Photo contest app Snaapiq launches with $180K in seed funding

Snaapiq, an app that helps companies organize photo contests for its users, officially launched last Tuesday.
The app will target “brands who want to more deeply engage with consumers rather than passively engage with posts and likes,” said CEO Jacob Perler.
Propelled by $180,000 in early investment, the WeWork Chinatown-based startup has already built up a following, gathering 25,000 users since its beta launch in April.
Download Snaapiq
The company has also honed in on the recurring themes of the internet’s visual landscape: cute kitties, clothes and music.
“We cast a wide net initially,” said Perler. “We focused on other verticals like sports, travel, outdoors and nature.” But “fashion, music and pets” won the day.
Earlier this year, Snaapiq organized a Halloween makeup contest sponsored by Bruna Nogueira — the makeup artist for “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”
Now the three-person startup aims to ramp up its share of business-sponsored contests. Customers so far have included SoccerPro.com, Alex and Ani and Mommies 24♥7.
In the D.C. area, Snaapiq has partnered with the University of Maryland, Georgetown University and Becky’s Fund.