logo with a bunch buzzing stuck flies struggling for their lives would be cool.
Love the logo.
I can’t believe I sat through all those Flash and ActionScript classes, only to find my skills becoming obsolete. It’s cool though, it’s good to know how things work.
What’s SAAS?
See answer below your first question
I am the CEO of Flypaper. A quick comment on the free download versus web app. Many popular apps that process graphical content (video, pictures, music, templates, flash animations etc) are downloads running on a local PC. The user experience (speed) is simply better.
Consider Google, their graphic apps are big downloads. SketchUp, Earth, Picasa. iTunes manages large digital files and is a download. These are hybrid apps where the heavy lifting is done on the PC/Mac but tightly integrate the Web. Obviously, .ppt and Keynote would be big downloads if they were not already on every machine.
Everything Flypaper produces runs anywhere on the web requiring only the Flash player. The Flypaper dashboard that tracks what users do with Flypaper stories is a web app.
Pat:
I am usually a difficult person when it comes to assessing new Web 2.0 products. I throw them out the window real quickly.
Yours though, brought a big smile to my face. I love it. Well designed, well presented and simply fantastic.
Great job
I agree Vivian. Its a nice app
Good luck guys
Thanks Vivian. Greatly appreciate you comment. Yours too Riley.
anyone else have problems with installation of the exe file?
This is Greg from Flypaper. We just launched a great contest today at http://www.flyp...er.com/contest/.
Make something cool with Flypaper – we call Flypaper creations “stories” – and enter to win some great prizes:
- Grand Prize: 40″ Sony Bravia flat-panel HDTV
- Runners Up: one of two Apple iPod touch devices
- People’s Choice: $100 Amazon Gift Certificate
This is great for anyone that is making a impressive, interactive presentations with Flypaper, whether it’s for business or personal use. The contest ends September 15, 2008.
Enjoy!
Requires .Net 3.5
(on XP SP3, Core 2 DUO)- very slow responsiveness
Checks for update every time it launches; launch takes ~2min
atypical UI
I really want to like it and use it
Difficult to serve both entertainment and business use cases
Will give it some more time
very very cool thanks
The application looks good.
Will it give us better presentations? Powerful graphical effects in the hands of the novice do not always come out well (spectacularly animated transitions between PowerPoint slides to name one).
Hopefully it will come with good suggestions how to use all these tools.
It would be great if user can download presentations…
Great Ideas
Sorry, but it doesn’t work with Vista. I have .net installed with SP1, and the installer keeps telling me it needs .net SP1 to load . . .
It’s just too frustrating. I’ll stick with what I’m used to.
Oh may be you are right, i also have tried but the problem is like as you discribed.
Jesi from Dubai Real Estate
It is nice if working
thanks
thanks
very good looking this site.
Thanks alotaaa but some times it really did not work
I am at Travel Guide Book
I love the product from what I see. But the cost is just way up. As a result, I have not downloaded or even tried the free version; fear being that by the time I get my presentation looking just perfect, the free trial will be up and I’ll loose the preso.
So Flypaper folk; I’m hoping you come up with some cheaper packages, something more affordable for the home user. For enterprise, the price is reasonable.
Perhaps a lower price up to 10 presentations, then incremental fees as you create more presentations.
i.e. 5 for $50, 10 for $100, 20 for $300, 40 for $600 and unlimited for the $700 to $800 you now charge.
I always wish to learn design any flash based web but no help is there for me
nice site
i want too make this type of site.
always wanted to do anything but flash bi Unfortunately I think this program could not manage much more I need it