Uncategorized
Media / Startups

Poptent: videographer social network with Conshohocken office expands, is hiring [VIDEO]

For those who gauge startup success by ‘traction,’ Mark Schoneveld says Poptent might be the region’s biggest web 2.0 success story. Poptent, which hosts contests for brands for its community of video creators to make viral marketing videos, has continued to grow since launching in 2007, welcoming new users and bigger companies. It is hiring […]


For those who gauge startup success by ‘traction,’ Mark Schoneveld says Poptent might be the region’s biggest web 2.0 success story.
Poptent, which hosts contests for brands for its community of video creators to make viral marketing videos, has continued to grow since launching in 2007, welcoming new users and bigger companies. It is hiring in Conshohocken, including engineers and social media savvy community leaders, and, adds Poptent Director of Community Schoneveld, the company has reached a positive cash flow, is now up to 40,000 registered users and is about to cross $3 million in creator payouts.
“What we started doing was totally experimental. Brands were getting used to crowd sourcing and giving up control,” said Schoneveld. “We’ve been at the forefront of crowdsourcing for years and now we’re taking it new places.”
The company takes a fee from big brands — like Southwest Airlines, Netflix, Anheuser Busch, Quiznos and others — and negotiates a rate for commercial video production, putting the bid out to its open community or specific members.
[tech]3ErSejOtSCc[/tech]
Last October, the 50-person company announced it had raised $6.8 million in venture funding, following a move to reincorporate in tax haven Delaware. Though holding a staff of 25 in their Conshohocken-based Spring Mill Corporate Center, Poptent lists its Orange County, Calif. office as its headquarters and the home of CEO Andy Jedynak. But the company is looking more international, having a handful of employees in Sao Paulo, Brazil and working on plans to expand again with European offices in 2012, said Schoneveld.
Part of that growth is coming from Shoneveld’s community role, developing, attracting and retaining the best video production and creative talent.
So, while the company made its start in lower paying gigs that came with a higher risk because more competition was having at them, the company is supplementing those open assignments with match-making.
“The new wave of crowd sourcing companies is more about talent discovery than just cheap production,” Schoneveld said. “If you curate that community, the talent rises to the top quickly.”
Schoneveld, a 1999 alumnus of Penn State, has been active in Philadelphia’s web and music scene for years. He’s been working with Poptent since June 2007, when he was doing freelance video work and running popular video podcast Illadates. He’s now on the board of directors for Weathervane and writes on a handful of local blogs, including YVYNYL.
In recent months, the most dependable, most creative, strongest talent from their community have been invited to apply for higher paying, less risky opportunities. It’s a move that works especially well for more discreet partners who are, for example, releasing new products. Other times, businesses want production work from specific markets, Schoneveld added.
“Cool things are coming from this little company in Conshohocken,” he said at an event in September.
[tech]eZuQNEmyVY4[/tech]

Companies: Poptent
Engagement

Join the conversation!

Find news, events, jobs and people who share your interests on Technical.ly's open community Slack

Trending

How venture capital is changing, and why it matters

What company leaders need to know about the CTA and required reporting

The ‘Amazon of science stores’ and 30 other vendors strut their stuff for Philly biotech

Why the DOJ chose New Jersey for the Apple antitrust lawsuit

Technically Media