TurnHere, the Emeryville, California-based online video production and distribution company has secured $7.5 million in funding from Venrock and the Hearst Interactive Media. This is company’s first institutional round.
The company was initially funded in 2006 with $1.1 million by founder Brad Inman, William Randolph Hearst III and Ron Conway.
TurnHere has organized a network of some 3000 independent videographers from around the globe who are creating about 400 videos a month in travel, real estate, publishing, financial services and retail. In addition to creating videos, TurnHere is syndicating content on YouTube and other channels.
In some instances the videos are the property of companies including CondeNet, Williams Sonoma and Simon & Schuster who commission TurnHere. Rights to other clips are owned by TurnHere.
TurnHere has created a formula: The videographers shoot and edit well, but keep the content breezy and approachable. There are no hosts or personalities, the subjects of the video tell their own story, which I think works quite well.
Funding will be used to build out the production platform and to build sales and marketing. The firm presently has a head count of 35. Here is the funding announcement.
TurnHere is the second start-up for Brad, a former business columnist at the San Francisco Examiner. He built HomeGain, a popular online real estate information business which he sold in 2005.
Brad stopped by to chat earlier this week. Congrats Brad! You can grab the video of my interview here.
— Andy Plesser
